A difficult church. [John 15 v17 ]

The apostle Paul had worked hard with the Corinthian Church,visiting it[in total according to Paul Barnett 7years],he also wrote a number of letters to
them,we have just two of his letters.The church were difficult beyond degree,but it was obvious that he loved that church.Paul Barnett ,''Sacrifice is at the heart of the gospel,and also at the heart of ministry-whether it is in evangelising unbelievers or providing pastoral care for the flock of Christ. service of God,where it is true to him,is never easy and frequently is painful''. the church I attend, was not so long ago a battlefield,and in the end
the Pastor resigned,both he and the church had their faults.People often think,that the early church was wonderful,not so ,as the Church of Corinth
proves.[P B]''Despite this Paul did not disown them as Christians or repudiate their profession of church membership.Subsequent Christians have not always been so charitable as Paul.''  Sinless perfection in believers
will never happen,of course all churches are not like Corinth ,but they do still exist.To all of us echoing down through the years are the words of our Saviour,to His church,this is my command; love each other[[John 15 v17 ].
There is no get out clause in this,no ignoring it,no running away from it,no
self justifying,for whatever reason,for not loving our Christian family.
                                      A prayer.
Dear Saviour we thank you for your church,help us to love those in our local church,in obedience to your word Amen.

A light for the journey[Psalm 119 v105 ]

While travelling to a friend recently,using my navigational device, I was suddenly faced with a road sign,informing that the road ahead was closed.
I must confess I depend on the navigational device,years ago one used a map book.Faced with the road closed signed I turned around ,but the device kept telling me to turn around.It took me awhile before I got back on track, but thankfully I did,and was able to reach my destination.As a Christian
I am on a journey,and on that journey,I will meet many obstacles,I will be faced with deviations,unexpected signs that tell me the way ahead is blocked.We have no navigational device for life's journey,but we do have
a wonderful resource,its called the word of God,hear is the word for us all today,/Your word is a lamp to my feet,and a light to my path.[Psalm119 v105]/Dependence on Gods word is vital on our journey home,years ago a man was travelling by night,was given a torch of light wood,or ''pitch pine''.
He raised objections,it was too small,it will light you home.He then said,the
wind will blow it out,again he was told,''It will light you home'',then he said,
''but what if it rains ?'',he received the same answer,It will light you home'',
and it did.The word of God will be a lamp to our feet,and a lamp to our path
,it will light our way home.
                                            A prayer.
                      Lead ,kindly light,amid the encircling gloom,
                                         Lead Thou me on.
                      The night is dark,and I am far from home,
                                         Lead Thou me on.
                      Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
                      The distant scene; one step enough for me.
                            [Words by John Henry Newman.]
                       
                              

Unchanging one.[ Malachi 3 v6]

Paul Barnett wrote,/ The God of the Bible,of yesterday,is the God of today,
powerful and active to comfort his people/.Yes the God of the Bible,that means the Old Testament and the New Testament,there is only one God.The
fact is we change, He changeth not ,in the Old God ,spoke through the prophets,at many times and in various ways.[Hebrews 1 v1]And then the writer goes unto say,/But in these last days he has spoken to us by his son/.
Jesus has not replaced God,no He was God manifested in the flesh,we read
in 1Timothy 3v16 ,the mystery of  godliness is great,He appeared in a body/.Again in Colossians 2 v9,we read,'For in Christ all the fullness of the
Deity lives in bodily form'.It is our Saviour who said,'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me/[Matthew 28 v 18]So when we pray,in Jesus name we can rest assured that Gods power is available to work on our behalf,to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think,according to the power that worketh in us[Ephesians 3 v20.] And He is also  able to comfort all his children who mourn, so let us  lift up the eyes of faith,to an all sufficient Saviour.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God we thank and praise you ,that you never change,and that we can,
experience ,your wonderful power,and comfort ,through Jesus,Amen.

My prayers are not being answered. [ Mark 14 v 35-36]

Recently a friend said to me ,prayer is not being answered,she was upset,
things where getting on top of her.She reminds me of one the prophets ,
Habakkuks,who asked the question to God,/How long,O Lord,must I call for help,but you do not listen?or cry out to you,''Violence'' but you do not save.[ Habakkuk 1 v2]Now Habakkuk was a godly man,and my friend is a godly person.So for whatever reason,they reached the conclusion that prayer was not  being answered. Now I am sure my friend has had many prayers answered,likewise Habakkuk,likewise myself.So when my friend
said prayer was not being answered,her precept was not taking into account
the times God  had answered prayer.When it comes to prayer we must
appreciate that we are limited as to,the why's and wherefore,of Gods perfect will.The fact is, our all wise God has His own reason as to why and how  He responds to all our prayers,Charles Swindle in his book perfect trust, writes,/It is a waste of time trying to unscrew the inscrutable workings of God. You will never be able to do it/.Now surely this applies to prayer,if God appears not to be answering our prayers then He has a perfect reason.Now my friend still believes in God,but is struggling with this one issue.The most important thing to do is simply to trust in our God who loves us,to just tell Him,that you trust Him,and will leave the unanswered prayer with Him.
                                          A prayer.
Dear God help us to trust You,even when our prayers appear not to be answered,in Jesus name Amen.

