Extraordinary ?

 Extraordinary

The apostle Paul wrote,

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

In Christianity, we see God reaching to man. We believe that Jesus Gods one and Only Son died for our sins. All that is required is faith in Jesus Christ. To believe that he came to this earth to save not just mankind but each individual from Hell.

C. S. Lewis telling us,

"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.

The apostle Paul apostle Paul tells us,

"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

Jesus referring to himself said,

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

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

That being said. As to who Jesus is and why he came to this earth is up to the individual to decide.  But if you are not a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus consider the following

Julian the Apostate, Roman Emperor (361-363) one of the worst enemies of Christ and Christianity said of Jesus,

"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 Julian said, 

"Thou has conquered, O Galilean!"

William Durant, popular American modern historian and philosopher (1885-1981) When asked what he felt the apex of history was: "the three years that Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth."

Napoleon Bonaparte said of Jesus,

"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,

So dear reader it is up to you to decide who Jesus is.

Please think about it.

Aliens in this world

 Aliens in this world

    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.

There is no ands, ifs or buts about what the apostle Peter says here. Believers in Christ Jesus are called by Peter a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. A people called out of darkness to Gods wonderful light.

Therefore we as Gods representatives on this earth are call to as Peter states, 

“To abstain from sinful desires” 

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." 

Thus my question to you. Are you obeying what Peter is saying? 

Please think about it.

We should be

 We should be 

The Psalmist writes,

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, 

O Most High.” 

                       Psalm 9:1,2.

When I read this portion of scripture I am reminded of the persecuted church. While we hear lots of stories of how Christians around the world are suffering for their faith. I also hear stories of some of those living under persecution telling others of the wonders of God. Lifting up Gods name even in the worst of circumstances. This to me is amazing and inspiring.

If Christians living under in some cases fear of being jailed or even death can praise God then we who are blessed to live in the free democracies of the world should be doing the same.

Please think about it.

Count the Cost

 Count the Cost

Speaking to the Sanhedrin and the high priest Peter and the other apostles said,  

“The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." Acts 5:30-32.

After being told by the religious leaders in Jerusalem to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. The apostles continued to do so. Which landed them in front of those same religious leaders, who were to say the least upset with them and wanted to kill them. To which

"Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" Acts 5:29.

While Peter and the apostles were flogged. They were let go and continued to tell about Jesus and the saving grace that comes through Him.

So it should be for all who are true believers in Christ Jesus. Jesus said,

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34.

This is something many believers around the world are doing. By becoming believers in Christ Jesus they are facing persecution imprisonment and even death for following Him.

This is something many in the western democracies especially here in North America for get to tell new converts.

Sadly if you listen to many so called Christian evangelist and pastors here in North America the gospel you here is that God wants you to healthy and wealthy. That no harm will come to you if you give to God (quite often meaning their ministry).

Jesus never promised His followers an easy time. You just have to look at the life of the apostle Paul and the other disciples. All but one suffered a martyrs death. Yet they still preached the Love and Saving Grace that comes through Christ Jesus to those around them.

If you consider yourself a true believer in Christ Jesus have you truly considered the cost of following Him?

Please think about it.

A Standard for Christian living

 A Standard for Christian living

As Christians I believe there are certain standards we must live by. By live by I mean everything we do must line up with these standards. Standards set by Jesus himself and the apostles.

1/ Love,

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 also said,

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,..." Matthew 5:43,44

From the above scriptures we can see that we must love God, our neighbour and even our enemy. And we must pray for them. These are absolute truths directly from Jesus.

2/Live in Peace.

The apostle Paul states,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."Romans 12:18.

The writer of Hebrews agrees with this saying,

3/ Live Holy lives

"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 

Thus we must endeavour to live at peace and live holy lives, for "...without holiness no one will see the Lord." 

4/Respect authority.

The apostle Paul tells us to,

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,... "Titus3:1

5/Do not slander

".....slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." Titus 3:2.

6/Exhibit the fruits of a true Christian. The fruit of the Spirit

The apostle Paul tells us,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22,23.

7/ Respect others even if you vehemently disagree with them. 

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.

If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus...

Please don’t just think about what is said here. Do it.

Showing Love

 Showing Love

Isaiah the prophet said,

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.” Isaiah 1:17.

Sadly I feel here in North America there are many Christians who do not follow what Isaiah is saying here. This has been especially true during the last four years in America. Compassion for the poor, fatherless, widows and oppressed has been lacking. 

Politicians calling themselves Christians have refused to use their position of power to help those in need. Some even going as far as calling those who wish to pass legislation to help the poor Communist.

To make matters worse it seems that many Christian leaders particularly in the United states are silent on the matter of poverty within America.

I like what Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,

“These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.” Tony Campolo.

This is what we as believers in Christ Jesus should be doing. For in showing the love of God in very practical ways we will win souls for Christ.

Please think about it.

How Majestic

 How majestic

The Psalmist writes.

"O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9.

