2023

In this coming year, where there is going be

preasure heaped on to just survive, there is

always going to be those in a worst off state than

you, lets be kind.

Idols at Christmas

 

201222

Idols at Christmas

I got this from Betty, and I was amaized at it, as I had never heard this scripture before now. So thank you Betty.

Jeremiah 10:1-4 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.

2 Thus says the Lord:

“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are futile;
For one cuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
They fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple”

   Seasons greeting to all, I wonder how many of us so that it’s NOT Christmas till the tree is put up in the home. Donned with all manner of styles of decorations, lights. With an Angel ~ Father Christmas ~ a Star? Are we creating an idol in this moment on a real tree or artificial one, as we do. Spending time and effort, hours in fact. May be you have more than one, may be one out the front of your house, with just as much as inside? So you neighbour puts more than you, so you buy more to put out than them. Are you still feeling the Christmas spirit?Jeremiah 10:3 “For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the axe”

   When growing up I always wanted decorations like mum & dad, and better. Being a ‘non-Christian family’, they only learnt about Christmas from their friends and family about how to decorate their home from them .. V2 “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles” .. We always want to do it better than our parents, whom were ‘gentiles’, being completely Godless.

   We went to store and bought some new decorations for a tree, [artificial one] .. 4 They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple” .. Though my parents always bought real trees, as they loved the smell, mixed with dad cigars smell, dad would then proclaim it’s now Christmas. Mum would decorate the tree, if lucky by Christmas morning the cats had not stripped it, or destroyed it, like one Christmas in London.

   I wonder like our selves how many of you have a nativity scene of sorts in with your decorations? Is it put out in a way that would make you ‘idolize’ it? Or even the humble tree, could be idolized so be careful at this time of the year. Teaching about the ‘real meaning of Christmas.

Prayer

Our heavenly Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. You are the God of Abraham~Isaac & Jacob. We love you with all of our Spirit ~ Soul & Body, at this special time of year when we gather, lets us pause and remember it's because of you who are alive, that we have Christmas, NO Father Christmas, NO Buddha, NO Harry Krishna, whom are dead, or any body else. We pray for your blessings whilst we travel, receive family, we thank you for the food & gifts, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.

Why Life’s Better as a Servant ... Part 4

56:170921

Why Life’s Better as a Servant

Part 4

[NKJV] 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”
Question: “Why does being a servant/minister matter?
Answer: John chapter 13; shows how blessed your life becomes from doing this’

   Jesus gave us the example of a servant when He washed His disciples feet. Leadership should be measured by their willingness to be a servant. Not for want of repetition, our Lord came, NOT for us to serve Him, instead for Him to serve us, as shocking as that may be, then in the end freely giving His life for us.

    1) ’What is life, if not as a servant?’
   What you have known is that, especially as a Christian, there are going to consequences if you have not a servants attitude. . . If not a servant, then you can only be someone whom is self-seeking. This can only lead you down the path to ENVY ~ Jealousy and worst. . .Ultimately today’s society in which we live. You will struggle with, and fail to understand, why you feel this way, this is now the by-product of not taking on a servants life style. Here in the UK during WW11, there was a poster saying ..”Ask not what the Country can do for you .. rather.. Ask what you can do for your Country” .. Just because we are not at War, we ALL should be asking the latter part of this War poster/slogan. Imagine the society we, all over the World, could have?

[NLT] Luke 22:24/30 Strife & Destiny .. “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. 28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel”

[NLT] Philippians 1:27 “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News”
[NKJ] Philippians 2:2/4 “fulfil my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others”

   If you only ever used 2 verses as a template of how to best be a servant, then I’m sure it'll be .. ‘A good and faithful servant’ you could ware without blemish. So, looking at yourself, and ask ‘where am I at?’ .. then ask 'how can you help/serve others, more than yourself? For instance, like finding someone’s need is great, purchase a food hamper, purchase the food they eat, then send them a hamper/basket. You send/have delivered, without a name on it to say who sent it, who did this kind act.. This is not your glory, but Gods. Facing disunity in your life? Then it’s time to check yourself in the mirror, and ask this hard question .. ‘Am I being a servant like Jesus was?’

