The secret sin. ( Exodus 20 v 17 )

We do not hear much as  regards the ten commandments in these days,possible because it is in the Old Testament,so let me stress that all scripture is to be honoured as being God's word (2 Timothy 3 v16 ) There are things in the OT that do not apply to us now, but they were still the word of God to be obeyed ,then.As regards the 10 commandments they are not to be ignored, of course our Saviour pointed out not just as to the basic commandment but to the spirit of the law,one may not have committed actual murder or adultery, but in ones thoughts you have lusted after someone,and hated someone ,then you are guilty of breaking those commandments (Matthew 5 v 21 -30) There is one of the commandments that many don't take serious, and it is the last one  coveting, it is a secret sin, but it is a sin for all that.Today many people are committing that sin. coveting what others have,their wives,husbands,money and many other things, consider all the evil that comes from coveting those things mentioned. It is a secret sin but it is not a secret with God,because God looks on the heart,He sees it for what  it is,we may not think it is sinful,but it is,and if you are involved in that sin which everyone without a doubt has committed,remember we cannot  hide our hidden sins  from an all seeing holy God .

                                                     ' If we confess our sins,He is faithful

                                                       and just to forgive us our sins,and to

                                                      cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'

                                                                      1 John 1 v 9.

We make our plans. ( Proverbs 27 v 1 )

 A very famous directer of movies,spoke of his plans for the future, he went on at length as  to the different movies he hoped to make.As he finished I said to myself there was no DV in relation to what he said. I am sure you know that DV signifies ,'God willing', it was used in conjunction with a signature at the end of letters.In other words,'God willing ',the letter may reach you safely. Often people would say that to someone that they planned to meet again,but of course if you leave God out of one's life then God does not come into the reckoning. Many think that they are the master of their own souls,and destinies ,but they are not. Our Saviour told a parable as regards a rich fool (Luke 12 v 13 -21),he was making all sorts of plans,but God said to Him,''You fool ! You will die this very night.Then who will get everything you worked for?.' So many people are like that man, and don't realise God is listening,they ride off as it where into the sunset,and then they are ingulfed in the darkness of death,and all their plans have come to nothing. 

                                                'Here today,gone tomorrow

                                                         but where to?'

                                         

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The greatest miracle. ( Isaiah 53 )

 I was watching a program as regards people who had never been able to hear,and how they received medical treatment and suddenly they could hear,for the very first time in their lives. Little babies stopped crying,older people started to cry,and I was crying to,It was an awe inspiring moment , for all those involved, wonderful beyond words. Then I thought of the miracles Jesus performed,consider the context, there were no cures for deafness,blindness,and so on,you could  spend all your money and you would never have got healed. Consider how those people must have felt when Jesus healed them,like the people who witnessed these healings they were filled with fear, awe, and amazement (  Matthew 9 v 8 )All except  the religious leaders, who took issue with Jesus for healing on their Sabbath, that clouded their vision,and they were filled with hated.And so they watched Him, hounded Him ..Instead of being filled with amazement they turned on Jesus like a wild beast (Psalm 22 v 16- 17),and finally got their way  and crucified Him.Yet strange as it may sound, God's plan and purpose was fulfilled,for out of that suffering and horrendous death the greatest miracle ever  performed took place,the work of salvation,  

                                                'God so loved the world that He gave

                                                 His only begotten Son that whosoever

                                                 believeth in Him should not perish,

                                                 but have everlasting life'

                                                                  John 3 v16.

Unanswered ( Habakkuk 2 v 3 )

 I  want to share with you what  Charles Bridges has to say as regards unanswered prayer,it commences like this,'But I see no answer'. Correct the errors of sense by faith in His word,which declares, whatever appearances may be- He heareth , Judge not by feelings or conceptions, but by His own unchangeable  word,.....that He will refuse you nothing that is really good; that thou dost obtain,if not what you desire; yet what upon the whole is best and fittest for thee. Have patience with God. Dictate nothing. Commit thy will to Him. Say not- ''I will  that Thou give me by and by''. ( Mark 6 v25 ) Leave time and all to Him. If He does not answer in thy time, He will in His own for better season (Isaiah 30 v18 ) He has clearly  shewn His Sovereign appointment, that those who pray must wait His time, and His will. (Luke 18 v 1-7 )'

                                                 ' Remember delay is not denial'.

