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Sunday 20 May 2012

'MEET REV. BRIAN WILKIE'


(CFRA broadcast date: Sunday, May 20th, 2012)
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http://proxy.autopod.ca/podcasts/chum/6/6992/good_news_001_may20.mp3 ____________________________________________________________

Broadcast Notes:
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Rev. Brian Wilkie
 
Meet Rev. Brian Wilkie’

        

Rev. Brian Wilkie is Pastor of St. Andrews United Church, Rockland, Ontario

The following is a conversation between Good News Christian Ministries Founder, Rev. Dr. Allen Churchill, and Rev. Brian Wilkie, the first of four new pastors who will be presenting on CFRA’s “Good News in the Morning”, on a regular basis.

INTERVIEW NOTES:

Allen: This program is sponsored by the Good News Christian Ministries, Box 184, Rideau Ferry, ON K0G 1W0. This is Allen Churchill speaking. Today begins an exciting new chapter in the history of these weekly broadcasts. While we continue to pray for our beloved Rev. Don Crisp during his convalescence, we now have a team of 4 pastors who will carry on the programs on a rotating basis.  

(Here is a poster for an upcoming event in Ottawa, Ontario, to introduce all four of the new pastors: http://accm.ncf.ca/poster22jun12.pdf)

Today I have the first of these 4 dynamic young preachers here with me in the studio. . .  Rev. Brian Wilkie of Rockland United Church. Good morning, Brian.

Brian: Good Morning, Allen.

Allen: Brian, would you tell us a bit about yourself?

Brian: Thanks Allen, I live in Orleans Ontario, with my wife Erica. We’ve been married 26 years, have 4 children, and one grandchild. I began my formal theological studies at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky, completing my Master of Divinity at Emmanuel College in the Toronto School of Theology. May 31st will mark 20 years in ordained ministry, which has included service in Southern Ontario as a student, and pastoral work in Newfoundland, Ottawa and now Rockland. I also served for a time with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada in public policy work. I must add Allen, that a highlight of this ministry has been the years I served with you at Dominion-Chalmers where I was able to focus on evangelism and leadership development, during the exciting times of the Billy Graham Mission, and our Heart of Ottawa Mission.

Allen: That’s great! We’re going to hear more from Brian in a few minutes, but first let’s listen to this recording of Ottawa’s Capital City Chorus singing “Sweet hour of Prayer”.

Allen: Brian you have been a pastor for several years now. What do you feel is the most exciting aspect of your preaching?

Brian: I find the Scriptures, the Word of God to be so exciting: It can be read and studied for a life time and still have power to teach, transform and encourage. When I consider how the strong challenges of modern culture seem to be shaking the confidence of Christians I remember that saying that the Bible is an anvil that has worn out many hammers. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Word will never pass away.” - (Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33) I hope that excitement comes through when I preach.

Allen: I know that you are interested in missions. Would you tell us a bit about the need for missions in the world today?

Brian: The need for missions never fades. God’s people are still commanded to share the Good News everywhere.  Last year I was in Cambodia, serving local Christians there, as they reached out to their countrymen. What an eye-opening experience! While they were grateful for our support, I am sure that they were missionaries to us: teaching us about faithfulness, devotion, and the power of God! The greatest failure of the church has been to become complacent, apathetic towards a world that desperately needs to follow Jesus Christ.

Allen: Brian, you have an interest in youth. What are your concerns about young people and how do you reach them with Scripture?

Brian: Our mission to children is a perpetual mission. They don’t become Christian just by being born in a Christian home. Right now, youth need to see adults that are filled with the compassion of God, wise in the Word of God, and active in the service of God. Some youth are seeking anything worth committing to, and won’t be satisfied by youth ministries that merely entertain them. The world always does entertainment better! Revival always starts with the converted digging deeper. Youth need us to live out the Scriptures more energetically and passionately, if they are ever going to take the Bible seriously.

Allen: Thank you very much, Brian. Now let’s break in here and listen to Matt Redmann’s “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” 

Allen: Brian, would you give us the message that God has laid upon your heart for this morning?

