Month: November 2020

Don’t worry if you don’t hear God First time, He’s persistent.

Hannah (Favour, Grace) like Mary, was chosen for a special assignment which had a price tag attached (many servants of the Lord pay a price to fulfil their call). Mary was to give birth to the Messiah, the Saviour, for all people. Hannah didn’t have an angelic visitation; she had a great void in her life, no children, and a nagging rival. This rivalry became most intense every year when they went up to worship the Lord at Shiloh. Her rival, Peninnah, tormented Hannah until she wouldn’t eat the double portion with which her husband, Elkanah had blessed her. Hannah was robbed of her blessing and left in tears.

In desperation Hannah fled alone to the Tabernacle and cried out to God. The destiny of many sons and daughters may be decided when ALONE WITH GOD. Hannah came before the Lord in desperation for a son and found herself offering the child back to God, if only He would remember her and bless her.

In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. And she made a vow, saying, “O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life and no razor will ever be used on his head”. 1 Samuel 1:10, 11

Samuel was a man set apart to the Lord from before birth, with no razor ever to be used on his head.

The Priest Eli, observed Hannah’s mouth moving in heartfelt prayer and wrongly assumed she’d been drinking. Don’t be surprised if you’re misunderstood when you try to go deeper with the Lord, people may judge you from an earthly stance.

“Not so, my Lord”, Hannah replied. “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do you not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief”. 1 Samuel 1:15, 16

Hannah respected the Priest (the office he stood in) and patiently explained she was crying out to the Lord in her distress. Hannah had to surrender twice in her dilemma, first, deeply to the Lord, holding nothing back for herself. Now also to Eli, a mistaken man, but still the Lord’s representative at the Tabernacle. Her double surrender brought her blessing;

Eli answered, “Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what do you have asked of Him”. She said, “May YOUR SERVANT find favour in your eyes”. Then she went her way and ate something and her face was no longer downcast. 1 Samuel 1:17, 18

Hannah humbled herself before God and man and won the approval of both; Eli blessed her.

It’s interesting that in 1 Samuel 2:26 (and also with the Lord Himself Luke 2:52) that God’s Word records;

“And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with men”.

As we said earlier, Hannah means Favour, Grace. There was a graciousness on Hannah’s life to speak humbly and step into the blessing the Lord had for her. God later gave Hannah a further 3 sons and 2 daughters. In Israel’s earliest battles God demanded the first spoils be His, Joshua 6, 7, but Israel had to learn to give God His way. Yielding our will to His gives the best results.

God bless and keep you this day.

 

 

 

Build your relationship with the Lord now. The narrow gate is for the few. Matt 7:13 Luke 13:24

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells people to enter through the ‘narrow gate’. He’s telling His listeners not to be taking things for granted but they need to pursue this as a matter of the greatest importance. He contrasts two gates or two ways;

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13, 14

The broad road and wide gate will suit the many but only a few will FIND the small gate along the narrow road that leads to LIFE.

Further in the same chapter after Jesus’ warning to examine the fruit in people’s lives, He says not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the Kingdom (narrow gate). In particular He refers to those who claim to have ministered in His Name.

Many will say to Me (broad gate) on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles”? Then I will tell them clearly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” Matthew 7:22, 23

Ministry, even in the Lord’s Name, is not the same as, nor any substitute, for personal relationship. The earlier verses on ‘knowing a tree by it’s fruit’, show clearly that ministry may not be done with true motives.

A similar passage in Luke 13 begins with Jesus passing through towns and villages, teaching on His way to Jerusalem (Jesus is passing through and teaching as He goes). Someone asked Him if only a few would be saved?

He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to”. Luke 13:24

He told them people would try to get in after the door had been closed but the owner wouldn’t open. Those outside would give a different reason why they should be let in;

Then you will say, “We ate and drank with you and you taught in our streets”. Luke 13:26

To me this speaks of a passing interest in Jesus, we may have heard something (perhaps preaching) or even seen a miracle but then the time for Jesus had passed. Even the ‘eating and drinking’ was only a brief affair. Jesus must be more than a passing interest in our lives, competing with other attractions.

