Whist I was waiting...3

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Whist I was waiting

Psalm 40 1~5

“. .I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. .”

   Sadly, all to often we hear, ‘Your God must be very cruel, to this person suffer this way’. I would then say, may be it is because, our Lord almighty has a reason for keeping disabled/ill. It may not be the answer they are looking for, but the best I can say at that moment. There is no one answer, let alone God’s reasoning.

   This conversation far more than you would think/like. I actually have a confession, I do have to wonder myself from time to time, and more so when our Heavenly Almighty Father is not forth coming to help comfort with a reply.

   In life it seems that we are always waiting, waiting for that special person to come along, waiting for that perfect job to come along, or to tell you are hired.

      Why is it that we always to be waiting these days? Waiting for that special person to come along, waiting for the perfect job. When waiting always feel like an eternity, (as the saying goes ‘ a watched kettle never boils). Often whilst waiting that eternity feelings often lead to being impatient, and these feeling are left unchecked then they will lead to us being out of control with anger/frustration. Also if these feeling are unchecked then welcome to insomnia.

   We all are waiting for something, today what are you waiting for? Might it be. . .

o   Something exciting may be, like the birth of you baby

o   It could be those all important test results

   I know some of you don’t want to praise our Lord Jesus, as you can’t see what to be joyful about, and just don’t feel like being joyful, because you think you have nothing to be joyful about. OK then, let’s say anticipating that holiday you paid for since last year. Give praise for the job you have, as it has given you the means to pay for your holiday, as there are many people can’t afford to.

   There are many things to give praise for, green lights – that make your journey easy and swift: your partner give you a kiss and wishing you a good day, are you now thinking of other things to give thanks & praise for?

   On the other hand you could be waiting upon those exam results? May be it’s waiting for your partner to come along* for you to share your life with. Now is the time to praise the Lord.

 

(* For those of you that don’t know how I got to meet my wife, one day soon I will share my testimony with you)

Psalm 27 : 13 & 14  “. . I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! .”

I heard a prayer recently that went something like this. .

It is hard to wait Lord, sometimes waiting  takes a big toll on me, and in the midst of waiting  and yearning, I forget to praise you, help me to remember you whether I’m waiting for something good or something potentially painful. Teach me patience and the gift of resting in your goodness; also help me fix my eyes always on you.

   I’m sure that discouragement does not discriminate, it does not matter which Country you come from, even though some seem to suffer more than other. For when evening falls across the land and a hush comes over the night. You’re getting ready for bed, we all have our rituals we go through each night, like wash your face & clean your teeth; letting the dog out; making sure all the doors and windows are locked (such is the world we live in); alarms are armed.

   Discouragement comes in many guises, it may be a family feud that been going on for years, or a physical ailment (of which I bear witness to some in my own family down the years), or maybe it can be a career path that has left you somewhat down and deflated. Maybe you discouragement comes from a recent that has also left you somewhat down and deflated.

   Oh dear, we have all felt discouragement at one time or another. The Question now is what are going to do with it? It’s all too easy to wallow in the discouragement and turn your face away from hope. That sort of apathy is not of the Lords thinking. However it plays/delivers you right into the devils hands, of which the devil is now laughing as now all your attention is on him, instead of on our Saviour. So instead of worrying on things we need not…..

Psalm 31 : 9/10  “. .Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in 

trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and 

my  body! For my life is spent with grief. .”

   I know many of have felt this way, with some of you going through these, even right now. If you are, before we go any further, stand up (no I mean it this will only work if you participate), now shake your arms, go on; now shake your legs; now give your body a good shake. OK, now sit down again and continue reading. Having shaken off that old feeling, now it’s time for a new attitude. I want you to now stand again (please bear with me), and read the following out loud….

Psalm 31; 14/17  “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”  My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called

upon You;

   Our enemies want us to give up the good fight, and look down cast all our days to come. The devil is sleeked, and wants nothing more than for us trip up, and lying face down in the dirt. He will use every trick up his sleeve to keep us there. It’s time to put on those work boots on, because no matter how discouraged we may feel there is always hope for a better and brighter tomorrow.

   In Romans 5:5 …it clearly says that this hope does not disappoint us. God’s love has already been poured out into our hearts….    

   “. .Now hope does not disappoint, because the

Love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the

Holy Spirit who was given to us. .”

   You may not feel a lot of love right now. You not even see victory ahead of you, may not even be sure what you can do to change things, or may not even have things planned out either, yet. You may not know what can be done to change things around. The thing is YOU don’t need things all figured out yet. Just lean on the One who is the writer of your unique life’s story. Our Lord will use ‘all-this-disappointment’ you’re feeling, and turn it all around for the good. Always remember when you’re down, the good times are just around the corner.

