Sermon: Daniel 6:1-28 The Lions' Den

Who likes going to the zoo? What’s your favourite animal at the zoo? ... This morning we’re thinking about one animal in particular, which we heard about in our Bible reading. Does anyone know which one? The lion.

Now when you go to the zoo, can you get up to touch the lions? Can you give them a wee stroke the way you might stroke your cat at home? No! Why not? The lions are dangerous.

Why are they so dangerous? They’ve got sharp teeth and sharp claws. You can’t just go into the lions’ enclosure - it would be too dangerous. Lions are normally longer than I am tall - between 5 foot 7 and 8 foot 2 (170 - 250 cm); they stand about four foot tall shoulder height; and they weigh between 23 and 39 stone (150-250 kg). You wouldn’t want to go in beside them!

And yet that’s where Daniel was put. Daniel was thrown into the lions den. Why was that?

Last week we heard of how King Belshazzar of Babylon lost his kingdom. Now King Darius is in charge. [Get volunteers to act it out] He has three people helping him rule the kingdom. So anything Darius needs done, Daniel and the two others do it. But the others don’t like Daniel - he always worked hard; he didn’t take bribes; he made sure to do whatever was needed. He was a Christian in the workplace, doing what was right.

Now I’m sure that you all do your homework all the time, and always work hard in school - but imagine there was someone in your class who doesn’t want to do that. Do they like the hardworking people in the class? No, because they make the rest look bad.

So Daniel’s workmates tried to find something wrong with him to try to get rid of him. But there was nothing. They decided it had to be something about his God - because Daniel trusted in God.

So all his workmates went to the king and made a law which said that you could only pray to the king (and no one else) for the next month. Daniel went home and did what he always did - he opened up his window and prayed to God - three times a day.

The men took Daniel to the king and told him what had happened. He was praying to God, not to the king. The king knew he had been tricked, but there was nothing he could do. He had to throw Daniel into the lions’ den.

To make sure Daniel couldn’t climb out, a big stone was placed over the hole. The stone was sealed with the king’s seal, so that he had to stay. That night, the king was very worried about Daniel. He didn’t eat any dinner. He didn’t play on his Nintendo DS. He couldn’t watch TV. He didn’t sleep. He was worried.

As soon as it was light, the king went to the lions’ den to see what had happened. He shouted out: ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’

Can you imagine waiting to hear if there was any answer? Surely the lions would have eaten him? But there it was - Daniel shouted back to him. God had shut the mouths of the lions so that they didn’t touch him, they didn’t eat him.

Daniel was brought up out of the den, and there were no wounds on him. No scratch marks, no teeth marks. He was safe! God was able to keep him safe and rescue him from the lions.

But do you know what? Daniel reminds me of another story. Daniel points us to another place of death, where a man was put inside, and a big stone was put over the door, and the stone was sealed in place. Does anyone know the story?

But early in the morning, the man had been put in the place of the dead - not just where lions might eat you - but he was actually dead. But early that morning, he was alive.

The way that God rescued Daniel points us to and reminds us of the way that God rescues us - because Jesus died, and was laid in the grave, but rose to new life. We remind ourselves of his new life because we meet together each week on a special day - Sunday, the Lord’s Day, when we remember that Jesus is alive.

Darius the king told everybody about how God had rescued Daniel. Jesus has told us to go and share the good news about how he has rescued us. It’s why we sing our songs. God is able to rescue us from something even scarier than lions - from our sins.

This sermon was preached at the Church Family Service in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 20th October 2013

Harvest Sermon: Isaiah 55:1-13 The Great Invitation

I always enjoy seeing the postman arriving, and seeing what has come in the post. Working from home, as soon as I hear the post hitting the mat, I can see what we’ve received. The pile is quickly sorted - letters for Lynsey, brown envelopes (probably bills so we’ll leave those til last), white envelopes, flyers and junk mail... But every once in a while, there’ll be something different. The envelope is fancier than just white paper, the address might be written in calligraphy, it’s much more exciting than the phone bill or whatever.

Opening the envelope, there’ll be a fancy card, probably hand made, lots of effort, with ribbons or bows or hearts or whatever the fashion is for them this year. And on the inside, yes, you’ve guessed it - Mr and Mrs ... invite you to the wedding of their daughter... We’ve all received a wedding invite at one time or another. You’re invited to come along and join in the celebration.

In our Old Testament reading, we find an exciting invitation, not to a wedding as such, but to a great feast. God himself is speaking, inviting us to drink, to eat, to be satisfied in him. Listen to verse 1: ‘Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.’ It’s an invitation to hungry, thirsty, needy people, people who despite having money and possessions aren’t satisfied by them. Verse 2: ‘Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?’

Do you remember when you got your first pay packet? Suddenly you have your own money; you can buy what you like. My first job was after school in a corner shop. Two shifts in the week meant that I got about £10. I literally was a child in a sweetshop! But the things that were bought didn’t really satisfy. I thought I was rich, but the things bought wouldn’t satisfy. The hunger continues to grow, the thirst never leaves us.

What can we do? Will we just continue round the cycle forever and ever, wanting more, getting it, then wanting more? Into our situation, God sends his invitation - to drink, to eat, to live - without money and without cost. Completely free - just come and listen, come and eat, come and be satisfied. The last verses of the chapter give us a picture of the satisfaction available: joy and peace, so that even the mountains and hills and trees join the celebration! Things are turned around, from thorns to pine trees, from briers to myrtle.

The invitation is for all people. David in verse 3 is the kingly Messiah, the witness to the peoples, so that many peoples will be drawn to him, even nations unknown. No longer is the promise just for the Jews; all nations are invited to come and share in the blessings to Abraham. When Isaiah had written this down, if you’d been able to tell him that two and a half thousand years later, people gathered in a wee hall in the countryside of Ulster would be reading and hearing his words, he’d have asked where?! The invitation has come to us, and is for us, and for all people.

You see, the seeking after things, possessions, money, wealth, it’s all foolish and sinful. God the creator wants us to enjoy him, but we just want to enjoy the things he has made, without him. We enjoy wickedness, rather than what is true and good.

The invitation to come and be satisfied also requires us to change (through God’s rich mercy). You see, God is the ‘Holy One of Israel’ (verse 5), the one whose thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways. He is holy, and we are sinful. We must be changed, as we accept the invitation.

Just as you wouldn’t dream going to a wedding in the everyday clothes you would open the post in, so God’s invitation urges us to be changed: Verse 7 - ‘Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.’ Turning away from sin, turning towards God - this is the essence of repentance, which is how we respond to God’s invitation. And as we do, we find a great surprise: God promises a welcome, mercy, and pardon.

‘Let him return to the LORD, and he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.’ There is no doubt - as we turn to God, he WILL have mercy, he WILL pardon! ‘The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.’ What great news this is! We expect to have to pay for our sin, to make up for the wrong that we do, to bear the punishment, but God declares a free pardon, complete mercy.

When I was growing up, I wasn’t very good with library books. I would get them out, and take them home, read them, but then they would get lost in the mess of my bedroom. Weeks turned into months, sometimes even years. I daren’t have gone back to the library because of the massive fines. But every so often there would be an advert in the local paper declaring an amnesty for overdue library books. The books could be returned, and no fine would be charged. A free pardon. You can imagine my joy - I hunted for the books, and got straight down to the library!

All that to avoid a fine of a couple of pounds (a lot of money to a nine-year old!) - what great news to be offered free pardon for a lifetime of sin and wickedness! It’s free, but it’s not without cost. Say that you owed a friend £100. If your friends says not to worry about it - you get off for free; you don’t have to pay it back; but it’s because your friend has paid the cost of it.

Our free pardon comes because of what Jesus has done on the cross. He has paid our debt as he takes our sin and gives us the pardon. Our sins have been paid - you go free.

The invitation has been made - come and be satisfied. The invitation is for all people - get the word out. The invitation requires change - turn and be pardoned. God then goes on to show that the invitation will be successful. I remember when we sent out our wedding invites, we had no idea who would say they were coming - it was the middle of the holidays, and some people had booked flights etc already. But here, God says that his word is powerful and effective - the invitation will be answered, just as the rain is also fruitful.

Now we’re very familiar with the rain in this part of the world. There was some amount of it fell yesterday. Just as God sends the rain and snow (verse 10), which makes the plants grow, and gives us a fruitful harvest, providing all the crops that we see around us, so God’s word is also fruitful. Verse 11: ‘So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth: It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.’ God’s word will do what he wants - those who hear will respond as God wills.

Look back at verses 2 and 3 - The way to respond is to hear God’s word: ‘Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.’ How do we hear the powerful invitation? We listen to God’s word - here, the prophet Isaiah declares the invitation many years before Jesus was born, yet it’s the same invitation that Jesus gives: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ (Matthew 11:28)

The invitation echoes down through the Bible as God invites us into his people, in relationship with him. It’s all pointing forward to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, the feasting and joy in heaven.

The invitation has been made - come and be satisfied. The invitation is for all people. The invitation requires change - turn and be pardoned. The invitation will be successful - listen to the call. But there’s one last verse I want to mention. When we get a wedding invite, I’m always very slow to reply. I forget to get the acceptance card, or the invite disappears under the mountain of paper on my desk. Or it sits on the hall table without being posted. I’m slow to reply, and almost missed out on one wedding through a late reply!

Verse 6 tells us the invitation is urgent: ‘Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.’ You have heard the invitation to new life today, don’t leave it too late to respond. We’re called to seek the LORD while he may be found - one day it will be too late - perhaps even tonight for some of you. The deadline will pass, and the LORD will say ‘time’. A wee while back, there was talk of a thing known as ‘Fergie Time’ - where it seemed that Manchester United kept playing until they scored a late equaliser or even a late winner. But there is no added on time. How terrible to leave it too late, and miss out on the great invitation, to miss the rich feasting, the satisfaction, the joy of sins forgiven, of peace with God, of tremendous mercy.

God has given you an invitation today. What will you do with it? ‘Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.’

This sermon was preached at the Harvest Service in Cornafanog Orange Hall on Thursday 17th October 2013.

Sermon Audio: Daniel 5

On Sunday morning we returned to our series in Daniel, where the writing's on the wall for King Belshazzar. Hear why this king was finished, and how we need to learn from the saints of the past in this our generation.

Sermon: Daniel 5: The writing's on the wall

It’s amazing just how many everyday sayings find their origin in the Bible. By the skin of your teeth (Job 19:20); gird your lions (1 Kings 18:46); the fly in the ointment (Ecclesiastes 10:1); and how the mighty have fallen (2 Samuel 1:19). This morning, our Bible reading contains another of those everyday sayings. The writing’s on the wall. You know what it means - something bad is about to happen; the signs are there. But let’s see where the writing came from, and what it’s all about.

We’ve moved on now from King Nebuchadnezzar. He’s no longer the king; now it’s Belshazzar. He hosts a great big party - a thousand guests, all lords in his kingdom. There’s wine flowing, in fact, so much, that Belshazzar gives the command for the cups of gold and silver from Jerusalem to be brought into the party.

Remember how Nebuchadnezzar had captured Jerusalem? He had brought along the vessels from the temple - the cups that were used in the temple worship. Now Belshazzar uses them - not to worship the living God, but instead to praise ‘the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. He’s using things devoted and set apart for God’s glory to worship false gods. What a betrayal! It’s just like what Paul says in Romans 1, speaking of how humans have exchanged the truth about God for idols.

But before you too quickly jump to condemn Belshazzar - is this something that we also can do? We may not explicitly speak out praise for the god of gold or whatever. We may not have a wee idol set up in our homes. But do we use God’s gifts for the glory of another? Do we take what is rightfully God’s and use it selfishly? If we are described as the temple of the Holy Spirit, how do we use our bodies - for God’s glory or for our own?

As Belshazzar is mid drink, suddenly a hand appears and begins to write on the wall. Now I know that in some houses writing can appear on the wall in felt tip or crayon and no one knows anything about it; but this was much more than a child’s scrawl. Belshazzar watches as it happens. He sees it, and suddenly he’s terrified. His knees knock, his limbs give way - he has never seen anything like this before. And what’s worse, he can’t read it.

Panicked, he calls for the king’s wise men, you know the enchanters, Chaldeans and diviners; but by this stage we know that they’re going to be useless. Despite the king’s promise of purple, pomp and position, no one can read it.

Just then the Queen Mother arrives into the hall. She had heard the panic and came to see what the fuss was all about. She tells the king about Daniel, who in the days of Nebuchadnezzar was chief of the magicians. She knows that (just as before) Daniel will be the one to interpret.

Look at verse 17. Daniel says that he is going to read the writing - but it’s not until verse 25 that he actually does it. First, he gives the king a little history lesson. He reminds him of how great a king Nebuchadnezzar was - because the Most High God had given him the kingdom. In verse 20 there’s a recap of chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and humbling. It was a painful lesson for Nebuchadnezzar to learn - but here’s the point (v22): ‘And you, Belzhazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this!’

Belshazzar knew about what had happened, and yet he refused to listen; he wouldn’t learn from it. It’s a bit like the feeling in Europe after the Great War that this was the war to end all wars. Yet within a generation, World War Two had begun. The lessons hadn’t been learned.

But if that was a problem politically, how much more when it is seen in the spiritual realm. How often we find godly parents who find it so difficult to pass on the faith to the next generation. The children grow up, they decide to go their own way. And it breaks the parents’ hearts.

God does not have spiritual grandchildren. We cannot presume to be a Christian just because your mum sang in the choir or your dad was churchwarden one time. To have Christian parents is a great privilege. Nebuchadnezzar had come to faith in the living God. But the next generation also must come to trust for themselves. Belshazzar knew the truth, but would not submit. Instead, he set himself up against the Lord of heaven.

His folly is seen in verse 23: ‘You have praised the gods... which do not see or hear or know; but the God in whose power is your very breath, and to whom belong all your ways, you have not honoured.’ This is the God who reigns over all; who sees all; who gives us the very breath we need to live. The God who sent the hand which wrote on the wall.

The message is clear - mene - God has numbered your days; tekel - you have been weighed and found wanting; peres (the plural of parsin) - the kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. They’re sobering words. They certainly sobered up Belshazzar from his drunken revelry, and brought him face to face with his future.

