Monday, 23 May 2016

A Prayer for Christians

A Prayer for Christians

Pray for the Brethren. 
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
 Who today are in prison for what they believe.

Pray for the Brethren,
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Who are living under persecution,

Pray for the Brethren
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Who are suffering for their faith.

Pray 
for those who Persecute us
That they may see 
“The Light”,

Pray for the Brethren
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
Who are living in the western nations blessed with freedom,

Pray for the Brethren
Brothers and sisters in Christ.
Who are being led away by those who claim to be of Christ, 
but are not.

Jude wrote,
“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 
“They said to you, 
“In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”  
These are the men who divide you, 
who follow mere natural instincts 
and do not have the Spirit. 
But you, dear friends, 
build yourselves up in your most holy faith
 and pray in the Holy Spirit.  
Keep yourselves in God’s love
 as you wait
 for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ 
to bring you to eternal life. 
Be merciful to those who doubt; 
 snatch others from the fire and save them; 
to others show mercy, mixed with fear—
hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Jude 1:17-23

Please pray.

Sunday, 22 May 2016

Meaningless?

Meaningless?

“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”    Isaiah 40:6-8.
The other day I was thinking about my mother she died young of cancer in her fifties.
My grandmother, her mother lived until her late nineties. Out living my mother by some twenty almost thirty years.
When I think of them I realize their lives were but a mist in time.
They were ordinary people. They didn’t accomplish great things but they had a good full life with family and friends around them. And that is all most people can expect.
Throughout the years I’ve read about and heard of talented musicians in particular, that have died by their own hand or of drug overdoses. For all their success they found it seems little meaning in life.
I know of people from various strata of society that simply find life meaningless. Sadly I know many who have attempted suicide.
Some can identify with the words of  William Wordsworth who wrote,
“We poets in our youth begin in gladness;      
but therefore came in the end to despondency and madness.’
Even the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote,
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 1:14.
And from a strictly human prospective its easy to think life has no meaning.
As someone who lives with Bipolar disorder (Manic depression)I understand what it is to look around and find everything meaningless. When I’m in deep depression everything seems meaningless.
However I know there is a God who loves me. A God who is there for me in my darkest hour. A God whom I believe has connected me with the right doctors, Psychiatrist and others who have helped me through some of the darkest days of my life.
Without God in my life my life would be meaningless.
However I know that no matter how deep the valley or how high the mountain top, my God is with me. That there is always hope.
Sadly all too many people in this world do not have that hope. They to paraphrase Wordsworth in their youth begin in gladness but their life ends in despondency and madness.
This should not be so because the voice of Jesus echos through the centuries saying,
“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.” Matthew 11:28,29.
I have found these words of Jesus to be true. He does give those who truly believe in Him rest for their souls no matter how dark the valley they may be going through.
Please think about it?
Post Script.
I mentioned I have a mental health issue. I am not alone it is estimated here in Canada and the United States one in five people have mental health issues.
Mental health issues are as real as any physical ailment. If you or someone you know is going through periods of deep depression for long periods at a time, hearing voices, hallucinating, or acting strangely, contact your family doctor and get help.
Sadly most people with a mental health issue will suffer in silence and not get help.
In Canada all provincial health plans cover treatment for mental health problems. If you need help in Canada you can also contact the Canadian Mental Health Association who will help you get help.
Other western countries have similar organizations.
Don’t wait to get help. The sooner you get help the better things will be.
Note to Christians
It has also been, sadly, my personal experience that Christians are least likely to get professional help. Something that should not be so. God put doctors and psychiatrist on this earth for a purpose. If you need one don’t be ashamed to use one. It will not lessen your faith.

Saturday, 21 May 2016

What god do you serve?

What god do you serve?
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15.
If you are a Christian which god are you following?
Many claiming to be Christians say they love God but fail to put God first in their lives. I’ve known many who skip church to go golfing or to a sporting event. I’ve known many who work excess overtime that they don’t really need instead of going to church.
There are many who skip a mid week bible study or service and do other things that are not of God.
Where do you stand?
How important is God in your life?
Are you truly willing to serve God and put Him first in your life?
Please think about it.

Friday, 20 May 2016

Who do you follow?

