Welcome to the quarterly magazine of Ballee Baptist Church, Ballymena. If you have lifted this publication but have never been to our fellowship, can I assure you of a warm welcome. You will find a note of our services inside the front cover of our magazine, and you will find the building on the Toome Road, in Ballymena, beside the new cemetery.
Now
that Christmas is over, any turkeys that are left are breathing a sigh of
relief, and many a parent is also breathing a sigh of relief that the holidays
are nearly over and ‘normality’ will soon be restored.
The passage I want to draw your attention to for a moment, is a passage
very familiar at Christmas time, it is Luke ch 2.
But for this article, we travel past the inn, where there was no room for
the Saviour, and past the Shepherd’s field, that heard the angelic choir, and
come to the temple, and to a Godly elderly gentleman called Simeon.
What
makes this man special, is not his advancing years, or his just and devout
character, or even his great burden for the nation of Israel … What made
Simeon special was that he is one of the few men in history, to whom God gave
details of His death! He was not
told ‘how’ he would die, or ‘when’ he would die, but he was promised
that he would not die until he saw the Saviour, what a promise!
To know before you would die you would see the Saviour.
I
wish I could give my congregation such a promise, or to our magazine readers …
you will not die until you have seen the Saviour and trusted in Him … You can
live how you like, do what you like, ignore God, laugh at God, mock Him, but
before you die you will see the Saviour. But
I cannot give such a promise; indeed the Bible makes it clear:
Isa
55: 6 “seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is
near”.
Heb
11:6 “for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”.
At the start of another year let me use this story of Simeon to point out three steps to finding the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
1. UNDERSTANDING. The name “Simeon” means to hear, and to hear intelligently. The first step to salvation is to hear and understand the gospel message … those who attend Ballee Baptist know that “religion” is not the gospel, “Baptists” is not the gospel, “Protestantism” and “Good Living” are not the gospel.
Rom
3: 23 “For all have sinned and come short” … the depravity of man
Rom
6: 23 “For the wages of sin is death” … divine punishment for sin
John
3: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” …
The love of God, and Christ’s sacrifice for sin.
Step
one to finding Christ is in the name “Simeon” – to hear and understand.
1.
STRIVING. Luke 2: 25 “And
the Holy Ghost was upon Him”.
It was the Spirit of God, which led Simeon to the temple verse 27. And did so at the exact time that Mary and Joseph brought the Christ-child into the temple. This was no accident of fluke, but the working of the Holy Spirit of God.
The
2nd step in salvation is the working, prompting, conviction of the
Holy Spirit, without this, the gospel will just be a sermon, dry, boring and
tedious, it will run off you like water off a ducks back.
Dear reader, you cannot become a Christian when you like – it takes the
prompting and striving of the Holy Spirit of God to convict, convince and
convert. If you are concerned about
your sin, afraid of facing eternity without the necessary preparation, a longing
for a peace with God, then the spirit of God is doing His necessary work.
2.
RECEIVING. Luke 2: 28 “He
took Jesus up in his arms”, he embraced Him, took the Saviour to himself.
What joy for Simeon, the moment he longed for, it was worth the wait …
He would list this moment, as the crowning moment of his life … to take the
child in his arms, he had to let go of everything else.
We
have just embarked on a New Year, with all its uncertainties and danger, can I
implore you not to go any further into the year without the Lord Jesus Christ as
your Saviour. You have heard and
understood the message, the Holy Spirit has been striving with you, let go of
all that would hinder, and embrace Christ and His death for you at Calvary.
Simeon
saw all the vessels in the temple, the priests in their ceremonial garments,
watched the sacrificial ritual, but only when he embraced the person of Christ
could then say in verse 29 “my eyes have seen they salvation”.
May
you know the salvation of God in your life during 1999.
I recently read this article in Direction magazine. It outlines many aspects of the decline in society, both morally and culturally, resulting in a society with a self-centred emphasis, which can inevitably lead to unhealthy self-centred churches. Many believers seek to live their faith through the exploits of ‘great’ man and women of God. This is easier then learning to demonstrate 1 Corinthians 13 and become truly ‘great’ men and women of God themselves.
Unhealthy
churches lead to events such as splits, factions and cliques, a common aspect of
modern church life. As in
Isaiah 58 the people of Israel abused their workers, struck one another with
fists, gossiped maliciously and expected God to respond to their religious
activities.
We
abuse one another through gossip and slander and if we get an opportunity to
knock the leadership there is no stopping us.
