Jesus’ ascension

John Johnstone Studies in Acts

Video
Sermon: Sunday, 24th September, 2023
Speaker: John Johnstone
Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

We spend a lot of time in church teaching about the cross and the resurrection, and rightly so, because these are both central pillars of the Christian faith. However, perhaps we are guilty of neglecting the ascension of Jesus, when he left this world to return to Heaven, to rule and to reign as the exalted King of Kings. Do you think much about Jesus’ ascension? Remember, after Jesus rose from the dead, there was a period of 40 days when he made several appearances to people, to individuals, to the disciples and also to a larger group. There are about a dozen such appearances recorded for us in the Bible. For each of these appearances, the resurrected Jesus would have left Heaven, from the right hand of the Father, and come back down to earth. For example, he appeared on the road to Emmaus, to the disciples without Thomas but later with Thomas, to Peter and to 500. (See 1 Corinthians 15:6) Jesus did not stay on earth throughout these 40 days, but was coming and going from Heaven. But this coming and going was not going to last.

Jesus wants to make it clear the disciples that he is about to return to Heaven permanently, and there will be no more resurrection appearances until the Second Coming. I think that’s why Jesus leaves in the public and dramatic way he does. If you think about it, he could have just disappeared and never come back. But that would have left the disciples in limbo, wondering if he would appear again in a few days’ time.

“Jesus departed in a style designed to convey finality. Even then, it was not ‘Farewell’ but ‘Au revoir’, for as the apostles stood gazing at the heavens, two angelic messengers appeared to tell them that Jesus would return from Heaven in a similar manner to that in which he had just departed.” (Gordon Keddie)

The temporary period of 40 days has drawn to a close. Jesus is leaving them physically, only to return at the end of time, when he comes back as Judge. Amazingly, his departure is a wonderful thing for the church, because although no longer physically present, by his Spirit, Jesus will be with all of his people all of the time, empowering them in their Christian walk, and assuring them of his love. ‘Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement…’ (John 16:7-8)

1. The details of the ascension

We are not given many details about this crucial event. ‘And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.’ (Acts 1:9) Imagine being there. Jesus begins to ascend into the sky. And the only other detail we are given is about the clouds. Is this significant? I always just visualised Jesus being hidden from them as he went above the clouds. However, it actually says that the cloud not only surrounds Jesus, but also carries him away. In other words, the cloud is his mode of transport to Heaven.

This might seem insignificant. But it is actually a wonderful detail, especially in the light of the prophecy made about Jesus’ ascension in the book of Daniel. Acts details the ascension from a human viewpoint, whereas Daniel’s viewpoint is from Heaven itself. ‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.’ (Daniel 7:13-14)

The way Daniel describes it, Jesus’ ascension is like his coronation procession, where he is taken away from his earthly ministry and into his heavenly glory and reign. Just 10 days after his ascension, on the day of Pentecost, Jesus will pour out his Spirit on the church. ‘Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.’ (Acts 2:33)

When you think of Jesus, and talk to Jesus, where do you picture him to be? This is an important question! It is vital that we grasp that he is no longer dead on the cross, but is alive in the throne room of Heaven, in heaven’s headquarters, where he is working all things for good.

2. The distraction of the ascension

What do I mean by that? They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’ (Acts 1:10-11)

At first, the question of the two angels might seem unfair. Of course, the disciples would be staring up at the sky, we might think. So, why do the angels give this mild rebuke? We need to remind ourselves of the context of this passage. Jesus has just given his disciples a hugely important job to do, to be his witnesses near and far. They have received their marching orders. They are to wait in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit, and then they are to roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the task of spreading the gospel. In this sense, the angels are redirecting the gaze of the disciples. It is as if they are saying, don’t look up to the sky, wondering when Jesus will come back, but rather look out into the needy world, and focus on the task he has entrusted you with.

“Looking up into heaven is inappropriate. He will indeed come back in the same way. But, being assured of that fact, you must not spend any time looking up into the sky in anticipation of the event. Rather, you must set your eyes upon the work he is giving you to do!” (Gordon Keddie)

I think there’s a lesson for us today. Maybe we are a bit like the disciples here. We’ve been given a clear job to do, but instead we stare up into the sky, as it were, speculating about when exactly Jesus will return, or speculating about other questions in the Christian life, which are of very little importance. It’s quite an image- the disciples are skygazing when they should be amongst people, living out the gospel in actions and sharing it in words. Sometimes we make such a big deal about our preferences for worship style, whether based on the Bible or not, or how we should dress at church, or wishing church was more like the way it was when we were young. We can be guilty of majoring on the minors. Jesus would want us to focus on the major task at hand- evangelising lost souls. What is it that distracts you in the Christian life? What will help you to refocus your gaze onto being a witness for Jesus? Stop looking, and get working!

Or maybe you are distracted by tv or holidays or gardening or good food or your appearance. Don’t gaze into the mirror, but see instead the lost world around you. We all have our hobbies and legitimate concerns, but don’t let them weigh us down. ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.’ (Hebrews 12:1-2)

There’s a further incentive here for staying focused on being a good witness of Christ Jesus, and that’s the fact that Jesus is coming back. ‘This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’ (Acts 1:11) This is the Second Coming of Jesus. It helps us to consider the sobering truth: we will one day have to give an account of our lives to Jesus. We won’t have to give an account of our lives to anyone else, not our spouse or children or friends or even our bosses. Only Jesus. It makes sense then, to live for his glory, and to get on with the work he has given us to do. Then we’ll hear one day the amazing words ‘well done, good and faithful servant’. Now is the time between the ascension and the 2nd Coming. Now is the time for sharing the gospel.

3. The difference the ascension makes

We’ve already noted one huge difference that the ascension makes to the church, and that is the giving of the Holy Spirit to all those who trust in Jesus for their salvation. Yes, we’re called to be witnesses and that’s not always an easy task, but we’re equipped by God for the job. He will help up live out holy lives and he will give us the words to say as we share our testimony. Let’s spend the rest of our time looking more widely at what the rest of Bible teaches us about the practical difference the resurrection makes in our lives. As we do so, let’s consider what Jesus is doing right now: he’s sitting, he’s interceding and he’s preparing.

Jesus is sitting. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he sat down. ‘Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.’ (Hebrews 10:11-13)

When you are doing manual work, for example, you’ve been catching up on housework for most of the day, we all know the lovely feeling of knowing that you’ve finished the housework and you can just sit down and have a cup of tea and rest. Sitting down is a sign that the work has been completed. Jesus has finished his work of dying on the cross for our sins, and so now he can sit in the place of rule, at the Father’s right hand. That is great news for us. It means that the task of covering over our sins has been finished. So, when we trust in Jesus for our salvation, God treats us as if we had never sinned. We are righteous and innocent in his sight. Enjoy the fact that Jesus sits in Heaven.

Jesus is interceding. ‘Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.’ (Romans 8:34)

What does this mean? It means that Jesus is always thinking about us, praying for us, and arguing our case before his Father. He does this for all of his children. He does this for you, if you trust in him.

I’ve shared before how encouraged I was to meet an elderly Christian man who said to me: ‘I pray for you every day’. I was really taken aback. I didn’t know him very well. But it was just what I needed to hear, and just what I needed in my weakness. But there’s something even more encouraging- Jesus is doing that for us each and every day.

Jesus is preparing. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’ (John 14:1-3)

Is your heart troubled today? What a truth this is to help us to keep perspective- Jesus is getting everything ready for us to spend eternity with him in Heaven. One of our friends in Oxford allowed us to spend time in their cottage there. It was really kind of them. They worked hard to get everything ready for our arrival. Then they could say: ‘Come and stay – everything is now ready’. One day we shall hear those words from Jesus himself.

These are all huge encouragements. Let’s think about the ascended and reigning King Jesus more than we sometimes do!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

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Great is Thy Faithfulness

Hymn Histories : Great is Thy Faithfulness
Written by : Thomas Chisholm in 1923
Tune : Great is Thy Faithfulness
Composer : William Runyan

Post author : Nicky Donald

This great hymn was written by an ordinary man in an ordinary situation in the ordinary ups and downs of life. By his own admission he didn’t suffer any life-shaking circumstances and even described himself as ‘an old shoe’!

He was born into a poor family in Kentucky and worked as an insurance agent for most of his life. He wrote, ‘My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.’

However, he did enjoy writing poetry and during his life he wrote over 1200 poems, most of which no one will ever hear. But at the age of 57, Thomas sent a few of his poems to William Runyan at the Hope Publishing Company who was particularly moved by ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’ speaking as it does of:

  • God’s unchanging faithfulness – what a comfort that is in these ever-changing times.
  • Creation’s witness to His mercy and love – haven’t we enjoyed being so much more aware of the beauty of the changing of the seasons this year?
  • God’s faithfulness revealed in our lives – how wonderful is that – He pardons all our sins, fills us with His peace, assures of His presence, gives us strength, hope, and blessings too numerous to count! Hallelujah!

Runyan set the song to music and it quickly became a favourite with the Moody Bible Institute, and later Billy Graham chose it to be sung in his crusades. Now it’s known all over the world and has been used to encourage millions of Christians to trust in a faithful God. Pretty impressive spiritual fruit from a life insurance agent!

And that’s why Thomas Chisholm’s story is so encouraging. It shows that we don’t need to be incredibly gifted, or attractive or clever or influential for God to use us to proclaim His good news. He can even use an ‘old shoe’!

Whatever challenges, trials or disappointments we might be facing right now, this hymn reminds us that God’s promises are true, that He never changes, that His compassions never fail, and that His faithfulness to us in Christ Jesus is more than good – it’s life-changing!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Encouraged to witness…

John Johnstone Studies in Acts

Video
Sermon: Sunday, 17th September, 2023
Speaker: John Johnstone
Scripture: Acts 8:1-8

Is 2023 a good time to be alive in Scotland? Perhaps you wish you’d lived 100 years ago when the churches in the town were much fuller. Perhaps you wish you’d lived in Israel in the days Jesus was on the earth. Scotland seems so secular these days. So many people believe it doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere. Many seem to reject Christianity, without even knowing what it is really about. It’s easy to have a negative outlook. But I’d like us to be encouraged by this wonderful passage this morning, by understanding the times we are in today. There’s no point in false hopes or groundless positivity. However, this passage is full of truths which ought to encourage us, if we are able to grasp them and think deeply about their implications.

So, what are some reasons to be encouraged in these days?

