24/7. ( Luke 18 v 1 )

We use the term 24/7 these days,one of my lads is involved in a Christian ministry called 24/7, it involves prayer. One of the things they do is to encourage churches to participate in prayer ,by opening the church premises for one week 24/7. It is not just a novel idea or new, it is, and can be a positive exercise ,reminding us all of  of the truth that prayer.is not just important but vital for us as individuals and collectively as a body of Gods people.Gone are the days in many churches of the prayer meeting, I wonder why?,all Christians I am sure, know that prayer is important.I would like to think that most Christians do pray. There  is so much one can say about prayer ,there is so much to pray about, let us say, anyone can pray.When Jesus spoke about prayer He stressed the importance of  private prayer CP Matthew 6 v 6 ,that does not mean we should not pray publicly,He dealt with the danger's involved when we pray publicly, when we pray to impress, mainly others,we are fools if we think we can impress God . Would it not be a good thing if we had more people ,who we may  think unsuited to pray publicly ,in that they pray from the heart not just the brain,what  if we heard people breaking down and crying when they pray. Such prayers do not embarrass God in the least,God is not given to snobbery ,unfortunately we are.                                                                                                                                                                                            PRAY.

No other gods. (Isaiah 40 )

In Isaiah 46 v 9 - 10,we have God declaring , ''I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is to come''. First of all we are told, ' I am God ,and there is no other'', these words challenge a belief in the existence of other gods. So when the religions of this world ,pray to their gods , they are praying to nothing, for no other god exists. There is only one God, and further still ,there is only one Saviour Jesus, who left us in no doubt of this when he declared ,that He was the way the truth and the life,and no one could unto the Father but by Him. ( 14 v 6 ).Next we read,''I  am God, and there is none like me''.which reminds us that God is unique in His being, yet people do try to make God fit into their little box, such efforts   are forbidden (  Exodus 20 v 4 ). Next we read , '' I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is to come''.Here we have the all known God, who not only knows the future, but also has a plan. Unlike ,Open theism who believe that God does not plan, or know all the future, but leaves much of it, ''open''.God reigns  He has not surrendered  His rule over this world,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            GOD RULES.

Have faith. ( 1 John 5 v 14 - 15/ Mark 5 v 24 - 34 )

My mind  was on a person who was desperate ,a lady who had  a problem which she suffered with for 12 long years,it made her ceremonial unclean. In that religious society it was serious ,and it  was serious for her, it was a physical complaint, no health service, those who did practise as doctors ,were very limited as to what they could treat.Whatever money she had ,she had spent it all trying to get a cure but to no avail,what was she to do?.Well she heard about Jesus the healer, but how could she dare approach him,she was considered ceremonial unclean, she would not anybody to know.She was utterly desperate ,so  she went and the only thing she had was faith,poor in all that she was,yet she had faith. . It not Jesus who said ,if you have faith one could move a mountain, even though ones faith was very small  ( Matthew 17 v 20 ). It is W.Barclay who titles this story,''A sufferer's last hope'', in spite of all her previous disappointments, she had hope that Jesus could help her. So here is what she did,she went to where Jesus was,He was not hard to find,because a large crowd of people followed Him wherever He went., but that made it difficult for her to actually get to Jesus. There are so many things that can stop us getting to Jesus, but the fact is, He was the only one who could meet this women's need.,let me ask the question to you, what is stopping you from coming to Jesus ?,Let us learn from this lady,she did not give up and go home, it was difficult,but she says to herself,if I can only touch His clothes, I will be healed,and so it happened. Immediately she was healed,now Jesus knew someone had touch Him and was healed,and when the  lady confessed it was her,He said, ''Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace, and be freed from your suffering''.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Prayer is the key to heaven                                                                                                                         But faith unlocks the door,                                                                                                                         Words are so easily spoken,                                                                                                                       Prayer without faith is like                                                                                                                         a boat without oars.                                                                                                                                    Have faith when you pray to                                                                                                                     the Master,                                                                                                                                                 that's  all He asks from you,                                                                                                                       Prayer is the key to heaven                                                                                                                         But faith unlocks the door.                                                                                                                         ( Words..R.L.Sande /S.T.Scott)                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Lex talionis ( Matthew 5 v 38 - 42 )

How many time have we heard people saying ,''an eye for eye, tooth for tooth'',and they take that literally,the words are taken from Exodus 21 v 24. I want to quote Alec Motyer on these words.           ''This is often misused ( as if ' an eye for an eye ' was an expression of ancient savagery ), but it is actually a poetic and dramatic demand that the punishment should match the crime,no more and no less. When English law hanged a person for stealing a sheep , it  was not because the principle of ' an eye for an eye' was being practised but because it had been forgotten . Nowadays,the great rule of equity is more  often breached by mistaken leniency. The Lex  talionis ( The law of retaliation ) is of course a law for the courts, not for private vengeance.The reference to the Lex talionis in the present context shows that its terms were illustrative not prescriptive. '' Our Saviour taught in Matthew 5 v 38 ff how we transcend  this law,by turning the other cheek, to not resist evil, I think this does not rule out the law courts, were a fair settlement should be reached.

He will come again. ( 2 Peter 3 v 1 - 14 )

Abraham Lincoln was having a hard time during the American civil war, Gen Grant was head of the Union army, but when reports came in of ghastly losses in his Virginia campaign,it put in doubt the outcome of the war,and Lincoln's election.So at time's he despaired ,and increasingly he came to feel that the outcome of the war, and of his administration was in the hands of a  Higher Power. As I read the history of this little Island when the German army was sweeping all before them, I reach the same conclusion as Lincoln though I would put it a different way, that the outcome of that conflict was not just in the hands of a higher power, but in the hands of Almighty God. Our Almighty God is not a spectator as regards what is going on in this world, no, He rules over all the affairs of mankind. He is working everything to His conclusion ,the Son of  God is at the helm, ruling and over ruling,in every situation right down to the teeny -weeny detail. Then when it has reach that point, He will come back again, to reclaim what is His,that is His church, the main thing for us who are His children,is  to live in the light of that great event, for it will happen, I will not speculate as to when, for our Lord forbid us to do that ,( Acts 1 v 7 ),but I am watching and working until that hour.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      It may be at morn,when the day                                                                                                                is awaking,                                                                                                                                                  When sunlight through darkness                                                                                                                and shadow is breaking,                                                                                                                            That Jesus will come in the fullness                                                                                                           of glory.                                                                                                                                                     To receive from the world His own.                                                                                                                 ( Words . H.L.Turner )                                                                                                         

O yes He cares. ( 1 5 v 7 )

Two of the loveliest  words in the Bible to me are the words recorded about Jesus ,as He stood outside the tomb of a friend who died,are these, ''Jesus wept''.   ( John 11 v 35 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Does Jesus care when my heart is pained                                                                                                  To deeply for mirth and song?                                                                                                                  As the burdens press,and the cares distress,                                                                                              And the way grows weary and long ?.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Does Jesus care when my way is dark,                                                                                                      With a nameless dread and fear?                                                                                                                 As the daylight fades into deep night shares,                                                                                            Does He care enough to be near?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Does Jesus care when I've said goodbye                                                                                                     To the dearest on earth to me.                                                                                                                    And my heart aches, till it nearly breaks,                                                                                                  Is it ought to Him?, Does He see?.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                O yes He cares, I know He cares,                                                                                                              His heart is touched with my grief.                                                                                                            When the days are weary,                                                                                                                          The long nights dreary,                                                                                                                              I know my Saviour cares.                                                                                                                             ( Words by Frank. E. Graeff )                           


.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

A holy day. ( Philippians 1 v 21 )

We  have booked another holiday ,now a holiday is an opportunity to rest ,but for all that I would not want to be a permeate tourist . The original meaning for holiday was' holy day,'my it truly has lost its original meaning, for many ,it is a time of self indulgence, measured by how much they eat and drink,and indulging in sex of one kind or another.I am not trying to spoil your holiday,for people are very busy in life and under pressure, they have to manage to work full time and also run a home, which in itself is a full time job,go and enjoy your holiday and have a well earned rest.But whither on holiday or at home,why not make everyday a holy day.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          O walk with Jesus, to thy veiw
                                                           He will make all things sweet and new,                                                                                                     Will bring new fragrance from each flower                                                                                               And hallow every passing hour.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Jesus ,a great desire have we,                                                                                                                     To walk life troubled path with Thee,                                                                                                       Come to us now,in converse stay;                                                                                                             And O walk with us day by day.                                                                                                                     ( Words by E.Paxton Hood )