Living A Christian Life And Blasphemy Series

ORDER OF SERVICE

CALL TO WORSHIP

Genesis ch 22 vs 7 & 8

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON

Exodus ch 20 vs 1 to 17

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON

John ch 1 vs 1 to 17

While at work some short time back, a work mate came to me and with a bit of a mischievous look on his face he said.

“Look what one of you’re lot put through my door”, one of you’re lot being any one who attends church whatever their denomination,

And he shoved a soft back copy of Johns Gospel at me “ as if I need this. ”

At this point I recalled in my mind how the man in question had just returned from a substantial period of sickness, it was said, by those who knew him that he had had several broken relationships behind him, he lived for his drink, he certainly constantly smelled of it, he was a regular at the pub most dinner times and every evening, and now it was said that he had sclerosis of the liver, he had been told that he desperately needed to change his life style, he was back from the brink. Just about, and here he was stepping a further into that precipice with all the grace of a circus clown.

What did he need of Johns Gospel, that was the question that shook me most, I also asked myself what indeed did I need of it.

Well I was still on a bit of a high, and still am in fact, over a sermon I heard preached on John ch1even though it is a couple of years ago now. And that very Sermon gave me a ready answer.

So I took the book out of his hand and I turned the first few pages to that first chapter and what did I read?

Well I read it out loud to the one or two who thought to come for a bit of fun at my expense, and here is what I read.

“And the light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not”.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe.”

What did he need of that! His own need was not so obvious to him, we read, “ the light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not”

I told him that sadly he felt he had no need because he firstly had to recognise that need.

Well no one laughed at those words. That darkness you know its encompassing isn’t it, like a blackout curtain, yet it doesn’t stop the light getting out, rather it prevents the light getting through to us on the inside.

That was what he was about, that day, that work colleague of mine, he was in a blackout, and it pains me sorely, you see he’s a friend of mine, still is and I could see his need of that Gospel, even though I would fail to reach him with it, I still can see his dire need of it, that saviour who even then and now he is rejecting. It was plain as day what he needed that gospel for and you know it still is.

John knew it well that need of his, in fact of all of ours didn’t he. Mine especially and yours.

John wrote his Gospel with that in mind with the purpose that men might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the promised one, Son of God, Messiah and in believing this might find salvation so desperately needed.

I heard a preacher proudly boast recently that Jesus came especially for him, he told us that for his needs especially Jesus gave his example, life and priceless sacrifice.

Praise the Lord for that brother and you know that’s my boast too. But what about you can you boast like that? Scripture teaches we should have no other boast save that, indeed that any other is a vain boast, and any other is a sinful boast.

Scripture teaches that we must hate ourselves, must indeed die to ourselves to be born again in Christ. It is indeed made plain that you and I must be broken men and women before we can be born again in Jesus. I tell you truly without exception that this is a personal Gospel.

Scripture is deeply personal about its dealings with men. It convicts us of sin, makes us aware of our guilt and the state of condemnation we face without Jesus.

You know that this I believe to be one of the main reasons why people in general hate the word of Jesus, You see our Lord doesn’t talk to us of someone else’s needs, or someone else’s sinful condition rather in his word he points the finger unerringly in our direction and shouts to us You must be born again, you are a sinner. Brother in your sinful and present state you stand condemned. Like king Nebuchadnezzar we have been weighed in Gods balance and art found wanting.