Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

    Have you ever felt inadequate, ill-equipped or unworthy to do what you understand to be the will of God in your life? Good news—His grace is available to empower and enlighten all who will ask Him for it. Grace is defined as “God’s divine influence on the heart and its reflection in our life. It is undeserved favor.” One of the most precious resources the Christian has is access to God’s grace. Paul encourages us to approach the throne of grace “with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) We need God’s help to do what He has called us to do; God’s help to overcome.

    In his book: ‘Grace—Power Beyond Your Ability’ Dennis Burke explains: “The real strength of Jesus’ message is not our ability in ourselves, but our potential in Him. …God does not call you to do what you are capable of doing in your own strength…His plans can seem overwhelming from the human point of view…See your situation through the eyes of God and what He promises in His Word in order to stretch beyond the limits of your ability and draw instead upon the infinite resources of His ability.” The fulfillment of His tasks comes according to His grace (power) not our ability. ”

    Jesus was filled with grace and truth. We are saved by grace through faith.

    Paul comments : “I am the least of all apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God, but by the ‘ grace’ of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect . No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15: 9, 10)

    Andrew Moyo had an overwhelming experience of the grace of God show up at a morning service. He recalls: “In 1996, we conducted a 7 day believer’s conference in the rocky mountain city of Kabala in Uganda. Hordes of people flocked the facilities 5 hours before start time, just to get a seat. These people prayed fervently for God’s touch and impartation upon their lives. I was invited to the platform to minister, The minute I took the pulpit, I closed my eyes, lifted my hands to the Father and worshipped Him with words of love and adoration. …The anointing of God was so strong that the entire church was slain in the power of the Holy Spirit. For hours everyone was on the floor. Many were set free from demonic oppression, receiving healing in their bodies and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Hours later, they got up and testified of what God had done in their lives. Everyone had a personal experience with the power of God and a praise report to glorify God. I had never seen anything like that before. Once and for all I knew God wanted to use me even more than I ever imagined, but I needed to know what He was doing to help me stay in the center of His prophetic purpose in my life. As I waited in His presence, He spoke to me, “Son, what you witnessed and encountered this afternoon is My grace.”

    This was an intensive empowering of an entire church that was hungry for God’s power to save, heal and rescue its people. All these people would make an impact everywhere they went from that service forward. They would have abundant faith to help others to find freedom. There would be much joy because of all the healings and freedom from oppression.

    As we pray at home, we may need healing in our heart because of brokenness or abuse. God’s love often soothes and releases in a gentle way. This too is grace. The weak gain strength by God’s grace. Thanks to Jesus, we are free to ask for mercy and grace at anytime and our promise from the Word of God is: “Ask and you shall receive.” Never linger in the wasteland of sin, guilt, shame, condemnation, unforgiveness or addictions. God wants us to live an abundant victorious, outreaching, Christian experience by His power.

    ”May the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 23, 24) Grace says: “You can do it, I’ll help.”    

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Immersed Into The Reality

Immersed Into the Reality

    There is a perfect disciple training program within the Gospels. Jesus wanted those He discipled to tell others all He said and so raise up other believers.

    Sometimes a few words change everything. Jesus was filled with grace and truth. This is the perfect combination. Both are necessary to be disciples. Love without the truth of Jesus isn’t eternally enough. Sound Biblical doctrine without love isn’t much either. Everyone has a head and a heart.

    Paul wrote that even being abundant in spiritual gifts was nothing without love. (1 Corinthians 13) Love is the first listed fruit of the Spirit. Jesus taught to love not only God, but each other, our neighbors, strangers and our enemies. That about covers everybody.

    A Christian can teach a friend for years, yet a second Christian come by and offer a hug and meal, and then the friend can’t resist joining the fellowship of believers. Later at the worship, the friend is healed of a long time troublesome sore. All parts work together. Did the teacher not love the friend? Of course she did, or she wouldn’t have invested time in the area of planting God’s Word. (1 Corinthians 13:6) Teaching is always partnered with prayer. Paul observed that the more he taught the truth, the less he was loved. The truth has to be spoken, but it is generosity and kindness that helps people make a move.

    The early church saw this need for service and ministry. (Acts 6:1-7) All were filled with Holy Spirit yet many jobs needed to be done, for the Body of Christ to work successfully. Today we have maintenance people, greeters, cooks, administration, counselors, evangelists, pastors, teachers, prophets, church planters, childcare workers, missionaries, musicians. Jesus Christ is the head of the church. We are of one mind, one Spirit. As we work together, we learn from one another and grow. It’s unity of prayer and worship that makes the vital connection to God.

