To the Church in Thyatira
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you):
Only hold on to what you have until I come.
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
‘He will rule them with an iron scepter;he will dash them to pieces like pottery’—
just as I have received authority from my Father.
I will also give him the morning star.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelations 2:18-29
Here we have the church at Thyatira here Jesus compliments them saying,
“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”
Then he goes on to say,
“Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.”
Like other Churches mentioned in Revelations there is a problem in this church. Here she is called Jezebel a universal name used in the bible for a woman not doing what is right. Someone who is teaching wrong doctrine.
In this case she is misleading people into sexual immorality and probably other things that are not of God.
Again and again as you look at the various churches mentioned in Revelations you see that while the church is doing good there is a flaw. Here it’s a woman who’s leading people astray by claiming to be a prophetess and is not. She is instead leading people astray.
We need to look at what we are being taught in the church. We need to watch that we are not being led astray.
We cannot compromise with the outside world. We have a standard of morality that is set by God. One that is higher than man himself sets. It is God’s morality that we must live up to.
Christ encourages the church to hold onto the things of God that are good and correct. In doing so we will receive a reward for our faithfulness.
Why not take time now to examine where you are with respect to God’s standards. Where the church congregation you attend stands with respect to the standards of God.
At the same time evaluate those who call themselves Christian teachers and evangelist whom you listen to in the media. Ask yourself are they truly teaching the word of God.
Compare everything you are taught to the Bible.
One pastor I had encouraged us to take note on the sermon. To look at the scriptures given and what is being said on Sunday or by any minister, evangelist or priest at any time. Take time at home to study what has been said.
See that the scriptures are used correctly and in context. That what the minister is saying lines up with the word of God and is not wrong teaching.
I believe it is something we all should be doing.
Think about it.
Wednesday 31 December 2014
Tuesday 30 December 2014
The Church of Pergamum
The Church of Pergamum
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
Revelations 2:12-17
Pergamum was the ancient capital of Asia. The centre of emperor worship in Asia. Antipas, the first martyr of Asia was murdered their in the reign of Domitian
The fact it was the centre of emperor worship is probably why it’s referred to “where Satan has his thrown.
Here Jesus commends the church for holding true to his name even when people were martyred.
Never the less he notes that there are people among them who are teaching wrong doctrine. Referring to them as those who “hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak” who led the Israelites astray and those who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans who compromised the teachings of Christ with the world.
This is a call to the churches today.
While there are many interpretations of things within Christianity we must never compromise our core beliefs.
Sadly I as someone who attends an evangelical church, I see there is too much wrong teaching. Not only that no one seems to be standing up to this wrong teaching.
Frauds, false teachers, abound in what has become known as the evangelical church in North America.
The so called mainline churches are not that much different. They are watering down the message of Christ or have instituted ways of doing things that have taken them away from the true teachings of Christ.
We as Christians need to sit down with the Bible and forget what church we attend. We need to be studying the scriptures and look for the unadulterated truths of the scriptures.
We need to make sure what we are teaching and saying about Jesus and the way to heaven is correct.
At the same time. We need to wherever possible be correcting those who are not preaching sound doctrine.
We even need to be pulling our support from any Christian organization that is not teaching the scriptures correctly, be that a church or and evangelist.
Think about it.
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
Revelations 2:12-17
Pergamum was the ancient capital of Asia. The centre of emperor worship in Asia. Antipas, the first martyr of Asia was murdered their in the reign of Domitian
The fact it was the centre of emperor worship is probably why it’s referred to “where Satan has his thrown.
Here Jesus commends the church for holding true to his name even when people were martyred.
Never the less he notes that there are people among them who are teaching wrong doctrine. Referring to them as those who “hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak” who led the Israelites astray and those who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans who compromised the teachings of Christ with the world.
This is a call to the churches today.
While there are many interpretations of things within Christianity we must never compromise our core beliefs.
Sadly I as someone who attends an evangelical church, I see there is too much wrong teaching. Not only that no one seems to be standing up to this wrong teaching.
Frauds, false teachers, abound in what has become known as the evangelical church in North America.
The so called mainline churches are not that much different. They are watering down the message of Christ or have instituted ways of doing things that have taken them away from the true teachings of Christ.
We as Christians need to sit down with the Bible and forget what church we attend. We need to be studying the scriptures and look for the unadulterated truths of the scriptures.
We need to make sure what we are teaching and saying about Jesus and the way to heaven is correct.
At the same time. We need to wherever possible be correcting those who are not preaching sound doctrine.
We even need to be pulling our support from any Christian organization that is not teaching the scriptures correctly, be that a church or and evangelist.
Think about it.
Monday 29 December 2014
Smyrna
The Church in Smyrna
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
Revelations 2:8-11
Smyrna was a city in Asia closely aligned with Rome. Like Rome it was engaged in emperor worship. Additionally it had a hostile Jewish population that made life difficult for Christians to live there.
Polycarp a famous early martyr was bishop of Smyrna.
Here Jesus identifies himself as the First and the Last, the same as saying the Aleph and the Omega.
He recognizes the suffering and poverty of the church yet says they are rich probably because of their keeping their faith in Christ despite their suffering.
He makes it clear some will be put in prison but urges them to be faithful to the point of death and they will receive a clown of life.
The crown referred to here is that of the garland an athlete receives for winning a race. In today’s terms a gold medal. Only this crown is a crown of life. Eternal life in Christ.
Today around the world there are many churches in this situation. They are in areas that are hostile to the gospel of Christ.
Christians that are being persecuted and thrown in prison for no other reason than the fact that they are Christian. These Christians will receive a their crown of life because of their faithfulness.
We who live with the blessing of freedom of speech, and religion need to remember the our brethren around the world who are in the same situation as the Church in Smyrna. We need to remind our politicians of the persecution of Christians and ask them to help our cause.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world.”
North Korea and Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia, followed closely by Shia Iran, are among the most oppressive regimes to Christians as well as other religious groups
In Bhutan, where Christians make up 1-2% of its 750,000 population, Christians are not legally recognised at all and cannot have church buildings or cemeteries. Nepal also does not recognise Christianity.
Add to this list communist China, some of the former soviet block countries as well as many other states and terrorist groups such as ISIS.
Take time now to pray for those believers who are living under repressive governments that refuse to allow the spread of the Gospel. Pray that they will have faith to continue doing the work of the Lord.
Pray also as our Lord commanded,
“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:44,45.
Pray that those who persecute Christians anywhere in the world will see the light that is Christ Jesus and come to know Him as their Lord and Saviour.
Don't think about it pray
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
Revelations 2:8-11
Smyrna was a city in Asia closely aligned with Rome. Like Rome it was engaged in emperor worship. Additionally it had a hostile Jewish population that made life difficult for Christians to live there.
Polycarp a famous early martyr was bishop of Smyrna.
Here Jesus identifies himself as the First and the Last, the same as saying the Aleph and the Omega.
He recognizes the suffering and poverty of the church yet says they are rich probably because of their keeping their faith in Christ despite their suffering.
He makes it clear some will be put in prison but urges them to be faithful to the point of death and they will receive a clown of life.
The crown referred to here is that of the garland an athlete receives for winning a race. In today’s terms a gold medal. Only this crown is a crown of life. Eternal life in Christ.
Today around the world there are many churches in this situation. They are in areas that are hostile to the gospel of Christ.
Christians that are being persecuted and thrown in prison for no other reason than the fact that they are Christian. These Christians will receive a their crown of life because of their faithfulness.
We who live with the blessing of freedom of speech, and religion need to remember the our brethren around the world who are in the same situation as the Church in Smyrna. We need to remind our politicians of the persecution of Christians and ask them to help our cause.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world.”
North Korea and Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia, followed closely by Shia Iran, are among the most oppressive regimes to Christians as well as other religious groups
In Bhutan, where Christians make up 1-2% of its 750,000 population, Christians are not legally recognised at all and cannot have church buildings or cemeteries. Nepal also does not recognise Christianity.
Add to this list communist China, some of the former soviet block countries as well as many other states and terrorist groups such as ISIS.
Take time now to pray for those believers who are living under repressive governments that refuse to allow the spread of the Gospel. Pray that they will have faith to continue doing the work of the Lord.
Pray also as our Lord commanded,
“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:44,45.
Pray that those who persecute Christians anywhere in the world will see the light that is Christ Jesus and come to know Him as their Lord and Saviour.
Don't think about it pray
Sunday 28 December 2014
To the Church at Ephesus
The Church at Ephesus
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands:
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelations 2:1-7
The church at Ephesus. Christ notes their perseverance. That they cannot tolerate wicked men. That they have tested those who claim to be apostles or believers and are not. They have also endured hardship for Christ.
Then he notes what they are doing wrong saying, “You have forsaken your first love.” In other words they have wondered away from God.
His call to them is to return to their first love. To return to Christ and doing his work.
I get the impression that they were doing what some churches are doing today. They are on a judgmental crusade quite often without really knowing it.
I have heard many non-Christians point to ministers and churches in the media and say all some churches do is point out the evil in the world.
They heap condemnation on people. They are more worried about their rights and restricting the rights of others than showing the love of God.
I had one gay man tell me that he sees some preachers in the media as bigots who would refuse him the right to marry. And if it were possible they’d put him in jail.
He pointed out that one evangelist even said back in the nineties that God was going to strike all homosexuals dead. I checked sadly he was right.
How can churches and preachers doing such things reach not only the gay and LGBT community but others also by making statements like that.
They can’t.
This is what I believe Jesus is talking about here. The need for the church to turn back to their first love Jesus. The same Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
Matthew5: 43-45.
If a person truly has the spirit of God in them they will show true love. They will not condemn of judge. That is a command from Jesus himself.
A person with the true spirit of God will exhibit the fruits of the Spirit which Paul defines as,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22,23.
It’s easy for not only preacher and churches but individual believers to, to wander away from what the true duty of a Christian is, especially in a society that gives us the right to free speech.
The church in Ephesus was doing some things correctly. They were questioning and standing up to those who called themselves apostles and were not.
They even hated the practices of the Nicolaitans who were compromising the teachings of Christ and the apostles.
Unfortunately at the same time they’d turned away from their first love, Christ.
Christ who said,
“ ‘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 neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
That includes every man woman and child on this earth irrespective of who they are or their life style.
Think about it.
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands:
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelations 2:1-7
The church at Ephesus. Christ notes their perseverance. That they cannot tolerate wicked men. That they have tested those who claim to be apostles or believers and are not. They have also endured hardship for Christ.
Then he notes what they are doing wrong saying, “You have forsaken your first love.” In other words they have wondered away from God.
His call to them is to return to their first love. To return to Christ and doing his work.
I get the impression that they were doing what some churches are doing today. They are on a judgmental crusade quite often without really knowing it.
I have heard many non-Christians point to ministers and churches in the media and say all some churches do is point out the evil in the world.
They heap condemnation on people. They are more worried about their rights and restricting the rights of others than showing the love of God.
I had one gay man tell me that he sees some preachers in the media as bigots who would refuse him the right to marry. And if it were possible they’d put him in jail.
He pointed out that one evangelist even said back in the nineties that God was going to strike all homosexuals dead. I checked sadly he was right.
How can churches and preachers doing such things reach not only the gay and LGBT community but others also by making statements like that.
They can’t.
This is what I believe Jesus is talking about here. The need for the church to turn back to their first love Jesus. The same Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
Matthew5: 43-45.
If a person truly has the spirit of God in them they will show true love. They will not condemn of judge. That is a command from Jesus himself.
A person with the true spirit of God will exhibit the fruits of the Spirit which Paul defines as,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22,23.
It’s easy for not only preacher and churches but individual believers to, to wander away from what the true duty of a Christian is, especially in a society that gives us the right to free speech.
The church in Ephesus was doing some things correctly. They were questioning and standing up to those who called themselves apostles and were not.
They even hated the practices of the Nicolaitans who were compromising the teachings of Christ and the apostles.
