The Peace Of God Pr Edi Giudetti 22-12-2019 The letter of Colossians is written to those who know the Lord, those of have Peace With God now, and able to share in the Peace Of God. And it is a peace that passes all understanding, a peace contrary to anything the world can ever find without him. 1.   Determine To Permit The Peace Of God (and let) The passage we have before us has, as its context, a contrast to that which is before. A manner of living and life that is suited to the life that is “hid with Christ in God” (v3). The chapter begins with the first verse saying; If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3) This being a wonderful introduction to the chapter, suiting perfectly that form of new life which we have been saved into, a genuine transformation, and genuine change that no longer desires to do the things in the life that we lived before.  It’s a life that represents one who has been born again, born by the Spirit of the living God.  Such a strange notion, certainly not one that man can come up with, if Jesus did not speak of it in Scripture, I don’t think any person could have dreamed it up.  It’s a NEW life, a CHANGED life and a CHANGED way of living life! The New Birth is described as a Spiritual Birth. Jesus said “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5) That is what the Bible means about the New Birth. It’s that Spirit that has transformed ALL the Desires and Lusts we once had, things that we knew were slowly killing us. What we deeply needed, but could not conceive of in that state, was Peace With God (Which I will address in detail next week) Beloved, it’s from that Peace With God that we have the Peace Of God. From that first verse, the apostle goes on to tell of the things we should now MORTIFY; that is, tendencies in our lives that we should kill, behaviours that have no part of our NEW life, our CHANGED life with Christ.  He enumerates them specifically in verse 5 and summarises the end state of them in verse 6 as “For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience”. The “Children of disobedience” are those willfully rejecting the opportunity to be free from those desires. Free from sin and free of the consequence of sin. It is that description that once applied to all of us. Until that is, we believed the Gospel of peace that Paul wrote of in Romans 10:15 How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But now, having believed, Our text in verse 15 says; And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. The first part of the text and that which relates to this first point, is one of Permission, the passage commanding And let the peace of God rule in your hearts. It is Determinative, it is something we are to determine to permit, to allow respecting the Peace of God. We ONCE LIVED without the Peace of God, our natural state was one of fear, of anxiety, of guilt and even shame. When trials and difficulties came upon us, we worried and feared. It was as natural to us as the air we breathed.  Worries over relationships Worries over finances Worries over children and family Worries over troubles of all sorts. We lived in a manner filled with anxieties and guilt in one form or another, without assured hope, a hope that is certain, hope that understands the will and purpose of God, hope that is comforted knowing that “all things work together for good…”, this was US, and this is the natural state of all people who are WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD Turn to: Ephesians 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being i

Go In Peace Pr Edi Giudetti 15-12-2019 Many might be the days of our week that can be filled with fear and distress, discomfort of diverse kinds. Questions that might arise from deep within us that we don’t even understand. They affect us in ways that we don’t like and we long for comfort. To those who know the Lord there is a refuge, a shelter to hide under in times of need. The Lord gathers us as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings and it is a joy to be so wonderfully sheltered. But often, no sooner had we departed from that shelter that the fears chance to arise again. The passage we are looking at this morning shows to us a logical command and end for a life that has been made whole, one that, when well considered provides a sustained comfort and enduring peace. Such a comfort and a peace that also enables us to comfort others.  CONSIDER THE CONTEXT  And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peaceLuke 8:40-48 If this day is an example of the workday of the Lord, we might consider our own days. Much occurs in this passage.  The Lord returns from across the Sea of Galilee where he had recently delivered a man who was possessed with a legion of Devils. Now returned, the crowds were pleased to see him and, having waited patiently for him, received him gladly. No sooner had he arrived, a Ruler of the Synagogue named Jairus fell at his feet and besought him for the sake of his dying daughter.  