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The Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Questions Raised

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

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

The expectation of Jesus’ immediate return.

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

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

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

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

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

Peter believed Jesus would return soon after Pentecost.

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

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

Jesus hoped to return in John’s life time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The believers in Christ will reign and rule with him.

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

The ruling rod of iron

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To the Jew first.

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

The expectation of Jesus’ immediate  return.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Healing the rift between Christian and Jews

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

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

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

Paul taught personal salvation through faith in Jesus

The call is to the individual person across the world to accept Jesus as Saviour. Paul in his letter to the Romans. “If you confess with  your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9.

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

John the disciple wrote, “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man, but of God.” John 1: 12, 13.

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

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

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FAITH in the Virgin Birth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A – acceptance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The meaning of the cross.

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

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

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

I – invitation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Messiah’s Secret Revealed – Preparing for Jesus’ Coming

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Advent is the time in the churches calendar  were we prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming.

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

One of the conditions of his return is that the gospel will be preached to all nations.

I believe the Messiah’s Secret Revealed is part of that preparation before Jesus returns. God is bringing to light the fact that God  deliberately hid from Jewish  leaders and teachers of the law:  the prophesies that related to the Messiah’s death on the cross as the final sacrifice for sin and his resurrection.

Antisemitism has grown in the world from a wide-spread belief that the Jewish leaders 2,000 years ago had Jesus Christ crucified. It’s not the only reason for antisemitism today: the conflict over land and the world is jealous of their prosperity. The Bible tells us that God will bless his people, but with that comes persecution by the world.

The Catholic Church’s response to Christian antisemitism. Jewish Learning website

“In 1965, as part of the Vatican II council, the Catholic Church published a long-anticipated declaration entitled Nostra Aetate, offering a new approach to the question of Jewish responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus. The document argued that modern-day Jews could not be held accountable for Jesus’ crucifixion and that not all Jews alive at the time of the crucifixion were guilty of the crime. This was a remarkable step forward in the history of Christian attitudes toward Jews, as Jewish blame for Jesus’ death has long been a linchpin of Christian anti-Semitism.”

From the first to the 19th centuries, the level of tension between Jews and Christians was such that both groups found the claim that the Jews killed Jesus to be believable. Thankfully, in our world it is heard less frequently. But we should not be surprised if it persists among people who take the stories of the New Testament (or of the Talmud) as reliable historical sources. www.myjewishlearning.com

What do Jewish people believe about the Messiah today?

The Jewish Learning website

More than 1,000 years after Jesus’ crucifixion, the medieval sage Maimonides (also known as Rambam) laid out in his Mishneh Torah specific things Jews believe the messiah must accomplish in order to confirm his identity — among them restoring the kingdom of David to its former glory, achieving victory in battle against Israel’s enemies, rebuilding the temple (which the Romans destroyed in 70 CE) and in gathering the exiles to the land of Israel. “And if he’s not successful with this, or if he is killed, it’s known that he is not the one that was promised by the Torah,” www.myjewishlearning.com

In November 2009, I went to listen to Singer Helen Shapiro she sang and told us her life story. Helen is of Jewish decent born in London in 1946. At the age of six she went to a state school. She told us of how she remembered a child coming up to her in the playground and saying, ‘You killed Jesus.’ She was devastated and never forgot those hurtful words. In the late 1980’s she discovered Jesus as her Saviour and the promised Messiah to the Jewish people.

Why did the Jews not recognise Jesus as their Messiah 2,000 years ago?

Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek)

John the disciple wrote, “He (Jesus) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. “ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”  John 1:10-13  (NIV)

Apostle John identified Jesus as the creator and Saviour of the world, but this was not recognised by God’s chosen people Israel 2,000 years ago and this has been the Jewish view up to today.

Jesus the Son of God disputed by the Jews

The angel Gabriel told Mary that her son would fulfil Nathan’s prophecy to King David. 2 Samuel 7: 12-14. “I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father and he shall be my son.”

Angel Gabriel’s words to Mary, “He will be great and be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give to 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.” Luke 1: 12-14

Jesus knew that God was his Father. 

At the age of 12 Jesus had been with his Joseph and Mary at the feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. Unknown to them he had stayed behind at the temple listening to the teachers and asking questions. We read that they were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When he was found by his parents at the temple, they weren’t pleased, but Jesus indicated that he was surprised by their attitude, he said, “How is it you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father house?” Luke wrote that Joseph and Mary didn’t understand his words. To speak of God being his Father was blasphemy and Jesus would be aware of the sacredness to use the name God in this way. Eighteen years later his words, My Father is working still, and I am working,” This is why the Jews sought even more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God.” John 5: 17, 18.

When I came to faith, I knew that God was my Father.  It was a surprise to me, to know God as my heavenly Father, and that I had the assurance I was his child. It is amazing to know that every person in the world has this opportunity to be reconciled to God our Father and creator through faith in his Son.

Another argument that still carries on today, in John’s gospel there was a dispute over Jesus’ birthplace, Isaiah had prophesied the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, associated with the house (descendants) of King David.

“Some listening said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ” but some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said, that the Christ is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So, there was division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.” John 7: 40-44. 10: 19. Micah 5:2.

Luke records that Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem where the House of David census was taking place.  We read that they returned to Nazareth after Mary had fulfilled her purification and after they had brought Jesus to the temple for a blessing, they returned to Galilee, their own city. Later after the visit of the wise men they fled to Egypt. Luke 2: 1-7, 39. Jesus was known as ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’

The teachers taught that the Messiah would remain for ever.

John the disciple records that the leaders and people were taught from the Law that when the Messiah came, he would remain for ever. Jesus in conversation with the crowd around him, “The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever. How can you say the Son of man must be lifted up?” John 12: 34. Matthew 16: 21-23. Mark 15: 32.

Jesus was pointing to the incident in the Exodus from Egypt. The Israelite’s were moaning at God and Moses because of having no water and the same food to eat: manna and quail. God allowed poisonous snakes to enter the camp. However, they repented and came to Moses to ask God to remove the serpents. Moses was instructed by God to take a pole and put on one end a bronze snake and place it in the camp, so that when a person bitten by a snake looked up at the bronze snake they would be healed. Numbers 21: 6-9.