    I like how the Jewish Bible quotes Jesus: “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make people from all nations into disciples, immersing them into the reality of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”(Matthew 28:18-20)

    Each believer grows to be more Christ-like. Jesus had the Spirit without measure. All aspects of evangelizing, healing, delivering, teaching, loving, helping , and prophesying were evident in His life. We have been given the same Spirit who calls us to “preach the Gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty the bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4: 18,19) God bless all who serve. It’s an awesome functioning Body.

In His Time

In His time

    To win the Jews, Paul put himself in their position. With many reports of Jews coming to Christ, it may be helpful to recall some signs they were given after Jesus left earth and prior to the destruction of the Temple about 70 A.D.

    Four notable signs occurred that should have indicated to the people that Jesus was their Messiah and that atonement sacrifices were no longer needed. The Bible tells us that God wanted the non-Jews or Gentiles to first receive Jesus, then later the Jewish nation. This is God’s timing we are seeing fulfilled.

    The first sign had to do with the Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement ritual. The high priest randomly chose a stone from a container, one stone was white, the other black. For 200 years before 30 A.D. he would select a black stone as often as a white. The random choosing determined whether the sacrificial goat would be ‘for the Lord’ or “scapegoat’. Beginning in 30 A.D., (estimated time of Jesus resurrection) the chance drawing of the stone was always black. For forty years in a row the black stone was randomly picked. To the people this was considered a dire event and signified something had changed in this ritual. (goat no longer had to be sacrificed ‘for the Lord’)

    The black stone being chosen signified ’scapegoat’. The high priest would confess the sins of the people over the scapegoat. A red piece of cloth was put on the goat and a piece of this cloth also on the temple door. The goat would be chased into the wilderness and when he died there the piece of cloth on the temple door would supernaturally turn white, signifying that the sins were forgiven. According to Jewish history that red cloth on the Temple door turned white consistently at this annual ritual, until 30 A.D. after which it never turned white again. (Scapegoat death was no longer the way to get forgiven of sin, faith in Jesus’ blood was the new sacrifice for humanity)

    The Third unusual sign concerned the menorah in the Temple This was a candlestick or lamp stand that had several branches on it. The lamps at that time were of oil with a wick in them. Each was separate. Usually the western branch was kept burning and the other branches of the lamp were lit from this end. The western lamp was to always be lit, never going out. The priests made sure about it. After Jesus, every night for 40 years, the western lamp went out, and this in spite of the priests each evening preparing it so it would remain burning all night. Over 12,500 times in a row this happened. (the lamp and oil represented Jesus light of the world and Holy Spirit, the presence of God; the change after Christ was that now the presence of God is within each believer)

    A fourth documented event in the Talmud in the time between 30 A.D. and 70 A.D. that the people knew about involved the temple doors. The temple doors of the inner court were made of Corinthian bronze. There were two of them and they were huge. It took twenty men to open these doors and that with great difficulty. Beginning in 30 A.D. these doors opened on their own every night for 40 years . (signifying that all may now enter into the holiest sections of the Temple)

    The Jews at the time were unable to understand the significance of these events. God darkened their understanding until the fullness of the Gentiles came to Christ. Today we see Jews coming to faith in Christ. This is God’s timing. Paul wrote to the early Hebrew church that indeed it was true that without the shedding of blood there was no remission for sin (Hebrews 9:22); but Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for ever (Hebrews 10:12) for all people. The Talmud is a book that is widely respected by Jews, containing rabbi writings and documented these events. See Yoma 39 a,b.

    Jesus was a Jew. He taught that salvation comes from the Jews. (John 4:22) They received the ten commandments of God and kept all they learned alive for us to this day. Can we return a bit of the favor they have blessed us with—our Bible– and pray for and support laborers for them at this time?    

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Receive and Don’t Rollover

Receive is a verb

    Consider a couple of old TV shows—Get Smart also Mission Impossible. Though completely different, the similarity of secret agent ‘receiving’ his assignment is the focus of the moment. A secret agent would ‘receive’ a document outlining what job needed to be done. He could use all the company’s resources, but had to work out the details on his own. Certain contacts had to be made, certain criminals exposed, and all this had to be timed with law enforcement being present.

    Through this thought we see the ‘receiving’ of the assignment as more than the secret agent just accepting a piece of paper. ‘Receive’ the verb in this case was more of a ‘joining to’ or ‘pledging allegiance to’ the project set before him until the mission was accomplished. If things didn’t go smoothly, a plan B would be adopted. By ‘receiving’ the assignment, the work would continue until the report could be brought to the boss—’mission accomplished.’

    Can we parallel this to our Christian walk? Everything we need to do what God calls us to do is available. It is ‘at hand’, or close by. “Ask and receive”,’ Jesus taught. Receive is an action word…

    ”To all who ‘received’ Jesus, gave He the right to become sons of God.” (John 1:12) Beyond accepting the historic fact of His life and death, the Christian joins to and pledges allegiance to the One who has paid his ransom.

    The same sense of the word ‘receive’ is in the words of Jesus: “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22) Beyond wait for and accept, we cling to and pledge allegiance to Jesus’ revelation of Holy Spirit. A teenager told me the other day that she didn’t believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. “The people you hang around with have a bearing on how close you get to God. It took me a long time to receive this part of the Gospel.” I replied. ‘Receive ‘is the issue. Jesus came so that we could be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11) Do we join to, hold fast to, pledge allegiance to Bible truths regarding Holy Spirit? (John 14: 15-17, 25; 15:26, 27; 16:7-15; Acts; and 1 Corinthians 12-14)    

    We also see ‘receive’ in Acts 1:8. “You will ‘receive’ power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” The Christian learns to step aside from what’s possible naturally and believes God to do what He’s inspired you to pray for. Like a child grows up, the ‘born again ‘believer also grows to maturity (1 John 2: 12-14) learning through truths of God how to release the power of Holiness within to glorify the Father.

    We ‘receive’ by combining Bible truth with words and faith. Jesus taught us that we are body, soul and spirit. If we don’t ‘receive’ this teaching, all we use is the ‘world’s’ resources and plod through life, like everybody else. As the seeds of His teachings take root, we ask and receive more. A crop isn’t much if only a few seeds take root. Grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul encouraged. ‘Receive’ has to be combined with Biblical truth, words and faith. No confidence, no words, no truth, no action. It’s just how God designed it all. As we get hold of, join to, hold fast to, pledge allegiance to Jesus and all He said, we become disciples who carry on His work.

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It’s No Time To Roll Over, Soldier

    Hallelujah! The Lord rescued me from the current flu bug in less than 24 hours. The Christian has the armor of God and needs to use. It. First off, we do at times receive a ‘flaming arrow ‘from the wicked one. We live in a fallen world—thistles are a sign of it. Take up the shield of faith. (Ephesians 6:16) Our confidence in God’s ability to overpower all attacks against us helps us speak in strength. Because we have submitted to God we resist the devil and he must flee from us. (James 4:7) Jesus taught us to speak to the difficulties directly and believe for the answer. “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”(Mark 11:24) The child of God knows God’s will and prays for the things of His kingdom. Health belongs to the Christian. Jesus paid the price for this added bonus to our life now when He was whipped. Those stripes have power. The Blood has power. Jesus has all power in heaven and earth. It is His will we bring healing to the sick. We gain confidence in this when we fight according to His Word, and see victory.

    Use the Bible promises; declare Psalm 91. Declare it as a prayer. When you believe it, you say it differently. Powerfully demand and command all germs to die and loose you in Jesus’ name. Command headache to “Go.”

    Pray in the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:18) Paul writes that when we don’t know what to pray, God’s Spirit within does. (Romans 8:26) Go hard for half an hour or more. You can feel disease weaken. Declare praise to God who always gives us the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord. Rising from the dead is a sure sign of all power over satan’s kingdom.

Jesus is King of Kings. He will rescue His own. “Because he has set his love on Me, therefore will I rescue him. ” “Our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)

    Four hours after the healing, a bit of sore throat and drip from the nose showed up. I’ve seen to too many people ‘lose their healing’ as symptoms resurface and attempt to ’steal’ what God has given. “You can’t curse who God has blessed.” I declared. Hang in. Rebuke every germ. Fight some more. Bind the liar and thief. Send him away. Pray in the Spirit. Resist and persist. Quickly symptoms faded. Two days after and all continues in perfect health. Hallelujah! Don’t take anything the enemy slips to you. Rise up. It takes faith to overcome (Hebrews 3:19) There’s strength in the battle, no doubt equipping us to bring victory to others.

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Soldier

Fight the good fight of faith, soldier

    Pop quiz. Who wrote most of the New Testament? Did the same John write John, first, second, third John and Revelation? Did Luke the ‘beloved’ physician write Luke and Acts? Okay, right –Paul wrote 4 pages more than Luke.

    It’s natural that a doctor would be interested in Jesus. Doctors are interested in healing people. Non Christian doctors see people healed by faith and are not sure what to do with the facts. How can images show that an incurable disease was there, now only scar tissue is left?

    Moving from generalities to specifics: I visited a Christian girlfriend yesterday Sept. 13, 2009 to find her still in shock as her doctor announced to her that she doesn’t have M.S. anymore. The ‘world’ would say this illness can’t be cured. Fortunately, God’s ability is not limited to human knowledge.

    My friend’s mind is trying to grab on to the truth of the tests. For 35 years, she’s believed that her condition would never go away. It might go into remission, but never completely be gone. At one point half of her body was paralyzed. The doctor reflected that possibly that had been stroke, and called for a new MRI. It was not a stroke, all medical records have been correct, she had M.S.

I asked her regarding this healing. She said that every day this year she has been speaking aloud healing scriptures from the Bible. She had many, all compiled by Gloria Copeland using the amplified Bible translation. My friend said the word of God got into her mind, then lips and after a few months of speaking, into her belief. “I started to believe them after speaking them so much. I’d carry a note in my pocket at work and keep saying that scripture until I knew it by heart. After saying them daily, I noticed my thoughts would often recall them during my work day. I was thinking on these scriptures of healing all the time and speaking the lot of them each day.”

All glory to God. His Word is full of healing promises. Faith believes them and speaks them over what the ‘world’ deems incurable. Here in Lloydminster the MRI images show that M.S. is no longer there—only scar tissue where it was.

God has promised good things for those who live according to His ways. From Exodus 15:26 through Psalm 103:3 through Isaiah 53:5 through Luke 6:6-19 through Hebrews 13:8 we see what God has declared. My friend is not the first person I’ve heard of who needed to say these promises often before she ‘believed’ them. Faith is beyond just thinking Jesus walked this earth years ago. Faith takes the promise. It trusts God to be true to His Word.

The human body is an intricate balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. What God has said has power to renew and to restore. Those who trust in Him with their whole heart; lean not to their own understanding; acknowledge Him in all their ways; and shun evil can grow healthier. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

Luke must have renounced his hippo. oath to the gods and pledged allegiance to Jesus alone to have left such a lasting legacy of power over the ills that beset humanity. Thanks to his writings, healings continue thousands of years after he passed on. One day we’ll be able to thank him. The Bible wouldn’t be the same without his commitment and labor. Let’s leave the last word for Luke: (Jesus said)”What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

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Change and the Love of God

Some Changes Come Easy

    I was reading a book “They thought for themselves” and saw how Jews who felt they were not close to God through rituals and tradition received the New Testament as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Gladly they received the long awaited Messiah;–Jesus as Savior and their lives were dramatically changed for the better.

    Pondering how much difference a small change to the status quo could make; I moved my office stapler. For decades it rested on the counter away from where it is commonly needed. Why does it have to stay where I never use it just because that’s how it always was done? I took the bull by the horns and put the stapler on the other counter. Already it’s a welcome change. Why didn’t I change its location sooner?

    Think of the impact some individuals have made in the world because they were flexible enough to adjust to something new. The twelve fishermen that Jesus discipled left their fishing lifestyle and lived lives as Jesus taught them. What if none had bothered to write the events of their time with Jesus? Think of the impact each man’s energies left for generations to come.

    Where would we be if Paul had the Damascus road experience, then chose to quietly live out the rest of his days in a country cottage because he was ’saved by faith’? There would have been no need to write the letters to the churches. Our New Testament could have never been penned if some men hadn’t embraced the call to do new things.

    Where would we be had Martin Luther not labored in his life to expose ninety- nine errors the church of his day was practicing? People had slipped into following man’s teachings instead of the Bible. Would all those manmade ideas have kept us from receiving God’s forgiveness? Would our lives be flooded with guilt and fear awaiting the mythical purgatory where people supposedly suffered for the sins they had committed?

