EASTER!

This year it is split into Three.

One has passed, the Jewish Passover is to come and the Eastern orthodox will be still much later this year, but the message is still relevant and many people are seeing the growth of Islamic influences more so in Europe and they now fear that Christians will be left behind with the many secular changes in laws and the taking away or watering down on the emphasis of Easter?

We as believers know the story well of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus but there is one area that one has never noticed being covered in the events of Good Friday and that is the darkness that fell over Jerusalem and Israel as Jesus hung dying on the cross for all human failures!

Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44, John 3:19, 8:12, 12:35, Acts 26:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6.

When we come away at the end after Jesus death a Roman soldier believed and how many were to follow on that day alone and still do to this day?

Veritas!

What is Truth?

Nothing much has changed in the human psyche over the last two thousand-years, humanity still tells lies just the same way it ever has from the garden of Eden.

Sin remains an active enemy everyday in all of around the world, wither we know Jesus or not we will always find an excuse to justify untruths sad as it is?

Before Jesus went to the Cross Pilate was challenged by our Lord in relation to truth and he expressed the Roman view of society that lived on lies, much the same today in our political worlds nothing has changed there!

But God’s truth will stand the test of time and do you believe it?

Matthew 6:25, John 4:23-24, 14:1, 18:37-38.

Believers Baptism?

A tough area of Contention!

Should a Born-Again believer be baptised or not?

Is it important to be baptised and do we have too be?

These and many more complex questions have been debated in Ekklesia over the last two-thousand years, and even today there is no clear understanding that is acceptable to all sides!

Many of the early Churches from three-hundred Ad to the time of the German Reformation of Martin Luther went with child baptism, since it was easier and pleased most? The Church from that time kept an exclusiveness on the Scriptures, through the clergy and the common man had to take the word or control as it was distributed with local superstitions and curses?

The most tremendous fact about baptism is that of the thief on the cross who entered heaven, without being baptised! This perhaps is the best clarification on the matter that are faith is on Jesus and focussed on how we are lead by Him and will follow Him doing, loving, caring and showing concern, while witnessing His truth to the dying world around us!

Luke 23:43. Romans 5:21, 1 Timothy 1:15, Hebrews 7:25, Revelation 2:7.

Saved by faith ALONE?

German reformer Martin Luther!

Introduced the word alone to emphasise his idea of the doctrine of salvation, which caused the split from the Roman Catholic Church over 400 years ago! But on reflection with modern technology and the easy grasp of Biblical languages today we now know that this is not correct?

Because of two incidents in the New Testament, where people were saved in the moment of belief and no mention of this doctrine exists in the Greeks texts, apart from that of the King James Bible!

The Thief on the cross and the Ethiopian eunuch made no known confession of faith, but they just believe and were saved?

Today many Christians are not aware of many things and Salvation seems cheap when its a card signed or a short prayer, yet perhaps we should not be quick to Judge since the almighty can do whatever He pleases!

James 2:17, 24, Greek Kata Strong G2596, Luke 23:42-43, Acts 8:27-39.

Effective Ministry?

Many groups and Meetings!

Some fellowships do very little and rely on the community, others act in a silly way bringing golf and the funfair to their buildings in the hope of raising the attendance numbers? While others are full of activity, from house groups to meetings and yet there is no essential results of attendance or growth?

Good leadership is needed from the Pastor to the elders or deacons or what ever way you make that call! Organisation and review is as important, while the prayer meeting is one of the focuses of the believers to pray weekly on the events, the direction of the Ekklesia, the sick, troubles and the surrounding community!

Preaching the Gospel with emphasis on the Cross, the need for personal salvation and that believers share their faith at work, home, school and other without the fear of humans is the key to success!

Leviticus 19:15, Psalm 91:5, Isaiah 8:12, Acts 8:25, 1 John 4:18, 5:9-11, Revelation 22:20.