Friday, February 24, 2012

Three in One - stories to save your soul!

The Lord Jesus often told stories to make a point. Here are three he told. In all of them something is lost, searching takes place and the lost are found. That could be true for each of us. The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost. May God bless you through this reading of scripture.


The Gospel of Luke Chapter 15


Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

(Luke 15 ESV)


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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Will Israel Survive?

Will Israel survive?

I was interested to read the above noted article about Iran, Israel and Middle East regional politics. I am reading a book at the moment by Joel.C.Rosenberg called Epicentre. The focus of the book is that the rumblings and activities of nations in the Middle East in relation to Israel are extremely significant in terms of fulfilling biblical predictions and prophesies. Check this one out - the Bible says that as long as there is a Sun and Moon there will be a nation called Israel. It has been true so far despite periods of exile. Epicentre and the article are well worth a read. It is also worth considering that God's word is truth. This is relevant not only in matters of nations and politics but in the matter of salvation. Jesus said 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me' (The Gospel of John.14.6) and Peter, one of the Apostles, said about Jesus 'neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved' (Acts.4.12). Ignore it all at your peril or believe it and receive 'the gift of God (which) is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord' (Romans.6.23).
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Thursday, February 09, 2012

Sexual promiscuity costing UK billions of pounds

"A culture of sexual license and promiscuity in the UK is costing the taxpayer approximately £100 billion per year, according to findings by the Jubilee Centre, caused by rising trends of family breakdown, abortion, teenage pregnancies and STI rates". This recent report sadly reflects the fact that sin in society is expensive. This principle applies in other spheres as well. When will we learn that sin is costly. The Bible says 'righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs.14.34). The cost of sin applies not just to national life but to personal life as well. Romans.3.23 says "the wages of sin is death", bad news. However 'the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". Great news if you take advantage of the offer of the repayment of your moral debt through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.

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Wednesday, February 08, 2012

The future?

Should we be frightened about the future. The Bible tells us things no one else can. Listen to my podcast on www.seekthetruth.org.uk
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Friday, February 03, 2012

Direction or Doom

I don’t know if Francesco Schettino, captain of the doomed Cruise Ship Costa Concordia is a superstitious person like many people today, but Friday 13th January will be etched upon his mind for the rest of his life. When the ship was launched at Sestri Ponente on 2 September 2005, the champagne bottle failed to break, causing some to think that the vessel was jinxed and that they would not travel on it unless they had a rabbit’s foot in their pocket!


The fact that the ship capsized when it hit a rock off Isola del Giglio, west of Italy on 13th. Jan. was nothing to do with superstition but with the judgement of the Captain. He chose to deviate from the planned route to give the islanders a closer view of the Cruise Ship and to do so sailed too close to a reef.

It has been estimated that it will take ten months to recover the vessel from the rocks; the first 28 days to remove 500,000 gallons of fuel from its tanks, and salvaging costs and insurance claims could ammount to a billion pounds sterling.

The vessel had about 4200 passengers on board and all but about 30 are safely accounted for, 17 deaths have been reported and 13 are still missing.

The loss of this ship and some of the passengers and crew is a monumental tragedy caused by a monumental error of judgment.

www.shetland.gov.uk/environmentalhealth/TheGreenLily reports, On Wednesday 19th November 1997, the M.V. "Green Lily" ran aground on Bressay and during the ensuing successful evacuation of the crew, Mr Billy Deacon, the winchman aboard the rescue helicopter tragically lost his life.’

The details of this unhappy event are fully recorded on another website, Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia On 19th November 1997 the reefer Green Lily (formerly Pacific Lily, Gomba Nile, Balkram and Gomba Endeavour) left Lerwick Harbour after loading a cargo of approx 3000 tonnes of frozen fish from the Shetland Catch factory, bound for Las Palmas, Canary Isles. After some technical details about the ship the report continues ‘Shortly after leaving harbour she suffered engine failure and in storm force south easterly winds was driven ashore on the east side of Bressay, near Grut Wick. The crew was rescued by the Lerwick Lifeboat and the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Sumburgh Airport. Sadly, after ensuring that the last crew member had been saved, Mr William Deacon, helicopter winchman, was lost to the tempest, he was posthumously awarded the George Medal for bravery. Lifeboat coxwain Hewitt Clark was awarded the RNLI's highest honour, the Gold medal, for his part in the rescue.

A gospel message, presented by Earl Ritchie of West Richmond, Vamcouver, Canada, relating to this happening can be heard on www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQR05K-4R7E, which I thoroughly recommend you to listen to.

 

In Luke ch.5 the Lord Jesus Christ instructed His disciples, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.”

When embarking on any venture in life it is always wise to seek guidance from the Lord. The Captain of Costa Concordia was foolish to leave the prescribed route and choose to go another way. The Captain of the Green Lily ignored the advice of the Harbour Master not to leave the Port at Lerwick, Shetland into force nine gales, forecast imminently to rise to force eleven. Disaster and shipwreck can be the experience of any in life who choose their own way and ignore the good counsel of God.

 

Christ instructed the disciples to launch out, so it was safe to do so, and it was best for them too that they did so.  Your life and mine are best protected and provided for when we follow the instructions of the Saviour. Have you ever felt reluctant to launch out with God? Preferring to hold onto one’s own thoughts and practices for your future well-being.  You would be better advised to trust in God and His promises.

 

God bless you all.

Written by Stan Burditt for Stephen Baker



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