Jesus gave the people insight into what was to take place at Jerusalem when he was lifted up on the cross. “Those who saw him and believed would be healed of all sin including the sin of Adam and Eve. Jesus’ victory over the serpent that he won through his death on the cross. “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to life-long bondage.” Hebrews 2: 14, 15.

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”  John 3: 14,15.

God hid the scriptures that spoke of the death and resurrection of the Messiah at that time.

Jesus had told his disciples that he going to be killed and he would rise on the third day. These scriptures that told of the suffering, death and resurrection of the Messiah were hidden from them. Jesus said, “They will scourge him and kill him and on the third day he will rise. But they understood none of these things; this saying was hid from them, and they could not grasp what was said.” Luke 9: 43-45. 18: 34. These scriptures were revealed to Jesus’ disciples on the evening of Jesus’ resurrection. Luke 24: 44-46.

The disciples did not know what rising from the dead was about. They had been taught that the resurrection occurred on the last day. Jesus taught the same message John 6: 40. Mark 16: 11. Luke 24: 11, 21. John 20: 9.

God had given a prophecy to the head of the Sanhedrin, the Chief Priest Caiaphas, the prophecy was that one man would die so  that the nation would not perish. At the crucifixion the chief priest and scribes at shouted to Jesus, “Let the Christ the King of Israel, come down from the cross that we may see and believe.” Mark 15: 23. Jesus’ death and resurrection was hidden from their understanding.

On the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection the disciples on the road to Emmaus said to the stranger, “We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel.”  Shortly afterwards their eyes were opened to see that the stranger was the resurrected Jesus. Luke 24

Jesus came to fulfil the Law of Moses, so why would he continually break the Sabbath Day Laws?

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

The time for the Jewish nation to receive Jesus as their Messiah was at and after Pentecost.

The disciples, Jewish men, proclaimed for the first time that Jesus was the Messiah at and after Pentecost. They proclaimed Jesus death was in the foreknowledge of God and God resurrected him from the dead, fulfilling King David’s prophecy. Acts 2: 23-36 Psalm 16: 10.

At Pentecost Peter said that God had raised Jesus up from the dead.

Jesus in conversation with Martha revealed to her that those who believe in him, even though they die yet shall they live. “I am the resurrection and the life, even though they die, yet shall they live.” John 11: 25.

The disciples had evidence through seeing and touching Jesus after his resurrection Paul wrote that over 500 hundred people saw the resurrected Jesus.

The disciples knew that they and the people didn’t expect the Messiah to come and die on a cross. Peter said that they had acted in ignorance when the rulers and people condemned him to death. Acts 2: 29-36. 3: 17, 18, 24.

God had hidden his death from the leaders because Jesus had to be killed at Jerusalem, he had to die at the hands of both Jews and Gentiles, because Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. Acts 4: 25-30

Paul on his first ministry tour with Barnabas entered the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia he spoke to the people about Jesus.

Paul recollected their Exodus and their entry into the Promised land. God gave them kings and from King David God had brought forth to Israel, a Saviour Jesus.

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

Jesus’ death and resurrection was hidden from their understanding. Paul continued in Acts 13 to share the prophesies of King David that spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah.

Paul revealed to them that the people and rulers in Jerusalem did not recognise or understand Jesus’ words and actions, if they had they wouldn’t have killed their Messiah and God couldn’t let that happen, the Messiah Jesus had to die at Jerusalem. They had been taught and they believed the Messiah would have remained with them and they would have made him their King. He then would have removed the Romans ending their occupation of the land

The Lord is coming soon, and this message I pray will help many to understand why God in his foreknowledge couldn’t reveal Jesus as the Messiah until his disciples announced at Pentecost that was the nation’s Messiah .

Soon, Israel will recognise the one pieced for their transgressions and raised by God to give them the promised eternal kingdom that was promised to Abraham

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What’s in a Name?

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What’s in a name?

When my husband and I was expecting our first child, we bought a book with children’s names, it had both the name and its meaning. Suzanne – lily. Philip – fond of horses. John – Jehovah has been gracious. Martha – lady. Peter – the rock.  Andrew – strong.

The  name and its meaning describes the character and the aptitude of a person.

Character; personality, nature, disposition, mentality, stamp, mould. Persona: attributes, properties, essential quality, essence; individuality, identity, spirit, complexion, ambience, feel.

Aptitude; talent, gift, expertise, genius, natural ability, adeptness, suitability.

Mary had been instructed by the angel Gabriel to call her son Jesus. Luke 1:31. Among the Jewish people at the time of Jesus, the name Jesus was an ordinary name, God chose it for its very special meaning ‘Saviour.’

Saviour – one who saves from evil, a deliverer, a title applied to Jesus Christ, who saves men from the power and penalty of sin. Chamber’s Dictionary 1901 Edition.

Descriptive of the character of the nature of Jesus the stamp of God. “God is love”   1 John 4: 8. “Love the Lord your God with all your soul, strength, mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.” Luke 10: 27. “He reflects the glory of God and bears the stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power.” Hebrews 1: 2.

The aptitude of Jesus his natural ability and inclination to love all people in his selfless attitude in laying down his life to be our Saviour. “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever, believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16. RSV Bible.

The names and its meaning in the Bible: Adam – earth. Eve – life giver. The names of people were changed: Abram – high father. Abraham – father of a multitude. Genesis 17: 5. Unger’s Bible Dictionary.

Isaiah 7: 10-16.   Isaiah’s name means “Jehovah is salvation.”

God is Salvation – “In the Old Testament the term refers to various forms of deliverance, both temporal and spiritual. God delivers his people from their enemies and from the snares of the wicked Psalm37:40.59:2.106:4. New Testament: God also saves by forgiveness of sins, answers to prayer, joy, peace Psalm 79:9. 69:13.51:12. Unger’s Bible Dictionary.

