The hardest thing to do
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Hebrews 11:1-3.
There is one thing scientist and Christians have in common, faith.
A good scientist postulates a theory of why things work based on the facts at hand. He studies the facts and has faith that they add up to the conclusion he has made. He then presents that theory to his peers for scrutiny. They weigh the facts and agree or disagree with him as the case may be.
Eienstein’s theory of relativity, the big bang theory are all examples of this.
Christians are the same. They have studied the facts before them and come to the conclusion that God is real.
They have read what the psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
They have looked at the world around them. They have looked at the mathematical perfection of the universe around them, from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particle and have concluded this can’t be by chance. There must be a creator. And yes perhaps he did use the big bang to do it. How he did it however is immaterial to their faith. They have simply taken what the Bible says and the basic facts they see around them in the world and, I believe rightly conclude, that God exists.
They then present this for the people of the world to judge.
Christians ask that people read the Bible carefully and weigh the facts. Asking God to show His reality in the words of the scriptures.
Christians go one step further than any other faith however they ask people to read the New Testament and make the decision as to whether they believe Jesus when he said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
That his words when speaking to Martha are true, when he said,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25, 26
Jesus even asked his disciple to make a decision as to what they thought he was. Matthew recording,
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-17
So the question for you dear reader becomes,
What think ye of Christ?
Friday 26 June 2015
Thursday 25 June 2015
In the Morning I look to You
In the Morning I Look for You
“In the morning I look for you, My rock and my tower, I lay my prayers before you, that day and night are in me.
Before your greatness, I stand, and am unnerved, because your eye will see the thoughts that are in me.
What is it that the heart or the tongue can do, and what power is there in the spirit that is in me?
But I know you are pleased with the songs that men make, and so I shall praise you while the divine soul is in me.”
Solomon Ibn Gabirol
I write this to those who go to church each week. Please consider it carefully.
Do you look to God each morning? Do you lay your prayers before Him? Do you praise Him?
The Psalmist wrote,
Can you truly say the Lord is your Shepherd? Or, Do you see Church as a place you need to go to once a week to feel good.
Do you worship God while on your own, when there is no one around to see you?
Are you sure if you were to die today you would go to heaven?
I ask this because there are many who go to church every week who truly don’t know God. There are those who read my Blogs who even though they may go to church have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They may not even realize they are not going to heaven.
I therefore write the following to those who go to church but do not have the assurance they are going to heaven.
The way to heaven is open to anyone who believes. It comes down to who you think Jesus is and if you believe what he said,
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-18
John’s gospel records this,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6
John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“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
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
If you believe the above and have never formally accepted Jesus into your heart and mind perhaps now is the time. It’s as simple as saying this prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe Jesus is your one and only Son. I believe that he came to earth to die for my sins. That through His sacrificial death on the cross my sins are forgiven.
I admit I am a sinner and ask that you forgive my sins and become Lord of my life today.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Please think about it.
“In the morning I look for you, My rock and my tower, I lay my prayers before you, that day and night are in me.
Before your greatness, I stand, and am unnerved, because your eye will see the thoughts that are in me.
What is it that the heart or the tongue can do, and what power is there in the spirit that is in me?
But I know you are pleased with the songs that men make, and so I shall praise you while the divine soul is in me.”
Solomon Ibn Gabirol
I write this to those who go to church each week. Please consider it carefully.
Do you look to God each morning? Do you lay your prayers before Him? Do you praise Him?
The Psalmist wrote,
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Psalm 23Can you truly say the Lord is your Shepherd? Or, Do you see Church as a place you need to go to once a week to feel good.
Do you worship God while on your own, when there is no one around to see you?
Are you sure if you were to die today you would go to heaven?
I ask this because there are many who go to church every week who truly don’t know God. There are those who read my Blogs who even though they may go to church have not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. They may not even realize they are not going to heaven.
I therefore write the following to those who go to church but do not have the assurance they are going to heaven.
The way to heaven is open to anyone who believes. It comes down to who you think Jesus is and if you believe what he said,
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-18
John’s gospel records this,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6
John noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“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
Faith defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
If you believe the above and have never formally accepted Jesus into your heart and mind perhaps now is the time. It’s as simple as saying this prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe Jesus is your one and only Son. I believe that he came to earth to die for my sins. That through His sacrificial death on the cross my sins are forgiven.
I admit I am a sinner and ask that you forgive my sins and become Lord of my life today.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Please think about it.
Wednesday 24 June 2015
The Lord is my Shepherd
The Lord is my Shepherd
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 1:1,2
Here is a simple truth all Christians should know. You are blessed if you truly know the Lord. If you meditate on His word.
There are a lot of things that come into our lives that try to rob us of our peace. It’s easy to feel resentment when tragedy enters our life. This however should not be. If we believe the Bible then we must remember Romans 8;28 that reads,
“And we know all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (KJV).
We may not see anything good in the tragedy we are going through at the time but if you trust God, He will work things out.
Many years ago now while I was at work on the night shift, my wife woke up to see the ceiling of our house glowing red. She immediately got our two young children out of the house and called the fire department from a neighbours house.
At the time we lived outside of town in a rural area. By the time the fire department arrived our house and everything we owned was ashes. That happened on a Friday.
Praise God however by Saturday we were asking people not to give us anything else. We had been donated a complete set of livingroom furniture, beds, clothing, even pots, pans and dishes.
My brother in law even had an empty basement apartment a hundred kilometres nearer to where I worked that we could use. Which meant I could spend more time with my family.
We were blessed to find a good church which my children grew up in. Both as a result are now serving the Lord, something that may not have happened in the circumstances we were in.
The only thing we lost were some irreplaceable personal items pictures and such. However even the pictures were replaced in part thanks to family members.
This incident in our lives proved to us that the God we believed in did love and care for us.
We have gone through several other serious problems since then but God has always been with us. We have never doubted that.
I can say with the Psalmist,
I am not rich materially but I have never missed a meal. I have a small but adequate house to call my own. I have a loving caring family all of whom are serving the Lord.
And I have a loving caring God who is there for me in all situations. What more could I ask for.
I am a blessed man.
Question: Dear Christian do you love the Lord with all your heart and soul? Can you rejoice in God? Can you rejoice that Christ is your Saviour? Can you do all this through the good times and the bad times?
Please think about it.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Psalm 1:1,2
Here is a simple truth all Christians should know. You are blessed if you truly know the Lord. If you meditate on His word.
There are a lot of things that come into our lives that try to rob us of our peace. It’s easy to feel resentment when tragedy enters our life. This however should not be. If we believe the Bible then we must remember Romans 8;28 that reads,
“And we know all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (KJV).
We may not see anything good in the tragedy we are going through at the time but if you trust God, He will work things out.
Many years ago now while I was at work on the night shift, my wife woke up to see the ceiling of our house glowing red. She immediately got our two young children out of the house and called the fire department from a neighbours house.
At the time we lived outside of town in a rural area. By the time the fire department arrived our house and everything we owned was ashes. That happened on a Friday.
Praise God however by Saturday we were asking people not to give us anything else. We had been donated a complete set of livingroom furniture, beds, clothing, even pots, pans and dishes.
My brother in law even had an empty basement apartment a hundred kilometres nearer to where I worked that we could use. Which meant I could spend more time with my family.
We were blessed to find a good church which my children grew up in. Both as a result are now serving the Lord, something that may not have happened in the circumstances we were in.
The only thing we lost were some irreplaceable personal items pictures and such. However even the pictures were replaced in part thanks to family members.
This incident in our lives proved to us that the God we believed in did love and care for us.
We have gone through several other serious problems since then but God has always been with us. We have never doubted that.
I can say with the Psalmist,
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
Psalm 23.I am not rich materially but I have never missed a meal. I have a small but adequate house to call my own. I have a loving caring family all of whom are serving the Lord.
And I have a loving caring God who is there for me in all situations. What more could I ask for.
I am a blessed man.
Question: Dear Christian do you love the Lord with all your heart and soul? Can you rejoice in God? Can you rejoice that Christ is your Saviour? Can you do all this through the good times and the bad times?
Please think about it.
Tuesday 23 June 2015
A Libertine
A Libertine
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
Deuteronomy 15:15.
I believe it’s at St. Mary Woolnoth an Anglican church in the City of London England, that there is a plaque with the words,
“John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy.”
To quote R. J. Morgan from the book 365 scriptures that changed the world (copy right Thomas Nelson Publishers 1998.)
“As a young man, Newton had been a seaman and slave trader whose mouth was a cesspool of profanity, and who liberally helped himself to the female slaves he transported.
But he also became a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.
Out of all this he was saved. And he became one of England’s greatest preachers, the author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace.”
R. J. Morgan
Over his study desk he had this verse from Deuteronomy
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
Deuteronomy 15:15.
He reportedly told a friend later in life “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Saviour.”
John Newton’s conversion was dramatic. He went from being a man without principles. A man without a conscience, to a man of great principles.
He spoke out against the slave trade and would go on to write hundreds of hymns 280 of which he combined with 68 hymns of William Cowper to form the Olney Hymnal.
We today can look on Newton and see how bad he was and say thank God I am nowhere near as bad as him. He needed a conversion experience. I am far better than him.
Many non Christians I believe today also look at people who go to church. People who claim to be Christians and say, “I know them. I know what they do outside of Church and it isn’t very Christian. Why should I become a Christian because I am better all around than they are.”
That may be so but not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. No everyone who say’s they are Christian are.
Many people as well as Preachers and evangelist will one day stand before God and find they are not accepted into heaven. Jesus saying,
“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.
When it comes to knowing Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour it is up to the individual to decide.
We should not look on those who are going to church or who claim to be Christians. Simply because many who claim to be Christians are not.
Each individual needs to look within themselves and ask themselves am “I truly good enough to go to heaven?”
I believe if we are honest with ourselves the answer will be no.
No one is good enough to stand before a holy God.
Isaiah the prophet said,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6.
That is why Jesus came.
Another self admitted sinner the apostle Paul wrote these words,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
‘But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16
C. S. Lewis pointed out,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
I firmly believe that we as individuals must search our heart of hearts and in all humility admit that there is sin in our life.
Then we must turn to Jesus, recognize that he is the One and only Son of God, who died for our sins and ask him to forgive our sins and come into our hearts and lives.
For it is only through Christ that we can truly have our sins forgiven and have our lives changed.
It happened to John Newton. It happened to the Apostle Paul it has happened to over two billion Christians on the earth today, and it can happen to you.
Please consider accepting Christ into your heart and life today.
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
Deuteronomy 15:15.
I believe it’s at St. Mary Woolnoth an Anglican church in the City of London England, that there is a plaque with the words,
“John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy.”
To quote R. J. Morgan from the book 365 scriptures that changed the world (copy right Thomas Nelson Publishers 1998.)
“As a young man, Newton had been a seaman and slave trader whose mouth was a cesspool of profanity, and who liberally helped himself to the female slaves he transported.
But he also became a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.
Out of all this he was saved. And he became one of England’s greatest preachers, the author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace.”
R. J. Morgan
Over his study desk he had this verse from Deuteronomy
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
Deuteronomy 15:15.
He reportedly told a friend later in life “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Saviour.”
John Newton’s conversion was dramatic. He went from being a man without principles. A man without a conscience, to a man of great principles.
He spoke out against the slave trade and would go on to write hundreds of hymns 280 of which he combined with 68 hymns of William Cowper to form the Olney Hymnal.
We today can look on Newton and see how bad he was and say thank God I am nowhere near as bad as him. He needed a conversion experience. I am far better than him.
Many non Christians I believe today also look at people who go to church. People who claim to be Christians and say, “I know them. I know what they do outside of Church and it isn’t very Christian. Why should I become a Christian because I am better all around than they are.”
That may be so but not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. No everyone who say’s they are Christian are.
Many people as well as Preachers and evangelist will one day stand before God and find they are not accepted into heaven. Jesus saying,
“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.
When it comes to knowing Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour it is up to the individual to decide.
We should not look on those who are going to church or who claim to be Christians. Simply because many who claim to be Christians are not.
Each individual needs to look within themselves and ask themselves am “I truly good enough to go to heaven?”