Unfortunately at the same time they’d turned away from their first love, Christ.
Christ who said,
“ ‘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 neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
That includes every man woman and child on this earth irrespective of who they are or their life style.
Think about it.
Saturday 27 December 2014
Not Everyone
Not Everyone
“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.
If there is one thing that bothers me as a Christian it’s those who would call themselves Christians but are not. Men and women who claim to be doing the work of God yet are not coming close to doing what Christ wants.
Someone who has the spirit of Christ will exhibit what the apostle Paul when writing to the Galatians calls the fruit of the Spirit,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22,23.
A key thing in the Christians life is loving not only God and your neighbour but your enemy as well. It is showing love to those you disagree with no matter who they are or their life style.
Paul defines love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
We cannot win a soul to Christ if we are constantly speaking of the evils of the world. It is not our job to speak of the evils of the world. I am quite sure those living in the world know what is wrong with the world.
At the same time we cannot win a soul to Christ by even attempting to restrict the rights of any group. It is not our job to judge the world.
Paul writing to the Corinthians made this clear when he said,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
When I see and hear some preachers both in the media and out I find it hard at times to see the love. And if I as a Christian can’t see the love I doubt very much that those outside the church can see the love.
We as Christians need to remember the words of Paul to the Romans,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
It’s been a long time since I came to know the Lord but I know one thing. If the people leading me to Christ were constantly pointing out what sins were in my life, I would have turned away from them. I would never have made the best decision in my life.
By preachers preaching the evils of the world constantly at people is doing the same thing. They are turning people away. We cannot force Christ or our beliefs on someone it doesn’t work
Yeshuyahu Lebowitz a Judaic scholar wrote,
"You can ‘t force people to do what they don’t want to do, to feel what they don’t feel. If someone wills one thing, you cannot tell it to will another. It has to come from within."
Yeshayahu Leibowitz,
(quoted in “Of Thorns, Idols,
and Prophecy,” Hadassah, May 1990).
What we as Christians need to do rather than constantly preaching about the evils of the world is to present the life changing message of Christ to the world.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
"Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God."
Tony Campolo
Francis of Assisi said,
Think about it
“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.
If there is one thing that bothers me as a Christian it’s those who would call themselves Christians but are not. Men and women who claim to be doing the work of God yet are not coming close to doing what Christ wants.
Someone who has the spirit of Christ will exhibit what the apostle Paul when writing to the Galatians calls the fruit of the Spirit,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22,23.
A key thing in the Christians life is loving not only God and your neighbour but your enemy as well. It is showing love to those you disagree with no matter who they are or their life style.
Paul defines love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
We cannot win a soul to Christ if we are constantly speaking of the evils of the world. It is not our job to speak of the evils of the world. I am quite sure those living in the world know what is wrong with the world.
At the same time we cannot win a soul to Christ by even attempting to restrict the rights of any group. It is not our job to judge the world.
Paul writing to the Corinthians made this clear when he said,
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
When I see and hear some preachers both in the media and out I find it hard at times to see the love. And if I as a Christian can’t see the love I doubt very much that those outside the church can see the love.
We as Christians need to remember the words of Paul to the Romans,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
It’s been a long time since I came to know the Lord but I know one thing. If the people leading me to Christ were constantly pointing out what sins were in my life, I would have turned away from them. I would never have made the best decision in my life.
By preachers preaching the evils of the world constantly at people is doing the same thing. They are turning people away. We cannot force Christ or our beliefs on someone it doesn’t work
Yeshuyahu Lebowitz a Judaic scholar wrote,
"You can ‘t force people to do what they don’t want to do, to feel what they don’t feel. If someone wills one thing, you cannot tell it to will another. It has to come from within."
Yeshayahu Leibowitz,
(quoted in “Of Thorns, Idols,
and Prophecy,” Hadassah, May 1990).
What we as Christians need to do rather than constantly preaching about the evils of the world is to present the life changing message of Christ to the world.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
"Let us preach Christ, let us be faithful to proclaiming the Gospel, but let's leave judgment in the hands of God."
Tony Campolo
Francis of Assisi said,
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi.Think about it
Friday 26 December 2014
Christ
Christ.
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn....
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
Luke 2:1-7, 28-32
Christmas is God reaching down to man to say “I love you.”
Christmas is about Love and Peace.
Today around the world there is tremendous suffering. The twentieth century was considered the bloodiest century in the history of man, and the twenty-first seems to be continuing the bloodshed.
Mankind it seems can’t get it’s act together. By the time you have finished reading this hundreds of people will have died from violence somewhere in the world.
The dictators, terrorist and evil men our day of our world are not new. They like Hannibal, Caesar, Alexander the great, Napoleon and Hitler all think they can impose their will on people by force.
Nothing could be further from the truth. No dictator has ever ruled over more than a few hundred million ever. Most don’t rule over more than a handful of people.
Yet Jesus, who never wrote a book, never ventured far from his place of birth, who spoke of peace and love. Who came to reconcile man to God has a following today that spans over two billion people about a third of the worlds population, and the number of his followers continues to grow.
This man who’s teachings of love for one’s neighbours, and even one’s enemies seems to scare dictators and terrorist alike.
Today one Christian dies every four to seven minutes. Why? Because they are presenting the Love of God?
Jesus never spoke against the civil secular society of Rome. He never carried a weapon or once claimed that his kingdom was of this world.
It was Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45.
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 22:37-40.
Yet dictators and terrorist the world over fear his teachings. If they didn’t why would they restrict Christianity or continue to murder Christians.
Here in North America Atheist while they don’t attack Christians. They demand that Christian symbols and sayings be taken out of public buildings.
Does the ten commandments, or words of love really offend them that much?
Here in North America thankfully we don’t have to contend with violence just a clash of rights. My rights, your rights.
How sad that we have to be offended by where words or symbols of love come from. And I say that to both Christians and non-Christians, because Christians here in the United States and Canad can be just as demanding about their rights as non-Christians are.
Anne Frank a Jewish girl who lived in hiding until she was caught and died in a Nazi death camp said,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!” Anne Frank
If we to follow these words of advice and give of our selves instead of demanding our rights. Life would be so much better.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone...”
Romans 12:18
This is a truth both Christians and non-Christians I think can agree on.
Think about it.
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn....
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
Luke 2:1-7, 28-32
Christmas is God reaching down to man to say “I love you.”
Christmas is about Love and Peace.
Today around the world there is tremendous suffering. The twentieth century was considered the bloodiest century in the history of man, and the twenty-first seems to be continuing the bloodshed.
Mankind it seems can’t get it’s act together. By the time you have finished reading this hundreds of people will have died from violence somewhere in the world.
The dictators, terrorist and evil men our day of our world are not new. They like Hannibal, Caesar, Alexander the great, Napoleon and Hitler all think they can impose their will on people by force.
Nothing could be further from the truth. No dictator has ever ruled over more than a few hundred million ever. Most don’t rule over more than a handful of people.
Yet Jesus, who never wrote a book, never ventured far from his place of birth, who spoke of peace and love. Who came to reconcile man to God has a following today that spans over two billion people about a third of the worlds population, and the number of his followers continues to grow.
This man who’s teachings of love for one’s neighbours, and even one’s enemies seems to scare dictators and terrorist alike.
Today one Christian dies every four to seven minutes. Why? Because they are presenting the Love of God?
Jesus never spoke against the civil secular society of Rome. He never carried a weapon or once claimed that his kingdom was of this world.
It was Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45.
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 22:37-40.
Yet dictators and terrorist the world over fear his teachings. If they didn’t why would they restrict Christianity or continue to murder Christians.
Here in North America Atheist while they don’t attack Christians. They demand that Christian symbols and sayings be taken out of public buildings.
Does the ten commandments, or words of love really offend them that much?
Here in North America thankfully we don’t have to contend with violence just a clash of rights. My rights, your rights.
How sad that we have to be offended by where words or symbols of love come from. And I say that to both Christians and non-Christians, because Christians here in the United States and Canad can be just as demanding about their rights as non-Christians are.
Anne Frank a Jewish girl who lived in hiding until she was caught and died in a Nazi death camp said,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!” Anne Frank
If we to follow these words of advice and give of our selves instead of demanding our rights. Life would be so much better.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone...”
Romans 12:18
This is a truth both Christians and non-Christians I think can agree on.
Think about it.
Thursday 25 December 2014
Merry Christmas
To those of us who live in freedom I would ask that you please remember to pray for our Christian brethren who are under persecution this day around the world. That they will also feel the Peace, Joy and Love that comes from God our Father and His One and Only Son Jesus Christ.
Pray that they will be freed from the hands of their persecutors.
That their persecutors will see the error of their ways and come to know Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
Wednesday 24 December 2014
Christmas
Christmas from John’s Gospel.
“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....
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.
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, 12-14.
The apostle John testified to who Jesus was. He makes it clear “He was with God in the beginning, Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
Jesus was there on the day of creation.
John goes on to say “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” that he and the other apostles “have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Christmas is God reaching down to man to say “I love you.”
A time he sent Jesus to point us to God and to show us how to live with our fellow man.
Christmas is about Love and Peace. It was Jesus who said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
It’s about taking to heart the teachings of Jesus. Be you a Christian or not what Jesus taught is still the right thing to do from a humanitarian aspect.
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 neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
He also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45.
The Apostle Paul defined true love when writing to the Corinthians,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
Paul writing to the Romans also said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18.
If we all Christian or not followed these simple principles of Love the world would indeed be a far better place.
Think about it.
“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....
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.
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, 12-14.
The apostle John testified to who Jesus was. He makes it clear “He was with God in the beginning, Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
Jesus was there on the day of creation.
John goes on to say “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” that he and the other apostles “have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Christmas is God reaching down to man to say “I love you.”
A time he sent Jesus to point us to God and to show us how to live with our fellow man.
Christmas is about Love and Peace. It was Jesus who said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
It’s about taking to heart the teachings of Jesus. Be you a Christian or not what Jesus taught is still the right thing to do from a humanitarian aspect.
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 neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
He also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Matthew 5:43-45.
The Apostle Paul defined true love when writing to the Corinthians,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
Paul writing to the Romans also said,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18.
If we all Christian or not followed these simple principles of Love the world would indeed be a far better place.
Think about it.
The Reason for the Season
The Reason for the Season
"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him(Jesus) to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:32-43.
Today is Christmas eve. Tomorrow the 2.2billion Christians around the world will be celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is one of the two most holy days in the Christian year.
At Christmas we get the image of this little child placed in a manger because there was no room for his family in the inn. Yet this is just the beginning.
This Jesus would grow up quietly out of the limelight in a small backwater village of a back water area of the Roman empire.
Thirty three years later he would become what most historians say is the most important figure in human history.
His ministry on this earth lasted only three years and he would never move far from his place of birth.
In that time however he taught a group of men that would go out and literally change the world without lifting a sword.
A group of men and women that would change the world through love and love alone.
Producing followers that now equal close to a third of the worlds population and the number is still growing.
Jesus himself was crucified for a crime he did not commit. Yet even in death we see a microcosm of the world.
He was put to death for political reasons by religious leaders that should have supported him. He was put to death with the full consent of ruling secular authorities who admitted he had done nothing wrong deserving death.
Even as he hung on the cross flanked by two criminals we seen the choice every man and woman in the world must make.
Luke records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
He doubted who Jesus was even as he was dying.
Luke goes on to say,
“But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The man believed who Jesus was, the Christ, the one and only Son of God. The saviour of the world.
All to often at Christmas Christians and non-Christians alike forget the “reason for the season”.
The reason for Christmas is Easter a time when Jesus died for our sins. When God reached down and said this is how far I will go to reconcile you to me.
It is my hope that this Christmas you will consider your relationship to Jesus who 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.”
John 3:16,17.
That you will decide for yourself just who Jesus is. Is he simply a good man or is he God’s One and Only son who died for your sins. Who died that you might have life eternal with God.
