Herorine ( Hebrews 11 v 35 ff )

'Heroine Mao couldn't crush, wrote letters in her blood', so read the book review on the life  of  Lin Zhao. This Chinese lady spoke out against Chairman Mao and the terrible things that were happening under his rule,.As the reviewer comments, ''it was so much easier to keep quite and go along with it  all- an so much safer for the rest of the family''.Lin contributed to an underground magazine, calling Mao's regime, 'the fascist state of a centralised state' , and ridiculing  his Great leap , as a great leap backward''She was finally arrested,imprisoned  there she would experience,torture  and finally death, The writer in a short paragraph states,''That her Christian faith kept her going to the end, ''Let me turn over all my pains , hopes and dreams to my Lord. ''.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Hebrews 11 v  38.                                                                                                                               Of whom the world was not                                                                                                                                    worthy.

Rubbish. ( 1 John 1 v 8 - 10)

I was doing a bit of gardening, racking the areas of my lawn that needed the rubbish removed,so the green grass would have a better chance of growing.This reminded me of the rubbish we accumulate in our lives that needs racked over and removed,in order that Christ may be seen more clearly in our lives. This means a daily repentance, this is not as John Colloquium writes a passing act, but an abiding principle,a lasting disposition of soul,  a gracious principle lying deep in the heart, disposing a man at all times to mourn for and turn from sin  ''.Yes we have been totally forgiven,our sins are gone,but we can become affected with wrong things,people or whatever,    ( C P John 13 v 10 )   Sin must  always be taken serious,because it can affect our relationship with our holy God. The word sin is a biblical term  that should not be consigned to the waste paper basket, nor should ministers neglect to  bring the word sin into their sermons ,because  they think it no longer applies. The cross is an act of love by God, but it is also a sacrifice for sin.( Colossians 1 v 20/ 2 Corinthians  5 v 21 When we forget this or reject it,we are going down a slippery path. Now as a Christian I am changed, I see sin for the evil that it is, and the importance of walking in holiness,  when we do sin we need to confess it  to God and seek forgiveness,this is vital,and healthy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               A  prayer.                                                                                                                              Search me, O God and know my heart                                                                                                      test me and know my anxious thoughts.                                                                                                    See if there is any offensive way in me,                                                                                                    and lead me in the way everlasting.                                                                                                                                Amen.                                                                                                                                                 (Psalm 139 v 23 - 24 )                                                                                                                   

Prayer and Power. ( James 5 v 17- 18 )

In Revelation 8 v 3 - 5,we have incense and prayers of Gods children ascending  to God,assisted by an angel,Leon Morris writing on this has a few helpful comments.Angels are not mediators they are our fellow servants.When we pray we are not praying in isolation ,the Holy Spirit is there to assist us (Romans 8 v 26 - 2 7) ,In these verses there is mentioned an altar ,it signifies that there is something sacrificial in true prayer.The result being , fire from the altar is hurled down upon the earth.L Morris again comments on this, This surely means that the prayers of God's people play a necessary part in ushering in the judgements of God..That means that more potent, more powerful  than all the  dark and mighty powers let loose in the world,more powerful than anything else, is the power of prayer  set ablaze by the the fire of God and cast upon the earth''.   ( Torrance )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Never underestimate the power of prayer

The right kind of clothing. ( Colossians 3 v 12 )

In Romans 8 v 29 , we read how God predestined every  Christian to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.Now of course it does not mean that we will look like Jesus in our looks,but rather we should reflect Jesus in our lives.   Writing to the church at Colosse ,the apostle Paul,exhorts the Christians, to clothe themselves with, 'compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  ( 3 v 12 ).If we are going to be like Jesus , these are the qualities we must manifest,as He did.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Jesus was compassionate.  (  Matthew 15 v 32 )                                                                                       Jesus was kind                    ( Acts 10 v 38 )                                                                                               Jesus was humble                (  Philippians 2 v 5- 11)                                                                                 Jesus was gentle                   ( 2 Corinthians 10 v 1 )                                                                                 Jesus was patient                   (Matthew  23 v 37 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 A  prayer                                                                                                                               Be like Jesus this my song  in the home                                                                                                     and in the throng, be like Jesus all day                                                                                                       long, I would be like Jesus                                                                                                                                             Amen.                                                                                                           

True love. ( John 21 v 19 )

Tom Gledhill writes the Following,  ''True love is adventurous,and every adventure involves risk-taking'',it reminds me of a popular song,you took a chance on me.There are different types of love,Christianity is a love story, it involves God and man,and man and God.Our Lord asked Peter, did he love Him?. Of course he did, though his love was a a flawed love, but a love for all that,only God loves perfectly. Consider the disciples ,they loved the Lord,and life did become an adventure, that involved great risk. One never knows where this love will take us,Jesus mentioned to the ends of the earth ( Acts 1 v 8 )This love demands forsaking all others,it is like the wedding vow,there is no divorce in it.If you follow Jesus it may bring you into danger,difficulties,hurdles to overcome,chances to take,that you would not ordinary take or even desire. Yet with every step we follow the one we love, more than any other,Jesus, yes He will be with us,as He has promised. It is written of Jesus ,that for the joy set before Him,he endured the cross,scorning its shame''.( Hebrews 12 v 2 ) Let all of us have eternal vision,of the glory that lies in front of us,here the cross there the glory,a glory that shall never fail or fade. True love always comes at a price, let us be willing to pay that price and follow the one we love.

Prayer. ( James 5 v 13 - 18 )

Someone I know personally ,was visiting an Islamic country,as he approached the customs he saw that they were searching the luggage of all the passengers.This was a problem,for in his luggage he had Christian literature ,but just before he got to the customs,a friend phoned him, from England,he shared the problem and the brother said he would pray.So  what do you think happened?,when he came to the custom official,he was waved through,without searching his luggage.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Proverbs 15 v 29.                                                                                                                       He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Nothing to fear ( Romans 8 v 34 - 39)

There are ladies causing a bit of a stir in Iran,they have decided that they do not want to wear a veil,even though it is compulsory ,with a possible ten year sentence in prison, if found guilty. One lady who broke the law was assaulted by a morality police woman. Is it a sign that things are going to change in Iran?,I hope so, oppressive politics and oppressive religion are hard task masters,who show little mercy to those who do not conform.If they feel in any way threatened a person may end up on a cross.or maybe stoned to death,or imprisoned and tortured.. These oppressive systems do not compromise,any who do,will suffer the consequences.Now of course those who appear to represent Christ,have not always acted right ,and burned to death those who challenged those in charge . These political , and religious states,rule by fear, fear of man, not true fear of God.The fear of God is about holding God in deep reference,and seeking not to act in any way that would offend Him,to do otherwise is to court serious trouble.  God is not to be trifled with,if we do ,then God will deal with us ,to live under Gods rule is the most glorious experience.We are not to live in dread of God,he has not brought us into His family through Jesus,in order that we live oppressed by dread and fear ,he opens the door for us so that we may know joy and peace. God is not an oppressive God,but one who loves and loves.no Christian has anything to fear from God. Christians are not in the business of stoning anyone to death,or torturing anyone,as a Christian we warn people of the consequences of sin eternally,Out responsibility is to tell all  that is there forgiveness that can be experienced by trusting Jesus.