Excluded. [ Galatians 5 v19-21]

In Galatians v24 we read,''those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires'' the great apostle
has been dealing with the fact that as Christian we have two natures within us one is our sinful nature and the other a spiritual nature our sinful natures  that which is contrary to our Spiritual nature.In Galatians 5v19-21,we have the acts of our sinful nature,sexual immorality impurity  and witchcraft; hatred, discord,jealousy , fits of rage, selfish ambition
dissensions factions and envy drunkenness orgies and the like. the last words indicate that list is not an exhaustive list as Paul like John in his
epistle stresses he is referring to habitual practise, rather than like John in his epistles stresses he is referring to those who have isolated lapses .Paul
says those who indulge in such things are excluded from Gods kingdom J. Stott writes Gods kingdom is a kingdom of holiness and those who ge in works of the flesh, will be excluded from  it, for such works give an evidence they are not in Christ.

                                             A prayer.
Dear God help us to manifest a holiness of life as evidence that we are truly Christ's Amen.

Who is this? ( Philippians 2 v 6 )

Yesterday we considered the challenge of having the same attitude as Christ
to appreciate the writer tells us something that many refuse to accept ''Who being in very nature God''. When our dear Saviour stilled the storm, his disciples were terrified and ask each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and
and waves obey him'  ( Mark 4 v41). When we read about Jesus ,we see Him do miraculous things, speak words that were out of this world. Like the disciples we find ourselves asking, who is this?, Well writes the great
apostle, He is none other than God  (Philippians 2 v 6), He has the very nature of God.


                                     ( And they will call Him Immanuel
                                       which means,'' God with us)
                                            Matthew 1 v 23 .

Attitude [ Philippians 2 v5-11 ]

Consider the following,' Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus'. Read these words slowly consider what they mean to you, for they are very challenging, what does it mean, is our viewpoint the same as Christ's?, is our outlook the same as Christ's?. How much does our lives correspond with Christ's?. It is no good saying that's the way I am, no the way we are should be like Christ, in everything, lets not omit anything, that means no racism, no wrong sexual behaviour, no holding on when we should be letting go. No saying yes when we should be saying no, no doing when we should be refraining.no going when we should stopping, Years ago there was a book and its theme was ,what would Jesus do?. When you are driving and someone cuts you up, what would Jesus?, when the girl in the checkout is not pleasant what would Jesus do?. When our children annoy us, what would Jesus do?. when someone whose not very nice to us what would Jesus do?.
      
                                         A  prayer.
Father the challenge for all us is immense, to be like our Saviour, help us to some degree, by your grace, to rise to the challenge Amen.

Consider the following [Philippians 2 v5-11]

I would like us to consider one of most meaningful passages of scripture one can read,it is from that little book of Philippians, chap 2 v 5.-11

                              Your attitude should be the same as
                               that of Christ Jesus;
                               Who ,being in the very nature God,
                                did not  consider equality with God
                                something to be grasped,
                                but made himself nothing,taking
                                the very nature of a servant,
                                being made in human likeness.
                                And being found in appearance
                                as a man,He humbled himself
                                and became obedient to death-
                                even death on a cross.
                                Therefore God exalted him to the
                                 highest place,and gave him the name
                                 that is above every name,
                                 That at the name of Jesus every knee
                                  should bow,in heaven,and on earth,
                                  and every tongue confess that Jesus
                                  Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
                                  Father.

                                 

My Blog

I have been having difficulties,with my Blog, the published article ,appears not as I composed,I am trying to get help,to sort it out.

Attached. [ Galations 4 v1-11 ]

It is John Stott who writes the following on the results of being in Christ,'' they speak with powerful relevance to us today. For our generation is busy developing a philosophy of meaninglessness. It is fashionable nowadays to believe[ or to say you believe] that life has no meaning, no purpose. There are many who admit that they have nothing to live for. They do not feel that they belong anywhere ,or, if they belong, it is to the group known as 'the unattached'. They class themselves as' outsiders',' misfits. They are without anchor, security or home. In biblical language, they are 'lost'.'' I can identify with what JS writes, as a young away from God, I started questioning life as to why we exist, and it was only when I surrendered to Christ, did I find meaning. As JS writes '',I  the unattached became attached. I found my place in eternity[related first and foremost to God as His son], in society[ related to each other as brothers and sisters in the same family] and in history[related also to the succession of God's people down the ages''. Yes I am no longer unattached, no longer lost, no longer without purpose, no longer without hope,

                                       A  prayer.
Dear God we thank You that we can know hope, we can have a purpose, we can have a future that goes beyond time, when Jesus is our Saviour. Amen.

Priorities [ Matthew 6 v 33]

I am just in from my daily walk, I appreciate it is important to look after my body, I also try to watch what I eat, sometimes I transgress. Often it appears we have two extremes, the physical fanatic, and those who neglect their bodies well being. I am sure it is important to have balance in our lives . But what about our souls well being?, what about godliness?, what about holiness?, what about spiritual growth ?.Our physical well being is very so is our spiritual well being, in fact it is more important. 
1 Timothy 4 v8  reads ,''Physical training is of some value,but godliness has value for all things,holding promise for both the present life and the life
to come''. Yes there is a life to come, for those who know Christ as Saviour,
the apostle Paul writes further[1 Tim4 v9],of labouring and striving, J.Stott
puts it like this ,we exercise ourselves unto godliness, because it prepares
us for eternity. W. Barclay writes,'' The Christian is not the athlete of the
gymnasium , he is the athlete of God''.

                                              A  prayer
Dear God help us to get our priorities right , in a world obsessed with earthly values, help us to put our spiritual condition first, in Jesus name we ask this Amen.