Recently a Christian spoke of her struggle with the fact that she still is prone to yield to temptation,why this sinful tendency still persisted?. She wondered why ,seeing we have Spirit of God dwelling.why that should be?.
There are people who foolishly think that we can reach a place of sinless
perfection,in spite of all we read in the Bible that stresses the fact that as long as we are in this body of flesh we will be tempted.[CP. Romans 7./I John 1 v 8.Enough said, the Christian life is on going,till the day God takes us home we will have to contend with the world ,the flesh,and the Devil,and the fact is we will not always win. But we need not despair,there is victory in Jesus ,and when we sin ,there is forgiveness.[1 John 1 v 9].In Galations 5v16 ff,the apostle Paul writes how there is a constant battle going on,and
the importance of relying on Gods Spirit to gave us the victory.This why each day we need to be filled with the Spirit,if we surrendered to the Spirit,then we will not be overcome. Yes it is an ongoing battle that is why
the Apostle tells us not to be weary in doing good[Galations 6 v9],and our Saviour exhorts us to keep praying and not give up. [Luke 18 v1 ]
A prayer.
Dear God help us to rely upon Your Spirit every hour of every day,in Jesus name Amen.
[I will return to my blog on Tuesday 20th. Every blessing]
Monday, 12 October 2015
Sunday, 11 October 2015
Offensive religion [Micah 6 v 8]
As we face life with all its challenges the thing we need is,what would you say we need?,what do need we today.?We read in Micah 6 v 8,/He has showed you ,O man,what is good.And what does the Lord require of you?. To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God/.One commentator writes,/This verse is considered to be one of the most comprehensive and all embracing statements in the Old Testaments/.Micah is responding to Israel's condition ,it was the opposite of 6v8, [CP Chapter 7]In 6v7, Micah asks the question ,does God want us to be more religious,and the answer is no, religion that is devoid of ,justice[Doing that which is right],Mercy [Kindness] ,and humility,is an affront to God. When our Saviour was arrested they brought Him to Pilate,but they would not enter Pilate's house, to enter a Gentiles home would have meant defilement ,
would have barred them from participation in the Passover celebrations.
[John 18 v28]Yet at the same time they were participating in the murder of Jesus.such religion is an offence to God.
A prayer.
Dear God and Father,help us to act justly,to love mercy,and to walk humbly
before You,in Jesus name Amen.
would have barred them from participation in the Passover celebrations.
[John 18 v28]Yet at the same time they were participating in the murder of Jesus.such religion is an offence to God.
A prayer.
Dear God and Father,help us to act justly,to love mercy,and to walk humbly
before You,in Jesus name Amen.
Saturday, 10 October 2015
Faith [ Hebrews 11 v 5-6 ]
One of my great hero's was Hudson Taylor,he was an English man,and he went to China as missionary,he was also a doctor. In China he went were no
missionary had gone before,inland China,eventually he formed what was known as the China inland mission.What we must be careful not to do is to idolise Hudson,or to romanticise missionary work,that goes for any Christian ministry .Hudson was a godly man,and a man of faith,now when we say that,that meant he had real difficulties,real testings,that's one of the reasons we need to be people of faith,all of us.What difficulties are you and I are facing ?,a shortage of money.needing a job, needing a car,a sickness,
persecution. The very nature of life on planet earth brings its problems,we must apply faith into our situations. Our Saviour said to a lady,as regards what He could do,/Believest thou this?[John 11 v26].The reason I mention Hudson was,I read something he said,/I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God; first ,it is impossible,then it is difficult, then it is done./.Whither it is a great work or a small work,the foundation is the glory of God,worked out ,and manifested by a life of faith.
A prayer.
Dear God we are told that without faith it is impossible to please you,so please help us to live a life of faith,for your Glory in Jesus name Amen.
missionary had gone before,inland China,eventually he formed what was known as the China inland mission.What we must be careful not to do is to idolise Hudson,or to romanticise missionary work,that goes for any Christian ministry .Hudson was a godly man,and a man of faith,now when we say that,that meant he had real difficulties,real testings,that's one of the reasons we need to be people of faith,all of us.What difficulties are you and I are facing ?,a shortage of money.needing a job, needing a car,a sickness,
persecution. The very nature of life on planet earth brings its problems,we must apply faith into our situations. Our Saviour said to a lady,as regards what He could do,/Believest thou this?[John 11 v26].The reason I mention Hudson was,I read something he said,/I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God; first ,it is impossible,then it is difficult, then it is done./.Whither it is a great work or a small work,the foundation is the glory of God,worked out ,and manifested by a life of faith.
A prayer.
Dear God we are told that without faith it is impossible to please you,so please help us to live a life of faith,for your Glory in Jesus name Amen.
Friday, 9 October 2015
A show trial [ Romans 11 v33-36]
During the reigns of the dictators,such as Stalin and Hitler,people would be put on trial for alleged offences,but they were but show trials, judgement had already been passed,before they came to trial. So it was when our Saviour was arrested and tried ,it was but a show trial,the religious leaders
had already planned to kill Him [ John 11 v45 -53]. The religious leaders acted with the wisdom of the world,they saw in Jesus a threat ,to their nation and to their teaching,even though Jesus manifested wonderful power,
that did not matter.Jesus was seen as threat from the moment he was born,
by Herod,His very presence was a threat,and when He commenced His ministry ,His words became a threat,for it challenged so much that was wrong,He who is the light of the world,exposed the darkness in that religious society. So on the night He was put on trial ,these religious leaders
were determined to do one thing ,kill, or should we not say murder Him.So
consider the scene, Jesus the prisoner ,the falseness of this show trial,so wrong so unjust,why ?.Should we pity Him,yes we may but we can above all else praise Him,He knew before hand what awaited Him [Matthew 16v21],again,why?,the reason He suffered was that we would not suffer.So
onward He marched towards His destiny,the cross,that our destiny would be heaven and not Hell.
A prayer.
Dear Lord we worship You,and praise You for your courage ,obedience,
and love,Amen.
,
had already planned to kill Him [ John 11 v45 -53]. The religious leaders acted with the wisdom of the world,they saw in Jesus a threat ,to their nation and to their teaching,even though Jesus manifested wonderful power,
that did not matter.Jesus was seen as threat from the moment he was born,
by Herod,His very presence was a threat,and when He commenced His ministry ,His words became a threat,for it challenged so much that was wrong,He who is the light of the world,exposed the darkness in that religious society. So on the night He was put on trial ,these religious leaders
were determined to do one thing ,kill, or should we not say murder Him.So
consider the scene, Jesus the prisoner ,the falseness of this show trial,so wrong so unjust,why ?.Should we pity Him,yes we may but we can above all else praise Him,He knew before hand what awaited Him [Matthew 16v21],again,why?,the reason He suffered was that we would not suffer.So
onward He marched towards His destiny,the cross,that our destiny would be heaven and not Hell.
A prayer.
Dear Lord we worship You,and praise You for your courage ,obedience,
and love,Amen.
,
Thursday, 8 October 2015
We are family. [ Matthew 25 v 31 ff ]
I was thinking back on those who have had an influence on me in coming to Christ and in my walk with Christ.Sunday school teachers,children speakers
and so many more.The list is very long,even those who ministered in song, those who offered me their friendship,those who wrote Christian books.
Those who financially supported me when at Bible college and at other times, those who have prayed for me and those who still do.For all these and others I raise a prayer of thanksgiven,what would I have done without
them?,I do not know ,but as I say I am grateful for them.In Galations 6v2
we read ,bear ye one another burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.We need each other as Christians, our support of a fellow Christians,is vital
God wants us to care for one another.Some of the last words that Jesus said was to love one another,in our churches there are those who are lonely,
those who need financial help ,those who need encouragement,there are
those who are serving God ,they need our support and prayers.In helping in whatever way we can, we are identifying with our Christian family,and in doing so we are fulfilling the law of Christ ,which is love.
A prayer.
Dear God forgive us for our lack of love,help us to love one another in word and in deed , in Jesus name we ask this Amen.
and so many more.The list is very long,even those who ministered in song, those who offered me their friendship,those who wrote Christian books.
Those who financially supported me when at Bible college and at other times, those who have prayed for me and those who still do.For all these and others I raise a prayer of thanksgiven,what would I have done without
them?,I do not know ,but as I say I am grateful for them.In Galations 6v2
we read ,bear ye one another burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.We need each other as Christians, our support of a fellow Christians,is vital
God wants us to care for one another.Some of the last words that Jesus said was to love one another,in our churches there are those who are lonely,
those who need financial help ,those who need encouragement,there are
those who are serving God ,they need our support and prayers.In helping in whatever way we can, we are identifying with our Christian family,and in doing so we are fulfilling the law of Christ ,which is love.
A prayer.
Dear God forgive us for our lack of love,help us to love one another in word and in deed , in Jesus name we ask this Amen.