Do we care for a brother in debt or a sister on the verge of collapse?
Whilst all this is going go we are praying for revival.
The
church is called a safe place, a haven in a world lost in enmity and fear.
It can only become a safe place when we follow the rules set out in the
New Testament, the epistles in particular can reveal a startling challenge.
With Isaiah in mind we can see the reason for much of our spiritual
impotence.
Therefore
encourage one another daily, consider how we may spur one another on.
Do not slander one another but love one another deeply from the heart.
Live in harmony with one another, offering hospitality without grumbling.
Clothe yourselves with humility to one another, having fellowship with
one another, We should love one
another, honouring one another above ourselves.
We have a debt to love one another, so let us stop passing judgement.
Be united, serving one another in love.
Be completely humble and gentle, bearing one another. Be kind and compassionate, forgiving each other and speaking
in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Submit
to one another out of reverence to Christ and so love one another deeply.
Romans
12:10, 12:16, 18:8, 14:13, 15:14, 16:16.
1
Corinthians 1:10, 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12.
Galations
5:13, Ephesians 4:2, 4:32, 5:19, 5:21.
Colossians
3:13, 3:16, 1Thessalonians 5:11, Titus 3:3.
Hebrews
3:13, 10:24, 10:25, James 4:11, 1 Peter 1:22, 3:8, 4:9, 5:5, 5:14, 1 John 1:7,
3:11, 3:23, 4:7, 4:11, 4:12, 2 John 1:5.
This
is a small section of the article but if you would like a copy of the complete
article just ask me. I hope it will
speak to you as it did to me.
When you find yourself face to face with an impossible task, regard it as a compliment God is paying you.
He knows that you are the person who can do the task with His help.
Pastor
Paul Bassett.
Melbourne Hall
Evangelical Free Church
Leicester
Mr Bassett was converted in 1956 through the Ministry of the Rev Leslie Land, the then minister of Melbourne Hall, Church, Leicester, when he was the visiting preacher at Westminster, London, during the ministry of the noted expositor, Mr David Martyn Lloyd-Jones. At the time of his conversion he was serving as an officer in the Royal Air Force.
That
same year Paul Bassett became a student at the London Bible College after
receiving a call to the ministry. He
received the Bachelor of Divinity degree. From
1963 through 1977 he was the Pastor of Horsley Evangelical Church, near London.
In 1977 he was called to the pulpit of Melbourne Hall Evangelical Free
Church in the city of Leicester. This
Church was founded by Dr F.B.Meyer, well renowned in America and England as a
preacher and writer.
In
1980/1981 Mr. Bassett was the President of the Fellowship of Independent
Evangelical Churches in Great Britain. He
still serves as a member of the National Council.
In addition to his pastoral ministry in and inner-city Church, which
ministers to people of many ethnic backgrounds, he conducts missions in
different parts of Britain. He has preached extensively abroad in Europe and has made
several preaching visits to the United States.
He is the author of the book ‘God’s Way’, which he describes as a
biblically reasoned plea to return to New Testaments methods of evangelism,
especially focusing on the local Church as God’s chosen agency. He is also a contributor to a newly published book,
‘Social issues and the local Church’, published in England by the
Evangelical Press of Wales. He
wrote the chapter on ‘The Inner City’.
He
has lectured in the School of Evangelism in Welwyn on New Testament Evangelism,
the History of Revival and the care of souls.
Paul
and his wife Avril have one son, Paul.
We
are so pleased that Mr Bassett will be our Evangelist for the October Mission
– 17th to 29th 1999, please uphold him at the Throne of
Grace.
I
see on yon horizon, God’s final resting-place;
I
forward press towards it, Redeemed by sovereign Grace;
My
Saviour goes before me; His spirit leads the way;
Although
my steps may falter, He is my strength each day.
I
see on yon horizon, People from every race;
They’re
happy with the Saviour, and gaze upon His face:
On
earth they sought His mercy; they found in Him their stay;
Life’s
rugged path’s behind them, In Christ they found the way.
It was late at night, everyone was tired from travelling, but every direction you look the signs give out this cold indifferent message; NO VACANCY.
This
was the message Mary and Joseph received that night so long ago as they arrived
in Bethlehem after their long journey, NO ROOM, NO VACANCY.
Ever
since that time, the world has condemned the innkeeper for allowing the Messiah
to be born in an old stable instead of finding room for Him in the inn.
