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The Messiah’s Secret – The Beginning and End of all Things

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The Messiah’s Secret –  God at the Beginning and the End of all Things.

Reading John 1: 1 – 14.

Children’s spot. Kaleidoscope

The light from the star shone over the stable at Bethlehem, it’s light would shine inside the stable through the door or window, helping Joseph and Mary to see what was going on around them.

The Bible tells us that ‘God is Light’  and in Jesus we see God’s light . Light that makes us feel safe when we are in a dark place. Light that shows us the way in our lives.

I’ve been making this week some kaleidoscopes a toy in the shape of a tube that you look through to see different patterns of light made by pieces of coloured glass and mirrors. I’ve not used mirrors instead I’ve used clear plastic to reflect the light. The children present came and collected from me  a kaleidoscope and a pattern to colour.

At the point in the service were we say sorry to God for our sins, we focused on the cross. Reading from 1 John 1: 6 – 10

After the reading and hymn Jim focused on John 1: 9 with a Word Search Game.

Sermon

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”

The Apostle John wrote in his gospel of what he saw, heard and experienced from Jesus. He began his gospel from his conclusion of who Jesus is, Jesus being the Word of God clothed in the flesh, confirming Jesus’ word that he and the Father God are one, the life and light of God in him, Jesus the second person of the Trinity.

John remembered what John the Baptist had said “Jesus the true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.” John 1: 9, 10.

Jesus came into the world to enable us to receive a new pattern of living out our lives, to be enlightened about God, to have his values based on love. Love God and your neighbour as yourself.

Archbishop Justin Welby in his Christmas address said that the world’s values are in the wrong place, ’Economic, technological, and communication progress hasn’t resulted in economic justice,’ he called them the ‘economics of despair.’ He went on to say, “Uncertainty in the midst of much, but far from universal, prosperity is a sign of our trust being in the wrong things.” I understand him to mean: Globalisation has produced a material pattern whereby people trust in riches: the accumulation of wealth by the few, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

What produces universal prosperity comes from our knowing God and His values.

An anecdote from J John and Mark Stibbe’s Book, ‘A Bundle of Laughs’

“H G Wells after he had studied the history of the human race and had observed human life, he came to the conclusion; “Religion is the first thing and the last thing and until a man has found God and been found by God, he begins at no beginning, he works to no end. He may have his friendships, his partial loyalties, his scraps of honour. But all these things fall into place and life falls into place only with God.” Materialism has its’ place, finding his place in God, he had found life. Jesus came into the world to enable us to receive God into our heart, for our lives to be transformed from knowing about God, to have a relationship with God.

Verses 11-13. “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in His name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God.”   The Jewish people were born from human descent, whereas, Jesus his flesh coming from his mother Mary, but his life’s blood coming from his Father God, the Alpha and Omega without descendants. Jesus was born of God.

John confirms a Christian is born not from descendants who were Christians, but born of the will of God through faith in Jesus.

Paul writing to the Corinthian church wrote, “ The cross a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:23, 24.

Jesus’ own people the Hebrews in their worldly wisdom couldn’t understand the cross, they perhaps saw Jesus as being humiliated, at Calvary they shouted, “Let the King of Israel come down from the cross and we may see and believe.” Mark 15: 32.

Many were not enlightened by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but those who were, John wrote, “But to all who received him, who believed in His name, he gave power to become children of God.”

It is the same today, the cross is still a stumbling block to many, and it speaks of sin, failure, suffering, and being ignored.

“But to all who receive him, and believe in His name, he gives power to become children of God.” Born of the will of God.

God’s saving love through faith in Jesus, Romans 10 : 8, 9. “But what does it say; the word is near you, on your lips and in your heart, that is the word of faith which we preach, because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

God has given us a pattern to follow, to walk by faith and not by sight,   sight being: human wisdom, logic, and science. One person I long to be enlightened to find God is Sir David Attenborough. He has spent all his adult life observing and studying wild life and yet he cannot see the creator of life, God.

Walking in faith in Jesus, trusting that God has the whole situation its’ beginning and end in view, because He is the Alpha and the Omega.

I learnt this from Mark’s  recent illness; God has the beginning and the end of all our situations, he sees the whole picture and  all the Lord asks from us is to trust that God will work things out, true to his word.

The third person of the Trinity the Holy Spirit will give assurance in our Spirit of the outcome, so therefore faith, hope and love grow in our inner being as we trust and rest in the light of His Word to us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, may we have opportunity today to those who we meet, to give the light of Jesus’ words. By your grace may the deaf hear and the blind see and be enlightened, to come to know Jesus as their Saviour God. Amen

Bookmarkers were given out with the Service /Notice sheets.

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The Messiah’s Secret – Called by God

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Luke 1: 26 – 45

Jesus born in human form in order to give us in our humanity eternal life.    John 3: 16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Prayer   Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path.

In our sketch ‘Your Call’ by J D many people responded to the advert, but  James had to make the decision to appoint the right person for the job.

In our reading God chose Mary to bear the Son of God she had the essential criteria required: a descendant of King David, she was a virgin, engaged to Joseph, a Godly woman, the right person for the job.

Archangel Gabriel gave the message to Mary that she would bear the Son of God and she was to call him Jesus.

Jesus had been called by his Father God before the foundation of the world to become one of us.

Jesus’ prayer John 17: 4 he pointed to where he was before he was born into this world “And now Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.”

John 17: 24 “I desire that they also whom you have given me, may be with me, where I am to behold my glory, which you have given me, in your love for me before the foundation of the world.”

The Psalmist described Jesus body being formed in the secret places: Psalm 139

“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.”

In order for God to unite us to himself, and for us to have eternal life, he became one of us taking the human form in giving Jesus a perfect human body. He was born of a woman and lived his life in the flesh, but he knew his Father was God and he was full of God’s Holy Spirit.

Jesus born in human form from his mother Mary and from His Father God his divinity,  in order to give us in our humanity eternal life.    John 3: 16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus in conversation with a number of Jewish men after he had healed the paralytic man. John 5: 39, 40 “You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

John the Baptist’s testimony pointed to Jesus as the Christ, the signs that Jesus gave bore witness that the Father God had sent him to give them God’s commandment, “And I know his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father as bidden me.” John 12: 50.

To obtain our eternal life is through our faith in Jesus, his death resurrection and ascension.                                                                              

Jesus died on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb and after three days God raised him from the dead and after 40 days he ascended into heaven.

Jesus’ resurrected body still retained the marks of the nails and where the sword had pierced his heart. John 20:27

His resurrected body was without blood in it. Luke 24:39 “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have.” Jesus’ blood poured out for the sins of the world.

Jesus coming in the flesh taking the result our sin upon himself that led to his death, the shedding of his innocent blood has enabled us to enter into eternal life.  We can’t earn our forgiveness for our sin against God; we can only receive forgiveness through faith in Jesus. It is the will of God that we receive eternal life while we live in our human body, united with Jesus in heaven.

Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Colossae,   “He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1: 13.     The cross is like a door into heaven. All we need to do is enter in.

It is up to us to make a decision for Jesus if we have any doubts then like John the Baptist Last Sunday Rev J B  said in her sermon that John the Baptist by sending his disciples to Jesus to ask was he the one or do we seek for another ‘Saviour Messiah’ he had doubts and like him we should seek to find the answers to our doubts.

One of the conclusions from Jesus having a human body it has enabled us in our humanity to be his body, the church.                        Paul also wrote that we are united with Christ,’ Christ in you’ because we are translated into his kingdom while we live now, the church has the ministry of Jesus reconciling the people of the world back to God.

This means that every Christian is called to be actively involved in God’s plan and to be his witness to the Saviour’s birth.

Visual Aid   Church bells are rung to celebrate an occasion or a call to worship. Many people are called to be involved in the church in order to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

Christians ringing the bells in the churches in Ramsbottom: St Andrew’s and St Paul’s on that December night as I stood looking out from our bedroom window.  I said to myself, ‘That’s where I’ll be next Christmas at church.” We had spent the Christmas Eve in the pub and it had been meaningless, celebrating what?

It was my call, to respond to the Christmas story, the following year I was there at church on Christmas Eve.

Prayer  Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus’ humanity, he has enabled us to be united with him and in him, for all eternity, the church being the bride of Christ. We pray for those who are not yet part of the body of Christ’s Church who have yet to respond to the Christmas story, May the bells of heaven ring out peels of joy over those who recognise what Christmas is really about.   In Jesus’ name.  Amen

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Apostles Creed

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Apostles Creed

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1-cross-at-sunset

“He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.”

It’s good to reflect on the truths of what we believe in the Apostles Creed and own them by experiencing these truths for ourselves.

A young man who came to the Job Club was still searching to put substance to his faith. We looked at together ‘Amazing Exchange’ this little booklet presents the reader with various situations that may be applicable to their life, where they can’t quite understand something  and it blocks them coming to faith in Jesus. This young man had a problem believing that Jesus existed.  Maybe you have similar booklets that you enjoy sharing with people who want to know about Jesus.

I pointed the young man to the historian Titus Flavius Josephus who was a first-century Romano-Jewish scholar; he recorded Pilate’s involvement in the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Antiquities of the Jews – Book XVIII“   “And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, (9) those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; (10) as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.”

The truth recorded in history of Jesus’ existence.

“And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross”

In order to comply with Roman law, the leaders of the Jewish Council had to send him to Pilate the Roman Governor of Israel for sentencing.  Jesus suffered false accusations against him.

a. They accused Jesus before Pilate of perverting the nation.

b. Forbidding them to give tribute to Caesar.

c  Saying that he himself is Christ a king. Luke 23: 2

Jesus was accused of perverting the nation, when he healed in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. Luke 13: 14.  They said, “There are six days on which work ought to be done, come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Jesus said that it was right to do good on the Sabbath day. Luke 6:9.

