Value in not knowing [ 2 Corinthians v1 -10]

Recently I read the following words,there is value in not knowing,this was written about Paul's thorn in the flesh.[2 Corinthians 12v7] There are many who speculate as what that thorn in the flesh was,but it is only speculation.
In this case there is value in not knowing ,for as M Wilcock,writes,/the value in not knowing means we can put ourselves in that position ,and to say 'That could be me'. That means like Paul we are not excluded from the
grace we need ,to help us cope,and yes even to serve our Saviour.Consider the source of  this thorn in the flesh,Paul calls it a messenger of Satan. The same being that afflicted Job,yes he is still around,and will continue to be around,until that moment in the future when he will finally be dealt with
CP Revelation 20 v10.But as in Jobs case ,in Paul's case,and in every  dear
child of God whom he is attacking,God is in control, CP Job 1v12/2v8.
God in both these verses commands Satan,thus far and no further,let none
of us not loose sight of the sovereignty of God,over world events,and over
what comes into the child of Gods life.Both Job and Paul's suffering was severe,the Amplified Version,uses the following as regards Paul's affliction,
that racking,,buffeting and harassing.It was something that was on going
,but here is the good thing the grace of God was ongoing,and would be sufficient for Paul to cope with. There are things we have to bear that do not go a way,our sovereign Lord permits it to remain,for reasons that are best for us,and like Paul we are given the grace ,that is sufficient for us.
                                  A  prayer.
Dear God we bow to Your will for our lives,we thank You that You are in control of all things,help us in our utter weakness,to trust You,grant us the grace we need,that You may be glorified,in Jesus name Amen.

Yes He does. [Psalm 34 ]

We recently bought a new tumble drier,but we brought it home we found
it hard fitting it into the space where the old one had been.I prayed to the reminding Him of the camel and the eye of a needle.Well the thing is He did help us to fit in our new tumble drier,for which I am thankful.I have seen three definite answers to prayer this week.Remember God answers prayer,it is not just an exercise of words when we pray.I still preach ,it would concern me greatly if I was not given opportunities to minister Gods
word.So what can I do,it is not my habit of asking for speaking engagements,no I pray,and trust God to open doors.Again let me stress this truth  ,God answers prayer,I could say other things about prayer,but I will not,God answers prayer,have faith to believe this. Read Psalm 34v4/ I sought the Lord, and He answered me/v6./ This poor man called, and the Lord heard him,he saved him out of all his troubles./v15/The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears, are attentive to their cry/.v17/ The righteous cry out,and the Lord hears them,He delivers them from all their troubles./
                                  A prayer.
Dear God we praise You for hearing and answering our prayers,in Jesus name Amen.

The church and the Christian. [ Malachi 3v 16-17]

I read this recently in what had been  a church building,this written on a plaque ,/ To the memory of James Gayler minister of the gospel in this place,of the genuine religion.He had the sweetest disposition,in 1702 he fell asleep in Jesus/.Sometimes I think we make to much of the church building,
we call it the house of God,but of course God does not dwell within bricks and mortar,but within every Christian,in fact we are called the temple of God,CP. 2 Corinthians 6 v16.This is important as I continually read how
many church buildings are being destroyed in lands of Islam,it was the same under Communism in the former Soviet Union. The fact of the matter is ,the church is the people of God,buildings can and are destroyed,but no force on earth ,or hell can destroy the church of Christ. Now returning to the minister of that church, James Gayler,as I read the words about that brother,yes the
building is no longer used,but as the book of the Proverbs 10v 7,tells us,the memory of the just is blessed,Psalm112 v6, tells us,the righteous  shall be in everlasting remembrance.How often I have been blessed as I have read the
lives of dear saints,who have gone to Glory,and those dear Christians,I have personally known, who are now in heaven.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear God as we read of church buildings being destroyed,we praise You that Your church will never and can never be destroyed.We ask that when
we leave this life that the memory we leave,will be a blessing,to those left behind,in Jesus name Amen.