He was the last person I thought would become a Christian. [John 3 v8 ]

In his book 'Perfect Trust',Charles Swindle',wrote the following,/Our sovereign Lord operates from an eternal agenda,not a daily planner.
Sometimes,when we expect Him to charge over the hill with the cavalry,He holds back,other times, at the exact moment we think He has misplaced our address,He comes in through the back door.And when we wonder if we'll
ever feel His warmth,He pulls us in from the cold and sets us in the front of
crackling fire...Even with all He has revealed about Himself in His Word, His works often in ways we can't explain.'/I found these words very meaningful and helpful,it reminds me that we cannot tie God down,and that
the predicting game,as to Gods ways,is foolish.In John 3 v 8,we read,/The wind blows wherever it wants,just as you can hear the wind but can't tell
where it comes from or where it is going,so you can't explain how people
are born of the Spirit/.My Study Bible comments on this,/Jesus explained
that we cannot control the work of the Holy Spirit,He works in ways we cannot predict or understand./ A friend of mine told a person she knew,how
a certain man had become a Christian,the person replied that he was the last person in the world she thought would become a Christian,but the fact is he did become a Christian.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God forgive us for our foolishness,You do work so often in ways we do not understand,saving the most unlikely people,and doing the most
unexpected things.in Jesus name Amen.

The word was God. [ John 1 v 1]

The Jehovah Witness's are active in the area where I live,and so it happen that two called at my door.What does one do,talk to them?,now that is a challenging thing to do,for the enemy is strong.The important thing to remember ,because this is a stronghold of Satan ,it does not mean they are right.This organisation was borne out of a rejection of Biblical truth,what they do not understand ,what appears to their rational mind as irrational,they reject.Now that may sound reasonable,but it is not,they will reject the doctrines ,which the Bible clearly teaches,they have a translation,which has been changed to fit in with their beliefs.One simple but very important
scripture,illustrates this is John 1 v1,which reads,/In the beginning was the the word,and the word was with God,and the word was God./Now this is clear statement on the divinity of Christ,but because they have rejected that doctrine ,they have slipped in an a,to make it read ,/a  god/.We must appreciate the importance of this,instead of accepting what scripture says,
the JW's,have perverted the scripture.Paul Barnett states,/Christianity stood
or fell depending on one's view of the person and work of Jesus.False views
of Jesus have been promoted throughout history,including in these present
times.Such views must be firmly opposed in our generation as they were then by Paul if the true gospel is to have its power to mediate salvation.
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God help to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all
entrusted to the saints,in Jesus name Amen.

Is it I?. [ Psalm 51 ]

According to Pablo Picasso, a fascist officer barked at him,'Did you do that?,and pointed to a photo of the huge painting Guernica,which graphically depicts the bombing of civilians, 'No, you did',the artist replied.
Sometimes we are blind to the way we are behaving,and the trouble we are causing.King Ahab blamed Elijah for the trouble Israel was having,when in
fact,the king was to blame[  1 Kings 18 v17-18 ].When Nathan the prophet
told King David,of an rich man who was oppressing a poor man David,
became angry,and threatened to have that rich man put to death.Imagine  his surprise and horror when the story was turned on him,when Nathan said to
David, 'you are the man'.The point of all this is,that often we are into denial
as to where the blame really lies,we blame others,we blame circumstances,
we even blame God.As long as we keep doing this ,things will not change,
and whats most important we will never change.When our our Lord told his
disciples that one of them would betray him,they began to say to one another, is it I?. [Mark 14 v19]. Are you into some addiction that is causing
you trouble,but you are unwilling to admit it,not willing to take responsibility,for the mess your in.Is it not time to face your demons,to
acknowledge them,and to pray to Christ to forgive you,and for grace to
change whatever the price.Instead of asking ,is it I?,acknowledge ,that it is you.
                                         A  prayer.
Search me,O God,and know my heart,test me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting. in Jesus name Amen.