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You have not passed this way

Joshua 3:4

   The Israelites were about to cross the Jordan into Canaan. The wilderness was about to be left behind forever. It was a new way on which they were setting out on. The experiences as such as they had never had before hence the command was . . . “put the Ark to the fore, keep your eye upon it, and let it lead you”

   The incident from very olden times, still has it’s lessons for us today. It is, that we dare not go into any new way of life unguided by God, but God leads, we need never to fear any new experiences, however new and strange of difficult and full of peril they might entail.

   All life is new. There is not a step of it, of which it may be said unto us . . . Joshua 3:4 “you have not passed this way before” Every days path is new to each one of us. We say our lives are just dull and boring. We rise each morning to go through the same routines we went through yesterday. We walk along the same roads every day for years. Life seems to have NO variety. Yet really each day is new and strange. We do not know what experiences it will bring to us, what joys or sorrows, what struggles, what responsibilities, what new revealings, and what new duties? Each morning hear the voice of God whispers to us . . V4 “you have not passed this way before, therefore keep your eye on your Guide”

   No one of the millions who have gone before us have never passed over the path on which our feet must walk. A thousand ships may cover the same sea, but each one the voyage is now unfamiliar. There are no paths to trace in the sea. No keels leaves tracks for others to follow. No one is going to have ‘precisely’ the same experiences that we’ll have, hence no other life can be a copy of us. That is why therefore we must have in all things divine guidance.

Just before the New Year a young Christian, who had just recently become a follower of Christ, wrote .. to the friend who had helped an guided her .. ‘Will you let me put my hand in your again for the New Year?’ ..The friends reply was this ..’Yes, but in Christ’s hand first’ .. Human guidance is not enough for anyone, only Christ can lead you safely & securely.

   The passing from childhood to young adulthood, is one of the points at which special direction is needed .. [NKJ] 1 Corin 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things” … All things are. Life, now, begins to become real as an adult. Questions must be met, duties must be taken up, responsibilities must be assumed. There are now dangers & snares at every turn, what is needed is divine guidance, and not just in the morning, but at every turn during the day. When the young man/woman goes out from their home into the World, to attend school, or to begin at work, it is as if he entered a new strange new World ..

All is strange and bewilderings

… they’ll meet new temptations they had never known before. Whilst the novelty of this life holds it’s fascination for them, but the fascination is also full of danger. They’ll miss the wholesome restraints of home and the direct influence of the accustomed guides of their youth, and with the removal of the familiar restraints. The young person who is wise will move reverently and humbly into this new World that thus opens up before them. They will seek to enter it with Christ Jesus by their side.

   When becoming a Christian we think it is all sweetness and light. Sorry but have burst your bubble here, because we have just painted a massive target on our back, the thing remember is . . [1 John4:4] “He who is in you is greater than he who is the World” . . It’s a given fact that throughout our journey [race], many will loose their way in the darkness and wonder off, lost. When we see those whom we would say hi each Sunday service, stop coming, do we say oh well, or do we come along side them and with wisdom gently encourage them back into the fold. Just as David would look for his missing sheep, even enduring affliction whilst fighting off Bears & Lions . . . 1Samuel 17:34 .. “Your servant used to keep his fathers sheep, and when a Lion or a Bear came and took a lamb out of the flok, I when after it ..” … so no matter the demons that must be fought, every soul saved and restored to the fold, they are worth it.

   As we fight the voices of dark and sorrow, you’ll hear God saying .. “You have not passed this way before” .. The path is new and beset with, the floods are deep and wild. So always be sure to keep your eyes on the one true divine leader (Jesus Christ) before you, therefore be sure to follow His ways.

   If I may leave you with this las thouhgt, I guy was out hiking a trail, that he had done so many times brfore, suddenly found himself lost. As over night the snow fall had abliteratedthe path so much that he could not find the path. that was until he saw the foot prints of the deer. So realising the deer will know the way to go ... [Q: being honest how many have been lost not knowing which way to go? If in a car, prior to have SAT-NAV?] ... he followed the foot prints left behind, eventually leeding him safly back down to where there was a path to follow. 2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight" ... so again being honest with yourself , and not to me, can you truthfully, how many are giving over your finances - your morraige -house payments - your job promotion - School exams to God? I hope your now fully getting the message because the closer we become to God, this is what it means to be a Christian!

Prayer

Just because we drive/walk the same roads every day there is always going be something different, so we are asking you Lord to guide each step we take, that you'll be there to work everything for our good. We ask for you direction and love this day, in your sons name Jesus we pray, Amen.

