Mediations from Auschwitz 2 Birkenau on God in control - J Stewart Gillespie from Graceinchrist.org

Reflections on Christmas from Revelation chapter 16 in the shadow of the Cloth Market in the Rynek Glowny, market square of the Stare Miasto Krakow - JS Gillespie

Dr J Stewart Gillespie reflects on the grace of God in Revelation chapter 11, as he examines the patience and persistence of a God who reaches out to mankind, time and time and again. 

A message presented in the shadow of the Falkirk Kelpies 

Stewart Gillespie shares a message from the black and white, life and death, contrasts of Revelation chapter 11, where men are called on to chose between good and evil, God and Satan. A message shared at the Falkirk Wheel.

In the pre TikTok days before men lived for likes and posed for popularity biblical revelation left it's human authors exposed not to fame and fortune but infamy, poverty and death. Men spoke even when the burden they had was deeply unpopular or just bizarre and outlandish in the social and economic context in which it was revelled. These men spoke not to gain followers nor build a religion but they signed their own death warrants at times because they were utterly convinced that through them God spoke. This resulted in many recorded revelations which at the time seemed contradictory and implausible. Revelation chapter 9 contains a prediction of global military conflict involving armies totalling 200 million men! At the time this was written the world population was short of this by about 20 million! Today however it is reckoned that the world could mobilise about 1 billion people to participate in a war effort and  China alone could muster an army of at least 200 million! 

In retrospect these ancient impossibilities have crystallised into fully fledged realities. A child born of a virgin (Isaiah chp 7), a ruler born who has always been (Micah 5) and God pierced and gazed upon (Zechariah 12) all make sense to us now with the birth, death and saving resurrection of God's Son Jesus Christ. These deep mysteries find their answer in the deepest mystery of all; Jesus Christ! Do you know Him? God's message is a person. God's salvation is in a person; Jesus Christ! 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

TruthTrek 

In the window period between birth and death our life's experience tells us that generally we get what we strive after. Life teaches us that there is no gain without pain, that respect has to be earned and wages must be worked for. Life also teaches us however that some goals will always be out with our reach. Ladders will take you so high but don't try and build one to the moon. Saving hard and working hard may fund the cost of a car or even a home but for almost all us Buckingham Palace will be well beyond our reach! Strangely a common religious philosophy pins it's hope on attaining the eternal and infinite by self effort! If some of earths material wealth is out with our reach how hard would we have to strive to gain eternal life and access to heaven? The religious logic here just doesn't add up! Jesus turns these philosophical ideas of religion upside down. It was Jesus who:

1. Raised the standard we aim for, "God only is good" the Lord Jesus told the young man striving to impress God! Goodness and perfection are scarce commodities when assessed by the eye of God.
2. Jesus forgive sins! Earning a right to heaven is hardly compatible with a need for forgiveness!
3. Jesus did not get what he deserved, He died the just and perfect for us the sinner. The assumption that we get what we deserve from God is unwarranted, His Son broke the rule here. 

The apostle Paul, brings these ideas together here in Romans chapter 6 verse 23. Sin has wages, earned and gained. Sin brings us to death. It is infinitely easier to bring a man from life to death than it is to bring a man from death to life! Such a movement in the opposite and unnatural direction depends on the grace of God. It is the "gift of God" that is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

A video recorded on the banks of Loch Ken by Dr J Stewart Gillespie

A message preached at the Bible Stone, near Muirkirk and the Cairn Table by Dr J Stewart Gillespie from the text of Matthew chapter 11 verse 28; "come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Filmed at the Covenanters Memorial to Richard Cameron and 8 others on the Cumnock to Muirkirk Road, Dr J Stewart Gillespie reflects on the history of faith, martyrdom and hope from Revelation chapter 9.

Psalm 23 on the banks of the Afton dam at the foot of Benbreoch and Cannock Hill

Tears are precious and powerful, sometimes our eyes are the most open when they are the firmly clouded by tears! It is the tears of God's people on Revelation chapter 7 that give them a profound insight and appreciation of Gods sovereign power and wisdom, worked out through history and in our lives personally. A message of hope preached on the banks of Loch Garry and on the foothills of Meall Na Leitreach.

Yours by God's Grace in Christ

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Tragedy to Triumph by the Truth Route - JS Gillespie - a message for Easter

From the Corson Cone Hill, New Cumnock.

What is going on in the world?

Why does everything seem so out of control?

Can God be in control over so much apparent chaos? 

Can God even exist when the innocent suffer and natural disasters strike that seem to be the fault of no one?

Where do we start to find God? 

In Revelation chapter 5, before John unfolds the story of tragedy after turmoil, after natural disaster John brings us to the book in the hand of God. We begin with the certainties of the Divine plan and purpose before we grapple with the apparent chaos of a world thrown head long into destruction. It is when we begin with the certainties of the Bible that we are drawn to the inescapable conclusion that there is both a God and a plan for this world. It is within the pages of this ancient book that century after century God reveals Himself to prophets, priests and kings and finally in history in His Son Jesus Christ. Down through the pages of ancient prophecy we can trace the anticipation of the coming Messiah for generations prior to His advent. Micah tells us the place of His birth; "Bethlehem"; Isaiah speaks of the means of His birth; "a virgin will conceive and bring forth a Son"; David speaks of His crucifixion and death in Psalm 22; His resurrection in Psalm 22 and Isaiah will lay out God's plan of salvation in Isaiah 53; by personal, individual faith in God's Son , who is the lamb of God led to the slaughter as a sacrifice for sin; my sin and yours. 

Yours by Grace in Christ 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

The journey of life is a life long journey, given purpose by the "Living God" the originator and final judge of that life. Irrespective of religious conviction or encounters that same Living God speaks life long through events, conscience, encounters, creation and explicitly through His Word, written and living in Jesus Christ. He is interested in all men. Like the provision available to all that we recognise in some of our human and national institutions there is provision and availability for all. Perhaps especially over the past couple of years we have all looked upon and some have come to depend upon a health service for all, the National Health Service. Even if we have never used it, that provision is there when we need it and if we wish to avail ourselves of it. There is in Jesus Christ provision for each of us. He is the "Saviour of all men" and yet that great provision becomes real, life transforming and destiny changing when we take a step of faith. His is the title "Saviour of all men" and it must by for Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of any man. It is faith that transforms our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, from being the Saviour of all men to becoming my personal Saviour. The lesson is clear on the cross of Calvary; one Saviour with an open ear to the right and to the left and yet only one thief turned in faith, repentant and trusting in the Christ dying for his sins. 

May we desire a destiny enough to trust the one who holds that destiny.

TruthTrek from Grace in Christ 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie