His Church [ Jude v24-25 ]

From Philippi Paul and Silas moved on to Thessalonica were a church came into being, but  opposition arose from the Jews, they were filled with a spirit of jealousy. Paul and Silas were sent away. The result was, two churches had come into being, later Paul would write to these believers. Both churches were young in the faith, and those who would lead those churches were young in the faith, but these churches may have been young in the faith, but they were not left on there own, they had the Holy Spirit, as we have. Yes they needed to be taught in the things of God, they needed to face the challenge of living a Christian life, but God would be with them. He would raise leaders, he would send them precious instruction from Paul the apostle in his letter to the Christians Paul wrote,'' Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus[Philippians 1 v 6]. What wonderful words these are for that young church, faced with all the difficulties and challenge of living for Christ. I have just received photo's of a small group of believers in Nepal,how will they survive?, how will any of us survive?. The answer is simple God, for Christ said He would build His church, and that hell itself will not have the victory,over His Church.
                                       A prayer.
Dear Lord we praise you that you have promised to build your church, not
only to build it, but to preserve, purify,and one day glorify it,Amen
                    [I will return to my Blog Monday[DV]  EVERY
                      BLESSING]

Saved [ John 3 v16 ]

Now we have been considering Acts 16 ,and what happened when Paul and Silas visited there, and we had come to the place, when after being beaten, they were put into prison. So that was that?, no, we have to read the whole story, to see how God worked out things. The first thing we read that these dear men they started a prayer meeting up and started to praise God. The jailer, and the other prisoners must have heard, but most of all God heard, and not only did He hear, but He answered there prayers. Let us remember nothing can cut us off from our God. Suddenly there was an earthquake, the doors flew open and every persons chains came loose. We then read how the jailer woke up, and was going to kill himself, because, he thought everyone had escaped that meant he would be held responsible. Paul shouted out to him not to kill himself, and that all the prisoners were still there. At this the jailer called for lights, and then he went in trembling,fell before Paul and Silas, and asked,sirs, what must I do to be saved?. A young man I knew was dying, and a friend came to see him, and the young man asked this same question. The good news is both  ,believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and got saved, the gospel is good news,  it is for the whosoever
yes even for you.
                           Hear is a little prayer you can pray
                           if you want to be saved.

Dear Lord Jesus, forgave me  my sins, and come into my life, Amen.

Eternity [Mark 8 v36-37]

Continuing on at Paul experience at Philippi[Acts 16],we have seen how God has been moving, saving, and delivering people,grand ,but then things become difficult. Of course the enemy of souls was not happy, nor were those who owned the slave, The result Paul and Silas were set upon and arrested, brought before the magistrate, who ordered them to be stripped and beaten, and thrown into prison, with their feet put into stocks. The owners of that slave girl had lost out financially, when peoples financial interests is effected by Christians ,one can expect trouble. They only considered the loss of their money, Paul and Silas interest ,was souls of the lost, what is more important? No amount of money will ever compensate for the loss of peoples souls, even if a person could gain the whole world[ Mark 8 v36].What is vital that we weigh up the true worth of our soul, which is eternal, or that which is temporal. It is W. Barclay who writes,'' We would be saved from all sorts of mistakes if we always looked at things in the light of eternity''.
                                
                       I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
                       I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
                       I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands,
                       I'd rather be laid by His nail-pierced hands.

                       Than to be the king of a vast domain,
                       and be held in sin's dread sway;
                       I'd rather have Jesus than anything,
                       this world affords today.
                        [ Words by R.F.Miller]

Free at last [John 8 v36]

Whatever one may think about demon possession and of course it is real, and it was real for that slave girl in Philippi ,[Acts 16 v16-18 ]but we must be careful to not become unbalanced . Every soul needs to be forgiven and set free, because as Jesus said,'' everyone who sins is a slave of sin''[John 8 v34].While being possessed by an evil spirit is awful, we must see the awful bondage of all mankind. A bondage to so many things, pride, sex possessions, drugs, idolatry of all  sorts, envy, hate, filthily mind, filthy language, covertness, need I go on. The wonderful thing about Jesus when we trust him as our Saviour, He forgives us all our sins, I stress all, no matter what sins we have committed, Jesus will forgive us. But it does not stop there, for he tells us,'' if the Son [Jesus] sets you free you shall be free indeed.[John 8 v36].Now that's a wonderful reality , that millions upon millions have and are experiencing, and so can you.
                                              
                                            A  prayer.
                          
                            Out of my bondage sorrow and night,
                            Jesus I come, Jesus I come.
                            Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
                            Jesus I come to Thee.
                                  Amen.
                           [Words  W.T.Sleeper]

Angels of light [ 2 John v 7]

Next we come to a young slave girl, who was demon possessed, we read about demon possession, but many of us are not sure  how to approach it.
But let  us accept that it can be a reality, we can say a lot about Satan, he is called the god of this world, or of this age[ 2 Corinthians 4 v4],our Saviour called him the prince of this world[John 12 v31 ] He and his forces are
powerful, as in the case of this slave girl in Phillippi,he possessed her,and
controlled her [ Acts 16 v16],she was a fortune teller, and made a lot of money for her owners. But as Paul and Silas were going to the place of
prayer ,she followed them, shouting,'' These men are servants of the most
High God, are telling you the way to be saved''. She continued to do this day after day, this grieved Paul, and in the name of  Jesus commanded
the evil spirit to leave her[16 V18],which it did. Now what she had cried out
was right,but Paul knew ,it might be said that he was in alliance with her.
Like Paul we must be clear in our stand for truth, and not have alliances with those who are not true followers of Christ. I have read Mormon literature that appears to be Christian, but a Mormon is not a Christian, remember the Bible tells us that Satan can come to us as an angel of light [2 Corinthians 11 v14].That great theologian Hodge said this,'' Satan does  not come to us as Satan; neither does sin present itself as sin, but in the guise of virtue; and the teachers of error set themselves forth as the special advocates of truth''.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God deliver us from false religion, no matter how it appears, help us  to stand for your truth even if we have to stand alone for our Saviours
sake, we pray this Amen.

Our loved ones. [ 1 Peter 3 v 1-6 ]

So Lydia became a Christian, but it did not stop there for we read, members of her household also became Christians[Acts 16 v15]It is wonderful when a family receive salvation, I am sure that someone reading this, and they are
saved, but their family is not. I would encourage you to keep praying, and live out the Christian life before them, it is Peter who instructs saved wives
who are married to an unsaved husband ,how they should live ,the result is
they may be won over for Christ[1 Peter 3 v 1-6]. I remember a dear friend of mine,he was and is a lovely Christian, his father was a very violent man
especially to his wife. There was a dread every Saturday night ,when the husband would come in drunk, and be violent to his wife. She remained  with him, then the time came and he became seriously ill. It was then he asked to see his son ,my friend, who told him how to be saved, when he had finished telling him, his father said I will will do what you 've said son. My friends brother also became a Christian, a godly life, I believe will have an influence,that is why it is vital, not just to talk the  talk, but also to walk the walk.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear Lord you know how we desire our  loved ones and friends, to know you  as Saviour, in your mercy may we see it happen ,Amen.

I confess. [Romans 10 v 10]

The Lord opened the heart of  Lydia ,she became a believer, and she speaks to Paul and friends. She says ,''If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord'' ,I wonder if we said this to someone ,what  would they think or reply?.In  John 12 v42,-43 ,we read, how many Jewish leaders believed in Jesus,''but because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue ,for they loved praise from men more than praise from God''. There are to aspects as to why they were silent
,one was fear of man,secondly they loved the praise of men. They gave more thought as to what they would loose, if they openly confessed Christ.
As William Barclay writes, ''It would have meant an end to their place,their
profit,and their prestige. They would have been ostracised from society,and
banished from orthodox religion. It was too high a price to pay. So they lived a lie because they were not big enough to stand up for the truth'' Bruce
Milne points out,'' Those who expect the Lord to own their names on the day of judgement,he expects to own His name now before a watching world'',[ Mark 8 v38 ]
                                        
                                  I'm not ashamed to own my Lord
                                  Or to defend His cause,
                                  Maintain the honour of His word,
                                  The glory of His cross.
                                     [Words by Isaac Watts ]