I believe if we are honest with ourselves the answer will be no.
No one is good enough to stand before a holy God.
Isaiah the prophet said,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6.
That is why Jesus came.
Another self admitted sinner the apostle Paul wrote these words,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
‘But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16
C. S. Lewis pointed out,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
I firmly believe that we as individuals must search our heart of hearts and in all humility admit that there is sin in our life.
Then we must turn to Jesus, recognize that he is the One and only Son of God, who died for our sins and ask him to forgive our sins and come into our hearts and lives.
For it is only through Christ that we can truly have our sins forgiven and have our lives changed.
It happened to John Newton. It happened to the Apostle Paul it has happened to over two billion Christians on the earth today, and it can happen to you.
Please consider accepting Christ into your heart and life today.
Monday 22 June 2015
On Government
On government
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.”
Romans 13:1-7
Here is a clear statement to Christians
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities”
I hear Christians today speaking against the government and that’s their right in a free and democratic society. Still we are to submit to the governing authorities.
Remember Paul made this statement in the time when the government was entirely pagan When the emperor Nero ruled a man who was one of the worst persecutors of Christians. Kenneth L. Barker, writing a commentary in Zondervan NIV Study Bible writes
“submit. A significant word in vv. 1–7. governing authorities. The civil rulers, all of whom were probably pagans at the time Paul was writing. Christians may have been tempted not to submit to them and to claim allegiance only to Christ. established by God. Even the possibility of a persecuting state did not shake Paul’s conviction that civil government is ordained by God.”
Kenneth L Barker
As Christians we should be praying for those who govern us no matter what their political stipe is. Remember God used a pagan emperor to fulfill scripture. He had a Roman emperor call a census that took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem so that Jesus could be born.
He used the “pax Roma” the Roman peace, a time when it was relatively safe to travel around the world to spread the gospel in the first century. To spread it from beyond from its beginnings in Israel to every part of the known world.
Throughout history there has never really been a Christian government. God has always used secular governments to help spread the gospel.
As Christians we should be praying that those governments allow us opportunity to spread the gospel.
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
1 Peter 2:9-12.
Even if the governments persecute us if we must remember the words of Peter to,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
We must live lives that point people toward Christ. Francis of Assisi wrote two things all Christians should remember,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi
Please think about it.
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.”
Romans 13:1-7
Here is a clear statement to Christians
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities”
I hear Christians today speaking against the government and that’s their right in a free and democratic society. Still we are to submit to the governing authorities.
Remember Paul made this statement in the time when the government was entirely pagan When the emperor Nero ruled a man who was one of the worst persecutors of Christians. Kenneth L. Barker, writing a commentary in Zondervan NIV Study Bible writes
“submit. A significant word in vv. 1–7. governing authorities. The civil rulers, all of whom were probably pagans at the time Paul was writing. Christians may have been tempted not to submit to them and to claim allegiance only to Christ. established by God. Even the possibility of a persecuting state did not shake Paul’s conviction that civil government is ordained by God.”
Kenneth L Barker
As Christians we should be praying for those who govern us no matter what their political stipe is. Remember God used a pagan emperor to fulfill scripture. He had a Roman emperor call a census that took Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem so that Jesus could be born.
He used the “pax Roma” the Roman peace, a time when it was relatively safe to travel around the world to spread the gospel in the first century. To spread it from beyond from its beginnings in Israel to every part of the known world.
Throughout history there has never really been a Christian government. God has always used secular governments to help spread the gospel.
As Christians we should be praying that those governments allow us opportunity to spread the gospel.
The apostle Peter writes,
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Dear friends,
I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’
1 Peter 2:9-12.
Even if the governments persecute us if we must remember the words of Peter to,
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
We must live lives that point people toward Christ. Francis of Assisi wrote two things all Christians should remember,
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
Francis of Assisi
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi
Please think about it.
Saturday 20 June 2015
An Instrument of Love
An Instrument of Love
Are you an instrument of God’s Peace? Do you show love to all whom you meet daily?
