Addiction. [ John 8 v 36 ]

The nature of man is such that he can become addicted to anything,I mean anything,and these addictions can so easily destroy the addict and those who love them. Lets mention a few of the things ,that many are addicted to,we are familiar with,food,drugs,cigarette's, clothes,gambling,sex,and many others.Alcohol is enjoyed by many,but millions of people are addicted to it, millions,I  just read this about the land of Mongolia that alcohol abuse is one that countries biggest stumbling block ,to economic and social progress.Russia is another country where alcohol abuse is ramped. I remember hearing on the Radio how a wife of a famous politician in  Russia was asked why she married her husband,she replied /,he did not drink, and he did not beat her./ Now I mention those two countries ,but many countries are  plagued with alcoholic problems.The problem with addicts is  they will not admit they have a problem,if one attends  an AA meeting they stand up and say,I am so and so ,and I am an alcoholic.If we are not prepared to admit that we have a problem,then we are not prepared to overcome our addiction, I believe if we are prepared to admit that we have an addiction ,then there is hope ,no matter what we are addicted to.  I believe  God through His son can deliver us,for the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.When Christ comes into our lives we are forgiven, but we can also be set free  [Romans 1 v16]
A  prayer....../ Dear God forgive us our sins and set us free through Jesus Your son. Amen/

The gospel of Christ [Romans 1 v16 ]

The apostle Paul declared that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ[Romans 1 v16],consider there are many so called gospels,there are many so called Christ's,believe them not.They are based upon satanic ,sinful influences,and ideas,they promise much,like the supposed pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. They are fools gold,so do not be fooled,I remember standing at the graveside of my cousin,he and his family where Mormons,they lowered the coffin into the ground and that was it,there was no ,I am the resurrection and the life says Jesus,that was my lasting memory of that funeral. God has brought into being salvation,a sure and certain hope,that goes beyond the grave,through His son Jesus,apart from Him there is no sure and certain hope.The gospel is good news to all who accept what God  freely gives ,let me stress, to all, who trust Jesus as Saviour.As the words of the hymn declares,/I have no other argument ,I have no other plea it is enough that Jesus died , and that He died for me./
A  prayer..../ Dear God thank you that in a world of uncertainties ,You have provided a sure an certain hope through Jesus your Son, Amen /

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. [Romans 1 v16]

Continuing on from yesterday of our responsibility to proclaim the gospel of Christ, Paul in Romans 1 v16 ,declares,/ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ/.In telling the good news,we must be prepared to tell bad news,and that can be a stumbling block,a minister got up to speak,he said he was not there to tell them that they where sinners,but that they were not quite right and God wants to help get on the right road. There are many who do not want to offend others,by mentioning sin, Satan, and Hell,unlike the prophets and the apostles,who made these things very clear. William Gadspy wrote,/what worthless worms are we/.John Newton wrote amazing grace how sweet the sound that saves a wretch like me.Worthless worm, wretch,not very complimentary,but utterly true,if we do not proclaim these things, then people will never realise why they need to be saved,when is the last time you have heard the word sin,hell mentioned?, especially on the media?.Christ came into the world to save sinners,that has not changed nor will it ever change,I was witnessing to a man recently,who when asked how he would get to heaven?,he answered ,live a good life,of course that is his measure,not Gods.
A  prayer....../ Dear God open our blind eyes, to our condition,open our hearts to receive the only remedy for that condition is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen /

The dead and the living.[ Acts 20 v26-27]

In the book of Numbers 16 we have recorded an occasion when a man called Korah and others challenged Moses's and Aaron's leadership. Now these two men had been chosen by God,they did not take the role of leadership on themselves,in fact  Moses had been very reluctant to respond to God's call [Exodus 3-4],he did not take this honour upon himself.We must be careful that we do not seek to overthrow Gods appointed leaders,as Korah and others would soon discover. Well God dealt with the rebels,they all perished,but things did not stop there ,we read how the people took exception to what had happened ,to such an extent that God,spoke about consuming them. A plague broke out killing many of them,it would appear that God was going to destroy them all. It is then that Moses told Aaron to take a censer and fire from of the altar and go into the midst of the people.In v48 we read, /He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stayed/.As I read this I considered my calling and responsibility to stand between the dead and the living with the golden censer of the gospel,there is a plague upon mankind ,death, eternal death.The only answer is the gospel of our Lord Jesus,it is the ministers of Christ ,who must not shirk their solemn responsibility to  stand between the dead and the living with the message of the gospel.
A  prayer......./Dear God  help us all, who know Jesus ,to not to be ashamed of the gospel ,and to not be ashamed to proclaim it. Amen/