I make no secret of it I am a believer in Christ Jesus. I believe that Jesus is the one and Only Son of God. The Saviour of mankind. I believe as C. S. Lewis put it,

"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.

That is why I want to tell people about Jesus. That is why from time to time like now, I like to join with the Psalmist who said,

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

                             Psalm 150.

If you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus why not take some time right not to simply praise God.

Please think about it.

How Certain are You?

 How Certain are you?

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1

Here is a question for you. If you do not believe in God or the saving grace offered by Christ Jesus are you certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that God does not exist. Are you one hundred percent certain that Jesus is not Gods one and Only Son. The saviour of mankind.

The way I see it to be certain there is no God and that Jesus is not the saviour of mankind you would have had to been everywhere. And the one place no one living has been is beyond the grave. Thus God could and I believe is, waiting for you beyond the grave.

Not only that if we look carefully enough in this world we can see Gods handiwork in creation. The psalmist telling us,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                                    Psalm 19:1.

Jesus speaking of himself issued a warning saying,

"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.

Do you believe this statement of Jesus, or are you certain God and the eternal life with God offered by Jesus is false?

How certain are you?

Please think about it.

In need of God

 In need of God

The apostle Paul wrote,

"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:4,5.

The apostle Paul writing to the Ephesians said, 

"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.

This is a key element of Christian belief. Christians believe that it is by the Grace of God through Christ Jesus that we get to heaven. Not by our works. Christians maintain that we cannot be good enough to enter heaven. Thus God made away by sending Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins.

Christianity is God reaching down to man and offering him salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 

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.

Are you that man or woman? A person in need of God?

Why not take a moment to pray and ask God to come into your heart today. Perhaps consider this prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father.

I thank you for your grace that comes through faith in Christ Jesus. Please forgive my sins and come into my life today. Show me your ways. Teach me what it is to be your servant, your follower. Amen.

Please think about it.

Post script;

If you sincerely prayed and believed this prayer. I urge you study the Bible. Then I would urge you to find a church or group of believers where you can study together.

As this blog is read all over the world I personally recommend a church. But I recommend Baptist churches as well as Presbyterian, Anglican, Church of England, salvation army, if you live in countries where they are present.

If you do not all I can say is pray and ask God to show you to a church or house fellowship.    

The apostles testimony

The apostles testimony

The book of Acts records Peter and the other apostle standing before Jewish leaders (the Sanhedrin) and saying,

“The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." Acts 5:30-32.

When they said this some in the Sanhedrin wanted to put them to death. It was a bold statement for Peter and the Apostles to make. They I’m sure were not unaware that they could be put to death. Yet still they did what God had told them to do.

Fortunately cooler heads prevailed a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honoured by all the people stood up and gave the members of the Sanhedrin a brief history lesson of how others had arisen claiming to be the Messiah only to have those who followed them to scatter when their leader died.

Gamaliel concluded, 

"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:38,39.

The result was the Apostles were flogged and let go. The book of Acts interestingly recording,

"The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.(of Jesus)" Acts 5:41.

I firmly believe that what the apostles and the New Testament teaches is true. That it’s message is from God. That nothing, governments, terrorist groups, or others can stop the spread of the gospel message because it is from God.

Thus the question I have for you is, do you believe what the New Testament teaches and the apostles believed. That Jesus is the Son of God, The Saviour of mankind?

Please think about it. 

Held in high regard

 Held in high regard

The book of Acts states,

"The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.  

No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.  

Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Acts 5:12-14.

The apostles performed many miraculous signs and they were held in high regard by the people around them. As a result many men and women believe in the Lord. 

Here is an example all believers in Christ Jesus need to follow. 

The apostle Peter writes,

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

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:11,12.

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to heed Peters advice. We need to abstain from sinful desires. We need to live as good a life as is humanly possible. For in doing so we will attract men and women to Christ.

If you consider yourself a follower of Christ Jesus, are you doing this?

Please think about it.

What they should be doing

 What they should be doing

“On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.  

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.  

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:" ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'  

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  

They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  

Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”Acts 4:23-32.

This was one powerful prayer. The apostles prayed for boldness, to perform miraculous signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. Which did indeed happen.

Not only that it is happening today. I have read many confirmed stories coming from especially the persecuted churches around the world about miraculous healing and wonders in the name of Jesus.

Unfortunately here in North America while there are confirmed miracles, there are many preachers and evangelist who claim to be performing miracles but are not. Bringing the name of Jesus into disrepute.

Their gatherings seem to be more about raising money than doing the work of God. 

Do faith healers, evangelist and pastors really need private jets or multi-million dollar houses? Peter, and the apostles of Christ didn’t.

Believers in the book of acts are noted for selling land and other things to help the poor among them. Why can’t these rich preachers and evangelist do the same?

The book of acts talking about believers state,

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.  

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.  

There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. Acts 32-37.

This is what I believe true believers especially millionaire pastors and evangelist should be doing with the money their organization is bringing in.

Please think about it.