Think about it
"Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him(Jesus) to be executed.
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:32-43.
Today is Christmas eve. Tomorrow the 2.2billion Christians around the world will be celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is one of the two most holy days in the Christian year.
At Christmas we get the image of this little child placed in a manger because there was no room for his family in the inn. Yet this is just the beginning.
This Jesus would grow up quietly out of the limelight in a small backwater village of a back water area of the Roman empire.
Thirty three years later he would become what most historians say is the most important figure in human history.
His ministry on this earth lasted only three years and he would never move far from his place of birth.
In that time however he taught a group of men that would go out and literally change the world without lifting a sword.
A group of men and women that would change the world through love and love alone.
Producing followers that now equal close to a third of the worlds population and the number is still growing.
Jesus himself was crucified for a crime he did not commit. Yet even in death we see a microcosm of the world.
He was put to death for political reasons by religious leaders that should have supported him. He was put to death with the full consent of ruling secular authorities who admitted he had done nothing wrong deserving death.
Even as he hung on the cross flanked by two criminals we seen the choice every man and woman in the world must make.
Luke records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
He doubted who Jesus was even as he was dying.
Luke goes on to say,
“But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The man believed who Jesus was, the Christ, the one and only Son of God. The saviour of the world.
All to often at Christmas Christians and non-Christians alike forget the “reason for the season”.
The reason for Christmas is Easter a time when Jesus died for our sins. When God reached down and said this is how far I will go to reconcile you to me.
It is my hope that this Christmas you will consider your relationship to Jesus who 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.”
John 3:16,17.
That you will decide for yourself just who Jesus is. Is he simply a good man or is he God’s One and Only son who died for your sins. Who died that you might have life eternal with God.
Think about it
Tuesday 23 December 2014
Quintessence
Quintessence
Quintessence: “the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.”
"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.” John 3:16
God Loved. To quote a rather flippant saying from my early days as a Christian, “the bible says it. I believe it. That settles it.”
It has been said that love is the predominant theme of the Bible. That God is love, therefore Love is the purest of emotions.
Perhaps the best definition of love comes from the apostle Paul when writing to the Church at Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 13 he writes,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8a,13
If we are truly Christians. If we believe the Bible is the inspired word of God then we must believe John 3:16, that
“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
God loved the world, and that Love is everything Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians thirteen.
Jesus when asked what the most of important law was said,
“Jesus said to him, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus spoke a lot about love. He told us to love our enemies to pray for our persecutors and those who spitefully use us.
His ministry was a ministry of Love.
All to many Christians remember John 3: 16 but they fail to see its ramifications.
Take a close look at that verse,
• For God so loved the world
• he gave His only Son
• that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
• but have eternal life.
God Loved us,
Paul writing to the Romans tells us in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God took the first step. He demonstrated his love for us while we were still sinners.
And he says to us all we have to do to inherit eternal life is believe in him.
The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
God wants a relationship with us. He wants us to give our life to him to become part of his family,
John 3:17 states clearly, “
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
That is a key element in a Christians life. God reached down to mankind and said here am I. Come to me and I will give you rest.
The exact verse reads,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
If we are truly followers of Jesus, and take up the cause of Christ’s.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
Think about it
Quintessence: “the essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.”
"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.” John 3:16
God Loved. To quote a rather flippant saying from my early days as a Christian, “the bible says it. I believe it. That settles it.”
It has been said that love is the predominant theme of the Bible. That God is love, therefore Love is the purest of emotions.
Perhaps the best definition of love comes from the apostle Paul when writing to the Church at Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 13 he writes,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8a,13
If we are truly Christians. If we believe the Bible is the inspired word of God then we must believe John 3:16, that
“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
God loved the world, and that Love is everything Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians thirteen.
Jesus when asked what the most of important law was said,
“Jesus said to him, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it you shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus spoke a lot about love. He told us to love our enemies to pray for our persecutors and those who spitefully use us.
His ministry was a ministry of Love.
All to many Christians remember John 3: 16 but they fail to see its ramifications.
Take a close look at that verse,
• For God so loved the world
• he gave His only Son
• that whoever believes in Him shall not perish
• but have eternal life.
God Loved us,
Paul writing to the Romans tells us in Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God took the first step. He demonstrated his love for us while we were still sinners.
And he says to us all we have to do to inherit eternal life is believe in him.
The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
God wants a relationship with us. He wants us to give our life to him to become part of his family,
John 3:17 states clearly, “
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
That is a key element in a Christians life. God reached down to mankind and said here am I. Come to me and I will give you rest.
The exact verse reads,
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
If we are truly followers of Jesus, and take up the cause of Christ’s.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Francis of Assisi
Sunday 21 December 2014
You are a Light
You are the light
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16
Christmas is just days away. This is one of two days in the year when our churches here in North America are full, quite often to overflowing.
We are also told by psychologist and sociologist that it is a time of high stress for people. That many people go into deep depression. Suicides even go up. This shouldn’t be so.
We as Christians at least not only on this one day of the year but on everyday need to reach out to people in need.
The apostle James wrote,
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”
James 2:14-18.
At the same time we need to be witnessing not only to the needy but to those in our society who are not needy in physical or financial way. Quite often these people are overlooked.
I know of several people who do not like Christmas who are well off in a material sense. They don’t like it because it depresses them.
They see it as a very stressful time. They see others happy but can’t seem to get in the mood themselves. Some people I know have even tried to take their own life.
These people quite often focus on the secular Christmas. The one pushed by the shops. They see the message ‘you must buy this. The latest and the greatest. Without it you’re not cool’
They feel if you don’t do things that way you’re not a good person. If you don’t give someone a fifty of hundred dollar gift your looked down on.
This shouldn’t be so.
We as Christians need to be reaching out to these people to show them the true meaning of Christmas. The Love of God.
Each year my wife and I have continued a tradition that her mother started decades ago. If we know of someone who’s going to be spending Christmas alone. We invite them to our house.
Our house is very small and we don’t have a lot of money usually, but we can squeeze in four or five in addition to our family. It’s not many but we feel we are doing something to make people’s lives better, while at the same time showing God’s love.
