Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Beware of the Peddler Preacher

  Beware of the Peddler Preacher

The apostle Paul writes,

“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.”2Corinthians 2:17.

In Pauls day there were men that preached Gods word for profit. Paul did not do this. He was a tent maker. He was what we today would call a bi-vocational pastor. He preached the word of God without asking for any remuneration. 

Now I can understand paying a pastor or evangelist a living wage. One that allows him to support himself and his family. A wage that allows him to concentrate on administering the word of God. There is also nothing wrong with a pastor who is a millionaire providing he came by it honestly.

What I can’t see is these millionaire evangelist who promise riches if you give to their ministry. Promises they never keep. Making it worse by blaming it on the believers lack of faith.

I believe these preachers should be held accountable in this world. I believe they should be asked to give away at least half their wealth to the poor.

I believe every miracle healing they claim to have done should be fact checked and if proven false they should be made step down from their ministry.

We make pastors evangelist and church leaders step down for immoral conduct all the time. 

To my way of thinking making false claims about healings and becoming rich if we give to their ministries is immoral also. Perhaps more so, as they are praying on the poor and sick.

Please think about it.

Monday, 23 May 2022

Making Disciples

 Making disciples 

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”Titus 3:1,2.

Here is something many evangelicals here in North America don’t listen to. They don’t listen to it, because they believe the lie that the United States and Canada are Christian nations. Which they are not! In believing this lie they speak out against a duly elected government every time that government does something they object to. Which at times could be considered slander. Especially when they speak out against a duly elected official.

We as Christians are not here to tell a government what to do. Jesus didn’t nor did any of the apostles. They lived within the boundaries set out for them by the Roman government. And while all but one died for their faith. It was their faith they died for. NOT for speaking against the government.

The apostle Paul stated,

“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.

Jesus gave those who believe in him a clear message, stating,

“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.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Sunday, 22 May 2022

A wise son

 A wise son

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”Proverbs 10:5.

The writer of proverbs reminds us that we should be like the wise son or daughter. 

We know that Christ could return at any moment. Thus we should be using this time to not only harvest souls for Christ, but drawing closer to Christ in our daily lives.

Jesus tells this parable,

“And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 

"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 

"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:16-21.

As believers in Christ Jesus we need to study the scriptures and draw close to God. While at the same time presenting the Gospel message to those around us.

Please think about it.

Saturday, 21 May 2022

Are you ready

Are you ready

In Matthews gospel we see Jesus quoted as saying,

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come....

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”Matthew 24:42,44.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus are you prepared for His return?

When He returns will He see you doing His work?

Another question all who believe in Christ Jesus need to consider is Pauls advice to Timothy when he writes,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Friday, 20 May 2022

God on your hearts

 God on your hearts

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

I believe the most important thing we can pass on to our children is our love for God. A life based on the love of God may go through many trials and tribulations, but if your life is founded on the love of God, you will always have hope. In Psalm 23 we read,

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

Do you share your faith in God, your faith in Christ with your children?

Is God first in your life?

Please think about it.

Thursday, 19 May 2022

Judge those inside

 Judge those inside

The apostle Paul writes,

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."  2 Corinthians 5:20

As Christians, believers in Christ Jesus we are Christ’s ambassadors. An ambassador is one who represents a country in a foreign land. People in that foreign land see the country he or she represents through the words and deeds of the ambassador.

The same is true when it comes to Christians. People look to Christians to correctly represent Christ. Sadly way too many calling themselves Christians are not, or at least their words actions are not correctly representing Christ.

While I know that Christians are told to look to Christ and not a particular evangelist or preacher. Those who are not Christians do not know this. They see someone who claims to be Christian acting badly and say to themselves they want no part of Christianity.

North America and particularly the United States is full of men and women, evangelist and pastors claiming to be Christians that are not. 

These men and women are bringing Christ’s name into disrepute. And God will one day judge them. In the mean time it is up to those who love Christ to speak out against false teachers in our midst. We must remember the words of the apostle Paul who said,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

Please think about it.

Wednesday, 18 May 2022

  Are you willing

The apostle Paul wrote,

“Be joyful in hope, 

patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer.”  

