She said I do not sin. ( Revelation 5 v 1 - 10 )

Having heard Joyce Meyer saying she did not sin ,as she was righteous,I must confess as a person who professes to being Christian, I wonder in amazement,that she could say such a thing.I know how easily it is to think  wrong thoughts, to speak wrong words,and to act in a wrong way. The great prophet Isaiah when he had a vision of  God ,cried out ,''Woe to me ,I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean lips,and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord almighty''. (Isa 6 v 5 ) Solomon in his prayer at the dedication of the Temple says,''For there is no one who does not sin ''  ( 1 Kings 8 v 46 ).John the baptist the greatest of the prophets, speaking of Jesus, he said,  he was not fit to carry His sandals.Paul the greatest of the apostles declared,'' I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature'' ( Romans 7 v 18 ). Jesus knew that we his disciples would sin,so he taught us to pray ,''forgave us our sins'' (Luke 11 v 4 ) John writing to believers ,wrote,''If we claim to be without  sin,we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us'', ( 1 John 1 v 8 ) The fact is we seek to be righteous, but while on planet earth,we can never say we do not sin,only when as it where, are feet stand on heavens shore can we say we don't sin,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 To say that one is righteous,                                                                                                                        and does not sin,is to declare                                                                                                                      ourselves, to be self righteous.

Mercy. ( Romans 5 v 1 - 11 )

Ancient Assyria became a world power ,they conquered many lands, they were not known for showing mercy.When they captured a ruler, their practice was to humiliate him, by pulling him with ropes attached by rings through lips and jaws. Mercy was absent toward  the people they conquered, they were considered their enemies.In Romans 5 v 10 reads , when we were God's  enemies, we  were reconciled to Him through the death of his Son , now that's mercy . .In Ephesians 2 v 1 ff,we are reminded of our former condition ,''Dead in transgressions in sin, followed the ways of the world, and the ruler of this world,gratifying the cravings of  our sinful nature, following its desires and thoughts,  ,objects of wrath..'' Then we read ,''But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions ''                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Mercy there was great, and grace was free                                                                                               Pardon there was multiplied to me                                                                                                             There my burdened soul found liberty,                                                                                                                    At  Calvary.                                                                                                                                               ( Wm. R. Newell )                                                                                                                                   NOW THAT'S MERCY.

Christ the solid Rock. ( Daniel 2 v 24 - 45 )

Let me remind you again that the Bible continually speaks of God as a rock, I will give you some Bible references , Deuteronomy 32 v 4 /2 Samuel 2 v 2 /  Psalm 28 v 1 / 42 v 9/. Now I want to go forward to Matthew 16 v 13 ff ,here Jesus asks the  question ,''Who do people say the Son of Man is?'' the disciples reply,John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah,or one of the prophets''. Then He asks the disciples ,''Who do you say that I am?'',Peter replies ,'' You are the Christ the Son of the living God''.Our Saviour commends Peter, then He says, you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build my Church.'' Who is the church built on ?, Peter a  man, or Christ the Son of the living God,who is called a Rock,?. In 1 Corinthians  10 v 4, Romans 9 v  33 / 1 Peter 2 v 8.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                On Christ the solid Rock I stand,                                                                                                              All other ground is sinking sand.                                                                                                                        ( Edward Mote )

Thou blest Rock of Ages. ( Psalm 61 )

In so many places God is seen by his people as a rock,to go to ,in times of distress and weariness , in Psalm 61 we have King David declaring that no matter where he is, and no matter how he feels he will cry unto God,and then he makes a request,''Lead me to the rock that is higher than I '',v 2.  He needed a place that God will lead him to,a place of safety and security,and indeed salvation,only God can be the one who can guarantee this.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            O safe to the rock ,that is higher than I,                                                                                                    My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly,                                                                                        So sinful, so weary,Thine, Tine, Thine would I be,                                                                                  Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow's lone hour,                                                                                   In times when the tempter casts o'er me his power,                                                                                   In the tempest of life, on its wide heaving sea,                                                                                         Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,                                                                                     I have fled to my refuge, and breathed out my woe,                                                                                 How often,when trials, like sea billows roll,                                                                                             Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Hiding in Thee, Hiding in Thee,                                                                                                               Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ( W. O. Cushing )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Standing in a storm. ( Matthew 7 v 24 - 27 )

Through out scripture God is referred to as a rock, what does that mean?,it simply means that God is the foundation on which we build our lives.,and also our faith.In Matthew 7 v 24 - 27, Jesus  told the story of two men who built houses,one built his house on sand,the other built his house on a rock. When the storms came the house on the sand collapsed ,but the house on the rock stood firm. Jesus said the man who built his house on the rock ,were like those who hear his words and keep them.The history of Israel shows a people that heard the word of God,but failed to keep it,and they brought upon themselves great harm.We must not only be hearers of  the Word of God if we are to stand, when we are battered by the storms of life,it is not enough to say it was nice sermon ,if we don't do what it says,we will not stand when the storm comes ,the words of  Mary are appropriate to all of us in John 2 v 5, ''Do whatever He (Jesus ) tells you.''.                                                                                                                                 Lets take    Sundays                                                                                                                                      affirmations into                                                                                                                                          Monday.                                                                                                                                                    (J.W.Olley )

True riches. ( Matthew 19 v 17 - 26 )

John W.Olley   writes the following,'' A feature of all societies is the myriad of people,groups, organisations who promise to give 'life' and provisions, including peace and security. Today's bomb-   ardment of claims is persuasively presented in a variety of media. With political or religious leaders, economic or lifestyle gurus, medical cures, 'get rich schemes' or diverse spiritual  options, promises abound of success, prosperity. health, long life; 'make your dreams come true'. The dominant picture is often of material prosperity as the way to happiness.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     By faith Moses,when he had grown up, refused                                                                                        to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.                                                                                          He chose to be mistreated  along with the people                                                                                      of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin                                                                                        for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake                                                                                    of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of                                                                                      Egypt, because he was looking forward to his reward.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ( Hebrews 11 v 24 - 26 )

The false prophet, and the true prophet. ( 1 John 4 v 1 )

In 1 Kings 22, Ahab king of Israel , and Jehoshaphat king of Judah talked about going to war,Jehoshaphat give sound advice, lets ask God about it. So the king called in the prophets, four hundred of them,and he asks them to advise ,should they go to war?, they replied yes,for the Lord would give him victory. In spite  of this overwhelming answer,Jehoshaphat,was not satisfied, so  he asks,is there not a prophet of the Lord  here whom we can inquire of ?Ahab says there was a prophet called Micaiah ,but he never prophesies any good about me.At  the insistence of Jehoshaphat he is brought in,Ahab asked him should we go to war ,or shall I refrain?, Micaiah answers ,''attack and be victorious''.For some reason Ahab does not believe him, and challenges him to speak the truth, and the truth was Ahab would loose not only the battle but his life. Micaiah the prophet was right,even though  the word he give was rejected.There is a very simple lesson in all this, the false prophet will tell you what you want to hear,the true prophet will tell you what you need to hear.

Train the child . ( Isaiah 55 v 11 )

 Proverbs 22 v 6, tells us, 'Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. '.First of all we see our responsibility to train our children in the things of God,I look everyday and I see children going to school,to be taught,not in the things of God,but how few there are ,who are trained in the things of God. I was talking to a young man recently, he had never gone to  church,never been to Sunday school,he did not know anything about God.Believers must teach their children in the things of .They must teach them the Bible,teach them how to become a Christian, and how to be a Christian.,and the promise they will not turn from it,It may when they are older as Charles Bridges writes,'Cast the bread upon the waters of the covenant is found, not till 'a, though after many days''( Eccles 11 v1)  ,perhaps not till the godly parent has been laid in the grave. Yet the fruit ,though late,will not be less sure ( Hab 2 v 3 )

Faith ( Luke 17 v 5 - 6 )