Who do you follow?
The writer of Proverbs tells us,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5,6.
A question for Christians:
Who do you follow?
I live in a town were there seems to be a church on every corner. In many ways it’s good. It’s good, because anyone living in this town can never say “I couldn’t find a church congregation that I liked.”
We have every denomination from Pentecostals with lively contemporary services, to conservative old order Mennonites, to Roman Catholic, Anglican, to independent churches and everything in between.
It however doesn’t really matter what church you attend as long as you are following God, as long as your trust is in Jesus.
All too often however too many Christians put their trust in the preacher not and not Christ.
In our town there was one prominent minister he had a big church, big being eight hundred plus. He was a dynamic speaker who introduced many to Christ and did build people up in the Lord. However the man was caught in adultery and fathered a child to younger woman who was not his wife.
The man said he was sorry but he refused to step down as pastor of “his” church even temporarily. The way he seen things was he had built that church and he would remain the senior pastor.
There was a lot of objections to him and eventually he left but not before he, for lack of a better term, “cleaned out the church”.
The way he had set up the church was that he owned everything from the sound equipment to the computers and almost everything except the building itself.
While he moved on to another place, the congregation eventually dissolved and is no more.
Some of the congregation moved to other churches but a lot didn’t. Those who didn’t were disillusioned with what had happened. The way many seen it was this pastor, supposedly a Christian was no better than a heathen.
I believe the one’s who were disillusioned by this pastor were following the man and not Christ.
It’s easy to follow a man especially if the person has the right kind of personality. People like a good speaker who tells them what they want to hear. Who makes them feel good.
All too often throughout the years I’ve spent in the Church when I’ve asked a person about something in the Bible or of importance in Christian teaching, I’ve heard people say “such and such a preacher said”. They go by what the evangelist or pastor says. They have not checked things out themselves.
In extreme cases following a preacher has led to mass suicide as happened in the late seventies. At that time a dynamic American pastor by the name of Jim Jones, led a group of people down to South America when he had them commit mass suicide.
Such a thing was tragic but following a the wrong pastor, or evangelist can have eternal consequences.
We need to check out what we are being taught. We need to study the Bible, to pray and ask God to show us what is right.
Above all our trust MUST be in Jesus Not a man.
Men make mistakes. Men can mislead people. Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
The apostle Peter said,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
It is imperative that all Christians follow the teachings of Jesus not the interpretations of an given pastor or evangelist. In order to do this we need to study the scriptures.
Studying the Bible is something I cannot emphasize enough.
There will be differences of opinions over minor things in the bible, however we should never, never compromise on the basics.
For me the best expression of basic Christian belief is in the apostles creed. It was not written by the apostles but it expresses what true foundations of the Christian faith is. It reads,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
The key however to a good Christian life is to follow Christ and not a man. To serve God and not an particular Pastor or Evangelist blindly.
Question: Who are you following?
          Please think about it.

Thursday, 19 May 2016

Christian Love

Christian Love
The Apostle John wrote,
“This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.  
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.  
Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.  
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.  
Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”  1 John 3:11-18.
The result of true Christian faith is love. Love for God, our neighbour and even our enemy.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” Romans 12:20a.
Someone once said “Love goes the distance”. Certainly Christ’s love for us did. He died for our sins.
As Christians we cannot refuse to love. Love and compassion for others is the result of our faith.
James states,
“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 2:14-20.
If we claim to be Christians we must love.
The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians defined love when he 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.
We as Christians should use Jesus an no one else as our example. Jesus showed us how far our love for one another should extend by dying for us on the cross.
Are you willing to go the distance for Love?
Please think about it.

Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Christians and Freedom

Christians and Freedoms
Martin Niemoller wrote,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”  Martin Niemoller.
What I am about to say might not be to the liking of some of my Christian readers. Still I feel it must be said.
Jesus gave Christians the divine commission he stated,
“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.
Prior to Him sending his disciples on another “missions trip” he said to them,
“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 as Christians are acting in accordance with the wishes of Jesus we will be shrewd (astute) in all our dealings with people. We will be innocent or as one translation of the bible puts it, “harmless” as doves.
We need to be like this in order to effectively reach the world for Christ.
Jesus also made it clear we are to show love to all people. 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 22:36-40.
Jesus however did not stop there He 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.” Matthew 5:43-45.
That to me means loving even those we disagree with.
I would go one step further in modern society and say we should stand up for the rights of not only Christians but those we disagree with.
History has shown us that dictators and repressive regimes when they start to repress people they pick first of all on groups that are least liked in society. They then work their way up to anyone who opposes them.
Above I quoted Martin Niemoller an Anti-Nazi an opponent of Hitler who wrote,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”  Martin Niemoller.
As Christians living in a secular society as we have here in the western nations we must stand up for the rights of all people to live as they wish and express themselves as they wish provided it brings no harm to anyone, even our enemies.
When Jesus said, love God, you neighbour, and even your enemy he was in effect saying love everyone.
Today there is a hot button issue in the church. Things many Christians see as sin, as doing things contrary to the will of God. But then I’m certain Jesus, and the apostles living in the Roman empire seen many things that were not pleasing to God. Yet they didn’t demonstrate and try and restrict or take away the rights of other groups. They couldn’t.
My point here is not whether something or some one is sinful or not. Everyone sins be they the Pope, an evangelist, pastor, or person sitting in the pew.
My point is we must be showing love for our fellow human beings. That at times may mean standing up for someone else’s rights and freedoms whether we agree with them or not.
Martin Luther King jr said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” Martin Luther King, Jr. 
In showing love and supporting someone’s right to do as they wish provided they are not hurting anyone builds bridges.
There are a lot of things Christians do not like. I’m sure the apostle Paul did not like the many pagan things he seen in the cities he visited but he never spoke against them. In fact he ministered to them in such away that in Athens he was invited by the philosophers to speak to them at the Areopagus.
Peter sat down and had dialogue with non-jews something not considered right at the time.
Jesus himself sat down with a group that were the pariahs of his day, tax collectors. Matthew’s gospel recording,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
Jesus may not have agreed with the actions of tax collectors nor did Paul agree with the actions and lifestyle of many he would have met in Athens. But they respected the freedom the Roman empire gave all people to do and act as they wished.
Not only that they used those freedoms to present the love of God to them.
This is what we as Christians should do.
This is what true Christians do.
Please think about it.