King Ahaz of Judah (Southern Kingdom) refused to join the alliance of Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Syria in opposing Assyria, as a result they planned to depose him. Isaiah wanted Ahaz to ask God for a sign, but he refused he wouldn’t test God. The Lord gave him a sign, “Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Immanuel.”

Immanuel meaning ”God with us.”

Isaiah believed that his wife was referred to in the prophecy, “Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large tablet and write upon it in common characters, Belonging to Mahershalahashbaz.’ And I got reliable witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah to attest for me. And I went to the prophetess and she conceived and bore a son.”

Isaiah’s wife gave birth to their youngest son. However, they did not name him ‘Immanuel’ it was the name on the tablet, Mashershalahashbaz,’ the meaning of his name “ “For before the child knows how to cry, to cry, ‘My father,’ or ‘My Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.” Isaiah 8: 1-8.

But the sign that was fulfilled when Mahershalahashbaz was three years old. In 732BC the Assyrian army swiftly conquered Damascus and within ten years Israel was defeated and its people exiled, and the land was deserted 722BC.

Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ

Matthew quoted from Isaiah 7: 14 in connection with the birth of Jesus, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1: 21.

Matthew writing his gospel between A.D. 60 and 70 identified Jesus and the meaning as the ‘Saviour- of our sins.’

Matthew knew this from his own experience and like many Christians down the centuries also have this experience of being saved and released from sin.

Our soul/spirit coming together with God’s Spirit we are made alive through forgiveness of sin. The King James’ Bible translation used the word “Quickened” “And you who were quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin.” Ephesians 2: 1

Experiencing Jesus being born in us is like when I was 3 months pregnant with my first baby, I felt the baby move for the first time and that fetal movement is called ‘Quickening’.

“When a pregnant woman is likely to first feel her baby move, called quickening, depends on several things. . . . ” www.webmd.com/features/when-feel-bay-move

Mary the Virgin gave birth to God’s Son

Anyone who has received healing through prayer will be able to witness that God is able to do what seems impossible to us. Mary conceived when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her, without her flesh being touched. Luke 1: 35

The resurrected Jesus in Spirit

Just as God sends the rain to water the ground, so God is able to knock on the door of our heart.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him/she and eat with him/she, and he/she with me. Those who conquer, I will grant them to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on His throne. Those who has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3: 20 22.

The name ‘Christian’ and its meaning.  Acts 11: 26.

Meaning – Christ-like

Characteristics: nature, personality, mentality,. stamp. persona: spirit of love, faithful, committed,  identity, mentality,

God fulfilling his promise to Abraham that he would be a father of a multitude.

A child of God has chosen to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. “Those who believe in his name he gave the power to become children of God. children born not of natural decent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1: 12, 13.

It is personal salvation to us as individuals, it is not by hereditary means, we can’t inherit our salvation. Neither can we receive salvation through marriage. Jesus tells us that there is no marriage in heaven, we all are children of the Father, His love upholds and sustains us. Luke 20:34,35.

Our nature being transformed to understand and feel how God hates sin, but God loves the sinner. Love that wills to do the will of God, that is obedient, truthful. Christ in you in Spirit, the authority and power to prophecy, discern thoughts, intentions of the heart.

Aptitude: anointed natural and God given gifts, adeptness, suitability.

We are complete in Christ having the whole seed of faith. The Holy Spirit distributes the dominate gift through prophecy at the beginning of a Christian’s journey.

Today both men, women and children who declare, know Jesus as their Saviour are entitled to Jesus’ provision of his precious promises.  Peter writing, “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with them in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion and become partakers of the divine nature.”  2 Peter 1: 1. 3, 4.

Paul the Apostle – one who has seen Christ – the resurrected Christ.

The word of prophecy given to Paul was that he would be a light to the Gentiles an Evangelist: teach, preach, pray, heal, etc. Colossians 1: 27.

Using the gifts within the church.

Pastoring is the gift of having a loving servant’s heart, to put Jesus before family and personal desires, to put the friend who asks for help at an untimely hour is the role of the servant. To discern the leading of the Holy Spirit in all situations.

Several people using the same gifting for example: the gift of evangelism, faith, love, joy- encourages, prophecy, intercession, healing, discernment, teaching, praise-music, and preaching, tongues, administration, helps etc. 1 Corinthians 12

Love the greatest gift.

 “God is love” by Dorothy Newton 

Written during the Week for Christian Unity January 1995                                                                   

Love participates in unity,   bending the will to love another.

Love brings a togetherness, a lovers’ beauty, a gracious food  of unceasing joy.   *

.Love doesn’t hide itself or shy away.

 Love takes hold of the prickly thorn and caresses it

Love picks up the bruised heart and cherishes it and makes it, it’s own.

Love gives off a radiance like the heat of a summer’s day.

Love its fragrance enriches unity,   time stands still.

Love has a strength of its own. Love gives in to love.

Love is a safe place, without any walls, no barriers of fear and wars.   Love prepares to serve all human weaknesses.

Love bears the pain of love; rejection grieves the lover.

Love ceases not to love;

Love is God our creator.

* (pure, holy love 2 Corinthians 11: 2)

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Encouraged by the Lord

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Encouraged by the Lord

I asked the Lord in prayer at the beginning of this week if he would give me a word of encouragement and I’ve been given several words; Jesus was a common name, but it’s the meaning of the name ‘Jesus’ being ‘Saviour’ as to why God gave him this name.

Great Encouragement 

During my study of Isaiah 7: 10-16 I’ve looked in my Bible Dictionary to find out more about Jesus’ name. While I read through several pages of information, I came across the author’s critique of William Wrede’s book ‘The Messianic Secret’. I’ve deliberately not read William Wrede’s book, so that I could honestly say the Lord opened the New Testament scriptures when he gave me the word in 1996. On 30th May I was sat having my afternoon break when I was gently rocked from side to side in my chair, the chair didn’t move. My thoughts were on  the pottery order that I was working on. The words that came into my mind, ‘The disciples were setting up the kingdom of God at the beginning of Acts’ and two weeks later I woke up with the word ‘Jesus could only be received as the Messiah after his death, resurrection and ascension.” The two words came together; after Jesus’ ascension and soon after Pentecost the disciples were anticipating Jesus’ return with the angels of God and it was a national calling.

