Not worhy ( Ephesians 1 v 6)

 A friend of mine told me that after he got saved he went to church,but he felt unsettled thinking that he shouldn't be there,because he wasn't good enough,It's understandable as a new Christian one may  think that,but its wrong thinking,the fact is none of us are good enough,we are all without exception sinners saved by grace,we are all flawed, and none should forget,that we are only sinners saved by grace. There is no them and us,yes we are all in different degrees of sanctification,I have never met a perfect Christian oh yes I have known some lovely Christians ,and some not so lovely,but they are all Christians,and we are to love them all. John was known as the apostle of love,and writes very strong words against those who professed  to be Christians and don't love their fellow Christians,here is what he says,'Whoever claims to love God yet hates his brother or sister is a liar. For whoever  does  not love their brother and sister,whom they have seen,cannot love God,whom they have not seen.And He has given us this command; anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister'( 1 John 4 v20- 21)  We are being told very clearly what God expects of us all who profess to be Christians,that none of us are good enough,but we are all loved and accepted by the grace of God,let us not forget that.

Visionaries (Titus 3 v 3- 7)

 Whats a visionary?, well it can cover  lot of things,it can be a person who sees  what others don't see,it was Michael Angelo who said as regards a piece of marble,'I saw an angel in that marble,and I will carve it until I set it free'.I watched an English couple  on TV whom I would call visionaries,they went to live in France and looked for a house to buy,and what they fell in love with was derelict,it was in a terrible state,plus the ground it stood on was on was overgrown with whatever, it was terrible. If was me I would not have bought it, in fact I would have bulldozed it all down.But this couple had a vision of restoring it,from the wreck it was to what it could be.It reminds me what our great God does, He looks at people whom we would say were derelict,beyond recovery,we would just give up on them,but He doesn't ,why? well like that couple who loved that house,He has a great love for us sinners no matter how far we have gone,no matter how squalid we are.The Pharisees despised and shunned sinners they  saw then as being only fit for hell but God saves siiners and then begins to transform their lives into something beautiful,such is the love and mercy of God to us sinners.

                                                     'Christ Jesus came into the world

                                                                  to save sinners'

Remembering ( Lamentations 3 v22 - 23 )

 I am 81,and I often stop and look back,not in a negative was but in God's goodness and faithfulness, David did that, here is what he said,'I  was young and now am old,yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread'  ( Psalm 37 v25) And I can say Amen to that ,and it is important that we do not forget the past mercies,and offer up to our Loving heavenly Father, praise and thanksgiven. David of old had many difficulties in life, but God was faithful and brought him through them.So many things come into our lives, like the loss of a loved one ,difficulties in marriage,financial trials, children who went astray,disappointments that you didn't get that job,and so on. It is said that the providence of God is best understood in looking back,and  its so true.It was George Matheson the blind preacher who wrote,'O love that wilt not let me go'.yes there were times we may have given up ,but His love would not let us go. There is a modern song that blesses me ,here is a verse and the chorus from it.

                                                     'You lead me through the fire

                                                      In the darkest night,

                                                      You are closer than no other.

                                                       I've known You as a Father,

                                                       I've known You as a friend,

                                                       And  I have lived in the goodness of God.

                       All my life You have been faithful,All my life You have been so,so good,

                       With every breath that I am able,Oh I will sing of the goodness of God.'

In Christ alone ( Hebrews 12 v2)

I used to sing solo's mainly in church services,I love singing,but unfortionately age has taken its toil,the vocal cords are not what they used to be, often I struggle trying to sing.But recently while attending a service in the fellowship I attend ,I think I prayed that I would be able sing one song.God heard and answered my prayer.I really felt the Holy Spirit helped me,and the words of the hymn touched my heart it blessed me and I hope it blessed others,here are the words of this hymn.

                      1'In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light,my strength ,my song;

                        This corner stone,this solid ground,Strong through the fiercest drought,and storm.

                         What heights of love,what depths of grace; When fears are stilled,when striving cease!

                         My comfort,my all, in all,Here in the love of Christ I stand.

                     2  In Christ alone who took on flesh,Fullness of  God in helpless babe.    

                        The gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save.

                        Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied,

                        For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live.

                      3 There in the ground His body lay,Light of the world by darkness slain;

                        Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again!

                         And as He stands in victory,Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

                         For I am His and He is mine,Bought by the precious blood of Christ.

                       4 No guilt in life,no fear in death,This is the power of Christ in me;

                          From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.

                          No power of Hell,no scheme of man,can ever pluck me from His hand,

                          Till He returns or calls me home; Here in the power of Christ  I stand'.

                                                        (Words Stuart Townend)

                                                      

Forgiveness (Ephesians 4 v 31-32)

 The wonderful message of salvation tells us that God is willing to forgive our sins, all of them,but that brings a challenge to us ,are we willing to forgive those who sin against us.A friend of mine told me of a friend of his who received a call to be a minister in a church in America and he told my friend that there were people in the church who were taken reprisals on people they had grudges against.They were spray painting cars,cutting the brake pipes of the cars,and doing a lot of other stuff.I dont know what could have happened to provoke them to act in that way .He did go on to say that things got sorted out.We may not act like those people but speaking for myself I remember old hurts going back many years,and I still get angry,I am very sure that I am not only only one who feels like that,and I confess that it is very hard to come to that place of  forgiven those who have hurt us or hurt our family or friends, think how hard it was for our God to forgive us ,but He did,think of what it cost Him ,we just have to look at Jesus dying on the cross on  Calvary.And so God says to all us, just as I have forgiven you, then you must forgive others unreservedly,Remember confession is good for the soul,and it pleases God our loving heavenly Father.

Double Guidance. ( Revelation 3 v 7-8 )

When Abraham responded to  the call of  God he obeyed and went out ,not knowing where he was going.(Hebrews 11 v 8).When I went to Bible college my wife and I thought we knew where we were going,well we were in for a surprise,it didn't work out that way. We applied to the mission we thought would accept us,but they didn't,but we still  felt the call of God heavy on our hearts.it took another two years before God opened the door,we ended up in England,The day we set off  for our destination ,I read this verse,'Behold ,I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared' (Ex 23 v20) It is A.T.Pierson who writes of 'the double guidance  prohibition and restraint the other being 'permission and constraint',in other words the Spitit says,''go not''; and then He says ''Come''. (CP Acts 16 v6 ff)Here are some examples of 'double guidance'Dr Barnardo believed he was going to China as a missionary,C T.Studd likewise thought he was going to China,instead he went to the Congo.Willian Carey planned to go to Polynesia but God guided him to India. When God calls us,we need not be surprised or disappointed if he shut doors,but if your call is of God He will open the right door.

