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Christians Together Haslingden – Go and Tell the Nations

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March 9 2

Jesus’ instructions to us is to go and tell the nations about him.

A local Priest and Rabbi were fishing by the side of a road. After some discussion they thoughtfully made a sign saying “The end is near! Turn yourself around before it’s too late!” and showed it to each passing car. One driver that drove by didn’t appreciate the sign and shouted at them, “Leave us alone you religious nuts!” Shortly afterwards they heard a big splash. They looked at each other and the Priest said to the Rabbi, “You think we should just put up a sign that says, “Bridge out of order” instead.”

The ‘Churches Together’ leaders in Ramsbottom were inspired by Pastor Phil Burns #doyouknowHim? Campaign which took place in Skipton last year, to hold it in Ramsbottom. They also contacted Capernwray Bible College for some of their Students to help as part of their syllabus. They were with us for the first ten days during which they ministered in schools, youth groups and play groups,

27th January the Launch Service was held at St Paul’s with Bishop Mark spoke on Acts 9 Ananias’ witness to go and tell the feared Saul (Paul) of Tarsus  about Jesus, who had spoken to him on the Damascus Road. Bishop Mark and Phil Burns commissioned all taking part: the 8 Bible College Students, the Church in Ramsbottom leaders and volunteers. Before the start we’ve had a Training day, 24/7 prayer day and a prayer morning plus weekly prayer meetings. The campaign started 23rd February and ends 28th April (10 weeks.)

The emphasis throughout the campaign is that all Christians are ‘the church’ in Ramsbottom and knowing Jesus in a personal way. it’s great to meet brothers and sisters from other Church Fellowships. Every Sunday each church focuses on the same readings from the Bible.

In response to Jesus’ word, ‘To go and make disciples of all nations’ Matthew 28: 19.     Saturday 26th January Training Day for witnessing on the street.

 Pastor Phil Burn spoke from his experience, he gave us lots of pointers on the way to evangelise: he said, do not fear evangelism. there will be each week a theme to engage people with. and for us to enjoy and get excited about evangelism.

Phil noted how today people are burdened: the media concentrates on problems: Family strife and the breakdown in society values. He realised how they welcomed good news about Jesus, and so we are offering a message of hope.

Phil said, the art of connecting is with your story. We all have a story of coming to know Jesus.

Jesus’ disciples after being sent out twice: the  first occasion when only the 12 went out and later with the 72 so when they took the message out at Pentecost, so they were already experienced at evangelism. The difference was that at Pentecost the authority came from the Spirit of Jesus within them and the Holy Spirit empowering them and so it is with us today, Jesus’ love reaching out with the anointed words. Luke 10: 3. Acts 2: 14.

On Saturday 23rd February we gathered at St Paul’s Church for 9.30am for the briefing and prayer. We took out ‘Bags of Blessings’ .  A bag with several items in it. The label explained what the items represented in our relationship with Jesus.

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A plaster – to remind you that God wants to heal your hurts.

A love heart – so you know how loved you are.

String – because wants to help you hold it together in tough times

Rubber – to remind you God forgives your mistakes and offers a fresh start

Star – to remind you that God will guide you forward.

Paperclip – so you are always organised

Kiss – so you know that God’s love is here to connect with.

We were sent out in two’s and three’s, the conversations with people varied: We engaged with a man from Nottingham, offering him a bag of blessing from the Church in Ramsbottom. He said that he was hoping to come and live in Ramsbottom. I mentioned the visit of Charles Dickens to the town and in his novel ‘Nickolas Nickleby’ it’s said, that he profiled the Cheeryble brothers on the Grant brothers of Ramsbottom. They built Square Mill and St Andrews church, where I attend and where I made my commitment to follow Jesus. The conversation was interrupted by the lady arriving to pick him up. Some refused the ‘the bag of blessing.’ But we had several opportunities to share our testimony with people and 20% were Christians.

(‘The Country and Church of the Cheeryble Brothers’ by William Hume Elliot)

Our witness to knowing Jesus that comes from a sincere heart, and can move a mountain of unbelief.

On the second week the theme was’ leaves of change’ We were to ask people about what changes would they want to see happen in the world and to invite them to write it on a leaf and if they were a Christian what changes to their life would they make during Lent.

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I’ve found that various aspects of my story fit in with certain conversations that I’ve had on the street. For instance: Two young women late teens early twenties, when I offered them a pamphlet they were very anti-Christian, but very polite. I was able to recall to them, when I at a similar age and feeling very anti-Christian having had a car accident where a drunk driver hit my car from behind, while I was waiting to turn right. After that car accident I began to be ill with my nerves. Some years later, a man at work who had a healing ministry, he was a Baptist Minister, invited me to attend an evening Bible study at his church, that night I was prayed for and I was healed.    It made a great change to my life, one experience is worth a thousand arguments Jesus can change our nation, and our lives, The best had yet to com 3 years later knowing Jesus as my Saviour.

The change to the Christian Community in our town were the churches are united on this campaign to fulfil Jesus’ words, ‘They shall be one’ in Christ.  

Week three. Finger Puppets – Telling the story at a Puppet Party.March 9th Campaign

Last Saturday we gave out invitations to the ‘Puppet party’ at the Community Church (Pentecostal Church) located opposite the Library.

Even though it was cold, windy, with the occasional shower most people were friendly and stopped to converse and were given a finger puppet for their children with the invitation to ‘drop in’ at the ‘Puppet Party.’ It was well received  many went to the church where various types of puppetry gave opportunity for children to ‘have a go’ with the puppets and watch and listen to the Gospel story being told by the puppets and their puppeteers.

Others speaking to people on the street had been asked, ‘Who is the ‘Him’ that the hash tag refers to?” and with great delight witnessed their story of knowing Jesus in a personal way.

On the street, it was cold and windy I heard in the distance the steam trains whistle as it stopped at the station bringing visitors into Ramsbottom. Nothing could dampen the joy I held in my heart at being part of this witness #doyouknowHim? Campaign

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to witness our faith, to meet people on their life’s journey and offer them the word of faith. 2,000 years ago it was made known to the world and that knowledge can’t be revoked that God’s love for us is revealed in Jesus where on the cross he took our sin of separation from God upon himself and through his resurrection we receive forgiveness and reconciliation between ourselves and God.

May many over the next 7 weeks through our turning to Jesus in faith and recognition of their sin against God and others, will ask God for forgiveness and enter into the Fellowship of the Church in Ramsbottom.  In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Heavenly Marriage between Christians in Christ

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Christ loves His Church.

Fidler on the Roof

“In the musical ‘Fidler on the Roof’, Tevye, a man devoted to tradition, finds his thinking challenged when his oldest daughter wants to marry for love, instead of having her marriage arranged by her parents. It never occurred to him that one would marry for love and one night he cannot help but ask his own wife the question (in song of course!): “Do you love me?”

T: Golde, do you love me?

G: Do I what?

T: Do you love me?
G: You’re a fool!

T: I know! But do you love me?

G: Do I love him? For twenty-five years I’ve cooked for him, cleaned for him, starved with him. Twenty-five years my bed is his. If that is not love – what is?”

“A Barrel of Fun” by J.John & Mark Stibbe

Luke 20:27-39

The Sadducee who came to Jesus asking this question about marriage in the resurrection. Jesus discerned that he was sceptical of the scriptures that tell of the resurrection and of God’s power to raise the dead.

 “Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.” Luke 20: 34, 35.

The Sadducee quoted the law relating to marriage “A man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man (his brother) must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother.”

