Seven Promises in Him

Join Our Pastor Ray as he shares on the Seven Promises

7 Promises ‘In Christ’…

You know one of the most amazing things I find is the way that God talks to us. If we dwell on the fact that He is all powerful and everlasting… then it’s even more incredible that He would take time to talk to you and I.

One of the ways He shares His heart with us, is through His word.

Look at this scripture in the book of Ephesians: …and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…. One of the incredible things here is that the scripture speaks in the past tense – isn’t that amazing…. We have already been raised up into heavenly places with Christ!!!

Have you ever come across the expression “In Christ” or “in Him”?  So… what does “In Christ” or “in Him” mean?   It simply means how we behave as Christians here on Earth.  In other words, the way we walk our Christian path on a daily basis. As we obey God (or His Godly principles), we are walking “In Christ” or “In Him”. The more we walk in His principles – the more we are ‘in Him’.  When we miss the mark with Him in our walk, we are no longer “In Christ” or “In Him”.

I’d like you to do something positive for yourself in the next few days and spend a bit of quiet time on the following encouraging 7 promises:

No Condemnation

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. Are we feeling condemned over any issue? – no need – as we walk in Christ there is no condemnation.

Free from our sinful nature

“…Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death”. There is no longer any need for us to do things the way we do them – we have a new nature – in Christ.

Our new nature is in Christ

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive”. Our new nature (which desires to follow God) is in Christ.

Never separated from God

“…nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. What a wonderful promise – we are safely in His hands!

No partiality

“… for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. The Lord sees all His children as equal.

We will walk in good works planned by God for us

“…created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them”. We may have many plans but God has already ordained our steps.

His promises to us are guaranteed

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore, also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us”.

Notice here that each of these 7 promises applies if we are ‘in Him’ or ‘In Christ’. Trying to imagine what ‘In Him’ means could be very difficult and complicated for you and I. However, as we’ve shared before, God’s word is never complicated when He opens it up to us, by the power of His Spirit.

God needs to control our walk here on Earth, until Jesus returns. As we walk ‘In Him’ (or according to His principles), He is able to bless us. Let’s see confirmation of this in the Psalms: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.

Lastly, if we’re are finding it difficult to stay ‘in Him’ on a daily basis, remember that it’s God’s doing that we find ourselves ‘in Him’ – not any work of our own. We can strive to be good Christians daily, but we will fail at some point, until we learn that it is Christ in us, who gives us the strength to change.

Thanks for this blessed time together – may the Master richly bless your week ahead – until we meet again – blessings

From: “…time with the Master…”

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“…time with the Master…”

Insurance or Assurance?

Insurance and Assurance… Psa.139

There are times in all our lives when things are very difficult. The more we focus on these things, it seems the worse they get – know what I mean? If we could take our focus off those situations and dwell on something positive, it would really help. I find looking in God’s word for a few minutes really helps to bring peace to an unsettling time. I had a look at Psalm 139 the other day and was led to personalize the words and then just let them flow over me for a few minutes. Join me as we see together, the depth of what the Lord showed me:

“Lord, You know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every moment of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it enters my mind.

You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I’ll take, before my journey even begins.

You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me, to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me.

This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me, brings me wonder and strength. Where could I go from your Spirit? Where could I run and hide from your face?

If I go up to heaven, you’re there! If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too! If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there! If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting!

Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me. It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night.

There is no such thing as darkness with you. The night, to you, is as bright as the day; there’s no difference between the two.

You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex!

Everything you do is marvellously breath taking. It simply amazes me to think about it!

How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skilfully shaping me from nothing into something.

You saw who you created me to be, before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me, were already recorded in your book.

Every single moment, you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought!

O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me”.

The Lord’s Word encourages us. Let’s spend more time in the positive place of His word and allow His Spirit to open wonderful pearls for us. In a quiet place – pick the words of a psalm and personalize them – say them aloud to God and you’ll be amazed what He will share with you!

The great I AM, is the great I AM, but yet He is not too great to share His heart with you and I on a personal level. There never has been, nor ever will be, a Father who knows His children, as He knows each one of us. Be encouraged – our Father never leaves our side.

I pray that the Master will share His heart with you this week, as He never has before – be blessed – until next time.