Glorification( Colossians 3 v 1-4)3

Is this all there is?so many people dismiss an after life,and so they try to focus totally on this life, the very rich will build a little heaven here on earth.When one witnesses to people often they do not want to know, its as if they are saying don't intrude into their little world .But then as a Bishop Blougram writes,'Just when we are safest,there's sunset touch,A fancy from a flower bell,some one's death'.Or as Bruce Milne writes,'Or, as we may add,a terrorist outrage.Something breaks into our lives that cries out against our materialistic complacency,The great questions of existence rise up once again;What is life? Where is it going?What about death and beyond?. Yes ,what about death and beyond?,the Bible gives us the answer,it is not an ambiguous answer,no it is very clear, that answer is to be found in Jesus,who came from heaven to earth for a purpose, that is to rescue humanity.Oh yes we need rescuing,look out on this world and the awful suffering,and wickedness we hear about everyday,why with all our abilities can we not create a perfect world,why?,because we are all imperfect,or as the word of God says we are all sinners,I was witnessing to a person once and he said you always mention about sin. Yes I do ,for unless our sin is forgiven,Hell awaits ,once you cross into eterniy ,all hope of going to Heaven ,and escaping Hell is gone.There will be no glorification for anyone, but for the believer the one who has trusted Jesus glorification awaits.One writer puts it like this,' glorificationis that final stage of salvation where believers are fully transformed to be like Christ, experiencing a state of perfect holiness and glory in the presence of God,free from sin and suffering'

Sanctification ( Jeremiah 18 v 6 )2

 From justification to sanctification, no Christian is perfect,that does not affect our position in Christ,we are saved and we will not perish,our eternal future is secure (Romans 10 v 28).But God did not only predestined as regards salvation(Ephesians 1 v11), He also has predestined us to be conformed to the image of  His Son' (Romans 8v 29),That is sanctifiction,to be like Jesus,we often hear people say ,he gets more like his father everyday,as it is in the natural so it should be in the spiritual,we should be- come like Jesus everyday.that should be our aim and purpose in life.we are all the unfinished artical,unpolished diamonds.This is a work of God in all our lives,the apostle Paul wrote that He was confident that God who has begun a good work in us would carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.(Philippians1v6).We are not passive in this process we have to march to the beat of a different drum,crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires and keeping in step with God's Spirit.[Galatians 5 v22ff) Yielding and accepting God's will in all things including suffering.

                                                    'Have thine own way ,Lord,

                                                     Have thine own way;

                                                     Thou art the potter,I am the clay;

                                                     Mould me and make me after Thy will,

                                                     while I am waiting,yielded and still.'

                                                                  Words  A A Pollard

0 )

Justification (Romans 5 v1)

 There are three tenses in relation to salvation,(1)  Justification (past) (2) Sanctification (present) (3) Glorification (Future) Let us consider them briefly,so let us start at number one Justification ,it is that moment in time when you trust Jesus to be your Saviour.Convicted by the Holy Spirit you came to Christ to forgive you all your sins,we are all sinners and so we all need forgiveness,its as simple as that.In our unsaved state we are all shut out from the presence of God,Justification comes through faith in Christ not by our good works,but by the work  of Christ on the cross.Our sins are all forgiven by simple faith,God no longer sees our sins,and alongside that,God imparts unto us the righteousness of Christ.

                                                        ' Tis God that justifies

                                            Who shall recall the pardon or the grace,

                                         Or who the broken chain replace of guilt replace

                                                          'Tis God  that justifies'

                                                         (Words  Horatius Bonar )

                                                                       

Tears ( Psalm 34 v18)

 I am reading the life of Winstone Churchill and often you read of him crying,and yet he was a manly person,brave and courageous.Tears are very important in our lives they give release as regards sorrow,I remember attending the funeral of my brothers wife,after the commital friends and family met for a time ,and a number of us sat with my brother,and I said something nice about how he felt his dear wife.It appeared to embarrass him ,as if he didn't want to show emotion, It should not embarrass someone if they shed tears at the loss of a loved one.The Bible is full of people who shed tears,Joseph was a man who shed many tears,(  Genesis 42 v24/ 45 v2/14/43v30/50 v1/17)They were not tears of anger or wanting vengance,but  love  for those brothers who had caused him so much pain. King David experience a lot pain in his life ,at a time when he and his men lost everything we read 'that they wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.' ( 1 Samuel 30 v4)It could have been from that experience he wrote ,'Weeping may stay for the night but rejoicing comes in the morning',( Psalm 30 v5),for he and his men recovered all that they had lost.We can all have that experience when God can turn  our tears into rejoicing.if not in ths world but in heaven, we are told that our God will wipe every tear from our eyes. (Revelation21v4)Last but not least let us consider Peter the one who denied his Lord he was the one who foolishly boasted that he was prepared to go to prison and die with his Lord (Luke 22 v33),but it was not to be,three time he denied Him.Just as he had spoken the third time the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter,and we we read ,'And he went outside and wept bitterly'(v62) From these tears he would learn so many things about himself. Ira F. Stamphill wrote the following ,

                                            'He washed my eyes with tears,that I might see,

                                             The broken heart I had was good for me

                                             He tore it all a part,and looked inside,

                                             And found it full of fear,so much foolish pride.'

                                              'What are you learning through your tears? '

                                             

                                                      

                                                 

1 Samuel 30 

Prayer a need. (James 5 v 17-18 )

 Daniel was a man of prayer,daily he prayed three times (Dan 6 v 10).we do not have to be like Daniel,it would be good if we  were.But one thing for sure we need to pray,it must be a priorty in all our lives,when should one pray,I have set times of prayer,but of course I pray regularly through the day.I very rarely close my eyes when I pray,especially when I'm driving.I love writing about prayer ,there is so much one can say about prayer. First let me say it is not something one  does to impress people,or even God,or even ourselves.Prayer is a very personal thing,not something one should boast about,it is not to gain browie points,no its connecting with God,bringing all things to Him,praise,petition,and personal.Many people live very busy lives,with challenges each day,they may have deadlines to meet.God undersands all about us and the pressures's we are under,but the fact is because of those things we need to pray,and when we do we will receive the help we need,the wisdom we need,the guidance we need ,and the protection we need,and so on.The pressures's we face are not meant to drive us away from God,but to God, and so one must avail oneself to prayer,He will always welcome us into His presence,always. Although our Saviour told us to pray in secret (Matthew 6 v 5-6) understand why in its conext. It is not wrong to tell people you pray for them,it will encourage them,and even offer to pray with people,but don't be pushy.Remember  as a Christian you have the Holy Spirit who will help you in your prayers,

Burdens ( Isaiah 1 v18)

 Life is often filled with burdens,people are burden with debt, and a mulitude of other things,it is the nature of life.This may seem a negative thing to say,yes it would be if I just left it there,but the wonderful thing is ,there is one we can always turn to,God. Consider ,all of us have done wrong in life,we have told lies,yielded to temptation,the list is endless,what secret wrong are you carrying?,you try and push it away,but it comes back to hunt you.You may have tried to justify what you done,but it doesn't work.The fact is no matter how much we try to paper over the things we have done wrong,they don't go away, nor will they,we may try to brazen it out,but it is still there.I am sure as we look around yes even in church,there are those who have hidden secret sins .There are no secret sins when it comes to God, Hebrews 4 v 13 reads,' Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.Everything is uncovered and laid bear before His eyes of Him to whom we must give account.'My advice is, respond to the voice of conscience for one day you will give an account  before God ,be sure your sin will find you out,on that day.While there is still breath in your body there is hope,for you can turn to Christ and have all your sins forgiven,no matter how great they have been,if you will seriously seek forgiveness He will forgive.  Ignore this to your cost,for on judgment day there will be no place for repentance,on that day if you have not trusted Christ as your Saviour,you will carry those sins into sins into eternity.

                                                         'Burdens are lifted at Calvary'

Why did He come ? (1 Timothy 1 v 12 -17 )

On the tombstone of John Newton we read, 'Once an inifdel and libertine( given to sensual pleasures) a servant of slaves in  Africa,was by the rich mercies of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,preserved ,restored ,pardoned and appointed to preach the faith he had long sought to destroy'. This is something he never forgot and I'm sure  it inspired him to write the hymn ,'Amazing grace reminds me that we should never think anyone is so bad that God won't save them,or can't save them,for Jesus came into the world to save sinners,it is a gospel for the whosoever,that is the bad,the very bad,and the very,very bad,that means you and me. The hymn writer wrote ,' There's a wideness in God's mercy like the wideness of the sea;' Before John Newton died he said''My memory is nearly gone , but I remember two things,that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour''.

                                                      

                                                 'Here is a trustworthy saying that  deserves 

                                                 full  acceptance; Christ Jesus came into the 

                                                 world to save sinners'.

                                                               1 Timothy 1 v 15)

                                                 

                                                 

Obedience ( Psalm 51)

 It was Spurgeon who wrote of  ' the folly which is satisfied  with hearing God's word and neglecting do  what it says'.How imporant it is to be not just a hearer of the word as one translation puts it,'Do not merely listen to the word,and so decive yourselves.Do what it says. (James 1 v22)   Obedience can be costly,but disobedience can be even more costly.The unsaved pay a terrible price by not obeying the gospel,a price so awful, so terrible,let us remind you that hell is real.For us who have obeyed the gospel  we can rejoice in all blessing that has brought us into,forgiveness freedom and the presence of God. But obedience to the gospel brings us into lifetime of obeying God, The days of doing things our way is finished with,everyday brings the challenge of doing it God's way. The days of running with  the crowd are gone,instead we are now under the challenge ,of walking in obedience to our Lord and Saviour. We as Christians have the Holy Spirit within us and when we grieve the Holy Spirit by our disobience,it will affect our relationship with God,the word of God tells us if we have sin in our lives the Lord will not hear us when we pray He will not listen to us (Psalm 66 v18).Your  peace will go ,joy will go,a sense of God's nearness will go, but all is not lost,repent seek forgiveness, and fellowship with God will be restored.(1 John 1 v 9) 

We just don't know. ( 1 Corinthians 13 v12)

A person called Mikail Bakunin was touched by Beethoven's ninth symphony said in praise of that music,''Everything will pass, and the world will perish, but the ninth symphony will remain''.Part of that saying is true but not it all,for according to scripture this world and the things of this world will pass and indeed perish.It is James who spells it out very clearly when he writes ,'But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bear'.(2 Pet 3 v10) CP Matthew 24 v35.We are destroying this world by the things we do to it.but in God's time it will be totally destroyed by God himself. But that is not the end of the story for as Christians we look for a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3 v13),and most wonderful of all , it will be where righteousness dwells.It will be a holy existence and so it will be a happy existence,as regards Beethovens ninth symphony ,well even though its a lovely piece of music,I don't think it will follow us into eternity or into heaven ,some people might want Mozart,or whoever,and that may just disturb the harmony of heaven,so I think not.The word of God tells us ,'No eye has seen,no hear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.( 2 Corinthians 2 v 9)

)

A beautiful thing. ( Mark 14 v3 -9)

 In Mark 14 v3ff we read how our Saviour was in the home of Simon the Leper,it obivious that Jesus must have healed him,for the law as regards leprosy required that they should be be seperated from  society because it is contagious  (Leviticus),it is not a problem now as it can be treated with antibiotics and other medicines. So here we have Jesus in this home and a woman we believe was Mary (John12 v 3),it was Mary's brother Jesus he had raised from the dead(John 11),she had a great devotion for Jesus, which is shown by what she was about to do.She had a flask full of very expensive perfume,and she went to were Jesus was,broke the flask and poured the perfume over Jesus head.Mark tells us that those present became angry at what she did,Judas was the one who led the angry mob. Judas said that it could have been sold and the money given to the poor (John 12) , but Jesus would have none of that,and this is what He said,'Why are you bothering her? she had done a beautiful thing, One writer said the following,'If love is true,there must always be a certain extravagance in it.It does not nicely calculate the less or more. It is not concerned to see how little it can decently give.If it gave all it had,the gift would still be too little. there is a recklessness in love which refuses to count the cost'.

This earth. ( Genesis 1 v 1/ 22)

Although this world has been affected by sin and sinful man, there is still much beauty in this old world,from the mountain of Mourne that sweep down to sea,to the beauty of a flower ,or a bumble bee.It is all around us if we had eyes to see,in a new born baby,or lambs in the fields jumping around.Or a beautiful cloud formation, a spiders web,a sunrise or a sunset,a rainbow,and so we could go on. It was Folliott S.Pierpont wrote the following.

                                                     'For the beauty of the earth.

                                                      For the beauty of the skies,

                                                      For the love which from our birth

                                                      Over and around us lies;

                                                       Father ,unto Thee we raise

                                                       This,our sacrifice of praise.'

                                                   

The truth (Ephesins 4 v25)

 How important is the truth? very,my mother used to say,'you can't trust a liar',people take an oath when they are called to be witnesses and so swear to tell the truth,the whole truth,and nothing but the truth.There is a novel wriien by kieth Waterhouse called 'Billy Liar'  he was an incurable liar,idle and dishonest,a character in the book called a Mister Fisher said of him,'Its just one of his stories,he can't say two wards without telling a lie'. Every day people are decieved  by liars,and are cheated out of their money.,every day people make false promises.God takes lying very seriously ,Proverbs 12 v22 reads ,' Lying lips are abomination to the Lord'.very strong words,it is as serious as that,one of the greatest Presidents of  America was known as Honest Abe,if only all politicans were honest.Our dear Saviour had to deal with people who were liars,'He said to them 'you are of your father the devil',(John 8 v 44).There is a saying which goes ,'Tell the the truth and shame the devil'.sadly there are those who shame  themselves by telling lies.So many dear people hold on to power and forsake their principals by their lying,it is all very sad,it need not be that way. 

Keep right on to the end. ( 2 Timothy 2 v12 )

 During the second world war Prime Minister Winston Churchill visited Edinburgh in Scotland,where he received of the freedom of the  city. Churchill spoke to the people gathered, in the audience there was the  music-hall entertainer Sir Harry Lauder,and this is what Churchill said,'Let me use the words of your famous minstrel-he is here today- words which have given comfort and renewed strength to many a burdened  heart;'Keep right on to the end of the road,Keep right on to the end'.That's what God wants you and I to do as Christians,to keep right on to the end, don't give up, no matter what the devil throws at us,no matter if the whole world is against us,don't give up.No matter how we feel like given up,replace those feelings with faith,and prayer.Think about what you would be going back to if you gave up,your old sins,your old ways,let us walk  in the footsteps of Jesus, in newness of life. In midst of lifes difficulties  remember there is a better day coming,for every child of God,so don't give up.