He was falsely accused of not paying tribute, Peter paid the tribute on his behalf, a shekel retrieved from a fish’s mouth. Matthew 17: 27.

Before Pilate Jesus said, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” John 18: 37, 38.

Dr Luke writing to his friend Theophilus that he may know the truth of these things concerning Jesus’ birth.

Jesus was born a king, when the wise men came from the east to worship him they asked, “Where is he born King of the Jews?”  Kings are normally crowned a king as they succeed another. Matthew 2: 2.

We believe that it was in God’s plan that Jesus would be crucified,. Acts 2: 23 Peter proclaimed  to the crowd, “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews explains why crucifixion.  “When Christ came into the world he said, “Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Lo, I have come to do thy will oh God’ as it is written of me in the roll of the book.”

He continued in the reading to give meaning to Jesus’ words, “Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerings and sin offerings” these were offered according to the law, “Low I have come to do thy will.”

He abolishes the first in order to establish the second, and by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Jesus  knew  why he had to suffer to be the final sacrifice for sin, he wrestled with his own soul in the Garden of Gethsemane to do God’s will, to drink the cup that lead him like a lamb to the slaughter.

Which was to fulfil the Moses Covenant, under the law everyone was penalised for doing wrong and had to make a sacrifice to attain forgiveness. This was repeated as sins were continually confessed. Hebrews 10 : 5-10. RSV Bible                         

When I explain the cross to someone who has a church background, I use the true example in Leviticus, you may have your own way of explaining the cross.

In Leviticus Chapter 1 we read that .a person brought a sacrifice to the temple to be a substitute for their sin.  They said a prayer laying their hand upon the head of the lamb or a bird transferring their sin to it. The lamb was then slain by them.

Jesus’ body was prepared by God to be the final sacrifice for sin, so that the law was abolished in Jesus’ death In its’ place the New Covenant

The significance of the cross, so when we come to him in repentance and faith, he takes our sin upon himself and becomes our substitute taking the punishment, dying on the cross and in his burial, that sin is dead and buried, abolished, wiped out, therefore, we are not penalised, we are blessed by Jesus, which is grace – unmerited favour.

Speaking out the truth of these things, –  My friend June wrote her testimony down for me to share, “First I would like to explain that I finally forgiven someone, I mean truly forgiven. A few days later I was walking along the disused railway in Helmshore with our dogs.

It was a pleasant day, very still. I felt a wind blow up, but nothing was moving. I saw in front of me a life-size Jesus on the cross. He was dead, his body grey, stone like, I couldn’t bear to look, I turned away. I felt all the wrong that I had done being taken away from me, but I didn’t want him to, because I physically felt the pain that I had caused him. I felt ashamed and started crying.1-jesus-on-cross

The next minute I felt a presence next to me. I wasn’t sure if it was Jesus or God, but I couldn’t see anyone. All the weight I had been carrying inside had been taken away. I felt so happy, so clean. Everywhere was so beautiful, the colours were so bright, I had never seen colour like it before.”

This is a visual example of what takes place when every person meets Jesus at the cross, repents and receives forgiveness, sins are dead and buried for ever.

The young man received Jesus as his Saviour. Now, I hear he’s moved to Wales and is in partnership with his brother running a small business.

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The Messiah’s Secret – Loving Your Neighbour as Yourself

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Exodus 20: 12-21. Luke 10: 25-37.

Bertie Bassett represents all races of people that are welcomed into the church.

Bertie Bassett

The lawyer was testing Jesus on his interpretation of scripture. This Lawyer questioned him on a crucial point, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus replied what is written in the law? How do you read it?.”

The Lawyer summed up the law when he said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,’ and love your neighbour as yourself.”

Jesus in his response said, “You have answered correctly, do this and you will live.”

The lawyer then said to justify himself, “Who is my neighbour?”

In response to the Lawyers question, Jesus was challenging the Lawyers interpretation of loving his neighbour through his parable.

A Jewish person in Jesus’ day acknowledged nobody as their neighbour except those who were Jews.

In his parable Jesus gave no formal identity to ‘the man’ whether he was a Jew or Gentile, only stating that the man had been robbed, and left half dead. The priest and the Levite acted in a way the lawyer would expect. The law did not allow them to do anything to the injured man.

The Samaritan bathed the injured man’s wounds with oil and wine, and lifted him up, then he  helped him onto his donkey. He went out of his way in order to bring him to the Inn to be looked after untill he returned.

After Jesus had told the Lawyer the parable, Jesus tested the Lawyer by asking him, “Which of these three, The priest, the Levite or the Samaritan, do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” the Lawyer’s response, “The one who showed mercy?” He couldn’t bring  himself to say ‘the Samaritan as the Jews and the Samaritans didn’t get on. But he did acknowledge he was the neighbour in the parable.

