The phrase ‘it’s a dead cert’ is a horse-racing term meaning something is sure and certain, perhaps even a foregone conclusion. It seems an odd phrase, for ‘dead’ generally has negative connotations and ‘cert’ (‘certainty’) is a positive word. There are a number of things which as Christians are ‘dead certs’, however, which Stephen focussed on tonight:

1. Being God’s children and accepted and adopted into His family (Rom 8:16)
2. God’s abiding love (Rom 8:39). The world’s understanding of love is very fickle (people talk of ‘falling in’ love and ‘falling out’ of love as though love were something transient, whereas God’s love is everlasting, immeasurable and unfathomable.
3. Eternal life (1 Jn 5:13). Those who believe in the name of the Son of God can know (have assurance of) eternal life.
4. Calling (2 Pet 1:10). Christ has a plan and purpose for each one of us. Sometimes we feel uncertain about this calling or plan, but God is able to lead us and guide us: we need to seek Him for that plan. For those of us who feel we know God’s calling, Stephen urged us to move forward boldly, secure that God is with us.
5. Our heavenly inheritance (Heb 6:11). There are great rewards and benefits ahead for God’s people, but we are urged to show diligence to the end in order to make our hope sure.
6. A crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8). The birth of a royal prince in the UK recently reminds us that Prince Louis of Cambridge is fifth in line to the throne. Through faith in Christ, each believer can be sure there is a crown of righteousness waiting for us.
7. Seeing the Lord (1 John 3:2).We are promised that we will see Him one day.

All these ‘dead certs’ are for those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Deliverer. The key to receiving these blessings is faith in Christ.

In the UK there have been lots of items for sale with variations on the war-time slogan ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’

This morning’s service looked at some advice Isaiah gave in Is 7:4: ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid.’

Isaiah’s words came at a time of great crisis for Judah. Their king, Ahaz, did not follow God’s ways (2 Chron 28:1-4) and not only did they face battles against Israel, they faced Israel’s alliance against an even bigger enemy, Aram. (Is 7:2) Judah was ‘shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind’ (Is 7:2), but even this defeat did not persuade Ahaz to seek God (he simply offered sacrifices to the gods of Aram too! (2 Chron 28:22-23)) This was a time of crisis, and God sent Isaiah to speak to Ahaz, urging him to seek a sign (Is 7:1-7), something he continually refused to do with pious-sounding responses that could not actually hide his disobedience.

Sometimes our lives are devastated by circumstances and our faith can be shaken. But Isaiah reminds us that ‘if you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’ (Is 7:9) When catastrophes come, we can despair. We can try to sort the situation out ourselves (as Ahaz did.) But Isaiah urges Ahaz not to fear what others fear but simply to fear God. (Is 8:11-13)

God’s advice is to be careful: we are urged to put a hedge around our hearts so that the enemy cannot invade. He tells us to be calm: Jesus embodied calm and serenity as he spoke to the waves (Mark 4:39) to calm the storm. When there is disquiet, distress and dismay, we need to be calm, slowing down and reminding ourselves of God’s truth, allowing His peace to guard our hearts and minds (Phil 4:7). Even in fearful times, Jesus promises us His peace (Jn 14:27). He tells us not to allow our hearts to be troubled, showing us there is a choice. Instead of the agitation of stirred-up emotions, He wants to bring us to a place of peaceful serenity.

God also tells us not to be afraid. We are often fearful because situations are out of our control, but we have a God who is always in control and therefore we need not bow to the problem but bow only to the God who can sort all problems (Is 8:12-13). 2 Cor 4:14-18 urges us not to lose heart, for we serve an awesome, great God (Ps 104:1).

We need to respond differently to the world when calamities hit us, for we have a great God who is working on our behalf. (Rom 8:28)

We’re very pleased that Fredrick & Reeba will be with us next weekend and will be taking part in both meetings on Sunday 6th May. It will be wonderful to hear news about what is happening in India and how God is moving in Bangalore and other areas. Do come along at 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to hear more.

The next ‘Churches Together’ prayer meeting is on Wednesday 16th May at 10.30 a.m. at the Salvation Army. Come along to pray for our local communities.

On Saturday 19th May at 6 p.m. we will be holding our Annual General Meeting, a time of looking back at God’s faithfulness over the past year and looking ahead to the future.

On Sunday 20th May after the morning meeting, we will be joining with Big Local Thurnscoe for the Dinosaur Day at Phoenix Park (12-4 p.m.) Come along for dinosaur crafts, digging for fossils, finding out all about dinosaurs and exploring God’s wonderful creation!

Then we’ll be having our ‘Churches Together’ Pentecost Party on Wednesday 30th May from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Houghton Road Centre in Thurnscoe. There’ll be a range of crafts and activities, crazy golf and outdoor play equipment, plus free lunch. A lovely half-term treat!

Durng the First World War, there was a popular song with the lines ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile!’ It tried to encourage people at a time of great anxiety and trepidation that there was no point worrying (‘what’s the use of worrying? It never was worth while!’) and that maintaining a positive attitude is a great benefit to us at all times.

As people, we often find ourselves worrying and doubting. Even after the Resurrection, when Jesus appeared to His disciples, “they were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’” (Luke 24:37-39) Seeing Jesus in the flesh raised as many questions as it answered and there was confusion and anxiety for some time.

I find it encouraging to know that the disciples struggled with exactly the same temptations which face us all, and even more encouraging that Jesus reassured them of His reality and continues to do this. When we are troubled and have questions and doubts, He is there with us. He is real. He is not a figment of our imaginations or simply a nice story to make children feel better. He is the Risen Lord who has conquered death and holds the keys of death and hell. (Rev 1:18)

Garry’s provocative question ‘Are you wearing golden handcuffs?’ led to a very thought-provoking sermon tonight. In the past, farmers and hunters used monkey traps to capture monkeys, creating a hole in a gourd or coconut into which they would stuff nuts and sweets. The monkey would put its hand into the hole to get the goodies, but then would be unable to remove its hand from the trap and would be effectively ensnared because it didn’t want to let go of the good things inside. This was not a physical trap, but was an effective psychological trap, with the monkey not being willing to relinquish the ‘good’ things in order to maintain the better goal of freedom.

In business, a ‘golden handcuff’ is the term used to describe benefits, typically deferred payments or incentives like cars or health benefits, provided by an employer to discourage an employee from taking employment elsewhere. These benefits are not actual handcuffs, but they can cause people to feel trapped in situations because they do not wish to give up something good in order, perhaps, to achieve something better…

In Matt 16:24-28, Jesus describes how anyone can be a disciple or follower, walking in His footsteps. This path involves self-denial, but Jesus makes what to us seem unbelievable offers: the power to do the things He did, to do even greater things! (John 14:12-14) He speaks to the ‘anyone’, to the ‘whoever’; these promises are not for a select few, the special ones, the initiated, but to all who follow and who choose His ways over every other. In Acts 19:11-12, we see how this was fulfilled in Paul’s ministry (when people were healed after handkerchiefs had simply touched him!) This has continued through the ages: Smith Wigglesworth, for example, was used by God to do amazing miracles of healing in England, USA, Switzerland and Australia.

God has amazing things for us to do… but if we are wearing golden handcuffs, holding on to other things in our lives which may not be wrong in themselves but which prevent us from taking hold of God’s promises, we will never see and take hold of the miraculous. Like the monkey, we have to give something up that seems so desirable in order to walk in the freedom God offers us. As Jesus reminded us, the cost of discipleship is to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. It’s our choice. The golden handcuffs are not real handcuffs. We are free to walk in the way Jesus walked… but only if we value Him more than anything else.

Eph 2:10 reminds us that we are God’s handiwork, His workmanship, His creation, His ‘poem’, His masterpiece.

We do not work to earn God’s favour, for He has lavished blessings of love, grace, mercy and kindness on us. But because He is a creative God, He has prepared good works for us to do – works which suit our personality, temperament, talents and skills. Like a children’s shape sorter, He does not force square pegs into round holes! He is a God who celebrates our individuality and even though the brushstrokes of our lives may be similar, even though we are all called to worship Him and witness to others of His amazing salvation, He gives us all individual good works to do.

We often feel there is so little we can do for God, but life is a journey where we can explore HIs purposes and delight in doing His will. We are all different and shouldn’t try to force ourselves to be like others. Instead, we can be content and blessed in serving God in those areas for which He equips us and revel in the diversity of His amazing creation. (Rom 12:4-8)