God's plan for public services

God’s plan for public services

Short Reading – Mark 10:35-45 

Longer Reading – Mark 10:28-52

Key Verse – Mark 10:45

The Lord Jesus really shook people up, and in particular his disciples, with the teaching that he gave. I can only imagine the shocked looks on their faces when he announced that for anyone to be great in his Government they would need to serve everybody, v44.

Tell Tale

Tell them how great things the Lord hath done, Mark 5.19.

When the Lord Jesus arrives in a new life, like Legion’s, or a new area, like Gadara, then change is bound to happen. And when the Lord Jesus makes changes, they are always improvements, though maybe I don’t see things that way! Of course the people of Gadara were much better off without the influence of demons or the uncleanness of pigs. Sadly they didn’t realise this at the time. They wanted the Lord Jesus to leave as quickly as possible!

Only one person was desperate for the Lord Jesus to stay. That was Legion. The Lord had done so much for Him. Once he was a wild man but now he has been tamed by Christ. He used to run around but now he sits at Christ’s feet. He used to be naked but now he wears clean clothes. He used to be crazy but now he is just fine. What an amazing change! He is a new man altogether.

Legion has only spent a few hours with the Lord Jesus, and already he is being left behind. He needs to be Christ’s messenger in his home town, an ambassador for Christ. I have the same job in today’s godless society, no matter how long or short I have been a Christian. I must tell people about the great things that the Lord Jesus has done for me.

So how much do I appreciate what He has done? He has given me a seat in heaven. Check out Eph 2.6. He lets me wear a robe of righteousness. Check out Isa 61.10. He has introduced me to a completely new way of thinking. Check out Phil 2.5. Will my behaviour and my conversation today demonstrate to people around me what wonderful changes Christ can make?

Money could keep you out of heaven!

Money could keep you out of heaven!

Short Reading – Mark 10:17-27             

Longer Reading – Mark 10:1-27

Key Verse – Mark 10:21

Life is busy, time is money and there are many questions on my mind. Meet the man who thought money could buy everything!

His question was – ‘What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ The key to the man’s question are the words ‘do’ and ‘inherit’. He was a self made man; everything he had achieved was as a result of what he had done. He probably had worked hard for everything he had. He thought of eternal life as something he could inherit. An inheritance is wealth that someone has worked hard to accumulate and the people who inherit it have a right to it. He wants eternal life but he doesn’t understand that you don’t get it the way you get wealth and possessions.

I'm great - look at me!

Look at me - I'm the greatest!

Short Reading – Mark 9:30-37    

Longer Reading – Mark 9:30-50

Key Verse – Mark 9:34

The human mind is an amazing thing. I have the ability to listen to someone talking and at the same time to be thinking my own private thoughts which could be a million miles away from what the other person is saying.

Are people generally nice?

 

A friend of mine is in Denmark at the moment and commented on a Facebook post about how courteous and helpful people are as he travels the world. He stated 'I travel an awful lot both for work and pleasure and I can safely say virtually everyone I come across is kind, supportive and wants to help. People at train stations, airports and hotels here in Denmark (just finished a conference) are premier league in this area. But in my experience, it’s not just people ‘serving’ who are like this but fellow travellers too. So why do that tiny tiny tiny percentage of people try to ruin a beautiful society? You know who I mean; people on a bridge in London and a Manchester arena. It would be great to know what is in their minds…then help them change it. They would see a wonderful world….in my opinion'. 

 

Here is my reply. You may not agree but it's a topic that we need to consider as we increasingly face violent men and a turbulent society. 

I am not so sure that it's just a tiny percentage. Thankfully the majority don't allow their sinful nature to take them to the degree of selfishness and cruelty that we have seen demonstrated recently in London and Manchester. The scriptures, Jeremiah 17:9, teach that 'the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked'. The same scripture states 'who can know it?'  So you are right we cannot understand the depths of wickedness that potentially lies in the heart of all humanity. This is case because we have all 'sinned and come short of the glory of God,' Romans 3:23. 

We only need to look at the constant need to teach order and civil obedience and to legislate against wrong to see the natural bias of all people is to be selfish. 

Children never need to be taught to do wrong, we train them to be good people and rightly so. 

God alone searches the heart and promises a new heart [the heart is morally the seat of the will, choices and emotion. The promise is made on the basis of the sacrifice of Messiah for sin - 'Messiah (Christ) died for our sins according to the scriptures,' 1 Corinthians 15:3] to those who seek Him and trust Him.

You are so right that this is a wonderful world and we are blessed that so many people see it as such but we mustn't be blind to the reason behind the depravity that exists in the hearts of humanity. 

There is a solution but it doesn't lie within the human heart. 

Incidentally a high percentage of people live in quite a horrible world, we who have wealth at our disposal are often closeted from the reality of the pain that billions face on a daily basis. I must stop. I trust that you continue to have a pleasant trip. 

Kind regards. 

Stephen 

A call to all Christians - Are you listening?

Listen to what the Lord tells you

Short Reading - Mark 9:1-13                Longer reading - Mark 9:1-29 

Key Verse – Mark 9:7

I find it easy to get carried away with what is happening in my life and to forget to listen to the Lord speaking to me.

You may not believe it but Peter, the apostle, had this problem as well. In today’s passage, he was one of three disciples who had a special experience. The Lord took them up into a mountain and they saw a sight that they would never forget. The Lord described what they saw as seeing ‘the kingdom of God come with power’ (v.1). They saw Jesus visibly changed, His clothes shone brighter than can be described (v.3) and His face ‘shone as the sun’ (Matt 17.2).

A State of Shock in the UK

It is almost twenty years since Diana, Princess of Wales died in a car crash in a tunnel in France. It was the 31^st August 1997 and her funeral at Westminster Abbey was on the 9^th September 1997. During that period of time the Nation was in a state of shock and needed a spiritual voice to be heard that would guide people to have faith in God but it was not heard!

Expressions of grief were displayed by the million plus bouquets of flowers placed at the gates of Kensington Palace and Althorp House which stacked to over five feet high.

A clear spiritual message was not heard in the Abbey, but the voice of a pop singer instead.

We should not be surprised by surprises

Yesterday was a day of surprises. Mr Comey, ex FBI Director made some interesting and possibly devastating claims about US President, Donald Trump and the UK election produced results that no one expected.

 

I would like to consider two biblical principles in light of these historic events.

What to do when facing death

A number of years ago I went to the funeral of a Christian gentleman. He was old and had been married. He lived a simple life. He didn't have much money but he had always seemed to be happy and content. We were told by the preacher that he had been an angry man once, it sounded like he had almost verged on abusing his wife. He had found it impossible to control his temper.

Evangelism - Examples - No 4

Evangelism – How (No 4)

Outreach – spreading the net wider

In the previous articles in this series I have concentrated on gospel outreach that is linked to the local church. This article however focuses on outreach that is of a more individual nature. In light of this please remember the biblical aims of gospel work:

1. To glorify God (2.Cor.4.1-7)
2. To see souls saved (1.Cor.1.21/Acts.5.14)
3. To see souls meeting with Christians in a local assembly (Acts.2.41/Acts.9.26-28)

It never was or is the Lord’s intention to see people saved but not in fellowship in a local church. Therefore outreach whether individual or corporate (local assembly based) works towards these basic aims. Now let’s focus on some examples.

Evangelism - How - No 3

EVANGELISM - HOW

Local Church Based Outreach

As we continue to look at the need to spread the good news of salvation I have been asked to give some examples of how this can be achieved. Please bear in mind that this list is not exhaustive. You may have many ways of reaching out with the gospel that have not crossed my mind but the Lord has opened up for you. Some of the examples I give may not be possible in conjunction with an established local assembly. For instance the example below of outreach at football matches could simply work with you going to the area where a match is taking place and giving out leaflets or preaching to the crowds. In the example I give in this article the outreach is linked to an assembly, as the assembly premises are located close to a Football Stadium.

The second point I would like to make is this. The instruction given to Christians about spreading the message is threefold:

1. Preach the word” (2.Tim.4.2)
2. Go out with the gospel - “go, ye therefore” (Matt.28.19); and
3. Go to into the entire world with the message - “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” – (Mark.16.15).