It's impossible ( Genesis 1)

 It is Matthew Henry  who writes ,'atheism is folly,and atheists are the greatest fools in nature.For they see there is a world that could not make itself, and yet they will not own that there is a  God who made it.'. I am not a scientist ,so what do I know?,why should I question,those learned people?, because it dosn't make sense to say it just happened,it is impossible.Think of all the different species, from the smallest to the greatest.How many species are there in this world? well it is very impressive,we don't know the exact number,but there is reckoned to be at least 8.7 million eukaryotic species (organisms) that includes plants, animals, fungi,but excludes, bacteria,all this just happened. Could all these species just come into being ,by themselves? ,it is impossible,for to long this belief has had the high ground.The media runs with it, creation is excluded never mentioned,the torch bearers of evolution have the stage, robbing God  of  His glory..The Message commenting on Gen 1v1 writes,'The earth was a soup of nothingness,a bottomless emptiness,and inky blackness'.It could do nothing for its self. 'All there was,was dead matter, but God speaks, and out  of that disorder and confusion,this world came into place'. (Matthew Henry)

We would see Jesus ( Matthew 5 v 14-16)

 In a recent Medical News Network  report I read the following,'In some of the projects we support,we cannot evangelise openly and it is often in those places where our doctors and therapists are living testimonies.'They went on to use a quotation by St Francis of Assisi who have said ''Preach the gospel  at all times,and when necessary,use words'' They go on to say,'the importance of living a life of such Christ- likeness that it makes the world stop,think, and enquire about the Jesus we serve'.I remember reading a book about David Livingstone and his search for the source of the Nile.How his gentle softness had a great influence,in dealing with native tribe's.Peter in his epistle gives this advice to women married to  unbeliever's,he tells them ' that even if  some refuse to obey  the Good News,your godly lives will speak to them without any words.They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives'  ( 1 Peter 3 v 1-2)

                                                           'May our lives reflect Jesus'

Sin ( Romans 6 v23)

 Ralph Venning in his book,''The plague of Plagues'' lived at a time when the bubonic was prevalent,but it was not such a plague he is writing about, no he describes sin as the worst of evils and the plague of plagues'. It is book that highlights the all encompassing of sin ,as the Bible tells us,'that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3 v23. I am convinced that most people even Christians do not fully grasp what that means.It means the highest the lowest in the land  are sinners,a baby is not a practicing sinner but it is born with a nature that is sinful,for we are told in Romans 5 v12,'When Adam sinned ,sin entered the world.Adam's sin brought in death,so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned'.Many people are living longer now,but death will catch up with us all.I am going to die,you are going to die, that is inevitable,Now God loves humanity,so in love He did something wonderful ,as the first Adam brought death,so Christ the second Adam would bring life,not just life but eternal life. Christ would die on the cross, sin must be punished ,if you are not saved the wrath of God abides upon you now John 3 v36. But Jesus on that cross would bear the wrath of God for all those who believe on Him for the forgiveness of their sins.

                                                             Believe on the Lord Jesus

                                                             Christ and you shall be saved

                                                                         Acts 16 v31

God is love.( Romans 8 v 35- 39)

It was the apostle of love John who wrote those words ,'God is love', ( 1 John 4 v 8)  one man wrote the following ,'We do not believe in a mocking and capricious God,or in a blind and iron determinism'. His love reaches out to a wounded broken world with a heart of love.His love is always motivated towards what is best for us.Romans 8 v28 tells us,'And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,who have been called according to His purpose'.It does not say that all things are good but as one writer puts it,'It promises that God orchestrates all circumstances positive or negative for the ultimate spiritual good for believers'. Browning wrote the following,

                                                    ''God, Thou art love! I build my faith on that,

                                                      I know Thee who has kept my path and made

                                                      Light for me in the darkness,tempering sorrow

                                                      So that it reached me like a solemn joy.

                                                      It were too strange that I should doubt Thy love''

  

Be not frightened (Psalm 46)

 I have just listened to a politician and what he said would have put fear into people as to what he forecast, in the hope that people will vote for his party. Our dear Saviour spoke of a coming time when there will be wars and uprisings, then He adds,'Do not be frightened'.As one reads history we see a world of unending warfare. The first world war was not the war to end all wars,no it would be the beginning of more wars. Yet Jesus ,says do not be frightened (Luke 21v 9), I am sure many people feel like saying ,' stop the world, I want to get of'. We understand what they mean,they want to to escape from this war torn planet,but the question is where can they go to?,there is no escape,from all that life throws at us,that's at a horizontal level, hear those words spoken by Jesus ,'Do not be frightened'. Let the words of Psalm 46 take root in your soul,'God is our refuge and strength,an ever present help in trouble.Therefore, we will not fear,though the earth gives way,and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountings quake with their surging'. Remember the God of the OT is the God of the NT,and the Christ of the NT is the Christ of the OT,and our great triune God says to us,

                                                        'Be still and know that I am God;'

                                                                      Psalm 46 v10

He still loves. ( Song of Solomon ( 8 v 7)

One writer said that after Cain killed his brother the world became a slaughterhouse,never a truer word spoken,man has being against man continually,wars and more wars,and nothing has changed.Be it Genghis Khan or  Hitler they had no concern for human life.Here is what Stalin said ,'One death is a  tragedy,a million a is a statistic'. Napoleon in his failed attempt to defeat Russia with an army of 655,000 in which 370,000 died,only 85,000 made it back to France. He was reputed to have said that he didn't care about the lives of a million men.God had to punish mankind because of their sin but he has not done that with any pleasure,here is what He declared in Ezekiel 33 v11,'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord,I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live'.In Lamentations 3 v44 we read,'For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone'After the fall God continued to show mercy to,but generally they have spurned His love killed prophets and missionaries, The more Jesus spoke to people the more they hated him,and would not listen to Him,and then to crown it all they murdered Him by nailing Him to a cross and in this awful act they were declaring we don't need God.yet the wonder of our great God is this , He still loves and loves,and loves .Here is the verse that says it all.

                                        

                                                'For God so loved he the world ,that 

                                                He gave His only begotten Son,that

                                                whosoever believeth in Him should 

                                                not perish,but have everlasting life.'

                                                            John 3  v16 

Pray,pray,pray.(Hebrew 4 v16)

 Some people find it hard to pray,even though they are Christians,but we must not judge them,God knows why.Others find praying hard not knowing  what to pray about,they may pray the Lords prayer everyday,and that's it or they pray some other set prayer. Prayer is a very intimate thing,and if they  have been abused then intimacy is very hard,even with God. That may seem strange to most people,but as I said don't judge them,you have not walked in their shoes. Some people stop praying because it seems to them God did not answer their prayers,and they think what's the point of praying?is that valid reason to stop praying? No it's not, I know a man who prayed for a door to open into Christian ministry as a missionary,and it didn't  happen,it was a very great disappointment.But many years later  that person's son travels  all over the world as international directer of 24/7.And as for that man ,God opened a door through a ministry on the internet that goes all over the world.Often as regards God answering our prayers we have to take the long view. One writer mentions of those infected by the modern passion for quick results,God said  to Habakkuk as regards what was going to happen to Israel,'Though it tarry wait for it' (2 v3)

                                                    'What various hindrances we meet!  

                                                     In coming to the mercy seat!

                                                    Yet who,that knows the worth of prayer 

                                                    But wishes to be often there'    

                                                             William Cowper