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
As I reflect on what happened in Charleston South Carolina a short while ago. I seen a young man filled with hate. While at the same time I seen loving caring believers of God showing true love and forgiveness to this man.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver writing speaking on Decemeber 22nd 1940 during the dark days of world war two said,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate. Love is always a refuge. Hate is never a refuge. Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates. But love is the enduring sanctuary of life. Life may rob you of many things. It often does. But it can never bereave us of love itself. That remains.
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940 quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
I was so impressed by the family members of the murdered victims of the Emanuel AME Church. They chose to forgive and love rather than curse and hate.
The people of Charleston of all races and faiths are also to be commended for their show of unity and understanding in the midst of an horrendous crime.
Be we Christians or not we should be doing our very best to show love. Martin Luther King Jr. Said,
We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.
We are in nature but we live above nature.
Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.
We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our LORD and of our God, we pray.
Amen.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Governments can enact all the laws they want with the intentions of trying to correct the immoral actions of those within their citizenry. It however will be to no avail if there isn’t a change in the heart and mind of individuals.
Hatred and evil intent have been around since the dawn of man. The only way to overcome such evil is with love.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21
Paul’s call is to the Christian, but his call to live at peace and show love even to your enemy is a universal message even non Christians can I believe understand.
Those Christians in the Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina show it is possible to live what that apostle Paul is saying.
Let them be an example to us all of us.
Let us offer to God the prayer of Francis of Assisi who wrote,
Please think about it.
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,”
Francis of AssisiAre you an instrument of God’s Peace? Do you show love to all whom you meet daily?
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
As I reflect on what happened in Charleston South Carolina a short while ago. I seen a young man filled with hate. While at the same time I seen loving caring believers of God showing true love and forgiveness to this man.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver writing speaking on Decemeber 22nd 1940 during the dark days of world war two said,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate. Love is always a refuge. Hate is never a refuge. Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates. But love is the enduring sanctuary of life. Life may rob you of many things. It often does. But it can never bereave us of love itself. That remains.
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940 quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
I was so impressed by the family members of the murdered victims of the Emanuel AME Church. They chose to forgive and love rather than curse and hate.
The people of Charleston of all races and faiths are also to be commended for their show of unity and understanding in the midst of an horrendous crime.
Be we Christians or not we should be doing our very best to show love. Martin Luther King Jr. Said,
We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.
We are in nature but we live above nature.
Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.
We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our LORD and of our God, we pray.
Amen.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Governments can enact all the laws they want with the intentions of trying to correct the immoral actions of those within their citizenry. It however will be to no avail if there isn’t a change in the heart and mind of individuals.
Hatred and evil intent have been around since the dawn of man. The only way to overcome such evil is with love.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21
Paul’s call is to the Christian, but his call to live at peace and show love even to your enemy is a universal message even non Christians can I believe understand.
Those Christians in the Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina show it is possible to live what that apostle Paul is saying.
Let them be an example to us all of us.
Let us offer to God the prayer of Francis of Assisi who 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 AssisiPlease think about it.
God Bless Emanuel A M E Church Charleston South Carolina
God Bless Emanuel AME Church
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Matthew 18:21-22
Last Wednesday June 17th 2015 a group of Christians gathered in the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston South Carolina. A young man fuelled with racial hate entered sat with them for an hour then rose and murdered almost everyone in the room.
Sadly it is not what that young man did that is surprising racially motivated crimes and gun violence seems to happen far to often in the United States.
The actions and words a few days later of the families of the victims is what stands out as shining examples of what it is to be Christian.
Despite their personal tragedy they stood in court and forgave the young man.
They forgave when from a strictly human standpoint they would have been forgiven if they cursed this man.
They to me are living what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:9-18.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
By their words and deeds the family members of those murdered at the Emanuel AME Church sent a clear message to the world about what it is to be Christian.
To be a Christian is to Love God, our neighbour, and even our worst enemy.
May those Christians in Charleston be an inspiration to all people everywhere.
May God bless them and their families richly.
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Matthew 18:21-22
Last Wednesday June 17th 2015 a group of Christians gathered in the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston South Carolina. A young man fuelled with racial hate entered sat with them for an hour then rose and murdered almost everyone in the room.
Sadly it is not what that young man did that is surprising racially motivated crimes and gun violence seems to happen far to often in the United States.