I wonder if those words were written on your wall, how you would fare? Numbered, weighed, divided. At the beginning of the Communion service we hear the great commandment, to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength. Have we achieved that for a minute, let alone a lifetime? While our sins may be different to Belshazzar - the actions we do; the root cause of sin is exactly the same: we fail to give God the honour he deserves.

We rightly deserve the same sentence. Yet here we are, gathered at a great feast, with vessels of wine. We meet, not for drunkenness, but around the Table of the Lord. We drink the wine as we remember the one who perfectly honoured the Father in every moment of his life; the sinless one who gave his life for sinners; who shed his blood of the new covenant for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Belshazzar hears the message, but does not repent. He continues to act in his kingly way - Daniel is clothed in purple, given a chain of gold and proclaimed to be third in the kingdom. And it was all pointless. At the very time that Belshazzar had been feasting, the Medes and Persians had been ready to attack - having diverted the river Euphrates away from the city giving them easy access. Belshazzar is finished. Darius the Mede becomes King.

The writing was on the wall for Belshazzar. The writing is on the wall for us, too, unless we take refuge in the king. Paul writes to the Colossians that Jesus was ‘erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.’ (2:14)

Come today to the table, eat of the bread and drink of the wine; remember what Jesus has done for you; no longer are we under God’s wrath; we are clothed, not in purple, but clothed in Christ’s righteousness. His kingdom stands for ever. This sup is just a foretaste of that great feast. Come by faith; and go in great joy.

This sermon was preached in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 13th October 2013

Book Review: Grow in Grace

While hunting through my library for some holiday reading back in the summer, I came across this little book on growing in grace by Sinclair Ferguson, and so it made it into my case. I've benefited from Ferguson's ministry for a while - through podcasts, books and his appearance at NIMA. This wee book was no exception - for something so small it packs quite a punch, with lots of helpful advice.

This is, as Ferguson states early on, 'a book about the way we develop and mature as Christians.' He writes about babies being born, but for them, 'birth is only the beginning.' They need to grow, and 'so it is in the Christian life as well.' But rather than focusing on the how-to aspects of prayer and Bible study (important as they are), Ferguson chooses to focus instead on God who gives the growth.

The opening section, 'Christ our life' emphasises that 'everything we need... is to be found exclusively in Jesus.' He is the pioneer, and it is God's purpose to make all his children to be like his Son Jesus - our older brother in the family of God. 'Growing in grace means becoming like Jesus.' As you would expect with Ferguson, he's quickly into doctrine: good, solid, healthy doctrine on the nature of Jesus (fully God and fully man) and why this matters for our growth spiritually. We are reminded of the way in which Jesus grew spiritually, in constant obedience despite temptation. This is then developed in the following chapter on How Jesus Grew, seen in four areas: 1. In the fruit of the Spirit - which is really a picture of Jesus 2. Through the disciplines of life 3. In obedience 4. Through experience. Ferguson also identifies three means of growth, channels of help and blessing - searching the scriptures, finding fellowship with God in prayer, and looking for fellowship with God's people.

Section 2 moves on to consider some 'Basic Principles'. The first is in the wisdom which is the fear of the Lord. A helpful discussion on what is meant by the fear of the Lord follows, in which Ferguson identifies two kinds of fear - servile or filial. Filial - the child's loving fear of the father - is what the Bible refers to, and what we see in Jesus. 'One of the reasons why we know so little of such filial fear today is that we do not appreciate the glory of the gospel!' When motivated by godly fear, 'evangelism is not merely a privilege; it is a debt.' [Which was the second time such a thought had arisen in my holiday reading]

The section continues with a look at spiritual appetite, and specifically what Psalms 42&43 teach us about hunger and thirst for God. Sometimes, as he says, God uses isolation to reach us things we couldn't learn in fellowship. From there, he then moves on to consider a matter of life and death - as seen in many of the New Testament letters written to churches in trouble. 'They were being tempted to look for something extra... in every case it involved the teaching that Christ himself was not enough... Paul's answer was to emphasise the meaning and message of the cross.' The grace of the cross is shown in the demonstration of: 1. the love of God; 2. the justice of God; and 3. the wisdom of God.

The next section concentrates on life together. Firstly, the principle is applied postively - because Jesus died for a people, we have been given gifts in order to love others, not just for ourselves to feel special. Gifts should issue in service. But then there's a whole chapter on the negative aspect of life together, because 'being together causes as many problems as it seems to solve.' There is much practical wisdom in this chapter on how to resolve problems and show Christlike openhearted compassion to restore, rather than being vinegar-hardened conkers intent on smashing others to smithereens.

The closing section is a case study of the lives of three of God's people in the Bible - Daniel who grows faithfully, Simon Peter who moves in fits and starts, and Timothy coping with yourself. There are great insights from these men which are applied carefully, in Ferguson's pastoral manner.

All in all, this is an excellent little book. It would be especially good for new Christians, but Christians of any age or stage will profit from the helpful reminders and gentle nudges towards growing in grace. Published in 1981, this would be a great book for a publisher to re-release for a new generation seeking to grow. Grow in Grace is available from Amazon.

Sermon Audio: Psalm 137

On Sunday morning we took a break from our Daniel series to have a special look at Psalm 137 and the experience of the exiles by the rivers of Babylon. What does this Psalm tell us about God and about God's people, and why should we use all the Psalm, not just the 'nice' bit allowed by the Lectionary compilers?

Sermon: John 15:1-17 Connected to Jesus

You might have noticed something extra that I’ve got with my robes tonight. Just sticking out the top of my cassock are my earphones! Now what are earphones used for? They’re for listening music. It’s great. You can be on the bus or sitting in the middle of a big crowd of people, and you can enjoy your favourite music - whether that’s One Direction or Daniel O’Donnell or anyone in between! There’s just one problem... when I put them in my ears, I can’t hear anything. What’s wrong? They’re not connected. If this end isn’t connected into the ipod, then I won’t hear any music.

Or just think of your morning routine. If you’re not quite awake, you’re trying to get ready and wondering why the hairdryer or the toaster won’t work - they need to be plugged in. They need a connection with the power source to make them work; to do what they were made to do.

That’s what Jesus was telling us in our reading tonight. But rather than talk about earphones or hairdryers, Jesus uses another picture. But before we get to that, a little quiz. What country do you identify with the thistle? (Scotland). The shamrock? (Ireland) The maple leaf? (Canada). The fern? (New Zealand). The vine?

The vine was the national symbol of Israel. We heard of it in our first reading where God through Isaiah sings the song of his vineyard. He’s talking about his people. Now, here in John 15, Jesus says ‘I am the true vine.’

Whenever I was growing up, our school always had its harvest service in my church. After the school harvest, everything was cleared up and distributed to the elderly people in the town. But what happened was that during the school service, some of the pupils would take an apple from the window sill, take a big bite out of it, and then put it back, as if it was fine. I didn’t want to get into trouble with your new rector tonight, so I brought along my own grapes!

So where did these grapes come from? How did they grow? They don’t have a factory making grapes like these - the branch has to be connected to the vine. It needs the sap, the power to produce the fruit. In the same way, Jesus says to his disciples: ‘Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.’ (John 15:4)

We need the power of Jesus to live as Christians. If we’re not connected to him, we won’t be able to do anything. That’s why Jesus tells us to remain in him - to rest in him, to abide in him, to be joined with him at all times. It’s only by this that we can produce fruit.

Now, here’s a spot the difference for you. What’s the difference between an apple tree and a Christmas tree? (By the way, it’s only 86 days to Christmas and Tesco already have their seasonal stock in). A Christmas tree might look very nice with lights and baubles and tinsel and whatever else you put on a Christmas tree, but they have to be hung on it. The Christmas tree doesn’t produce all those things itself. The apple tree produces its own fruit.

But which are we like? Sometimes it can be very easy to come along to church or to SNATCH, to look good, to seem to be a Christian with a great outward appearance, looking nice and respectable. Or are we producing the fruit of being a Christian - which we’ll see in a moment.

So that’s the basic point Jesus wants us to get tonight - we need to be connected to Jesus. It’s more important than being connected with 5000 friends on Facebook.

But Jesus goes on to show two ways in which being connected to him will impact our life. Here’s the first one: ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.’ (John 15:7-8)

So how does that sound? Ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. Whatever you wish. It sounds a bit like a genie and a magic lamp, doesn’t it? Three friends were on a desert island when they found a lamp. The genie each gave them one wish. The first wished he was in Paris and he disappeared. The second wished he was in Hollywood and he disappeared. The third realised how lonely he was and wished his friends could come back...

So is Jesus saying that we can have whatever we want? Could we go down to the car park to find our cars have been changed into Ferraris or Porsches? But we’ve missed out the first part of the sentence. ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you...’ It’s when we’re connected to Jesus, as his words remain in us, then we can ask whatever we wish and we’ll receive it. It’s not asking for things you want selfishly, rather, it’s about asking for the things Jesus wants because they are the things we want as well. When we’re connected to Jesus, we’ll see answered prayers.

There’s one more effect. Have you ever seen a domino display? You need a steady hand to set it up. One domino moves the next and on and on... We see something the same here as Jesus talks about love. ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.’ (John 15:9) The Father loves the Son, who loves us, and who do we pass it on to? ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’

These words were said in the upper room, just hours before Jesus went to the cross. It was there that he demonstrated the greatest love of all: ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.’ (14) It is as we receive his love - as we see just what Jesus did for us that we are connected to him. Never wander from the love of Jesus. His love is the power that flows from him to us. His love will make us fruitful, as we become more like Jesus.

Jesus commands us to love one another. That’s because it isn’t easy. We’re all different, it takes the love of God to overflow in our hearts to each other as the fruit of the Spirit grows.

One of the problems of buying fruit is that sometimes it goes off quickly. It isn’t all eaten and it goes bad. My banana wouldn’t make it into a harvest display. It’s past its best. It’s only good for the compost heap. But the fruit that we produce when we’re connected to Jesus endures for ever: ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.’

Are you connected to Jesus? Perhaps you realise that you’re disconnected, far from him. You need to be plugged in, grafted on. Come to him tonight. Look at the cross, and discover his great love for you, to lay down his life for you.

But maybe you are a Christian. Stay connected. Return again to the cross, and let the love of Jesus flood your heart and overflow - as you pray like Jesus, and love like Jesus, producing spiritual fruit that will last forever.

This sermon was preached at the Harvest Thanksgiving in Colebrooke Church, Aghalurcher Parish on Sunday 29th September 2013

Sermon: Psalm 137 By the rivers of Babylon

Boney M have a lot to answer for. Thanks to their hit song, the first words of our Psalm today are instantly recognisable. In fact, you maybe even began to hum the tune when Nuala began the reading. When was the song released in the UK? It’s a little older than me - 1978 when you were dancing along to it. But while the first line is fixed in the memory, the last lines of the Psalm aren’t just so popular. In fact, they may have caused a sharp intake of breath. Could this be in the Bible? It just doesn’t seem to fit. We’ll come to them in due course.

From Boney M to another little rhyme. How does this go? ‘Remember, remember, the fifth of November...’. (Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot). The rhyme urges us to remember Guy Fawkes and his failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. As I was working on Psalm 137, I realised that it could be seen as ‘Remember, remember, remember.’ Psalm 137 remembers, not a failed plot, but an actual disaster.

In verses 1-3, we see Remembering Zion- painful memories. As the opening line tells us, the people of God are far away from their home. They’re not in the city of Zion-Jerusalem rather, they are remembering it ‘by the rivers of Babylon.’ This could be the song of Daniel and his three friends - Jerusalem has been destroyed, the people of God find themselves in a strange place, in captivity. As if that isn’t bad enough, the Babylonians want them to sing the songs of Zion, as if it’s an entertaining way to pass some time.

Rather than songs, there is weeping. They hang up the harps; they are faced with what they have lost. There’s no prospect of return. They watched the city being destroyed. They’ve suffered loss, and even now, only have painful memories. Perhaps there’s even some regret over the loss. You see, God had promised David that they would live in the city, have a son of his on the throne, so long as the people kept the covenant and obeyed the Lord.

But the people were unfaithful. They turned away from God. And God has kept his promise. They’re away from the land. They remember Zion. And they weep.

As the psalm moves on, though, we come to remembering Jerusalem - by singing the songs. The question in verse 4 is at the heart of the whole psalm. It’s the question that drives the whole thing: ‘How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?’

Even in the pain, there is a desire to remember Jerusalem, to not forget the city of God. It might come with great cost, but the Psalm writer is committed to Jerusalem, even in exile. ‘If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither (or forget its skill)! Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth...’ His right hand’s skill and his tongue are the very things needful to play the harp and sing the Lord’s songs.

And what he’s saying here is that he isn’t going to forget Jerusalem. It’s going to have the place of supreme honour and devotion in his heart and life. They city of God may not be standing, and yet he is dedicated to it. Yes, there will be other joys - even in a foreign land. But Jerusalem will have highest place.

It’s as if we ask through the tears, how could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? How could we keep trusting in God even though we’re far from him, even though this has happened, even though we’re not in that place of intimacy with him? The answer the psalm gives is how could we not sing the Lord’s song?

How could we not keep trusting in God? One of the hardest and yet most special parts of ministry is being with those who are coming to the end of their life. To be with them, and then with families gives an insight into how people tick. To see a believer continue to trust through the darkest of days - how could they do otherwise, they would say? Even in the tears, there is joy.

Remember, remember - with painful memories, we’ll continue to trust and find joy. But it’s when we get to the final remember that we get a little bit jittery. In fact, the compilers of the Church of Ireland lectionary readings would want us to stop at the end of verse 6. (As it happens it’s listed as the Psalm for some weekdays this week & also next Sunday morning). Here and no further, they decree.

But God, in his wisdom, has inspired all of Holy Scripture. As Paul says to Timothy, all of scripture (not just the bits we like, or are sanitised) is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting & training in righteousness. So what do these last verses teach us about God and ourselves? What does the final reminder point to?

The appeal is to remember Jerusalem, a cry for justice. We hear it on the news every day - a crime has been committed, we want the criminal arrested and tried. It’s a natural desire to see justice done. And so, the writer of the Psalm cries out to God for justice.

‘Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem’s fall.’ The Edomites were (if you went back far enough), far out relations of the Jews. Esau was Jacob’s brother - their descendants were near neighbours. But when Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem, the Edomites joined in. They were like the cheerleaders urging on the Babylonians: ‘how they said, “Tear it down! Tear it down! Down to its foundations.”’ Fair’s fair, you might think. But what about the next bit?

‘O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!’ It’s a brutal image, an almost unthinkable one. Especially if the word used to describe the attackers is ‘happy.’ Could the soldiers have a smile on their face as they attack little ones?

But the word isn’t really happy. Rather, it’s the word (in other versions) ‘blessed.’ The writer of the Psalm, inspired by God, is adding to the curse pronounced on the Babylonians in other places in scripture (e.g. Isaiah 13, Habakkuk 2:8 etc). As we’ve been learning in Daniel, God is sovereign over history and uses nations for his purposes - whether to chasten his people, or to restore his people. And after the harvest, we’ll see how even this prayer was answered with the fall of Babylon.

Our cry for justice is met by the cross of Christ, where every sin on him was laid; where God’s peace and perfect justice meet. In Christ, we are free from our sin, and called to follow his example as he prayed for his persecutors. In Christ, God the just judge reconciles us to himself. We no longer bear our own punishment; instead we are forgiven. But to reject Christ, to make yourself his enemy, to oppose the new Jerusalem, is to face his just judgement forever. In Christ, we belong to the Jerusalem that is above, our highest joy, where we will live with him forever. Remember, remember, remember, and keep going as we journey to that new Jerusalem through the pain, through the tears, to that place of sweet delight.

This sermon was preached in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 29th September 2013.

Sermon Audio: Daniel 4:1-37

On Sunday morning we looked at the madness of King Nebuchadnezzar. It's amazing that this enemy, this pagan king writes a chapter of the Bible as he gives his testimony to the God of grace. Listen in for yourself.

Book Review: The Racketeer

With so many books published, you might wonder if John Grisham's talent would start to wane. After all, how could he possibly keep his stories interesting, his characters varied, and new plot twists to excite and entertain the reader? On our recent holiday, Grisham's The Racketeer was the first book I read, and I have to admit, it's very, very good. Better, even than some of his previous offerings, with a delicious plot that will long stick in the mind.

The book begins with Malcolm Bannister, a lawyer who is in prison. He was caught up in some shady business unawares and framed by the FBI. But his time in prison hasn't been wasted. He's plotting revenge - which comes to fruition when a judge is murdered, and Malcolm is convinced he knows who did it. Cue the most exciting, thrilling book as the story races through twists to reach a glorious conclusion. It'll leave you guessing for a long time!

Some of Grisham's previous stories seemed to be moral tales with a rant attached, but this is back to Grisham at his best, telling a great story with tension, intrigue, danger, and ingenuity at every turn. If you've liked Grisham in the past, you'll love this. If you've never read his offerings before, then plunge into this one. Fantastic. The Racketeer is available from Amazonand is currently on Kindlefor £1.99.

Sermon: Daniel 4: 1-37 The Madness of King Nebuchadnezzar

If you remember back to the start of the summer, we were finishing off our series in 1 Peter, and Robbie Robinson helped us to see that ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ (1 Pet 5:5). Now when you think of the proud, who comes to mind? Who is it leaps into your mind when you think of the category marked ‘proud people?’

From what we’ve seen so far in the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar could certainly fit the bill. In chapter 1, he came and captured Jerusalem. He then threatened to kill all the magicians who couldn’t tell him his dream of the statue in chapter two. And last week we saw how he threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery furnace for not worshipping his golden statue. He seems to be proud as he rules over the whole kingdom.

Yet, if you were listening carefully, you’ll have realised that this chapter is written by none other than King Nebuchadnezzar himself. Just imagine! Alongside David’s Psalms and Peter’s letters and Matthew’s gospel sits this chapter written by the enemy - King Nebuchadnezzar!What is going on here? How come Nebuchadnezzar gets to write in the Bible? In verse 2 he writes: ‘The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me I am pleased to recount.’ Nebuchadnezzar, the foreign, enemy king is giving his testimony! He’s telling how he was going astray, how God dealt with him, and turned his life around.

And the presenting issue is the madness of King Nebuchadnezzar. [A few years ago a film came out charting the history of King George the Third’s situation - except the movie was called ‘The Madness of King George’ rather than ‘The Madness of King George the Third’ in case American audiences thought they had missed out on seeing the first two films in the series...]. As we read his story, you might think it’s easy to see his madness. It’s right there in verse 33. ‘He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagle’s feathers and his nails became like birds’ claws.’ He leaves his palace and lives in the fields. We obviously don’t recommend such a lifestyle. It’s very peculiar.

And yet it’s not the only madness we see in Neb’s life. The story begins with another dream. This time, it’s not a statue, but a tall tree, which is cut down. Again, those magicians can’t help interpret, so Daniel is brought in. He explains the dream - Neb is the tree, ruling over all, but he will be felled, driven out. This proud one will be brought low - until he knows that ‘the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of mortals; he gives it to whom he will.’ (25)

Daniel goes on to say that there’s a way to avoid this - ‘atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged.’ (27) There’s an escape route - an early warning system to stop it happening. It’s the same message of John the Baptist and Jesus to ‘repent and believe’. Yet Neb ignores the warning signs, and carries on in his foolish madness. It is madness to ignore the warnings given by God.

A year later, the warning was fulfilled, the very thing he was told about actually happened. Neb’s madness was to ignore God’s call to repent, and instead to be boastful and proud. Verse 30: ‘Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty?’ It’s all about me, myself and I - Babylon is his own, built by him, to display his glory. There’s no thought of the Most High God who gave him the kingdom, nor of anyone but himself. At that very moment, as the words were still in his mouth, he hears the voice of the great King of heaven - and he is driven out. His madness of ignoring God’s warnings and his madness of being proud leads to his punishment of proper madness.

After the set period of time, seven years, Neb was restored to sanity, and to his kingdom. But what was it that brought the change? Why was he sane again? As his testimony continues: ‘I, Neb, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me. I blessed the Most High, and praised and honoured the one who lives for ever.’ (34)

That lifting his eyes to heaven was him recognising that God is God and Neb isn’t; that heaven rules (26). Neb recognises his place, and gives God his due - that God rules, and gives as he chooses. In seeing the fate of Neb, we see that just like him, we aren’t the centre of the universe - God is - that we must give him the glory and the praise. As Neb reminds us, ‘he is able to bring low those who walk in pride.’ (37) God humbles the proud - this is the clear message from Daniel chapter 4. He humbled King Neb, who was very proud.

But what about us. You might be thinking, well, of course he was proud - he was the king of a mighty nation, he had conquered most of the world, he had the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the ancient wonders of the world. He might have been proud, but I’m all right - after all, I’ll never be king of anywhere, so I don’t need to worry. This is only a message for kings, not for ordinary people like me.

But you don’t have to be a king to be proud. You don’t have to be a ruler to think highly of yourself and your achievements. You don’t have to be the boss to puff yourself up with what you have done. Perhaps it’s in what your farm has achieved, building up from nothing; or coming top in the exams; being the best knitter or baker in the county; or in your work for the church. We’re all liable to pride from time to time.

But even worse is the pride that says: ‘I can work hard enough or pay in enough or achieve enough or be good enough to get into heaven by my own strength.’ Are you too proud to become a Christian? Too caught up in your own achievements, thinking you can save yourself? In whatever form or fashion it may appear, God opposes the proud.

It’s the message that rings out loud and clear from this passage. It’s the message that I hammered home a few years back when I preached this same passage in Dundonald. But as I’ve been studying the passage, I’ve seen that the other half of Peter’s declaration is not only true, but it’s what we also need to hear. ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’

God’s grace is the reason that Neb is writing this part of the Bible. This pagan king has had his life transformed by God’s grace, when he came humbly before the God of grace. And if Neb, even Neb, could come and find grace, then why not you and me?

You see, Neb was responding to the announcement that the Lord Jesus is the King of Kings. Look at verse 17. The watcher in the dream says that ‘the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of mortals; he gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of human beings.’ This is, I believe, the declaration of the good news of Jesus - Jesus is the lowliest of humans, the one who gave up all of heaven’s glory and went down, down, down to the death of the cross. Jesus who said ‘I am gentle and humble in heart’ (Matt 11:29) and invited us to lay down our burdens.

If you will come humbly to him, he will receive you, having done all that is necessary. As the old hymn puts it, ‘Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe.’ Come to the God of grace.

This sermon was preached in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 22nd September 2013.

Sermon Audio: Daniel 3:1-30

On Sunday morning we had our monthly Family Service, continuing in our series in Daniel. With the mocking mention of all the various musical instruments in King Nebuchadnezzar's orchestra, we had our own impromptu orchestra making music, calling for the worship of the true and living God who saves from the fiery furnace. It gets a little bit noisy at times, so turn your sound down!

Book Review: Green is the Colour

One of the best things about buying books as presents for family members is the opportunity to then borrow the book after they have finished with it. Not that I specifically buy books for others that I would like to read myself, I hasten to add! But when we had bought dad 'Green is the Colour: The Story of Irish Football' by Peter Byrne, I was hoping to get a read of it after him.

Sadly, that was where my enthusiasm for the book waned. On beginning the book, I quickly discovered that far from being a fair history of the whole of Irish football, north and south, as it purported to be, it is rather an impassioned history of football in the Republic of Ireland, with some grudging references to Northern Ireland. With the frequent and disappointing calls for one united Irish football team, especially after recent World Cup Qualifiers, I thought this might have helped to understand the reason there are two football associations on the island. After all, the argument goes, most other sports are organised on an island-wide basis. Why not football?

The reason is that the IFA covered the whole island, but in 1921 southern teams and associations left to form the FAIFS (Football Association of the Irish Free State - which later became the Football Association of Ireland FAI). Byrne covers the story exclusively from a southern end, with the purest intentions of those in the south, whereas the evil northerners were motivated by sectarianism and greed. There were difficulties surrounding the national team, with the IFA continuing to field the team called Ireland - with members from the Free State continuing to play for it until they were threatened with discipline from the FAIFS.

Even more disappointing, though, was the scant coverage of international and local football north of the border. While chapters are devoted to the fortunes of Ireland (ROI)'s internationals, it would seem that Northern Ireland hadn't bothered to play any internationals for about thirty years. Similarly, with focus on the major clubs in the League of Ireland, the only real focus on the northern clubs is on the alleged sectarianism of Linfield etc in causing riots when they played Belfast Celtic.

He had to mention the three World Cup campaigns fought by Northern Ireland (Sweden 1958, Spain 1982, Mexico 1986), but the coverage of those seems sparse compared to the coverage of the Republic of Ireland's trips to Italy 1990, USA 1994 and Japan/South Korea 2002. Indeed, the whole of Northern Irish football from 1987 to 2012 gets three paragraphs in the very final chapter, which is also full of wishful thinking and propaganda trying to push for a united international team.

The football pundit might find lots of interesting facts and figures and details, but this reader was left very disappointed by the tone and bias of the book. If you want to learn more about (southern) Irish football, it'll be right up your street, but not if you're wanting to discover more about Northern Ireland's footballing history. Green is the Colour is available from Amazon and for the Kindle.

Family Service Sermon: Daniel 3:1-30 The Fiery Furnace

This morning I asked you to bring along some musical instruments - whether a drum or a didgeridoo. You might have been wondering why I asked you to bring it along. In the Bible, musical instruments are used to call us to worship God. Psalm 98 talks about using the harp, the sound of singing, trumpets, ram’s horns. Psalm 150 adds the lyre, tambourine, strings, flute and cymbals. Musical instruments are a call to worship God.

If you have one with you, and even if you haven’t, I want you to listen carefully. Every time I say ‘musical instruments’ I want you to play yours for five seconds! If you’ve no instrument, God has still given you one - your voice. You can play an imaginary trumpet; or whistle. But just for five seconds, so listen carefully!

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah lived in Jerusalem. When they went to the temple, they heard all the musical instruments as they called people to praise the God of Israel. But that was a long time ago now. King Nebuchadnezzar had attacked the city, took away the cups from the temple, and took Daniel and his friends back to Babylon. They couldn’t hear the musical instruments of Jerusalem any more.

But Daniel and his friends were given jobs serving the king. They went to school and learnt lots about the Babylonian culture and religion. They were helped by God to do their job well. (And last week we heard how) Daniel even helped the king by revealing a bad dream he had, and what it meant.

The dream was about a statue, and about lots of different kingdoms that would come and go after Neb. It had been made of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay. Neb had an idea. He would build a golden statue of himself. It would be 90 feet tall - about the height of our tower.

The day came for the statue to be unveiled. Neb was excited. He invited all the people who worked for him from across the world. Everyone was given the command: When you hear all the musical instruments, bow down and worship the statue. If anyone heard the musical instruments but didn’t bow down, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

And so all the musical instruments began to play. The noise was really loud because all the musical instruments were playing. And everyone bowed down and worshiped the statue. Well, nearly everyone.

You know the way you can be driving along and see a tower standing tall against the backdrop of the fields? Or when you’re coming towards Belfast the city hospital tower stands out? When as everyone was bowed low, three people continued to stand out, because they were still standing up.

Their enemies, the astrologers went to the king. They reminded him of the command - when the musical instruments are played, everyone bows down. But, they said, when the musical instruments were played, just now, these three stayed standing.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel’s friends who had been given new names) were brought before the king. He reminded them of the command - the musical instruments play, you bow down, everyone is happy. So here we go, let’s have the musical instruments, and you can bow down and worship my statue. But before the musical instruments could play their tune, these three said no.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said that they would not worship the statue, because they could only worship God, the living God, the God of Israel. They knew that God could rescue them from the fiery furnace. They knew all about how God had saved their people before them. But even if God did not rescue them from the fiery furnace, even then, they would not worship anyone but God.

Neb had them bound up in their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes. They were wrapped up as if they were going out for a walk on a really cold day with the snow up to the knees. But they were thrown into the furnace, all tied up.

Suddenly Neb got a shock. He thought he had forgotten how to count. How many men were thrown into the furnace? Count with me: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. One, two, three. But when Neb looked in, he saw four! They were walking around as if they were in a park on a summers day. Not tied up. And the fourth looked like a son of the gods.

