They need more ( Isaiah 55 ) 2

 Yesterday we considered the needy people in this world ,needing help  in so many ways,After Jesus had fed the five thousand , many of people followed Him,people who felt that He was their meal ticket (John 6 v 26),He reminded them that,'He was the bread of life',the bread He had given them,satisfied their physical needs,but it could not supply their spiritual needs,only He could do that.So many people are hungry  just for the things of this world, they are blind of their souls need, yes we should help people ,but we should never forget that their greatest need is Christ.There are religious charlatans ,in other words individuals who exploit people's  faith and gullibility for personal gain,They often perform  fake miracles,create elaborate scams,or present themselves as having a special connection to  God to enrich themselves,and building a following.These words describe the prosperity gospel people.We are and have a soul that will never cease to exsist,but without Christ we will go to a lost eternity. I repeat ,only Christ can meet the deepest need of the soul,your soul,my soul,everybodv's soul.

9

None other. ( Exodus 20 v 3)

 When Geza king of Hungary became a Christian he was reproached by a monk for continuing to offer sacrifice 'to various gods',he cheerily acknowledged  that hedging his bets' had brought him both wealth and great power'.When Paul visited Athens he found an altar with an inscription .'To an unknown God (Acts 17 v 23) could be they were hedging their bets. The thing is you  cannot worship other gods,and be a Christian,there is one God,we cannot compromise . Satan  temped Jesus  by offering him all the glories of this world ,if only he worshipped him,and Jesus answered,'It is written:''Worship  the Lord your God and serve only Him''(Matthew 4 v 5-7) in  1 Corinthians 10 v 20  Paul told the Christians that the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,not to God'. The devil is behind every false religion,yes every false religion,no exceptions.We must take that very serious,it is no good ignoring what scriptures tells us. Our great triune  God is the only God there is,there is none other.we worship Him and none other.

Storms ( Hebrews 6 v 19)

I was walking with a friend  and I noticed a large anchor,my friend told me it was called an'Admiral Patton Anchor'.It reminded me of a hymn we used to sing by Priscilla Jane.Owens , the first verse goes,'Will your anchor in the storms of life? that's a very good question and I wonder how you  will answer that question?there are many storms in life  some of our own making. We are married and our marriage appears to be falling apart, there is usually a reason ,but what ever  the reason,you're scared,frightened, and don't know where to turn to.Could be you just have been diagnosed with a serious health  problem,will you survive it?,so many things are going on in your head. Job loss how are you going to get by it is like being in in a storm,and you feel like you are  drowning.Then there is your children,they are in trouble,and it seems there is nothing you can do about it,another storm.They are never far away ,they come when you least expect them,these are some of the storms we get into,is there an answer?,here is the chorus of that old hymn.

                                                    'We have an anchor that keeps the soul

                                                     Steadfast and sure like the billows roll;

                                                     Fastened to the rock which cannot move,

                                                     Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour love! ,'

I read this on the internet ,'The anchor symbolizes Christ ,and its through Him,we receive inner strength, enabling us to persevere in all the storms in life ,and to be more conquerors.

                                                            

Stay clean ( Proverbs 2 )

 The Psalmist  in Psalm 119 v 9 writes,'How can a young person stay on the path of purity? now that's a very good question.Looking  back on my youth I was a bit out of control,but I wasn't going on with Lord then, yet I beleve God in His mercy held me back from certain things.The young people of the day face a lot things ,thing like drugs,sexual immorality,they have a lot of freedom,the sort of fredom that can lead them into trouble.Knife crime is prevalient among young people,many of them live in fear and so one could go on.The Christian young person has a graeat advantage,as to living a life of purity or as the Message puts it,'a clean life', here is the answer,'By living  according to your word'.Many drivers get into trouble by not sticking to the highway code,or whatever rules in different countries.So the young  Christians should  follow what the word of  God says about sex, in Hebrews 13 v 4 ,' we read 'Marriage is honorable',sleeping around is not honorable,Aids still  affects many countries,venereal disease is very prevalent,unwelcome pregnanices  are very common these day,if we put sex within marriage you rule out all those things. Remember sex outside of marriage is a sin, read 1Thessalonians 4 v 3- 5.