Whats in a song - Who is there like you V3

 56:050123

What’s in a song:

Who is there Like You

   When as a Child I was told this to help bolster up, and help with my self worth. By having Faith in the Lord will help your self worth, giving greater motivation to over come what ever life throws at you. This is all, but truthfully this question is answered only by one. Because we all look different from each other. You’ll be told at some point you look just like or sound like you Mum or dad, as was told many times. For this study I have decided to post each verse separately.

   Only God truly owns the title ‘Who is there like you’, for example of the one true God who created the Heavens and the Earth, you should read 1 Kings 18. Today I want delve deeper into the song ‘Who is there like you’.

1) Who is there like you?

And who else would give their life for me,

Even suffering in my place?

And who could repay you?

All of creation looks to you,

and you provide for all you have made.

2) So I’m lifting up my hands,

Lifting up my voice, lifting up your name,

and in your grace I’m blessed,

For your love has to come to me and set me free

I’m trusting in your Word.

3) Trusting in your cross, trusting in your blood,

All your faithfulness,

For your power at work in me, is

changing me Changing me

    V3] Trusting in your cross, trusting in your blood, and all your faithfulness
‘ Trusting in your cross’ .. Here we’re being tested, and asked are we willing to put our passions ~ desires ~ works ~ self, to ..
Luke 9:23 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me”
.. so not just one time only, but .. ”daily, and follow Me” ..
Romans 3:25 “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed”

‘trusting in your blood’ ..
Hebrews 9:22 “according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission”
   Before Jesus came and shed Hid Blood, to cover your past years sins you would have to slaughter so many Cattle ~ Sheep ~ Goats. It was this blood that said to have covered your sins, and was expected to happen year in year out. So did it really cover your sins or just to make you feel better? When Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins, only this time/sacrifice was a one time deal. Now when we come to the Heavenly Father it’s through Jesus and His blood that blots out our sins. . .
Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
… because His [Jesus Christ] blood has washed us clean, so when we go to God in prayer, our sins are no more, forever washed clean.

‘For you power at work in me, is changing me, changing me’
Philippians 1:21/2 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”
   If your reading this from a ‘Non-Christian’s’ stand point, you will be thinking ‘what the heck-is-like’, they on about? Well you see it’s like this, the reason we are saved is because life has kicked the stuffing out of us, along with drive & hope. We knew at that moment we needed to make whole sale changes to our lives, this would be the only way to once again have ~ drive and a life worth getting up for each morning. This could only happen with Jesus Christ in our lives. Replacing our old ways for His. As unlike you & I He won’t let us down, instead He directs us in in righteous ways, He gives us strength to face our fears, also from His living Word, wisdom beyond our understanding. This has got sound good, right?
Philippians 1:22 “But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labour; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell”
   In our might, it would be very hard to get our hearts desires. Where as the moment you surrender all to Jesus, and His perfect will, in faith, the riches of Heaven are poured out. Hence why die to our old selves/ways, and now have ..”to die is gain”
‘You power at work in me’ .. To me this means, the way I once behaved or felt have all died, now I have Christ ‘working in me’, influencing me for the better. His name is Jesus Christ.

   Before I sign off, God has just reminded what He wanted to encourage you with, when you think you can’t sing. God is not worried about this instead He wants to hear your song. He says forget those who don’t want to hear your voice, because He does, He wants you to do as the Psalmist said . . .

Psalms 150 “Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts;

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;

Praise Him with the lute and harp!

4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

...Here is what He wanted tell you..

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord”

#V2 follows in a couple of days, so please listen to the song a few times. here is the link to the song, just past the link into your browser ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYkce-EhNuQ

Prayer

Heavenly Father God, I was a nobody, now I'm somebody, because yoiu saved my soul. So I'm telling everybody, by raising my hands & voice to you Jesus. Amen

56:170921

Part 1 of 

Why Life’s Better as a
Servant

These are the translations I used in this study, and their abbreviations ..
*[KJV] :~ King James Version
*[JKV] :~ New King James Version
*[NLT] :~ New Living Translation
*[JKV] Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many”
   In this verse there is one major thing that stands out, that goes to the heart of Jesus’ character, was how much in His life, Jesus was unselfish. You don’t ever read about when Jesus had turned one’s down, because He could not be bothered, for instance when dying on the cross, He could have turned to the other 2 and said “I’m dying here your too late .. leave me alone” ...
*[NLT] Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” ...
. . .The NLT In this verse it says .. “ but to serve others” .. as we slowly unravel Jesus’ message, which is one of the more prevalent ones. Listen closer to this next segment. Just think, what if Jesus only came to ‘be served’? We could never have had the opportunity to come to The Father God, man the mess, in the dark oppressive life we would be blindly facing.