1. Jesus is still at work in the world

The book of Acts is written by Dr Luke, the same person who wrote Luke’s Gospel. In a way, the book of Acts is just Luke, volume 2. Acts is the sequel to Luke. Both of these books are dedicated to a man called Theophilus. We know almost nothing about this man, but some think he was a high-ranking government official, who is a believer, but has some doubts about the faith. Luke wants to assure him of the truthfulness of the gospel. Luke wants Theophilus to know that all that is recorded in Luke and Acts really happened. It is trustworthy information, from eyewitnesses who saw these things. ‘In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven…’ Notice the word ‘began’. The implication is this: even though Jesus will no longer be with them physically, because he is going to Heaven, he will continue to be at work in the world by his Holy Spirit, through his apostles and through the church.

Even right now as we worship in Kirkcaldy Free Church, Jesus is with us by his Spirit, and is at work in our lives. He is the King and head of the church. He continues to bring new people into his family, and continues to help Christians on a daily basis. This is enormously encouraging. When we see people becoming Christians, and we have in recent months, we are seeing Jesus at work. When we see Christians, over time, wrestling with their sins and problems, and making progress, this is Jesus at work. We need to grasp this and we need to believe it.

In the book of Revelation chapter 1, we read about seven lampstands which stand for the seven churches: ‘I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.’ (Revelation 1:12-13) Jesus is with us and amongst us, working in our lives. It is often said, and helpfully so, that the title of this book ‘The Acts of the Apostles’ is not a good one. It is not the God-given title. A better title suggested is ‘The Acts of Jesus Christ, by the power of his Spirit, through the church”. We are part of the church. So, let’s not be pessimistic about the church, or cynical about her, but believe that we are the instrument through which Christ continues to be at work in the world. Be encouraged.

2. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world and within us

We must not miss the drama unfolding in this chapter. For hundreds and hundreds of years, God had been promising that a day would come when his Spirit would permanently indwell his people, giving them enormous power. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come on particular people, at particular times for particular tasks. For example, a prophet or a king might receive the Spirit’s filling for a time, in order to help them with their God-given work. However, in the Old Testament, these people would know the Spirit in a more temporary and external way. However, a day would come, God promised, when the Spirit would be poured out on all Christians, to help us live for Jesus, and be his witnesses on the world.

‘For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and will take the name Israel.’ (Isaiah 44:3-5)

‘I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.’ (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

These are wonderful promises. And as Jesus is about to leave the disciples and ascend into Heaven, he says, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 1:4-5)

What a tremendous time for us to be alive! We are in the ‘last days’ when the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all Christians, so that we can be empowered to tell people about him. Why is the Holy Spirit given to us? One reason is clear: so that we, ordinary Christians, will be able to share our faith with other people. Read v 8: ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

Again, we can be pessimistic about sharing our faith in Fife. We can think all kinds of negative thoughts, like: no one will be interested in what I have to say; or I can’t possibly explain the gospel to other people- that’s a job for ministers and elders; or I won’t be able to answer questions I’m asked. But none of these things are true. What is true is that God has given us an enormous task of spreading the gospel world-wide, but when he calls us to a task he always provides the power to carry out the task. You are a witness of Jesus Christ. All Christians have the power of the Spirit to give us understanding, and give us the words to say, and give us the ability to live consistent holy lives, and give us boldness to speak to people. Is this a good time to be alive in Scotland? It’s the age of gospel proclamation, when the good news is to be taken to the ends of the earth.

3. The disciples’ confusion

The disciples must have been absolutely pumped with excitement at what Jesus was saying. At long last, the days of blessing were coming- just a few days away. Their expectations are sky high. However, they have the wrong expectations. We can see this from their question: ‘Then they gathered round him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ (Acts 1:6)

The main point of their confusion flows from assuming that the Kingdom was going to be a political kingdom. They are thinking of a geographical kingdom, like the United Kingdom. But Jesus’ Kingdom is a spiritual one and not limited to one nation, not even Israel. In fact, Jesus Kingdom was now going to be international. The church was not going to be national, but international and universal in scope. And the Kingdom was not, as they thought, going to arrive quickly. They ask if Jesus is going to ‘at this time’ restore the Kingdom. Jesus corrects their thinking on all of these points, telling them not to focus on the timing of the Kingdom, but rather on the task of the Kingdom.

The disciples have a limited vision of where the Kingdom would be. Their minds are on the country of Israel. They want Roman power to be broken there and be an independent nation again. They want the glory days of King David and King Solomon. Jesus broadens their horizons. Christian mission would include Jerusalem and Judea, but would also take in the despised Samaritans and even further afield- the very ends of the earth. Even in our own church, we can see how Jesus’ statement has come true. We have people from Moldova and Romania and Nigeria and Slovakia and Brazil and Bulgaria and hopefully help coming from the US and even some Irish people. I’d love to see more nationalities here. The good news that Jesus is able to forgive sinners who place their trust in him is news that the whole world needs to hear.

4. The task of the church

We’ve already seen this a little but let’s think more about it. The apostles were called to be witnesses to Jesus locally in Jerusalem. But they were also to have a regional concern for those in Judea. And they had to take the message to their historical enemies, the Samaritans, and even beyond that to the ends of the earth.

What about Kirkcaldy Free Church? Of course, we must have a concern for our own town of Kirkcaldy. But the ripples must go beyond our own doorstep, to the region of Fife. But that’s not far enough. We should be concerned with Scotland and Europe and the farthest places on the globe. When you throw a stone into the water, the ripples go from the centre and continue to go out wider and wider. This is a picture of what our missionary interest ought to look like.

We must start locally. This is our Jerusalem. Sometimes it is hardest to witness at home, to our children and our spouse and our siblings. Bringing our children to church and worshipping with them at home is part of being Jesus’ witnesses at home. Are we doing this? Are we reaching those closest to us? That surely includes our immediate neighbours and work colleagues. Pray for opportunities to speak with them about Jesus. We run the church café on order to reach people locally. We must also use our own homes too, spending time with people, getting to know them.

However, we also have a responsibility to reach those further afield. How wonderful that we can be involved in supporting a church plant in Leven. We are not just focused on our own patch that we are blinkered to real gospel need in Fife at large. We must reach beyond our own locality. We think of Scotland, and we pray for a healthy gospel church in every community in Scotland.

Finally, we care deeply about gospel impact all over the world. We get involved in Blythswood and Steadfast Global and Wycliffe and Tearfund and Overseas Mission. This week I was privileged to interview a young man from Brazil who wants to come and minister in Scotland. He is Brazilian but he sees the gospel need in Europe and in Scotland in particular. He understands that his gospel interest should not just be limited to Brazil, but to the ends of the earth. He has a broad missional horizon.

A challenge for today – it’s true that being witnesses for Jesus will not be easy. Some people might not want to listen. Others might not want to be friends with us any more. Some people will be offended. Does that mean we should retreat, and just keep our faith to ourselves? Are we to be some kind of private Christians? Just because it is a costly and self-sacrificial activity?

Of course not! Now it is our turn to be witnesses for Jesus. That’s one reason why we need to get involved in our communities, and in the lives of friends and neighbours. We have good news to share. That’s why we need to keep on praying as we do this, depending on the power of God. And we need to go out in faith, with the message that Jesus Christ is the only King and the only Saviour. Tell other people about Jesus. We have been given the power to do so.

‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:8)

I can only imagine

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I can only imagine

Hymn Histories : I can only imagine
Written by : Bart Millard

Post author : Nicky Donald

This hymn was written by Bart Millard, founder of the Christian band MercyMe.

It is surprisingly difficult to find the stories behind more modern Christian hymns. Perhaps most stories are only told by others looking back at a hymn writer’s experience? It certainly can’t be because modern writers don’t experience the same grief and pain, comfort and wonder that our older hymn writers did – as we can see from today’s story

Bart Millard says that he wrote his song in only a few minutes but that it took at lifetime of chaos, heartache, abuse and broken relationships to craft which makes it all the more surprising when you hear the words of the first verse, which take us straight to the gates of heaven and asks the question ‘What will it be like the first time we see His face?’
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine

So how did Bart get to that point, from the background he had where to call his home life rough is an understatement? His father physically and verbally abused him on multiple occasions throughout his early life, making his life a misery. The only constants in Bart’s life were his faith and his music, anchoring him in the deep love of a heavenly Father who was so different from his earthly one. But despite that, the weight of a broken relationship with his father haunted him.

Bart left home to follow his love of music and had nothing more to do with his father. It was only when his father was diagnosed with cancer that they eventually were brought closer together. Bart was amazed to see first-hand how dramatically his dad had changed after he too had come to trust in the Lord as his Saviour. He says, ‘I got a front row seat to see this guy go from being a monster to falling desperately in love with Jesus. He was like the godliest man I’d ever known.’

When his Dad died, Bart was left with the assurance that he had gone to a better place where there is no crying, or pain, or tears. This led him to write this song expressing what it would be like when he was reunited with his earthly father where they could rejoice together before their heavenly Father:

‘Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You, Jesus
or in awe of You be still?


Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine.’

Isn’t it wonderful to know that we will be reunited with our loved ones who have died trusting in His redemptive love and that we will be able to sing hallelujahs together before the throne?

And is it not also a challenge to us to be bold and to make sure we share this best news of the gospel with our families, our friends, our work mates so that they too can be there

I can only imagine: Bart Millard

Forgive as God forgave you

John Johnstone Sermons

Video
Sermon: Sunday, 10th September, 2023
Speaker: John Johnstone
Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Every true Christian church is a family where we should expect to be loved. Remember what Jesus said: ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ (John 13:35)

But let me make another statement which is also true: every true Christian church is a place where we can expect to be hurt and offended and let down. That doesn’t sound so good. But it is both true and realistic, and it’s important that we think about that, so that when others do let us down, we’re not surprised.

1. Be realistic

Peter understands this. He comes to Jesus with a question (verse 21): ‘Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’

Peter’s question is ‘when’ my brother sins against me and not ‘if’. It is inevitable. When they do sin against me what am I going to do? Will I go in a huff? Will I leave the church? Will I stop speaking to them? Will I give them the cold shoulder?

I suspect he might have been asking out of his own personal experience. Perhaps some of the disciples had offended him and treated him badly. ‘But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.’ (Mark 9:34)

So, how realistic are you in this area? Do you recognise that people in this church will sin against you? And that you will sin against them from time to time. People will hurt our feelings. In the church? Other Christians? Yes.

We live in an age where people are hyper-sensitive as to how they are treated. When wronged by others, many react like hedgehogs and curl up into a ball in a defensive position, refusing to deal properly with the person we feel has wronged us. Others might react like a rhinoceros, charging around, fighting fire with fire, and retaliating against those who have hurt us. Neither reaction is godly. We must understand this basic truth: when we become Christians, yes, God forgives us, but that doesn’t mean that we stop sinning. That only happens when we reach Heaven! We live in a fallen world, and all Christians still struggle with sin. To put it bluntly, if you stay in this church, you will sin against me and I will sin against you. Peter is realistic and we need to be too.

2. The limit of forgiveness

Peter knows he should forgive others. What does he want to know? How many times should he forgive? In other words, is there a limit?

Jewish rabbis said you should not ask for forgiveness more than three times. That was enough. Asking a fourth time is asking for too much. You can’t just keep on doing the same thing can you? Peter is more forgiving than the rabbis. Perhaps Peter expects Jesus to praise him for his generous heart. Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’ In other words, an unlimited number of times. Just keep on forgiving your brother or sister, without counting, and without stopping. It’s not a matter of arithmetic (counting up) but attitude (being a forgiving person). We don’t think, ‘That’s the eighth rude thing he’s said to me this week.’

If we’re honest, we find it hard to forgive sometimes. So, what should we think about in order to become more forgiving people? Why should we forgive others?

That brings us to the parable. A man owes billions of pounds to the king but claims he can pay it back. He couldn’t even pay back the interest on his debt! Who is the king, and who is the first servant? God is the king, and the servant with the huge debt stands for all Christians.

3. Our forgiveness

Let’s just pause here. What is God telling us through this picture of a servant with a debt so big that he can never possibly pay it back? We are the servant. We are in a similarly desperate situation, in that we owe God a moral debt that we can never hope to pay back. Did you know that? No one likes to be in financial debt – it’s a horrible thing. But there is something far worse and far more serious, and that’s to be in moral debt to God.

Every single day I fail God and let him down. I do not love my neighbour as myself, and I certainly don’t love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. We all offend God with our pride, greed, lust, selfishness and anger. Imagine I sinned just thee times a day. In one year, this would be more than 1000 sins against God. Multiply that by your age and it is an enormous debt.

What does the Bible say about how big our debt to God is?

‘My sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head’ (Psalm 40:12)

‘I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.’ (Ezra 9:6)

The only hope the first servant has is for the king to show him mercy. God reminds us this morning that we can never pay him for the debt of our sins. Our only hope is his mercy, revealed to us in the cross of Jesus Christ. Our only hope is for Jesus to pay that debt for us.

4. Forgiving others

Let’s move to the heart of Jesus’ parable. ‘But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.’ (Matthew 18:24)

This seems crazy. We get angry as we listen to this part of the story. A servant who’s been forgiven billions, and is owed a few thousand but refuses to cancel the small debt. It seems unbelievable! Surely someone wouldn’t behave like that. Yet, when we refuse to forgive other people that’s exactly what we are behaving like. For we have a huge debt before God, which we can’t pay. If you are a Christian it is because you have been forgiven. So, to refuse to forgive is to contradict the gospel. We are needy sinners and have received forgiveness and that’s why we must forgive. We must forgive a very little as we have been forgiven a great deal.

“When I see myself standing before God and realise what my Lord has done for me, I am ready to forgive anyone anything.” Martin Lloyd Jones

‘Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.’ (Colossians 3:13)

The following questions might be uncomfortable, but it is necessary to reflect on them. Is there someone in your life whom you need to forgive? What is keeping you from forgiving that person? Is there someone in your life that you need to ask for forgiveness? What is keeping you from seeking that person out and confessing to them?

“Unforgiveness is too expensive: The toxins of bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness are too deadly to store in our heart-pantry. May the wonder of our forgiveness be 10,000 times more real than the pain of our heart-wounds.” (Scotty Smith)

“As we respond to God’s way in a daily lifestyle of confession and forgiveness, we begin to experience things we never thought we would see in our relationships. We begin to see bad patterns break, we begin to see one another change, and we begin to see love that had grown cold becomes new and vibrant again. When we experience hard moments and God gives us the grace not to give way to powerful emotions and desires that would take us in the wrong direction, we experience the practical help and rescue his wisdom gives us again and again. All this means that we no longer panic when a wrong happens between us and those with whom or to whom we minister. We no longer take matters into our own hands in the panic of hurt and retribution.” (Paul Tripp)

Let’s go back to where we began. We will fail one another in this church. We will all need to practice forgiveness.

What are we saying if we refuse to forgive others? It’s a serious and solemn mistake to make: ‘Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.’ (Matthew 18 32-35)

In other words, if we refuse to forgive others, we need to ask ourselves the question: have I really been saved myself? Have I truly been forgiven by God?

More positively, one of the evidences that we are a child of God is that we do forgive others. And if we struggle to forgive others, we need to come back to this parable again and again, and remind ourselves of the enormous debt God has forgiven us. Will you do that?

Lead, kindly light

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Lead kindly light

Hymn Histories : Lead, kindly light
Written by : John Henry Newman in 1833

I’m sure that some of you have never heard of this hymn! If not, why don’t you listen to it in the link at the bottom of the page. I chose it not only because of the story of the author but also for the stories of those who were, much later, comforted by singing this hymn in their own terrible times.

Lead, Kindly Light was written in 1833 by John Henry Newman, an Anglican vicar, out of a time of frustration. Stranded in Italy through illness and travel disasters, he was desperate to get back to England to work. The final straw came when, having eventually boarded a ship, it was becalmed for a whole week just off shore. His plans were frustrated again. But, there on the deck on that motionless ship, it came to him that perhaps God’s plan was not his plan, and wrote these words.

‘Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home
Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene, one step enough for me.’

Maybe you’re feeling frustrated just now – not able to work, not able to see family, not able to serve the Lord in the way you want to, not able to serve others, not able to see the way ahead, the ‘distant scene’. Perhaps we need to trust that our Saviour knows the way, and can light our path, one step at a time.

Here is one of the many stories of this hymn being sung in dark times:

In the book ‘The Hiding Place’ by Corrie Ten Boom she wrote of her arrival, with her sister Betsie, at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. As they were driven out from their tents into the darkness she wrote: ‘Women began spreading their blankets on the hard cinder ground. Slowly it dawned on Betsie and me that we were to spend the night here where we stood. We laid my blanket on the ground, stretched out side by side, and pulled hers over us.
‘The night is dark and I am far from home . . .’ Betsie’s sweet soprano was picked up by voices all around us. “Lead Thou me on. . . .”

As you listen to this beautiful version of the hymn close your eyes and imagine how the words comforted and blessed, and still do today.

The Lord is our Keeper

Geoff Murray Sermons

VideoSermon: Sunday, 27th August, 2023
Speaker: Geoff Murray
Scripture: Psalm 121

Who do you ask for help? Your parents? Your friends? Someone in church? Google? This psalm tells us in verse 2, ‘My help comes from the Lord.’ He is the source of help, the Lord. As the psalmist makes his way to Jerusalem, he looks up to the hills where Jerusalem is and where the temple in the Old Testament was and he reminds himself that his help is in the Lord.

What can we say about the Lord’s help? Well, it says six times in this psalm that the Lord will keep us or he is our keeper. We need to know what to do with that though. If we read that literally to mean physical protection, we will be hardened against God and we will treat him like a liar. Hard things happen in life and God doesn’t stop the gunman from pulling the trigger, or the deadly illnesses from coming and taking us, or the relationship from breaking down. ‘What’s the script, God? I thought you would protect me!’

Jesus prayed this psalm, Jesus sang this psalm. How was he able to say these verses in Psalm 121 when he knew about his own sufferings, when he saw the sufferings of those around him, when he told his followers they would suffer?

  • ‘Do not fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul.’ (Matthew 10:28) How can he promise this unless God keeps a soul?
  • ‘Pray that your faith may not fail.’ (Luke 22:31-32)
  • ‘… unspoiled, unfading, kept in heaven for you.’ (1 Peter 1:3-4)

You may feel weak, needy, helpless because of your sin, you may fear your faith will fail but God will keep you close. How will he keep us close?

1. The Lord’s keeping is constant

‘He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.’ (Psalm 121:3-4)

We’ll come back to the first line in verse three but we see that ‘he who keeps you will not slumber, he who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.’

He’s like a coach keeping an eye on the training session ensuring that everything is going as it should be.
He’s like a gardener keeping close watch over their garden to ensure that their plants/fruit/veg has the perfect growing conditions and is growing as it should.
He’s like a parent watching over their newborn baby with care and caution and delight.

The only difference, of course, is that God doesn’t take his eyes off the ball. The coach’s mind might drift and wander to other things. The gardener has to step away and do other things in their life. The parent has to sleep.

But not God. God doesn’t have to sleep, his mind never wanders. God has got his eye on you and on this world and he never, for a second, takes his eyes off you. This psalm says, ‘God’s got you!’

You may feel weary and broken, you may feel depressed and depleted, you may feel like you’re at the end of the rope and think, ‘Where is God?”. God is in control and he has his eye on you. He keeps you when the unwanted health diagnosis comes in, when you live through the darkness of depression, when your relationship breaks down.

What else is constant about his care? ‘The sun shall not strike you by day or the moon by night.’ (Psalm 121:6) There is this recognition that the sun could be shining, the moon might be glowing, at any and all times of the day God will keep you. You could be going to sleep, you could be in the midst of sleep, God doesn’t stop watching over you then. Isn’t it amazing that when we sleep God is still keeping his watchful eye on you? Isn’t it amazing that when we rest, God is at work? Even when you’re asleep he takes care of you.

Lastly on this point, when will God stop being watchful? Being caring? Keeping you? Never. ‘The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.’ (Psalm 121:8) Not from this time on as long as I can be bothered. Not from this time on until I lose my patience with you. Not from this time until I find someone better, more important, more intelligent, more likeable, more holy. No, if you are a Christian this morning, God is never going to stop keeping his eye on you. You might doubt his patience to bear with you, he will bear with you. You might doubt whether he really cares enough to stick around, he cares enough to stick around! And that promise does not have an expiration date on it.

As you parent, as you work, as you serve your neighbours, as you go about the smallst and most mundane tasks in life God has his watchful, caring, keeping eye on you.

Where does your help come from? At all times, in every season, in every circumstance, the Lord! Look to him for your help. The Lord keeps you. He doesn’t have limits. He doesn’t take his eye off the ball, he doesn’t slumber or sleep. It may be night time, it may be day time. It may be today, it may be 20 years from now, he will keep you. How can you carry on as a Christian today? Because the Lord keeps you.

2. The Lord’s keeping is comforting

Whenever we do something for the first time, we maybe unsure of ourselves and so we try to get reassurances from a book or a video on YouTube or a friend we know to make sure we’re doing the right thing and we’re on the right path. We need similar assurances as Christians. Not necessarily that we are doing the right thing, though God’s word reminds us how we ought to live, but rather that God isn’t going to drop us, that God isn’t going to give up on us.

We’ve all at times wondered if the promises of God are for us. Is there really no condemnation for me? Is God really patient towards me? Do I really have peace with God? And the underlying thought is. ‘Have I undone it all?’

There are promises in this psalm which tell us that if we are his people he will keep us. Verse three tell us He he will not let your foot be moved. On a dangerous road like the psalmist was likely to have been walking towards Jerusalem, the city of God, a wrong step could be fatal, God promises not to let the foot of his people to be moved.

Maybe you’ve been hill walking and the path is really narrow and you need to be careful otherwise you could fall. It was like this for the psalmist as he walked this road, it’s like that in a spiritual sense for us today. One wrong footing and we can begin walking away from God. We have the outside danger of the Devil who Peter tells us ‘… prowls around like a lion seeking someone to devour.’ (1 Peter 5:8) We have the world trying to tempt us with so many things that would lead us away from God, we have ourselves as we often are aware of our sin which can easily develop into patterns of behaviour and habits if unchecked.

There are so many dangers in the Christian life. We are, as the hymn says we are ‘prone to wander, prone to leave the God we love’. It isn’t plain sailing, a piece of cake, it isn’t easy. But, friends, there is one with his watchful eye on us, who is making sure our foot will not be moved, that it will not slip. You might feel your weakness and vulnerability spiritually speaking, yet the God of all the universe keeps his eye on you.

There is another image used. Instead of feet slipping, it’s sun melting! ‘The sun shall not strike you by day. Nor the moon by night.’ (Psalm 121:6)

It’s not immediately clear what the reference is to the moon, but what is clear is the reference to the sun. We need umbrellas in this country for the rain but in hotter climates, its not uncommon for an umbrella to be used in the sun. Why? To protect them from the sun.

As they pass uncertain paths they knew he would be with them. As they travelled down the Jordan Valley southwards and then turned west to ascend the steep roadway to Jerusalem, the sun would be on their left side. The Lord then was likened to the shade on their right hand where comfort and protection was felt. The psalmist making this pilgrimage to Jerusalem would have been exposed to extreme heat from the sun without much cover. God says in verse 5 that he will provide shade! ‘As the sun is melting away, I will be your shade, I will be your protection.’

Again, this idea that the walk, the pilgrimage was dangerous. Not just in terms of feet slipping, but in terms of the sun being so strong. As the devil fires his attacks at you, the Lord is the one protecting you, being a shield about you, being a shelter, being a refuge, being kept safe in him. It’s not that we won’t be attacked spiritually by Satan, we will, but we will be protected from the full extent of it. If he didn’t, we would fall away.

Be reassured, if you love Jesus, though you are weak, though you battle against sin, the Lord is your keeper. He keeps your feet from falling, he is your shade protecting you, he is your keeper.

3. The Lord’s keeping is a journey

The psalmist is making that journey towards the city of Jerusalem, where the temple of God was, on his way to worship. Why does he lift his eyes to the hills looking to Jerusalem – to God’s city where the temple was. That is his direction of travel, thats where he is journeying to, that’s where he is aiming for. Jerusalem was the hub of spiritual life for the people of God. It’s where the temple was, it’s where God lived by his Spirit in the temple.

As Christians, we ultimately travel, not towards modern-day Jerusalem but towards the New Jerusalem. And the best part about the New Jerusalem is that God is there! (See Revelation 21:9-27)

But for now we travel. For Christians, that is our direction of travel. We’re on a journey aiming for that heavenly city, that New Jerusalem. In short, towards God. Where is your direction of travel? Are you travelling towards God or away from him?

If you’re travelling away from him, you ultimately travel alone, God is not there. You have no keeper. You have no helper. You are like a sailor without a navigation system, a mountaineer with no map and your end destination is not the New Jerusalem where peace will reign, but a place where there will be a marked absence of peace. There will be an absence of light, there will be an absence of hope.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this world you will have trouble, but you don’t need to walk it alone, the Lord is here right now saying to you, ‘Journey towards me, journey towards the New Jerusalem. The way is hard, narrow, dangerous, but I will be with you. I will be your keeper.’

Why don’t you begin your journey towards God today? Ask him to forgive your sins because of what Jesus has done and live your life for him. Know the care and keeping of God today and forever! Put your trust in him. Say with the Psalmist, “My help comes from the Lord!’

What about if you are a Christian today and you are journeying towards God, what does it have to say to you? It says that we can trust God with our lives. As we face the hard things in life let’s remember, God is the creator of the world, nothing is too hard for him, he can keep you even when you face the hardships of life. He never takes his eye off the ball for a second but has his eye on you the whole time, and his heart towards you is good – overflowing with grace and mercy to keep you. Your life may be hard, it may be very hard, but God promises to those whose faith is in him, he will keep you. There won’t be a single circumstance, season, time, or day where God will not be keeping his eye on you. Do not give in to self-reliance, you are awake only so many hours of the day, you’re capable of making mistakes, getting it wrong, but not God.

As you fight your sin, he is your keeper, as you feel discouraged, he is your keeper, as you go to work, he is your keeper, as you parent, he is your keeper. As you go through ordinary life you will experience hard times spiritually, but when our trust is not in ourself but is in God he promises you, reassures you, he is your keeper, he is your help and he always will be. You may be weak, but he is strong, you may take your eye off the ball but God never does.

There is a balm in Gilead

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There is a balm in Gilead

Hymn Histories : There is a balm in Gilead
Written by : African-American Spiritual, author unknown
Tune : There is a balm in Gilead
Composer : African-American Spiritual, composer unknown

After two hymns arising from heart-ache, today we’re focussing on something soothing and healing – although ultimately challenging! – the old African-American spiritual, ‘There is a balm in Gilead’.

I was driving through Perthshire one evening when I first heard this in a recording by Paul Robeson. I was so moved I had to stop the car just to listen properly – you might want to listen to it now before you read on.

‘There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.’

Gilead was famous in Old Testament times for its skilful physicians and an ointment with special qualities made from the gum of a tree peculiar to that area which many believed had mysterious, miraculous powers to heal the human body. In fact, when Joseph was sold into slavery, he was sold to a caravan taking balm from Gilead to Egypt.

Jeremiah referenced this when he cried out to his broken people, ‘Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?’ (Jeremiah 8:22) The answer didn’t come then, but African-American Christians answered his question in this spiritual with a resounding ‘Yes, there is a balm in Gilead.’

Despite whatever condition we are in, or whatever misery or difficulty we are going through, Jesus can heal our wounds and make us whole. Do you feel today that you need the balm of Jesus Christ? How wonderful that we can call out to him now for its soothing and healing powers.

We certainly know that the world is crying out for a healing balm. Many are in pain, in so many different ways, and are reaching out for answers. We wonder how, in our Church, we can serve in these times. Could we bring the balm of Jesus Christ today to our family, to our neighbours, to our community? What would that look like for me and for you?

Maybe we can echo the spiritual as it ends:
‘If you can’t sing like angels, if you can’t preach like Paul,
Go home and tell your neighbour that He died to save us all.’

There is a Balm in Gilead sung by Paul Robeson

O love that wilt not let me go

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O love that will not let me go

Hymn Histories : O love that wilt not let me go
Written by : George Matheson in 1882
Tune : St. Margaret
Composer : Albert L. Peace

Probably most of us find that we have hymns or Christian songs that we know off by heart – having a tune makes the words much easier to remember somehow. As we continue to look at the stories behind some hymns and Christian songs, some old and some new, we see how these stories, often borne out of pain and longing, can speak to us now today in all that is happening in our lives.

George Matheson was a Church of Scotland minister in Innellan in Argyll. Having become blind at the age of 19 he was rejected by his fiancée and had to struggle to excel. He found himself, at the age of 40, sitting in his study on the eve of his sister’s wedding facing a life alone. The weight of his pain was heavy on him and he suffered a real ‘dark night of the soul’ as he put it. As he sat that evening crying out in desperation to the Lord, these words of the hymn poured out. He said, ‘I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself.’

I have always loved the story of the third verse most of all.

O Joy, that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be.

Because on that night, as he wrestled with his darkness what he first wrote was, ‘I climb the rainbow through the rain’.  How much more does the word climb reflect our own experience – perhaps in pain from bereavement, with money problems or the worry of job loss, struggling with our own dark night of the soul.

It can seem hard to climb that rainbow, to hold on to God’s promise that He will never leave us. But, as we do, how much more brightly do the following lines shine that we can ‘feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be’.  As we listen to the hymn, let’s remember that we believe as George did that God’s love will not let us go, that His light will guide us on our way, that His joy will seek us through pain – and that makes all the difference.

Footnote: You may be interested to know why the word ‘climb’ was changed to ‘trace’. When George Matheson submitted his hymn to the Hymn Board of the Church of Scotland he was asked to change the word because ‘trace’ was deemed a more suitable sentiment.

It is well with my soul

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When peace like a river

Hymn Histories : It is well with my soul
Written by : Horatio Spafford in 1873
Tune : Ville du Havre
Composer : Philip Bliss

It seems that many of our well-loved hymns are composed out of loss or despair, as indeed are many of the Psalms. This is certainly the case with this hymn.

Horatio Spafford was, without doubt, someone who had suffered. A lawyer by profession, his company had been hit by two financial crises in the early 1870s, so he decided to move his family from the USA to Europe for the start of a better life. He sent his wife and four daughters ahead, but tragedy struck when their ship sank with a great loss of life. Horatio received a telegram from his wife some days later, ‘SAVED, BUT SAVED ALONE. WHAT SHALL I DO?’

It’s almost impossible to imagine how terrible this loss was for them. Horatio set sail as soon as he could to be with Anna and when his ship reached the exact spot where his four daughters had drowned, and as he no doubt called out to the Lord in despair, these words filled his heart. He returned to his cabin and wrote his hymn:

‘When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.’

It seems almost incredible that he could write these words, but he did. He was given the strength to do so because he overwhelmingly knew that, in his Saviour, it was ‘well with his soul’.

I am sure that not one day passed when the couple didn’t think of their daughters, but their terrible loss had a profound impact on what they did with the rest of their lives They gave up a life of plenty and moved to Jerusalem to dedicate their lives to charity work with anyone in need. Their legacy is still there in the Spafford Children’s Centre set up by one of the daughters born to them after their loss, and still managed by the family.

Their lives turned out so differently to what they had imagined; yet they trusted in God and He used them in a new way. And, who knows, at some time that might be true of our lives; and how will we react? May we be ready and willing to step out in a way we perhaps never expected, in His strength, upheld by His love, and sure of His promise.

‘For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 29:ll)