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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September 12, 2020 -- John 8:42 -- At the outermost edge of understanding

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.”

John 8:42 English Standard Version

Currently I am reading a book giving scientific evidence for a young earth. This books examines proof that the Triune God created the heavens and the earth about 6,000 years ago. Some of the proofs include the unreliability of radiometric dating given the assumptions surrounding radioactive isotopes and their daughter isotopes. Stay with me here. I don’t understand it all either. I understand each word individually, but stringing them together and learning about Alpha and Beta decay and that 14C beta-decays to 14N, well, I can tell I am in way over my head. Yet there are gifted men and women who are sifting through this all unto the glory of God.

Why mention this at all? Understanding the Trinity—One Being: God—Who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is difficult to understand. I am at the edge of understanding. I know the individual words and terms, but putting it all together is richness and beauty that takes long examination and prayer.

Jesus spoke as directly to His critics then as He does to us today through the Bible. He is sent from God the Father. He is united with the Father in purpose and love. This already distinguishes Christianity from all the other religions and sects and cults in the world. Co-eternal the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit live in perfect community and love.

There are not many ways and paths to God. Jesus is it. He is sent by the Father to make the way plain. There is no chance of “achieving heaven by basically living okay, or at least living better than your neighbour”. Our hearts are sin-blackened, pus-filled cesspools of evil. Only Jesus Christ, sent by the Father, can address our sins. Only the Spirit of the Living God can take us from our dead-in-sin condition and raise us to life in Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God, the Blessed and Triune, for life that begins now and stretches into eternity. Life which is full of wonder and searching to understand, life that is rich with inquiry and answers. Thanks be to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for stooping to our weakness and dullness and making Himself known. Today if you hear His voice, humble yourself, admit your need for Him. Jesus will raise you to new life in the power of His Spirit.

Tomorrow is Sunday. Get to a Bible believing and preaching church and hear the glorious Good News. Find a Christian friend whose faith you admire and ask your questions! Learn more about God, the great and glorious—He sent Jesus, His Interpreter, He sent the Spirit so that we could grasp the glorious knowledge He is giving. Go ahead, ask!

O LORD our God—As is written in the Bible, so we declare: You are the Redeemer, the Holy One! Faithful God, You declared: “I AM the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.” We confess, there is no god beside You! You declared the end from the beginning. Those who run to You, obeying Your commandments, find peace which never dries up, but is like a river flowing in them. Those governed by Your Spirit in the way of Jesus grow in righteousness that is as dependable and constant as the waves on the shore. Blessed are You, Triune God of glory and splendour, radiant and power. Amen.

(Isaiah 48:17-18 forms the basis of today’s prayer).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjOGX5zT8KU

September 11, 2020 -- John 8:33 -- Being Set Free

They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

John 8:33 English Standard Version

Jesus had just made the bold claim if His listeners abide in His word they will know the truth and the truth will set them free. His listeners scoffed. They answered with the text above. Jewish people are biologically descended from Abraham. So in a sense that is literally true. This is significant because the covenant promise God the Mighty had made was those who bless Abraham will be blessed, those who curse Abraham will be cursed. Jesus’s listeners equated being biological descended from Abraham with being blessed. They missed the point.

Abraham believed in God. He served God. That is true freedom. Those who believe in the Triune God of the Holy Bible are truly descendants of Abraham. It is a bit rich for the Jewish people to claim “we have never been enslaved to anyone”. They were slaves in Egypt. They were currently under the domination of the Roman Empire. Through-out their history the Covenant-Making God has issued charges against His people—calling them to account for their waywardness. As such, they are proving themselves to be slaves to sin, slaves to foreign gods, slaves to immorality, slaves to accommodation which compromises their faithfulness to the Living God.

Our only freedom is found in Jesus Christ. Our only freedom is to live in the world without being part of it. Our only freedom is to be fully aware of the evil that surrounds us, but making a stand for Jesus Christ and obedience to His Word. This is Jesus’s point. Those who stood before Him then, and we who hear these words today, must ask: are we free? Do we acknowledge Jesus Christ and Him alone as our source of fullness of life and freedom? If we answer “yes”, then we are descendants of Abraham. Then we are those who walk in the blessings of God our Father as those who are free from enslavement to sin.