    We have received so much from those who have labored before us. We understand that more than the efforts of man have brought the church to where it is today. The very Spirit of life, holiness and truth within these believers kept all Jesus’ words alive. The Maker of heaven and earth was the first One to utter the word ‘church’. “Who do you say I am? Jesus asked His disciples. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)

    Had Peter decided not to continue, ‘church’ would still have come to pass. We see what has made us who we are as we compare the fisherman Peter to the born again Peter of the first and second Peter letters. Wisdom, revelation, holiness, faith, self-control, love—it’s all evident because of the Holy Spirit’s work in him. Look—he even wrote regarding the theory of evolution over a thousand years before Darwin dreamed it up: “…in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires…. They deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.” (2 Peter 3: 4-6) Evolutionists don’t believe in the world wide flood. One Creation scientist, Kent Hovind, says that ‘deliberately forget’ means ‘dumb on purpose.’ Evolution is a Godless philosophy that doesn’t hold up under present day science.

    Break free of old habits and philosophies that don’t line up with Jesus ‘ teachings. We are creatures of habit and don’t even consider changing some things. (like the place the stapler sat for years) The Bible encourages us to be flexible and respect Jesus enough to set aside wayward philosophies. Now more than ever we need take thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) There are false prophets and cults abounding, following man’s teachings instead of Jesus’. Typically doctrines distorted are: the virgin birth of Jesus, Jesus being Son of God, hell, Holy Spirit, cross, resurrection, idolatry forbidden, eternal life and respect for the Bible. At first sign of false doctrine, speak desire to move to truth. Trust Jesus to lead you to a church that believes the Bible and preaches the Gospel.

    Thank God for the individuals who followed Jesus and made it possible for future generations to know what happened way back then. Thank God for those who have fought to keep the church holy. Each change towards Jesus is a step that He will honor and bless.    

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A thought on the Love of God

    In our culture, an introduction is often followed by a handshake. The person extending his hand is saying “pleased to meet you.” It’s an impulse to shake that extended hand, and next to impossible to resist such a gesture. That’s a good thing. People need to connect. It’s built into us—a basic need is love; it’s the way God made us. The Bible tells us God is love. Jesus says the love of God should be practiced. (Luke 11:42)

    The love of God; how could anyone hope to pen this topic? Consider the size of the universe, imagine the One who made it all and realize His hand is stretched toward each person ever created in a gesture of kindness. He’s given a beautiful planet on which to live, interesting plants and animals, and people to love who love us back. He sends rains to nourish the land, and makes sure the flowers bloom. He is perfection. He sees the wrongdoing of mankind and realizes that justice demands punishment. Yet in His love He rather sends a substitute to bear the wrongs and judgment due this creation. He will have mercy and not sacrifice. All the best we can do is filthy in His eyes, yet He says the ‘just shall live by faith.’ If we repent, trust Jesus, and are born again we shall be justified on judgment day. (found to be completely innocent, free from sin charges). Praise the Lord whose mercy endures forever. He has promised an everlasting kingdom where righteousness reigns, mansions, streets of gold, peace and joy. He will personally wipe away every tear. He keeps our tears in a bottle the psalmist says. (Psalm 56:8) Our hard times are especially noticed by Him. He draws closest to the brokenhearted.

     To some who have been deeply wounded by loved ones, the love of God reaches to you saying “I will never leave or forsake you. I long to know you, I love you.” We are His precious creations, wonderfully made. Surround yourself with songs about the love of God. Receiving love again is a decision first; then action. Protective walls may have come up around the heart. The love of God bids “Trust Me.” Let the pain out and healing will come in. God is not in a hurry. Take as long as it takes to have Him restore your soul. You will have something great and of eternal value to offer others when you’ve learned to receive and give God’s love. It’s higher than the love of the world offers.

    The love of God is available at all hours of the day and night to as many as would speak to Him. He strengthens us when we are weak, makes a way out of every temptation. He never lets burdens be more than we can bear. He knows tenderness, gentleness and can calm the turmoil of life. He’s dependable and true to what He has said. His love upholds us and believes in all we could be. It beckons: “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” God’s love is free and available to all. He doesn’t prefer any one person over another. We are all equally precious, beloved, eternally loved by Him.

    Jesus promised that “Whosoever comes to Me, I will not cast out.” We are accepted, never rejected. He patiently waits our whole lifetime if necessary, if we are unsure regarding accepting His offer of forgiveness. (His extended hand awaits our ‘handshake’) He’s done all He can to show us His love. He awaits each person’s response. Nothing is forced, all is freely our decision. We receive by words. Jesus gains us access and power over the kingdom of sin and its penalty. He’s offering a forever relationship and desires a response that is long lasting.