    2) Failure to into Ministry

   If your NOT living too serve, then don’t just become another seat warmer, you need to get involved with your Church in some capacity. For we all have attributes our Church can use. There are sadly those who just go to and NOT partake, and just take for themselves saying ..’What’s in for me?’ .. ‘what can they do for me?’ .. As long as they do, behave, this way they will always be left wondering, all because they don’t have a servants heart. John 13 – even the apostles needed to be taught how to be, and what it is to be a servant. The bases of the absence, of not having a servants attitude, causes you to sit back whilst others serve you. They even will go as far as saying .. ‘Sure I’m not needed, look lots of others are there already’ .. ‘I no skills they need’ .. Careful, don’t just be a taker!

    3) Burn out, and those whom are Ministering
   This ‘Burn-out’ comes when it always falls onto a few, doing everything, whilst others sit idly by. Don’t sit back and let other run themselves ragged and into the ground. ASK ..’How can I help?’ .. If you don’t know how, to do something ask, to be shown how. Being involved in the Church is rewarding, may be, you even learn a new skill.

   4) The Church fails to accomplish it has been called to do .. such as Evangelism:- and all the aspects of edification, because a lack of Ministry people. 

   A church only lacks due to there NOT being enough people willing to give their free time being Volunteers ~ helpers ~ Servants. Sadly there is a lack of parishioners coming forth with their free time. Let me ask another question here, if you will . .
Question:- “What if Jesus in His early twenties said, why do I have to do this, when NO one else will help?” & “What if Paul or John or Timothy said why do we bother when NO one else is?” . .

   May be now this is starting to sink in? 

. . Now, having a servants heart will help you become successful at work, this attitude will make you stand out. The failure in Evangelism, has to hurt and up set Christ Jesus, because of the lack of people volunteering their free time willingly. Jesus came to serve us, so much so He left us a model, with instructions on how to become a servant, wow how big is that? The Son who is God’s Son, came to give and to serve us, and make a way, where there was no way, for us to be able to be received by God, through Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thatnk you for giving us your Son so that we may be recieved by you, through His sacrifcie, that we may set free, for we know whom the Son sets free is free indeed. May we not just be hearers of you living Word but also doers, becoming servants at heart, whilst shinning your light and edifying your name. Amen

Why Life’s Better as a Servant .... part 3

56:170921 

Why Life’s Better as a  Servant

Part 3

Mark 10:45 [KJV] “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many”

   One thing stood out, was how many in His life time, was how ‘unselfish’ Jesus was too. This flowed through, in many ways on how to be this way. . . Mark 10:45 [NLT] “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” . . . WOW, this could not be made any clearer, watch out for this next point, for if He [Jesus] came to be served unto only. We wouldn’t have the opportunity to come to our Father God. What a hoy mess we would be in right now. How do we even begin to quantify the magnificence of gods glory pouring Himself into flesh for us, just to serve us.

Before you carry on reading please open your NKJ Bible to John 13:1-5 & V12-17,

 I will provide the ‘New Living Translation’ of the Bible.

   At that time the rads were dirty with all manner of waste, human & animal, coupled with at that time the rads being very dusty and muddy. So it was custom when you visited someone’s home there was a ‘Servant’ to greet you, and would wash your feet. This was done so you did not walk anything into their home. Is what the ‘Son-of Man’ did by lowing Himself to that of a servant. Showing the Apostles therefore how to behave, and NOT to think it below them to serve others.

   Here, Jesus ‘The Son-of-Man’, told His apostles that He chose to serve .. [NKJV] V12 “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?” .. In a more modern tone .. “Do you fully comprehend what I have just showed you?” .. You have to understand ‘What I Am’, then fully grasp who I have just become to you, you are to serve .. Humbly .. Willingly .. and just to be served.

V13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am”
As I, Jesus, have washed your feet, so you should wash one another feet, hence becoming servants, unto each other. The common theme here is .. Humility .. it can never be stretched enough, a servants heart is one who looks NOT for personal gain whilst serving. .

