Discipline. ( Hebrews 12 v 5 - 13 )

I want to borrow three things I have read in a book on Numbers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       God will always discipline                                                                                                                         God's purpose will always prevail.                                                                                                           God's love, discipline and purpose are always holy.                                                                                                                                                                                              There was a time when physical discipline was the norm,in school ,and in the home,things have changed,but what has not changed , discipline is still necessary .We think discipline is only for children,but it obvious  that many adults need discipline, no matter what age we are,or how long we have been a Christian ,our loving heavenly Father will always discipline us,using appropriate  means                                                                                                                                                                       '                                         ' My child , do not regard lightly the  discipline                                                                                         of the Lord. or lose heart when you are punished by Him,                                                                         for the Lord disciplines those whom  He loves,                                                                                        and chastises every child whom he accepts.'                                                                                                           Hebrews 12 v 5/b - 6 .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

God is sovereign. ( Hebrews 7 v 25 )

Writing on the author of the book of Kings, John Olley, comments,''The Kings writer repeatedly reminds his readers, that it is Yahweh (God ) who is sovereign ; His word is not thwarted''. We ask sometimes ,who is in charge?, well the Christians answer is God,it is a must be statement of faith,for it raises many questions,I can hear people say,if God is sovereign ,why,this? and indeed why that?,look at history the awful things that have happened , the disease,wars, the awful tragedies. Then there are the personal tragedies,,we all have them ,or why did He create devil?.why, why, why. Now let us consider humanity, Adam and Eve,God made them and they were perfect, but would they remain perfect?.So God gave them a choice, and He did not interfere with that choice,they could obey or disobey, God had told them,the consequence's of disobedience. of making the wrong choice.In spite of this they made the wrong choice. And from then it was down hill all the way, but still God is sovereign,there are two two destructive forces in the world, sin and Satan,yet God is still sovereign,    that is the good news,and through His Son,He devised a way in which we can be forgiven, set free,and assured of a home in heaven.

We have a choice ( James 1 v 12 - 14 )

In the Lords  prayer we ask our heavenly Father ,to lead us  not into temptation (Matthew 6 v 13 ),it is a needed prayer, as C. Spurgeon  writes ,''For I cannot preserve myself''. Yes we need so much help from God, that we may  not  yield, to temptation,and be taken captive by Satan. This is a real possibility,  for all Gods Children,but it need not be so,.In Isaiah 52 v 11,we read ' Depart,depart,go out from there, touch no unclean thing,get out from the midst of it,purify yourselves'.The point is you don't  play around,Joseph when tempted ran away,to escape the tempter. (   Genesis 39 v 12 )    So it is, that we must not dally when we are tempted,the things that we can be  tempted with, can appear very attractive.We would not play with a snake, no matter how beautiful it is, so why should we play around with temptation,the answer is we should not. I know a man who was friends with a married couple,the lady was unhappy in her marriage,the man was friendly with the lady,and found himself in a place of vulnerability , in the end he felt he had better end that friendship. Let us consider ,God will deliver us,but He expects us to not put ourselves in a place of danger, to our  spiritual well being.

No way out. ( Psalm 41 )

I  remember a good number of years ago,helping in a Christian book shop,the couple who ran the shop were a fine Christian couple.Things were becoming difficult financially, to try and bring in more revenue they opened a cafe as part of the bookshop.This cost more money and unfortunately the cafe was not successful,so things became more difficult,there appeared no way out of the situation . They could not give up the shop as they were tied to a lease,which had to be paid,so it went on,no way out it seemed. One morning I was reading the scriptures, and I read the following words , in Exodus 6 v 1,which read,''Now you will see what I ( Lord )will do'', I passed this unto the brother in the shop.Well what did God do?, shortly after this the local council bought the place, enabling  the couple to move out.So it is when we reach the end of our hidden resources, and everything appears to be ,      beyond us,it is then ,we can see what God can do,He comes at that moment, and we see His glorious deliverance.The children of Israel experience it so many times,there were times that all seemed lost,no way out,are you at that place,have faith,call upon the Lord and He will deliver you..                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Now you will see what the Lord will do.

Painful giving ( 2 Corinthians 9 v 6 - 15 )

I was ministering in a local church and the offering was being taken up, when a man as he put his offering in,was heard to say,'' this is painful''. The offering is of course voluntary ,years ago I saw a record  of what people had given into their local church,every member of that church received a copy. I must confess I would not agree to such a thing,it is like shaming people into giving. Some think that  churches are supported by the government,of course this is not true,it is supported by the members. Writing to Christians at a place called Corinth,the apostle Paul said this about giving,''Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver''.( 2 Cor 9 v 7 ).What he is saying is this we must make up our own minds what we should give,no should anyone put pressure unto to us to give,either emotional or physical pressure. Our giving is not meant to be painful,that is unacceptable, it should  be in a joyful experience ,and if it is ,that will really please God..Remember whatever we give it is  to the glory of God,in other words we are honouring  Him.

Reckless love. ( Luke 15 v 3 - 7 )

A man I know who as part of his ministry visit prisons,on a previous visit an elderly inmate trusted the Lord Jesus as His Saviour.On his latest visit he  had the joy of baptising him and eight others, do pray for them.  After the baptism there was a time of praise ,and one of the songs they sung was,''Reckless love'', by Cory Asbury, it is based on the story of the lost sheep in Luke's gospel chap 15 v 3 - 7.It tells of a shepherd who had one hundred sheep,and one went missing, so he left the 99 and went searching for it in the wilderness, until he found it,then he put it on his shoulder, he was bursting with joy,because he found it,and when he reached home,he was so filled with joy, he gathered all his friends, and neighbours in and told about the sheep that was lost and now was found.Jesus said that there was joy in heaven over one lost soul who turned to God and turned away from their  sin                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Reckless Love.                                                                                                                          Before I spoke a word ,You were singing over me,                                                                                  You have been so, so good to me,                                                                                                               Before I took a breath,You breathed your life in me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    When I was your foe,still your love fought for me,                                                                                   You have been so, so good to me,                                                                                                             When I felt no worth,you paid it all for me,                                                                                                You have been so, so kind to me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  There's  no shadow you wont light up                                                                                                         Mountain you wont climb up,coming after me,                                                                                         There's no wall you wont kick down, coming after me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Oh the overwhelming   , never ending reckless love,                                                                               It chases me down, fights till I'm found, leaves the, 99,                                                                             I couldn't earn it, and don't deserve it,till you give yourself away,                                                           Oh the overwhelming  never ending,                                                                                                         Reckless love of God, Yeah.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                 

Perfect ( Roman 8 v 28 )

In 2 Samuel 22 we have a wonderful Psalm of praise by none other than David, v 31, reads ,''As for God, His way is perfect''we read these words in Psalm 18 v 30.Now of course David had many trials, as a young shepherd boy,he had to face a lion and a bear,which he killed.Then a wonderful thing happened the prophet Samuel  anointed him to be the future king of Israel..Before that would happen he suffered many difficulties ,where his life was in constant danger,from king Saul.But as he looked back He could see how wonderfully God preserved him ,and eventually made him king.Not only did God make him king he preserved him as king, from those who would have overthrown him .Like David we all have had our difficulties,but as he looked back in spite of everything good and bad he had come to the conclusion ,that God had worked out everything  perfectly .David connects this statement with God's word,his promises proved true.God had called David to be king,and so it came to pass. David  goes on to say that God was there for him,a shield,as he sought Him.God worked out everything, perfectly.What applies to David ,applies to all God's children,that means you and to me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               I know who holds the future,                                                                                                                      And He'll guide me with His hand.                                                                                                            With God things don't just happen,                                                                                                            Everything by Him is planned;                                                                                                                  So as I face tomorrow                                                                                                                                With its problems great and small,                                                                                                             I'll trust the God of miracles,                                                                                                                     Give to Him my all.