Notes for A sermon on Sunday 19th August 2007
Good Morning, welcome to everyone.
“The 72 returned with joy and said “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven”
Lets go to the Lord in prayer before we begin the message this morning.
THE MESSAGE IS FOR THOSE WITH NO FAITH, THOSE WITH FALTERING FAITH AND THOSE WITH STRONG FAITH
TURN WITH ME PLEASE TO DANIEL 12, DANIEL 12.
“ At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of the nations until then. But at that time, your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you Daniel close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.
Then I, Daniel, looked and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river – How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?
The man clothed in linen, who as above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand towards heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever saying – “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken all these things will be completed.
I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My Lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
He replied, “Go your way Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand but those who are wise will understand. From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches 1335 days.
As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will arise and receive your allotted inheritance.
MANY LINKS TO REV – WILL BE MADE LATER
Lets see now, what did that all say?
· A prince will arise to protect your people
· A time of distress worse than ever seen before
· Lots of people will awake from the dead
· Some will live in everlasting glory
· Some won’t!
· 2 guys stood on a river
· Takes 3 and a half years to occur
· Many people will be purified
· Many won’t
· Something about a number of days
I think that’s the list – would you please now turn To Mathew Chapter---------------------------------
WAIT A MOMENT, I AM SURE THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE MENTIONED. LET ME LOOK JUST ONE MORE TIME, AND YES, THERE IT IS, I HAVE FOUND IT.
IT’S A BOOK, THE BOOK OF LIFE; THE BOOK WHERE THE NAMES OF THE SAVED ARE WRITTEN.
I have been doing a lot or reading lately – things picked up from Esme, Geoff, Linda and others among the fellowship.
I have several bibles now, a pocket one, 2 NIV study bibles and the Archaeological study version recommended by Ian.
I must have amassed dozens of publications now, but there is one missing.There is just one other book that I need and although I know I am not really supposed to use this privileged position to ask for things from people, I cannot resist but to do so.
Ian, you are a very knowledgeable guy, Geoff you too my good friend. “Where can I get the book – Christian bookshop perhaps, does anyone know.
Today’s questions are very straightforward, and they are: -
· Who puts your name in and what do you have to do to make sure your name is in the book of life?
· Once it’s in there who can take it out?
Of course the way to the book of life, which we shall all see one day, is through another book, and that’s the bible. God wouldn’t tell us about the book of life without providing enough information on the requirements for getting your name in there.
Before moving on just imagine the feeling you are going to have when you kneel before you maker and he asks “Why should I let you in here?” Even as a believer I think I will be filled with fear at that time. Even though I know what the scripture tells me it will be a life changing experience I am quite sure.
Can you imagine the feeling the none believer will have at this time – the ones who have not opened their hearts to Christ. The ones who have said “I will take my chance when and if I meet my maker, the ones who have thought that that their good deeds will see them through. Just imagine being in that position on the day of judgement – in the full knowledge of the consequences, of what comes next. Even though God loves them without their belief and faith it won’t be sufficient – it just will not be enough.
For the none believer, or those who simply aren’t sure it will be too late then. What a shame, what a great pity, what a tragedy.
Obviously I have little idea on exactly what will happen – but imagine as a believer in the saviour how you will feel whilst he looks for your name. Will it be in alphabetical order, or by sex, or on merit of righteousness or whatever? Cleaning Geoff’s windows
Can you imagine how you are going to feel whilst you wait?
The good news is that you do not have to wait until then to ensure your name is in the book. There are a number of things you can do before that time, and that time, and thankfully God has told us what they are.
Before we move on to look at the requirements for getting your name in that book lets take a closer look at some references that God makes to it.
We believe that the Bible is God breathed scripture after all.
Psalm 69 is a plea to God by the author to show mercy and save him from a host of enemies. Verses 27 and 28 say
“Charge them with crime upon crime, do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous”
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians 4 verses 3 and 4
“Yes, I ask you loyal yoke fellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life”
And then in several quotes from Johns’ Revelation.