# Serving is not what you can do for me,

rather, you should be asking ‘What can I do for you’ #

. . this why our social fabric is in tatters, because today all people think is .. ME ~ My ~ Mine ~ I want & self needs .. It profits me not .. I deserve that new Job ~ New Car ~ 4 Holidays a year ~ even though I did nothing to deserve them.

   Just as Jesus served His disciples, so He was saying to them, now I want you to serve your neighbours & fellow man as I have you … [NKJV]V15 “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you”  ... This bigger, so much bigger than just simple foot washing. No matter if your a King or Queen, a General or Prime minister , or even a company owner. You need to strip away all these titles, heirs & graces, if you want to become an effective servant of God.

[KJ] V13 “Ye call me Master and Lord, so I am”
If Jesus can humble himself, then, so why can’t we?
To Serve our Bosses ~ 

To Serve our Friends ~ 

To Serve our neighbours ~ 

To Serve our Partners .. always remember serving fully is Not for personal gain, in fact the glory goes to the Lord God, and only God.

[KJV] 13:16 “Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master ”
V17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them”
V17 [NLT] “Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them”

   Jesus’ is telling us that now you know, and understand, just what being a servant is about, God said that for being a good servant, He will bless our faithfulness.

Prayer

Lord god we humble ourselves to this study that hearts and minds may be opened to revelstion to a way of living, that you'll bless. For as it was as easy for Christ Jesus to do then may we also come to servanthood with a humbled heart & spirit, that it blesses those we serve.

Why Life’s Better as a Servant ... Part 2

Part 2

Why Life’s Better as a  Servant

   Now I have your attention, I want to speak to you a little about this subject. Being, or having, a servants attitude has far greater connotations, In that this is a way of life. To make this point clear I’m not talking about the servants o ‘Downton Abby’. I’m talking to husbands, serve you wives, and wives serve your husbands. For you can’t be a servant of God, this without serving first.
   Many of you know how long I’ve been married to Bet [23yrs for those who didn’t. Whilst doing this study I have become challenged, in as much as God said I needed to serve Betty better, “He asked me do I serve, or make me each day better servant for Betty?” I truly found myself wanting on both counts. Now after thanking God before breakfast .. for a roof over our heads .. A good bed to sleep on .. The very air we breath ..

• I ask god how can I make/serve Betty in any way.
• The best wife a man could pray for.
• Fresh water & Food to eat...and so much much more.
• Hence why I ask how can I make the day better.

   Surely being a Minister/leader, you are there to serve? A ‘Minister’, is not just there for Sundays, they are not looking to just around during the and only giving sermons on Sunday, they are there t0 serve lead & comfort folk. They greatest leader of all was Christ Jesus. Always remember to inter lock together you can’t be a leader without the knowledge of how to serve, and visa versa.
Matthew 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve”

   Its crazy to think how such a simple message does not get tough as much as it should. May be it would highlight their our short comings. When it shows clearly we need to be Servers to others just as He did . . .
Philippians 2:15 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”
. . . lets just pause here for a second .. “Let this mind” .. in other words to take on the same mind set as Christ Jesus, which can’t be a bad thing. Surely as Christians our attitude towards how we believe, should be one of a ‘Servant’, and sereve just as Christ came to do.
Philippians 2:6/7 “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” ..

   He didn’t choose , nor look for the equality with God, instead He chose to be that of a servant. Jesus could have made His role far more powerful. For sure He had the power to do so. Instead his ..Humanity .. was ans is unparalleled, for He always shows His quality of having a modest, or low, view of His own importance. Christ, like humanity is manifest in the freedom of God’s Son to affirm the fullness of all God has placed in Him. We should be openly willing to look beyond our own interests, for the sake of others. How come is it in today’s society we think of ourselves too good to be servants, even thinking it is well below us . . .
V7 “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant”
. . . it would be the CEO/ Owner of a major company shedding his fancy clothes, and becoming a regular ‘Joe Bloggs’, on the factory/shop/warehouse floor ..”of no reputation” .. so he saw what you did, heard what you did. Jesus, (and I’m paraphrasing here), was like ‘I don’t care what you think of me’. Unlike today we are consumed be our ‘image’, for some it’s all they can think about, ‘smile for perfect pic’ click goes the camera on their phone, from when they wake in the morning, till they close their eyes at night.