Tuesday, 6 October 2015
I have had enough. [ Psalm 42 ]
I wonder have you ever felt that you cannot go on?,well there are a number
of people in the Bible who felt like this.I think of Jacob and Elijah.Let us consider Jacob ,he had to leave home because his brother Esau was threatening to kill him,he ended up working for his uncle Laban ,who treated him,very unfairly. God spoke to him to return home,but he lived with the tension of how his brother would react,in the end he welcomed him home. Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter.The sons caused him concern,but he had a son called Joseph,he loved him more than all his children.Because of this his sons hated Joseph,and when they saw their opportunity,they sold him as a slave.They lied to their father ,telling him that an animal had killed Joseph,Jacob was overwhelmed with grief.Later when his sons returned from Egypt with the news that Simeon was in prison,and that the ruler there,demanded that they return with their younger brother,it all became to much for Jacob.In his distress he cried out, all these things are against me[Genesis 42v36 ]This was to him the last straw,he had reached the end of himself,but of course that was not the end of the matter,for God had a plan for Jacobs life,and soon his sadness would be turned into joy.Dear child of God like Jacob you may have come to the end of yourself,you feel you cannot go on ,here is a word for you,/Weeping may endure for a night,but joy cometh in the morning[Psalm 30 v5]. You may feel like giving up,but God has not given up on you.
A prayer.
Dear God have mercy upon us when we feel like giving up,help us to see that inspite of the difficulties ,you have not given up on us.and that You will
undertake for us.we ask this in Jesus name Amen.
.
of people in the Bible who felt like this.I think of Jacob and Elijah.Let us consider Jacob ,he had to leave home because his brother Esau was threatening to kill him,he ended up working for his uncle Laban ,who treated him,very unfairly. God spoke to him to return home,but he lived with the tension of how his brother would react,in the end he welcomed him home. Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter.The sons caused him concern,but he had a son called Joseph,he loved him more than all his children.Because of this his sons hated Joseph,and when they saw their opportunity,they sold him as a slave.They lied to their father ,telling him that an animal had killed Joseph,Jacob was overwhelmed with grief.Later when his sons returned from Egypt with the news that Simeon was in prison,and that the ruler there,demanded that they return with their younger brother,it all became to much for Jacob.In his distress he cried out, all these things are against me[Genesis 42v36 ]This was to him the last straw,he had reached the end of himself,but of course that was not the end of the matter,for God had a plan for Jacobs life,and soon his sadness would be turned into joy.Dear child of God like Jacob you may have come to the end of yourself,you feel you cannot go on ,here is a word for you,/Weeping may endure for a night,but joy cometh in the morning[Psalm 30 v5]. You may feel like giving up,but God has not given up on you.
A prayer.
Dear God have mercy upon us when we feel like giving up,help us to see that inspite of the difficulties ,you have not given up on us.and that You will
undertake for us.we ask this in Jesus name Amen.
.
Monday, 5 October 2015
We know not what to pray. Romans 8 v26-27]
As I was praying ,I found myself repeating the following,/Guide me by your
Spirit Lord/.I am very conscious how much we need the Holy Spirits help,
and guidance. A verse that keeps coming to me is Romans 8 v 26./So to the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness,for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought/,do we not all feel like this,we know what God can do,but is it His will,we can pray as James 4 v3 tells us,we ask amiss. Yet let us not despair ,for we read ,/but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads on our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance./[Amplified Version] .In v27 we also read,/the Spirit intercedes in behalf
of the saints according to and in harmony with Gods will./ So we have a helper when we pray ,Leon Morris writes, /Paul is giving encouragement to the humblest of God's people.They may be dissatisfied with their praying ,
but they have a powerful intercessor and one who prays for them in accordance with the will of God/
A prayer.
Holy Spirit, prompt us,
When we kneel to pray;
Nearer come,and teach us
What we ought to pray.
Holy Spirit, help us
Daily by Thy might,
What is wrong to conquer,
And to choose the right.
[Words by W H. Parker]
Spirit Lord/.I am very conscious how much we need the Holy Spirits help,
and guidance. A verse that keeps coming to me is Romans 8 v 26./So to the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness,for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought/,do we not all feel like this,we know what God can do,but is it His will,we can pray as James 4 v3 tells us,we ask amiss. Yet let us not despair ,for we read ,/but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads on our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance./[Amplified Version] .In v27 we also read,/the Spirit intercedes in behalf
of the saints according to and in harmony with Gods will./ So we have a helper when we pray ,Leon Morris writes, /Paul is giving encouragement to the humblest of God's people.They may be dissatisfied with their praying ,
but they have a powerful intercessor and one who prays for them in accordance with the will of God/
A prayer.
Holy Spirit, prompt us,
When we kneel to pray;
Nearer come,and teach us
What we ought to pray.
Holy Spirit, help us
Daily by Thy might,
What is wrong to conquer,
And to choose the right.
[Words by W H. Parker]
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