   When hope is in your heart and the unfailing love of God on your side, you can overcome every obstacle in your path, as God is with you were ever you go.

   I read this next segment that brings this short sermon to a conclusion …..

“You may be feeling an over whelming sense 

of God’s hope permeating in your spirit 

tonight. As you approach  the Lords throne, 

you may See God for He is

 - King over your life – and worship Him in

 gladness for is doing good work in you”

The 3 C's

52:241017

The 3 Cs

   Today is a breeding for the 3 C’s, as we are tough. I would go as far as saying that from a young age we are brain washed as to what is acceptable. To the poi9nt we are made to be/feel an out-cast, if we feel nothing using the 3 C’s, in fact it’s OK, I hear you ask ‘What are the 3 C’s you’re talking about?

They are ….

·       Criticize . . to judge wrongly

·       Cursed . . .Foul language & calling names

·       Condemn . anyone falsely

   If you say ‘NO’ to any of the above, I will call you out and disagree with you. So lend me your conscience a while, so it may be . . . Challenged ~ Stretched ~ Tempered ~ even Questioned.

Ø Criticize . . to judge wrongly

Math 7 : 1  “. .Judge not, that you be not judged. .”

  In other words, if you don’t want others to judge you don’t judge them.,,

1 Kings 8 : 32  “. . hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants. .”

... You no matter if we stand in a quite darkened corner, or, stand on a busy street, we are foolish to think God is neither watching or listening to our false judgement of what ever see or hear.

   So what is it to judge someone who is appointed to pass the law? Although there is a supreme judge, he may be so, but be assured that ‘Only God’ truly knows the hearts of man, we can’t.

2 Chronicles 19^:6/7   “. .and said to the judges, Take heed

to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but

for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. ⁷ Now

therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take

care and do it. .”

   I want you to take time to answer these 3 questions honestly…

1.     In the UK.. How many of you have seen the advertisement of a car being driven fast down a country road, just as he loses control?

2.   Another advertisement, where after scoring for his football/Soccer, after having a pint of beer or 2 with friends after the match, on his way home looses control of his car, and crashes through the fence scything down the kids playing there?

3.   Lastly, and again let’s be honest here, have driven over the speed limit all the time?

John 8: 7  “. .He who is without sin among you, let

him throw a stone. .”

   Who loves a good action movie? Come on now be honest? Well, these films are normally rated at 15+ (in other words, this film is only suited for those over 15 years of age), because of the use of bad language and other content. OK then let me paint you a scene, There you are watching say ‘Lethal Weapon’, when there is a knock on the front door. When you open it to see who’s there, it’s Jesus. Mind if I come to hang out with you, when he sits down he asks what you watching as he sees a film paused. Will you still watch it or turn it off?

   Would you be comfortable with the bad language used often, or turn it off quick, hiding what you were comfortable watching before Jesus came around? Instead you turn off the TV. Yet you were happy to have lots of violence & bad language, But you turn off it because you feel it won’t be Jesus thing. How dare you! If you can show who we are 24/7, then we cannot judge others, because the judge on-high is always there taking notes on what we do ‘behind doors’.

1 Kings 8: 32  “. .Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants. .”

So next time instead of hiding things from our Lord, say this..

Psalm 7: 8&9  ^{“. .}The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. .”

…Lets also praise each other, and build each other up, when we beat temptation.

1 peter 1: 13/16   ^“. .Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. .”

   Who is without partiality to ‘judge’ according to ones works, and conduct yourselves throughout time of your stay here, and yet fear knowing that you were not redeemed corruptible. . .But with precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.

   Let me leave you at the end of the first ‘C~Critisize’ with this thought who stand in front of God as white as the day He washed us clean and redeemed us, think careful before you answer! 

(The next 2 C's will be up in the coming days)

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.

Thank you for your support and loyalty

during this hard & sad time.

Coming towards the end 

of the week is...

To Pray, 

may be some of the rules..

Why we should look to be Pleasing to God....

Why we should look to be

Pleasing to God

“..⁵ But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ ..”

(2Peter 1: 5/8)

   So what does it really mean ‘to be pleasing to God’? Grace, can cover a multitude of actions, some of these are shown in the above text, with actions such as. . .Virtue ~ Knowledge ~ Self-Control ~ Perseverance ~ Brotherly Kindness ~ Love. . . WOW, this could not be made more clear. God will never surely ask anything of us without first giving us the tools, to enable us to complete what He has asked.

   What I find sad as well as somewhat misguided, is that most of our Christian lives, and most of Religion, and most Church’s, is they define ‘Grace’ as unmerited favour and love, which is not only just wrong but totally incomplete. Surly as Christians we have to stand in the fullness, so ‘what is Grace’? Such is the immense meaning, that, God’s unmerited favour and love, Well Grace is God’s unmerited power. This in turn gives us empowerment also enablement to face what God has in store for us to do.

   So what had the ‘paralytic’ man ever done to receive God’s unmerited power and grace here in . . 

".. For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men. ." (Mat 9: 5/8)

   Because of the a fore mentioned, we now need to talk of God’s ‘empowerment’ that had/has never earned God’s strength. Paul went before God to talk of the ‘thorn’ in his side. The thorn in his side, was actually Satan/devil, as it was distracting Paul from his work. God turned around to Paul and said . .”.. My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). . God in that instant showed Paul that  . .

 ‘..His grace is in His strength, His empowerment and

ability is all Paul/we will ever need in our lives..’

   In Latin there are a couple words that put together many of us know of may be a slightly different meaning, they are . .

o   Carris ~ means ‘Grace’

o   Carris-ma means ‘anointing’

. .today we think of Charisma to meaning..

1.compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others. "he has tremendous charisma and stage presence"

synonyms:

charm, presence, aura, personality, force of personality, strength of character, individuality; More

2.a divinely conferred power or talent.

   Next time you use the word ‘Charis-ma’, stop and think is being ushered. To say that this person has ‘Grace’, without empowerment, can never be done as God empowers us with His Grace. You can’t be a Farmer without a tractor. It would be silly to be a farmer without one! To talk of Grace, then you must talk of ‘blameless-Grace’. No matter whichever way around, when you talk of one, inadvertently you talk of the other.

‘Grace should be the divine influence on your heart, 

and it’s reflection on your life.’

    God gave us ‘His’ Grace to reflect upon others, and NOT hold to it, hide it up our jumpers. Just like a lighthouse we should be forever letting it shine bright. Grace should always be seen and reflected near and far no matter of life’s storms, we must always let it shine brightly through us.

When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. (Act 11: 23)

   It’s time to prick up your ears, because these next 4 examples of how God’s Grace will ‘produce proof’ in our loves. . .

o   God’s Grace will produce infallible proof

o   God’s Grace will produce infallible proof of healing

o   God’s Grace will produce infallible proof of soundness

o   God’s Grace will produce infallible proof of deliverance

. . . always bear in mind that the Grace of God is actually an untapped force that will do more than just affect our standing with God,  by crediting us full righteousness. Grace can also affect our spiritual experience.

   In fact we see that, Grace is marked by God’s enabling work within us, to overcome our helplessness. . .

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  (Hebrews 12 : 28)

. . . In other words, this passage tells us that we can’t serve God with reverence & fear, without Grace.

   For when comes the time that God tells/instructs to something, He won’t do unless He has already given us all the sufficient Grace to help us. This goes for every time God has us to something that requires us to do acceptably serve Him, or God will ensures He gives us an abundance of Grace to help us through the trails along the way.

Here comes the simplest part, you would think

   If we try to do what God wants of us then prepare.  Because under their own steam, we are but fools. If I wanted to take my car 200 miles down the road, and only expect you to give ‘Grace’ in the form as fuel/gas. You surly would not ever try and push the car up & down dales, surely that is just idiotic. God’s Grace is freely given out to help, Grace may be used to cover up our past sin, just as Grace is used to empower us to NOT sin any more. . .

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1 John 2: 6)  

. . . just try and walk as Jesus walked, we’re going to fail all day long .

   Now comes the most difficult part of this, in that to succeed we need not only God’s empowerment through Grace, we must believe and have faith of your success. It’s like making a fruit loaf but you never used the fruit, well it’s just going to fail.

# AM I GETTING THROUGH YET? #

We can only ever come by faith more than our

Own ability

   You are going to fall flat on your face, relapse, when you really try and stop taking drugs, or, watching porn, and your sins are doomed. Why? Because you are not really empowered by God’s Grace. God does mean you are exempt from pleasing God. There is how ever a big difference between God being pleased with us being saved/born-again, and God somehow being happy with our behaviour.

   In Jesus prayer for ‘all’ believers, describes how deep God’s true love is showed. . . I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  (John 17 : 23). . .If only believers, and those that don’t, could only grasp this. God loves us in the same measure that He does Jesus. So many miss this very special message, God there for is only pleased by our behaviour that shows goodness to our neighbour. You see our Heavenly Father love is always unmerited, but, at the same time His pleasure in us will not always be unmerited.

So my ending though is this. . .

‘You can’t earn His love

But rather

You can please Him’