Tuesday, 17 May 2016

Is Man

Is Man
The Poet wrote
Is man but an atom in space?
A mist in time?
A moment in eternity?

What is your life?
Your life or mine?
What of the life of a man?

What is the sum total of Life?
Is it a collection of bobbles bangles and beads.
A collection of artifacts past to the next generation?

Is all there is to life,
A gathering of things.
That you never can keep?

Is it a mans... A Woman’s duty,
to procreate,
Train the next generation,
then pass into oblivion?

Or
is life more?

Is life Eternal?
Destined to continue on through endless days?
At a place of our own choosing?

I believe you have a choice.
The Saviour 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.
That’s what I believe.
Please think about it.

Monday, 16 May 2016

Christian Lifestyle

Christian Lifestyle
Billy Graham said,
“My home is in Heaven. I'm just travelling through this world.” Billy Graham.
The apostle Peter tells us,
“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.
This note is to Christians. What is your life, lifestyle and attitude saying to the people around you.
I know when I speak to many non-Christians they think of evangelical Christians especially those in the United States as having a holier than thou attitude. They see many as bigots and hypocrites who are not practising true Christianity. Who mix their politics and religion in the wrong way.
Mahatma Gandhi said,
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”  Mahatma Gandhi
Billy Graham said,
“Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them.” Billy Graham.
 We as Christians need to be taking careful stock of our lives. Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Sadly all too many people claiming to be Christians are not true Christians. If they are they certainly are not following the teachings of Christ.
The words of Jesus I quoted above says it all, ““So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”.
This to me is crystal clear especially in the secular democracy in which we in the west live. If you want freedom. You must give others the right to their freedom even if you disagree with them. Such is the nature of freedom.
As Billy Graham said,
“My home is in Heaven. I'm just travelling through this world.” Billy Graham.
We as Christians are Christ’s representatives in this world. We are his ambassadors what we show to the world is what they will see Christ as. We must live as holy a life as possible.
The writer of Hebrews said,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
If you are a true believer in Christ you must show it in word and in deed. Our actions must reflect our faith.
James the half brother of Christ said,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13
James went on to say,
“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 2:14-20.
Our entire life as Christians must reflect Jesus. Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”  Francis of Assisi.
Question: What is your sermon telling people about you?
Please think about it.

Sunday, 15 May 2016

A fundamental Truth

A fundamental truth.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“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, sermon,    quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of    Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
Hate we see it we see it everywhere. Many look at the acts of terrorist groups around the world and see hate in its extreme.
However hate is prevalent in all nations. We see it in everything from road rage incidents to murders to hate crimes, to various crimes of violence. Even in nonviolent ways where a person simply hates their next door neighbour.
Mankind it seems is good at hating people. Hate is easy. Showing love can be much, much more difficult, especially if someone disrespects you or does something against you. Yet we must love. For if we don’t our society will eventually fall into anarchy.
Jesus set the ideal for all people everywhere. Whether you believe who Jesus was or not you cannot disagree with what He taught.
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 22:36-40.
Jesus however went one step further 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, 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 went on to define what true love is, saying,
“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.
Martin Luther King jr. a leader of the civil rights movement in the United States in the early 1960's said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
He was right. If we love God, our neighbour and even our enemy we can bring change to the world. This is what Jesus and the apostles taught.
Napoleon Bonaparte Emperor of France who tried to conquer Europe said,
"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.” Napoleon Bonaparte.
Billy Graham said of the apostles of Jesus,
“The men who followed Him (Christ), were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same.”Billy Graham.
Love truly is the only way to change the world. All those who have ever hated and tried to conquer the world have failed and are assigned a note in history.
By contrast Jesus and His followers have showed love to the world and their work continues to this day. Christianity continues to grow even if places where it is persecuted.
Question do you show love to those around you?
What do you consider true love to be?
Please think about it.

