Do you have an anchor in your life?

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Do you have an anchor in your life? 

Today, we are familiar with logos, icons, and symbols. They are a simple way of conveying a message. For example, most of us know what the symbol for Wi-Fi is, and when we see a red cross, we know that there is help available for an emergency. One of the early symbols of Christianity was an anchor. For Christians, Christ is the unfailing hope of all who believe in him. Pictured on the epitaphs of first-, second-, and third-century believers, it symbolized the hope they had for this life and the next, and so the symbol of the anchor was adopted as the symbol of hope. The anchor was also regarded in ancient times as a symbol of safety. In the Bible, the gospel message teaches us how we can be ‘safe’ or ‘saved’. 

Look at the Bible for yourself.

My advice - take a look at the Bible for yourself.

Don’t just take my word for it. See for yourself if it makes sense. I believe that the Bible changes lives through faith in the author (God). My view reflects what the Bible claims - for instance in 1 Timothy chapter 3 verse 15 it states 'from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus'. Another passage says 'faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God,' Romans 10. 17.  The fact is that many people are afraid to read the Bible because they don’t know what it is about and they either don't care or are frightened that it might get to them.

Let me ask you some questions. 

What if everything you need for living, this life and the next, is in the Bible? 

What if God is the creator and you are answerable to Him? 

What if we are all sinners and need redemption, forgiveness and a new beginning?

What if we can't make sense of this life without God, and He really is the missing piece that we need?

We were created to know Him and to worship Him. I have gone off my 'what if's' because I believe what I am saying is true and you need God in your life. At the end of the day the only reason you will miss out is because you never got around to reading the Bible. You never evaluated whether Jesus is who he claimed to be. You didn't take the time to look into who Jesus was, why he died, why people died for the belief that He rose from the dead and why He is still being talked about 2020 years later.

Why do we refuse to listen?

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Some people love talking, sometimes they have something that they are desperate to tell you and actually it is not very interesting at all!

However, some news is really worth telling and can be exciting or even life-changing to hear.

The Lord Jesus told His disciples to go from town to town preaching the Gospel, the Good News, of the Kingdom of God. He told them not to worry about what they would need, or what they should take but that He would provide for them. The disciples went through the towns and cities preaching the message that they had been given and displaying the power of God.

What is faith?

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It has been my privilege and very great blessing to have taken hundreds, if not thousands of school assemblies.  These have ranged from nursery school age to sixth formers and even into colleges and universities.  It is certainly challenging to face a hall full of young people - all with their own ideas - no doubt all wishing they could be somewhere else than school listening to a visiting speaker!  It is essentially telling them a story that has a particular point which encourages them to think and reflect about aspects of God and how we can know Him.

Google it - where do you find the truth in 2021?

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I have learned a lot from my grandchildren.  At the moment they are thirteen and fifteen and I have enjoyed watching them grow from tiny babies into active and curious teenagers.  One of the things I have particularly loved about them was their curiosity.  They have always been full of questions such as “Why does the sun go in and out?” and “Why does the moon change shape?”  At the moment they think that grandpa knows everything.  Well, almost everything.

Jacob, the younger of the two, did catch me out some years back when he was nine.  We were travelling along the Mumbles Road at the time of a high tide when he came out with the question, “Grandpa, how much water is in the sea?”

I paused before answering. “A lot!” I replied.

He was not going to let me get away with that.

“I know, but how many litres is that?”

I shook my head.  “Sorry, I don’t know.”

He was quiet for a couple of minutes, then came out with the answer.

“We could Google it!”  Google!  The source of all information.  

Perhaps you remember the days before we had online information.  Then, to many, the definitive source of information was the Encyclopaedia Britannica with its multiplicity of volumes. I only ever saw a complete set of the Encyclopaedia when I was in school and wondered at the time how long it would take to read them all, but now we have Google and therein lies a problem, for not all the information online is correct.

A few years ago when Mary Berry was stepping down as judge on the Great British Bake Off, I was searching for something online, when, quite by accident I stumbled across a hyperlink which said, “New judge appointed for the Great British Bake Off.”

I was intrigued, and so I clicked on it to see who was going to replace the legendary Mary Berry.  The page I came on to had a large colourful picture of Mr Tumble complete with yellow bowler, red nose and spotted bow tie. For those of you unfamiliar with children’s TV, Mr Tumble is a modern version of Coco the Clown, and, yes, the page was a spoof.

Having said that, it was cleverly written and very convincing. It raises the question, how can we know what is right? Surrounded by conflicting opinions on the media and bombarded by everything on the internet, where can we find the truth.

The Bible tells us that truth is not found in a thing but in a person – The Lord Jesus Christ.  In fact, He was not just the source of truth but could make a remarkable statement.  In John 14 v 6 we read these words. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way the truth and the life.”  It was not that Jesus spoke the truth or represented the truth. He claimed that He WAS the truth. 

In this world of fake news when we are surrounded by some who would seek to deceive us, it is good to know the One who was and is totally trustworthy. No wonder, then, that millions down through the ages have trusted Him with their lives and committed their lives to Him.

Messages with Meaning (30/03/21) Written by Stephen Treseder for Your542Day

Modern Manners!

 

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“Put your mobile phone away during meals, never eat on the train, and remember that reclining your aeroplane seat is selfish”. So says DeBrett’s Handbook of Modern Manners. They’ve been dispensing advice on etiquette for 250 years, and the latest edition includes protocols for smartphones and e-cigarettes. 

Memorising their rules should enable anyone of us to avoid causing offence in any setting.

On the other end of the spectrum is Russell Brand’s book "Revolution". With a total disdain for the establishment, manners are the last thing on his mind as his approach is to raise big questions and rattle the status quo. Each of these two books represents a very different ethos, either fitting in impeccably with society or shaking things up for a revolution.

Who can you trust?

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We are promised much in life by so many. These promises do not always come to fruition. Would it not be wonderful if you knew who you could trust and to know that someone you trusted was 100% reliable?

The prophet Zechariah wrote, directed by God's Spirit, 500 years before the Lord Jesus was here. He wrote about a king coming in a lowly way and being transported unusually. The Bible predicted that the Lord Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey’s foal and join several Bible prophecies together. The Bible even predicted the day.

Right on that day, the Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. It is astounding how accurate the predictions are and the period of time between the prophecy and its fulfilment.

Really though, we should not be surprised; we should be reassured! The Bible is God’s Word, it is true, and as such, it will be accurate, and we can trust each and every word.

When the Lord Jesus entered the city, the people recognised the prophecy and hailed Jesus as king. They threw their coats on the road for the donkey to ride over and waved palm branches and shouted ‘Hosanna’, which means ‘save us!’

They had their own idea about how that should be done. They wanted Jesus to recruit an army and rise up to overthrow what they saw as the biggest problem that they had, the Romans!

They wanted Him to be their king and to wear the crown of the king of Israel.

The people failed to see their biggest problem; they failed to see that the God who ensured the prophecy was fulfilled would meet their need in His own way. They thought they knew best; they failed to trust God.

There would be a crown, but a very different one than the one they envisaged.

The prophet Isaiah said that each of us is like a straying sheep; we wander away from God and go our own way. Rather than following God’s way, we take the crown and put it on our own head, and thinking we know best, we rebel against God’s way, which is sin. We deserve to face the punishment of our sin.

But God so loved us and sent His Son for us. The Lord Jesus Christ was sent by the Father God to be the Saviour of the world. For this, He had to go to the cross. He wore a crown, not one of gold and rubies, but one of the thick eastern thorns. He should have had an orb and sceptre, objects of power in His hands, but He took nails through them. He should have had the finest royal robes, but He was crucified in shame on a cross. He should have been surrounded by His people adoring Him, but the crowds cried for Him to be crucified.

Why did He choose this? So, we as sinners could be forgiven! So, we could escape the punishment of sin, so we could enter Heaven.

