The  Messiah’s  Secret –  Advent  of the Star of David.

I noticed on Tesco’s mince pies it has a star with 6 points.in pastry on the top, the star of David has 6 points.

Professor David Hughes of Sheffield University writes"If you read the Bible carefully," says Hughes, "the Magi saw something when they were in their own country - [probably Babylon] - so they traveled to Jerusalem and had a word with King Herod."

According to the story, the Magi told Herod of the sign they had seen and, says Hughes, "when they left Jerusalem [for] Bethlehem, they saw something again".

Hughes's best explanation for this series of events is something known as a triple conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn - with the two planets coming close together in the sky three times over a short period."

My view on this explanation is that this triple conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn may have had the appearance of a star, but wasn't in fact a star.

Another theory is that the star was light from the birth of a new star, or nova.There are records - again from astronomers in the Far East - of a new star in the small, northern constellation of Aquila in 4BC.Hughes says: "People who like this theory say this new star would have been [positioned] directly over Jerusalem."

Dr Robert Cockcroft, manager of the McCallion Planetarium at the McMaster University in Ontario says a nova is "a good candidate" for the star of Bethlehem.  BBC Website

Astronomers have discovered how stars are born, they begin within clouds of dust, through turbulence deep within these clouds some of the dust sticks together to form a mass, a star is born. At its center it begins to get very hot and the gases hydrogen and helium begin to work together, fusion takes place and as a result the star begins to shine. (Stars Wikipedia)

The Messiah’s star “A star shall come forth out of Judah,” the ‘Star of David.’ Numbers 24: 17

At the time of Jesus’ birth there was one star that shone above the rest and three men who noticed this star, they lived to the east of Jerusalem  set out and followed this star and when they arrived at Jerusalem they asked King Herod, “Where is he who is born King of the Jews. For we have seen his star in the East.” Matthew 2: 1, 2.

The three wise men believed that the star would lead them to find Jesus and we know that they did find Jesus. 

Romans 1: 1-7  Matthew 1: 18-end

Matthew recollects the birth of Jesus, he recalled when Mary and Joseph were betrothed before they were married she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. 

 ‘The Christmas Experience’  

The producers of the DVD dramatized the events that surround Jesus’ birth by reconstructing the town of Nazareth:  a small group of stone dwellings and with the inhabitants clothed in the dress of the day, and with the animals: donkeys, goats and sheep making it realistic. The producers of the DVD carefully filled in the gaps on the events that took place that the Bible does not elaborate on.   In the first part a scene at Mary’s family home where they included the birth of Mary and later the love story, the meeting between Joseph and Mary and their betrothal were the Rabbi conducted a ceremony. 

On the third week of our Advent Bible Study we discussed various aspects on the DVD that related to the news of Mary being with child. When Joseph heard from her father that she was pregnant, he reacted how any man would react today: upset, angry, and also disbelieving when Mary said that God was the Father. 

We also thought along with the DVD that when it came to light that Mary was having a baby the residents of Nazareth would not have been overjoyed with the news. Even though Mary was under law and legally betrothed to Joseph  she risked being punished by the law (adultery) by being stoned to death, but Joseph stood by her.

Their family, friends and neighbours in Nazareth would have perhaps realize Joseph’s heartache,  and as Matthew informs us that Joseph contemplated annulling the betrothal between them, it was only after the dream that he was convinced that Mary’s baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Joseph's Dream.

When we look closely at the words Joseph heard in his dream, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

The angel addressed Joseph as the son of David, David was not his father’s name, his father's name was Jacob (verse 16) but it was referring to him being a descendant of King David. 
Paul in his letter to the Romans wrote confirming the prophecy that Jesus was the Messiah a descendant of King David. Romans 1: 3 Both Mary and Joseph were descendants of King David. Mary the daughter of Heli. Luke 3: 23

As Christians we do not inherit our faith from our family’s tradition of being Christians. We become Christians by being born into the family of God through faith in Jesus.

Jesus’ name means ‘Saviour’.  God’s word to Joseph, Jesus would save the people from their sins.

Over the centuries billions of people’s lives have been changed through the acceptance of Jesus as their Saviour. 

We know how stars are born and how we are born, but Jesus wants us to be born again.

To try to explain I have brought with me a snowflake, a real snowflake began its life in a cloud as a droplet of water. The cold temperature freezes the droplet and it falls to the earth as snow. When we look at a snow it is white, but in fact each snowflake is clear ice, what makes its appearance white: the ice crystals pick up on its surface rays of light and it remains, so whether it’s day or night snow remains white. Each snowflake has a different pattern usually with 6 points ( Snowflake Wikipedia)
So God does an amazing transformation of us. Just as the droplet of water is transformed into ice, the Holy Spirit acts upon the words that tell us about God’s love in sending his Son to bear our sins upon the cross, through taking our sin upon himself, Jesus redeems us, forgives us and we receive a free pardon which transforms our heart, soul and spirit we are born again. As a result we can now  see how God has delivered us from the darkness of living our lives without God.

The snowflake picks up rays of light.

 “Jesus said, “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”   John 12: 46  

The snowflake in darkness of night, the rays of light still remain. Jesus came to give light to the world, light in the darkness. We live in the midst of the world's darkness and like Joseph we have choices to make, he could have thought only of his reputation and annulled his betrothal to Mary, but in the light of his dream God's word to him he chose to marry Mary.
We can be faced with a choice that God has brought us to, in order to make that decision it is advisable to wait on God and to share our situation with a trusted Christian friend and pray for the Lord's guidance. 

We are changed, born again like the drop of water into a snowfake, when we accept Jesus as our Saviour.
Snowflake - no two are alike.
The snowflakes have different patterns with 6 points which reminds us that and we are all different in having our own DNA and our own individual finger prints, however we have one thing in common Jesus.  
Like the snowflakes lighting up the darkness, Jesus uses his light of the good news in us, to give light to others. 

On the DVD Joseph and Mary were married before the announcement of the Roman census and when the news came for them to comply with the census and go to Bethlehem, it must have been the last thing that they wanted to do, so near to Mary giving birth.

When we are planning an event we pray that nothing will go wrong, no last minute hitches. One can only guess how anxious Joseph and Mary were having to leave for Bethlehem. But this  can be God’s way of making it so that they would trust in him.

It is good to be reminded at Christmas of putting our faith and trust in God just as Mary and Joseph did all those years ago. 

Note. Adding story lines to Biblical events has always been discouraged by the church, so as not to undermine the truths of scripture for future generations.

Mary Chosen by God

A short study on Predestination

Predestination Under the Law of Moses

Predestination – to determine beforehand; to preordain by an unchangeable purpose. 

Under Law In the Hebrew Scriptures when God had a particular task for a person the Holy Spirit fell on them. They were singled out and filled with the gifts, whether it was to prophecy like Zechariah the father of John the Baptist, ”And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying “Blessed be the God of Israel, for he has visited his people,” or 
like Mary who was chosen by God to bear the Son of God, the archangel Gabriel said to Mary, “Hail, O favoured one, the Lord is with you. . . . “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”. . .  The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Luke 1: 26-35

John the Baptist baptized Jesus and at his baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon him, they heard God speak, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” Luke 3: 21-23 Hearing God speak would remind them of how God spoke to the children of Israel on their wilderness journey. Exodus 19: 9. 20: 22.

God had designated (office by appointment) Jesus to be the Messiah. 

In the synagogue at Nazareth Jesus opened the book and read from the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Jesus went on to say “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”Luke 4: 17-30  
The men in the synagogue were filled with anger as Jesus had intimated that he was the Messiah. During his ministry Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when he opened the eyes of blind Bartimaeus, freeing the oppressed mad man at Gerasenes setting him free from the demons that possessed him. Many thousands of people who were healed of their illnesses and diseases, and the dead were raised like Lazarus. 

The Messiah’s Secret.

Jesus did not openly proclaim himself to be the Messiah nor did his disciples; it was often inferred, but never proclaimed. During the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus was preaching in the Temple, during the discussion that followed they discussed whether Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. “Some of the people of Jerusalem said, “Is this the man they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” John 7; 25-27. Jesus did not reveal that he was the Messiah because he foreknew that he had to die on a cross and be raised from the dead.

Matthew records Jesus telling his disciples that they must not tell anyone that he was the Christ. And then he revealed to them that he was going to suffer and die. “Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Matthew 16: 13-23

Jesus chose twelve disciples from his followers.

After he had called brothers Peter and Andrew James and John and Matthew, Jesus later spent all night in prayer choosing the twelve disciples from among the other disciples. Luke 6: 12-16.