Spirit of the Living God, confront us with the Word of Truth so that we will recognize the blinders which are covering our eyes. Uncover for us also the sins which abound in our culture, such as those which would enslave us so that in Your power we will throw them off in whole-hearted service to Jesus Christ. Enable us to see all the enslavement to sin which entangle and chain people in our culture today—the same which threaten to make us slaves also. Thank You, Father in heaven, that You have shown us the pathway of full life and true freedom given in the Mighty and Majestic Name of Jesus Christ—Your precious Son, our Savior. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agROj9nTQP4

September 10, 2020 -- John 8:31-32 -- True Freedom

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31 English Standard Version

New Brunswick is currently in the throes of a provincial election. Yesterday I was listening to a debate and candidates were being asked various questions. I was startled to hear one candidate say, “people’s financial well-being is the most important factor for their life”. He went on to say people are able to feel good about themselves, support their family, grow the economy and so on. As a Christian I hear this as a gross lie. The fact is, Jesus teaches us that which gives us the greatest sense of well-being and freedom: it is abiding in His Word.

When Covid-19 strikes, whether we are rich or poor, we know He is in charge.

When the Black Lives Matter protesters loot stores, harm and kill people in their protests against police as they call for cities to be set on fire, we know our hope and greatest sense of well-being is anchored not in political movements, but in Jesus.

When our government at every level calls abortion an essential service and at tax payer expense puts to death our future, while on the other hand calling every life important imposing six months of lock downs so that Covid-19 curve is flattened, we know we are not dealing with a truthful government. This same government is mouthing platitudes on the importance of life while lining up citizens in our hospitals for lethal injections, putting to death many of our vulnerable citizens. Our government is speaking out of both sides of its mouth. It is incapable of speaking the truth.

The point Jesus made for His listeners then is as relevant today. Listening to people who are non-Christians and trying to fold your life into pretzel-like contortions to fit their crazy schemes and ever shifting ideas is exhausting, God-denying and destructive to true, life-affirming community.

The Bible, the Word of God, is God’s great gift so that we can know God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Bible reveals humanity at our best and at our worst and shows us our very best is still dirty rags (Isaiah 64:6). Unless we are washed in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and empowered by the Spirit Who is sent to us by God our Father, we are slaves to all the basest philosophies and twisted ideas.

Read the bible—it is the gift of the Father to reveal the work and Person of Jesus Christ and it is laid open to us by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.

Abide in the word of God—think about it. Compare what you hear in the Bible to all political strategies, self-help books, philosophies, and so on. You will find the Word of God is excellence and truth. Imagine living in country like Pakistan, China or Saudi Arabia and declaring your views against the government and speaking in favour of whatever religion you hold. (Think of the Uyghur people of China. Think of Christians imprisoned in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia whose only crime is converting to Christianity!) In Canada the precious Name of God is violated by our government, while people of other religions and ardent atheists are given freedoms even while seeking to forbid Jesus’s Name to be honoured in public services. Already 15 years ago, when I was involved in a local, small town event Native Canadians were drumming and invoking the deity they claim, an atheist proclaimed her views, while I, as a minister of the Word invited to participate in that same event was asked not to use the Bible or Jesus’s Name. Other faiths are not denied their sacred scriptures and holy names. In the name of godless, secular science, men and women invoke Darwin as their god and do not understand how they doing violence to the Word of God and inestimable value of life. Think how the Word of God has given us the freest society on the planet—and those freedoms are eroding when we no longer abide in His Word.

Abide in the Word of God—while you are jogging, doing dishes, or tidying up, listen to the Word being read. For example a site like https://www.biblegateway.com/ is free and has many versions of the Bible available for listening. Listening to extended portions of Scripture gives you context, background, helps you see how each part is connected to whole.

Abide in the Word of God and know that by it the Spirit will reveal what is unholy and untrue in your life. Then the Spirit will lead you in repentance while directing you deeper into the knowledge and joy of being a follower of Jesus.

Jesus, in You we find our only source of well-being. Thank You for the gift of Your Word—which leads us in all Truth and freedom. By Your Word and Spirit direct us so that we grow in the gladness of being Your obedient disciples, to the honour and praise of our Father in heaven. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6LC8cu03Ig

September 9, 2020 -- John 8:23 -- Threatening doubts

He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”

John 8:23 English Standard Version

How do we wrestle through the claims of Jesus? We read Scripture and know we are called to believe, but there is so much that is hard to understand. In our passage today Jesus is speaking to “the Jews”—that is shorthand John used to describe the assemblage of interested people, questioning people, skeptics, scholars, and those who wanted to put Him to death. In the face of this He declared Who He Is. Jesus is the One Who has come from the Presence of the Father, to make Him known. His ways are not our ways. His teaching confronts the pagan philosophies and hubris of human understanding.

Some people standing before Him doubted. Is doubt bad? What if you wrestle with it? Admirably those in the crowd who doubted went to Jesus to seek answers to their questions. A few days ago I heard a preacher quote this:

“A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person’s faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection.”

Tim Keller The Reason for God page 17.

Okay, so doubts are like antibodies—but what if I have a bad case of doubt? What if I am feeling sickened by it? There are many Christian leaders and singers recently who have renounced their faith—what happens if my faith crumbles?

1. Bring your questions to the Spirit of God—ask for answers. Search them out as you get to your knees and ask the Spirit “for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God…So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” I Corinthians 2:10 & 11.)

2. Know that God welcomes your searching and seeking. He is all-knowing, all wise. “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search things out” Proverbs 25:2. Our glorious God has made life fun, interesting, challenging, offering us the joy of discovery.

3. Find people whose faith you respect and ask your hard questions. Someone who is honest will at times say, “I don’t know the answer to that—let’s search it out!” Be confident of this “we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God” (I Corinthians 2:12)

4. Teach others. What you do know about Jesus, about the treasury of all that is ours because of His saving work, teach and proclaim to others. This will increase your faith and confirm what you know.

Spirit of the Living God—Who rejoices to reveal the Truth which is grounded in Jesus Christ—help us. We believe, help us overcome our unbelief and doubts. Give us the faith we need to hold on until understanding catches up to faith. Spirit of Wisdom, keep us attentive to the people in our lives. When a friend or colleague asks a question, perhaps too casually and yet hopefully we can help with it, let us experience the blessing of sharing what we know—not from a place of lofty pride, but in awe-filled humility let us teach so that we may grow up together in this precious faith given to us by the Father’s love, which anchors us in the redeeming work of Jesus. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8FKZIz97AU

September 8, 2020 -- John 8:12 -- Living in the Light of Life

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

John 8:12 English Standard Version

The context is so important here. Jesus is speaking to the crowds of people who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Booths. Each year there was a week-long Festival where the people of Israel remembered that the LORD their God by His might and power rescued them from Egypt. He proved Himself greater than any and all earthly rulers. The people made booths, or a lean to of branches, to commemorate their journey through the wilderness from Egypt to the Promised Land. During those forty years God the Provider fed them mana, provided water in the arid wilderness and led them by a fiery pillar of cloud. God showed them the way they should go by the light of that fiery pillar of cloud.

It was foreshadowing of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus is the bread come down from heaven, the new mana, which feeds our souls so that we live for God. Jesus is the water which wells us to eternal life. Jesus is the Light—not just for the people of Israel and those Egyptians, who convinced of the glory of God by the sequence of plagues which ravaged their land joined with the Israelites—listen again to Jesus’s declaration: “I AM the Light of the World”. Jesus is Light for all people every tribe, every people, in every age, everywhere across this celestial globe

All who believe in Him receive the light of life. All who believe in Him do not walk in the darkness of this world or its obtuse philosophies. All who believe in Him know right from wrong, life from death, light from darkness. All who believe in Jesus receive from His Spirit direction and leading. The Spirit takes the Word of Jesus and makes it shine into us. The Spirit points us to the Person of Jesus in the Bible so that we are not merely reading words or gleaning facts—we are meeting Jesus, the True Light that gives Light to every one who believes.

Ah, Blessed Jesus, we recognize You as the world’s True Light. Your Word is as true today as the moment it was written—we can perceive “people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works are evil”. We confess how often our own words and thoughts betray the evil inclinations of our dark inner thought life. Rescue us. As we walk in Your Light, we bless You and praise You for the work of the Spirit Who applies to us the cleansing blood. As by the light of Scripture and the work of Your Spirit we recognize our sinful thoughts and dark actions, enable us to confess our sins, strengthen us to turn from them and hate evil more and more. Thank You, Father in heaven, for Your great love which flows through generation upon generation so that the Son You love has become for us the Light of Life and Salvation. Amen.

The song selection today is Psalm 27 set to music. Look up Psalm 27 and you’ll read along as the choir sings, celebrating the LORD as our Light and Salvation.

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

September 7, 2020 -- John 8:3-4 -- Caught in sin; how to be freed

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery..”

John 8:3-4 English Standard Version

The scribes and Pharisees are aiming to trap Jesus between the laws of the Romans and the laws of the Jews. They imagine this will be a tightrope and Jesus will have to fall off on one side or the other and get Himself bound up in all kinds of trouble.

As this story unfolds we’ll notice, quickly, Jesus does not make a misstep. “I will cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!” (Psalm 119:31-32). He keeps Himself close to the Word of God, He is steeped in the Word and He does not make any misstep. The Word of God gives us glorious freedom so that we can run in the way of our Father’s commandments. In every and all situations the Word is powerful, relevant and insightful.

Notice how the scribes and Pharisees stumble and fall even as they seek to trap Jesus. Leviticus 20:10 commands that both the man and the woman caught in adultery must be put to death. Hmm. Where is the man? The woman was not caught in adultery by herself—by definition that is not adultery. So was she set up? Was the adulterer paid to trap her so that the scribes and Pharisees have a case to bring to Jesus? Who knows. The fact is, the scribes and Pharisees were wrong from the start, bringing the woman alone.

Beloved of God—delight we are to delight ourselves in the Law of God. Know the whole Word of God so that we will not be put to shame! And our text today is teaching us to be aware of the circumstances of any case put before us. When someone is about to accuse someone else, we need to know as much as we can, or at least realize every story has at least three sides (one, opponent, and God’s). Again, notice Psalm 119:32, the commandments of God enlarge our hearts. We understand Jesus Christ—His sacrifice that brings us without blemish or spot—means we see others with the eyes of faith. Jesus conquers our sins and the sins of those we would accuse. Our dearest desire is to bring people to Jesus, so that they and we ourselves, will not be put to shame but be able to judge circumstances rightly and run in the way of His commandments.

Thank You for the joy and blessing of worship. Thank You for preachers and missionaries, bible teachers and evangelists who brought Your Word of Truth to Your hungry people. King Jesus, as the week unfolds, constantly bring us to Your Word and by Your Spirit make it for us living and pertinent in every situation. Thank You, Father in heaven, for the gift of the Law which shows us our sinfulness and directs us to Your Son, our Good Shepherd, so that we can follow Him in thankful obedience. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx0rCabJ16c

September 6, 2020 -- John 7:50-51 -- Who Is Your Defense Lawyer?

Nicodemus, who had gone to him [Jesus] before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"

John 7:50-51 English Standard Version

The Jewish Leadership was indeed prepared to judge a man without first giving him a hearing. At chapter 11 we learn that the most radical part of the Pharisees were prepared to put Jesus to death because He raised Lazarus up from the dead—so they wanted Lazarus killed also!

I was listening to Michael Kruger preach and teach on Hebrews 3. He noted that one of the most important things a person accused of crime must do is to get a good lawyer. In fact, to paraphrase, a man who represents himself at court has a fool for a lawyer. An uninformed defendant will make procedural mistakes, will antagonize the judge and likely unwittingly reveal even greater depths of his own criminality.

Nicodemus, part of a human court, did his part to represent Jesus. Nicodemus would fail. Jesus ultimately would be put to death, though innocent. Jesus was prepared to be the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. However, Jesus took all of God’s wrath and punishment against our sin so that He would be for us the Best, Only, Divine Lawyer of Heaven.