    How many people have ever lived? How much wrongdoing has occurred? How much mercy is God extending to us? This song sung by the Daae family helps us comprehend:

The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen could ever tell/It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell/ The guilty pair bow down with care God gave His Son to win/ His erring child He reconciled and pardoned from his sin./ The love of God how rich and pure , how measureless and strong/ It shall forevermore endure the saints and angels’ song./ Could we with ink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made/ Were every stock on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade./ To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry/ Nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky.

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Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord

    A few months ago I was looking through old letters and memos for a letter I had received from England     a decade ago. While mulling through the paperwork, I noticed many memos of wonderful things that God had done in my life. Some things were in answer to prayer, some to obedience, some responses to Spirit led conversations. I decided to put all these wonderful events into one journal. It’s a treasure.

    Trust in God grows as we recall what He’s done for us. In Old Testament times, the people talked of God’s wonderful works: the wonders that impressed Pharaoh to let the people go from Egypt, and the crossing of the Red Sea were among some events. Remembering victories and rescues helped many to continue when odds were against them. Abraham was rewarded for his trust in God. Moses led thousands of people from captivity to freedom while trusting daily for food and water for the multitudes and their flocks. Daniel was kept safe in the lions’ den because he trusted in the Lord.

    There is another man who trusted in the Lord. He cared for a prophet of God when no one else did. Ebedmelech the Ethiopian lived in the king’s palace in Jerusalem around 586 B.C. Jeremiah the prophet had been having a rough time contradicting the false prophets of the day. Jeremiah declared that due to idolatry, judgment was soon to come. The people would be overtaken by the Babylonian army. The people would not change anything, rather choosing to believe the lying prophets who said there was no problem. Jeremiah was thrown into a dungeon. “In the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire…” Ebedmelech went to the king and said that the prophet would likely die in that dungeon if not rescued. The king summoned thirty men to go with Ebedmelech and get Jeremiah out of the dungeon.

    Later, we see the city seized and captives taken. Jeremiah was not harmed. Ebedmelech the Ethiopian was given this word from the Lord:”I am about to fulfill My words against this city through disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will l rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be handed over to those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in Me, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 39: 16-18)

    The Lord knows how much we trust Him. Keeping a written record of some of the answers to prayer is a blessing to us. I have only written down 33 entries in mine and it’s a tremendous trust builder. Remembering a few incidents and how hopeless everything was and then seeing the major turnaround is good for the few times readily recalled; but—take a read through the whole journal in one sitting, and trust is magnified many, many times over. Correction—it’s overwhelming. God is so good to His children; He’s a rescuer and hears the cries of the righteous. When the rest of the world is in turmoil, the word of the Lord tells us that “Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord.”

Declare Solutions

Declare the Solution, not the Problem

    I wish I’d never seen any images of the things of God. I can see why these are sinful. (Exodus 20: 4) They so limit God and demean the heavenly host to a human level. They so weaken our faith. Angels are not babies or women. They are mighty warriors.

    God is not a man. Jesus (the Word of God) became flesh for about 33 years. Paul wrote that in Him is contained all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by HIm all things consist.” Colossians 1:14-17, 19) That’s our Jesus.

    Far beyond all we can see, the universe was created by the Word of God. “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth.” (Psalm 33:6)

    Paul writes it like this: “The universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible.” (Hebrews 11:3) To Abraham, God said,” I have made you a father of many nations.” This He spoke before Abraham’s firstborn was conceived. “God calls those things which be not as though they were,” Paul tells us in Romans 4:17.

    When we become Christians, we become one Spirit with God. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is in each believer and for this reason we need to renew our minds. The ‘world’ has limited our thinking. That which is impossible to man becomes possible with God. Jesus taught us that words of faith cause things to come to be. We discipline ourselves to speak life and solutions instead of problems. Jesus’ words are spirit and life. He teaches that we need to abide or live in His words. We learn to say what God said instead of the ‘world’s’ perceptions. We combine faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love to bring God’s life to others. (2 Peter l: 3, 4)     

    We can only live the Christian life to the limit of our faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. According to our faith be it done to us. Remember you are talking to the Creator of the universe when you pray. We can ask for big things. He is able. God knows every thought and intent of every person on earth at all times. He understands all languages. He holds the seas in the cup of His hand.