Jesus knew Judas was the one who would betray him through the course of events that would take place when the time came for his departure from the world at Jerusalem. Luke 9: 31

Jesus’ message was all inclusive

Jesus taught in the synagogue at Capernaum Jesus said, “For this is the will of the Father that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.” “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.”John 5: 6: 40, 44, 45.

After hearing from Jesus that unless a person ate his flesh and drank his blood they would not have the life of God within them, some of his disciples decided not to continue to follow him.  “But there are some of you that do not believe.”     

For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe.” Jesus asked his disciples, “Do you also wish to go away?” Peter made his choice and replied, “Lord to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.” John 6: 64, 66 – 68.   

All in the synagogue were taught by Jesus about him being the bread of life.  In the justice of God everyone present had the choice to believe or not.  

On another occasion Jesus said, “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” Luke 12: 8-10   

Jesus gave those disciples who turned away from him every opportunity to accept him.

God knew in his foreknowledge who would respond and those who would turn away.    

It was God's plan to send Jesus to redeem us by his life laid down, God had predetermined that Jesus would come and save us through his death on the cross and resurrection. But even Jesus in his free will could have turned away from what God his Father had called him to do. Jesus could have called legions of angels to repel his suffering and death. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus was tempted not to drink of the cup of his suffering and death. “Father if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22: 42. 

 Jesus died to his own will and as we know died on the cross and was buried in a tomb and God raised him from the dead, his blood being accepted by God as the final offering for the sin of the world.   

Josephus recorded Jesus’ resurrection in his book ‘Antiquities of the Jews' 

Book XVIII Chapter 3: 3’     

3. Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ.   

And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.”   

Under Grace the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost.                                                       

The Holy Spirit no longer fell on people as they were chosen by God for a particular task. After Pentecost the Holy Spirit was given to all who repented and believed in Jesus and is still received today.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.

“Jesus said, “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”   John 12: 46  

Did Paul teach predestination?

Paul in his letter to the Romans wrote, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those he predestined he also called; and those who he called he also justified; and those who he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8: 28-30.

In the same letter Paul wrote, “But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is the word of faith which we preach) because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, the same Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. For, 'every one who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Romans 10: 8-13

In the foreknowledge of Almighty God He knows all things from beginning to end, but in His justice He will give all the opportunity to receive Jesus as their personal Saviour.

Abraham in his conversation with God over His plan to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah said to God, “Will you thou indeed destroy the righteous with the wicked? . . .  Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Through Abraham’s appeal to God’s justice, Lot and his two daughters were saved from the destruction. Genesis 18: 22-19: 29

Predestination would teach us that our place in God’s kingdom is fixed once we have turned to Christ in true faith. This question of knowingly continuing to sin even though Jesus died for sin, this I feel is where predestination falls down.

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound.” Romans 6: 1

John Wesley “For Wesley, good works were the fruit of one’s salvation, not the way in which that salvation was earned. Faith and good works go hand in hand in Methodist theology a living tree naturally and inevitably bears fruit. Wesleyan theology rejects the doctrine of eternal security, believing that salvation can be rejected. Wesley emphasized that believers must continue to grow in their relationship with Christ, through the process of Sanctification.”  

Christians who teach Predestination say that God acknowledges those who have received Jesus as their Saviour and are secure from being turned away from the kingdom of God even though they later in their life they commit apostasy. 

This conflicts with the writer of the letter to the Hebrews wrote that once a person has received the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the Holy Spirit for themselves and then turns away from him, committing apostasy rejecting faith in Christ, then they are cut off from Christ.

“For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have been one enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the  goodness of the word of God and powers of the age to come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.” Hebrews 6: 4-6 

Strong words from the writer of Hebrews, if a person truly repents, I would like to think that Jesus would have mercy.

Updated two days after publication.This morning while continuing to think about it, I realized that the writer of Hebrews was enforcing the 'Ruling rod of iron' the Apostles were setting up the kingdom in expectation of Jesus' return within their life time. "It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Watch therefore-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at the cock crow, or in the morning, lest he come suddenly and find you asleep." Mark 13:34-36. They had been told to be about their masters business until he returned. Parables Pounds and Talents Luke 19: 11-27. Matthew 25: 14-30. Jesus hoped to return within their life time Matthew 16: 27, 28. Mark 8: 38. 9: 1. Authority given to disciples to retain or forgive the sins of people. John 20:23. Peter retained the sins of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. Acts 5:1-11. Here in Hebrews verse 4 he wrote 'For it is impossible to restore again to repentance . ." which would suggest sins being retained. (www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk for more study on the Messiah's Secret)

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians

“Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in his love to be his sons through Jesus Christ . . .  In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the council of his will; we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1: 3-12.

