Christ [Jude 3-4]

The reformation came about because the visible church ,had fallen into error
,often this has been  the case.The church under the Papacy had become
political powerful,with its own army,one does not have to look back on the history of Rome,to see how far from the truth they had strayed.But  they are not on their own, Germany the birth place of the reformation,gave way to liberal Theology,when the Nazi party came into power,some Christian groups identified with them.In South Africa the church took on board
apartheid,with all its evils,and in the land of the free,many churches were deeply racist.
    It is in 1 Corinthians 1 v23,we,/ But we preach Christ and Him crucified,/
having said that,it is one thing to say that,and unlike Paul not really preach the  the truth of whom Christ really is, and miss out in what His death is really about.The cults can sound like Christians, but under the searchlight of
Gods word,they show  themselves to be in the land of make believe.
     True Christian faith is commitment to the Christ of the Bible,when we stray from this then we have left the path of truth. This means accepting
who the Bible says He is,the Son of God,which means He is divine,God manifested in the flesh.It means trusting in him alone,and his saving work,
on the cross,we must not add to it,or weaken this truth.
       Now there will be many things that even as Christians we will differ on
that is no a problem,we will have to agree to disagree,but there it must stop.
We must not compromise,must not ,on the person of Christ,and His atoning work.
                                               A  prayer.
Dear God help to hold fast to Your word,and the truth who Christ is and His saving work on Calvary. in His name we ask this Amen .
     
   

Christ alone [ John 14 v6]

David  Atkinson writes the following , /Christian faith is not in baptism,or faith in the church. Nor is it faith in faith itself,as though our believing was what mattered. Christian faith is commitment to Christ Himself./
     I believe that we need to grasp what that brother has written, because there are so many,who believe that Baptism saves on its own,and there are millions who believe that their church will save them.As to the latter, how
many churches in New Testament times fell  into error[CP.Revelation 2-3]
The fact of the matter churches can get it wrong, and when they do,it can cause tremendous problems.As one reads the New Testament the people who opposed our Saviour the most were the church leaders.Compare what
He said to them in John 8 v44,that they were of their father the Devil.also chapter 23 of Matthew,which is very scatting,and its in verse 15,the awful effect they had on others in their care.
     Now let us seek to balance things up,I am not seeking to provoke a riot,
or unsettle you as regards your church or church leaders.In 1 Corithians11 v1,the apostle wrote ,/Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ/.
Also in Galations 1v8,the apostle writes,/But though we,or an angel from heaven,preach any other gospel unto you.....let him be accursed.
     We will consider this more tomorrow,
                                           A prayer.
Dear God help us to be sure that we are trusting in Christ alone for our Salvation,Amen.

Driving [ 1 Thessalonians 5 v18]

  My daughter in law passed her driving test recently,there are things one never forgets ,passing ones driving test is one of them. I can remember passing mine and how being able to drive,has been such a blessing,and indeed still is.I have been able to work at my present job,without it,it would not been possible,being able to drive ,has enabled me to do it.
   As I look back I am truly thankful for Gods provision,at this time my wife and I both have a car,it was not also so,my first three cars were given to me by Christians.I never did have much money to buy or to run a car but God provided,in wonderful ways.
  I have travelled thousands of miles and God has kept me safe,that is not
because I am a great driver,no it is because God has kept me safe,oh yes I have been in accidents, some my fault,not all,but I have not sustained any
injury. I have never received a speed ticket,not because I have kept to the speed limit,I have tried,as a Christian I should keep the speed limit,but it is not always possible
    The reason I am telling you these things is to express my thanks to God
for His goodness in that area of my life.
                                  A prayer.
Dear God thank You for ever blessing in our lives,especially for being able to drive,providing the means to drive,and keeping us safe in Jesus name Amen

   

A wise old owl. [James 1 v 26-27]

 I received a present from a a group I have run for many years,on my coming retirement,it is a large garden ornamental wise old owl. I hope I am
a wise old owl.I hope you are,wisdom is so very important in life,of course ,
there is a vast difference between earthly wisdom, and Godly wisdom.There
is a big difference between the two,as indeed there is a big difference
between the worlds idea of love and Gods,
    Lets return to the wise old owl,there is a little poem about a wise old owl,
it reads.                                A wise old owl lived in an oak.
                                            The more he saw the less he spoke.
                                             The less he spoke the more he heard.
                                            Why can't we all be like that wise old owl.
  It is James who wrote,  /If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue ,you are fooling yourself,and your religion is worthless./Sometimes I let my tongue run a way with me,sometimes I say the the wrong thing.
    Verse 27 of James 1,reminds us that good and godly actions speak louder
than words,/Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father,means caring for orphans and widows in their distress,and refusing to let the world corrupt you./
                                   A  prayer.
Dear God forgive us for our uncontrolled tongue,and our lack of good works in Jesus name Amen .