Title:   'The Incomparable Glory of Jesus Christ'

Brian:   The Scripture that has my attention today is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:9–11    
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.“

I wanted my first message here on Good News to be about the incomparable glory of Jesus Christ. And incomparable is the right word, for his glory is not that of the heroes of this world, nor that of other “gods” named by humanity. Jesus is given the glory for a different reason than heroes, and from a different source than any other being.

First, Jesus is given a name which is above all other names! He is given this name by God, the Father. If we praise Jesus, it is a good thing, but the praise of God the Father is a greater thing. We glorify all sorts of things: celebrities who impress us for a moment and then are reviled for their weaknesses. We praise our favourite pizza, or a particular brand of deodorant! But God gives his glory to his only begotten Son. God the Father is a better judge of what is praiseworthy than we are. The glory of Jesus Christ is that God the Father declares about him: “This is my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with him, listen to him.” - (Matthew 17:5; Luke 21:33) Because God exalts him above every other thing, every power, every throne; above angels, above Moses and all the prophets, Jesus has an incomparable glory.

Secondly, Jesus is given this glory for a different reason than we give glory to others. According to Scripture Jesus had the glory of equality with the Father, being in very nature God the Son, and yet he made himself nothing, becoming a servant, humbling himself to a life of service, obedient to the Father, even to the point of dying  on the cross. Humanity craves power, independence, self-actualization, and we laud those among us who exhibit these qualities. We glorify the rich, the influential, the bigwigs. But Jesus is given glory for being a servant, for “becoming nothing.”  History and the Bible itself record the exploits of men who take the world by storm, name themselves gods, and are exalted by others for their success at acquiring great riches, and pleasures,  multitudes of servants and a fabulous life  for themselves. But God the Father exalts Jesus Christ for becoming a servant; to a lost humanity Jesus offers the riches of grace, the joy of heaven, and he offers the gift of life for others.

It has become a commonplace for people to say that all religions are the same. They quote Shakespeare, “What is in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet!” But there is much in the name of Jesus! The name is not just a collection of syllables, it is not just a sound. The name of Jesus is his identity as the only begotten Son, his record of giving and sacrifice, his reputation of compassion and grace. The name of Jesus is the story of the cross and the resurrection, of enduring love and gracious salvation.

Calling an idea, or creature, or person “god” does not make it the same as Jesus.  None other is eternally God, coequal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, none other has made himself nothing, forsaking the glory of heaven to invite a lost world to heaven. None other has been perfectly obedient in the Holiness of God, a perfect servant to his Father and to humanity. None other has given his own life for the salvation of the world. There is no other name with the same glory, none whom God the Father has glorified with this name, above every other name. “how sweet the name of Jesus sounds” “Jesus name above all names” our hymns seek to express our joy in Jesus, but they also echo the Father’s commendation.

And Paul, in describing the glory of Jesus declares, “let this mind be in you which was in  Christ Jesus!” - (Philippians 2:5). Have you ever wondered what truly pleases God? Look to Jesus whom God has glorified! It may seem impossible to become like Jesus, to turn from the pursuit of human glory, sin and selfishness, but Good news! The very thing for which Jesus was glorified is his work for your salvation, his readiness to receive ruined sinners and restore them to his glory. Are you ready to let him do this work in you? are you ready to ask Jesus to give you new life?

Allen: Thanks so much, Brian. Let’s pray . . .

Heavenly Father, We're grateful for your mercy. You call us to faith. You call us to obedience. You give us all that we need to be sound disciples. Christ is alive. We can overcome in Him.
Thank you, Father. Amen.

                     Don’t forget to worship in a church where the gospel is soundly proclaimed and lived out with compassion, integrity, and resolve. Now to conclude our program here is a fine hymn, Fairest Lord Jesus , preformed by the a cappella group Glad. 
May you know Jesus Christ personally and profoundly. May the Holy Spirit reside deep within your heart. And may the heavenly Father surround you with his constant and abiding and accompanying love.

To listen to the above broadcast, click on the following link:
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Rev. Brian Wilkie’s Bio:

WELCOME ABOARD REV. WILKIE!

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