John Calvin wrote, “When Paul declares that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world he certainly shows that no regard is had to our own worth; for it is just as if he had said, Since in the whole seed of Adam our heavenly Father found nothing worthy of his election, he turned his eye upon his own Anointed, that he might select as members of his body those whom he was to assume (true without proof) into the fellowship of life.”

Calvin  continues, “By saying the Christians of Ephesus were elected before the foundation of the world, he takes away the reference to worth. For what ground of distinction was there between persons who as yet existed not, and persons who were afterwards like them to exist in Adam? But if they were elected in Christ, it follows not only that each was elected on some extrinsic (not contained or included within) ground, but that some were placed on a different footing from others. . . . Whatever virtue appears in men is the result of election.” ‘Calvin Institutes’ page 496
I cannot see how, ‘Whatever virtue appears in men is the result of election” before the foundation of the world could in any way add to our salvation in Christ. Jesus did a complete work of salvation in his death and resurrection.

Adam’s sin is still inherited today, it continues to be passed down the generations. John the Apostle wrote, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”1 John 1: 8. 3: 4-9.

Paul wrote, “For there is no distinction; since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3: 23.

As I see it there is good in everybody as well as bad, under law a good tree bore good fruit and a bad tree bad fruit, the nature of a person could not and cannot be changed with or without the law.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5: 8. Our nature is transformed by the Holy Spirit’s action upon our turning to Jesus in repentance and faith. ‘Come into my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee.”

John Calvin wrote, “Because we know not who belongs to the number of the predestined, or does not belong, our desire ought to be that all may be saved; and hence every person we meet, we will desire to be with us a partaker of peace. But our peace will rest upon the sons of peace.”

John Calvin acknowledges God’s justice in desiring that all should be saved, but then he made it conditional by inferring selection by predestination when he wrote “But our peace will rest on the sons of peace." Page 512

The Church, Christ’s body was in the mind and heart of God before the foundation of the earth. Jesus would have all to abide in him in love and faith. “Many that are first will be the last and the last first.” Mark 10: 31.

“A lady died and went to heaven, on her arrival she looked around for the people she knew. However, to her surprise there were people there who she did not expect. And I would think the same would apply to the other place too.”

Messiah's Secret Revealed

Yesterday saw the launch on line of my updated book 'The Messiah's Secret Revealed.'

www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk

Heavenly Father,
I pray that you would pour out your love by your grace on all who read it, so that your name would be lifted up in our nation and the world.
For those who seek you, will find you and come to know you as Lord
and Saviour. In Jesus' precious name. Amen.

The  Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the Cornerstone

Below 

The Ladybird Its appearance is attractive it has this unusual outer shell that wards off predators                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                         The Ladybird is generally considered useful, as they feed on aphids. Gardeners like to see Ladybirds coming alongside their work in keeping plants free of greenfly and other tiny creatures that love the food we eat.

Underneath the Ladybird's shell (house) we see its fine delicate wings and its body.
Children's nursery rhyme:
"Ladybird, Ladybird fly away home, your house is on fire and your children are gone."
Children are encouraged not to hurt Ladybirds as they are God's creatures and they work hard in our gardens helping the gardener to keep plants healthy.

Sermon
In the gospel reading the disciples were admiring the beauty of the house of God, the Temple in Jerusalem. Luke 21: 5-19 RSV Bible.

Josephus a first Century Historian In his book 'War of the Jews' Chapter 5 verse 6 

 "Now the outward face of the temple in its front wanted nothing that was likely to surprise either men's minds or their eyes; for it was covered all over with plates of gold of great weight, and, at the first rising of the sun, reflected back a very fiery splendour, and made those who forced themselves to look upon it to turn their eyes away, just as they would have done at the sun's own rays. But this temple appeared to strangers, when they were coming to it at a distance, like a mountain covered with snow; for as to those parts of it that were not gilt, they were exceeding white. On its top it had spikes with sharp points, to prevent any pollution of it by birds sitting upon it. Of its stones, some of them were forty-five cubits in length, 21 metres,(approx) five in height, 2 1/2 metres, and six in breadth 2 metres.” 

Its appearance impressed the disciples which made it all the more shattering when Jesus prophesied its destruction.  