Revelation Chapter 3 verses 4 & 5
“Yet you have a few people in Sardis who may not have soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will be like them, dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches”
Revelation Chapter 13 verse 8
“All the inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast – all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the lamb that was slain from the creation of the world”
Revelation Chapter 17 verses 7 & 8
“Then the angel said to me “Why are you astonished?” – “I will explain to you the mystery of the women and of the beast she rides which has 7 heads and 10 horns. The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast because he once was, now is not and yet will come”
Revelation Chapter 20 Verses 12 - 15
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Finally Revelation Chapter 21 verse 27, where the state of heaven is described; where Gods revelation to John says –
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful but only those whose names are in the Lambs book of life”
SO FAR AS I AM CONCERNED I BELIEVE THE BOOK OF LIFE EXISTS, AND I’LL TELL YOU WHAT ELSE I NEED TO HAVE FAITH IN – THAT OUR NAMES ARE IN IT. ESPECIALLY MINE!!!!
To most people of course when you ask them why should God let you in heaven (assuming there is a belief in the respondent that this might be a possibility” is) the standard answer often is – “That’s my business not yours and I will take my chance thanks very much”
I run my own business and a great deal of my time is spent away from home – most of it in fact. I travel the country, and sometimes the world to visit clients and give advice, training people and carry out safety audits.
If I don’t arrive at the correct time and at the correct location I would find myself in a great deal of trouble very quickly! (And also out of business)
I learned in the early days that it was vital to be in the right place at the right time – vital.
So I always plan my journey carefully down to the last detail. Taxis, car journeys, parking details, flight times, vital documents and onward connections; if I don’t plan I might not get to where I am going.
I read the travel itinerary and follow it to the letter.
I consult my atlas, sat nav system, train timetables, flight schedules
etc.
PULL OUT THE ENVELOPE AND EMPTY CONTENTS GP THROUGH THEM ONE BY ONE
If you don’t know where you are going any road will get you there!
If you don’t know where you are going any road will get you there!
If you don’t know where you are going any road will get you there!
Now lets make a comparison at this point.
If you had asked me a couple of years ago about my salvation and chances of getting in heaven I would have got pretty annoyed pretty quickly and told you to mind your own business. I would have said,
“I’ll take my chances, that’s my affair and not yours. I will stand my corner if and when I meet God”
I hadn’t even studied the travel itinerary (Bible), hadn’t takes any advice or guidance (information at the travel desk /Pastor) and yet I would have been wiling to take a chance with my salvation.
HOW IMPORTANT TO YOU IS YOUR SALVATION THEN?
IS IT PERHAPS WORTH STUDYING GOD’S ITINERARY BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE?
IS IT REALLY WORTH LEAVING THE CHANCE AND OPPORTUNITY OF ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD TO TOTAL CHANCE?
IF I AM WRONG ABOUT THIS AND THERE IS NO HEREAFTER THE ANNOYING THING FOR THE NONE BELIEVER IS THAT YOU NEVER WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO SAY, “I TOLD YOU SO”
IF I AM CORRECT AND GOD AWAITS US ALL I WON’T BE HAVING THE LAST LAUGH, IT WILL MOST LIKELY BE A CRY OF ANGUISH AND PAIN AND A SIMPLE QUESTION – WHY DIDN’T YOU LISTEN, AT LEAST LOOK AT EVIDENCE AND AT THE VERY LEAST STUDY GOD’S TRAVEL DOCUMENT – THE BIBLE.
Well, the excellent news is that for you and I it is not too late. We still have the opportunity for salvation. We can still be blessed with the righteousness and grace of God – we can have our names in that book of life.
So what do we need to do then, what requirements need to be fulfilled to make the grade?
The easy answer is to believe with your heart and confess with your mouth hat Jesus is your Saviour and that he died for you and was resurrected and sits on the right hand of God continually interceding for you and I.
That’s the easy answer and even I know that for goodness sake!
It’s maybe also the easy option.
Consider this parallel or example.
Imagine that this piece of clay can talk (I can!) and understand a simple conversation. So please come with me on this.
Ok Mr. Clay, see that beautiful piece of porcelain over there?
“Yes”
“Do you believe that it is made from the same material as you?”
“Is it?”
“Yes, it is, and do you know you can be like that beautiful cup too, do you want to be like that. You will be looked after and cherished by your owner for ever as a thing of beauty”
“I want to be like that please, make me like that, I believe and I am telling you that that’s what I want. Now please. Now please. Hurry up because I can’t wait. Hurry up. Do it now!”
Of course what the Mr. Clay doesn’t realise yet is all the processes that its going to go through to get to the finishes article things might not be quite so straightforward.
First it gets thrown onto the potter’s wheel, soaked with water, spun around a great speed. Squashes, shaped, trimmed, honed and finally modelled. Just when it thinks the worst is over someone throws it to the back of an oven a cooks I for a few hours.
Then it’s out of the oven for a period of cooling, and a coat of paint is applied because the owner needs it to be a particular type of cup. Some are for drinking out of, some are for looking at, some are for special occasions and so on. TEACH, TONGUES, PROPHESY, HEAL
Just when the painting is over and poor old Mr. Clay must be thinking thank goodness for that --- back into the over we go for another 6 hours of firing.
Out for a glaze, final polish, and then, and only then will Mr. Clay be a real thing of beauty that not only believes and says it believes, but does it and displays it’s commitment by action.
IT FEELS LIKE IT SHOULD
IT LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD
IT ACTS LIKE IT SHOULD
IT DEMONSTRATES THE CORRECT THINGS
IT SETS THE CORRECT EXAMPLE
And the analogy holds good for your faith and belief. Oh, it’s not my place to say that if you truly believe in the resurrected Christ that you aren’t already saved – I believe you are. But if you really want to be a disciple of Christ in the true sense it means more than that.
And it’s not easy. Come with me please to the Book of Romans Chapter 2, that’s Romans Chapter 2 please – thank you.
“You therefore have no, excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at what ever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgement do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgement against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgement on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgement? Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience not realising that Gods kindness leads you toward repentance?
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wroth against yourself for the day of God’s wroth when His righteous judgement will be revealed. God will give to each person what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory honour and immortality He will give eternal life.
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew and then for the Gentile, but glory honour and peace for everyone who does good, first for the Jew and then for the Gentile, for God does not show favouritism.
It’s not our place or responsibility to judge others.
If anyone could lead a perfect life God would grant him eternal life – but no one can.
Therefore if we believe in the resurrected Christ and the shedding of His blood for the remission of our sins God grants eternal life on that basis. This is the whole purpose of the cross.
Turn please to John 1 verse 12 &13 inclusive
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children not born of natural decent, nor of human decision or a husbands will, but born of God”
· First point is that salvation is based on faith alone
· There are more than 200 passages in the New Testament where this is made clear
· Salvation is faith based – turn to Acts please chapter 16 verses 29 – 31
“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household”
ALL YOU NEED DO TO BE SAVED IS BELIEVE, NOTHING MORE OTHER THAN TRULY BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOU. THAT’S ALL.
· Exactly what is it that we are to believe?
o That Christ died as a substitute for you and your sin.
o That he rose again
o That he now sits in heaven on your behalf as the Lamb of God continually interceding on your behalf.
And we demonstrate that belief by baptism
So what are the things we should do then after we have been saved?
I believe so I am OK so why should I worry then?
Maybe I shouldn’t worry, or should I?
God has put my name in the most important book I know about. God put it there in the first place when He granted me righteousness by his grace. He can of course take it out again, and I can help Him do that too if I really want to. Try some of these for size.
1. Join the vast majority. Live for today, don’t be ridiculed, laughed at, in some cases beaten and in extreme cases killed. Go back in the greyness of life and be A.N Other.
It’s easy - go for the easy life.
2. Say you believe but harbour grave doubts, grave enough to go quiet when the topic comes up “What do you mean a born again Christian Bill?” WHEN I WAS SAVED I WAS EMBARRASSED ABOUT ANYONE FINDING OUT – REMEMBER GEOFF OUR FIRST CONVERSATION
3. Believe truly, but swerve away from the requirements of a good Christian example. Most of you will know what I mean here. You know how you repeatedly try to come up with the goods –I am going to be more Christ like (what!!!) and then after the first hour of failure when you have lost your temper, told a couple of little white lies, coveted someone’s possessions – you know exactly what I mean.
Try this self-test sometime, I did some months ago and became really disappointed with the results. Ask someone really close to you what changes they have noticed in you recently – since you became a born again Christian.
Here are the answers I got from 2 people really close who know me probably better than anyone else.
1. Apparently I have stopped swearing.
2. I read the bible more.
3. I apologise more and sooner after an argument.
4. I go to church more often.
5. I play a lot of hymns on the organ at home.
Now come the painful ones!!
1. I’m still rather short tempered
2. I’m Still narrow minded
3. I still am entrenched in some old fashioned beliefs
I am going to stop there
I was going to draw a list of the values and attributes that Yeshua displayed throughout His earthly life and see how I compared but I changed my mind. Didn’t seem a good idea after all!!
After reviewing the extensive list I remember praying straight away and giving thanks to God that I had been saved through His grace and not my acts!
Turn with me please to James 2 verse 14 and onwards. James 2 verse 14 and onwards – thank you.
“What good is it my brothers if a man claims to have faith but no has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him “Go, and I wish you well, keep warm and well fed but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith, I have deeds” Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do. Yo believe that there is a God – good. Even the demons believe that and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless. Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone”
You can see there is a definite link between faith and action.
Show faith in your actions
Your actions will show your faith.
Do you want to keep your name in the book of life?
Do you want to meet God and be sure your name is there?
Do you want to avoid the uncomfortable wait while God runs His fingers through each page and down each sheet saying to Himself “I was sure I had put your name in here somewhere Bill, Ann, Mary, Allan”
Well if you do, keep the faith, stay strong with the word of God and demonstrate to others that you believe. Do it in the right way too.
We live is a different world where things move quickly, most people don’t have time for each other. Bring our God to others in their language on their ground. Sometimes that might mean thinking more about how God might want us to pass his word.
I spent a deal of time looking and praying for the ending to this message – I went from 1 Peter to 1 John and back again to and fro for a few weeks. Please turn with me now to 1 John verse 1.
“That which was from the beginning; which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the word of life. The life appeared, we have seen it and testify to it; and we proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you may also have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the father and with his son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete”
Marvellous words – could you imagine, could you even begin to imagine the joy of actually being there when Christ came to save mankind.
Do you want to keep you name in the book of life?
John tells us do to the following -:
· Walk in the light – try to be Christ like. Impossible to emulate God I know, but it’s certainly not impossible to try!
o Patience
o Love
o Understanding
o Caring
o Helping
o Forgiving others
o Setting an example
If I want to bring others to Christ I have to demonstrate my faith and belief through actions – there really is no other way.
· Remember – we will fall short constantly – when we do John tells us the plain fact and truth – DOESN’T HE IAN ??!!
“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives”
You may remember a few months ago I stayed away from church because I had been short tempered about something and argued about it with a family member?
I stayed away for all the right reasons – because I didn’t want to be hypocrite etc, but I was missing one basis point about my saviour. He forgives if I repent and ask for forgiveness. That is the cornerstone of our faith in Jesus Christ.
The way to getting others names in the book of life is to pray constantly for their eyes to be opened. Loved ones, friends, enemies alike. Ask God and he will intercede. If you want the proof you are looking at it. I spent 56 years doing my own thing in my own way and in my own time. Then your prayers were answered. Am I the perfect Christian – no, I don’t think so. Do I have all the answers; no again I don’t think so.
Please turn with me to 2 Timothy Chapter 4
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing in his kingdom I give you this charge. Preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrines. Instead, to suit their own desires they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of the evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”
In closing I read 2 short passages from God’s word, the first from Revelation
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Finally I close with the same words that I opened with, from Luke’s gospel
“The 72 returned with joy and said “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven”
AMEN