   We should not let what others think about us ..”of no reputation” [V7].. How can you even contemplate being a servant, if your worried what other people think of you? The only one that should worry about is Jesus, so with humility in your heart is the only way to approach being a servant. . .
Philippians 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, . . . OK wait for this next part .. He humbled Himself and became obedient”
. . . so our call to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift us up. Surely humbling ourselves, opens us up to increased grace?

   It’s been pointed out the major reason for NOT humbling ourselves to being a servant is the question of .. “What’s in it for me?” .. Commonly known as ..Self~centredness .. even .. Pride ..pops it’s ugly head and says ..’Woo Hoo everyone is looking at me’ .. ‘Ain’t I great for doing this1’ .. even to point opf lying to make themselves look~seem important. . .

Jesus humbled himself, even the Son of God.

Are you, also willing to humbling yourself?

Even to being more Christ like?

. . .It is time to humble yourself to what God has called you to be, are you ready? Don’t be scared as God will supply ‘ALL’ your needs, all He asks for in return is, humbled faith from us, the truth is can we do this?

John 13:12 “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?”

   As we have allowed for God to be taken out of our schools ~ Work ~ even our Courtrooms. The later meaning swearing on the bible means so little you might as well swear on a ‘cook-book’. In ?Hebrews it tells us to .. “give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” [Hebrews 2:1]. Just because we live in a technological World, there are so many distractions it takes/requires immense discipline to black them out, instead of letting Gods living World to dominate your life, and not your mobile phone ~ game boys ~ Xbox ~ Play stations etc.
[NLT]Hebrews 2:1 “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it”

   Being a servant is far greater just washing feet. [John 13:15] is where Jesus explains His example .. “I have given you an example to follow” .. All Jesus wanted to do was getting His point over, in as much as Jesus example, they are to serve one another, as he had just done. Serving is so much more, much bigger than washing feet. I know I’m repeating myself here, I’m trying to get the old sticky penny to drop. What is serving I here you asking? Well .. Some of theses examples should know more than most .. Church Minister ~ Paster ~ Clergyman ~ Church Deacons ~ Ushers ~Evangelists ~ Christ Jesus our King of Kings Alpha & Omega .. Father God came to serve us, we have NO excuses to serve one another.

 It is NEVER beneath us!

Prayer

Heavenly Father thank you for you living Word, in the coming week, place in our hearts humility, that we become more like yourself. With a willingness to humble ourselves to be better servants. That it profits us not, only those we are serving.

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 #

 

56:070322

In Due Season we Shall Reap

    Sometimes we are inclined to be discouraged in our Christian life and work, we find ourselves asking these questions . . .

• Is it worth while to be Holy, to keep Gods commandments

• What profit is there in Godliness?

• Is it worth while to deny ourselves to do good to others, or to serve them?

• What comes of it all?

. . . many of us are apt to have mood in which these questions press upon us with painful stress. It is well we look into the matter that we may be assured that it is worth while to ‘do-well’, that there is profit in it.

   There is an inspired word that says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9 – NIV) What is meant by by ‘doing good’? It is doing right, obeying God’s commands, fashioning our lives after the patten revealed by Him in His living Word.
   Let us be kidders here in that it’s not easy to right all the time. It throws up many a big struggle. A of ‘doing-well’, it implies a continual crucifying yourself. These inclinations surely must be restrained? .. Desires must be curbed .. Our will must be yielded to Gods will .. The whole life must be brought into subjection to a law which is spiritual and Heavenly.