Strange Gift. [ 1 Peter 1 v 6- 8]

Yesterday we talked about gifts,well say you have accepted that gift,how would you feel about what I read recently/Martyrdom is consider  by the Egyptian Church to be one of the highest gifts that God can bestow on
His faithful followers./Can we take those words in,what do you thing?
Consider the words of Philippians 1 v29,/For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for Him./ these are very challenging words, martyrdom seen as the highest gift,suffering seen as a privilege,well that's the way it is,none of us want to
suffer in any way,but let us remember,our suffering,be it martyrdom or
imprisonment,is for  Jesus sake.If we bear that in mind them it is bearable,and brings a glory into our suffering[ Acts 7 v55-56] My study Bible writes of four benefits in relation to suffering for Christ.  [ 1] It
takes our eyes of earthly comforts. [2] It weeds out superficial believers.
 [ 3]It strengthens the faith of those who endure. [4] It serves as an example to others who may follow us.
                                        A  prayer.
Dear Lord have mercy upon those who are experiencing suffering,grant unto them grace ,peace and hope in Your name we ask this Amen.
.

The greatest gift [Romans 6 v23 ]

I wonder how many gifts you have received? ,I can think of so many,that I
have received,can you remember the first gift you received?,or the last?What would you consider the most important gift,or even the most precious gift?. Recently I was offered a sum of money as a gift,which I could not
accept,the thing about gifts, they are freely given,you do not pay for a gift,
no they are free.The greatest gift anyone can receive is summed up in a verse of  scripture, it reads,/For the wages of sin is death,but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord [Romans 6 v23] Consider the purpose of this gift ,three things are mentioned,wages,sin and then death.
Sin costs,make no mistake about this,death natural , we die,we were not
created to die,but sin changed all that.Here death must be seen as even more than the physical,but also the spiritual,that death, does not mean the end, no it means an eternal existence,in that unmentionable place. So God in His mercy has sent His son to die on the cross,that our sins may be forgiven.
The result our sins can be forgiven,if,yes if,we accept the gift that He is offering us ,Jesus Christ.He offers us it, freely,no charge,freely,the question
is will you receive this most precious gift?,eternal life,by accepting Jesus as your Saviour?
                                              A  prayer.
Dear God you give us so much,and we are thankful,and yet sad to say,so
many of us refuse the greatest gift of all,that gift of eternal life through Jesus your son, help us to accept this wonderful gift ,of Jesus, Amen]

Dare to leap higher [Hebrews 11]

While looking in the window of a book shop,I noticed the title of one book,
which read,/The salmon who dared to leap higher/Hebrews 11 is a wonderful account of people who like that salmon dared to leap higher.They are people who believed God,trusted God ,and obeyed God,and in so doing they leaped higher.They dared to go where others would not go, attempted
what others thought was folly.Their vision was on the eternal realms,and they lived in light of that vision.They were prepared to give up kith and kin,to step out not knowing their destination.They  were prepared to sacrifice that which was dearest to them,believing that even death could not hold its prey.They were prepared to gamble everything for their God no half measures.They saw the riches of this world for what they are,of limited value,so they choose the riches that is found in Christ there saviour.In
summing up these people ,one could truly say,by faith in God they dared to leap higher.
                                    A  prayer.
                      Lord lift me up,and let me stand ,
                      By faith, on heaven's table land;
                      Where love,and joy,and light abound,
                       Lord ,plant my feet on higher ground.
                   [Words by  Johnson Oatman,Jr/Ada R. Habershan]

Cannot be destroyed. [ Matthew 16 v18]

Recently while on holiday we visited a craft fair,it was held in a large building.As I walked up the stairs in the building I noticed a plaque on the wall,and what I read made me  realise that the building had been a church
building. This building reminded me of the sad fact ,of the decline of the Christian church,and how a country like England has moved away  from
God.We live in a secular society,where Christian beliefs are scorned on,
where people have raised up other gods,the god of evolution,the god of sex
gods of pleasure,gods of false security,gods who can give no security. Thankfully there is a church still in this land,God has not ,nor will He ever forsake His church.Yet I have stood in the ruins of Ephesus,and am reminded that places and countries that once were so called Christian,are no longer so.And yet in these countries there is still a remnant according to grace.As I  read the OT I see that in spite of apostasy,in spite of the temple,
and Jerusalem being destroyed there remained a remnant,and so it will
always be.The church of Christ cannot be destroyed,as our Saviour said,/
/I will build my church.and the gates of Hell will not overcome it[ Matthew 16 v18]
                                          A prayer.
Dear God in the name of Your dear Son Jesus,build Your church ,Amen.