The actions and words a few days later of the families of the victims is what stands out as shining examples of what it is to be Christian.
Despite their personal tragedy they stood in court and forgave the young man.
They forgave when from a strictly human standpoint they would have been forgiven if they cursed this man.
They to me are living what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:9-18.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
By their words and deeds the family members of those murdered at the Emanuel AME Church sent a clear message to the world about what it is to be Christian.
To be a Christian is to Love God, our neighbour, and even our worst enemy.
May those Christians in Charleston be an inspiration to all people everywhere.
May God bless them and their families richly.
Friday 19 June 2015
Counterfeit Christians
Counterfeit Christians
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:21-23.
I write this as a warning not just to Christians but to none-Christians also. There are many people in the world who claim to be Christians, but are Christians in name only.
They claim to be doing the work of God yet quite frankly in some cases they are simply lining their pockets.
Others are simply misguided or have been led away from the faith for various reasons. Some may not even realize they are not Christians.
The ones I worry about are the ones who have the potential for leading people astray. The ones making at times outrageous claims. Claims of the miraculous without allowing confirmation of the miraculous event by someone independent of the ministry.
I as a Christian believe in the miraculous such things happened in both the New Old and New Testaments. God worked through his prophets, through Jesus and the disciples of Christ to perform miracles and we Christians claim God is the same God yesterday today and forever. Therefore there has to be miracles happening today.
The thing is I don’t believe they are happening as often as some evangelist claim.
Those who claim the miraculous aside there are also those who would misguide people. They subtly by presenting the scriptures out of context, to support what they believe rather than teaching the truth.
They even when confronted refuse to correct their teaching and continue perverting the truth of God’s word.
Sadly because Christianity, especially the evangelical movement dose not have any real governing authority frauds and counterfeit Christians are everywhere.
In biblical times there was the council of Jerusalem that held the early believers to account no such body exists today.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
If you read the writings of the Apostle Paul you’ll see that he is very adamant about teaching solid biblical principles. He also comes against people of his day who were not following good Christian teaching.
In his letter to Timothy he writes,
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith.”
1 Timothy 1:3,4.
As Christians we need to be on guard against false teaching. We need to be studying the scriptures and seeing what they say for ourselves. We need to be praying and asking for God’s guidance as to what is the truth when it comes to the scriptures.
We need to find a body of believer that study the bible. People who study the bible using a wide range of commentaries not just ones that tell them what they want to hear.
We need to make those we support be they at the local level of the church or pastors and evangelist in the media accountable.
We need to ask them to explain their beliefs and even hold them accountable for every penny they receive.
We need to hold them legally and morally accountable for everything that they do.
Think about it
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Matthew 7:21-23.
I write this as a warning not just to Christians but to none-Christians also. There are many people in the world who claim to be Christians, but are Christians in name only.
They claim to be doing the work of God yet quite frankly in some cases they are simply lining their pockets.
Others are simply misguided or have been led away from the faith for various reasons. Some may not even realize they are not Christians.
The ones I worry about are the ones who have the potential for leading people astray. The ones making at times outrageous claims. Claims of the miraculous without allowing confirmation of the miraculous event by someone independent of the ministry.
I as a Christian believe in the miraculous such things happened in both the New Old and New Testaments. God worked through his prophets, through Jesus and the disciples of Christ to perform miracles and we Christians claim God is the same God yesterday today and forever. Therefore there has to be miracles happening today.
The thing is I don’t believe they are happening as often as some evangelist claim.
Those who claim the miraculous aside there are also those who would misguide people. They subtly by presenting the scriptures out of context, to support what they believe rather than teaching the truth.
They even when confronted refuse to correct their teaching and continue perverting the truth of God’s word.
Sadly because Christianity, especially the evangelical movement dose not have any real governing authority frauds and counterfeit Christians are everywhere.
In biblical times there was the council of Jerusalem that held the early believers to account no such body exists today.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
If you read the writings of the Apostle Paul you’ll see that he is very adamant about teaching solid biblical principles. He also comes against people of his day who were not following good Christian teaching.
In his letter to Timothy he writes,
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith.”