 “As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall be not left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” Luke 21 v 6   

The Temple rituals and Sacrifices were to come to an end, with God providing a new temple in the risen body of Jesus. “Jesus said, ‘Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up,’” John wrote, that he spoke of the temple of his body.’” John 2: 13-22   

In the temple of Jesus’ body it’s furnished with the empty cross and tomb, both speak of his death resurrection, a crown not bearing thorns, but a royal crown. Revelation 14: 14. We find there the living bread; his words are Spirit and life. His prayers, he is the intercessor between us and God, having the nature of God, the commandments written on his heart.  

Nathan gave King David a prophecy “He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son; I will not take my steadfast love from him.” 
1 Chronicles 17 v 12-15. 2 Samuel 7 v 11 – 16. 

The temple Jesus’ body made of living stones, Jesus himself being the chief corner stone.

 “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. . . . So you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone.” 
Ephesians 2: 13-22   

A cornerstone is a huge stone built into the foundations at the corner of a building. It is where two walls come together built upon this foundation stone. It speaks of the joining together of the Jews and the Gentiles becoming fellow citizens as a result of the cross of Christ.   

“Come to him, to the living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built up into a spiritual house” 1 Peter 2: 5   

 Each stone representing a believer who has been reconciled to God through his final sacrifice that Jesus made for our sin on the cross. We have eternal life through his resurrection, we are raised up with Christ and we take our place in this building of Christ’s Temple.     

In the Bible stones were witnesses.    

Joshua gathered the people around at Shechem where a stone was used as a witness, “And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, (take notice) this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the Lord which he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God. So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.” Joshua 24: 26-28   

Alfred Edershiem in his book ‘The Temple’ he writes, that a stone bore witness to the presence of God  in the Holy of Holies where once would have stood the ‘Ark of the Covenant.’  “The latter was now quite empty, a large stone, on which the high-priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Atonement, occupying the place where the ark with the mercy-seat had stood.”    The ark had been lost or stolen before the building of the second Temple.  

The stones that make up Christ’s Temple are witnesses.  

We are witnesses for Christ and we are all equipped in some way to the work of building his temple, his church. 

When I look at the walls of our church building made up of a multitude of shapes and sizes of stones. It is like the people 'living stones' who over one hundred and seventy six years have witnessed their faith coming from all walks of life. Together part of the walls of Jesus’ Temple made up of different people, no two people being alike, all having a part in building Christ’s church.

On our Christian journey there is “A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.” Ecclesiastes 3: 5 

False Christ's

 “Jesus said, ‘Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, “I am he!’ and ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.’” Luke 21: 8 

Paul in his letter to the church of the Thessalonians was casting away stones when he spoke of false teachers who were instructing the Christians that the day of the Lord had already come. Paul said that it was not true.                           2 Thessalonians 2: 2.

There must have been confusion among the church members and I thought that maybe some were so expectant of Jesus’ return that maybe they had given up their jobs to go out with the Gospel.   2 Thessalonians 3: 6-10

Our neighbour the late Bill Traverse did just that, he had been told that Jesus was going to return in the Autumn of 1975, he gave up his job and went out from door to door with his fellow misguided Jehovah Witnesses announcing Jesus’ return. But as we know that Jesus did not return. ( I commend him though for his willing response.) 

Christ’s Temple is not yet complete more living stones have yet to be built into its construction.

Gathering stones for Jesus. All those who believe in Jesus enter into fellowship with him in his temple in witnessing faith in Jesus will suffer persecution.  Luke 21: 12    

The other week I bought a book by Chinese Pastor Brother Yun. I had read his first book ‘The Heavenly Man’ in 2004.

Yun when he was 17 had a vision of Christ, Jesus told him to take the good news of the gospel to the east and west of China. In his first book he records how the Lord accompanied his message with miraculous signs, but he was persecuted by the Communist authorities. It was at great cost to himself, his wife and family and his fellow Christians that the gospel has been made known.

In his second book  ‘Living Waters’ in it he writes of the Lord sending Christians from the Church in  Henan Province to Sichuan Province to witness their faith. They came back with broken bones after being beaten by the ruling authorities in that Province. Undeterred more Christians volunteered to go again, they returned beaten and bruised and still more Christians went and shared their faith in open defiance of the authorities, eventually the gospel news broke down the opposition and Sichuan Province has thousands of Christians. Yun makes the point that each returning Christian forgave those who had beaten and treated them badly. There are in China today 100,000,000 million Christians.

Yun sees the church in the West were Christians are in the boat in the storm on Galilee. The water is filling the boat and the disciples in the Western Church are in fear of drowning and Jesus is asleep. He urges us to fulfil the churches commission to take out the Gospel regardless of the consequences.

To pray and seek the Lord’s way forward for his church to spread the good news. Yun reminds us that Jesus is alive and he loves us and to tell the people who we know and meet.

When the last Christian comes to faith, the cap stone put in place and Jesus returns.

Jesus is also the Cap Stone. A cap stone is one of the finishing or protective stones that form the top of an exterior masonry wall or building. 

Zechariah's prophecy, “The he (The Messiah) will bring out the cap stone to shouts of “God bless it! God bless it.”  Zechariah 4: 7 NIV Bible.

Christ’s Temple will be complete.                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

The  Messiah’s Secret –  The Holy Spirit’s  Ministry

This morning at Church we heard about the work of the Bible Society and its' history. In 1804 it was founded and called the British and Foreign Bible Society. Its main work of translating the Bible into languages, so that everybody across the world can read the Bible in their own language. The Bible is both an historical book and it gives us the key to life.

In our Old Testament reading this evening, it is about a true event that took place approximately 458 BC. Ezra was appointed by the Persian King Artaxerxes 1 to reorganise religious affairs in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 8: 9-18

Ezra was a descendant of Aaron a scholar in the Law of the God of Heaven.’ He read it aloud to the people in Hebrew, a group of priests (Levites) then ‘gave an oral translation in Aramaic the official language of the Persian Empire. When the people heard the word, they wept, grieving for their sin. However Nehemiah pointed out to them that they should not weep but rejoice, he wanted them to rejoice ‘For joy is the strength of the Lord.’ God had given them atonement, a covering for their sin through the sacrifice made at the Temple.

Brother Yun a leader in the Chinese Church in his book ‘Living Water’ he wrote this.” If you have allowed the devil to steal your joy of the Lord from you, then you will feel weak and powerless. If you learn to praise Jesus Christ regardless of your circumstances, you will find inner freedom and joy, and you will have the strength to overcome whatever you are faced with. The joy of the Lord is such a key, because Nehemiah said.”The joy of the Lord is my strength," when the joy of the Lord returns, you will be strong!”

In our Gospel reading Jesus said this, “They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, or me.” John 16: 1-11.

Brother Yun spoke from his own experience, yes, he had broken the Communist law, he had been arrested for preaching about Jesus and he refused to deny his faith in Jesus, as a result he was imprisoned and tortured. In his prison cell he was downcast at first about it, but he began to praise the Lord for being able to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. The joy of the Lord filled his heart. Yun said that he forgave the soldiers who treated him badly.

Jesus also in this passage of scripture spoke of the Holy Spirit’s ministry: The Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement.

The Holy Spirit’s ministry working in Yun convicting the people of Henan Province of the sin of unbelief.   

In Nehemiah 8: 13 the following day Ezra read to the Israelites about Israel’s Feasts, as it was the 7^th month, they must have noted that The Feast of Tabernacles took place during the 7^th month the 15^th Tishri. 

This 7 day Feast commemorated the Exodus from Egypt were God instructed the Israelites to make booths in order to shelter them from the desert winds and the scorching sun.

                    

This prompted Nehemiah and Ezra to tell  the people to go and  gather branches of palm, myrtle, willow and make booths to celebrate the ‘Feast of Tabernacles’ or ‘Booths’. The booths were erected on their roofs, in courtyards by every family. It was to remind them of the Lord watching over his people

Another true story from Yun’s book of one of his friends being imprisoned for his faith. In prison he was severely mistreated by the guards, but he escaped, instead of running as far away as he could, the Lord wanted him to returned as a visitor and encourage those men who were in prison with him, so after only a few hours of his escape he went back. At the prison gate he showed his identity card which had his name on it, but the guards did not recognise him. Inside the prison he sat and spoke with a prisoner encouraging him. 

The Christian prisoners must have rejoiced to see his courage and the Lord’s hand upon him. He left the prison showing his card. Shortly afterwards the guards realised who he was and the alarm sounded, but he got away.   

God watches over his people.

Another element of the Feast of Tabernacles

 The pouring of water in the Temple.

