Matamata Christian Fellowship

19/08/2022

A worthwhile link for those of you with a Desktop or Laptop...
Great verses and lovely images....
Desktop & Screensavers Archives - www.uplook.org - www.uplook.org

19/08/2022

Jesus meets the woman at the well (John chapter 4)

"Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! This couldn’t be the Messiah, could it?"

An arranged meeting
A surprising request
An intriguing offer
An all-knowing Prophet ?
A seeking God
Messiah has come !
Come and Meet Him yourselves !

I love this account from John chapter four... it brings back memories.

In Adelaide we had begun a new Bible Study Group and a young lady came along the night that we “just so happened” to be reading and discussing this chapter.
As we worked our way through (and she had lots of questions), we came to vv. 17 & 18, she ventured the statement, “This sounds like me !” And, “Could God know all about my life ?”

She came again the following week and we looked at Luke’s account of the crucifixion (Ch. 23 : verses 26 – 43). The lady was very surprised and had questions when we came to verse 43, where we read,... And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Raised a Roman Catholic, she thought that salvation was by being “a good Catholic”; having received the Sacraments of the Church... troubling her was this apparent ‘problem’ suggested by the text that the man Jesus assured of Heaven had not been baptised, nor received forgiveness of sins from the priest.

It was amazing to see her face and her excitement as she came to see that forgiveness of sins and salvation – eternal life, is by faith alone in Christ Jesus alone.
Another precious soul met the LORD Jesus and believed on Him.

20/04/2022

Living as Jesus Lived
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works . . . As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. (Joh_14:10; Joh_6:57)

We are to live by trusting in the goodness of the Lord. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psa_34:8). Jesus is the ultimate example of living by such trust. When we think of being like Jesus (or we ask, "What would Jesus do?"), the biblical perspective is far more profound than prevailing opinion might provide.
Jesus lived by depending upon the intimate relationship He had with the Father: "I am in the Father, and the Father in Me." When Jesus spoke or took action, it was not on His own initiative or by His own resources. "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works." Although Jesus was God coming to earth as a man, He did not live by exercising His deity. "Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant" (Phi_2:6-7). Jesus lived as a dependent human servant, trusting in the Father to work in and through Him. The prophets of old predicted this path, as they recorded the confessions Messiah would make about His ministry here on earth. "For I [that is, the Messiah, Jesus] shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and My God shall be My strength . . . The Lord God will help Me [that is, the Messiah, Jesus]; therefore I will not be disgraced" (Isa_49:5; Isa_50:7). Jesus would depend upon the Father.
Jesus eventually applied this kind of dependent relationship to us. The structure of His teaching was "As . . . so." As it was between Jesus and the Father, so it is to be between Jesus and us. Jesus lived His life by depending upon the Father. Without ceasing to be God, He lived as a man, showing us how man is to live. "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father." Jesus lived by trusting in the Father to work in and through Him. We are to look to Jesus to do the same through us. "So he who feeds on Me will live because of Me." Jesus taught that feeding on Him involved coming to Him in trust. "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst" (Joh_6:35).
Lord Jesus, my hope and my strength, I want to live in true Christlikeness — facing all of life as You did. I want to learn to depend upon You, even as You depended upon the Father. Teach me, Lord, I pray in Your name, Amen.
[by Bob Hoekstra]

05/04/2022

But Wait !... There's more !

We've been looking at the New World Coming.
The writer's purpose was to highlight the plan by world leaders to centralise control over all nations, which, foretold by the Bible, will turn into an horrendous period of time that Jesus described as, "...great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved"... you would not want to be on earth when these maniacs get full control. But as pointed out in the installments, this plan is now into the implementation stage; it is here now. There is no going back; you're either going to be in or out.

Those who place their trust in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, will be rescued (delivered) out.... "...wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

Let's move on... what does the future hold for those who trust Christ and enter His millennial kingdom, after the "great tribulation" ? What will Christ's "New World" be like ? Who are those who will enter His kingdom then ?

There will be 2 groups of people that participate: those who have been resurrected, who were with Christ Jesus in Heaven during the tribulation; and those believers in Christ who are alive on earth at His Coming, at the end of the tribulation. The earthly people will repopulate the earth. The heavenly people will be assisting Christ Jesus in His kingdom rule, [Revelation 3: 21.]

This will be the "real New World Order"... one that will be a pleasure to be a part of !
The LORD Jesus' rule will be 'for' the people, in justice and righteousness, [Isaiah 1: 1-5; Isaiah 51: 11.]
Men will make plowshares rather than swords; no more war, [Isaiah 2: 4.]
There will be the best "climate change"; the seasons will be settled - moisture and sunshine to make the earth produce like it once did in the Garden of Eden, [Isaiah 51: 3.]
The animals will be again like they were in Eden; no longer dangerous or frightened of man, [Isaiah 11: 6-9.]
No more Jew-Haters ! The political centre of the world will be Jerusalem, [Isaiah 2: 2-3.]

The earth will fill with people, all living in the very best of conditions and with the best leadership.
But even so, many of their children will not truely accept the Lord Jesus Christ. In their hearts and minds they will be disposed toward evil, and given the chance, will rise up against the LORD, [Revelation 20: 7-9.]
This will be the final rebellion.

Then will come the eternal state.
"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son." [Rev. 21: 1-7.]

Dear friends, there is great reward for those who will trust and receive Christ Jesus into their lives.... a Great future "New World" and destiny.
Don't put Jesus off. Today is the day of salvation, [2Corinthians 6: 1-2.].

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand..." , [Romans 13: 12.]. These exhortations are to all, Unbelievers and Believers alike.

03/04/2022

New World Coming, ( #8 and final in the series - see below for those posted earlier)

The Great Escape

The purpose of this booklet is to not just expose the coming horror of the "New World Order"; It is also to share the only way of escape. Not just an escape from the coming antichrist's system but, more importantly an escape from Satan's grip and sin's condemnation. Jesus said, "If the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed." [John 8:36]. This freedom can't come through religion, for religion is itself just another man-made prison. True freedom comes through a personal relationship with Jesus, the promised Emmanuel ("God with us"), the only saviour. When anyone chooses to trust Jesus, He rescues them for Himself and from the wrath to come, [1Thessalonians 1: 9-10.]

The Great Love

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed", [John 3: 16-19.].

It's not hard to understand why God will not accept any of our efforts to save ourselves. He gave His Son for this purpose but for many, Jesus is not wanted. He's a nobody to them and that is seen by their casual use of His name every day. But the Bible plainly teaches that nothing but Christ's sinless life sacrificed, is good enough to cancel out sin's penalty and only Christ's resurrection life can bring new life to a person. The Bible states, "God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. They who have the Son have life; they who do not have the Son do not have life, [1John 5: 11-12.].

And so the question has to be asked, 'Who is Jesus to you... a nobody, or your saviour... Lord or liar ???
Have you accepted or rejected Him ?
Do you know His forgiveness ?
Will you spend eternity with Him or without Him ?

These are questions that every person will one day have to answer.
For many it will be too late.
The Bible promises that, "Whoever calls upon the name of the LORD will be saved."
This is all we can do.
To believe means to stop trusting in yourself and trust in what Jesus did for you.
Today you can be forgiven for all you've done wrong, cleansed from all unrighteousness and made fit for Heaven.
The LORD Jesus Christ is alive from the dead and He wants you. Do you want Him ?

A Prayer to Jesus

LORD Jesus, I believe you died for my sin. Please forgive me and come into my life now.
Please help me to live for You, until You come again... Thank You.

If you have accepted Jesus, the Bible promises that He has accepted you. Buy a Bible and begin to read at the Gospel of John. Ask your Saviour to help you understand it. He wants you to grow in your new life. Pray that you'll meet other followers of Jesus. And He said, "I will never leave you or forsake you", [Hebrews 13: 5.].

01/04/2022

New World Coming, ( #7 in the series - see below for those posted earlier)

The great Day of the LORD is Coming

The Day of the LORD is a period of time that will be ushered in when Christ's people of this present age are taken out of this world to meet their saviour in the air., [1Thessalonians 4: 13-18.]. Soon after this event antichrist will be revealed and Israel will accept him as the prince of peace. Then the Tribulation period begins. After seven years the LORD Jesus returns in great power and glory to establish His kingdom on earth and to destroy antichrist's kingdom of darkness. [Matthew 24: 29-30; Revelation 19: 11-16... also Rev. 6: 12-16; Isaiah 11: 1-11.]

The Great Trouble

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you brothers not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the Day of the Lord has already come.
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that Day will not come until the rebellion (apostasy) occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed; the man doomed for destruction.
He opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped and even sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don't you remember that when I was with you, I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the LORD Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming.
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan, displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refuse to love the truth and so be saved.
For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." [2Thessalonians 2: 1-12.]

The Great Abomination

"So when you see standing in the holy place the abomination, spoken of through the prophet Daniel - let the reader understand - then let those in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of his house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Pray that your escape will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be equaled again. [Matthew 24: 12-21; Daniel 9: 24-27.]

The Great Return

Immediately after the distress of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with great power and glory. [Matthew 24: 29-30; Revelation 1: 5-8.]

The Greatest Separation

Jesus' death was payment for the sin of the world. One righteous man willingly died for an unrighteous race. On the Cross, in the last 3 hours of His perfect life, from 12pm to 3pm, darkness descended over the earth, and in that time the light of the world - God the Son - was separated from God the Father for the first and only time in eternity. In those 3 hours, God's judgment for every sin fell on Jesus. The wages of sin was paid out to the sinless substitute and in His sacrifice Jesus took our punishment so we could be free from the penalty. It was by one man's rebellion that sin entered the race bringing death to all; and it is by one man's sacrifice that we can be freed and made fit for Heaven. [Genesis 3: 1-9; Romans 5: 12.] Although Jesus died, death could not hold Him for He had not sinned. He rose from the grave, overcoming death for us and He promises to save everyone who trusts Him as their saviour. The unforgivable sin is rejecting Jesus.

(next installment coming soon...)

31/03/2022

31/03/2022

New World Coming, ( #6 in the series - see below for those posted earlier)

The Great Manipulation

For centuries certain families have been manipulating the world's finances and governments. They've gained controls over politics, the media, multinational industry, banking and education. Behind the scenes they're directing governments through the U.N., World Economic Forum, Bilderburg Group, European Union, World Bank and the World Trade Organisation, to name a few. These all network together with one aim and are tied to secret societies, such as the Illuminati, Freemasons, Order of the Skull and Bones, and others.

The New World Order is a satanically inspired organisation, which eventually will be headed up by Satan's man, the false Christ. Satan's hatred for God is most perfectly seen by his hatred for humanity. He hates what God loves and loves what God hates. Satan's servants are loyal to him and he pays them well. They're caught in his conspiracy, trapped and yet they could be freed.

[see pics below]

The Great Prison

The so-called freedoms that will be offered by the coming New World Order and its leader will have grave conditions attached. Satan's contracts are always based on lies for he is the great deceiver. A person's decision to trust the antichrist will damn them to an eternal prison where they will be separated from the true Christ who loved them and gave Himself for them, [Revelation 13: 1-18]. If people accept the antichrist during his reign, it will be because they have rejected the true Christ.

31/03/2022

New World Coming, ( #5 in the series - see below for those posted earlier)

The Great Blindness

The Bible talks about spiritual blindness, when people refuse to see what can be seen. This blindness is not an inability; it is an unwillingness, and such people live in a self-imposed darkness because they've refused the light.

The Bible says, "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." [2Corinthians 4: 3-4.]

In this Bible passage we read about the god of this age, Satan. His work is about blinding the minds of people so they cannot see the true Saviour. The Devil veils the truth with his lies and in this way prevents the truth from being believed. He deceives people easily because people naturally prefer darkness to light, [John 3: 17-19.]

The time is coming when the antichrist will be revealed and the world will be ready for his reign. Things are rapidly moving toward this. We live in a time of growing darkness but Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. They who follow me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life." [John 8: 12.]

Build Back Better

The Great Reset is being promoted as a build back better plan. The final steps are being set in place and people are being corralled like cattle into mind-sets that are preparing them for this new society. Fear is the great weapon of the New World Order. People are easily controlled when they're afraid. Many politicians comply with the generals of globalism, taking their orders from those hidden from public sight. Joe Biden and many others are promoting their "Build Back Better" program which will lock their nations into the One World Govt. system of control.

Conspiracy Theory ?

The word, theory, is frequently used to throw doubt on any actual conspiracy. It suggests that it's not real, just imagined or contrived. But there is a battle raging in the unseen realm. A battle between good and evil, angels and demons, and we too are involved. It's not that Satan is equal to God or that God is unable to win this conflict, as the Bible clearly teaches He will. But God is patient toward humanity, not willing that any should perish, [2Peter 3: 9.]. He waits for people to choose their side, as humanity's power of decision is crucial to God's plan of salvation.. This plan is about His love for us, seen in the giving of His Son. Our response to His love is seen in either an acceptance or a rejection of Jesus Christ. "He who has the Son has life; He who does not have the Son of God does not have life." [1John 5: 12.]

Satan was once called Lucifer. He was the "light bearer", son of the morning, the most beautiful angel. It was this beauty that caused his pride and as angel of high rank, he conspired against his Creator, leading a third of the angels away from God, [Revelation 12: 1-5; Ezekiel 28: 11-19; Isaiah 14: 12-17.] Like humans, angels also have power of decision, as God never programs His creatures to obey Him. Just as a child's willing and loving obedience is important to any parent, so it is with God. Humanity's salvation involves an individual choice. When a rebel leaves Satan's rebellion, they willingly side with Jesus, [Revelation 13: 11-18.]. Jesus said, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." [John 10: 9.]

The Unseen Power Behind Governments

"Moreover the word of the LORD came to me saying, 'Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre and say to him, thus says the LORD God..." [Ezekiel 28: 11-16.]
The prophet Ezekiel was told to warn the king of Tyre, a once great coastal trading centre, that his pride and corrupt dealings were to be judged. But behind the king's pride and corrupt reign was another entity. As it was then, so it is today. Behind the corrupt governments of the world there are spiritual forces at work. Deceptive spirits, satanic agents who work against the people of this world through the very governing authorities which God has ordained. [Romans 13: 1-2.] But God is working for humanity. The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." [Romans 6: 23.]
Ezekiel continues, "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering; the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald and gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers. I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God. You walked back and forth in the midst of the fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the abundance of your trading, you became filled with violence within and you sinned. Therefore I have cast you out as a profane thing; out of the mountain of God. And I destroyed you, O covering Cherub."
Lucifer was the covering cherub. He is now the Prince of darkness and the New World Order's conspiracy is driven by him.

(next installment coming soon...)

29/03/2022

New World Coming, ( #4 in the series - see below for those posted earlier)

The Great Revelation

Soon the Antichrist will be revealed and received as a prince of peace, a leader who can fulfil the U.N's "peace plan" and the world will adore him. The Bible teaches that at the beginning of his reign he'll negotiate a peace in the Middle East between Israel and her enemies; something no one else has been able to do although many have tried. At first, he'll allow the Jews to rebuild their temple and restart their sacrifices. Then after three and a half years he'll break his agreement and begin his persecution of the Jews and anyone else who opposes him. He'll set up an image of himself in their newly built temple to be worshipped world-wide as the Christ., God in flesh. Jesus called this "the abomination of desolation." [Daniel 9: 25-27; Matthew 24: 15-25; Revelation 13: 14-18.]

The Great Sign

Israel is the greatest sign we have that the Bible can be confidently believed. It foretells of the revival of that nation and because the Jews are once again back in their homeland, we can be sure that we are at the end of this age of God's grace, and moving quickly into the age of His judgment. Never before has a nation been born in a day, but on 14th May, 1948, the Jewish people became modern Israel [Isaiah 66:8; Jerimiah 30: 1-10]. Since then , after 73 years of struggle, everything is now ready for the reconstruction of their temple and for their sacrificial system to restart. It just needs someone to make it happen. [The booklet has a number of pictures of the items all ready for use in the new temple.]

The Great Union

The United Nations was established after the 2nd World War for the purpose of maintaining world peace and is a prototype of the coming global government. Although a miserable failure in their peace keeping role, the U.N. has had great success in its covert mission to destroy national independence and create international dependence. Since 1945 it has been influencing many politicians who have led their nations into the global club.

The Bible tells of a past attempt at "world unity" approximately 5000 years ago. Like the coming world union, this past movement was a direct challenge to God's authority, a rebellion against His command to spread out across the earth and multiply. Instead, they gathered together and built the Tower of Babel to make a name for themselves, [Genesis 11: 1-4]. Every rebellion begins when groups band together to overthrow an existing authority and in the Genesis account they were united against God. Pride and defiance have always been mankind's great problem. Ever since Adam's decision to disobey his Creator, humanity has been in conflict with God. Rebellion is so deeply a part of us that even children resist authority. We're damaged, born as rebels, but the origin of rebellion goes back to Satan when he led a third of the angels in a revolt against their creator, [Isaiah 14: 12-17; Revelation 12: 1-3].

The Great Current

Although all of us are by nature rebels, we can still recognise evil when it appears. Occasionally individuals will take a stand against wrong at great cost to themselves. When people around them are moving with the current, they're swimming against it as they can see the danger ahead. There is a photo of a great crowd all saluting Hi**er, except one man, refusing to join them. This man recognised something was out of order and refused to go with the flow. He was eventually murdered. When the German people accepted Adolf Hi**er as their leader in 1933, this man didn't. How easily swayed people are when they are promised a "better world". The German people had no idea of the horror that was coming. Had they known, they'd never of supported their murderous politicians. The "global reset" will soon bring about a "global government" governing a "global community" and the Bible warns us that this coming "new world" will lead to the greatest time of trouble the world has ever known, [Matthew 24: 15-21].

Here's 2 quotes from a couple of globalists involved in this great reset:
"We are grateful to the Washington Post, the New York Times, Time Magazine, and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promise of discretion for almost 40 years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries." [David Rockefeller]

"It is time to rethink the world's financial system and prevent any repetition of the current crises." [Angela Merkel, German Chancellor].

These people show where their loyalties lie. They serve an ideology which excludes national belonging. They're globalists, traitors to their people and proudly state their intentions, an indication of how open the conspiracy has become and how far it is advanced.

(next installment coming soon...)

29/03/2022

New World Coming, ( #3 in the series - see below for those posted earlier)

The Great Hope

"...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." [Isaiah 2:4]
This quote from the Bible is found on the United Nations building in New York. This verse expresses the great hope of the nations but has never been achieved by any government.. Politics is too corrupt and generally politicians are too self-serving, too self-important and really don't care enough for their people until election time. Individual politicians who genuinely want to make a difference and who aren't part of the "network" are pressured to join in with the global plan. Politicians are easily persuaded when their popularity is at stake. No one likes to be in an unpopular minority, ridiculed for being non-compliant. Nation's policies are formed at the U.N. and then brought home to be set in place. In this way, nations are moved closer to a one world government. As they're systemically stripped of their wealth and self-sufficiency and enslaved by massive debt, they become servants to privately owned banking cartels, which eventually govern the governments.

The Bible warns us of the horrors of this coming new world order, its leaders and their leader. AS stated before, the reset will appear to be a remarkable rescue but the organisers have a plan to set themselves above evryone else and their leader above even God. [2Thessalonians 2:3-4; Isaiah 14: 12-14].
In this coming "New World" there will be just two classes of people; the elite led by a satanically empowered antichrist, and their servants, the people they control. [Revelation 13: 16-18]
Bill Gates, contributing partner to the World Economic Forum, is quoted as saying, "DNA Covid-19 vaccines should give us extreme control over population worldwide."

(next installment coming soon...)