God's Word For Every Day

The Reformation Continues

This sermon was preached on 11th November 2018 - the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. The Bible reading was 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5. --- On 11th November, David Lloyd George announced the Armistice - the ending of hostilities, the truce which, it was hoped, would lead to a better and brighter future. He looked back, and he looked forward. Looking back, he described the First World War as "the cruellest and most terrible War that has ever scourged mankind." Looking forward, he expressed his hope for the future: "I hope we may say that thus, this fateful morning, came to an end all wars." Where are we now, 100 years on from the end of the first World War? There have been quite a number of ward during these 100 years. From 1939 to 1945, there was the Second World War. Since that time, there has been the development of weapons of mass destruction. There are still wars, and many fear that our world may yet spiral out of control.

We begin with some great verses from Titus - "Jesus Christ ... gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:13-14); "He saved us, not because of deeds dine by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). There are kings who need to be prayed for (1 Timothy 2:1-2), and there is the King to whom we offer prayer (1 Timothy 1:17). To understand the nature of God's kingdom, we must understand the character of the king. God's kingdom contrasts with the kingdoms of men. (a) Kings are "in high position" (1 Timothy 2:2), but "the king of ages" is in the highest position of all. (b) The kingdoms of men last for a time, but "the king of ages" is immortal. (c) The kingdoms of men display great outward show, but "the king of ages" and his kingdom works in

1 Timothy 1:12-17 The Lord saved Saul of Tarsus. The Lord changed him. Saul - "blasphemer, persecutor, arrogant man" (1 Timothy 1:13) - became Paul, a humble man, who worshipped and served the Lord.   *  humble - "worst of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:16) * worshipper - "Unto the King ... " (1 Timothy 1:17) * servant - "the ministry ... an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life" (1 Timothy 1:12,16).

"I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God ... the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh ..." ( 1 Timothy 3:15-16 ). We read, in 1 Timothy 3:16 , of our deeply-held convictions concerning our Saviour, Jesus Christ: "God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory." Paul is not only speaking about beliefs that we hold with our minds - 'I believe this about Christ. I believe that about Him.' He's speaking about beliefs that change the way we live - "how you conduct yourselves in the house of God" ( 1 Timothy 3:15 ).   When Paul speaks about "the mystery of godliness", he's speaking about "God was manifested in the flesh". He's also speaking about "how we conduct ourselves in the house of God." This is the practical mystery - How can

‘That’s just ancient history’: this is what many people say about the Bible story. Is that all there is to it? or Is there something more? The Bible story challenges worldly people to think again – to question their assumption that everything can be explained without God. Could it be that the world’s ‘answers’ are not as convincing as we’ve been led to believe? Could it be that there’s an ‘old, old story’ that we still need to hear and believe – a story that tells us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15)?

There is one wrong attitude we must take care to avoid. We must not sit back and say, “Let’s just wait and see what happens.” We dare not think like this. We dare not live like this. We must get ready for the Lord’s Return. At the heart of 1 Corinthians 15, there is a very challenging verse - “Come to your right mind, and sin no more” (1 Corinthians 15:34). Whenever our thoughts turn to the Lord’s Return, we must hear the challenge of the future. God says to us, “Jesus is coming again. Come to your senses. Don’t keep on going your own way, the way of sin. Go Jesus’ way, the way of faith, the way of obedience.” If we are to know the blessing of God in our lives, there must be a willingness to go the Lord’s way.

I told you so ... Often, these words are spoken with the kind of pride that takes pleasure in putting other people down. How different are the words of Paul, "Pride puffs up. Love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1)! Where did Paul learn to love like this? He learned it from the Lord. Jesus loves us. He teaches us to love one another. May there be less pride - putting people down - and more love - lifting them up.   

1 Corinthians 11:1-34 We celebrate the Lord’s Supper (23-26). We take note of whauyt Paul says about the way we are to come to the Lord’s Table (27-29). What’s this all about? Is it about the whole thing looking good - impressive? Paul gives us something to think about in verse 22 - ‘Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?’ In Paul’s questions, we hear an echo of the Old Testament prophets ( Isaiah 1:12-20 ; Amos 5:21-24 ). We rejoice in John 3:16 - ‘God so loved the world…’. Let’s not forget 1 John 3:16-18 - ‘let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.’ Jesus says, ‘…first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift’ ( Matthew 5:23-24 ). Don’t just think about it. Act on it ( James1:22-25 ; 2:14-17 )!

