God's presence in the wind, Jane saw in a vision Jesus dead on the cross bearing her sin, Pentecost, the church in the old testament, wind of the Spirit

Pentecost

Leave a comment
The Messiah’s Secret Revealed –  Pentecost
The Church celebrates Pentecost because of what happened on that day 2,000 years ago when Jesus sent God’s Holy Spirit into the world.
 
Acts 2: 1- 21
We read that the disciples of Jesus where gathered at a house in Jerusalem, in a room, a confined space when they heard the sound of a mighty rushing wind coming into where they were.

The fan blowing the material is using electricity to rotate blades that causes the air to blow. 






The same effect is produces by the hand held fan.

                                                                                                 

The difference between wind of the Holy Spirit, and the wind blowing through the fan. Air pressure creates the movement of air that produces the wind  that can blow the curtains, and papers on desks.                                                         
Whereas, the wind of the Holy Spirit flows out from God and is filled with God’s presence, the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.         
 
The Apostles heard the sound of a strong wind, maybe they felt the wind on their faces, and clothes. In verse 4 we read that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. 
 
My friend Joyce had an amazing experience of the Holy Spirit giving her a vision. She felt the wind suddenly blow up, but nothing was moving, no sound of the rustling of leaves in the trees.
 
Joyce wrote down her testimony for me to share:
 
She writes, “First I would like to explain that I finally had 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.  
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.”                                                          
 
I have to say, not many people see a vision of Jesus when they come to faith in Jesus.
A vision is a visual view of what is going on in the heavenly places, the spiritual dimension. Joyce saw in her vision what happens when everybody comes to faith in Jesus were he deals with our sin on the cross.

Joyce had forgiven someone for whatever they had done against her. Jesus said you must forgive, and then God will forgive you. Many people say that they are unable to forgive the things that someone has done against them, they still bear the pain of their injury. Jesus is our example and while he was injured dying on the cross he forgave those who stood against him, for whatever their reason.   Luke 17: 4.                                                                                   
Even though Joyce had forgiven this person she was not a Christian.
 
The Holy Spirit’s ministry convicts the world of unbelief, righteousness of God, and judgement.

Joyce found faith in Jesus through the Holy Spirit showing her the vision of Jesus dead on the cross, taking her sin of unbelief and all that stood between her and God, sin and its causes, she personally received forgiveness from God.

Joyce must have felt the righteousness of God when she felt ashamed and the feeling of being clean, released from the weight of her sin in forgiveness and being raised up in the power of his resurrection, her righteousness being in Jesus before God.

God had a given to her a free pardon, judged her no longer under a sentence of eternal separation from God.
 
So this is what happens when a person calls on the name of the Lord, Jesus takes our sin upon himself and raises us up in his resurrection

If you are wanting to get right with God and be filled with the Holy Spirit then say with me this prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ,      
l am sorry for the things l have done wrong in my life. 
I ask for your forgiveness    
Thank you for dying for me on the cross,  
to set me free from my sins. 
Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit.                                                                  
Thank you Jesus. Amen


The following below was added when writing this blog.
 
The church came into being at Pentecost fanning the words of the good news of Jesus’ resurrection and the pouring out of God’s Spirit. 

The church as we know it today has been hidden in the scriptures:  “The Lord said, “Call his name, not my people, for you are not my people and I am not your God.” Hosea 1: 9. 2: 23
Peter quoted this verse in Hosea in his first letter to Jew and Gentile converts when he spoke of being a holy nation and Jesus being the corner stone. 1 Peter 2: 10.  Romans 9: 19-26.

In Acts 1: 6, 7 the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know the times or the dates the Father has set in his own authority.” Perhaps the disciples had remembered the parable of the ‘Vineyard.’

The church being the other nation that Jesus referred to in his conversation with the Scribes and the chief priests concerning the Vineyard where Jesus quoted ” The very stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner”. “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom will be taken away from you and given to a nation to produce the fruit of it.” 
Matthew 21: 42-46.  

The disciples of the early church were expecting Jesus to return soon after Pentecost and bring in God’s kingdom. Jesus himself had indicated that he hoped to return with the holy angels and some of the people standing listening to him who would not see death before they saw the kingdom had come in power. Mark 8: 38, 9: 1. 

Peter addressing the crowd in Solomon’s Portico said that the nations leaders and people now had the opportunity to acknowledge that the Christ had to suffer according to the prophesies and be raised from the dead, then God would blot out their sins and bring in the times of refreshing and send the appointed, Jesus. Acts 3: 17: 21. Luke 24: 44-48. 
A clear indication that Jesus hoped to return soon after Pentecost. He also knew that he would remain in heaven until all his enemies were under his feet. 
Psalm 110:1.  ! Corinthians 15:25. 

At Pentecost the message from Peter focused on the prophet Joel’s prophecy in the latter days God would pour out his Spirit on all people, both men and women. In verses 19, 20 the latter days also implies a catastrophe taking place in the heavens and on the earth before the day of the Lord when the Christ returns and everyone who calls on his name will be saved. 
                                       
Acts 1: 4
The Holy Spirit gave the Apostles the ability to speak the various languages of the people they met on the streets of Jerusalem.
 
Today the Holy Spirit gives the same gift to every Christian, but the gift often isn’t used.  The natural mind may find it a strange to speak words that we can’t understand. St Paul gives us insight into the ministry of this gift of speaking in tongues.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans he wrote, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sights too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8: 26, 27.

When we are praying with or for someone who perhaps is sick or in trouble and we don’t know what to say, the Spirit will use the gift of speaking in tongues, giving us words which we may not understand, but we trust that it will be right according to God’s will.
 
Also in a meeting or a group the Holy Spirit will give a prophecy in tongues to someone. On this occasion the word needs to be interpreted, it may be interpreted by the same person who spoke in tongues or another person. He will give the gift of interpretation to benefit someone present. 1 Corinthians 14: 5, 13
Moses' rod, power had gone out of him, the church crucified to Christ, the cross of Jesus lifted up, The strong arm of God

Christians Together Haslingden – Jesus the Strong Arm of God

Leave a comment
Christians Together Haslingden
 
 Jesus the strong arm of God  

A  policeman stopped the young speeding motorist. “I’ve been waiting for you coming,” The young motorist said, “Well, I got here as fast  as I could.”                                                
The Policeman  as he gave him a speeding ticket said, “3 of these and you get a bycle.”                                                                                                           
The word the Lord gave me for today  Isaiah 63: 12 “The Lord who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses.” The strong arm of God held the rod in Moses’ hand. 

The rod was made of almond wood, and it was used to demonstrate the power of God in defeating the Egyptian gods and when he lifted up the rod the Dead Sea parted.                                                                                                                                                      
So the strong arm of the Lord is where God takes hold of a situation and uses his almighty power to bring victory.   

’The arm of the Lord,’ is one of a number of titles of the Messiah, “To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed,” Isaiah 53: 1
 
Jesus is the arm of God. 
He demonstrated his power over the spirit behind the idolatry, in the wilderness he was tempted by the devil to worship him. The devil offered him all the kingdoms of the world if he would fall down and worship him. Jesus responded, “Be gone Satan! “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Matthew 4: 8-10. 
 
Jesus the arm of God has the power to heal, “And the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and he healed them all.” 
 
The woman with a hemorrhage, it ceased when she touched Jesus’ garments. “And perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments.” Mark 5: 25-34. 
 
In saying that Jesus was the strong hand of the Lord, Isaiah wrote that the Christ would be gentle and kind. “A bruised reed he wouldn’t break.” In his ministry his power was used to witness that God’s hand was at work, to bear the fruit of love. But the Jews were expecting the Messiah to bring in the ruling rod of iron. 
 
Psalm 2: 8 “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron.” 

Isaiah 11: 4 “He will smite the nations, with the rod of his mouth.” 

Psalm 98: 1-9 “His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” 

Due to this expectation the Jews were dubious about Jesus.”How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ tell us plainly.” John 10: 24. 

John quoted from Isaiah 53: 1 “Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed,” John 12: 38. 

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed. The Jews had not understood what Jesus was about, it was hidden from them. 
Paul wrote in his first  letter to the Corinthians 2: 7,8 “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification. None of the rulers of this age understood this: for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 

Jesus is the strong arm of the Lord; He was God’s means of victory over him who held the power over death, the devil. He bore all the sins of the world and was victorious in his death and resurrection.                                                                                                                                                   
The church the body of Christ, Jesus the strong arm of God lifts up the crucified church.  
The wooden cross like the rod of Moses has been used by God to do the most amazing thing that could happen to anyone. Through repentance and faith in Jesus crucified, we receive sins forgiven and the door to eternal life opens. The Holy Spirit is working in the world drawing people to hear the message of the cross.                                                                                                       
Lord, inspire us in ways that will bring people to faith in Jesus, open a window of opportunity to tell of his dying love, his faithfulness, his abundant blessings and our hope in eternal life. In Jesus name. Amen
Messiah’s Secret Revealed Continued 
The strong arm of God was seen in action in the life of the early church.  
On the evening of the day of his resurrection in the upper room Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit and he gave them authority to retain or forgive the sins of any. John 20: 23. 
Sins retained was carried out by Peter when Ananias and Sapphira lied over the proceeds of the sale of the land. They had agreed to give the proceeds to the community at Jerusalem. They in turn came before Peter and fell down and died at Peter’s feet. (Adam and Eve of the New Testament) Acts 5
 
Was this the ruling rod of iron? Jesus had left his servants in charge until he returned. Mark 13: 34 
 
The early church had this expectation that Jesus would return soon after Pentecost bringing in the kingdom of God taking up again with Israel and rule the nations with a rod of iron.  
 
Jesus had said, that there were some standing here who would see the kingdom come in power. He also said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 9: 1. 13: 32  

His return was dependent on Israel’s leaders accepting him as the Messiah after Pentecost. Peter standing outside the Gate Beautiful with John said to the crowd, that they and their rulers had acted in ignorance when they crucified their Messiah and if they would repent their sins would be blotted out and he would bring in the times of refreshing and the appointed Christ, Jesus. Acts 3: 17-21.                                                                                                                                                                                                   
The times of refreshing the restoration of the throne and kingdom of King David the year of the Jubilee.

The Jews today are in the year of Jubilee and are celebrating Passover this week.

Clearly the early churches expectation did not happen Jesus did not return within the life time of the apostles and the ruling rod of iron is not part of the churches ministry today. 
 
John in his book Revelation wrote of Jesus’ return accompanied with “The armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on the white horse. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which he will smite the nations and he will rule them with a rod of iron.” Revelation 19: 14, 15.  This has yet to be fulfilled.
153 fishes, Beni ha-Elohim sons of God, Jesus at the Centre, Jesus centre of the church., no blood only flesh and bones, personality and character of Jesus

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus at the Centre

Leave a comment
The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus at the Centre

On the chocolate box we find descriptions of what each chocolate contains, but first we have to remove the wrapper.

The wrappings we have to remove first: remind us of God’s love, To find God’s  love for ourselves, we have to take a look at Jesus..



The chocolate that surrounds the delicious centre ­– reminds us of the Holy Spirit, he directs us to Jesus and we learn about Jesus  in the Bible.


The centre – Jesus at the centre he is our Saviour and he is the one who saves us by taking our wrongdoings against God upon himself which caused him to die instead of us. 


Through our faith in Jesus we can be made right with God.
Luke 24: 36 – 49. 
The disciples were lost without Jesus, he was the centre of their lives.  
After his death they were fearful and troubled, but when he came and stood in the midst of his disciples in the house Jerusalem their fears melted away.                      

They were were not quite sure whether it was a manifestation of a spirit or really Jesus, he showed them where the nails and the spear had pierced his flesh, Luke records that he said, “Handle me, and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have.” There is no mention of blood, his resurrected body had no blood, no blood circulating the oxygen and nutriments to his body, but still he ate grilled fish.

His body wrapped with flesh and bones, the life which supported the body from a different structure of molecules, but at its centre Jesus, the same personality and  characteristics that he had before his death and resurrection. 

The same warm personality reaching out to Mary Magdalene Jesus was the centre of her life too, at the tomb she stood weeping. Jesus said to her, ‘Women why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing she was speaking to the gardener, she said that some one had stolen Jesus’ body. Then she heard the familiar voice of Jesus saying her name, “Mary, Mary” she turned and realised that Jesus was risen, he was alive. 

Mary saw the reality of that hope we have when we die. We therefore have the assurance, as Jesus always spoke the truth, that he has prepared a place in his Father’s house for his family of believers. Where he is, we are also. 

Jesus’ engaging character was experienced by the two men were on the road to Emmaus, perhaps he saw how discouraged they were and came alongside and discussed the scriptures with them. They invited the stranger to stay with them, and as they sat to eat, Jesus revealed himself through the breaking of bread. 

In our reading, in the upper room where all his followers gathered, he opened up the scriptures to them revealing that the Christ had to suffer and be raised from the dead.