From: “…time with the Master…”

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“…time with the Master…”

Make Time to Take Time

 

YOU KNOW, I’VE NEVER CONSIDERED MYSELF TO BE MECHANICALLY MINDED. YES, I’VE WIRED PLUGS AND CHANGED THE OIL IN MY CAR BUT WHENEVER IT CAME TO MORE COMPLICATED REPAIRS – LIKE FIXING BROKEN WATER PIPES OR RENEWING BRAKE PADS  – I QUICKLY CALLED THE EXPERTS. BUT THAT CHANGED ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS AGO WHEN ONE DAY I WATCHED MY FATHER-IN-LAW REPAIR HIS LAWNMOWER. I SAID TO HIM “WOW, YOU ARE SO GOOD AT REPAIRING THINGS. I’VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.” IN HIS USUAL FORTHRIGHT MANNER, HE SHOT BACK AND SAID, “THAT’S BECAUSE YOU DON’T TAKE THE TIME.”

HIS WORDS ACTUALLY CHANGED MY THINKING. 

NOW, WHENEVER I ENCOUNTER A PROBLEM – WHETHER IT IS MY CAR OR MY LAWNMOWER OR WHATEVER, I TRY TO TAKE THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT AND MAKE THE EFFORT TO DO MY BEST TO SOLVE IT – AND YOU KNOW WHAT –  IT OFTEN WORKS! BUT OVER THE YEARS I HAVE LEARNT THAT THIS APPROACH IS NOT ONLY APPLICABLE TO REPAIRING PIPES, CARS OR LAWNMOWERS – TOO OFTEN WE DON’T TAKE THE TIME TO SOLVE MANY OF LIFE’S CHALLENGES – LIKE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND DOING SOMETHING WELL OR CAREFULLY.  

YOU MAY RECOGNISE THE SONG IN THE BACKGROUND. IT’S ONE OF MY FAVOURITES FROM THE 60’S BY PERCY SLEDGE CALLED “TAKE TIME TO KNOW HER”. IT’S ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WHO CAN’T WAIT TO GET MARRIED TO HIS GIRLFRIEND BUT HIS MOTHER PLEADS WITH HIM “SON, TAKE TIME TO KNOW HER. IT’S NOT AN OVERNIGHT THING. TAKE TIME TO KNOW HER. PLEASE, DON’T RUSH INTO THIS THING.” BUT HE DOESN’T LISTEN TO HER AND GETS MARRIED. AND THEN HE – AS THE SONG GOES “CAME HOME A LITTLE EARLY ONE NIGHT….” NO PRIZES FOR GUESSING WHAT HAPPENED!  

A WISE MAN ONCE WROTE; “ONE OF THE TRAGIC CASUALTIES OF OUR AGE HAS BEEN THAT OF THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE—A LIFE THAT THINKS, THINKS THINGS THROUGH…. A PERSON SITTING AT HIS DESK AND STARING OUT OF THE WINDOW WOULD NEVER BE ASSUMED TO BE WORKING. NO! THINKING IS NOT EQUATED WITH WORK. YET, HAD NEWTON UNDER HIS TREE, OR ARCHIMEDES IN HIS BATHTUB BOUGHT INTO THAT PREJUDICE, SOME NATURAL LAWS WOULD STILL BE UP IN THE AIR, OR BURIED UNDER AN IMMOVABLE ROCK.”¹

BUT YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT NEW ADVICE! KING SOLOMON WAS SAID TO BE THE WISEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED AND HE WROTE A BOOK CALLED PROVERBS AND IT’S A REAL GOLD MINE OF WISDOM. LISTEN TO SOME OF HIS GOLD NUGGETS ABOUT THIS SUBJECT OF TAKING THE TIME. FOR EXAMPLE, IN PROVERBS 21 HE ADVISES: “BRILLIANT IDEAS PAY OFF AND BRING YOU PROSPERITY, BUT MAKING HASTY, IMPATIENT DECISIONS WILL ONLY LEAD TO FINANCIAL LOSS.” AND YOU KNOW WHAT? SOLOMON EVEN INSTRUCTS US TO STOP WHAT WE ARE DOING, BEND DOWN AND “CONSIDER THE WAYS” OF THE TINY, HARD WORKING ANT (PROVERBS 6:6). THE WORD “CONSIDER” MEANS TO CONTINUALLY TURN SOMETHING OVER IN YOUR MIND AND IN SO DOING YOU BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND. ACTUALLY THIS WORD “CONSIDER” WAS USED OF ANCIENT ASTRONOMERS TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEY DID TO SEEK AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD DO? THEY WOULD LIE ON THEIR BACKS IN A FIELD ALL NIGHT AND “CONSIDER” THE HEAVENS AS IT UNFOLDED  BEFORE THEM IN THOUSANDS OF SMALL DOTS OF LIGHT.