Everyone who comes gets a small present. Usually a scarf of gloves, occasionally a trinket of some kind.
They also partake in a Christmas meal and watch video’s anything from the classic musicals to the latest releases as well as play games.
We don’t spend a lot of money. We can’t we’re not well off by any means, but God provides.
Interestingly enough we don’t talk a lot about God. We say grace before the meal and whatever topic comes up during the course of the day we talk about.
The result has been over the years we have seen people’s eyes sparkle and weights lift from their shoulders. Some have as a result decided to go to church either ours or others.
We do our best to bring a little joy and laughter into the hearts of those who celebrate with us.
We also tend to not only live up to what God would want for our lives but according to the teaching of Francis of Assisi who wrote,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi.
As Christians I believe this is what we should be doing.
Think about it.
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16
Christmas is just days away. This is one of two days in the year when our churches here in North America are full, quite often to overflowing.
We are also told by psychologist and sociologist that it is a time of high stress for people. That many people go into deep depression. Suicides even go up. This shouldn’t be so.
We as Christians at least not only on this one day of the year but on everyday need to reach out to people in need.
The apostle James wrote,
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”
James 2:14-18.
At the same time we need to be witnessing not only to the needy but to those in our society who are not needy in physical or financial way. Quite often these people are overlooked.
I know of several people who do not like Christmas who are well off in a material sense. They don’t like it because it depresses them.
They see it as a very stressful time. They see others happy but can’t seem to get in the mood themselves. Some people I know have even tried to take their own life.
These people quite often focus on the secular Christmas. The one pushed by the shops. They see the message ‘you must buy this. The latest and the greatest. Without it you’re not cool’
They feel if you don’t do things that way you’re not a good person. If you don’t give someone a fifty of hundred dollar gift your looked down on.
This shouldn’t be so.
We as Christians need to be reaching out to these people to show them the true meaning of Christmas. The Love of God.
Each year my wife and I have continued a tradition that her mother started decades ago. If we know of someone who’s going to be spending Christmas alone. We invite them to our house.
Our house is very small and we don’t have a lot of money usually, but we can squeeze in four or five in addition to our family. It’s not many but we feel we are doing something to make people’s lives better, while at the same time showing God’s love.
Everyone who comes gets a small present. Usually a scarf of gloves, occasionally a trinket of some kind.
They also partake in a Christmas meal and watch video’s anything from the classic musicals to the latest releases as well as play games.
We don’t spend a lot of money. We can’t we’re not well off by any means, but God provides.
Interestingly enough we don’t talk a lot about God. We say grace before the meal and whatever topic comes up during the course of the day we talk about.
The result has been over the years we have seen people’s eyes sparkle and weights lift from their shoulders. Some have as a result decided to go to church either ours or others.
We do our best to bring a little joy and laughter into the hearts of those who celebrate with us.
We also tend to not only live up to what God would want for our lives but according to the teaching of Francis of Assisi who wrote,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi.
As Christians I believe this is what we should be doing.
Think about it.
The Reason for Jesus
The Reason for Jesus
“When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:12-17.
This is the scenario. Approximately thirty years have passed since the birth of Jesus. John the Baptist has been put in prison and Jesus went to live in Capernaum in what Matthew tells us is the area of Zebulun and Naphtali.
This Matthew notes this fulfills the Prophesy from Isaiah.
Jesus would spend much of his ministry in this area an area with a large gentile population.
Some commentators note that the reason this area is said to be living in darkness is because it was quite removed from the influence of Jerusalem and they had a large gentile population.
Matthew who’s gospel points to the universal message of Christ, notes that Jesus starts with the same message that John the Baptist was preaching, “Repent for the kingdom of God is near.”
The message of Jesus is indeed a universal message. A message as relevant today as it was then.
Mankind whether we want to believe it or not is in a fallen state. Crime abounds in our society. There is massive inequality even starvation and suffering. Why? Because man has wandered far from God.
There is by far enough resources in the world to eliminate suffering and starvation. The problem is there is not the political will.
Not only that, men filled with evil intent terrorist, tyrannical dictators, government officials who are less than honest, prevent the spread of what is good and what is just. No one can stop them.
I believe the only solution to the worlds problems is the Love of Christ.
I believe the further away from God society wanders the worse off our society will become. Governments today give billions of dollars to private corporations to create jobs. Yet our society stays the same. The poor remain poor, the rich remain rich and if some analyst are to be believed the middle class is getting smaller.
As Christians we have the solution to all of man’s problems, the Love fo Jesus, the Love of God.
The Talmud has a message that I believe is for not only Jews but Christians and non-believers alike it states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
All people everywhere will one day stand before God and eventually be judged. And while it will be our faith that saves us. It will be how we treated our fellow man that will determine our reward.
Think about it.
“When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.
Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Matthew 4:12-17.
This is the scenario. Approximately thirty years have passed since the birth of Jesus. John the Baptist has been put in prison and Jesus went to live in Capernaum in what Matthew tells us is the area of Zebulun and Naphtali.
This Matthew notes this fulfills the Prophesy from Isaiah.
Jesus would spend much of his ministry in this area an area with a large gentile population.
Some commentators note that the reason this area is said to be living in darkness is because it was quite removed from the influence of Jerusalem and they had a large gentile population.
Matthew who’s gospel points to the universal message of Christ, notes that Jesus starts with the same message that John the Baptist was preaching, “Repent for the kingdom of God is near.”
The message of Jesus is indeed a universal message. A message as relevant today as it was then.
Mankind whether we want to believe it or not is in a fallen state. Crime abounds in our society. There is massive inequality even starvation and suffering. Why? Because man has wandered far from God.
There is by far enough resources in the world to eliminate suffering and starvation. The problem is there is not the political will.
Not only that, men filled with evil intent terrorist, tyrannical dictators, government officials who are less than honest, prevent the spread of what is good and what is just. No one can stop them.
I believe the only solution to the worlds problems is the Love of Christ.
