Time to praise God

 Time to praise God

“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

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus we need to take time each day to Praise God not just listen to prerecorded praise music. We need to participate in worship. 

Prerecorded music is good but we should be taking time to use our voice to praise God. The psalmist tells us to praise God with instruments and dancing.

Do you do this?

Why or why not?

Please think about it.

The Shepherd of your life

 The Shepherd of your life

The Psalmist writes,

“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.

One of the thing I like about being a believer in Christ Jesus is having God as my Shepherd. He is someone who protects me. He is there for me even in my darkest moments in life. Additionally He is there in the high points of my life and everything in between. 

Henry William Baker penned this poem,

“The King of love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am His

And He is mine forever.”

                                                Henry William Baker

Is God the Shepherd of your life?

The duty of a believer

The duty of a believer

The psalmist writes,

“Sing to the LORD a new song;

 sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise his name; 

proclaim his salvation day after day. 

Declare his glory among the nations, 

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” 

                                                        Psalm 96:1-3

Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and 

when necessary use words.”

                                        Francis of Assisi.

Jesus said,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

It is the duty of all who believe in Christ Jesus to tell those around them about God and the Salvation that comes through Christ Jesus.

I firmly believe when we do this we must do so in a respectful and loving manner. You will not win souls for Christ if you are forcing your faith on someone. Forcing your faith on someone will turn them away from God.

The apostle Paul speaking to the Athenian set the example for us. He was asked not by Christians and Jews to speak at the Areopagus but the Epicureans and Stoic philosophers. Were he trying to force his faith on them he would not have been asked to speak.

How do you present the gospel message to those around you? Do you argue and try and force your beliefs on them. OR do you simply present the gospel message and let them decide for themselves whether or not to believe what you said is true.

Please think about it. 

I Believe Jesus is the Christ.

 I Believe Jesus is the Christ

In John’s gospel we read,

"Jesus said to her (Martha), "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 11:25,26,27.

So what does truly believing that Jesus is “the Christ the Son of God”

The apostles creed while not written by an apostle of Christ puts in a nutshell what Christians believe. It states,

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.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Study for yourself

 Studying for yourself

The apostle Peter writes,

“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. 

This is happening today. That is why as true believers in Christ Jesus we need to be not just reading the Bible but studying it. That we may know what we believe and why we believe it.

Sadly many within the Christian community believe everything that is being said from a preacher, evangelist or teacher. Their belief is since this person is in the position they are in they must be teaching the scriptures correctly. Or the preacher is saying the things they want to hear and thus follow him or her.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"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. 2Timothy 2:15.

As Christians we have the right to judge others who claim to be Christians to see if they are teaching scripture correctly. The apostle Paul stating,

"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.

But in order to know if someone is not teaching the word of God correctly like I said we must study the Scriptures for ourselves. 

Do you spend time regularly studying the Bible yourself?

Please think about it.

In everything you do

 In everything you do

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

Put this way in the year 2021 this means;

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals on others

however good they may be.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

          Please think about it

On giving to the poor.

 On giving to the poor.

Jesus told this story,

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  

At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.  

In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  

So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' 

"But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  

And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' 

"He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,  

for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 

"Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 

" ‘No, father Abraham,' he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 

"He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " Luke 16:19-31

There are over 2000 verses in the Bible that call us to respond to the needs of the poor.

Here in the above scripture Jesus issues a warning to those who have a lot in this world. Simply put they should be helping to poor. Not simply because it is the right thing to do but it is the humane thing to do. AND, it is what God requires of those who have much.

The Talmud gives this story,

“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love." The Talmud.

Are you in a position to help the poor. Even if it’s only giving someone begging on the street your pocket change?

Please think about it.

Giving with a Cheerful heart

 Giving with a cheerful heart

In the book of proverbs we read,

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”Proverbs 19:17

“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9.

I believe that we as true believers in Christ Jesus, must do what we can to help the poor. Even if it’s just giving a homeless person begging on the street some of our pocket change.

When giving to the homeless especially we should never have a question why the person is asking for money. We should never say to ourselves that he or she will only spend it on drugs of alcohol. That is between them and God. 

Additionally when we give it should never be with the intent that God will give us even more back.

Nor should we give begrudgingly. The apostle Paul writes,

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7.

This should be true with all our giving. We as believers should determine what we are comfortable giving and give with a cheerful heart.

Please think about it.

Both in word and in deed

 Both in word and in deed

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

C.S. Lewis said,

"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.

A Christian accepts the fact that he or she is a sinner. One who falls short of God’s ideal. One who cannot work his or her way to heaven.

A Christians is one who accepts the saving grace of Christ Jesus who died for our sins. That we might get to heaven.

A Christian believes what the apostle Paul said, when he wrote,

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

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 5:18-20.

A Christian is one who understands that they are Christ’s ambassadors in this world and who’s job it is to tell the world of the love and saving grace that comes through belief in Christ Jesus.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus do you believe this?

Do you tell the world about the Love of God and the Saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus both in word and in deed?

Please think about it.

Preserved, Restored, Pardoned

 Preserved, Restored, Pardoned..."

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

"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, 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."

Newton was a slave trader who helped himself to the female slaves. He was a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.

He came to Christ on March 10, 1748 while steering a near foundering ship in a storm. 

Newton would go on to be the curate at a church in Olney, Buckinghamshire. Along with William Cowper write the Olney Hymns (1779) Two hundred eighty of which he wrote including the hymn Amazing grace.

In 1787 he with William Wilberforce founded the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Speaking out against the evil that was the slave trade. Even writing a book Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade. He would testify against slavery to parliament. Living long enough to see slavery abolished.

It would be easy for us in the twenty-first century to say “well I’m not a bad as Newton” and that might be so. But the apostle Paul wrote,

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

Little sins or big sins or anything in between separates us from God. Sin is falling short of God’s ideal for our life. The apostle John stating.

"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." 1John 1:9-10.

Do you believe that you are a sinner falling short of God’s ideal. Do you believe the words of Jesus who said,

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

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

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.

Can you say as John Newton said,

“...by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned...”

Please think about it.

Loving as God loves

 Loving as God loves.

The apostle John wrote,

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

 God is love. 

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

                                                                          1John 4:16

Love is a very important part of the Christian life. In order to truly be a Christian you must love unconditionally.

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 22:36-40.

The apostle Paul defines true Christian love this way

“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.

Jesus speaking to his disciples said,

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34,35.

The apostle John states,

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1John 4:20,21.

So the question becomes, If you consider yourself a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. Do you love God, your family, friends, and foes unconditionally?

Please think about it.

What do they read?

 What do they read?

Jesus said,

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven Matthew 5:14-16.

Charles H Spurgeon said,

"The Bible is not the light of the world, it is the light of the Church. But the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians! "You are the light of the world." Charles H. Spurgeon.

“You are the light of the world” said Jesus to His followers. So if you are a follower of Jesus; When the world reads your words and deeds what do they see?

Please think about it.