There was so much evidence in the Gospels, I put these scriptures under headings. I soon realised that I had to write a book.

I had found nothing in any of my concordances about this view of Jesus being only received as the Messiah by the leader’s nation at and after Pentecost. I took the manuscript to the Bishop of Blackburn Alan Chester because I thought it was something important for the church. I was asked by the Bishop and Canon Galilee had I read the Messianic Secret by William Wrede I replied, “No, I haven’t.”

Two people I had shared with: Rev Mark Ireland who I was in training with at his church St John’s Basemen and Canon Richard Spurin my Tutor on the Reader’s course; they both said it was the messianic secret revealed, they had obviously read William Wrede’s book.

Bishop Alan Chesters wrote my ‘Foreword’ he wrote that it was the work of an apologetic. I understood this to mean – a defence or explanation of Christianity. I went ahead and published in 2001

This week through reading Unger’s Bible Dictionary pages on  the reference to Jesus Christ, I now understand why the Bishop wrote that it was the work of an apologetic:

Unger’s Dictionary states “Men like Wilhelm Wrede (Das Messiasgeheimmis in den Evangelism,1901) deny the mystic consciousness of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels, particularly in Mark. Wrede contends that mystery attaches to the problem of ‘Jesus’ Messiahship, and he uses the term ‘Mystic Secret’ He declares this was a dogmatic invention of the primitive church. He holds that the church had no real proof that Jesus himself held to or declared himself to be the Messiah. Consequently, Wrede maintains it superimposed this dogmatic invention upon the traditional account of Christ’s life in order to explain the silence of tradition on the subject. Wrede forgets that the phenomena he cites are explainable as simple historical facts rather than an artificial invention forced upon the accounts. Unger’s Dictionary page 583

The Messiah’s Secret by Dorothy Newton 2001 updated 2013 on line www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk

I give proof in my book that Jesus knew he was the Christ, and why he kept it a secret. Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do they say the Son of man is?” Peter answered Jesus’ question saying that he is “The Christ.” “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told his disciples that God had revealed this to Peter and he told them to tell no one.”  The Son of man and the Christ and the Son of God are titles of the same person, and the reason not to tell anyone. Matthew 16:  13-20

the Jewish people expected the Messiah when he came to remain forever and establish ‘the times of refreshing’; the restoration of the land and throne of King David. Peter informed the crowd that if they repented Jesus would have returned and restored King David’s kingdom. John 12: 34. Acts 3: 19, 20.

God had hidden from the Jews the death of the Messiah.  Just to make sure that the Jews condemned Jesus to death, Caiaphas who was high priest that year had a prophecy from God, “that one man would die for the people and that the whole nation would not perish.” John continued by saying “He did not say this of his own accord but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.” John 11: 45-51.

Jesus opened the minds of his disciples to understand these scriptures concerning his suffering and resurrection on the evening of the day of his resurrection. Luke 24: 46

I’ve had the best word of encouragement from my Lord God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Thank you, God

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We will Remember them

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Christian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church.  Ultimately, Bonhoeffer was arrested for his involvement in helping Jews flee the country. Still, he continued to teach with the help of guards who smuggled out his writing, until he was transferred to a concentration camp. When his association with other Abwehr agents was discovered, Bonhoeffer was sentenced to death. He was hanged in April 1945, just one month before Germany surrendered.

Bonhoeffer wrote, “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others . . . not dominating but helping and serving. It must tell men of every calling what it means to live for Christ, to exist for others.”

We sometimes are faced with making choices that could put our life on the line. Dietrich Bonhoeffer stood against Hitler’s persecution of the Jews and they took revenge and sentenced him to death.

John the Baptist was imprisoned for his beliefs

John’s message didn’t go down well with the Pharisees, Levites and King Herod. John was incarcerated by Herod the Tetrarch for telling him that it wasn’t lawful to marry his brother’s wife. Matthew 14: 3-5

The historian Josephus wrote about John the Baptist in the Antiquities of the Jews (Book 18, Chapter 5, 2) “Josephus refers to the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist  . .  “

John in his prison cell like anyone today in prison would be wondering what was going on in the outside world. Waiting for news from those who came to visit about things he cared about most.

Matthew 11: 1-15

We read in Matthew 11:2 when John heard in prison the deeds of the Christ, he sent word to Jesus by his disciples, “Are you the one or should we look for another.”

The news that his disciples brought back would confirm to John that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus spoke of the miracles and healing that he had performed, and the poor had the good news preached to them and blessed were those who took no offence at him. Matthew 14: 1-5.

John being filled with the Holy Spirit would have been able to cope comforted by the Holy Spirit.

People imprisoned today for their faith in Christ rely on God to uphold them and the prayer and practical help of Christians.

In July 2017, Naser was arrested with three Azerbaijani Christians during a secret police raid on a church meeting. He was convicted of assembling in an “illegal gathering” that “threatens the security of Iran”. The others were also convicted then released and sentenced in absentia, after returning to their country.

‘Barnabas Aid’ Charity helps those who suffer imprisonment for their faith in Jesus.

The way Jesus spoke about John reflected his admiration for John the Baptist.

John the Baptist was his cousin, but their parent’s lives were so different, Jesus’ adopted father Joseph was a carpenter, John grew up in priest’s family, Zachariah his father served at the temple in Jerusalem and they lived in the hill country of Judea.

John’s early life was summarised in several sentences: the hand of the Lord was with him Luke 1:66. 80, He grew and became strong in spirit . . he was in the wilderness until his appearance publicly to Israel; he will be great before the Lord . . and . .filled with the Holy Spirit. He lived a remote life in the wilderness of Judea, he wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather girdle and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey, (carob bean) Matthew 3: 4.