I believe the further away from God society wanders the worse off our society will become. Governments today give billions of dollars to private corporations to create jobs. Yet our society stays the same. The poor remain poor, the rich remain rich and if some analyst are to be believed the middle class is getting smaller.
As Christians we have the solution to all of man’s problems, the Love fo Jesus, the Love of God.
The Talmud has a message that I believe is for not only Jews but Christians and non-believers alike it states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
The Talmud
All people everywhere will one day stand before God and eventually be judged. And while it will be our faith that saves us. It will be how we treated our fellow man that will determine our reward.
Think about it.
Saturday 20 December 2014
Of Christ and Christians outside the Bible
Of Christ and Christians from outside the Bible.
As Christmas approaches we hear a lot about what the Christian texts say about Jesus. We hear the accounts from the New Testament about his birth, life, death and resurrection. But what did others outside the Bible say about Christ and Christians.
We must when asking this question realize that from that time in history archeologist and historians admit there is little evidence about the various Roman rulers who ruled one of the foremost super powers of history.
Yet of this man from a backwater town in a backwater part of the Roman empire there are a lot of references. So much so that it is possible to use sources external to the Bible to construct some basic Christian beliefs.
Writer number one, Flavius Josephus, born 34AD, a Jewish historian, who became a Pharisee at 19, later commander, of the Jewish forces in Galilee. Captured by Romans and attached to their headquarters.
He wrote,
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first, did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
Notice he spoke about Christ being crucified dying and rising from the dead. That he fulfilled what the prophets had said would happen. Not only that but he did “ten thousand other wonderful things”.
Flavius Josephus
From Pliny the Younger (61-112 AD) a powerful Roman lawyer, senator and intellectual he was also the Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia minor. His job was to put on trial Christians, yet writing to Emperor Trajan wrote,
“They had met regularly before dawn on a determined day, and sung antiphonally a hymn to Christ as if to a god.
They also took an oath not for any crime, but to keep from theft, robbery and adultery, not to break any promise, and not to withhold a deposit when reclaimed.”
Note Pliny says they sung hymns to Christ as a god and took an oath not to do any crime.
From Pliny’s reference we can see that the evidence showed Christians to be upstanding citizens.
The Roman historian Tacitus is generally accepted as greatest Roman historian he was tasked with transferring the blame for the fire of Rome to Christians he wrote,
“But neither human effort nor the emperor’s generosity nor the placating of the gods ended the scandalous belief that the fire had been ordered. Therefore, to put down the rumour, Nero substituted as culprits and punished in the most unusual ways those hated for their shameful acts, whom the crowd called “Chrestians.” The founder of this name, Christ, had been executed in the reign of Tiberius by the procurator Pontius Pilate.”
Note Tacitus mentions Christ was executed by Pontius Pilate.
Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D. said to be one of the most gifted ancient adversaries to Christianity. In his work against Christianity wrote,
“Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany.”
At the end of his life was forced to say: “Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Perhaps one of the greatest tributes to Jesus come from Napoleon Bonaparte the French Emperor who wrote,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Kenneth Scott Latourette, former President of American Historic Society
In A History of Christianity wrote,
“It is evidence of His importance, of the effect that He has had upon history and presumably, of the baffling mystery of His being that no other life ever lived on this planet has evoked so huge a volume of literature among so many people and languages, and that, far from ebbing, the flood continues to mount.”
“As the centuries pass by, the evidence is accumulating that measured by its effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. The influence appears to be mounting.
No other life lived on this planet has so widely and deeply affected mankind.”
The question then become as Christmas dawns what do you think about Jesus.
Think about it.
As Christmas approaches we hear a lot about what the Christian texts say about Jesus. We hear the accounts from the New Testament about his birth, life, death and resurrection. But what did others outside the Bible say about Christ and Christians.
We must when asking this question realize that from that time in history archeologist and historians admit there is little evidence about the various Roman rulers who ruled one of the foremost super powers of history.
Yet of this man from a backwater town in a backwater part of the Roman empire there are a lot of references. So much so that it is possible to use sources external to the Bible to construct some basic Christian beliefs.
Writer number one, Flavius Josephus, born 34AD, a Jewish historian, who became a Pharisee at 19, later commander, of the Jewish forces in Galilee. Captured by Romans and attached to their headquarters.
He wrote,
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first, did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
Notice he spoke about Christ being crucified dying and rising from the dead. That he fulfilled what the prophets had said would happen. Not only that but he did “ten thousand other wonderful things”.
Flavius Josephus
From Pliny the Younger (61-112 AD) a powerful Roman lawyer, senator and intellectual he was also the Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia minor. His job was to put on trial Christians, yet writing to Emperor Trajan wrote,
“They had met regularly before dawn on a determined day, and sung antiphonally a hymn to Christ as if to a god.
They also took an oath not for any crime, but to keep from theft, robbery and adultery, not to break any promise, and not to withhold a deposit when reclaimed.”
Note Pliny says they sung hymns to Christ as a god and took an oath not to do any crime.
From Pliny’s reference we can see that the evidence showed Christians to be upstanding citizens.
The Roman historian Tacitus is generally accepted as greatest Roman historian he was tasked with transferring the blame for the fire of Rome to Christians he wrote,
“But neither human effort nor the emperor’s generosity nor the placating of the gods ended the scandalous belief that the fire had been ordered. Therefore, to put down the rumour, Nero substituted as culprits and punished in the most unusual ways those hated for their shameful acts, whom the crowd called “Chrestians.” The founder of this name, Christ, had been executed in the reign of Tiberius by the procurator Pontius Pilate.”
Note Tacitus mentions Christ was executed by Pontius Pilate.
Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D. said to be one of the most gifted ancient adversaries to Christianity. In his work against Christianity wrote,
“Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany.”
At the end of his life was forced to say: “Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Perhaps one of the greatest tributes to Jesus come from Napoleon Bonaparte the French Emperor who wrote,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Kenneth Scott Latourette, former President of American Historic Society
In A History of Christianity wrote,
“It is evidence of His importance, of the effect that He has had upon history and presumably, of the baffling mystery of His being that no other life ever lived on this planet has evoked so huge a volume of literature among so many people and languages, and that, far from ebbing, the flood continues to mount.”