Even though this was five hundred years before he was born, this is Jesus, the Son of God, who is with them in this difficult time. God is with them in the furnace, because they did not bow to worship anyone else. God, their God, was able to save them.

Neb orders the doors to be opened and the three to be brought out. They stood before him, just as they had before they were thrown in. God had saved them. God had helped them. Neb knew that his gods could not do that. His statue was just a statue, a lump of gold, and couldn’t rescue anyone. ‘No other god can save in this way.’ But God, the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - this God can save.

And that’s a good reason for us to hear the musical instruments - as they call us to worship our God. This is the same God who sent Jesus to rescue us from the danger we were in; the same Jesus who is with us now every day, no matter what we are going through. So even if there are musical instruments calling us to worship anyone else or anything else - football players, pop stars, or whatever - the musical instruments should remind us that God is with us; that God alone is able to save, so for his glory, play your musical instruments!

This sermon was preached at the Family Service in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 15th September 2013.

Sermon Audio: Psalm 19

On Sunday evening in the Brooke Hall I was preaching from Psalm 19. There we find a chorus of voices joining to declare God's glory in the heavens and the scriptures. Will our hearts be in tune with the universe so that we desire God's glory?

Bible Briefs: Titus

Series Introduction: Bible Briefs are a short introduction and summary of the overview of a book of the Bible, with a view to helping people take up their Bible and knowing what it's about.

When Paul sent Titus to the island of Crete, he wasn’t there for a poolside holiday. There was work to be done in leading the church and appointing elders. Paul’s letter to Titus enables us to read over Titus’ shoulder as God shows us what a growing church should look like.

Throughout the letter, there’s a constant refrain. It’s the theme tune that repeats over and over again, heard in every section of the letter: believing and behaving go together. What we do will flow out of what we believe. We’re called to live lives of integrity - where our faith and deeds match up.

We find it in the opening verse: ‘Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness.’ (1:1) our knowledge of the truth must lead to godliness - believing brings behaving. The qualifications of the church leaders echo this (1:5-9), as does the testimony of the false teachers - ‘They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him’ (1:16).

As the letter progresses, there is specific application for various groups and profiles of people - old men, older women, younger women, and young men - all under the heading of ‘You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.’ (2:1) Healthy teaching must lead to right behaviour. Similarly with the slaves, their actions and reactions will be a sign of their faith ‘so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive.’ (2:10).

This was the very reason Jesus Christ came: ‘who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness [the truth] and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. [godliness] (2:14). The same theme is loud and clear as we come into the final chapter, where our relationship to the authorities and to the world around us is dealt with. Reflecting on the kindness and love of God which appeared, in order to save us, Paul urges Titus to teach these things: ‘so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.’ (3:8).

As we rejoice in the glorious good news of the Saviour who came to redeem us, that grace must bring change as it ‘teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.’ (2:12-13)

No matter how far along the path of discipleship we have travelled, there’s always more to do in pursuing godliness - but don’t be downhearted, because God’s grace is the encouragement for godliness. Let’s keep going and growing together.

Sermon Audio: Daniel 2: 1-49

Sunday morning saw us continuing in the book of the prophet Daniel. Presented with the mystery of the king's dream, Nebuchadnezzar discovers the futility of the Babylonian and Chaldean gods, and learns that there is a god in heaven who reveals mysteries and declares the future before it comes to pass.

Sermon: Psalm 19: 1-14 Declaring God's Glory

“You’re not even listening!!!” You’ve zoned out, you’re miles away, and those are the first words you hear. Disaster (or so I’ve heard...), as you try to think back to what might have been said; the important instructions about the washing machine or what’s needed from the shops.

I like to go people watching sometimes. You’ve a spare half hour, and so you walk along the street, or you sit on a bench or in a coffee shop, and watch the people going by. You hear snatches of conversation; you catch stories being shared, but often times there are so many voices, such a cacophony of noise, that it’s good to get some peace and quiet.

Voices. Speech. With 24 hour news, TV stations and radio stations broadcasting all through the day and the night, there is always someone speaking. At least you’ll get peace when you’re in bed, unless your spouse is a sleeptalker. Voices are all around us, but David points us to another voice with a unique message. But you don’t need your ears - rather it’s a bit like the BBC programme: ‘See Hear’. All we need to do is look up.

‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.’ (1) The skies above us are speaking, their voice goes out to the whole word, pouring out speech and revealing knowledge. Just look at the first four verses and see all the ‘speaking’ words. Declare, proclaim, speech, words, voice...

As David looks up, perhaps as he was watching the sheep, he hears the declaration of God’s glory. The sky, the sun, the moon and stars all proclaim that God made them. They cry out to anyone who will listen. But when was the last time you tuned in? Just think of the spectacular sunset you saw (not this evening anyway) - it was telling you about God’s glory. But not just the sunset - the way the sun ‘runs’ across the sky is a witness; it’s as if it is a bridegroom running to meet his bride; a champion running for the finish line.

The heavens are speaking; they are telling all who will listen of the power and glory of the God who made them and put them in place. Are you listening?

So we’re getting through the Psalm, you know where David is going with it, but then, it seems that he has gone off in a completely different direction. When you’re buying a secondhand car, you have to watch out for a cut and shut. That’s where you had two cars - one damaged at the front, the other at the back, so the two cars are cut up, the good bits put together and made to look like a normal car. Is that what’s happened here? There’s a psalm about the skies, another about the law, so slam them together and don’t pass any remarks?

Now if you thought that was strange enough, what about the bit that David says next? You’ve made it over the gap, and then he says ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.’ When you hear of law, what do you think of? You might have in mind pictures of courts and judges and prisons. Hardly something that gives life and reviving?

The law of the Lord, though, isn’t just law, it’s the whole of the first five books of the Bible. It’s the teaching of the Lord, the teaching about the Lord. You see, this isn’t a big leap at all - from creation’s voice to the Bible’s voice. The law of the Lord also speaks of God’s glory, as it reveals God to us, in relationship - Lord, rather than God. That’s why David can say that the perfect, sure, right, sure law revives the soul, makes the simple wise, rejoices the heart and enlightens the eyes.

Even the commandments and rules and law of the Lord is precious. It’s more to be desired than gold; and sweeter than honey. Is this what we think of the Bibles in our homes? Precious and sweet? Or something that sits on a shelf?

We don’t just read the Bible to become Bible quiz geeks. Every year at our Boys Brigade Camp there was a Bible quiz on the Sunday night. There was always great competition to see which team would win. But much more important than a Mid-Ulster battalion medal, the Bible reveals God himself. The Bible speaks, telling us of God’s glory, laying out the warnings and rewards.

On Friday night I was in Belfast at the Northern Ireland football match. The chants start off quiet, one or two voices, but before long, most of the ground are singing along. In fact, it’s a good job the match was on Friday night rather than last night. There’s something powerful when different voices join together - in a choir or as we say the responses together, or when a crowd gets behind their team. The voice of the heavens joins with the voice of the Bible to declare and proclaim the glory of God in creation and in scripture. But to these is joined a third voice. David himself, the author of the Psalm, now joins in, seeking to align himself with the way the world is.

In verse 12, he recognises that the whole universe is ablaze with the glory of God, but he is out of step. ‘Who can discern his errors?’ Faced with the glory of God in creation and in scripture, we’re confronted with our sinfulness. Some choose to put their fingers in their ears and refuse to listen. It’s the point Paul makes in Romans 1:18-20, as we suppress the plain truth about God, seen in creation, but turn away from him. It’s the tactic we all try, but it’s unsuccessful. We are without excuse.

Rather, the Bible calls us to turn, to re-align ourselves with God, to repent as we confess our sins. It’s what David says: ‘Declare me innocent from hidden faults.’ It’s when we do this that we find ourselves in tune with the universe. The heavens declare God’s glory. The law of the Lord declares God’s glory. And now we see that David desires God’s glory. Having turned from sin, his desire is to please the Lord. The last verse isn’t just a nice wee prayer before a sermon. It’s a prayer for every moment of every day, that we will live for the glory of God.

Just as the heavens speak of God’s glory, so our prayer is that the words of our mouths will also point to God’s glory. Just as the law of the Lord performs heart surgery on us, reviving the soul and rejoicing the heart, so our prayer is that the meditation of our heart will tend to the glory of God. It’s as we admit that often our words and our thoughts aren’t in tune with God’s glory that we can be mindful of the need to change. David asks, prays, in this verse, as he sums up the whole psalm, that God’s glory will be his supreme purpose. Will you make this your prayer tonight?

This sermon was preached in the Brooke Memorial Hall, Brookeborough on Sunday 8th September 2013.

Sermon: Daniel 2: 1-49 The King's Dream

Have you ever had a really bad night’s sleep? For some, every night might be like that - no matter how you toss and turn you just can’t get over, or stay asleep. For others, you’re disturbed by crying children, or sleeptalking, or your spouse’s snoring. What about bad dreams or nightmares? It all seems so vivid; you’re caught up in the panic of whatever is seemingly happening; it’s hard to understand, even though it’s unforgettable. Ever woken in a cold sweat because of something you’ve dreamed?

If you have, you’re in good company. As Daniel 2 opens, we’re re-introduced to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He’s had a bad night; a bad dream, and he wants to get to the bottom of it. Now we might not know where to turn if we had a bad dream, but Neb had the right people on staff. He brings in the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and Chaldeans (a special breed of priests), and asks them to tell him what it all means.

The magicians are quick to point out a slight problem - if the king would just tell them the dream, they will give the meaning of it (4). But Neb isn’t playing ball. He wants them to tell the dream, and then give the interpretation. After all, if they’re as clever as they’re made out to be, it’ll be no problem to them. They keep stalling. They realise they’re caught. They just want some details.

Neb isn’t so slow. He knows they could string him along with any old story if he told them what he had dreamed. Imagine how it would go: ‘You say you dreamed about a bridge over a river, but the bridge collapsed as you were walking over it? Well, don’t be pushing out and invading any more countries or you’ll perish...’

Look at verse 10. They admit defeat: ‘There is no one on earth who can reveal what the king demands! ... and no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.’

This is the elite of the Babylonian religious system; they claim to be priests and powerful religious types. Yet they can’t do anything; their gods might, but won’t. The problem becomes even more intense. Neb isn’t going to keep them on the payroll - if they can’t do the job, then why pay them? But rather than ‘you’re fired’, they’re going to hear ‘off with their heads.’ It’s not just them - Daniel and his three friends (from Judah) were to be killed as well.

So what do you do when you find yourself in Daniel’s position? These other guys are useless; their religious system is a fraud; and your life is on the line. Would you try to think up what the king might have dreamt about? Consulted the big book of nightmares?

Daniel turns to God, and calls a prayer meeting. Verse 17, he gets his friends to pray, to seek mercy from the God of heaven. His first reaction is to pray. I wonder if that’s how you respond, or if prayer is further down the list (or even on the list at all). Daniel knows this is beyond him - no one can reveal it - and so he turns to the throne room, to ask for God’s mercy.

Now if you were writing the chapter, what would you put next? I think I would write about the dream in great detail, explaining everything as I went along, but that’s not how the author tells the story. Look at verse 19. ‘Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.’ Daniel now knows what the dream is and what it means, but we’re left waiting to hear. The suspense is rising, but the story is suspended until Daniel praises God for revealing the mystery.

Who is this God? He is the one to whom belongs wisdom and power; Power, because he changes times and seasons, he deposes kings and sets up kings. Wisdom, because he gives wisdom to the wise; he reveals deep and hidden things. This is the God who rules on high. This is the God of mercy.

So Daniel goes to the king. He’s asked if he is able to tell him the dream (26). You can almost see the king’s face fall as he begins his answer: ‘No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking...’ (27) That’s the very issue. In case Neb is getting worried, Daniel continues: ‘But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries...’ This true God is able to reveal mysteries, to show what the future will hold, because he holds the future.

And so eventually, after 30 verses, we get to discover what the king saw. He dreamt of a great statue, huge, shiny, and frightening. It was of various parts - the top of gold, chest and arms of silver, middle and thighs bronze, legs of iron and feet or iron and clay. Yet this impressive statue is shattered into pieces by ‘a stone was cut out, not by human hands... (which) became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.’

Now what is that all about? What could it possibly mean? Daniel gives God’s interpretation. The head of gold - this is Nebuchadnezzar. He is the ruler of the entire world - the superpower of his day. But his kingdom will not remain forever - another one will follow, of silver. Just think of the former glory of the British Empire, when (as the Last Night of the Proms reminded us last night) Britannia ruled the waves. Think of the old maps coloured red to show the extent of the kingdom (reminds me of the schoolboy asked why it was said that the sun never set on the British Empire - he answered that the BE was in the east, whereas the sun set in the west...). This silver kingdom is the Medes and Persians. Next, comes bronze - the Greeks. And finally, the iron and clay, the Romans.

God is telling Neb about the future, and in the time of the Roman empire, something new and different will happen. These are all earthly kingdoms, but in those days, will come a kingdom not of human hands - this stone which shatters all power and rule, and which grows to fill the whole earth.

‘And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand for ever.’ (44) For Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, these things were all in the future. They looked ahead to see what God had promised to fulfil.

But from our viewpoint, we look back, to see what God has done. We can see much clearer than Daniel ever could, just how it would all turn out. In the days of the Romans, this new heavenly kingdom was established, as the king came to declare the good news. The Romans are long gone - a history project for school children. But this kingdom, Jesus’ kingdom, has continued for two thousand years - the promise is true, that is shall never be destroyed.

When you apply for a loan, the bank checks your ‘credit rating’ - what you have done in the past helps them decide how reliable you’ll be in the future. Check out God’s credit rating. Not one of his promises have fallen to the ground. As we look to the future, it can seem so uncertain. We don’t know what it holds. But Daniel calls us to trust in the God who holds the future. There is a God in heaven who is faithful and true. He reveals mysteries, and he has revealed himself to us, especially in the person of his Son, the Lord Jesus, the King. Will you trust in him today?

This sermon was preached in Aghavea Parish Church on Sunday 8th September 2013.

Sermon Audio: Daniel 1:1-21

On Sunday morning I began preaching through the book of Daniel. In the first chapter, we follow Daniel and his friends as they are taken from their homes in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, where they use the hardest word of all: No! Daniel's life in exile is a case study in helping us to live as exiles and strangers in the world as we Dare to be a Daniel.