God-given purpose

What is my God-given purpose? Is it not to worship, and to bring glory to God? These are the priorities of my walk with God and living in this priority, His work will be established through us.

When Moses was sent to Pharaoh he was to announce to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you, "Let My people go, so they can worship Me in the wilderness." (Exo 7:16). Worship was God's priority for them. And Jesus declared in John 3:4 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him."

Worship is most important in our walk with God. I keep mediating on this scripture, that Father is seeking those who will worship Him. I don't know about you, but I want the Father to seek after me. That He is looking for my company and wants to spend time with me, is an astonishing truth. It makes my heart sing and yearn to spend the time with Him too.
 
This God-given purpose, to worship, is what I need to keep before me continually. Jesus prioritised His life by spending time with Father.......and then "went about doing good." (Acts 10:38)

I believe in the gifts the Holy Spirit gives us but do we tend to worry too much about our gifts? I don't seen anywhere in scripture Jesus expounding His gifts or worrying about what they are. He just lived in the presence of the Father and in this intimacy of worship and mutual love, the works and words of the Father were manifested through Him. The more we fellowship with someone, the more we know their heart and desires.

"So Jesus explained, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does." Joh 5:19

In looking for my gifts, and I still don't recognise them, I have found that I sometimes struggle with envy of another's gift. It comes from a pure (or maybe not so pure) motive to serve God and a desire to move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I certainly have had to repent and I have to constantly ask myself, are my motives pure? Is there this smidgen of pride in me that maybe seeks my own glory? Oh let it not be Holy Father, but that, even like Jesus, I would seek to do your will and give all glory to You, recognising that in doing so and living this priority will bring certain opposition.

In the early history of the church, the apostles moved in such power, the work of the Holy Spirit evidently witnessed by all. This resulted in persecution because of the jealousy of the religious leaders of the time. (Acts 13:45; 17:5) Envy and jealously of those moving in the spirit is a real thing. Look at the example of Simon the Sorcerer. He had the crowds, in awe of the magical signs at his hand, yet when he received his salvation, he became an ordinary, on the same level as others who witnessed the outpouring of Holy Spirit signs. Seeing the power of the Holy Spirit being imparted at the apostle's hands, he offered money to move in the same gift. (Act 8:24) Thankfully after a rebuke from Simon Peter, he repented. God's power cannot be brought. It comes to those who by faith and grace, boldly move in obedience to the pulse of the Holy Spirit, when His compassion compels us and His love declares through us the wondrous truth of salvation.

We need to know the Father to know what His will is and to know the work He wants to do. We find our God-given purpose out in gazing upon His face and connecting with His heart. It's in worship and prayer that the sweet whisper of the Holy Spirit compels us to do, to give, to encourage, to love and to show grace to others. When we live in worship, our intimacy with Him is strengthened in His presence. When we know and walk in the presence of God, we will know the power of God.

"but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." (Dan 11:32)

Fullness of Joy

Need more joy in your life?  The answer is to live in His presence.  The Psalmist emphatically stated, "In His presence there is fullness of joy and at His right Hand pleasures forevermore". (Ps 16:11)  David, the Psalmist certainly knew the joy of the Lord, dancing with all his might before the Ark of the Covenant (the symbol of God's Presence and Power), and in his extravagant worship of the Lord was disdained by his very own wife for his open display of ecstatic joy in God's presence.

As the song goes, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."  It is when we look into His face that the things of the earth, the worrying, crippling or niggling things are washed away in the Presence of His Holiness.  Our joy is found in His All-Sufficiency, The El Shaddai. 

The first mention of this name of God is found in Genesis when God commands Abraham, "I am El Shaddai.  Walk before me and be perfect." (Gen 17:1), an impossible command unless, like the baby who nurses at its mother's breast for its nourishment and survival, we come to the El Shaddai to receive from His Hand the power to change whilst we trust in the All Mighty one, who is able to conquer and destroy all the destructive strongholds that seek to suck the joy out of our lives.  When we know God as the Omnipotent One, all our struggles and negative circumstances can be left at the foot of His Throne while He appropriates the grace and help we need to overcome.

Yesterday has gone.  Tomorrow may or may not come.  People have died of the most bizarre circumstances.  The only moment we have is the now.  Should we waste this moment choosing anything less than being joyful, even in the challenging circumstances of living life?  The Apostle Paul is still a great example of having joy in the midst of taxing conditions.

The crowd [also] joined in the attack upon them, and the rulers tore the clothes off of them and commanded that they be beaten with rods. And when they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them, Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone's shackles were unfastened.   Act16:22-24

Paul and Silas's praises transported them out of the severe discomfort, filthiness and smell of the rotting goal into the presence of His Majesty.  As their praises rose into the heavenly realms, it captured El Roi (the One who sees) heart and "Inhabiting the praises" of these two disciples, an earthquake of His presence burst open the doors of the prison and prisoners and guards alike (who were listening to this worship) were swept into the fullness of joy and salvation as the bondages that sought to keep them in despair fell off.  In the midst of circumstances, we too can chose to praise the One from who deliverance comes.  Or we can choose to sit amongst the disappointments, disillusionment and disenchantments of broken dreams and be consumed by these instead of looking heavenly to the One who gave us all, so that we might have LIFE in Him.

Oh the power in praising when we don't understand and when circumstances are beyond our control.  No extreme expression of faith could be more powerful when we choose to praise in the dark of "I don't know why this in happening" and invites the Light of the Spirit to comfort and drop in the seed of peace that surpasses all understanding.  An expression of faith, when we can say no matter what the circumstance, Lord God I trust in you that the outcome will be to my advantage.  We show we trust in what God can do in and within the circumstances when we hand over the control of our life to the control of the only One who is All-Sufficient.  His joy will be our strength.  His joy will help us laugh in the face of adversity and stop the enemy in his tracks. 

His joy!  Found and contained in His Presence.  Linger there today.

What....Marriage?

The Courier Mail yesterday ran an article which I think should have made first page news so important the information is to our crumbling society.  The article was called "Reforms urged for children in crisis" and was a major report  to be presented to Federal parliament on findings conducted by the University of Sydney and calling "for a return to conservative family values" especially for the behalf of children.  It reported on the deterioration of mental stability, particularly of girls (66% increase in mental disease for 12-14 year olds and a 90% increase for girls aged 15-17).  The major factor is this was the breakdown of the family unit and the introduction of "unstable and conflictual family relationships of Australian families."   The report went on to argue that significant increase in the risk of the emotional instability of children was because of the rise of new partners not biologically related to the children and also  the stress of single parentedness.

It is not surprising that marriage is under attack for if satan can divide the family, he leaves in the wake, broken children who carry the scars of the loss of a secure and nurturing environment  with the unconditional love of both parents and the subtle choosing of sides they should never had to endure.  In turn, they carry these hurts into future relationships and the devastating cycle goes on down through generation after generation.

Whenever we think that we can destroy what God has put together, and He sanctioned marriage as a covenant until "death do us part", we exalt ourselves above the Maker, who know what is good for us.  He wrote the model of marriage in the bible and He also presents this as a picture of the relationship between Christ and us.  Intimate, one in unity and loving!  I'm certainly glad that Christ does not divorce us, even though as far as I'm concerned, He probably has every right to do so because of the hardness of our hearts.

God has called us to be Holy, and warns us that if we are not holy, we will not see Him and marriage is His institution that teaches us how to be Holy.

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1Pe 1:13-16)

Where else can we learn the fruit of righteousness, choosing to be holy instead of getting our own way?

Where else do we learn the fruit of humility and not always be right?

Where else do we learn to forgive (as Christ forgave us) and not hold on to offences?

Where else do we learn not to walk in the way of the flesh, not spitting out whatever our hurt little heart desires and so tear down instead of building each other up?

Where else do we learn that the earth does not revolve around us, and our petty little hurts, but instead we have a choice, set aside our selfishness (ouch!) and look at the important issues in bringing up healthy, mature, well adjusted children with our spouse?

Where else do we learn to walk as Jesus did, doing good to each other, healing, loving, forgiving and guiding?

Where else can we nurture and guide, TOGETHER, the young impressionable, ETERNAL souls into the Kingdom of God, showing the expression of love and forgiveness and selfless living?  Or will we play Russian roulette with our eternal life and theirs by teaching them to live in the flesh, disdain God's ways and disregard the feelings and wellbeing of the family unit?

God calls us to the "bond of peace", beseeching us "to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring  to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3)

Why is keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace so important?  It shows we are the children of God.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit display for us complete unity and harmony, contentedness, love, respect, honour, preferring the other members of the Trinity so much so that they are completely ONE.  There is no division amongst them, three persons in ONE.

And we are called to this ONENESS.  One with them and one with each other!  And where else do we learn submission?  Yes, a hard and difficult word, made all the more awful because of our human self-centredness and self seeking living.

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. Jas 3:16 –Jas 4:2 

Children of God, we are called to walk a higher walk and imitate Jesus.  Let's us not lay the blame at our spouse's feet but take the responsibility that we too are marred, and touchy, self-seeking and wanting our own way and will.  Let's ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts and to whisper when we are out of line.  Let's ask for help to extend grace to each other and hold our tongues.  Let's ask Him to help us submit to His ways, for surely in doing so, we will crucify the flesh become more like Christ and enjoy the fruit of peace, unity and joy in our marriages.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. 3Jn 1:11 

 
Amen?

"Grace has found me just as I am"

"being confident in this, that God who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:6

Your grace reached out to me and found me. Just as the Shepherd left the 99 sheep to look for the lost lamb, so He found me and touched me and saved me.

There was nothing in me that should have attracted His love, except He is LOVE. He is full of grace and He sent Jesus to die for me so that I would be reconciled into His arms, His Love and His mercy. God saw me, not where I was, in the cesspool of sin, but He saw what I would become in Christ as He worked in and through me, producing good works.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Eph 2:4 -7

In Him! In Him, I have heavenly blessings and His divine nature to live a holy life. It's not me, it's HIS POWER in me. It's even His love in me, that perfect love that came from the Father and helps me to love others. It's not even my prayers, but the spirit in me who makes intercession for the saints and for my life.

There's nothing I bring to this table of relationship except my willingness to yield, to draw closer, to know Him more, to love deeper. My willingness and His power interweave to produce goodness in me. I offer nothing that He has not already given me and yet in giving nothing, He gives all. All blessings flow from His heart, His throne and fills me with joy in living life, in loving others, in being in Him and with Him.

Oh come to the living water and drink deeply of His grace and mercy bathed in love and soaked in His presence. Come and receive. Be confident in Him and surrender. He will complete the work in us that will produce the fruit of righteousness. He will safely present us to Himself on that great and glorious day that we stand before the throne, In Him.

Simple grace

God has given us all things to enjoy richly, simple things that we can take for granted. Like most mornings I really enjoy my breakfast, more so at present being on a diet, and this morning was no exception. I began thinking about how much we take this simple pleasure and the satisfaction that a good meal can bring for granted. We say grace around the table but do we really consider why we should be thankful to God for the provision. I have heard people critise grace because as far as they are concerned they put the meal on the table and cannot make the connection of gratitude to Father, the Creator.

Oh the wisdom of God, that He put life into a seed, so when in the right environment, it bursts forth to grow and reproduce and multiply. What an incredible thing. Not only does the plant grow and produce fruit but the quantity a single fruit tree produces, is well and truly more than it needs to reproduce itself.

The other most amazing thing is that everything our bodies need to grow and function and keep healthy is in the food that God put on the earth. And the variety of grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables speaks to me of God's abundant nature toward us, ensuring we have plenty to chose from that is pleasing to the eye as well as the palette.

Talking about the palette. How satisfying is it not only to have a good meal, but to be able to share that meal with friends and family. How much joy and laughter has there been around the family table.

And just think on the flavour of the different foods that God has made available. To think that God put those flavours there when He created them and then gave us a tongue that can receive and enjoy all these different flavours. I think that is incredible. The wisdom He had to have digestion begin in the mouth, so that we are to savour the flavours and linger over them, to really enjoy them and get the full satisfaction.

We tend to turn mealtime grace into a rote prayer, but when we consider all that God has done, it can once again be a genuine, thankful and heartfelt prayer.

Simple grace offered to an awesome, abundant Giver of GRACE and Life. Let's have abundantly thankful hearts, Amen?

Caught in an earthly perspective

It is so easy to be caught in an earthly perspective and complain about all kinds of things that, really in the light of eternity, are very small. Here I am, on the way to heaven, yet so many people as well as members of my family are facing an Christless eternity in hell. The bible is very clear:- "He who has the Son has life, He who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 Jn 5:12 and Jesus warned: "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." According to the parable of The Sower, only 25% of people will believe and go to heaven. That really is not good odds and it is imperative that we get out the message, the Good News, that Jesus saves us and we have forgiveness for all our sins because of what He did on that cross.

What a perspective to have, The Eternal! If we could keep focused on that alone, how different would our lives be lived here on earth.

For me, I think it helps to produce humility. The fact that God, the Creator of the Universe and all things, chose me before the foundation of the earth to be adopted into His family is a very humbling thought. If I had not heard the Good News and believed, I could still be in my sin and if I had died whilst a sinner, this would have packed a horrible eternal judgement. Oh for the grace that found me and loved me to salvation.

An eternal perspective encourages the gift of compassion as we deal with the lost everyday, even for some, our spouses, children, relatives, friends and workmates. We're ok, they are not okay. We need to shine the light of Christ's love, acceptance and grace upon them so that they can see how different life is when we walk in the love and peace of the Son.

If we kept this eternal perspective, I don't think we would have much to grumble and complain about. We would not be focusing on and critising our church family or pastors, but rather keep on working out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Being saved and on our way to heaven, should keep us rejoicing as we have opportunity to gather together with our brothers and sisters before God Almighty, to have times of refreshing in His presence and worship Him with thankful hearts. After all, what is more important, that the Pastor didn't say hello, the music is too loud, the church seems too , "clicky", or the fact that we are saved and growing in God's presence and love. No one and no church is perfect, but we go to meet with God and to please Him. Isn't that more important then all the things we can critise.

If something is lacking in your church, step out and volunteer to fix it. Remember we have been saved from a sure judgement and eternal punishment. Hell, let the full weight of that word sober you, is an awful eternity for those we love. Let's rejoice instead in the forgiveness of our sins and the eternal life we have been promised.

Rom 6:20
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
Rom 6:21

What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
Rom 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do you want to be healed?

Jesus is willing and able to deliver us from every ailment that besets us and the question, "Do you want to be made well" (Jn 5:6) is a legitimate one.

The worst condition that holds us back from being healed is the "victim" mentality, that condition of the heart that derives its power from the "why me" questions. This mentality allows us to stay where we are, sucking up the empathy and sympathy from others. This mentality loves the self-prophesying mantra, "It always happens to me" and "Why expect the best only to be disappointed" syndrome.

It takes hard work to uncover the attitudes that have caused strongholds, stop the grumbling and complaining that keep us trapped to begin to call God's report over our lives. When everything within cries out in pain, it's hard to rise out of the depths of the "pity party" and declare God's promises with confidence and belief. But the bible teaches us " Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Pro 18:21) We get to CHOOSE!!!! We alone can watch out thoughts and words and we can chose the testimony of our word for either a good or bad result.

Sometimes fear can keep us trapped for a long-seated illness almost becomes like well-known lover to our soul. It is sometimes easier to accept the slavery of Egypt (better the devil you know then the one you don't) then walk into the liberty and freedom of the children of the King. We can lose a sense of "identity" if we give it up but God has declared, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Cor 2:9) God has a better way, a better life and His perfect love can cast out all fear, (1 Jn 4:18) because we trust Him to take us through the "valley of the shadow of death" (Ps 23:4) into the glorious "Son" on the mountain.

Jesus died for us to have an abundant life, not a depressed, down life. He calls us upward and outward, toward Him and toward others. Getting our minds off ourselves and onto others is a first step toward freedom from self and liberation into a life He wants for us. Remember, "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him." (Jn 13:16) Jesus set us an example and if we walk in His steps we walk in the path of blessing.

Unending love, amazing grace!

Just think on the love of God. What an amazing gift to us that His love endures. It endures through all seasons. It endures through our struggles, through our victories, our everyday Monday to Sunday life. His love is always there, always read to receive us. We know we can come boldly, confidently into His throne room to find His amazing grace. It's available 24/7 to help us. His love, so unconditional, loves us even when we don't perform, even when we sin, even when we fall short of His standard. He waits for us to come running into His arms.

When Adam and Even sinned in the garden, we know the first thing they did was to try and cover the shame and pass the blame. Don't we do the same today? Our society loves to pass the blame, yet Father waits for us to come, face our responsiblilities and sin and ask for help.

We are brought up on performance-based conditional love. We find it so hard to imagine that God loves us regardless of what we do. We "feel" we must try to earn His love but nothing could be further from the truth. His love is always ready to be kind and patient toward us when we come. That's all He wants is His children to come, coming running into His arms and spill our guts, be honest and quiet our soul trusting in His mercy. He doesn't want us to hide from Him when we sin. Christ paid all for our sin and God wants His children to come and find rest and restoration in the arms of the Almighty. He's ready to wipe the tears of repentance away and to remove the guilt and shame and cast our sins into the sea of forgetfulness. He holds no grudge. He holds mercy and grace. Amazing grace.

Let us swim in the sea of His grace as He gently deals with us and calls us into a higher way of living. As we behold Him, as we float on the waves of His love, His nature is able to be imparted to us, until we too become like His Son.

That appointed time came...

But [that appointed time came] when Christ, the Messiah, appeared as a High Priest of the better things that have come and are to come. [Then] through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with [human] hands, that is, not a part of this material creation, He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption – an everlasting release [for us].

There was a time. There was a plan. There was a destiny..when CHRIST came to earth for mankind. Christ, The Messiah, our Saviour, came. This was His destiny, "to seek and to save those who were lost." His plan – LOVE! He showed us His love by laying down His life freely, so that those who believe would freely receive eternal life. This plan concocted before you and I were born, in the eternities of the eternities, and at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

His death and resurrection brought in a better covenant, not through endless works and sacrifices, but a covenant of love and mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Yet like the proverbial monkey who has his hand stuck in the jar of sweets because his fist is full, we still all go our own way. God sent His Son who brings us a better life, yet we choose the life of unforgiveness, greed, covetousness and earthly success, when He offers spiritual success. A life of peace in Him, joy and strength in Him with blessings on that which we have and do.

No wonder God weeps in Heaven when He gave all to save, yet we chose the waters of pride and independence instead of the safety of the Ark of Christ. Our eternity is sealed in Him. We alone have that choice to make "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." This could not be plainer – we choose, life or death. God has done all to bring us life and be reconciled to Him for He alone is Holy, Right and Just. The consequence of choosing death will mean eternal separation from that which is good, GOD.

Beloved ones chose carefully.

A Sower went out to sow...

This well known parable of the seed that was sown in four different soils has been much talked about and discussed.

Interesting the sower scatters the seed and it falls in different places and so begins a journey of the life of the seed and subsequent harvest or lack of harvest. This is encouraging in the fact that God has given us the job to scatter "seed" but even as the sower does not stress about where the seed falls, so we too need not fuss. The seed will do its own work in a heart that is willing or perhaps lie dormant until the right conditions are met.

The sower is scattering the same kind of seed. The seed has the same potential, the same life and the only difference is how it is received. The same seed is capable of producing 100% harvest dependent upon where it falls. The most harvest is produced in the soil that hears and understands what potential there is in the seed.

Jesus told us that His words are spirit and life and it is in allowing the seed of the word, the life in it, to work in all our situations. We are called to be doer's of the word and not just hearers. James likens those who hear the word and do nothing with it like those who look in a mirror and then walk away forgetting what they look like.

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Jas 1:25

We are blessed when we listen and obey the Word. Sometimes we can read a passage of the bible and wish we hadn't opened to that section as it seems that it is too hard a struggle for us to do. We need to remember that if God is commanding us to do, than He has also equipped us with the power with which to do it. The Seed (Christ) dwells in us and so does the anointing to accomplish His Word.

I find it really interesting that God has called His Son, The Seed. Think about this. If you plant tomato seeds you will harvest tomatoes in time. Everything, all the DNA, the life and all the information is contained in that seed to produce tomatoes. So everything of Christ, as The Seed (and as the amplified bible puts it, the divine sperm of the Almighty), dwells in us producing Christ likeness when the seed is watered by our affection and obedience to it.

As the apostle John so amply put it:-

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 1Jn 3:9

As with all sowing, there is a waiting time until the harvest. This is where the word encourages us not to be weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap. (Gal 6:9) If we remain faithful to the Word, leaning on the Holy Spirit to help us and empower us, we will produce a harvest, some 30, some 60 and some 100%, but a harvest nevertheless that will glorify the Son by producing fruits of righteousness, peace and joy in our lives. A great thing about harvests is the more we sow, the more we will reap. The more we listen and obey, a greater harvest of fruitfulness will be seen.

No Spirit of Fear

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. Heb 10:24-25

With all the natural disasters around the world, surely people are beginning to wonder what is happening. Our world which seemed stable is seemingly being hit in all directions with earthquakes, cyclones, floods and even financial disasters. Jesus warned us in Matthew and Luke that these days would come and explained that it would be the start of birth pangs for the day of sorrow, the tribulation that is to come upon the whole world. It would seem that the day of the Lord approaches, and although the term "end of the age" has been thrown around since the disciples walked the earth, there is particular need for us not get blasé but more and more to look up as our salvation draws nigh.

Church this is the time that we should, as the children of God, rise together and do what the bible tells us to do. This is the time, like never before, to humble ourselves, seek God's face and pray for the nations and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the people of the world. This is the time that we should encourage each other, knowing that the days are dark and the love of many will grow cold with the increase of lawlessness that abounds. More and more the Church of the Living God needs to unite together and encourage each other to live for Jesus, to be the light, to stand for righteousness and intercede on behalf of all for God's mercy and grace.

We are living in days of fear, crippling fear, where the future is unpredictable and yet we can stay in peace, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."(2Ti 1:7) We know the One who holds our future securely in His Hands.

They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. Psa 112:7

I would encourage you, if you are not committed to your local church, get committed. I would encourage you, if you are not reading the Word every day, begin to. Don't wait for disaster to strike before you go before God for help. The Word needs to be banked in your heart and soul so that the Holy Spirit can bring it to you at the appropriate times and keep your mind at peace. If you are not committed to Jesus, it's time to get committed. Don't sit on the fence any more, it's not just you and your families lives at stake, but others. Pray, pray and pray and no longer live for yourself.

Like all labour pains, they begin slow and come to a crescendo. This seems to be happening in the world, and I don't want to be a "prophet of doom", but we need to support each other, love each other and pray for the salvation of others like never before. Remember,

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Joh 3:16

Because He gave, we were saved. Let us now give our time, our talents, our love, our allegiance to our God so that others may hear about the Life and Hope we have in Him.

Jesus Alone

New Age philosophy is sweeping into the church and winding its tentacles of confusion and bondage around the hearts of people everywhere. Not that this philosophy is new at all, just packaged with a new name, but was seen right back in the Garden of Eden where innocence was lost and Adam and Eve's eyes were open to good and evil. Right back in the garden, Eve misquoted God's Word, when satan introduced his seductive lie that would appeal to the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Gen 2:16 -17

Eve misquoted God because her emphasis was on what she couldn't have whereas God's emphasis was on all the blessings they could enjoy, every tree but one. In twisting God's Word, satan managed to take Eve's attention off the blessings to lust for the fruit (which she could not have –lust of the flesh) and seeing the fruit looked good to eat (lust of the eyes) and, "a tree desirable to make one wise" (the pride of life), she succumbed to the temptation, tasted and offered it to Adam who also partook. It was in that instant they knew sin experientially and the whole human race has been infected with the disease of sin ever since.

John the apostle warned in his epistle:-

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1Jn 2:-15-17

The world's philosophy is totally opposed to God. Of all, desiring to be like God, has appealed to the flesh and leads us into all kinds of evil. Many people are caught up in the New Age philosophy that we can find the "god" within us. John warned the church of his day to look out for those who came, and who he dubbed as having a spirit of anti-christ, who preached a false doctrine and who had departed from the fellowship so that they could spread their lies and gain a following. (1 Jn 2:19) They come preaching a different message to the one the disciples preached, a message, often divine, that has been given to them only. They denied the faith and that Jesus is the Christ who came in the flesh. This deceit is still around today and denying the deity of Christ, people deny that Jesus is THE only way to heaven and is THE truth. Truth has become relative and countless souls will be lost for eternity believing this. The bible is quite clear, that

"He who has the Son has life; He who does not have the Son of God does not have life" I Jn 5:12

And again Jesus Himself said:-

"You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not.

That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins." Joh 8:23-24

John assures us that we need not be taken captive by these lies if we abide in the Word, and that the message that we have heard from the beginning abides in us. (1 Jn 2:24-26) We also have the greatest teacher to guide us into all truth and that is the Holy Spirit in us. John tells us to "test the spirits" and it is the Holy Spirit who gives us discernment by the "Anointing" or the unction of the Spirit in us. (1 Jn 2:27) The Holy Spirit teaches us all things. (1 Jn 2:27) The bible tells us that "there is nothing new under the sun", so when someone comes preaching some new truth, we need to test it against the Holy Scriptures (which is what the Berean believers did. Acts 17:11)

The Christian message is simple yet true and can be trusted. We are sinners and we needed a Saviour. God (as in Jesus) came in the flesh and die a horrific death on a cross to save us and reconcile us to God. When we believe in Jesus, He gives us eternal life. People don't like to consider that the alternative to Heaven is Hell but think about this, if there was another way or if all "good" people go to heaven, why did Jesus have to go through all He did for us?

Freedom in Christ

So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free. John 8:36 (AMP)

As children of God, it is vitally important to our Christian health and faith to walk in the freedom of the truth of the Word of God. Jesus told the Pharisees, who seriously lacked joy in their lives, so bound by religiosity, that He, the Son of God, could set them free. The Pharisees and Sadducees should have been the most joyful, free people of the day, as they were the ones to serve God but all their man made traditions and rules made them the most guilt ridden, sin-focused, finger-pointing hypocrites of the time. Unfortunately, The Truth, Jesus as the Son of God, did not reach their hearts because of the presupposition of who they expected the Messiah to be and to do. Yet the sad truth is, if they had studied the scripture and with open heart and applied them to Jesus, it would have been abundantly clear that Jesus was, indeed the Messiah they were waiting for. Scripture was being fulfilled before their eyes, from Jesus birthplace, the virgin birth, His ministry of healing and teaching, the presentation of Himself as their Messiah riding on a donkey into Jerusalem right through to His death and resurrection.

The Word of God is the truth and is "living and powerful" (Heb 4:12) and when we accept the truth and believe it, we can and will be set free. I remember so clearly when I first accepted Jesus as my Saviour, I was so full of self-loathing, it sucked my joy and kept me bound until the truth of God's Word that I was a child of God, made by Him and given gifts bestowed to me, that He had a plan for me and my future, finally set me free to like who I am in Christ. With my upbringing, I had a victim mentality, and expected life to be hard for me and it was until I realised that the Word warned about "evil forebodings" but I could instead put my trust in God for His good plan for me and that I was indeed a victor in Christ, who said He has overcome the world. I learnt from the Word of God that I could choose, "life or death" through the power of the words I spoke over myself.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Pro 18:21

This scripture really changed my life dramatically.

Condemnation seems to be a frequent visitor to those whose sins have been forgiven. When we confess our sins, the Word promises us that God will forgive us. Not only that, but Jesus intercedes on our behalf before the throne day and night. We are a forgiven people and God has put our sins away from us as far as the east is from the west so we should not carry the burden of guilt and condemnation.

From a child I felt unloved but God tells me that I'm precious in His sight, that His thoughts about me are uncountable and that He sings over me and delights in me. Not only that, but God showed His love for me, that whilst I was a sinner, Christ died for me.

Let's walk in the freedom of the truth of the Word. I would encourage you to read the scriptures frequently and absorb the truth of the word into your soul. Christ paid for our freedom and our joy and peace and all blessings flow from His hand. Let us choose Life, Amen?

The Main Thing (Pt 2)

Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? .. And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.] This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.] Mat 22:36-39

What is the human soul? It is the seat of our mind, emotions and will. Already I have a problem with loving God with all my soul in the surrender of my will. Why do we always have to struggle so hard with this when we know that God loves us and He does know better than us? His thoughts and ways are higher than ours and not so easily understood by human finite minds. It is so hard to relinquish our stubborn ways but the best example we have by far is Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus did not want the cup of sin that He had to take upon Himself but He surrendered to the Father's will and I'm so glad that He did. Our eternity was hanging in the balance in the fight between Christ's will and that of His Father and the judgement that was to be placed on Jesus, the sinless one, was enormous, considering the weight of the world's sin. All His emotions were crying out to "pass the cup" and do it another way but Christ did not live for Himself, but purposely came to seek and to save sinners. His love for us and for His Father overcame all emotion and His own will to surrender and humble Himself on that cross. The way of surrender is the path of blessing. Look at what Christ accomplished for us the day He surrender totally to the Father's will and brought us with His blood. We get to spend eternity fellowshipping with the Triune God in Heaven and here on earth can have His guidance, love, protection, joy and peace.