How is this all possible? It is possible because the sinless Son of God bore our sin in His body on the cross. He died for us, and we can be forgiven by trusting in Him. The Bible makes a simple but profound statement ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!’

To be saved from sin, we must trust in the Son of God.  Is it not wonderful that the One we must trust has proved to us His trustworthiness in the accuracy of the Bible. Do you trust in Him?

Messages with Meaning (03/03/21)

Written by Stuart Scammell for Your542Day

How strong are you?

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At some point, all of us will have experienced weakness in some shape or form. Often, those that are younger, fit and healthy feel like they can take on the world, but something as simple as a stomach bug or a touch of flu can be enough to sap the strength altogether. Some who have passed through many struggles speak of an inner strength that has helped them through.

There is, however, a matter in which no amount of physical strength or willpower is of any help. The Bible says, ‘When we were yet without strength (that is, having none at all), in due time (just at the right time) Christ died for the ungodly’.

COVID-19 - Who can you trust in this crisis?

There’s only one way to survive in this world today - trust in God! And, surrounded as they were by aggressive and powerful nations, there was only one way for God’s people, Israel, to survive in the promised land God had given them. The history of the children of Israel is pretty much a dismal record of how they didn’t trust their Lord. In fact their history includes a period in which they were kicked out of their land for persistently refusing to go God‘s way, but the flip side is that it is also an amazing record of God’s patient plans with people who fail big time and of God’s amazing willingness to use weak people who do trust their God. 

Do you believe in God?

Do you believe in God?

Whatever your answer God loves you and is interested in you. God created us in His image. That is why we have a conscience about right and wrong and an inbuilt sense of justice and injustice.

The world we live in can be a sad and hard place. This is because of wrong doing and sin. Sin came into the world through the first man, Adam. But, God is love. He loves everyone in the world. That is why He sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of the world!

God is pure and holy. He must punish sin. Yet He has given us a way back to Himself. By asking God for forgiveness for our sin we can have peace with God!
There is only one way. Refusal to come to God by accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour leaves God with only one option. He must judge sinners and will send them to a place of eternal punishment, the Lake of Fire.

Make sure you don't end up there!

Posted from Seek the Truth Bible Media. For more information visit www.seekthetruth.org. We'd love to help you get on the journey to heaven.

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Absolute Truth = Absolute Safety! - Ephesians 1:13a

Absolute Truth = Absolute Salvation

Scripture for the Day

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,

 the gospel of your salvation

Ephesians 1:13a

Explanation

Yesterday we talked about the second part of this verse in the Bible. Today we will look at the first part - we really should have done it the other way round! 

Becoming a Christian is basically a matter of trust. Trust in Jesus Christ. Recognising that He is who he claims to be - the Son of God. Taking Him at His word and relying on His power and ability to save! 

So how do you know that you can trust the Lord Jesus? It's an important and relevant question. You are not going to depend on someone if you don't trust them. You only rely on someone to the extent that you trust them. So why should we trust the Lord Jesus. 

The second line in our verse helps us in this respect. It says that new Christians only trusted the Lord Jesus to save them after they heard 'the word of truth'. I wonder what that is talking about?

It is helpful to research the bible to see if the expression is used elsewhere. In John 17 the Lord Jesus is recorded as praying to His Father. He is asking God to make his disciples holy. As he addresses His Father, God Jesus says 'sanctify them (make them holy) through thy truth, thy word is truth'. We learn from this verse that the word of truth = the word of God. 

So people become Christians when they realise that the Lord Jesus is trustworthy and can be depended upon to save them. They discover that this is the case through listening to and considering the word of God. Another verse in the Bible says 'Faith comes by hearing...the word of God'. Yet again we read in a letter to Timothy in the bible that 'the scriptures (the word of God or the word of truth) are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The Bible sets out the details of the life of Jesus. History will either confirm this to be true or it will prove it wrong. There is more information about the life of Jesus Christ than any other historical figure. You can read all of the 39 non biblical historians to see if the Bible is telling it as it is or spinning a yarn. I am convinced that the Bible is true. History declared Jesus to be unique and different. His conception, his powers, his perfection of character, his death and his resurrection are all based on historical, eyewitness evidence. 

