The powers that be. [ Romans 13 v 1-7 ]

I  believe that democracy is  best,because it should mean that leaders and governments can be challenged,and changed.Hitler went along with the democratic system until he was elected,as I see what is happening in the Arab world,I wonder how many when they get into power,will continue to be democratic. What will become of the minorities in these countries?,will they be treated fairly?,or will they be persecuted?. The Bible tells us that the powers that  be, are ordained by God,[Romans 13 v1],these words were written when Rome ruled, of course the church of Rome did its fair share of ruling,I cant say it was their finest hour.God is not a democrat ,He rules by divine right,all the affairs of Life are under His control,all these things raise many issues,.The Bible makes it clear that all governmenst are accountable not so much to  those who elect them, but to God.So where does that lead us?well the word of God tells us what we are to do,we read, /Pray especially for rulers and their goverments to rule well so we can go quietly about our business of living simply,in humble contemplation. This is the way our Saviour God wants us to live/.[1 Timothy 2 v 1-3 ]
A  prayer..../ Dear God  guide and direct those who have the rule over us,and help us all to be good citizens in Jesus name Amen /

Deafness. [1 Timothy 2 v4 ]

A friend of mine has a hearing aid,I  was beginning to  have a conversation with him, and he said I must put my hearing aid in,so I can hear what you are saying, instead of not having it in and pretending I am listening.Jesus spoke to many people but it is obvious they did not hear or listen,as one preaches one wonders how many people really listen. Natural deafness shuts a person out from the natural sounds we hearing people take for granted,but even deaf people can hear through the deaf language.But what about those can hear? ,yet don't hear,when they are told about Jesus,they are spiritually deaf,and so they remain in their sin,lost without Christ.It need not be so,we must not give up on them,I was watching a movie, and in it a dam was being built,when suddenly it started to break up, one man  took it upon himself to warn those,who would have drowned,he kept shouting,until they heard,he did not give up.Nor should we give up praying,and telling those who are going to a lost eternity,who knows even today,you may be Gods voice,to those who are dead, and deaf spiritually.
A  prayer...../Dear merciful God,we ask that You may be pleased to use us,in your great rescuing of the deaf and dead,in Jesus name Amen/[

A boy called Messiah [ Matthew 16v 13-16]

A couple in USA wanted to call their son Messiah,but a judged ruled against it,saying it was a title,and it belonged to one person Jesus,she has ruled that boy should be called Martin.Seemingly in 2012 Messiah was the 387th most popular name in USA. The Jew's and Christians both hold views on Messiah,for the Jew He has yet to come,for the Christian He has come. The Jews believe Messiah will set up an earthly kingdom, Christians  believe He came to establish an eternal kingdom.The title Messiah means one who saves and liberates,and of course that is what Jesus does ,He saves and He sets free,he saves from the consequences of sin and its judgement by a Holy God,He sets free from sin and satans power.The wonderful thing is,it includes everyone,Gods purposes is for the whosoever,a free offer of Salvation is offered to all..One day a Jew called Andrew declared ,/we have found Messiah,which being interpreted means the Christ[John 1 v41],and having found Him,he brought his brother to him. Dear Christian what about your brother ,your sister,your parents,have you sought to bring then to Jesus the Messiah?.
A prayer...../ Dear God thank that Messiah in the person of Your son Jesus has come,help us to bring others to Him,in His name we ask this. Amen /

He knows the way. [ Psalm 107 v7 ]

I was away the weekend preaching at a friends church,and as I was driving home ,I found myself singing an old chorus ,which goes,/ My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, all I have to do is follow/.It sounds simple,but let us be honest we do not find it so, even though Israel had a great leader Moses,even though they had a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud led the way. [Exodus 13v21], continually the nation failed to follow Gods leading.Now we do not have a pillar of fire or cloud leading us,bur for all that, God is leading us. That little chorus reminded me that God is leading us His children,by His word and by His Spirit,and here is a challenge for us,His way is perfect[ 2 Samuel 22 v21], He knows what He is doing,he makes no mistakes no mistakes.John Piper has  written a grand  book,called ,/ A sweet and bitter Providence/,Life is not a straight line,leading  from one blessing to the next, he goes on to write,/ The life of the Godly is not a straight line to glory, but God see's that they get there./ In Psalm 107v30, we read ,/so He bringeth them unto their desired haven/.
A  prayer...../Dear God and Father,as we travel to glory,help us to not loose faith,or to think that You have forgotten us,in Jesus name we ask this Amen/

It can happen to you.[ 1 Corinthians 10 v12 ]

The apostle Paul points out to his readers that the things that ancient Israel did ,the wrong things,and the consequences of their actions,were examples for them[[1 Corinthians 10].They were not examples that we are meant to follow,no their behaviour are examples of what we should avoid.If they followed their example they would suffer.Then he adds,/Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fallv12/,the Corinthian Christians may have thought that they would never fall into the same sins as the Israelites did,so he gives that warning.So let us consider a number of things,we are examples,be it for good or for bad, no one is an Island,we are all connected,before you get involved in something dubious,before you act unwisely,consider you are being watched,by your children,neighbours,and so on. Next it can happen to you ,and me,the very thing we see others do, that we thought we would never do in a million years,we can easily fall into. So do not be complacent,let us always bear in mind ,that we can fall morally,and tragically,it was Bunyan who wrote ,/he that is down need fear no fall/,in other words,walk in humility,and with an utter dependence upon God.
 A  prayer...../Dear God help us to be a Christlike example to others,and grant us grace to walk with a humble dependence on Your Spirit in Jesus name Amen ./
/I will return to my blog next Tuesday every blessing/

Poision chalace. [ Genesis 3 v6 ]

The thought came to me that certain things can be likened unto a poison chalice,they may be legitimate things,but there influence on our lives ,can effectively destroy our Christian walk.We may not even see the harmful effects on our lives,it may be our employment,politics,the imbalance on certain aspects,for example justice,now of course we live in an unjust world,and we must always be concerned with justice,but our concerns for justice must not be allowed to so control us that grace and mercy is pushed out of the way. Remember Christ died for the unjust,that means you and me,if we were to get our true deserts ,none of us would be saved,none of us would be blessed by a just but merciful God.In this hour of grace Gods purpose and plan is to forgive and forget,there will always be a need for justice,but there is also a need for mercy and forgiveness,remember if the Lord should mark iniquity who would stand [Psalm 130 v3].Now I emphasised justice and our possible imbalance,and that it can become a poison chalice,but it can be many things,are we open to the Spirits prompting,are we listening to Gods still small voice?,if not we will suffer in our relationship with others and with God.In the movie the Last crusade,there is that moment when the characters make a choice of what cup to drink from,they are all obsessed with this,to choose the wrong cup and to drink from it meant death,to choose the right cup and drink from it meant life,the ancient knight comments on the choice Indiana Jones makes ,you have chosen well,choose well the cup you are going to drink from, choose well.
A  prayer...../Dear God help us to  choose well the cup we drink from ,in Jesus name Amen /

Blew it again. [Hebrews 4 v 15-16 ]

I was not really thinking and I did something which in hindsight I felt guilty about,I wish I could always do the right thing, and never feel guilty,never feel I have let the Lord down.Am I the only one who feels like that?,of course not,consider what the great apostle Paul wrote,/I don't really understand myself,for I want to do what is right,but I don't do it.........I have discovered this principle of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong[Romans 7v 14ff] It does not make it any easier but it helps to know that I am not on my own,from saying these things Paul goes unto to say, /There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ[ Romans 8 v1], now that is a relief,that I do not stand in the place I once stood ,before I met Christ.It is John who reminds us that there is a place of forgiveness on our ongoing walk to glory,he tells us very simply,/If we confess our sins,He is faithful and just to forgive our sins,and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.[1 John 1 v9]. so tell God your sorry,now,and all will be well.
A  prayer..../ Dear God we thank You that You don not disown your children when they fail,and that there is forgiveness ,through Your son Jesus Amen /