Archangel Gabriel, others have prepared the ground, rooted and grounded, the shepherd

The Messiah’s Secret – Zechariah and Elizabeth

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The Messiahs Secret – Zechariah and Elizabeth 

Isaiah 40: 1-11. Luke 1: 1-25.
Lord Jesus you are the living word and your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, in Jesus’ name.

Zechariah heard from the Archangel Gabriel that his prayer from years before had been answered Elizabeth would bare him a son. In verse 18 he said, “How can I be sure,” he wanted assurance as they were now both too old to have children. 
We may have prayers that we prayed for years ago that are about to be answered, especially were we have laboured in prayer for members of our family.  


Zechariah questioned Gabriel’s word, as a result he lost his speech which meant that he was not able to express his meeting with Gabriel and further more he could not bless the people and that would have had the effect of being chastening by God.                                         
Israel had been chastened by God in their exile into Babylon, now God was comforting his people on their return to Jerusalem. During the journey they had been looked after by Israel’s shepherd, God himself. “He will feed his flock like a shepherd: He will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom and gently lead those who are with young.”                                                                                                          
The prophecy in Isaiah 40 that was not fulfilled at that time. 
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord making his path straight.”  
Hundreds of years afterwards it was fulfilled when Archangel Gabriel announced the good news to Zechariah that his son would be the one preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah.                                   
A preparation for the coming kingdom of God: repentance by immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins and to bear good fruit by sharing clothing and food. Luke 3: 3, 4, 9.
John the Baptist spoke of Jesus being the Lamb of God. The Lamb that bore the sins of the people.   Jesus the ‘Passover Lamb’ that laid down his life for his sheep. When Jesus sent out his disciples with the kingdom message it was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

Naomi our church organist keeps sheep on their smallholding, at our Ladies fellowship meeting she told us that when a sheep strays away from the rest of the sheep it is usually because it is hurting in some way, they don’t normally go off on their own.    
The shepherd Jesus, gathered the injured sheep.
 Isaiah 61: 1-4 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
Jesus during his ministry brought healing and restoration to the people of Israel and when he died on the cross they did not realise that the Messiah had to suffer and die and be resurrected from the dead.   

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed
The chief priest Caiaphas was given a prophecy that one man would die so that the nation would not perish. If only the leaders like Caiaphas had the realisation of these words in the knowledge that Jesus had redeemed and saved Israel through his death and resurrection. John 11: 49 – 53.
Jesus brought healing and reconciliation between God and all humanity: Jew and Gentile. Through faith in him we pass over from sin and death to forgiveness and eternal life.
Jesus gave us a greater promise than just being a shepherd to us, he said, “I and the Father are one and we will come and make our home within you.” John 14: 23.                                                                                                                           
 Visual Aid

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

                                                                                       

Jesus calls us to his ministry of reconciliation with the indwelling ministry of the Trinity. Paul’s prayer in his letter to the Ephesians 3: 14 -21 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with the might, through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that, you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, length, height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Paul’s prayer that embraced this message that ‘God indwells his people.’ He prayed that we would understand what it means to be rooted and grounded in the love of God. Jesus did a complete work on the cross: 
                                the breath, the length, 
the height and depth of the cross

of his victory over principalities and powers, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, surpassing love that is as vast as the universe, its magnitude contained in our being.  “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations for ever. Amen”   
In our walk in Christ we often go where someone else has prepared the ground, where seeds have already been sown and we take the water and by the action of the Holy Spirit, the seed germinates and starts to grow.
A man came to Chatterton Hey House at Edenfield from Langley House Trust’s ‘Tekoa House’ at Rochdale to join our Alpha Course. Andrew had just recently had a God experience saving him from ending his life. In this man’s life, the seed of faith had just germinated and he needed the water of the word, he was so thirsty for the words about Jesus.          
The Alpha Course enables a person to find out about Jesus from the Bible.  He was taking the first steps of putting his faith in Jesus. Where this man never trusted anyone before, he is learning to trust in the word and promises of the Lord our God to him.
As Isaiah 40: 8 stated; “The word of our God will stand for ever.”

The refreshing water of the word of God that brings forth an abundance of life. 
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The Messiah’s Secret – Crooked Paths Made Straight

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The Messiah’s Secret – Crooked paths made straight

This morning’s service began with prayer for the sad loss of life in the terrorist attach in Paris

Nursery Rhyme ‘The Crooked Man’

There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile.
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse
And they all lived together in a little crooked house. 
The children put the pictures on the board

Jesus’ teachings in the Bible show us how to live our lives. Not to be like:

There was a crooked man – He was not a nice man, he was unkind and always angry.crooked man
 

He walked a crooked mile – He was dishonest, he made up stories that were not true.dscf4151

He found a crooked sixpence – He took things without asking the person if he could have them
 
A crooked stile – He pushed people out of the way.1-dscf4148
 
 
 

He bought a crooked cat – He 1-dscf4150encouraged fighting
The cat caught a crooked mouse. It’s wrong to fight: kicking, hitting one another, pulling each other’s hair, and we mustn’t  call each other names.dscf4155
 
 

The little crooked house – He didn’t care about anybody only himself.
 
1-dscf4149
 
 
 
 
The Bible wants us to do what is right and that will make us happy and be kind to one another and the Bible tells us to : let people go before us, not to fight one another, not to take anything without asking.
Jesus’ house is a safe place, where he looks after us.
Hebrews 10: 11 – 14. 19 – 25. Mark 13: 1 – 8.
The origin of the poem the crooked man was in reference to King Charles’ General Sir Alexander Leslie, he was senior commander of both English and Scottish armies: he was referred to as a scoundrel, he walked a crooked mile and the sixpence referred to him  being dishonest.
The cat and mouse represented the conflicts between the two nations. The crooked stile was the border between the two countries. The crooked house this religious covenant between England and Scotland was brought in under duress.
In our New Testament reading Jesus prophesied  the ruin of the temple. It had become a crooked house.
The temple signified the agreement between God and the people of Israel, but the rituals of the temple had become man centred. The Pharisees, Lawyers and scribes were crooked by burdening the people adding more laws to those given by God to Moses.
God left the Temple at Jerusalem When the veil of the temple torn in two from top to the bottom revealing the ’ Most Holy Place’ the dwelling place of God. All those working in the Holy Place could now see beyond the veil which was unthinkable before, no one could see God and live.
John wrote that Jesus’ risen body was now the temple of God. A temple made without hands.  Jesus is the centre of worship in the kingdom of God. John wrote Revelation 22: 22 “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.” John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God.  John 2: 21. Mark 14: 58.
For the majority of Christiansbefore we came to know Jesus we followed the course of the world, where the influences of a crooked world brought upon us fear, guilt and anxiety, with very little joy.                                     
Jesus heals and restores our broken relationship with God and as we are led by the word and Spirit we begin to walk in a straight path with the Lord.                                                                                         
Proverbs 3: 6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
  
I heard recently a testimony of a young woman who had reached a point in her life were the alcohol and drug addiction had to end, she faced a choice: prison, death or chose life.  Alison chose life and made a decision to follow Jesus. God gave her a word, “I have purposes and plans for you. Jeremiah 49: 11. She said that a pathway opened up and she begged the Lord to heal her and he did and changed her longings she didn’t want drink or drugs instead she hungered and thirsted for the word of God.                                   
Jesus’ prophecy in Mark tells us that the world will continue along a crooked path by following false Christ’s resulting in wars and rumours of wars.
One can not help but feel that the time is coming when the people of the world will be looking for a leader, a false Christ to come up with a plan to solve the world problems: like the Syrian and other conflicts which are causing major disruption in the world, with the people fleeing their country of origin to escape violence and possible death.
 
One of the many prophesies relatingto the second coming of Jesus is the destruction and desolation of Damascus.
Isaiah prophesied the destruction of Damascus and the city left desolate, uninhabited: “Damascus will no longer be a city, but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid.” Isaiah 17: 1, 2.   (Aroer a city near the Dead Sea).            
And Jeremiah’s prophecy
“Damascus has become feeble, she has turned to flee and panic has gripped her;anguish and pain have seized her, pain like that of a woman in labour. Why is the city of praise not deserted, the city of my joy?  Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets,and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the Lord of hosts.“I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-Hadad.”Jeremiah 49 24-27. (Ben-Hadad was the King of Syria.)
Jeremiah 49 24-27.                                         
Both prophesy were fulfilled in part when King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Damascus, but the city was rebuilt. The other part of the prophecy where the city would be left a ruin and uninhabited has yet to happen.
From that time Damascus has remained intact until our present day, in the current crisis in Syria Damascus is being bombed and is in danger of being destroyed and its people fleeing for their lives.
Another sign
Isaiah 59: 8. “ The way of peace they will not know and there is no justice in their paths, they have made their roads crooked, no one who goes in them knows peace.”
We have global investment banks using the derivatives debt system buying and selling debt digitally, which was the cause of the 2008 financial problems. Many who work in the financial world are honest, but there are those who use derivatives financial packages with non-existent money, a crooked system.
“The Root Cause of the 2008 Financial Meltdown’ investmentwatchblog.com    Forbes ‘Big Banks and Derivatives
As a young child, I remember higher purchase being promoted on ITV in the 50’s and my father’s re-action to it at the time, he thought that it was a mistake. The poor families in debt to the rich, who grow richer. 
Will it ever be resolved? To resolve it, many believe that at some point it has to retract and return to a true financial system based on real money.
The Lord’s way is the only way
In the UK Christians Against Poverty have been working for a number of years with amazing success in sorting out people’s debt; by putting in place a structure that gradually pays off a person’s debt with the company or companies that they owed money to.
 Also in the process they make Christ known in what they do – Jesus has paid our debt legally by shedding his blood, his life laid down for the forgiveness of our sin, releasing us into God’s grace, his care and provision.
 
Hebrews 10: 13 “ Then to wait until his enemies should be a stool for his feet.”  
First Jesus will call out the church and followed soon afterwards by his return to the Mount of Olives where he takes up with the remnant of Israel and defeats the anti-Christ and his armies.

 

Until Jesus calls out his church, it is important for us to keep looking for the straight pathway that leads to our heavenly home.
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The Messiah’s Secret – The Beatitudes

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Beatitudes

Evening Lectionary: Jeremiah 31: 31-34.  Matthew 5: 1 – 12.

C. S. Lewis wrote, “If you read history you find that Christians who did most in this present world were precisely those who thought the most of the next.” 

We work out our salvation in this life walking in the beatitudes and we have the example of Jesus in his own life where the beatitudes were apparent, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane.                                                                                                          
The Passover had been eaten and Jesus and his disciples where making their way to the Garden of Gethsemane, singing the Hallel the Psalms 113-118.
Jesus was quietly preparing himself for his ‘hour had come.’ Everything that had happened was leading up to this moment, as he surrendered his life to die on a cross.  When he knelt down to pray, he brought his immediate concerns before the Father. Only God could help him, he was poor in spirit, Martyn Lloyd Jones in his Book ‘Studies on the Sermon on the Mount’ wrote that to be poor in spirit means ‘empty of self.                                                                                   
The way of Jesus is in giving of our self to God, for many of us it happens gradually as we grow in our faith; we learn to trust God to be dependent upon him. The more we put our faith into practice we become ‘poor in spirit’ empty of self.                                                        

In the distance perhaps Jesus heard the sound of others singing and laughing, people enjoying the occasion of the Passover.  On another occasion Jesus had said, “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.” Luke 6: 24-26  In the garden his  heart was heavy as he mourned over the sins of the people. During his ministry a Pharisee had remarked “You who are not yet 50 years old have seen Abraham.”  Lloyd Jones wrote that Jesus looked older than his 33 years as he mourned over sin.

There in the garden Jesus asked Peter, James and John to pray and comfort him, but I don’t think they were aware of the spiritual stress that he was going through. Jesus in meekness knelt in agony as his physical strength diminished, we believe the Holy Spirit strengthen him.                                             
Visual Aid 
The old calculator was powered by a battery. This was replaced by solar power, that just needs sunlight to give continuous power.                        
Before I became a Christian lots of things went wrong:  horse riding and car accidents took there toll on my health.Through faith in Jesus I was healed of a nervous condition and later I received my life in Christ that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and will continue for ever, beyond my life on earth.

In every Christian meekness is produced by the Holy Spirit.  
Love that has strength of its own: it is not defensive, and does not retaliate.                                                                                                          
Jesus and his disciples were disturbed by the sound of voices; a number of people came into view. The moment where unrighteousness came into direct contact with God’s sacrifice for sin. 
All the attributes of being poor in spirit-empty of self, strength in meekness, and his love for the righteousness of his Father enabled him to say when they asked for Jesus of Nazareth, he said, “I am he.” John 18: 5          

Another aspect of meekness in God’s terms is strength in weakness. 
We see this in the Hebrew Scriptures Gideon going into battle was told by God to reduce the numbers of his fighting men from 22,000 to 10,000 from 10,000 to 300 men. Gideon won the battle, the Midianites fled their camp at the sound of the trumpet and when the light appeared. The Israelites smashed the clay jars the light shone in the darkness.                          
In Genesis 1: 2, 3 the earth was formless and empty and darkness was over the water and the Holy Spirit hovered over the darkness and God said, “Let there be light” and the darkness gave way to the light.  
There is darkness over Syria and so we pray for the light of Christ to shine in the darkness and dispel it, to break it up and clear it away.  

In the garden and on the cross 
Jesus fought the battle against unrighteousness’ and won. The world is in conflict with the righteousness of God and we can’t avoid it. There is a constant battle going on to walk in righteousness. Truth demands struggle as it overcomes conflict.                                                                                                                                                         
In my daily prayers, I put on spiritually the breastplate of righteousness. The righteous blood of Jesus covering my heart and I also say ‘I will to do the will of God and not of myself or the will of Satan.’ I look to do the Father’s will guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

Mercy is grace in action 
It is in having a Godly desire to relieve suffering in people’s lives.             

Jesus in his death and resurrection established the new covenant between God and Israel. Jeremiah 31. 31-34   God by his great mercy brought the Gentiles into this covenant through the cross.

The pureness of Jesus’ heart he was single-minded, his face was set like flint to go to Jerusalem, his hour had come, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit.” Jesus broke down the barrier between the Jews and the Gentiles through the cross making one new man, in turn to become single-minded, one body with many members. the church’s message is to give the opportunity to all people to know God our creator and Father personally, to have peace with God unified by Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  
Jesus fought the battle and won the peace. The allies won the battle over Hitler and we generations that have followed have entered into the peace.                                                                                                                                              
Jesus the ‘Prince of peace’ at his trial he was silent, the peace in him did not allow him to say anything to the detriment of others, nor did he look for the effect that it would have on himself, but he looked to glorify God.
So we are called to be peacemakers in our conversation between each other, watching what we say, so that we don’t stir up trouble by criticism, or false accusations, peace starts with us.
Persecuted for being a Christian Jesus said, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you.” If we say, but never do, Christ-like things the world will love you. If you become Christ-like the world will hate you.

Jesus was insulted, mocked and ridiculed, he forgave them on the cross he was recorded saying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” 
When we are treated with contempt for being a Christian, and I am reminded of the time when I had not much time for Christians, I am thankful that Jesus forewarned every Christian that they should forgive and rejoice in suffering for his names sake.                                         
To reflect – We become poor in spirit empty of self, and mourn for our sin before God daily and become meek in nature that is produced in us by Holy Spirit. Walking in righteousness we contend with the world. 
Having mercy is grace in action. Having a pure heart is in being single minded. To be a peacemaker is not to say anything to the detriment of others. To be persecuted for faith in Jesus, the world cannot understand the joy of suffering for Christ.                                                                                                           
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The Messiah’s Secret – God Appointed Positions

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The Messiah’s Secret –  God Appointed Positions

C S Lewis wrote, “The work of Beethoven, and the work of a charwoman (a woman who cleans houses)  become spiritual on precisely the same condition, that of being offered to God, of being done humbly “as to the Lord”. This does not of course, mean that it is for anyone a mere toss-up whether he should sweep rooms or compose symphonies. A mole must dig to the glory of God and a cock must crow.”
In our reading this morning: Mark 10: 35 – 45 James and John were looking to be appointed to sit either side of Jesus in his kingdom. James and John were certainly close to Jesus, he had singled them out on three occasions to support him, but Peter was always with them:
When Jairus’ daughter died Jesus asked Peter, James and John to go into the room while he prayed for the little girl, his prayer was answered, God raised her up. At the transfiguration all three watched as Jesus was transfigured before them and in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus called on all three to watch and pray with him. His suffering made him shed tears as he cried out in prayer to his Father who was able to save him from death. He fell on the ground and prayed that, if it is possible, the hour might pass from him. Jesus said, “Abba, Father all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me, yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.” His Father always heard him and realised his son’s suffering in his Godly fear. Mark 5: 21-43. 9:2. 14: 32-36.

Looking at the other reading in Hebrews 5: 1-10 we realise why Jesus gently let James and John down, as he knew that those appointments to sit on his right and left hand in his kingdom were chosen by God.

I think it’s true to say that the disciples only saw Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah they did not know at that time that he was the High priest of God.  
In the TV series of ‘Dad’s Army’ in one of the episodes sergeant Wilson kept it to himself that he would inherit his father’s title. When Captain Mainwaring   found out he was most upset; because it lifted Sergeant Wilson above his rank. The disciples were upset with James and John when they heard that James and John were seeking these prominent positions.
Jesus the Son of God was appointed high priest, by God his Father to be the mediator between God and humanity, after the order of Melchizedek.
The writer of Hebrews wrote of Melchizedek, “He is without father or mother or genealogy and has neither beginning nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he continues a priest forever.” Hebrews 7: 3 Melchizedek part of the eternal priesthood. Jesus is the high priest of the eternal priesthood
We know that Jesus laid down his life which was the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin. Jesus as high priest brought his sacrificial offering of his life down to God, God accepted his offering. From the depths of the grave, God raised Jesus up.
As high priest of God he intercedes on behalf of a person’s faith for both sins forgiven and as intercessor for every Christian, he presents our prayers to God the Father.
Prayer
Husband and wife were in car discussing prayer. The husband said, “I do my best praying while I’m driving.” His wife replied, “I too, do my best praying, while you’re driving.”
As far back as the Book of Genesis we find the prayer of a man like James and John, his name was Jabez in his prayer he wanted God to bless him.
This was the word that the Lord gave last week,  “If we humble ourselves and pray, the Lord will enlarge our boundaries”. I couldn’t remember where it fell in the Bible and as I was leading the service I hadn’t time to look it up.
It’s in 1 Chronicles 4: 10 in the middle of Judah’s genealogy list “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my border!  And that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me.” And God granted his request.”  RSV Bible.
Like James and John Jabez asked God to bless him and enlarge his border.

Jabez had a relationship with God in humility, His prayer, “O that you would bless me.” He sought God’s face and favour. He was dependent on his blessing, he didn’t look to bless himself, he couldn’t, and his heart was turned towards the heart of God. Jesus says to us, “Look to me, I love you, my heart yearns for you to pray, so I can bless you.”

Jabez asked God to enlarge his border – to be lifted up from a lower place to a higher place.  
Jesus gave the example in a parable of going to a wedding, don’t go and sit at the top table where the special guests of the bride and groom are appointed to sit. Go and sit elsewhere, so that you might be asked to go and sit at the top table and therefore be honoured before all the guests. (humility in action)  
“For everyone who exalts himself will be  humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14: 7-11.                                                                                                                                                                      
To extend our boundaries  
To  pray, not looking to what we can do, in our own strength, but what the Lord wants to do in our lives, in our church.  
Jesus entered a world through a door marked no entry and left through a door marked ‘No exit.” We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4: 13                                                                                                                                                                       
Jabez said, “That your hand might be with me,” he didn’t assume it was his right because he was a descendant of Judah; he sought God’s love for him to help him and lead him, and to support him.
We look for the Holy Spirit’s leading; he separated Saul and Barnabas to go on their first missionary tour. 
For us to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance  to reach out in our community to make Christ known.

A Disciples’ CV. Supporting all that we do in prayer it’s the role of the servant; we are all servants of the Lord. In verses 42-44 James and John found out what the appointment of a disciple required: it was to be a servant: To serve having a gentle, tolerant, and humble disposition, not ambitious, to be prepared to suffer and die for Jesus.

And Jesus said to be the leader among the disciples: it was to be like a slave: a slave in Christ is completely owned by the Lord. In practise to be poor in Spirit: empty of self, obedient in serving God and others as Jesus has done and to be prepared to suffer and die for him. As many are doing in the world today.                                                                                                             
Jabez ended his prayer, “Keep me from harm so that it might not hurt me.” trouble and sickness and grief, he was aware of his own frailty.

Jabez was totally dependent on God and we read that God answered his prayer.  He prospered with God; he put his hand in his and kept close to him.
God blessed him, in that the people named a city after him ‘Jabez.’ 1 Chronicles 2:55.                                                                                                                             
And so to end with a prayer. 
Heavenly Father, forgive us when we assume our divine right for our prayers to be answered, and help us to stay close to you when our life in the world demands our attention. May we be blessed as we seek your hand to guide us in order to bring people to faith in Jesus and keep us by grace in your loving care. 
In Jesus’ name, Amen                                                                                             

(This week we have interviews for Priest-in-Charge of St Mary’s and St Paul’s) 
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The Messiah’s Secret – Time and Seasons

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The Messiah’s Secret –  Time and Seasons
 Evening  Lectionary: Joshua 3: 7-17. Matthew 10: 1-22

What  excitement there must of been among the people knowing that they were about to enter the Promised Land.

Caleb and Joshua were the only ones who witnessed the fulfilment of God’s promise when they crossed over the Jordan after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.                              
In order to enter the Promised Land. 
Joshua was guided by God to keep the laws that he had given to Moses and not to move to the left or to the right away from them.                                                                       
We read that Moses did not enter because of his disobedience.
 “ But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honour me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”Numbers 20: 12
The people were in expectation of the coming of the Messiah. Luke 3: 15
There must have been great excitement when the people heard the proclaimation that the ‘kingdom of Heaven’ was near. Jesus was fulfilling the law and embracing those lost to the law. God loved his people, they were precious to him.
Jesus fulfilled three types of laws in himself:
The ceremonial law Jesus fulfilled all the elements of the temple including the temple itself: He was the perpetual light, the vine, the living bread, the living water, the first fruits of the harvest, he was the high priest after the order of Melchizedek and he was the final offering for sin it was accepted by God.

The moral law: Jesus said to the people “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5. 20 Jesus fulfilled all righteousness. The proof: His body was not corrupted by death.
The judicial law: Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote in his book ‘Studies in the Sermon on the Mount’ Page 195. “ Israel is no longer the theocratic nation.” (a theocratic nation, under the divine sole sovereignty of God, and the laws of the realm as divine commands rather than human ordinances.)
Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues, “Jesus in his conversation with the Pharisees at the end of his ministry said “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to another nation to produce the fruit of it.” This is one of the most crucial and important statements in the whole of scripture with regard to prophecy. And the Apostle Peter wrote in his letter making it abundantly clear that the new nation is the church. There is no longer a theocratic nation, so the judicial law has likewise been fulfilled.” Matthew 21: 43. 1 Peter 2: 9, 10.
This is what Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 10 Once you were no people, but now you are God’s people.”  1 Peter 2: 9, 10.
The other nation the Gentiles, the church has for a long time been thought of as a Gentile church. 
Embraced through faith.
All people across the world, are able to enter the kingdom of God to bear the fruit of it, A Christ-like life, eternal life to all who believe in Jesus.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, a disciples asked Jesus would he be restoring the kingdom to Israel? Jesus replied that it was not up to him, the times and the seasons of his return.
This indicates that the disciple had remembered what Jesus had said regarding another nation bearing the fruit of the Kingdom of God.
(Messiahs-secret-revealed. Part 7 Chapter 3)

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed
The Apostles expected Jesus to return very soon after Pentecost after they publicly proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah for the first time. The Messiah’s ministry was a national calling. Jesus had earlier said to the crowd, that there were some standing listening to him that would see his return with power and the holy angels. Mark 8: 38. 9: 1. Acts 3: 17-21. They expected him to bring in the ‘Day of the Lord’ the fire not yet kindled until he had accomplished his death and resurrection. Luke 12: 49, 50. God in his foreknowledge had prepared his disciples for their leaders rejection at and after Pentecost. 
When Jesus returns he will take up with the remnant of Israel.

The nation of Israel, the old season, followed by a new season, the church, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled and Jesus returns. Luke 21: 24
Are we looking for a new season in our lives for the lord to do something new?
Joshua and Caleb were not young men, and they were looking forward to this incredible journey of discovery going into the promised land.
In verses 16-22 Jesus prophesied that as a result of being his disciple persecution would arise.
Jesus went on to prophecy that after the coming of the Holy Spirit verse 20 his followers would suffer persecution for his names sake ‘Sheep in the midst of wolves.’
Two kinds of persecution: religious persecution and persecution for righteousness sake. Both are for bearing his name.
Religious Persecution.In recent years Christians across the world have been persecuted: churches burnt and ‘political correctness’  for example a Christian wearing a tiny cross on a fine chain at work.
Persecution for righteousness sake 1 Peter 2: 21-24. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”
Peter based his teaching on his personal witness of the sufferings of Jesus,  “Do not return evil for evil, reviling for reviling, but on the contrary bless,” not to speak evil of anyone.                                                                                                          
 “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed,”
 “But rejoice in so far that you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”  1 Peter 2: 1. 3: 9, 16, 17. 4. 1, 13. 14                                                                         
Would Peter see this as part of bearing the fruit of the kingdom?
Chinese Christian Brother Yun, sent Christians into Sena Province, time and time again they were beaten and on numerous occasions arrested and put in jail, but Brother Yun wrote that after a year the people began to respond until the whole of the province became Christian. In many situations rejection and suffering go before conversion.

By the grace of God, we are lifted up, so that we can rejoice in whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in, as we have entered into the kingdom of God.


My Journey Times and Seasons: Autumn leaves below: woodcarving in the 1980’s & 90’s followed by pottery with Bible texts 1990’s & 2000.  The Messiah’s Secret 1996 to present day, church ministry.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Jesus the Rabbi, little children, yoke

The Messiah’s Secret – A Child-like Faith

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The Messiah’s Secret – A Child-like Faith.
Under  five’s –  Mary had a Little Lamb. This nursery rhyme was written from a true story. Mary Sawyer when she was a little girl looked after an orphan lamb. Mary loved the lamb and the lamb grew to love Mary.


Mary had a little lamb
its’ fleece was as white as snow 

 And every where that Mary went
the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day
and that was against the rule.


It made the children laugh and play
to see a lamb at school.

We followed the story, the children putting the sheep and the school on the board.
We come to church to learn about Jesus and as we grow in knowledge we love Jesus and we find that Jesus loves us and takes care of us.
James 3: 13-4: 3, 7,8. Mark 9: 30 – 37.
In our reading verse 31 Jesus was having a teaching session with his disciples.
Jesus was known as being a Rabbi – his interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures caused the people to marvel at his words. 
A Rabbi chose his disciples, Jesus said “You did not choose me, I chose you.” he called them to follow him and accept his ‘yoke’ meaning – his walk, his teachings and imitate the Rabbi and literally became part of his household, his follow for life. John 15: 16. Matthew 4: 19.10: 1, 25. 11: 29.
The Messiah’s Secret
Jesus told the disciples that he was going to be killed and would rise after three days. 
If Jesus had elaborated on it nothing has been written down.
We read that they did not understand they could not grasp it so they kept quiet, and they did not dare ask him about it.
The disciples had been taught like all the people from the teachers of the law, the scribes and the Pharisees, that when the Christ came he would remain for ever. John wrote that the crowd said, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever.” How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” John 12: 32-34
The teachers of the law enforced this view at Calvary when they said, “He saved others;  he cannot save himself. Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Mark 15. 31, 32.
Therefore when Jesus said that he was going to die at the hands of men, it was contrary to what they had been taught about Messiah. Luke 9 43 -45. 18: 31-34.John 12: 34.
If the disciples had understood about Jesus’ death and resurrection may be their attitudes would have been different: when Jesus was arrested they would not have all run away, fleeing the garden.
Peter maybe would not have denied his association with Jesus in the chief priest’s courtyard.
After his death and burial the disciples would have believed the women who came to the house telling them that they had seen the resurrected Jesus.
But we know that God had deliberately hidden Jesus ‘death from the disciples understanding until the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection, when he opened their minds to understand the scriptures concerning his suffering, death and resurrection. Luke 24: 44 – 48.
And later Peter said in his address at Pentecost Acts 2: 23 that it was in the definite plan and foreknowledge of God that Jesus was crucified and died.
The relevance of knowing this today
People who come from religions who’s teachings do not believe that Jesus died on the cross, also deny the resurrection as well.
When the Centurion speared Jesus’ side we read that blood and water poured out. Science proves when a person dies the blood and water separate. This proves that Jesus did die on the cross. The evidence of his resurrection was recorded by eye witnesses. The truth of these things is acted upon by the Holy Spirit revealing Jesus to us in a personal way. John 19: 34.
In our Gospel reading when they reached Capernaum Jesus asked them what had they been discussing on the way.
The disciples were arguing who would be the greatest among them. James wrote that ambition causes disorder and leads to breaking up of the fellowship of the church.
Archbishop Justin Welby in his recent address at the General Synod in his final words said, “So, the good news. The Communion exists and is doing wonderful things. The bad news.  There are great divisions and threats.
The challenge. There is a prize of being able to develop unity in diversity and also with deeper and deeper ecumenical relations demonstrating the power of Christ to break down barriers and to provide hope for a broken world.
We must grasp that challenge, it is the prize of a world seeing Christ loved and obeyed in His church, a world hearing the news of his salvation.
So let us here, in the Church of England and above all in its General Synod, be amongst those who take a lead in our sacrificial, truthful and committed love for the sake of Christ for His mission in His world.”
In order for us to attain ‘sacrificial, truthful and committed love for the sake of Christ’s mission in his world,’ Jesus tells us to have the disposition of a child.
Mark 9: 36, 37. Jesus took a child and placed him in their midst and taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever, receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
Children take people at face value they are unaware of a person’s position in society and they believe what they are taught and have a thirst for knowledge, they are teachable. Romans 2: 11. Matthew 22: 16.
Children are quick to learn– The children were lined up in the cafeteria for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted it on the apple tray, “Take only one. God is watching.” Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. One child whispered to another, “Take all you want, God is watching the apples.”
Children today are taught by mum, dad, grandparents and their nursery, church and school teachers.
Jesus looked to his teacher, his Father God. He had learnt from his Father and imitated him; he only did what he saw his Father doing.
Jesus said that his disciples are not to be called Rabbi; for you have one teacher and you are all brethren. Matthew 23: 8. 1 Corinthians 1: 10-13

The one teacher is Jesus and his disciples recorded his words so that we learn from Jesus, taking his words into our heart and his commandment to love one another, having the disposition of a child.
Assisted suicides, Dunkirk miracle, God takes care of us, God's protection, in God, Our lives are hidden in Christ

The Messiah’s Secret – Hidden in Christ in God

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The Messiah’s Secret –  Hidden in Christ, in  God.

Evening Lectionary: Exodus 14: 5-31.  Matthew 6: 1-18                                                      

Hidden in Christ in God: visual aid.

 Large doll – God
Medium doll – Jesus
Small doll – Christian

Small doll  – in Jesus Christ

Both Jesus and Christian in God

When the Israelites knew Pharaoh was coming after them with his army, they were afraid. Moses prayed and the Lord responded telling Moses that he would fight for them and to be still. The result God stood between the Israelites and the Egyptians in the form of a cloud, protecting the Israelites.

Moses used his rod to part the Red Sea and the whole of Israel crossed over on dry land, the Egyptians followed them Moses lifted up the rod and God allowed the sea to return to its normal flow where Pharaoh’s army were left to their own devices to save themselves.

The Israelites by being still allowed God to deliver them without having to fight the Egyptians, it is an example of their lives being hidden in God. Hidden in God they did not have to strive in their own strength.

Jesus life on earth was hidden in God fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy  
“He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets, he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick.” Isaiah 42: 1-4 Matthew 12: 18-21.                
The crowd threatened to kill Jesus on a number of occasions: At Nazareth after he read from the book of Isaiah; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has appointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” He went on to say “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up and drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of a hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” Luke 4: 18, 19, 28-30.
For saying, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” that he and the Father were one of the same, they would have stoned him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple. God protected him. John 8: 20, 59 10: 31. His life was hidden in God; he was doing God’s will with his care and protection.

Jesus had a loving gentle disposition.  
Unlike the Pharisees he was not pious, He did not need to draw attention to himself by shouting out his message, his presence was enough. He was forgiving and kind, gentle and lowly of heart. Jesus always spoke the truth and illustrated what it meant for his and their lives to be hidden in God, God fighting for them and his provision as well.  Matthew 11: 28- 30.                                                                
In the same chapter verses 25, 26 God’s provision they were not to be anxious about what they shall eat, drink or wear and he gave the examples of  God’s provision for the birds of the air, the lilies were clothed with amazing splendour and Matthew goes on to record Chapter 14 Jesus meeting the need of the 5,000 and the 4,000 people by a miracle manufacturing bread and fishes on the spot. Matthew 14: 13-21. 15: 32-39. 10: 29, 31.

In Matthew 6 Jesus taught what it meant for his disciples and us today for our lives to be hidden in God
Our holiness is hidden in what we say and do: to give a word in season and acts of kindness that is appropriate to the need.
His followers to give alms in secret, what we give between ourselves and God.
Jesus went to pray in quiet places where he talked to God in prayer. He encouraged his disciples to do the same. To pray in private, praying for others as well as our own situations.                                  
The reward  
Paul spoke of the secrets of Christians being revealed at the judgement seat of Christ, secrets in the doing of God’s will: telling people about Jesus, helping someone in some way, a record kept in heaven and will be rewarded by receiving our inheritance as children of God Romans 2:16                                                                                                          

Jesus’ prayer that he gave his disciples “The Lord’s Prayer” embraces our lives hidden in God, because we are children of God.
Jesus used this personal term ‘Our Father’ that we may see and revere God in this special way as he embraces all who become children of God in his heavenly kingdom.
Jesus united heaven and earth at his ascension, we pray to seek his will be done.   “If then you have been raised with Christ seek those things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3: 3
Our lives hidden in Christ in God

The provision of the living bread, the word that nourishes the soul that breathes forgiveness and healing.

In our gospel reading Jesus was fulfilling the law, therefore, forgiveness here is conditional on forgiving others, under grace Jesus gave the example of ‘the prodigal son’ who was forgiven before he returned home, his father went out to meet him.

While we are in the world we will go through trials and temptations. 
God will not allow us to be tempted to the point of no return, there will always be a way through, and victory over the evil one.               

Our nation was in a similar position as the Israelites when the German forces surrounded our army at Dunkirk.
Our present Queen’s father King George V1 during the last war in May 1940 God inspired him to call the nation to a week of prayer for the evacuation of our troops from Dunkirk in France.  
It is recorded that it was so successful due to the weather conditions that prevailed in the English Channel. The calm seas enabled thousands of privately owned boats to make that sea crossing picking up the troops off the sea shore at Dunkirk. 319,390 troops English, French, Belgium and Canadian were saved. Winston Churchill called it  “A miracle of deliverance.”  I would think that many Christians included fasting on that day. Fasting in secret accompanied with prayer for the right reasons, help us focus on the Lord and the situation.                                                                                              
Yesterday morning another aspect of being hidden in Christ in God came to mind, ‘God our Father determines when I die.’ Two hours later Freda rang me with her concerns about the assisted suicides debate in the House of Commons on Friday 11thSeptember.  She said that it was the second reading of Rob Marris Bill and could I put it on the News Sheet to make it known for people to pray.

Following this at the end of sermon, we discussed various points on the Bill that I had downloaded from the internet. All indicated that they were against the Bill, including a young doctor in the congregation.

I enter into the debate on the grounds that my life is hidden in God, and my Father in heaven will take care of me, even in suffering, to the end of my life on earth. 

I have since emailed 3 Members of Parliament with my concerns regarding this Bill. 

freedom and liberty, hearers and doers, implanted word, mirror image, parable of the two sons, word of truth

The Messiah’s Secret – Coming from Within Jesus, ‘The Word of Truth’

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The  Messiah’s Secret – Coming from within Jesus ‘The Word of Truth.’

This morning’s visual aid –  A Bible Cake

The Bible – The Word of God. 
(expounded by Gerry and Janice) Summary below
Ezekiel ate the scroll the words that were sweet to the taste like honey, words that he had to give to Israel that were not pleasant.   John in his vision was told by the angel to “Take and eat it.(the little scroll) It will turn his stomach sour.” John prophesying to the words of judgement on people and nations.  
Jesus’ words saying that it’s what comes from out of us is unclean, also could be described that is sour: anger, envy, greed and malice etc Ezekiel 3: 3.  Revelation 10: 10. Mark 7: 15
God wants us to feed on his word so we are able to share his word with others, not just to keep it to yourself..
Followed by ‘Bible Facts’.

James 1: 17-27. Mark 7: 1-8, 14, 15, 21-25.

The Bible is the only book where the author is present
James called Jesus ‘The Word of Truth.’
Jesus the second person of the Trinity came into the world, born of a woman, to reveal the truth of God’s word. His thoughts and intentions that came from within his own heart, and mind revealing the goodness of God, his all embracing love in his actions and his deeds.

Jesus often said, ”Truly, truly, I say to you” he was emphasising the truth to his words one example below:
John 5: 24.”Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, he does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.”  

John 6: 29. “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”                                                                                                             
Jesus’ words with promises John 14: 23, 26   “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home within him.”                                                                                 
“The Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Whether a person was rich or poor, Jesus responded from his heart, to their need, he taught the scriptures and healed all who came to him. 

Jesus looked at the person’s heart, Mark 7: 6. He discerned that many honoured him with their lips but their hearts were far from him
                                                                                                
The Pharisees and scribes chose to follow the traditions of men that was not compatible with the heart and will of God. Cleansing pots and washing hands had no affect on the thoughts and intentions of their hearts.
In Jesus’ parable of the two sons, their father asked them to go and work in the vineyard
The first son said that he would not go, but afterwards he repented and went. The other son said that he would go, but he did not. Jesus then said to those listening, “Who did the will of their father?” Those listening replied “The first son.” Matthew 21: 28
The first son thought about it and changed his mind, he would go as he loved his father. The second son having said he would, rebelled against his father and did not go.
The rebellious nature that Jesus died for on the cross.

This is what James meant in his illustration of the mirror image it reflects human nature were our basic instinct is to look to ourselves rather than look to God.
We can not please God through our own self goodness, we have to be willing to let the cross do its’ work within us, to die to our self rule our rebellious spirit, in order for us to do our Father God’s will. For us to be like the tree that bends in the wind, we bend our will to do the will of God.

James pointed out  that we can discern a Christian’s sincerity of heart by them putting their faith into action.
 A week last Thursday  we went on a visit to Howarth, North Yorkshire, the main street was quite crowded and as we were leisurely walking up the street when from among the crowd a young man appeared, wearing a billboard, on it the words ‘The end is near’ he passed quickly by.
A lady just in front of me said, “How can he believe that all his life.” I chipped in, “It does work.” She turned and looked at me and hastily they moved on up the street.                                                                                                        
We were taken completely by surprise, I thought afterwards I could have said something better, but I thanked the Lord I was able to support the young man, he had planted a word in that ladies heart. James called Jesus the ‘implanted word’ that is able to save the soul.

Implants are used when a person’s organ fails. The flawed Mosaic Law has been replaced by the perfect law that gives freedom, liberty, and righteousness of life. James called it ‘The Royal Law,“Love your neighbour as yourself.” James 2: 8 Galatians 6: 2.

Over recent months we have been witnessing a huge migration of people from eastern countries to Europe, escaping the extremes of Islam and civil wars.
These people are looking for the safety, security and freedom that derives, in my view from the freedom that our faith in Christ gives us, freedom coming from within a person, as we feed on the word of God guided by the Holy Spirit. It is the transforming power that works through nations and people.

The migration of people, it is a difficult problem but as James challenged the Christians of his day, our faith in Christ, calls us to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’  
bread of life, butterfly, communion, division of families through a son or daughter or mother or father becoming a Christian., Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscient, repentance and forgiveness

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Bread of Forgiveness

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Bread of Forgiveness.
Repentance and forgiveness for every day injuries is something we give and receive all the time.
I tread on your toe and you forgive me.
Someone makes you late – Never mind that’s okay.
Our possessions get damaged – It’s hard but we can forgive.
Sketch.
Through repentance and forgiveness Jesus is still healing the scars of 2 World Wars
We can bury every hatchet, forgive, forget and start again, but for all people at some point in our life we will need to get right with God.”All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3: 23.
True repentance isn’t turning over a new leaf making a fresh start out of fear of punishment or saying the words of repentance out of self pity, without really meaning it. We can be comfortable with our sin, and ignore the call to repent of it.
The cross is where we recognise that we need to say sorry to God, for the things that we have done wrong.
God will meet us at the cross at the first sign of repentance and act on Jesus taking our place, bearing the cost in dying for our sin on the cross.
God forgives us for everything, when we turn completely to him making a full turn, not half hearted, but saying that we are sorry with all of our heart, mind and will. We receive forgiveness through our faith in what Jesus has done for us on the cross.                                                                                                                        
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ABSOLUTION
We celebrate at Communion what Jesus has done for us in reconciling us with God our Father.
The song writer Graham  Kendrick wrote ‘In the bread there is healing and in the cup there is life for ever,’ in the cup, the wine representing the blood of Christ.
The greatest healing was when Jesus came from heaven to earth in the flesh, to heal our broken relationship with God so that we will walk in newness of life with God. Romans 6: 4
In our reading Jesus was discussing in the synagogue at Capernaum with the Jewish people the significance of his claim being the bread of life. He said, “Unless you eat of this bread and drink his blood you shall not have life within you,”
Some of his own followers were appalled
The majority of people gathered in the synagogue, when they heard him say this were affronted. To understand why, under kosher laws, the Jews were not allowed to eat blood, as life is in the blood and also certain creatures were deemed unclean: shell fish, the pig, and some cloven footed animals etc.
For those Jews at Capernaum, for them to participate in eating and drinking Jesus’ body and blood would mean accepting, acknowledging that his life laid down was the end of Kosher law.
His followers on another occasion had heard Jesus say that all foods were clean, he stated that it’s not what you ate that defiled a person, it was what comes from the heart: deceit, hatred, revenge, coveting and pride etc.
So what Jesus referring to had yet to happen, his body and his blood would be the final atoning sacrifice for the sins of the flesh, coming from the heart, not from what they ate.
Rev John Hadley in his book ‘Bread of the World’ supported by the Bishop Trevor Huddleston he writes:
“Jesus gave himself up, in his life and on the cross, finally and totally and irreversibly; he suffered death and was buried; but God vindicated him by raising him up from the dead, and it is his risen body which we celebrate and receive in the Holy Communion.”
The bread and the wine are tokens of repentance and forgiveness and as we are raised up to walk in newness of life.

Visual Aid. Scarce Copper butterfly

We have an example in nature: from the egg the caterpillar emerges and lives for a short time.

It then it attaches itself to a branch and makes a pupa or chrysalis where it goes through a transformation and the butterfly emerges from it. Below Scarce Copper butterfly (my attempt to replicate the butterfly)


So all people are sinners in God’s eyes until we come to the cross and repent  and we are transformed by the Holy Spirit acting upon our faith in Jesus’ body and blood atoning for us, redeeming us and as a result we are raised up with Jesus in his resurrection.
Paul in his letter to the church at Rome 6: 5 “If we are united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Jesus in conversation with Martha said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

The bread and the wine also symbolising Christians sharing Christ’s brokenness and healing in forgiving one another from the heart. 
The picture to the right was as a result of me arguing with church members about whether the church should close or not. I did not want it to close. After the Lord gave me this picture I repented from my heart, by arguing I was knocking nails into Jesus’ hands upon the cross. I drew the picture and wrote these words, “Tuesday 3rd May the picture came to me while I was sat at prayer in St John’s Stonefold. The compassion of Jesus as the fightings and arguments in the world nail him to the cross, over and over again. The importance of Communion.” The year would be 1993.

On the cross Jesus was heard to say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” he not only forgave all who come to him in faith, he asked his Father to forgive as well.
Our own unforgiving spirit has been nailed to the cross, and were we find it hard to forgive sometimes, because of being hurt, injured. The sharing of the bread symbolises were Jesus asked his Father to forgive also, so we ought to forgive each other.” .
Christians across the globe sharing the bread and the wine tokens of repentance and forgiveness and newness of life walking in the Spirit. 

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. 
Paul wrote encouraging them to be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love as Christ loved us. To imitate Jesus and seek the will of the Lord is for us rejoicing together. “Speaking to one another with Psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So we remember, “The joy of the Lord is our strength,” because we are forgiven. Ephesians 5: 19, 29. Nehemiah 8: 10.


Evening Lectionary; Exodus 2: 23, 3: 10.  Luke 12: 49 – 58.

God in his Omnipresence–through his presence everywhere, he heard  the cries of the Hebrew people and being Omniscient – knowledge of all things, he knew they were suffering at the hands of the Egyptians. Also God in his Omnipotence – all powerful was about to relieve their suffering through Moses leading them as a nation towards the Promised Land.

Moses was curious when he saw that the bush was burning but it was not burnt up. God spoke to him from out of the bush.
                        
In our New Testament readingJesus spoke of casting a fire upon the earth, the fire of judgement. A fire not yet kindled until after Pentecost, a fire not seen in the flesh, but would be felt by the presence of the Spirit of God working in people’s lives across the world
The Holy Spirit’s ministry convicting people of the sin of unbelief of rejection of Jesus being the Messiah, of righteousness and of judgement.

Jesus knew that the Gospel message“God so loved the world, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” 
This claim would divide families in their religious beliefs, even husbands and wives would disagree in what they believed. I am sure we can recall people who we know are in this situation.                 
In Moses situation, he probably was not sure what his beliefs were before he met God at the burning bush. He knew he was a Hebrew, his father Amram and his mother Jochebed who were Levites descendants of Jacob. However, he had been rejected by the Hebrew man who saw him kill the Egyptian when he was defending a fellow Israelite.
Moses also had been brought up as an Egyptian in Pharaoh’s household, he must have been familiar with the gods of Egypt and His father-in-law Jethro was a priest of the Midianites, Zipporah one of seven daughters of Jethro became Moses’ wife. Exodus 15: 20.
When God spoke to him he identified himself as the God of his father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob how that must have impacted Moses’ beliefs.

The importance of having a real contact with the God who you believe in is amazing.
Simon Altaf brought that home to me on his CD. He sought for 10 years for Allah to speak to him as he prayed faithfully asking him to make himself known to him and it never happened. He came in contact with a fundamentalist Muslim who had become a Christian and he learnt from him what Christianity is about having a personal relationship with Jesus.
Simon asked Jesus to make himself known to him and Jesus did, he spoke to him while Simon was at work “Follow me” those were the words he heard Jesus say to him in his inner ear and so he continues to follow Jesus today.
Moses is described as being full of meekness.
Moses was not pushy type of person, he was probably quite dignified, and he had made a stand against injustice, both defending the Hebrew and stepping in to stop the shepherds pushing in to water their sheep before Jethro’s daughters at the well.               
But he had run away from Pharaoh after killing the Egyptian and when God asked him to go to Pharaoh it was not surprising that he was not too happy. The task that God had given him to do was to request that Pharaoh let the children of Israel go to a land flowing
with milk and honey, the land of Canaan
The Lord brings us face to face with our failings, wrongdoings and then undertakes bringing healing through a trial. a furnace of fire. Every Pharaoh claimed to be an incarnation of the sun god Amenra and was known as the son of the sun. 

God showed Himself supreme above every false god and also supreme above the being who inspired and directed the evil spirits behind these pagan deities.


Jesus during his ministry showed his Godly authority over the God of this world, but the leaders of the nation could not discern the signs he gave them. 
Jesus was not carrying a rod, he was God himself casting out evil spirits and I have found out through studying he was aware of people’s fear of spirits.                                                                                                                       
Jesus deliberately went into the desert where it was believed evil spirits lived. Another reason he did not wash his hands because of the Jewish belief that evil spirits resided on unclean hands. Receiving water from the woman of Samaria, he had no fear of drinking borrowed water and no fear of spirits behind their idols.

For us who follow Jesus, he’s the fire that burns within us, that does not consume us. Instead he lights up the way for us to fulfil God’s will.
eternity, Heavenly Man just in a moment he found himself enering his village, Philip and the Eunuch, Sir Winston Churchill, time

The Messiah’s Secret – Ecclesiastes 3 Time and Eternity

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The Messiah’s Secret – Ecclesiastes 3 Time and Eternity
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15. 
Ecclesiastes – The Preacher.
It is generally thought that the first section of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon, even though his name is not mentioned, however, Chapter 1: 1 would indicate that Solomon is the author.“The words of the Preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.”
King Solomon asked God not for long life or wealth but for wisdom. 1 Kings 3: 9 – 12
Further evidence that he was the author in verses 16,
” I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”  1: 1, 16,
Solomon discerned in his wisdom that God has put eternity into our minds.
In the early days of the church, people’s hearts were being changed, the time had been fulfilled were God had revealed eternity in his Son, Jesus.
Jesus has united earth and heaven in his death, resurrection and ascension.
The Spirit of God that has been sent from heaven to the earth and through faith in Jesus unites us to where Jesus is in heavenly places in eternity.
In the Spirit Philip was taken by the Spirit in bodily form from one place to another in a moment of time, he didn’t travel the distance. “”and when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.” Acts 8: 39, 40.
In the book ‘Heavenly Man’ Brother Yun was taken in a moment of time from one place to another in bodily form.”Suddenly, even though I didn’t feel anything or notice anything happen, I found myself entering my home village  without any time passing! What should have taken a few hours just took a few moments.” Page 39 “The Heavenly Man” Paul Hatterway, Monarch Books.
The Time dimension we live in.
In science the space program is travelling in earth time, it took 16 months to reach Pluto and longer to go beyond our solar system.
Our experience in relation to ‘time’ a constant movement between one state to another “A time to be born and a time to die”. From being a baby to child, child to adolescent, youth to maturity, adult to old age followed by death.
 “A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what was planted.” Seasons ebbing and flowing: summer to Autumn, autumn to winter, winter to spring, spring to summer. The cycle of planting  and watching the growing process until the time arrives when the plants are cleared and the ground is prepared to start the process again.
“A time to kill and a time to heal.” The miracle of our human body, the white blood cells in our blood kill off bacteria and re-construct through the DNA in the white cells.
“A time to breakdown and a time to build up.”
God appointed time to fulfil a purpose. 
Sir Winston Churchill wrote, “There comes a special moment in everyone’s life, a moment for what a person is born, that special opportunity, when he seizes it, will fulfil his mission for which he was uniquely qualified. In that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour.”
During those war years many people wept and mourned their loss of family and friends. At the end of the war people embraced each other in laughter and people danced for joy.

Memories
Forgiving those who had hurt others in a time of war on both sides takes time, those who sought answers as to what had happened and why it had happened could  perhaps see that knowledge doesn’t over time change the heart of man, only God can do that.
“A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time cast away; a time  to rend, and a time  to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time to war, and a time for peace.” 
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1: 9 

Only God can change our ‘time’ to eternal time Jesus has made it possible for those who believe in him to enter into eternal time, a continual never ending time,  for ever more
Amen

By Dorothy Newton