YOU KNOW, NOTHING RANKS HIGHER FOR MENTAL DISCIPLINE THAN REGULAR STUDY OF GOD’S WORD, BUT HAVE YOU GIVEN UP READING THE BIBLE BECAUSE YOU FIND IT BORING, IRRELEVANT OR TOO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND? DO YOU RUSH THROUGH YOUR BIBLE STUDY?

THE GREAT ENGLISH PREACHER CHARLES SPURGEON WROTE – ABOUT 150 YEARS AGO – ; “FIX YOUR THOUGHTS UPON SOME TEXT OF SCRIPTURE BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR BEDROOM IN THE MORNING—IT WILL SWEETEN YOUR MEDITATION ALL THE DAY. ALWAYS LOOK GOD IN THE FACE BEFORE YOU SEE THE FACE OF ANYONE ELSE. LOCK UP YOUR HEART IN THE MORNING AND HAND THE KEY TO GOD AND KEEP THE WORLD OUT OF YOUR HEART. TAKE A TEXT AND LAY IT ON YOUR TONGUE LIKE A WAFER MADE WITH HONEY AND LET IT MELT IN YOUR MOUTH ALL DAY. … YOU WILL BE SURPRISED TO NOTICE HOW THE VARIOUS EVENTS OF LIFE WILL HELP TO OPEN UP THAT TEXT…. LET YOUR SOUL BE SO FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD THAT AT ALL THE INTERVALS AND SPACES WHEN YOU CAN THINK UPON IT, THE WORD OF GOD DWELLING IN YOU RICHLY MAY COME WELLING UP INTO YOUR MIND AND MAKE YOUR MEDITATION TO BE SWEET AND PROFITABLE.”

IF BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE THE TIME AND TAKEN THE TIME TO FOCUS ON A VERSE IN THE BIBLE IN THE MORNING IT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WAY YOU HANDLE DAILY CHALLENGES. 

IN 2 TIMOTHY 3:16 WE READ THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE “GOD-BREATHED” AS YOU READ, GOD IS COMMUNICATING WITH YOU PERSONALLY. SO AS YOU MAKE TIME TO READ THE SCRIPTURES – EVEN IF ITS JUST FOR A SHORT WHILE – ASK QUESTIONS LIKE, “LORD, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO ME TODAY, LORD?” OR  “IS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR WORDS THAT I NEED TO SEE THAT I’M NOT SEEING?” THE BIBLE IS A PRECIOUS GIFT, “BUT” AS EUGENE PETERSON ONCE SAID “ONLY IF THE WORDS ARE ASSIMILATED, TAKEN INTO THE SOUL – EATEN, CHEWED, GNAWED AND RECEIVED IN UNHURRIED DELIGHT.”²

SO MAKING THE TIME, TAKING THE TIME IS A LIFE TRANSFORMING HABIT.

OK THERE’S MUCH MORE TO SAY ABOUT THIS LIFE-CHANGING SUBJECT. BUT I NEED TO CONCLUDE. MY NEIGHBOUR HAS JUST CALLED TO ASK ME IF I HAVE SOME TIME TO HELP HIM REPAIR HIS LAWNMOWER…. 

SO UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS GG

This article is generously submitted by GG to whom we are indebted for sharing his God-given wisdom and encouragement. 

If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others, Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers and very often when we share them, it results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

If you are so inclined visit my worldview site; www.sirpeterjames.com

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Psalm 27 – A Devotional

Another wonderful encouraging devotional from GG and sent to us by Vivi.

DENZEL WASHINGTON ONCE SAID STAYING POSITIVE DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE HAPPY ALL OF THE TIME. IT MEANS THAT EVEN ON HARD DAYS YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE BETTER ONES COMING.