"Thanks  be  to God, who gives us  the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). Towards the end of the great resurrection chapter, this verse proclaims Christ's victory over death - "Death is swallowed up in victory" (verse 54) , th ere's a call to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, We are to serve Him with the firm conviction  that "our labour is not in vain in th e Lord" (verse 58). This victory is not achieved by us.  by us. It is given to us by God. It comes to us "through our Lord Jesus Christ." What are we to say to this? What can we say? There's only one thing we can say - "Thank You, Lord." 

The kingdom of God is a power. Paul tells us, "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). It is the power of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, breaking into our lives and transforming them. "The race of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14). This is the blessing of God's kingdom. It's a blessing which is more than mere words. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit - these are not just religious words. They are spiritual realities, the power of God at work in our live, the power of God which brings the forgiveness of sins, the power of God which brings new life, the power of God which gives us a foretaste of heavenly glory. A foretaste of heavenly glory - This is what the kingdom of God is in our present experience. God's future breaks into our present experience. Here and now, we have begun to ex

Don't get your fingers burned ... You might set fire to the rest of you!! "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be  saved ; yet so  as   by   fire" (1 Corinthians 3:15, King James Version) . These are challenging words. What does this mean? Let's look at some of the other translations, and see what they say.  * "If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but it will be like an escape through fire" ( Evangelical Heritage Version ). It's great to escape from a fire - but it's better not to be in the fire in the first place!   *  " But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire" ( Amplified Bible ) Barely escaped -  this makes it even more dramatic! This is more than getting our fingers burned - more like getting ourselve

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). In these words, Paul is encouraging us to draw back the curtain and catch a glimpse of a bigger and better world than this world,  which is passing away. Draw back the curtain - and catch a glimpse of glory - the glory of God. Paul's  encouraging us to see our life with the eyes of faith, hope and love. He speaks about two different kinds of seeing - " For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12). When we're  learning to look at life with the eyes of faith, hope and love, we're catching a glimpse of what lies beyond the curtain - " And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). Faith, hope and love - these are the things that remain. May God help us to keep these eternal thing

1 Corinthians 2:1-16  Paul's ministry was simple, sincere and spiritual.It was preaching in the power of the Spirit. What Paul is saying is this: Less about me, more about Jesus. * His message was simple. He wasn't trying to impress people with great learning. He was bringing Jesus to them. He was bringing them to Jesus. * His preaching was sincere. He said what he meant, and he meant what he said. He spoke the truth, and he lived the truth. * His outlook was spiritual. The power did not come from himself. It came from the Spirit - the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love.

1 Corinthians 6:12-7:24 The Lord has placed the highest value on us: ‘you were bought with a price’ (6:20; 7:23). Our love for Him must be stronger than any other love. Some are under pressure, at home, from an unbelieving husband or wife. You wonder whether your Christian witness is doing any good (7:16). You feel you are getting nowhere. You feel like giving up. You feel yourself being dragged away from the Lord. What does the Word of God say? - ‘Lead the life which the Lord has assigned’; ‘Remain with God ’ (7:17,24). A difficult situation at home is just one example of ‘the world’ trying to ‘squeeze us into its own mould’ ( Romans 12:2 ). The world will keep chipping away at our faith - until there’s nothing left. ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world... He who does the will of God abides for ever’ ( 1 John 2:17 ).

"For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, a nd those who escape from Mount Zion.  The  zeal of the  Lord  of hosts will do this" (Isaiah 37:32). A remnant - When Isaiah was called by God to the prophetic  ministry, he was given a warning. He was told that only a small minority of his hearers would respond positively to his message. If Isaiah was expecting the majority of his hearers to welcome his preaching, he would have been discouraged by the poor response that he received from so many people -  The land is utterly desolate ... a nd the forsaken places   are   many in the midst of the land" (Isaiah 6:11-12) .  Isaiah needed to receive encouragement from the Lord. This is the encouragement he was given - " But yet a tenth   will be   in it ...  As a terebinth tree or as an oak, w hose stump   remains   when it is cut down.  So   the holy seed   shall be   its stump" (Isaiah 6:13). If we read most of Isaiah 6, without reading on to the final verse (verse

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” ( 1 Corinthians 2:9 ). How does the Lord keep us walking in His way? – He keeps on bringing to our attention the glorious future which He is preparing for us. He keeps on reminding us that we are being prepared for His eternal glory. How is He preparing us for ”praise,  glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed”? – He is teaching us to “love Him. ” The more we are learning to love Him, the more we will look forward, “with an inexpressible and glorious joy” to  ”the end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls” ( 1 Peter 1:7-9 ).

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple" (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). God has given us a great privilege - "you yourselves are God's temple... God's Spirit dwells in your midst."  He's given us a great responsibility - we must take care of "God's temple." When God's Spirit comes into our hearts, what does He do? Does He give us a feeling of superiority - we're better than they are? No! He calls upon us to search our hearts more deeply: " Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).

“God forbid that I should boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14). These words of Paul take us to the heart of the gospel. They remind us of his words in 1 Corinthians 1:23 – “we preach Christ crucified” – and 1 Corinthians 2:2 – “I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.”

"What is truth?" (John 18:38). This question can be asked in a cynical way, suggesting that searching for truth is pointless, because there is no truth. The sceptics may say to us, "If it's true for you, that's okay by me - but it's not true for me."  It can also be asked as part of a sincere search for truth. Where will such a search lead us? The question was put to Jesus - and the question leads us to Jesus. He described himself as "the truth" (John 14:6).  Do we believe that Jesus speaks the truth? Do we believe that Jesus is the truth? Do we believe him when he says, in prayer to God the Father, "Your Word is truth" (John 17:17)? If we believe that Jesus speaks the truth, and that Jesus is the truth, will we not stand, with him, in the confession of faith - God's Word is truth? How much sense does it make to speak of Jesus being true for one person, and not true for someone else? Surely, that is to reduce faith to f

“All that I know now is partial and incomplete … ” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We have come to know the Lord. This is the work of his grace. We must never forget this. Without his grace, we are nothing. All the glory belongs to him. When we give our testimony – telling the story of what the Lord has done for us, we must never speak too highly of ourselves. We can never speak too highly of the Lord, but we must take care that we don’t give the impression that we are closer to the Lord than we really are. Our knowledge of the Lord “is partial and incomplete.” We must always keep this at the forefront of our minds when we speak the Lord’s Word. If we don’t, we will speak pride, but it will not be pride in the Lord. It will be pride in ourselves. Our ‘testimony’ will be very different from the testimony of Paul: “I am not ashamed of the gospel …” (Romans 1:16). Let there be less about  our knowledge of him, and more about our knowledge of  him . It’s not about us. It’s about him – what  he 

1 Corinthians 15:1-45 Here, we learn of Christ’s resurrection: the fact - ‘Christ has been raised from the dead’ - and the meaning - ‘the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep’ (20). * We look back to His resurrection. We ‘remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead’ ( 2 Timothy 2:8 ). * We look forward to our own resurrection. We will be ‘raised’ - ‘imperishable… in glory… in power… a spiritual body’ (42-44). Looking back to His resurrection and looking forward to our own resurrection, we are to live, here and now, in ‘the power of His resurrection’ ( Philippians 3:10 ). * We believe the fact of the resurrection. * We live in the power of the resurrection. * We rejoice in the hope of the resurrection. With ‘resurrection’ faith in the ‘resurrection’ God, let us live the ‘resurrection’ life as a ‘resurrection’ people!

When the going gets tough ... What do we say after this? Do we say, "The tough get going"? or Do we say, "The Lord is my strength"? There's a big difference between the two. The first is about doing everything in our own strength. The second is about receiving strength from the Lord. We may think that we're "tough" - but we're not! We need to be strengthened by the Lord. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, God gives us his promise. He will not leave us to battle on in our own weakness. He will give us his strength. God's strength - this is what makes the difference. Without him, we fail - and we fall. With him, everything changes. This doesn't mean that the going gets less tough - but it does mean that the Lord is with us: and this is what changes everything. He changes everything! Let us take our stand - in the strength of the Lord: Stand up, stand up for Jesus. Stand in His strength alone."