Favourite Hymns. ( Romans 11 v 33) 2

 Last time we considered one of my favourite hymns,'Amazing Grace',the next hymn  I would like us to . consider is my next favourite,'God moves in mysterious ways. 'It was written by William Cowper, a poet  highly esteemed in his life time,a man who suffered from severe mental illness,and yet in this hymn we have so much spiritual insight.The opening line declares a very wonderful truth,that God moves in a mysterious way'. In Romans  8 v 33,we read  'How unsearchable are His judgements,and His ways past finding out'.We could link this verse up to  Isaiah 55 v 8-9,which reads .'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'.One writer comments,God's thoughts and actions are incomprehensible and beyond are human understanding'.The fact is we cannot nor should we try to bring God down to our level,He is the God who created the universe,we finite creatures will never understand Him who is infinite.When it comes to God it is a matter of faith  even when we do not understand His ways.The closing verse sums it up .

                                                          'Blind unbelief is sure to err,

                                                           And scan His works in vain;

                                                           God is His own  interpreter,

                                                           And He will make it plain'.

Favourite hymns. ( Revelation 5 v 11-14) 1

 As a follower of my Lord Jesus for 61yrs,one the blessings I thank God for is the many hymns and gospel songs that I have song with my spiritual family,and the songs that I my song in as part of my ministry. Have I any favourites? of course,here are two,'Amazing Grace',and 'God moves in mysterious ways',Although I have heard Amazing Grace sung many times it still blesses me everytime I hear it.it reminds me as a sinner of God's grace in salvation , and if His grace had not moved in my heart,I would never had turned to God.Of course it doesn't stop there,it is the beginning of a journey,a journey,with dangers, struggles,and challenges,and I acknowledge that apart from the grace of God ,I could not have succeeded on this journey.And it reminds me that this mortal life shall cease,but that is not end for me,I will enter the eternal realms,of heaven ,where I will sing the praises of Him who loved me and died for me, for all eternity

                                                           'Amazing Grace'

That's the truth. ( Matthew 11 v 28-30)

It was Pilate who asked Jesus,'What is truth?' (John 18 v 38),but he didn't wait for an answer,many people like Pilate would say they want to know the truth,but they don't wait to hear the answer,instead they believe a lie rather than the truth of the gospel.The truth of the gospel is the only way one can be saved there are no other options opened to you,no matter how sincere you may be.Jesus spoke the following words,'I am the way and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me',(John 14v6) He does not just show the way,but He declares He is the way,likewise He does not just speak about truth ,He declares that He is the truth,likewise he does not speak about a way of life,but that He is life.Thomas a' Kempis wrote the following,'Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living'.This is the truth of the scriptures to deney this is to pass a death sentence on yourself. All religions is based on what you do,and if you fail to keep their rules and regulations,you have no hope,break one and you break them all.Religions there are in plenty,but you don't need a religion you need a Saviour,and their is only one Saviour Jesus who died for us sinners, on a cross ,that our sins can be forgiven,that's the truth.

Obey God (Mark 12 v17)

 In Acts 5 v12-16 we read how the apostles performed many  signs  and wonders among the people,the result was  many healings took place,the people laid the sick out on the ground hoping that Peter's shadow might fall upon them ,that they might be healed. In verse 16 we read,' all of them were healed'What a wonderful thing was happening,the people must have been utterly happy to see their loved ones healed, but there was those who were not happy.Things hadn't changed for we read that the religious hierarchy were not pleased in fact they were filled with jealousy of the success the apostles  were having,some  translation  have indignation,because the apostles had not obeyed them (Acts 4 v18).Next they had them thrown in Jail,but then another miracle happened,the Lord sent an angel and set them free.They were told to go the temple and tell the people about  this new life..But again they were arrested and brought before their accusers.who reminded them that they were not to teach in Christ name,Peter and the other apostles replied:We must obey God rather than human beings'.(v29)Let me just stop there,and let us take those words in, and let us apply it to all our lives,yes we are to be good citizens,obey the laws of our country,but when laws are brought in challenging our obedience to God,then we must obey God,many people are doing that ,and they are paying a heavy price.

Then shall we know ( Deuteronomy 29 v 29)

 1 Corinthians 13 v12,reads 'Now I know in part; then shall I know fully'. There is so much we know but there is so much we don't know ,and  we will never know till we get to glory. Many cannot understand why a loved one has been taken or why things ended badly in certain situations. There are many why's in life,it doesn't have to be some major thing,I have bought cars and  and some turned out really bad, I can assure you I always prayed  before I bought them , a few of them were pretty bad,I ask why?,I don't know.When I was young  I loved going to the pictures, for us it was another word for the cinema .I used to enjoy the cartoons ,but the main  thing we wanted was the big picture. So it is with life we want to see the big picture,the answer to all our whys,why did such a thing happen,?why did God not intervene in certain situations.The scripture tells us as regards life here on planet earth,there is much we do not understand and that's the way it will always be,but it appears that one day we shall know fully.So what is required of  us?,the answer is ,'Trust in the Lord with all your hearts, and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3 v 5)

The day of trouble .( Psalm 34 v15 -19)

 Words  from Psalm 50 v 14-15 a psalm by Asaph, reads,' Sacrifice thank offerings to God,fulfil your vows to the most high,and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you,and you will honour me'. Consider the opening words,'Sacrifice thank offerings to God',now we don't sacrifice animals',but let us take the  meaning,so what thank offering can we offer to God?. Romans 12 v 1 reads,'in view of God's mercy,offer your bodies as living sacrifice ,holy and  pleasing to God'. In light of what we owe God it is the least we should  give,as Isaac Watts wrote,'Love so amazing so divine ,demands my soul,my life ,my all. Next let us consider the following ,'Call upon Me in the day of trouble,I  will deliver you,' what a clear emphatic promise from God,there are no ifs ,or buts about it,it is declaring a certainity,it will not fail to happen,He will not go back on His word,what He says he will do,we can count on it. Standing outside the burial place of a friend called Lazarus,He told his sister Martha ,'Your brother will rise again',she thought He was speaking of the general resurrection.,So there came a point when He told them to take  away the stone that covered the entrance were His friend was.All Martha could think of was the decomposing body of her brother,but Jesus said to her,'Did I not tell you that if you would believe,you will see the glory of God',and they did. 

                                                    The same Jesus is saying to you ,

                                                     call upon me,I will deliver you'.

                                                     

Witnessing (1 Corinthians 9 v 19 -23)

 I attended a breakfast gathering in the fellowship I attend, the guest speaker was the chaplain from a local hospital.One of the things he said was that when  he commenced his position he needed to unlearn many things, I listened intently as to what he had to say, Much of what he had to say was interesting and provocative,but it seemed that it lacked something.But it had many things that were good,like when we witness we are part of a chain, in other words,one sows another reaps.also a simple prayer can touch peoples lives,and the importance of listening.also not to be judgemental.He spoke about becoming  all things to all men and encouraged us to look at 1 Corinthians 9 v 19-23, where Paul stressed  the lengths he would go to,in order for people to be saved.In other words it would give him the opportunity,to tell them about Christ.I have witnessed to many people,and in witnessing to them I have tried to be wise ,and always sought to make clear of their need of forgiveness and the importance of trusting in Jesus, Let me say this no matter how nice we are in presenting Christ ,people can take offence,but at least they have heard the gospel, and that's the important thing.Of course our lives must speak,the good works we do ,will speak ,and  we must at all times witness from a heart of love. Our dear Saviour said the folllowing as regards dealing  with people that we were to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10 v16).I am sure that those words should apply as to how we witness to people,