When we as sinners are convicted of our sin, we appeal to Jesus, the Lamb of God Who has taken away our sin and we ask Him to represent us to the Father in heaven. Jesus is our Advocate. He Is our Sure Help. A man would be a fool to represent himself before God—God is the Just Judge and He has provided Jesus as the ONLY representative for sinners. Anyone who refuses Jesus, refuses the help God the Father Himself has given.

Jesus, our Lawyer, Savior and King—blessed are You! Our souls sing in praise and adoration to You. Spirit of God, when our sins and the awareness of our guilt would drive us away from our only source of Help and Counsel, hold on to us tightly and keep us in the powerful Presence of our Sure Defender and Lord. Great and glorious are You, Father in heaven, drawing us ever nearer to Yourself in Christ by the Spirit of Power. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyxXGdG3-Io&list=PLvmfEMFi4D1GIXTScJV9tC-tIMzQ9gKOM

September 5, 2020 -- John 7:45 -- Live Boldly for Jesus

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?”

John 7:45 English Standard Version

Through-out the Gospel of John you’ll get indicators, like this one, of the power of Jesus Christ. Nicodemus, who was part of the Pharisees, approached Jesus at night to ask Him questions. He said to Jesus “Rabbi, we know that you are teacher come from God” (John 3:2). Let that sink in for a moment. What a statement that is and a declaration of the truth of Who Jesus Is.

Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. He did so on the Sabbath—a day the Pharisees had filled with their own regulations and by-laws. The Pharisees were furious at Jesus. “This is why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18).

Jesus will not be arrested until the hour has come. He is not helpless. He is not caught up in a political cancel culture that He can’t fight. He had come to the earth at the exact moment determined by the Father. He will accomplish His mission. He will not be deterred nor will He fail at any point. He will voluntarily yield Himself to arrest when the hour appointed by His Father in heaven. Not one moment before that.

Fellows Christians, what keeps you from witnessing? What fears bind you? Know this, our life and our death are in the hands of our Faithful, Powerful King—Jesus. We need not fear people nor circumstances. Everything that happens to us is for the forging of our faith and for the glory of God. He will bring us safely to eternity in His Presence at the hour He has appointed. He is at our Father’s right hand, praying for us. Let that glorious truth carry you forward to live boldly for Jesus.

Mighty Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for all You suffered so that all appointed to be the sons and daughters would be brought to our Father in heaven. Spirit of Power, thank You for teaching us in the way of Jesus Christ. Give us long-suffering obedience and confident faith to live boldly for Jesus, declaring Him to all we meet. Triune God, be our life’s vision and highest, joy-filled goal. Amen.

This song today is the Lord’s Prayer in Swahili

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuWr4gYJ6nM

September 4, 2020 -- John 7:41 -- Your life's most important question

Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee?”

John 7:41 English Standard Version

It is the most important question of our lives: “Who is Jesus?” There is no other question that should grip us. Knowing Who He Is changes everything in us and about us.

The leading atheist of our time, whose views are almost cartoonish in their anti-Christian-faith vehemence said, “Somebody as intelligent as Jesus would have been an atheist” (quoted from Oct. 27, 2011 in the Guardian). Later Dawkins suggested Jesus was a cult leader whose popularity was given a dramatic boost by his untimely crucifixion (this in 2014). Sad. Misguided. And utterly uninformed.

Biology should lead us to see how our very D.N.A. declares the glory of God. How does non-life, pre-life “evolve” to bring life? Where does the information for our DNA come from? John 1:4 teaches us in Christ there is life—life that informs our D.N.A. and declares the glory of our Creator.

Those who seek Jesus and do so with a desire to believe in Him will have their belief confirmed again and again through the study of history, geology, biology, law, and, in fact, all that we seek to understand is given us to study so that we can know more about the Living God. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Scientific investigation is possible only because He brings order and sustains order in our universe.

Who is Jesus? How you answer will affect you today and forever.

Mighty God of breeching whales and particle-forming quarks, all of creation declares Your splendor! As we work, live, explore and rest may the knowledge of Your creative-life-giving presence direct us to offer all of our lives in worship and holy service to Jesus Christ, revealed to us by the Word and Spirit and affirmed by Creation so that Your Name, Father in heaven, will truly be hallowed. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTfLcIKQ3dU