Let us consider the possibility that the introduction of the Samaritan into the parable was pointing to Jesus’ own ministry

He demonstrated his love for God and for his neighbour when he healed the 10 lepers, it was only the Samaritan who came back  to him and gave thanks to God for his healing. Luke 17; 16 and he had a conversation with a Samaritan women at the well, he revealed to her that he was the Messiah, God’s anointed. His ministry through her brought healing between Jesus the Jew and the Samaritans, Jesus stayed with them for two days at Sychar. John 4

The parable’s interpretation after Jesus death, resurrection and ascension.              This far reaching parable that touches millions of lives when we see ourselves as being robbed of our eternal life through the injuries of sin and the causes of sin.                                                               Jesus paid the price for our sin, his life laid down on the cross and  so when anyone turns to Jesus in repentance and faith, he pours out into their wounds the oil and wine of forgiveness, the Spirit of God’s love the beauty of forgiveness and healing.

Jesus said, “I will repay” There is nothing outstanding left for us to do, can’t earn eternal life,  it is a finished work. Last week Chris said, “God’s love is total and complete” So all we need to do is to receive and enter into God’s love, his eternal life.

A fortnight ago I heard Gordon Cruden’s   testimony: 6 months after Gordon became a Christian he was fishing on a trawler in the North Sea. He said, “A storm blew up and a huge wave caught him and he found himself in the sea. He thought he was going to drown, he cried out to God, “I don’t want to die , but I’m ready to die,” As soon as he had said this, a beautiful peace came over him and he likened it to when Jesus rebuked the wind and the sea and said, “Peace, be still” and a calm came over the sea.” Gordon had no fear of death, he was ready to die, he knew he had already entered into eternal life.

Bertie Bassett represents all races all people

This parable is being worked out today in response to our loving God and His desire that we should love our neighbour as our self, in our own community. The world it seems to be in chaos with the displacement of people escaping persecution and poverty. Asylum Seekers coming from Afganistan, Syria, and many other countries are being settled across the UK.

There are 10 families that have already settled in Rossendale and this number to increase to 30.  The church is working with government organisations to provide special ‘Drop ins’ three are now set up across the valley.

Prayer God of perfect love and mercy, look on us your children as we seek to build your kingdom in our communities. Give us the gifts we need to build one another up, to be good neighbours helping us all to meet our potential. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us that we might know your forgiveness and peace. Help us to show your mercy to one another as we seek the best you have to offer for each one of us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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The Messiah’s Secret from 2009 – 2016

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THE MESSIAH’S SECRET – BLOGS FROM 177 – 85

The blog Today’s Unemployment in the UK below No 85

BLOGS – The Messiah’s  Secret.  
Please enter Title and subject on the search bar.

177 The Messiah’s Secret – Blogs Headings and
Today’s Unemployment in the UK 2016                                                                              176. Jesus God’s Son
175. Existence of God.
174. Fasting and Prayer UK Referendum
173. Jesus Walking in His Father’s  Footsteps.
172. Adopted Children of God
171. Pentecost
170. Jesus the Strong Arm of God
169. Jesus at the Centre
168. Easter Reflections
167. Jesus at Bethany
166. Jesus our Shield and Refuge
165. Numbered with the Transgressors
164. The difference between John and Jesus’ Baptisms
163. Grace and Truth
162. Jesus Born in Mary
161. Zechariah and Elizabeth
160. Crooked Paths made Straight
159. The Beatitudes
158. God Appointed Positions
157. Times & Seasons
156. A Child-like Faith
155. Hidden in God
154. Coming from within Jesus the Word of Truth.
153. Jesus the Bread of Forgiveness
152. Ecclesiastes 3 Time and Eternity
151 Love for God
150.God’s Timing
149. Holy is the Lord
148. God raised Jesus from the Dead

146. Haslingden Christians Together
145.Jesus’ Prayer John 17
144. Jesus the Perpetual Light
143. The Doors were Shut
142. Jesus is Alive
141. Jesus and the Cross
140. Bethany.