                                       

The road may be rough.( 1 Peter 5 v10)

Jesus says to everyone who trusts Him.'follow Me',you will be travelling on the road less travelled,it will be narrow,and at times challenging,but it will also be rewarding.There is no guarantee given to any of Christ followers that it won't be a bumpy ride,but there is one guarantee given, Christ will be with us,and that will make all the difference. The important thing is we must keep our eyes on Jesus,for if we don't do that,we will get into great difficulties,like Peter when walking on the sea (Matthew 14 v22-23), he ended up nearly drowning,because he took his eyes off Jesus.There are so many things that can distract us,the list is long ,how can we overcome them?,I will leave you with a poem by Mrs. Charles Cowman,

                                         ''The road is too rough,'' I said; ''It is uphill all the way;

                                           No flowers,but thorns instead; and the skies overhead are grey.''

                                           But one took my hand at the entrance dim,

                                           And sweet is the road that I walk with Him.

                                           ''The cross is to great'' I cried- More than the back can bear,

                                           So rough and heavy and wide, And nobody near to care.''

                                           And One stooped softly and touched my hand;

                                           ''I know. I care. And I understand''

                                            Then why do we fret and cry; Cross-bearers all we go;

                                             But the road ends by and by in the dearest place we know,

                                             And every step in the journey we may take in the Lord's

                                                                          own company.

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Finished ( Jonah 2 v 9)

 There are people who believe in Christ,His diety , incarnation,that He was sinless, that He died on the cross,His resurrection ,ascension,and His coming again.So what's the problem? ,one would  think there is no problem,and yet there is,then what is the problem?,the add on's.Lets consider Chist death on the cross, they think that His death on the cross is not enough to save,we must do our part,it means that Christ is almost a Saviour,it means that salvation is a partnership,a joint accomplishment, this is not what the Bible teaches. In Hebrews 7 v 25 we read,'Therefore He is able to save completely those who to come to God through Him'.John Owen points out that saving us to the uttermost (Completely)  means that Christ ''will not bring about part of our salvation,and leaves what remains to ourselves and to others.Christ does not leave us to ourselves,but brings about our whole salvation, from its beginning at regeneration to its  culmination in our glorification''

                                       'Not the labour of my hands, can fulfil Thy laws demands;

                                       Could my zeal no respite know,could my tears forever flow,

                                       All for tears could forever flow, all for sin could not atone;

                                       Thou must save , and Thou alone. (A M.Toplady)

                                       

No add on's ( 1 Corinthians 12 v13)

I come from Northern Ireland,not all Protestants hate Roman Catholics and vice versa,I never hated Catholics ,and I never was brought up to hate Catholics.I recently asked a young man was he a Christian,and he replied,'I am a baptised Roman Catholic',I could have replied,'I'm a baptised Protestant' If that was I was depending on I most definitely would not be a Christian. In John 3 v5 our Saviour said to Nicodemus ,'No one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit'.There are those who take this to mean baptisim,but it has nothing to do with water  baptisim,the whole context of the our Saviours talk was about the Spirit,water is just mentioned once.If we go to what  John the baptists said in John 1 v 33,'The one who sent me to baptise with water  told me''The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit''.We cannot have add on's in relation to being saved,be it baptism or any thing else, The scripture continually stresses that it is faith and faith alone that saves us,John 3 v16,/ Acts 16 v 31. In  Ephesians 2 v 8-9. we read ,'For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith,and this is not of yourselves,it is the gift of God.Not of works, so that no one can boast'.Baptisim comes after salvation ,it is a declaration that you are saved ,and have died to the old life, and now are going to live in newness of life in Christ.

Show me a sign. ( Hebrews 4 v16)

In v 17 of Psalm 86  we read David asking God,''Give me a sign of your goodness'',is it  right to ask God for a sign?.  Gideon did  Judges 6 v 17,and God give him what he asked,The miracles that Jesus performed were in fact signs,they pointed to convince men who He was. (John 14 v11) Often the miracles did convince people who He was,and to believe in Jesus.The same applies to the miracles the apostles performed Acts 5 v 12-14.but there is no guarantee,that people who see miracle signs or experience them will turn to Christ,consider all that our Saviour did and instead of trusting Christ they crucified Him. Do these signs happen now?, yes the times of miracles is not passed ,a friend of mine told me of two people he prayed for and they were healed,they never turned to Christ.Yet the challenge is not everyone gets healed, for whatever reason,and that reason is in God's hands. We focus an awful lot on healing,but Christ miraculously fed thousands with a few loaves and fishes. I'm sure many can testify how God has provided for them,again a friend of mine,spoke to his wife and how they needed another car,and shortly after a friend whom he had not seen for a long time phoned and said that he had a car to give him. What is wonderful how many experience terrible suffering,and yet still trust the Lord,how do we account for that,it is a miracle of Grace. Everyone who is a Christian is a miracle sign of the grace of God,it changes their standing,they become children of God,their sins are forgiven,the power of sin is broken in their lives,their destination is not hell, but heaven,of course all comes into being when we trust Jesus as our Saviour.

                                                               'Amazing Grace'

Stop stumbling. ( Acts 4 v12 )

 When in Athens Paul came into contact with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers,one may ask what good comes out of philosophy? Epicurean believed that the universe  was self -creating  and self-destroying,it began by a  chance combination of atoms.of course chance can not do anything.Modern day thinking on the universe and how it began,is similar to Epicurism,it just all happenened which is impossible. The center of Philosophy was Athens the great thinkers came from there and yet Athens was full of idols one writer says it was smothered or swamped by idols and as John Stott says it was a veritable forest of idols.,and just in case they missed a god they had an altar to a'unknown god'.Spititual blindness was the name of the day for they knew not God they fumbled about in the darkness.Blinded by the god of this world,and their own darkened nature,the wisdom of man will never lead anyone to a knowledge of the only one, and true God. And as for the Gospel it is foolishness to them, but that foolishness is in fact the wisdom of God.Paul writes, that the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. ( 1 Corinthians 1 v18/23)But to us who are being saved it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1 v16) all mankind need a saviour,that Saviour is none other than Jesus Christ.

                                                    'Stop stumbling about in the darkness and turn to 

                                                     Jesus, the Light of the world'

We are to blame.( Romans 3 v10 - 18)

 It may not be obivious but God is still there,yes He is,and he is aware of everything that is going on ,He knows every persons  thoughts,there is nothing hidden from our sovereign God .As one looks at this world it appears as if so much is out of control,if that is so how is He sovereign?.In Romans 11 v 33 we read 'How impossible it is for us to understand His  decisions and His ways'!.Humanity may know  a lot of things,but when it comes to God and His ways,we are very limited,His ways are past finding  out,as one commentator says,'we will never figure out God fully ,or His ways. Habakkuk the prophet struggled as regards His ways,twice he asks ,'Why?' 1v 13,like Habakkuk we have all wondered why,as we look at so much evil,and pain in the world.We must bear in mind that we are all part of  this fallen human race,that means that at some leval we are acting contrary to God's will.It is no use crying and blaming God,when Adam sinned he blamed his wife and then she blamed the serpent,who are we to blame God?, as regards the mess the world is in.In spite of our rebellion against our holy God,He is merciful and forgiving, and He has gone to great lengths to bring us back to Himself,for in spite of our sinfulness He loves us, an Easter hymn comes to mind, written by Cecil F. Alexander.

                                    'There is a green hill far away,outside a city wall,

                                    Where the dear Lord was crucifed,who died to save us all.