When he started his baptism ministry in the river Jordan, people flocked to hear his message, “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” and “The voice crying in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” and many were baptised Isaiah 40: 3. Matthew 3: 2. 17: 10-13.

John’s message pointed to the appearance of the Christ (Greek) Hebrew (Messiah)

He was asked whether he was the Christ, Elijah or the prophet?’ He replied that he wasn’t the Christ. John 1: 19-23.

Jesus came to John to be baptised, we read that John would have prevented him, but Jesus insisted to fulfil all righteousness meaning: Jesus fulfilling the law by complying with the message from the messenger. Jesus recognised John as the prophet that Malachi wrote about, the for-runner to the appearance of the Christ. “Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me . . . . who can stand when he appears?” Malachi 3: 1,2.

He also identified him as being Elijah “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” Malachi 4: 5, 6. Luke 1: 17. Matthew 17:10-13.

Paul mentioned John the Baptist’s ministry in Acts 13: 24, 25 “Before his coming John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.”

Jesus said the disciples would gather were others had sown.

God had prepared the way before Jesus’ disciples went out, many had turned to God through John’s baptism of repentance. So when these people heard the kingdom message “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” they were ready to respond received healing and salvation under law. Zacchaeus the tax collector repented and gave back four-fold under law. Jesus said that salvation had come to his house.

John 4:38. Luke 19: 1-10.

God prepares the way today under grace, repentance is still part of that process. A person coming to faith will be convicted of the need to get right with God. The love of God brings healing and forgiveness. Surrendering our will to serve the Lord we learn to distinguish living under God’s law as a set of rules and living those laws coming from the heart. Our newly transformed nature will want to comply with how God feels about sin.

God loves the sinner but hates sin.

Remembrance Day is where we reflect on how conflicts begin, the first world war started with taking revenge after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were assassinated. The Austria-Hungry threatened war on Serbia, other countries sided with one or the other. Nations declared war on each other. All through taking revenge millions of people lost their lives at a young age.

Herodias prompted by her mother, Herod’s wife took revenge on John by having him beheaded. Matthew 14: 8

Jesus said love your enemies, even if they persecute you. Jesus is our example when he reached out to the Samaritans through the Samaritan women at Jacob’s well and when the Samaritan village refused him and his disciples hospitality, his disciples suggested that he should send the fire of God upon them in revenge, but Jesus rebuked their suggestion. John 4: 7-42.  Luke 9:51-56.

Trials and tribulation come to us, but it’s how we react in those situations. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, ‘The Cost of Discipleship,’ a study on the Sermon on the Mount, in which he not only attacked “cheap grace” as a cover for ethical laxity, but also preached “costly grace.”

“When a man takes guilt upon himself in responsibility, he imputes his guilt to himself and no one else. He answers for it… Before other men he is justified by dire necessity; before himself he is acquitted by his conscience, but before God he hopes only for grace”.

On 4 April 1945, the diaries of Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, head of the Abwehr, were discovered, and in a rage upon reading them, Hitler ordered that the Abwehr conspirators be destroyed. Bonhoeffer was led away just as he concluded his final Sunday service and asked an English prisoner, Payne Best, to remember him to Bishop George Bell of Chichester if he should ever reach his home: “This is the end—for me the beginning of life.”

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Bible Sunday – When the Truth becomes our Experience

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Today is Bible Sunday

Bible picopen Bible    

Genesis Chapter 1: 1- 4 In the beginning God created heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. God said, “let there be light” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.”                                                                                                                I’ve brought with me a bottle in it is a liquid and if I shake it up it looks black,  which represents darkness. Now if I leave it for a few minutes it separates and becomes  light at the top and dark at the bottom.

darkness bottle

 Can anyone tell me how many Books the Bible? 66 

How many in the old Testament? 39

How many in the New Testament? 27 

Jesus spoke and things happened, Jesus the Word of God clothed in the flesh. At Jesus’ word to the servants at the wedding at Cana and the water was changed into wine, he multiplied the bread and the fishes and he stilled the storm, he said to the wind and the waves “Peace,be still,” and a great calm came over the Sea of Galilee. 

In our reading blind Bartimaeus came to Jesus and Jesus healed him of his blindness from being in the Dark he could see Jesus in the light of day and the smiling faces all around him                                                                                                                                                                

light sep darkness

Can anyone tell me what the liquid is inside the bottle?  Answer at the end of the blog.

A church member who is a fantastic photographer shared his slides  In the darkness  our eyes can’t  see images, all we can see is darkness. his camera reveal images in the darkness, He related how God sees the dark places in our lives there is nothing hidden from God. His light turns our darkness into light when we turn to Christ.

On the 28th September I attended Fixed Conference 18’ Bridge Church Bolton Paul and Vicky Lloyd were guest speakers, they head up Victory Church Outreach in Manchester which is part of the revival that’s going on in Cwnbran, Wales. They are doing a great work for Christ among the young people caught up, in this nation-wide drug epidemic on the streets of our towns and cities.

Paul and Vicky before they knew each other, their lives, were like this picture on the screen a man walking through a forest where it’s dark because of the density of the trees keeping the light out.

dark place

Paul and Vicky’s darkness was in their addiction to drugs and they struggled to find a way through their situation.

Paul was a former drug dealer in London, that is, until he met Jesus. his wife Vicky used to be a heroin addict, Jesus set her free from addiction 19 years ago. They found that what the Bible says about Jesus was true. The Holy Spirit adding substance to their faith. The reality of being healed became their experience. 

The Lord separated light from darkness in their lives.   

Vicky  described her day in darkness: sitting in squalor, with her needles beside her, slumped in a chair, for hours on end. Unable by her own human nature to overcome it all.                                                 

The Cambridge Dictionary defines Human nature as the natural ways of behaving that most people share including mind and personality.

Unger Bible Dictionary – Hebrew word Nephesh –  a self-living nature.                                                                                                                  

1 Peter 3: 20 The people were disobedient (self-living)when they ignored Noah, so they remained in darkness and perished. Only 8 were saved through their obedience to God’s word to Noah, “I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth”. Genesis 6: 11-22

God’s purpose is for our self-living nature to be transformed to be like Jesus.

Jesus sanctified his disciples in the truth and he was consecrated (set apart for this purpose)bearing the darkness of sin (he was separated from God) and its causes on the cross. In his resurrection God raised him up into the light. In the heavenly Jerusalem there is continual light, the glory of the Lord is its light. John 17: 17, 19. Revelation 21: 23

The Holy Spirit in his ministry to us will make it known to us the areas of our life that he wants to sanctify like Vicky it happens over a period of time..

After Vicky was raised up from the depths of despair, the Holy Spirit acting on the word, brought God’s search light into the areas of her life that needed to be sanctified. Vicky said, that the Holy Spirit journeyed with her, healing the rage, jealousy and many things that had accompanied her addiction to drugs. she said, “I come to the seat of transformation on a daily basis, Christ is the only one who can help, mercy draws you to his love.”      What was happening the Bible calls sanctification: separating light from darkness, God’s righteousness transforming her nature to be like Jesus.  

Asking for God’s mercy drew Bartimaeus to Jesus, in his unworthiness he cried out  and Jesus responded in grace, which is undeserved giving from God.                                                     

Both Vicky and Bartimaeus came to Jesus even though they felt unworthy, they came to him in faith. It sounds to simple, don’t let your feeling of unworthiness stop you from coming to Jesus with your need, believe the scripture they came to Jesus in faith to be healed.                                   

Can you imagine what it must have been like for Bartimaeus, his eyes opened to see Jesus and he was surrounded by smiling faces, and great joy among the crowd.

God is reaching out to every person in some way.   Like  A’s  pictures reveal that there is light in the darkness. Jesus is the light of the world and that light is in his Word that he has given to us to tell the world.     

God’s calling is for us to share the message of the cross where Jesus overcame darkness in all its forms and in the light of his resurrection, forgiveness of sin brings healing and the receiving of God’s righteous love  that transforms our nature to be like Jesus         

Paul and Vicky Lloyd received God’s mercy and they came out of the forest of darkness into the light of Christ.   

lP                                                     .                                                                                               At the conference every testimony I heard by people of all ages, they started by using cannabis and then moved on to hard drugs. Canada has now legalised cannabis this is not good news and if cannabis is legalised in the UK its opening a door to many more peoples’ lives being wreaked by drugs.

What can we do?  we can pray. 

Heavenly Father we know that every person before coming to know you is in a prison without bars, for some it’s an open prison with little condemnation for crime against God, and for those in solitary confinement for serious sins against God and people. Many are found in between, but all have sinned against God.   Thank you for your great gift of grace in Jesus paying the price for all sin great or small.  Thank you for our reconciliation in receiving forgiveness Thank you for our adoption into the family of God. 

In Jesus name, Amen 

Answer – oil and water

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Life Wreckers: drugs, drink and crime

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October 22   Evening Service

Life wreckers: drugs, drink and crime.                                                                   Nehemiah 8: 9-18. John 16: 1-11.

Summerset House was once the place where the nations General Records Office for births, marriages and deaths was located. All records from 1759 were stored on paper. When the computer came on the scene records were then stored on a floppy disk, a completely new way of storing information.

This change from storing information on paper to computer is to illustrate the change God made when he completed the old Covenant and introduced the New Covenant        

Under law the temple was the dwelling place of God where its’ sacrifices, rituals and feast days took place.

Jesus tells us that he came to fulfil every aspect of the law. Matthew 5: 18.

In the book ‘The Feasts of Israel’ Victor Buksbazen. He includes Jesus fulfilling in himself: the feasts days as well as the temple rituals and sacrifices. Also the perpetual light, the candlestick, the shew bread etc

Jesus’ body the new living temple.

John records Jesus’ conversation with a number of Jewish men, Jesus said to those present, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” . . . but he spoke of the temple of his body.” John 2: 19-21. Acts 7: 48,

Under grace the new covenant is based on better promises, no longer hereditary descent but by faith in Jesus.  A  believer becoming a child of God, and receiving the eternal Spirit of God with the transforming of the nature, the law written in the heart. Matthew 5: 17

In our reading Nehemiah had completely restored the walls and the gates around the city. Now the Israelite’s were able to keep the Sabbath Day laws given to Moses by God, the Sabbath Day traders were unable to access the city. Israel celebrated with the Feast of Booths or Succoth, the feast commemorated Jacob building booths that were shelters for his live stock on his way to Succoth. Also they built booths on their wilderness journey to shelter them from the sun and desert winds. Genesis 33: 17. Leviticus 23: 43.

The prophecy that Jesus fulfilled in himself regarding the Feast of Booths’ is found in the Book of Amos.

Amos 9: 11 “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as the days of old.”   ‘

A booth rebuilt from the ruins of David. Jesus’ booth sheltering, keeping watch over all the people. In his ministry he was rebuilding the ruins of people’s lives for instance the Jewish outcasts that were the lost sheep of the house of Israel: beggars like blind Bartimaeus and the tax collector Zacchaeus.

The repairs to the breaches, Jesus repairing the relationship with the Samaritans through his meeting with the woman at Jacob’s well and the rift between King Herod and Pilate was healed. John 4: 39-42. Luke 23: 12.

But Jesus warned his disciples that the leaders of the Sanhedrin ‘Hated him without a cause’ One instance ‘Without a cause’ is where Jesus had been unjustly accused of wanting to be made  the king.

John recorded the incident: The people discerned that Jesus was their king when he fed them with the loaves and fishes. Perhaps they realised that he had fulfilled the Psalmists prophecy, “I will abundantly bless her provisions: I will satisfy the poor with bread. Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy. There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown will shed its luster.” Psalm 132: 15-18

We read Jesus discerned, “Perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force and make him their king, Jesus withdrew to a mountain by himself.” John 6: 15. Jesus knew it was wrong to make him their king which was rebellion against the Sanhedrin and God.

Today we know that Jesus was born a king, the wise men looked for the babe that was born a king.

A similar accusation came against Nehemiah, Chapter 6: 5-8 Sanballat sent a letter to Nehemiah accusing him of wanting to make himself the King of Judah. Nehemiah dismissed his accusation saying that it was an invention from his mind and he saw it as an attempt to stop him rebuilding the walls. Nehemiah 6: 5-8.

Nehemiah’s presence kept the work going, now Jesus I think was concerned that after his ascension his disciples without his presence during those 10 days before Pentecost some of them might fall away so he gave them assurance of the coming from the Father, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth.

After Jesus fulfilled the law in himself God was doing a new thing, transforming the nature of a person by the action of grace on faith in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit bears witness about Jesus through the disciple’s witness, the Gospels, Acts and letters. Two thousand years later the Holy Spirit works in the same way. When Miriam came to faith, she said it was like scales falling from her eyes, just like Saul of Tarsus had experienced when Ananias prayed for him. Acts 9: 18

The Holy Spirit is actively engaging with people who are unbelievers  I met John the telephone engineer at Scargill on holiday, he told me his story, the question of faith he hadn’t given it serious thought.  however, one day he was up a telegraph pole when he was convicted of his need to get right with God, these thoughts continued over several days.  John said, he sought out a priest and he heard that God was calling him to repentance and through faith in Jesus dying for his sin He would receive forgiveness, and he responded.

God is reaching out to every person in some way. Forgiveness brings healing and the receiving of God’s righteousness, God’s righteousness is in the transformation of our nature to be like his.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         2018 ‘Fixed Conference’ at the Bridge Church, Bolton.                      Paul and Vicky Lloyd were Guest speakers they head up Victory Church Outreach in Manchester they are part of the revival that’s  going on in Cwnbran,  nr Newport, Wales,  They are doing a great work for Christ among the young people caught up, in this nation-wide drug epidemic, on the streets of our towns and cities.

The conference focus is on Jesus transforming lives wrecked by drugs, drink and crime.  For many the realisation of the ruler of this world’s power over them is apparent when they became addicted to drugs, drink and gambling these addictions take people into dark places, a living hell

Swaney’s Testimony (from my notes)

Swaney was brought up to believe that it was normal for parents to take drugs and drink heavily and they gave him drugs. His father was always depressed, but he remembered their trips to the sea side. where his father was good fun playing football on the beach.  At school, he felt so weak and the bullies were so strong, they would tie him up and torture him; slash his private parts with blades and pull out his toe nails with pliers. At 10 he was sexually abused and at 13 he wanted to die.

A lad befriended him and he started fighting back, He was expelled from school because of his behaviour.

Swaney ended up in prison for street robberies. He blamed the world for everything, he led a chaotic life, he said he felt angry and ashamed. He met someone and settled down to family life, and became a tattoo artist, and for the first time in his life he had money, he bought a house, and a car.

But he said he was depressed and suicidal at 40 and he thought that he would be doing his family a favour if he wasn’t there anymore.   God stepped in when he met an American guy, who told him about Jesus, and he went to his church and there at one of the services, Swaney gave his life to Jesus and his life changed. Jesus released him from drugs and healed his anger and shame, and he forgave his torturers and his parents   His nature has been changed he’s a new man

Every testimony I heard they started using cannabis and moved on to hard drugs. Canada has now legalised cannabis, this is not good news and if cannabis is legalised in the UK its opening a door to many more peoples’ lives wreaked by drugs, drink and crime.

What can we do?  We can pray.    

Heavenly Father, we know that every person before coming to know you is in a prison without bars, for some it’s an open prison with little condemnation for crime against God.

For those in solitary confinement for serious sins against God and people.

Many are found in between, but all have sinned against God.

Thank you for your great gift of grace in Jesus paying the price for all sin great or small.  Thank you for our reconciliation in receiving forgiveness Thank you for our adoption into the family of God. 

In Jesus name. Amen

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Christians Together Haslingden October 12

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Jesus teaching the disciples from their mistakes

Mark 9: 33-50

We can also make mistakes in our interpretation of scripture. But I’m hoping that what the Lord has revealed to me is right. If you have another view, please share it with me afterwards.

The man asked his boss “Where do you want this big roll of bubble wrap?”.
“Just pop it in the corner,” he said.
It took me three hours

In verses 33, 34 Jesus asked his disciples what they were discussing on the way home and then there was an awkward silence. We understand the disciples had been discussing who was the greatest among them.

The Lord showed me that when the 70 took out the kingdom message, and healing the sick, some of the disciples would have been more successful than others in response to the kingdom message, healing the sick and casting out demons.

On their return they informed Jesus of their success, Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit, and added a word of caution, “Do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20.

They were not to let their success go to their head, become boastful and proud, but that is exactly what happened.

So it’s quiet likely they were discussing who had achieved the most amongst them.

Jesus responded saying, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Jesus taught his disciples to seek the lowest place,

I found a quotation by poet William Wordsworth, “The best portion of a good man’s life is in his little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” He summed it up well, not to be boastful our proud, just to get on with what the Lord calls us to do.

Jesus continued, he took a child and put him in the middle of the disciples, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me and him who sent me.”

I attended the annual ‘Fixed Conference 18’ on 29th September. Its focus was on  Jesus changing the lives of people who have  drug and drink addiction problems.

The testimonies always started with ‘When they were children,’ they were abused as children and started using drugs to escape the pain of abuse.

Shelia’s testimony

Shelia said that she came from a dysfunctional family: there was violence in the home and her mum had an affair, and her mum’s partner abused her at the age of 10. Taking drugs was a way of escaping the pain of abuse.

 Shelia started shoplifting to pay for the drugs, this led to prison. In prison she attended a Barry Woodward session that took place in the prison chapel and she came away thinking, “If God could do it for Barry, he can do it for me.”

Shelia  said, “I wanted to get well,” she went to the Women’s Lighthouse Project in 2016. Where they valued and loved her for who she is, as a person, She was baptised, sought detox and was healed. Shelia has been free from drugs and intends to stay that way. Jesus put his loving arms around Shelia and  has set her free.