In both instances those outside could only speak of PUBLIC ENCOUNTERS, there was no mention of personal, private times with the Lord! This is so important.

Consider Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, who sat at Jesus’ feet, drinking in His Words. Martha was busy and upset with her sister for not helping, but Jesus said, ‘Mary has chosen what is better and it won’t be taken from her’. The Lord commended Mary for ‘sitting at His feet’. Luke 10:42

There are huge pressures on many lives today and many demands on our time but Jesus is calling us to come apart to Himself and be restored. To get new vision for our future, just like Barnabas and Paul in Acts 13:1, called out by the Holy Spirit as the believers worshipped and fasted. We need personal time before God, public meetings won’t advance our relationship with Him, it’s time to sit at His feet. We may well need to hear from Heaven in the days ahead.

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Give and it will be given onto you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap.

We are available to seek personal words of encouragement for those who want them. Contact us on the webpage, a donation is required for this service.

God bless and keep you today

The blessing of God is found in the secret place. Matt 6

Righteous acts done to impress, already have their reward!

Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men to be seen by them (check our motives). If you do you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matt 6:1

Jesus mentioned three different areas where people could do the right things but with wrong motives– to be seen by others, to seek to rise in others’ estimations. Nevertheless, they will be rewarded if done onto God alone!

The three areas are; 1. Giving to the needy 2. Praying 3. Fasting. If our faith is weak today perhaps we need to ask ourselves how closely we’re following Jesus’ teachings on these disciplines. Do we really believe that God will repay us for sacrificially giving, for giving up our time in prayer and missing some meals?  Many in the Western world don’t lack for material things but if an emergency occurs, faith itself may be lacking.

Jesus begins speaking in each area with the word, ‘When’, not ‘if’. There’s an expectation that we participate in obeying these spiritual demands. So when you give the needy 6:2 When you pray 6:5 When you fast 6:16.

Jesus also warns us in all three areas about not following the ‘hypocrites’, people who outwardly appear to be doing something from good intentions but actually just want be seen. False motives equals zero rewards.

Finally, Jesus talks about the Father who sees what we’re doing (think about that, Almighty God is interested in our personal spiritual walk) and is looking for ways to bless us.

Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:4, 6, 18

People are often seeking God for a blessing and Jesus says here in these verses three times, that if we’ll get into the secret place God knows it and will bless us. Perhaps we’ll also change and value time with Him more than people or the various screens in our lives.  Why not make a start today and see what particular blessings and assignments God has for our lives.

God bless and keep you today.

 

Weathering the storms of life, THE RIGHTEOUS ARE RESILIENT!

for though the righteous fall seven times, they RISE AGAIN,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. Pr 24:16 NIV

15-16 O evil man, leave the upright man alone and quit trying to cheat him out of his rights. Don’t you know that THIS GOOD MAN, though you trip him up seven times, WILL EACH TIME RISE AGAIN? But one calamity is enough to lay you low. Pr 24:15,16 TLB

15-16 Don’t interfere with good people’s lives;
don’t try to get the best of them.
No matter how many times you trip them up,
GOD-LOYAL PEOPLE DON’T STAY DOWN LONG;
SOON THEY’RE UP ON THEIR FEET,
while the wicked end up flat on their faces. Pr 24:15,16 MSG

Troubles and calamities can be a watershed moment, some people will rise and go on but others will fall and not get up.

The movie ‘Chariots of Fire’ was based on the true life story of Eric Liddell, born to a missionary family in Tientsin, China, but with a great gift of running. ‘God has made me fast and when I run I feel His pleasure!’

In one scene in the movie, at an international event in Edinburgh, Liddell was shunted by an opponent and fell. Amazingly he got to his feet again and won the race and the Scottish crowd went wild with delight. Have you ever thought that there are people in heaven watching us and cheering us on, urging us to get back into the race of life?

