October 10, 2020 -- John 11:26b-27 -- When Believing Costs Dearly

Do you believe this?

She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

John 11:26b-27 English Standard Version

Martha, one of the many people who with her sister and brother Lazarus supported Jesus’ itinerant ministry from their own resources, was standing before Jesus broken, deeply grieved, and bewildered. Her brother had died. She’d expected Jesus—Who had healed so many people—to arrive before Lazarus died so that Jesus could raise him from his sickbed. Jesus healed so many people. That is why the sisters sent for Jesus while Lazarus was sick. Jesus could have just spoken the word, right from where He was and healed Lazarus. He cast out demons. He had the power to heal. She could not understand why Jesus didn’t come to their rescue.

Jesus explained: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life”. When things are broken and at their worst, no matter your circumstances, I AM the only source of life. Do you believe this, not only when things are good, but when things are terrible. When you have messed up, again. When you are standing at the edge of the bed of a loved one who has breathed his last. When your finances have exploded and everyone will know you failed. When your sins become public and everyone you thought was a friend abandons you. At these moments will you believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Anointed One sent to give you help more glorious and perfect than any human help could ever be?

Your loved one may not rise from the sickbed. Your finances may not turn around. Your company may have to experience retractions due to the second wave of Covid such that you will never reopen your doors. At that moment will you be able to declare: “Yes, Jesus, I believe You are the Christ—the One Anointed by God—the Son of God Who is coming into the world”?

At that moment, while her brother was still dead, and she did not expect him to to be raised, Martha finally understood Who Jesus Is. He alone holds the power of life and death. He alone can lift us from our worst fears and disasters and comfort us. He is life now. He is life in eternity. He is the One Who raises us up to know we have a Father in heaven Who knows our Name. He is the One Who gifts us with His Spirit so that we don’t care about riches or poverty, sickness or health, fruitful or lean years, Covid-19 whatever wave it might be. He, Jesus is the One Who is life. Not as the world celebrates. Not as fickle people who one moment love you and the next vilify you. He is the One Who loves at all times. He is the One Who will never leave you. He is coming into the world. He will return and bring all His people to the Father.

Do not lose hope. Do not give up. The race is nearly done. The angels at the throne of heaven will soon hear the order, “Raise those trumpets to your lips, announce the return of the Christ, the LORD of Glory, come to bring His people to the splendor of eternity”.

Blessed Jesus, You are Who You promised You are: the Resurrection and the Life. When circumstances would blind Your people to this thunderous truth let Your Spirit speak to the heart of Your child: “Abba, Father” so that the realization of the heart’s true paternity would stir within an unshakeable hope. Thank You, Jesus, for the rich storehouse of blessings You bring. Amen.

October 9, 2020 -- John 11:25 -- Ballast for the storm

Jesus said to her,

“I am the resurrection and the life.

Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…”

John 11:25 English Standard Version

Listening to a sermon by John Piper he used a wonderful illustration that really gripped me. He noted when a hurricane is heading towards the coast of Alabama, fishermen will put heavy ballast in their boats. This ballast, extra weight, will keep the boat from tipping as easily when the storm hits and the waves toss the boat about. What a great image that is!

Look our verse today, Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Those who believe in Him do not fear death. Why? Because Jesus is the Victor over death and the grave. He has conquered it. What a glorious hope we have. What crazy storms our country is going through right now. There is a second wave of Covid-19; though I live in a province with virtually no cases, all people are required to wear masks in all public buildings. Visits to those who are sick in the hospital are suspended. Those in palliative care have very restricted visitor lists, perhaps one or two are allowed to visit. Despite all of this, Jesus is our ballast. He keeps us from tipping over into hopeless chaos!

In the midst of all the upheaval and difficulty, we who believe in Jesus Christ know He is the resurrection life. We live for Him with joy now and in trembling expectation of the time when sin shall be no more and we shall live in the new heaven and the new earth in awesome Presence of Him Who is the Radiance of the Father. Do not lose hope beloved people of God. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Captain of Salvation and Perfecter of Faith.

Blessed Jesus, in the middle of these storms and the creeping exhaustion many of us are starting to feel, let the glorious truth of Your Resurrection power revive us. Spirit of God, motivate us to deep, happy and holy living so that many will see in us the truth that no one can steal our joy in Jesus. Triune God, refine our faith so that You, Father are hallowed and the Son reaps the reward for which He came to this earth—many believers from all the tribes and nations to the glorious praise of Your Name, Father—and this in Your mighty power at work in us, Spirit of God. Amen.

October 7, 2020 -- John 11:2-3 -- Death Defeated

So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

John 11:2-3 English Standard Version

Wait. Lazarus dies though. So what does Jesus mean? He means “this illness does not lead to death’s triumph”. That will be obvious as the story unfolds. You need to let the Spirit work the narrative to its conclusion. You must ask these sorts of questions and trust that the LORD of Glory will make Himself known through Jesus—Who is the Radiance of the Father’s Glory.

It is a passage that has come up before, and it is so relevant again:

It is the glory of God to conceal things,

but the glory of kings is to search things out.

Proverbs 25:2 English Standard Version

When there are things you don’t understand, think on them. Pray about them. Ponder them. Ask Christians whose walk with God you admire, ply them with questions until you understand and are presented with the next mystery of faith to unravel and learn from.