1 Timothy 1:3,4.
As Christians we need to be on guard against false teaching. We need to be studying the scriptures and seeing what they say for ourselves. We need to be praying and asking for God’s guidance as to what is the truth when it comes to the scriptures.
We need to find a body of believer that study the bible. People who study the bible using a wide range of commentaries not just ones that tell them what they want to hear.
We need to make those we support be they at the local level of the church or pastors and evangelist in the media accountable.
We need to ask them to explain their beliefs and even hold them accountable for every penny they receive.
We need to hold them legally and morally accountable for everything that they do.
Think about it
Thursday 18 June 2015
Love
Love
I believe we as Christians need to look at this definition weekly if not daily. We need to write these words on our heart. Commit them to memory.
But above all we need to practice what they are saying.
Notice there is no conditions set on the love Paul writes about. No “buts”
When Jesus calls us to Love God, our neighbour and our enemy this is the kind of love he wishes us to have.
This is what being a Christian is all about. It’s not about “I have my rights!” or “you are wrong and I am right!”
It’s about humility and understanding.
Love is a door we open even to our enemy. It is the highest idea of Christianity spoken of by Jesus himself in John 3:16,17
“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.”
In Matthew Jesus is quotes as saying
“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,”
Matthew 5:43.44.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
All too often we Christians fail to show love. We judge those we disagree with or say disparaging things without thinking. We fail to watch what we say. Fail to realize
that our words can hurt.
Long before I became a Christian I watched a movie called “Good by Mr. Chips.” the theme song for the musical version was called Fill the World with Love it had these words,
At the end of your life will people say of you that you filled the world with Love?
Will God?
Please think about it.
“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
The above is a quote from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. It to my mind is the purest definition of love ever written. It defines love perfectly.I believe we as Christians need to look at this definition weekly if not daily. We need to write these words on our heart. Commit them to memory.
But above all we need to practice what they are saying.
Notice there is no conditions set on the love Paul writes about. No “buts”
When Jesus calls us to Love God, our neighbour and our enemy this is the kind of love he wishes us to have.
This is what being a Christian is all about. It’s not about “I have my rights!” or “you are wrong and I am right!”
It’s about humility and understanding.
Love is a door we open even to our enemy. It is the highest idea of Christianity spoken of by Jesus himself in John 3:16,17
“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.”
In Matthew Jesus is quotes as saying
“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,”
Matthew 5:43.44.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
All too often we Christians fail to show love. We judge those we disagree with or say disparaging things without thinking. We fail to watch what we say. Fail to realize
that our words can hurt.
Long before I became a Christian I watched a movie called “Good by Mr. Chips.” the theme song for the musical version was called Fill the World with Love it had these words,
In the Morning of My Life
In the morning of my life
I will look to the Sunrise
At a moment in my life
When the world is new.
And the Question
I shall ask only God can answer.
Will I be brave and strong and true,
Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?
In the evening of my life
I will look to the sunset
At a moment in my life
When my life is through.
And the question I shall ask only I can answer
Was I brave and strong and true.
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
From the Musical Good by Mr ChipsAt the end of your life will people say of you that you filled the world with Love?
Will God?
Please think about it.
Wednesday 17 June 2015
About Jesus
About Jesus
I believe God has given us a choice with respect to who we think Jesus is. Written below are thoughts on Jesus by various people throughout history. I place them their for you the reader to ponder.
Ernest Renan, French historian, religious scholar and linguist said,
“All history is incomprehensible without Christ.”
Ernest Renan
C. S. Lewis said,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Flavius Josephus (37AD-100AD) Jewish Roman historian, who became a Pharisee at 19 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.”
Flavius Josephus
Napoleon Bonaparte
"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.”
Napoleon Bonaparte,
Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor (361-363 A. D.) Considered one of the most gifted ancient adversaries to Christianity. In his work against Christianity said,
“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 he wrote, “Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Julian the Apostate Emperor of Rome
Matthews Gospel records this conversation between Jesus and his disciples,
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-17
The last words go to C. S. Lewis who said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it
I believe God has given us a choice with respect to who we think Jesus is. Written below are thoughts on Jesus by various people throughout history. I place them their for you the reader to ponder.