    Louis Giglio’s “How Great is our God” can be heard online. It’s a great faith builder. He teaches regarding the biggest star we know about. The size is so great; we need to imagine the scale to be our earth at the size of a golf ball. Next to this, the star, to scale, would be the size of Mount Everest. How far away is it that we can barely see it? Very, very far away. Louis has some easy illustrations to help us visualize distances and sizes. All this created by the Word of God.

    Declare the wonderful works of God. Think on things above. The mind is kept in perfect peace that is stayed on Him. The cross is magnified, the world’s wisdom diminished, and our inheritance more glorious than ever. How great is our God; indeed.

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Declare the Solution, not the Problem

    I wish I’d never seen any images of the things of God. I can see why these are sinful. (Exodus 20: 4) They so limit God and demean the heavenly host to a human level. They so weaken our faith. Angels are not babies or women. They are mighty warriors.

    God is not a man. Jesus (the Word of God) became flesh for about 33 years. Paul wrote that in Him is contained all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by HIm all things consist.” Colossians 1:14-17, 19) That’s our Jesus.

    Far beyond all we can see, the universe was created by the Word of God. “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth.” (Psalm 33:6)

    Paul writes it like this: “The universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible.” (Hebrews 11:3) To Abraham, God said,” I have made you a father of many nations.” This He spoke before Abraham’s firstborn was conceived. “God calls those things which be not as though they were,” Paul tells us in Romans 4:17.

    When we become Christians, we become one Spirit with God. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is in each believer and for this reason we need to renew our minds. The ‘world’ has limited our thinking. That which is impossible to man becomes possible with God. Jesus taught us that words of faith cause things to come to be. We discipline ourselves to speak life and solutions instead of problems. Jesus’ words are spirit and life. He teaches that we need to abide or live in His words. We learn to say what God said instead of the ‘world’s’ perceptions. We combine faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love to bring God’s life to others. (2 Peter l: 3, 4)     

    We can only live the Christian life to the limit of our faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. According to our faith be it done to us. Remember you are talking to the Creator of the universe when you pray. We can ask for big things. He is able. God knows every thought and intent of every person on earth at all times. He understands all languages. He holds the seas in the cup of His hand.

    Louis Giglio’s “How Great is our God” can be heard online. It’s a great faith builder. He teaches regarding the biggest star we know about. The size is so great; we need to imagine the scale to be our earth at the size of a golf ball. Next to this, the star, to scale, would be the size of Mount Everest. How far away is it that we can barely see it? Very, very far away. Louis has some easy illustrations to help us visualize distances and sizes. All this created by the Word of God.

    Declare the wonderful works of God. Think on things above. The mind is kept in perfect peace that is stayed on Him. The cross is magnified, the world’s wisdom diminished, and our inheritance more glorious than ever. How great is our God; indeed.

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Spell-Cheque

Too Busy To Spell-cheque

    I can’t believe it’s Sept 4 and I’m still bringing in peas. I went out to pull up onions and noticed flowers on the pea plants and a half gallon that were perfect for picking. I’m not much of a gardener as the man who tills my plot will tell you. The first bunch of peas I gave to him. That impressed him as his peas didn’t grow this year and he realized I only had a 25 foot row. Maybe the giving of first fruits has yielded extra crop. My ‘garden partner’ was completely blown away by this new crop of late peas. The Lord works in mysterious ways… One thing I have noticed is that mature weeds produce many, many more seeds than mature produce.

    This reap what you sow theme is now going to get sticky. As I was working outside last week, a stranger happened by and spoke something that has stayed in my mind. He saw me cleaning graffiti off a building and asked what it had said. Pleased that it was unreadable, I couldn’t make myself say the negative slogan, so commented,”satan drules. How could anyone believe this loser angel had anything good to offer?” I mused. The stranger stated that for years the lie has been going out that people gain power from doing evil. I went back to work and considered that in my lifetime I have seen many games and propaganda aimed at kids that could certainly teach them this misconception. I’ve watched kids play pokey-man cards and desire all kinds of things in the interest of stealing someone else’s energy.

A teenager told me of a computer role playing game he lived in daily where his name was ‘revenger’ and all the other characters had phony negative names. When he went to a party with them dressed as his new character ‘vampire’ I encouraged him not to drink any blood. It’s satanic, witchcraft, not games as his mother told me.

