complete surrender out of love for God, love for God, mind and will, repent will all your heart, Richness towards God, your soul, your strength

The Messiah’s Secret – Love for God

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The Messiah’s Secret – Love for God

Lectionary Job 28.  Luke 12: 13 – 21

The deepest gold mine in the world Tau Tona, is in South Africa, it produces approx $ 2 million dollars in gold annually. it’s 2,4 miles deep with 500 miles of tunnels and employs 5,600 miners.        
Job wrote that people seek for earthly riches, they understand the value of gold, but the majority of people do not understand the value of true wisdom that comes from God.

Jesus showed great Godly wisdom in his conversation with the man who was disgruntled with his brother’s attitude towards him. His brother coveted possessions and money as a result he was keeping all the inheritance. He came to Jesus perhaps believing that the Messiah would be a man like Moses who inquired of God over disputes. Exodus 18: 13, 16. Deuteronomy 18: 15, 18-20.
But Jesus came not to judge, and he did not condemn people, he came to show God’s love and compassion in embracing the outcasts, his healing ministry and he taught the Hebrew scriptures with authority.
We know that after his ascension to heaven, Jesus mediates between us and God, bringing our prayers before God, his throne of grace.

In the parable Jesus was showing the lifestyle of a man who had accumulated wealth, but we understand by this man’s approach to life he enjoyed and loved possessions, living in luxury and he didn’t think he would one day be accountable before God for his richness towards God, his love for God. (I’ve prayed over many years to understand the meaning of ‘richness towards God.’)

I looked for examples in the gospels were people showed their love for God:  the widow showed her love for God when she gave more than she could afford putting her copper coins into the treasury. Jesus said, ”Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they contributed out of their abundance but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had.” Luke 21: 1, 2. 

Matthew gave up his job as a tax collector to follow Jesus. Matthew 9: 9. 

The Centurion in his faith he showed his love and trust in Jesus’ word. Matthew 8: 5-13. 

The Samaritan who had been healed of his leprosy came back to Jesus to thank him. “Then when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice, and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.” He loved God and gave thanks to him. Luke 17: 15, 16. 

Job showed his love for God even though he had lost all his children, his wealth and his health. He trusted and was dependent upon God for every breath of life. He did not blame God for his demise. Job 21: 22. 42: 10, 12 Blog  A Short Study of Job

Disciple Peter was asked by Jesus three times, “Do you love me Peter?” Peter had gone through a time of trial through his denial of knowing Jesus. In his conversation he responded saying, ‘he knew that he loved him’. Peter had repented when he realised his sin, he left the courtyard of the High Priest Caiaphas and wept bitterly showing his love for Jesus from his heart, his soul, his strength, his mind and will. Luke 22: 62

I do not think that Peter was half hearted, true repentance is not turning over a new leaf, making a fresh start for fear of punishment or saying words of repentance out of self pity. Repentance is when our conscious working with the Holy Spirit brings us to that place of recognition of sin against God and as a result we make a full turn, from the heart out of love for God. “You shall love God with all your heart, with all your soul, our strength, and with all of our mind, and to love your neighbour as yourself.” Luke 10: 27. 

We know Jesus’ generous love and we are able to love God. 
Jesus our redeemer died on the cross, suffering for the sin of the world. Jesus suffered the loss of everything material, to live for God in complete surrender to the Father he loved. He was crucified, laying down his life in his love for us, the future church family. “And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister and mother.” 

How do we show our love for God? When we are doing the Lord our God’s will, and when  in worship we express our love for God, lifting our hearts in praise, prayer and thanksgiving. As we share the good news about Jesus with others. Also when we talk to God in prayer, bringing our own concerns and those of others to him out of love for them.                                    
Going through our trials we show our love for God when we trust him and are dependant upon him, we lean not on our own understanding, “Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1: 12
power of God, power of God in the seed of grass cracks open the tarmac, seed of faith, the seed of faith in Jesus is raised up by the power of God in us

The Messiah’s Secret – God’s Timing

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The Messiahs Secret – God’s Timing (Law and Grace)
Paul writing to the Ephesians wrote that now was the time for the Gentiles to enter into the Kingdom of God, “Remember at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from the citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2: 12

Visual Aid – Hickory Dickory Dock Nursery Rhyme (for the young children) 



Hickory, dickory, dock,

the mouse ran up the clock, 



(the tab was pulled down by a child) 





the clock struck one, 

 the mouse ran down, 
hickory dickory dock. 

(The tab was pushed up to allow the mouse to come down).




 In a booklet which was given out, the mice were scurrying off to church for 9.45am


It was God’s timing when he intervened in human affairs when Jesus was born into the world to fulfil God’s plans and purposes, it was to end the law given to Moses by God and to establish the New Covenant by grace.

The cop got out of his car and the kid who was stopped for speeding rolled down his window, the cop said “I’ve been waiting for you all day,” The kid replied “Yeah, well I got hear as fast as I could.”
When the cop finally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket. (grace.)   ‘Barrel of Laughs’ J John Monach Books.

The greatest healing that Jesus accomplished was reconciling humanity and God.
Ephesians 2: 14. “For he (Jesus) is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulation. His purpose was to create in himself one new man, so making peace, and in this one new body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
To understand what Paul has written we remind ourselves that In the Bible there are only two nations the Jewish nation and the Gentiles.           

The Law given to Mosesby God separated the two nations. The Gentiles didn’t keep these laws they had no covenants with God.
The law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, the book containing the law was ratified, made legal with the sprinkling with sacrificial blood over the book and the people.
As part of that agreement Moses and the elders of Israel sat and ate with God on Sinai. God having fellowship with his people. Exodus 24: 1-11.
The same is seen when Jesus sat at table with his disciples at the last supper where he put in place the new covenant.”This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26: 28
And in Revelation 3: 20 Jesus is knocking at the door of a person’s heart, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”  The barrier, the door of sin in our life.

Visual Aid – A large piece of tarmac 

The tarmac has a hard wearing surface which represents the law, the hardness, and the unyielding law.

The Policeman caught a motorist speeding and gave him a ticket, the motorist complained. The Policeman reminded him, “Get two more of these tickets and you will be riding a bicycle.”

The Law was given to Moses by God and it was designed to illuminate what sin is in God’s eyes: Hatred, bitterness, envy, pride, unbelief, malice, steal, cheat, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, fornication etc. Galatians 5: 19-21. 
We understand that it is impossible to keep the law, so a sacrifice was made to atone for sin.
When we hear what Jesus has done for us on the cross, and in faith we accept that he has become our sacrifice, dying for our sin, we are raised up from the dead, from the state that we were in before we heard about Jesus.

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ dead body down from the cross and laid him in a tomb, where they wrapped his body with strips of linen coated with myrrh and aloes. 
From within the tomb, the power of God raised Jesus’ dead disjointed, bloodless body up from the dead, Jesus rolled back his grave clothes coated with myrrh and aloes, it was by the power of God the stone was rolled away from the entrance to the tomb.
It’s like the seed under the tarmac germinates in the darkness and by the power of God, forces its way through the tarmac, cracking its hard surface. Have you felt the soft texture of grass and yet it has broken through that hard surface of the tarmac.

The seed of faith sown in our heart, by the power of God’s Spirit raises us up, as Jesus got up in the tomb, he released us from our sin and raises us up in him, he rolls away the stony heart and gives us a heart that beats in time with God’s heart.
Our nature has been transformed by the power of God’s Spirit acting on repentance and our faith in Jesus, so our nature becomes God centred
We are raised up with Christ to know the holiness of God the law written in our hearts, and the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, self control, against which there is no law. Galatians 5: 22 -24

Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, “When (Christian) Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires . . . They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Romans 2: 4-16                                               
Jesus has fulfilled the purpose for his coming, he has broken down the barrier of sin, Paul calls it ‘hostility’ he has made it possible for all people to be reconciled to God. So fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham, all the nations of the earth will be blessed
I would normally end my sermon here, but please bear with me for five more minutes as three weeks ago & and this week I was asked this question.
 “Why doesn’t God intervene in the current world affairs?
In response to the question: God’s intervention in world affairs ties in with Biblical prophesies. One significant prophecy that has already been fulfilled, “They will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:24
Many Christians believe this prophecy was fulfilled in 1980, when Jewish people took control over a divided Jerusalem. 

Since then the tension in the region continues to escalate, until hopefully, quite soon the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy will be fulfilled.
This seven year period will begin with Israel signing a peace treaty with other countries. Daniel 9: 27 “He will confirm a covenant with many for one week.”
Israel will relax as this period of peace continues
Ezekiel 38: 14 “On that day when my people are dwelling securely, you will bestir yourself.”
After three and a half years, the peace treaty is broken Gog the King of the North comes against Israel and the tribulation period begins and lasts for three and a half years. So desolation comes before restoration by the Messiah.
Jesus informs us God intervenes at this point, “The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and evil doers and throw them into the fire, like the weeds will be gathered up and burned.” Matthew 13: 41.        

The armies of Gog and his allies gather to take Jerusalem, Jesus returns to take up with the remnant of Israel and defeats Gog to bring peace and security to the region and the world through the reign of the Messiah for a period of time 1,000 Revelation 21.

The intervention of God in world affairs lies with prophesies being fulfilled and its God’s timing.
                ——————————
Three views based on Eezkiel as to when Armageddon takes place: 1. Before the tribulation. 2.  The middle of the tribulation. 3. The end of the tribulation.
1.Before the tribulation Russia Gog the King of the North with her allies will invades Israel, this is before the antichrist is revealed, it is suggested the reason behind the invasion is to take the minerals from the land.

2.Middle of tribulation: the invasion of Israel by Gog the King of the North takes place while Israel is dwelling in her own land enjoying a false security of relative peace, provided by the covenant with the antichrist.  Gog is not mentioned in Revelation chapter 19 along with the demise of the beast and the false prophet, he must have been destroyed previously, in the middle of the tribulation.

3. At the end of the Tribulation period: The armies of Gog and his allies gather to take Jerusalem, Jesus returns to take up with the remnant of Israel  and defeats Gog to bring peace and security to the region and the world through the reign of the Messiah for a period of time 1,000 Revelation 21.

I personally go with the third view

Numbers in the Bible (Clock)
One: There is one God, Sunday the first day of the week. Exodus 20: 1. John 20:1
Two: There are two sections to the Bible Old and New Testaments
Three.  Three persons making up the one God, Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  Matthew 28: 19
Four . 4 Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Five: Five the number in the Bible associated with grace. Five commandments on each tablet of stone. Multiples of five in the inner sanctuary in the temple. 1 Kings 6. 23 – 27.
Six: God created man on the sixth day. Genesis 1: 26
Seven: Seven days in the week, number 7 associated with perfection. Genesis 1. 2:3
Eight. Rainbow has eight colours.  Genesis 9: 13
Nine: Finality or conclusion or .come to the end or completeness. Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.” John 19: 30
Ten: Two tablets of stone with the commandments on them.
Exodus 32: 15
Eleven: Jesus appeared before the eleven after his resurrection.
Mark 16: 14

Twelve: Twelve disciples Mark 3: 17 – 19.
David Bishop of Manchester, giving glory to God, giving glory to Jesus, Holiness, Jesus' holiness, sandals

The Messiah’s Secret – Holy is the Lord

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The Messiah’s Secret  –  Holy is the Lord
Evening Lectionary Jeremiah 20: 1-11.  Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20.
Jeremiah looked for Israel to be a holy people, a holy nation, following God’s commandments, but instead, some worshipped idols. The Israelites were living at a time of prosperity, so their eyes were not fixed on God. 
The Israelites were called by God to consecrate themselves, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Lev 11: 44.  1 Peter 1: 16
Definition of holiness: sanctity, righteousness, goodness, purity, virtue, perfection and devotion. This defines Jesus in his holiness in his oneness with his Father.

Jesus prayed for his disciples to be holy, “Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth; as thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in the truth.” John 17: 17-19. Sanctify and consecration both these terms are embraced in holiness

Jesus also defined holiness in the disciple’s appearance of having no wealth or possessions which sent out a message of being dependent upon God.
Jesus taught his followers to be like the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, totally dependent on God. In our gospel reading the realisation of those words the disciples were expected to live by faith that God would provide food and if necessary a bed for the night.
On their journey they were not to take with them a purse no money for lodgings and no bag to carry personal items and no shoes.
In Jesus’ day there were two types of shoes: the sandal covered just the sole of the foot and was worn by the poor person, whereas the shoe that covered all the foot was worn by those of means.
Therefore, their modest appearance plus the message that the Kingdom of God is near and praying for the sick, they would be respected as holy men.
Bishop David, Bishop of Manchester wears sandals.

Article Church of England website
Bishop David’s seminar on Franciscan Spirituality October 2014
“Whatever the weather or occasion, Bishop David wears  open-toed sandals as part of his Franciscan tradition.
“They remind me that I need to keep close to the ground (the words for ground and for humility have the same Greek root),’ he explained.’that means two things. Firstly, I must tread lightly on the earth. Secondly, I must not be seduced either by the respect paid to me as bishop, or by the rich and powerful people in whose company I may often find myself. I need to be true to myself and my place as a servant and child of God.”   
What he said, spoke of what Jesus was teaching his disciples, and for today’s Christian I think holiness is not denominational.
The disciples returned
When the disciples returned they were overjoyed and commented that even the demons were subject to their authority in Jesus’ name.
Jesus said that they were not to rejoice in the power that they had over spirits, but to rejoice over their names written in heaven.
As I see it, He was directing them to give glory to God, rather than glorifying themselves.
Jesus worked closely with God his Father 
Jesus spent many hours in prayer and always wanted to glorify God in what he said and did.
“ The word which you hear is not mine but the Father who sent me.” 14: 24.
”The works I do in my Father’s name they bear witness to me.” John 10: 25 “What ever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14: 13.
 “All that I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me from them.” John 17: 10.                                                            
 The words of Jesus praying to his Father for his disciples having given to them “All that I have is yours and mine,” is like a heart beat in the Lord’s body, the church and we the church giving glory to Jesus our Lord and God. 
Christian’s ministry to evangelise  
We all are given opportunities to evangelise, but go from town to town proclaiming the good news about Jesus and live by faith is one of the gifts of the Spirit. I’ve known people who were evangelists and lived by faith; one couple gave up their jobs and were totally dependent upon love gifts as they went about sharing the good news of the gospel. They had connections with Holy Bush Farm in Northallerton where a revival took place in the 1980’s.
Others have taken up the calling the vocation of being a Pastor, Minister or a Vicar and are supported by the church.                                                   

Collect for this Sunday Trinity 5
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
God’s calls us all to be holy, to live holy lives
 “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1: 16,
Paul wrote, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” Romans 12: 1        
 It reminds me of the hymn and chorus’, “Let everything within me cry holy,” 
“I will offer up my life in Spirit and truth.”
The other week we stayed at Scargill House on a week’s walking holiday, in conversation with one of the people on the walk, about this passage in Luke, I said that I felt far from this bench mark. He said that he and his wife had been thinking about living a simpler lifestyle. They have been Christians for approx eight years. 

Finances He paid off his debts                                      

Possessions They had a room where things had been stored for years, too good to throw away and they might come in useful. He was aware of the growing content of this room.  

He could see his witness through making a deliberate choice of being content with a simpler lifestyle.
Has God rejected his people by no means, Langley House Trust, raised from the dead by Jesus today, replacement theology, Zacchaeus Project Worksop

The Messiah’s Secret – God Raised Jesus from the Dead

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The Messiah’s Secret – God raised Jesus from the Dead. 
Jeremiah 6: 16- 21. 
Since writing the blog I’ve added what has come from the understanding of the word.

“A  Salvation Army captain was collecting at a local service station. “I am sorry,” said a sad looking middle-aged lady. “I can’t give you anything,I’ve just lost my husband.” Full of love and Christian compassion, the captain asked, “And how long ago since you lost him.   With a quick look round she replied, “Well, about five minutes ago. I think he must have gone to the toilets.”
“Smile, Please!” by Phil Mason Monarch Books.

Jeremiah was a priest, prophet. and a watchman  
Jeremiah as a watchman observed that the people had erred from the ancient ways: they wern’t putting into practice the law or listening to the watchman’s words from God.                          

Has the church today erred from ancient ways? 
Today’s watchmen or women might bring to our attention: ‘replacement theology’. What’s that about?

Replacement theology teaches that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan under a new covenant that has a completely new theology that excludes Israel and the Biblical words that have come down the milenniums. Those who follow ‘replacement theology’ believe the Jews are no longer God’s chosen people, and God does not have specific future plans for the nation of Israel.

Has God finished with Israel? 
I personally do not believe that God has finished with Israel. There have been numerous occasions where we read of God being frustrated by their lack of faith and their hardness of heart. On the Exodus journey Moses in his anger when the Israelites had made the golden calf in his absence threw down the two tablets of stone with the ten commandments written on them. God in his dismay considered starting again with Moses, “Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; but of you I will make a great nation,” Exodus 32: 18. 
Paul wrote that God had not rejected Israel. “I ask then has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.” Hebrews 11: 1

Biblical words that have come down the millenniums. 
Replacement theology changes words that have been part of the churches ministry down the centuries, in order to meet people were they are in the world. For many it’s a logical thing to do, but the words that replace the original words in my view are not anointed. It’s like the Pharisees adding laws to the laws given to Moses by God in order to gain more righteousness.

Why develop a formula that excludes the words that have come down the centuries? I heard directly on a Manchester Diocese Formation Day that when a church develops this formula of the Purpose Driven Life Church it should exclude groups like the Mothers Union. This I believe creates disunity and tramples upon the all inclusive message of Christ’s Church. 
The Mothers’ Union at that time had been in consultation at the request of the Prime Minister David Cameron in his support of the MU  ‘Bye, Buy, Childhood’ Campaign. This campaign is in order to give children back their childhood from the commercialisation and sexualisation particularly in children’s clothing. 
The MU has a long history of supporting and campaigning for Christian values in family life. See Blog ‘The Messiah’s Secret – Get on Board.’ 

Shortly after the Formation Days had taken place, the then Bishop of Manchester sent a message with an apology around to all who had attended the Formation Days. Apology accepted.


I personally do not believe that God has finished with Israel; God’s love is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13: 6. 
There are those in the church who expect to be spiritually one with others who don’t hold their views. But what they don’t realise that in the spiritual dimension they have so much spiritual baggage that is not compatible with the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah prophesied Israel’s repentance, “And I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look at the one whom they pierced they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps for a first born.” Zechariah 12: 10
This is a future when Jesus returns and takes up with the remnant of Israel. When this happens the Leaders of the nation of Israel will look to the gospels and remember the signs that Jesus gave, proving that he was and is the Messiah, 

They will read about when Jesus and his disciples came into the city just as a funeral was taking place. Jesus said to the mother, “Do not weep.” And raised her son from the dead and we read that they recognised him as a great prophet. Maybe the people watching knew the scriptures that recorded Elijah raising up the young boy from the dead. The boy was the son of the woman who Elijah was lodging with, He was taken ill and died, and Elijah ministered to him and brought him back to life. ! Kings 17: 17-24.

Elisha in the spirit of Elijah also raised up a boy from the dead. 2 Kings 4: 34.                                                                      . 
Jesus said that John the Baptist was in the spirit of Elijah. But we read John the Baptist in his ministry of baptism he did no signs like raising the dead.  John 10: 41.
The prophet Elijah was translated into heaven and the Jewish people expected him to return before the great and terrible day the Lord. The people looked for Elijah to come and take Jesus down from the cross. “The man in the crowd said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Matthew 27: 49.    Jesus’ heart was speared by the sword of the soldier. Jesus had died on the cross;
Medical science says that blood and water separate after death, blood and water issued out from the heart of Jesus.  John 19: 34                                                                                                                  
Scripture says that Jesus tasted death for everyone. Hebrews 2: 9.                          
Also in Hebrews he writes that we are all prisoners held captive by our sin against God until we come to Jesus believing that he is able to change our lives and release us from all that can binds us.

On Wednesday and Thursday last week I was on a Langley House Trust Chaplaincy Retreat in Leistershire. 
Langley is a Christian Charity that provides rehabilitation for people leaving prison. While in prison the system strips away their dignity they are told what to do and when to do it. They become withdrawn, shutting out what is going on around them, just to survive. 
Langley serves the people who live in their houses across the UK with the heart and in the Spirit of Christ, accepting people for who they are. They help ex-offenders  in a loving, but firm way learn to basis social skills and uphold Christian values.  In every house the work is under pinned with prayer and Bible study.
On the Retreat during the worship time on Wednesday afternoon, the Lord gave me in my mind, in the Spirit, a picture of Jesus rolling back his grave clothes. On the left I tried to draw the picture.

Only God could raise Jesus from the dead as His human frame had been badly beaten and his joints disjointed, in death he was lifeless, a corpse. Only God could raise Jesus up from the dead and release his bound body from the grave clothes, the linen clothes covered in myrrh and aloes. John 19: 39, 40.
When Jesus rolled back his grave clothes he had overcome the devil’s power over death and the things that binds humanity.
Added word: Before I set out on my journey to Leicestershire, in my prayer time the Lord gave me a word,”Rolling back the stone” It’s only now two weeks later that I realise the importance of that word. Receiving that word before the picture confused me and I was so moved by the picture of Jesus rolling back his grave clothes that It’s taken time to realise the full impact of what rolling back the stone means; it completes the healing process releasing us from all that would bind us in darkness as Jesus rolls back our grave clothes and the rolling back of the stone releases us into the light, freedom and healing, being raised up with Christ. 
(Some would say that the linen clothes lying in the tomb indicated that Jesus rose from the dead through the clothes. But for me one experience is worth a thousand arguments. John 20: 6-8.) 

As followers of Jesus, Christians are called to be Christ-like; in Paul’s words we have Jesus Christ’s abiding presence within us, ‘Christ in you.”

Peter filled with the Spirit of Jesus raised Tabitha from the dead. 
We know the story in Acts 9: 36-43 “Peter turning towards the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing  Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.”                                               

On Wednesday evening on the retreat Lawson Main from the’ Zacchaeus’ Project at St. John’s, Worksop came to tell us about the project. They  help people with drink and drug problems.   

He told us this true story, a young man who attended the Project came to Lawson telling him that his friend was dead in a flat after taking an overdose of drugs. They prayed together before going to the flat. The paramedics had been called.   
When Lawson and the young man arrived, the paramedics had pronounced him dead and as they began to put him in a body bag, to their astonishment, the man came back to life.  God had raised the young man up. 
At the project many have been set free from their addictions.  

This is what Langley House Trust hopes to achieve in all their projects ‘Helping people to live crime free lives.’  

Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, the truth shall make you free.” John 8: 31, 32.

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed. 
I was brought up in a Christian family and I believed which was the general belief in the church, that the time for the Jewish nation to accept Jesus as their Messiah was before his death on the cross. 
However, the Lord revealed to me that in order to fulfil God’s plan of Salvation Jesus had to die and be resurrected from the dead and Ascend into heaven before the nation of Israel could receive Jesus as their Messiah. 
The early believers in Christ’s Church expected Jesus to return quite soon. 
“Now brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold by the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent  then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that the times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything.” Acts 3: 17- 26  

‘The times of refreshing,’ the Messiah’s Jubilee. See blog The Messiah’s Secret – Joy to the World.
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk for an in depth study of the Messiah’s Secret.
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The Messiah’s Secret – Blogs from 1 – 176

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

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus’ Prayer John 17

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The Messiah’s Secret – Haslingden Christians Together Meeting 
Friday 22nd May 2015

David asked if he could opened the meeting singing Graham Kendrick’s hymn ‘Such love’ David sang unaccompanied, he sang it beautifully. (David sings tenor in Haslingden Choir) 


“Such love, pure as the whitest snow, such love weeps for the shame I know; such love, paying the debt I owe; O Jesus such love.


Such love, stilling my restlessness; such love, filling my emptiness, such love showing me holiness; O Jesus, such love.

Such love, springs from eternity, such love, streaming through history; such love, fountain of life to me; O Jesus, such love.

Mission Praise 619 Graham Kendrick Make Way Music/Thankyou Music.

Lectionary reading:1 John 4: 7-12
“Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.  In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” 

God is love, his Spirit is love.
When John wrote his letter he wrote of God’s love not being a commodity, a token of God’s affection, but his all consuming love that we receive through faith in Jesus.
God’s ultimate love shown to us by sending Jesus his Son to lay down his life, to pay the cost for our sin, and so we receive the love of God, his Spirit is love. 

In preparation for today I remembered this true story                                                           
“In the eleventh century, King Henry 111 of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made an application to Prior Richard to join a local monastery. “Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “Do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a King.” “I understand,” said Henry, “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.” Prior Richard said, “Then will I tell you what to do, go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has called you to.”  Extract from “A Barrel of Fun” by J John & Mark Stibbe Monarch  Books.

The King sought to release himself from the pressure he was under by joining the monastery. Cutting himself off from the demands that his office required.
But what he was looking for we don’t find in a place, as I found out on Monday of this week God has spoken to me in a very direct way through this story. I suggest we find the answer not in a place like the King going to the monastery or us going on a retreat, we find it within ourselves.

Whatever the pressures or concerns are: illness, financial or family problems, for me it was on 17th May last Saturday night/ Sunday morning at approx 2.00pm I was woken up by a spiritual attack upon my head, my head was being vigorously shaken with some force, I was frightened and horror struck, I tried to cry out but I couldn’t. My husband was woken up by what was going on.
My spirit wasn’t affected, but it took me two days to recover. This story of the King and the Prior’s word, brought me into finding my recovery and it lay within myself. Every Christian has had a God experienced.
The Lord has taught me to draw strength from an experience of God on 11th March 1981 that is 34 years ago.
It was on a Wednesday, earlier on that day I had taken my mum to relaxation classes and later I made two skirts for my girls. At 8.30 pm I was sat by the fire studying Isaiah 59. In verse 16 it read that that there was no intercessor for Israel and 21 stood out. “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon thee, and the words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth.” I remember seeing these words in verse 21 light up with a golden glow, shekina glory.  At 10.00pm I started praying confessing the sins of our church and I remember I started with the two commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, strength and to love one another.   
In a moment I was spiritual in the presence of God feeling his pain, which spiritual really hurt and tears gushed out like I’ve never experience before or since. God the Father was hurt because we were not coming to him with our needs.  

I also experienced the love of God in the place where God was, it was completely made up of love, the substance of it was love. Our atmosphere the substance of it is air, but in that place it was love, pure, holy love.  It happened so quickly and was over in a moment.                                                                                                

At the time Christ Church Walmersley the building had several outbreaks of dry rot and it was going to cost a lot of money to repair it, we were seriously considering closing the church and using the church hall for our services.
At the crucial meeting of whether we would close the building or repair it, on that very day our treasurer received a cheque a legacy for £5,000 from William Street (Bury and Masco Felt Manufacturers). The Parochial Church Council decided to restore the church building.

I am amazed that by looking again at that experience and not focusing on God’s pain, as I always have done, but instead focusing on the experience of God’s loving presence, as a result all the pressure of the attack has been taken from me and I am surrounded in his love and at peace.

I give thanks because through preparing to come here today and asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in what word to bring, I have learnt a valuable lesson and it’s all part of drawing on our faith in times of need, and drawing on those times when we have experienced something of God through his abiding presence.

David shared with us, the occasion when Jesus spoke to him, calling him to ‘come to him’ and afterwards when he was prayed for he was filled with the Holy Spirit. 
ambassadors for Christ, ascended into heaven, casting lots, Matthias twelfth Apostle, passport, set your mind on the things above, The job description for the office of an Apostle, thirty shekels of silver

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus’ Prayer John 17

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus’ Prayer John 17

Lectionary Reading: John 17: 6-19.

Jesus’ prayer recorded by John took place just before they left the house for the Garden of Gethsemane. It was very much a prayer that reflected what was going on at the time. 

Short Power Point Presentation 
From Jesus’ prayer we thought about our own prayers: we usually start by addressing God with a title that reflects our relationship with God and our reverence towards him. Several titles were suggested: Father, Heavenly Father, Almighty God, Lord and Father God etc. 
In Jesus’ prayer he spoke of his fellowship with his Father, his Father always heard his prayers. He noted that his disciples believed in him and his words and that he had been sent by God. Jesus recognised that prophecy had to be fulfilled in Judas. Jesus was concerned about his leaving his disciples, he was concerned for their safe keeping. He asked his Father to keep them safe from the evil one. 

In our prayer we know that God always hears our prayers and we asked for strength and for unity with Jesus and each other and the Lord to keep us safe. Our current situation at St Mary’s that is relevant to our prayer, is that the Lord would choose the person who will become our next Priest-in-charge. 
Jesus put emphasis on the name that God his Father had given him ‘Jesus’ the name above all names. Jesus promised that when we pray in his name: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son: if you ask anything in my name I will do it.” John 14: 13, 14. So we end our prayer in Jesus’ name. Below a short, but to the point prayer.

Father God,
we know you always hear us when we pray in faith.
Strengthen us and unite us in Jesus, and may the Lord chose the next person to be our Vicar.
Keep us all safe from the evil one.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We have looked at Jesus’ prayer and we have gathered what was upper most in his thoughts. He was concerned not for himself, but for his disciples, for them to be kept safe from the evil one.

While Jesus was praying in the house, Judas was no doubt telling the chief priest where Jesus could be found and collected his thirty shekels of silver the price for betraying him.

Some 500 years before Zechariah prophesied 

“Then I said to them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of silver.” Judas fulfilled when he left the Passover meal to meet with chief priest.
The second part of the prophecy, “Then the Lord said to me, “Cast it into the treasury” the lordly price at which I was paid off by them. So I took the thirty shekels of silver and cast them into the treasury in the house of the Lord.” Zechariah 11: 12, 13. RSV Bible.
This was fulfilled when Judas heard that Jesus had been condemned to death, he took the money and threw it into the treasury, saying that he had betrayed innocent blood, which meant the sinless blood of the Christ, God’s Saviour of the world. Matthew 26: 14-16, 27: 3-5
In our Acts 1: 15-17, 21-26.reading it is recorded that they brought up the number of Apostles to 12 to fill the apostolic office that Judas had left vacant.
It was on the evening of the day of the resurrection were Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the prophesies in scripture concerning himself. So, they were aware of the prophecy which Peter quoted  ‘Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; and ‘ His office, let another take.” Psalms 69: 25. 109: 8. Luke 24: 44-48.
 
This prophecy was fulfilled when the chief priest purchased a ‘desolate place’ without the presence of God’ a burial site with the betrayal money to bury strangers in and the office of an apostle that was to be that taken up by someone else. Acts 1: 20                                              
In Acts 1: 21, 22 we have a Job description for an Apostle.
The office fulfilling Jesus’ prayer and the criteria stipulated by Peter: The Apostles looked for those  among the followers who were of the same mind one with each other in their faith and words of Jesus and those who had accompanied the disciples during Jesus’ ministry from the days of John the Baptist up till Jesus’ ascension and could testify to his resurrection.  (Jesus chose twelve disciples from among his followers. Luke 6: 12).
There in the upper room of the house at Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension were 120 disciples and followers were gathered, probably not many from among 109 disciples would be eligible for the office of ‘Apostle’, Joseph and Matthias were candidates. 
I have on many occasions wondered why they cast lots (under law) to choose the one to take Judas’ place. I now realise why they cast lots to discern the Lord’s will, it was to fulfil another prophecy, Proverbs 16: 33 “The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly from the Lord.”  Matthias was chosen by the Lord to be the twelfth Apostle.
In Jesus’ prayer he spoke of his disciples as being as he had been, in the world but not being part of it. They had taken part in Jesus’ ministry walking with the God of heaven putting into practice his teaching and commands and having the joy of their Lord in their heart, the kingdom in their midst, but I think Jesus was also pointing to his ascension
John 17: 5 “And now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made.”
Last Thursday the church celebrated Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven
When Jesus ascended into heaven he united heaven and earth and this means to us today, we are citizens of heaven while we still reside on the earth.
Visual Aid

We have been given a passport into heaven through Jesus’ prophecy and promise, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 3: 16. Given as a free gift through faith in what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

So as ambassadors for Jesus’ kingdom we offer people a passport into heaven.
 
Last Thursday at ChattertonHey House we started our Alpha Course and we were offering this heavenly passport, so that they too can declare that Jesus has taken away their sins upon himself, and know his forgiveness, and like Jesus be raised up with him and are free to enter into his kingdom while being alive on earth.
So as ambassadors for Jesus in our present life, we are also seated with the Lord our God in heavenly places, Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Colossi, “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 mind on the things above, not on things that are on the earth.“ Colossians 3: 1, 2. 2.12-15.
Our Lord God calls people to fulfil his tasks, with the mind and Spirit of Christ.
In our current situation here at St. Mary’s like the Apostles we soon will be in that position for someone to take up the office of Priest-in-charge leading our two churches. It is good to note that the burden has been taken away from those who will be chosen from our governing body the Parochial Church Council to interview the prospective candidates, as the choice that they make on our behalf will be of the Lord’s choosing.  Just as our present Vicar and his wife have been called to fulfil the appointment at two other churches.
The apostles and followers spent time in prayer.
Following the example of the Apostles they prayed before they cast the lots, and so we give our situation over to the Lord in prayer (not casting lots) resting in the knowledge that Jesus will send his choice to St Mary’s and St Paul’s.
candle, Holman Hunt, Jesus the light of the world, lamp, Menorah Candlestick, you are the light of the world

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Perpetual Light

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Perpetual Light
Lord your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, in Jesus’ name.
Isaiah 60: 1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come. And the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” The light referring to the Messiah.
Jesus said that he was ‘the light of the world’ the light that was there before the creation of the sun, moon and stars.
In John Goldengay’s study book of ‘Isaiah’ Genesis 1: 3-5, 14. We read on the first day of creation, “God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light” John points out that from the first day the light continued until the fourth day. On the fourth day God created the sun, moon and stars as signs of seasons, days and years.
So Jesus the light of the world was there before the creation of the sun, moon and stars. I found this re-assuring when I thought of Jesus’ return, “Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. Then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” Matthew 24: 29, 30.
It won’t be complete darkness there will be the light, the light that was there before the creation of the sun, moon and stars.

We read of the continual light in the tent tabernacle
Exodus 27: 20, 21. Moses was instructed to burn pure olive oil in the lamp for the light, It was to burn continually and it was placed in the Holy place in the area where the priests worked and it was tended by them morning and evening.
The priests were dependent on the light from the lamp as there was no other source of light in the holy place. Exodus 25: 31-40
Visual Aids.   Candle and Menorah Candlestick.

C. W. Slemming “Made According to the Pattern.”He points out the difference between a candle and the lamp:
“Candles give light at the consumption of themselves, (and its light only lasts the life time of the candle.   Like a person without Christ in their life.)             
The lamp that made the light only bore it. The light was resultant from the pure oil that was constantly being put within it.”
Below: Menorah Candlestick and theCandlestick the symbol of Jesus being the light of the world.

The centre shaft was called ‘the servant’ or attendant. It held three branches on either side, seven lamps in total.

The lamp represents Christ:its branches, the Christian, we are dependent upon Jesus, continually topping us up by his word and Spirit.
Jesus said that he was ‘the light of the world’ and he came as one who served and gave his life for many. 
 
Jesus ‘risen body containing the continuous, perpetual light.
God said that he had prepared a body in Jesus. In chapter 10 of Hebrews. “Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body thou hast prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. Then he said, ‘I have come to do thy will, O God,’ as it is written of me in the roll of thy book’”
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh and since we have a great high priest over the house of God.” Hebrews 10: 5-7, 19-21
In coming to do God’s will Jesus abolishedMoses’ covenant with its rituals and sacrifices by fulfilling them through laying down his life, his flesh and blood for the final atonement for sin,
In the cotton factories the machinery became obsolete like the law given to Moses by God and  the obsolete machines were replaced by computerised machines. Under grace the law written in the heart through faith in Jesus.
 “When (Christian) Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Romans 2: 4-16                                                
Also as he high priest of God he offered the sacrifice of himself to his Father God for sin before establishing a new living covenant in himself, the temple of his body, the church.
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” 
Matthew 5: 14-16 as I see it Jesus pointed to Isaiah’s prophecy “You are the light of the world.(Israel) A city set on a hill cannot be hid. (Jerusalem) Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven.”(All the nations will come to the city bringing gifts)
Mark 16: 9-16. The disciples’ were the light to the world, but on the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection their light was hidden when they heard from Mary Magdalene that Jesus had been raised from the dead, they didn’t believe her, they were mourning Jesus’ death with heavy hearts and minds.
This reminded me of Holman Hunt the renowned 19th Century artist who had declined religious commissions on the ground that he didn’t believe in Jesus.
However, Holman Hunt’s vision of Jesus, which he painted ‘The Light of the World’ Revelation 3: 20. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

But I also see his painting describing the scene on the evening of Jesus resurrection when Jesus came and stood among them in the house at Jerusalem.

The weeds surrounding the door reminded me of the disciple’s unbelief, they had shut the door to believing in his resurrection. We don’t read of Jesus knocking on the door of the house where they were gathered, but after he came and stood among them they believed. He asked for some food and they gave him grilled fish which he ate. Holman said, that he wanted to convey through his painting the substance of Jesus that he wasn’t a vapour, a spirit.
Holman Hunt fulfilled the great commission his painting went on display around the country and the British Empire.
Another thought from this Holman expressed his vision through painting it. Someone made the canvas, the brushes and the paints he used, so is the church is a picture in the process of being painted and we are part of it.
A part of Isaiah’s prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled 
When Jesus returns to Jerusalem the city will be at the centre of the world, a city that will not be hidden, continuous light, where the King of Kings will sit on King David’s throne.
Nations will come and bring their gifts and the Jewish people will be revered, from them the Saviour has come, they will be recognised and be loved by all the people of the world. Revelation 21: 22-26. Isaiah 60: 11, 14.


Jesus was in the beginning: the light in creation to the eternal light of the New Jerusalem. 

On the left model of the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21: 9-27
Each entrance was through a gate of pearl and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The wall was made of jasper, the foundations were decorated with gems stones. The street of the city was of pure gold. 
(Model. Play dough walls coloured beads and boxes sprayed with gold 2007)___________________________

Jesus came to fulfil the laws and the prophets (Matthew 5: 17 in his life and body.)
Menorah Candlestick.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” the lamp stood in the holy place. John 8: 12.
Feast of Tabernacles the whole temple filled with light, Hanukah Festival of Lights,(9 lights) It celebrates the oil that should have only lasted for one day lasted 8 days. 
The oil for the lamp. Jesus said, “My words are Spirit and life.” Reference to the Holy Spirit,John 6: 63.  The Holy Spirit was poured out, to give light to the church and continues to be poured out.  Revelation 1: 20.
Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty let them come to me and drink,” The Holy Spirit river of life flowing out from the temple. The early and latter day rain. John 7: 37-39.
Ark of the Covenant. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This the great and first commandment and a second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” The tablets of stone the laws given to Moses  Three types: Moral, civil and ceremonial law. Moses’ law written in Jesus heart. Matthew 22: 37, 38.
Altar. Jesus said, ”For this is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out fror many for the forgiveness of sins..” The blood of sacrifice for sin. Leviticus 17: 14 Matthew 26: 28. The Day of Atonement. The blood sprinkled on the front of the mercy seat between the cherubim on the lid of the ark.Exodus 25: 22 Leviticus 16: 14
Table of the Shrewbread. Jesus said, “I am the bread of Life” the living word, the 12 cakes/loaves baked by the priests every day. John 6: 35. Exodus 25: 30.
Manna – Jesus laid down his life, his flesh to give life.”Take eat this is my body.” Matthew 26: 26. Jesus ended kosher foods. Mark 7: 19. Acts 10: 12-16.
Unleavened bread –  Jesus’ body and blood sinless Acts 2: 27. Psalm 16: 8-11.
Altar of Incense. Jesus the intercessor and mediator between God and mankind. The great high priest over the house of God. Hebrews 7: 25.
The laver. “We are washed by the water of his word.” Ephesians 5: 26.
The Veil. The veil of his flesh, the curtain that hung between the holy place and the holly of holies. Matthew 27: 26, 51.
The Vine. Alfred Edersheim in his book “The Temple” wrote that a huge vine standing the height of a man was in the temple. Jesus said, “I am the true vine” Israel the vine planted in the promised land. Psalm 80: 8 .John 15: 1
Pentecost Feast of the First Fruits.Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat fall into the earth and dies, it remains alone but if it dies it bears much fruit.”  John 12: 24.
The priestly garments. The fine linen, the white robe of righteousness  Revelation 1: 13. 19: 8.
These and many more all fulfilled in Jesus.
Faith and Grace.
Jesus enlightened his disciples his Father’s words and doing the works he saw his Father doing, and he came among us as one who served. Jesus’ light we are dependent upon to reveal God our Father’s love, word and actions. 
breathed on them the Holy Spirit, Christians under threat of being arrested, doors were shut, doubts, Eternal body of Jesus, fear, sceptic

The Messiah’s Secret – The Doors were Shut

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Doors were Shut

Below an “Upper Room” at Jerusalem


The disciples were in fear of being arrested by either the Jews or the Romans following the crucifixion of Jesus. We can imagine a similar situation today where Christians in Iraq and Syria no doubt know the fear of someone coming to arrest them, for being followers of Jesus and in this terrible situation we hope and pray, that they are being upheld by the presence of Jesus in their hearts.
The disciples were fearful because of the Jews threats against Jesus in their association with him. We have evidence in John 11: 8, 16 where the disciples had agreed to go with Jesus to Bethany, but they knew that there was a risk of Jesus being stoned by the Jews in Judea.“Thomas, called the twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go, that we may die with him.” So they went to Bethany and that’s why they kept the doors shut.
So when on the evening of the Day of the Resurrection Jesus came and stood among them. He was alive, yes it really was Jesus. God had raised him from the dead.
He said to them, “Peace be with you.” Their first reaction perhaps stunned at what they saw. Jesus repeated his words, which must have reached into the depths of their being, giving them God’s peace.
Shalom.
Shalom is the peace coming from God that passes all understanding. Peace its ripples of contentment flow out touching every sphere of a Christian’s life. It’s the fruit of God’s Spirit: love, joy and peace. Galatians 5: 22
John experienced along with those present Jesus breathing on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” Jesus the word of life, his words spirit and life, fulfilling John the Baptist’s words, The Messiah would baptise them with the Holy Spirit and fire, everything stemming from our creator God.
Some decades later
John the Apostle wrote in his first letter in connection with the resurrection, that Jesus was manifested to them in his eternal body.
”That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen, with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life, the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us.”
John looking back remembered what he saw, he and the others  were eye witnesses they had looked upon and touched the risen Jesus with their hands. 1 John 1: 1, 2.
John for a period of time led the church at Ephesus he witnessed through his letter defending the resurrection from the sceptics of his day.

Oxford dictionary 
A sceptic is a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.
Thomas was sceptical when he heard of Jesus’ resurrection.
Thomas, the same man who earlier had said, “Let us go, that we may die with him.”
He fled from the Garden when Jesus was arrested, and Thomas was not with the others in the house on the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection.
We read he was sceptical he would not believe the testimony from the other disciples. He would not believe until he saw where the nails that had pierced his flesh and the sword his side.                         
Today Christian testimonies don’t seem to register with sceptics. People want evidence they want to experience something of God before they will commit themselves to believe in Jesus.
Thomas found out the truth when he saw and touched his risen Lord, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God.” He recognised Jesus as both his Lord, his teacher, his friend, his leader and his God He recognised that Jesus was God.
So now he had found the way that Jesus had spoken about in an earlier conversation with him. Jesus had said, “You know the way to where I am going.” Thomas replied, “Lord, we do not know the way to where you are going.” 
Thomas had looked upon, he had touched eternal life God manifested in Jesus, he found the way to eternal life it was through having faith in Jesus.
Jesus said to Thomas,” Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
Our country is now teeming with people who are sceptical of the Christ’s resurrection and who Jesus is.
I can only speak from my own experience, over the last few months I’ve had several conversations with people most acknowledge that there is a God, but they are sceptical about Jesus’ place in that context of being both Messiah and God.
 “How do you know that Jesus is who he says he is? The answer is to find out for ourselves.
One way is by taking the words from the Bible and talk to God and say a prayer, you talk to God as you would a friend. 
The other week I was asked, ‘Did Jesus exist at all?’ I replied, that a highly regarded historian Josephus wrote about Jesus and of the claim of his followers to the resurrection of Jesus.
Another common assumption is that all religions believe in the same God. This is not true. Other religions put God on a higher plane, on a pedestal, out of reach of humanity.
Whereas, the Christian faith we know that Jesus has made it possible for us to know God like Thomas that Jesus is both our Lord and our God, and its through faith we have been blessed we who haven’t seen but believe.
Prayer
Lord, may anyone here this morning who have doubts about the resurrection come to you in faith and by God’s grace may they find their Lord and God removing any doubts they may have.

 

In Jesus name.
dark night of the soul, flesh and bones Jesus blood had been poured out at his crucifixion, I AM the resurrection and the life, new creation, Noel Proctor, revival in strangeways prison

The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus is Alive

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus is Alive
 Last  week  Brenda gave me a book to read ‘Light Through Prison Bars’ It is about Rev Noel Proctor who had headed up Strangeways Prison Manchester Chaplaincy Team in the 80’s and 90’s.
There had been a rival in Strangeways Prison during the 1980’s hundreds of men had come to faith in Christ.”The revival was the talk of the Christian community in the North West. Christians around the region supported the work with house groups and by receiving a Prison Prayer Letter which Brenda still hands out each month.
In John’s first letter “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure,”  
The devil had been defeated as the Lord transformed the lives of the prisoners, and they were leaving prison walking in the light of knowing Jesus in a personal way and bearing witness through the change that had taken place within their lives, a high percentage didn’t re-offend. 1 John 3: 8, 9.
However, this was contested by the devil through the Strangeways Prison riot that took place on April 1st 1990. I remember seeing it on TV prisoners throwing slates off roofs and fires had been started in the buildings. It was the worst prison disturbance in the history of prisons.The Governor said that it had been an explosion of evil.
Noel saw all his work come to a sudden devastating end.
In his book he wrote, “A heavy weight was lodged around his heart, he felt guilty, constantly he asked himself whether there was anything he could have done on that morning of April 1st to stop the riot. He felt empty, as if nothing could reach him, he questioned his faith including the resurrection, shortly after the riot his wife died.
A friend told him that that he was experiencing the crucifixion of Jesus.
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was deserted by his disciples, they all fled, in fear of being arrested. Jesus went on to experience spiritual separation from God his Father.  He was heard to cry out, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.” Matthew 27: 46.
The cross and the Christian intertwine, it’s were Jesus spoke of his followers taking up their cross daily and that means at some point on our journey, we will know the suffering of Christ in various ways. However, it’s important to say that there are more times of rejoicing than times of suffering.
One of those ways Noel was experiencing his ‘emptiness’ were the presence of the Lord seemed to have totally disappeared.
Other Christians who have experienced the same: C. S Lewis it was after his wife died, Mother Teresa at the founding of her missionary work and Martin Luther when he was a young monk, God allowed this to happen to them like Noel for a reason.
You may know someone who is going through a similar situation and the Lord wants you to show them Jesus going through it as well, so he knows how they feel.
In the book ‘The Inward Journey’ by Gene Edwards
Gene described how it feels to be completely empty of the Lord’s presence, “It’s not a dry period, nor is it having a hard time, it’s not personal illness or persecution and it’s not that you have forsaken the Lord, nor has there been any reason that should cause the Holy Spirit not to be there. It‘s as if God has walked off.  
But take heart he writes, no believer has gone through what some call the ‘dark night of the soul’ without one day coming into the joy and surprise of a bright morning of resurrection.”                         
Noel’s resurrection
Noel went to visit a former prisoner in hospital who he had known for a number of years. This man had made comments in the past to Noel saying that the resurrection was a fairy story. That day he shared with Noel his ‘near death’ experience where he saw a light in the darkness, in his thoughts he struggled to get to the light, when he was almost there about to enter into the light when a door slammed shut and the light was no longer there. At that point he woke up, having been resuscitated. He confirmed to Noel that he is now a Christian and believes in the resurrection, life after death.                   
The Lord used this former prisoner’s witness to give Noel a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit, his faith had been strengthened by what he had suffered and he rejoiced in the hope of the resurrection.                                       
Two types of resurrection
Coming to faith in Christ
Firstly for an increasing number of people who have no Church background, it’s when they hear about Jesus  and turning to Jesus in faith repent, and die to sin, they are raised up with Jesus in his resurrection into newness of life.  Colossians 2: 12
Secondly- when Jesus calls out his church we receive our resurrected body
Luke’s account gives us some insight into Jesus’ resurrected body. 
His body had substance, whereas, a spirit does not have flesh and bones. Jesus showed them the holes where the nails had pierced his hands and his feet. He wanted them to touch his hands were the nails had been.
One of the differences; no blood in his risen body, we would say flesh and blood, but Jesus said, flesh and bones. His body had no blood, his heart had been speared by the centurion, so to touch his flesh must have been cold.
He asked for their food to eat, grilled fish and he ate it before them. In all probability he did this for his disciples benefit, so they could identify with their own body and not a spirit.
Another difference was that his body could pass through walls and disappear from human view in a moment. Jesus resurrected body the first of a new creation. 
Luke 24: 36-43. 2 Corinthians 5: 15-17                                                                                                                                                                       
Paul explained the resurrection to the Corinthians by the example of some creatures have fur, others scales, feathers, shells, celestial and terrestrial etc 1 Corinthians 15: 39, 40
We will receive our resurrected body when Jesus calls out the Church  
You can’t destroy matter so God will gather the dust, every fragment of our natural body bringing it together and it’s transform into an imperishable resurrected body.
Fulfilling Jesus words, “I AM the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me though they die yet shall they live,
This is where the dead in Christ  rise together with  those who are alive at the time of the call, as Jesus said, “and who ever lives and believes in me shall never die”  John 11: 25, 26.

 

Paul confirming Jesus’ word in his first letter to the Thessalonians,There will be a meeting in the air Christians those who have died in Christ, and those who are living on the earth. Our bodies will be changed at the twinkling of an eye. The whole church meeting with Jesus in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4: 16, 17.

By Dorothy Newton