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed 
Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the parables, but concerning his death and resurrection they could not grasp what he was saying and after his death we read they did not believe in the resurrection. Matthew 16: 22. Mark 9: 32.John 20: 9.


Jesus in his steadfastness will be coming  along side someone today, opening their eyes of understanding to his presence in the scriptures.  

Madge the eyes of her understanding were opened when at a Bible study she understood in her spirit about the blood of Jesus cleansing her from her sin, sins forgiven through Jesus’ blood being poured out at Calvary for the sins of the whole world. Madge’s head knowledge became heart knowledge. Jesus gave substance and reality to her faith. 

The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus’ strength of character when the disciples saw this figure on shore of the Sea of Tiberias. They heard him shout in a commanding voice. “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they counted the fish there were 153, the significance of this number, the Hebrew language consists of letters and numbers.  The Hebrew word ‘Beni ha-Elohim adds up to 153 and translated means, ‘Sons of God.’  Jesus wanted to bless them and confirm his word to them, that they would be fishers of men. The sign of the fish became a prominent symbol in the early church. 

Jesus at the centre of his church. Jesus said, that those who believe in Him, he and his Father would come and make their home within that person, Jesus in the midst of a person.
When in faith we ask Jesus into our heart, God’s Spirit transforms our human soul/spirit.  

In the King James version the translator uses the word ‘quickened’ and I relate that to when I was pregnant at round about three months the baby began to move in the womb. The term used was ‘quickening’ and from my experience God quickens our human living soul with his Spirit and it reminded me of the first movement of the baby.  

So that we are now one with God our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.   
Like generations of Christians before us we have been changed like a car that has a new engine, the appearance of the car is the same.
Our appearance is the same, but the old state of mind has gone. 
The law is written in our heart, so we feel how God feels about sin, he loves the sinner but hates the sin.  

Now we find that our own concerns take a back seat and we begin to think and feel about what concerns Jesus. The plight of the poor in our community, the young people under pressure to follow the course of the world. The widening gulf between rich and poor.  

Many people in Rossendale are struggling to cope and need to depend on the Food Bank to tide them over a bad period. At their Annual General Meeting last week, what came across strongly was neighbourly kindness. Even with all the technology, people enjoy and need personal contact.

Jesus’ love continues to impact today’s world. The gospel of good news is transforming lives. 
The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to those who seek him, and the church  continues to see Jesus at its centre.                                                                                                                                                                  
Jesus the Saviour of the world. Caiaphas received a prophecy that fulfilled God's plan, unknown to Caiaphas it was the plan of salvation

The Messiah’s Secret – Easter Reflection

Leave a comment
The Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Easter Reflection


I give thanks and praise that the Messiah’s Secret Revealed identifies Jesus who he is ‘the Christ’ and  by accepting him in faith transforms the soul which enables me to follow his teachings empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in grace.                          

On the cross Jesus forgave those who had sinned against him, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23: 34                                                                          
The Messiah’s secret -the Jewish people were not aware  that God had planned the Messiah’s death and resurrection. 
The Jews had been taught from the law that when the Christ came he would remain forever; they were not taught that the Christ would come and die. The scriptures concerning his death were hidden by God and were revealed to the disciples on the evening of his resurrection. Luke 24: 44-48.         
“So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”  John 12: 34   
The crowd wondered who this Son of man was that would be lifted up and draw all men to himself.  (Jesus said he would be lifted up to show what death he was to die verse 33).                                                                                                      
God allowed their ignorance and gave Caiaphas a prophecy that would determine that Jesus died at the hands of the Romans.
God had given to Caiaphas who was chief priest, the main man of the Sanhedrin, a prophecy: “That one man should die for the people and that the whole nation should not perish” so when the council gathered to plot against Jesus, Caiaphas told them the prophecy, they believed that Jesus was’ the man’ and that it was God’s will for him to die.  

They had acted in ignorance when they handed Jesus over to be tried for blasphemy before Pilate, “They began to accuse him saying, ”We found this man perverting the nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.” Pilate said that found no crime in this man, He sent him to Herod, and Herod too found no fault, nothing deserving death.  Luke 23: 2, 7.

Pilate consulted the crowd outside the Praetorium, ”Whom shall I release Barabbas or Jesus?  They shouted for Barabbas to be released from prison and Jesus to be crucified. The Pharisees, scribes and others shouted to him, “He saved others but he cannot save himself, come down from the cross and we will believe in you.” Mark 15: 15, 31, 32.
They did not expect the Messiah to come and die.

Jesus was condemned to death by the crowd that was made up of both Jews and Gentiles.
Acts 4: 27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever they hand and thy plan had predestined to take place.”

Caiaphas’ prophecy had a double meaning: “That one man should die for the people and that the whole nation should not perish.” Jesus, died to save not just the Israelites but for the whole of humanity. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.

Shortly after Pentecost Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray. As they came to the ‘Gate Beautiful’ the crowd gathered Peter gave testimony to the resurrection of Jesus and announced that they and their rulers had crucified Jesus in ignorance. If they would repent, the Lord would bring in the times of refreshing and send Jesus the appointed Messiah.  Jesus would have returned and the crowd who heard him say that they would see the Son of man come with the holy angels and the Kingdom of God come in with power would have witnessed it.   Acts 3: 17 – 21. Mark 8: 38. 9: 1.

This was the Messiah’s Secret Revealed that the Messiah, or Greek translation ‘ the Christ ‘ had to die and be resurrected and ascended into heaven before he could be received by the leaders of the whole of Israel as their Messiah, Christ the King. 
Paul wrote, “The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognise Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.” Acts 13: 27 
The Messiah’s call was to the nation and from them they would take the ‘Good news’ to the world. The time for the nation to receive Jesus Christ was at and after Pentecost and not before his death as I was taught. Lord, thank you for forgiving my ignorance.                                                          
Jesus in his humanity, in his dying moments in faith he commended his spirit into his Father’s hands. In obedient faith Jesus handed his whole being into his Father’s hands, making sure that there was no contention over his body like that of Moses. Moses had fallen into sin and therefore did not enter into the Promised Land, but Jesus was free from sin in his obedience in doing the will of his Father, his body was raised  from the dead by God. Jude verse 9.

Jesus died and to make sure so there is no doubt a soldier pierced his heart with his sword.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus went to Pilate and asked if they could take his body down from the cross and place it in a tomb. Pilate gave permission and put a seal on the tomb with soldiers to guard it.