I wonder at the Lord even at this, there is a crowd about him, all seeking after his  attention, he is in great demand, desiring to preach the Gospel of the kingdom and the resurrection of the dead, but he hears the pleas of this loving father and turns to help him directly.  But there is more going on. The crowd ‘throng him’ says the passage. The indication is that of a multitude of people are giving him little if any space as he walks. The disciples are with him and we can imagine them attempting to protect the Lord and do all they can to ensure his way is not hindered, suddenly from nowhere the Lord stops. The disciples stop. The crowd stops. A woman, trembling and fearing, knowing what was done in her (Mrk 5:33), stops. 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me?  …… Who touched me? The disciples are a little stunned at such a question, Jesus is pressed on every side and yet he is somehow aware of a touch that is distinct from all others. THE WOMAN: For twelve long and difficult years she suffered her disease (Mt 9:20-22), but more than this, time after time her hopes were raised, physician after physician took money from her promising, “this time is different, this time you will heal”, but it was never different.  Some of the medications were benign, they made no difference at all, some made her worse, and yet time after time, with promise after promise, her hopes would be raised and then dashed once more.  Perhaps that is why Mark uses words more descriptive of her experience, saying she “had sufferedmany things of many physicians” (Mrk 5:26). There was no Medicare in those days, no social welfare program available, it was of her own money that was to be spent. We don’t know how she earned the funds, we are not told of a husband or of an inheritance. No doubt any attempt to work in her condition would have been filled with difficulty. The physicians, like those of today, never guaranteed their work. Like the doctors and surgeons of today, they are happy to take the money even though their medical mixtures fail to do what was paid for. Sadly, the money that was spent for the betterment of her health, but the passage tells us she grew worse instead.  She paid money to get sicker! SHAME But for twelve long years there was also the shame of being tarnished with the label of “unclean”. Together with that label comes separation from that which her people enjoy. The Old Testament teaches that a wo

The Beauty of Holy Worship “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” 1 Chronicles 16:29 Introduction: In our text today we have this incredible Psalm [or song] sung to celebrate the return of the Ark of the Covenant which was placed in the tabernacle which David had erected in Jerusalem.  It is quite an inspiring Psalm and fitting of the occasion.  It is rich in history and doctrine: as well as exalting the Lord and extolling his wondrous deeds. In verse 29 [or at least] part thereof, there is a phrase which has at times held a particular fascination for me throughout my Christian life and it is this phrase: “…worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness”: The scripture that I am expounding today deals very specifically with God’s standard with regards to worship. It is a controversial issue within church circles; nevertheless we don’t run away from controversy. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”  1Chronicles 16:29 With regard to music [the Psalms were of course put to music] we know that it is a powerful medium. And it’s interesting as I learnt a few years ago: together with language and mathematics music exists universally.  We begin to understand this [universality] particularly in the context of our biblical view of creation in which we  see a universe spoken into existence; hence the concept of language takes on a special significance. This significance is further highlighted as see music and mathematics jointly expressed and brought to Job’s attention as the Lord speaks to Job and retells what happened shortly after the creation of the world:  Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:4-7 And since music has been with us from “the beginning”: Music as it relates to worship is an important component of our faith. After all we are commanded to “… offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”   Hebrews 13:15 From God’s perspective: the Lord knows that words put to music are easily remembered which is why he commanded Moses to teach the people the song in the book of Deuteronomy chapters 31&32 saying: “that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel”. It’s not some warm fuzzy piece, but a stark contrast between the holiness of God and the wretchedness of man.  In view of verse 29: The question that must come to mind is this: What does it mean to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness?  Today’s message is particularly relevant in regards to what distinguishes us as an Independent Baptist Church: by this I refer to the singing of hymns rather than Contemporary Christian Music [CCM].  I believe this is an important [if not controversial] message [and something dear to my heart] especially considering the times in which we are living; the apostasy of the last days. It is because music is a powerful medium that we need to be discerning; testing the spirits as it were; whether they be of God.  Since music is by nature, a proclamation: we must be discerning because many false prophets  have gone out from among us. Those who write contemporary music consider themselves [in many respects] to be prophets. They certainly claim to be inspired by God.  In view of the apostasy of the last days it’s important to note that the scripture says those who have separated themselves from the truth are in error. And yet by virtue of our position on worship we are seen as divisive. The reason

Prodigal Son Luke 15: 11 – 24 Wasting our substance: Luk 11 – 13 Pro 3:9, Rom 12:1, Luk 15: 4-5, Psa 44: 11/22 Isa 53:6 Jer 23:1, Ezk 34: 11-12, Gal 3:26, Jn 3:16 The Lord spoke parables as a means to tell profound truths in an economic way. He was not only the Word, but the master of them and through them he communicated more understanding than was written or spoken. We know exactly what he spoke and how he wished us to receive it; after all, the Lord promised he would preserve his word. Therefore we know there is one perfect translation or interpretation of his word. This parable has been presented exactly as the Lord wished, as have they all. So I will not try to re-present the parable of the prodigal son, only attempt to apply its meaning through the window of my life experience as a Christian.  Luke 15: 11 – 1311And he said, A certain man had two sons:12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them hisliving.13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. It is interesting to me how the Lord has presented us with such a simple situation that perfectly shows the attitude of man. The selfishness in our hearts can be hidden even from us. Is it selfish to demand that which we think is ours? And what is for all intents and purposes ours by right?  The prodigal son is not demanding something he is not owed. I have experienced and have seen firsthand the way in which children take for granted the things that are done for them. I remember how long I took for granted my parents sacrifices for me. It wasn’t until I was 19 that it dawned on me how heavily I relied on my parents for everything. I was living out of home in Vermont South I realized as I did my house work, that my mother and father had done this for me countless times and until that point I took it for granted. The care and substance they provided me enabled me to have gains and increases in my life that fuelled only myself. You see I had an occupation, an income, a social life, a car and it was all because my parents had given me their portion and I took it and ran.  Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: David tells Solomon that we are to honour the LORD with our substance and with the first fruits of all thine increase. How many here can say with their first pay cheque, they honoured the LORD? All my labours went to myself and my vain purposes all throughout my early working life. I started Working at 16. I had worked for KMART, KFC, and my father as a labourer, all before I was 20. None of it was for the LORD. It was all for my Riotous living and it became evermore riotous as I grew. Parties, drunkenness and fornication abounded in my life and truly my substance served those ends. I am, although, convinced that the true waste that I and the prodigal son partook in, was the waste of the opportunities to serve the LORD the time wasted serving only myself. What do I mean by service? Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,which is your reasonable service. The Lord wants a living sacrifice and considers it a reasonable service. There is a shelf life on man, therefore we have a time limit on the level of service we can do in this mortal form. My opportunity to live for the Lord, to offer up my gifts in his name and to serve him as he wishes was cast aside and I was truly a lost sheep. Who does the a lost sheep profit? Its wool is not sheared nor its company enjoyed or even its meat eaten. I feel I was like that sheep. The Lord prefaced his wonderful parable with a mini parable about a lost sheep and its shepherd.  Luk 15: 4-5 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he l

God Never Changes For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6 God does not change, he never changes, he is immutible, it is a theological term we employ to describe one aspect of Gods Character. Together with his character is his word and promises, being as perfect as he is, they too never change. God Never Changes The Way of Salvation God Never Changes The Requirement for Repentance God Never Changes His Expectation of Us As Followers God Never Changes Being Long Suffering The post The Changeless Christ appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.

Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of God But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 Introduction: As many of you may know from my testimony, my walk with the Lord hasn’t been as faithful as it is today. For long periods of time I wasn’t reading my bible and consequently I wasn’t growing. Yet in March 2014, when I did begin to read my bible again I read verse 18 of our text which says:  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 And it highlighted the importance of spiritual growth. The first question we should probably ask ourselves is: What is growth? Growth is loosely defined as “an increase in number, size or quality.”  It is the latter which is a more apt description of Christian growth.  The process of growth for the Christian is called sanctification [being made holy]. I frequently [and frighteningly] see a confusion between salvation and sanctification; especially when I hear individuals who profess to be Christians use phrases such as, “I’m getting there”. Unfortunately I’m not usually in a position to unpack these comments at the time; but if I was it would be thus: Salvation is a one time event [it is not a process] in a person’s life  whereby an individual  is saved from the punishment of his sin through accepting the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. This exchange happens in an instant. Sanctification on the other hand is a process; it is the work of grace in a person’s life which causes them to become more Christ-like. It is defined by holy living.  It is important to realize that neither SALVATION nor SANCTIFICATION are achieved through the performance of good deeds or works. Good works are the outworking or result of God’s grace in a person’s life; otherwise they are DEAD works.  When we think about our own personal growth: We know that the bible says  that “none is good” And it was the realization of our own defective state that drew us to God in the first place. Obviously, if we were all perfect salvation would not be necessary and growth would not be possible. Despite being created in the image of God we came to know that that image has been marred by original sin. Christian growth is also the process of being restored to that image. The word of God tells us that we are being conformed to the image of Christ. And we are told that the purpose of the 5-fold ministry [of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers] was for he perfecting of the saints: [We see that church and ministry is for the perfecting of the saints] “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”  Ephesians 4:13 And so: Jesus is the standard to which we attain or strive.  The Imperative to Grow: “But grow…”  According to this verse we are commanded to grow.  In fact so many of the verbs in our bibles have this imperative tense [they command us to do something] and we should read our bibles in this manner; taking these commands to heart. A commandment is given to be obeyed and since we have this inner desire to please God; our response to him should be a desire to grow. The Lord wants us to grow and this makes perfect sense since what parent wants their child to be in diapers and sucking on a dummy at age 30.  We see this command expressed in scripture in various ways: “ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”  “…be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Hebrews tells us to exhort one and other daily. Paul tells Timothy to strive for masteries. Paul himself presses toward the mark. And in Ephesians Paul speaks about the five-fold ministry for the perfecting

Pr Edi Giudetti 10-11-2019 In Paul’s ongoing apologetic, his argument for the preservation of Israel in the mind of the Lord, Paul gives to us a continuation of the length to which God has gone to keep his promises concerning Israel, even to the point of explaining to us the opposing nature of an otherwise unredeemable people.  A Contradicting Relationship Restored Romans 9:25 25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  The book of Hosea that is referred to here, is a book that begins with Gods commandment to the prophet to take to himself a wife of whoredoms, a prostitute.  2 The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.Hosea 1:2 The entire book of Hosea gives to the reader and understanding both of the nature of God toward Israel, and Israel toward her God.  Gods faithfulness and Israel’s adultery and idolatry. Israel, in the book of Hosea, is likened to the nature of a prostitute, selling herself to the highest bidder, and faithful to no one. Hosea, on the other hand, is to live his life as a simile of Gods relationship to Israel, he is to Marry the prostitute. Beloved the very act of being wed to a whore is a complete contradiction for a relationship, it’s a contradiction of the very nature of Wedlock! A relationship bound by the ties of marriage has its very purpose in faithfulness. Nothing defines the marriage covenant better than one united solely to another till death.  It is when two people become “One flesh” according to Genesis 2:24. That is Marriage! This is the reason why the only justification given in the Bible for divorce, and given to us by the Lord himself, is adultery (Matt 5:32). And why is that? Because the offence of adultery is the exact opposite of the nature of marriage. The purpose of marriage itself becomes legally disannulled by such an act. Before the destruction of the legal covenant of marriage In Australia last year through its re-definition by majority opinion, came the atomic bomb that pulled away all the safeguards of marriage in 1975, when the dishonorable Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, introduced ‘No Fault Divorce’ through the Orwellian Titled “Family Law Act 1975”. An act that would come to destroy the very nature of the family. The radiation of that atomic bomb more than forty years ago, has so perfectly sickened families today. “No fault divorce” was the first great attack against the family and against the entire purpose of Marriage. But God tells Hosea Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD. But Paul reminds us of Gods promise and referring to Hosea chapter 2:23, and its context in the last days (Hos 2:14-18), I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  This is indeed a Contradicting Relationship that is Restored. And it is restored by ONE PARTY in that relationship.  It is the love and promise of God, it is his faithfulness and his love for the nation he has chosen, that he desires to demonstrate his WORD (Scripture) CANNOT BE BROKEN (John 10:35).  Beloved there is but one party in this adulterous relationship that is faithful. There is one member in this relationship that will keep his promise to his wife, and it is not Israel!  Turn to Hosea 3:1-5 (Whole chapter) 1 Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. 2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: 3 And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou

That he might make known the riches of his glory Pr Edi Giudetti The Riches of His Glory Demonstrated in Compassion What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:14-16 The riches of Gods glory is demonstrated in compassion. Due to the previous verse related to the children who were not yet born, yet God stated his love for Jacob and his hatred for Esau, (Jacob’s twin), the question that begins this verse arises as natural as night follows day; “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God?”. A similar question comes up in verse 19 that Paul answers in greater clarity, which we shall cover in the third point; But here Paul instead reverts back to the demonstration of the Glory of God revealed through his own words to Moses, where the Lord reveals to Moses his enduring mercy, compassion and grace. Paul answers this question by using the Bible alone as the proof that God cannot be unrighteous if the declaration of his glory is demonstrated through his compassion in the Old Testament? Lets turn there and see the text and context for ourselves. The passage Paul refers to is found in Exodus 33:18-20 In the previous verses Moses appeals to God that he goes with them and accompany them through their journey in the Wilderness, and God promises that he will be with them, and specifically with Moses as he leads two million people or more, through the wilderness. Moses in this verse is now comforted by Gods promise, and makes an incredible request, notice its context as we speak of how God makes known the riches of his glory; 18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. Exodus 33:18-20 As part of God’s revelation of his Glory to Moses he states he will; be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.  Paul properly uses this verse as proof that, opposite to the claim on unrighteousness, Gods sovereignty according to his will, is evidence of his Glory! NOT ARBITRARY Now, I implore you in this point to be very careful in your consideration here lest you be found in great error. I want to plead with you that you not think in your mind that God’s willingness to be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy, Is an arbitrary one. Gods sovereignty does not infer a ‘flip of the coin’, or a ‘roll of the die’, or some random chance outcome.  No, chance is the ‘god of the godless’. The God of the Bible is purposeful, nothing he does is by accident or random.  In fact, if Paul utilizes this verse as a proof of Gods righteousness and the demonstration of his goodness and Glory, Gods demonstration of his mercy on those he has chosen MUST CONFIRM IT, and we must trust it. Unrighteousness is identified by the idea of a “random selection”, not of determined purpose.  Nothing God has done, from creation to culmination, is without reason and purpose; to think this to be so is a witness against ourselves, than it is of God. Let me explain as a parent toward the child. I love my children; I love them more than life. My desire for them and for their lives is nothing but good. I want them to be happy, not for the short term, but for the long term, for the rest of their lives, especially for eternity. There are decisions that I might make that, temporarily disappoints them, upsets them. They might think those decisions are malevolent or unkind or unloving or without purpose, but the very fact that I cannot BUT love them prove

The Children Of The Promise His daughter was looking forward to her first piano lessons, she has been anticipating this day for some time and her dad made her a promise that he would finish work early to take her. Good to his word he did manage to finish work early because he asked his boss a week before to do so. He packed his briefcase, got down to the station and jumped on the train. Looked at his watch, had plenty of time. The train however was not traveling at its usual speed because the day was hot and trains need to go much slower on the rails during hot days. “im not really in control of the weather” he thought and just relaxed. Looked at his watch.

I till got time he says. The train pulled in at one of its stops and the announcement came that it would be delayed for some time because an overheated car just got stuck on the train line ahead. “I’m not in control of cars overheating” he thought, but he realised he need to get other transport else he’d be. A bus will take too long, so he calls for a Taxi. The cab pulls up, he gives the address and off they go again. “I still got time” he says to himself as he imagines his little girls joy at her first day leaning to play a piano. His daughter, at home, quietly confident her dads promise is sure. As the cab however begins to slow and pulls to a stop behind a line of traffic that shouldn’t be there. A bunch of unemployed climate activists have blocked the road by gluing themselves to the tarmac. This has happened before he says to himself, but doesn’t happen that often anymore because emergency services no longer work to free them, so they are left there until there friends come. The traffic is just directed to alternative routes. ‘I’m not in control of people and traffic’ he thinks to himself. By now he realises he is not going to make it home in time, all the while his daughter waits thinking his promise is sure and he will get there, until the time for her piano lesson comes and goes. THE END There is a reason why the Bible tells us not to promise, not to swear we will do anything at all, just let your yes be yes and your no be no. This dad was not in control of the weather, or people, situations or events. For a promise to be a promise, you must be. God does not want man to promise anything because that word is only truly able to be fulfilled by the one who IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. We will see how God kept his promise through a people that, by all historical understanding, should not be here. And we’ll line that up with his promise of eternal life to you and I. The Promise Kept Through The Word of God 6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. Last week we saw the intensity of the burden of Paul toward those who are ‘kinsmen according to the flesh’, that is, related to Paul by descent. Paul was a Jew, of the nation of Israel, a descendant from the tribe of Benjamin. He refers to himself even as a “Hebrew of Hebrews”. He was greatly burdened for the salvation of those he loved. He knew that their rejection of the Messiah promised to come through the Old Testament scriptures, have now left them largely blinded in the reading of the Bible, so much so that they cannot see Christ in them any longer. We look at passages such as Isaiah 53 and see such an incredible description of the promised Christ written 700 years before he came, and we wonder how it can be possible that it is not recognized. Last week we just glanced at a number of the ancient scriptures in the Bible that promised his first coming in incredible detail. Over 300 of them have been counted that promised of his first coming, and all of them have been fulfilled exactly as it was written and are available in your Bibles to compare. You must understand that the Bible is a collation of 66 books, written over a period of over 1500 years, it was penned by approximately forty different penmen from backgroun

Great Heaviness Pr Edi Giudetti 20-10-2019 Much is to be seen in this incredible portion written regarding the terrible burden the apostle Paul had for the Jews, our consideration of it today will be in application to ourselves for those we love.  Scripture here demonstrates an astounding level of compassion toward those whom Paul knew were now temporarily cut off from the vine, that we, the Gentiles of the world, should be grafted in.  My aim therefore is to bring both an understanding of the doctrine related to the Jewish people in scripture, but also to have it as an application for us to consider in this time and day. Let’s read the passage before us and give it some consideration in the points below; 1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.Romans 9:1-5 The Greatness of the Sorrow For the Lost  The apostle Paul is referring to his nation, the nation of Israel. A people to whom, he reminds us,pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Paul has a burden for them, and the burden is great. He speaks of having “Great heaviness and continual sorrow” in his heart. These are the people of God for whom as concerning the flesh Christ came. These are the people who were given the promise of a coming Saviour, one who would “save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). These are the people who were told of the promises to come concerning Christ, the Messiah. Turn back to Jeremiah 23:5-6 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah repeats this again ten chapters later (see Jer 33:16), but this was told the people of Israel time and time again. This was nothing new.  So many details concerning him was foretold about his coming for them, to redeem them.  Turn back one book to Isaiah 7:14 His miraculous birth to was told them in Isaiah 7:14 where “a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son….”, the house of David was told it would be a sign to the people! A great sign. When Isaiah confronted King Ahaz, he asked him to ask a sign of the Lord, he said; “Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.” (Isa 7:11), of all things Ahaz would be able to ask any sign of the Lord, anything that is deemed to be impossible from any natural or human standpoint, but Ahaz would not and so Isaiah gave, not Ahaz, but overlooked this vain King and gave a sign to the entire house of David;  “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.” (Isa 7:14-16) And indeed, before Jesus was brought forth, both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah were deprived of their Kings. The last to rule was Hoshea in Israel before they were taken away by the Assyrian Empire, and Zedekiah in Judah when they were taken away by Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian empire approximately 150 years