Gods Kingdom (Matthew 6 v 16 )

'Your kingdom come',  It is Christ who defined Gods kingdom as not of this world,( John 18 v 36 ),so what are we asking when we pray ,for Gods kingdom to come?It is W. Barclay who links,'your will be done' together with Gods Kingdom,it is a spiritual kingdom,that needs no earthly Parliaments ,no earthly kings or queens,it is not a kingdom that can be brought in by earthly force,we can never force anyone into Gods kingdom,at the point of a sword or a gun.It is an everlasting Kingdom   ,that can never be destroyed,though many will try,It is Gods Kingdom,and it is Christ who is King of Kings, who has been given all power and authority,and by the eternal Spirit reigns in the heart and lives of everyone who has entered that kingdom,by a new birth, by faith in Jesus as Saviour.Whose sole aim is to do Gods will in every aspect of their lives,the challenge is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus,who perfectly obeyed Gods will.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         'Your will be done''                                                                                                                                              in me.

Let your name be held holy. ( Exodus 20 v 7 )

''Hallowed be your name'',one translation has, ''Let your name be held holy''so what do you think this means?, let it be seem as something that should be above the common use,it is special.Let us remember that Gods name is not just a label,but it speaks of the whole person.The one who is awesome in holiness, who expects to be treated with deep reverence and respect. It should not roll of   our lips as a swear word,or a word that is of no consequence.It is sad to hear Christians taking Gods name in vain,Exodus 20 v 7 reminds us that there is consequences ,it displeases God.In Psalm 9 v 10 we read, 'Those who know your name put their trust in you', ''It means that those  who know what God is like,those who know the nature and character of God, will put their trust in Him'.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jehovah-jireh    .......The Lord will provide.                                                                                              Jehovah- rapha.........The Lord that healeth.                                                                                              Jehovah-Shalom.......The Lord our peace                                                                                                  Jehovah- ra-ah...........The Lord our Shepherd.                                                                                          Jehovah-shammah.....The Lord is present.

The Lords prayer (Matthew 6 v 9 - 13 )

The most well known prayer in Christendom, is known as the Lords prayer, I see no harm in praying it, on a regular bases.But I feel that people who pray may not be aware of the deep meaning to this  wonderful prayer.I have a book by the Puritan Thomas Watson on this prayer, he says that'' the Lord's  prayer is the pattern  of our prayer.and  that when our Saviour said after this manner pray,He was saying,let this be the rule and model according to which you frame your prayers''.It starts with the words, 'Our Father', The term Father,implies the whole Deity, Father,Son and Holy Spirit,no where in scripture is it taught that that we pray to anyone else but God.. Father implies a relationship ,it is in Galatians 3 v 26, that we read,'Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.It also tell us in John 1 v 12 ,''To all who received him,to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become  children of God.'' This is very important , it emphasises that if we are to know God as our Father,we must be born into His family.I want to leave a number of things Thomas Watson says about God the Father.                                                                                                                                                                               God is the best Father,because He is perfectly good.                                                                                 God is the best Father in respect to wisdom.                                                                                             God is the best Father ,because He is most loving.                                                                                   God is the best Father,because He has enough riches                                                                               for all His children.                                                                                                                                   God is the best Father, because He can reform His children.                                                                   God is the best Father, because He never dies.

Whose world is it. ?. ( Genesis 1 v 1 )

A young girl was with her mother walking in the countryside ,when she saw some wild flowers ,she asked her mother,do you think God would mind if I picked some of His flowers ?. In Psalm 24 v 1 we read, 'The earth is the Lords and everything in it', yes this is Gods world, and everything in it, we are all only the stewards of this world,and everything we possess is only loaned to us.And like any good steward we will be held accountable,by the owner of this world.This world experiences so much abuse from mankind,we are raping this world,destroying it,exploiting its resources ,with scant regard for our fellow human beings,and no thought for the animal kingdom.Let us all give thought for the world we live in,and thank the one, who it belongs to.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 All things bright and beautiful                                                                                                                   All creatures great and small,                                                                                                                     All things wise and wonderful                                                                                                                   The Lord God made them all.                                                                                                                              ( C.F.Alexander )

Encouragement . ( Isaiah 41 v 1 0 )

We all need encouragement no matter who we are,for we all without exception are very fragile,your pastor needs encouragement,the elderly,the sick,let us all determine to be an encourager. Read the Bible, so full of encouragement   , for God knows more than anyone else, how easily we become discouraged  ,it can be a simple thing,and it can be a serious thing.Behind the smiling face there may be a burden soul ,never judge the book by its cover ,is a truth we need to remember..In Gods word we have reassurance given ,that God will meet our needs,we are told that God will guide us,protect us. When we face the inevitable reality of death,we are told that we need not be afraid,even in that dark hour, for He will be with us,and for those who are sorrowing, He promises to comfort.Remember whatever we have to face and cope with in life ,God will be there to help us through. Remember Child of God ,you have a loving heavenly Father, and you are the apple of His eye. So let be like our heavenly Father and encourage others by our words and deeds.

Open your eyes. .( 2 Corinthians 4 v 13 - 18 )

I ministered recently in a church, that is situated on a private estate ,oh my ,those beautiful homes, I observed. What did I think of the people living there?, well they are very well off,very rich,so they all must be happy and loving,full of the joys of spring. I do not thing so,in fact they are not so different than you and I Oh yes they are just like us,no different, for all their  money they have times of sadness, and joy,disappointments,,but in the end  where will they spend eternity? . Our wonderful Saviour said whats the point of gaining the whole world and loosing your soul  ( Mark 8 v 36 )It is of vital importance, that we realise that  without Jesus,Hell beckons,  with Jesus all will be well.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            O happy day, that fixed my choice,                                                                                                            On Thee my Saviour and my God;                                                                                                                           ( Philip Doddridge )

Old age ( Psalm 23 )

The fact is people are living longer in our society, I am 74 I would have been considered an old man years ago, not now ,many people are much older. There is a record number of people living to a 100 plus,but of course ,old age is wonderful if you are healthy in mind and body.In Ecclesiastes 12 gives a description of getting old, and it is not a very happy description, of course it is not the most happy of book,it speaks of eyes dimming, the body no longer serving us,joints stiffening,feeling the cold,unable to go on those walks one used to go on. A fragile and impotent matchstick body.Is that it?, my goodness there must be something better to look forward to, and the good news is that for those who know Jesus the best is yet to be.We are promised a wonderful eternity,where we will never grow old ,we will  have a body that will never deteriorate ,in fact nothing will deteriorate. And our dwelling place will be with Jesus,for ever and ever, and ever, and ever.. So let us face the challenges of old age full of hope,for the  future that is bight.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Why not join us.