“As the centuries pass by, the evidence is accumulating that measured by its effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. The influence appears to be mounting.
No other life lived on this planet has so widely and deeply affected mankind.”
The question then become as Christmas dawns what do you think about Jesus.
Think about it.
Friday 19 December 2014
Christian values
Christian Values
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law....
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:18,22.
These are Christian values. This is what a person with the spirit of God in them should be expressing.
As Christians we all know that the principle duty of all Christians is to present the Gospel of Christ to anyone who will listen to us.
Jesus said,
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
However in order to take the message of Christ to the world we must follow closely the principle teachings of Christ.
The principle teachings of Jesus are,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
When asked the question,
“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 22:37-40
He also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Matthew 5:43-47.
The apostle James wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”
James 2:12-20.
Today all to many Christian in the media and out of the media fail to remember the basics of Christ’s teachings, do not judge, love your neighbour, love your enemy.
Even Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
He I know seen many who said they were Christians but were not. Sadly many people are still not seeing Christ in the life and actions of some who call themselves Christians.
Jesus realized we were going into a world that at times can be very hostile toward us. That will judge us in the same way we judge them. That’s why he told us not to judge but rather love the world and tell the world of God’s love.
Jesus said,
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16.
If we are indeed acting as doves most people will not attack us. A dove is a symbol of peace and love. That is precisely what God wishes us to show to every man woman and child we meet.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law....
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:18,22.
These are Christian values. This is what a person with the spirit of God in them should be expressing.
As Christians we all know that the principle duty of all Christians is to present the Gospel of Christ to anyone who will listen to us.
Jesus said,
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
However in order to take the message of Christ to the world we must follow closely the principle teachings of Christ.
The principle teachings of Jesus are,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
When asked the question,
“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 22:37-40
He also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Matthew 5:43-47.
The apostle James wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?”
James 2:12-20.
Today all to many Christian in the media and out of the media fail to remember the basics of Christ’s teachings, do not judge, love your neighbour, love your enemy.
Even Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
He I know seen many who said they were Christians but were not. Sadly many people are still not seeing Christ in the life and actions of some who call themselves Christians.
Jesus realized we were going into a world that at times can be very hostile toward us. That will judge us in the same way we judge them. That’s why he told us not to judge but rather love the world and tell the world of God’s love.
Jesus said,
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
Matthew 10:16.
If we are indeed acting as doves most people will not attack us. A dove is a symbol of peace and love. That is precisely what God wishes us to show to every man woman and child we meet.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Francis of Assisi
Think about it. Thursday 18 December 2014
That they might have life
That they might have life
Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John10:10.
Many none Christians I’ve met tell me Jesus is a crutch for the weak. Quite the contrary he empowers the believer. While at the same time comforts them in their time of trouble.
Paul writing to the Philippians states,
“ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13.(NKJV)
While Jesus says,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
I can only testify to my life as a Christian. Over the years I have gone through a lot. I have even made decisions that I regret. Never the less I have never regretted my decision to put my faith in Christ and I am not alone. I know many people who are totally committed to Christ and his teachings.
Christ has given me strength when I was at deaths door as well as when my life was in turmoil.
I know it is hard for someone outside the Christian community to understand the faith I have.
Most people have trouble understanding what they can’t see, feel, or hear. Christianity challenges that. It asks us to trust someone we can’t see. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
Over forty years ago now I made that leap of faith after reading the Bible and talking to the Christians I knew.
I must admit I didn’t need a lot of convincing.
What I seen in the history of the world, everything from the elaborate funeral rituals of the Egyptian Pharaoh’s, to the beliefs of an afterlife that occur in every civilization that ever existed. Told me there had to be at least a Kernel of truth somewhere in those beliefs.
I believed also because I seen the world in such order. For me that order came together because there is an almighty God creator of the universe.
It’s unimportant to me whether God created the universe starting with the big bang that set in motion a series of events that led to our being millenniums later or that it took six days.
I believe behind everything there is God and a life beyond this life we are in.
As a Christian I would ask you to consider your life and the world around you. I would ask that you at least read the New Testament if not the whole Bible and make a decision on where you stand with respect to God, Jesus, and life beyond this world.
The apostle John in his Gospel writes,
“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...
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 1:1-4,12,13.
Please think about it.
Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John10:10.
Many none Christians I’ve met tell me Jesus is a crutch for the weak. Quite the contrary he empowers the believer. While at the same time comforts them in their time of trouble.
Paul writing to the Philippians states,
“ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13.(NKJV)
While Jesus says,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
I can only testify to my life as a Christian. Over the years I have gone through a lot. I have even made decisions that I regret. Never the less I have never regretted my decision to put my faith in Christ and I am not alone. I know many people who are totally committed to Christ and his teachings.
Christ has given me strength when I was at deaths door as well as when my life was in turmoil.
I know it is hard for someone outside the Christian community to understand the faith I have.
Most people have trouble understanding what they can’t see, feel, or hear. Christianity challenges that. It asks us to trust someone we can’t see. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
Over forty years ago now I made that leap of faith after reading the Bible and talking to the Christians I knew.
I must admit I didn’t need a lot of convincing.
What I seen in the history of the world, everything from the elaborate funeral rituals of the Egyptian Pharaoh’s, to the beliefs of an afterlife that occur in every civilization that ever existed. Told me there had to be at least a Kernel of truth somewhere in those beliefs.
I believed also because I seen the world in such order. For me that order came together because there is an almighty God creator of the universe.
It’s unimportant to me whether God created the universe starting with the big bang that set in motion a series of events that led to our being millenniums later or that it took six days.
I believe behind everything there is God and a life beyond this life we are in.
As a Christian I would ask you to consider your life and the world around you. I would ask that you at least read the New Testament if not the whole Bible and make a decision on where you stand with respect to God, Jesus, and life beyond this world.
The apostle John in his Gospel writes,
“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...
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 1:1-4,12,13.
Please think about it.
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