Will we pass the test?. ( 1 Peter 1 v 6 - 7 )

In Deuteronomy 8 v 2 ff Moses declares to Israel,''Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years,to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart , whether or not you would keep His commands.Why was Job tested? to see whither he would fail the test or pass the test,the devil said unto God that Job was faithful because God had blessed him,but  said Satan ,''stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face''.So God permitted Satan to move against Job until he had lost everything,and so it came to pass,but Job withstood the test,but it was not easy when one considers,what he lost ,10 children, all his possessions,and his health.The question is how would he cope with these testing events?, would he remain faithful ?, the answer is ,he did,even though he never really understood the reason why he had suffered so much.Not knowing is often the biggest test we can experience in life, but that is where faith comes in,that is where trust comes in,even though at times,Job spoke his mind he declared ,''Though he slay me,yet will I hope in Him'' ( Job 13 v 15 )

Teachable ( Deuteronomy 8 v 3 )

Some things I remember from my early school days,how my teacher defined our roles,she taught, we learn,sometimes people mix it up.As a Christian I sometimes forget that God is our teacher.When Mary sat at the feet of Jesus He was teaching her,and when he spoke to Martha he was teaching her important lessons.He teaches us many that are not taught in school or university, that is if we are teachable.When God rescued Israel from the bondage of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness,he taught them lessons,we read how He allowed hunger,oh yes he did supply them with food called manna.His reason in allowing them to hunger,was to teach them,''that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ( Deuteronomy 8 v 3 ) The question for all of us to ask, in all of life's circumstances,what is God teaching us?.

James Bond. ( 1 John 2 v 15 - 17 )

A man I know was having a bit of refreshment after he had taken the service at a local church,he was talking to some elderly people,and they mentioned,in a complimentary way as regards his dress sense.But what caused my friend to be amused was the remark by one elderly lady, who said he was like James Bond, I can assure you my friend is far from being James Bond.He found himself saying to himself that lady needs to go to Spec Savers, and that wallpaper  covers a lot of cracks.The Bible says that man looks on the outward appearance,the rich and wealthy  are often portrayed in their fabulous homes,with their fabulous cars ,giving the world a picture that they have made it and,are to be admired.But mankind no matter how they are dressed up,are far from perfect, the Bible speaks of the pride of life ,( 1 John 2 v 16 ).In the end the  James Bonds will loose their teeth ,their hair ,and possible end up in an old persons home. and then into the grave As a Christian we must not be fooled by worldly ideas , what really counts is that we know Christ as our Saviour,and  that we love God,and others more than ourselves.

Is God tapping you on the shoulder? ( Luke 18 v 1 )

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writing from a Nazi prison to a friend wrote,''When all's said and done,it is true that it needs trouble to drive us to prayer, though every time I feel it is something to be ashamed of''.We see this so clearly in the book of Judges, this book has a repetitious theme to it,the people turn from God ,and he deals with them,and its then they cry unto God for deliverance. It is a sad fact that even Christians don't always pray or if they do it is a brief encounter with God. So it may be  that the difficulties you are experiencing ,is God tapping you on the shoulder, reminding you to pray.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Don't forget to pray

Do you want to grow? ( 1 Peter 2 v 2 )

The first sermon I preached when I came to England was from Micah 6 v 8, that was forty years ago,I preached it with a view of becoming a minister, and so it came about. There will always be scriptures that we associate with an event in our life's history,one of things Israel were commanded to do was to remember Gods word. In Deuteronomy 11 v 18 -20 we read,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds;                                                                                  tie them as Symbols on your hands and bind them                                                                                    on your foreheads. Teach them to your children                                                                                        talking about when you sit at home and when you                                                                                    walk along the road,when you lie down and when                                                                                    get up.                                                                                                                  I preached a sermon recently I ended it by stressing three points as regards the word of God ,they were   ,                                          Feed on the word of God.                                                                                                                          Understand the word of God                                                                                                                      Obey the word of God.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Do these three things and you will                                                                                                                     grow spiritually.

All are welcome ( John 6 v 37 )

Following on as regards Dr Barnardo,,early on in the work he was doing,a child called Carrot came and asked to be allowed to stay in the shelter he ran. Unfortunately  there was no room, he gave the boy sixpence to get something to eat,assured him that when a place opened up he would let him stay. Little Carrot went away,found somewhere to sleep, in an empty sugar barrel.It was very cold next morning he was found dead, due to exhaustion,exposure and lack of food.When Dr. Barnardo heard this he vowed to never turn another child away. He had a large notice painted above the door of the house. It said; NO DESTITUTE CHILD IS EVER REFUSED ADMITTANCE.These words remind us  of what our Saviour said,''Anyone who comes to Me I will never drive away'' ( John 6 v 37 ). Consider the word anyone,without exception, be you a child,poor, rich,an addict, a criminal ,anyone,the wonderful news is Christ came to save sinners,go to Him confessing your sin and He will forgive you.

Gods way. ( Proverbs 3 v 6 )

Most  people have heard of Barnardo's orphanages which was started by Dr. Thomas Barnardo, who was born in Dublin,where he became a Christian.As a young lad he in Dublin he would go out night after night witnessing and helping the poor and needy.Later he travelled to  London to train to be a doctor.,with the intention of going to China to be a missionary.,but that never happened,God had other plans,and He found himself working among the poor and destitute in the east end of London.      many dear Christian ,have been surprised where they have ended up, Gods plans are often different than our plans. Don't box yourselves into a corner where God never meant you  to be, He has ways of changing the direction we should go.We read in Proverbs 19 v 21.  ''Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              He leadeth me, O blessed thought,                                                                                                            O words with heavenly comfort fraught,                                                                                                  Whate'er I do , wherever I be,                                                                                                                    Still tis God's hand  that leadeth me