As Christians we know death does not triumph. Jesus Christ has conquered the grave and even death itself is led captive by His resurrection glory. Christians can be fearless in our witness to the people in our circle of family, co-workers and friends. We can be fearless in our carrying Good News to the ends of the earth. Death does not triumph! God is in charge! That is the glory the Son of God has revealed.

Jesus, Glory of the Father and Glorious in Your Own Right—blessed are You and True. As I read Scriptures move me to study and to pry open the truths You have planted in them as treasures. Thank You for the clear teaching You are the Way, the Truth and the Life—no one comes to the Father and the joy of salvation except through You. Spirit of God, increase my capacity to know Jesus, to obey Him and rejoice in Him—all this to the Glory of the Father, Who determined before the foundation of the world to bring many sons and daughters to the glory of belonging to Him. Amen.

October 6, 2020 -- John 11:1 -- The Glorious God of Spiraling Galaxies Knows My Name

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

John 11:1 English Standard Version

Though much is recorded about the life of Jesus, there is so much we know virtually nothing about. Which makes sense, even the end of this Gospel, the writer John notes: if everything Jesus did were written down “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). He had a wide circle of friends. We know Jesus was a peripatetic preacher—okay, I love that word! Peripatetic means that Jesus was a wandering rabbi. He didn’t have a home or a place to lay His head. He was supported by the various people who opened their homes to Him whenever He’d wander through their area. We get clues and odd references to the people who would supply His and His disciples’ needs.

There are various nameless people in the Gospels as well—for example the blind man of John 9 whom Jesus healed—and it is beautiful to me that they are not all named. What it teaches is that Jesus knows every single person, all hearts, and all the circumstances of our lives. We know only a small, thousandth of a fraction of the total population of the people who live. But for Jesus there are no nameless, forgotten people. Whomever has lived. Whomever was aborted. Whichever child was lost in pregnancy to the most aged person and all in between who ever lived, lives or will live all are known to Jesus! We are, every one, precious to Him.

Whatever we do in His Name and for His glory is known and recognized by Him. How that stirs my soul. Do you feel like you are laboring in obscurity? Does it feel like no one has any idea of the things you do? Do not lose heart! Jesus knows you. He sees you. Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of His Name with the full assurance He sees You, He is honoured and blessed. No one is hidden from His sight. HIs Spirit lives in you who believe and the Spirit will renew your heart in joyful obedience. Pray. Ask for the Spirit’s power to live in faithfulness. Take heart from the simple text of today—He knows your name!

God of spiral galaxies spinning in distant quadrants of the cosmos how great is Your majestic power! How vast and terrible is Your uncontainable glory. How can it be that You should know my name and the circumstances of my life? Thank You for Your loved poured out in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the presence of Your Spirit Who vivifies me. Draw me ever nearer to Yourself so that the clutter and worthless things of my life will be burned away and the fires of devotion will be stoked to ever great passion for You. Amen.

October 5, 2020 -- John 10:40-42 -- Four Basic Questions Answered

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.  And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.

John 10:40-42 English Standard Version

Jesus spent some in one place. Those who’d seen His signs, or miracles, had time to digest what they’d seen and heard. The Spirit brought these things to fruition in the lives of those who saw them. It is important for us to see this and understand. When the Spirit sends us we speak as we are led and we trust Him for the results. You might find it tempting to over-inform someone. You might want to add more and more information. Just answer the question.

My favorite illustration on this point is the young lad, 8 or so, who asked his dad: “Where did I come from?” Slightly reddening, the dad launched into an involved monologue on the facts of life! Horrified, the young lad quickly interrupted and asked: “No Dad, did I come from Moncton, or Fredericton?” Awkwardly funny, isn’t it?

In our lives we have basic questions:

“Who am I?” The Bible says we are people, each one known by God, who are fearfully and wonderfully made in the womb.

“Where do I come from?” God, Who made the heavens and the earth, created Adam and Eve from the dust of the ground. It is not evolution. It is the intentional, creative work of the Triune God.

“Why am I here?” The Bible teaches us we are here to glorify God and delight in Him forever.

“What happens when I die?” We will face the judgement. Those who believe in Jesus Christ know the punishment for their sins was measured out on Him at the cross. Those who refused Jesus will spend eternity in hell, bearing the weight of their sin.

Everything the Bible says about this man, Jesus, is true. We need time to think on Him, meditate and reflect. The truth of Who Jesus is needs to germinate in us so that His glory takes hold on us. I love the parable of the seeds. We all know seeds take time to germinate. So it is with the truth of Jesus Christ. He takes hold in the soil of our hearts. The roots of this grows deep into us and the plant rises up and bears much fruit Our souls rejoice as we grasp more. We savor the knowledge of Who He is He is the radiance of the Father’s glory and He is our life’s great delight.

Living Jesus, thank You that You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We know we can come to the Father only through You. Spirit of God, fill our souls with holy delight and ever deeper hunger which can only be filled with the banquet that is Christ. Faithful Father in heaven, thank You for all that You have done to draw us to Yourself in love. Glorious is Your Name, Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

October 3, 2020 -- John 10:29-30 -- My Father is Greater than All!

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.

John 10:29-30 English Standard Version

This hurricane season many of us have watched the successive waves of hurricanes form out in the ocean, strengthen and make landfall. The devastation is terrible. The power in such storms boggles the imagination. The winds of an “average” hurricane have the equivalent power of 12 hours output of all the world’s electricity generating power. When you calculate the wind, the waves, the rain, and so on, the power of an average hurricane is 200 x the power of all the electrical generating power of all the power plants on our planet. During its life-cycle a typical hurricane releases the power of 10,000 nuclear bombs! (This is from the website How Stuff Works).

Yet the planet does not explode. Though the on-coming storm can generate numbers on the Richter scale, so that a storm far out at sea produces tremors on the land—it is as if the land shivers in anticipation of the violence about to hit it. The LORD our God is greater. His power is greater than all. Why does this matter?

The Father has determined who will be saved. The Father has given to Jesus Christ the sheep and Jesus by His once-for-all sacrifice has rescued us from the powerful wrath of God—greater than all the storms ever generated on our planet. Jesus has entrusted us, delivered safe from the anger of God and has given us the righteousness He lived. Jesus, filled with divine power greater than all the storms of the earth, was able to endure the holy anger of God against our sin. When God sees us, He sees the love of His Son poured out on us. When God the Father considers our ways, the good-conduct and right-living of Jesus is credited to you and me! Jesus then entrusts us into the hands of our Father so that we will never lose our salvation, we will never lose our way.

Knowing this makes us desire Jesus more. Knowing this truth fills us with the Spirit’s deep and abiding love for Jesus so that the Word becomes sweeter. The obedience we offer to Jesus is whole-hearted. Our sins—oh the wretched persistence of them!—becomes more hateful. No matter the energy of the storms and trials thrown up against us, the Father is greater and He has rescued us in Jesus Christ and the Father and the Son send the Spirit so that this greater than all hurricane force power resides in us bringing us to eternal life and fullness of joy in the presence of our God.

God of Majestic power and glory, Moses described You as the God Who rides above the storm. What a picture of Your divine omnipotence! Thank You for making Your determination of our rescue effective through Jesus Christ. Thank You, Father in heaven, for the life of the Spirit, spawning in us resurrection life. Triune God of Splendor and Glory, direct us ever deeper into Your love and more determined to serve You with all exuberance and wonder until we see You face to face and our sins will finally be vanquished and we will live with You and sin no more. Even death itself will be captive-led to hell. Increase our capacity to think on such things. Increase our marveling in Who You are as we ponder them so that many around us will be drawn to the powerful life of Christ shining out from us. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_NMrhO7rDo

October 1, 2020 -- John 10:27 -- The Best Loved Voice

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

John 10:27 English Standard Version

Some 34 years ago my opa, that is the Dutch word for grandfather, passed away. He was in his nineties. He lived in the Netherlands and we lived in Canada. My dad and my aunt decided to host a family dinner of remembrance since the family could not go to the Netherlands for the funeral. (It is hard for many of us to imagine today, but there was no access to things like Zoom or Skype. Even making phone calls was still ridiculously expensive!) I distinctly remember one or two conversations with my aunt. These moved me to write a condolence card and in it I included this verse.

There is something so distinctive about a voice. I can remember opa’s voice. The particular timbre of it, a raspiness that was acquired after decades of smoking his favorite cigars. My point is that we can recognize a love one’s voice very easily. Even in a crowd we can hear a laugh or hear a snippet of conversation and say to ourselves, “That’s wife’s voice”! Love increases our sensitive receptivity to hearing the voice in any place.

The point Jesus is making is this, His followers learn to hear His voice. His sheep love His voice. We are comforted by His voice. We are guided to safety. We are assured of our Father’s great love. We hear His voice distinctly in the Bible. The Gospels give His biography and explain His work of bringing glory to God and salvation to the people of God. More than this, we hear Jesus speaking most clearly. Even so, the Psalms declare Him—the King Who would reign. And we learn of Jesus. The more we know the more our hearts learn the timbre of His voice. The Spirit of God within us quickens us, delights in bringing to us intimate knowledge of Jesus and His voice. The Old Testament books of the Bible teach us of Jesus—the King, the Prophet, the Priest—and He is better than all the shadows that pointed to His perfections. The New Testament fills out our knowledge of His voice’s color and accent.

When we close our eyes in death, we have this sure and glorious expectation, we will hear our Savior’s voice. The Shepherd of our souls will speak and we shall have the thrill of hearing His voice in clearer tones than we’ve ever heard before. We shall thrill at His voice and our souls shall cry out: “The voice of Him I love!”

Blessed Jesus—pour out Your Spirit so that we can ever more clearly discern Your voice above all the noises and dissonant clanging of this dark time. By Your Word and Spirit lead us, Good Shepherd, to our eternal home in the brilliant presence of our Father. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoKDu6HbyRY

September 30, 2020 -- John 10:19-21 -- Exuberant Obedience

19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

John 10 English Standard Version

When you speak about Jesus inevitably something happens. Jesus’ Name provokes a reaction. In Jesus’ own day there were many who heard His teaching, saw the miracles and were moved. They wanted to know more. However, there were many whose hearts were hardened and they were offended at Him.

