Free will, John Calvin, John Wesley, justice, Predestination

The Messiah’s Secret – A Short Study on Predestination

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Mary Chosen by God
 
A Short Study on Predestination
 
Predestination Under the Law of Moses

Predestination – to determine beforehand; to preordain by an unchangeable purpose. 

Under LawIn the Hebrew Scriptures when God had a particular task for a person the Holy Spirit fell on them. They were singled out and filled with the gifts, whether it was to prophecy like Zechariah the father of John the Baptist, ”And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying “Blessed be the God of Israel, for he has visited his people,” or 
like Mary who was chosen by God to bear the Son of God, the archangel Gabriel said to Mary, “Hail, O favoured one, the Lord is with you. . . . “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”. . .  The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Luke 1: 26-35
 
John the Baptist baptized Jesus and at his baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon him, they heard God speak, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” Luke 3: 21-23 Hearing God speak would remind them of how God spoke to the children of Israel on their wilderness journey. Exodus 19: 9. 20: 22.
 
God had designated (office by appointment) Jesus to be the Messiah. 
In the synagogue at Nazareth Jesus opened the book and read from the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Jesus went on to say “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”Luke 4: 17-30  
The men in the synagogue were filled with anger as Jesus had intimated that he was the Messiah. During his ministry Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when he opened the eyes of blind Bartimaeus, freeing the oppressed mad man at Gerasenes setting him free from the demons that possessed him. Many thousands of people who were healed of their illnesses and diseases, and the dead were raised like Lazarus. 
 
The Messiah’s Secret.
Jesus did not openly proclaim himself to be the Messiah nor did his disciples; it was often inferred, but never proclaimed. During the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus was preaching in the Temple, during the discussion that followed they discussed whether Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. “Some of the people of Jerusalem said, “Is this the man they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” John 7; 25-27. Jesus did not reveal that he was the Messiah because he foreknew that he had to die on a cross and be raised from the dead.
Matthew records Jesus telling his disciples that they must not tell anyone that he was the Christ. And then he revealed to them that he was going to suffer and die. “Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Matthew 16: 13-23
 
Jesus chose twelve disciples from his followers.
After he had called brothers Peter and Andrew James and John and Matthew, Jesus later spent all night in prayer choosing the twelve disciples from among the other disciples. Luke 6: 12-16.
Jesus knew Judas was the one who would betray him through the course of events that would take place when the time came for his departure from the world at Jerusalem. Luke 9: 31
 
Jesus’ message was all inclusive
Jesus taught in the synagogue at Capernaum Jesus said, “For this is the will of the Father that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day.”
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.” “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”John 5: 6: 40, 44, 45.
After hearing from Jesus that unless a person ate his flesh and drank his blood they would not have the life of God within them, some of his disciples decided not to continue to follow him.  “But there are some of you that do not believe.”     
For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe.” Jesus asked his disciples, “Do you also wish to go away?” Peter made his choice and replied, “Lord to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.” John 6: 64, 66 – 68.   
All in the synagogue were taught by Jesus about him being the bread of life.  In the justice of God everyone present had the choice to believe or not.  
 
On another occasion Jesus said, “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” Luke 12: 8-10   
 
Jesus gave those disciples who turned away from him every opportunity to accept him.
 
God knew in his foreknowledge who would respond and those who would turn away.    
 
It was God’s plan to send Jesus to redeem us by his life laid down, God had predetermined that Jesus would come and save us through his death on the cross and resurrection. But even Jesus in his free will could have turned away from what God his Father had called him to do. Jesus could have called legions of angels to repel his suffering and death. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus was tempted not to drink of the cup of his suffering and death. “Father if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22: 42. 
 Jesus died to his own will and as we know died on the cross and was buried in a tomb and God raised him from the dead, his blood being accepted by God as the final offering for the sin of the world.   
 
Josephus recorded Jesus’ resurrection in his book ‘Antiquities of the Jews’ 
Book XVIII Chapter 3: 3’     
3. Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ.   
And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.”   
 
Under Grace the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost.                                                       
The Holy Spirit no longer fell on people as they were chosen by God for a particular task. After Pentecost the Holy Spirit was given to all who repented and believed in Jesus and is still received today.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.
“Jesus said, “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”   John 12: 46  
Did Paul teach predestination?
Paul in his letter to the Romans wrote, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those he predestined he also called; and those who he called he also justified; and those who he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8: 28-30.
In the same letter Paul wrote, “But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is the word of faith which we preach) because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, the same Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. For, ‘every one who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Romans 10: 8-13
In the foreknowledge of Almighty God He knows all things from beginning to end, but in His justice He will give all the opportunity to receive Jesus as their personal Saviour.
Abraham in his conversation with God over His plan to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah said to God, “Will you thou indeed destroy the righteous with the wicked? . . .  Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Through Abraham’s appeal to God’s justice, Lot and his two daughters were saved from the destruction. Genesis 18: 22-19: 29
Predestination would teach us that our place in God’s kingdom is fixed once we have turned to Christ in true faith. This question of knowingly continuing to sin even though Jesus died for sin, this I feel is where predestination falls down.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound.” Romans 6: 1
 
John Wesley “For Wesley, good works were the fruit of one’s salvation, not the way in which that salvation was earned. Faith and good works go hand in hand in Methodist theology a living tree naturally and inevitably bears fruit. Wesleyan theology rejects the doctrine of eternal security, believing that salvation can be rejected. Wesley emphasized that believers must continue to grow in their relationship with Christ, through the process of Sanctification.”  
 
Christians who teach Predestination say that God acknowledges those who have received Jesus as their Saviour and are secure from being turned away from the kingdom of God even though they later in their life they commit apostasy. 
This conflicts with the writer of the letter to the Hebrews wrote that once a person has received the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the Holy Spirit for themselves and then turns away from him, committing apostasy rejecting faith in Christ, then they are cut off from Christ.
“For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have been one enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the  goodness of the word of God and powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.” Hebrews 6: 4-6 
Strong words from the writer of Hebrews, if a person truly repents, I would like to think that Jesus would have mercy.

Updated two days after publication.This morning while continuing to think about it, I realized that the writer of Hebrews was enforcing the ‘Ruling rod of iron’ the Apostles were setting up the kingdom in expectation of Jesus’ return within their life time. “It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Watch therefore-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at the cock crow, or in the morning, lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.” Mark 13:34-36. They had been told to be about their masters business until he returned. Parables Pounds and Talents Luke 19: 11-27. Matthew 25: 14-30. Jesus hoped to return within their life time Matthew 16: 27, 28. Mark 8: 38. 9: 1. Authority given to disciples to retain or forgive the sins of people. John 20:23. Peter retained the sins of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. Acts 5:1-11. Here in Hebrews verse 4 he wrote ‘For it is impossible to restore again to repentance . .” which would suggest sins being retained. (www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk for more study on the Messiah’s Secret)
 
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians
“Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in his love to be his sons through Jesus Christ . . .  In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the council of his will; we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1: 3-12.
John Calvin wrote, “When Paul declares that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world he certainly shows that no regard is had to our own worth; for it is just as if he had said, Since in the whole seed of Adam our heavenly Father found nothing worthy of his election, he turned his eye upon his own Anointed, that he might select as members of his body those whom he was to assume (true without proof) into the fellowship of life.”
Calvin  continues, “By saying the Christians of Ephesus were elected before the foundation of the world, he takes away the reference to worth. For what ground of distinction was there between persons who as yet existed not, and persons who were afterwards like them to exist in Adam? But if they were elected in Christ, it follows not only that each was elected on some extrinsic (not contained or included within) ground, but that some were placed on a different footing from others. . . . Whatever virtue appears in men is the result of election.” ‘Calvin Institutes’ page 496
I cannot see how, ‘Whatever virtue appears in men is the result of election” before the foundation of the world could in any way add to our salvation in Christ. Jesus did a complete work of salvation in his death and resurrection.
Adam’s sin is still inherited today, it continues to be passed down the generations. John the Apostle wrote, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”1 John 1: 8. 3: 4-9.
Paul wrote, “For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3: 23.
As I see it there is good in everybody as well as bad, under law a good tree bore good fruit and a bad tree bad fruit, the nature of a person could not and cannot be changed with or without the law.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5: 8. Our nature is transformed by the Holy Spirit’s action upon our turning to Jesus in repentance and faith. ‘Come into my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee.”
John Calvin wrote, “Because we know not who belongs to the number of the predestined, or does not belong, our desire ought to be that all may be saved; and hence every person we meet, we will desire to be with us a partaker of peace. But our peace will rest upon the sons of peace.”
John Calvin acknowledges God’s justice in desiring that all should be saved, but then he made it conditional by inferring selection by predestination when he wrote “But our peace will rest on the sons of peace.” Page 512
The Church, Christ’s body was in the mind and heart of God before the foundation of the earth. Jesus would have all to abide in him in love and faith. “Many that are first will be the last and the last first.” Mark 10: 31.

 

“A lady died and went to heaven, on her arrival she looked around for the people she knew. However, to her surprise there were people there who she did not expect. And I would think the same would apply to the other place too.”
Dorothy Newton, Jesus' return, the Day of the Lord, updated the messiah's secret

The Messiah’s Secret – The Messiah’s Secret Revealed

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Messiah’s Secret Revealed


Yesterday saw the launch on line of my updated book ‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed.’

www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk

Heavenly Father,
I pray that you would pour out your love by your grace on all who read it, so that your name would be lifted up in our nation and the world.
For those who seek you, will find you and come to know you as Lord
and Saviour. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

cap stone, cornerstone, foundation stone, Ladybird, living stones, Temple of Jesus' body

Ladies Fellowship – Jesus the Cornerstone

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The  Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Cornerstone
 
Below 
The Ladybird Its appearance is attractive it has this unusual outer shell that wards off predators                                                                                                                                                   

 

                                                                                                                         The Ladybird is generally considered useful, as they feed on aphids. Gardeners like to see Ladybirds coming alongside their work in keeping plants free of greenfly and other tiny creatures that love the food we eat.
Underneath the Ladybird’s shell (house) we see its fine delicate wings and its body.
Children’s nursery rhyme:
“Ladybird, Ladybird fly away home, your house is on fire and your children are gone.”
Children are encouraged not to hurt Ladybirds as they are God’s creatures and they work hard in our gardens helping the gardener to keep plants healthy.

Sermon
In the gospel reading the disciples were admiring the beauty of the house of God, the Temple in Jerusalem. Luke 21: 5-19 RSV Bible.

Josephus a first Century Historian In his book ‘War of the Jews’ Chapter 5 verse 6 
 “Now the outward face of the temple in its front wanted nothing that was likely to surprise either men’s minds or their eyes; for it was covered all over with plates of gold of great weight, and, at the first rising of the sun, reflected back a very fiery splendour, and made those who forced themselves to look upon it to turn their eyes away, just as they would have done at the sun’s own rays. But this temple appeared to strangers, when they were coming to it at a distance, like a mountain covered with snow; for as to those parts of it that were not gilt, they were exceeding white. On its top it had spikes with sharp points, to prevent any pollution of it by birds sitting upon it. Of its stones, some of them were forty-five cubits in length, 21 metres,(approx) five in height, 2 1/2 metres, and six in breadth 2 metres.” 
Its appearance impressed the disciples which made it all the more shattering when Jesus prophesied its destruction.  
 “As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall be not left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Luke 21 v 6   
 
The Temple rituals and Sacrifices were to come to an end, with God providing a new temple in the risen body of Jesus. “Jesus said, ‘Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up,’” John wrote, that he spoke of the temple of his body.’” John 2: 13-22   
 
In the temple of Jesus’ body it’s furnished with the empty cross and tomb, both speak of his death resurrection, a crown not bearing thorns, but a royal crown. Revelation 14: 14. We find there the living bread; his words are Spirit and life. His prayers, he is the intercessor between us and God, having the nature of God, the commandments written on his heart.  
 
Nathan gave King David a prophecy “He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son; I will not take my steadfast love from him.” 
1 Chronicles 17 v 12-15. 2 Samuel 7 v 11 – 16. 
 
The temple Jesus’ body made of living stones, Jesus himself being the chief corner stone.
 “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. . . . So you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone.” 
Ephesians 2: 13-22   
 
A cornerstone is a huge stone built into the foundations at the corner of a building. It is where two walls come together built upon this foundation stone. It speaks of the joining together of the Jews and the Gentiles becoming fellow citizens as a result of the cross of Christ.   
 
“Come to him, to the living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built up into a spiritual house” 1 Peter 2: 5   
 Each stone representing a believer who has been reconciled to God through his final sacrifice that Jesus made for our sin on the cross. We have eternal life through his resurrection, we are raised up with Christ and we take our place in this building of Christ’s Temple.     
 
In the Bible stones were witnesses.    
Joshua gathered the people around at Shechem where a stone was used as a witness, “And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, (take notice) this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the Lord which he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God. So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.” Joshua 24: 26-28   
 
Alfred Edershiem in his book ‘The Temple’ he writes, that a stone bore witness to the presence of God  in the Holy of Holies where once would have stood the ‘Ark of the Covenant.’  “The latter was now quite empty, a large stone, on which the high-priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Atonement, occupying the place where the ark with the mercy-seat had stood.”    The ark had been lost or stolen before the building of the second Temple.  
 
The stones that make up Christ’s Temple are witnesses.  
We are witnesses for Christ and we are all equipped in some way to the work of building his temple, his church. 
When I look at the walls of our church building made up of a multitude of shapes and sizes of stones. It is like the people ‘living stones’ who over one hundred and seventy six years have witnessed their faith coming from all walks of life. Together part of the walls of Jesus’ Temple made up of different people, no two people being alike, all having a part in building Christ’s church.
 
On our Christian journey there is “A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.” Ecclesiastes 3: 5 

False Christ’s
 “Jesus said, ‘Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, “I am he!’ and ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.’” Luke 21: 8 
Paul in his letter to the church of the Thessalonians was casting away stones when he spoke of false teachers who were instructing the Christians that the day of the Lord had already come. Paul said that it was not true.                           2 Thessalonians 2: 2.
There must have been confusion among the church members and I thought that maybe some were so expectant of Jesus’ return that maybe they had given up their jobs to go out with the Gospel.   2 Thessalonians 3: 6-10
Our neighbour the late Bill Traverse did just that, he had been told that Jesus was going to return in the Autumn of 1975, he gave up his job and went out from door to door with his fellow misguided Jehovah Witnesses announcing Jesus’ return. But as we know that Jesus did not return. ( I commend him though for his willing response.) 
 
Christ’s Temple is not yet complete more living stones have yet to be built into its construction.
Gathering stones for Jesus. All those who believe in Jesus enter into fellowship with him in his temple in witnessing faith in Jesus will suffer persecution.  Luke 21: 12    
The other week I bought a book by Chinese Pastor Brother Yun. I had read his first book ‘The Heavenly Man’ in 2004.
Yun when he was 17 had a vision of Christ, Jesus told him to take the good news of the gospel to the east and west of China. In his first book he records how the Lord accompanied his message with miraculous signs, but he was persecuted by the Communist authorities. It was at great cost to himself, his wife and family and his fellow Christians that the gospel has been made known.
In his second book  ‘Living Waters’ in it he writes of the Lord sending Christians from the Church in  Henan Province to Sichuan Province to witness their faith. They came back with broken bones after being beaten by the ruling authorities in that Province. Undeterred more Christians volunteered to go again, they returned beaten and bruised and still more Christians went and shared their faith in open defiance of the authorities, eventually the gospel news broke down the opposition and Sichuan Province has thousands of Christians. Yun makes the point that each returning Christian forgave those who had beaten and treated them badly. There are in China today 100,000,000 million Christians.
Yun sees the church in the West were Christians are in the boat in the storm on Galilee. The water is filling the boat and the disciples in the Western Church are in fear of drowning and Jesus is asleep. He urges us to fulfil the churches commission to take out the Gospel regardless of the consequences.

To pray and seek the Lord’s way forward for his church to spread the good news. Yun reminds us that Jesus is alive and he loves us and to tell the people who we know and meet.

 
When the last Christian comes to faith, the cap stone put in place and Jesus returns.
Jesus is also the Cap Stone. A cap stone is one of the finishing or protective stones that form the top of an exterior masonry wall or building. 
Zechariah’s prophecy, “The he (The Messiah) will bring out the cap stone to shouts of “God bless it! God bless it.”  Zechariah 4: 7 NIV Bible.
Christ’s Temple will be complete.                                         

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Booths, Brother Yun, Ezra, Feast of Tabernacles, good news, Holy Spirit's ministry, impronment for faith in Jesus, judgement, persecuted for faith in Jesus, righteousness, unbelief

The Messiah’s Secret – The Rich Man and Lazarus

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The  Messiah’s Secret –  The Holy Spirit’s  Ministry

This morning at Church we heard about the work of the Bible Society and its’ history. In 1804 it was founded and called the British and Foreign Bible Society. Its main work of translating the Bible into languages, so that everybody across the world can read the Bible in their own language. The Bible is both an historical book and it gives us the key to life.

In our Old Testament reading this evening, it is about a true event that took place approximately 458 BC. Ezra was appointed by the Persian King Artaxerxes 1 to reorganise religious affairs in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 8: 9-18

Ezra was a descendant of Aaron a scholar in the Law of the God of Heaven.’ He read it aloud to the people in Hebrew, a group of priests (Levites) then ‘gave an oral translation in Aramaic the official language of the Persian Empire. When the people heard the word, they wept, grieving for their sin. However Nehemiah pointed out to them that they should not weep but rejoice, he wanted them to rejoice ‘For joy is the strength of the Lord.’ God had given them atonement, a covering for their sin through the sacrifice made at the Temple.
Brother Yun a leader in the Chinese Church in his book ‘Living Water’ he wrote this.” If you have allowed the devil to steal your joy of the Lord from you, then you will feel weak and powerless. If you learn to praise Jesus Christ regardless of your circumstances, you will find inner freedom and joy, and you will have the strength to overcome whatever you are faced with. The joy of the Lord is such a key, because Nehemiah said.”The joy of the Lord is my strength,” when the joy of the Lord returns, you will be strong!”

In our Gospel reading Jesus said this, “They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, or me.” John 16: 1-11.

Brother Yun spoke from his own experience, yes, he had broken the Communist law, he had been arrested for preaching about Jesus and he refused to deny his faith in Jesus, as a result he was imprisoned and tortured. In his prison cell he was downcast at first about it, but he began to praise the Lord for being able to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. The joy of the Lord filled his heart. Yun said that he forgave the soldiers who treated him badly.
Jesus also in this passage of scripture spoke of the Holy Spirit’s ministry: The Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement.
The Holy Spirit’s ministry working in Yun convicting the people of Henan Province of the sin of unbelief.   

In Nehemiah 8: 13 the following day Ezra read to the Israelites about Israel’s Feasts, as it was the 7th month, they must have noted that The Feast of Tabernacles took place during the 7th month the 15th Tishri. 
This 7 day Feast commemorated the Exodus from Egypt were God instructed the Israelites to make booths in order to shelter them from the desert winds and the scorching sun.

                    

This prompted Nehemiah and Ezra to tell  the people to go and  gather branches of palm, myrtle, willow and make booths to celebrate the ‘Feast of Tabernacles’ or ‘Booths’. The booths were erected on their roofs, in courtyards by every family. It was to remind them of the Lord watching over his people
Another true story from Yun’s book of one of his friends being imprisoned for his faith. In prison he was severely mistreated by the guards, but he escaped, instead of running as far away as he could, the Lord wanted him to returned as a visitor and encourage those men who were in prison with him, so after only a few hours of his escape he went back. At the prison gate he showed his identity card which had his name on it, but the guards did not recognise him. Inside the prison he sat and spoke with a prisoner encouraging him. 
The Christian prisoners must have rejoiced to see his courage and the Lord’s hand upon him. He left the prison showing his card. Shortly afterwards the guards realised who he was and the alarm sounded, but he got away.   
God watches over his people.

Another element of the Feast of Tabernacles
 The pouring of water in the Temple.
From the Pool of Siloam a priest carried a pitcher of water into the Temple where the high priest poured out the water into a basin at the foot of the altar. From another pitcher wine was poured into a basin at the base of the altar. These mingled together as they flowed through special pipes at the back of the altar into the brook of the Kidron.
Victor Buksbazen in his book ‘The Gospel in the Feasts of Israel’ wrote, “It was prophetic and Messianic in its hope, looking towards the outpouring of the Holy Spirit not only on Israel but also the believers of all nations under the reign of Messiah King.”
The 7thday was called The Day of the Great Hosanna
The outpouring of water on the seventh day was accompanied by a trumpet blast on the Shoffer, the waving of the lulav and the singing of the Hallel. It was on this day that Jesus stood in the Temple and cried out: “If any one thirst, let him come to me. He that believes in me as the scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7: 38
John recorded Jesus’ words and added that the Holy Spirit wasn’t given until after Jesus ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit was first given to his disciples and followers and since that time all who believe in Jesus receive the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. 
The Lord gave his disciples and us his Spirit and the Holy Spirit testifies to the righteousness of God of how much God loves the people of the world by sending his Son to die for us, to take our place, to take upon himself the dirty rags of our sin and cleanse them with his blood, and replaces them with white robes of righteousness.

Zechariah’s vision 
In the vision Joshua was standing before the angel of the Lord clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel.” Zechariah 3: 3,4.
This vision was prophetic of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Our dirty garments representing our sin washed clean in the blood of Jesus (the Lamb of God) now whiter than snow. We put on the garments of Praise, robes of righteousness. When God looks at his children he sees the righteousness of Jesus in us.

The Holy Spirit’s ministry working in us showing to the world the righteousness of God: in our actions and in our words. 1 Corinthians 2: 12-15
The Holy Spirit ministry he looks at our heart and judges our thoughts and intentions; he uses his sword to pierce us to separate the flesh from the Spirit. 
The flesh I see as having the fear of speaking out the Gospel. Whereas, the Holy Spirit directs us and gives us the words to speak out the Gospel in making Jesus known. I’ve witnessed it a number of times when a Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit and they go and tell everybody they meet, they are so wanting to share the good news and want the same for others.
The Church in the West Drowning in a Sea of Despondency.
Yun sees the church in the West as steering its own boat instead of Jesus and Christians are in fear of drowning as Jesus seems to be asleep in the boat. He urges us to take out the Gospel regardless of the consequences.
To pray and seek the Lord’s way forward for his church to spread the good news. Yun reminds us that Jesus is alive and he loves us and to tell the people who we know and meet.

Prayer

Father God you love us so much that you wait for us to come to the end of ourselves in our striving to spread the good news about Jesus. Help us to realise that you want to direct our work through your Holy Spirit’s ministry in our lives. May we be obedient to do your will? In Jesus’ name. Amen.
chiropody, Christmas Carol, Feast of Stephen, Good King Wenceslas, John Mason Neale, Poor in spirit

The Messiah’s Secret – Walking in the Footsteps of Christ.

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 The Messiah’s Secret – Walking in the Footsteps of Christ.

A Lady’s Meeting

Below: 
My two daughters wore clogs when they were  approximately two years of age.

Duke Wenceslas of Bohemia of the Czech Republic he lived between 901 – 935 AD was noted and honoured for his Christ –like life,
He gained a reputation of being kind and generous to the people of Western Bohemia. In his honour the people of Bohemia put a statue of him in the square that bears his name ‘Wenceslas Square’ in Prague.
A legend grew up around him; the Roman Emperor Otto 1 bestowed on the late Wenceslas the title “king” in association with his faith in Jesus, the “King of Righteousness.”
John Mason Neale reflected this in the title of his hymn, “Good King Wenceslas.” He wrote the lyrics of the carol to a 13th Century tune, and in 1853 it appeared in “Carols for Christmas –Tide.” (John Neale also wrote: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.)
 
In the middle 1800’s in England there was both wealth and poverty. 
The industrial entrepreneurs making vast amounts of money, while those they employed were poorly paid for working long hours in the factory and mills. Thirty years before Manchester experienced the ‘Peterloo Riots’ through the introduction of new technology, machines that could do the work of several people.
 
 In his carol John Neale was encouraging and convicting the wealthy and high ranking men and women of his day to take notice of the life of Wenceslas, who was equal to them in every way, only he took Christ’s compassion to the poor of Bohemia and he encouraged the serving people to be like the Page who was obedient to follow Wenceslas.
 
Carol.  Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night, though’ the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gath’ring winter fuel.
 
The season is winter and it is the day after Christmas Day, the evening of the Feast of Saint Stephen. John Neale was encouraging the wealthy to remember at  Christmas the poor. He brought to people’s attention in the carol the ministry of Saint Stephen. Stephen was chosen by the twelve Apostles (Matthias the twelveth Apostle) along with six other disciples to the food distribution to the Hellenists the Jewish Greek speaking widows.   Acts 6 v 1-6 
                                 
King Wenceslas looked out from his window and he saw in the moonlight a poor man collecting wood. Immediately he summoned his page and inquired about the man.
 
“Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know’st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?”
Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes’ fountain.”
The page knew him and where he lived. He lived at the foot of a mountain near a forest on a route to St Agnes’ Fountain.
 
Even though he lived near the forest, he was no doubt forbidden to cut down branches off trees. In the Rossendale Forest the inhabitants of the forest were not allowed to cut off branches for their fires.  
Wenceslas’ page estimated that he had traveled a league, approximately 3 ½ miles. The evening was the cold, and the snow we understand was deep, so the wood would be covered with snow.                                                                                            
 
“Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
Through the rude wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather.
Wenceslas could have ignored the poor man, but he did not. John Neale pressing home the need of the poor. The Page was given instructions to get: meat, wine and pine logs, they would take them to his home.
Wenceslas a Christian man  reflected the life of Jesus, he had humility and compassion, also endless energy, and he would not be deterred by any hindrances like the weather or the time of day. 
Jairus came to Jesus to ask if he would go to his home to heal his daughter Jesus responded to his need, but was delayed by meeting the need of the lady who had a medical problem and she was healed. A man from Jairus’ house arrived on the scene saying that Jairus’ daughter had died and not to trouble Jesus any further. But Jesus insisted on going to the house where the girl lay dead. Jesus raised her from the dead. Luke 8: 40 – 56.
Some times when things seem hopeless, the Lord turns the situation around. John Neale inferring in the carol the need for commitment in helping the poor in the long term. 
 
“Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blow stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, my good page. Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage freeze thy blood less coldly.”
The two set out carrying their precious load, It was not easy; the bitter wind and the deep snow would have made the journey more difficult.  
Last winter carrying the shopping up the icy snowbound Higher lane, with the cold wind blowing against me, gave me a feel for what the Page would have experienced.                       
 
Wenceslas noticed that his Page grew tired and was struggling to cope carrying his heavy load of provisions, so he suggested that he followed in his footsteps.
The Page I would describe as being ‘poor in Spirit’ he was struggling to do what he was asked to do, in the strength that he had.  
A lady rang me this morning asking for help as she was not very well and as a result unable to fulfill an obligation, she asked me to do it for her. I saw her like the Page she was struggling to do what he was asked to do, in the strength that he had.   
I know a Christian lady who is very disabled by her illness, she is living out her faith in the strength that she has. She can’t feed herself, she is dependent on her carers and friends, she waits upon the Lord to give her the strength that she needs.              
‘Poor in Spirit’ in the Carol also points to the rich of John Neale’s day were stingy in their giving. Charles Dickens’ wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’ that was published in December 1843 were the main character Scrooge he was protriat as not wanting to give gifts at Christmas.
 
In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing
John Neale’s portrait Wenceslas is of him being strong like Jesus, someone to follow in his footsteps.
My sister, I admire very much, she became a Christian when her children were baptized at her local Anglican Church At that time she was married, however, a few years later, when the youngest was one year old, her husband left the family home. When the youngest of her seven children started Senior school she decided to get a job.
 
At my sister’s church in a prayer meeting she received a picture in her mind of a pair of feet, she thought no more about it until on her next visit to church on entering a room the Vicar was speaking, she was surprised to hear him say “Jesus washed his disciple’s feet.”
Within a few days later, a friend of hers asked if she would accompany her to the chiropody clinic and it was after that visit she realized what the Lord was calling her to do, to become a chiropodist.
 
The Lord went before her on the course, when it came to her final exams, the night before she was swatting up and she read about the exchange of gases in the lungs.
Next day a large proportion of the exam was on that very subject. In her practical exam the tutor focused on bio mechanics – the working of the joints in the foot and the associated problems and remedies. Once again the Lord had gone before her, she was able to answer all the questions and she passed her exams. Over the last twenty three years, My sister’s ministry has been one of care and compassion,  never charging more than a person could afford.

If anyone asks her, “How did you come to be a chiropodist?” she witnesses to how the Lord called her and how much the Lord has blessed her and her family.
 
John Neale’s message I’m sure has touched rich and poor alike to share  the love of Christ that the Lord gives to us freely to bless one another.
 


John Bacon, love of money, neglected justice and the love of God, poor, practice what you preach, rich

The Messiah’s Secret – The Rich Man and Lazarus

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Rich Man and Lazarus
 

  (Children’s spot)
Placed on the table a blanket cereals and tinned foods.
Being a Christian is about helping people like Lazarus and also friends and family.

Several children brought to out a word and read it out: ‘giving tins of food and chocolate’, ‘pray to Jesus’, ‘help mum’, ‘help dad’, ‘help grandparents’, ‘give some of our pocket money to help others’, ‘feed the birds and be kind to animals’. 
On the screen: Some of the voluntary work that members of our Church Fellowship are involved in: Hospital, Charity Shops, Civic Pride, Aid Agencies and the Voluntary work within the frame work of St Mary’s.

Jesus  was drawing to the attention of the Pharisees Scribes and Lawyers in the parable, to show by example God’s justice and love to their own people.  

 A parable  – is comparable with a real life situation.   
 
The Jewish rich man had paid little or no attention to the plight of Lazarus, he thought only of himself. He may have considered that he was doing his bit by throwing the bread that was used to wipe his hands with after his meal to the beggars at his gate. However, he was guilty of treating the poor man, Lazarus a son of Abraham, like a Gentile. 
 
Jesus uses the common term used in those days as reference to a Gentile ‘a dog’ here in the passage the dogs are described as licking Lazarus’ sores. Jesus introduced a Gentile who was attending to a Jewish man’s well-being; a person who cared enough to show compassion and practical help. 
 
Under the Law of Moses Lazarus as a son of Abraham should have expected to be helped, “If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren, in any of your towns within your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your hearts or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him, . . . . . . You shall give him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him; because for this the Lord you God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.” Deuteronomy 15: 7 – 11   
 
This was Jesus’ point these leaders were neglecting justice and the love of God. It was unjust of the rich man to ignore Lazarus’ need of help under law and he denied him the love of God in God wanting his people to love and care for one another. Luke 11: 42. 
 
Jesus’ ministry was to the sons of Abraham mainly who were outcasts: the tax collectors, the prodigal sons and people like Lazarus He was showing God’s love in reaching out to gather the nation, all the people in readiness for his return bringing in the kingdom.
 
Practice what you preach.
 “Jesus said on one occasion “ The Scribes and  the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.” Matthew 23 v 1.   
 
Paul in his letter to Timothy reminded him to put into practice what he had taught him that the love of money is a snare it makes people selfish. He said not to desire things that are temporal but to seek those things that will last for ever.                          
                                                                                                                           
 “But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6: 33
Our search to find God is not straight forward, there are many ways; we can find God in creation while looking at a sunset, holding a new born baby, reading or hearing a verse of scripture from the Bible or singing a hymn etc
After we enter into our relationship with the Lord Jesus our God, we have started on a journey of faith and we discover how real God’s love is, the peace and joy in times of stress, resting in the knowledge that whatever our circumstances are, the Lord Jesus is in it, with us. These things stem from knowing who we are in Christ, we are children of God. 

Taking Care of one another
The churches ministry today is to the people who need a helping hand, relief from suffering whatever their background or circumstances might be. We can help in practical ways and when asked, ‘why you are doing this for me?’ we are able to tell them about Jesus and God’s love for them.  
After death, the rich man became aware that he had neglected his responsibility to love and support his brother Lazarus.
Out of the abundance of our lives, our scripture readings remind us that we have a commitment to our church and its needs, the Diocese and the wider church. Our brothers and sisters in Christ who need our help.  Our Harvest Project this year is helping Christians in Cambodia. (Our Tear Fund rep presented the project.) 
In the parable Jesus upheld Lazarus by saying when he died he was with Abraham in Paradise, whereas, the rich man was in a place of torment Gehnna or hell.
The rich man wanted Abraham to send Lazarus from Paradise to him in Gehnna, but it was not possible there was a gulf between the two places. Abraham could not warn his brothers either. There was no opportunity for him to make amends.
John Bacon the once famous sculptor left an inscription to be placed on his tomb after his death in Westminster Abbey: “What I was as an artist, seemed of some importance to me while I lived; but what I was as a believer in Jesus Christ is the only thing of importance to me now.”
Jesus ends this parable saying, if the rich men of Israel who read the scriptures were not convinced through his teaching, the signs and miracles neither would they believe in his resurrection from the dead. His words were realised when John the disciple wrote.
 “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” John 1: 10 – 12.
*On another occasion, an incident that happened when the Gentile Syrophoenician lady approached Jesus for him to heal her daughter, but Jesus in his reply pointed out to her “Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”                                   
The Messiah’s ministry was first and foremost to the Israelites, the children of God. Jesus was feeding them with his word and signs. For Jesus to consider changing direction to take his message to the Gentiles at this point, ‘to throw away the children’s bread’ his message was directed to the nation of Israel.
The woman answered him “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”, this Gentile lady was looking to eat the crumbs, the words that were falling from the mouth of Jesus, she believed that he was the Jewish Messiah and wanted to partake of the blessings. Jesus commended her for her answer and her daughter was healed. Mark 7 v 24-30
In this encounter we can envisage the new covenant embracing the Gentiles. As Gentiles we have entered into the blessings from our Father God to all his children in every nation.
Baa Baa Black Sheep, food banks, God out of sight, hands Keswick, hidden coin, lost coin, tax collectors, The Lost Sheep

The Messiah’s Secret – The Lost Sheep

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The Messiah’s Secret – The Lost Sheep 

In  our Gospel reading Jesus was sat eating with tax collectors and others who were termed as sinners. I wondered if Matthew who was once was a tax collector was gossiping the Gospel, eager for some of his associates to come and listen to Jesus.  Luke 15: 1-10 

It is only when Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees and scribes that we get a glimpse of what he was discussing with them.  He was gathering the lost sheep of the house of Israel in preparation for the coming in of the kingdom.                                                   

The Parable of the lost sheep  

Jesus referred to the ninety nine sheep, these were the people who kept to the letter of the laws of Moses and were righteous, their names written in ‘The Book of Life’. 

“But now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-and if not-blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” Exodus 32: 32.  

“But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose names shall be found written in the book.”               Daniel 12: 1.

The lost sheep were like Matthew the disciple who was once a tax collector and deemed as an outcast because of collecting taxes for the Romans and for coming in contact with them on a regular basis.  

The tax collectors reputation for fraud was highlighted when Jesus invited himself for tea at Zacchaeus’ home. Afterwards he announced that he would make restitution under Jewish 4 times above the amount he had acquired by fraudulent means. Exodus 22. Jesus announced that salvation had come to his house. “For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19: 1 – 10.  

The Messiah’s Secret page 32, 33  

These lost sheep were regarded as having no hope and were lost to God. People like the poor, the homeless and the beggars Most of these people had given up on the law, as they probably could not afford to buy their sin offerings and as a result were cut off from the law. Through the shepherd, Jesus, in his love assured them of their place in the kingdom. Jesus said that there was great rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous persons who need no repentance.                                       

Jesus’ mission he was gathering, embracing the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10: 6  

These people whom God loved and their love for God and had faith in Him Jesus was removing the overburdening laws that had been added by the Pharisees. Having heard the call of the shepherd, they became followers of Jesus and as a result were not allowed in the synagogues. John 9: 22.                                                                  

My niece introduced us to her boyfriend, we learnt that he worked for the Inland Revenue. We could not resist to pull his leg about his job; even today collecting taxes for the government is not popular.  

A new Christian had problems sleeping and wrote to the Inland Revenue enclosing a cheque for £100. “Please find enclosed a cheque for £100.” PS. “And if I still can’t sleep, I’ll send you the rest.”  

Today we are heavily taxed, I remember several years ago, my aunt complaining that her pensions and savings were taxed twice.  With the financial crisis our taxes have increased. The latest VAT on water and more increases in the pipe line.

The Food Banks are stepping in to relieve a growing number of people’s crisis in making ends meet. Often putting paying their bills before they spend money on food and for some that means going without food. This is where Jesus is carrying the brokenhearted, those who are suffering. By contributing food to the Food Banks we are helping to carry, release people from their burden.              Carved Hands – Derwentwater, Keswick                                                                 

Under man’s ruling authority we will always have the poor and downtrodden. Matthew 26: 11.                                                                                                                                 Injustice and poverty in the 18 century was heard in a nursery rhyme, an appeal through the voices of children. Today, it’s the children who suffer most, as some go to school without having any breakfast.                                                                            

“He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather his lambs in his arms.” Isaiah 40: 11.   Words to Baa Baa Black Sheep by our church’s organist

Jesus, Jesus loves His little sheep.
White ones, black ones, He will keep
all who come to Him, all in their need
No-one will be denied, He all will feed.                                                                          
Jesus, Jesus loves His little sheep
Will you come to him, stay and reap
 all His love for you, forever the same
 Will you come to him, and take his name.
In the nursery rhyme ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’ the black wool 
I interpret as being ‘the sin of  injustice.’ Only the rich could afford the expensive black wool.

You cannot dye black wool; I have tried using bleach to lift the black colour out of the wool, but it did not work. It reminds me that we can’t change the colour of our heart; the stain of sin won’t bleach out by our own effort.

Jesus does not look at the colour of a person’s skin but looks at the stain on the heart.
Paul recalled how he persecuted the church in his unbelief. His life changed dramatically when he saw Jesus in a vision on the Damascus road, and he heard Jesus say those words, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me!” From hearing the words of Jesus in his heart, he was changed man and he followed Jesus.
Peter had denied Jesus three times, when he heard the cock crow and he remembered Jesus’ words to him. “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter . . . “Before the cock crows today you will deny me three times. And Peter went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22: 61
The Lost Coin
The woman who lost the coin that belonged to her. If we think of this coin as her relationship with God and were she is struggling to find the Lord her God to answer her prayer.
Sometimes when we are anxiously seeking the Lord for answers to a situation or a problem, he just does not seem to be there we cry out, ‘Where are you Lord, when I need you?’
Paul in his letter to the Ephesians wrote, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1: 16-18
Or it may be that we have lost sight of the passion that we once had to proclaim the Gospel to our friends.
 “Being rooted and grounded in love may we have 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.” Ephesians 3: 17-19.
We want to rekindle the flame of our smoking embers.
Prayer
Help us gracious Lord, to seek out and embrace the years that the locusts have eaten. That you would stir up the flame within us, so that we may shine for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
18, 666, Abba Father, cube, daily bread, debt to God, manna, Moses, Mt Sinai, The Lord's Prayer, Welsh revival

The Messiah’s Secret – The Lord’s Prayer

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The  Messiah’s Secret – The Lord’s  Prayer
   Our Father in heaven , hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come your will be done on earth
as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
 
During this time we had ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ as a meditation in two ways: pictures and words on the screen and the prayer sung from a CD. Prepared by our Worship Leader.
 
A frame of another cube.
With each of these boards there was a verse from the Lord’s Prayer and one or two pictures that related to the readings: Hebrews 12: 18-29.   Luke 13: 10-17
The children came to the front of church and described the pictures that they had stuck on the board and the adult with them related to us all, the pictures with the Lord’s Prayer and readings.  Matthew 6: 9-13 
When you look at the contents of the Lord’s Prayer it embraces our Christian way of life, in our humanity.
In the prayer we are touched by the nearness of God, we give thanks as he upholds the structures that provide the practical requirements for daily living. The importance of forgiveness. The awareness of our faith being tested and as children of the kingdom of God applying Jesus’ victory over the devil and his activities.
1/   Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as in heaven. 
The pictures on the board: Moses and the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai. A family representing the church. Pictures of people. Universe. Light. Tell the World about Jesus. 
 
God is our Father; he loves us and cares for us. We are allowed to call God, Father or daddy, a very personal term. 
The Chorus ‘Abba Father’ beautifully describes our relationship with God our Father.
“Abba Father, let me be Yours and Yours alone, May my will for ever be ever more your own. Never let my heart grow cold, never let me go. Abba Father let me be Yours and Yours alone.” Mission Praise No 3 Dave Bilbrough, Thankyou Music,

 

*The Israelites could see the smoke and fire surrounding the upper reaches of Mount Sinai. God was almighty and awesome and even Moses trembled with fear. Israel’s relationship with God was reverential.
2/ Give us this day our daily bread.
                                           

The pictures on the board: Loaf of bread (2). Moses in conversation with God. Grapes and figs. Jesus feeding the 5,000 people. Evangelism –sowing the seeds of the kingdom. A wheat field. Hope reaching out in mission. A bird.

On the Israelites wilderness journey God provided manna (bread) daily from heaven. God feeds daily the birds and all living creatures. Jesus in his prayer asks God to give us this day our daily bread.
Jesus is the bread of life; Jesus said that his words were spirit and life
3/ Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

 

The pictures put on the board: God would provide a lamb, Jesus on the cross. The prodigal son embracing his father. The empty tomb.

God our Father knows that we will fall into sin, the pictures express the forgiveness we received when we first turned to Jesus and the ongoing forgiveness that is ours in Jesus.
We ask Jesus to forgive us, when by our words and actions we fail to walk in his love. We revere God by keeping his word. Jesus said that if we love him we should keep his words to us, by loving one another.
*In the true story of the Israelites Exodus from Egypt they held God in high esteem and tried to be obedient to his commands. Moses interceded on behalf of the people and God forgave those who rebelled against him. Exodus 14: 10-16.  17:3-7
 In our reading the Israelites before they approached the mountain had to consecrate (set apart) themselves by washing their clothes. Even then they were held back from going closer to the presence of God.
*Debt to God
The first-born redeemed for 5 shekels.
“Every first-born man among your sons you shall redeem.” Exodus 13: 1,13.
“Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast . . . . nevertheless the first-born of man you shall redeem, . . . .And their redemption price (at a month old you shall redeem them) you shall fix at five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.” Numbers 18: 15, 16.
“And the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him (Jesus) up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.” Luke 2: 22-24.
*Our Redemption through Jesus’ Passover
The Hebrew people at the start of their wilderness journey were instructed by God that only the people who were circumcised could eat the Passover Meal, they were a sanctified people, set apart by God’s covenant with Abraham, and the many Gentiles who accompanied them out of Egypt could not participate in the meal. These were the people who had connections with the descendants of Jacob but were not circumcised.
This gives insight into Jesus’ words concerning sanctification.”I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that thou should take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 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 truth.” John 17: 14 – 19.
The words of Jesus in his prayer spoke of his disciples being in the world but not part of it.
Jesus – The Passover the Lamb of God laid down his life for us for the forgiveness of sins. In repentance and faith Jesus releases us from the bondage of sin and the devil.  The blood of Jesus written on the door posts and lintels of our hearts sets us free from all that stands against us.
The Holy Spirit the sanctifier acting on the word, Jesus. –  We are sanctified, set apart for the righteousness of God dwells in our being; we are in the world but not a part of it.
“You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you.” John 15: 3, 4.
 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6: 20.
“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6: 11
*In the second part of this verse “as we forgive those who sin against us.” 
Jesus asks us to forgive those things were other people have offended or hurt us. Jesus does not want his church to condemn people and bring them under judgement and punishment.
*Moses was a judge among the people of Israel. The people brought their disputes to him for his judgement believing that God would speak through him.
The Jews expected Jesus to be like Moses, but he did not judge people: when the two brothers came to Jesus to settle their dispute over their inheritance. Jesus responded by saying, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?” Luke 12:13, 14.
The woman caught in adultery was not condemned by Jesus. He asked those who brought her before him asking him to make a judgment over her under the Law of Moses. Jesus’ response “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” John 8: 3-11.
4/ Lead us not into temptation.

 

The pictures on the board: The cockerel. The hen. The barren landscape. The open door.
 
The writer of Hebrews tells us that God will discipline us by gently showing and convicting us when we are not listening to his words.
God will test our faith as a result we strengthened and our faith increases.
 
*The temptation must have been very great to disobey Moses and God. The people of Israel were not to set foot beyond the designated area on the Mount Sinai.
5 Deliver us from evil.
On this board: The tank relating to war. The boat rescuing merchant seaman taken hostage at sea. Jesus praying for the lady bound for 18 years with the spirit of infirmity. The life changing experience of the cross and that’s expressed with the caterpillar being changed into a butterfly.

 

In our gospel reading the lady had been bound by Satan for 18 years and Jesus healed her releasing her from the spirit of infirmity.
The number 18 is mentioned twice in these verses 10 – 17.
The significance of the number 18
18 made up of 3 sixes 666.
666 are associated with Satan’s activities in the Bible.(see blog God the Mathematician) 

At the beginning of Chapter 13: 4 Jesus said, “Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worst offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” 18 people of Jerusalem who were killed when the tower fell on them, unless they repented 
The 18 who were killed when the tower fell on them, came under judgement because of Israel’s sin. The fig tree that bore no fruit, again symbolized Israel’s sin. The tree was given a reprieve for a year hoping that the gardener’s tender loving care would help it to produce fruit  
In Jesus’ compassion he gave them the sign of Israel’s reprieve when he released the woman from Satan’s bondage with the spirit of infirmity. It also is prophetic of the restoration of Israel in the last days when Jesus returns. 
Applying Jesus’ victory over the devil and his activities.
The Lord’s Prayer has been used as a sword in releasing a person from Satan’s afflictions and bondage.
The power of forgiveness in bringing healing to soul and body, the prayer of deliverance from the spiritual activities in peoples’ lives and homes. Truly an amazing prayer.
6/ For the kingdom the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

 

This last sentence was added between 1st and 2nd Century. The church calls it the ‘Doxology’ a sentence of praise. The King James Bible includes this last sentence in Matthew 6: 13.
The pictures express worship and mission. People singing and praising God. A passport. A disciple in conversation with a man pointing the way to find Jesus.
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Everything on the board includes what the Church is about: worship, praise, healing and communicating the gospel so that people come to know Jesus by having faith in him.
 The churches praise in this Doxology re-enforces that the kingdom message, that there is great celebration in heaven over each person who accepts Jesus as their Saviour.
Good news
On Wednesday I heard from my sister who worships at a Pentecostal Church in Manchester that a revival has begun in South Wales. The outpouring began in April of this year in the  Victory Church, Cwmbran, Wales. 
faith in Jesus, fear and worry., kingdom of heaven, moths, purses, treasure

The Messiah’s Secret – Treasure in Heaven

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The Messiah’s Secret – Treasure in Heaven 
 
Readings Hebrews 11: 1-3. Luke 12: 32 – 40
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12: 32- 34. NIV Bible
 
The congregation were in two teams each purse was opened as the questions were answered. The contents were either treasure that will be kept in heaven or moths (3) 
All the purses had sweets and gifts, the treasure purses had items from magazine cut outs relating to Christian ministry. The 3 purses with the moths had no magazine cut outs. In each purse a number of points scored and were added up to produce a winning team. 
The treasure are the things that we do willingly for others, we do for Jesus. These things will never fade and are kept safe in heaven.
 
Treasure Hunt (teaching the little ones to identify and the purpose behind these pieces of church furniture)
A picture was cut into four parts each part placed in connection with a question: 
Where do we read stories from the Bible? The Lectern (Eagle). Where babies are baptised – The Font. 
Where we receive Communion- Communion rail. 
Where the stories of Jesus are expounded – The Pulpit/reading desk. 
On the back of the four parts of the picture each had a gift.The picture was of Jesus.
Jesus the treasure of the kingdom of heaven.
 
Message 
We can do ‘face-time’ or skype people using technology, we can put the numbers in that connect us to a friend or relative to where they live on our planet and we see them on the screen of the phone where they are at that moment in time and have a conversation with them. It is amazing technology, we know how it works through satellite, wireless and cable.
 
God’s technology is to give us his kingdom not by just being linked or connected by prayer, but for his kingdom to be actually within us.
 
So how does it work? It works by faith, everybody has this element of creation faith. In this realm of faith there is a battle going on; it’s were people are searching to connect their faith to something. 
Some people experience the sense of having been in a place before and assume it’s a previous life, as a result they may turn and put their faith in re-incarnation. 
Some people believe in UFO’s or others may say I’ve seen a ghost so they turn to spiritualism. 
So the battle ground for people’s faith is in the world. The robber who steals a person’s faith is the devil, he will distract, confuse and lie, so that a person does not come to faith in Jesus.
 
Faith in Jesus
God has made it so that we are able to enter his kingdom now, and we enter through faith in Jesus. In the New Testament many of the people who came to Jesus to be healed were asked by Jesus did they have faith in him. The only requirement was to have faith in him.
 
The Bible says faith – is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11: 1. 
 
Faith is like: when we are poorly we go to the doctor, he examines us and prescribes the treatment for his diagnosis. 
We have gone to the doctor in faith having the assurance and conviction that he/she will give us the medicine that will make us better.
 
Faith to believe that in his love, Jesus bore our sins upon the cross and healed our broken relationship with God and as a result, the Lord our God has poured his love, the treasure of the kingdom of God into our hearts.   
 
Jesus said, “In that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you.” 
“If a person loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14: 20, 23.     
 
The Holy Spirit of God’s kingdom acts on the words about Jesus, bringing into fruition Jesus’ abiding presence in the heart and mind as a result the Christian bears the fruit of his kingdom.  
After entering into the kingdom of God we become its’ Ambassadors with the mind of Christ and our behaviour following the Lord’s life and teaching.
 
“God the Father will glorify me, for he will take what is mine; and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said he will take what is mine and will declare it to you.” John 16: 14, 15. 
 
Isaiah wrote of the kingdom of God, having been given the knowledge of it through prophecy. “The wolf will lie down with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the yearling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” Isaiah 11: 6, 7. 
 
The Kingdom of God is where compassion grows like trees and where flowers bear the fragrance of joy and their seeds of truth are scattered. Its’ pathways are of patience and peace and the atmosphere, the substance of it is completely made up of love. 
Fear and worry are not there in the kingdom, unless a window is opened to let them in, like the moth that ravages the clothes. Fear and worry eats away at our faith.
We remove the fear and the worry as we take our problems to Jesus and leave them at the foot of his empty cross, leaving them there. Trusting and believing that Jesus will help us. 
 
Faith without works is dead wrote the Lord’s brother James. 
Two years ago, I must admit that I was anxious as to whether we were right in having a Mothers Union (M.U) bric – brac Stall on Rawtenstall Market. We were raising funds for the M.U Relief Fund and I was asking myself as Rossendale’s M.U Deanery Leader were we living by faith? 
The day before the event, while I was sorting and pricing up the items these words that are in our reading popped into my mind, “Sell your possessions and give arms.” I was relieved and delighted at the same time that the Lord had answered our prayers. We were doing it for the right reasons. 
 
Our hope is that our inheritance in Jesus is kept safe in heaven for us. 
Jesus gave us the example in his parable of the man who went to his friends house at midnight, getting him out of bed to supply him with a loaf of bread to feed his quests who had arrived unexpectly.” His friend at first was not too pleased at being disturbed, but he gave his friend the loaf. Luke 11: 5-8 
 
Some of he things that will last for eternity, the list is endless: When we have responded to our neigbour’s need: the emergency and the errands etc. The times when we have prayed for their family and friends. The opportunities to tell them about Jesus. 
 
The Treasure that is stored in heaven.
There is an old saying, “You brought nothing into the world, and you can’t take anything out.” We can’t take our money or possessions with us when we die, but what we have in Jesus, we did not have it when we were born.
 
What we have in Jesus, we take with us when the Lord calls us home. It’s the treasure of the kingdom of God, the abiding presence of Jesus, the love of God in our hearts, his kingdom on the earth as it is in heaven. 
 
Judgment Seat of Christ. 
After the Lord calls out his church and we come before him for rewards, not punishment. The treasure that will never fade away will be a blessing to us: like the drink given to quench some one’s thirst, the words of comfort when we ministered to a person in their time of suffering. Corinthians 3: 13.                          
Making a purse.  
A piece of cardboard cut out in the shape of a purse 16 inches / 10 inches. Two pieces of material cut slightly larger than the cardboard. Sew the two pieces of material together leaving the top opening and one side unstitched to allow cardboard to fit inside. Place the cardboard inside. Stitch up the side. Using a strip of foil glue it to the top opening.  
Another piece of foil to make the clasp into a small diamond shape. Decorate with bows and ribbon, cut out and glue on to purse ‘Hello Kitty’ and ‘Wally.’ Pictures of moths and treasure boxes with words: love , joy and peace inside the lids.                                      
The purses were attached with split pins to a large (recycled) cardboard sheet covered with lining paper, and a blob of glue on the back of the cardboard to keep it the pin in place.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
butler and baker's dreams, Jesus walks on water, Joseph, Joseph a type of Christ, Joseph's dreams, Joseph's interpretation of dreams, Pharaoh's dream

The Messiah’s Secret – How Great is our God

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The Messiah’s Secret – How Great is our God

Readings Genesis 50: 4-26.  Mark 6: 45-52.  


Jesus in faith proved that he was greater than Moses when he walked on the waters of Galilee. Moses crossed the Red Sea by walking on dry land after God held back the Sea. 
Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. He began to sink as his faith weakened. Jesus’ response to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt.” Matthew 14: 31  
 
Joseph was a man of faith, his faith increased as he suffered the trials of life. He prospered because of his faith in God.  
 
Joseph’s Story.    
 In the Hebrew Bible Jacob is the son of Isaac and Rebekah, the grandson of Abraham, Sarah and the younger twin brother of Esau. Jacob had twelve sons, by his two wives, Leah and Rachel and by their handmaidens Bilhah and Zilpah. The sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issacher, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.  

Joseph was one of the two sons by Rachel, Benjamin was the other son and the youngest of Jacobs twelve sons. Joseph was seventeen when Jacob gave him a robe that he had made, a coat of many colours.  The brothers of Joseph knew that Jacob loved him more than any of them and when Joseph shared with them his dreams they began to hate him and as a result they despised him enough to want to kill him.

 
Joseph’s dreams   
 “Behold we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose and stood upright; and behold, your sheaves gathered round it, and bowed down to my sheaf.” When the brothers heard this they were indignant towards him. Joseph had another dream and he told it to his brothers, “Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” His father rebuked him saying, “Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come and bow ourselves to the ground before you?”   
Jacob sent Joseph to his brothers who were watching the sheep at Shechem. When he arrived there he found that they had moved on to Dotham. When his brothers saw him coming they plotted to kill him and throw him into a pit. Only Reuben didn’t want him killed, so he requested that they should not take his life before throwing him into the pit. Reuben had planned to rescue Joseph later.  They stripped him of his robe and threw him into a waterless pit. However, Judah spoke up when he saw the Ishmaelite traders in the distance and suggested that they should sell Joseph to them. But before this could take place, some Midianite traders passing by pulled Joseph out of the pit and they took him and sold him to the Ishmaelite traders for 20 shekels. (RSV Bible NIV Bible says the brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites.) When Reuben saw that Joseph was no longer in the pit he was very upset he did not know what had become of Joseph. The other brothers dipped Joseph’s coat in goat’s blood and took it home to show Jacob suggesting that a wild animal had killed him. Genesis 37    
 
Chapter 39.     
 The Ishmaelites took Joseph to Egypt where they sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. The Lord was with Joseph and he was successful in all his endeavours. Potiphar made him overseer of his house and field. Joseph was handsome and attracted the attention of Potiphar’s wife, but Joseph refused her advances towards him. However, one day Joseph was in the house attending to his work when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. In his haste to free himself from her, she held onto his garment as he was fleeing out of the house. Afterwards she accused Joseph to her husband of trying to seduce her. Potiphar arrested Joseph and took him to the king’s prison where he was imprisoned.  
 
Chapter 40.   
 The Lord loved Joseph and upheld him, the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph the care of the prisoners.  Two prisoners Pharaoh’s butler and baker were also in the prison. One night they both had dreams each dream had its own meaning: Joseph interpreted the butler’s dream – “In my dream there was a vine before me, and on the vine there were three branches; as soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in his hand.” Joseph said to him this is the interpretation: the three branches are three days; within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his butler.” Joseph asked the butler if he would remember him as he had done nothing deserving imprisonment.

When the baker saw that the interpretation was favourable, he told Joseph his dream, “There were three cake baskets on my head and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh. But the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head. Joseph interpreted the dream – “The three baskets are three days within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head – from you – and hang you on a tree and the birds will eat the flesh from you.”   Both dreams were fulfilled on the third day which was Pharaoh’s birthday. But the butler did not remember Joseph, he forgot him.   
 
Chapter 41      
After being 2 years in prison Joseph was summoned by Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. The first dream – “There came up out of the Nile seven cows sleek and fat, and thy fed in the reed grass. And behold seven other cows, gaunt and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. The gaunt cows and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. 

The second dream,” Behold seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the eat wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears.”     
Verse 25, Joseph interpreted the dreams: “The dream of the Pharaoh is one; God has revealed in Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven good years and the seven good ears are seven years; the dream is one. The seven lean and gaunt cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. There will be seven years of plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, but after them there will arise seven years of famine.” Joseph proposed that Pharaoh should put in place overseers to gather all the food in the good years and store it in the cities. The food will be a reserve against the seven years of famine.   
The proposal was accepted by Pharaoh and his servants. In response to this Pharaoh made Joseph head over his house and governor over all the land of Egypt, bestowing upon him his signet ring and gave him fine linen garments and a gold chain. He was second only to Pharaoh, he rode behind him in his second chariot. Pharaoh gave Joseph in marriage to the daughter of Potiphar’s priest of On. Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh. The seven years that followed the grain was stored in the cities in readiness for the famine. Before the year of the famine started Joseph had two sons Manasseh and Ephriam. Manasseh – “For, he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and my entire father’s house.” Ephraim –  “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Joseph opened the stores of grain as the famine told hold.    
 
Chapter 42    
The famine was server not just in Egypt but all over the region. When Jacob heard that Egypt had grain he sent 10 of his sons to buy grain. The brothers of Joseph came before him in their request to buy grain. Joseph knew who they were when they said that they had come from Canaan, but he did not let them know who he was. He treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. Joseph remembered his dream.   

Instead of revealing who he was he accused them of being spies, in response they gave account of their family; they were sons of one man and were honest. In verse 29 “We are twelve brothers, sons of one father; one is no more, and the youngest this day with our father in the land of Canaan. Then the man, the lord of the land said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men:  leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. Bring your youngest brother to me; then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver to you your brother, and you shall trade in the land.”  Joseph had ordered that the money should be put in the brother’s sacks as well as the grain. When they saw the money Jacob was perplexed and worried, he was afraid of losing  two sons, Simeon and Benjamin the son of Rachel.
 
Chapter 43     
The famine continued, Jacob had relented and said that Benjamin could go with them, so he sent his sons to Egypt again to buy grain. Jacob insisted that they should take double the money for the grain that they had already received and for the grain they hoped to purchase and also take with them gifts of fruit, balm, honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.      
When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph saw Benjamin was with them. He ordered his steward to prepare a meal for them at his house. They were a little concerned and afraid that it might be a trick to capture and enslave them. When Joseph came home he greeted them and inquired about the welfare of their father and asked if he was still alive. He asked if this was their younger brother, they replied that he was. Joseph was overwhelmed with joy at seeing his brother Benjamin he sought a place to go and weep.  After he had composed himself he returned and together with his brothers they ate the meal.    
 
Chapter 44    
While they were eating, the steward filled the sacks and also placed their money in them  before they left for Canaan. Joseph also had instructed his steward to place his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack along with his money in payment for the grain. The brothers set out for Canaan, but only after going a short distance Joseph sent his steward to search for his cup and apprehend the one who had it and to let the others go.   
 Every one of them lowered their sack and it was searched, the steward found the cup in Benjamin’s sack, he was bound and taken back to the city. The brothers returned to the city to Joseph’s house and before Joseph they pleaded that he should not keep Benjamin from his father Jacob. Judah related to Joseph his father’s distress on sending Benjamin to Egypt as he was afraid of losing another of Rachel’s son.  
 
Chapter 45     
Hearing this from Judah Joseph could not control himself and he sent away his servants, only he and his brothers remained. Joseph made himself known to his brothers and he wept aloud. He inquired after his father, but his brothers were dismayed at his presence. “So Joseph beckoned them to come near to him where upon he told them not to fear or be angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.”  Joseph bid them go and tell his father that he was alive and he had the authority to give to them the land of Goshen.  When Pharaoh heard he welcomed Joseph’s family to come and live in Egypt. When Jacob heard that Joseph was still alive and ruler over all Egypt, he found it hard to believe, but when he saw the waggons that Joseph had sent he believed. “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive; and I will go and see him before I die.”
All the persons of the house of Jacob that went to live in Egypt were seventy. Jacob was 130 years of age when they entered Egypt and he died aged 147. Joseph died in Egypt 110 years of age. Genesis 50: 22.   
 
 Chapter 47: 29-31. 49: 31.  
Jacob had discussed with Joseph where he wanted to be buried, he wanted to be buried in Canaan near to where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah and Leah, so Joseph asked Pharaoh if he and his family could go to the place of burial at Atad in Canaan. Pharaoh consented.     
 
Joseph a type of Christ.
The brothers had heeded Joseph’s words about God having allowed his suffering and being treated with contempt by his brothers. Joseph a type of Christ in his suffering and being thrown into a pit to die, signifying Christ’s death and when he was pulled out of the pit by the Midianite traders it was like Jesus’ resurrection. 
Joseph being sold into slavery and was redeemed from slavery and imprisonment by God through Pharaoh having appreciated his interpretation of his dream, he was raised up to sit in the second chariot after Pharaoh. 
Jesus was redeemed resurrected by God and raised up to be seated at the right hand of the throne of God, where he intercedes for those  who come to him in faith.         
Joseph’s brothers sought his forgiveness, but Joseph reminded them that he was not God. 
Jesus forgives those who come to him in repentance and faith. 

Jane’s True Testimony (I know this dear lady personally)
In Sept 1989 Jane who had no links with any church met Jesus as she walked along the disused railway line with her dogs.
“First I would like to explain that I finally forgiven someone, I mean truly forgiven. A few days later I was walking along the disused railway in Helmshore with our dogs. It was a pleasant day, very still. I felt a wind blow up, but nothing was moving. I saw in front of me a life size Jesus on the cross. He was dead, his body grey, stone like, I couldn’t bear to look, I turned away. I felt all the wrong that I had done being taken away from me, but I didn’t want him to, because I physically felt the pain that I had caused him. I felt ashamed and started crying. The next minute I felt a presence next to me. I wasn’t sure if it was Jesus or God, but I couldn’t see anyone. All the weight I had been carrying inside had been taken away. I felt so happy, so clean. Everywhere was so beautiful, the colours were so bright, I had never seen colour like it before.” 

Joseph’s brothers had repented 
“So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave us command before he died, Say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray you, the transgressions of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’ And now, we pray you, for give the transgressions of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept as they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him, and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Fear not, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he reassured them and comforted them.” 50: 16-21.

While Jesus  he was dying on the cross, he said “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Jesus forgave the sins of Israel and all of those who had brought charges against him. Luke 23: 34.

Joseph saved Jacob and his sons and their families, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth.” Genesis 45: 7.                                                                                              
The Messiah’s Secret  
Jesus Christ would have saved the nation of Israel had the leaders recognised him after his ascension when the disciples of Jesus proclaimed for the first time at Pentecost that Jesus was the Christ, God meant his suffering for good, fulfilling Joseph’s words. 
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know ——this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ” Acts 2: 22-24. Peter continued to witness that Jesus had fulfilled King David’s prophecy of the Messiah’s bodily resurrection. 
Those Jews who accepted Jesus proclaimed him to the Jew first and then to the Gentiles. Jesus the Saviour of the world.  

Jacob crossing the Jordan in his death was prophetic of the journey that Joshua made leading the Israelites into the Promised Land and of Jesus’ Baptism.                       
Jacob’s funeral was like our state funeral were high ranking people in society pay their respects to the death of a leader or a royal person. Thousands of his own relatives plus Egyptian men and women made the journey to Atad situated beyond the Jordan near to where it flows into the Salt Sea.  
When Joshua was about to enter the Promised Land, the priests were to carry the Ark of the Covenant and stand in the middle of the Jordan, as they did so the river stood in a heap and the Israelites crossed over on dry land. Afterwards the river returned to normal. Joshua 3: 8. 4: 15-18. 
 Baptism     
The Ark symbolising God’s presence, his meeting place between the Cherubim on the lid of the Ark where the sacrificial blood was sprinkled by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. We see this in the tomb situation when Mary looked into the tomb and saw two angels one where his feet had been and the other where his head had laid. Jesus having made the sacrifice of himself, the final atonement for sin and the causes of sin against our Holy God. God raised Jesus up from the dead and in his resurrection he has redeemed us. Redeemed by his blood and set free into the freedom of his forgiveness. Water a symbol  cleansing in dying to sin and being raised up from death in being filled with the eternal Holy Spirit.   
 
This scene a picture of our baptism.  
In faith we enter into Jesus’ baptism through acknowledging our sin against God; we step down into the river where the water had been, we look to the middle of the river and see Jesus on the cross and his offering of himself to take our sin upon him. As we look into his face we ask for forgiveness and then we move towards the other side of the river and step out onto the land, we have been raised with Christ into his kingdom.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

By Dorothy Newton