What's it to be? [ 1 John 5v4 ]

A person  speaking on  the terrible  violence in a state in Africa,spoke about a valley of fear,for so many people there is so much to fear,so much so ,that they appear to be be living in a valley of fear.When one reads the Bible we see many of Gods children in valley's of fear,how did they cope?,it seems to me that the answer is found in Hebrews 11,where we have these words repeated over and over again,/by faith/.The sure and certain way to cope and to triumph is to turn your valley of fear into a valley of faith,we see this in Hebrews 11 v33,we read,/ Who through faith ......stopped the mouths of lions/. Here we are reminded of dear beloved Daniel who because he prayed,was thrown into a den of lions[Daniel 6],remember the enemy does not like to see you praying. So Daniel found himself surround by wild ravenous beasts ,how did he survive,how did he defeat the enemies of his soul?, by faith.The life of the child of God must be ,has to be, a life of faith, this is  the victory that overcometh the world,even our faith[1 John 5 v4 ] Valley of fear or valley of faith,what is it going to be?
A  prayer....../Dear God grant us grace that we will be enabled to turn valley's of fear into valley's of faith,in Jesus name Amen /

Little is much if. [ Jeremiah 32 v 17]

The prophet Elijah was sent by God to a widow woman who had a son,with the words,I have commanded this widow to sustain thee[1 Kings 17v9]. When Elijah met up with this widow woman,she was practically destitute. I wonder what you and I would think if you were in Elijah's place?it does not appear that this caused him any problem. As he arrived at his destination,he didn't have to go searching for this lady,he was guided right to her,as you look at this day,God will guide you through it,if you have a need He will guide you to the one He has chosen to meet Your need,it may even be a widow woman. I remember years ago a friend who was in difficulties,and her need was met by a widow woman.Likewise when I lived by faith how on a number of occasions widow women met my need.Let us not limit God as to whom He will choose to help us,or as the widow discovered the means He will use.All the lady had was a little oil and a little flour,remember the miracles of the five thousand,plus.Remember little is much if God is in it,when God blesses the little it will go a long way.
A  prayer......./ Dear God bless the little we may have to live on, bless the little service we gave,bless us little people, in  Jesus name Amen/

Tell them that are fathers lied. [ 2 Timothy 4 v1-4]

Rudyard Kipling the famous poet ,and author,lost a son in the first world war,he wrote the following,/If you ask me why we died,tell them our fathers lied/.The lost of his son must have hurt him very deeply. He must have wondered why his son had to die,that war to end all wars,that war they said would be over by Christmas..They where told that they were fighting for a better world, mybe all those things they were told,sounded like a hollow lie. The grave responsibility for everyone is to tell the truth,not to bend it,or distort it,and especially if one is a minister,I am accountable to this generation before God,to tell them the truth of the word of God.I am called to be a watchman, to warn the people [Ezekiel 3 v17] No one likes preaching about Hell, about sin and its consequences,but the truth is the truth,and it is the truth that sets people free,  it is the truth that warns people,of the danger they are in. I wonder, will there come a time when the lost will point to ministers ,and say, if you ask me why I am lost,its because you told me a lie,and I, a blind fool believed you. It is not for me to rationalise the truth,it is for me to be faithful to the truth,to preach it,and witness to it,I sincerely hope and pray that none will say of me,if you ask me why I am  lost ,it was because I lied. There used to be a rug in my pulpit with these words on it, preach the word,those words were a constant reminder to everyone who stood in that pulpit ,that they had a responsibility to preach the truth,the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
A  prayer...../Dear God have mercy upon the many who are deceived by false ministers,causing them to go to a lost eternity, in Jesus name Amen /

Ready to die. [John 11 v25]