“Does it Pay"? … is the deep question? There are many people who don’t put their lives under the Law of God. Who go on their own ways of self indulgences. They will put NO divine command interface with the exercise of their own desires. They will not put NO curb on their inclinations, as we look to these people, it seems to us perhaps that they are happier than us?? . . .
Galatians 6:7-9 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”
. . . They also seem to more out of life than we do. It’ll seem to us that we are denying ourselves, sacrificing our comfort, and cutting off our right hands for nothing. Sin always seem to have the advantage? Worldliness appears to pay the best? ‘Vertue’ seems dreary ~ costly & lonesome. It does not have the good time that self-indulgence has. It will happen that you will grow weary of ‘well~doing’ because there appears to be NO profit in it.

Well~Doing ..means also doing good to others. We are taught that if we are Christians, we must NOT be living for ourselves. Love is the essence of new life, and love is doing ~ giving ~ sacrificing, for the sake of others. Instead of trying to get out of the World al we can for ourselves, we are to give the World all we can possibly give of blessings & good. Until our glorious Lord comes back to look after it. We need to be doing our best to claim His people by showing His glory, and helping all the lost and disheartened back sliders, before time runs out. Then the Lord will say . . 2 Kings 10:30 “Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight”

   It is easy to see each life is not natural, is not in harmony with Human feelings. Naturally we care for ourselves, and for our own benefit & comfort. We do not intend to put ourselves out, to sacrifice our own convenience in serving others. We might do it the ones we love deeply, but the gospel requires us to love & serve, with all our capacity serving, those that are not amongst our congenial friends. Here’s a contentious thought here .. An enemy who needs us we must serve, even the most ‘debased’ among them. . .
debased:~ reduced in quality or value ..
I.E Immoral ~ Debouched ~ Dissolute ~ Degenerate
and more of the like…
. . . Human life that we find, we must touch with our healing love and help with the hands that have been given by Christ. We are required to hold our life and all that we have at the call of love and of human need. We are to bear one anthers burdens. We’re called to have sympathy with all sorrow and need., to be touched ever with a sense of the worlds conditions. This love of Christian puts us down among men just as was Christ Jesus himself was among men. He never kept anything back, He poured out the blessing of His sweet life on everyone who came near Him, giving His life’s blood for the saving of man.
Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

   That is what ‘well doing’ means. It is no wonder that some people stop and ask, ‘is worth while’? It is very natural for us to raise the question whether the giving of all the best way to gain all, living together for others is the way to make the most of our own life, as we are requested to do. Look at Christ, for example, and think of his rich and noble and blessed life. Never in any other mind were there such intellectual powers, and never in any other heart were there such depths and heights and breadths and lengths of love such as His.

• What did He do with His rich life .. ?
• He turned away from paths in which the Worlds great men had walked and devoted himself to the one work of ‘doing Good’ to others ..
• He gave all He had to His work ..
• He emptied Himself and made Himself poor that others might be made rich ..
• He exhausted His own strength that the weak may be made strong ..
• He poured out His own life – blood that dead might live ..

   Is that the best that Christ could be done with His wondrous life. His own friends thought not. They thought that he thrown His life away.

   Take those who are following in Christ’s footsteps. A young American, having finished her course in collage, came out with high honours. She had fine powers, good social position, influential friends, a beautiful and happy home. Just then there came a call from some missionary teachers to go to the South to work, among the freed slaves. The Girl heard the call and gave herself to this service. For two or three years she lived among the poor folk, teaching them, telling them of Christ. Then one summer night fever came up from the swamps, from which she succumbed, and soon she died among her despised people of colour, with no mothers hand to smooth her hair, or to have cooled her brow, or to have taken away the pain. They brought her body back, and buried her body among her friends, where they laid her body to rest, many had said of her life .. “She has wasted her beautiful life” .. “it was too rich a life to be poured out in such a costly ministry” ..All this was said whilst standing over the coffin, they ask the questions .. “Could she not have done anything better with her life”?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven … 2 A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted .. 4 A time to mourn, And a time to dance”

   It is not in vain that we continue our ‘well-doing’ that we obey gods commandments, that we devote our lives in self-sacrificing to men for Christ sake. What ever seem to loss is gain. The good man may seem to have more trouble than his unchristian neighbour. His business does seem to proper so well. His virtues may miscarry, his faithfulness may bring him human enmity and even persecution, but life accounts are not always settled at once . . .