139. Discernment
138. Church of England Today in UK
137. The Lighthouse
136.The Refining Fire
135. The Calling of Nathaniel
134.Showers of Blessings
133. Christ Born in us.
132. The Prodigal Son
131. Fulfilment of Prophesies
130. Jesus Reigns
129. The Great Commission
128, The Crimson Worm
127. Visions and Dreams.
126. A Heart/soul Transformed
125. The Wheat Harvest
124. Celebrating the Ascension
123. Who is Jesus.
122. the Tower of Babel and the Gift of Tongues.
121. Our Inheritance in Jesus.
120.The Way, the Truth, the Life.
119. Celebrating 20 Years of the Ordination of Women.
118. The Messiah’s Secret-  The Temple of Jesus Body
117. Shalom – Peace
116. 34 Prophesies Fulfilled in One Day
115. Jesus Heals the Two Blind men
114. James the Brother of Jesus
113. James remembers Job
112. short study of Job
111. Baptism of Tears
110.New Start
109. Jesus the First-born
108. Jesus the Vine.
107. The Samaritan Woman at the Well
106. Advent of the Star of David
105. Mary Chosen by God
104. Updated Book www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
103.Jesus the cornerstone
102. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry
101. Walking in the Footsteps of Christ.
100. The Rich Man and Lazarus
99. The Lost Sheep
98. The Lord’s Prayer.
97. Treasure in Heaven
96. How Great is our God
95.Jesus the Bridge
94. Jesus had nowhere to Lay His Head.
93. The Woman with the Alabaster Flask.
92. The Surging Crowds.
91. Pentecost.
90. Early Christians and the Essenes.
89. A Stone Rolled Away.
88. A Christian View of Freemasonry.
87. The Resurrection in Christ.
86. Fall & Rise.
85. The Messiah’s Secret –  Isaiah 53.         84. Mary Anointed Jesus 83. Faith, Fasting and Prayer.             82. What is the Messiah’s Secret? 81. The Wedding at Cana 2.                80. The Wedding at Cana 1.          79. A Slender Thread. 78.The Birth of Jesus. 77. Joy to the World. 76. Water and Spirit. John 3: 1-17.          75. The True Saviour Robot Rodney Copperbottom.                         74. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream. 73. Entering God’s Rest. Promised Land. 72. Called by God. 71. Held in the Lord’s Hands.Harvest.               70. Jesus is the Lord our God. 69.Jesus is the Christ.     68. Law and Grace. Kosher foods.    67.Fire of God. 66.Running the Race. Olympic Games London. 65.Community Issues 3 Why Does God Allow Suffering?       64. True Riches. 63. Community Issues 2 Diversity of People.           62. The Sceptre. St Mary’s Rock.      61. Community Issues 1. Unemployment. 60. Rossendale Shoe Industry. 59. Treasure. 58. Get on Board. MU ‘Bye Buy, Childhood Campaign. 57. Resurrection. Titanic sank 100 years ago. 56.The Vineyard, ‘Christ in You’ Series. 55. The Days of Noah. 54. I Am the Resurrection and the Life. 53. Transfiguration -A Kept Secret. 52. The Transfiguration. 51. The Sower. ‘Christ in You Part 6. 50. Opening the Scroll. Hello Kitty Epiphany. 49.Flight into Egypt. 48. Angel Gabriel’s Message to Mary. 47. Jesus a Stone of Offence. 46. Sheep and Goats. 45. Gideon. ‘Christ in You’ Part 5. 44. Render the Things that Belong to God. 43. ‘Christ in You’ Part 4. 42. Jonah. Parable of the Vineyard. 41.’Christ in You’ Part 3. 40. The Third Temple. 39. ‘Christ in You’ Part 2. 38.  ‘Christ in You’ Part 1. 37.  Jesus Removes the Blindfold. 36. Wheat and Tares. 35. Children at Play in the Market Place. 34. The Ascension of Jesus. The Dandelion. 33. Mary the Mother of Jesus Supported her Son. 32. God the Mathematician.  31. The Lord of the Dance. 30. The Evening of the Day of the Resurrection. 29. The Sovereignty of God. 28. Faithful Relationships. 27. Jesus the Light of the World. 26. Faith and Grace. 25. Elijah and Elisha.  24.The Transfiguration. 23. The Way. 22. Jesus the Physician. 21. Saved by the Blood. 20. Lamb of God. 19. Baptism of Jesus. 18. Emmanuel. 17. Criminal Saved. 16. Jesus the King of Kings. 15.Jesus the Messiah. 14. Pray Continuously. 13. The Ascension of Jesus. 12. Measured by Love. 11.  Communion with God. 10. Removing the Veil. 9. Faith, Justice and Mercy. 8. Isiah’s Prophesies Fulfilled. 7. Jesus the Living Bread. 6. The Two Witnesses. 5.Jesus the King. 4. Jesus Son of God. 3. The Messiah’s Secret Revealed. 2. A Kept Secret. 1. The Imperishable Seed.

The Messiah’s Secret – Today’s unemployment in UK 2016

Matthew 20: 1-16.
In the news last week the latest government unemployment figures were released, the Job less total fell by 52,000 to 1.64 million. Most people were expecting the unemployment to rise after Brexit, but it wasn’t the case.
On the BBC News website, I quote, “Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight said that the UK economy showed “impressive resilience in the run-up to the EU referendum and the immediate aftermath of the vote to leave”.
“Hargreaves Lansdown economist Ben Brettell said  “The dramatic fall in confidence may not ultimately be borne out by activity, and today’s claimant count number is a tentative sign that things might not turn out as bad as many predicted.”
We haven’t heard much about this news in the Media.
Unlike the news beginning of this year as a result of the Chinese economy slowing down, and flooded the world markets with steel. The Guardian Newspaper reported in May, “A spokesman for the European Community trade union said that unfairly traded Chinese steel was still hurting UK and European steel producers.”
The effects on the British Steel industry led to a thousand and fifty redundancies at Tata Steel Works in Wales.
Were redundancies occur it’s based on last in, first out, starting from the most recently employed person till the required number is reached.
We can liken these people in Wales to those in the parable who were in the Market place at 6am looking for work and were taken on as labourers in the Vineyard for a denarius a day. 
 