The word ‘witchcraft’ (Galatians 5:20) translates to ‘pharmakeia’ a tie to drugs.

    Years ago an adult friend of mine was hooked on dragons and dungeons. He gained position in the game by physically stealing things and bringing them to board time.

A girl used to come to church with me. She complained one day of not being able to get a rhyme out of her head. It was a curse from a hairy potter book. I explained to her that these were not just harmless, but designed to teach young people sorcery. She loved the movies that glamorized wizardry and as far as I know those ’seeds’ haven’t been uprooted.

A piano student of mine from a decade ago came to his lesson in a marshall arts outfit one day. His mother said that he was so small she wanted him to always be able to protect himself. I asked her did she know that these sports are from unChristian roots and the participants call their teacher ‘Master’ and bow to an altar of power and false god statue? Biblically this is antichrist. (Matthew 23:8-10; Exodus 20:5) She couldn’t figure out why her kids fought so much.

Video games give points and status often for wrongdoing. I’ve heard that the Columbine shootings were a copycat off a game. There are games that teach car theft and how to be a pimp.

We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness. More than ever before, wickedness has crept into the culture, impacting the next generation with the lie that the darkness is rewarding. Jesus warned us that satan is a liar. The devil is a deceiver who wants to fool anyone he can into following him to eternal punishment.

Christian, pray for those who are captive to the enemy’s lies. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. The prayers of the righteous are powerful. Christians who have absently allowed their family to engage in these temptations simply need confess and forsake the sin. Our God is merciful. Non-Christians: Check out the New Testament section of a Bible and notice the ease with which Jesus powered out demons. Consider becoming a follower of Christ. “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God as said:”I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6: 16-18)    

As I pick the last pea in my garden for today, I muse on what an impact those weeds that have been left will make next year. If I’d nipped them early in the season, and maintained things better there would be much less of them to deal with in the future…let that be a lesson to me.    

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Friends

Friends

    Years ago we had a first nation’s man visit us often. Nearly every day he visited he would say, “If you lose me, you’ll lose the best friend you ever had.” One time another guy was visiting was well, and following his regular ‘best friend statement’ Phil added, “I would give you the shirt off my back.” Well, that inspired all three men to immediately exchange the shirts they were wearing and there it was—everybody wearing the other guy’s shirt to prove they were all friends.

    Friends do funny things. They enjoy each other’s company, look out for each other and seem to almost magnetically find themselves talking every day or so. There is trust between them, sharing of concerns, support, affection, and help when needed. It has been said, “Good friends are hard to find.’ The Bible Book of Proverbs says “a friend loves at all times. ” That sums it up well.

    There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. That’s the Spirit of God. Enoch walked with God; we assume closely in friendship, as God took him to be with Him. God spoke to Moses face to face as with a friend. Many of their topics are written early in the Bible—Exodus to Deuteronomy. Abraham was a friend of God. (Isaiah 41:8) In the New Testament we see: “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.” (James 2:23)

    It follows that those righteous by faith in Jesus can come to be friends of God, too. (Galatians 3:14-29) Jesus taught us how: “If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in HIs love. (John 15:10) “Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command.”(John 15: 13, 14)

    There’s no greater reason to live in the Gospels than this. Here we get to know Jesus.

    We see that He was a friend to publicans and sinners. These are the ones He would use to continue His work. They would have much forgiven and in turn, love much. Jesus was full of compassion to the sick and hurting. He healed all that came to Him. He was a teacher of holiness. You know He could be trusted and wouldn’t lie to you. He blessed children. He calmed the winds and seas, raised the dead, walked on water, cast out demons. He showed power over any situation.     

    We know we can talk to God about all things. We know He will never leave or forsake us and is able to turn around the most impossible predicaments.

    When we become Christians, we find prayer a hard exercise as we seem to list requests more so than commune with God. As we spend more time in worship and His Word we tune into a different prayer ‘channel’. It becomes all about Him, our concerns fade away. We only need more help to do His work better, to clearly hear His ‘voice’ and grace to obey. Later, as we go through our day, He gives us insight and wisdom that is new and helpful. We are able to do what is suggested. We can ‘hear’ and understand without using our ears. He just lets us know.

    Paul blesses his friends with:”The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” It’s all right there.

    We can be friends of God. I’ll not hesitate to say “He’s the best friend you’ll ever have.”