Must

You MUST be born again (born from above) 
                                   John 3.7

Even so MUST the Son of Man be lifted up  (on a cross)
                                      John 3.14

He MUST increase, but I MUST decrease  (The Lord preeminent )
                                           John 3.30

Reading the Bible

John Wesley, who here makes six key practical points:

If you desire to read the Scriptures in such a manner as may most effectually answer this end, would it not be advisable,

(1) To set apart a little time, if you can, every morning and evening for that purpose?

(2) At each time, if you have leisure, to read a chapter out of the Old and one out of the New Testament; if you cannot do this, to take a single chapter, or a part of one?

(3) To read this with a single eye, to know the whole will of God, and a fixed resolution to do it?

In order to know His will, you should,

(4) Have a constant eye to the analogy of faith, the connexion and harmony there is between those grand, fundamental doctrines, original sin, justification by faith, the new birth, inward and outward holiness;

(5) Serious and earnest prayer should be constantly used before we consult the oracles of God; seeing ‘Scripture can only be understood through the same Spirit whereby it was given.’ Our reading should likewise be closed with prayer, that what we read may be written on our hearts;

(6) It might also be of use, if, while we read, we were frequently to pause, and examine ourselves by what we read, both with regard to our hearts and lives….

And whatever light you then receive should be used to the uttermost, and that immediately. Let there be no delay. Whatever you resolve begin to execute the first moment you can. So shall you find this word to be indeed the power of God unto present and eternal salvation.

The Servant of the LORD

Mark’s biography of Jesus

The writer begins with the greatest glory of Jesus :-

“The Son of God”    

 -   In this  title lies the greatest expression of God represented in the person of the Son. No greater glory is seen in Jesus. This is the one who could look up into heaven and say “Father... the glory that I had with you before the world began.....” (John 17).

But from this point, Mark’s gospel describes the very active servant of Jehovah. In chapter one He is the servant promised in the Old Testament. Then He is the servant identified with a sinning people by baptism (He did no sin, but gave His life as a ransom for sinners). At this beginning His voice is clear – “The kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the Gospel.”

As the servant of the Lord moves forward,  many wondered at His miracles.

 Perhaps his greater glory lay in this – He did not claim or seek glory for Himself. Proud humans claim the glory of success for themselves, but not the Lord Jesus. Mark, the failing servant, highlights the frequent calls by the Lord to sacrificial service.

For example  “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (8:6)

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

This humility was exemplified in the Lord Himself:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

In one sense there was good reason to question whether He was the Messiah – no human glory, no human credentials, no army etc, Yet His claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God was so clear :

Mark 14:62  “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven”

Wherein was the problem – they knew not the scriptures (eg Isaiah 53) nor the power and purpose of God.

 In true form to the ‘Servant gospel’, it concludes thus – “ He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” (16:19)

Well did the prophet say “Behold My servant”  (Isaiah 42)

Read it for yourself and discover the glories if the Servant King.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

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A speaking God

If God spoke to you, would you listen ?

Our glorious Lord

Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie

Although He was abused, He never tied to get even.

And when He suffered,  He made no threats.

Instead, He had faith in God , who judges fairly.

Christ carried the burden of our sins.

He was nailed to the cross,

So that we would stop sinning and start living right.

By His cuts and bruises you are healed.

You had wandered away like sheep.

Now you have returned

To the one who is your Shepherd and protector.

1 Peter 2.22 CEV

Jesus the King

The glories of our Lord

His glories are many. As I outline some, may you be inspired to search the Bible for more.

Matthew (1^st book of the New Testament) introduces the glory of the King. He presents the family rights of Jesus as the ‘son of David, the right to sit upon the throne of Israel as promised to David one thousand years before. God kept the line of heirs intact and now the wise men come seeking the ‘King of the Jews’.

Some of His moral glory shines in this – Jesus knew He was destined to sit on David’s throne, but instead of grasping for that recognition, He waits for the appointed time, He submits to the path of the Father’s choice, He let’s scripture be fulfilled – both in terms of suffering and ascendancy.

The record of Matthew would appear, to human reasoning, as a record of failure – the king wearing a crown of thorns! The king of the Jews dead at 33 years! The warriors of the King hiding in fear and Satan’s grip establish over Jew and Gentile.

Herein lies the unusual glory of God –

out of defeat He makes victory,

out of poverty He makes riches,

out of weakness He makes strength, 

out of darkness He makes light,

Out of nothing He makes everything!

The resurrection of Jesus, is just the beginning of many new glories. Matthew’s biography of the king does not finish in defeat. The real story is just beginning – the king ‘lives forever’, the king is exalted by God to ultimate authority, in a dominion greater than Israel, His subjects number millions beyond the Jews and His glories are seen, not only in Himself, but also in the multitudes who follow Him.

The King gave a promise – “ you shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory”  Matthew 24:30

‘even so come Lord Jesus’

JRM

Good news

Our greatest need

We live so much for the present. We pray so much for our comfort and health and wealth . When the Lord Jesus was here, He cared for people in their human needs, but pointed to the greatest need – to be right with God.

He identified our troubles as coming from Satan and ourselves. This means instead of seeking remedies for our discomfort, we rather need to be right with God.

The beginning is to repent:

- to be honest about our wandering ways,

- to confess our sins

- to admit that we listen more to the Devil’s media than we do to the word of God

- to own up to the reality that we have not given God the honour and worship He deserves.

Our greatest blessing

To anyone who takes this humble place of saying “God is right and I have been wrong” – to all such the blessings of God flow like a river.

-         Forgiveness is given to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

-          Eternal life is a gift for all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ

-          A new kind of life is commenced for all who choose to follow Jesus.

-          The Holy Spirit lives in all who yield to Jesus Christ as Lord

-          Hope and purpose are real in life and eternity for everyone who trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ.

-         And His present help in all the stresses and troubles of life is very real.  He does not promise a  trouble free life, but He does promise to be with us so that we can be overcomers.

Please notice that His blessings are not what we earn – they are free gifts of His love, paid for by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Start reading the Bible in John chapter 1

“To as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believed in His Name.”  John 1.12

A Bible free is available if you do not have one

johnmckee@internode.on.net