                                    We may not know,we cannot tell,what pain He had to bear;

                                    But we believe it was us for us He hung and suffered there.

                                    He died that we may be forgiven,He died to make us good,

                                    That we might go at last to heaven ,Saved by His precious blood.

                                    There was no other good enough topay the price of sin;

                                     He only could unlock the gate,of heaven and let us in.

                                     O dearly,dearly has He loved!and we must Him too,

                                      And trust in His redeeming blood and try His works to do.'

                                      

                                   

                                     

                                               

Beware of Novelty. ( Ephesians 4 v11 - 16 )

Someone I know who is not a Christian has been going round different churches with his partner and daughter I believe he is seeking to grasp what Christianty is about,I have witnessed to him,and have given him a Bible. He has never attended any church and is completly ignorant as regards spiritual things.He told me of one church he attended,he said it was like a cult, and said he was not going back there but thankfully he will continue to look for a church that will preach the word. While we don't want a dead lifeless church the word of God is vital in helping the church grow spiritually,we all need to be instructed in the things of  God,instructed as to walking in the paths of righteousness.there is no substitute for sound Biblical teaching.John Stott wrote the following,' The refomers were accused by the Roman Catholic Church of teaching novelties.But they denied it.'We teach no new thing',Luther claimed.'but we repeat  and establish old things, which the apostles and all godly teachers have taught  before us'. Or as Lancelot Andrews was to say a century later, 'we are renovators not innovators'.

                                                           'Preach the Word'

His kingdom ( Daniel 6 v 7-8)

 When our Saviour stood before Pilate,he asked him,''Are you king of the Jews''? why did he ask Him that?.' well it was simple enough,because he knew that the Jews wanted to overthrow the rule of Rome.When Paul was arrested he was asked was he an Egyptian who had started a revolt?,( Acts 21 v38)of course he wasn't.So as I have pointed out the Romans were always aware that a revolt could happen any time.But our Saviour put him at his ease,and replied,'My kingdom was not of this world' (John 18 v36).Our Saviour never came to set up an earthly kingdom by force of arms.Because the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom. filled with spiritual people, by the new birth (John 3 v 7) That kingdom can never be destroyed,can never be overthrown, (Daniel 6 v 26).many are trying to do that,by murdering the citizens of God's kingdom.That will not work  ,God's kingdom will not only survive but it will continue to grow, those who are persecuting citizens of  God's kingdom  are fighting against King Jesus ( Acts 9 v 4).King Jesus cannot be overthrown no matter how much they try. In  Deuteronomy 32 v4 and Psalm 89 v26  God is called a Rock, likewise in 1 Corinthians 10 v 4 Christ is called a Rock, He is that Rock upon which the Church is built upon,and none other.

                                                 'On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;

                                                 All other ground is sinking sand'

                                                            'Edward Mote'

                                                 

 

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Habits. ( Ephesians 4 v 17 - 24)

 Old habits die hard,so it goes,and its true,this was borne in a upon me recently,I have stopped wearing a wrist watch,but I have started to wear a bracelet,with a cross displayed.But here's the thing, I keep looking at it, to see what time it is.it makes me smile.But I know that there are many habits that many people have that don't bring a smile,or cause them to be happy,there are good habits and there are bad habits.If one is a Christian then we should ,read our Bible,pray,witness ,attend a fellowship with fellow believers,also we should do good works,when we let these things slip then we are slipping up.Those habits should not be done unthinkingly but with earnestness and sincerity,all this will help one grow spiritually. Reading the Bible regularly is like spiritual food,it is food for your very soul.Prayer is vital to our relationship with our triune God,we will gain strength from it, opening up many pathways,that are all good,neglect it to your cost.We are all called to be witnesses,by our lives and our words,to a lost world,ask the dear holy Spirit to empower you to witness to others.Not attending a fellowship with other believers,we are neglecting our Christian  family,lets not neglect our family, remember they need you and you need then.Then do good works ,not to be saved,not out of legalisim but out of love for others,and as we do that, we are glorifying our heavenly Father  (Matthew 5 v 16 )

                                                 ' Let our lives be filled with good habits'

The have's, and the have nots. ( Luke 10 v 25 -37 )

 In 2017 their was a major fire in a block of high rise flats ,72 people died.223 escaped,I watched it on TV, it was awful. Then  there was fire in a block of flats in East London thankfully the 100 residents escaped. One of the residents was complaining that she lost her wedding dress, now I know a wedding dress is important,or is it?,after all she didn't loose her life.So often we get things out of proportion , I believe that is so ,like the case of the young lady who lost her wedding dress. We need to look out of our comfort zone , to the have not's in the world.There is so much suffering going on ,think of the homeless,hungry, persecuted,in Mozambique there are approximately one million people who live as Internally Displaced People.If you are one of the have's,be grateful,be thankful, keep things in proportion, let us remember the have not's, in our prayers,and in our giving, or in anyway we can help them.

                                                    'It is more blessed to give than to receive'

                                                                        Galatians 6 v 10

John the Baptist (Matthew 6 v13)

 Before Christ was born John the Baptist was born,John's birth was in answer to  prayer, it would have seen that his parents had missed the boat,we do not know what age they were,only that they were very old(Luke 1 v 7).If it is God's will our request will be granted, even if everything appears to the contrary.I love those words written about Abraham how against all hope,in hope he believed the promise by God that Sarah and Abraham would have a child,even though Sarah was 90 and Abraham was a 100,and so it came to pass. If God gives a promise He will always fulfill it,and so Abraham had a son called Isaac.When John's father heard that his wife would have a child ,he did not believe,Luke 1 v19,and was struck dumb,which continued  till after John was born,the fact is ,that even the most godly of people,can fall into unbelief, and usually God wil deal with us,whoever we are.The sciptures foretold of one who would prepare the way of the Lord,(Isaiah 40 3),in Malachi 4 v5,he is called Elijah ,our Saviour said that John was Elijah,in that he miistered in the Spirit and power of Elijah. (Matthew 17 v 12) . In Luke 7 v28 our Saviour said of  John , 'among those born of women there was no greater than John',but then He adds this,'Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he'John foretold of Christ's coming,and prepared the way for Christ coming ,so that they could enter His kingdom,but we as Christian's have not only seen the kingdom of God come we have entered into it through faith in Christ,such is our privelege.The kingdom of God has come , but we are told that we are to pray for God's kingdom to come (Matthew 6 v12),that means that through the proclaiming of gospel, people may by accepting Christ' be rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of His dear Son'. (Colossians 1 v 13)

Love is ( 1 Corinthians 13v 7) 10

 Verse seven tells us ,'Love always protects', The word means covering,or concealing  the faults and imperfections of others( Barns)When Joseph heard that Mary was expecting a child,he thought she had been unfaithful we read,'Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law,and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace,he had in mind to divorce her quietly'.Not like the Pharisees who appeared to take pleasure in exposing the faults of others (John 8 v 53ff). Then we read ,'Love always trusts',it has with it the idea of always believing the best about someone,There is a song called,'After the Ball' by Charles Elmer Szabe, about a man who attended a ball and when he arrived,he saw the girl he was going to marry kissing someone,filled with anger he left,and that was the end of that,he never did marry,and as an old man he discovered it was her brother she had kissed. Let us not jump to the wrong conclusions, believe the best about people, and do not make a rash judgement. 'Love always hopes', when things are difficult beyond words,and the difficulties don't go away,it is easy to give up, but as one translation puts it ,'Love is always hopeful',We can be hopeful in spite of all the difficulties we may be facing, because our God is sovereign,and nothing can seperate us from the love of God,and that He will cause all things to work together for our good.Last but not  least ,'Love always persevers', or as the Ampilified Bible puts it,'Remaining steadfast during difficult times'.which we all will experience in some measure.The hymn writer wrote,'Nor death nor life,nor earth nor hell,nor time's destroy sway,can e'er  efface us from His heart,or make His love decay'.

