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We're here to (above all) give glory to God, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to Him be the glory forever. Amen” - Romans 11v36.

Hope Is …

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

While the matter of hope is at the very heart of God’s written Word it has also been commented on by great human minds. Evangelical preacher Charles Finney's notebooks contain these unidentified “good words.”

HOPE is like the sun which, as we journey towards it, castes the shadow of our burdens behind us. It is like a cork to a net, which keeps the soul from sinking in despair. And fear is like the lead in the net which keeps it from floating in presumption. Hope is itself a species of happiness and, perhaps, the chief happiness which this world offers. It is one of those things in life you cannot do without.

HOPE! Of all the ills that men endure, it is the only cheap and universal cure. It is the last thing ever lost and it is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier. Hope is the major weapon against the suicide impulse. It is a much stronger stimulant of life than any realised joy could be. Faith is holding our hand in the dark, and it is grief’s best music.

HOPE is the only bee that makes honey without flowers. Hope is the Word God has written on the brow of every man. Hope is a smile on God’s face.

Selected from Nineteenth-Century Sermons.

A Better hope

“….and a better hope is introduced.” Hebrews 7:19

The theme of Hebrews is found in the word “better”. The writer of this letter introduces the “better” theme in his discussion of the law, which “made nothing perfect,” and presents the subject of a “better hope.”

Who, or what is this “better hope”? It is our blessed Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is able to give the believer a sense of hope that includes a deep peace, a vision of the future, a satisfaction and a desire to share it with those whose hope is really more like, “I hope so.” The hope that the Son of God offers does not come to fruition as the result of a resolution. Neither can it be realised through working for good causes, such as the church.

Spiritual hope springs eternally from a forgiven heart, a dedicated will, a stewardship of time, talent and possessions, a love for Christ and His people. This is what the author of the book of Hebrews includes when he declares the there is “better hope.” Since that hope is found in Jesus, what does He expect in return?

When you accept Him as Lord and Saviour, you begin by getting acquainted with Him. That demands a personal quiet time for prayer and devotional reading, including the Bible. You begin to share your hope with those around you, beginning with family and then friends and business associates.

Finally, you take what you discover about Jesus and adapt it to your own life and lifestyle.

“Where there is no hope, there is no faith”

A Plot of Free Grace

“…the mystery of godliness is great: God appeared in a body…” 1 Timothy 3:16

In the creation, man was made in God’s image; in the incarnation God was made in man’s image… Why was Jesus made flesh?

1. The causa prima, and impulsive cause, was free grace. It was love in God the Father to send Christ, and love in Christ that He came to be incarnate. Love was the intrinsic motive. Christ is God-man, because He is a lover of man….Christ’s taking flesh was a plot of free grace, and a pure design of love. Christ incarnate is nothing but love covered in flesh.
2. Christ took our flesh upon him, that He might take our sins upon Him. He was, says Luther, the greatest sinner, having the weight of the sins of the whole world lying upon Him…. and so appease God’s wrath.
3. Christ, clothing Himself with our flesh makes the divine nature more amiable and delightful to us. We need not be afraid to look upon God through Christ’s human nature. Through the lantern of Christ’s humanity we may see the light of the Deity.

Thomas Watson.

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10

If you can sing: “The Son, who is proclaimed the be the Lord and Saviour, is my Saviour”; and if you can confirm the message of the angel and say yes to it and believe it in your heart, then your heart will be filled with assurance and joy and confidence, and you will not worry much about… the best this world has to offer.

Faith is not only to believe in Mary’s Son but, rather, that He who lies in the virgin’s lap is our Saviour, that we accept this and give thanks to God who loved us that He gave us a Saviour who is ours, And for a sign He sent the angel from heaven to proclaim Him, in order that nothing else should be preached except that this Child is the Saviour. We should acknowledge and accept Him; confess Him as our Saviour in every need, call upon Him and never doubt that He will save us.

Martin Luther.

The first reason for the gift of the Incarnate Son to a perishing world is that He might be a sacrifice for its sin. The second reason is that He might be an example of a godly life to those who believe in Him. We cannot invert the order and say that He was given, first as our example, and secondly as our sin-offering before God. We cannot imitate Him until He has redeemed us from the power and guilt of sin; the first need of a sinner is pardon and moral freedom, the second, the ideal of a new life.

	From Peter's Pen (Soon to be 'From Dave's Desk') Read a brief welcome note from Peter, our Pastor. Incidentally, our new minister Dave West has joined us.
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	Site Last updated on: 24th August 2010