On the third day when the disciples were told by the women at the house that someone had stolen his body they must have been so distraught. John raced to the tomb and Peter followed, John stood back to allow Peter to go in before him. Only the linen strips and the napkin were there.
As that day progressed Jesus appeared to Mary, Peter, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and those gathered in the house. Jesus had been raised up from the dead, raised up by God the Father.

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is the devil.” Hebrews 2: 14.

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2: 9.

Jesus’ victory over the devil was complete, The perishable has been clothed with the imperishable  and the mortal with immortality. “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” Isaiah 25: 8 1 Corinthians 15: 54, 55.

Sadducee Caiaphas and the majority of the Sanhedrin failed to see what God was doing in the involvement of the Gentiles in Jesus’ death through crucifixion, Jesus being the final atonement sacrifice for all sin and its causes and sadly King David’s prophecy of the resurrection of the Messiah failed to register with the Sadducee’s who did not believe in the resurrection.

John wrote of what he had observed, He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.”
John’s words are true for today to receive Jesus is to have faith in him. The Holy Spirit is given to us to empower our faith and enlightens our understanding of God who is our Father, so therefore, we are Children of God.

To the sceptic history records through the historian Josephus who was not a Christian recorded Jesus’ existence, his ministry and resurrection
Antiquities of the Jews – Book XVIII  First Century Historian Josephus
Chapter 3
3. Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ.
 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.”

Psalm 24 what a welcome he received in heaven
“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! 9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!” Psalm 24: 7-10

bruised reed, Christians Against Poverty, desrt, God's plan for us, Jesus at Bethany, Mary and Martha, outpouring of Holy Spirit, quenched, seeds of faith, spring

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus at Bethany

Leave a comment
The  Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Jesus at Bethany
(The visual aid I set up on Saturday ready for the Sunday morning service.)
I explained to the congregation – The desert on the right has no water so things don’t grow  on the other side things grow really well because there is plenty of water.  (picture on right showing water rising up)

So how do seeds grow?

3 children held up pictures: sun, soil and water

I’ve put some soil in the cups, ready to sow some seeds.
what do they need now? Sun and water.

I planted seeds in the compost in the cup three weeks ago and they have grown. 
When we hear or read about Jesus, and take the words to heart, they begin to grow within us and we become like Jesus.

                                                                       Prayer Focal Point
In a similar way, words about Jesus are seeds of faith, in every seed is complete, it contains the wholeness of Jesus, especially his love revealed to us in laying down his life for the forgiveness of our sins. When we listen to those words they planted into our heart. The Father’s Holy Spirit waters the seed and they begin to grow within us. And we become followers of Jesus.                                       

Isaiah 43: 16-21. John 12: 1-8  
Jesus spent 40 days alone in the wilderness where he was tempted to sin unlike the Israelites in the wilderness who sinned and as a result wandered in the desert, for forty years, but Jesus resisted the devil’s temptations.                                                                                        
During the season of Lent the church encourages us to spend time examining our walk in Christ. For some Christians who maybe who have gone or going through a difficult time they can relate to Mary and Martha they had gone through a wilderness experience when Lazarus was seriously ill and later died. 
They had expected Jesus to turn up straight away after they had sent word to him that Lazarus was seriously ill. But he did not come.                                                  

Last Sunday evening  
Revd Chris Casey spoke about the different reactions between the sisters, When Jesus arrived later, Martha had a calm conversation with Jesus, she believed that he would have healed Lazarus had he come before he died and ‘even now’ she said, God will give you whatever you ask.”                                                                                                                  
Mary was silent, her emotions caused her to go weeping to Jesus”   
Both reactions found fulfilment when Jesus wept with Mary and when Jesus, said to Martha “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” 

God’s greater plan for Lazarus
Jesus did not respond straight away to Mary and Martha’s plea because he had a greater plan – Lazarus’ resurrection.  

God’s greater plan for Jesus:  Annie Johnson Flint wrote: “If the Christ who died had stopped at the cross, his work had been incomplete. 
If the Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb, he had only known defeat. 
But the way of the cross never stops at the cross and the way of the tomb leads on, to victorious grace in the heavenly place where the risen Christ has gone.”  

God’s greater plan for us.
So for us, like Mary and Martha  we learn to put our trust in the Lord for he has a plan for us. 

John draws our attention to the fact that the resurrected Lazarus was sat at the table.   
When Lazarus had been 4 days in the tomb his body was like the desert, nothing could bring back life to his body. But Jesus was able to bring new life into his body like the spring its water bringing life to the desert. As we can imagine people were amazed when they heard of this fantastic miracle that Jesus performed. John wrote later they waved the Palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David.!” John 11: 17,18                                  

Mary came and knelt at Jesus’ feet and began to wipe them with her hair, mingled with ointment and her tears of joy, the perfume filled the room.
Mary wanted to show her love, honour and gratitude to Jesus, for what he had done by raising her brother Lazarus from the dead and we notice that she had planned before hand to anoint Jesus regardless of what under Law would not allow a woman to do.                                                                                                              
God in Jesus was doing a new thing, “He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick.”  A change to the law, the law penalised a person for breaking the law. Under grace God looks at the motivation coming from the heart.  
Jesus healed on the Sabbath Day which was forbidden. When questioned he said that it was right to do good on the Sabbath Day.

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed The Pharisees added extra laws to those given by God to Moses because they earned their righteousness by keeping the rules of the law.”                                 .
Judas annoyed by Mary’s liberty tried to quench her spirit by saying the money she had spent could have been given to the poor. Having an appearance of concern for the poor, but John pointed out he was not sincere.  
Jesus upheld, did not quench Mary’s motivation and actions when he said, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial.” The anointing was in connection with his burial.                                                                                     
Anointing in the Old Testament was to give the gifts of Holy Spirit to the person for a particular service. 

Mary anointed Jesus for his burial, his ministry in death. 
In the Common Prayer Book in the Creed we say ‘He descended into hell.’ Peter in his letter wrote, ”He was put to death in the body, but made alive by the Spirit, through whom he went and preached to the spirits in prison.” during the time he was in the tomb he went and preached to those who had been held there, since before the flood. In God’s justice he gave all those who had lived in unbelief in God the opportunity to accept Jesus as their Saviour. 1 Peter 3: 18-22.                                                                                                              .                                                    
In our reading Jesus said, ‘The poor you will always have with you.” We know therefore, there will always be a ministry to the poor.

Christians Against Poverty 
Christians Against Poverty CAP based at Bradford is where there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and it is beginning to gain momentum it’s like a spring in the desert, the start of a river flowing turning desert into fertile soil.                                
They are helping people in various practical ways through managing debt, finding a job, release groups and learning life skills and more importantly showing them God’s love. People are becoming Christians and the Lord is turning there lives around.

Jesus in his love is weeping with those who find themselves poor in their circumstances.

We have a CAP Job Club Course that will start at the end of March, please pray that the people who come on the course will ask for a drink the life-giving water and through accepting Jesus into their heart, he will be their rock and hope for now and for eternity.
a badge of authority, Abram shielded and rewarded by God, better promises Jesus' covenant, Jesus is our shield and refuge, lollipop lady

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus our Shield and Refuge

Leave a comment
The  Messiah’s Secret – Jesus  our  Shield and Refuge

Genesis 15:  1-12. 17, 18. Luke 13: 31-35.
Visual Aid

The lollipop lady holding up their badge of authority step out in faith, believing that the drivers will stop their cars in both directions. She stands between the cars and the children, Shielding them from the dangers of crossing the road. 


Jesus is our shield he protects us and makes a way for us to follow. We have his badge of authority, ‘his name’. When we pray we ask in the name of Jesus.

In Genesis 15 the word came to Abram from God in a vision. He heard the words, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

God was Abram’s shield when he had risked his life to rescue Lot. In the previous chapter we read when Abram heard that Lot had been taken captive during the regional war that took place near the Dead Sea:
(Araphel, Arioch, Kedorlamer and the king Tidal who had waged war against five kings: Bera king of Sodom, Birsha King of Gomorrah, and kings Shinab Shember, and Zoar king of Bela and defeated them.

The four kings took Lot and his possession as he was living in Sodom. One of Lot’s servants escaped and went and told Abram that Lot had been captured.
Abram out of love for his nephew took a small army and defeated four kings and rescued Lot, his relatives and his possessions.

On his return, Melchizedek high priest of God greeted Abram in the King’s Valley with a peace offering of bread and wine, praising God for shielding him and winning a great victory.
The writer of Hebrew states that Melchizedek was the high priest of God, who had no father or mother, no genealogy without beginning of days or end of life and he resembled the Son of God. Hebrews 7: 1,3.                                                                                                
Jewish tradition suggests that Adam was the first high priest of God, having no father or mother in the flesh, therefore no genealogy, God himself his creator, before he fell into sin. “Hebrew for Christians” John J Parsons

Melchizedek resembled the Son of God in that he offered bread and wine as a peace offering, pointing to the greater peace offering of  Jesus the Son and high priest of God offered the bread and wine, his life, his body and blood for the forgiveness of sin, that we receive through faith, as a peace offering between God and man. At the communion the bread and the wine are tokens of his body and blood we eat and drink in remembrance of Jesus laying down  his life for us.  Hebrews 6: 20. “He has become a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”  
Jesus the second Adam  Romans 5: 12-21. 1 Corinthians 15: 22, 45-49.                                                                                       
Abram was not afraid of the four kings, just as Jesus was not afraid of Herod, Jesus was not going to take heed of the Pharisees words to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” Jesus was not afraid of Herod.

We read Jesus in his reply likened Herod to a fox, a fox is sly and cunning, he gave them a message for Herod, “Go and tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow and on the third day I will reach my goal.’” The Pharisees and Herodians came to Jesus and asked should they pay their taxes to Caesar or not. Jesus asked to look at the coin and he advised them to pay the taxes to the one whose head was on the coin. Mark 12:13. A cunning strategy they wanted to be able to accuse Jesus of rebellion against the Romans.

Jesus continued to heal people of their mental and physical ailments before he went to Jerusalem.  There he would complete his task, fulfilling his goal which was to rescue the whole of humanity and creation from the power of the devil.
 Hebrews 2: 14. “Jesus too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death that is the devil.”

It is by faith believing in the heart and accepting what Jesus has done for us on the cross that we enter into the family of God.
Through our faith in Jesus, we  are rewarded like Abraham with a covenant an agreement:  Abraham would have an heir and would be a father of a great nation.
Whereas, the new covenant that Jesus established is better, we are joint heirs with Christ, there is no genealogy, no descendants, we are all in Christ. 

Jesus born into humanity his mother Mary giving him his flesh and genealogy through King David, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. Matthew 1: 1-17 
God was Jesus’ Father, Luke 3: 23-38  traced Jesus’ genealogy back through adoption by Joseph going back to Adam who had no father or mother. Jesus in his Divinity is part of the Trinity he looked to his heavenly home in his prayer John 17: 14, 16 where he was before the foundation of the world. We are in Christ before the foundation of the earth. Ephesians 1: 4 The Jewish nation are from the foundation of the earth. Hebrews 9: 26.                              
When the lollipop person steps off the pavement into the busy road and holding their badge of authority the cars will stop.  They step out in faith.
Someone locally who recently stepped out in faith Kath she started a group called ‘Embrace’ her story was in the December Crux. She wrote, “For about three years, I had been thinking about setting up some sort of ministry to support people with addiction problems. I approached Revd D Brae and he said, ‘Just go and do it!’ And she says that now ‘Embrace’ is thriving in Bacup.”    

The lollipop person opens up a pathway so that the children and adults pass over the road.  Kath found out God opened up a way when she stepped out in faith. We need not fear, he is our shield and our refuge is in him.  
Kath is sharing the Bible with them to find Jesus. And for those who go to ‘Embrace’, they are coming to know Jesus in a personal way.  

The  lollipop is a badge of authority is like us praying in Jesus’ name, his name is our badge of authority, we are shielded and protected by his name because we are one with him.                                                                                                                                              
We can move mountains of problems through faith in his name and here in Mark’s 11:22-24 he says, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have already received.
Jesus is in the fabric of our being in Spirit and in truth and while we live on earth we are walking in his victory over all principalities and powers and because we are in Christ, we are in a safe place.

Added afterwards:
Paul wrote Ephesians 6: 16 by daily take hold of the shield of faith, we are able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.     
We have an example when Jesus visited his home town, In Nazareth Jesus upset the people in the synagogue by what he said, he pointed to their unbelief, He didn’t do many miracles there because of their unbelief. So in their fiery words they threatened to throw him over the cliff, but he walked straight through the crowd, he was shielded by God he had taken refuge in God. Luke 4: 24-28.

It’s like the astronauts they are totally shielded by the heat shield on their space craft when they re-enter the earth’s atmosphere. So when we find our faith being challenged we have the assurance of the Lord shielding us and our refuge is in Christ.                             
by association, cut off Malchus' ear, healing through the cross, hour of darkness, numbered with the transgressors, Pentecost remorse, Peter denied knowing Jesus, remorse, superficial kiss

The Messiah’s Secret – Numbered with the Transgressors

Leave a comment
The  Messiah’s Secret – Numbered with the Transgressors

Coming from within the Bible: clock, Garden of Gethsemane, sword, the cross.

Luke 22: 35 – 62.
Faith in Jesus
When we send an email we rely on the connection between our computer and the server Yahoo, BT internet, Gmail, hotmail etc. The server connects us to the persons email address server and they connect the email to their computer.

Faith works by our connection to Jesus in prayer to throne of God’s grace where prayers are answered.

What the computer cannot do is prophecy events that relate to the future, whereas God has planned appointments (prophesies) for people written down in his book the Bible.
Prophecy fulfilled  
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.” 
Isaiah 53: 12.

Jesus quoted from this verse, “And he was reckoned with transgressors;” he went on to say, “For what is written about me has its fulfilment.” Jesus identified himself as being numbered with the sinners and the fulfilment of God’s plan of salvation..

The Clock

Shortly before entering the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said to his disciples, “When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. For I tell you this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”  or “It is sufficient.” 

The clock was ticking a change of attitude coming from the people, instead of welcoming Jesus and his disciples, the opposite: disbelief and aggression coming against them. The hour of darkness approaching and Peter being sifted like wheat.                                 

The Garden of Gethsemane (pop up – the white is a fountain)

Luke continued connecting these words with what followed in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pray, that you may not enter into temptation.” Peter and the others fell asleep we don’t know if they realised what Jesus was saying. Jesus prayed to resist the temptation of not going to the cross. “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”  

The sound of voices coming into the Garden of Gethsemane changed the atmosphere as Judas came up to Jesus and kissed him. 
Jesus said to him, “Would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?”                                                                    
Judas greeted Jesus with a superficial kiss, the hour had begun.  “But this is your hour and the powers of darkness.” Verse 53

The Sword
The rest of the disciples would now have been aware that there was something going on and sensed the danger. Why would Jesus say these words to Judas? The tension grew as the aggression in the voices of the crowd stirred Peter who was carrying a sword, with it he struck the high priest’s slave Malchus cutting off his right ear.  When Jesus saw what Peter had done, he stepped in between them saying “No more of this!” Jesus touched Malchus’ ear and healed him.                       
Jesus filled with remorse for what Peter had done stepped in to heal the wounded Malchus.
The disciple Peter acted in response to the aggression coming from the crowd, but he was wrong in doing what he did. Jesus felt responsible by association for his actions, even though Jesus had done nothing wrong he had not incited Peter to use his sword. When Jesus healed Malchus’ ear, he was full of remorse, sorry for Peter’s actions.

Peters Remorse
After Jesus was arrested, Peter followed them to the high priest’s courtyard, there he stood by the fire, someone asked him did he know Jesus? He said he didn’t know him and left. Outside the courtyard remorse filled his heart. Was it for both his words and actions that he felt remorse as he wept bitterly? Matthew 26: 75. John 18: 26, 27

The Cross

When a person feels a deep sense of remorse for sin against God Jesus steps in between God and the person, bringing healing. Jesus bore sin and the causes of sin on the cross where in his innocence he took the punishment for sin resulting in his death. God raised Jesus from the dead and in his resurrection he has justly disarmed principalities and powers, and restored our broken relationship with God.

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed.
Jesus’ resurrection changed the disciples situation the hour of darkness was past.
In the house at Jerusalem, Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit. He opened their minds to understand the scriptures that spoke of his suffering and resurrection.
At Pentecost Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said, “Let all the household of Israel know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ. Jesus, who you crucified.” Acts 2: 36.
God made Jesus the Saviour of the world, after his death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus was born a King and Messiah, to become the Saviour he had to die and be resurrected from the dead. The Centurion speared Jesus’ heart blood and water was reported issuing from his heart.
Continuing verse 37, “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”  

Fifty days later those responding to his words about Jesus were full of remorse, most of them would not have been there at the trial of Jesus shouting for him to be crucified. But by association they responded to Peter in verse 38 “Repent, and be baptised everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 3,000 people that day came to faith in Christ.

Today the feeling of remorse by association for the actions of others.                       
Maybe we can identify with Peter or with Jesus when we have fallen into temptation and caused other Christians to feel the pain of remorse or we have cared enough like Jesus to stand in the gap and feel remorse to bring forgiveness and healing.. Whatever our situation we are able in prayer to lift the broken hearted, the burden of it, and the remorse on to the cross.

Jesus understands through what he suffered, all our circumstances that we face, having gone through them himself. By his love he goes through our situations with us and through grace in suffering blesses us his children.
faith, fire produces steam and electricity, God is Love, Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, hope and love, the earth a circle, the power of God

The Messiah’s Secret – The Difference Between John and Jesus’ Baptisms

Leave a comment
The  Messiah’s Secret – The difference between John and Jesus’ Baptisms

Isaiah 43: 1-7. Luke 3: 15-17, 21, 22.



Birds in the Bible Quiz  John had ten scriptures each scripture pointing to a bird. The pictures of the birds on  power point.


Luke 3: 22  The Holy Spirit in the form of this bird  alighted on Jesus’ head. – – – – 

British Astronaut Tim Peake stepped outside the Space Station to do some repairs on the Station’s power box along with fellow Astronaut Tim Kopra. The view of the round earth from the cameras on board was awesome. Isaiah wrote, “It is he (God) who sits above the circle of the earth and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.” Isaiah 40: 22.                                                                      
The writer of Genesis described in Genesis 1: 2. “The Spirit hovered over the waters of the earth,” ‘hovers’ like a bird.  
The 19th Century Jewish philosopher Martin Burber wrote, “The Spirit of God hovering like a bird with outstretched wings manifested in the Spirit of the Messiah who will come.”  

This is what we believe happened when John the Baptist saw heaven open and coming from heaven the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, alighted upon Jesus and filled his whole being with the Spirit of God. 

Burber continues, “The Holy One, blessed be He! Will spread His wings and bestow His grace ‘upon Israel,’ owing to Israel’s repentance, symbolised by the water in accordance with Lamentations 2: 19 “Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord.” 

This Jewish expectation that Burber wrote about was apparent many centuries before when the Jews asked John if he was the Messiah. It’s quite probable that they were looking for both a water and spirit baptism from John.  John the Baptist in his response indicated that they would only receive from him his baptism of repentance, “I baptise you with water, but he who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” 
John separated water and spirit baptism. It is recorded in the book of Acts, Apollos and twelve others had only received John‘s baptism.   

“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 18: 25. 19: 1- 5.  

Lamentations 2: 19 “Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord.”This is Jesus’ water baptism symbolising the pouring out of the heart in repentance, before the presence of the Lord, then entering by faith into his death and resurrection, being raised up into newness of life.                                                                                  

So the difference between John’s baptism of repentance and Jesus’ baptism of repentance after Pentecost was the Spirit of God coming into a person’s life. Acts 2: 38 “Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.                                                                                                                 
Visual Aid- Orange juice and fizzy orange juice. Taste the difference, both have all the goodness of the orange but one has a fizz about it, something extra.

John’s prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus breathed on his disciples the Holy Spirit on the evening of the day of his resurrection. The Holy Spirit stemming from Jesus. At Pentecost the second part of the prophecy was fulfilled, the Holy Spirit manifested himself as tongues of fire sitting on top of the disciples’ heads.                                                                 
A fire produces power – steam, electricity Jesus said, “You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”  The ‘Power of God’ is in our walk in faith, hope and love the greatest being love. God is love, his Spirit is love. Luke 24: 49. 1 John 4: 8, 12, 13.

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love. I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 13. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.”     
1 Corinthians 13: 1-3, 13. 

A fire gives off comforting heat, the comforting healing power of the Holy Spirit.  
In  Isaiah 43 reading God reminded Israel that they crossed over the Red Sea, the water had overwhelmed their enemies as God was with them. 
And for us Christians in our relationship with God whatever situation might arise where we need God’s help and strength he is there for us, it won’t overwhelm us, especially in sickness. 

Literal fire – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, so he put them into the fiery furnace, to his amazement he saw a fourth man with them, the Lord. The three men were not touched by the flames. Daniel 3: 22-30.         
The Holy Spirit takes the fire out of a situation when a Christian faces opposition of some kind. The Lord will go before us taking the tension, the contentious words and defusing them, bringing in his peace. 

A fire gives light in the darkness, Jesus the light that shines in the darkness. God has shed his light on us to make Christ known to others.


God gave assurance to Israel of his love for them and that he would always be with them, at a distance, but always in his sight.                                               
We have a greater promise as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit come and make their home within us, a permanent presence.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for failings, where we have grieved your Holy Spirit. humbly we ask to be filled afresh today with your life giving comforting presence and the power of your Holy Spirit to witness our love, faith and hope in Jesus. Amen.

                                                
Barry Woodward, Bible truths, God's riches at Christ's expense, Plans and purposes of that God has for us, undeserved giving from God

The Messiah’s Secret – Grace and Truth

Leave a comment
The  Messiah’s Secret – Grace and Truth 

Jeremiah 31: 7 – 14. John 1: 10-18.                                                               
Happy New Year

Below: I made a Bible out of re-cycled cardboard. The board I cover with lining paper. The front cover opens and is kept closed with a small piece of Velcro half way along the front edge. 



From within the Bible we find God’s amazing grace and truths.
John said that Jesus was full of grace and truth.


 I placed inside the Bible various items that relate to God’s grace and truth. 

‘God’s riches at Christ’s expense.’ 

Five  people held the letters G.R.A.C.E and T.R.U.T.H plus symbols.

G. God’s word full of grace and truth.  
R. The Riches of his love for his chosen people Israel. 
A. An Agreement between God and King David that one of his descendants would be the Saviour, the Messiah. 
C.  Christ was born in Bethlehem. 
E. Expense to God, He sent His Son into the world born of a woman to lay down his life for the forgiveness of sin and reconcile us to God the Father. 
Truth 
T. Truth reveals the living word Jesus who is the light of the world. 
R. Jesus’ righteousness transforming a person’s heart by faith. 
U. Personal Understanding and knowledge of the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit. 
T. The Treasure of the gift of the Holy Spirit with all his gifts given to us. 

H. The household of believers, brothers and sisters in Christ. We look to Jesus’ words in scripture written down in the New Testament. 
St Mary’s Church and a picture representing the congregation. Scripture verses relating to Grace and Truth were given out.

       ——————-
The New Year is the time when we think about what are God’s purposes and plans that he has for us this coming year. 


In our reading Jeremiah prophesied about God’s plan regarding Israel’s future and it is generally thought of by theologians as referring to the second coming where the Messiah restores and leads the nation after the battle of Armageddon has taken place. 

Jeremiah prophesied on several occasions that God would raise up the Branch, the shepherd who would gather the sheep from far and wide bringing them back to their own land. Jeremiah 23: 5, 6. 33: 12,                                                                        
In our reading Chapter 31 verse 7 the church is looking on with great rejoicing, as we will witness the chief shepherd, the Messiah bringing Israel into his grace and truth, Zechariah prophesied that they will recognise the one they had pierced, despite all their failings Israel is saved by grace. 

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed 
Were John wrote that Jesus was not recognised as the Messiah, “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.” At Pentecost for the first time the disciples proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah that God had by the definite plan and foreknowledge of God had been crucified and raised up by God fulfilling King David’s prophesies, Peter said, “ David foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” After the resurrection and ascension was the time for the nations leaders to receive Jesus as their Messiah, not before his death.   
However,  on his second coming the Israeli and the nations leaders will recognise Jesus as the Messiah, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they had pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one weeps for the first-born.” Zechariah 12: 10.                                        
Another meaning to the word GRACE – undeserved giving by God. Jeremiah prophesied that the Messiah will turn Israel’s mourning into joy, as he gathers his people from among the nations, comforting them turning their sorrow into gladness, with an abundance of blessings including provision like that of a well watered garden and all by grace which is the reality of faith in Christ that we enjoy today. 
God does not look at our offences, but as a loving Father looks at his child                                                                                          .
Truth  
Truth brings into reality John’s words “But to all who receive him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born not of blood or the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God.” The truth about Jesus having reconciled  us to God out of God’s love for us. 
Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians 2: 7, 8.“In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Jesus Christ. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.  
We enter into God’s grace through faith in Jesus God’s love that is undeserved by us and it is not judgemental.  
On Oct 3rd I attended the Annual Conference of ‘Proclaim Trust’ founded by Barry Woodward, it was held at ‘The Bridge Church Bolton. The worship leader Mark Stevens told us his story he started in the entertainment industry in 1985, playing ‘Nick Page’ in ‘Neighbours’. But Mark’s life went on a downward spiral when he was gripped by drug and alcohol addiction in his late teens. By the age of 26, he had lost everything. Then in 1996, Mark cried to God, and he was completely transformed.  
Mark said that one day he was playing the piano at home and when he stopped playing the music carried on and he heard angels singing all around him. It reminds me of the shepherd’s who saw and heard the angels singing when Christ was born.                              
Jesus by his grace accepts people where they are, when they turn to Jesus in faith. Jesus and the Holy Spirit bring about transformation of a person’s heart, so the  truth about Jesus becomes real, we can’t see God, but we can experience God when we receive Jesus’ Spirit.

The apostle Peter wrote that we grow in grace and knowledge and the writer of Hebrews that our hearts are strengthened by grace, these we find  are linked with serving, working for the kingdom  with Jesus.
Mark 16: 20, 21 “The the disciples went  out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”   
In prayer we have access to the throne of grace because we are God’s children 

Tad Lincoln the son of Abraham Lincoln He used his position as the son of the president to gain instant access to see his father.  
When  a person wanting to see the president entered the White House, they gave their calling card to the valet. The valet would take the cards in order and then put them in a stack on a table. Tad made a regular habit of chatting with those waiting. If the person had a particularly urgent need: grieving widow, an unemployed family man and so forth — then Tad would help matters along, he moved that person’s card to the top of the pile. As we are God’s children we have the ear of Almighty God and we bring people’s needs to him and it can be any time night or day.                                                                                                
Grace and truth becomes a faith reality, in all those answers to prayer and those God co-incidences that have become part of our daily lives.
Our Parochial Church Council are stepping out in faith having booked the Evangelist Barry Woodward to come to St Mary’s ‘A Meal with a Message’ A God co-incidence: back in November in conversation with Laura our Warden we discussed the day and date that this event could take place and Laura suggested April. The following day I spoke to Barry’s Event Manager and he said to me, ‘We can only offer you one date April 14th’ I replied, “That’s just perfect exactly what we hoped for.”

We are expecting God’s grace on the evening as the truth shall release those who respond by setting them free. They shall be free indeed.   
everlasting God and Father of Jesus, Jesus would have been comforted by reading Isaiah 43:4, Virgin birth

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus Born of Mary

Leave a comment
The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus Born in Mary
Christmas Greetings
Christmas Greeting Cards are part of our Advent Season as we send them to our friends and family before Christmas Day.  They were introduced into UK in 1843 by the Public Post Office. 


On the right: Front of the card- Christmas Greetings from the International Space Station.
On the left: Inside the card Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. The greeting ‘Peace be with you.’ 
Inside every card the seasons sentiments usually a greeting of good will: Happy Christmas, Blessings of the Season’.
Micah 5: 2-5. Luke 1: 39 – 45
St Paul in his letter to the church at Rome gave them 21 greetings from 35 Christians, a greeting-sending their goodwill. Had it been today he would had posted 35 Christmas cards.
In our reading Mary who was cousin to Elizabeth when she arrived at Zechariah and Elizabeth’s home when they greeted one another it was amazing. The outpouring of joy as the Holy Spirit spoke through Elizabeth, her remarks confirmed that the word of Archangel Gabriel and the prophets had been fulfilled.
Gabriel said that the child born in Mary was by the power of the Holy Spirit overshadowing her. God himself the Father of Jesus.
The prophet Micah wrote of a person to be born in Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah, “From you Bethlehem shall come forth for me, one who is to be ruler in Israel whose origin is from of old, from the ancient of days.”  An eternal being, from everlasting, God himself.
Isaiah prophesied, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son. Isaiah 7: 14.
Prophesies are inspiring they confirm the everlasting presence of God, in the here and now and for someone seeking God that helps them come to faith.
However for some they struggle to believe in the Virgin Birth, from a human view point it seems an impossibility, but for those who do believe it shows us that all things are possible with God. When we look at scriptures
God is able to create life where humanly speaking it’s impossible like in Abraham and Sarah’s old age they had a son Isaac and Zechariah and Elizabeth they too were past the age of having children, but God blessed them with a son John the Baptist.              
Mary who was full of faith and was willing to bear the Son of God.  I look at the Virgin Birth  it this way: when a person receives healing through prayer, God heals within the body, without touching the flesh.
Jesus born in us.
I was asked recently “What would you say to someone who is asking about becoming a Christian?” One of the many answers to that question is as follows: There is evidence from the findings of Archaeologists in ancient burial sites that man worshipped. He tried to influence the seasons that provided his food, he was aware of a supreme deity  so he worshipped the sun, moon and stars and made idols to them. In Judges 8: 21 After the defeat of the Midianites Gideon removed the crescent moons from the necks of their camels. The Midianites were descended from Abraham and his concubine Keturah.     
 
We believe that the true God made himself known through the Hebrew people, and that he would send them a saviour who would save all mankind and establish God’s kingdom of peace on the earth.
Christians believe that Jesus is that promised Saviour and through faith in him we too can be saved
In God’s plan of Salvation out of his great love for us, God caused Jesus to be born in a woman, to become one of us. He knew, as we know today that he would lay down his life in order to pay the price of sin that leads to eternal death.
 
Jesus was upheld by God during his life time on the earth, especially when he came up against the Pharisees and Sadducees, I thought he would have read from Isaiah 43: 4 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name you are mine.” These words would have given him assurance from his Father that he would fulfil his task.
 
Jesus was innocent of the sin that he bore on the cross I repeat; Jesus was innocent of the sin that he bore on the cross God raised him from the dead and in his resurrection he was the first to be redeemed, to know the love of God his Father’s forgiveness.  Colossians 1 18. “He is the head of the body , the church; he is the beginning the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent.”
 
So through faith in Jesus a person coming to God in prayer recognising their need to get right with God will receive God’s forgiveness and as a result Jesus is born in them.  
Colossians 1: 27. “To them, Israel, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”                 
 
Visual Aid. 

It is like putting a white cloth into water with a dye in it. 
The cloth absorbs the colour. So we absorb Jesus, the Son of God, the Father and the Holy Spirit. 

 

Colossians 2: “For in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily and you have come to the fullness of life in him.”
 The followers at Colossi had come to fullness of life in Jesus. They had recognised their part in being rooted and  built up in their faith, by being taught the scriptures by the holy Spirit and studying the scriptures for themselves and with others and giving thanks as they put into practice what they believed.
It is no different for Christians today as we take hold of his words and promises in scripture and expecting answers to prayer because of our relationship with Jesus, he is born in us.
Prayer  
Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.Father God, we pray for your holy spirit’s ministry to us, making Jesus known to us. empower us your people to equip us for the work you are calling us to do.
May we be your willing friends in serving you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Dorothy Newton