Ernest Renan, French historian, religious scholar and linguist said,
“All history is incomprehensible without Christ.”
Ernest Renan
C. S. Lewis said,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Flavius Josephus (37AD-100AD) Jewish Roman historian, who became a Pharisee at 19 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.”
Flavius Josephus
Napoleon Bonaparte
"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.”
Napoleon Bonaparte,
Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor (361-363 A. D.) Considered one of the most gifted ancient adversaries to Christianity. In his work against Christianity said,
“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 he wrote, “Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Julian the Apostate Emperor of Rome
Matthews Gospel records this conversation between Jesus and his disciples,
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-17
The last words go to C. S. Lewis who said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it
Tuesday 16 June 2015
Ripe for the harvest
Ripe for the harvest
Jesus said,
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
John4:34-38
For the most part people believe in an after life. They believe in a heaven and a hell. Most people however believe that if you live a good life, a life where the good outweighs the bad you’ll get to heaven. As Christians we quite don’t believe it’s that way.
A true Christian believes all men and women no matter how good have the potential for evil. That no man or woman no matter how evil have the potential to repent of their wrong doings.
The story of the crucifixion illustrates what I am saying. Luke records,
“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 23:39-43.
The condemned man admitted he was a sinner, that he had done wrong. He believed Jesus to be who he said he was, The Son of God and asked Jesus to simply remember him when He entered his Kingdom.
This is the message we as Christians must take to the world. We must remember what
C. S. Lewis said,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
Whether we are reaching out to thousands in an auditorium, in the media or to our neighbour next door it is our duty as Christians to present a clear message of salvation to them.
Jesus told us the fields are ready to harvest. Millions of brothers and sisters in Christ have taken the gospel message to the world throughout the centuries.
The Christian message is in every corner of the world. It is our job to reap the harvest of those who have gone before and plant seed for the next generation to harvest.
Question: are you doing your Christian duty?
Jesus said,
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
John4:34-38
For the most part people believe in an after life. They believe in a heaven and a hell. Most people however believe that if you live a good life, a life where the good outweighs the bad you’ll get to heaven. As Christians we quite don’t believe it’s that way.
A true Christian believes all men and women no matter how good have the potential for evil. That no man or woman no matter how evil have the potential to repent of their wrong doings.
The story of the crucifixion illustrates what I am saying. Luke records,
“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 23:39-43.
The condemned man admitted he was a sinner, that he had done wrong. He believed Jesus to be who he said he was, The Son of God and asked Jesus to simply remember him when He entered his Kingdom.
This is the message we as Christians must take to the world. We must remember what
C. S. Lewis said,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”
C.S. Lewis.
Whether we are reaching out to thousands in an auditorium, in the media or to our neighbour next door it is our duty as Christians to present a clear message of salvation to them.
Jesus told us the fields are ready to harvest. Millions of brothers and sisters in Christ have taken the gospel message to the world throughout the centuries.
The Christian message is in every corner of the world. It is our job to reap the harvest of those who have gone before and plant seed for the next generation to harvest.
Question: are you doing your Christian duty?
Monday 15 June 2015
The poet wrote
The poet wrote
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
John4:34-38
The harvest fields are all around us be they in parking lots, our neighbourhood or in far flung lands.
Are you doing what you can to bring in the lost?
Jesus said,
“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 28:19,20.
Think about it
Parking Lots
Parking lots are boring,
That’s what some people think,
My kids think mall lots,
Are most boring of all.
They see row on row,
Of cars and trucks and stuff,
Acres of Asphalt
Boring things like that.
Me
I think they’re alive!
A plethora of colour!
A sculpture in rubber, tin, and glass.
A
Symphony of noise,
Accompanying a commoners ballet,
On a stage of compact stone and oil.
A
Kaleideioscope.
An ever changing montage,
Of people, and things and stuff.
A
Mission field,
Ripe for the harvest.
And that’s how I see parking lots.
Jesus said,“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
John4:34-38
The harvest fields are all around us be they in parking lots, our neighbourhood or in far flung lands.
Are you doing what you can to bring in the lost?
Jesus said,
“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 28:19,20.
Think about it
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)