It is no different today. I find it horrifying and fascinating that those who do not believe in God spend so much time trying to prove He doesn’t exist. There are no bus campaigns to state Santa Claus doesn’t exist. There are no bus campaigns to tell children to stop putting their teeth under their pillows because the Tooth Fairy is a myth. You only have campaigns against God if you somehow suspect He Is.

The absolute most important question for every person to answer is this: “Who is Jesus?” There is no other question that even comes close in importance. I was listening to a series of mission lectures by John Piper. Piper noted that Christians are to be hedonists. You read that correctly—pleasure seekers. And the greatest pleasure, the highest joy is seeking Jesus Christ. In Him and through Him our head and heart, our appetites and our aspirations are completely filled. We find in Jesus our fullest joy and greatest happiness. That is what motivates our giving, our declaring Him and living for Him—sheer pleasure in knowing Him for Who He Is.

Knowing Jesus is blessedness, the fulfilment of many promises. Consider these words:

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are eternal pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

This too highlights why Jesus is the Most Important Person Who ever lived. This answers why we spend our lives pursuing Him and seeking to know Him. At His right hand are eternal pleasures forevermore. What a glorious promise!

Forgive us Jesus, for our sluggish and half-hearted obedience. Spirit of the Living God, cleanse us so thoroughly that our hearts and minds, our hands and attitudes reflect the fullness of joy that can be found only in Jesus. Father in heaven, thank You, for the tremendous, wondrous, exhilaration that can be found in knowing we are Your children through Jesus Christ. Surely God, You do all things well. Move our hearts to declare Your glory, Triune God, not out of slavish duty, but with exuberant praise, speaking to others the blessedness and gladness of knowing You. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMBRLq0-y9Q

September 29, 2020 -- John 10:12-13 -- A Mere Hired Hand VS the Good Shepherd

He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

John 10:12-13 English Standard Version

No wonder the Pharisees and the Scribes, political leaders and opponents hate Jesus. He calls them out as self-seeking, self-interested and self-protecting. Perhaps you remember a bus campaign carried out in 2009? In the US and the UK buses had the slogan: “There’s probably no god. So stop worrying and enjoy your life”. These or some variant of them were advertisements in Toronto buses as well.

A simple response might be to go the organization that created these idiotic adverts and say to the hired hand in charge, “okay, then give me your car, your house and your bank account.”

No doubt the hired hand will say, “You’re nuts, get out of here!”

Me acting as an atheist: “For me to enjoy my life, I want more stuff, more things. Since you, hired hand, have no basis for morality, or law, I am just going to steal your stuff.”

Hired Hand: “But it is important for us to live in society that is regulated by the common good of lawful conduct.”

Me acting as an atheist: “Prove it. You can’t. You have no basis for a moral law—only God, our Creator offers that. You, as a godless hired hand, only believe in the survival of the fittest. Great. I’m stronger than you are and I’m going to knock your socks off, take your stuff, stop worrying and enjoy my life.”

Obviously this is not something I would do or advocate. But you see the nonsense of it, right? You can see how Jesus’ words are proved over and over again, in His generation and each generation thereafter, by anyone in power who is not a Christian. There is no basis for any moral order, no basis for common compassion without Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd Who leads us, as His sheep, in the way of righteousness.

Perhaps it is time for Christians to put up advertisements in buses. I’d suggest something like this:

God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—rescued us from lawlessness. Stop worrying about atheists. Worship God and enjoy Him forever!

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, thank You for leading Your people into salvation. Thank You for rescuing Your people from lawlessness and hopelessness. Father in heaven, we pray for the salvation of our political leaders: our Governor General, Prime Minister, Premiers and all people who hold any office. We thank You for those who serve in the strength of the Spirit, living faithfully for Jesus Christ. All those who live for You, Good Shepherd, as they serve and work, bless them and continue to fill them with the joy of knowing You. Working or retired, young or old, married or single, whatever condition and whichever place You have called us into, help us, Triune God, to serve You with holy joy. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLxdb3ov-zE

September 27, 2020 -- John 10:11 -- Shepherded by Jesus!

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11 English Standard Version

The imagery of shepherd is rich in the Old Testament. Jesus’ audience would have recognized immediately many of the implications of this reference. We probably catch the obvious and familiar reference to Psalm 23—”The LORD is my Shepherd.” But perhaps we are unfamiliar with Ezekiel 34. This is another critical reference to help us understand what Jesus is saying.

At the start of Ezekiel 34 the LORD speaks against His people’s leaders. They were supposed to care for the people, the sheep. Instead they took advantage of them. Let them wander. These false shepherds slaughtered the sheep and ruled them harshly. Then there is the glorious promise that the LORD God Himself would Shepherd His sheep—He will seek them out, rescue them from the places they have been scattered, feed them, bind up their wounds and strengthen the weak.

When Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd, He was drawing on this powerful promise of God and declaring it has been fulfilled. Jesus is the Good Shepherd—Who exposed false shepherds, Who rescues His sheep, Who strengthened the weak, binds up the wounded. The miracles of feeding the crowds takes on new relevance and significance when we understand these highlight the fact that Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who feeds His sheep. What a glorious truth this is. What a huge contrast to how the world sees Jesus. He is not a sissy. He is not a weakling helplessly crucified at the hands of cruel leaders. He is the Mighty Shepherd who like historical shepherds on hillsides fought bears and lions and as God’s Shepherd rescues sheep from political villains and tyranny leading them in triumphant victory through the valley of the shadow of death to the presence of our Father in heaven.