Love is ( 1 Corinthians 13v 6) 9

Love rejoices with the truth v 6. From not delighting in evil,to 'rejoicing  with the truth', the reformation came about because the truth of God's word  was being underminded,not only was it was undermined  ,it was withheld from God's people. Christianity is built upon truth,personified in the person of Jesus Christ who is ,'the Way,the Truth,and the Life'.We rejoice in that truth,and many are suffering and dying for that truth. The problem with fallen mankind they will believe a life rather than embrace the truth of the word of God.It was Joseph Goebbels the propaganda minister under Adolf Hitler, said,'If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe in it,and it becomes the truth' Of course it does not become a truth,for a lie dressed up,still remains a lie.Psalm 119 v 160 declares , 'All your words are true ',we cannot say that of humanity our words are often far removed from the truth.In so many areas of life truth is is distorted,evil is called good and good is called evil.Many people lives are built on lies,and no matter how a lie is dressed up,it is a lie for all that,when people tell  a so called half truth it becomes a total lie.Many people swear on the Bible to tell the whole truth,and nothing but the truth,with no intention of being truthful.

                                                        'The Lord detests lying lip

                                                         but He delights in people

                                                          who are trustworthy.'

Concerning Jesus. ( Luke 24 v 25-27)

Evidence is very important in solving crimes,likewise when it comes to history ,so what about our Christian faith,what evidence do we have in it being true? Christ was a historical figure,his death is a historical fact, Another pointer for Christianity  being true and  not something made up by man,well consider the following,Scholars say that there are 332 Messiaic prophecies in the Hebrew Bible(Old Testament) that Jesus fulfilled.Peter Stone applied the modren science of probability to just eight of these prophecies being fulfilled was '100,000,000,000,000,000.Philip Yancey wrote,'For centuries the phraise,''as predicted by the prophets'' was one of the most powerful influences on people coming to faith in Christ.Justin Martyr credited his conversion to the OT predictive accuracy. The brillant French mathematician Pascal also cited  the fulfilled prophecies as one of the most important factors in his faith.'

                                                       'Much of the OT  explicitly or

                                                        implicitly points to Jesus'.

                                                                   P.Yancey'

Love is ( 1Corinthians 13 v 6 )8

Love does not rejoice in evil but rejoices with the truth v 6,There is a perverseness in humanity that actually rejoices in evil, and even delights in evil,there are endless examples of that. Evil must be seen for what it is,and not to be laughed at ,we pray that the Lord will deliver us from evil.'In ancient Rome people took a delight in the gladiatorial games where for entertainment people fought to to the death.The story is told that a monk called Telemachus from Asia,heard an inner voice telling him to go to Rome,he ended up in the colosseum,where  to his horror  he saw two gladiators fighting,he ran between them calling out ,'in the name of Christ stop'.The result was he was run through with a sword,as he lay dead,the crowds left  the stadium.it had an affect and eventually the games came to an end.' In these days when moral values are being eroded by people who delight in evil practices,may we not go along with evil doers but be like that dear monk who stood against the evil which he witnessed.

Love is ( 1 Corinthians 13 v 5 ) 7

 Love keeps no record of wrongs  v 5 ,I wonder if you every got your own back on someone? the movies are full of people who kept a record of the wrongs done to them and took vengence on them.In the Bible  Joab  and Absalom both kept a record of wrong  done to them and likewise took vengence. Stalin was a very wicked person anyone who harmed or opposed him would be dealt with,he nursed that memory kept it warm.and at a chosen moment he had them put to death. Here we have very challenging words,'Love  keeps no record of wrongs.Two OT saints lived that out in their own lives,the first one was Joseph who forgave his brothers all the wrong they did to him,he not only forgive them but was very kind to them. ( Genesis 50 v 15-21) David was  treated very badly by King Saul,but when Saul died David showed great kindness to his son. (2 Samuel 9)In November 8th 1987,at a rememberance service,the IRA  planted a bomb killing a number of people.one of the people injured was Gordon Wilson, I believe he was a Christian,his daughter was seriously injured,and eventually she died.Before she died she took hold of her fathers hand held it very tightly,and said,'Daddy I love'.Painful beyond words,but when Gordon was interviewed by the BBC he said,'' I bear no ill ,no grudge''.

                                             ' Love forgets as well as forgives

                                               and does not keep a record of

                                               things said or done against them'

Love is ( 1 Corinthians 13 v 4 ) 6

Love is not easily angered v 5,I have friend and he tells me when  his wife gets annoyed with him,she gets even more annoyed,because he stays calm.Oh, how I wish I was more like my friend, I have always had a short fuse,all my life, William Barclay translates ,'Love is not easily angered',as 'Love never flies into a temper'that I'm sure is  an aspect of it,and he makes the following comments,'Exasperation is always a sign of defeat;When we loose our temper we loose everything.Kipling said it was a test of a man if he could keep his head when everyone else was loosing his and blaming it on him,and if he was hated he did not give way to hating' .I know someone personally who let his emotions get the better of him and the result was he lost his job. Anger got the better of Cain and he murdered his brother,in spite of what God had said to him (Genesis 4 v 6 -8 ). How many murders have been committed since then,by people who ran with their anger.Many murders have been committed,over triflies,by people letting their emotions run away with them. Not all anger is sinful in Ephesians 4 v26 we read of righteous anger, that anger will not manifest itself  in a sinful way. How can we overcome sinful anger,yes recognise it for it is ,confess it to God and seek God to help us to  know victory over that spirit of anger ,that can cause so much harm to ourselves and to others.

                                                      

                                                          'Dark passions subdue,

                                                           look ever to Jesus ,He'll

                                                           carry you through.

                                                             Words H R .Palmer.

                                                   

Love is ( 1 Corinthians 13 v 5)5

 Love does not dishonour others v 5. We dishonour others when we speak wrongfully of them,it is often the case that we pass are bad opinion of someone to others. We have been hurt by a certain person so in order to hurt  that person we spread rumours,we are not  to speak ill of no man. Vindictiveness should have no place in the child of God's heart, it is very easy to ruin someone by what  what we say,We may try to justify our attitude , but it will not wash, the God of love says it is wrong. Next we consider, 'Love is not self seeking',someone said,'Love is the very antithesis of self seeking',it does not push itself to the front of the queue,it is not ,'me first'. Thats self seeking,and someone has added,'I've  been there'.

                                                                     A prayer.

                                        'Dear lord help me to watch how I speak about other's.

                                        and help me to put You first,others second ,and myself

                                         last ,Amen.

                                         

                                                           

Love is ( 1 Corinthians 13 v4 ) 4

'Love is not proud' v 4,one translation reads,'Love is not inflated with its own importance', Winston Churchill said of a politician who had inflated  an opinion of himself,'There but by the grace of God goes God',Napoleon said of himself,''I am not a man like other men,the laws of morality do not apply to me''. So we could go on giving examples,we all at time let pride creep in one way or the other,our Saviour taught us many things,that when we pray,and give we should do it anonymously ( Matthew 6 v 1-6).It is nice to receive a compliment,but we need to be careful that it does not cause pride to rise in our heart,give us a big head. Our dear Saviour more than any one else personified humility,oh that we were more like him. One of the greatest examples of pride was King Nebuchadnezzar, who boasted of all the great things he had done,and God dealt with him .( Daniel 6 v 28 ff) Just before our Lord was betrayed the disciples were arguing  with each other as to which one of them would be considered the greatest,and Jesus replied that the one who served will be considered the greatest.Dear John Bunyan wrote a poem here is a verse from it'

                                                   'He that is down needs fear no fall,

                                                    He that is low no pride;

                                                    He that is humble ever shall

                                                     Have God to be his guide.'

Love is (1 Corinthians 13 v 4 (3)

We have considered that love is kind , now the writer goes on to highlight seven things that are contrary to love,the first one ,'It does not envy', (v4)  the 10th commandment tells we are not to covet (Exodus 20 v17) envy is similar but it has a malignant aspect to it,it can be spiteful, hostile,malicious,evil intentioned,full of hate,vicious,cruel. We read in Matthew 27 v18,that Pilate knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy. This blinded them and filled them with hatred,that bordered on madness and manifested itself in outragious wickedness towards our blessed Saviour,it is far from love.Next we consider, 'that love does not boast', it does not brag,it does it to be heard,it does it to humiliate people.a person I know personally boasted how he prayed and studied the Bible in order to humiliate someone.Jesus told about two men who went up to the temple to pray,one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.The Pharisee stood away from the tax collector,and he prayed,''God, I thank you that I am not like other people,robbers,evildoers,adulterers,or even this tax collector.I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get',(Luke 18 v9ff) Now that's a boaster, one filled with pride,one who despised others.I read recently about a remark made about a certain politician,that she looked down on people.

                                                'Naught have I gotten ,but what I received,

                                                 Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed,

                                                 Boasting excluded pride I abase,

                                                 I'm only a sinner saved by grace'

                                                      'Words James Martin Gray'

                                     

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Love is ( 1 Corinthians 13 v 4) 2

Love is kind v 4 ,the world needs a lot of things,it diffently needs more kindness,Max Hastings book  on the second world war,tells us of the awful things that took place,the unrestrained brutality by conquering armies,but it also tells us of the handships soldiers had to cope with,which Hollywood leaves out. We know it involved  defeating an enemy,but it cost.Many soldiers were scared stiff,and it manifested itself in different ways,some had breakdowns,as the allies pushed towards Germany as the winter set in, so it was tough going.Max tells about one soldier who was struggling in the wet and the cold,and a little French girl came out and handed him two pillows. I'm sure that soldier would never forget that simple act of kindness by that child.I look back on my life especially when I was at Bible college and had no money,and I received many kindnesses from people.I hightlight one man who every Sunday gave me two pounds, they called him Jackie,and I will be always grateful for what he did. Glen Camlbell wrote a song called,'Show a little kindness',here are some of the words from it.

                                                'If you see your brother  standing by the road  

                                                With a heavy load from the seed he has sown.

                                                 And if you see your sister fallen by the way,

                                                 Just stop and say,''Your going the wrong way''

                                                 Don't walk around the down and out

                                                 Lend a helping hand instead of doubt,

                                                 And the kindness you have shown everyday,

                                                 Will help someone along the way'

                                                

                                                   

Love is. ( 1 Corinthians 13v 4) 1

 We can read 1 Corinthians 13 many times as regards  the qualities of love,and fail to live them out in our lives, the first quality mentioned is ,'Patience' it is William Barclay who writes,'this word always describes patience with people and not patience with circumstances'.If one is married ,and have children you will I guarantee ,have to exercise patience.why? because you love the one you married,and the children you have.Christ exercised this loving quality with his disciples,espcially with Peter the betrayer.I often think how patient God is with me, I'm sure we would all testify to that,but are we willing to be like Him with those who are unkind and hurt us,those who get on our nerves?. William Barclay tells the story of Abraham Lincoln who  had to endure insults from a fellow politician called  Stanton, he called him a low cunning clown,the ''original gorilla''. Yet when war came he made him his war minister, because he was the best man for the job.Abe always treated him with courtesy, and when the president was assassinated, Stanton wept,and said''There lies the greatest ruler  of men the world has ever known''.W B comments 'The patience of love had conquered'.

Invite Him in. ( Luke 18 v 35- 43)

One of my sons told me of a married couple who recently came to Lord,and  that the lady had died suuddenly from an brain aneurysm,she was in her fifties. It is sad and one feels for the love ones, but mingled with the sorrow there is the joy of knowing that the lady is in heaven not in hell.So many people are so careless as regards to their eternal destiny,that lady by the grace of God is now safely in heaven rejoicing in the presence of  Christ her Saviour. What a comfort that is to her husband and family,and it appears that it has been a wake up call to her daughter who wants to become a Christian. The word of God tells us to seek the Lord while he may be found to call on Him while He is near (Isaiah 55 v6) The living translation puts it like this,'Seek the Lord while you can find Him'.In the Song of Solomon in chapter 5 we have the groom coming to go into his bride,the bride is in her bed and she hears him coming, and calling to be let in,but she replies, how she had taken of her robe and was in bed,did he expect her to get dressed again and washed again,Her lover kept on knocking and asking to get in.His knocking created in her a desire to have  him ,so she rose to let him in,but he had got tired of waiting and left. In Luke 24 v 13ff we read of how our Lord met up with two people, walking home, He ministered to them,and it really touched their hearts, and when they came to where they lived , He acted as if He was going further,but they urged Him strongly,saying,'stay with us'. Someone has said that He did not force Himself on them,He waited tell they invited Him to stay.

                                                    ' Pass me not,O gracious Saviour,

                                                      Hear my humble cry;

                                                      While on others Thou art calling,

                                                       Do not pass me by'

                                                             Fanny J.Crosby

Our loving heavenly Father.( John 1 v 12 )

 The Lord's Prayer '.( Matthew 6 v 9-13 )When our young Pastor came,he had us praying the Lord's prayer in an up to date translation,nothing wrong with that,but most of us love the AV version,so  he now leads us in  praying  from the AV ,a wise decision. Some see it as the disciples prayer ,one writer says Luke's version was written to Gentiles who needed to know how to pray, (Luke 11 v1) were as Matthews version was directed toward Jewish people who needed to know how to pray correctly.  It starts ,'Our Father which art in heaven',the word Father has an intimacy about it,for its translated from the  word,'Abba',Jesus often used that word ,it was the word a child would use of their daddy ,my sons usually call me dad.Winston Churchill loved  his father,but he was a very distant father,hardly ever spoke to him,very rarely saw him,and was very critical of him,no affection was shown to him.Humam fathers can often be a pure reflection of what a father should be. Not so our Father in heaven ,He is the perfect Father,who loves us so very much, though He is a heavenly Father He is not distant, we can reach Him instantly in our prayers,He is all a Father should be,and more,yes He will chastise us,rebuke us,but He will also care for us and stick up for us.We must never be familar with Him, friendly but never familar ,we must regard Him as holy and sacred.

                                                       'Great God! and wilt Thou condescend

                                                       To be my Father and my friend?

                                                        I, a poor child,and Thou so high,

                                                        The Lord of earth and air and sky.'

                                                                    'The answer is yes

                                                                     when we trust Jesus

                                                                      as our Saviour'

Lost. ( Luke 19 v 10)

When I was very  young a church held  a meeting  in which  the children sung a song,I suppose I remember it because I started crying,but I do remember the song we sung,It was written by Jim Ed Brown,here are some of the words to it,''W'e poor little lambs who have lost  their way,Baa,baa,baa, Doomed from here to eternity,Lord have mercy on such as we'.It is in Isaiah 53 v 6 we read,' All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way'. That scripture tells us something very important, that we all are like sheep that are lost , consider the word all ,that encludes everyone, and that means everyone  is not going God's way, but our own way.just consider the state of  humanity,and ask yourself why.? From the moment our first parents sinned we started to go away from God,and so it continues.But the good news is this that Jesus has come to seek and to save that which is lost. (Luke15 v3-7 )The fact is God loves the lost so much so that He sent Jesus into this world to seek and to save that which was lost,but it cost Jesus everything,when He died on the cross for sinners like you and me.

                                             'I would not do without you, O Saviour  of the Lost,

                                              Whose precious blood redeemed me,at such 

                                               tremendous cost,

                                               Thy righteousness my pardon,Thy precious blood 

                                                must be,

                                                 My only hope and comfort,my glory and my plea.

                                                              Words  Frances Ridley .Havergale'

Be still. ( Psalm 46) 3

 One last look at Psalm 46 and verses 8-11, over verse 8 we could put the words,' Consider and tremble',  When God moves against a nation ,there is no hiding place,Sodom and Gomorrah is a witness to that,(Genesis 19)God is to be feared,when  Nineveh heard that God's judgement was coming upon them ,fear filled their hearts,they took it very very serious,and rightly so.God has not changed,the nations of the world should take note.From God the great and awesome one who judges and destroys,to the God who can make wars to cease,yes he can, it's sad when we hear people say,I can stop the wars,as if they are God,it is all about them,what they can do,the pride of man ,is the folly of man,Hitler made the boast that the Third Reich would last a thousand years,it lasted 12 years. We are told that God opposes the proud,but shows favour to the humble (1 Peter 5 v 5). Next we move on to v10 ,it starts with two words,'Be still ',unlike the ungodly whose hearts are failing them for fear,the children of God must look beyond the natural,to the spiritual, to our God who is sovereign who brings princes to naught,and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing(Isaiah 40 v 23)So last but not least we come to verse11,  which reads,'The  Lord Almighty  is with us,the God of Jacob is our fortress' .Just before John Wesley died he was heard  to say these words,'The best of all is God is with us', and he repeated it again'.

                                                       'Be still and know that I am God'

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Gods Word.( Hebrews 4 v12 ) 2

 Let us consider v 4-7,of Psalm 46.He speaks of a river that makes glad the city of God. There was no river in Jerusalem,but it represents an image of God who is with God's children,and is a source of peace and calmness,a picture of security amidst all the conflicts and turmoil that is in the world.I remember many years ago a missionary from Nigeria shared the following,'It was a time of great conflict,and he was very afraid for his life,he had a severe headache,that was when God spoke to him from Psalm 34 v7,'The angel of the Lord encamps around  those who fear Him;and He delivers  them'When he read that he lay down and went asleep. Commenting on v6 'He lifts His voice,the earth mealts,' Spurgeon says,'How mighty is the word of God! How mighty the Incarnate Word! O that such a word would come from the excellent glory to even now melt all hearts in love to Jesus, and to end for ever all persecutions, wars, and rebellions of men!

Therefore. ( Psalm 46 ) 1

Psalm 46 was known as Luthers Psalm, he lived in dangerous times,and often when times were difficult and dark he would sing this Psalm. Likewise when the friends of the reformation were dispirited ,Luther would say ''Come let us sing the 46th Psalm'.I think sometimes in our desire to make eveything up to date,with our modern songs,which I don't mind,but in so doing we miss out the blessing of singing the Psalms.This Psalm was not written by David but by the Sons of Korah.It is divided into 3 parts v1-3/4-7/8-11.  Verse 1 reads ,'God is our refuge ,and strength,an ever-present help in trouble.' We live in a troubled world ,but  in all our troubles we have God whom we can call on,in all our times of trouble.Then you have one of those 'Therefore's'because our God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble,we should not fear,even though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the sea,though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake (shake)with their surging'.

                                                   'Troubles there are many,some our very great,

                                                    but our God is greater'

Look ( Luke 23 v 26 -43)

 Charles Hadden Spurgeon  was  born June 19 , 1834,he was born into a godly family,his grandfather,and father we're both ministers, so was he a Christian?. No he wasn't, when he was about fifty  he wrote ,'Grace does not run in the blood'.Everyone needs to trust Jesus as their Saviour, everyone ,yes even children. It wasn't until he was 16 that he became a Christian, he struggled against becoming a Christian, and then he struggled as how he could become a Christian,then by the grace of God things changed.One Sunday he was hindered from going to his fathers church,and he found himself in a Primitive Methodist Chapel were an unlearned Methodist rose to give a brief message on Isaiah 45 v22''Look unto to me and be ye saved,all the ends of the earth, for I am God and there is none else''. He addressed Spurgeon personally.to look to Christ and to obey the text....It wasn't a matter of lifting a finger,or a foot,or going to college or being rich,Look,Look,Look,the man said,look to Christ and live.'Spurgeon did just that and trusted Jesus as his Saviour.'

                                                 'Have you looked to Jesus to be your Saviour?'

Deep darkness ( Psalm 27 v1 )

                                                 'Who among you fears the Lord

                                                  and obeys the word of his servant?

                                                  Let the one who walks in the dark,

                                                  who has no light, trust in the name

                                                   of the Lord and rely on their God.'

                                                                 'Isaiah 50 v10'

The most godly people have experienced very dark times or as one person put it ,they find themselves in situations of '' deep darkness'',even to the point where ''not even a glimmer of light guides them''.William Cowper was a very lovely Christian,yet for most of his life he suffered from mental illness,(always remember it is an illness,so don't  judge Christians who are mentally ill') There was one period that lasted for 5 years without a glimmer of sunshine.But he wrote a hymn with the following words,' Sometimes a light surprises,the Christian when he sings; It is Lord who rises with healing in His wings; When comforts are declining,He grants the soul again, A season of clear shining,To cheer it after rain'.The book ,'The Hiding Place',tells the story of the Ten-boom family who were imprisoned for helping Jews, Corrie and Betsie were together during that time. All their possessions were taken from them,but Corrie managed to keep a Bible, in the midst of all their suffering  Corrie said,'The blacker the night around us grew,the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the word of God'.

                                                  'May God's word sustain us in our 

                                                                darkest night'