He continued with proposing that all seven brothers in turn married his brother’s wife, so therefore in the resurrection whose wife would she be? The Sadducee used this law to defend their position on being no resurrection.

Jesus gave insight into marriage in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus responded by telling him that the Angels in God’s kingdom do not die and that in the resurrection, death has no dominion in God’s kingdom. Those who enter the Kingdom of God through Jesus’ resurrection have entered eternal life.

No marriage in the Kingdom of Heaven between believers.

“What is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.”  John 3: 6 RSV Bible

In the flesh

Matthew records Jesus in conversation with the Pharisee concerning divorce. Jesus said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall  become one flesh.” Matthew 19: 5.

Jesus upholds the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman in the flesh, and  this is what a Christian believes and puts into practice, but sadly it doesn’t always work.

In the Spirit

 When Jesus spoke to Martha concerning the resurrection, ”I am the resurrection and the life, he/she who believe in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” Through being born into Christ’s kingdom through the resurrection, Jesus’ words, ‘while we live’ in the flesh, brings Paul’s words, “We are individually members of one another, “ A Christian has entered the heavenly marriage in Christ. John 11: 25-27 Romans 12:

Christ loves His Church

God in his wisdom has identified the church which consists of male and female as betrothed to Christ, the ‘Bride’ of Christ. The marriage contract having been sealed, the dowry, through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Under Jewish law, which Jesus came to fulfil, requires that a marriage contract was secured with a dowry on betrothal.

Paul’s view on Christian Marriage in the Church.

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, unites a woman to a man in marriage on earth, to marriage in Christ in heaven. Their marriage state of being one, while the husband still retains being head over a woman.   Ephesians 5: 21-32.

But Jesus states there is no marriage in heaven.

“The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore.” Luke 20: 34-36.

It’s personal salvation, therefore, a man cannot save a woman even if they are married. Many Christians are married to unbelievers. God in his wisdom in my view separates  heavenly marriage from marriage on the earth with its cultural diversity: having an arranged marriages, or more than one wife,  same sex marriages, and partnerships.

Heavenly marriage in Christ.

Paul in my view gets it right when in his second  letter to the Corinthians he wrote, “I am jealous for you with a Godly jealousy, I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” 2 Corinthians 11: 2. N I V Bible

Personally we are individually saved by grace and within the body of the church. As members of Christ’s body we are called to be without spot or wrinkle, holy without blemish, a virgin in Christ.

Every Christian is responsible for the working out of God’s purpose and plan for our lives. While we work collectively, personal salvation means as Paul put it  in his letter to the Romans, “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Romans 12: 5.

I see our relationship in the body like the blood that circulates around our body.

We are united by the blood of Jesus and ministered to by his blood.

We have the example from our blood that contains red and white cells and plasma. The cells are tiny, and each cell has a function: the red cell collects oxygen from the lungs and ministers to a tissue giving its oxygen to it, which gives the tissue energy. The red cell takes from the tissue its waste and deposits it in the lungs carbon dioxide and into the plasma to be released from the body. This ministry of the red cell parallel’s with salvation: Jesus’ blood ministers to a person giving life and removing the waste, our sin from us.

The white cell contain DNA so is able to repair damage to our tissues. It also fights against bacteria, a splinter in our skin begins to develop puss around it, when the puss is removed with the splinter the skin is healed. The cell has won the battle over the invading splinter killing off the bacteria contained in the puss.

The plasma’s function sealing cuts stopping the flow of blood from the body, carrying the waste to the appropriate organ etc.

Our blood gives us life, so Jesus’ life’s blood contains the righteousness of God, saving us from eternal death.

The church consists of both men and women and is described as a ‘Bride’ a woman. Jesus is husband over the individual Christian life, while being also husband over all.

“Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth.” John 16: 12.

 John in his vision elaborated on our relationship with Jesus. John witnessed the Holy Spirit’s ministry in bringing in the Gentiles, and heard first hand Jesus’ words to the Sadducee on the question of the question of the marriage state in the resurrection.

In the vision he saw the church, the bride being married to Christ. Christ loves His Church, and the wedding ceremony takes place in heaven, followed by the marriage supper. Jesus referred to the marriage banquet in his parables. Revelation 19: 7, 9. Matthew 22: 1-14.

The seed of faith contains the whole makeup of the Kingdom of God, including the new heaven and the new earth. Revelation 21

John saw the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven to a new earth and a new heaven. He identified Jerusalem as being the ‘Bride’ of Christ. He continued to describe the city: Christ being its continuous light, the entrance to the city through the gates of pearl, the pearl of salvation. The refined gold pavement, those who have been refined before the judgement seat of Christ. No temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty, the glory of the Lord its light.

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Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration

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Ephesians 2: 1-21. Luke 9: 28-36

We read in Luke’s account, “The appearance of Jesus’s countenance altered, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration  conversed with Jesus,  and spoke of his departure which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.”

The Lord showed me that the appearance of Elijah and Moses is significant because of their great victories over Satan’s kingdom.

Both prophets had acted in faith and were dependent upon God. Jesus seeing them would remind him of His Father’s power over the prince of the power of the air, Satan, and also known as the devil and his hosts of wickedness.  

Moses

Moses and his brother Aaron were dependent upon God to win the victories over the gods of Egypt. God redeemed his people with the blood of the ‘Passover’ lamb.

Having reached the Red Sea Moses lifted his rod and the water parted. The Israelite’s 600,000 walked across the sea on dry land.

The Egyptians caught up with them and as they began to drive their chariots across, Moses lifted up the rod and the ground beneath the chariot began to clog their wheels and the waters came and covered them.  Egypt’s gods and Pharaoh’s army were defeated. Exodus 12

Elijah

King Ahab and Jezebel had 850 prophets praying for their god Baal to consume their offering and nothing happened. The one and only prophet Elijah totally dependent upon Israel’s God and the fire of the Lord fell and consumed his offering. The people proclaimed Elijah’s God their God.  Elijah’s victory over idolatry. 1 Kings 18: 17-39

King Ahab’s son King Ahaziah sent messengers to inquire from the god of Akron, Beelzebub whether he would get better after falling through the lattice in his upper chamber. Elijah was instructed by an angel to intervene and stop the messengers. He was obedient and Elijah was victorious over Beelzebub. 2 Kings 1: 1-4

Elijah was translated

Elijah was taken from the earth as he and Elisha walked across the Jordan, and as they walked on together a chariot of fire came between them and Elijah was caught up in a whirlwind into heaven.

Over 3 days 50 men searched for Elijah they were unable to find him. 2 Kings 2: 6-18.

Jesus was supported by Elijah and Moses

Jesus I believe was encouraged, by their victories over Satan’s gods strengthened by their dependence and obedience to do God’s will. Their presence and their words to him, gave him support when he needed it.

Jesus only did and said what he heard from his Father God, he was dependent upon his Father, but he was given like us, free will to choose what was the first and most important in his life to do his own will or to do his Father’s will. Jesus chose to do his Father’s will.

Jesus said, “Now is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father. Save me from this hour’? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify thy name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” Those standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus said, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out.” John 12: 27-31.

Jesus was troubled he knew the harsh reality of the Roman crucifixion, but for him it wasn’t just the physical, but also the spiritual pain he endured.

God’s witness to those who stood near him  heard God’s voice at this crucial moment. Jesus spoke of his purpose to make known the power behind sin and the defeat of the ruler of this world, his power over death through human hearts falling into sin. This victory Jesus  accomplished at Jerusalem. 

