Only 55% of Christians believe that God exists!

A recent survey concluded that Britons are more likely to believe in ghosts and karma than a Creator. It’s probably important to note, however, that ‘Christian’ is a cultural identification for many. Last year, YouGov found that only 55 per cent of self-identified Christians believe a God exists.

In fact it would seem that in British society a trend of ‘christianaphobia’ is rising. Christianity is accused of some amazing things. A couple of years ago, in a large circulation Regional Newspaper in England, Christianity was accused of being the source of the 'tide of disrespect engulfing us'. Is this really an honest assessment?

The impact of Christianity on the world is indisputable! Following the principles Jesus taught produced social reform, improved education, the development of science and medicine and influenced literature and philosophy!

The consequences of failing to follow the teachings of Jesus will be catastrophic both for society and the individual! The Bible teaches that Jesus will return to earth one day to judge the world righteously, Acts 17:31. All wrong will be judged; sadly unbelief in God, and his Son Jesus, is one of those wrongs that will qualify. 

This may seem harsh but essentially unbelief is the worst crime of all because of what it leads to. 

God is light therefore unbelief leaves you in moral darkness. 

God is truth therefore unbelief leaves you with all that is false. 

God is life therefore unbelief leaves you with death. 

God is holy therefore unbelief leaves you with sins unforgiven.

Ultimately unbelief leads to all the depravity that we readily accept is wrong and harmful. Thankfully today we all have the opportunity to 'believe in the Lord Jesus Christ'. In that day it will be too late.

In closing I want to pass on a ‘Global Warning,’ (excuse the pun)! This is not about the effect of the mismanagement of our planet and its resources, important though that is, but about an issue which has a longer lasting effect. This planet will come to the end of its life cycle one day, see 2 Peter 3. However our souls will never die! The warning is that if we do not actively get back to God then we will find that we are, on death, forever at a distance from God and all that God is i.e. love, justice, peace etc. 

How can we come to God? The answer is in seeking the Lord while he may be found, repenting of our sin (turning away from it) and placing our personal trust in Jesus Christ.

The scripture teaches - 'Christ died for our sins....and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day,' 1 Corinthians 15.3,4.

The solution is to 'repent and believe the gospel,' Mark 1.15.

May you come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour as a result of considering these thoughts from the Bible. 

For more information and further explanations of the message of the bible via videos, blogs and podcasts please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Who is God?

Do you believe in God?

Whatever your answer God loves you and is interested in you.

God created us in His image. That is why we have a conscience about right and wrong and an inbuilt sense of justice and injustice.
The world we live in can be a sad and hard place. This is because of wrong doing and sin. Sin came into the world through the first man, Adam.

But, God is love. He loves everyone in the world. That is why He sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of the world!
God is pure and holy. He must punish sin. Yet He has given us a way back to Himself. By asking God for forgiveness for our sin we can have peace with God!

There is only one way. Refusal to come to God by accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour leaves God with only one option. He must judge sinners and will send them to a place of eternal punishment, the Lake of Fire. 

All of these statements are either direct quotations from the Bible or based on bible verses. If you would like the references so that you can read them for yourself please get in touch.

This is only a brief summary of the gospel. For more information visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

#Wick Harbour

Wick Harbour 

The sea and the boats remind me of these verses in the Psalms. Many a fisherman or seaman has faced danger and death and as a result has come to trust in the living God. Life is short when you are faced with the uncertainty of life. 

Many of us live a closeted life, detached from the reality of our mortality. We live for the moment and ignore reality.

Life is short

Death is sure

Sin is the cause

Christ is the cure

May God bless you through His word today,

Stephen 

Psalms 107:23-31

They that go down to the sea in ships,

that do business in great waters;

These see the works of the Lord,

and his wonders in the deep.

For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind,

which lifteth up the waves thereof.

They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths:

their soul is melted because of trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,

and are at their wits' end.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble,

and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

He maketh the storm a calm,

so that the waves thereof are still.

Then are they glad because they be quiet;

so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

More information can be accessed through www.seekthetruth.org.uk

The Solution to Despair!

There are a lot of people about who are very private and keep themselves to themselves. They would not trouble anyone with their problems and would not presume that anyone else is interested. Well I have news for anyone who is reading this who thinks like that. I know someone who is interested in you; his name is the Lord Jesus. He is recorded as saying in the Gospel of John - 'I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly'. The Bible also states that God 'is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance'.

The Bible is packed full of statements expressing God's love for the individual - For God so loved the world, Come unto me all who are weary.... The genuine nature of God's love is that it is backed with action. The breath you breath, the sun that shines, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus are all proof of that.

The ultimate proof is that the Lord Jesus is interested in our lives as individuals. If you doubt that then read one of the four Gospels in the New Testament part of the Bible. The record says about Jesus that 'he went about doing good'. He spend his energy for three years bringing the blessing and forgiveness of God to the people he met. He healed them both physically and spiritually. By doing this he was proving that the God who can heal the body can save the soul. And by the way all of the works, blessings and miracles of Jesus were to individuals. He is interested in you!

You can come to him, quietly, where you are, by praying to him. We have all sinned against God and need his forgiveness. When we agree with God that we have disobeyed his commandments and ask for his forgiveness then He will save us.

Why and how you may ask? He can save us from his future punishment in Hell because his Son, Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The Bible says 'Christ died for the ungodly'. He died for you and I and can forgive us because he took the punishment for sin.

When you believe you will receive salvation - why not believe today? It works - he saved me and has been with me for nearly fifty years now.

For more information and further explanations of the message of the bible via videos, blogs and podcasts please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Never say Never!

Peter could not see his own weakness! He really meant it when he claimed that would never let the Saviour down and deny Him. The problem was that he didn't have the strength in him to do what was right! 

The Lord Jesus had warned Peter that this situation would occur. Luke records this conversation in Luke 22:31-34. When Peter first met Jesus he not only had a change of heart but he received a change of name - Mark 3:16 records 'and Simon he surnamed Peter'. In Mark 14 Jesus reverts to calling Peter by his old name, Simon. Maybe this was because Peter was going to behave in line with his old character rather than acting out the new life he had received when he started to follow the Master. If you become a follower of Christ He will change your character for the better but there will be times when you still act as a sinner.  To be honest, when Peter had first met the Lord Jesus it had been a life changing experience - this is always the case when a person is confronted with the person and claims of Jesus Christ.

Another interesting thing about this incident is that the Lord Jesus addresses Peter as Simon twice i.e. Simon, Simon. Have a look through the Bible and you will note that when God is waking someone out of their slumber and attracting their attention he usually calls their name twice. I just wonder if God could be speaking to you and you have been ignoring Him to date!

One of the amazing details in this story is that Jesus knew the real source of Peter's trouble - it was the Devil himself (Satan). Satan's sole objective is to get people to disobey God and as a result to destroy God's plans and purposes. If you are believer Satan can never rob you of your salvation but his aim is to destroy your life, to rob you of the joy of salvation and to make you a pretty useless follow of Jesus. 

We are no match for the Devil so how are we going to cope? The answer is in this story - the Lord Jesus assures Peter that he has personally prayed for him. Isn't that wonderful. The Son of God prayed for Peter and He prays for us as well. Where do you get that from, I hear you say? Have a read of John 17 verses 15 & 20 and I think you will see that the Lord Jesus promised not only to pray for the disciples 'but for them also which shall believe on me through their word". The disciples preached the gospel, and some of them even wrote the New Testament, and down through the generations people like you and I have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as a result.  

Was Jesus' prayer answered? I mean Peter let Him down and denied Him so it looks like Jesus' prayer went unanswered! Well, I don't think so! The prayer the Saviour made was that Peter's faith wouldn't fail. The word for fail that is used here means 'to cease, to omit, to die'. Yes, Peter made a mistake and let the Saviour down but thank God that was temporary and not permanent! In fact the Lord Jesus anticipated Peter's recovery when he said 'and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren'. The Lord Jesus knew that Peter's denial was just temporary and that he would repent and be recovered and enjoy many years of loyal service for the Him.

So where are you in this discussion? Have ever trusted Jesus Christ to save your soul? If not pray and confess your sins and enjoy the forgiveness of sins. If you are a believer and have let him down, you too need to confess your sins and enjoy once again the joy of your salvation, Psalm 51:12.

For more information visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Mark 14:22-31

22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

Europe - In or Out?

All UK nationals will be asked in June to vote in a referendum to decide whether to stay in the European Union or to leave and function outside the E.U. Straw Polls reveal that the nation is evenly split now, but as the arguments for and against step up in intensity, the ‘don’t knows’ will swing it one way or the other.

Big issues such as security against terrorism by introducing stricter border controls, plus the future of the economy and how trade will be affected if we leave. Restoring sovereignty in government is a big factor, which the ‘brexits’ (people who want to get out of the E.U.) are pushing for, to have greater say in decisions affecting their future. Politicians are urging folks out of complacency, telling them that this will be the greatest decision of their lifetime. I’ve got news for them; there is a bigger decision we have to make in our lifetime that affects where we will spend eternity, that is, whether we are in or out of Heaven.

The protagonists on both sides are using scare tactics. Warning of the dangers that lay ahead if the wrong choice is made, in or out of Europe.

I have never been in danger by having stepped inadvertently into a pit of quicksand, having my feet trapped in the quagmire and my body steadily sinking to a certain death. This must be a frightening experience to be in and requires a powerful person to affect a deliverance from this trauma. Neither have I been in a burning building without any visible means of escape. How one would shout out for someone to help and save them from the flames. In both of those situations described every person would want to be out of that danger.

There are places that we desire to be in. We want to be in a good hotel and a good resort when we take our holiday. Somewhere that will be peaceful, restful and desirable for us to chill-out and recharge the batteries. If we find our accommodation is the pits with rowdy behaviour disturbing ones sleep at night, then you want to out of there ASAP! One needs to make the right choice in securing the best destination. It is great when it works out right.

Some opportunities in life are time critical, when a person has to be in time to get the best result. Too many situations finish disappointedly when the time to decide has run out and the opportunity is missed.

The Bible speaks a lot about ‘in and out’; indeed the first word of the Bible is the word ‘In’. Genesis 1:1 reads, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The word ‘in’ relates to time and place and both are found in this verse. It relates to the beginning of time, the first tick of the clock, and also the vastness of space and the wonder of Planet Earth. Tim Peake has had some fantastic views from space of Planet Earth and has adjusted to weightlessness in the Space Lab.

Some people want to propel time backwards, thousands or billions of years to accommodate their evolution faith. Those who believe the Word of God accept that before Christ came to earth about 4000 years had run their course and around 2000 years since He went back to Heaven.

Not only has the earth seven millenia of time to run but the human body goes through seven year cycles reaching puberty at about 14 years of age with significan changes for males and females. Moses said in Psalm 90:10. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Ten seven year cycles and then where do we fly to?

I do like the truth of the Bible that when a man or woman, boy or girl believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and receives him as their Saviour, at that moment they are born again, they are placed into the family of God, they are ‘In Christ’ and can never be out of Christ. Gal 3:26 says, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.Three verses in Romans ch.8 are conclusive, Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul continues in 2 Cor 5:17  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” To be in Christ brings peace of heart and mind, a unique quality of love never before experienced before conversion and a joy that exceeds any human elation.

There are many people at this moment of time who are not in Christ, they have never come to Christ for forgiveness and salvation. Positionally they are out of Christ. Eph 2:12 reads, That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

Frank M Davis wrote this hymn  ‘Out of Christ, without a Saviour, Oh! can it, can it be; Like a ship without a rudder, On a wild and stormy sea! Refrain: Oh! to be without a Saviour, With no hope nor refuge nigh; Can it be, O blessed Saviour, One without Thee dares to die?’ What is it going to be, in or out? The matter of the E.U. is important, the matter of being in Heaven in eternty is of great import. Be saved today and be ready to go in when you are called.  God bless you all.

Written for Seek the Truth by a Guest Blogger

For more information visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

One night - betrayed

Have you ever lost a friendship in one night? 

Has anyone you really trusted ever betrayed you? 

If so, remember this - the Lord Jesus Christ knows exactly how you felt!

Read this prelude to the Easter story to see how events unfolded.

Mark 14:10-21

10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

15 And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

17 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?

20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

More info at www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Losing it in Life!

Life is a very valuable commodity! God created you to live life to the full and not to squander it on your own selfish ambitions. In contrast to the normal way of thinking, the Lord Jesus taught that you will lose your life (not physically but spiritually) if you try to hold on to it and live it solely for yourself. 

Jesus is not just talking about being selfless and kind which is a great way to be. The Lord Jesus is saying that to 'save your life' you must first lose your life 'for his sake'. 

That means that to be a follower of Christ a person needs to 'deny himself'; dethrone self and enthrone Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. 

The second thing Jesus says is that you also need to 'take up your cross'. You may be wondering what on earth this means. When a person was seen carrying a cross in the days of the Lord Jesus that person was condemned to death. Jesus is saying that you need to see yourself as dead to your old life. Finished with the past and dead to all that you were before you became a Christian. 

Jesus says that the third thing that must happen is that to be saved you must follow him [1. Denied self, 2. Died to the past]. Life will be lived from when you get saved to please the Lord Jesus and not yourself.

Please read the undernoted chapter to see how the section we have been talking about (verses 34-36) fit into the rest of the passage. 

Have a good day, 

Stephen 

Mark 8King James Version (KJV)

8 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

10 And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.