Unfairness. [ Hebrews11 v36 ff ]

I read this recently/Faith has to live with what seems to us unfairness,and
leave some uncertainties unresolved, within the mystery of Gods gracious providence/.It is children who usually say its not fair,many adults may say it also or at least think it.
     The bible is full of  people who experienced what I see as unfairness,
Joseph,what did he do ,to warrant such hatred,Job a very godly person likewise, many of the prophets had to cope with so much,and as for the disciples,and the apostle Paul,surely they did not deserve such awful treatment. I often hear said as regards suffering, Christians,how unfair it is to suffer just for being a Christian. Consider  what we read in 2 Peter 4 v12,/
/Beloved , think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though some strange thing happened unto you./In other words do not think  that your suffering is strange,We follow Him who ended up on a cross even though  it was unfair,He never uttered the words it is not fair,
of course it was not fair.Why should He die because I did wrong,but die He did.
     DA remarks  ,/Faith has to live with ,what seems to be unfairness/,the question is, am I prepared for that?am  I prepared to leave uncertainties
unresolved,am I prepared to do this, ?.Am I prepared to leave all the unfairness ,within the mystery of Gods gracious providence?/
                                        A prayer.
Dear God grant us grace to leave unfairness to Your sovereign providence,
in Jesus name Amen.
  

The land of restlessness. [ John 14 v27]

   The result of Cain's sin was, he became a fugitive and a vagabond,he had entered what David Atkinson calls,the land of restlessness.As we consider
the history of humanity,and even present humanity ,we see nothing but restlessness. Oh, does one not long for peace,for nation to stop striving with
each other,it seems to me  that people take pleasure in conflict.
    A man called Helmut Thielocke writes about the world becoming fatherless,so becoming a weird and homeless place,driven into unending flight.Every tree,every milestone becomes a threat.
     Think of the many people who are on the move in this world,refugee's,
asylum seekers,economic immigrates.So many people seeking a better life,risking their lives to achieve their aim.There are so many whose spirits are truly restless ,who find it hard to rest,hard to settle.
      Ask yourself are you at rest?or am I driven human being,is your continual thought if only my ship would come in.
       There was a time when divorce was very limited,not now with the
advance of the a so called liberation spirit,many find it hard to be settled,many have not only been divorced, but divorced many times,many have taken on the mantle of Henry the 8th.
     Again let me quote by D.A.   /To live within the will of God is the way of peace,when we are separated from God, our world is one constantly
searching anxiety. Only in God is our satisfaction,anywhere else, as Augustine said,our hearts are restless until they rest in God/
                                  A prayer.
Dear God we thank You that You sent Your son in order that we may know
peace,Amen
    

My work. [ John 9 v 4]

With retirement looming up,I am continually asked what am I going to do?
I reply I do not know.So what am I going to do?,Well here is my answer,
it may not satisfy everyone,but it is this,my work is to do the will of Him
who saved me.
    I spend a good deal of my time in prayer,I am sure that will not change,
prayer is so vital,so many people and situations to pray about,so what will I do?,I will spend time in prayer.
    I will continue to study Gods word,the little  children's chorus ,goes read your bible pray everyday if you want to grow.The Christian life is, or should be, a growing experience.
    Where God grants me the opportunity I will continue to preach,hopefully that will not change,He can make a way.
    I will continue to do my blog,I am so grateful to be able to minister on the Internet,my prayer is that God will encourage and instruct believers,and those who are not saved may come to Christ.
    I will continue to serve ,in my home,or wherever God wants me to,
whatever His will is for me,that will be my work.
                                              A prayer.
Dear God I pray that Your will be done in me,in all the work I carry out,
in Jesus name. Amen .