Blessed Sunday to you. Find a Bible-believing church and attend it. Be fed by Him Who is the Shepherd of your soul. Or find a livestream service of a Bible-believing church and delight in the truth of Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd.

Mount Zion ARP Church, Moncton has a livestream service on Facebook. Pastor John Shearouse is our guest preacher today. 10AM Atlantic time, 9 AM EDT and 6 PM (5 PM EDT).

LORD God, we bless You as the God Who made and keeps all His promises. We thank You for Jesus, our Good Shepherd. We thank You for the Shepherd of our souls Who is able to rescue us from the mire of our sins and bring us from the four corners of the earth to Your glorious presence. Spirit of God, direct us in worship this day so that our minds are fed, our hearts strengthened and our faith emboldened for holy service. Amen.

September 26, 2020 -- John 10:7 -- Jesus the Only Door of Salvation

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”

John 10:7 English Standard Version

When I visited the life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark—a display made by Answers in Genesis for instruction in Bible truth—I was struck by the clear teaching that the Ark had only one Door. The only way to be saved from the flood waters was to get into the Ark and the only way onto the Ark was through that door. This passage today, Jesus’ teaching is clear. He alone is the Door, He alone is the way of salvation from the rising floodwaters of sin, dissipation and the corruptions of the world.

When you play chess, you are aware of the rules of the game. A chess master will know the rules so well and use these strictures for achieving moves calculated long in advance. When you are playing a chess master you can’t suddenly decide a piece on the chessboard will now move in a different configuration than the rules allow. The game would be impossible to play.

God the Triune—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—created the heavens and the earth. When Adam and Eve brought sin into our world, the LORD of Glory had already decreed the Rule of Salvation—Jesus Christ. He alone is the Door, through whom we are saved. No matter how much someone wants to alter the rules or change the way God has set down His decrees, it is immaterial. The King of Glory has set out what is right and how one can find everlasting life.

Tomorrow is Sunday. Find a bible-believing, Gospel-preaching church that is open and attend. Find Jesus the Door of our salvation and delight to enter into eternal life through Him. Anyone who is in the Woodstock, NB area, I’ll be preaching at Trinity A.R.P. at 11 AM. Would love to see you there.

Many centuries ago the psalmist cried out: “Answer me when I call, O God!” As Christians living in this time we have the privileged vantage point of history seeing how You have answered this cry in Jesus Christ. In Him we have life and hope. He is the Door by which we receive salvation full and free. Blessed are You, God our Father and faithful in hearing and answering the cries of Your children. Spirit of the Living God, bless our preachers and teachers, evangelists and ministers as they bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to people. Lead Your people the Jesus the Door though and by Whom we are saved. Ah Faithful God, be glorified! Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEbhc07wOug

September 24, 2020 -- John 9:39 -- Jesus the Mighty Captain of Salvation

Jesus said,

“For judgment I came into the world,

that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

John 9:39 English Standard Version

A preacher I’ve been listening to recently, Voddie Baucham, noted: the most famous verse in the bible used to be: “For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16. The text notes the judgement of God—that those who do not believe will perish—there is an everlasting punishment for those who do not believe in Jesus. Things have changed. Arguably, the most famous verse now is this sliver of a text “judge not, that you not be judged” (Matthew 7:1). The world, mistakenly, thinks we are not to judge—basically this misguided thought is prevalent because of the ignorance of our age, bible illiteracy and Christian malaise. People picture God to be pleading, pleeease believe in me! What blasphemy.

Note what Jesus is saying in our text today: “for judgment I came into the world”. Those who see Jesus for Who He Is—the Son of the Living God and our only hope for rescue from the wretchedness of our sins and rising to newness of life. In Him the glory of God is brilliantly displayed. Jesus does judge us for our sins. Our sins are vile and worthy of eternal punishment because of the despicable, vile, offense they continually raise against the majestic, pure, holiness of God. If you are blind to your sinful condition, you will be judged. The weight of God’s wrath and punishment against sin which was poured out on Jesus at the cross, will be measured against you if you do not believe on Jesus and receive His righteousness. Those who believe in Jesus receive His righteousness and their sins were punished upon Him at the cross!

The Bible pictures Jesus as the Captain of Salvation, the victor of sin and death—but He is so only for those who believe. There is no other judge of the whole world except Jesus, by Whom and for Whom the world was created. Open your eyes sinner and see Jesus the hope of your salvation. Awaken slothful believer, and bring honour and praise, to Jesus. Declare Him to all you meet so that the eyes of the blind may be opened to eternal Truth. He is not weak, begging for your soul. He is glorious in might and strong in victory. He calls for you to bend your knees in praise and submit your hearts before His excellency. Hallelujah! What a Savior. Blessed is the Triune God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—Who draws us in humble adoration and worship.