Harvest does not follow sowing Immediately

. . .in the end righteousness succeeds, just look here ..
NKJV Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life”
NIV :~ “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”
. . .this leaves us with no confusion as to what we need to do for the best of ourselves but for others to. Destruction or everlasting life .. Your Choice
1 Corinthians 9:11 “If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things”

   There are days & months when the seed seems to have perished. Afterward, however it yields fruit. It is the same in spiritual life. For a time there may seem to be NO blessing in ‘well-doing’. But, in the end righteousness succeeds. V8: “ he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” .. Every kindness we do in the name of Christ Jesus, is sowing a good seed unto the Spirit. Every deed of Love ~ every act of unselfishness ~ every self denial ~ All the things we do to help ~ to comfort ~or to just simply bless others, are seeds which we sow into the spirit .. “at the proper time we will reap a harvest” .. [Galatians6:9] a time it may not appear any good, Or, blessing comes form the act of love or word of kindness spoken. But the seed will not perish, it has in it an immortal germ.
   We dare not shut our hearts, that would mean surely, a moral and spiritual death! So we must always be giving and doing. We can keep nothing long for ourselves. No soon as it in our hands, than we are asked to give out again, because the Lord has need of it in some other life, so as to meet another need, or to some work of love for Him. One thing to bear in mind is, never fear anything, the smallest thing we can do for another, with love for Christ in our hearts.

Example to bear in mind ..

“When you do anything for God, the very least,

thing, you’ll never know where it will lead,

or what amount of good it will do to them. Love’s

secret therefore, it is always doing things for God .

We know how a thing done by us, it may blessed a

life and stay in ti as a benediction forever.”

   It would be amiss of me if I did not recommend having a close and true walk with Christ. There is a story that a teacher wrote about once .. “As I came out of the schools front doors after the usual trying day in my first school, you were passing waiting for me. As you walked with me a short distance you spoke sympathetically about my work. Your manner and voice cheered and comforted me, I never forgotten it”. She then goes on to say that in the years since the memory of His kind words stayed in her heart. The incident is full of comfort for her. We must always to remember to keep sowing, so that you can reap many harvests, God wants not to just bless us once, but for ‘ALL’ of our days. For we know not how small a word may bless a life.

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” . . . such a well known verse amongst Christians, but did you see that .. “pressed down, shaken together, and running over” .. God is good all the time. Sometimes you only have a little, but God’s waiting to see how we use this ‘little-bit’ before He increases it.

   We should always ready our hearts & minds for what ever ‘little’ ministry we may have an opportunity render. The smallest word of good cheer may start a song in a heart, which shall sing forever. The good may drop conscientiously from lip and hand, you may never think of it again, and yet it shall not be lost. The sentiment carries in it the life of God and is immortal.

   There is a difference in the different-ways in which we give, though the gift ~ or favour, or act be precisely the same. One gives only help, the other gives part of themselves in the help. There are some beautiful flowers that have NO fragrence, but how much more a flower means, that it has in perfume as well as loveliness. We should be giving part of us with the gifts that we give. We need to impart part of ourselves with the gifts we bestow, part of our own life flows out with every deed of kindness we do. Love is the fragrance of the flowers of the heart and what ever we do in love, love for Christ and love for man shall never be lost.

   Who knows what the person is going through? Just think how much the World will be richer and better for even the smallest deeds of Christ like charity. We may not reap the harvest in this World, but beyond the sky's, we shall reap the sheaves in our bosom. So then throughout our lives be in perfect in ‘well-doing’, as we shall know that our Master in Heaven will accept the humblest things we do for Him, even though it only be a fragment in the building up of His Kingdom.

So always remember this ...

Ecclesiastes3:1 “To everything there is a season, 

A time for every purpose under heaven .. 2 A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted”