Month: May 2024

⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30

Make sure you’re fighting the right battles and not standing with the wrong people.

David fled Israel because Saul continually sought to take his life. He went to live in the land of Israel’s enemies the Philistines and served a king called Achish there. Then he found himself having to go with Achish to fight against his own people Israel, but the Lord prevented him from shedding the blood of his countrymen.

David was a warrior and was trained to fight, we could say it was, ‘in his blood’. In fact on the one occasion when he didn’t go out to battle with his troops he got into serious trouble. 2 Samuel 11 But David soon had a battle of his own to fight, against the Amalekites, who plundered his camp and kidnapped his wives and families.

We are living in very troubled times and the enemy is provoking many people, including Believers to rise up and take matters into their own hands, but we must be very careful not to be deceived nor distracted by all around us.

⁸ and David ENQUIRED OF THE LORD, ‘Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?’

‘Pursue them,’ he answered. ‘You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.’

We see the human side of David, distraught at all that’s happened to his family and his people. (It’s interesting that David had done this very thing to others many times). But David didn’t dare move without seeking God’s seal of approval on his mission, even though he was a valiant warrior and his precious wives had been kidnapped. Sometimes the very area where we are strongest can be our greatest danger! There were many fortunate turns of events in this rescue which spoke of God’s Hand with His chosen leader.

The enemy is doing all in his power to stir people up in these days and to cause chaos amongst the nations. We as believers must be very careful not to be drawn into unrest without the Lord sanctioning it. There may well be times coming when we have to take a stand, but David only stood for his people and with God’s sanction. We’d be wise to do the same in tempestuous times.

The Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

Some things we should AVOID according to the wisdom in Proverbs.

¹⁴ Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.
¹⁵ Avoid it, (The Path of the Wicked) do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶ For they cannot rest until they do evil;
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. Proverbs 4

There are people we should not walk with if we want God’s will for our lives, even some within the Body and our places of worship!

¹² Mockers resent correction,
    so they avoid the wise. Proverbs 15

Some people do not want to receive wise counsel. Derek Prince said God only speaks to those who are teachable.

⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. Proverbs 16

Bobby Connor said recently that the greatest need in the Church in America today is the Fear of the Lord.

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives. Proverbs 16

God has given us all free will, the power to choose. We must learn to guard what He has given us so we can receive all the more He has for us. There’s always more for the children of the King.

³ It is to one’s honour to avoid strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel. Proverbs 20

Mrs Robin Bullock while preaching once said, ‘we should avoid strife like a snake’ and never allow it into our homes or churches. Good advice.

¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence;
    so avoid anyone who talks too much. Proverbs 20

Again, ‘anyone’ includes people within the Church and not just those outside. Sadly it is a fact that church gatherings may be more ‘talking shops’ than places where people seek to come into the Lord’s presence.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

³⁸ ‘Teacher,’ said John, ‘we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.’

³⁹ ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said. ‘For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for ‘WHOEVER’ IS NOT AGAINST US IS FOR US. Mark 9

Jesus corrected His disciples for stopping someone using His Name to help people. Interesting, that an unsaved man (before the crucifixion) could still deliver people by the authority in Jesus’ Name. Also Jesus acknowledged that the man had done something miraculous through His Name.

Anne and I met someone very different yesterday when we’d gone out for a walk. We walked around an outdoor shopping precinct and then went for some tea in one of the cafes. While there a man in full length blue robes and a silver cross hanging around his neck entered with his son-in-law. As they passed close by our table I spoke to him and he told us he was from Nazareth, the very place where the Lord grew up. I told him we had been there and they were quite surprised. We chatted for a short time and then he said, ‘God bless you’ and we wished the same to him.

This man was probably a Greek Orthodox priest visiting his daughter in Ireland. It was nice to chat to a stranger and end with mutual blessings in the Lord’s Name. I believe that our meeting, though brief, was a God given appointment as we never walk in that area, just on this one occasion. (The great east-west schism between the Catholic and Orthodox Church took place in 1054 and is still not fully restored to this day! CAN BE EASY TO DISAGREE, BUT HARDER TO MAKE UP.) Religion loves to argue and bicker, often about trivial things. Many times people forget what they argued over, though still separated years later.