Sovereign King of Heaven and Earth—Just and True are all Your ways. Blessed are You, the Redeemer and the World’s True Ruler. Thank You that Your Spirit has been poured out so that blinded eyes and clouded souls may see You for Who You Truly Are. Answer to famine of this age, the hunger for Your Word—that is what Your Are Blessed Jesus! Satiate many souls with the rich banquet of Bible Truth. May the Spirit of Power break through the blindness of this age and impenetrable fogs of lies and devil-sown misunderstandings so that Your Great Name will be praised unto the honour and glory of our Father in heaven. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu2cJYbqIow&list=RDfE51e2rKpUk&index=2

September 22, 2020 -- John 9:5 -- Jesus the Light of Life

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

John 9:5 English Standard Version

Jesus is standing in front of a blind man and He declared: “I am the light of the world”. Seems odd. Until you realize that this light is the light of salvation. In the Old Testament the LORD God led His people by a pillar of fire at night through their forty years of wandering in the desert. He was their light and the One Who directed their steps. In the temple there were lampstands called Menorah. The word Menorah literally means ‘light from the LORD”. Each of the seven branches represented one of the festivals of the Old Testament—the light of revelation from God.

Jesus stood before the blind man and declared greater than his physical healing is the healing of his soul. Jesus is the glory of God in flesh. The man’s physical blindness and his spiritual blindness will both be healed. As easy as it is for Jesus to heal this man’s sight, so easy it is for Jesus to heal his soul. It is beautiful and powerful teaching.

Where are you wandering in darkness? Where are you feeling cut off from the Light and hope? Where do you feel blindness has descended? This passage is for you today! Jesus is the Light of Life. Jesus is the One Who directs you from the darkness of sin and the gloom of the tomb and brings you into the fullness of light and life in the presence of our Father. In Jesus our sins are washed away. The Spirit of Jesus makes the brilliance of Jesus known to you in every place of longing and need in your life so that you will be sealed as sons and daughters of the God Who is your strength and your song!

Jesus, the Bible depicts You as the Light of Life. Oh how I need that Light. Send Your Spirit so that gloom of darkness will be dispelled. Let me walk in the joy of Your salvation and live my life in the glory of Your Light. Blessed are You, Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The music today is Psalm 27 set to music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE51e2rKpUk

September 21, 2020 -- John 9:3 -- Greatest Healing

Jesus answered,

“It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

John 9:3 English Standard Version

On October 31, 2017 Frank Stephens addressed a United States National Committee on health. That is in itself may not seem significant, until you realize that he is a man with Down Syndrome. He argued before the national health committee why his life is worth living. He argued that studies have proved, and his own life testifies to, the happiness with which folks with Down Syndrome live their lives. Whereas many people look at a man or baby girl with Down Syndrome and then look over with stricken eyes at the parents or siblings. Know this: these men and women, youth and children themselves live with joy. The works of God and His glory are displayed in them.

The blind man of our story had contact with his parents. This is evident from later verses in this story. This man had not sought Jesus out for healing. In fact, the story portrays Jesus seeking him out and noting the glory of God will be displayed in him. Already the glory was displayed in the fact this man is a part of his family and faith community. But now the even greater glory of God will be displayed—God will bring him to salvation. That is the greater healing, the greater glory.

As a minister I know how often someone with an illness will be approached by other Christians who will say things like: “If you believe enough, God will heal you”. Others will note it is our Father’s intention, in every case, to bring healing. When someone is not healed then there is a disheartened sense of “what am I doing wrong?” In our lives, whether we are sick or healthy, rich or poor, suffering or relatively free of suffering understand this: our Father in heaven loves us and knows us. His sign of love is not in acting like a Celestial Santa Claus granting healing wishes—to look at Him in this way is a non-starter.

In fact, God our Father, shows His great compassion in this way—each one of us is given the opportunity to have the greatest gift ever: knowing Jesus Christ. He lavishes His love and brings glory to His Name and into our lives wherever Jesus is presented as the Savior of the world.

This is why we are urgent in our evangelism to the world. The greatest gift and highest glory we can have is this: to know Jesus Christ.

I ponder the works of Your Hands—God of Glory! I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a man in a desert thirsts for water in a dry and parched land. Let the glory of Jesus and the knowledge of His way fill my heart and mind so that the longings of my soul will be satisfied. Thank You God, for Your Spirit, Who brings such living water and glorious joy in Christ. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=136&v=HsBHbkblN-Q&feature=emb_logo

September 20, 2020 -- John 9:1 -- Jesus has noticed YOU

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

John 9:1 English Standard Version

So many times we read in the bible people crying out to Jesus, longing for Him to heal them, touch them, or notice them. Here the blind man may not even have known Jesus was passing by. But Jesus noticed Him. Jesus stopped to pay attention to him.

How many people are there in the world today? Depending on what website you check, the population of our world, on January 1, 2020 was estimated to be 7,763,035,303. Hard to imagine that number, isn’t it? Yet the Bible teaches us God not only know us all by name—He formed every single one of us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). He appointed where we will live and the circumstances of our lives (Acts 17:26). We are not lost in the sea of faces, anonymous and forgotten.

We are loved by God. We are known by God. The LORD of God has poured out the treasure of heaven, His Son Jesus Christ—so that we would know what separated us from God has been overcome. The LORD of Wisdom has given us His Holy Spirit so that we would read and understand the word.

God has not passed you by. If you are reading this, know that God is aware of your existence and loves you. Know that your life is valuable from the moment of conception to your last breath. Now is the day to cry out to Him and seek Him, while He may yet be found.

Fellow Christians—make your voices heard in our world today. There are so many people who are crying out, wondering whether or not God has forgotten them. Prisoners are languishing forgotten by our politicians, imprisoned without adequate spiritual care, programming halted because of the fake pandemic—and our world is silent. Write out. Let your politicians know of their great need for humane treatment. Christians, cry out against abortion—the holocaust against the unborn. If all lives matter, which is the platitudinous mantra meaninglessly mouthed by politicians during our Covid-19 fake pandemic times, then why don’t the lives of the unborn matter?

Jesus noticed the man born blind. Whatever person or vulnerable people God has placed on your heart, in the powerful Name of Jesus—speak out. Reach out. Help. Storm the offices of your politicians. Give of your time and your prayers. You are not called to serve 7 billion plus, but as one known by God, loved by Jesus and guarded in the power of the Spirit—serve wherever He directs you. Confident He will direct you for the glory of God’s Name and the benefit of those in need.

Blessed Jesus, thank You that You did not pass us by. Thank You for the fullness of life You have poured out on us. Thank You for the Spirit Who guards us and keeps us in Your tender care so that we are guarded in our new life until that day when we see our Father in heaven face to face. Spirit of God, in our strange cancel culture and mobocracy, give us the grace we need to stand up for Jesus and the life-affirming glory of His cause. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K9jmPGJcCU

September 17, 2020 -- John 8:58b-59 -- If Jesus IS Who He Says He Is...

“Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

John 8:58b-59 English Standard Version

Interestingly enough, Jesus’ listeners understood the implications of Jesus’ words. The first line of our text today is His declaration He is God—existing before Abraham. He is claiming to be “I AM”, that is the Name God gave Himself in Exodus 3:14—the Self-Existent One. If this were a lie, the people there were doing the correct thing—for such a blasphemy a man ought to be put to death by stoning (Leviticus 24:16).

However, if Jesus truly is Who He says He is, then the correct response is to declare: “My Lord and my King!” As the Son of God, Jesus is worthy of our worship and obedience. He was in the middle of a crowd, teaching. When the people were prepared to kill Him, for their own lack of faith and inability to understand Who He Is, Jesus hid Himself in plain sight.

Understand that Jesus didn’t just hide behind one of the pillars of the temple. Obviously, the crowd would have seen Him. In plain sight He hid Himself and they could not perceive Him either with their physical eyes nor with the eyes of faith. He was in charge of that situation. He would lay down His life for His people, when the time was right and at the moment fixed by His Father in heaven.

How great is the mercy of God. Over and over again Jesus approached His people. Repeatedly He showed them the Father’s patient love. He taught. After three years of public ministry very few followed Him. We learn that on the Day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out, only 120 had gathered. During His public ministry Jesus had fed thousands. He had healed so many people. He taught with authority so that audiences were awed. But only 120 people were prepared to follow Him. It is a huge warning for us today. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the opportunity for us to follow Him. Now is the day to submit to His claim: “Before Abraham was, I AM”!

Spirit of the Living God, help us to do more than merely read the words of the text—let the profound implication of them break over our souls so that we bring honour and praise to Christ our Savior-King. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUZEtVbJT5c

September 16, 2020 -- John 8:58 -- Excellent fodder for mental chewing

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

John 8:58 English Standard Version

There are some passages and texts of the Scripture where it is just good to park your thoughts and spend time. Meditate on the fact that Jesus, the great and glorious One, spoke creation into existence. He was there, and lit the fiery furnace of the sun so that its light and heat warm the earth. The cosmos is a declaration of His majestic authority. The orderliness spinning galaxies of stars and pathways of planets showcase His divine design.

As the Scripture declares, God knit us together in our mother’s womb. Jesus knew, from conception onward, the life story of every person who ever lived. The Jewish people standing in front of Him, mocking Him, scorning Him, draw their every breath at His pleasure. Those who deride Him do not realize He knows their family line and can trace every moment of life for every single person in their family tree right back to Adam and Eve. They place so much emphasis on their descent from Abraham—the Patriarch whose conception and birth, joys and sorrows, suffering and hopes were under the gracious direction of the Spirit and the Sovereign care of Jesus and watchful eye of His Father.

Abraham knew his need for a Savior. Abraham was not flawless and faultless, but through-out his life was shown over and over again His need for the Saviour he longed for—the very Suffering Servant-King standing before his stiff-necked descendants. Thinking through such things causes our hearts to melt and our souls to cry out: “What is man, that You are mindful of him” (Psalm 8:4) ?! Our hearts, suitably humbled and brought low by such times of meditation and deliberations, then can reach out and embrace Jesus—the joy of every longing heart, our LORD, Whose Name is majestic through-out all the earth.

O God of Wisdom and Glory—when I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars which You have set in place, what are we, mere people, that You should pay attention to us? Blessed and Triune God, I will give thanks to You with my whole heart and ponder Your wonderful deeds. I will reflect and meditate on You, the LORD Who sits enthroned in splendor Who does not forget the cry of the afflicted! Great are you LORD and worthy of all our praise. Amen.

(This prayer is based on Psalm 8:3,4, 9:7,12)

This beautiful rendition of the Beatitudes is sung scripture. Enjoy — this too is one way to meditation on the Word of God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqhmMoI6wks

September 15, 2020 -- John 8:51 -- Evident new life

Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.

John 8:51 English Standard Version

Does this mean our obedience saves us? Do we have to add to Jesus’ works? Yesterday I listened to Voddie Baucham’s sermon on Romans 12:1. He had a wonderful illustration on this very point. First and foremost we know Jesus’ sacrifice is enough. Nothing can be added to it. Now, imagine this. A believer is a bit worked up that maybe something more is needed. What will he bring? Will he bring a sheep and insult the Most-High God and say, “Okay God, You have given Your infinite and precious, Beloved Son, but just in case He is not enough, I’m bringing this sheep”. Voddie Baucham usually has a lot of colourful colloquialisms and to that last statement he added, “As we say in the South ‘that dog won’t hunt’!”

Those who are in Jesus Christ are a new creation. We have been born again. Our very nature has changed. We desire to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Death is no longer a punishment—at the cross Jesus took the punishment of death in our place. Death for us is the physical ending of sin. When we die, and rise to new life in eternity, our body which was subject to sin and the consequences of sin, will be freed from the curse.

Why then do we keep the word of Jesus? Because His sacrifice is more than enough! In Jesus Christ we are now forgiven. Our obedience is a sign that we are part of the family of God. When we are delivered from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ by a new and living hope, we discover is it our desire is to live for God. Do we do so perfectly? No! We fail and flail in our newness. But we are nevertheless made new. We chase after the righteousness of God like a lion pursues its prey. It is our new nature to do so.

Today’s prayer is based on Psalm 104:24,31,35

O LORD our God, how rich and various and beautiful are Your works!

Mighty God, may Your glory endure forever and may Your people rejoice in Your works.

Bless the LORD, O my soul—Praise Him—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God forever more.

Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8PLn7FWUK0

September 14, 2020 -- John 8:47 -- Spirit-fueled witness

Whoever is of God hears the words of God.

The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.

John 8:47 English Standard Version

The ESV footnote on this passages interprets it this way: “Sin paralyzes our spiritual senses. Only an act of God’s grace enables a sinner to hear God’s voice.” Then the footnote directs our attention to John 8:43 “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word”. It is useful and helpful to examine the Gospel of John one small passage and text at a time, but the downfall of doing so is that we lose sight of the over all direction of a particular speech and the arc of the book. The footnote was a helpful reminder of how the part fits the whole.

In fact, we can trace this spiritual paralysis all the way back to John 1, where we are taught Jesus came to His own people and they refused Him! (John 1:11). He is the Creator of the World and His own creation did not acknowledge Him (John 1:10). This is so important, when we are sharing our faith with others, we must remember that the person or people we speak with are hardened in their sin. It takes the supernatural work of the Spirit to soften hearts to hear and receive what we say.

Be encouraged though! God has appointed us, believers, to be His ambassadors. We speak of our relationship with Jesus Christ and the Spirit carries us to those who are appointed for salvation. Sometimes we are the first people to speak with a man appointed for eternal life and our work, unbeknownst to us, is just to place the seed of faith—a seed whose germination we will never see. Perhaps we are the eighth person appointed to share the Gospel-which literally means Good News about Jesus!—and God has appointed us to see some wonderful starting of faith so that this person is asking all kinds of questions that have long been on her heart. The wondrous beauty of our salvation, and the glory of God in it, is how He sent teachers and friends, parents and mentors, in fact all things necessary so that we would one day embrace Him and declare “My Savior and My God!”

Stay focused in ardent prayer for the non-believers God has placed in your life. Do not be discouraged if someone you love is a long time in declaring Jesus as Savior.

Do not be discouraged in your witness for God the Father and His love poured out on us in Jesus Christ. Make use of the Bible to feed your own faith and give you Spirit-fueled confidence to go and speak with others. Your mouth speaks from the overflow of your heart—if your heart is overflowing with the knowledge of the awesomeness of God, your mouth will speak it.

Remember, God has by HIs tender love and great grace, made it so. Those who are born again, or will be born from above in Jesus Christ are not the result of our work or witness, but are entirely the new-born children of God. Yet God the Spirit gives us to joy of being mid-wives. God the Savior reminds us that the same life which has brought this newly born Christian into the Kingdom is the same power and love that sustains us as children of the Father above. So, in the nursery of new Christianity, those established in the faith and those newly declaring His greatness rejoice together.

Faithful Jesus, thank You for the testimony of the Bible which reveals Your witness and persistence in seeking the lost sheep—of Israel and of the world! You are the Best, Final, Glorious and Radiant revealer of the Father—evidence that our Father in heaven stopped at nothing to make Himself known to us. Thank You Spirit of Glory and Power for the men and women who by Your direction led us to know Jesus Christ so that their beautiful feet carried the good news of Jesus to our souls. Thank You, dearest Father in heaven, for new life, that begins now and is sustained into and through all eternity. Thank You triune God for the privilege we have of witnessing to Your Glory, thus ever more deeply confirming the fruitful presence of the Spirit in our own lives. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPtzKT-JLw0

September 13, 2020 -- Livestream preaching

Dearly loved of God: sh'ma ~                                  hear and obey Jesus!

Something different today. I am going to be preaching in Mt. Zion Associate Reformed Church, here in Moncton. 10 AM Atlantic Time, 9 AM Eastern (Ontario).  Here is the link: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaURIii5-Ok

And, here is today's song. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfqeilIXpMc

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