I LOVE HIS CONFIDENCE! DON’T YOU? BUT HOW CAN WE BE CONFIDENT IN THESE DAYS OF UNCERTAINY, AND FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. IT IS IN CHAOTIC TIMES LIKE THESE THAT IT IS VERY EASY TO FALL INTO THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR AND HOPELESSNESS. WE NEED AN ANCHOR TO HOLD US FAST.

ONE WAY TO DO THIS IS TO LOOK TO THE GODLY MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BIBLE – BECAUSE THEY WERE HUMAN JUST LIKE US – BUT WE CAN LEARN SO MUCH FROM THEM. HOW DID THEY FACE THEIR HARD DAYS?

DAVID IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. HE WENT THROUGH MANY HEARTBREAKING,  FRIGHTENING  AND LIFE-THREATENING TIMES.  WHEN HE WAS YOUNG HE WAS CHASED THROUGH THE DESERT BY JEALOUS KING SAUL WHO TRIED TO KILL HIM AND TOWARDS THE END OF DAVIDS LIFE  HIS VERY OWN SON TRIED TO DO THE SAME THING.

BUT YOU KNOW RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS DIFFICULT TIMES HE WROTE MANY PSALMS. PS 27 IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THAT AND I WANT TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU BECAUSE THIS PSALM IS FOR YOU AND ME TODAY. I JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON ONE VERSE. 

BUT JUST TO GET THE CONTEXT….

27 THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION; (MEANS DELIVERANCE FROM SOMETHING THAT WOULD HARM ME – SIN, SICKNESS, DISEASE – COVERS EVERYTHING) GOD IS MY SALVATION.
WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
THE LORD IS THE ^[A]DEFENSE OF MY LIFE;
WHOM SHALL I DREAD?….
GOES ON AND SAYS MY HEART WILL NOT FEAR

IN THIS PSALM DAVID WASN’T TALKING ABOUT SLIGHT AFFLICTIONS. LISTEN TO THE INTESITY OF HIS WORDS V3 “EVEN THOUGH WAR ARISE AGAINST ME.  IN SPITE OF ALL THIS I AM CONFIDENT.

WHERE DID THIS CONFIDENCE, ASSURANCE COME FROM? HOW WAS HE ABLE TO SAY IN SPITE OF ALL HIS HARD TIMES, THE LORD IS MY, MY SALVATION, MY DEFENSE, MY LIGHT. HOW COULD HE BE SO CONFIDENT IN UNCERTAIN AND SCARY TIMES?

HE’S GOING TO ANSWER THAT SOON BUT HE CONTINUES…

^10 [G]FOR MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER HAVE FORSAKEN ME,

THIS IS LIKE READING DAVIDS DIARY.  HE IS WRITING ABOUT HIS PRIVATE LIFE, HIS PERSONAL STRUGGLES. THIS WAS A TIME OF MENTAL DARKNESS.  A HOPELESS SITUATION. A TIME OF FEAR, CHAOS, DOUBT.  BUT AGAIN LISTEN TO HIS  CONFIDENCE.

BUT THE LORD WILL TAKE ME UP. THE LORD WILL CARE FOR ME. THE LORD WILL HOLD ME CLOSE.

HOW WAS HE ABLE TO BE SO CONFIDENT? HOW WAS HE ABLE TO GET TO THAT POINT IN LIFE? WHAT WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT STOPPED HIM FROM DESPAIRING AND GIVING UP? WHERE DID DAVD FIND HOPE, THE STRENGTH TO CARRY ON.

VERSE 13 IS THE KEY

^13 [J]I WOULD HAVE DESPAIRED UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.

NO MATTER WHAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND HIM AND TO HIM HE DEEPLY  BELIEVED THAT SOMEHOW HE WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD. AND HE SAYS HE WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING. NOT ONE DAY WHEN I GO TO HEAVEN BUT HERE NOW HERE WHERE I AM LIVING. I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD WORKING OUT IN MY DAILY LIFE

HE KNEW THAT GOD IS GOOD. HE BELIEVED THAT. HE WAS ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT GOD WOULD SEE HIM THROUGH HIS TRIALS. 

SO HE IS SAYING; “UNLESS I HAD SEEN, UNLESS I HAD BELIEVED IN THE GOODNESS OF GOD IN MY LIFE, IN THIS CHAOTIC WORLD RIGHT NOW, I WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP.” YOU SEE ALL OF D SENSES TOLD HIM IT’S HOPELESS OUT THERE. I’M FINISHED. BUT INSTEAD HE CHOSE TO BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD SEE THE GOODNESS OF GOD.