From the Pool of Siloam a priest carried a pitcher of water into the Temple where the high priest poured out the water into a basin at the foot of the altar. From another pitcher wine was poured into a basin at the base of the altar. These mingled together as they flowed through special pipes at the back of the altar into the brook of the Kidron.

Victor Buksbazen in his book ‘The Gospel in the Feasts of Israel’ wrote, “It was prophetic and Messianic in its hope, looking towards the outpouring of the Holy Spirit not only on Israel but also the believers of all nations under the reign of Messiah King.”

The 7^th day was called The Day of the Great Hosanna

The outpouring of water on the seventh day was accompanied by a trumpet blast on the Shoffer, the waving of the lulav and the singing of the Hallel. It was on this day that Jesus stood in the Temple and cried out: “If any one thirst, let him come to me. He that believes in me as the scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7: 38

John recorded Jesus’ words and added that the Holy Spirit wasn’t given until after Jesus ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit was first given to his disciples and followers and since that time all who believe in Jesus receive the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. 

The Lord gave his disciples and us his Spirit and the Holy Spirit testifies to the righteousness of God of how much God loves the people of the world by sending his Son to die for us, to take our place, to take upon himself the dirty rags of our sin and cleanse them with his blood, and replaces them with white robes of righteousness.

Zechariah’s vision 

In the vision Joshua was standing before the angel of the Lord clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel.” Zechariah 3: 3,4.

This vision was prophetic of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Our dirty garments representing our sin washed clean in the blood of Jesus (the Lamb of God) now whiter than snow. We put on the garments of Praise, robes of righteousness. When God looks at his children he sees the righteousness of Jesus in us.

The Holy Spirit’s ministry working in us showing to the world the righteousness of God: in our actions and in our words. 1 Corinthians 2: 12-15

The Holy Spirit ministry he looks at our heart and judges our thoughts and intentions; he uses his sword to pierce us to separate the flesh from the Spirit. 

The flesh I see as having the fear of speaking out the Gospel. Whereas, the Holy Spirit directs us and gives us the words to speak out the Gospel in making Jesus known. I've witnessed it a number of times when a Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit and they go and tell everybody they meet, they are so wanting to share the good news and want the same for others.

The Church in the West Drowning in a Sea of Despondency.
Yun sees the church in the West as steering its own boat instead of Jesus and Christians are in fear of drowning as Jesus seems to be asleep in the boat. He urges us to take out the Gospel regardless of the consequences.

To pray and seek the Lord’s way forward for his church to spread the good news. Yun reminds us that Jesus is alive and he loves us and to tell the people who we know and meet.

Prayer

Father God you love us so much that you wait for us to come to the end of ourselves in our striving to spread the good news about Jesus. Help us to realise that you want to direct our work through your Holy Spirit’s ministry in our lives. May we be obedient to do your will? In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 The Messiah's Secret - Walking in the Footsteps of Christ.

A Lady's Meeting

Below: 
My two daughters wore clogs when they were  approximately two years of age.

Duke Wenceslas of Bohemia of the Czech Republic he lived between 901 – 935 AD was noted and honoured for his Christ –like life,

He gained a reputation of being kind and generous to the people of Western Bohemia. In his honour the people of Bohemia put a statue of him in the square that bears his name ‘Wenceslas Square’ in Prague.

A legend grew up around him; the Roman Emperor Otto 1 bestowed on the late Wenceslas the title “king” in association with his faith in Jesus, the “King of Righteousness.”

John Mason Neale reflected this in the title of his hymn, “Good King Wenceslas.” He wrote the lyrics of the carol to a 13^th Century tune, and in 1853 it appeared in “Carols for Christmas –Tide.” (John Neale also wrote: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.)

In the middle 1800’s in England there was both wealth and poverty. 

The industrial entrepreneurs making vast amounts of money, while those they employed were poorly paid for working long hours in the factory and mills. Thirty years before Manchester experienced the ‘Peterloo Riots’ through the introduction of new technology, machines that could do the work of several people.

 In his carol John Neale was encouraging and convicting the wealthy and high ranking men and women of his day to take notice of the life of Wenceslas, who was equal to them in every way, only he took Christ’s compassion to the poor of Bohemia and he encouraged the serving people to be like the Page who was obedient to follow Wenceslas.

Carol.  Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night, though' the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gath'ring winter fuel.

The season is winter and it is the day after Christmas Day, the evening of the Feast of Saint Stephen. John Neale was encouraging the wealthy to remember at  Christmas the poor. He brought to people’s attention in the carol the ministry of Saint Stephen. Stephen was chosen by the twelve Apostles (Matthias the twelveth Apostle) along with six other disciples to the food distribution to the Hellenists the Jewish Greek speaking widows.   Acts 6 v 1-6 

                                 

King Wenceslas looked out from his window and he saw in the moonlight a poor man collecting wood. Immediately he summoned his page and inquired about the man.

"Hither, page, and stand by me, if thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?"
Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain."

The page knew him and where he lived. He lived at the foot of a mountain near a forest on a route to St Agnes’ Fountain.

Even though he lived near the forest, he was no doubt forbidden to cut down branches off trees. In the Rossendale Forest the inhabitants of the forest were not allowed to cut off branches for their fires.  
Wenceslas’ page estimated that he had traveled a league, approximately 3 ½ miles. The evening was the cold, and the snow we understand was deep, so the wood would be covered with snow.                                                                                            

"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
Through the rude wind's wild lament and the bitter weather.

Wenceslas could have ignored the poor man, but he did not. John Neale pressing home the need of the poor. The Page was given instructions to get: meat, wine and pine logs, they would take them to his home.

Wenceslas a Christian man  reflected the life of Jesus, he had humility and compassion, also endless energy, and he would not be deterred by any hindrances like the weather or the time of day. 
Jairus came to Jesus to ask if he would go to his home to heal his daughter Jesus responded to his need, but was delayed by meeting the need of the lady who had a medical problem and she was healed. A man from Jairus' house arrived on the scene saying that Jairus' daughter had died and not to trouble Jesus any further. But Jesus insisted on going to the house where the girl lay dead. Jesus raised her from the dead. Luke 8: 40 - 56.
Some times when things seem hopeless, the Lord turns the situation around. John Neale inferring in the carol the need for commitment in helping the poor in the long term. 

"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blow stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page. Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly."

The two set out carrying their precious load, It was not easy; the bitter wind and the deep snow would have made the journey more difficult.  
Last winter carrying the shopping up the icy snowbound Higher lane, with the cold wind blowing against me, gave me a feel for what the Page would have experienced.                       

Wenceslas noticed that his Page grew tired and was struggling to cope carrying his heavy load of provisions, so he suggested that he followed in his footsteps.

The Page I would describe as being ‘poor in Spirit’ he was struggling to do what he was asked to do, in the strength that he had.  
A lady rang me this morning asking for help as she was not very well and as a result unable to fulfill an obligation, she asked me to do it for her. I saw her like the Page she was struggling to do what he was asked to do, in the strength that he had.   
I know a Christian lady who is very disabled by her illness, she is living out her faith in the strength that she has. She can’t feed herself, she is dependent on her carers and friends, she waits upon the Lord to give her the strength that she needs.              

‘Poor in Spirit’ in the Carol also points to the rich of John Neale’s day were stingy in their giving. Charles Dickens’ wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’ that was published in December 1843 were the main character Scrooge he was protriat as not wanting to give gifts at Christmas.

In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.

Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing

John Neale’s portrait Wenceslas is of him being strong like Jesus, someone to follow in his footsteps.

My sister, I admire very much, she became a Christian when her children were baptized at her local Anglican Church At that time she was married, however, a few years later, when the youngest was one year old, her husband left the family home. When the youngest of her seven children started Senior school she decided to get a job.

At my sister's church in a prayer meeting she received a picture in her mind of a pair of feet, she thought no more about it until on her next visit to church on entering a room the Vicar was speaking, she was surprised to hear him say “Jesus washed his disciple’s feet.”

Within a few days later, a friend of hers asked if she would accompany her to the chiropody clinic and it was after that visit she realized what the Lord was calling her to do, to become a chiropodist.

The Lord went before her on the course, when it came to her final exams, the night before she was swatting up and she read about the exchange of gases in the lungs.

Next day a large proportion of the exam was on that very subject. In her practical exam the tutor focused on bio mechanics - the working of the joints in the foot and the associated problems and remedies. Once again the Lord had gone before her, she was able to answer all the questions and she passed her exams. Over the last twenty three years, My sister's ministry has been one of care and compassion,  never charging more than a person could afford.

If anyone asks her, “How did you come to be a chiropodist?” she witnesses to how the Lord called her and how much the Lord has blessed her and her family.

John Neale’s message I’m sure has touched rich and poor alike to share  the love of Christ that the Lord gives to us freely to bless one another.