Wrestling ( Genesis 32 v 23 - 32 )

 When I think of wrestling I think  of 'Big Daddy', whose real name was Shirely Crabtree ,he was a  big man ,he had a 64 inch chest,he rarely got beat.One was never sure how genuine the contest were,but it was fun to watch,and indeed somewhat innocent .In the Bible we have a mention of two people involved in wrestling ,the first one was Jacob who wrestled all night with an angel  ( Hosea 12 v 4 ) the angel of Jehovah ,the Lord Himself.No one appeared to win but we can be sure that the angel could have won,but there was a purpose,first of all he was weakened permanently,  by the angel, sometimes God weaken us C P ..2 Corinthians 12 v 7 ff .to keep us humble, and to make us realise our dependence on God,and to make sure He will receive all the glory.

Alcohol ( Colossians 2 v 16 )

 Over the last few years at Christmas a neighbour  gives me a present,usually it is box of biscuits and a bottle of alcoholic drink,this year it was a bottle of whiskey. Now the question some may be asking is it not wrong for a Christian to drink alcohol ?.it could be that some think  it is even a sin,they may even doubt that those who drink are  saved.There are Christian denominations in which one is not be permitted to join if one drinks alcohol.  Now of course, one does not have to have ,much of a brain to realise that there are problems with drinking alcohol ,many are  slaves to it,and it destroys lives,families ,causes road deaths. I would never  advocate the drinking of alcohol,but I am not going to set myself as a judge as regards those who drink.I 'm sure the key is moderation in all things, let us remember that all things are lawful,but not everything is beneficial, we have the right to do anything, but we should not be mastered by anything.  ( 1 Corinthians 6 v 12)

Why ?. ( Philippians 1 v 29 )

I just received an update  on Christians who are suffering for their faith, like Pastor Nadarkani who is serving a ten year sentence in prison, in the land of Iran.There are three other Christians serving sentences also,and I could name a lot more who are serving time in prison.Many Christians have been murdered in northern Nigeria, one picture I saw recently was that of three women who each had one ear cut off. It all seems so meaningless, and we may ask the question why, such brutality? why indeed. It is Derek Tidball who wrote the following, ''We should never be surprised when suffering comes as a result of our standing for the gospel, for we live in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation ( Philippians 2 v  15 ); and are  surrounded by people who live as enemies of the cross of Christ''.

Hedging ones bets. ( Acts 17 v 16 - 34 )

A well known news reader spoke of his experience when he had cancer,and then he mentioned certain things that he kept,a good luck charm,rosary beads, and a stone carving of a Hindu deity. A Clinton Arnold refers to a prayer excavated in Egypt ,it reads' Hor, Hor, Hor, Phor, Eloei, Adonai, Lao,Sabaoth, Michael, Jesus Christ. Help us and this household, Amen.' When people do these things,pray such things, they are so far from the truth,and so confused,In Colossians 2 v  9, we read,' For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form'.In Isaiah 46 v 9, we read,'I am God, and there is no other'.In these words we hear Christ speaking, we hear the Father speaking,we hear the Holy Spirit speaking,the blessed triune God .And God the Son declared that He was the way ,the truth and the life, and no one could come unto the father but by Him ( John 14 v 6 ) All other ways are delusional ,and pointless, all they are doing is hedging there bets.

His Destiny . ( Revelation 13 v 8 )

So Christmas has gone it is all over for another year,people will take their Christmas lights down,and try to get to back to a degree of normality.No more corals, no more listening to that famous song where the words go,'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas',nice song ,but I so glad we did not have a white Christmas.it's all over till next time.Christmas may be over,but it is not the end,no, the Christ child moved on with a purpose, he became a young boy then a young man, still moving on ,and as he walked he had the shadow of a cross falling over Him. The cross was his destiny, yes there were those who would try to stop him,but thankfully they all failed. Lets us offer a prayer of thanksgiving, for the bravest man who ever lived,the holiest man who ever lived,the only who never sinned,and yet on that cross he would pay the price for our sin.

Then why the Law?. ( Romans 7 )

If no one can keep the law, why was it given by God? to make what sin is,as Paul the apostle writes ,'I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had said,'you shall not covet'. ( Romans 7 v 7) .This is a very important reason why ministers must not avoid spelling out clearly,what is a sin,the morality of the world can be a very flawed thing, and often goes contrary to what Gods word declares as sin.I remember saying that a certain thing was a sin ,and was told that's your opinion.No it was not just my opinion ,it was based on what God's word said, the person who said this was a minister.When God's word declares that something is a sin,it should not be a matter of opinion, it is a sin.As Christians we must not lean on our own understanding,or the worlds understanding ,as regards morality.

It is impossible . ( Romans 3 v 23 )

The path of legalism is a dead end,so writes Derek Tidball, most religions demand that one obeys certain rules if one is going to be accepted.The JWs are expected to do their appointed hours on the    doorsteps,the Jews have many rules they are meant to keep Derek Tidball  does point out that most Jewish Christians would have agreed that the Law was not merit- earning or favour- inducing.But this still plagued the church by stressing that these rules and laws were indispensable.Those who add on anything to the Gospel are in grave error.Our acceptance by God rules out law keeping,if we are to be saved  then it must be Christ and His finished work that saves.The law which is good was never meant to save us, it was yes to be obeyed, but not to save, no ,but it has another lesson to teach us, and its this,we are sinners. The fact is no one except Jesus ,who never sinned,can or could ever  not break the law, our sinful nature,makes it impossible to keep the law.