It is the the truth!

No wonder the final phrase in our verse states that this is the 'gospel of your salvation'. It is good news about the saving grace of God. 

How are you getting on? Are you saved? Have trusted Him yet? Don't leave it too late!

This is the big issue!

To access podcasts and videos explaining the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

This site will give you access to Bible Teaching Audio's and Video's as well.

Disappointed!

To be disappointed is not a pleasant experience. This word has been on the lips of many over recent months. In the world of athletics we have heard this sentiment articulated repeatedly during the Olympic Games held in London. Some who expected to gain medals or break records were heard to express thoughts like "I am so disappointed ... years of training, dieting, hard work and all to no avail … I thought I had done enough to get the verdict … I am just gutted." We can in some measure sympathise with those who failed to reach their intended target.

Many students were also greatly disappointed when they received the results of their examinations. These disappointing results meant that they would not be able to have the future prospects they had envisaged.

It is heartbreaking to deal with such emotions but they are for time alone and sometimes can be rectified in later life. However, to be disappointed regarding eternal matters is something that is unbearable and, most solemnly, it is irrecoverable.

If you were asked how you can get to heaven, you may reply, by being a good person; by being religious; by doing my best; by joining and attending a church; and other such responses. If you were asked the basis for your answers, what would you say? Perhaps you depend on the philosophy of men; the advice of religious leaders; the thoughts of scientists etc. There is only one foundation for faith and that is the Bible, the book that was inspired by God. What does it say about these matters?

What does God think of our good works, called "our righteousnesses"? "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" Isaiah 64.6. Can works take us to heaven? "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" Ephesians 2.8,9.

How sad for any to think they are heading for heaven, but to discover when it is too late, that they were wrong and instead of the glory of heaven for eternity they will be in the gloom of the lake of fire, Revelation 20.15. It will be a disappointment of such a scale that to the never-ending ages of eternity, rectification will be impossible.

Is it possible to be sure that we are going to heaven? Note the assurance in the following Bible verses. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3.16-18. Since it was impossible for us to put God in our debt and so make Him obligated to take us to heaven; in His love and grace God devised the plan of salvation. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly … But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5.6,8.

"God in mercy sent His Son, to a world by sin undone,

Jesus Christ was crucified, ‘twas for sinners Jesus died."

Dear reader, make sure you will not have an eternal disappointment.

Used by kind permission of Assembly Testimony

For more information visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Discover the Road to Power!

When the Lord Jesus was in a house amazing things happened! It's still the same today. The Lord Jesus, when invited into a person's life, brings blessing, light, life, peace, forgiveness and much more. John the apostle wrote, 'to as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,' John 1. 12. 

This chapter describes: The healing of the sick, the faith of friends, the cynicism of the doubters, the perception of the Son of God, God's desire and ability to forgive sins, the call of Levi by the Saviour and need of salvation for sinners. 

May God bless you as you read it. 

Stephen 

Mark 2

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. 

And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

If you are interested in looking further at the message of the Bible please visit

www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Is Jesus the only way? - Saturday - The Daily Diary of a Bible Blogger

Q. There are so many religions out there. How can we be sure that Christianity is the right one?

A. No doubt about it – people believe all kinds of religious ideas, and most people are sincere in their beliefs. We should treat them with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15), and do all we can to protect their rights – as well as our own – to practice religion freely.

I also know that people can be sincere, but sincerely wrong. In fact, it’s impossible that all religions could be right, since they contradict each other on so many fundamental points. For example, look at what these religions teach about God:

• Buddhism historically denies that God exists (atheism).
• Hinduism teaches that everything is part of an all-pervasive, impersonal god (pantheism).
• Christianity teaches that there is one God who is personal and who created everything (theism).