Isaiah’s prophecy

“Because of the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, I smote him, I hid my face and was angry; but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and requite him with comfort, creating for his mourners the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near, says the Lord; I will heal him.” Isaiah 57: 17, 18,

When we reflect on these words where God revealed how he felt anger as he smote Jesus bearing the sins that separate humanity from God, He watched his Son being mocked, beaten, crucified and die.

“I will heal him” God’s forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus what he did for us on the cross. God raised Jesus from the dead.

Sometimes, for one reason or another a Christian can backslide, that means not to lose faith, but to stop praying, reading the Bible or attending worship with other Christians. These verses remind us of the cost to God and Jesus his Son to redeem us, in order to make us right with God and to enter into the abundant grace of the Lord’s resurrection.

Moses and Elijah’s victories are part of our inheritance in Jesus Christ

Paul wrote that we are in Christ, “For through him we both have access to the one Spirit to the Father . . .  fellow citizens . . . with the household of God, built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets Jesus  being the cornerstone. . . . the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you are also built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2: 18-22.

God has broken down every barrier in Christ, his blood shed for the sins of the whole world. We are adopted into God’s family through his promise to Abraham that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed.

It’s good to be reminded of Moses and Elijah’s victories over the god of this world. The Holy Spirit  will use these victories written down so that we are encouraged and strengthened by them. We wrestle not against flesh and blood , but against these principalities and powers that they overcame by their faith being dependence on God.

Take God at his word and turn to him in repentance and faith.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2: 20. Through faith I died to sin with Jesus and raised up with him in the power of his resurrection.

Praying using your own words or use the prayers below:

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, where I have fallen away from being an active member of the body of believers, I am reminded of the courage and dependence on God of Elijah and Moses. Please renew in me your love and forgive me of my ________in Jesus’ name. Amen

Prayer

Lord Jesus,

God the Father of us all, sent Jesus his Son into the world, to redeem us from the course and spirit of this world. In his redeeming blood he has united Jews and Gentiles through faith and grace. I accept the word revealed about Jesus that he has redeemed the world by taking my sin upon himself and dying in my place, so that I am reconciled to God. Jesus you died for my sin and in your resurrection the forgiveness of my sin, Please fill me with the joy of knowing that I am redeemed please fill me with your Holy Spirit to overflowing. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Prayer of faith

I have received, God has raised me up in his great mercy and love.I belong to Christ I am saved by faith and grace, Jesus is sovereign over the temple of my body, soul and spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen

God has given us His Spirit to glorify Father Son and Holy Spirit

God’s love revealed in the Spirit of Jesus in the ordinary person when witnessing their faith. Those witnesses who witnessed to me where I saw their face shine like the lady at a Bury Fellowship outreach giving her testimony and the late Ronald Freeman with a beautiful halo around his head from shoulder to shoulder and in the halo the letters of the word ’love’. When I told Ron what I had seen he wasn’t aware of anything himself.

It’s encouraging when someone tells you what they have seen in you.

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The Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Christian Witness Aglow with the Spirit of Jesus

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Exodus 20: 18-22. Matthew 17: 1 – 13.

God calls us to witness our faith in Jesus and I’ve been encouraged on at least six occasions where I’ve seen Christians both men and women faces light up, aglow with the Spirit of Jesus when witnessing their faith to me.

A lady came to my market stall and we chatted about various things and when she began to witness her faith in Jesus her face lit up, just like switching on a light and her face glowed beautiful in the Spirit of Jesus.

While at work, I was passing through a room and stopped to ask a young man what was he reading? When he looked up at me and began to share what he was reading in the Bible about Jesus, his face lit up so brightly across the room.

In all three Gospel accounts the disciples Peter, James and John first saw Jesus’ face shine like the sun and his clothing became dazzling white. Luke states that Jesus was praying when his appearance changed.

All three Gospels record the presence of Elijah and Moses in conversation with Jesus.

Luke gathering information must have heard from one of the disciples what he had overheard from their conversation, “They spoke of his departure that he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.” Jesus didn’t reveal that he was the Christ during his public ministry because he knew that he had to die on the cross to accomplish God’s plan of salvation at Jerusalem.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, “Someone there in the crowd shouted. “Let’s see if Elijah will come and take him down.” The Jews were taught that Elijah would come on Passover night, every household had an empty chair at their table to signify Elijah’s coming. “The Gospel in the Feasts of Israel.” Victor Buksbazen.

They were also taught that the Christ would not come and die, when he comes he would remain for ever. Mark 15: 34. John 12: 34.  The Messiah’s Secret.

As they watched their eyes were heavy with sleep and as they were parting Peter standing close by said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make 3 booths one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Mark wrote in his account, “Peter didn’t know what to say when he suggested that he would build three booths. Barn’s Commentary suggests that Peter thought he would prolong their conversation by providing booths.

Then the cloud came and enveloped them all and they heard the voice of God, “This is my beloved Son, my chosen, in whom I am well pleased, listen to him.” Immediately they fell to the ground in awe.

The disciples hearing God’s voice from the cloud was a tremendous witness, as the disciples knew that God had spoken to Moses when he met with God on Sinai in the cloud.

“When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven.”

God’s presence was in the cloud as the voice came from the cloud.

All three accounts in the Gospels witness hearing God identify Jesus as God’s Son. Jesus is both God’s Son and King of the Kingdom of God.

The writer of Hebrews quoted from Psalm 2: 7 “”Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee.” And  “I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son”. Verse 8 he quoted from Psalm 45: 6,7. “”But of the son he says, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever. The righteous sceptre is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” Hebrews 1: 5, 8.

Peter recalls seeing His majesty, and his divinity and when the voice identified Jesus as God’s Son, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” He continued to say, “The lamp shines in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star rises in your heart.”

How awesome for Peter to be in Jesus the Son of God’s presence and yet later when he was in a dark place Peter denied knowing Jesus and when Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled the cockerel crowed, the lamp shone, he remembered Jesus’ words and gradually the day dawned on the day of Jesus’ resurrection the morning star rose in his heart. 2 Peter 1: 16-21. Revelation 22: 16.

As they descended the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell what they had seen until after he was raised from the dead. We read that they questioned what rising from the dead meant. The resurrection wasn’t understood even though the Psalmist and King David had prophesied the bodily resurrection of the Christ. On the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection in the house at Jerusalem, there he opened their minds and revealed the prophesies in the Law of Moses and the Psalms. Luke 24: 44-48.

At Pentecost the disciples proclaimed publicly for the first time that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah and that God had raised Jesus from the dead. “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” Psalm 110: 1. 16: 10. Acts 2: 32.

The disciples and the leaders of Israel were taught that the resurrection of the dead would take place on the last day. John 6: 39. Job 19: 25, 26. Dan 12:2. Ezekiel 37

Coming down the mountain the disciples maybe reflected what had taken place. It would be only a short time after what they had witnessed, when they raised the question as to why Elijah was there with Moses, they had understood from the scribes that Elijah must come before the Christ.

Malachi had prophesied that Elijah would herald the Christ’s coming. Jesus said that Elijah had come, they understood him to mean John the Baptist. John had preached a baptism of repentance and pointed to Jesus as being the ‘Lamb of God’ the one who would redeem Israel from their sins. They hadn’t perhaps heard that when John baptised Jesus a voice from heaven was heard to say, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3: 17.

They had not recognised that John was in the Spirit of Elijah, as John didn’t perform any signs like Elijah did.

