Christians also get sick [2 Corinthians 11 v23ff]

A friend of mine who is having ongoing treatment for cancer was seeing the consultant, and the consultant said ,/Christians also get sick/. Yes we do, being a Christian does not mean no problems,Christians loose their jobs,have miscarriages,have accidents,well we just have to read the book of  Job to see this.So what advantage does a Christian have over the non Christian?well they have the Lord,make no mistake about it,that is a tremendous advantage,in those dark trials there is one with them and His name is Jesus,he does not desert them when the hard times come.Next the word of God tells me,that God who is sovereign will work everything that happens for the good of His children[Romans 8 v28]. God hath not promised skies always blue,but He has promised strength for each day,and each trial. If the trial should lead to death ,the Christian need fear no evil,for the good shepherd will be with them [Psalm 23 v4] The word of God assures us that no matter how severe the trial,God is in control,and that the sufferings of this present time,are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us[Romans 8 v18 ]
A  prayer..../Dear God we thank You that You are caring for Your children,that You love them ,even when You allow them to experience trials ,in Jesus Amen /

Are you brave.? [ Psalm 139v23-24 ]

Bravery comes in many forms ,and often from the most unexpected people,there is bravery on the battle field,there is bravery of a bereaved soul. Of a person who faces one problem after another,who sacrifice their ambitions, for the sake of others, who face insurmountable odds. I wonder are you brave enough to pray this prayer?, /Search me O God, know my heart,try me,and know my thoughts.And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting[Psalm 139 v23-24]/I wonder are you and I willing to pray those words?.And if not ,why not?,could it be that we don't want God to challenge us,we are afraid what may be shown up,in our hearts ,yes our hearts,God starts at the most important place ,the heart. Then he prays, and know my thoughts,how is our thought life?,what has our minds being dwelling on today?.And see if there be any wicked way in me,well is there?.Again let me ask the question ,to myself and to you, are we brave enough to pray this prayer?.
Spurgeon comments,/This is a beautiful and impressive prayer for the commencement of every day./
                        A  prayer..../Search me O God. my actions try,and let my life appear,
                                             As seen by thine all- searching eye,To make my ways make clear.
                                             Search all my thoughts,the secret things,The motives that control.
                                             The rebel heart where evil things,hold empire o'er the soul.  Amen/
                                               [Words by Francis Bottome  ]                     

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/