As one person put it to me, if all these religions are true, then God must be schizophrenic – because he doesn’t even know who he is, but tells one group one thing about himself while telling others something completely different.

Well, God is not schizophrenic – so we’re forced to choose between belief systems. How should we do this? Should we base our decision on our traditions, or on what some authority figure tells us to believe, or perhaps on what we feel in our hearts? Those are dangerous ways to decide.

My contention is that we should choose our beliefs based on where logic and the evidence point (while asking God for guidance). And it’s with that approach that I’ve concluded Christianity – over any other worldview – squares with the facts of science philosophy, and history.

My own experience has borne this out. Psalm 34:8 invites us, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Well, as one who has been tasting and seeing for more than four decades – and experiencing those blessings – I can testify that the psalmist was right: the Lord is real, and he is good.

“I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” – Isaiah 48:17

Learn to Trust the Bible Way

Many stories have come down to us about the French tightrope walker Jean-François Gravelet – ‘The Great Blondin’. Some of them are true but others cannot be substantiated as fact. Blondin made his name by crossing the Niagara Gorge below the Niagara Falls in America on a tightrope. He did it for the first time on June 30^th 1859 walking on a rope 50 metres (160 feet) above the water, nearly half a kilometre (over quarter of a mile) long and just 7.5cm (three inches) in diameter. Later he crossed blindfold; then pushing a wheelbarrow, and once he even carried a stove, stopped half way across and cooked himself an omelette, which he then ate as his amazed audience looked on. Yet another time he crossed on stilts and on August the seventeenth 1859 he crossed the gorge with his manager Harry Colcord - clinging tightly - on his back. The railway companies laid on special trains and tens of thousands of spectators assembled to watch Blondin’s escapades - seventeen return crossings in all.

The next year, 1860, the Prince of Wales, later king Edward VII, watched Blondin cross the Niagara Gorge. After Blondin had done one crossing, he suggested that the Prince allow him to carry him over the gordge on his back. The Prince, while not doubting Blondin's ability, refused. This story is well substantiated and appeared in many contemporary UK and Canadian newspapers.

The next year, 1861, Blondin performed at the Crystal Palace in London and was paid – in today’s money – over £10,000 per performance! He then performed at other venues around the country and was met by vast crowds in Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh. In Liverpool he actually pushed a lion strapped into his wheelbarrow along the tightrope. Performing until he was in his 70s, he later developed a cycling act on the tightrope. His final performance was in Belfast in 1896, and he died in London aged 75. In all his 5000-odd performances Blondin never had one serious accident!

One Blondin story, with quite a number of variations, has been repeated many times as a gospel illustration. However, it appears in no official documents of the time that I can find. It tells of Blondin crossing Niagara Gorge pushing his wheelbarrow, but before he does so he asks the crowd if they think he could safely wheel someone across in the barrow. They shout their approval, saying that of course he could. So he asks for a volunteer, and the hitherto enthusiastic crowd fall silent – not one person being prepared to entrust themselves to Blondin. Although we cannot prove that this incident actually happened, it is very clear that it could have happened! If it did occur, then it provides us with a very simple explanation of the difference between what appears to be belief and what proves itself to be real faith. Even if it did not take place, it certainly serves as a good contemporary parable!

Many people today really believe that there was a person called Jesus. They will not disagree with one of His disciples, Peter, who said that he went about doing good. Neither will they argue with anyone who says that He was a wonderful teacher. Probably they will agree that Jesus died and rose again, and later ascended up to heaven. However, although this looks like belief, it is not faith. The Houdini story has people believing, but none have the faith to get into his barrow.

Real faith is entrusting our eternal souls to Christ for salvation. One day, a man who had faced death asked the apostle Paul what he must do to be saved. He realized that he was not ready to die, and he wanted to be saved (rescued) from the penalty of his sin. The answer was ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved’, Acts 16. 31.

‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life’, John 3. 16. God’s love resulted in Christ’s death for us on the cross. Faith in Him as Saviour results our in eternal salvation.

Written by a Guest Blogger.

For more information visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk