Joel part 1

Today I started a short seris in Joel. Joel chapter 1 is a pretty depressing chapter which starts with the message of the 4 swarms of locuts coming one after another after another after another. What a hard message to bring. Joel was faithul in bringing it.
The mesage was to be pased through generations. This is an encouragement and instruction to us.
We looked at  some of the verbs awake , lament, be ashamed, and sanctiy a fast, and considered how they applied today.
For all the depression of the of the message there was still hope. God says it is my land, my fig tree, my vine. God still took took responsabilty for them as his. This points forward to the encouraging message of this book.

Romania Day 4

Day 4 was Sunday. We traveled to some village baptist churches in which we were due to speak. The countryside was beautiful,and the villages were traditional with a few modern houses.The road tough reminded me of the old Romania. A good mechanic should have no problem earning a living here!
For morning worship we went to Hincris baptist church. When we arrived most of the congregation were already there, and the children were reciting from Hebrews Chapter 4. I understand they had already been there for an hour, much of that time spent in prayer. There was about 120 people present, which is a little lower than thier usual numbers As usual they sang many hymns, and there was a male voice choir from the Baptist Church in Arad. I was asked to preach and Dinu translated for me.
I spoke from 1 Corinthians 15 v 3 "Christ Died for our Sins". A Romanian man who was visiting was also asked to speak and he spoke about resurrection.
We were then given dinner in a traditional Romanian house. The food was good, the soup was a little warm than Laodocian soup.
This was followed by chicken and Potatoes with Salad, and  then cake.
Next we were taken to the neighboring Village of Baleni. There is no church here of any description, not even orthodox and so the baptists are planting one. I will post more on its beginnings later.
On Sundays they met in a school in the afternoon. The school seems rather run down. Again we were treated to children reciting scripture, about the crucifixion of Jesus.
After some singing I was asked to preach. I used Acts 11 v 26 to ask the question what is a Christian?
We then headed back towards Oradea.
In the evening I preached at Cihei Baptist Church on Acts 12 v 5 "Peter was in Prison, but prayer was made by the church for him".
There were about 40 people present. Many were missing as they were attending thespecial graduation service at Emmanuel Church, Oradea,
After another meal of chicken, and this time rice, we retired after a busy day.

Romania Day 1

An early start yesterday morning as we headed via the train to Luton airport for as flight to Timisoara on Wiz. Flight was good, and touchdown perfect. We quickly found our host Vashil. Then we traveled 4 hours to Sin Martin. The roads seemed to have improved somewhat especially with a Motorway between Timisoara and Arad.
We were delighted find that prior to Vahsil going into the ministry he had been a chef for 15 years, and it showed.
Our associates Dinu and Lidia joined us for a delightful tea and we were able to discus our program for this visit, and make contact with the people we wish to visit.

The painful gospel message

From a testimony of  a dear brother in Christ, concerning his time in national service, during square bashing ...

There was one incident at the end of the six weeks training that I was there for. We had had six very hard weeks of marching and exercise and doing all those things we had to do to become a soldier first before we got back to our trade. Towards the end of the six weeks was over and everybody was so relieved, they were doing silly things, throwing things about the billet, having pillow fights and spraying people with a stirrup pump hose as they came in the door. One young fellow, fellow from London, I can still see him now. He was only a young, quite a small insignificant lad, he had got the hose, and somebody opened the door and he let them have it. He sprayed him with water, and it turned out to be the orderly sergeant!

To say he wasn't pleased was to put it very mildly. I can see him, he got him by the collar and he said “Lad I am going to teach you a lesson you will never forget.” He said” I am going to take you down the gymnasium, we are going to put boxing gloves on, and I am going to give you a beating you won't forget. The lad was terrified.  He literally was frightened, shaking he was. My friend John, the Christian lad came up, put himself between the sergeant and the little lad, and he said “ Sergeant , If you want to beat somebody pick somebody your own size I will come down and stand in his place.” He said I don’t care you are all as bad as each other."

So he took this lad , they went down the gymnasium.  John came back with black eyes, nose bleeding, tooth missing. All the lads in the billet crowded round him, and said” why on earth did you do that?”

And it was one of the most poinent Gospel messages I think I have ever heard. He preached the gospel to them and said somebody did something far, far more than that for me 2000 years ago. And he told the billet, all the men and they gathered round him and he preached that gospel to them and it was wonderful. 

New bishop of Rome - same head of the church

So we have a new Pope, Francis 1. being presented as a new head of the church.
Only problem is there was no vacancy. It was given to Jesus to be head of the church that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and for ever

whoso findeth me...

This Sunday morning I preached from Proverbs 8 v 35 Whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Alas, not for the first time I didn't feel I managed to proclaim what I had got out of the text myself.
The me is wisdom and understand.. shown later to be the eternal son of God.
John Wesley in his notes says this supposes diligent seeking, so we thought of what might bring a fallen person to seek for something better. Surely it is as the person hears the cry of wisdom and the voice of understanding. Folowing his we looked at some New Testament verses showing Jesus to be life. Peter says "Thou hast the words of Eternal life".
I pray the Holy Spirit will apply this to some lost soul.

A little child shall lead them

Had the pleasure of witnessing the baptism of a 9 year old child today who had  a gracious testimony of her saviour.

Her favorite text is Psalm 16 v 11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

May she be the first of many, her testimony of word and example pricking the consciences  of others.

The LORDs Saints

Today we attended the funeral of a dear old lady who left this life well in her nineties. Psalm 23 and a few verses from John 10 concentrating on the Good Shepherd, who gives his life for the sheep were read.
The main discourse concentrated on the verse from Psalm 116 - Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his saints. She died in peace, when her saviour came to receive her to himself.
Although every funeral is a sad occasion, there is also joy for us knowing that she had been gathered into the eternal presence of her dear Jesus, having been released from her sufferings. May our end be like hers.

Taking hold of the covenant

At the Lords Table this evening we thought of taking hold of the covenant, as we find in Isaiah 56 v 4.
In taking the symbols of his broken body and his shed blood ( the blood of the new covenant)   by faith we take hold of the covenant.
It s for the Eunuchs and the sons of the stranger - the who take hold upon the Lord. What is promised is a place in his house.

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
It is very reminiscent of John 14 - In my fathers house are many mansions - I go to prepare a place for you.

The Dead Tree

I was out this morning sorting a kitchen for this beautiful old farm house that is being restored.

The sum was warm even at 7:30am and the air was crisp and clean. You could hear the sheep in the field across the road bleating , and the birds in full song. Added to that the job seemed to be going well.It was a air of tranquility and peace.
Yet in the midst of this beauty i saw this tree. Completely lifeless it stood out. I wondered what had happened to it and when it would be cut down.

Then I thought how easy it is to be spiritually dead in the middle of the rich blessings of God, how we can lose hope after so many years  of growth in God. How we need the sustaining grace of God. We are dependent upon Him for everything. In Him we live and move and have our very being.

update: On studying for tomorrow I have come across two references to the dry tree.
Ezekiel 17: 24 - I will make the dry tree to flourish.

1000 leaflets gone

With every Easter comes an opportunity to once more spread the word to households in the village, and this year is no exception. The leaflet contained a short message about Jesus making our peace and an invitation to the Good Friday Service and Easter Sunday services.
Did they have any effect? -Nobody took up the invitation to attend the services. How many read the message?- who can tell. It reminds us of Jesus parable of the rich man and Lazarus. "though one rose from the dead, yet they will not believe.
What a comment on the hardness of mans heart. Yet every believer knows the hardness of their heart, and knows it was only the sovereign grace of God which broke it.
(edit - to correct spellings)

Condemnation?

Last Sunday I preached to a small congregation, but a listening congregation .
My subject in the morning was "Who is he that condementh?", from Romans 8. We look at the condemners - the law, Satan the accuser of the believers, other people, and our own consciences. We found that all these truly condemn us.
But we also noted the answer - It is Christ that died - yea rather is risen again. Jesus took our condemnation, suffering what we deserved - so we go free.

