He is real. ( Luke 4 v 14 - 21 )

 The devil is called the god of this world, he is not a god in essence,but this  he desires more anything else, that people worship him as god.He is barefaced in this we see his brazenness ,when he tempted our Lord to bow down and worship him Matthew 4 v 9.of course our dear Lord,reminded him that God alone must be worshipped, and served. He has more success with fallen humanity, in a moral sense,and in a spiritual sense, history teaches us that.Surely Hitler and Nazism manifested a satanic  influence, also the genocidal tendencies that many in power have manifested. In 2 Corinthians 4 v 4,we read that he blinds the minds of unbelievers, so they will not be saved ,from hell,because his joy is one of destroying humanity.Our Saviour called him the prince of demons, Matthew 9 v34,and the prince of this world,John 16 v11. Often the devil is depicted  by the world as a comical character,but God's Word tells us that he is like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour 1Peter 5 v 8.The vast majority of people don't give much thought as regards him,and of course he is happy with that,he wants people to believe he does not exist.There is much more could be said about him,but the good news is,'The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devils work, 1 John 3 v8, the devils works are manifold and are always evil,and destructive,when we sin we following in father devils footsteps.John 8 v 44/ Eph  2 v 2.John Stott writes ,'in Christ we can escape his tyranny,' when we accept Him as our Saviour.

Too good to be true?. ( Acts 16 v 31 )

 The wonderful truth as regards salvation,it is free, religious observance,good works, can not save a person,it is not a flat pack ,something that we have to assemble ourselves. Most religions are flat packs,in other words you have fulfill certain things to qualify ,to be accepted, and go their special place after death, but even them it appears that there are no guarantee ,that you will make the grade. Here is a wonderful thing the moment one trusts Christ,one is saved, no if's or buts,it seems to good to be true, but it is. Is there a catch?, no,we receive Christ in simple faith,in all our need,repenting of our sin, that means turning away from them. The result will be, your sins will be forgiven.You will receive God's Holy Spirit, who will enable you to live the Christian life . This is possible because Christ paid it all ,through His death on the cross,it is on the bases of what He accomplished on the cross,that is sufficient . 

                                               'God forbid that I should glory,

                                                save in the cross of our Lord

                                                         Jesus Christ.'

                                                       Galatians 6 v14.

                                               

                                            

Our substitute. ( Galatians 2 v 20) 1

I 1 Peter 2 v 24 we read,' He himself bore our sins in His own body on the cross',there are two things I would highlight in that statement ,Christ on the cross was our substitute,in other words he was taken the sinners place.The second thing is ,He was taking the sinners punishment,so let us consider the first ,our Saviour being the sinners substitute.It is Charles Dickens who wrote the novel called ,' A tale of two cities',its setting is French revolution,during the Reign of Terror,under Robespierre,were many people were executed including the King and Queen.In the novel Charles Darny was being held in prison awaiting to be executed,he is married to an English girl,she had a friend who loved her,called Sydney Carton. He made the heroic decision take the place of Charles,and this he did,and so went to the guillotine and died in place of another.So Christ went to the cross in our stead . It is in Romans 5 ,the apostle Paul  writes,'Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us'. he follows that up by saying, in our unsaved state we were God's enemies'.It is amazing to think of such love,after all who would die for those who hated and despised Him, Christ did.

                                                    ' Man of sorrows ! what a name

                                                      For the Son of God who came

                                                      Ruined sinners to reclaim!

                                                      Hallelujah! what a Saviour.

                                                      Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

                                                      In my place condemned He stood;

                                                      Sealed my pardon with His blood;

                                                      Hallelujah! what a Saviour.                                                      

                                                      

                                                    

Be discerning. ( Acts 17 v 10 - 12 )

I am going through the whole of the Psalms as my daily reading ,using a devotional commentary , a friend of mine is likewise reading the Psalms,he is not using any commentary.Both are valid ,some proud people tell you don't need books,it seems so spiritual  to say that you just need the Bible.I don't agree , in fact I strongly disagree. The  fact is I am limited, as we all are, and as a minister ,I know that people need to to be taught from God's word.I realise that there people who are preaching ,and writing books,that to say the least are dubious,and doing a lot of harm to people.It is not a new thing,in the OT we read of false prophets, who laid God's people astray, with dire consequences.We are all as Christians  called to be  discerning. CP 1 John 4 v 1-3. Which reads,' Dear friends , do not believe every spirit , but test the spirit to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Then he goes unto tell them how to recognise  who is genuine ,and who is not genuine.The is a major theme throughout the epistle,who is genuine and who is not. John Stott highlights certain things as to how we judge people,' Moral, doctrinal,'social . faith ,love,and holiness.If these things are missing, then  we may ask the question as to there genuineness.  .                                                              