We start the #doyouknowHim? Outreach at the end of February in Ramsbottom, Hawkshaw and Edenfield. I wonder how many people will see the light of Christ in people’s faces as we witness our faith in Jesus.

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The Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Lifted up in Christ.

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The young man at the empty tomb told the three women Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome that Jesus was risen and then he instructed them to go and tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus was going before them to Galilee; there they would see him as he had told them. “And when they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.”    Mark 16: 7, 13.

The women were told to go and tell the good news that Jesus was risen from the dead. He didn’t say go and tell the men to come and I will inform them of the good news that Jesus is risen. Something had changed, the old order of women being the helper given to man so he would not be on his own as steward of the earth, having God’s word of authority to manage God’s garden, to women bearing the word from God to go and tell Jesus’ disciples and the followers and to Peter who had ‘fallen short’ his sin of unbelief that Jesus is risen from the dead.

Esther 8: 1-8.

Esther was chosen from among the virgins to take the place of Vishti the deposed Queen. 

“On that day King Ahasu-e′rus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her; 2 and the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king; she fell at his feet and besought him with tears to avert the evil design of Haman the Agagite and the plot which he had devised against the Jews. 4 And the king held out the golden sceptre to Esther, 5 and Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and if the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I endure to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he would lay hands on the Jews. 8 And you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring; for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”

The King’s edict given to Haman was in force and therefore could not be changed only by revoking it with another edict from the king. The second edict had to be put into practice the Jews defended themselves against the first edict and were successful. Esther 9:2.

The women at the tomb followed the instruction given to them not realising the change to the status of women from being a helper and man’s soul mate, to becoming a child of God,to bear the fruit of His word. The young man who gave them the instruction was fully aware of the change . Genesis 2: 18.

There are those today who still believe that women were created to be man’s soul mate, his helper.

My own personal experience of being told that the Messiah’s Secret came through a man speaking through me and when I informed him, that when I received the words from the Lord in 1996 my church St James was in an interregnum without a priest in office.

I’ve had to make a stand like Esther going to the King, only I have gone to the King of Kings to the Lord of Lords to revoke the words of Paul of making a man the head of a women under Christ and “Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent.” Paul has put women under the confines of Jewish Law for centuries, I forgive him and those who follow a man’s words. 1 Corinthians 11: 3.  1 Timothy 2: 11,12.

The Spirit bears witness to the truth, Jesus has saved me by my faith in Him, personal salvation. I am a child of God, betrothed to Christ, I have been lifted up in Christ to be  co-heir with Christ. Mary of Bethany sat listening to Jesus and he commended her for doing so. I am seated with Christ in heavenly places. I am a member of Christ’s body. Jesus being the head of the body, his church. I believe we are individually members of one another in Christ’s body.  2 Corinthians 11: 2. Luke 10: 39, 42. Romans 12: 5

The disciples didn’t believe the women.

Would God reveal such a truth ‘Jesus was risen’ to women?  Surely he would have informed one of the disciples  first. The disciples were told by Jesus that he would rise on the third day, but they couldn’t grasp what he was saying. Matthew 16: 21-23. Mark 9: 10. Yet Martha received the word concerning Jesus’ resurrection and believed Jesus, but she thought that he was referring to the last day. John 11: 24, 27. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus taught the resurrection on the last day. John 6:40. The last day being the day of Judgement. Matthew 25: 31-46.

Jesus the seed in humanity that had to die alone to become the first of the resurrection into eternal life, Jesus’ divinity. “Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12: 24.

“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead the first-fruits of those that have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:20.

Jesus said that the truth shall set you free, the truth has set me free in Christ.

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Released from Behaviour Patterns

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Galatians 3: 26-28

Stephanie, mum of 2. Onetimethrough.com “One day I was at the book store flipping through books, my husband was occupying my daughter (I thought) when he later showed me this picture, she was standing just like me, flipping through a book. I had never seen her do that before!”

Behaviour that we adopt from  others

Paul writing to the church at Galatia was concerned that having received Jesus as their Saviour by faith, the Jews among them had reverted to living under Jewish law again and their influence was on the rest of the church.

To the Gentiles who had become Christians Paul informs them, that through faith in Jesus they were one with Jesus. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

God’s family is made up of people from all over the world, who have left behind world religions, and cultures. The Holy Spirit’s ministry at Pentecost we read that the disciples in conversation with Jewish people from various countries shared the good news in their native tongue.

The Samaritan women at the well who after speaking with Jesus went back home and began to tell her fellow country men  that she had met the Christ, the Messiah. Everything that should have separated her from Jesus by tradition and the political divide had fallen away.

”Christ in You” Colossians 1: 27

 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2: 20. Through faith we died to sin with Jesus and raised up with him in the power of his resurrection.

We know that we are changed, and we begin to walk in newness of life in the Spirit of Jesus. Instead of selfishness – love for other people, instead of fear – courage, instead of weakness – strength, instead of deceit and lust – righteousness and purity.

Our old nature will try to restore old behaviour. 

“I would be grateful if the member of the congregation who keeps calling out, “Praise the Lord!” would kindly cease and remember that this is the house of God.”                Church Chuckles’ Phil Mason                                          

We are born into a human family with its genetic traits e.g. boys/girls with red hair, twins etc. As we grow up we identify a characteristic with a parent or a relative. However, it’s quite common for a child to imitate a parent’s words or mannerism.

Onetimethrough.com “I’m not exempt from admitting that my son has imitated my husband’s and my “less than desirable behaviours” when my son was at an early-years drop in centre and was driving a play car and shouted, “Get out of my way, idiot!” at some other children.” 

From my own study of Peter, in Paul’s letter to the Galatians he recounts the behaviour pattern of Peter the Apostle on his visit to the church at Antioch. “For before certain men came from James, Peter ate with Gentiles, but when they came, he drew back and separated himself fearing the Circumcision Party, and with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their insincerity.” Galatians 2: 12,13.

Before Paul came to faith, Peter had taken the good news to Gentile Cornelius.

Peter had a vision where a sheet descended from heaven bearing all kinds of creatures, the angel told Peter to ‘Kill and eat.” Peter alarmed by this said he had never eaten anything that was not (Kosher) specified by the law. Three men came to the house and asked for Peter, they told him that Cornelius a Centurion who feared God, had been instructed by an angel to send for Peter he had a message from God for him. Peter must have realised that the vision was in association with Cornelius’ request. He went with them to the home of Cornelius and there he told them about Jesus’ ministry, his death, resurrection and that they were his witnesses. While he was speaking the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Acts 10 All that had separated Peter from the Gentiles fell away through their faith in Jesus.

Afterwards Peter was criticised by the Circumcision Party for eating with Gentiles. He shared with them the vision and the spirit told Peter to go with men to Cornelius’ home ‘making no distinction.’ Peter said, “The Holy Spirit fell on them just as on them at the beginning. “When they heard this they were silenced and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then to the Gentiles God has granted repentance to life.” Acts 11

Even though hearing his account had silenced them and they even glorified God, Peter wasn’t free from their condemnation. At Antioch Peter was still affected, fearing the criticism of the Circumcision Party. That’s why he drew back and separated himself, and his behaviour then influenced the other Jews with him.  Galatians 5: 17

Peter’s released from his behaviour patterns 

Peter’s second letter Chapter one verse one the Lord showed me that he had been healed, he writes “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours.“ This shows that he has accepted the Gentiles as his equal in Christ. He elaborates by going on to state, “And become partakers of the divine nature.” His way of saying ‘One with Christ’ and ‘Christ in you’. It’s the truth that has set him free. At the end of his letter he comments that some of Paul’s words are hard to understand.                                                              

Peter points out what makes up the divine nature: supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love. “For if you do these things they will keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  2 Peter 1: 1-11

Peter was released from being spiritually under law.

Even though Peter knew Jesus as his Saviour he had been under law regarding the Gentiles. Paul taught the Gentiles were one with the Jews in Christ. Peter couldn’t see it spiritually, that was why he separated himself from the Gentiles at Antioch. When he did see and understand what Paul was saying, he must have known that his fear and condemnation of what the Circumcision Party might think, stemmed from his former stance under law and as a result made him ineffective and unfruitful, I don’t think he would have used those words if he hadn’t experienced it for himself,

It’s important for every Christian to be free from being under law, not looking to rules to set our behaviour patterns. Colossians 2: 6. 2: 4-6.

Peter’s guidelines: add to faith virtue – moral behaviour, knowledge – knowing God the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit, self-control – spiritual integrity, steadfastness – faithful, reliable, godliness – reverence towards God, brotherly/sisterly affection – comforting presence of the Holy Spirit and peace(shalom) –  love – patient, kind 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.

As believers we are led by the Holy Spirit in fellowship with one another. Praying seeking to do God’s will for where the Lord wants his gospel heard. The Holy Spirit acts on our witness, as we make Christ known.

Recently I’ve been studying ‘ Keys to Freedom ‘ a course designed to help people with behaviour problems .  Mercy UK

Continuing the theme of behaviour patterns.                       .

Doc Martin’s behaviour pattern

A popular TV drama series Doc Martin, the main characters Dr Martin Ellingham played by Martin Clunes and his wife Louisa played by Caroline Catz.

The programme revolves around Ellingham’s interactions with the local Cornish villagers. Despite his medical excellence, Ellingham is grouchy, contentious, and lacks social manners.  His direct, emotionless manner offends many of the villagers, made worse by his invariably unpleasant responses to their ignorant, often foolish, comments. They perceive him to be hot-tempered and lacking in a bedside manner, whereas he feels he is performing his duties in a professional and by-the-book manner, not wasting time chatting. He does not smoke and has no hesitation in pointing out the risks of unhealthy behaviours, both in private and in public gatherings.

Good side to Doc Martin  

Martin’s skill as a doctor shows medical excellence  

Performing his duties in a professional and ‘by the book’ manner.                                                                                        

Martin doesn’t smoke Tabaco

Self-controlled.

Serving others.

Martin had compassion for people when he was called to respond to an emergency.Doc Martin and Louisa had therapy sessions with Rachel Timoney and he sought advice for his blood phobia.              

Let’s not be modest – work out what are our good points.___________ 

Martin’s less favourable points

He is grouchy, abrupt, confrontational and lacks bedside and social manners.

He is direct, emotionless, hot-tempered, not wasting time chatting to patients.

In public or private gatherings, he points out the risks of unhealthy behaviours.

It’s important that Martin recognised the cause of his behaviour patterns

Doc Martin’s and Louisa’s therapy sessions identified a major cause of Martin’s  behaviour problems: his relationship with his parents. His parents had a distant, cold relationship that affected Martin growing up. He wasn’t cuddled by his mum when a cuddle is an expression of ‘I love you, I’m here for you.’ Rachel recommends Martin and Louisa should have a hug every day.

God’s healing love worked out in our life.

Family or friends can reveal to us what our behaviour patterns are. If we recognise things that we need to change, and this may lead us to bring them before the Lord in prayer. The release from our hurt can bring about physical healing as well.

 “Prayer must surround everything we do, whether we’re sad or happy, suffering or cheerful. Prayer that is based on the fact that the Christian stands at the overlap point of heaven and earth.” “The person praying stands with one foot on earth in the place of trouble, sickness and sin and with the other foot in the place in heaven of healing, forgiveness and hope.” Tom Wright’s Study on ‘Prayer’

What influences can we relate to in our behaviour patterns?____________________

We are one with Christ, the power of this behaviour pattern is broken through faith in his name Jesus Christ our Lord. “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.”         Galatians 5: 1. Message Bible

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you bore on the cross every cause of sin and sickness, and in your resurrection,  we find release from cause and effect of behaviour patterns in our lives. As we have received you into our life through faith in Jesus’ blood we have been forgiven and we are called to forgive those who sin against us.

I pray for forgiveness where I have sinned and I forgive those who have sinned against me. As a child of God, I am able to stand and claim Jesus’ victory over the cause_______ and affect________ of this behaviour pattern in my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.” John 15: 7

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have already received it and it will be yours.” Mark 11: 24.

 

 

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Christians Together Haslingden – Liberated by God

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Liberated by God in areas of our life. 

Our Saviour Jesus has liberated us from: sin and condemnation.

Set free to worship God in Spirit and in truth. Free to give him the glory of his saving grace    Free to walk with him till the end life’s journey.  Free to bear the fruit of his love. Free to love and serve him, in this world,  in fellowship with heaven.

There are areas of our life that most likely haven’t been liberated yet.

Paul’s Letter to Philemon.    RSV Bible

Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to Philemon over his concern about Philemon’s former slave Onesimus. Paul was under house arrest when he wrote this letter, Onesimus had come to faith and was helping and serving Paul at the time of writing.

Paul spoke highly of Philemon’s ministry

Paul appealed to Philemon’s ministry of refreshment to his fellow Christians, refreshment meaning helping Christians who perhaps were going through difficult situations, where they needed prayer and practical support.

Paul wrote as a mediator between Philemon and Onesimus.

We understand that Onesimus had run away from Philemon’s home where he lived as a slave. But when he left, he stole from him.

Philemon was probably angry and hurt when he did this to him. Slavery was the norm throughout Ancient Egypt, and Greece as well as Roman. All slaves and their families were the property of their owners, who could sell or rent them out at any time. Their lives were harsh slaves were often whipped, branded, abused or cruelly mistreated, their owner could kill them for any reason, facing no punishment. 

Onesimus became a Christian

After leaving Philemon’s home he came in contact with a Christian and he received Jesus as his Saviour and like us today, through faith he died to sin with Jesus and was raised up with him in the power of his resurrection.

We know that we are changed, and we begin to walk in newness of life. Instead of selfishness – love for other people, instead of fear – courage, instead of weakness – strength.

Onesimus was a free man in Christ, just as Philemon and we are, free in Christ

When we see this liberty in the life of Onesimus, his past sins forgiven, but the Holy Spirit maybe convicted him to get right with Philemon. Therefore, Onesimus was repentant and forgave the injustice he had suffered in Philemon’s house.

Paul was like a father to Onesimus, he expressed how much he loved him, “he was sending his very heart.” Paul suggested to Philemon that God had allowed his former slave, to be parted from him for a little while, so now he could have him back for ever. Meaning he’s entered eternal life, so now he’s his brother in Christ.

Paul appealed to him to set him free from being his slave and he would reimburse him on behalf of Onesimus.

Paul seemed concerned that Philemon’s old nature might arise and make him a slave again “That your goodness might not be by compulsion, but of your own free will.” Perhaps he had observed that he kept this area of his life excluded from his faith. Do we tell all our friends that we are a Christian? Do Christians separate business areas of their life from their faith.

Paul also put it to Philemon that Onesimus could stay with him and serve him on his behalf, so fulfilling his obligation as a slave. But Paul wouldn’t take that decision upon himself. He was hoping that Philemon would forgive him and take him back as a brother in Christ.:

If he forgave Onesimus it wouldn’t have been a stamp of approval for what he did. But to forgive him would heal his own hurt and anger and that would be liberating for both of them.

Certainly, Paul didn’t want Onesimus to return to slavery to become a man’s property, now he belonged to Christ.

Wilberforce opened this area of people’s lives to apply the words of faith and brought liberty to slaves.

William Wilberforce for 18 years he regularly introduced anti-slavery motions in Parliament. Many Christian Victorians had bought into the slave trade, they owned slaves. After slavery was abolished in 1807 many would lose money buying and selling slaves; in 1833 slavery owners on the plantations were compensated.  It shows that still for many Christians that this area of their lives where closed to God.

Modern Slavery

The  Manchester Evening News reported on 7th Nov 2018 that 10 potential victims of slavery were liberated.  Some were Polish, Czechs and British.  The sting took place in Levenshulme Manchester at ‘Drive & Shine’ Car Wash.

The definition of Modern slavery involves the movement or recruitment of individuals using threats, deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation.

When we experience God’s liberation on areas of our life, it fills a person with great joy.

God liberates us from fear, danger, enslavement of sin and brings us great joy, peace and fills us with his love.

Christian Unity Week Theme ‘Only Justice.’

God of all, you have shown us the path of justice.

You are the Father of the orphan.

You are the constant companion of the widow.

You are the friend of the stranger.

In each of these, may we meet you and recognise the wind of your Spirit, moving us towards the need for justice.

In all that we do, may we know your grace and mercy and offer healing and justice in your name.

Amen.

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The Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Questions Raised

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Question raised by the suggestion that even though Jesus was not there in person the apostles were setting up the kingdom in anticipation of his coming, his return.

Where the disciples setting up the Kingdom of God at the beginning of Acts of the Apostles?

The expectation of Jesus’ immediate return.

The disciples were expecting Jesus to return soon after Pentecost they had been taught by Jesus mainly through parables about the kingdom of God and Jesus spoke to them about the kingdom during the forty days before his ascension. Acts 1: 3.

Jesus had indicated that he would return soon, the crowd had heard him say, “ Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 8: 38. 9: 1.

He spoke of those who had been ashamed at his words would see the truth of his words;

We have the evidence of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who perhaps were ashamed when they said, “We had hoped that he was the one who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened.” The stranger who they were talking to was in fact Jesus. Luke 24: 21

They  said that it was the third day since his crucifixion, the Pharisees who heard Jesus say that he would be like Jonah three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. This was a tremendous witness to the Pharisees when it came to pass, but they believed in the resurrection on the last day. The Pharisees and Jesus taught that God would raise people on the last day. This was why the disciples when the women came to the house and said that Jesus was risen from the dead, they didn’t believe them. Even though Jesus had told them he would rise from the dead, it wasn’t until the appointed time after his resurrection that they believed.  Matthew 12: 40. John 6: 40.

Peter believed Jesus would return soon after Pentecost.

In Acts 3 19, 20 Peter speaking to the crowd proclaimed that if they repented God would send the Christ appointed for them, Jesus.”

We tend to think of Jesus seated at the right hand of God, but we read that Stephen gazing into heaven saw Jesus standing at the right-hand side of God. Was he in readiness to return; Peter suggested that God would forgive their sin and send Jesus, he would return with the angels from heaven.

Jesus hoped to return in John’s life time.

Jesus in conversation with Peter said, “What about this man?” referring to John the disciple. Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” The saying went abroad among the brethren that the disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you?”John the last of the apostle exiled on the Isle of Patmos in the Autumn of his years there he had a vision of the events that will lead up to Jesus’ return.

Jesus the Son of man  through his earthly mother and his heavenly Father, he was born one of us into humanity and died and in his divinity,  he was raised opening heaven, uniting heaven and earth.

Jesus had said, “You are those who have continued with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22: 28-30.

Assign means ‘one to whom any property or right is made over; to appoint; to transfer.

Jesus indicates he’s left his servants to continue his work until he returned “It’s like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on watch.” Mark 13: 34.

Jesus gave his disciples this assignment to prepare for his return putting in place certain aspects for the kingdom, as a result, we read they set up a community at Jerusalem.

In order to do this the Jewish Mishna regulation requires that one tenth of the community to be officers. In Acts Chapter 1: 15,20  its recorded that there were about 120 persons followers of Jesus and Peter quoted from Psalms “Let his habitation become desolate and let there be no one to live in it and His office let another take.” One tenth of 120 = 12.

Peter arranged for the casting of lots between Joseph and Matthias to join the eleven apostles as officers. Matthias became the twelfth apostle.

Jesus had given the keys of the kingdom to Peter, he opened the doors of the kingdom to Israel at Pentecost and to the Gentiles with the conversion of Cornelius and his family at Caesarea. Matthew 16: 17, 18. Acts 10

They gathered together and had all things in common. They attended the temple and broke bread in their homes. They sold their possessions and distributed them to all in their need. Acts 2: 44-47.

They were carrying out their commission judging the twelve tribes of Israel when Peter retained the sin of Ananias and Sapphira.

On the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection Jesus had come among his disciples and followers in the house at Jerusalem. There he breathed on them the Holy Spirit he also his gave them his authority to retain or not the sins of any and to forgive the sins of any. Peter carried out judgement in the instance of Ananias and Sapphira. They had promised the money from the sale of a piece of land to the community. when brought the proceeds to Peter, he knew they had withheld part of it, as a result each in turn came before him and lied over the amount received. He said that they had lied to God and tempted the Spirit of God, both fell down dead at Peter’s feet. This judgement was the ruling rod of iron that was expected with the Messiah’s kingdom. Acts 5: 1- 11.

The judgement on Ananias and Sapphira was carried out separately on each of them; they were not judged as a couple in marriage.

When Jesus returns with the armies of heaven, he will rule the nations with the ruling rod of iron.

“From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron.” Revelation 19: 15

 “She brought forth a male child one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron.” Revelation 12: 12: 5.

 “Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron and dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Psalm 2: 8, 9.

The believers in Christ will reign and rule with him.

“He who conquers and keeps my works until the end, I will give them power over nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from the Father.” Revelation 2: 26, 27. 1 Corinthians 6: 3

The ruling rod of iron

The rod of iron is his word, and the word is Jesus, he is the word of God clothed in the flesh. We are cleansed by his word, his word and spirit abiding in us gives us eternal life. The Holy Spirit acts on His words, his words are living words and they are all-powerful. “The word of God is living and active is sharper than a two-edged sword that separates soul and spirit, joints and marrow and discerning of thoughts and intentions of the heart.” They are the unquenchable fire of judgement that John the Baptist spoke of, “He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand,  to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 1 John 1: 1. John 15: 3, 7. Hebrews 4: 12.

Jesus spoke of the fire of judgement that the Jews expected the Messiah to implement on his coming. “I came to cast a fire upon the earth and would that it was kindled! I have a baptism to be baptised with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” Luke 12: 49, 50.

Jesus was constrained when he cleared out of the temple the money changers, we perhaps see that as an act of aggression, but compared to the unquenchable fire it’s merely a slap on the hand. How it must have hurt his natural desire to love people and heal their wounds of mans inhumanity to man.

Our God is a God of justice and one day God’s justice will come into the world and his words stands for truth. Jesus will call out his church before he returns with the armies of heaven. It will come to pass, and I ask myself, will the church be ready and found doing his will, working for his kingdom to come in.