The man suffered rejection by the disciples, because he was not one of them.

John  said to Jesus, “Teacher we saw a man casting out demon’s in your name and we forbid him,because he was not following us.” 

They turned him away, rejection makes us feel a lack of self-worth, and causes many to withdraw from socialising, for some it can result in depression. Jesus experienced rejection, Isaiah 53: 3. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief and as one from whom men hid their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not”

(Several people began to share their thoughts, and I responded by two of us praying for one person present  before I continued with the talk.)

Jesus encourages every child of God to fulfil their potential.

Why do you think John told Jesus about this man casting out demons in his name?                                                                                                       Was he concerned that people might start following this man?

Was he unsure that they had done the right thing in forbidding him?

Jesus replied, “Do not forbid him, for none who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me.”

‘Do not forbid him’ he’s doing it in my name, he’s on my side.’

So (soon after)  in the future                                                                                           Just a thought that came to me this morning: at Jesus’ trial when people were asked to give evidence against Jesus, this man may well have been asked, to speak out against him, after all he had been rejected so he might have been angry and in spite responded, but we know from scripture he didn’t.

Jesus continued verse 41 “For truly, I say to you, whoever, gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.”

Whoever, that could be anyone, who gives a drink to a child of God.

The Lord showed me, that he may have been referring to the Samaritan woman at the well

Jesus asked her, to give him a drink of water. The disciples marvelled that he was talking to a woman, John recorded their reaction, “But not one of them said openly what they were thinking, “Why are you talking with her?” John 4: 27.                                                

Jesus showed her no discrimination. The woman noted that he was making the conversation with her, “How is it, that you a Jew ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria. For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans?”

In the conversation with her he discussed what united them, the hope of the coming of the Jewish Messiah and he told her that he was the one they Jews and Samaritans where waiting for. She accepted his words and she went home and reported the good news to her family and friends. We read Jesus went to visit the place where she lived and confirmed the word to them that he was the Messiah. John 4: 9, 39-42.

Jesus took what united them; they were looking for the coming of the Messiah and what divided them fell away.

This speaks to me of were there are a variety of different strands of Christianity believing and doing things in Jesus’ name, but the importance of coming together like today, is where the differences fall away.

Jesus bore on the cross all forms of rejection, discrimination or prejudice, Isaiah 53: 5 “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.”

So there is healing for all, through faith in Jesus.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord for our Christian friends for the years of fellowship in your church, thank you for the steadfast holy love of Jesus given to us to share with others especially to our neighbours no matter their colour or creed.

Help us to break free of the things that divide the churches, to look to Jesus to live by his word that we cherish deeply in our hearts, help us to overcome our differences and to rest in the knowledge that you know us all individually, that you love and care for us, we are your precious children     

  Lord in your mercy – Hear our  prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for all sin, and where there is recognition of sin and confession of it, there is forgiveness and healing. For those who have been sinned against, Jesus picks up the bruised fruit in his love and caresses it, heals and restores its’ fragrance and lustre.

 Lord in your mercy – Hear our prayer                                                                       

Followed by a time of open prayer.

We sang the hymn ‘The Church is One Foundation

_________________________________________________________________

Continuing Mark 9: 42 – 50

Jesus we understand did not come to judge people as the Jewish leaders expected. “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.” John 8: 1-11.

Jesus spoke of judgement here in Mark, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” Millstones were used for grinding corn, the Greeks and Romans used a millstone as a capital punishment; the weight of the stone and the depth of the sea. Jesus was speaking of punishment beyond this life. Matthew Poole’s Commentary.

He may have been referring to the Pharisee, Sadducee, Scribe and Lawyers when he used Jewish idioms.

He said to cut off the offending hand – the hand representing power, their power and authority over others by adding laws to the laws given to Moses by God.

Foot – trampling over people’s beliefs. Pharisees stopped the followers of Jesus attending the synagogue. John 9: 22.

Eye – envy or pride, The Pharisees and scribes loved to sit in the best seats in the synagogue and being seen in the market place wearing their long robes. Luke 11:42 – 44.

Salt and fire

Salt rep dedication and fire – purification

Franklin Graham the son of Billy Graham’s Mission at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, ‘Lancashire ‘Festival of Hope.’

He read from Mark 10: 46-52 the account of Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus.

Franklin compared Bartimaeus with the ordinary person seeking God. He said, ”Sin blinds us to God’s will and the wages of sin is death,” and God sent Jesus to rescue us.

 Franklin gave his own personal testimony, The fact that his father was Billy graham made him more rebellious.

At the age of 22 he knew that there was something missing in his life and he cried out to God and asked God to pick up the pieces of his life, he was broken and he wanted God to heal him, he repented and gave his life to Jesus and God heard his prayer.”

 Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, the man near him, told him to shut up, he shouted again Jesus heard his cry of faith.

Jesus called Bartimaeus to come to him and asked him what he wanted him to do for him? He replied, ‘to see’ and Jesus saying only a few words and his eyes were opened, he could see.

The day before, Saturday 29th September I attended ‘Fixed Conference 18’ at The Bridge Church, Bolton. Its focus was on Jesus transforming the lives of people who have had drug and drink addiction problems. Several people gave their testimony and gave harrowing accounts of their childhood where they suffered abuse at home at school, which led them into drugs, drink and crime. Each one their circumstance were different, but all experienced Jesus’ love picking them up embracing them and changing their lives by releasing them from drug addiction.

At the appeal 91 people responded and turned to Christ in repentance and faith.

If you want to sincerely get right with God, turn to him in faith, say sorry for your sins and ask his forgiveness and invite him into your heart. 

Picture  hold up – 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given

Prayer – Father God, when we come to you in faith like Bartimaeus whatever our need may be ___________________forgive us we pray for the weight of sin________________ that would hang like a millstone binding us and weighing us down and in your great mercy reach into our heart and take from us and cleanse us of all our sin.      Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus as we take hold of Jesus’ words, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” Thank you Jesus, in your name. Amen.

 

By Dorothy Newton