Not everyone who says

 Not everyone who says

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

The church has been around a long time as a result many calling themselves Christians are not. The apostle Paul even warned,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4

The apostle Peter warned,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.

We as Christians must be carful not to follow false teaching, not to listen to false teachers. The only way we can do such a thing is to read and study the scriptures for ourselves.    We must also remember that there will be minor differences between true Christians. It’s the major differences we should worry about.

The basic beliefs of true Christians are found in the Apostles Creed. While not written by one of the apostles states what are if you will not negotiable parts of our beliefs as Christians. It reads,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

Please think about it.

A Christian call to live a Godly life

 A Christian call to live a Godly life.

The apostle Paul writes,

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud,

 but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone”. 

                                                       Romans 12:9-18

Words for Christians to live by.

So if you claim to be a Christian do you live by them. Is your love for all people sincere or dose it come with conditions? Do you cling to what is good? Are you willing to associate all People?

Take a few minutes to look at Romans 12: 9-18 and ask yourself are you doing what the Scriptures are commanding you do?

Please think about it.

Christians are aliens in this world

  Christians are Aliens in this world

The Apostle Peter writes,

“Dear friends,

I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12. 

We as believers in Christ must remember that we are simple visitors, landed immigrants in this world. While here we need to follow the laws of the country in which we live. 

Only if the laws of the land prohibit our worshipping God do we have the right to go against the law of the land.

Peter makes it clear we are to abstain from sinful desires and live good lives among those around us.

For a moment take a look at your life are you doing what Peter is telling you to do here?

Please think about it.  

Christians and Peace

  Christians and Peace

In the book of Romans we read,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." 

                                                                                                            Romans 12:18.

Are you doing your best to live at peace with those around you? 

Are you doing your best to love those around you, family friend or foe?

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.

Are you doing this?

We will never win a person for Christ if we don’t show them love.

The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. said,

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Martin Luther King, Jr.

So I ask you again are you loving those around you?

Please think about it.

About life

 About Life

The apostle John speaking of Jesus said,                                                                    

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become children of God—  

children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, 

but born of God." 

                            John 1:12,13 

The poet wrote,                                                      

Where are the people?

Where?

Are they but shadows in the mall?

Are they?

Are they shadows in time?

Shadows wandering looking for the latest trinkets, bobbles and beads?

What is life?

What?

Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?

A wisp in the eternal aether? 

Are people wisps of smoke?

What of man's or woman's!

 accomplishments?

What of them?

Is the sum total of all ones life simply a pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?

Is that life?

Is life simply a cacophony of sounds travelling through endless time destined to end?

Is it?

Is life a finite opera?

An opera played out on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam?

Are we as Shakespeare said simply actors?

Does life end?

No!

No!

Life is real!

Played out before God.

In a world suspended between Heaven and Hell

We,

 While mere mortals here.

Are really eternal beings.

Waiting to stand before God.

Are you ready to stand before God?

Are you?

What is the sum total of your life?

What?

Individuals lives in deeds,

What will your deeds say about you?

What will "they" say about you when you pass on?

What will God say?

The writer of Ecclesiastes writes,

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14

Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe stands condemned already

 because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 

                                                                                           John 3:16-18.

Please think about it.

If you are

  If you are

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

My parents who grew up in the Church of England and Roman Catholic churches respectively taught me long before I became a Christian what I consider the prime Christian principle. Summed up by Jesus when he said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

In the year 2026 Matthew 7:12 could be put this way,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

Are telling the world,

I love you and God loves you

You are telling the world

God loves you and I love you

Unconditionally.

Please think about it.

Your choice to believe or not to believe

  Your choice to believe or not to believe

The Psalmist writes,

“Where can I go from your Spirit? 

Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

 if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 even there your hand will guide me, 

your right hand will hold me fast.” 

                                                    Psalm 139:7-10

We serve an almighty, omnipresent God. No matter where we go we cannot hide from Him. If we truly trust Him he is there for us.

The psalmist reminds us,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4.

God is not as some think an old man with a big stick ready to bash us when we do wrong. Quite the contrary. The apostle John writes,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

It is God’s will that we all get to heaven, but in creating us he did not create robots. He created mankind with a free will to choose what we believe and what we do not believe. Thus we have the right not to believe in Him.

Thus the question becomes, do you believe in God.

Please think about it. 