Comfort of the Scriptures - Romans 15 v 4

I realize this is the first entry of 2011 - Have I really had nothing to say??
Tomorrow it is my turn to lead the prayer meeting, and I shall, God willing speak for a few minutes on the subject of the comfort of the scriptures?
Do we find the scriptures comforting? In what do we derive comfort?
Just a few simple thoughts - They are true. They proclaim the God who comforts his people - especially by the consolation of Israel.They show the lives of those who knew the power of prayer. They see that nothing takes God but surprise - and that they are more than conquers through Christ. They look forward to the hope that is ahead of them.

Behold I Come Quickly

As it was the last Sunday of the year I spoke from the concluding words of the Bible. (rev 22 v 6 - end).
In this passage we are reminded that Jesus is one day coming again. The word quick refers to the manner rather than the timing. But in between the 3 reminders we are comforted about the faithful and true sayings, we are exhorted to faithfulness and evangelism, we are warned not to add or take away from scripture.
The Bible finishes with Johns desire that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ might be with us. Surely this is what we need while we await his second coming.

New Pastor at Ramsey

 It was a pleasure to be present at the induction service of Jonathan Chell at Salem Baptist Ramsey, yesterday 

Over 150 people attended. After the formalities and laying on of hands Pastor Nigel Graham form Warboys, spoke from Isaiah 6 verses one to eight.
Pastor Graham reminded us of the need for the church to have a big vision of God, his Glory and his Greatness. He stressed the need for pastors and churches to be God centred, and said that churches primary function was to be God worshipers.The vision lead to guilt, grace and gratitude. This sermon is well worth listening to. I will try to get a copy of it or link as soon as possible.

The tea afterwards was the typical high standard grace baptist fayre. It was good to catch up with old friends, and to meet new people.
May our great God work mightly in Ramsey.

Occupy -till I come

This Sunday saw a trip to the delightful Shropshire hills, and an opportunity to preach at a small baptist church. In the afternoon I took the text from Luke 19 "Occupy till I come". I set out the context of the parable of the "Ten pounds and Ten servants". It comes just after the conversion of Zacchaeus and during Jesus continuing journey to Jerusalem, which his followers assumed was to set up his Kingdom in Jerusalem. In trying to prepare them for his going away he told this parable which foreshadowed the great commission.

The background to this instruction to be engaged in our Christian occupation is 1. The resources given to believers as set out by the ten pounds, 2. The citizens of that country hated the Lord and did not want him to rule over them. and 3. The Lord will return.
The servants were called to account, and so will all his servants be.

Providence Bible Study No 1

This afternoon I started the first in the series of Bible Studies on Providence. It is quite a large subject, and covering a lot of issues. To help us give definition to the subject, we had a brief look at what confession,s catechisms, and theologians say about providence.
John Flavel says in his book -  The Mystery of Providence.

In nothing does providence shine forth more gloriously in this world than in ordering the occasions, instruments and means of conversion of the people of God… this O this is the most excellent benefit you ever receive from his hand.

It is a mistake to see any divorcing between providence and grace. We looked at Genesis 22 to highlight the central point of Providence as God Himself providing  the Lamb for the sacrifice, foreshaddowing Jesus

I hope it wasn't too heavy for a Sunday afternoon. Next time we hope to have a brief overview of the book of Esther to highlight Gods Hand at work.

Esther - part 1 - God prepares

Preached Sunday Morning on Esther ( the first of two or three sermons). Esther is only one of two books where the Gods name is not mentioned. Yet his finger is clearly seen.
I titled the Sermon - "Now it came to pass..." which are the first words of the book.Probably not the most interesting sermon ever. I tried to set the scene by looking at the four main characters, - the Wicked King, The Beautiful girl, The faithful servant, and the self important Agigite. Then we looked at a few side issues like the the place of feasts and fasts, and respected cival government and what it means to submit to it.
I am looking forward to preaching next time on the exciting chapters 5,6 & 7.