⁴ “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12

One of the marks of the last days in the Book of Daniel is, ‘increased travel’ and both we and this priest have experienced such travel. My hope is that one day in eternity we may meet again and remember our brief connection in a small cafe in N.Ireland.

May the Lord bless and keep you today, just as the priest wished Anne and I. Immanuel, God is with us.

⁹ The light of the righteous shines brightly,
    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. Proverbs 13

Some thoughts about walking in the Light beginning in Proverbs 13.

God’s word talks about LIGHT and DARKNESS, but the Righteous, those who know and walk with the Lord are always associated with the LIGHT, INDEED WE’RE SUPPOSED TO SHINE WITH THE LIGHT OF GOD! There’s an account of Smith Wigglesworth sitting in a train carriage, I believe with two clergymen. One of them said that he felt chastened or convicted by the light coming from Smith Wigglesworth’s presence in the carriage. LORD LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE FROM US YOUR PEOPLE SO OTHERS MAY KNOW YOU!

Two further scriptures on Light for the Righteous.

¹⁸ The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
¹⁹ But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4

The Light on our paths should shine brighter as we continue on them, Hallelujah. As we continue walking with the Lord and growing in His likeness, we can grow in understanding of Him and His Kingdom. There should be a PROGRESSION IN KINGDOM LIGHT AND KNOWLEDGE. 

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – HIS GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL. Romans 12

God always has more for us if we’re willing to seek Him and others may tell us what we carry when we do. Smith Wigglesworth said he never prayed for more than half an hour, but he never went half an hour without praying. We don’t need to make a formula of this, but simply be fellowshipping more with the Lord during our daily lives.

⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. ¹⁰ Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 1 John 2

We must walk in Love, God’s Love, to walk in His Light. Hatred and bitterness will block His presence from our lives. God is a God of love, even on the cross He petitioned His Father to, ‘forgive them, for they know not what they do’.

‘Betrayal is what people do to us and is external. Bitterness is what you do to yourself and is internal. A wound is when somebody hurts you but a wound gets healed and becomes a scar and a scar becomes a testimony. When people say I can’t talk about something, then it’s still a wound. After the resurrection Jesus showed His scars and it helped people. Wounds that are neglected become infected. If we don’t heal our wounds through forgiveness and with the help of the Holy Spirit, they become infected and bitterness occurs.’ Quote (approximate wording) from Vlad Savchuk on a reel.

May the Lord be with us today and help us to walk in increasing light and knowledge of Himself.

⁸ So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land INTO A GOOD AND SPACIOUS LAND, A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY – the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Exodus 3

God didn’t just bring Israel out of Egypt, the Land of Slavery, but He brought them into an inheritance the ‘Land of Milk and Honey’. This phrase is used twenty five times in scripture; God left Israel in no doubt about the beauty and abundance of the land He had chosen for them. The enemy has been Riding Roughshod (Bullying, ill treating and even killing) many people today, but God is moving once again to rescue people from his hand.

God’s first step was to speak to one man in the desert through a burning bush. God uses chosen people to assault the strongholds of darkness in this world. Firstly he chose a man, Abraham, then a family, through Jacob and in Exodus He rescued a nation by a reluctant Moses. In the present time some are willing and some reluctant to partner with God, but the stakes are increasing. This time He intends to use the Church to begin the deliverance of planet earth from the hands of the enemy.

God chose a beautiful inheritance for His people Israel, under the Covenant of the Law given on Mount Sinai, but we have a better Covenant!

¹⁶ From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1

Israel had to try and keep God’s Law in their own strength, but we have God’s Spirit indwelling us to help us do His will. Israel faced powerful enemies and still do to this day, but God has kept them and brought them back to the land He swore to give to them. We too face pressures and struggles but the enemy is losing ground all the time despite the false narrative all around us. Israel eventually came into times of great blessings and peace when they defeated those who opposed them. The Church faces battles on many fronts at present but there will be a time of peace and blessing after God gives us our inheritance. God is faithful and He will do it.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.

¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. Philippians 4

We’ve already looked at these verses from Philippians 4 earlier this week, when we read the unction of the Spirit to Rejoice. Paul acknowledged to his readers his willing repetition of this instruction to, ‘Rejoice in the Lord’.

³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20

This was part of Paul’s farewell to the elders of the church of Ephesus. He also urged these elders to be faithful in giving and reminded them how he himself had worked to help support the poor. We have many opportunities to help with the work of the Church by giving of our time and talents. Some people are specially gifted with the ministry of helps in the body, for example Dorcas whom Peter raised from the dead. The church of that day didn’t just give up on Dorcas, they believed God could bring her back to life through the apostle. God is repeating this more often in present times and I believe we are on the verge of seeing many powerful miracles again, even greater than the early Church.

³⁶ In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. ³⁷ About that time she became ill and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. ³⁸ Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, ‘Please come at once!’

³⁹ Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood round him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Acts 9

Dorcas was noted for her generosity in helping others in the Church, this was intentional and was her ministry within the body. Many widows mourned her passing because of her kindness to them. She was a dearly loved and respected member within that Church. The Lord’s words quoted by Paul to the Philippians applied to Dorcas, ‘It is MORE BLESSED TO GIVE than to receive’. This sort of attitude cuts right across the thinking of the world we live in, but we should look for opportunities to give.

Kathie Walters always asks the Lord if there’s someone she should speak to when she enters a restaurant and she’s had some remarkable experiences. She once paid for lunch for a table of young people who were obviously gay. When they learned she was a Christian they wept, because they’d never been shown love, only abuse by believers before. God wants to use all of us in sharing the GOOD NEWS AND LOVE OF CHRIST. Please take time to ask Him where we can help contribute to the Kingdom today.

Lord help us not to judge the shortcomings of others and to see the value of living souls.

May the Lord bless and keep you this day. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

⁶ Do not be anxious ABOUT ANYTHING, (There’s nothing God can’t handle) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4

DON’T BE ANXIOUS OR AFRAID, LOOK UP TO GOD!

Paul touched on many things in his letter to the Philippians and to us. Our HEAVENLY FATHER wants us to know His Peace in every situation we face. Do I always have it in my life? No, but I believe it’s always available if I stop looking to myself and invite Him to help resolve the problem.

²⁵ ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Matthew 6

GOD IS INTERESTED IN YOUR BASIC NEEDS AND THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN JUST GETTING BY!

It’s interesting that the Lord wanted to reassure people from the very outset of His ministry that God CARED FOR HIS CHILDREN.

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Jesus was bringing completely new understanding to His listeners sitting around Him by the Sea of Galilee. The God whom they only served by Law given on Mount Sinai, was now to be known as a Father who cared for them. Many people in the Church of today still live as though under Law, trying to please their Father by good works.

¹⁵ ‘Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles –
¹⁶ the people living in darkness
    have seen a GREAT LIGHT; 
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
    a light has dawned.’ Matthew 4, quoted from Isaiah 9:1, 2

Jesus final words on the Father’s care and provision for His children moves on from the basics of life to future needs. God was willing and able to help in situations they weren’t yet aware of.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6

Many of the things we’re inclined to worry about will never come to pass so we shouldn’t bother with them. But our Heavenly Father, yours and mine, is much bigger than anything that will come our way.

We’re not called to be chickens, looking down and  scratching in the dirt, but eagles who soar and ride the thermals with the King of this universe. Amen

May the Lord bless and keep you today and every day. Immanuel, God our Father is with us.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Philippians 4

Paul repeatedly uses the word REJOICE in his letter to the Philippians. He tells them to REJOICE IN THE LORD (they and we should Rejoice because of all that  we have in Christ). He tells them to Rejoice ALWAYS, NOT JUST WHEN WE FEEL LIKE IT. Believers cannot be governed by our feelings or emotions because there will be times when we won’t want to Rejoice and if anyone experienced such occasions it was Paul.