Thomas Boston wrote ,''Faith is a flower that grows not in the field of nature'',true faith will only  grow within a child of God..Yes  faith can grow, by a continual trusting in God,in every situation .When we stop trusting in self,for we are told,'Trust in the Lord with all your and lean not upon your own understanding ( Proverbs 3 v 5 ).It is said that fear affects what we see, like the little hen that ran about, fearful that the sky was going to fall on him.he was driven by fear.So often we are driven by fear, like most people, but then we are not like most people, we are children of God. When we were young if someone was picking on us we tell them ,that our big brother will come and get them.So it is if the devil is picking on us,which he will,we can pray,and as the old hymn says,that says,' Satan trembles when he sees,the weakest saint upon his knees'.Remember prayer is the key to heaven but faith unlocks the door, let us have confidence in our God,to hear and answer our prayers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Guide me, O Lord a faith serene                                                                                                                That rests on Thee alone,                                                                                                                                    (Norman R.Perry )

God is working His purpose out. ( Ephesians 1 v 11 )

J W.Olley in his book on 1/2 Kings writes''One certainty through the turmoil and tragedies of history,then and now, is that God keeps his word and is working out His purposes.''In the book of  Kings we see this time and time again,indeed right throughout the Bible we see this,what God says comes to pass. It is a great thing to know this ,it reminds us that God is sovereign ,He is in control of the nations and  individual lives,in His providence He brings us through this life,  As I look back I see  how marvellously God intervened in my life. In the fellowship I go to,two young lads have stopped coming,the pastor made a change that young people at a certain age ,have to stay in the service.Their parents and grandparent are concerned.Well in Gods providence ,He can work in their lives,we need to hold unto the promises of God in relation to them.We need to to pray  that in His sovereign purposes they will trust the Saviour, it will come to pass                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      God is working His purpose out,                                                                                                               As year succeeds to year,                                                                                                                           God is working His purpose out                                                                                                                           ( A.C.Ainger )

Perverting the Gospel ( Galatians 1 v 6 - 9 )

Let us consider these so called prosperity preachers,Joyce Meyer said ''she didn't sin she was righteous,seemingly not accepting what scripture says,or she does not know,1 John 1 v 8 'If we say we have no sin,we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us'.She further said that when Christ died he descended into Hell,this is  from the apostles creed,it does not say that in 1 Peter 4 v 6 , whatever that may mean,it does not mean,''that the demons jumped on Jesus and beat him up,and at that moment he paid the price for our sins.''. How she came to this conclusion is beyond me, the fact is Christ paid the price for our sins on the cross.( Col 1 v 20),she goes on to to say Christ was no longer the Son of God, and that He was the first born again person. Kenneth Copeland one of these so called preachers, said God produced little gods, and then he said that he was ,''I Am''.Thousands of people flock to hear these people, and millions watch  them on the TV,don't be one of them.As a preacher I want to see people saved,these people with their Bibles in their hand have the blood of millions of souls on their hands,preaching a false gospel,and perverting the Word of God,have nothing to do with them.

No adjective's ( 2 Corinthians 11 v 13 - 15 )

Truth is important ,we look at the cults and we see people who are walking in error,where the person of Christ,is seen just a man,that He is not the God man.That He was born out of a relationship of Mary and the Mormon god,that we all had a preexistence .That Mary was sinless,she was resurrected, is a mediator, is queen of heaven,that Christ is continually being sacrificed.These things and much more have been around for a long time,but now in many countries,Nigeria,Brazil ,and in the USA..People like Kenneth Copeland,Joyce Mayer, and others,have gained tremendous popularity on what is known as the God channel, they are known as preachers of a gospel called ,the prosperity gospel, a gospel that promises ,health and wealth.Someone has rightly said there are no adjective's before the Gospel, Now let me tell you out  what the Gospel is,it is not about health or wealth or sociology.It is about mankind's need as regards their sin, Christ came to deal with sin,by dying on the cross.To have ones sins forgiven is the all important thing,and that can only come about by accepting Jesus as ones Saviour.My advice is don't watch the God channel, and pray against it,tomorrow I will mention a few of the unbiblical things these people teach .                                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                  Remember .                                                                                                                                It is the truth in Gods word that                                                                                                                           sets us free,and                                                                                                                                                  Truth                                                                                                                                                             is                                                                                                                                                               Jesus

Cares. ( Psalm 55 v 22 ies

As I woke up one morning recently and I was disturbed about a number of things,but as I read one of my daily readings, I read the following, ''Casting all your care upon Him,for He cares for you'' ( 1 Peter 5 v 7 )                                             Three things stated here.                                                                                          ( 1 ) We should pray.                                                                                                                                  (2 )We should bring everything to God,our loving heavenly Father.                                                        ( 3 )For He cares                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    All your anxieties, all your cares,                                                                                                                Bring to the mercy seat,leave them there,                                                                                                  Never a burden he wont bear,                                                                                                                    Never a friend like Jesus.

'''The evil within.'' ( Ephesians 2 v 1 - 10 )

Have you ever asked why humanity is so violent, why did a civilised nation like Germany turned to being a cruel wicked nation?,and indeed why, need we go on.Why do we manifest so much evil? I read this recently by a novelist called Ian McEwan'' The Evil  lies in us all. It takes  hold in an individual, in private lives, within a family......and then, when the conditions are right..... a terrible,a  viciousness against  life erupts,and everyone is surprised by the depth of hatred within himself. Then it sinks back and waits. It's in our hearts'' this is what  Gods word tells us,''The heart  is deceitful above all things and beyond cure'' (Jeremiah 19 v 9 ).The fact is we do not know  our hearts,our nature,we are so blinded by so much we fail to see ourselves as we truly are.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Jesus said                                                                                                                        ''For out of the heart come evil  thoughts, murders,                                                                                    adultery, sexual immortality,theft,false witness ,                                                                                     blasphemies.                                                                                                                                                                       Matthew 15 v 19                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

The true light ( John 1 v 1 - 14 )

While on holiday in Malta,I visited a small island in Saint Paul's bay,and on that island there is a statue of the apostle Paul. As I was taking photos of it I fell into conversation with a lady,who told me she had considered Christianity one time in her life,but had rejected it,for science.She said she was trusting science,it was Dr G. Campbell Morgan who said,''Every man needs a god. There is no man who has not somewhere in his heart, in his life,in the essentials of his being, a shrine in which is a deity whom he worships''. That lady has put her trust in science, science has become her god , the question is what are you worshipping?. Jesus said,'' if  then the light  within you is darkness,how great is that darkness''. ( Mt 6 v 23 ) Multitudes of  people believe what they believe is right, it can be science ,it can be Mormonism,prosperity gospel preachers,and a multitude of other things,well Jesus summed it up, how great is their darkness,and how awful will be there fate.The Word of God tells that the true light has come into the world,( Jn 1 v 9 ) ,that light is Jesus, who said ,'I Am, the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness,but will have the light of life'' ( Jn 8 v 12 )

Winter is coming. ( John 3 v 16 )

While out walking I picked up a chestnut, and it was a reminder to me that we are moving from summer into Autumn,and then into Winter. I love the book of Jeremiah  the prophet, who witnessed to Gods people for a long time.Gods people who became steeped in pagan worship,and pagan morals.There was a godly few,but on the whole,the nation had forsaken God.So dear Jeremiah faithfully witnessed.We read sad words which he uttered to the people, truly a lament,''The harvest is past ,the summer is ended, and we are not saved'' ( 8 v 20 )This broke his heart,and indeed it breaks my heart, that many people are living careless  lives,who do not want God,and they are not saved.For all of us the winter is coming,and the question is this ,where will we spend eternity?.Jeremiah knew that judgement was coming.I know that judgement is coming,we all need Christ to save us from that judgement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Hebrews 9 v 27                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        And it is appointed unto men once to die, but                                                                                            after  this the judgement.                                                                                                                                             

How. ( Romans 10 v 13 - 15 )

At our service the Pastor asked ,what was the one thing we  remembered during the summer?, of course the children give their answers, some adults also responded. Well I chirped in, and I spoke of two holidays I had,one in Northern Cyprus, and one in Malta. The thing that really blessed me was the opportunities to tell people about Jesus,the last person I witnessed to ,was the taxi man who collected us when we returned ,he was a Muslim. For me one of the most important things in my life is telling people about Jesus,for I know that is my responsibility as a Christian.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Romans 10 v 14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 How shall they call on Him in whom                                                                                                         they have not believed?, and how shall                                                                                                     they believe on Him of whom they have                                                                                                   not heard.

Praying Hands. ( Romans 5 v 6 - 8 )

In the 15th century in Nuremberg  a family with 18 children, there were two brothers in the family,called Albrecht  and Albert .These two brothers were very gifted and both wanted to pursue their dream,in the world of art.But of course there was no money,so they agreed that one would go to art school and study art,and the other would support him by working in a local mine,and after four years the other one go ,supported by the other.So they tossed a coin and Albrecht won. So off he went ,he was very gifted and became a famous artist,in 4 yrs he returned,no longer poor,the family and the village celebrated his return by throwing a party.During the celebrations  ,Albrecht stood up and said to his brother ,now its your turn, but Albert told told him it was to late,his hands were ruined from working in the mine.To honour his sacrifice Albrecht  sketched his brothers hands,he painted the hand,and they became known as the praying hands. I have a little carving of the praying hands,reminding me of that dear brothers sacrifice.This is a true story,a story of sacrifice, we admire people who  sacrifice  for others,and we honour such. I am a Christian I wear a little cross around my neck,it reminds me of the greatest sacrifice ever made,the person I speak of is Jesus who died on a cross ,for sinners such as you and me. On that cruel cross He did not just die, He died bearing Gods punishment for sin,and when we trust Him as our Saviour,we can rest assured that we wont suffer in Hell for all eternity, our eternity will be spent in heaven.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The wondrous Cross                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Love so amazing ,so divine,                                                                                                                      Demands my soul, my life,                                                                                                                                       my all.                                                                                                                                                  ( Isaac  Watts )

Sin blows quite away. ( 2 Samuel 11 )

 George Herbert was a minister, but he was no different than any other  Christian, as one writer puts it, he was not immune from the average struggles of a Christian,and so he wrote the following poem.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Lord, with what care hast thou begirt  us around                                                                                      Parents first season us; then schoolmasters,                                                                                              Deliver us to laws; they send us bound                                                                                                      To rules of reason, holy messengers,                                                                                                        Pulpits and Sundays,sorrow dogging sin,                                                                                                  Afflictions sorted,anguish of all sizes,                                                                                                      Fine nets and stratagems  to catch us in,                                                                                                    Bibles laid open, millions of surprises,                                                                                                      Blessings beforehand ,ties of gratefulness,                                                                                                The sound of glory ringing in our ears;                                                                                                      With out, our shame, within, our consciences;                                                                                          Angels and grace, eternal hopes  and fears.                                                                                              Yet all these fences and their whole array                                                                                                   One  cunning bosom - sin blows quite away.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Stay close to God or else.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Philip Larkin ( Isaiah 53 )

Philip Larkin was well known and respected poet ,he refused the honour of Poet Laureate, I have not read  many of  his poems. A poem on parenthood has corse language in it, and appears very cynical of parenthood, the last verse verse reads                                                                                                                                                  Man hands on misery  to men,                                                                                                                  It deepens like a coastal shelf                                                                                                                    Get out as early as you can,                                                                                                                        And don't have any kids yourself.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      He had a terrible fear of  death, for him it was a close and a continual presence, horrific, a continual  naked dread.So wrote his friend in a book on his life. Dylan Thomas a Welsh poet wrote a poem which reads,                              Do not go gentle into that good night                                                                                                        Rage,rage against the dying of the night                                                     I knew a dear friend who raged against dying , and yes he was a Christian,but he did not want to die.Although death is inevitable, most people never mention it,I suppose there are many reasons why people rage against death .    But whatever the reason the most important thing is to be ready,yes to be ready ,for death is not the end of our existence, the bible speaks of after death the judgement ( Heb 9 v 27) Many people do not know why Christ died on the cross,He bore the judgement for our sins ,read Isaiah 53.Without that we would experience the wrath of God,we escape the wrath of God,the moment we trust Jesus to be our Saviour.