Where the disciples setting up the Kingdom of God at the beginning of Acts of the Apostles?

YES, I believe the Apostles in anticipation of his coming they where setting up the kingdom following Jesus’ instructions and authority he had given to them, when they set up the community at Jerusalem, in readiness for Jesus’ return, being about their master’s business. They believed that if the nation’s leaders repented, Jesus would have returned. Jesus indicated this when  he gave the sign of Jonah, to the scribes and Pharisees. Jonah  In  obedience to God’s will, he went to the King of Nineveh with the message of repentance and the king brought his people to repentance.  Matthew 12: 41

How many years the community existed at Jerusalem? I can only make an estimate 5 or 10 years. The community were scattered  when the persecution began, but the apostles remained at Jerusalem. The ruling rod of iron enforced by Peter was no longer being enforced after the community at Jerusalem was scattered. Acts 8: 1.    The gifts of the Holy Spirit are still given today. and used in the church.

In my ministry I do not judge people, or condemn, I accept people were they’re at and I hope they would treat me the same.

Jesus knew that only God knew the actual time of his coming. “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son only the Father. Take heed watch; for you do not know the  when the time will come.

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The Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Healing of the Rift between Christians and Jews

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Christian Denominations are seeking the healing of  the rift between Christian and Jew over the death of Jesus in diplomatic ways.

“Introduction to Gerald S Sloyan’s Article on Christian Persecution of Jews over the Centuries” by Rev. John T Pawlikowski, OSM, PhD.

“In the second century and beyond, many of the principal Fathers of the Church began to write of Jews as a “rejected people” who were doomed to a life of marginality and misery. Jews were to wander the world as a despised people. This image persisted in Christian preaching, art and popular teaching for centuries to come. In certain countries it often led to civil and political discrimination against Jews and in some instances to physical attacks on Jews which resulted in death. While some Popes, Bishops and Christian princes stepped up to protect Jews, they were clearly a minority. It was only in the mid-twentieth century that the Catholic Church and many Protestant denominations issued major statements repudiating this anti-Judaic theology and began a process of constructive Christian-Jewish interaction.”

A better way to the healing of the rift between Christian and Jew.

Where diplomatic co-operation is important to future generations of Christians and Jews. It’s far more important to know through God revealing the scriptures to show that it was in the foreknowledge and plan of God that the Jewish leaders and people 2,000 years ago had Jesus crucified by Gentile Roman hands. The Jewish leaders were ignorant until the disciples at and after Pentecost revealed these scriptures to them.

I believe ‘the Messiah’s Secret’ reveals the scriptures that bring to light God’s plan of salvation. God deliberately hid from Jewish leaders and teachers of the law that Jesus was the Christ, and the prophesies that related to the Messiah’s death on the cross as the final sacrifice for sin and of his resurrection.

The Messiah had to be slain at the hands of both Jews and Gentiles, because his life’s blood was shed for the sins of the whole world. God intended that Jesus the Christ He would raise from the dead in order to be the first-fruit of the resurrection. Acts 2: 25-31. 3: 17-21.4: 25-30

Jesus opened the disciple’s minds on the evening of the day of his resurrection, to understand the scriptures that spoke of the Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection

During Jesus’ ministry he did not allow the disciples to proclaim him as the Christ; ”Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.” Matthew 16: 20.

Jesus told his disciples of his future death at Jerusalem, “They will scourge him and kill him and on the third day he will rise. But they understood none of these things; this saying was hiding from them, and they could not grasp what was said.” Luke 9: 43-45. 18: 34..

The disciples asked Jesus before he ascended would he restore the kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6  They must have thought that Israel was lost to God, The ‘other nation’ in the Bible is referred to as the Gentiles.

Jesus referred to the other nation in Matthews account were Jesus had spoken of the vineyard being taken away from them (Israel) and given to another nation (Gentiles) to produce the fruit of it. Matthew 21:43.

Pentecost was the time for Israel’s leaders to accept Jesus as their Christ

At Pentecost when the promised Holy Spirit came into the house and filled the disciples, they went onto the streets and proclaimed Jesus for the first time that He was the Christ. The prophecy of Joel had been fulfilled and those who heard, some would have known about the ministry of Jesus, his crucifixion and his resurrection.

The message going out from Pentecost through the disciples and followers proclaimed that God had allowed the Christ to suffer and be killed, God had deliberately not allowed Israel’s leaders to recognise Jesus as the Christ before his death.  Acts 3: 17,

The understanding of these verses of scripture are important to  discern the part the Jews played in the plan of God.

Peter speaking to the crowd at Solomon’s portico he proclaimed their Leaders and people that they had acted in ignorance when they handed Jesus to the Romans to carry out the punishment for blasphemy he said, “And now brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.”

The prophets had foretold of the suffering and death of the Messiah, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him the chastisement that made us whole and with his stripes we are healed. . . . he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressor.”  Isaiah 53: 1-12

Sins blotted out through repentance, sins totally deleted by the one sacrifice of Jesus ‘s life laid down paying the price demanded by God, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 9: 22. Leviticus 17: 11.

The ‘Times of Refreshing’ meaning the re-establishing the throne and land of King David. The King of Israel ruling the nations with his kingdom of priests taking out the good news of the Christ’s reign, restoring the environment and keeping the peace among the nations. This has still to take place, our young people can be assured that the destruction of the planet is not in the near future.  

To the Jew first.

At Pentecost Peter standing with the eleven addressed the people: ‘Men of Judah’ and ‘Men of Israel” followed by ‘Brethren’. There were also proselytes, coverts to Judaism that are mentioned in Acts 2: 5, 10, 14, 22, 29. 3: 26. 13: 45, 46.                                            

The expectation of Jesus’ immediate  return.

The disciples were expecting Jesus to return soon after Pentecost they had been taught by Jesus mainly through parables about the kingdom of God and Jesus spoke to them about the kingdom  during the forty days before his ascension. The Holy Spirit and had witnessed the prophesies about Jesus to them to prove that he was the Christ.

Jesus knew that God only knew the actual time and day of his coming. “But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son only the Father. Take heed watch; for you do not know the  when the time will come.” Mark 13: 32, 33.

Some years later, Paul had recognised that God had hidden the death and resurrection of the Messiah from the Jewish leaders, and people. “For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognise him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. Though they could not charge him with anything deserving death, yet they asked Pilate  to have him killed. And when they had fulfilled all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witness to the people.” Acts 13: 23-31.

Paul’s conversion leading to his ministry to the Gentiles. 

 Paul had been taught the history of God’s dealings with Israel, recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, so he was able to bring this knowledge into the light of knowing Jesus as the Christ. God gave him a ministry to the Gentiles. He foresaw the inclusion of the Gentiles would lead to Israel’s enlightenment about Jesus being the Christ.

St Paul in his letter to the Romans spoke of Israel having zeal for God, but they were not enlightened regarding Jesus. They sought the Christ through the law, Jesus created a division amongst the people because he continually broke the Sabbath Day and other laws.

Under the Law the people earned their righteousness by keeping the law, so the Pharisees, Lawyers and scribes added more stricter rules to the existing ones. Jesus was told not to heal on the Sabbath Day as there were six other days on which he could heal people. Jesus said it was right to do good on the Sabbath day. They untied their ass to water it on the sabbath day, so he had released on the sabbath a woman from her physical ailment that she had for 18 years. Luke 6: 1-11.13: 10-16.

Paul had realised that it was by faith he received Jesus as his Saviour,  he quoted from Isaiah:

 ”But Israel have not obeyed the gospel’ for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from what is heard and from what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ. But, I ask have they (Israel) not heard?” Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” Again, I ask did not Israel understand. First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient people.”[1] Romans 10: 2, 16-21. Acts 9: 10-22.

Paul was teaching the church at Rome that Isaiah made the distinction between Israel the nation, and the Gentile nation: Israel’s national calling to accept Jesus as the Messiah,  “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation.” The Gentile people from the rest of the world  who were accepting Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Maybe Paul felt personally the jealousy that he quoted from Moses. He always went into the synagogue first on his ministry tours and shared the gospel. But only to find it was the Gentiles who were ready to accept the good news of the gospel.

“Events in Prophecy” by M.R.DeHaan (Founder of ‘Our Daily Bread’ Scriptures) writes on Romans 11: 11 page 65, “God, rejected his own chosen people and sacrificed them that we might share in their salvation.”

According to this view: the Gentiles were brought in as a result of Israel’s fall. But he doesn’t give Israel the opportunity to receive Jesus as their Christ at Pentecost as he writes they were already cut off in being the instrument and sacrifice of Christ’s death.

Tom Wright’s book “The Day the Revolution Began” page 229. He writes, “ Jesus representing Israel and the world, took upon himself the full force of the divine condemnation of sin itself; so that all those “in him” would not suffer it themselves.”

Jesus made the sacrifice for the unconfessed sin that is done in ignorance.

Jesus the ‘scapegoat’ and all Israel’s sin on the cross Leviticus 16 6-10,20-22. The two goats, one chosen by lot to be slain for the sin of Israel and the other goat bearing the sin of the Israel sent away into the wilderness – removing the burden of sin.

Healing the rift between Christian and Jews

 The disciples proclaimed Jesus as the Christ for the first time at Pentecost. It was for the Israeli nation’s leaders to recognise that they had acted in ignorance in Jesus’ death, it was God’s plan of salvation for all creation. we today must realise this, it will prepare us for when Jesus calls out the church and that could be anytime soon.

2,000 years ago we read that a number of priests  became followers of Jesus, but the nations leaders were not convinced. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection and the Pharisees who believed in the resurrection, but only on the last day.

Many today they look for a personal experience of God, which is of the flesh before they will reach out in faith.

Paul taught personal salvation through faith in Jesus

The call is to the individual person across the world to accept Jesus as Saviour. Paul in his letter to the Romans. “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.” Romans 10:9.

God loves us, and his love reaches out to anyone who seeks the truth.

John the disciple wrote, “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.” John 1: 12, 13.

God puts substance to our faith, in knowing Jesus in a personal way. The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to reveal Jesus to us. Quite often it’s when we discern scriptural truths that our ears, eyes and hearts are opened and adds substance to our faith.

St Andrews’s scripture for 2019 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” Isaiah 55: 6

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FAITH in the Virgin Birth

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Faith in the Virgin Birth – We remember at Christmas  the birth of Jesus. These things happened a long time ago, so we have faith, believing what has been written in the Bible about the birth of Jesus. Matthew 1: 18-25. Luke 1: 34, 35. 2: 1-7.   FAITH 12 dEC

God can do the impossible, through prayer God heals the body without touching the flesh and I believe in the virgin birth, Mary conceived without her flesh being touched by a man.

F – stands for ‘Family’   (someone brought out letter F)

A week before Christmas two little boys were staying with their Grandma, at bedtime they were saying their prayers. The youngest boy in a loud voice began to pray: “Dear God, please can I have a new bike and a Nintendo game?” The other boy said to him why are you shouting, God isn’t deaf? He replied, “No, but Grandma is!”

By faith we believe that Mary and Joseph left their family at Nazareth and went to register at Bethlehem for the Census. It was approximately 80 miles from Nazareth. It must have been hard for Mary, so near to the time of giving birth to contemplate going on a long journey riding on a donkey.

Some of you are going home to spend Christmas with your family and friends, for others staying at home with family having a wonderful meal with all the trimmings.

Good King Wenceslas went into a Pizza Hut for a pizza and ordered a deep pan, crisp and even pizza.

A – acceptance.

When Joseph and Mary reached Bethlehem, they found no one would accept this heavily pregnant lady, Mary probably had gone into labour by this time. Maybe they were short-staffed or perhaps the regular staff had gone to register elsewhere.

On our life’s journey there are times when we don’t feel accepted for who we are. But God in His love accepts us and wants to give us his gift of his family.

An Innkeeper offered Joseph a stable for Mary to have her baby, she gave birth to Jesus in that stable, they were surrounded by braying donkey’s, asses, and probably camels and horses.

What’s every parents favourite carol? – silent night.

OPENING THE GIFT. Mary & Joseph Inside the box: Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus in a manger, also a scroll ‘Free Pardon’ and an Invitation to the‘Wedding Supper’ of Jesus and His Bride, the Church.

We can accept the gift of Jesus into our heart and receive a free pardon for our sin against God.

God’s Son being born as one of us was in order to redeem us from sin and for us to become a child belonging to the family of God.

The meaning of the cross.

Before Jesus was born, a person came with their lamb offering to the temple and stood at the entrance into the court where the altar and the Laver where situated.  A priest came to them and they presented their offering, it could have been : a lamb, goat, or a bird, they laid their hand on its’ head and prayed their sin onto it, then it was killed,  and the priest caught the blood in a bowl and its blood was sprinkled onto the altar for forgiveness of sin. This was repeated to deal with sin. Leviticus 1: 1-5.         This is what the cross is about; Jesus takes our sin upon himself, he is our sin bearer. God sent Jesus to be the lamb that takes our sin upon himself on the cross where he died and because he was innocent of sin himself, God raised Jesus from the dead, so when we  turn to Jesus in repentance for our sin, we are totally forgiven, our sin permanently deleted, and it’s a new beginning, a fresh start.

A friend of mine Lucy gave me permission to tell her story.  Lucy was out walking her dogs along the disused  railway track at Musberry  in Haslingden, when she saw a life-size Jesus on the cross, he looked grey in his appearance and she discerned  that he had taken her sin upon himself and it was causing him pain which upset her.                      Lucy received Jesus as her Saviour, her experience of seeing Jesus is rare, but this  is what is going on when we say sorry to God and God forgives us through what Jesus has done for each one of us on the cross

The gift includes  the complete trinity of God. God the Father, Jesus his Son and God’s Holy Spirit.

I – invitation.

There’s an old saying, you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. When we arrive in heaven, we might be surprised by who we see there.

With the gift there is an invitation to Jesus’ Marriage Supper. Jesus told a story: Wedding invitations were sent out, but the people invited didn’t turn up, so God said, “Go and invite the poor, the lame, every one you meet on the streets, so those people are you and me, we are invited to Jesus’ Wedding Supper that will take place in heaven.

T – truth. There are many Santa’s’ and Father Christmas’ but only one St Nicolas and there’s only one Jesus. The truth of what Jesus has done for us in his death and resurrection becomes reality when we experience God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit making their home in our heart.

H – hope. Santa asked the little boy what he wanted for Christmas? He replied, “Didn’t you get my email?”

Jesus is the hope for the world. In my study of the scriptures I believe that when Jesus returns to the earth, he will come with his believers and he will sort out our pollution problems and conflicts will end because he will rule the earth for 1,000 yrs.

Having faith is to believe and have the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, what we cannot see will appear.