An amazing thought

  An Amazing thought

In the gospel of John we read,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

      He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

Here is an amazing statement. According to the apostle John, God who created the universe and everything in it came to earth as a man. This man, Jesus.

The early disciple and followers of Jesus all believed this. Martha a friend of Jesus when asked by Jesus,

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27.

In the John 1:1-14 the apostle John make it clear that he believed Jesus to be the creator of the universe. All of the writers of the New Testament believed this. 

Think about this for a moment. If what the disciples believed is wrong. Then Christians have perpetuated perhaps the greatest lie of all time.

C. S. Lewis states,

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

So who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

He exists

 He exists

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” 

                                                                              Genesis 1:1.

The Bible because it was written to believers does not argue the existence of God. It instead makes a statement of fact. It is placed at the opening of the Bible and leaves it up to the reader to agree or disagree with it.

As for me I agree with it. God did make the heavens and the earth. I believe it because I see around me a universe, everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy is in perfect alignment. Nothing in the universe is out of place. 

Mathematics used correctly. Shows an ordered universe. A universe so finely tuned that it allows life as we know it to exist here on planet earth.

I cannot believe that this happened simply by chance.

I firmly believed that science done correctly will point to God. And great scientific minds seem to agree with me.

Stephen Hawking one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century said,

“It would be difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of God who intended to create beings like us" Stephen hawking.

Lord Kelvin said,

"If you study Science deep enough and long enough, it will force you to believe in God" Lord William Kelvin Noted for his theoretical work in thermodynamics.

Louis Pasteur said,

       “A bit of science distances one from God, but much science nears one to Him... The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed by the work of the Creator” Louis Pasteur.

William Philips said, 

    “I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it" William Philips Nobel prize winning Physicis

Werner Heisenberg said, 

           “The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics Nobel prize in physics.

So do you believe there is a God who created the heavens and the earth?

Please think about it.

Who is Jesus to you?

  Who is Jesus to you?

The writer of Hebrews states,

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  Hebrews 1:1,2.

In the Gospel of John we read,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

I believe these two statements are true. If not close to three billion Christians are believing a lie. Further more it is the greatest lie in all of history.

The question when someone is confronted with Jesus is Just who is Jesus? 

C. S. Lewis in his book mere Christianity states,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

So who is Jesus to you?

What do you smell like?

  What do you smell like?

The apostle Paul writes,

“We are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:15,16.

Are you the aroma of those who are being saved or the fragrance of death to God?

Many calling themselves Christians would say they are the aroma of those who are being saved. When in fact they are not.

In the gospel of Luke we hear Jesus telling this Parable

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  

I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14.

My point here is you can go to church all your life and not be a Christian. You can say the sinners prayer and not be a Christian. 

Leonard Ravenhill said,

“The sinners prayer has sent more people to hell than all the bars in America” Leonard Ravenhill.

It’s easy to go to church, say the right things, do the right things and not go to heaven.

In order to go to heaven you must sincerely believe in God. Not just give intellectual consent to the existence of God and that Jesus is the Son of God, Saviour of all who would believe in Him.

Please think about it.

How will people know you?

 How will People know you

The apostle Paul wrote,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control.... Against such things there is no law."  Galatians 5:22,23.

When people see you each day do they see the fruit of the spirit?

Love,

Joy,

Peace,

Patience, 

Kindness,

Goodness,

Faithfulness,

Gentleness,

Self-control,

Please think carefully about it.

How will they know you?

  How will they know you?

Jesus when asked

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40

Do you show love to those around you, God, family, friends and foe alike?

When people see you will they know you for your love?

Please think about it.

What do they see

 What do they see

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 

You shall be holy, for I am holy," 1Peter 1:13-16.

As believers in Christ we are called,

To prepare our minds to work for Christ.

To be sober-minded.

        Setting your hope fully on the grace that comes from the revelation of                          Jesus Christ.

Do not conform to the evil desires you had prior to knowing Christ.

Be holy as Christ is holy.

This is a lifestyle. In fact someone has said Christianity is not just a religion "it is a lifestyle."

It is a lifestyle that people will notice even without us saying one word. 

Francis of Assisi said,

"The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                                              Francis of Assisi

"Preach the Gospel at all times

 and when necessary use words."

                                                      Francis of Assisi

Please think about it.

Think Carefully about it.

  Think carefully about it?

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16.

Every now and then I like to poke Christians and others with a pointy stick this is one of those days. Thus I present to you the story of Margaret Elizabeth.

“That morning, Margaret Elizabeth got up extra early, readying herself for the day.  She would get only one chance to make an impression.  To that end, she applied her makeup with extra care.  Chose the black ankle length wraparound skirt, white turtle neck top and black jacket, her children had given her as a gift, while in hospital.  She limited her jewelry to a simple pair of diamond studied earrings, that had been her grandmother’s and small bracelet given to her by her daughter-in-law.

Leaving that office, to walk to the pulpit was the hardest step, she ever had to make.  Her heart pounded and by the time, she stood behind the pulpit she was visibly shaking.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Margaret Elizabeth Williamson and just before Christmas, I underwent Sexual Reassignment Surgery.” she said relief surging through her body, as silence engulfed the assembly.  

I know that many of you, maybe uncomfortable with that.  That is why I have asked to speak to you, to give you my testimony and then allow you to ask questions.

I have felt like a woman trapped in a man’s body for my entire life.  I was married for over thirty years to a wonderful and accepting woman, who died several years prior to my coming to this assembly.  I have a wonderful family, all of whom support me and are here today.

Now believe me, I did not choose this course of action lightly.  I did so after much personal anguish and a great deal of prayer.

For a little over two years prior to my complete transition, I have lived my life as a woman: I was doing so when I came to this church and I think I did it well enough that no one knew.  If so they did not commented.

I have no apologies to give for what I did, or who I am, because I do not believe I did anything wrong.

I accepted Jesus as my Saviour over thirty-five years ago, and asked Him to remove from me what at times, has been a difficult burden.  He has chosen not to and thus, I have accepted that I am what I am.  A child of God, who knew me according to the Psalms in my mother’s womb.

I have no intentions of preaching a sermon here today, only to ask you to accept me as I am.  In fact, the only reason I stand before you today, is because I was asked to come onto the staff of this church and wish to be completely honest with you.

Now, I will open the door to all questions and endeavor to answer them to the best of my ability.  Nothing is off limits. After the questions, pastor will ask for a vote and abide by your decision.”

At that point some left. However there were many questions. Then the question answered, the pastor came to the front.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now time to take a vote.”  He said.  “If you wish Margaret Elizabeth to become a part of our pastoral staff, please rise to your feet.”

Thus my question to you the reader. How would you vote? 

Why?

Please think carefully and prayerfully about it.

What makes you a Christian?

 What makes  you a Christian?

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 1:24,25.

Are you a Christian? 

The Christian world is full of denominations. According to the Centre for the Study of Global Christianity, there are as many as 45,000 Christian denominations world wide.

That being said what makes a true Christian. While there are many minor differences in what Christians believe. Differences that don’t really matter when it comes to salvation. There are core beliefs that cannot be compromised. For without these core beliefs you cannot call yourself a Christian.

These core beliefs I believe are summed up in the Apostles Creed. That while not written by one of Jesus’ apostles they still are the core that make up Christianity. 

The apostles creed states,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God's on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

If you claim to be a Christian is this what you believe in?

Please think about it.

Be very careful

Be very careful 

The apostle Paul wrote,

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Within our multi-media world anyone can be made to look good. And sadly way to many Christians don’t check out the pastor, teacher or evangelist they are following. As a result too many Christians are following false teachers. I think this stems from the fact that the majority of Christians don’t study the Bible for themselves. Rather they rely on the preacher, teacher or evangelist they are following to speak the truth which may not always be so.

To avoid being fooled by false teachers it is important I firmly believe to study the scriptures for ones self. Additionally we should be listening to a wide range of Christian teachers. Whether we agree with them or not. 

If we disagree with a particular preacher, teacher of evangelist we should be asking ourselves why? Where is the Biblical evidence that a particular teacher is saying wrong things?

Please think about it.

We Cannot Impose

 We cannot impose

Jesus said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

That being said the only way we can reach the world around us is to sit down with non-Christians and present the gospel of Christ. 

We cannot do this if they see us as trying to force our beliefs or even our morals, (as good as they may be), on them. We cannot reach them if they believe we are trying to force our morals on them. 

An example of how we should act with respect to non-believers is shown by Jesus. Marks Gospel records,

"While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17.

It was obvious Jesus was not criticizing those he was sitting with or trying to impose his morals on them, otherwise they wouldn't have listened to him. 

This is the way it should be for us.

Please think about it.

One Important verse

 One Important verse

"So in everything, 

do to others what you would have them do to you, 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" 

                                                                        Matthew 7:12

Put this way it means;

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals on others

however good they may be.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think carefully about it.