Be warned ( 2 Thessalonians 2 v15 )

She got annoyed with me,why,I was only pointing out some important important Biblical truths ,we were  talking as regards a particular religious group,and how so many things they believe are contrary to the word of God. But the lady would have none of it,so the conversation stopped, and I like a gentleman left it at that.Let us turn to Exodus 25,and the building of the Tabernacle,Moses was instructed how it was to be built,and when he had finished telling Moses this,God said 'Be sure  that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.(v 40) Moses could not add to the instructions,or take away from the instructions,God forbid him to do so.At the end of the book of Revelation there is a severe warning given,it reads,'If anyone adds anything to what is written here,or if anyone removes any of the words from this book',they would come under severe judgement'.(v17-19)I believe this applies to all scripture and woe betide anyone who goes against this.The early church was plagued by people who wanted to add to the Gospel ,read Colossians 2 v16 -23/ 1 Timothy 1 v3 v7. To go beyond what scripture teaches both morally or theologically is forbidden ground,we must not be swayed by anything or anyone we must not compromise,be warned.

Free,free at last.( 1 Peter 1 v18-19)

In 2 Peter 2 v1-3 the apostle writes of the false teachers who were bringing destructive heresies into the church,even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them'.One commentator writes the following,'The word 'bought' comes straight  from  the public  slave auction. It is used twenty -five times in the New Testament for a simple commercial transaction'. People in those days knew what it meant to be a slave ,and as one reads history we see clearly the evils of it. It meant that one had no freedom, no rights,and ones life was controlled by one's master. Israel were slaves in Egypt for 400 years, and then God brought them out under the leadership of Moses.Pharaoh refused to let them go,so God sent 10 plagues on Egypt and it was the last one that did the trick,when a lamb was slain, and it's blood  was put on sides and tops of the door frames.It saved them from death,and brought them out of  Egypt,a free people.Now let us move forward to the NT and Jesus.Jesus declared that' everyone who sins is a slave to sin' (John 8 v 34) as we are all sinners it means that we are all slaves.So in order to rescue us from sinful slavery another lamb had to be slain ,but we are not talking about a literal sheep, no we are talking about Jesus  (John 1 v 29)who would be led as a lamb to the slaughter. (Isaiah 53 v7)  Through His sacrifice on the cross, our sins would be forgiven,and we sinners would be set free from sin's power the moment we trust Jesus as our Saviour.

                                                        'There is a fountain filled with blood ,

                                                         Drawn from Immanuel's veins;

                                                         And sinners plunged beneath that flood

                                                         Lose  all their guilty stains.'

                                                                  'Words William Cowper'

I got it wrong ( 1 John 4 v1 )

 Yes I confess I got it wrong,when I was 65 ,I read  in 2 Kings 20 that  King Hezekiah   became very  unwell and was at the point of death ,indeed Isaiah told him so.Well Hezekiah prayed  pleaded with God with tears.Isaiah was leaving the palace  but God stopped him,and told him to go back to Hezekiah,and tell him that God heard his prayer and seen his tears. and that he was going to heal him,and then He said He would add fifteen years to his life.Nor for  some reason I felt that was a word for me,in other words God was given me 15yrs to live.I didn't tell many people ,but of course I got it wrong ,I am now 81, let me just say this there are no infallible people,the Papacy declares that in things spiritual the Pope is infallible,they got that wrong,when one considers what they believe,so many things the Roman Caholic church believe are contrary to the word of God. I don't claim to be infallible,but I do wordship a God who is infallible,His word is true,what He says will has come to pass,the prophecies as regards our Saviour has came to pass, his birth (Isaiah 9v6) His death, (Isa v53) His resurrection, (Acts 2 24-28) His ascension, (Psalm 67 v 19) His coming again,( Zechariah 12 10.) Let me just say again only God is infallible,no matter how spiritual we are,we are not.

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False prophets ( John 14 v1-6)

The early church had to contend with many  things that could have destroyed them, so Peter in his second letter wrote to such a church ,he warned them of such people.(2v 1-3) He calls them false prophets,he reminds them of the evil people in Sodom and Gomorrah whom God destroyed.He speaks to the church warning them of wicked people of their corruptness and rebelliousness they appear to be moral degenerates calling them an accursed brood.They knew the way but had gone away from it ,Peter sums up their actions as a dog returning to its vomit,or a sow that has been washed,returning to her wallowing in the mud(2 v22)These false teachers were throwing doubt on the coming again of Christ,but Peter challenges them,telling them clearly that Christ is coming but in His time (2 v3-10) Let us not forget that no one on our planet knows when Christ is coming again only the Father knows.(Matthew 24 v36).Our Saviour said ,'So you also must be ready,because the Son of Man will come at an hour  when you do not expect  Him(Matthew 24 v44)In light of the day of Lord ,(that is Christs coming) Peter tells the Church and indeed all of us,'To make every effort to be found spotless,blameless and at peace with Him.(2v 13)

Abraham ( Romans 5 v1)

 Abraham is one of the major people in the Bible,and it is from  him we get the answer as how to be justified before  God,in Genesis15 God promised  him a son and from that son and his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the heavens,(in Gen 22 v 18) we are told that through that son all the earth would be blessed)So returning to Gen 15v 6 and hear Abraham's response,'He believed the Lord,and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith'.Now let us move forward to Romans 4 v 2 and it tells  us at that Abraham was not saved by works,then to v13 we are told that he was not saved by the law,no it was by faith,my son said as regards a certain cult ,ask them who are trying to save,and of course they are trying to save themselves,by their door knocking. Of course they are not on there own most religions believe that  they are saved by keeping laws,and even doing good works. Romans 4 v3 ,starts by saying ,'What does Scripture say?,yes that's were we are clearly told that we are saved by faith alone in Jesus.Salvation is a gift from God(Romans 6 v23),we cannot earn salvation, nor can we merit salvation, Some teach that they believe in Jesus who died on the cross to save us,but then they add on,but we must do our bit, not so, Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2 v9).

                                                          'Not the labours of my hands

                                                          Can fulfil Thy law's demands;

                                                          Could my Zeal  no respite know,

                                                           Could my tears for ever flow,

                                                           All for sin could not atone;

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

        

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You must ( John 3 v7 )

 The Bible makes it very clear that we are all sinners and  the result is we are seperated from God in fact we are told that we are without hope and without God (Ephesians 2 v 12) We are spiritually dead (Genesis 2 v 16) we are born that way, so how can we know God and have a relationship with Him? .We need to hear to what Jesus said to a very religious person ,He told him something of the utmost importance,here is what He said,'You must be born again'(John 3 v7).Consider that important word,'Must',  that means everyone no exceptions,you will never have a relationship with God unless your born again by the Spirit of God.Jesus  speaks of two births,the natural and the spiritual,first He mentions the natural birth,He says 'Flesh gives birth to flesh',that's how we come into being,but we not spiritual beings,but Jesus goes unto say,'But theSpirit gives birth to spirit'. (John 3 v6) In John 4v 24 we read,'God is Spirit,and although the word speaks of Him in human terms,that is just to accommodate us,helping us to relate to God. yes God is Spirit,but then the verse goes unto say,'and His worshippers must worship in spirit and truth'.So in order for anyone to worhship God,it must be on a spiritual  relationship,and that only comes about when you trust Jesus to be your Saviour,and when you do that you are born again.

Money can't by you everything. ( i Peter 1 v18 -19)

 One of the things that  kicked off the reformation was the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church  to raise money partially for work to be done in Saint Peters.The man given the responsiblity of raising money by selling indulgences was a Johann Tekzel,it was reputed that he said,'As soon as the coin in the coffer rings,the soul from Puratory springs' A Roman Catholic historian denies he said this,but he has to admit that he taught it's sentiment. It was one of the issues Martin Luthers raised in his 95 Theses, of course he didn't believe in Puratory,for the bible does not teach that. But the principal of thinking that one can buy spiritual benifites with hard cash,is totally wrong.We read of a man in Acts 8 called Simon who thought he could buy the gift of God with money,but Peter rebuked him very strongly for saying that. The  fact is money cannot buy anything from God,salvation is a gift,no price tag comes with it.Matthew 10 v 8 reads,'Freely you have received'.There are conditions in receiving salvation,repent of your sin,ask for forgiveness,and by Faith receive Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.