Eric Liddell faced many challenges, especially over his faith. He wouldn’t run on the Sabbath and refused to compete in a heat for the 100 metres in the Paris Olympics 1924. It seemed as if his opportunity to run had gone, but then another member of the British team stepped aside and allowed Liddell to take his place in the 400 metre race. Eric Liddell was handed a note by one of the team masseurs before the race, ‘He who honours Me I will honour 1 Sam 2:30, Wishing you the best of success always’. Once again Liddell won the race in a new World and Olympic Record time and received an Olympic Gold medal. God truly had made this man fast and he fulfilled his God given potential that day.

Eric Liddell finished his life as a missionary in Weixian, China and he later died in a Japanese internment camp, on 21 February 1945. He had an inoperable brain tumour, but was greatly involved in the activities of the camp to the end. Before the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the Chinese authorities claimed that Liddel had turned down an opportunity to leave the camp and given his place to a pregnant woman. His last recorded words were, ‘It’s complete surrender’.

Heaven is watching and cheering us on, GET UP AND FINISH THE RACE!

God bless and keep you today.

Do not let your hearts be troubled (don’t be upset/worried), trust Him. John 14:1, 27

Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure and so He tells them twice in John 14, ‘Don’t let your hearts be troubled’. He was about to be crucified and they were about to be scattered, but He’s telling them, ‘don’t be troubled’. John 14:1 gives the answer, ‘trust in God, trust also in Me’. Things may look as if they are falling apart or have fallen apart, BUT GOD! But God still has the answer if we’re willing to listen to Him.

We’re all on a journey, our life’s journey and God knows the way we take. The situation we are facing may have been engineered by God to allow Him to deal with something or take us to the next level.

Hannah was a very troubled woman. She was childless because ‘the Lord had closed her womb’. 1 Samuel 1:5 Her rival, Peninnah, who had children, kept provoking her but her husband loved her and she cried much. Hannah had to pay a price to be a Godly woman, she experienced a lot of deep hurt and taunting from someone close to her. Hannah didn’t know why she was suffering so much pain, it hadn’t been revealed to her. Eventually she was so distraught that she went and poured out her heart in anguish before God. She came to the place where she made a pledge to God, if He’d give her a son then she’d give him to God all the days of his life. The future of God’s people was at stake and God needed a man who would be fully His and that man was Samuel. Hannah had to pay a price and suffer before God’s answer was revealed.

Another man, Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king was troubled in a different way. He’d had a dream and knew it was important but he couldn’t understand it(once more someone who didn’t understand what was happening). He ordered his wisemen, magicians and enchanters to TELL HIM THE DREAM AND INTERPRET IT! When God sets something up the wisdom of this world can’t deal with it. He locks it up so that only He can reveal it and through who ever He’s chosen, in this case a Jewish exile, Daniel. God gave Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation of the dream and introduced him to Daniel and his friends. God was moving the situation around in the king’s court in Babylon to give His people a voice/influence.

God is working out His purposes for the coming Kingdom and His King. We have come here to earth for such a time as this and the plans for our lives will match with His when we’re willing to surrender our lives to God’s greater purpose.

He knows the way that we take, trust Him.

God bless and keep you today.

Don’t lose a minute, build on what you’ve been given. 2 Peter 1:5 MSG

After Jesus washed the disciples’ feet He made a very poignant statement;

He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me. John 13:18b; Psalm 41:9

Jesus was fully aware that the devil was at work right in the midst of His own disciples. He knew that Judas was going to betray Him, the man who shared the Lord’s bread with Him. Satan used someone close to Jesus (and also King David, two of his sons) to try and destroy Him. Jesus said at the beginning of the same verse, John 13:18a, ‘I am not referring to you all (they weren’t all guilty); I know those I have chosen’. The Lord has chosen each of us individually, but we do have free choices to make. He and the Father love us unconditionally, as I shared yesterday about nurse Edith Cavell, but the devil has a season during our time on earth to try and lure us away from the Lord.

Peter must have been thinking of this when he wrote, or the Spirit dictated, his second epistle;

Don’t put it off

3-4 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

5-9 So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

10-11 So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, his choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:3-11 MSG

God’s invitation is just the beginning, we have to walk and live out the path chosen for each of us. God has called us and will help us step by step along the way, until eternity, never to be separated again.

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We are available to seek personal words of encouragement for those who wish them. Contact us on the webpage, a donation is required for this service.

God bless and keep you.

Did Jesus wash Judas’ feet? Very probably, Yes. John 13

John’s Gospel is the only one that records for us the washing of the disciples feet by Jesus. In the midst of John’s account we see Judas’ name mentioned twice. Jesus knew who was going to betray Him and he alluded to this when he told Peter, ‘You are clean, though not every one of you’.

The crucifixion was public and for the world, but the feet washing was private, after their last meal together, one final example for His disciples to remember and imitate. After Jesus had finished washing their feet, He asked them;

“Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them(the Blessing is in the Doing)”. John 13:12-17

By His actions, before the crucifixion, Jesus showed that there was nothing too low for us His followers to do for Him. But if He did wash Judas’ feet, His betrayer, then we are also called to show the God kind of Love to even our enemy.

Edith Louisa Cavell (4 December 1865 – 12 October 1915) was the daughter of an Anglican vicar and a British nurse. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from both sides without discrimination and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during the First World War, for which she was arrested. She was accused of treason, found guilty by a court-martial and sentenced to death. Despite international pressure for mercy, she was shot by a German firing squad. Her execution received worldwide condemnation and extensive press coverage.

The night before her execution, she said, “Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.” These words were later inscribed on a memorial to her near Trafalgar Square. She was quoted as saying, ‘ I can’t stop while there are lives to be saved(a good motto for Christians)”. She became the most prominent British female casualty of the First World War.

Edith Cavell’s remains were returned to Britain after the war and as the ship bearing the coffin arrived in Dover, a full peal was rung on the bells of the parish church. The peal was notable: “Rung with the bells deeply muffled with the exception of the Tenor, in token of respect to Nurse Cavell, whose body arrived at Dover during the ringing and rested in the town till the following morning. Several of the ringers were ex-soldiers, one having been a prisoner of war for eight months”. Deep (or full) muffling is normally only used for the deaths of sovereigns. A peal using the same method, with the bells half muffled, was rung for the centenary of her repatriation(still honoured 100 years later). After an overnight pause in the parish church the body was conveyed to London and a state funeral was held at Westminster Abbey. (Quoted from article on Wikipedia)

Edith Clavell had to die to self, her own natural tendencies and I believe Jesus exemplified that for us at the washing of the disciples feet, including Judas. God’s Love, Agape Love, doesn’t have any prejudice, it loves all and serves all without conditions.

God bless and keep you.

God cares for the broken-hearted and the crushed in spirit.

Jesus was touched by the sorrow of those around the tomb of Lazarus, even though He’d come to raise him. John 11:33

Sometimes people can be deeply wounded on the inside, nothing visible outwardly, but God sees and cares for us.

In the Beatitudes, the second group mentioned in Matt 5:4;

Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.

This was a direct quote from Isaiah 61, Jesus’ manifesto;

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to PREACH GOOD NEWS to the poor. He has sent me to BIND UP the broken-hearted, … To COMFORT all who mourn, and PROVIDE FOR those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a CROWN OF BEAUTY instead of ashes, the OIL OF GLADNESS instead of mourning and the GARMENT OF PRAISE instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:1–3

Tender words for those who are hurting today! Some of us may need to take steps and change our disposition or natural inclination and decide to ‘put on the garment of PRAISE’ in place of spirit of despair. Deliberately turn and PRAISE God when we’re feeling despair, even through our tears.

David also wrote about the loving-kindness of God in his psalms as he went through his many trials;

I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. Psalm 38:8

The Lord is CLOSE to the broken-hearted and SAVES those who are crushed in spirit(Amen, yes Lord). Psalm 34:18

The Lord is NEAR to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. Psalm 145:18

Proverbs also speaks to those dealing with heartache;

A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear? Proverbs 18:14

A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Heartache can affect our physical wellbeing, so it should only be for a season, until we can take up our lives again.

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a KIND WORD cheers him up. Proverbs 12:25

We can help others through times of heartache by what we say to them, speak kindly and considerately to any who may be hurting around you today.

There is a beautiful passage in Isaiah 25, God’s promise to a suffering and hurting humanity;

On this mountain the Lord almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine – the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the Earth. The Lord has spoken. Isaiah 25:6-8

May God bless and keep you today as we wait for His coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

God’s Word is a Living Resource for His people, use it and be blessed.

We saw yesterday in John 12:41 that Isaiah the prophet had seen the Lord’s glory coming hundreds of years before it happened. The Lord also used him to encourage His people in difficult and testing times.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

We can personalise God’s Word (God’s Authority) for ourselves and speak it over our own situations;

I do or will not fear, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME. I am not dismayed FOR YOU ARE MY GOD. We can even shorten it more …YOU ARE WITH ME, YOU ARE MY GOD, YOU STRENGTHEN AND HELP ME, YOU UPHOLD ME. God’s Word spoken into and over our lives releases His authority and reminds us that the Living God is our source, not ourselves.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those WHO HOPE IN OR WAIT FOR THE LORD WILL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29–31

Even the naturally strong grow weary, but God’s strength is far beyond human capacity. The secret is to turn to the Lord for His Strength and speak it over our lives again and again until it takes root in our spirit. In this day our minds our continually filled with words and thoughts directly opposing the Kingdom of God. Speaking God’s Word, so that our ears can hear it, packs it deep down inside us. Children used to learn multiplication tables and if they were fortunate, some Bible verses by rote or repeating them over and over. Today this has fallen out of favour, but not with other religions, were children are still indoctrinated in their teachings. The Word of God is a wonderful resource if believers would only begin to look into it and lay hold of it for themselves.

My son, KEEP my words and STORE UP my commands within you. KEEP my commands and you will live; GUARD my teachings as the apple of your eye. BIND Them on your fingers; WRITE Them on the tablet of your heart. Prov 7:1–3

FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND ACTIVE. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4: 12

The Living Word is our two-edged sword and we need it to fight our battles in this world. No Word, No Sword!

God bless and keep you today and may His Word become alive in your heart.

 

 

Isaiah saw; the religious couldn’t see and some who did see didn’t want anyone to know. John 12

Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no-one who sees me should stay in darkness”. John 12:46

The previous verses are also significant. Then Jesus cried out,“When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me he sees the one who sent me”. John 12:44,45

When Christ is revealed to us we are also seeing the Father.

We saw on Friday that Jesus urged the people to become ‘sons (and daughters) of light’. John 12:36 Yet there was conflict for people to recognise His Light and come to Him.

We cannot come to the Lord on our own! We can only come as the Lord draws us.

Isaiah saw the Lord’s glory 700years before He came to earth;

Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus glory and spoke about him. John 12:41

Amazing to think that a man saw the Lord such a long way down the line of history and so clearly.

Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? John 12:38

He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with the hearts, nor turn – and I would heal them. John 12:40

Both these verses are direct quotes from the prophet Isaiah.

The religious were unable or didn’t want to see, they wanted things left as they were with them running the show. God had different plans and nothing nor no one could stop Him. Will there be a similar conflict before the Lord returns again – I believe so? ‘The harlot church will be the greatest enemy of the true bride’. Derek Prince.

It’s a wonderful gift to be able to see Jesus as God, but that’s not the end of the story in John;

Yet at the same time many among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. John 12:42, 43

It’s possible to ‘SEE or KNOW THE LORD’ and yet value the things of the here and now more than the Lord. We may be reluctant to step outside the bounds of those around us and declare for Him and confess Him as Lord. Jesus is that ‘precious pearl beyond price’, we have to declare for Him and serve Him now to be with Him in eternity. May God give us courage to stand for him in this time just as Isaiah did in his day.

God bless and keep you.