I Believe
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, Our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again, He ascended into Heaven, and is seated on the Right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Catholic Church,
The Communion of saints,
The Forgivness of sins
The resurection of the body
And the life everlasting. AMEN.
The above is a prayer well known in both the Catholic,Anglican and The Church Of England and I have no doubt other Christian Faiths to. It is called The Appostles Creed. We all remember the world fell silent at 11am On 11/11/2001 in silent tribute to those who died in the name of freedom in the two world wars (1914-1918) and (1939-1945) Many millions of men and women Died to protect the freedoms that we cherish today. Even as I write this the armed forces of the world fight yet again in the defense of these freedoms. I would like to quote you a verse which engraved on a war memorial in Ottawa in Canada.
They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
We must as committed Christians and remember that Jesus Christ died that our sins may be forgiven.
We read in John 1 v 28-30 " These things were done in Bethabara Beyond the Jordan, where John was Babtizing.
The next day John seeth Jesus Comming to him, and saith, "Behold The Lamb Of God which takes away the sins of the world" and also in John Chap 1 v 35-37 "Again the next day after John stood and two of his disciples; And looked upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, "Behold The Lamb Of God" and the two disciples, heard him speak, and the followed Jesus. Our Lord had indeed become exceptionally well known in the three years of his ministry, The miricals that he performed by rights should have persuaded the Jewish rulers of his day that He Was Indeed "The Christ" The Son Of God. Why therefore did they not believe? The Cheif Priest (Caiaphas) was appointed by the Roman Govenor who at the time was as I am sure you know was Pontius Pilate. He was for all intents and purposes afraid of losing his Priesthood if he and the rest of the Sanhedrin was to acknowledge Our Lord as The Christ The Son Of God as the true ruler of what is now Israel. However one of the Pharisees, a man called Nicodemus a ruler of the Jews came to Jesus and spoke at length to him we read in John Chap 3 v 2-18 in v 3 Our Lord says "Verily Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God". Nicodemus was of cause confused by this as many are as he answeres Jesus in v 4 "Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born again when he is old?, Can he enter his mothers womb and be born? But our Lord answeres him in verses 5 and 6 says "Verily verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God". "That which is born of Spirit is Spirit:That which is born of Flesh is Flesh". The whole concept of being born again of the Spirit is confusing to the none believer just as Nicodemus was. When you are born again of the Spirit you are born again in Christ and With Christ You are One with Him. Therefore when we eventually depart this earth Death is only the beginning of Life With Our Lord In Heaven {What An Exciting Prospect}! ! Our Lord speakes a great deal on the subject of faith, Matthew Chap 17 v 14-20 says that there was a man who comes to jesus with his Lunatick Son and he asks in v 15 Lord have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatick; and sore and vext; for sometimes he falls into the fire, and aften into the water. He continues in v 16 And I bought him to your disciples and they could not cure him. But we read in v 17 that Jesus answeres. "Oh fruitless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me". Our Lord heals this boy and drives out the devil in him then in v 19 the disciples asked Jesus as to why they could dive the devil out of the boy! But in v 20 Jesus Answeres them with these words" Because of your unbelief; Verily I say unto you, If Ye have faith even the size of a mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain move to yonder place and the mountain shall move. Nothing shall be impossible for you. In Lukes Gospel Chap 7 v 2-10 Jesus was in Capirniumn and he was approached by Roman Soldier (A Centurian) Who asked Jesus to Heal His Servant, The centurian went to great lengths to tell Jesus that he was not worthy In v 6 Jesus went to the Centurians house saying "Lord trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou should enter unto my roof" and he continues in v 7" Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: Say in a word, and my servant will be healed". Jesus healed the Centurians servant as we read in v 9 Jesus says "I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel". So If we have "TRUE FAITH" in Our Lord Jesus Christ "HE WILL PROVIDE"
There is a song which has been recorded by many artists over the years right from the mid to late 1960s right up to the present date called "I Believe" The Lyrics to this song are as follows, If you read them the speak volumes about Our Firm Belief In Our Lord Jesus Christ. :-
I Believe For Every Drop Of Rain That Falls A Flower Grows, I Believe That Somewhere In The Darkest Night A Candel Glowes.
I Believe For Everyone Who Goes Astray Someone Will Come To Show The Way I Believe.
I Believe Above The Storm The Smallest Prayer, Will Still Be Heard. I Believe That Someone In The Great Somewhere Hears Every Word.
Every Time I Here A Newborn Baby Cry, Or Touch A Leaf Or See The Sky Then I Know Why I Believe.
The Words to This Even Though They Are Some 40 + Years Old Are Oh So True Even Today in 2001. But As We Approach Christmas We Must As Christians Remember That Our Lord Jesus Christ Is Our Saviour And Our Very Best Friend As "Jesus Loves You And Has A Plan For Your Life"
O God, The source of all good desires, all right judgements, and all just works; that our hearts may be set to obey your commandmens, and that freed from fear of our enemies, we may pass our time in rest and quietness; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. AMEN.
