Contentment .( Philippians 4 v 10 - 20 )

 When Israel was about to conquer the city of Jericho, they were told that they were not to keep any of the spoils for themselves,it was all to go into the  treasure  ( Joshua 6 v 19 ).But unfortunately a man called Achan disobeyed ,and brought trouble upon the nation,He and his family paid the penalty for there sin  ( Joshua 7 v 25}When he confessed his sin he said 'I coveted', (Josh 7 v 21) ,yes coveting  is a sin,it is something that mankind is prone to and the devil plays into it,read Gen3v 1,he tempts people to want more,he does not tell you that when you yield to the sin of covetousness there is a price to pay.Dale Ralph Davis writes of the cancer of covetousness that we are consumed with, indeed this is one of the first principles of 'serpent theology'.As Christians we must be careful that we don't feed into it,It was a man called Jeremiah Burroughs who wrote a book  called,'The Rare Jewel of Christian contentment', it the apostle Paul who wrote,' I  know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content.'(Philippians  4 v 12 )What was that secret? well in v 13 the apostle declares ,' I can do all this through Him (Christ) who gives me strength.'

                                'We need His strength to teach us to be content in every condition'

                                                              ' Matthew  Henry'

                               

 

 

0

0

Baa baa baa. ( Isaiah 55 v 6 - 7)

 I remember when I was little boy,there was a special church gathering,were we little one's were on the platform singing a song,my mother and aunt were there.As we sang it became to much for me,and I started to cry,but I do remember the song we were singing,well some of it,here are some of the words of that song.

                                             'We're poor little lambs ,who have lost their way

                                              Baa  baa baa!

                                              We're little black sheep,who have gone astray

                                              Baa baa baa'

There are two things in these words one , the little lambs, are lost, and the black sheep have gone astray,they are in a sorry state.They depict humanity  in their lostness ,in Isaiah  53 we are told ,'We all,  like sheep ,have gone astray,  each of us has turned to our own way'.The fact is we are all under the same umbrella, we are sinners, and we start manifesting that at a very early age,and it never leaves us,and often gets worse. There is another verse to that little song it goes,

                                               'Gentlemen songsters off on a spree ,doomed  

                                                from here to eternity,Lord have mercy on such

                                                as we.'

The word spree means doing something enjoyable, like shopping,we often loose sight of the eternal things,for the things that are temporal. The awesomeness of our eternal destiny needs to be faced,our deepest need is not material things but mercy,which we can receive when we bow before the cross and ask Jesus to be our Saviour.

Go. ( Mathew 28 v 18 - 20 )

 Our Saviour  in  Acts 1 v 8 said , 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,and in all Judea,and Samaria, and to the ends of  the earth'.That still stands as a  challenge to every new generation of Christians.That means proclaiming the gospel, churches will die if that is ever neglected.As one looks at the apostle Paul the missionary ,we see a man consumed with a passion to proclaim  the gospel.I was talking to a young unsaved girl,she said,' that there are  so many religions, I replied. but there is only one Saviour', let us be clear, He is the only way to come to God (John 14 v 6 ). Our Saviour said about going into all the world,John Stott writes,'The kingdom of God is international in its membership.Christs kingdom tolerates no narrow nationalisms, when it is consummated at the end, the countless redeemed company will be seen to be drawn from every nation, tribe,people and language'.(Revelation 7 v 9) We must not neglect this task,we must obey God rather than men,in England in the 18th century,it was unheard of for any one to preach the gospel in the open air.But God raised up the Wesley's and George Whitfield to leave that restriction ,and went into the highways and the by-ways ,and preached the gospel

                                                  ' The torch is now passed unto us'.

           

He is there. ( Isaiah 46 v 9 - 10)

 Sometimes it appears that the world is out of control, wars and rumours of wars,disasters injustice,and the darkness of evil wicked and oppressive religious and political regimes.  The poet James Russell. Lowell wrote.

                              ' Though the cause of evil prosper,yet the truth alone is strong.