Freedom (Mark 5 v1-20)

In 722AD a bishop called Boniface was given the task of taking the gospel to the pagans east of the Rhine in central Germany. When he reached his destination  ,there stood a great oak,sacred to the  people there,they saw it as a fearsome god,whose hammer blows could split mountains.Boniface  chopped it down.Then ,with its timbers he built a church. The fact that nothing happened to  Boniface freed them from  the worship of that false god,and they turned to Christ,the Bible tells us that Israel worshipped god's who were not gods.The  world is full of so many god's who are not god's.God's that can do nothing for them,but enslave them,and take them to a lost eternity. In Colossians 2v 15 we read that Christ through His death on the cross and His resurrection ,triumphed over evil forces,defeating  them making a public spectacle of them.Turn from your false gods and turn to  Christ ,he can free you,from their power and bondage.

Giving (Deuteronomy 15 v10 ) 2

Last time we mentioned that we are not under a law of  tithing, so where does that leave us?.Our Saviour had much to say about money in Matthew 6 v 19ff He tells us not to be hoarders of money  and not to be slaves of money, money has not to be our master.He also speaks of the uncertainty of riches,and says we should lay up treasures in heaven. How do we do that? by being generous with it,and sometimes given sacrificially,like the poor widow women ,who give her all( Mark 12 v41-44/Luke 21 v1ff)Or like the Macedonian  churches in 2 Corinthians 8 who although poor give out of their extreme poverty, Paul adds but they first gave themselves to the Lord ,a reminder that God does not want or need your money,but He wants you,most of all.Those prosperity preachers don't want you they want your money,plain and simple as that.I remember someone said, this about money,'save some,spend some and give some.'  The Bible  tells us to give and it shall be given unto us,now we do not give to get,but God will honour our giving(1 Samuel 2 v30).When we give we should do it anonymously (Matthew 6 v3),whatever we do we should do , to the glory of God ( 1 Corinthians 10 v31)

Giving a tenth ( 2 Corinthians 9 v6-9) 1

Martin Luther said, three things happen as regards conversion,'Conversion  of the heart,conversion  of the soul,and conversion of the purse'.Lets  consider the latter ,for most of my Christian life,I went along with  tithing as was taught in the church I attended .But the question is this , as Christians  are we told to give a tenth of our earnings? are we under the law as regards tithing?Recently I listened to a minister on the importance  of Christians giving a tenth of  their money to support God's work. He used scripture in Malachi 3 v6-12,which  highlights that's God's people were breaking were Gods covenant by withholding tithes and offerings,declaring  they were robbing God.Again let me ask you the question  does this apply to us as Christians?,the answer is no. Most people mention one tithe,but in fact there were three tithes mention in the OT (Num 18v21-24/Deut 14v22-29)one could call them the law of the tithe. That minister who I heard preaching  never used any scripture from the NT in his preaching as regards tithing,because there is none.If we are not under the law of tithing  then how much should we give ?.1Corinthians 16 v2 reads ,'Set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income',we will consider  the  subject of giving next time.

The wrath of God ( Romans 1 v16)

 The wrath of God is something that many do not like ,they say we cannot reconcile the God who is love ( (1 John 4 v 8),with such a doctrine. If you  read the word of God you will see time after time God's wrath in action.,on a world scale Genesis 6-7.on cities Genesis Gen 19, on nations such as Egypt Gen 7-11.on individuals Leviticus 10'.But about the, New Testament?  Acts 5 /12v19-23.We have to acknowledge that we do read of God's wrath recorded  for us, but we do have it taught in many places Jesus spoke often of Gods Cp Matthew 10 v 28 /11 v20-24./24 v51/25 v41-46/ Luke 16 v19ff./John 3 v16/v36.We will move on to consider Romans 1 v 18'The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people,who suppress the truth by their wickedness'' Here the apostle clearly speaks of wrath,as being a fact and were it come from,'from heaven', directed against all the godless and wicked people.You may think that God's judgement is just towards the worst of sinners,until people trust Christ the wrath of God abides (3 v36)People who object to the wrath of God,minimise the seriousness of even one sin,one sin by Adam and Eve the moment they did that, sin and death entered this world.All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Romans 3 v36.The only escape from judgement is by trusting  Jesus to be your Saviour.

                                                          There's a way back to God 

                                                          From the dark paths of Sin,

                                                          There's a door that is open

                                                          and you may go in.

                                                          Calvarys cross is where you begin

                                                          When you come as a sinner

                                                                         To  Jesus.

                                                           

The wrath of man. { Isaiah 53 v 7)

 How great was our Saviours suffering?it involved two things,'the wrath of man and the wrath of God, let us consider the first one, Let us first look 'the wrath of man', It began with a man called Judas ,a supposed follower of  Christ who was becoming more and more disillusioned with Christ, their didn't appear to be any pay day coming.He was a man obessed with money and the devil entered into him,beware that you don't let sinful cravings take over your life ,the devil will take advantage and drive you to destruction.He knew how the religious leaders wanted rid of Jesus,oh yes they had their perverted reasons,they hated and envied Him.They were delighted when Judas came to them,and he received 30 piieces of silver (Lk 22ff) Judas took the money and waited for an opportunity to betray Jesus,eventualy it came,I would add Jesus knew what was coming,but He bravely and  courageously went forward to His destination.Remember no one forced him to die on the Cross,He said ,'No one takes it from me(His life) ,but I  lay it down of my own accord, I  have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again (Jn 10 v18) So let us move on to the garden  where Judas betrayed Him,He was then arrested and taken to be tried first by Annas,there he was slapped in the face (Jn 18 v22)this was followed by more abuse(Mt 26 v67). He was then taken to Caiaphas and then to Pilate to be tried,he sent him over to Herod and then He was returned to Pilate who in the end  gave into the demands of the Jews to crucify Him, He then was flogged,  He was then taken out to the soldiers He was mocked and beaten,and a crown of thorns put on His head, then he was taken to be crucified,To get the full graphic picture of the state his body, we turn to Isaiah's account in 52 v 14,we read,'Just as there were many who were appalled at Him,his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness'

                                                        'Such was the wrath of man'.

An appointed time ( Habakkuk 3 v 16-19)

 The prophet Habakkuk was told by God what he was going to do,it was grave news,his country would be invaded,and it would be devastating.Nothing was to change, it had come to the point of no return,Judah had shown  no signs of repentance,they were not for turning from their evil ways.Having heard this Habakkuk  turns aside to wait on God ,he had complained to God and  he wanted a reply.So God replied to him,he is told to write the revelation down,and He says this,'The revelation awaits an appointed time,'(2 v 3) it would come into being in God's appointed time. God has His time table,and its often contrary to ours, we are all a bit like Habakkuk ,we have questions as to why God did not act in certain situations.There are many of  God's people who are suffering,many are  being lead like lambs to the slaughter,they are being called to be faithful even unto death (Revelation 2 v10) It will always be like that,but at the apponted time,all such suffering will cease when Christ comes back again. That is one aspect as regards God's appointed timing, but His appointed timing includes also, delivering,providing, saving,helping God's  people,just at the right time.

Awesomeness ( Romans 1 v 18 -20)

 One thing I miss is seeing the stars,I see just a few,light pollution hides them from me. Sometimes we catch a glimps of the awesomeness of the universe we live in on TV.God's ceation is truly wonderful. Sometimes a friend and I go to a bird sanctury and a man there said he had spotted a Peregrine Falcon,my friend who used to be bird watcher when he was young , so he is very knowledgeable told me that  the Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal on earth,reaching speeds of 300 Km/h or over 200 mls per hour.It reaches that speed when diving on its prey,from a great height, it is the most  aerodynamic of all birds,I wonder who designed it?. So many people have lost the awe factor and the awesomeness of creation, and the awesomeness of their Creator,they know so much yet know so little

                                                        'All things bright and beautiful,

                                                        All creatures great and small,

                                                        All things wise and wonderful,

                                                       The Lord God made them all'

                                                            Words  Cecil F, Alexander

Persecution 2 ( John 14 v 28)

 I wrote last time of the persecution of the church of Christ,that it went on for a long time,and I finished by saying ,'to believe that a Caesar might be  won  for Christ was  indeed to believe in miracles',well the miracle happened,Constantine the Great became a Christian ,he would reign for 31yrs.Much would change,but not everything,slavery didn't,some Christians saw it as a neccessary evil,it was taken for granted by many Christians,there were those like Gregory who spoke of the  evil of it.But Christianty did make a difference no longer were slaves of no importance for Christianity taught that in Christ they had a new standing ,spiritually  they were now equal citizens of the Kingdom of God, for in Christ,'There is neither Jew nor Gentile,neither slave nor free,nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus'.A new reality had come into being that in itself  was a miracle.In a world we expect things right now,but that's not the way things happen.There so many things needing to change in this world,awful things,the church is still being persecuted,Isalamic violence is beyond descrpition,a religion that holds a knife at the throats of its followers,if they dare to question their religion,or leave it.Yes there is so much that  needs to change.As for myself and many others we lift our eyes heavenward ,and pray even so come Lord Jesus, for  His coming  will be the final solution for this world.

Persecution (1 Peter 4 v12-19)1

For over 300yrs Christians were  persecuted under the Emperors of Rome the most severe persecution happened under Diocletian, it lasted for 8yrs. It was Origen  who said,'Should  the Romans embrace the Christian faith,'he had declared, then their prayers would see them overcome their enemies;or rather, having come under the protection of God,they would have no nemies at all'.The Christian church will always have enemies. of some sort or other,many Christians today are suffering in many places in this world,people scratch their head  and say ,why are they doing that?why indeed?.It was Peter who wrote,'Dear friends ,do not be surprised at the very ordeal that has come on you to test you,as though  something strange were happening to you.'And of course Peter would experence marytom,being crucified upside down,his fellow apostle Paul was beheaded. Commenting on the persecution under Rome one  writer declared,'to believe that a Caesar  might be won for Christ was indeed to believe in miracles'.We will look at  this next time.

Praise ( 2 Chronicles 20 v 1-29)

                                                                   Psalm 50 v23

                                                 Who so offereth praise glorifeth Me.

                                         'Let everything that has breath praise the Lord

                                        'I'll praise in the valley, praise on the mountain

                                        I'll praise Him when I'm sure,praise Him when I'm doubting,

                                        I'll praise Him when out numbered,praise when surrounded

                                                  

                                                As long as I'm  breathing I've got a reason to

                                                Praise the Lord,O my soul

                                                Praise the Lord,oh my soul.

                                         I'll praise when I feel it,and  I'll praise when I don't

                                         I'll praise cause I know you You're still in control

                                         Cause my praise is a weapon,it's more than a sound

                                          Oh, my praise is the shout that brings Jericho down.'

                                                     Words Chris Brown/Chandler moore.

                                                

                                       

                               

Suffering ( Luke 22 v 42)

 Job was a very godly man,we read,he was blameless and upright,that does not mean to say he was sinless, he acknowledged this in 9 v20 /40 v4/42 v6. We must never loose sight of the whole of humanities nature,it is a fallen nature,and the best of men and women are sinners.Job was a good father  CP. ch1,he helped others 29 v 12ff/ 31v 32.Now here was this good man and in a blink of an eye his whole whole fell apart,he lost one thing after another,all his flocks were taken,next his ten  children were taken yes all of them,next his health was taken.He didn't understand,what would the so called prosperity gospel say to all Jobs suffering.We need to accept the fact that good people will suffer we may find it hard to accept this.Job's wife did ,and even Job found it hard to accept.As a general rule God will preserve us from much evil,and He promises us that in His word, All things come under the umbrella of God's will all things,so it was for Job ,so it is for us,and so it was for Christ. Job didn't understand his  suffering ,but in the end he bowed to Gods will,as we must do.

                                                            'Renew my will from day today,

                                                            Blend it with Thine and take away

                                                            All that now makes it hard to say

                                                            Thy will be done.'

No giving up ( 2 Timothy 4 v 6-8)

 I love Pilgrims Progress it is about man on a journey his name  is Christiam ,He  meets all sorts of people they are called by strange names that sum  up their character.There is a point on his  journey they came to a  hill called Difficulty on either side there where two broad roads.He and his companions made a choice as to which way they would go, we read of a man called Formalist he chose to go to the left ,which  led him into a dark wood.Did he but know it, the road was called danger,and he lost his way forever.Christians other companion called Hypocrisy chose to go to the right, which led him unto rough ground , and full of holes.he did not know  that the road was called Destruction.Here he fell, and rose no more.As for Christian, he paused  and drank at a spring  to refresh himself. Then after looking both ways, he started briskly straight on up the hill called Difficulty.Let us remember the road that leads to heaven is not paved with gold,no there will be many difficuties on the way many inticements, God has not promised us skies always blue. Matthew 24 v13 tells us,that one who endures to the end will be saved, it  reminds us that the Christian life must be one of steadfast faith until the end of ones life,facing trials and persecution with perseverance.

Perfect ( 2 Timothy 3 v16)

 It is John Blanchard  in his commentary on James  writes as regards four things about God ( 1) 'His works are perfect. (2) His way is perfect.( 3) His will is perfect.( 4 )His word is perfect.Let us have  a brief look at these 4 things,'His works are perfect',in Psalm  139 v14  David declares,'I am fearfully and wonderfully made'.The word fearfully has with it  a sense of awe and respect.our whole body,look on the internet, consider what it tells us the body that has one trillion cells,think of that,and they it say it just happened, how blind they are,.( 2) 'His way is perrfect'.That is what we are told in Psalm 18 v 30, it could be as you read these words you doubt what is said,cast that doubt aside,He makes no mistakes,lean on these words and trust your God who makes no mistakes.(3 ) His will is perfect, Romans 12 v2 tells us that His will is good,pleasing ,and perfect,we can never go wrong when we walk in obedience to God's will (4) 'His word is perfect.' This wonderful bible has been miraculously preserved,in it we have the very word of God,a word  that brings hope to us,a word that never changes,a word that tells us about a wonderful Saviour . 

Memory lane ( 1 Samuel 7 v12 )

There are events  that one never forgets,after leaving Bible college we applied to missions and no door opened up,I managed a Christian book shop  until it closed, but eventually a door opened a church in England called me to be their pastor.And so the day arrived to set off on our journey ,my wife and our four children,in our little Morris Minor someone had bought for us.I read earlier that day  a reading from a devotional called 'Daily Light',it is just full of scripture,I read these words,'He lead them on safetly'(Psalm 78 v 53)  and then I read,'Behold,I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared'(Exodus 23 v20)What a wonderful word as we set of on our journey,two  things happened first we got a puncture but we got that fixed,next the fanbelt was loose ,but we got fixed also,and we drove through London and eventually we arrived safe and sound.It was the blind Hymn writer Fanny J.Crosby who wrote the following words.

                                                          'All the way my Saviour leads me;

                                                           What have I to ask beside?

                                                           Can I doubt His tender mercy,

                                                            Who through life hads been my guide?

Hope ( Colossians 1 v 27)

 One of my favourite programs was Poirot a fictional character  created by Agatha Christie,it was on TV for 25yrs ,I'm sure I've watch every program. The actor who  played Poitot was David Suchet a wonderful actor,he made the charactor his own,no one played him better.Let me tell you about David he was a Jew,but in 1986  he  converted to Christianity , his conversion came about  after making a documentry on the apostle Paul. He was asked did he believe in an after life?he replied, '' I can't be a Christian if I don't believe  that. And that is my hope.And that is the one glorious word in the Christian faith: hope of the afterlife''.The  resurrection of Christ was an historical event,in Michael Haag's book the ,'Tragedy of the Templar's,he tells that there were those who sought to destroy the tomb  were Jesus was laid,.chipping away at it.It will not change the truth, that He died for our sins,and rose again the third day.The death and the resurrection of our Saviour brings us as David Suchet said,'hope of the afterlife'

                                           ' Jesus said....'I am the resurrection and the life

                                            The one who believes in me will live,even though 

                                            they die'(  John 11 v 25}

Give a reason ( 1 Peter 3 v 13-16)

 In 1Peter chapter 3-4 ,he writes to the Christians as regards suffering for ones faith,he reminds them and us, of Christ's suffering.It is easy with the threat of suffering hanging over your head,you will shy away from being a witness for Christ. He writes of those who threaten them,'Do not fear their threats,do not be frightened'(3 v14)Then he goes unto write,'But in your hearts revere Christ,look beyond their adversaries to Christ,W .Barclay writes quoting Isaiah 8 v13 ,which reads ,''Santify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear,and let Him be your dread''Baised on that we should,'Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you, to give the reason for the hope that you have.'What is the answer simply this,'Christ', not in earthly things,which do not fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts.There is no total security in this world,but there is in Christ. when the things we value are taken from us,we have Christ. Peter adds that our reply should be with gentleness and respect'

What think you of Christ? ( Titus 2 v 13)

In Matthew 16 v15 Jesus asked the question to his disciples,' Who do you say I am?' a very important  question.John Newton wrote 'What think you of Christ? is the test.To try both your state and your schem. You cannot be right in the rest, unless you think rightly of Him',The cults see  Him not as God,Islam see Hin as a prophet.Christians see Him as God,as did all the disciples.Matthew 16 v16/ John20 v28.In the early church the question arose as to whom Christ was, the Christian emperor felt it was going to cause divison within the church,so he summoned the First General Council of the Church at Nicaea.There was two veiws as to whom Christ was,one was the Arian point of veiw that He was only a man,and the Trinitarian point of veiw ,that  Christ was truly God and truly human, His humanity was sinless   (Hebrews 4 v15)  There was a vote taken it was decided by 218 votes to two,in favour of the  trinitarian point of veiw. The word of God clearly teaches the divinity of Christ and we must hold fast to that truth.  

                                                 'In Him,the human and divine embrace, 

                                                 A  sacred union , full of power and grace.

                                                 No mere man,yet flesh and blood He bore,

                                                 A Son of God,for ever and evermore'.          

In Matthew 16 v

 

There is a cost. ( Luke 14 v25-33)

There I was watching TV the program they were covering was about football,and I saw a poster with these words on it,'This is more than a hobby,this is our lives'.In another football ground we have words like,'This is our religion' People would say that about many things,music ,art  and so on,what I think is, 'everything in it's place'. In Luke 14 v 26 Jesus said a very challenging thing ,If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother,wife and children,brothers and sisters,yes even their own life,such a person cannot be my disciples'.Now what does He mean by those words?,One has put it like this ,'Jesus is teaching His followers,to prioratize their devotion to Him above all else,including family'.The words He spoke to Peter are applicable,'Do you love me more than these?' John 21 v 15.Many missionaries have paid dearly in serving Christ,the apostle Paul ,Peter,and most of  apostles,showed  a love for Christ that was greater than their lives.Jesus didn't beat around the bush,He let us know what it would involve if one followed Him.