   How can anyone measure the awesomeness that is the ‘Enmity’ of God’s glory, pouring himself into human form flesh, all for us, W O W. To this date since finding this out it still truly still blows my mind. Every time I spend any length of time giving this thought, I’m left thinking with a great appreciation, and love for our God. I know I have a very large body of text, but you’ll need to read to understand the rest of this sermon as I will be referring to it as we go forth. This is Jesus’ exemplar of being a servant ..
KJV:~ John 13:1-5 “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded"
NLT:~ “Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him"
KJV:~ 13:12-17 “So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them"
NLT:~”After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them"
   I want you to think back to what both called a road, what foot ware. The roads back then, when towns roads were dirty, with all manner of waste (that’s the polite way of describing them), and dusty too. It was customary that when you attended someone’s house, there was a servant to wash your feet. This was so that you did not walk anything from outside in. This is what Jesus wanted to try and show the Apostles that He came to serve, and to be a servant. He showed that He wanted that they were to behave this way and think not to think of it below them, no matter the subject. Just to think of as did Christ Jesus, that the very Son of God chose to serve, and washed and dried their feet, He came to serve, but NOT be served. V12 says .. “know what I have done to you?” .. Jesus was telling them ‘Do you fully grasp, even comprehend, what has happened here?’ .. ‘Think of who I AM, think of what I’m showing you, now let the penny drop, then know who I become to you?’

   V13 Tells them .. “ You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am” .. Jesus washed their feet, and asked, so you to should now wash one another's feet, therefore becoming servants to each other ..

Please Note#

“Serving, is not about what others can do for you,

rather what you can do for others, whilst NOT

looking for anything in return”

. . . This is why our society today is falling apart at the seems. The reason being as most peoples thinking ig .. I Me My Mine .. always have selfish wants .. ‘If it profits ME not, I don’t want to know’ .. or .. ‘I deserve that job’ ..or even more a thought of ..’I did nothing to deserve them, but should have four [4] holidays a year ..With regret I know all to well this type of person, do you?

   Just as Jesus served His disciples, He was saying to them, now I want you to be servants, even a servant to your neighbour .. KJV - 15 “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” .. it’s more than just washing each others/neighbours feet. For to serve has to start with a question like ..’How Can I help you out?’ .. or .. ‘know they are in need, how can I full fill that need without fanfare for myself?’ .. This is much bigger, so much bigger no matter if Royalty ~ General of military ~ Company Directer or CEO.

John 13:13 [KJV]* “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am” *King James Version
John 13:16 “The servant is not greater than his lord"
[KJV] :17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them”
[NLT] :17 “Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them”
   Jesus is trying to let us know and understand, just exactly what being a servant is about. God has told us that for being a good servant, He will bless our faithfulness. God will want to know, are you being a good servant? Well are you. Who have you helped out without fanfare? He wants to know who we have helped out without the ‘look at me and what I have done’, like ~ Work ~ Friends ~ Family ~ Neighbours? Even your bosses? I want to show you now something from Philippians that breaks down the elements of being a good good servant …

Philippians 2:1~7
V1:~ “Consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love”
V2:~ “being like-minded, being of one accord, of one mind"
Having the same thoughts of Jesus, wanting the same as
Him.
V3:~ “nothing be done through selfish ambition [comparing
yourself to another] or conceit or vain glory, but in
lowliness” ... [ vain glory:- serving for selfish ends] If,
and be careful here, you serve in Vain glory will only
in strife, who honestly wants MORE strife today.
V4:~ “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests”
So not your own interests, but we encouraged to look out
and help others with out reward.
V5:~ “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”
V6:~ "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God”
V7:~ “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” . . . This attitude, being our own attitude. Like say that of a .. Butcher ~ Baker ~ Sales person ~ an Athlete or a Soldier and so many more. I know of a person who had a family ‘mask’ the replaced with one for work, we all do this. In other words, they changed their attitude. To be a servant to all who come to their work.

  Because now in the flesh, He [Lord God] humbled Himself even unto death .. V8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” .. humility has to be the main ingredient of being a servant. For without humility, it would be almost impossible to to be a servant. Whilst being a servant, it is no longer your will being done,, but you masters will that be done. Whilst here it is gods, but can equally be your .. Parents ~ Work Bosses ~ friends ~ neighbours, hoping by now your getting what I’m trying to convey.
    1) Humility :~ Often when looking for in today’s society, Humility has become as rare as white Truffles. In the space of a generation, we have gone from being able to speak frankly (even to a friend), to having girdle our mouths, in our own homes, as much as having to close our windows, to be able to speak openly with your spouse.
    2) Power :~ What we need to think on is that your energy suppliers, give us this power, (praise god for them), to make light where there is none, to bring heat where it’s cold. The energy suppliers leave this power in our own hands, to decide how use it, and up to us to turn the power on. Just as our Lord has given us power to us.

‘How will you use your Heavenly power?’

   One of the biggest reasons for unanswered prayer, is that we ask God for that which he already done, even if we don’t see it right away, or He already has given us both the power & authority to use. It would be like asking your gardener to mow the lawn when he he just done so, how stupid that would be. . .

• So then why would God answer your prayer, when He has already done so?
• No amount of badgering will make a bit of difference.
• Answer you for what He told you to do?
• How many really believe they have power from God in their prayers?
• How many speak in authority whilst praying?
• How many have faith in their prayers?We have to walk in Faith ~ Belief ~ Authority? That’s if we truly want change .. in our lives .. Jobs .. where we live!

[NKJ] Matthew 10:1 “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease”
   What Jesus is warning here is, for us to be born again and whom are not. You need to ‘Born-again’, [John 3:3*], or you will not know; be frustrated; left banging your head against the brick wall. SURPRISE .. We have had power the moment we became saved – Born-again.

Q: What is it to have this power?

A: It is the ability to get the job done.

# As a Christian, I’m not powerless #

The Power of Prayer

The Power of Prayer

Isaiah 37 v 14-20

14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. 18 Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”

   We still today after revival healings, and many other great miracles. They all had humble beginnings, covered in prayers. Matthew 18:20  “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Most prayers start in the heart, someone needs help, and some of them are born out of desperation, and not born out of greed.
   As for our verses, we see a great trouble had beset Hezekiah, the great King, because of the Assyrian invasion, and the imperious attitude of Rabahaketh the captain. ‘Trouble’ has been said to be “A divine diet for the new man”. It is more ‘profitable’ then it is ‘palatable’.

Here are 3 ways ‘The Power of Prayer’ can help, and direction and how simple prayers can overcome your troubles.
1) The Cause of his trouble
It was ‘a letter’, but a veritable one from ‘a messenger of Satan’, sent to buffet him. It is incredible in today’s techno-age one where we look at our ‘in-box’ for our ‘e-mails’ or maybe that of ‘Facebook; ‘Twitter’, or even ‘Instagram’. Yet still, the postman brings those dreaded ‘brown envelopes’, which here in the UK, would have normally meant a bill, or even that long awaited Hospital appointment. Or, deep within the postman’s bag there will be letters that bring warm regards from an old friend or family member. In fact who knows what the next post may herald. This was an attempt to ‘destroy his faith’ in God (v10), to dispossess him of ‘inheritance’, and to bring him into bondage. So much so the enemies of our souls are always active toward the same end. Their letters may be beautifully written, but they are terribly bitter.

2) What he did withit.
“.. he spread it before the Lord ..” (v14)
Because he did this solemn act, it revealed his faith in God. He never spread before the face of Heaven, instead before the face of The Almighty Personality. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6) "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him"
   While all I needed was the beginning of this verse, (as seen above) I reconsidered and included it all. Why this change of mind? Well, you will have to ask God, the next time you talk with His Almighty.
   I’m lead to say that this verse must go to show Gods thoroughness. It also shows that he spread it, he laid the whole matter ~ from the beginning to its end, all in front of Him. So, make sure your definite when you are dealing with God. In other words He wants your honesty, He wants you to be confident, as He wishes you to hold nothing back. Always remember, no matter what ails you, ‘mentally or physically’, He will always be interested, for after all He is our Heavenly Father.

3) How He succeeded
“.. The angel of the Lord..” (v36) ..became his defense. Whilst his argument was one of simplicity, it was also me that was so irresistible as well. “Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the Kingdoms of Earth may that you are Lord" (v20).
   When the Angel of the death spread his wings in the blast. Woe to those who fight the Kingdom of God .. “By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of His anger they are consumed” (Job 4 v9). The unbelievers will scoff and say; ‘it’s all just mumbo-jumbo; blah blah, or the back sliders will say ‘He never did anything for me/them' etc.
   It causes me much heart ache to hear these words. You see there are a couple of words that must go with ‘pray/prayer’ they are, Faith, you must have faith that your prayers ‘will’ be answered. May be not today, or, maybe not this week, but they ‘will’ be answered. My second word is ‘Believe’, for you must believe in God’s word otherwise what’s the point? So put them together, and with God in the mix everything is possible, I always say “have faith and believe” your prayers ‘WILL’ be answered. Is there any sorrow too great, or, circumstance too perplexing that the prayer cannot bring comfort and deliverance?   N O



“.. if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say
to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move;
and nothing will be impossible for you ..”  Math 17 v20

Christ Jesus is our Salvation pt1

54:020220

Christ Jesus is our Salvation

Genesis 7: 1 “..The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation..”

   Noah was truly a man of faith, because he did what the Lord told, not to mention building the ‘Ark’, in the first place. This in it’s self proved to God how much Noah was a man of faith.

   I’m sure Noah had to battle on despite his critic's and mockers. . .
Mockers … How are going to steer that thing without a rudder?
Noah … I don’t know but God does.
Mockers … Where are you going to go?
Noah … I don’t know never been on a cruise before.

   Noah’s wife is always over looked during this time in his life. As she is along with the whole family, has never been written about before. Think about it, a ship that has no rudder: sail or ships-wheel, would have no idea where they would be headed. How many of us as a child disagreed with their parent as they thought they knew it all when just 13 to 15? saying “I’m not a child anymore, declaring they are old enough and responsible enough.”

   You might think that ‘just’ praying for your parents, siblings, children, is all that needs to done. Or, you will never see them in the garden of Eden? (wrong). If they are not saved, or born again ,or have accepted Christ Jesus into their lives. Come see me and I’ll give the matches myself, to set them on fire. As this is what you are condemning them to, when they go to the ‘great-lake-of Fire’.

Rev 20: 15 “..Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire..”

Math 24: 37 “..As it was in the days of Noah..” Today the excuse is ‘well he had it so damn easy’… WHAT … Noah had temptations excuses, same pressures, these are the same today. Just as today, it was easy to give in to wickedness. How many times did he miss his dinner because he working on the Ark? How many times was he late for special dates? It would have been easy for Noah’s wife to say had had enough. All these things happen today! I do wonder what must go through Gods mind when He see’s the mess the world and us are in?

   A large population that knows of the Bible says, NO to it’s ways as it is too restrictive. Instead they prefer to sit on the side lines to judge those who want to be a Christian, just waiting for you to slip up. To many times God sees those who would rather ‘all-mod-cons’, than help those who have nothing, and would rather be a Christian. Too many times Gods sees a ‘Me, Myself, Mine’. One that never stops to help those less fortunate.

   A mind set that always thinks ‘my money I earned it – I worked hard for it, so I can spend it how I want I have asked this question many times, you see a glass filled half way, now do you see a glass half fall or half empty? (my wife asks what is in the glass?)

   On social-media is a video was shared, a while ago now, Of a guy who would, out of his own pocket, went around Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter, would hand out a bottle of water a packet of sandwiches and a new T shirt. In the Winter he would give a thermal T shirt. I’m not saying you need to do this, something is better that nothing.

   We have become a generation that would rather ‘lie’ than being honest….
2Timothy 3: 1 “..But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come..
V2 ..For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy..
V3 ..unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good ..”
   Try and get your head around the fact, these are just 14 behaviours of many more, we endure today. It would scare you witless if I listed them all, it would take too long to list.
V5 “..from such people turn away..”

   I have an exercise for to try, and please do. I want you to go to your front door step out side, looking up and down. You can’t save everyone, instead turn around and look at your home, win them for Jesus, forgive them of any wrong doings. Tell them that you love them even when they don’t won’t to hear it, if on the phone to relatives, tell them ‘God Bless’, at the end of each call. I did this with my parents, my late mother knew how much this meant to me and so accepted. Dad to accepted this and always ended our call with God Bless too. So never give up on your family it will never be too late. Mum in our last visit we had together in her Hospital bed accepted Christ, dad sadly not and breaks my heart, should have done more. Noah saved his household as well.

   Remember faith conquers all, we are so consumed with keeping up with the ‘Jones’, we end up missing what truly is important. They have more money than you, but that is not what is important, they value higher-education’ because they have a masters/PhD degree. With all their education, they missed the point, as education does not mean your intelligent. For all her education I had to show a mid 20’s student Nurse how to make a cup of coffee, scary or what?

#Faith will always make the difference# 

   Just because you come from a ‘privileged’ background, have loads of money in the bank, believe me when I tell you this will not save. Sooner or later your finances will run out, then where will you be? When all things fail you’ll have nothing, that is unless your faith in Gods divine purpose for your life is true.

   Noah had so much faith in God, so much so .. Genesis 6: 8 “..But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord..” .. I wonder how of you have had so called ‘friends’, mock your faith saying things like ...”Where is your God?” … When your going through hard times … “How come your god has not healed you yet?” … “How can you have faith in something you can’t ‘see’ or ‘touch?” I’m sure Noah must have got all these and many besides. Despite the barrage of these insults, Noah’s faith never once faltered, and so did all of his family.

I wonder how many of us have had so called ‘friends’, that mock your faith by saying things like …

• Where is your God? (When going through hard times)
• How come your God has not heard you yet?
• Why have faith in something you can’t see ‘or’ touch?

… many more hurtful comments besides. Noah got all these and many more besides and like you many more. Despite the barrage of abuse and insults, Noah’s faith never once faltered, and so did his family.

   Noah believed … Methuselah (all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died) … that it was god who built the Heavens and Earth.
Genesis 2: 7 .. “And the Lord God formed man of then dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being..”

   Due to Noah’s faith, unwavering, Noah stood out from the wicked and deceitful. He very quickly stood out because Noah believed was alive God, and sitting on His throne on high. Noah also believed if you did wrong, expect to be punished, and so god gave ‘Grace’ to Noah.

   For you to receive God’s grace, it’s not your works .. It’s not your education .. it’s about how much monetary wealth you have .. it’s not about how much sway you have in your community like on social media .. You need to have unwavering faith.
Hebrews 11: 6 “..without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him..”

   You win 12 Gold medals at 3 Olympics, win the F1 20yrs straight, be Knighted by the Queen, be as rich Bill Gates, from Microsoft, and give away 100’s of millions of pounds away every year. It all counts for nothing ~ nought ~ zip ~ nicht ~ ничего ~ rien, are you getting the idea?? I hope so, this is what you get for no faith in God.

   Except his family, despite all those Noah knew that had lost, or, tossed aside their faith in God, Noah stayed true to his faith. Thus in return find grace in the Lord. You see no matter who, or and for how long, Noah’s faith unshaken, some could have been an old friend whom he grew up with. Too undertake the building of such a ship to day with all the tools and cranes it would take us, by ourselves, around a life time, literally. So imagine Noah and his son’s, cutting down by hand, this using axes and nothing else, cutting joints by hand as the ship, yes lets call it’s what it is .. monster ship, became larger and larger, with out Gods help would be impossible to do this.

When your ‘friends’ mock you for becoming a Christian, constantly calling you and your family names. Can your faith with stand such a barrage of abuse? Sadly many of you will not ..  Mark 11: 22 “..Jesus said have faith in God..” … I have to talk to you about having faith in things that are NOT of God, like your cars. You have faith in them to get you to work, or on holiday. You have faith in the toaster to cook your bread just the way you like. We have faith in many more things than I have room to write, but just please before reading on have a 2min think.

   There will come a time when you metal (faith) will be tested to the limit and beyond. Make sure daily that your faith cannot be compromised. You faith in finances will fail, in natural strength will fail, you will recognise when other people are going to fail you, but...

You faith in God will never fail you 

...when at work someone will ask you, ‘why do you pray’? Do you stick your head in the sand, or, do you hold fast to your faith and answer them?

part 2 coming in a couple of days

Settled in Righteousness ...... 55030820

55030820 

Settled in Righteousness 

   Holiness is a fruit that comes forth out of our acceptance of a thing called ‘Grace’. Grace is a root= Holiness is the fruit. Some will say being Holy and then these things are able to happen to you. Wrong. Being Righteous by faith and then Holiness will be your faith.

   Think about this for a moment … ‘If you don’t believe in what Jesus Christ our Lord has done, you ain’t going to see him. You need to believe in Him, then the by product will be Faith. You should always walk in uprightness, this is why .. You should live a life of holiness, because without Holiness, no-man will see the Lord through your witness.

Here’s something you should say every morning before getting out of bed….. 

“ Jesus Christ is my Everything” 

Romans 5 v 12 (Because of Adams decision he infected the whole human race to follow him). “..Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned..”

AMP - V13 “..Sin was [committed] in the world before the Law [was given], but sin is not charged [against anyone] when there is no law [against it]..”

Q: “So what happened to all the people back then, before the law was given”?
A: Can you only transgress against something to transgress?
ie.. your not speeding when there is a speed limit ..

… But we know that without being told, the faster we go the more dangerous/ wrong it is. We have been taught to know it might not be good, like standing at the cliff face, it’s going to hurt if we jump.

   An important thing to note, not all that we did has not been put on your record when we stand as a Christian before the Lamb of God, before we were saved, as it has all been washed clean by the blood of Christ, when we accepted Him into our lives.

Romans 5: 14 “..Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come..”

   If a free gift given to you, and you turn around and say ‘you don’t deserve it’ OR ‘Your not supposed to deserve it, is this free gift’? V15 “.. much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ..” in other words the unmerited favour from God, especially this free gift, you feel you don’t deserve it. But instead God is telling us that “I know you did nothing really to deserve it, but this free gift I give to you nevertheless.

V16 “..one offense resulted in condemnation..” We see clearly how Adams actions brought about Gods condemnation, so we can see how sin was brought into being, and how every man was born in to sin.

   Then God said I’m going give you a precious gift, even though I know you don’t deserve it, through my Son Jesus Christ you may never ‘earn’ it, but by my graces you can ‘freely’ receive it. V17 .. “..much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ .” If you receive ‘the gift’, called righteousness, you will reign in your life, by the one Jesus Christ. This wonderful gift from Heaven is Gods graces, as we were saved by Gods grace. Now you can receive the gift, that is called ‘righteousness’ though grace.

Amp V17 “..much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in [eternal] life through the One, Jesus Christ..”

“Will you receive the Gift” 

   Let us pause and take a look at the meaning of the word ‘receive’ to take into ones possession. Something that is offered or delivered.  So to take into possession something that is offered or delivered, we find that it was through ‘Grace’ that offered us the gift of righteousness, which can now be taken into our possession. Please pay attention closely, NO matter what life has to throw at you, DON’T give up this wonderful  gift from God easily. I hear you scream at the screen “..it’s easy for you to say..’’. Let me tell you it has not been easy, as life is a sea of great tempest’s. You can take a ‘physical’ thing into possession, for example: Money – Sofa’s – Cars – Homes etc. So how do we take hold of ‘righteousness’ into our possession? Purely by Faith alone.

   Only when we grasp ‘Righteousness’ fully, in every area of our lives, like ‘Eat/Sleep/Drink', will we see a difference and so will everyone else. Once you realise how good ‘Righteousness’ can be for you in your life, you’ll want to make sure you have it locked down in every area of how you now live. Then everyone will ask you ‘what your on?’ As they now want some, be aware some will be scoffers, and not believe you. All types of crazy things will happen to those who never ‘relinquish’ Gods free gift for you.

If ever in doubt repeat this to yourself daily... 

“I have hold of Gods Righteousness by Faith alone” 

   For, when the Angels in Heaven hear this they come running with all kinds of provisions, for you and yours. There will be NO mistake, let Heaven & Earth & hell know that “I am the Righteousness of God”. From now on no matter how many times you may stumble and fall always get up saying this, and you will get stronger every time. Until one day when you realise that you hardly stumble, or you can’t recall the last time you did.

V18-19 ...”Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous..” 

   Although we did nothing to be righteous, we were all born into sin by the actions of one couple, Adam & Eve. So to counter what they did in the garden of Eden, Jesus Christ came to correct this. The God of Abraham – Jacob & Moses, His favour will always bless even when you feel have done nothing to warrant such kindness.

Q: “Can I sin away my righteousness?”
A: If you can sin away your righteousness, then it would be a foolish act of your own making.

   If someone came along and gave you the ‘Euro-lotto’ jackpot, would you just leave it laying around for someone to find it? As sinning away Gods righteousness would be the same. When you could be living out your righteousness, which is by faith, and enjoying the glory and manifestation of God.

Q: Why do we keep sinning?
A: Because it keeps bringing about ’Human’, not Gods, natural consequences like .. shame – condemnation, bad feelings, all things we are used to. Be honest, who really wants to willingly live this way? 

   Who wants Shame – Guilt – living under the curse, or would you rather be spending you time being happy and rejoicing over the glory of your relationship God? I know which I choose. That’s not giving you cart-blanch to sinning, but the feeling of wanting to sin will go away eventually. I heard it said that ‘if we were to eat the same amount as we read our Bibles each week, we will be skeletons very quickly and die through malnourishment’.

Slowly but surly sinning will erode away …
..Your confidence in God.. 
..Your beliefs..& 
..Your faith in righteousness. 

   Once your confidence & faith in God goes away, then your going to find it harder to break away from those chains of bondage a second time around, the devil now has you bound down with. So after breaking away from his grasp the first time, would you leave the back door open leaving cookies on the worktop with a personal invite to come back.

   How many times whilst growing up, your (Earthly) father would say ‘don’t be doing that as it will make you unhappy’. But you always seem to know better than him, and so go on to make the mistake anyway. Our (Earthly) father now has to sit around and wait, and be there for you. Well surprise the same thing happens with our Heavenly Father.

Then God will say..
God: You know I love you?
You: Yes Heavenly Father
God: You know I ain't mad at you?
You: Yes Father, now what happens? I am truly sorry I let you down like that,
God: You ain’t let me down
You: Yes, but I want my holiness to be a demonstration of my love to you.

Hebrews 12:14 “..Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord..”

2 Corinthians 7:1 “..Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God..”

   We should want Holiness in our lives so bad, so that our hearts can no longer torment us. We should all want to be Holy and pleasing unto God. Everyday we should want God more & more & more, as much as God wants to love us. We should want to be with Him, not looking for Him do something for us, but just because we want to spend time with Him.

   If we keep doing this, then there will come a time, that NO matter the temptation, it will go straight on pass, because you will not be tempted or see the temptation.

May the Lord bless this to your hearts,

in Jesus Christs name

Amen

Prayer, May be some of the Rules of. ..../

Prayer,

May be some of the Rules of. .

   Most everything in life is governed by it’s own set of rules. For example, I would not use the rules for ‘Ice-Hockey’ to play Football/Soccer. It would be impossible to the same for ‘Prayer’, without them we might as well talk to the fridge.

   Whether kneeling or standing, the individual either lifted up their hands. . .

Ø Psalm 28:3  Do not take me away with the wicked And with the workers of iniquity, Who speak peace to their neighbours, But evil is in their hearts.

Ø   113:7  He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,

Ø Lamintation 2:19  “Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children, Who faint from hunger at the head of every street.”

Ø    3:47  Fear and a snare have come upon us,  Desolation and destruction.

. . .or spread them out. . .

Ø Exodus 9: ²⁷ And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked.

Ø Isaiah 1: If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land

Ø 1Kings 8 ; ²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven;

Ø Ezekiel 9; ³ Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side;

. . .Originally, no doubt, to the Alter, but afterwards to Heaven. There were indeed expectations to this, (as) when to express deep contrition a man would smile his hands on his breast. No matter to the consequence. Daniel prayed 3 times a day, even though if caught he would have put to death.

  Through prayer (which is the only way) we can communicate with God. There are different types of prayer. . .

o   Prayer of Faith – is the payer of petition, or, to change things,  “. .who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear. .” (Hebrews 5: 7)

o   Prayer of Consecration – is the prayer Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.  “. .Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. .”  (Luke 22 : 42)

   There are in fact many different types of Prayer, here are just some examples. .

1.     Commitment .. 1 Peter 5:7

2.   Worship          .. Acts 13 : ¼ - Luke 24 : 52/3

3.   Agreement      .. Mathew 18 : 15/20

4.   United Prayer ..Acts 4 : 23/31

5.    Intercessory    .. Romans 8: 26/27 – Ephesians 6: 18

   So, how is it that we can achieve such prayers, and many others? Well may be we need to Persist in prayer.

Well may be we need to Dwell in prayer.

Well may be we need to Reside in prayer.

   Because the devil convinces us that, God won’t our answer prayers, so we just don’t even bother to pray. How many victories were never won , because we failed to go to God for help in our time of need. Realise that it is not God won’t even bother, but rather that ‘WE DON’T EVEN BOTHER GOING TO HIM’.

   There is this 2 lettered word ‘IF’. It is such a small and insignificant word, but don’t be fooled it actually has the power to undermine the best of prayers. It carries such a punch that it can ‘make’ or ‘break’ your prayer life, and with your connection with God.

    A most important note here is the one He gave to His disciples is a short specimen of a fitting prayer, to show that He Himself of prayer… “..So He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven’..” (Luke 11 : 2)… Prayer was not an occasional thing to be used under pressure of urgent need, Or, when you have exhausted everything else before hand. Today it would be like having a mobile-phone permanently connected to God.

   This World of ours is far more populated than in Jesus time. I bet your wondering how on Earth, you can be heard above all the others praying praying and seeking God at the same time, Let alone God knowing what it is your praying for? You God today needs ne telephone – Voice mail – e-mail, because God truly knows every hair on your head, and your voice is as unique as your finger prints.

   We can see now that our prayers should be like breathing you can’t live without it. One type of prayer is that of Faith, this prayer is one that can change things, a prayer of Faith should never contain the ‘IF’ word.

# Big revelation coming#

   Jesus has given you the authority to use His name. .“. .And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. .”  John 14:14  …When you have the authority to use His name, it is as if Jesus is there in person. That exactly what happened in . .Acts 3:6 

“. .Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. .” . .the man had been in the same place for a very long time, on hearing the command rose up and was able to seize his bed, and was able to walk and dance.

   When you actually see this, and only then, you will truly grasp the fullness of the power of Jesus Christ’ name, and remove the ‘IF’ then your life will take on new meaning. When all is said and done, where does it leave us, once we realize the full power that is in our Saviours name, your life will change forever, and thus becoming more Spiritual led. 

“. .He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. .”  (John 7:38  )

   To receive such a blessing, God needs to see, that when we pray we revenge and authority, God will guide you and place on your heart what He needs you pray for. In Acts 12:5 . . .  “. . Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. .” . . .we can see what can be achieved when with reverence and authority we pray. With such force was the prayer realized that the prison physically shook to its foundations, that the prison doors burst open . .”. .The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. .” (James 5:16) . . . so when praying always make sure that your prayers come from the heart, and NOT the head.

   Always remember to never underestimate the power of prayer. It is truly full of promise, that it has the true power to heal the sick, and can set those free under bondage. The power of prayer, it can part the Sea, the only boundaries of our prayers are our Faith and how much we believe we can make a difference.

   God’s word always returns to Him fulfilled, but never let our failures keep you from wondrous thrown of Grace. So arise and seize the moment and discover the awesomeness that can be available in prayer.