Sunday, May 22, 2022
Friday, May 20, 2022
Evangelism
What
a delight to find teenagers willing to work for the Lord Jesus
Young
people's question 3.
What
can I do to serve the Lord?
The
Lord Jesus said to some young people – "follow Me". One day they went
with Him to the meeting place and there He did the Bible reading. Another day
He was out in the community helping, healing, teaching. Then He led them to a
lonely place where just one man needed freedom from demons. He gave them a clue
to effective service – "I am meek and lowly in heart"
Young
people often find it harder 'being a Christian" than "doing something
for Christ". Zeal is good and often leads to experiences that develop maturity.
So I seek to encourage teenagers to reach out for Jesus Christ our Lord. Some
discover they can evangelise, others are better at encouraging.
Someone
will ask: "Do I need to go to Bible school?" That can be helpful, but
not essential. "Should I to work in some existing evangelism structure or
church system?" That can be helpful but not always. Paul the Apostle had a team. Phillip was often alone. George Muller involved many. Robert Chapman
went alone.
As
we choose to follow the master, He may lead us in unusual ways. Ours is to be
ready unto every good work as Peter said:
"Worship
Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope,
always be ready to explain it. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful
way." (1Peter 3:10)NLT
With
gratitude to the Lord and others, I will tell you of my younger experiences. At
age 17, away from home training in
Sydney, I helped at Sunday Schools in Migrant hostels, gave out Gospel leaflets
in George Street, sat with the homeless men in the parks and invited them to
the gospel meetings, purchased a printing press with my brother to print Gospel
leaflets, visited a young man in the mental hospital who became a friend for
life...... In my twenties I assisted in
open air preaching, Sunday Schools indoors and in the parks, manufactured and
distributed Bible plaques at agricultural
shows and markets.......... to God be the glory.
Oh
so much opportunity there is for those willing to take up the cross and follow
Jesus.
Young
man, young woman in Christ, let me encourage you to live selflessly for Jesus
Christ and for others, and let the Lord lead you.
Acts
20:24 " My life is worth nothing
unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus' - Paul
If you need ideas, write to me johnmckee@internode.on.net
Saturday, May 14, 2022
The questions of life
A Job – I feel the need to write
short articles to help young people find their way in this world.
Question1 " What job should
I do?"
Let the Apostle Paul give us a
clue
"learn to maintain good works for necessary
uses." Titus 3:14 KJV
As a teenager, I passed the exam
to become a telephone technician and this question presented itself – was a
telephone a necessary part of life?
Paul himself was quite academic,
but first learned to be a tentmaker. So he says: "Settle down, and get to
work. Earn your own living" 2 Thessalonians 3:12
For some a chosen career may lead
to useful service for God. For many the employment, career may change if we
stumble, and if we submit to the leading of God. Trusting HIM is more important
than the perfect job.
Most important is to answer the
question – 'why do I want a particular job?' – for myself, for others, or for
the Lord Jesus.
Remember Jesus became a carpenter,
but that was not the significant part of His life. Rather, in the Father's good
time, He laid down the hammer and began teaching, healing and laying down His
life for others.
Pause and pray, God still speaks
to those who take the time to listen.
Questions welcome johnmckee@internode.on.net
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Peter writes
Peter's
considered teaching about Jesus and His death
1
Peter 1:2 The believer in the Lord Jesus
Christ is 'cleansed by His blood'. Just
as the priest in the Old Covenant set the people apart to God by blood sacrifice, so believers today
are sanctified to God by the death of the Lord Jesus.
1
Peter 1:19 Peter infers that the ritual of Torah is
insufficient. Instead, the voice of John the Baptiser identifies Jesus as the
Lamb of God. Peter confirms that Jesus
is the Lamb of God who sets us free from the power and penalty of sin. His
blood ( blood is a metaphor for a life taken or given), is like the blood of the Passover lamb that protected
from the judgement of the LORD.
1
Peter 2:22 Peter witnessed the
sufferings of Christ and gives this detail:
"He
committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled He
did not revile in return. When He suffered He did not threaten ..........."
Peter
identifies Him as the Shepherd suffering for His sheep (John 10)
1
Peter 3:18 - this is special:
"For
Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous that He
might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the
Spirit."
Jesus
never sinned, but He died for us sinners, to bring us safely home to God.
This
explanation of the death of Jesus changes
the narrative from tragedy to triumph. Jesus Christ by dying, makes
believers forgiven and fit for heaven.
1
Peter 3:22 The happy ending according to the plan of God
"Jesus
Christ has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels,
authorities and powers having been made subject to Him"
And
there is so much more – read the letters written by Peter and Paul and John,
and highlight the mentions of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. – you will be
blessed.
JRM
Sunday, May 1, 2022
The Old Testament speaks
The
Old Testament predictions of Jesus:
Is
it important? – Yes – Peter speaks (Acts 3) "What God foretold by the
mouth of all the prophets, that Christ should suffer, He has thus
fulfilled." In these prophecies we find many secrets as to why Jesus died.
Please look them up in your Bible.
Deuteronomy
18 – Moses foretold the character of the coming Messiah – one whose word was
final and to be obeyed.
Psalm
2 – David prophesied of the coming King – God's Son
Psalm
22 – graphically describes the sufferings of the crucifixion
Psalm
110 – previews the exaltation of the Messiah
Isaiah
53 – explains very clearly the cause of Jesus sufferings
I
quote "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our
iniquities....
"The
Lord laid on Him the sins of us all
"When
His soul is made an offering for sin..
"He
was numbered with the transgressors, yet He bore the sins of many, and makes
intercession for the transgressors."
The
whole crucifixion story takes on a new meaning when we read Isaiah 53 – it is
God at work reconciling people back to Himself.
The
song is good
"Bearing
shame and scoffing rude
In
my place condemned He stood
Sealed
my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah
, what a Saviour"
Many
more Old Testament places tell more about the Lord Jesus. Try reading Zechariah
(9:9, 12:10 13:6-9 14:4)
For
the many who do not read the New Testament eg Jews, this OT teaching is very relevant.
If
you don't have a Bible let me know at johnmckee@internode.on.net
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Peter explaining Jesus
Peter speaking again. – Acts 3
Peter's second message to the people is similar but different.
After healing the lame man, Peter explains:
An extract - "......
you denied the Holy and Righteous one, and asked for a murderer to be
granted to you. You killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the
dead."
This message is full of special titles for the Lord Jesus. As
you read the chapter through , highlight them:
3 verse 13 -- God's servant Jesus
14 --
Holy and Righteous one
15 --
Author of life
18 --
suffering Messiah
22 -- the
Prophet
On the basis of Jesus raised from the dead and glorified in
heaven, Peter assures the Israelites that God can forgive, and could restore
the promises of restoration for the nation. But as Peter finishes, he goes to
the root of the problem:
"God, having raised His Servant (Jesus), sent Him to you
first, to bless you by turning everyone of you from your wickedness."
(Acts 3:26). Before national restoration
could happen there needed to be individual turning from sin, turning to God
through His Son.
The sad history of this book, Acts, is that the Jews
(Israelites) refused the offer, and eventually their very precious temple was
destroyed and the land occupied by Gentiles.
This message is full of links to the Old Testament – more for
next time.
JRM
Friday, April 22, 2022
Jesus Christ from God's perspective
Peter
preaching – Acts 2
On
the day of Pentecost, when so many people were focused on Jerusalem as the
centre of Jewish worship, God demonstrated that He had a wider agenda. The disciples
of the Lord were enabled by the Holy Spirit, to speak of the wonderful works of
God in many different languages. God was reaching out beyond Jerusalem, beyond
the Jews, to save people of every nation.
So
Peter explained the life of Jesus:
"Listen
carefully...............
In
the last days God said :'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people ........'
Peter
continues: " People of Israel listen. God publicly endorsed Jesus of
Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders and signs through Him, as you
know. But Jesus was delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge
of God. With the help of lawless Gentiles you nailed Him to the cross and
murdered Him. However God released Him from the horrors of death and raised Him
to life again, for death could not keep Him in its grip."
Peter
concludes his message:
"Know
for certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, to be both Lord
and Messiah (Christ the anointed one)."
My
summary of this is - God at work
The
end of the message brought promises of forgiveness, salvation, the Holy Spirit.
Read
this account in Acts 2 again and remember Peter is speaking , not from himself,
but by the Holy Spirit – speaking for God.
And
many did respond in repentance and faith, showing their change of mind by
baptism and joining with the disciples in commitment to the risen Lord and one another.