                                Truth forever on the scaffold,wrong forever on the throne,

                                 Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,

                                 Standeth God within the shadows,keeping watch above His own.

Dale Ralph Davis wrote,'God has not hung out a vacancy sign over His universe or His people. He is there, bringing His word to pass. Sometimes only that assurance keeps His people sane'.

Count them. ( Lamentations 3 v 22-23 )

 Thankfulness, have you given thanks to God recently for your many blessings?, one writer has said this,'We should get rid of some of the tripe  in our prayers like 'and thank you for your many , many blessings'. in other words it is to general' lingo-ese', why do we not name one or two of those blessing in  our prayers,and teach our children to do that also'.An old hymn comes to mind,I would like to leave it with  you, the words are by Johnson Oatman, JR

                                            'When upon life's billows you are  tempest tossed,

                                             When you are discouraged ,thinking all is lost

                                             Count your many blessings ,name them one by one,

                                              And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

                                              Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

                                              Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

                                              Count your many blessings ,every doubt will fly,

                                              And you will keep singing as the days go by.

                                              So amid the conflict ,whether great or small,

                                               Do not be disheartened, God is over all;

                                               Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

                                               Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

                                               Count your blessings,name them one by one;

                                                Count your blessings,see what God has done!

                                                Count your blessings,name them one by one,

                                                And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

                                                  

                                                  

I would miss Him. ( Hebrews 12 v 1-2 )

 If you ask me what would be my greatest fear in life, it would be that I could go away from my lovely Saviour, I am not like Peter and the other disciples ,who said that they would never  leave and disown their Lord( Mark 14 v 27 - 31 ).No I pray I won't, for I know it could happen for I know that I am weak. I remember reading about a very blessed preacher whom God used,and sadly he went away from the Lord,many years later speaking about Jesus,he said,'I miss Him'. Very ,very sad and telling words. There are many reasons why, people turn away from the Lord,I am not going to judge them or condemn them.I remember many years ago working with a man called Alec, he was a bright Christian,yet he went away from the Lord. I remember meeting him one day,and I spoke to him,and as I did I started crying,it was all so sad.So here is vulnerable Bill writing,and I asked the question, what preventive measures can I take to keep me from leaving Jesus, there is hymn by dear Fanny Crosby the blind hymn writer, which is in essence a prayer, hear are the words, I pray and hope they will help you.

                                          'Jesus keep me near the cross; there a precious fountain,

                                           Free to all a healing stream,flows from Calvary's mountain.

                                           Near the cross,a trembling soul,love and mercy found me;

                                           There the Bright  and Morning star, she it's beams around me

                                            Near the cross ! O Lamb of God, bring it's scenes before me;

                                            Help me walk from day to day, with it's shadow o'er me.

                                            Near the cross I'll watch and wait,hoping trusting ever,

                                            Till I reach the golden strand,just beyond the river.

                                            In the cross,in the cross, be my glory ever;

                                            Till my raptured soul shall find,rest beyond the river.

                                           

'The Lord Almighty is with us. ( Psalm 46 )

 I remember a writer in the Times newspaper writing about Africa,and this is what he said,as regards its future,'It was between the ,'machete,the witch doctor,and Christianity'. He favoured Christianity ,and with good reason, there are many Christian hospitals ,orphanages, schools,and so many other organisations involved in helping people,ministering to their needs.In so many African countries the machete is still in use, causing a reign of terror to so many dear people.as for witch doctors the less said about them the better.Wars and rumors of wars continue unabated in this world, there is so much pain and suffering,in spite of all the wonderful advances humanity has made in so many things.Things will not change,because human nature will not change,oh yes we can mention the good things,but hanging over us all there are so many uncertainties. I love the Psalms ,so I want to leave these wonderful words from Psalm 46 ,I would commend the whole psalm to you, here are the words of v 10, and v1.

                                                 'Be still and know that I am God'

                                                  and remember ,that He is an ever

                                                  present help in trouble'