The Light of the World

Good Morning Everyone,

I had this line to an old hymn on my mind this morning when I woke up. “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin, the Light of the World is Jesus.” Probably because this Sunday evening I am speaking on that title that Jesus gives to himself. Well for whatever reasons it is on my mind, it is a great truth. . . Jesus is the Light of the World.

When you think about darkness and what it means or does then what Jesus means and does comes shining through.
Darkness covers beauty - Jesus restores beauty.
Darkness brings depression - Jesus encourages.
Darkness offers no hope - Jesus is our hope.
Darkness cuts off life (plants will not grow) - Jesus is the life-giver.
Darkness describes blindness - Jesus restores sight.

Now, for our church folks, don't worry, this is not a rehash of Sunday evening's message. There is so much more that Jesus says in this context. John 8:12 is where Jesus says He is the Light of the world - 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Think about that for a moment. Without the Lord Jesus Christ, that is without know Him as your Lord and Savior, is like walking about in darkness. We cannot see where we are going, it is easier to stumble in the darkness than in the daylight.

It is living without truth. That is what was happening with the Pharisees that Jesus was speaking to. They were religious but without God, they were teachers but without knowledge, they were examples to others but without integrity of heart, they were groping about in darkness without the Light of the World.

Jesus told them He was the light, because the very kind of darkness they were living in would rather stone a woman who was an adulteress than offer her hope of forgiveness and a new way of life. (John 8:1-11). These men would rather accuse than heal. But NOT JESUS!

Jesus came as a Light to this world to offer sinners a bright path to the Father. All men needs to do today to be saved from the darkness of sin, is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, He can lead out of the darkness.

. . . There are other words to that old hymn; “Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for Thee, sweetly the Light has dawned upon me. Once I was blind, but now I can see, the Light of the world is Jesus.”

Keep trusting in the Lord Jesus, He will not fail His people!

Have a wonderful day serving our Wonderful Lord, By Grace Alone.

Prayer is on my mind!

Good Morning Everyone,

I don't know if the man is still alive, but there was an announcer on the radio back in PA where I grew up that used to say; "It's another beautiful day in Pennsylvania!" It could have been raining cats and dogs, or a blizzard outside, but his saying was always the same. Well it truly is a beautiful morning here in Maine. I love this time of day, all is still, the only sounds are the birds tuning up for their daily concerts. It is a good time to think of the things of God.

Try getting up early. It may take a while for your biological clock to adjust, but after a short time it will become so very good to have this time alone with the Lord.

Well, prayer is on my mind this morning. What a great privilege as a child of God. Oh, I know, there are some who say anyone can pray. Even doctors are now recommending it for therapy of one sort or another. But what does the Bible say as to who has the privilege of prayer, and what does the Bible say about answers to prayer.

THE BIBLE SAYS in James 5:16. . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much . I believe that it is important for believers, as the old preachers used to say, "to be on praying ground." That simply means to have your sins confessed and walking with the Lord as you should biblically. Job 27:8-9 8 For what [is] the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? 9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?

THE BIBLE SAYS in Proverbs 15:29 The LORD [is] far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. AND THE BIBLE SAYS IN John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. That is pretty clear. God hears the prayers of His People, not sinners.

THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS in Psalm 66:16-20 16 Come [and] hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. 17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]: 19 [But] verily God hath heard [me]; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed [be] God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. The word regard in verse 18 means to look after and give attention to. That is the approach of the unbeliever naturally, and also of the believer from time to time, if he is not walking with the Lord. Listen to the words of Matthew Henry: Sin, regarded in the heart, will spoil the
comfort and success of prayer; for the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to
the Lord.

THE BIBLE SAYS this to husbands in 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. HEY GUYS, WAKE UP! Don't expect your prayers to be answered if you are not treating your wife with dignity, respect, gentleness, and love! I have heard a lot of men pray for their children, but few pray for their wives. I have heard a lot of men pray for their children, but treat their wives in a very demeaning way. Don't expect God to do for your children what you are praying if you are not treating your wife biblically. Keep this in mind guys, your lady suffered, and shed her own blood, and would have died to bring your child into this world! You cannot love your children as you should without loving their mother first! You want to be a man? Well, be a man the way God says to be a man! And just because you have no children does not take away the requirement. I better move on.

Now in closing let me say this. You can say all you want about prayer. The doctor can tell you to pray because it is good for you. The unsaved man may say, I pray. But WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? The Lord hears His Children. The Lord does not hear the prayer of the unsaved person. The Lord will not hear the prayer of His child who has not confessed sin.

THE BIBLE SAYS in Psalm 143:1 Hear my prayer , O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, [and] in thy righteousness. Psalm 91:14-15 15 Because he hath set his love upon me , therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me , and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Here is our lesson. We know that God answers prayer, not because we have experienced answers to prayer, but because He says in His Word He will answer prayer! Pray, and Trust His Word!

Have a wonderful day serving our Wonderful Lord, by Grace Alone.

"What If?"

Good Morning Everyone,

I trust you all had a great Lord's Day. Isn't it the most wonderful experience to be able to be with the Lord's People, on the Lord's Day, in the Lord's House, Worshipping the "ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM (the Father) HAS SENT"?