THE GOODNESS OF GOD. IS GENTLENESS, KINDNESS – IT’S THE GENEROSITY OF GOD. IT  IS GODS LOVE IN ACTION. JC CAME TO REVEAL HIS GOODNESS.  IN THE BOOK OF ACTS WE ARE TOLD THAT JESUS WENT AROUND DOING GOOD. JC CALLED HIM SELF THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND A GOOD SHEPHERD PROTECTS PROVIDES FOR HIS SHEEP.

IN PS 23 (WHICH WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN AROUND THE SAME TIME AS THIS PSALM) DAVID WROTE “SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.” DO YOU REALISE THAT YOU ARE THE FOCUS OF GODS GOODNESS? THE GOD WHO IS GOOD IS AT THIS VERY MOMENT PURSUING YOU TO DO YOU.GOOD AND WILL IN HIS OWN WAY AND IN HIS OWN TIME SHAPE THE CHAOS INTO SOMETHING GOOD.

SO, TURN YOUR ATTENTION FROM FEAR, ANXIETY AND UNCERTAINTY TO GOD WHO IS YOUR HOPE, YOUR STRENGTH,Y OUR LIFE.   ANCHOR YOURSELF IN THE GOD WHO IS SGOOD TOWARD YOU NOW.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS GG

STAY SAFE, STAY SANE, STAY TRUE.

If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others, Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers and very often when we share them, it results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

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The Kingdom of God – Part Two

For those of you who have just joined us, you need to read through “The Kingdom of God” first.

Luke 17:20-21 KJV

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/17-21.htm

20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Who’s Boss Around Here?

Some may be blessed enough to have a very kind and compassionate boss. Some on the other hand, may not be so blessed. Which category do you fall into?

Most people today are supposed to submit to one kind of authority or another, whether that be in a country (Government), at work (Manager) or perhaps at school/college (Student leaders/Deans). At the very least, we are all accountable to somebody near to us. Owners of companies are accountable to their employees. Husbands and Wives are accountable to each other. Presidents are accountable to their political party and the citizens of the country. All the way along in our social society, there is authority and accountability.

Scripture tells us that God appointed all who are in positions of authority… “those which exist are established by God”. This is a very interesting scripture. The scripture is followed with a warning….” Therefore, whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves” (Romans 13:1-7).

Paul goes on to say that the purpose of God appointing authority over us, is to teach obedience. To teach us to follow in His ways. To teach us to become more like God. In another scripture, In Phil.2:12-13, Paul tells us to …. “work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure”, showing us that our path to the Lord is a daily process of change. God uses authority around us for the purpose of ‘growing’ us towards Him.

So, let’s look at this in a more practical way.

The boss, who’s my boss, has been appointed into a position of authority over me by God for a season of time, however long or short that may be. When my boss issues an instruction to me, how do I react? Do I:

• Complete the task to the best of my ability with peace in my heart?
• Hear what the boss said and then shortcut the task, taking the easiest route for ME and perhaps losing quality of work in the process?
• Disobey completely because the boss doesn’t know what he/she is talking about?

If the Lord will help us to understand His word, then we will see that there is only one way to complete the task…as unto the Lord. When we rebel against our boss, we are not only rebelling against him/her, we are rebelling against God’s appointed authority over us.

The same goes for the country that we live in. “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Luke 20:25). Jesus tells us that we should obey the Government which is in authority over us. Worldly wisdom tells us that the crime is in getting caught disobeying. If nobody catches us disobeying, then we have got away with the infringement. However, God sees.

Jesus did not say that we should obey the government only if we agree with them…no – He said obey them. If any authority appointed by God does not obey God e.g. Does not govern the country correctly, or manage a company fairly, then God will judge them, and they will be answerable to HIM. Obviously if the government or other authority issue laws contrary to God’s word, then we cannot obey.

If we are not paying our taxes, obeying traffic laws or unfairly treating people, then we are rebelling against the authority God has placed above us. It may be easy for us to deceive the taxman in our assessments – but God sees. We are not disobeying the Government, but God alone.

If we are taking part in a social club of some sort, sport or recreation, the clubs have rules. It is very easy for us to ‘alter or bend’ the rules to suit us. It is simple to hide from the club management and get away with our wrong – but God sees.

In the book of Philippians, we see that Jesus, when He came to this earth, had to empty himself of His Godly deity and become a man in every respect (except He was sinless). Hebrews chapter 5:8 tells us that Jesus had to learn obedience – that is astounding!

When Jesus came to the earth, he came as a man in order that we would have an example to follow (1Peter 2:21-22). Therefore, if Jesus had to learn obedience, then so should we. In many previous articles, we have agreed that in our own strength, we cannot obey. We have to allow God, through His Holy Spirit in us, to teach and guide us daily.

Remember: Today when you receive an instruction, it is God who has allowed that instruction to come to you, through a vessel you may or may not see eye to eye with. Obey because God asks you, not because mankind tells you.

From: “…time with the Master…”

“…time with the Master…” is an on-going series of teachings, about lifestyle in the Church and is published bi-monthly.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others, Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers and very often when we share them, it results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

Please feel free to send in questions (see ‘Contact’) and comments (hit ‘Comments’
button).

How Deep is Your Well?

How lovely it would be to have our own personal drinking Well? The water at the bottom of a natural source is beautiful. Cool, clear and full of nutritious minerals – untainted by the outside world. Drinking water from a Well such as this would certainly have health benefits for us, I’m sure you’ll agree?

The challenge is getting to the water if there was no outlet. The sides of the Well would most likely be very steep and the deeper one goes, the darker it would get. Quite a scary experience!

The water near the surface may be good, but it would not be of the same standard as the water at the bottom of the well. As the water nears the surface, it can become affected by other contaminates, agricultural chemicals, city waste and other not so healthy additives….

…and so is our relationship with the Lord.

He says to us:
“Come and drink of My Well. The sustenance you will receive, will be pure and life giving. The Well, which I offer you, becomes richer the deeper you go with Me. The Water of Life is so nourishing that not only will it revitalise you, but as you pass it on, it will give life to others”, says the Lord.

“Be washed by the Waters of My word. My Word will make you clean. A cleanliness such like you have never experienced before. Day by day, the waves of my living water will wash over you. Tier upon tier, strength upon strength, My Water will change you. The process of sanctification is not pleasant in the natural, but as I gaze upon you – I see My finished work, complete in Me. Yes – My work in you is complete”, says the Lord. “I see no more sin in you, I see no more heartache or pain in you, I see no more sickness, but as I look at you My child, I see peace, Joy and blessing. Blessing to Me and blessing to those around you”, says the Lord.

“I have placed a desire in your heart to seek Me. A desire that wants you to be more like Me. Do not be afraid of this desire”, says the Lord“. Allow Me to have My way with you. Do not be concerned with those around you who try to pull you away from Me. As you drink of My Well, all those fears will melt away. Take courage and seek the deeper part of My Well. As you go deeper in Me, do not fear that things appear cold and dark. Do not fear that you cannot see clearly with your spiritual eyes, but allow Me to guide you. Trust in Me. I have commanded My angels concerning you”, says the Lord. “I will guard you”.

“There are many around you who drink from the water near the surface”, says the Lord. “You can tell them by their fruit. The water is tainted and not able to give them the full needs of My relationship with them. They hear with their ears but do not listen. They have eyes but they do not see. They have hearts but only understand what THEY want to understand. All this because they drink from a tainted Well”, says the Lord.

“The more you drink from the deep waters of My Well, the more you will desire Me. My living Well will give you new sight. A sight with which you will see Me as you never have seen Me before. A sight with which you will see My Spirit in you. A new sight with which you will see your sinful nature. Do not fear when you see your sinful nature”, says the Lord, “but trust ME. At that time, trust Me. Do not turn away because of fear and seek the water at the top of the Well – that water will only comfort your flesh, My child.”

“Your reward for trusting and following Me will far outweigh anything this world can offer you. All that you see now will pass away, but that which you drink from My Well, will last forever…”, says the Lord your God.

Our Father is waiting on us to ask Him to take us to the deep part of His Well. Try Him. He is seeking those who want to go to the deeper places with Him. There is a worldly saying which says…”You’ve tried the rest – now try the best…”

Go ahead and ask Him now, right in the midst of your current burden. The darker things seem to get, the more brightly His light will shine in your heart – the deeper the place we drink from, the greater the peace and Joy.

How deep is your Well?

From: “…time with the Master…”

“…time withe Master…” is an on-going series of teachings, about lifestyle in the Church and is published bi-monthly.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others, Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers and very often when we share them, it results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

Please feel free to send in questions (see ‘Contact’) and comments (hit ‘Comments’
button).

Prayer…Seriously?

Have you ever pondered the scriptures where Jesus says that we should ask for anything in His name and the Father will grant it to us? I did, many times. I wondered why I was asking the Lord for things that I felt I needed but to no avail.

As I began to grow closer to the Lord, I learned that Jesus taught us to pray by saying, “Your will (the Father’s) be done”. So I began to ask Him for things ending off my prayer by saying, “…Lord if it be your will”. That way I started to learn that the things which did come to me, came by His will.

When I learned that ‘Praying in His name’ meant praying in the character of Jesus, it began to put a new light on my prayers. How wonderful that God will use us in our daily circumstances to pray for situations and for those around us. It is relatively simple to pray for solutions according to what we think. However, it takes a bit more time and thought to pray out of Jesus’ character. What does Jesus see in the specific circumstance? How does HE feel about what we are experiencing at that point? What would HIS solution entail?

As we pray, we need to take ourselves ‘out of our shoes’ and put ourselves into Jesus’ shoes to start to understand HIS heart in the situation we are led to pray for. It is also fairly simple for us to pray for situations or people once off and not again – almost lightheartedly. What if the Lord requires us to have a real burden for our prayer topic? A burden that will occupy our minds day and night until it goes away. Are you so close to a situation or person that you are truly burdened to persistently seek God for help?

Jesus shares the parable of the poor widow seeking the Judge for legal protection from her adversary. Being a widow, she had no husband to help or protect her, so her request came from a very sincere and burdened heart. She had a clear need to keep persevering for her request. How deep and serious are the burdens we have for those around us?

Jesus speaks a parable where the Widow is being bothered by her opponent and that the Judge will have the solution to this troublesome situation. It is the same for us today. The Judge is God; the Widow is like us – burdened – and the opponent is the accuser of the brethren, the devil. As the Judge had the solution to the widow’s problem, so God has the solutions to our situations. Like the widow, we need to persevere in our requests. In order to persevere, we need to have a true burden. In order to have a true burden, we need to ask God to give it to us. If we have no desire to ask for the burden, we should ask God to help us with that as well!

In the parable, the Judge admits that he is no respecter of man or God, but that he needed to grant this Widow her request for fear that she will wear him out with her persistent asking. Jesus goes on to say, “… now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly”.

As we go to the Lord daily with our prayer requests, let us ask Him for a burden for the particular topic we are led to pray for. That way we will find ourselves seeking God seriously for the things we ask ‘in His name’ (character). That way also, God will be able to answer us quickly as we cry to Him day and night.

Praying seriously for daily protection and other topics is something we have not deeply thought about. Draw close to the Lord as He draws closer to us. Feel the heart of the Father as we sit at His feet during our private prayer times. Then, as we pray ‘in His name’, the Father will grant what we ask.

From: “time with the Master…”

“…time withe Master…” is an on-going series of teachings, about lifestyle in the Church and is published bi-monthly.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others, Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers and very often when we share them, it results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

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A Year of Fulfillment

Hello to all my family, friends, followers and readers.
I am excited, as I’m sure you are, that today, January 1st 2019 has dawned.

I am convinced that as Paul says, “….there are three things that remain – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love”. (1Cor.13:13).

There is no doubt in my mind, that when we have faith in the accomplishment of our dreams – they will come to pass. If we are blessed with the gift of faith, then we are rich.

However, where our faith is weak, there is always hope. Hope keeps us moving through the suffering, pain, loneliness, loss, fear and the many other human traumas that we experience along life’s long rocky road. Hope gives us the strength to push on.

Yet, it is said in these words of wisdom that faith and hope will pass away in due course and the only one to remain, will be love. Of course, the love that these words of wisdom speak about is not the romantic love that is so exciting when we experience it; it is not the love we have for our Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, but it is the love we have of God, ourselves, our fellow humans; the gratitude we experience for the world in which we live in and also the many different experiences we go through in this life.