I think to worship and love God with our emotions, is to have faith in Him, beyond what our emotions dictate to us. We honour God greatly when our emotions are telling us the opposite of what God has revealed in His Word to us, and we ignore what we see, feel or hear and hold stubbornly onto God's truth. The prophet Hababkuk taught us this principle when he penned in time of great disaster:-

Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation! [Rom. 8:37.]

The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! Hab 3:17 - 19

Job too amidst his anguish and adversity declared:-

For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He [the Last One] will stand upon the earth. [Isa. 44:6; 48:12.]

And after my skin, even this body, has been destroyed, then from my flesh or without it I shall see God,

Whom I, even I, shall see for myself and on my side! And my eyes shall behold Him, and not as a stranger! My heart pines away and is consumed within me. Job 19:25 -27

Love explicitly trusts and we have a God who is faithful in all seasons of our lives. Because God is so trustworthy and the fountain head of all truth, we also honour Him and show our love for Him with our minds by "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2Co 10:5)

We need to believe what God says about us in His Word and what He tells us we can do is simply possible even if past experiences dictate the opposite. We may believe from past experiences that we are unloved but God's word declares that He has loved us with an everlasting love and that His love for us is unfailing. This is exactly where we cast down those thoughts and replace them with the Word and thereby "renew our minds." We walk in the light and allow the Holy Spirit to shine the light on those things in us that separate us from the truth of who God is and what is not pleasing to Him. We love Him when we are prepared, with His help, to change and become more and more sanctified in our walk. We love Him when we show Him that we are willing to trust Him enough to visit those painful areas in our souls and let Him to do a work in us.

Let us spend the quality time with Him and not rush off into our day without having consulted Him for His plan and His will for the day. And let us put aside the distraction of the day and the entertainment of the TV at night to also spend some time with Him, reflecting on His goodness that has kept us and will continue to keep us day in and day out.

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. Col 3:2

The Main Thing (Part 1)

Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? .. And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.] This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.] Mat 22:36-39

This is a very challenging word from our Lord Jesus when a religious teacher of the Law tries to trick Him into saying something that could be held against Him. It is a word however, that is very relevant to the church today, in living our lives with priority and purpose. So how do we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind? Perhaps we need to meditate on this as Jesus declares that it is the greatest, most important principal under which to live.

Our heart, the very place of our love and devotion, and the area that scripture has plenty to instruct us over as the Word warns us to "guard our hearts, for out of the heart will flow all issues of life." We begin to love God with a repentant and contrite heart which brings forth the "fruit of repentance" and shows a change of heart in our lifestyle. (Matt 3:8) Jesus tells us that only those who are pure in heart shall see God. (Matt5:8) Perhaps we need to have a regular heart check and we can by checking our attitudes, desires and words of our mouth.

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  Do we harbour anger in our heart against a brother (or sister),


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  Do we speak contemptuously of others (we are in danger of Gehenna) (Matt 5:22)


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  Do we look with lust upon a man or woman (we are committing adultery) (Matt 5:28)


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  Do we judge what comes out of our mouth, because it is our words that make our heart unclean. (Matt 15:18)


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  Are our thoughts evil that is (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech. (Matt 15:19)


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  Do we hold offences and unforgiveness (Matt 18:35)


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  What about covetousness (the greedy desire to have more wealth or what someone else has)


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  Are we deceitful, hold envy slander or pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man) in our heart

Quite a challenging list! But the most amazing thing is that when we experience God's love in our hearts, and we in turn love Him back, we find joy in keeping our hearts pure with the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us that if we love Him, we will obey His commands, and His commands are not burdensome. Love is the motivator. Love gives the desire to please. Love sets the thoughts and heart toward the person of our love. Love desires communication and intimacy and love is transparent. No games are played, no self agenda is hidden and love trusts explicitly.

Have we made God our treasure? Do we recognise what treasure is found in Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. We cannot help but love God back when we mediate on what He has done for us through the cross of Calvary. That God would give up Jesus for us, not in a time that we were searching for Him, but amongst the filth of our sin and waywardness. He reached out and He is the lifter of our heads and has promised never to leave us our forsake us, but has made us the apple of His eye.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Mat 6:21)

Beloved, let us leave our hearts in the throne room of God, for He surely is our greatest treasure and Father in Heaven. As we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us and fill us with His love that can never be measured. Glory be to God forever and ever, Amen.