The Cross. ( Isaiah 53 )

 What was involved when our dear Saviour died on the cross?. I would like to mention two things, ( 1 ) Christ became a substitute,in other words He was dying in the place of sinners.This is foreshadowed in the animal sacrifice .CP  Leviticus 1 v 4, we read,'Lay your hand on the animals head, and the Lord will accept  its death in your place to purify you, making you right with Him'. ( 2 ) An offering for sin. Leviticus 16, Jesus the Lamb of God became a sin offering CP also John 1 v 29.On the cross Jesus was dying for others,and their sins, lets remember Jesus never sinned. CP Hebrew 4 v 15.  we read In 1 Peter 2 v 24,/  'Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree', also CP Isaiah 53 v 11-12.A. M. Stibbs writes,'To bear sin or iniquity means in the OT to be answerable for it, and to endure its penalty.' Now everyone of us are sinners, and we read that Gods wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.Romans 1 v18. And in John 3 v36 we are told that the wrath of God abides on all unbelievers.To sum it up,Jesus on the cross became a living sacrifice, and that meant bearing the wrath  of God for sin,so that when we believe in Jesus,our sins are forgiven,wrath is removed from us, and we are accepted by God as His child.

                                                 By Christ, the sinless Lamb of  God,

                                                 The precious blood was shed,

                                                 When He fulfilled God's holy Word,

                                                 And suffered in our stead.

                                                The wrath of God that was our due,

                                                 Upon the Lamb was laid;

                                                 And by the shedding of  His blood,

                                                 The debt for us was paid.

                                                          D.W.Whittle

Be a witness. ( Acts 1 v 8 )

 I have always been  conscious that I should witness to people ,today I went to the optician ,to have a test on my eyes, and purchase new glasses.A nice young lad dealt with me  and he appeared to know what he was doing. My wife was with me,and he was as many people are,is living with a young lady,the term is his partner. I didn't get into that to much, I  know it's wrong,but I left it,remember our Saviour  did not condemn a certain lady , who had a number of husbands,and the person she was living with at that time ,was not her husband. I did manage to talk to him about Christ,I hope and pray that God would bless my witness, brief and all that it was.It was a brief  encounter, but it may have been that young lads first time anybody had spoke to him about Christ. I do wish that I was more capable at witnessing,but at least I did witness.There are people who are Christians, and they find it hard to witness,people can be very reserved in this country, or just shy,but the fact is ,how are people going to hear the gospel, unless someone like you and I tell them?.If you do witness to people, keep at it, don't give up. and if you do find it hard to witness, the Holy Spirit who dwells in every Christian can help you

                                                                    Prayer.

                                                  Lead me to some soul today

                                                  Teach me Lord ,just what to say.

                                                                     Amen.

/

YOU Say vs God Says.( John 15 v 5 )

                   My niece sent me a calendar with the following on it,so I will share it with you.

                            You say; ''It's impossible . '    God says; ''All things are possible''   

                                                           Luke 18 v27  

                            You say ; ''I'm too tired ''        God says.'' I will give you rest''.

                                                           Matthew 11 v 28- 30.

                            You say;''No one loves me''     God says; ''I love you''.

                                                           1John 3v1.  Jeremiah 31 v 3.

                             You say; ''I can't go on''            God says.'' My grace is sufficient''.

                                                            2 Corinthians 12 v 9

                            You say;'' I can't figure things out''God says;''I will direct your steps''.

                                                              Proverbs 3  v5 -6 .

                            You say;  ''I can't do it''. God says ; ''You can do all things''.

                                                             Philippians 4 v 13.

                            You say; ''I'm not able''. God says;  ''I am able''.

                                                            2 Corinthians 9 v8 

                            You say; ''I can't forgive myself''.God says; ''I forgive you''.

                                                            1 John 1 v 9.

                            You say;'' I can't manage'' God says; ''I will supply all your needs''.

                                                             Philippians 4 v19.