Truth ( John 14 v 6)

 In John 8 v 32, Jesus said,''Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free''.The truth involves two things, Jesus and His teaching, you cannot have one without the other. Gandhi was influenced by some of the teaching of Jesus, but he didn't know Jesus,there are those who say they know Jesus but refuse   to accept and practice what Jesus taught.To enter into that freedom Jesus talks about ,we must know who He was and who he is,and must believe and practice His teaching.To really know Him means that you are forgiven and you no longer live under guilt,then He will free you from the power of  sin ,like hating others,not forgiving others, He will enable you love your enemies,love the unlovable,all will be changed.Yes you wont be perfect but you will be changed,we will walk in the light and not in the dark.You will have a peace that passes  all understanding, and you will have Jesus with you  always.You will be free from the fear of death for Jesus said ,even though you die you shall live. ( John 11 v25 ).The fact is we cannot change ourselves, it is impossible,one of the greatest enemies,I have to contend with is myself,all things are possible with Jesus. Is it not better to know and follow Jesus who is the light of the world than to walk in the darkness?.

                                                                   'Jesus said'

                                       I am the light of the world.Who ever follows Me

                                       shall never walk in darkness, but will have the light

                                       of life.  ( John 8 v 12)

Are you thirsty? ( John 4 v 4 - 13)

 Our wonderful Saviour spoke to a woman who came to draw water from a well,and he said this to her,''Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again'',(John 4 v 13).Jesus in saying this highlights a very important truth ,which can be summed up by a phrase  used by Charles Bridges, 'Present gratification is humanities main object'. It is a blindness that just lives for the here and now,take those who are on drugs,they want that instant fix, but that's all it is instant .The instant fix  leads to dire consequences, we are blinded to the effect that God has placed eternity within all our hearts,(Ecclesiastes 3 v 11).This means as one writer puts it,' That there is an eternal longing or sense of eternity in the human heart,and that we have a divinely implanted awareness that the soul lives for ever.This world is not our home'.That is why as Christians we are urged to keep our minds on eternal realities,because what we see with the natural eye is passing (Colossians 3 v 1-2 ). I remember a lady who every day was driven by the desire to be always happy , but she never found it.Why do people drink so much alcohol?,why do they eat themselves into an early grave?,the woman at the well had been married 5 times,and she was now living with someone who wasn't her husband?. This is what Jesus said to her,and to  all humanity,'' Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst'', (John 4 v13)

                                            'Come to Jesus and have your thirst quenched'

Not listening. ( Mark 14 v 61 -64)

 While visiting my son and family recently ,I  noticed a group of  Jw's, it reminds me of the many time I  witnessed to these people,. I do not know what good it did,it often left me frustrated and wondering was it worth my while speaking to them.Let us remember they are not seeking the truth,they believe they have the truth,they are not wanting to hear what you believe,they want you to believe the teaching of their founder Charles Taze Russell a man who broke away from Christianity,rejecting the doctrine of the trinity,and many other things. They have their own translation ,which mistranslations so much,the most obvious one is John 1 v 1,which reads,'In the beginning was the word, and one of the main things he  emphasises that Christ  is God'. The writer of that gospel was John a orthodox Jew, and one the main purpose was to declare the deity of Christ  John 20 v 31,the term,' Son Of God',  is a divine title,( John 10 v33)    There are many scriptures that clearly teach the deity of  Christ, So what do the Jw's do?, they alter the scriptures, the most  obvious one is the one I mentioned John 1 v1,  where they change ,'the Word was God', to the ,'Word was a god'. those who know Greek say it cannot be translated that way.  That will make no difference to Jw's , remember that,so tread carefully and prayerfully when you come into contact  with them, and remember they are not really listening to what you will say.