                      Romans 12:12.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you Pray?

Here’s something to consider,

God gives you 1440 minutes every day.

A good nights sleep takes up 480 minutes.

An average round trip commute to and from work can take 120 minutes.

Work takes up 480 minutes.

That leaves you with 360 minutes.

Thus the question becomes are you willing to tithe ten percent of that time to prayer?

Just 36 minutes each day.

2.5% of all the minutes God gives you each day communing with Him.

Please think about it.

Tuesday, 17 May 2022

The Christians Pledge

 The Christians Pledge

As a believer in Christ Jesus,

I pledge...

To Love.

I Pledge...

As far as it depends on me...

To live at peace with all people.

I Pledge...

Never, Never, Never! To attack anyone...

Physically, or verbally.

Even if I vehemently disagree with them in any way.

I Pledge...

Never to demean anyone.

No matter their race, their ethnicity, their religion, or their lifestyle.

I Pledge...

As far as humanly possible,

To uphold the dignity of all whom I come in contact with.

I Pledge...

To obey the words of Christ Jesus who said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

Will you take this pledge?

Monday, 16 May 2022

I will praise God will you?

  I will praise God will you?

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.

I will do this because I believe in God.

Do you believe in God?

If so will you take a few moments right now to praise the LORD?

Please think about it.

Sunday, 15 May 2022

Only you can decide

  Only you can decide

In the book of Genesis we read,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

                                                                              Genesis 1:1.

In the gospel of John we read,

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

He was with God in the beginning. 

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

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

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

The Bible was written to believers in God and thus does not debate the existence of God. It simply states “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The New Testament goes even further. It states that the God who made heaven and earth became flesh, became human. It states it as a fact. Again it does not debate this fact because it is written to believers.

That being said anyone who is presented with these facts must decide to themselves if they are true or false. 

Is there a God?

Did God create the heavens and the earth?

Did the God who created heaven and earth enter the world He created to show mankind the way to heaven?

Only you can decide this.

Please think about it.

Saturday, 14 May 2022

Fighting

  Fighting

The apostle Peter wrote,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you” 1Peter 1:3-4.

Here is what we as believers in Christ Jesus believe. We believe that God the Father in His great mercy has given us a new birth and living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is a key tenant of Christian belief. We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. Without Christ rising from the dead Christianity is dead.

By believing in Chris Jesus we have and inheritance that can never spoil or fade. An inheritance that is in heaven. One that no one on this earth can take away from us. No matter how hard they try. And many have tried both in the past and today.

Since the earliest days of Christianity men and governments have tried to destroy those who believe in Christ Jesus to no avail.

A poem by and unknown author reads,


Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith’s door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.


“How many anvils have you had,” said I,

“To wear and bater all these hammers so?”

“Just one,” said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.”


And so, thought I, the anvil of God’s Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.

                                                                 Anonymous.

Perhaps a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law an honoured man, standing before the Sanhedrin said it best. As the Sanhedrin were presiding over the trial of two of Christ's apostles he said,

"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.

I would say that with the hindsight of centuries of history Gamaliel was right. Those who are fighting against those who believe in Christ Jesus are fighting against God.

Please think about it. 

Friday, 13 May 2022

My Reason

  My Reason

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.

This verse sums up why I write these blogs. It sums up why I tell people about Jesus.    Someone along time ago, took time to tell me about the Love and salvation that comes through the Grace of God. Which today it the most important thing in my life.

The apostle Paul reminds us,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23.

That sinning is falling short of Gods ideals. 

The Apostle Paul noting,

"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.

That our good works cannot save us. It is our faith in God and the Salvation God grants to all who would believe in Christ Jesus.

They noted Jesus speaking of himself said,

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

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

They also noted that I have a freewill to believe or not believe what is said in the Bible. That they have no right to judge me for what I believe. 

That their obligation to God was to simply tell me of the Love of God that comes through Christ Jesus. Whether I believe it or not is entirely up to me.

Thus I leave what I have written for you the reader to decide for yourself if you believe it or not.

Please think about it.