Paul's sermon to the Athenians

  Paul's sermon to the Athenians 

For me one of the greatest sermons of all time was never spoken in a church building. It was spoken in the Areopagus by the apostle Paul. It is a sermon everyone needs to hear.

The book of acts records,

“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others” Acts 17:22-34. 

The question I would ask anyone reading this is which group are you a part of. Those who sneered. Those who wanted to hear more, or those who believed what Paul said.

Please think about it.

A Judges Prayer

  The Judges prayer

Jesus said,

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies,

 do good to those who hate you,  

bless those who curse you,

 pray for those who mistreat you.... 

Do to others as you would have them do to you." 

                                                                                     Luke 6:27,28,31 

The Eleven O Clock Payer

  "It’s eleven o clock. Inside the court house a judge is about to make his ruling. A community, a nation waits.

  Will the new law be legal?

Outside the court house men and women with placards chant. On one side of the street stand a group of gay men and women. All in favour of the new law.

On the other side of the street separated by a line of police stand radical evangelicals, denouncing the new law.

One man among them screams angrily . “THEY ARE GOING TO HELL!!!”

Approached by the media he says it again, “they are going to Hell.”

From my office window I watch asking myself the question, ‘is this man an Christian?”

  Wasn’t it Christ who told us not only to love our neighbour but our enemy also?

  Wasn’t it Christ who told us not to judge, lest we be judged likewise?

Wasn’t it Christ who said go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation?

Is this man showing love?

Is this man judging another?

Can this man be effective in reaching the whole world?

A question keeps rolling through my mind for which I know the answer, “Can we truly know what is in someone else’s head?"

 "Do we really know why a person is like they are?”

For a moment I stare down at the crowd. All the time asking myself who is on the way to Hell this day.

Turning away from my window I kneel down and pray, “Lord guide me this day. Let me make the right decision on this law.”

Question: If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus would you vote in favour of a law that restricts the rights of someone else? 

Remember James wrote,

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13

Remember also Jesus said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.

Please think about it.

Are you willing to repent?

 Are you willing to repent?

In Johns gospel we read,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. " John 1:1-4,14.

Here John clearly states that Jesus whom he refers to as “the word” is God incarnate. John and the other apostles truly believed that Jesus was God in the flesh sent down to show mankind the way to heaven.

The apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost said,

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:36-39.

The question I pose to you today is do you believe this?

If so are you willing to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ?

Please think about it.

Persecuted for the right reason

  Persecuted for the right reason

In the book of Acts we see the apostle Paul after being brought before King Agrippa in chains telling him how he was faithful to the vision he received on the road to Damascus when he became a believer in Christ Jesus. The book of Acts records.

"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.  

That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.  

But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—  that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." 

At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." 

"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable.  

The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.  

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 

Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." Acts 26:19-29.

The apostle Paul here was being persecuted for his beliefs. He was being persecuted for saying, 

“...I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” Acts 26:20b.

If we are truly believers in Christ Jesus and are being persecuted this is what we should be being persecuted for. For calling those around us to “repent and turn to God”. For presenting the gospel of Christ Jesus.

Sadly many times here in North America with all our freedoms those who claim to be Christians say they are being persecuted for their faith when they are not. 

Many Christians here use their freedom of speech to condemn, judge and even attack, those they disagree with. Then when they receive criticism they call it persecution.

Many Christians particularly in the United States mix their politics with their faith and try to restrict the rights or take away rights of those they disagree with.

If we are truly servants of God then we will willingly sit down with those we disagree with, and in a loving way listen to them. While at the same time in a loving and respectful manner present the gospel of Christ Jesus.

The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. wrote,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

The whole gospel message is that of Love the love of God not just for mankind as a whole, but for each individual. So, if we are to be persecuted for what we believe and what we are preaching let it be because we are preaching the Love of God.

Please think about it.

 

Calling on the name of the Lord

  Calling on the name of the Lord

“Better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for all are destined to be mourned; the living should lay this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2.

I would guess that most people never think about their mortality or where they will spend eternity. 

In the book of acts we read about Paul speaking to his jailor it reads,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:30,31.

Paul writing to the Romans wrote,

“...Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13.

Have you called on the name of the Lord?

Do you believe Jesus died for your sins?

Have you accepted Christ as your Lord and saviour?

If not here is a simple pray you can say.

Dear Heavenly Father

I know that I am a sinner in need of your saving grace. I believe that Jesus prayed the price for my sins. Please come into my life today. Guide me and lead me from this day on.                                                                      Amen

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour...

Please think about it.