When I awoke this morning the words to an old Gospel Song were rolling around in my head: "Oh, had it not been for a place called Mt. Calv'ry, Had it not been for the old rugged cross; Had it not been for a man called Jesus, Then forever my soul would be lost - Dusty Goodman."

Then I began to think of some verses of Scripture that contrasts my old life of sin, with my new life in Christ. What came to mind were several verses, especially these in Ephesians 2:1-10: 1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The cause for the contrasts between the old sinful life and the new life in Christ are highlighted at verses 4-5, "BUT GOD." If it "had not been" for God, then what?

Our salvation friends is either all of God or it is not of God at all. It began with Him, it was brought about by Him, it gave to us all He could give, and the result is that all glory, praise, and honor goes to Him! (vs. 9).

"Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed redeemer!"

There are a lot of "what if's" in life. But the greatest is "What if" Jesus had not come to this earth and paid the price for our sins? As you follow your way through life today, be sure to give Him praise for His wonderful work of grace saving us from our sins.

If you are reading this and have never trusted our Savior, may I say to you, You must. Jesus told a man named Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again." You see the Bible says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." The Bible say, "There is none righteous, no not one." The Bible says, "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that, the judgment." The Bible say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." So to you, my friend, I say, trust Him today.

Believer, give Him the glory by living your life pleasing to Him!

Have a wonderful day serving our Wonderful Lord, by Grace alone!

Good Morning,

These words of Peter were on my mind when I awoke this morning. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

It is really a comfort to know that there is only one way of salvation as opposed to many. If we all could go our own way to reach salvation, who would define what salvation is? For that matter who would define what we were being saved from, or unto what were we being saved, or who should be thanked for salvation, or basically why does anyone need salvation anyway? And isn't that what it all comes down to? Salvation is not the message that mankind wants, so one way of disposing of it is to make it palatable for everyone.

We are naturally opposed to anything that God demands. I was in my first church, Calvary Baptist in Harford, NY, where I experienced this first hand. I had been out visiting in our village and came to the home of an elderly lady. She was a very kind and gracious lady. As our conversation developed she said; "Isn't it wonderful that so many people are seeking after God?" Well, I couldn't let that go by so I responded; "I do not believe people are seeking after God, at least not the God of the Bible." After asking why I thought that way I shared Romans 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Her response was interesting; "Oh I cannot believe that! That is just not true!" Her "definition" of salvation was there were many ways, and what God said did not matter.

Let me leave you with this for this morning, It matters a great deal what God says! Proverbs 16:25 tells us, There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death. Jesus said in John 14, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

The fact that there is only one way to salvation brings great comfort because I do not need to worry if I have found the right way. I just need to rest in what the Lord Jesus has done for me.

Trust His Word! Trust His Word! All God's promises are true, Trust His Word! When your pathway disappears, When your joy gives way to tears, When you're plagued with doubts and fears, Trust His Word! - Ron Hamilton

Have a wonderful day serving our Wonderful Lord!

Good Morning Everyone,

Colosians 3:1-4 is a passage that gives great security. There is certainty in Paul's words. Listen to them: 1 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. 4 When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. I say security because the word "if" is not to be understood as a possibility, but as reality. Some translate it "Since ye are risen with Christ, seek. . . ."

One of the thoughts that come to mind is if I am risen to somewhere, I must first of all be dead to something. I think these verses may help us. Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:

Resurrection, to the presence of God, is assured for the believer because at the moment we are saved by, God's wonderful grace, our resurrection is assured as if it has already taken place.

In our Colossians text, the way "risen" is used, tells us, at the point we were saved, we became the objects of this resurrection power of God which guarantees our being raised to the presence of God "above." HEAVEN IS ABSOLUTELY SURE IF YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!

Now SINCE we are raised, live with a heavenly mindset. Seek things above, Set your affections, or your mind, on things of God. Why? Because you are dead and your life is secured in the treasure house of God's grace with Chirst.

You see, the security of the believer rests on more than "Once saved always saved." The security of the believer rests completely upon the One who not only died to save us, but who lives to grant resurrection for us. And that gives me great confidence for today's tasks. No matter what comes my way, I am secure, safe, and guaranteed heaven too!

Now what is the lesson? Verse 4. When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. We need to understand that the Lord deserves more than just first place. If He only has first place, who has second place, or third place, etc...? When we became believers we did not just add Christ to our lives, Christ became "my life!" Paul said, for me to live is Christ!

So as you go about your life today remember, the life you are living as a believer is secured IN Christ. I like the way the old gospel song put it: "New life in Christ, abundant and free, what glories shine, what joys are mine, what wondrous blessings I see. My past with it's sin, the searching and strife, forever gone there's a bright new dawn, for in Christ I have found new life!" I am as good as being in heaven right now!

Growing up back in Western PA, I used to listen to the Apollo, PA Christian radio station. There was a broadcaster who used to say, "The future is just as bright as the promises of God!" It may have been Sy West. That is still true today. I put it this way: The difficulties of today pale in the brightness of God's promised tomorrow!

Be safe, be secure, be trusting in our Lord and Savior. Heaven is just around the corner!

Dear Reader:

The intent of this blog is summed up in the words of Psalm 63:1-3: 1 O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

May you and I draw very close to the Dear Lord Jesus Christ by "Seeking Early!"

By Grace Alone,
Tim Gillam