In a very popular movie the hero says,/I am ready to die/,the very important question that we have to ask ourselves is are we ready to die?. First of all let me state the obvious,we are all going to die,the only people who will escape death,will be those who are alive when Jesus comes back again, that is those who know Him as Saviour. Until that happens the undertaker will not go out of business,there will still be a need for gravediggers.The soldier facing certain death on the battle field may not be willing to die,and the patient who has cancer may not want to die,but the fact is even though this may cause you pain as you read this,we all without exception,are going to die. The most important question one should ask, in the light of the inevitable,are we ready to die?. The Bible deals with the question of death ,and it tells us,that death is not the end,it speaks of after death,and that every human being will not cease to exists after death. The absolute vital question that needs to be faced is where will we spend eternity?,will be in heaven,or hell?,now as to the latter it is not an invention of mine,or any man. Hell is a reality that is declared in the word of God,we may not like to hear about it,but like death it is a fact that will not change. Heaven is also a reality  that will not change,the good news is that you can go to heaven,by accepting Jesus as your saviour,if you do then you are ready to die.
A  prayer..../ Dear God we thank You that You so loved the world that you gave Jesus and that through believing in Him we will not perish but will have eternal life Amen /

Vital ommissions. [Matthew 23 v23 ]

When our Saviour ministered ,Israel was a deeply religious nation,ruled by Rome,but also their religious leaders,we don't read to much the rule of Rome,but it was feared and deeply resented.Our Saviour never became involved in any conflict with the Roman authorities,the religious  leaders sought to ensnare Him,making him an enemy of Rome,and of the Jewish people,but where unsuccessful[ CP Matthew22 v15ff].Religion can be a mask in which the true self,can hide behind,in Matthew  23, our Lord deals with this,He points out that what the religious taught ,was but a front,the reality was this,they oppressed the people,they craved and wanted to be glorified,to be called master,to be thought as Fathers ,over the people,They exploited their position for material gain,taking advantage,of the vulnerable,in many things they were motivated by money,and pride.Our Saviour sums up their great failures [v23] ,they ignored the most important parts of the law, justice,mercy,and faith.It is to the church of Corinth that the apostle Paul wrote to,reminding them that religious activity if it lacks love it is of absolutely of no worth.
A  prayer..../Dear God forgive us if we have omitted the gold for the dross in Jesus name Amen/

The distance between [2 Corinthians 3 v18]

Today I have been thinking of the distance between what I would desire to be, and what I am,can the gap be closed?. It is just a thought that has crossed my mind,who is the man I want to be?,a more sacrificial man,a man of great spiritual gifts,of great spiritual knowledge,of great faith,that could remove a mountain. I wonder could I be trusted with those things?,even though I may want them.Say I had the gift of healing could I cope with the demands that would bring?.What if suddenly souls started to be saved under my ministry?all these things have an attraction about them,but it does not close the gap between what I should be ,and what I am?. Possible I may always be conscious of that gap,is that a bad thing?,or a good thing?.One day a group of young people in their enthusiasm spoke to D.L.Moody the great evangelist of their achievements,they had spent hours in prayer,and he said, Moses wist not that the skin of  his face shone [Exodus 34 v29]. Could it be what we, in all sincerity call greatness,or see as greatness in spiritual growth,is but a deluded self promotion, a self-aggrandisement?.Whereas true spiritual growth has about it a true lack of self promotion,like Moses we will be unaware of the gap closing.
A  prayer....../ Dear God close the gap between what we are, and what we should be ,and don't tell us,in Jesus name Amen/

Lets call her hope. [ Psalm 42 v11]

In one of G.K.Chesterton books, a doctors and his young wife have experienced a lot of trouble,it ends with the doctor finding out his young wife was pregnant. They look at each other filled with joy at the forthcoming event,and they ask each other,what are we going to call the baby,if it is a girl?. The doctor replies,/Lets call her hope/,yes indeed what a lovely name,hope,and it made me thing of the many who must be despairing,because there appears no hope. In Acts 27 we read of a boat in a storm,and how it came to the point that the sailors lost hope [v20].Life for so many is tragic,we read of so many children being harmed by beast of men,for them there appears little hope,we read of murders,rapes,and so many awful things happening,that can so easily squeeze the hope out of us. Again so many people have hope solely relating to this world. Now life on planet  earth will only  give us a limited time scale ,that is why Paul writes,if in this life only we hope in Christ,we are of all men most miserable,[1 Corinthians 15 v19]. Many ,yes even Christians,can loose hope,because they have their eye's fixed on this life,and  the things of this life ,as a Christian, we have Christ in us the hope of Glory.In Psalm 71v5 we read,You are my hope,O Lord God,if that is so, no matter what our situation is,we need not despair,as to time or eternity.
A prayer ...../Dear God thank You that in Jesus we have for time and for eternity, hope. Amen/