Yesterdays man.( Revelation 3 v 20 )

Most of us are familiar with the term ,'has been,' denoting a persons fall, from what they once were,in a sense it is not a very complimentary term to be used of any one. As one reads the history of Israel so often there leaders,politically ,and of most of the population, turned out to be 'has been's',.I am just finishing a study of Nehemiah,now it could never be said of him, that he was a has been.,no he is seen as faithful consistent leader and man of God. He was Governor of Jerusalem appointed by a Persian King,he had many difficulties to face,he had enemies without,which he dealt  with.He sought to put the people on a sound spiritual footing, and it appears he had succeeded in doing so.But at times he had to report back to the king,and when he returned the situation had deteriorated .They became, 'has been's'. they were not what they once where ,it is Raymond Brown who writes,' that  individuals change ,and so can churches',and even godly nations.We may say of our country we are a Christian, country,but alas that's no longer reality.I pray for a number of people who are,' has been's', as regards their walk with Christ,it need not be that way,God can restore ,yes, even the,' has been's'  .

How great is our God . ( Isaiah 40 )

How great is our God?Raymond Brown writes the following , 'God is unique,God is attentive, He is righteous,He is powerful,He is holy, He is sovereign, He is unfailing.'Much more could be said about our great God, He is indescribable,He is a great God,who encourages us to look to Him ,to have confidence in Him, to trust in Him and all that He is. Human beings are created ,limited.Not so so God,read of one who not only made all things but sustains all thing,and that in Him we live and move and have our being ( Acts 17 v 2 8 ),our every breath is in His hands.Let us raise our sights  beyond the power of nature,of man, and even ourselves.Why? because God is greater than all, power belongs  unto God.Let us fix our eyes on our great God,let us start by looking beyond ourselves,but not beyond our great God.Read that wonderful chapter in Isaiah ,chapter 40,and heed verse 10 which reads,'So do not fear, for I  am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God'.

Erosion (1 Kings 3 v 9 )

I  was struck by what I read recently,by Raymond  Brown, I wonder what you think of it,''Every believer needs a greater sensitivity to sin. All to easily, the ugly thing gradually becomes tolerated,even viewed as the possibly useful thing,and finally the attractive thing. It does not happen in a moment. Standards are lowered gradually and imperceptibly . Sin becomes known by another name. We accommodate at one stage of life things which earlier would have been totally unacceptable. ''I want you think about what I have written, and how it applies to you, and to the society you live in and the church you attend.

God is in control. ( 1 Corinthians 1 v 26 - 29 )

I remember listening to a well known minister whose ministry God had wonderfully blessed,as regards his conversion,he had attended a  number of meetings at a Gospel campaign,and he was the only person who got saved. CH Spurgeon was saved one wintry Sunday morning, the man who spoke was not a preacher,but God used him to bring him into His kingdom .Likewise D.L.Moody was used to bring many thousands to Christ , he was saved through the ministry of a man who was no preacher. Who knows God at this time may in some Gospel meeting or service, may use someone very unqualified to preach, and a Moody,Spurgeon,Billy Graham,etc will come forth. God is sovereign He uses whom He will to accomplish His plans.and He will save whom He will,and He will receive all the glory

Ad on. ( 1 Corinthians 1 v 1 7 )

The question we could ask has baptism replaced circumcision?,the answer is no, is baptism necessary for salvation? the answer is no.I have already pointed out that we are saved by faith.The most obvious answer is the dying thief,unbaptised went straight to heaven. Many Christians believe that the Lords table, and baptism are sacraments,and one receives grace from them,I do not hold to this,the Lords table is a remembrance occasion ,baptism is but a declaration of us dying with Christ and rising in newness of life,it is a confession of our faith,nothing else.In our baptism we are declaring that we have died to our old life and now living in newness of life.The symbols of our are faith are just that, nothing else,important though they are,I regularly partake of the Lords table,and I have been baptised,but I was saved as a youngster in a Children's meeting baptism eventually followed.Consider many people have deathbed conversions,and die unbaptised,yet go straight to heaven,to make baptism essential to our salvation,is contrary to the word of God.

Ad on ( John 3 v 16 )

The  simplicity of the Gospel is wonderful,the sinner seeks forgiveness by believing,the man who cried out to the apostles,''Sirs, what must I do be saved? was''Believe on the Lord Jesus,and you will be saved'' ( Acts 16 v 31 ). In Ephesians 2 v 8 ,we read,'For by Grace are you saved, through faith, and not from yourselves,it is the gift of God'.Now there is a vast amount of scriptures that stress this simple truth,but unfortunately the church from day one had to contend with those differ with this,they are those who desire  to ad on an extra something if we are to be saved.In the early church it was circumcision,read the epistle to the Galatians.The Roman Catholic church has opposed salvation by faith,stressing good works,in spite of the scriptures clearing teaching that  works are but evidence of salvation not the bases.( C P  James 2 v 18) I will continue this, next time.

Our struggle .( Romans 7 )

As I grow older in the faith ,I have become  more conscious of my sinful nature,I identify with the apostles experience, which he writes about in Romans chap 7.Stuart Olyott  in his little book on Romans is very helpful, here is a few of the things he writes, as regards the Christian experience,'' He is not ruled by sin ( Rom 6 )but  nor is he free from sin (Chap 7 ) He knows nothing more of reigning sin (Chap 6 ),but nevertheless he is agonized by surviving sin ( Chap 7 ) He is not the same as the unconverted. They are at peace with sin, but he is at war with it. They live in sin; he does not ( 6 ) ,     although sin still lives in him ( Chap 7 ).'' S O,sums it up in these words, ''Romans 7 v 14 - 25 as the experience of the normal Christian life. ''It is a life of agonizing dismay at imperfection, not of claimed 'victory'. It is a life of earnest longing for glory, not of satisfaction at having arrived.''