Putting off, Putting on.(Colossians 3 v 9-10)

 There is a saying ,'Don't judge a person by their suits, but by their fruits', of course people do,take another statement  which reads,'The Lord does not look at things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,but the Lord looks on the heart'( 1 Samuel 16 v 9).Of course our  Saviour said that one way you know people is by their fruits ,and he was speaking of religious people. In recent years there has been a discloser of  child abuse on a vast scale,by people who wear clerical garb. There are many Tele religous people who are fleecing millions of people , one writer said the following,'Dont be impressed with charisma;look for character'. There is nothing wrong with dressing well,but often people become over excessive with that, we have all seen pictures of  the rich and the famous,in beautiful clothes ,homes and cars. That does not impress God,nor should it impress us, James has something to say about that,read. ( James 2 v1-4) In  Colossians 3 v 5,we read,'Put to death,therefore ,whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual imorality,impurity,lust,evil desises and greed,which is idolatry'.Then in v10 we read as regards having ,'put on the new self', v12 b ,clothe yourselves with compassion,kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.......v14 'And over all these virues put on love'

                                                      'How are you dressed today?'

Not till then. (Romans 8 v28 )

 In my living room we have we have two framed plaques,I have had them for many years,one is a scripture and the other a verse from a hymn. The scripture reads,'And we know that all things work together for good to them that  love God,to them who are the called according to His purpose'.(Romans 8 v28 ) It starts by saying we kown,this was something that Paul was assured of,it is a statement of faith in a sovereign God,whose ways are past finding out. Then he goes unto say that all things work together for good  to those who love God.it does not say all things are good that the Christian experience ,many evil things that happen to God Children are far from  good,some of the things are down right evil. Luther comments,'The Spirit makes all things,even though they are evil,work together for good'.The unbeliever cannot appreciate or understand these words,not so for the Christian it is a fact,it is Morris who  gives it the sense of ,'final good,or  true good'.Sometimes we can with hindsight see how  God used the wrong things for our good as in the case of Joseph.But often we will not  see the good that comes from the evil we and fellow Christians suffer. In 1 Corinthians 13 v 12 we read ,'Now I know in part; then shall I know fully',Which come to that other plaque which has a verse of a hymn on it,which reads.

                                            'Not till the loom is silent,and the shuttles cease to fly,

                                            Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why

                                            The dark threads are so needful,in the weavers skilful hand-

                                             As the threads of gold and silver,in the pattern He has planned'

It is a sin ( 1 Corinthians 10 v 13)

A person writing about the friends he had,said the following,' I used  to have one or two wealthy pals, up in the billions,on all the lists, and I liked them a lot,I really did. But the problem was that when ever I was round their house, sitting at dinner with a Magritte on the wall or a Gauguin over the fireplace,I'd be thinking, ''Give me the picture, come on,it makes no odds to you, it's a million quid, change my life, just give me the picture.''Now that is called coveting and it is a sin (Exodus 20 v 17) Many  years ago  when money was very scarce,I was working in a Christian bookshop,and a man bought something,and he took out his wallet, and it was full of a lot of money, and I thought if only he would give me some,now that's coveting.It was the apostle Paul who declared that at times he was seized and convicted of the sin of covetness (Romans 7)Make not light of that sin,whatever form it may take,it is a sin,and our holy God takes it very serious.If it takes a hold of us  it may lead us into all sorts of evil, like stealing,murder, adultery,wherever it may lead us, there will be a cost, There is no use making light of it,as if it was a trival thing, it's not, if one is a Christian,and beset by this sin,we must repent and seek the  Lords mercy.

Be on your guard ( Ephesians 5 v 14)3

 Edmund Clowney writes,'The imperatives of Christian living always begins with'therefore'.in light of what  God has done for us,in the light of that he puts in the word therefore .God has given us a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and a heavenly inheritance (1 Peter 1v3 -4) 'Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,glorious as the future is, we must be alert in the here and now.1Peterv5 v8,declares ,'Be sober(Well balanced and self disciplined)Be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours ,the devil ,prowls around like a roaring lion(Fiercely hungry)seeking someone to devour'. When our dear Saviour was in the garden praying with His disciples,he found them sleeping. He said'Get up and pray so you will not fall into temptation( Luke 22 v46) Samson fell asleep on Delilah's lap,and it cost him his eyes (Judges 16 v 19-21),if a sentry on duty fell asleep it would cost him his life.

                                                          ' Christian ! seek not yet repose,

                                                            Cast thy dreams of ease away,

                                                            Thou art in the midst of foes;

                                                            Watch and pray.'

                                                               ' Words Charlotte Elliott'

Hope on. ( Hebrews 6 v 19) 2

 It is Peter who tells us' to set our hopes on the grace to be brought to us when Jesus is revealed at His coming'.One commentator writes,'It is the great charactistic of the Christian that he lives in hope;and because he lives in hope he can endure the trials of the present.For the Christian the best is always still to come.The Christian can live with gratitude  for all the mercies of the past,with resolution to meet the challenge of the present,and with the certain hope that in Christ the best is yet to be.'

                                                'Be still my soul ,the hour is hastening on

                                                When we shall be forever with the Lord,

                                                When disappointment,grief and fear are gone,

                                                 Sorrow forgot,love's purest joys restored.'

                                                                  'Jane L. Borthwick'

He sees,He hears( 1 Peter 3 v 12) 1

 Peter writes,'For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayers' 1 Peter 3 v 12.Dear child of God think on these words,you may be in a place of great lonliness,like Paul who declared that everyone had deserted him,but God was watching over him (2 Timothy 4 v 16-17).As a father of five children when they were very young I would keep watching them in case anything would happen to then, but you know what children are,they  can be very elusive,and sometimes you would loose sight of them.But not so with our loving heavenly Father,He is watching over us,He never looses sight of His children.Hagar  said,'You are the God who sees me'(Genesis 16 v 13)The song writer pennd these words,'His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches over me'From watching over His children Peter goes unto say,'That God is attentive to their prayers',these are words to encourage us in our prayers,could it be that you are thinking,whats the use of praying,don't give into that despair,God is attentive to your prayers.pray with that confidence,'He's listening',to you when you pray,He hasn't turned a deaf ear to your prayers,he hears your  faintest whisper when you pray.He is no respecter of persons,in other words He doesn't have any favourites,he hears a young childs prayer,and an old persons prayer,He hears all his Children's prayer,He not only hears their prayers, but He also answers them.

Who I am ( Matthew 6 v 9/14)

 Rory Mcllroy who recently won the Masters golf tournament said ,'Golf is what I do,it's not who I am',it is the apostle John who declared in utter amazement,' See how very much our Father loves us,for he calls us his children'(1 John 3 v1). One may be a golfer, a dad,a husband,a carpenter,and so on,and we may even be considered a nobody, but when we become a Christian the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world happens,we are Children of living God.

                                                              'Father, I call You Father,

                                                               For I am your child today,                   

                                                               Tomorrow and always,

                                                                You  are my Father.'

                                                            'Words by Danny Daniels.'

    

                                                                  

A chosen people ( Ephesians 2 v 1-13)

 Let us continue to look at 1Peter 2 v 9-10,we finished looking at the church as a holy nation,now let us consider,that not only are they a holy nation,they are ,'God's special possession'.what does that mean? it means we belong to Him,He has become our Father, and everyone is special,yes we are,how special? just look to Calvary  and see the middle cross,there hangs ,the Son of man,the Son of God,Jesus, dying as the prophets told,redeeming a people unto Himself,amazing beyond words.It continues,'That you may declare the praises of Him  who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light'.Yes we were in darkness ,not now we have been brought into the kingdom of light,by the mercy of God,surely He is worthy of  praise.It was Charles Wesley who spoke to a congregation telling them ,'not to sing as if they were half dead',our God deserve more than that.' Verse ten reminds us Gentiles of our former state and our present state,'We were not a people, but now you  are the  people of God,Once you had not received mercy, but now  you have received mercy'.these words were taken from  Hosea 2 v23They reminds us of our state as Gentiles we  were not children of God, we had not special relationship  that Old covenant Isreal had.Now that has changed through faith in Jesus.As John puts it,'See what great love the father has lavished upon us that we should be called children of God'  (1 John 3 v 1.) In our unsaved state we lived and died in our sins  and went to a lost eternity.But praise God all this has changed through our Lord Jesus, God opened a way and its simply this ,come to Christ and you will receive mercy, you will no longer shut out ,but by the mercy and Grace of God,your sins can be forgiven.

                                                  'Saving  mercy is only given                       

                                                            through Christ'

We are ( 1 Peter 2 v 9-10)1

 1 Peter 2 v9 - 10 reads ,'But you are a chosen people,a royal priesthood,a holy nation,God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.' Peter tells us firstly that  we are a chosen people,we were not an after thought ,for we  read in Ephesians 1v 4 ,'For  He chose us in Him before the creation of the world'. Our dear Saviour said to his disciples ,'You did not choose me ,but I chose you' (John15 v16) It speaks of the divine initiative, after all God is sovereign.Then we are told that we are a ,'a royal priesthood'.a friend told me how a Roman Catholic priest started to study the scriptures,and he declared we are all priests.Every child of God is a priest who offers up sacrifices of praise (Hebrews 13 v15).Next we read ,'a holy people'one writer says this means, 'That we are a specifie group of people called out and set apart from all other nations',the unsaved know nothing about holiness, but for the Christian holiness is vital,we should all be striving to be holy.We should not follow the sinful practices of the world,we must take this very serious for we told without holiness no man will see the Lord. Hebrews 12 v 14.   

                                 'Robert Murry McCheyne prayed ,'Lord make me as 

                                  holy as a pardoned sinner can be made'

I couldn't commit such things ( Jeremiah 17 v 9)

 I was watching a program on TV,it wasn't a very nice program,in fact many people may not have wanted to watch it,the  2nd world war was in sight,as the allies advanced over Germany they came across murder camps. Two British soldiers had been given the task to film the allies advancing,and so they filmed what they witnessed when they went into one of these murder camps,the name of it was Belsen it was called a prison camp,not an extermination camp.But I can assure you it was more than a prison camp,there were many people stiil alive but there were mulitudes of dead bodies everywhere they numbered  many thousands.When you see things like that you are horrified and saddened beyond words.How could human beings committ  such things?,one of the men who filmed it ,asked the question, why did Germany do such things?.but he went on to say this,'Germany ,it could happen to any  nation given similar circunstances'.Yes it could,and indeed has, the history of the 20th ceturay bears that out.We all have a sinful fallen nature,and if it takes hold of us,we are capable of doing monstrous awful things. That is why Christ had to die,to save us from ourselves and all its consequences,that does not just mean those mass murderers,it means everybody,because we are all sinners,yes and that means you and me.

Trials. ( James 5 v 10 - 11)

 Peter writing on the trials that some Christians were going through 1Peter 1,that while they can rejoice in their salvation now,and which shall be revealed in last in all its fulness.Then he goes unto say,'though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.Two things there which he says about the trials,their duration,'a little while,'no matter how long the trials which we are suffering in light of eternity,they are brief. Romans 8 v 18 tells us that'our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us,'One commentator writes,'that our currant suffering is insignficent compared to the future glory and joy the believer will experience in eternity'.Peter is not making light of the trials we are going through,by no means,but he is seeking to point us to the bigger picture.  The next thing we consider as to the believers suffering, it proves if our faith is genuine,there used to be a saying in the early days of evangelisim in China as regards those those who professed to be Christians that they were called rice Christians,their apparent  decision for being a Christian, was that they were fed. Our Lord  said that about those who had been fed in John 6 when Jesus performed a miracle (John 6 v 26) If your following Jesus for material prosperity then your faith is not genuine.The next thing he mentions as regards trials,our faith is refined,he uses the example of gold refined by fire. Edmund Clowney writes the following,God sends trials to strengthen our faith in Him.and to keep us trusting;they burn away our self confidence and drive us to our Saviour'.There is much more we could say as regards God's purpose for our suffering,just remember that He has a loving purpose in all that comes into our lives.

My times are in His hands. ( Revelation 1 v 18)

A lovely Christian lady in the church I attend recently celebrated her 90th birthday, she told me that when she was 50 she had to go into hospital ,as regards a heart problem,There came a point when they discharged her  from the hospital ,the consultant told her ,they had done all they could for her,at most she may live till she was 70.I dont think we should ignor what the consultants say and not accept the reality for often what they say happens. But ultimately our times in God's hands ,that's what's important, the apostle Paul went through a tremendous lot of suffering in 2 Corithians 11 he relates what he went through.He received 40 lashes minus one,beaten three times with rods,pelted with stones,three times ship wrecked,spent a a day and a night in the open sea. He mentioned dangers form rivers.bandits,his fellow Jews and so we could go on. But the time came when he would die a martyrs death at the hand of the Romans.God granted him a consicousness that death was coming ( 2 Timothy 4 v6-8) Let us always remember God is sovereign and as John Ryland wrote,

                                                           

                                                    'Plagues and deaths around me fly;

                                                     Till He bids,I cannot die;

                                                     Not a single shaft can hit,

                                                     Till the God of love sees fit'

                                                    

9(

Giving up. ( 8 v 18)

 Thomas Edison said ,'Our greatet weakness lies in giving up',he was a man who invented the telephone, and many other things.The Christian life is a challenge,and one of the biggest challenges is not to give up, our dear Lord said these very challenging words in Matthew 10 v 21-22,'Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved'. And in 1 Timothy 4 v1 ,we read,'The Spirit  says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons'.I know personally many people who have given up following Jesus.there are many reasons why people give up. But in the end they loose out on the eternal glories,I am not here to judge anyone',let him who thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall'(1 Corinthians 10 v12) .What I am writing is a word for me and for those read who this.I get so annoyed with those who preach a so called prosperity gospel,what can they tell those who are suffering for Christ ,they often loose everything,not just material possessions,but loved ones.In the normal course of events so many bad and sad things can happen to believers,and of course we have the devil who will do all he can, to cause us desert Christ. We must always remember that our dear Saviour knew all that he was going to suffer ,yet He marched braverly on, into his awful ordeal,and focused on the glory that lay beyond.( Hebrews 12 v 2-3)

Interruptions ( Proverbs 16 v 9)

Just recently my wife and went on a short holiday,we were staying at a holiday home, But when we arrived we were told there was no internet connection. We were a bit upset about it,they said we could come over to the reception which was connected to the inter-net.So I did eventually  go over , there was a young girl called Jada on reception who offered to set it up,I accepted her offer. As she was setting it up,I told her that it was important for me to have the use of my laptop,as I puplished a  Christian  message everyday,then she said,' I would like to be a Christian',so I witnessed to her about Christ,even showed her the daily reading for the day ,I asked her would she like me to pray for her,she agreed with that.She seemed a genuine girl ,I didn't pressure her into making a discision,and so I left it at that.I thought about what had happened  if  I had, had the use of the internet I more likely would  never have been able to witness to that young  girl.Let us all remember God is in control of our lives,are going out and our coming in,those interruptions  we get frustrated with, are in Gods hands.Hopefully what happened will lead to the salvation of that young girl ,now here is your part , pray for that young girl ,that she will come to know Christ as her Saviour.

Minute beings ( Isaiah 40 v 22)

I like where I Iive  ,but one thing I don't like is the fact when one looks up into the heavens,I usally can only see a few stars,because  of light pollution. It must be wonderful to be an astronomer,the universe is so vast,when it comes to distances it is absolutely mind blowing,and the number of stars and planets,only God knows. In the vastness of the universe our little planet is very ,very small,a pin prick,and just imagine how small we are,we are less than pin pricks. And yet we read  that it is this planet and its imhabitants that are very special in God's eyes,as indeed every individual .For every individual in its initial state was the crown of His creation,but it all went awfully wrong,disastrously wrong.Yet is spite of that God still loved them,yes these minute creatures ,would still have a possiblity of being saved,Yes in the great scheme of things,these sinful rebellious creation are not overlooked by a Sovereign God.And so He put into action a plan that would redeem you and I to Himself,by sending Jesus into this world, to be a Saviour for all those who put their trust in Him.

                                            'Yes God so loved these minute beings,

                                             that He gave His only begotten Son

                                             that whoever believes in Him should

                                             not perish but have everlasting life.'

                                       

                                          

                                             

Momey, money,money.( 1 Timothy 6 v 10)

 In the early church,there was published a Christian  document of instructions ,the following was given to travelling apostles' (missionaries) and prophets.Such would need hospitality  ,So here is what was written,'He shall not abide more than one day,or if  there be a need,a second likewise; but if he abide three days,he is a false prophet.And when he departeth let the apostle receive nothing but bread,until he findeth shelter;but if he ask money,he is a false prophet'. It was the apostle Paul who declared,'We do not peddle the word of God for profit'  (2 Corinthians 2 v 17) It is Peter writing to the leaders of the church said 'do not be greedy for money'(2 Peter 5 v2 ) Edmund Clowney writes,' Enemies of the gospel rejoice when scandle brings to light the vast sums garnered by television evangelist in the United States. Even  preachers with a recognizable gospel message discredit their words with aconstant demands for money, money that must pass through their hands to build their empires'.My dear wife who is self employed ,works mainly with the elderly,and she has said to me 'its not just about the money' Although the labourer  deserves their wages,that includes ministers,they should never be exploited,nor also they should never exploit others.

It is a sin to tell a lie (Proverbs 12 v 26)

Sometimes it is hard to know when one is telling the truth,I'm reminded of Walt Disney's  version of Carlo Collodi's book  'Pinocchio'.It was Geppetto the impoverished wood carver who carved Pinocchio out of a block of wood,and it magically became alive.There is point in this lovely story that his nose grows longer when he is speaking to Geppetto because he is telling lies.It is funny and yet  its not funny,our nose may not grow bigger if we tell lies  ,it is more serious than that,it is a sin, and if it is sin then we shouldn't do it.There is a couple in the Acts 5 called Ananias and Sapphira who told a lie which is described  as lying unto the Holy Ghost,and God struck them both down dead.Of course everyone does not get struck down dead for telling lies,otherwise there would be no survivors. Nor does our nose grow longer when we tell a lie,if that where so we would all have long noses. There is something that is impossible for God to do,that is to tell a lie,(Hebrew 6 v18),it is not impossible for us to tell a lie,but may we seek to be more like our loving heavenly Father.

Suffering ( Revelation 2 v 10)

There are many different types of suffering ,it is Peter in his epistle writes of a particular suffering, it was suffering that  the early church would begin to experience, It would begin under the emperor Nero would inflict  upon the church of Christ,so it started on the first century until the 4th century.Of course it has neaver really ceased for up until this day many ,many Christians in many lands are suffering persecution.One may be surprised at that, surely one would think in should not be happening in 21st century.Our Saviour said ,'Blessed are those who are perseuted because of  righteousness,and in John 15 v20 He also said ,' If they persecuted me,they will persecute you also'. Peter who would suffer martyrdom declared to those Christians he was writing to,'Dear friends , do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal  that has come to test you,as though something strange were happening to you'. (1Peter 4 v12) Peter declares their suffering as God testing them,they could escape persecution  if they would deny Christ.In the 2nd century the bishop of Smyrna was arrested and he was brought before the Roman authorities,the proconsul urged him to offer incense to Caesar,he was told 'Take the oath', and I  shall release you. Curse Christ'Polycarp replied, 'Eighty -six years I  have served Him,and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me',and so he was put to death.

                                                                     A prayer

                                     'Lord help us to never deny you,even it means death'

                                                                       Amen

                                                             

I am a new creation. ( Romans 6 v 18 )

 Edmund Clowney writes ,'There are two ways of life. One is determined by the will of God. The other is marked out by the the will of the Gentile nations,what pagans choose to do. The two cannot be blended; no one can serve two masters.'  Nothing is changed ,I  remember 61 yrs ago when I came back to the Lord,I had a very good friend ,we had been friends since we were kids,but from that time on he went his way and I went God's way. Becoming a Christian means you are dying to your old way of life,It is illustrated in Baptism, where we read in Romans 6 v 3. 'All of us who were baptised into  Christ Jesus were baptised into His death.' it unites us with our Saviour in his death',So when you are baptised you are declaring I have died to my old life,no more bad language, sinful behaviour, wrong thought life, bad and sinful habits, we should see ourselves as dead to them. Baptisim speaks of resurrection, that means a life that is different, people will see the difference ,we will not be perfect in our behaviour,we may fall into sin,but we will not walk in sin.John writing to Christians tells them to confess their sins,and God will forgive them. (1 John 1 v 9 )

                                                  'More purity give me,more strength to o'ercome;

                                                   More freedom from earth-stains,more longing for home;

                                                   More fit for the kingdom, more used would I be;

                                                   More blessed and holy,more Saviour ,like Thee'.

                                                                           Philipp Bliss

He knows how we feel. ( Hebrews 4 v 15-16 )

 One of the reasons God sends trials and diffiulties into our lives is that we may better understand other peoples suffering.The best word to describe it, is empathy,which means the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.One person puts it like this ,'It involves stepping into someone else's shoes and  experiencing their emotions,thoughts and perspectives'.It is  generally felt that many people don't  understand mental illness, its not until they  personally experience mental illness they begin to understand what it means.At this time I am experiencing something different, and I wondered why,the answer that came to me was,now I  know how other people feel who are experiencing what I'm feeling. Consider our Saviour who is not only our Saviour, but our great High Priest,and one the quaifications of  Him  being our High Priest was the fact that as Hebrews 4 v15 tells us,'For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one  who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet he did not sin'.It can truly be said ,no one understands like Jesus,and that's a great comfort to all of us,you can never say to Him that you don't know how I feel,He does,and He cares.

All the way( Hebrews 13 v 16 -18 )

 As I was praying a verse of a hymn came into my mind ,it was written by the blind hymn writer ,Fanny J. Crosby,she was one of the most prolific hymn writers of all time.She became blind when she was only a child , a doctor used the wrong ointment.She never was  bitter about this,and didn't let her blindness hold her back. Many hymns were written out the of hymn writers own experience,and we also can identify with what  she wrote.So here is the verse from  the hymn that came into my mind.

                                                        'All the way my Saviour leads me;

                                                        What have I to ask beside?

                                                         Can I doubt his tender mercy,

                                                         Who through life has been my guide?

                                                          Heavenly peace divinest comfort,

                                                          Here by faith in Him to dwell!

                                                          For I know whate'er befallme,

                                                          Jesus doeth all things well'

I have been following my Saviour for 61yrs ,and I would say amen to those word,for as I look back the most wonderful thing that fills my heart with praise,is my Saviours abiding presence,I have never lost the preciousness of  that reality. The walking with Jesus is a walk of faith,not based on feelings or circumstances. A faith that declares like Fanny that whatever befalls us Jesus makes no mistake but does all things well.

                                                          

                                                      

There is mercy. (Jeremiah 25)

Why did God  punish His people by sending the nation of Babylon (whose king was Nebuchadnezzar  )to defeat and conquer them,most of them would die,awful things would take place,a small number would be spared ,but would go into captivity.In Jeremiah25 the prophet tells us why.v3 'The word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again,but you have not listened. He ministered for forty years  urging them to turn from their evil ways,and evil practices,and if they did mercy would be shown to them.They were to stop following other Gods to stop serving them and worshiping them,other prophets had spoken to them, but to no avail.So God says.But you did not listen to me, and you have aroused my anger,and so they have no one to bame for the judgment that was going to fall upon them.Of all people surely they should have listen to Him but they didn't listen,so God had ,had enough and Judgement would fall.But God is merciful and He promised that  the captivity would only last 70yrs. yes God is merciful to His disobedient children.and to those who are not His children if they forsake their disobedient ways ways.For you who are not Christians there is mercy for you ,even though in the words of Charles Wesley, 'You have long  withstood His grace,Long provked Him to His face,Would not hearkeen to His calls, grieved Him  by a thousand falls'.

                                                      'In seeking mercy we must seek Christ'

                                                                 

He giveth,He taketh away. ( Proverbs 27 v1 )

It was my 81st birthday, and I was talking to a lady,and I mentioned that it was my birthday,I then asked a leading question ,'how old do you think I am? she said 40,she really did, a 81 yr old looking like a 40yr old,marvellous ,then our conversation ended and I put the phone down.I must face facts ,no she was right. So much for my humour now back to reality.Psalm 90 v 10 reads,'Seventy years are given to us!Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble,soon they disappear,and we fly away'Consider the opening words,'Seventy years are given to  us!'who is the one us who gives us this life? God (Genesis 1 v 27/ 1 Timothy  6 v13) In  Ps 90 v 12,we read,'Teach us to number our days,that we may get a heart of wisdom' I would put over those words,teach me to live in the light of eternity.How few think about that,they live as if this is all there is,the fact is it's not,for the Bible tells us,'After death there is Judgement(Hebrews 9 v 27)Our life will soon be ended,our days are numbered and it is God who is doing the numbering.Yes soon we will fly away,but where are are we flying to?is it heaven or is it hell?,The only way to get to heaven is by trusting Jesus,and the only way of escaping hell is by trusting Jesus.

We deserve (Ephesians 2 v 1- 5)

 There is so much that one could say about the faithfulness of God,in Lamentations 3 v 22-23, we read, 'Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for  his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness'These are astonishing word for it is spoken by the prophet Jeremiah standing in the ruins of Jerusalem,the city had been overthrown by Babylon ,many had perished  few had survived.This was a judgement from God on Judah for there sinfulness, CP  Jeremiah 2 v11-13,in Ezekiel 15 ,Jerusalem is called an adulterous wife,this chapter makes grim reading.God sent Prophets to warn them but they just contiued  on their sinful behaviour,They exhausted God's patience and so judgement fell,Habakkuk was amazed that God would use such a dreadful nation to judge His people,but He did. The whole nation deserved to be wiped out for their sinfulness,but God spared a remnant,and for that Jeremiah was grateful,he writes of the Lords Great love,his wonderful compassion,and great faithfulness.What we do not realise is, that God would be justified in destroying every human being on earth,right now.But out of His love,compassion,and faithfulness,He sent Jesus into this world,to redeem a people unto Himself,that if they believe in Him they will not perish,reject Him and they will perish.

                                                 'To God be the Glory! Great things He hath done!

                                                  So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

                                                   Who yielded His Life an atonement for sin

                                                   And opened the life gate that we may go in.'

                                                                  Words Fanny J. Crosby