Pray believing. [ James 4 v 2]

Mankind are creatures of pride,especially when it comes to God,they live,act,speak and think as if there is no God.When it comes to witnessing there is a definite barrier ,a built in resistance,I remember offering a lady in work a Christian booklet,and it appears she was deeply offended,why?pride.I would dearly love to witness to some people,but they would not receive my witness. It appears in so many cases we are left with prayer, yes I said prayer,it is only prayer that can open the way to witness,it is only the power of prayer,that can grant us the way forward,in our witnessing.Let us put it to the test,think of someone,anyone ,who is on your heart,ask God to give you opportunities to witness effectively to them. Write the persons name down,they may be the most unlikely person you know who would listen,or want Jesus,pray for that person continually. Let us then see what God will do, He may want us to speak to that person, He may not,we may suddenly see that person come to the Lord, God loves to surprise us. I am asking that you and I,have faith in God to move in the most proud sinful heart, it can happen,have faith in God.
A prayer...../ Dear God,help us to see that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person availeth much[James 5 v16] in Jesus name Amen/

Marriage [ Ephesians 5 v 24 -25 ]

A young married couple where having difficulties in their relationship,the husband loved his wife,but they both were struggling with each other. The day of their anniversary arrived,he didn't feel like celebrating it,he had said to himself,that he was not going to send an anniversary card. Later on in the day ,he was in a local supermarket and was drawn to the section where the cards where,as he looked at them,he spied one,which touched his heart,it read,/I'm not the perfect husband,you must agree that's true/. So he bought the card and later he wrote the following words on it before giving it to his wife,/From one imperfect human being,to another imperfect human being/. Marriage is not the coming together of two perfect human beings,but it opens the opportunity for us to grow,we may not live happily ever after,but we can by Gods grace learn to accept each other,and especially love each other.
A  prayer..../Dear God help us in our marriages,to grow and to love in Jesus name Amen/

Mary. [Luke 1 v 26-45]

We move from Elisabeth to the other young lady called Mary,to a Roman Catholic it appears that we as evangelicals are anti Mary ,not so.We honour her as the mother of our Lord in His humanity,but not as the mother of God,we honour her as a godly person ,but not as a sinless person,she called Jesus her Saviour [Luke 1v47],only sinners need a Saviour. She is not a mediator between God and man, for there is only one mediator between God and man, Jesus[ 1 Timothy 2 v5]. When we stray from the Biblical revelation, we go astray,both in relation to truth,and the worship of God,let us stick to the scriptures,and not be swayed by our deceitful hearts.Now let us consider our introduction to Mary from Lukes gospel,first of all we see,she was a virgin betrothed to a man called Joseph. She was a virgin and it means just that,and so fulfilling the words of the prophet Isaiah 7v14,let us always remember that the coming of Christ is clearly foretold in the Old Testament,from His birth to His death and resurrection. I suppose the angel coming, took her by surprise,and in her innocence's she could not take it in what was being told her ,but the angel tells her that what is impossible with man is possible with God.Let us not limit God,He is not a man. Mary unlike Zechariah, believed what the angel has told her,here is a woman of faith, a woman of obedience,her cousin Elisabeth declared about Mary,/Blessed is she,that believed [Luke 1 v45]/. Let us learn from this godly person,to believe what Gods word says,and to obey it, and we also like Mary will be blessed.
A prayer.../ Dear God we thank You for Mary your child,for her godliness,faith and obedience in Jesus name Amen /