Category: Bible

The Greatest Intervention of all time

April 20, 2025

The title of my Easter message today is “The Greatest Intervention of ALL Time”. As you can probably guess being Easter it is about Jesus intervening in this world and His actions we celebrate each year at Easter.

If we think about God for a moment we realise God is a God of intervention. Throughout history or His-story, He regularly stepped in to help His people.

When the people were captive in Egypt under Pharos harsh rule He sent Moses to tell him to “Let my people go”. When Pharos army chased them with murderous intentions, God intervened by parting the Red Sea. When the people wandered in the desert God intervened and provided Mana and Quail for food. When the people were in dispute, God intervened to provide judges to make wise decisions. When the people were off track spiritually, God intervened and sent Prophets to call the people back to Himself. When Daniel was in the lion’s den, God intervened. When Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego were in the fiery furnace, God intervened. When Saul was hunting down and killing Christians, God intervened and spoke directly to Saul and his life was changed forever. History tells us he became the Apostle Paul and went on to be a great church planter and leader to the early church.

Jesus is the ultimate intervention

So how does this idea of intervention tie in with the Easter message? I believe the ultimate and greatest intervention of all time is found in the Easter story. Right now I want to share four reasons why Jesus intervened into our lives.

1. Jesus intervened to bring us life more abundant

John 10:10 KJV – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This verse is part of the passage that talks about the Good Shepherd caring for and protecting His sheep. Jesus as the Good Shepherd came to give us an abundant life. The NIV says describes this abundant life as a “full life”. The NLT describes it as a “rich and satisfying life”. The Greek word used here in this text is perisos. This means more abundant, superior, exceedingly above, beyond measure.

Jesus did not want us to live a dreary, ho-hum life. He came so we could experience abundant life. Jesus wants to give us a life with meaning and purpose; a life with that knows who you are, where you are from and where you are going; a life that has our sins are forgiven and eternal destiny sorted out; and as the Good Shepherd He wants to provide protection and provision; He wants to give us a life that brings us peace in knowing these things. Jesus wants to give us a life that knows that no matter where we go or what we do, He is right there with us helping us through.

For me I have known this abundant life. Since that Saturday night in July 1989 when I invited Jesus into my heart and life as Lord and Saviour, I have experienced an abundant life first hand. I know that in the good times and the bad times, God is with me. He holds me in the palm of His mighty hand. He provides for me and my family. He has given me a peace that surpasses all understanding. A peace that is not from this world.

Jesus intervened to give all those who trust in Him abundant life.

2. Jesus intervened to bring us hope

Romans 5:1-2 NIV84 – Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

One of the great messages of the Bible is hope. In the NIV the word hope is mentioned over 150 times. One of the greatest things we can have in this life is hope.

Hope according to the Bible is having “a certainty in the present and a firm expectation for the future”. This is what we have in Christ – a present certainty and a firm hope for the future.

We have been justified with God and we have peace with Him, because of what Jesus has done. As a result of this we know beyond doubt we are right with God and we can be confident on the day of judgement, because as we saw a few weeks ago, perfect love drives out all fear. We have a great hope for the future.

We know that Jesus has gone to prepare a place and one day He is coming back for us. John 14:1-3 says, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me.  2 There is more than enough room in My Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.”

Jesus intervened to give us this great future hope. He is coming back for us… maybe even today!

3. Jesus intervened to bring us victory over sin and death

Romans 8:1-4 NLT – So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  2 And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.  4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Jesus intervened to give us victory over sin and death. The Law of Moses with all of its rules could not save us, it only shows us we are sinners who need saving. Jesus’ death on the cross intervened and paid the price for our sin. He took our punishment; the price has been paid and God is satisfied (Romans 3:25).

Not only has sin been defeated, but death has too. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NLT says, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.  57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Death for us as Christians is not a scary thing. We need not fear it. Death for the Christians in not the full stop and the end of the story, but it is the full stop at the end of the first chapter. We have a great hope as we saw earlier.

Jesus intervened to give us victory over sin and death.

4. Jesus intervened to bring us salvation

The Bible has so many great verses that talk about salvation and what Christ has done for us. None greater than John 3:16-18.

John 3:16-18 – “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  17 God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.  18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

These verses talk about a God who could not stand for us to miss out on spending eternity with Him. Jesus intervened in our world and in our lives so He could save us.

Jesus wanted you to spend eternity with Him so much that He left the glories of heaven to live amongst us. He came to show us what God is like, to show us how to live and love one another, and ultimately, He came to die on the cross for our sin. You were so important to Jesus that He stood before evil men and said nothing at His trial. He allowed Himself to be beaten, whipped and carry a cross through the streets. He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross and left to die the most painful and horrific death that one could endure. He did this for you. He did this for me. He did this for everyone in our community, in our nation and in our world. He wanted everyone to be saved so much that He held back nothing… not even His own life. No price was too great for Jesus to pay for you. And He paid it gladly.

Jesus intervened to bring us salvation.

Closing Summary

So in closing today, on this Easter Sunday, I want you to remember the greatest intervention of all time. The intervention into this world of Jesus, who came and died on the cross for our sin and to open the door for us to find salvation and eternal life in Him.

Today let us remember why Jesus intervened…

1. Jesus intervened to bring us life more abundant
2. Jesus intervened to bring us hope
3. Jesus intervened to bring us victory over sin and death
4. Jesus intervened to bring us salvation and eternal life

Amen

Crucify Him, crucify Him

April 17, 2025

Many years ago at Bible college one of my lecturers asked us to read through a play in our class.

The class was New Testament introduction and we had to read about the trial of Jesus. We were split up in to groups and we have five minutes to read our assigned sections. We had no choice who we were.

I was put in to a group of people who wanted to see Jesus crucified. As the trial was taking place we had to yell at Pilate to crucify Jesus. We had to be loud, angry and convincing as we did it.

I cannot tell you how hard it was to get the words “Crucify Him, crucify Him” to come out of my mouth. It was just a simple script, but the emotions that ran around my body and mind were very strong.

As I spoke those words I longed to be one of His followers who begged for Him to be released. Even though I was nearly 2000 years after the event and I knew about the resurrection I was torn inside.

After we read through the script, we had a class discussion. The lecturer asked each group how we felt and what we thought. It was not surprising the emotions it brought up in all of us.

We all wanted to see Jesus released and we all felt powerless. Even the person reading Pilate’s words did not want to see Jesus crucified!

This was over 30 years ago, but the memories are still with me. To yell “Crucify Him, crucify Him” over and over was very difficult for me. But it gave me a real glimpse in to the trial and death sentence of Jesus.

Somehow I suspect this was our lecturers plan. That we would see the trial and sentence of Jesus in a new and deeper way. I can certainly say that it worked for me!

10 things God says about you

April 9, 2025

The title of my message today is “10 things God says about you in the Bible”. Today I want to use Romans 12:3 as my starting verse and go from there.

Romans 12:3 says, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

This verse reminds of the important of having a right view of ourselves. It says we should think of our self with sober judgement. The Greek word used here for sober is so-fron-eh’-o. It means to think and be in your right mind or to think correctly about ourselves. Some people think too highly of themselves, while others have a too low opinion. The best way to think right about ourselves in by seeing who God we are in the Bible.

As Christians I believe at times we need to be reminded of who God says we are. Sometimes we forget just how loved we are and just how important we are to God. Today I want to look at 10 Scriptures that changed and transformed my life. They helped me to see myself through God’s eyes and are helping me to fulfil the destiny God has before me.

The main focus is to let God’s Word speak to our hearts and minds. I will read each Scripture and make a short comment.

1. You are created in God’s image

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)

We are made in God’s image. According to most theologians or Bible scholars, being made in God’s image has three aspects or three schools of thought…

  • Structural – Structural in the way we are made. We think, can reason, make choices and love. We are logical cognitive beings. When we do these things we reflect God’s image.
  • Vocational – God is vocational. He is creative in the way He works and created this world. When we create and work and use our gifts in the world around us we reflect God’s image.
  • Relational – God is in the perfect loving triune relationship – the Trinity. Three persons, but one in love, purpose, mission, unity and relationship. When we love God and relate to each other in loving ways we reflect God outwards to the world around us.

While most theologians or Bible scholars fall into one of those camps, I believe that being made in the image of God is a combination of all three. When we make choices, when we work using God’s gifts and when we related lovingly to each other, we reflect God’s image.

As Christ followers we need to remember that God’s DNA is stamped on us. Yes the fall of man skewed the image when God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden and sin entered the world, but it was restored in Christ’s death and resurrection. We are able to reflect all God wants us to be.

2. You were chosen before the foundation of the world

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— (Ephesians 1:4-5)

God chose us before the creation us the world. What did He choose us for? To be holy and blameless in His sight. Why? Because that would give Him pleasure! It was His will and prior choice to have you in His Kingdom and adopted into His eternal family.

3. You were created for good works

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

We are created by God for good works that He planned for us before He made the world. You were on His mind and He had a job for you to do. Like Queen Esther was chosen for a time such as this, so are you. God made you perfectly to play your part. He used all the right ingredients when moulding you on His potter’s wheel. You are gifted with everything you need to do all He needs you to do. Next week we will look into this in a deeper way when we look at using our gifts well.

4. You were adopted as children of God

Yet to all who received him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— (John 1:12)

We are God’s children. Adopted into His eternal family because our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. We are co-heirs with Christ. We are all born into this world in to natural families. Some are good and some are not so good. But when we come to Christ we enter the eternal family of God. We here are brothers and sisters. Not just for this life, but for all eternity.

As I shared in my message a few weeks ago – we will spend way more time in eternity than we will on earth. When we have been there 10,000 years we have only just begun. Look around and see your brothers and sisters in Christ. These relationships will last for eternity. We are brothers and sisters in Christ forever and ever and ever. We are adopted into Christ and God’s eternal family.

5. You have the power of the resurrection inside you

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Romans 8:11)

Not only are we God’s children and made in God’s image, but we have part of God living inside us. We have resurrection power living in us. The Bible also tells us that we are a Temple of the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit resides in you (1 Corinthians 6:19). When we come together we have part of the Creator of the universe resides in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). We don’t have to feel powerless because the same Spirit who hovered over the waters and the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is alive and active in you.

6. You are no longer condemned

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

Often we feel condemned and unworthy in the face of a Holy God. God tells us in the Bible there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. None at all. The Greek word used here for condemned is kat-ak’-ree-mah. It means an adverse sentence or judgement from a judge. We are condemned and ready to be sentenced to jail. But this verse says there is no condemnation. No sentence against us. Our judgement has been put aside.

As a result we can’t let other people make us feel condemned, or the devil and we can’t even condemn ourselves. We are free. Personally I was the worst offender at condemning myself. If I spoke to you the way I spoke to myself most of the time, then you would not want to be my friend and you would definitely not want me preaching up front! Romans 8:33-34 NLT told me that if God has said we are right with Him, who can condemn us. No-one! Not even ourselves! Now I am free to live in the love of Christ. Free from condemnation.

7. You are alive and seated with Christ

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)

When Jesus returned to heaven He took up the highest place in the universe – seated at the right hand of the Father. These verses tell us that spiritually we are seated right there with Christ. You hold a special place in the heavenly realm. Learning this at Bible college changed my whole perspective on life and how I see myself. I now see my standing as with Christ. I can hold my head up high.

8. God created you in your mother’s womb

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13).

This is David praying/talking to God. David realised the special role God played in creating him. He knit him together in his mother’s womb. The potter moulded and shaped him into a future king. God also knit you together. Making you exactly how He wanted you to be. There are no mistakes. You are what He intended you to be. God said that same thing to Jeremiah. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “before I created you, I knew you.”

9. God loved you and sent His Son for you

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)

God loved you so much that He couldn’t bear for you to miss out on spending eternity with Him. He sent Jesus to die for you. Jesus gave His life for you. For God so loved you as it says in John 3:16. It is the greatest sacrifice and the greatest demonstration of love of all time. He loved you first and planned always for you to be His treasured possession. You are God’s treasured possession. Loved and treasured. God is besotted with you.

When God looks at you He looks at you with the pride and love of a parent holding their new born child, or like when you watch your children play, or like when you see your child ride their bike for the first time, or when you see your child grow up and marry. There is an immense love and pride in you. God loves you. He adores you. He is besotted with you.

10. You are free in Christ

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

If you are in Christ, you are free. Free of worry about salvation, free of worry about the future, free of the past, free of sin, free of guilt, free of condemnation, free of striving to be accepted, free of the need to know if God loves you or not. He loves you and accepts you. You are His. You are chosen. You are part of His eternal family. You are free of everything that would hold you back from being all God wants you to be.

Closing

Today we have looked at 10 passages that tell us who we are and what we have in Christ. And this is only just scratching the surface of the amount of passages in the Bible that tell us how important to and how loved we are by God.

When we fully believe these verses it changes our hearts and minds and it truly changes the way we live. We can stand taller and we can be confident in taking on the world knowing that God loves us, is with us and is on our side.

Summary

  1. You are made in God’s image
  2. You were chosen before the world was made
  3. You were created and equipped for good works
  4. You are adopted into His family
  5. You have the Holy Spirit living inside you
  6. You are no longer condemned
  7. You are seated with Christ
  8. You were knit together in your mother’s womb
  9. You are truly loved by God
  10. You are free in Christ. Free from everything that would hold you back.

It is my hope and prayer that you will take these Scriptures home with you and read them everyday this week. Let them sink deep into your heart and mind. Amen.

What I look for in a church?

April 8, 2025

What makes a church a church? What sort of things should they do or believe to make them a genuine church that Jesus is building? What should we look for?

  1. Do they believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God? If so, is it held up above all other books as God’s Word to us? Some groups have other books they add to the Bible or hold them up as equally important, this makes them cults. (2 Timothy 3:16-18, Revelation 22:18-19).
  2. Do they hold true to the ancient creeds like the Apostles creed, the Nicene creed and the Athanasian creed? Holding firm to these means they have an orthodox christian faith that the church has held on to for centuries. You can find them on our about page.
  3. Do they trust Jesus as the only way to salvation? Do they believe Jesus is the eternal Son of God? Do they believe Jesus died on the cross for our sin and was physically raised to life? Have they accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour? (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9-10).
  4. Do they regularly practice the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion, the Eucharist) where we take Jesus’ body in the form of bread or a wafer, and His blood in the form of juice or wine. Jesus told us to do this in remembrance of Him and His sacrifice for us (Luke 22:18-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).
  5. Do they practice baptism for new believers? Some churches may baptise with full immersion or by pouring water on the head. The main thing is to baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as Jesus taught us (Mathew 28:18-20, Acts 2:38).
  6. Do they meet together and focus on what the early church did? Acts 2:42 says, “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching [the Bible] and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.”
  7. Do they rely on the Holy Spirit to make them more like Jesus, to empower them to be His witnesses, to give them gifts to serve, and to display the fruit of the Spirit? (Galatians 5:22-23, Acts 1:8, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

These are some of the things that I think are important when deciding on which church you attend if you are a new believer or new to an area.

Most churches have websites with a statement of faith on there. I would always check it out before attending.

Who would I be from a book?

April 7, 2025

If you could be a character from a book or film, who would you be? Why?

I would want to be one of the earlier followers of Jesus from the Bible.

I would have liked to have been present at His miracles, His sermons and the every day conversations along the road or around the camp fire.

To be present to see Lazarus raised from the dead, the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, demons caste out and Jesus walking on the water would have been priceless.

I am so thankful we have these things recorded in the pages of the Bible, but to be there would have been amazing.

So who would I be from a book? One of Jesus’ early followers.