The hours of the day in the parable represent a person’s life time and the denarius represents salvation. Those who had repented and accepted Jesus as their Saviour.
At the Rawtenstall (CAP)Job club on Tuesday we had five people on the course three of them have been made redundant, and two others who were present also have experienced redundancy.
Redundancy affects the whole family, often with devastating consequences on a person’s self esteem and in the long term suffering hardship. Even if mum has a part time job, after the redundancy money runs out benefits don’t cover the costs to clothe and feed the family.
Some are dependent upon the Food Bank RAFT helping them out and I heard recently that the RAFT Food Bank were running out of food in Rossendale.  
 
Being unemployed and competing for jobs can be demoralising, this were the Job Club comes into its own. The work is supported by prayer and the commitment to help the poor in both spirit and need to help them overcome their lack of confidence and motivation and to bring Christ’s values into the Job Club Market Place.
 
The course’s aim is to bring to the fore the achievements, qualities and strengths. For example arranging a birthday party: choosing the venue, the choice of menu, the DJ. Making a list of who to invite and sending the invitations out. A person has to be organised, reliable, outgoing and enthusiastic. Meet a deadline, make decisions, planning ahead and write the invitations.
 Also it’s about building relationships within the group to support each other. I would like to thank those from our fellowship who help and those who present the sessions.
Like the Landowner in the parable who employed all who came into the Market place looking for work and so the Job Club is open to all comers and the good news Mr Ali who joined us on the second week of the course has now found employment, we shall miss him and will continue to hold him up in prayer.
The importance of finding an employer who doesn’t exploit their workforce: by cheap labour and bad working conditions. People who run companies like this reflect their own life choices, like that of the world, and as scriptures states, “The end of those things, “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6: 23.
Whereas, finding a good employer whose values on pay and conditions are reflected in this parable  Instead of deducting pay for the labourers who had worked for less than a day, he shows good faith towards them, investing in them giving them all the same wage.                                                       
But we understand some saw the Landowner as being unfair.
Values in Christ’s Vineyard, God was going to be generous to them and give them all  ‘the first and the last’ the same.
We see this worked out at the crucifixion were the thief on the cross,  whose life of service was limited to a moment of repentance and confession of faith in Jesus.
He received the same pay a denarius, ‘salvation’ as the apostles.
Everyone who comes to the Job Club has a need to be loved for themselves, and behind the struggle to be part of the world values, there is a soul crying out to find the Saviour’s love, to be part of his workforce and the values we share. 
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Jesus God’s Son

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus God’s Son
Luke 9: 28-36. Colossians 1: 9-26.

Theme series: The Existence of God – God the Father – Jesus the Son of God – God the Holy Spirit.

Last week Rev Chris Casey spoke on the doctrine of God the Father. He gave us three headings: care, compassion and commitment.
We encounter a God who cares, a Father who sees his children from both as a mother and a father. He pointed to the scriptures that captures the maternal side of God. “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you, you shall be comforted in Jerusalem “ Isaiah 66: 13.
The compassion of God in a Father’s love sent His Son into the world to die in order to save us and bring us home like the forgiveness in Jesus’ parable ‘The Prodigal Son and thirdly God’s commitment to us, in His love, like the love of a Father that disciplines His child to keep them on the right path.
This week we are looking at the doctrine of Jesus the Son of God
Jesus the second person of the Trinity and of one substance with the Father.
The Second  of the 39 Articles of Religion Doctrines of Church of England
The Son which is the Word of the Father, begotten from everlasting of the Father, the very and eternal God, and one of substance with the Father, took man’s nature in the womb of the blessed virgin, of her substance, so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and manhood, were joined together in the one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God, and very man; who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for all actual sins of men.
The Son the Word of the Father
John the apostle identified Jesus as the Word. John wrote in his gospel Chapter 1: 1 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” the Word  brought forth life
 It’s no co-incidence in Genesis Moses wrote, “And God said ‘Let there be light’ and there was light. And God said, ‘Let there be a vault between the waters and let it separate the waters from the waters. And so, ‘God said’  at the beginning of each day,His Word brought forth life.  Genesis 1: 3 -31.
The writer of Hebrews 1: 5.”God’s Son upholding the universe by the power of his Word.” The universe has natural laws: it takes the earth a year to travel around the sun and a month for the moon to travel around the earth, they are in a fixed orbit and so proving the existence of a supreme deity, God.
John also wrote that his followers had handled the ‘Word of Life.’
1 John 1: 2 
So therefore, Jesus is God’s Word clothed in the flesh
At his word Jesus commanded the storm to cease, the elements responded to his command and at his word he recreated the flesh of the lepers and other miracles and healing.
God gave the people evidence at the Transfiguration that Jesus is His Son,
The presence of Moses’ would confirm that it was God’s audible voice they heard.  We read inExodus 19: 9,
 “And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “Lo, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you for ever.” What they heard, verse 19 “the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in a voice.” NIV Bible
Elijah’s presence at the Transfiguration
Jesus in conversation with Elijah and Moses was heard to speak of his departure at Jerusalem, his death, resurrection and his ascension into heaven. Elijah was translated into heaven on a whirlwind,
 When the disciples made it known what they had seen and heard  God speaking in an audible voice, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him,” combined with Moses’ and Elijah’s  presence would bring many to believe that Jesus is God’s Son.
Jesus Word in us is one of our great strengths, we find in his Word, wisdom and understanding that touches our everyday life. We should speak his words into all our situations, whether it’s illness, tensions, accusations or when we are full of Joy. Be still and know that I am God.” “Do not be afraid,” When your in a fix turn to Philippians 4: 6 “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” “All things are possible to them that believe.”
Godhood and manhood joined together in the one person
The Son of God being born of a woman, Mary the mother of Jesus gave birth to Jesus..
But life is in the blood and I believe that Jesus’ genes that produced his blood came from God His Father. Leviticus 17: 11 Jesus’  blood had no imperfections 
It took the perfect blood of God’s Son Jesus to satisfy the legal requirements of the law.
Hebrews 9: 14 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
Just as God acts upon Jesus’ words he also acts upon his blood, His life laid down to be the final sacrifice under Jewish Law for the forgiveness of sin.
The parallel between the function of our blood in our body and the blood of Jesus saving us from sin, is  amazing. Our blood circulates around our bodies sustaining life in us.
A single red cell collects oxygen from the lungs and offloads it to a single tissue  giving energy and heat to the tissue, the red cell then  takes from the tissue waste and disposes of it through the lungs.
Through faith in the blood of Jesus, the love of God powerfully transforms our nature and takes away our sin, like the waste from the tissue.

The Article speaks of being one substance
Jesus prayer 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17: 20, 21.
 

VISUAL AID  The 3-IN-ONE 

The love of the Father lubricates the soul and transforms it.
The Son cleanses and removes the stains of guilt and sin and reconciles us to His Father.
The Holy Spirit  by enabling us to overcome temptations, therefore, prevents sin.

When the soul has been transformed, its’ nature changes. The will and the mind conform to the new nature. Under law the soul is trained to comply to God’s laws. Under grace the soul feels how God feels about sin, the law is written in the heart.

“When a (Christian) Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show what the law requires is written upon their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2: 4-16.                                            
At the transfigurationJesus’ countenance changed.
In our reading Luke records that the disciples Peter, James and John saw a change in the person of Jesus, The appearance of his countenance was altered.
They also witnessed a change in Jesus countenance after his resurrection.
I’ve witnessed many times seeing in ordinary Christians their countenance change when they shared with me their faith.
When a person comes to faith in Jesus their countenance changes: a brightness appears on the face which brightens up their whole appearance. A radiant smile that speaks of a transformed heart God’s Son presence within having been translated into His kingdom. The disciples had a glimpse into God’s dimension at the Transfiguration.
And so it’s by simple faith that we believe that Jesus is God’s Son, and God will confirm this truth to us 
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The Messiah’s Secret – Blogs from 1 – 176

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BLOGS – The Messiah’s  Secret.  
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177 The Messiah’s Secret – Today’s Unemployment in the UK
176. Jesus God’s Son
175. Existence of God.
174. Fasting and Prayer UK Referendum
173. Jesus Walking in His Father’s  Footsteps.
172. Adopted Children of God
171. Pentecost
170. Jesus the Strong Arm of God
169. Jesus at the Centre
168. Easter Reflections
167. Jesus at Bethany  
166. Jesus our Shield and Refuge
165. Numbered with the Transgressors
164. The difference between John and Jesus’ Baptisms 
163. Grace and Truth 
162. Jesus Born in Mary
161. Zechariah and Elizabeth
160. Crooked Paths made Straight
159. The Beatitudes
158. God Appointed Positions
157. Times & Seasons 
156. A Child-like Faith
155. Hidden in God
154. Coming from within Jesus the Word of Truth. 
153. Jesus the Bread of Forgiveness
152. Ecclesiastes 3 Time and Eternity
151 Love for God
150.God’s Timing
149. Holy is the Lord
148. God raised Jesus from the Dead
147. Blog List. 
146. Haslingden Christians Together
145. Jesus’ Prayer John 17
144. Jesus the Perpetual Light
143. The Doors were Shut 
142. Jesus is Alive 
141. Jesus and the Cross  
140. Bethany                                        
139. Discernment
138. Church of England Today in UK
137. The Lighthouse
136.The Refining Fire
135. The Calling of Nathaniel
134.Showers of Blessings
133. Christ Born in us.
132. The Prodigal Son
131. Fulfilment of Prophesies 
130. Jesus Reigns
129. The Great Commission 
128, The Crimson Worm
127. Visions and Dreams. 
126. A Heart/soul Transformed
125. The Wheat Harvest
124. Celebrating the Ascension
123. Who is Jesus.
122. the Tower of Babel and the Gift of Tongues.
121. Our Inheritance in Jesus.
120.The Way, the Truth, the Life.
119. Celebrating 20 Years of the Ordination of Women.
118. The Messiah’s Secret-  The Temple of Jesus Body
117. Shalom – Peace
116. 34 Prophesies Fulfilled in One Day
115. Jesus Heals the Two Blind men
114. James the Brother of Jesus
113. James remembers Job
112. short study of Job
111. Baptism of Tears
110.New Start
109. Jesus the First-born
108. Jesus the Vine.
107. The Samaritan Woman at the Well
106. Advent of the Star of David
105. Mary Chosen by God
104. Updated Book www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
103.Jesus the cornerstone
102. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry
101. Good King Wenceslas
100. The Rich Man and Lazarus
99. The Lost Sheep
98. The Lord’s Prayer.
97. Treasure in Heaven
96. How Great is our God
95.Jesus the Bridge
94. Jesus had nowhere to Lay His Head.
93. The Woman with the Alabaster Flask.
92. The Surging Crowds.
91. Pentecost.
90. Early Christians and the Essenes.
89. A Stone Rolled Away.
88. A Christian View of Freemasonry.
87. The Resurrection in Christ.
86. Fall & Rise.
85. The Messiah’s Secret –  Isaiah 53
84. Mary Anointed Jesus 
83. Faith, Fasting and Prayer                              
82. What is the Messiah’s Secret                        
81.  The Wedding at Cana 2                                
80. The Wedding at Cana 1                                
79.  A Slender Thread
78.  The Birth of Jesus                                                                                 
77.  Joy to the World                                            
76.  Water & Spirit                                                
75.   The True Saviour                                          
74.  Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream 
73.  Entering into God’s Rest 
72. Called by God
71. Held in the Lord’s Hands
70. Jesus is the Lord our God.                        
69. Jesus is the Christ                                          
68.   Law & Grace                                                 
67. Fire of God.                                                   
 66. Running the Race                                         
 65. Community Issues – Why Does God Allow Suffering.                              
64. True Riches.                                                  
63.  Community Issues –  Diversity of People     
62. The Sceptre.                                                 
61.  Community Issues – Unemployment             
60. Shoe Industry.                                               
59. Treasure.                                                      
 58. Get on Board.                                                 
57.Resurrection.                                                   
56. The Vineyard – Christ in You                         
55. The Days of Noah.                                        
54. I AM the Resurrection and the Life.               
53. Transfiguration kept a Secret.                       
52. Morning Star – Christ in You Part 7.      
 51. The Sower – Christ in You Part 6.                  
50. Opening the Scroll.                                         
49. Flight into Egypt.
48. Archangel Gabriel’s Message to Mary
47. A Stone of Offence.
46. Sheep and Goats.
45. ‘Gideon’ Christ in You Part 5. 
44. Render to God the things that belong to God.
43. Christ in You Part 4  
42. Jonah.
41. Christ in You Part 3
40 The Third Temple 
39. Christ in You Part 2.                                      
38. Christ in You.                                                 
37. Jesus Removes the Blindfold.                      
36. Wheat and Tares.                                          
35. Children at Play in the Market Place.            
34. The Ascension of Jesus.                               
33. Mary the Mother of Jesus.                              
32. God the Mathematician.                                 
31. The Lord of the Dance.                                   
30. The Evening of the Day of the Resurrection.  
29.The Sovereignty of God.
28. Faithful Relationships. 
27. Jesus the Light of the World.
26. Faith and Grace    
25. Elijah and Elisha.
24. The Transfiguration 
23. The Way.  
22. Jesus the Physician. 
21. Saved by the Blood.  
20.Lamb of God.  
19. Baptism of Jesus.  
18. Emanuel. 
17. Criminal Saved.   
16. Jesus the King of Kings. 
15. Jesus the Messiah. 
14.  Pray Continuously.  
13. Healing Ministry of Jesus.   
12. Measured by Love.   
11. Communion with God   
10. Removing the Veil.
9. Faith, Justice and Mercy. 
8. Isaiah’s Prophesies Fulfilled.  
7. Jesus the Living Bread.
6. The Two Witnesses  
5. Jesus the King.  
4. Jesus the Son of God.  
3. The Messiah’s Secret Revealed  
2. A Kept Secret 
1. The Imperishable Seed.