The mystery in discovering this Love, that the scriptures speak of, is found in it’s advice to: “…….ask and you will be given what you ask for, seek and you will find, ….” (Matt. 7:7).

Have you ever asked God for His love, to come and live inside you, to become part of you? If love is the only lasting quality, then you are wise to ask for it, wise to search for it.

My hope for you is that this year of 2019 will be the best year of your life, that all your dreams will be fulfilled, that you learn how to negotiate the rocky parts of your journey through life, with peace, joy and contentment in your heart.

Above all, I wish that you will find the great everlasting love of God.

All rights reserved sirpeterjamesdotcom©2019-01-01

Please Note:
I will not publish articles on this site until end January, 2019 as I shall be taking a much needed break from all my usual activities, which include my business and writing.

 

If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others, Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers and very often when we share them, it results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

Please feel free to send in questions (see ‘Contact’) and comments (hit ‘Comments’
button).

Be still in your busy day…

We are busy in our lives. Whether it is at work, at play, bringing up children, managing work colleagues or simply trying to make ends meet – we are busy and in today’s world, it seems we are getting busier. We are constantly pouring ourselves out into the lives of others. The common factor of all these types of busyness is that they drain us – physically and emotionally.

 Is it possible for us to – ‘take time out’?

 Yes it is! I’m not necessarily talking of going on a vacation for a few weeks, although that would be very nice, no, I’m talking about taking ‘time out’. This time out can be a few minutes or a few hours depending on our circumstances. Ever heard of a ‘power nap’? Well, what about a ‘power time out’?

 A wonderful scripture says, “Be still and know that I am God…”

 The other day I had planned my day as I thought it best. I was secure in my plan, which in turn brought me peace of mind. As I began the day, I received a business call, which would result in me having to make a one hour round trip by car to fulfil an urgent need of one of my customers. My first reaction was to start complaining, grumbling because MY plans had now been changed. My day was already under pressure and now it would seemingly get worse…..

 I climbed into the car and set off on my trip. Very soon, I began to dwell on the thought – ‘the Lord knows everything’. As I ‘abided’ in that thought, I began to calm down and the anxiety started to drift away.  It was then that the scripture came to me…. “Be still and know that I am God….”

 I asked the Lord to help me linger in this scripture while driving. Jesus said that if we abide (to stay a while – not jump in and out) in Him, then He will abide in us. So I kept the scripture on the movie screen of my mind and this is what the Lord showed me….

 “Be still and know that I am God…”

 ‘Be’ – “Just BE”, said the Lord. “Just exist…don’t try to be somebody that you aren’t. I fearfully and wonderfully made you. There is no other like you. Wherever you go – just BE. Split seconds before you were conceived in your mother’s womb, you did not exist, but I formed you – and you were! From the foundation of time I planned for you to BE”, said the Lord.

 ‘Still’ – Where there is stillness, there is depth. Our Father so desires for us to come to a deeper place with Him. We cannot find that depth until we are still, a still place where He will share His heart with us, where we will hear His heartbeat.

 ‘and Know’ – “Don’t try to figure me out”, said the Lord, “don’t take opinions of others and form Me into those opinions – simply ‘KNOW’ that I am God, simply ‘KNOW’

 ‘I am’ – “There is nothing outside of Me”, said the Lord, “Walk with boldness wherever you go, for I am with you. Wherever YOU go…I AM” said the Lord…

 Had my plans not changed that day, I would have missed this ‘time out’ with the Lord.

 For those of us who are parents, normal conversation with our children is usually about them constantly ‘asking’ us for things. How lovely it would be for us instead, to sit with our children and hear them expressing their opinions about life or simply saying to us, “I love you…”

 God is the same with us. He would love us to have ‘time out’ with Him and discuss the things on our hearts while telling Him that we love Him.

 Don’t plan your next time out – just do it. Stay focused on Him for a few quiet minutes and let Him share His heart with you. Receive from Him rather than asking from Him. You will be blessed, and your inner strength will be revitalized.

 From: “…time with the Master…”

“…time withe Master…” is an on-going series of teachings, about lifestyle in the Church and is published bi-monthly.
If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others, Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers and very often when we share them, it results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

Please feel free to send in questions (see ‘Contact’) and comments (hit ‘Comments’
button).