Saturday, 14 May 2016

Fruits of

Fruits of
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
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.  
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Galatians 5:18-26.
In the above scripture Paul makes clear what is unacceptable and acceptable Christian behaviour.
He lists the acts of sinful nature,
“sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies,”
 He then lists the fruit of a life dedicated to Christ,
“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
He warns us to keep in step with the Spirit of God.
In the world we live in today it is easy to slip into a worldly frame of mind. There is so much negativity around us. Temptations are everywhere.
Everything on Paul’s list of sinful things can be found in the media and in the world around us. No one is immune from the bombardment of sin.
It is therefore up to the Christian to immerse themselves in what is right. To study the Scriptures. To fellowship with other Christians. To attend church, pray and ask God to keep us safe both physically and morally.
Quite often Christians will pray for good health. That’s a good thing. But how often do Christians pray for God to keep us morally pure.
Sadly the immoral things are so common place in the world around us that we hardly pay any attention. They are so common place that we may even participate in some minor or major way without really realizing we are doing so.
To the Christian reading this I would suggest that you take time to assess your life and lifestyle. Pray and ask God to show you if you have any things in your life that He would not be proud of.
Ask God to give you the strength and determination to get rid of the negative things in your life. That you may live a life pleasing to Him .
Please think about it.

Friday, 13 May 2016

Christ's Example

Christ's Example
Matthews gospel records,
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’” 
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’’” 
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’’” 
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’’” 
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”   Matthew 4:1-11.
Here Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he is tempted three times by the Satan. These three temptations serve as an example to Christians as to how to deal with temptation.
The first temptation was to do a miracle outside the Fathers will.
Christians must remember that anything we do must be in accordance with God the Fathers will. Even Jesus just prior to His crucifixion while in the garden said “not my will but yours be done”.
All too many Christians forget about this. They want things done there way and when a it doesn’t happen they get upset.
I know within some church groups they pray for someone’s healing saying “it’s God’s will that everyone should be healthy”, yet the person dies and they can’t understand it.
They never think that it might just be God saying “come home to me where there is no pain and suffering.”
All our actions should be in accordance with God’s will. We are His servants. He is not ours.
In the second one Satan tells Jesus to throw Himself off a tower saying that God will protect Him by sending His angels. This would show who Jesus was through a spectacular act rather than Christ’s righteous works and life.
God want people to recognize who Jesus is by having faith in him. The writer of Hebrews telling us.
“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
The third temptation is Satan telling Jesus to bow to him. That if he did he’d give him the world. It would mean Jesus would not have to go to the cross.
Jesus however turned this down saying, “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’’
This should remind us that we should not have any other gods except God the Father. We should not worship the things of this world.
We must only Worship the Lord God Almighty.
Jesus through all of this used Scripture to rebuke Satan.
In order for us to be successful in our walk as Christians we should study the scriptures. We should make the scriptures part of our life and lifestyle. So that we know what God requires of us and thus live a life acceptable to God.
Please think about it.

Thursday, 12 May 2016

A Caution

A Caution
Jesus said,
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 7:22,23.
We as Christians live in parlous times. There are those outside the church who would want to see Christ’s message proven wrong. There are even those, extremist, terrorist and others who would want to see the death of all Christians. These people have been around since the dawn of Christianity.
At the same time however there is what I would say is a more dangerous group lurking within Christianity it’s self. These are men and women who claim to be Christians but are not following the teachings of Christ. Men and women who are twisting the teachings of Christ for their own gain. These too have been around from the start of Christianity. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
It can be very easy to see the threat to our faith by those outside our faith. It however is not that easy to see the threat from within.
A lot of times these false teacher will say they believe in God. They will even lie and say they truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of mankind. But in their heart they do not believe this. They will quote scripture both in context and out of context.
They are out to deceive the believer into following them quite often for personal gain or for power.
That is why I urge all Christians to read their Bible. To study the scriptures. To pray, pray, pray, that God will show them the right path and person to follow.
To find a good church that is following the teachings of the Bible. Beware of those who over emphasise money. Every church and ministry needs money but it shouldn’t be the focus of the ministry. They shouldn’t be constantly spending a great deal of time asking for money.
Remember the apostle Paul said,
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”Philippians 4:19.
If the ministry is of God, God will supply its needs.
Beware of churches or pastors that ask you to follow them blindly or refuse to answer any question you have no matter how seemingly insignificant.
Remember there will be differences in minor interpretations but there should never be on the core issues of the Christian faith.
The apostles creed while not written by the apostles gives the core beliefs that all true Christians can believe in.
The Apostles Creed
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
These points are not negotiable. They are the core of what all true believers in Christ believe.
To the Christian reading this. I would ask, Are these your core beliefs?
I would ask have you accepted Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of your life? Or, have you only given intellectual consent to Jesus?
Jesus said to Martha,
“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?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26. 
Dear reader do you believe this?
Please think about it.