Yes even before the birth of our Saviour the world cried out; NO ROOM, NO
ROOM.
But
worse than this is that the sinner cries out, “we have no room for you
Jesus”, or “sorry Lord but my plans for today do not include you”, But our
actions reveal what is in our hearts, it isn’t necessary to express it in
words. As your day started did you
stop long enough to consult God? What
about your past times, hobbies, your spare moments?
Do they consume so much of your time and attention that there is very
little left for the Lord. Is there
a fad or fashion that consumes so much of your income that God gets only what
little is left?
Do
your activities say, “NO ROOM FOR CHRIST?”
How
easy to condemn the innkeeper who managed to find at least a small place where
Christ could be born, how difficult to recognize and admit that our actions
continually reveal what our lips refuse to admit, “NO ROOM FOR CHRIST”.
We commenced our winter programme with a very relevant issue where we examined the “Big P – Pressure”. We realise how important it is as young people to establish our own identity rather than be influenced negatively by some of our peers. As Christians we also need to be a good influence to others as we try to let our unsaved friends know that we at all times desire to please God.
Our
next two meetings were conducted by our very own Miss Karen Moore who reminded
us that we should take a greater interest in our missionary families and those
countries where the people are less comfortable materially and less informed
spiritually than we are. Karen also
asked us to fill in a questionnaire dealing with our views on Church and moral
issues.
October
25th saw a very ‘intelligent’ panel consisting of Mrs Lesley
Kennedy, Mr John McCaughey and Mr Auldwyn Calderwood, address many topical
issues through questions submitted by our own young people – in fact they
dealt with the issues so well, we hope to invite them all back to complete the
questions in 1999 D.V.
Our
annual Youth Rally this year once again proved to be a great success, our guest
speaker was Chuck Ebron who also sang. A
group called ‘Justified’ from Dunaghy Congregational Church also shared in
the meeting along with our own youth choir. Around 250 – 300 young people listened as Chuck reminded us
all about the faithfulness of God. Praise
and thanks go to our God for an evening full of blessing.
On
November 8th we paid a visit to the young people of Wellington Street
Presbyterian Church and we certainly could say that God was pleased to bless us
all again. We are looking forward
to their return visit to us here at Ballee.
Geoffrey
McGrath came to take the Y.P.F on 22 November and we had a good evening watching
a video on how missionaries start from the very basics in the Bible, which we
all so often take for granted. We were disappointed however in the numbers at this
meeting.
We
are now looking forward to Christmas and on behalf of the Youth Fellowship we
trust you will continue to remember us all in your prayers and that we may be an
encouragement to you all as we go into 1999.
“He
restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s
sake” Psalm 23v3. These words
contain warning as well as encouragement.
1.
They imply the possibility of failure;
2.
They affirm the possibility of recovery and
3.
They declare the happy consequences of such recovery.
The
Possibility of Wandering
The
first four words of the verse indicate even as David’s history illustrates
that the best of us may, if unwatchful, fall into sin. Of the several characteristics of the sheep, the one, which
the biblical writers emphasize most, is its tendency to wander.
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep” Psalm 119 v 176.
“All we like sheep have gone astray” Isaiah 53 v 6.
“Ye were as sheep going astray” 1st Peter 2 v 25. Unlike most other animals, the sheep has no homing instincts.
It wanders aimlessly away and unless sought for will never return –
Luke 15 vs 3-7. The saintliest men
and women are the most conscious of this tendency to wander, and that is why
penitence is ever a mark of holiness.
Perhaps
the most serious consequence of such wandering is this one; namely, that all
time spend away from The Lord is lost time.
In illustration of this read Hebrews 11. In verse 29 we read that, “By faith the Israelites passed
through the Red Sea as by dry land” and in verse 30 “By faith he walls of
Jericho fell down after they were encompassed about seven days”. The forty years that lay between these two events have little
mention because they were spent in disobedience, and God has said their sins and
iniquities I will remember no more – Hebrews 10 v 7.
But in the annals of eternity they are lost time – a blank.
It
is, however, not the will of our Father that the wanderer should remain away
from HIM, and David’s work, “He restoreth my soul”, but confirms one of
the great promises of the Bible, “I will restore to you the years that the
locusts hath eaten” – Joel 2 v 25. These
are two outstandingly great things in the Bible.
One is the assurance of God’s forgiveness to the SINNER, “Let the
wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return
unto The Lord, and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God for He will
abundantly pardon” – Isaiah 55 v 7.
The
other is the equally great assurance and He is always ready to give His own
people a fresh start. “I will
heal their back sliding. I will
love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him”. Hosea 14 v 4.
1.
I have read in the Book of a wonderful place called ‘The Land of
beginning again’. Where the sins
of the past are remembered no more, and the years, locust-eaten, the Lord doth
restore. All our filthy rags change
for a garment of Grace and the soul is begotten again.
2.
In that land only found by those mariners true who will follow the
compass and chart, we do know that our Lord, against whom is all sin, He who
died on the cross, our salvation to win. We
will find at the gates, our best Friend, He still waits, with a welcome for each
seeking heart.
To
secure the restoration of any of His children who may have fallen, God uses two
things; His Voice, and His Hand.
(A)
His Voice. There is a scene
in the life of the apostle Peter which illustrates this.
Peter had denied the Master with oaths and curses, Matthew 26 v 74, and
just as the denial was made, “the Lord turned and looked upon Peter, and Peter
remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him; “Before the cock
crow, thou shalt deny me thrice, and Peter went out and wept bitterly.”
Luke 22 v 61 – 62. Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, …
and when he thought thereon, he wept (Mark 14 v 72). That word penetrated Peter’s soul, broke up the fountains
of his heart, and drew forth floods of penitent tears. When he meant his best he
found out what a deceitful heart he had; and when he did his worst he found out
what a blessed heart Christ had.
(B)
His Hand. He uses the hand
of chastisement to break down our wilfulness (Hebrews 12 v 9 –10) the refiners
fire to get rid of the dross in our lives (Mal 3 v 3); the knife of pruning to
get rid of the fruitless branches (John 15); and the fire of trial to burn up
the evil things in our lives (1 Peter 1 v 7).
Each of these processes are under divine control, and the passages which
explain them should be read in the light of 1st Cor 10 v 13.
“He
leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake”.
The forgiveness and healing come to us by reason of the matchless grace
of God, Hosea ch 14 summarises five things that will follow in the life of the
restored wanderer; Growth in purity – “He shall grow as the lily” v 5.
Growth in depth – “He shall cast forth his roots as Lebanon”
v 5; Growth in breadth – “His branches shall spread” v 6; Growth in
beauty – “His beauty shall be as the olive tree” v6; Growth in usefulness
– “They that dwell under His shadow shall return they shall revive as the
corn and grow as the vine, the scent thereof shall be as the vine of Lebanon”
v 7.
By
the time you read this article Christmas will be over and another New Year will
have began – 1999. As we
celebrate New Year we take time to reflect on the year that has just passed with
all its tears and joys. We also
pause and think on the New Year we are entering with all the hopes and promises
that 1st January will bring. Many
people at this time make New Year resolutions and one of the most common
(especially for women) is “my diet starts tomorrow … definitely”.
As I began to think about diets and how important it is for our physical
bodies to receive a good sensible healthy diet so I began to compare it with our
spiritual diet. Our ladies meetings each month seek to give a balanced
“diet” to all who attend on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
We enjoy fellowship, friendship, our outlook is broadened as we learn
about different missions and meeting various missionaries can make a tremendous
impact when we remember them in prayer.
From
our recommencement in September we have had visits form Gillian McGrath (N.T.M.)
and Colin Ferguson (Leprosy Mission). It
is sad that such a dehabilitating disease (which is curable) is so widespread
throughout 3rd world countries. In November our speaker was not available and at very short
notice Lawrence came and spoke to the ladies (one of the perks of being married
to the Pastor!). So on 3 months we
have travelled from Panama to Ballymena. We
look forward to a return visit from Sandy Clarke of the Torch Trust in January
1999 D.V.
As
you can see our diet is varied but still not complete.
Our spiritual diet should also consist of prayer – in fact if we
neglect this important part of our diet then spiritually we could be
malnourished. Our prayer meeting is
the last Wednesday of each month and sadly while our numbers remain good there
are many empty seats when we compare it to the missionary meeting.
Ladies,
may I encourage you to come to the prayer meeting. Make it a necessary part of your diet and begin 1999 as you
plan to continue. If we see our
spiritual diet as of the utmost importance to our spiritual growth then the
possibilities for the ladies and Ballee are boundless and impact of our growth
immeasurable. May God help us to
maintain a balanced spiritual diet in 1999 and may we get excited as we realize
how God can use us to serve Him with renewed strength as we enter another year.