¹⁰ I REJOICED GREATLY IN THE LORD that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

Paul rejoiced for the support he’d received from the Philippians, but it must have been a long time coming, because he said, ‘at last you renewed your concern for me’. He was their spiritual father but the help was a long time coming. Like many of us, the apostle Paul had to learn patience and wait for God’s provision. (Yet what a relief when it finally came!)

¹⁷ Not that I am looking for a gift; but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

Paul saw beyond his own needs and tells the Church that their gifts will in turn be recorded in Heaven and ‘Credited to them’. What is given sincerely to the Lord here will be ours in eternity, Paul confirmed this to the Philippians.

³⁷ ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?”

⁴⁰ ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BRETHREN OF MINE, YOU DID FOR ME.” Matthew 25

Jesus told the same truth to those listening to Him in the Galilee and beyond. When you help those who are mine, you help Me.

Paul could REJOICE DOUBLY when his own needs were finally met, but also that his spiritual children would be credited with helping him. We can share in this also when we give to the Lord and His Kingdom here in our day.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

² I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to AGREE WITH EACH OTHER IN THE LORD. Philippians 4

Paul says a lot of very powerful things in Philippians, especially towards the end of the Book, but in the midst of them he suddenly addresses a fractured relationship between two ladies. He says they both contended with him for the Gospel, but he’s concerned that something has come between them. Paul, and the Lord, are concerned for relationships between individuals in the body. He urges them to AGREE IN THE LORD, seeking for restoration of relationship in the Body of Christ.

³ Yes, and I ask you, my true companion (loyal yokefellow, another labourer for the Gospel), help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Paul asks another co-worker to help mend the division, perhaps someone who knows both of them and is willing to help. The Bible is a very honest book, it doesn’t gloss over character flaws or the sins of God’s people. In the middle of his discourse, Paul is driven back to the need to try to restore unity between two individuals. This shows how important personal relationships are within the body and yet we know there’s much division which is dishonouring to the Lord.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ LET YOUR GENTLENESS BE EVIDENT TO ALL. THE LORD IS NEAR!

Paul, by the Spirit continues to urge Gentleness within the Body of Believers, because the LORD IS NEAR. We all have different characters and some stronger and some softer, but Paul warns us to be careful because the Lord sees and knows how we treat others. 

¹⁰ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there be no divisions among you and that you BE PERFECTLY UNITED IN MIND AND THOUGHT. ¹¹ My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 1 Corinthians 1

Division within the Body is a breeding ground for all kinds of strife to enter. A United Church cannot be defeated from outside, but can be defeated by division within and that’s why the Spirit of the Lord repeatedly urges us to be united in Christ.

¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians 1

The Godhead is always in unity and the Spirit seeks for this unity in the Body, it’s so important we recognise Christ’s Body and remember that the LORD IS NEAR.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
    two things have I heard:
 that you, O God, ARE STRONG,
¹²  and that you, O Lord, ARE LOVING. Psalm 62 of David 

The Psalms are a favourite book of many people, but I imagine that they often came out of very trying circumstances in the life of David. It’s so easy for us today to read quickly through a short psalm and be unaware of the dangers and pressures which David faced that gave birth to his writings. The word ‘Selah – Pause and Consider’ doesn’t occur in this psalm but we can miss so much of the heart of David’s conversations with God by skimming through his psalms.

In physical training today there’s an acronym called TUT which stands for ‘Time Under Tension’. Some personal trainers are recommending that their clients SLOW DOWN and focus more on proper form and duration rather than pushing out larger numbers of Sloppy Repetitions. Perhaps we Believers would also benefit from adopting a SLOWER AND DEEPER PACE in our times before the Lord and not just ticking boxes for daily Bible readings.

David reveals much of his heart in this psalm before he comes to the lines above. He’s often seeking the Lord in difficult situations, when his very life is under threat, but by the end of his psalms he’s usually encouraged and magnifying the Lord above the circumstances facing him. His change of view only  matures as he becomes aware that the Mighty God is with him and Loves him greatly. May we too be encouraged like David as we rest quietly before the Lord until we also are assured of His great power and love for us.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.