                                                    'Our salvation costs us nothing

                                                    but following Christ will cost

                                                     us everything'

They are lost. ( Romans 10 v14 )

 Jesus speaking to His disciples said .'Don't you have a saying,''It's still four months until harvest''? I tell you,open your eyes and look on the fields!They are ripe for harvest'.(John 4 v 35).The need is great ,so many people without Christ, the need is urgent.So  many lost souls,they don't know where they are going,the answer is very stark,without Christ they are going to a lost eternity ,where there's no get out clause,once a soul enters hell that's it.There are so many people who are suffering in this world,awful things are happening to people , sickness abounds, the world is a very violent place and so we could go on,Awful as that may be,and what I say I don't say lightly,but it needs to be said,our earthly suffering awful though it may be,can not compare to going to hell.The fact is we cannot change the suffering of this world,but we can escape the after death  suffering  ,by seeking forgiveness and trusting Christ as ones Saviour.As Christians we must see the urgency of telling  people about Christ now, that's our responsibilty. 

                                                                    A Prayer

                                                 'Lead me to some soul today

                                                 O teach me Lord,just what to say

                                                 Friends of mine are lost in sin,

                                                 And cannot find their way.

                                                 Few there are who seem to care,

                                                 And few there are who pray;

                                                Melt my heart,and fill my life,

                                                Give me one soul today'  (Words byW,H.Houghton)

                                                               

                                                        

How long must I cry for help.( I Psalm 40 v1)

We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ,but it does not stop there,for we read in Habakkuk 2 v 4 ,' the just shall live by faith',Why do we need faith?,because it is essential for a relationship with God.As a Christian we are called to walk by faith with God 24/7. It is vital,when we start leaning on our own understanding,we will soon loose our way and become confused in our thinking and in our theology,this can result in wandering away from God's word and from Him.In a church where I was a joint leader we had a deacon,and thats what he did.Now let us consider Habakkuk the man who sought answers.Let us remember living by faith brings it's challenges,and Habukkuk had plenty. Verse 2 of chap1,reads,' How long ,O Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen.'but of course God was listening,we can see that by what follows.God is not indifferent to His children's prayers.,He will answer in His time,yes the answer was coming,the silence of God is a test to our faith,we are called to trust Him when he is silent,and wait patiently for His answer, 

                                                  ' The answer is already on its way'

His kingdom come( Matthew 7 v13-14)

Jesus taught us a prayer in Matthew 6 v 9-13, the beginning of verse 10  reads ,'Your kingdom come',every day I pray these words. Every day the good news is being proclaimed through out this world, on the internet,by personal witnessing,by godly wistessing,it is happening,nothing can stop the good news being proclaimed,but there are those who try .There is a wonderful verse in Habakkuk 2 v 14, which reads,'For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea'  .Our Saviour  said  'go and make disciple ,of all nations' (Matthew 28 v 19)  in  many ways this is happening,through evangelism ,and by many different means.,and through this many are coming to Christ.The knowledge of the Lord will be known,but let us remember many  will hear the Christmas carols,attend charol services,receive Christmas presents, and Christmas  cards,yet they will still not know Christ as their Saviour. The challenges that faces all of us, be we ministers or non-ministers,is to proclaim clearly the gospel,I often feel we are ashamed of the gospel we do not want to offend people.

                                                  'For I am not ashamed of the gospel 

                                                   of Christ,for it is the power of God

                                                  to salvation for everyone who believes.'

                                                                 Romans 1 v 16 .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Two momentous events ( Revelation 22 v13)

Most historians  when dating events usually put, 'BC meaning,'Before Christ',or 'AD stand for ;Anno Domomi', meaning ,'In the year of our Lord'.Now some historians are using two different terms,that are secular that avoids religious references, they are ,'Common Era and 'Before Common Era'.These secular terms make little sense to me and I'm sure to many people. For me as a Christian the most  important event in history is the comming of Christ, we must never forget this ,it is the only hope this world has,it is the only hope you and I have. Humanity left to its own devices,spells disaster,the technology that is being created. is wonderful,but it can be also bring disaster upon this world,we see this in so many pass leaders,who led people into do untold evil . Because of Christs first coming we have hope for the present ,when we embrace Him as our Saviour. But that is not the end there is another  momentous event.We will consider ,what that event  will be next time.

                                                   ' God comes down that man may rise

                                                    Lifted by Him to the skies,

                                                    Christ is Son of man that we

                                                    Sons of God in Him may be'

                                                     Words,'Christopher  Wordsworth.

You must be born again ( John 1 v 9- 13)

In John 3 v 7 our Saviour said ,'You must be born again',what did He mean by these words, Jesus spoke these words to a very religious Jew,and yet he did not understand what Jesus said.Jesus is talking about the vital importance of a spiritual birth,He is saying as you been born naturally so one needs to be born spiritually.If we are not born spiritually we cannot have a relationship with God unless we are born again,we are shut out from Him,we are not God's children.We may be very religious but that does not count,you may be a minister and you may have not been born again. If  you are not born again you are lost,you may have been baptised as a child as I was,but that does not make you a Christian,baptisim can save no one,baptisim is for believers,it is an open declaration of what  Christ has done for us. John the baptise,baptised people with water, he spoke of one who would baptise with the Holy Spirit. (John 1 v33) In 1 Corinthians12 v13 we read ,'we have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit',this is speaking of when we become a Christian when by faith we ask Jesus to be our Saviour.

Worshiping false gods ( 1 Corinthians 10 v 18 -22 )

I read a sad story of a women who died, and it was said of her she worshiped  her children, and another person whose dog died,said that he worshipped it.We should all love our children,and love our dogs,or whatever,but only God is to be worshiped, Exodus 20 v 3,tells us,'You shall have no other god's before me'. Thomas Watson wrote the following. 'The Valentinians held there were two gods;the Polytheists ,that were many;the Pesians worshipped the sun; the Egyptians,the ox and elephant; the Grecians,  .Deut 4 v39 declares 'Know therefore,this day,and consider it in thy heart,that the Lord he is God in  heaven above, and upon the earth beneath; there is none else'. Exodus 20 v 4 says,'You shall not make for yourself an image of anything  in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the waters below'.Yes humanity are so blind that they make their own own gods.and worship them', gods who are not gods.In Psalm 95 v5 (CPDV ),we read,'For all the gods of the Gentiles are demons,but the Lord  made the heavens'.So there is a very serious side of worshiping other gods,they are from the  devil himself,and only evil can become of that,they will lead straight to hell.

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Christ in you the hope of Glory ( Psalm 23 v 6 )

In Psalm 90 v10  we read,'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'Old age would be wonderful if we could go to the body shop.Samuel Johnson's reflection on this verse writes,'Unnmberesd maladies his joints invade,lay siege to life,and press the dire blockade'.One person said the following,''Even although one prays for an extension of life, if granted, it brings with it such weariness that we long to escape, a fact sufficiently true to experience,as Shakespeare reminds us,'Yet are these feet, whose strengthless day is numb, Unable to support this lump of clay,Swift winged with desire to get a grave'. Thomas Watson wrote; We come into the world with a cry,and we go out of  it with a groan.'Thankfully we have  more uplifting words from Spurgeon,'Mellowed  by hallowed experience, and solaced by immortal hopes, the latter days of aged Christians are not so much to be pitied,as envied.The sun is setting and the heat of the day is over, but sweet is the calm and cool of the eventide; and the fair day melts  away, not into a dark and dreary night,but into a glorious,unclouded,eternal day'.