A Tree and its fruits

The standards that determine eternal judegment are not a person’s standards, not a church’s standard, not a preacher’s standard, but only God’s standards set forth in His Bible.

Matthew 7:15-23 ‘Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruits you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.  Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

In the course of my college education, I ran across an inscription posted at the top of the college library entrance that read, ‘Read not to believe or take for granted, nor to refute or contradict, but to weigh and consider’.  That inscription has had a huge impact on my life.  I try to embrace that attitude when I read, listen and observe.  A similar attitude shows up in the book of Thessalonians.  A directive was issued to the Christians in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians when he admonishes them to test all things to the scriptures so that you will not be led astray.

Again, Matthew 7:15 says ‘Watch out for false prophets.  They will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.’  Verse 16 says, ‘By their fruits you will recognize them.’  Scripture says that the wolves will come in sheep’s clothing.  The wolves can be ever so clever.  They will wear the sheep’s clothing of doing good deeds and intentions for the cause of something good or for the cause of Christ, but beneath it all, their true intentions or desires are to do something that will serve their own best interests.  And that is the deal killer for Jesus.  The false prophet can wear the cloak of religiosity and represent itself in the form of a person, preacher, teacher, church, missionary, evangelist, and many other ways.

Here is the rule that will test a false prophet in my judgement.  If a person or entity is acting on behalf of God and only God’s standards of righteousness and serves to glorify God, then he/she is a true prophet for the purpose of God.  If, on the other hand, he/she has any self-serving motive, like pride, prestige, power or possessions, then he/she becomes a false prophet that dilutes God’s purpose and leads many astray.  The scripture says cursed are those who lead one astray.

Matthew 7:16 says, ‘By the fruits you will recognize them’.  All fruit comes from a nourishing source like a tree, vine, etc.  Matthew 7:17-18 tells us that good fruit comes from good nourishment (like God’s truth), but bad fruit comes from deception, which is anything other than God’s truth.  Bad fruit leads to bad things. Matthew 7:19 says, ‘Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire’.  Jesus is telling us to get out into the world and bear good fruit, fruit that will truly represent His plan and purpose.  If the tree does not get out into the world and does not bear good fruit, it will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:21-23 says ‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers’.  These scriptures are self-evident.  If you were a false prophet and stood before Jesus He would say, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me you evildoer’.  Jesus is the only way into heaven.  Not knowing Jesus is the only way into hell which is eternal damnation of suffering and pain.

Remember, the standards that determine eternal judgement are not a person’s standards, not a church’s standard, not a preacher’s standard, but only God’s standards set forth in His Bible. We are responsible for our own choices.

Author: David Leatherman

May God bless and enrich your life

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Faith in Action

It has been during this last two years that I’ve come to realise that I’m married to one of the most faith filled people I have ever had the privilege to know.

Two years ago, my wife found a lump in her breast which turned out to be a very rare form of cancer, for which there was no cure. As you can imagine this was a shock to both of us, but focused us on trusting God through this stormy period of our lives.

When the surgeon at the hospital told my wife what it was and that they intended to give her the most powerful form of chemo and radiotherapy for the next two years, and had a number of procedures booked for the following week to try to deal with it, she just stayed silent. The doctor then asked her if she had understood what he had just told her and she said yes, but wanted to go away for a couple of weeks and look into this type of cancer.

I found out as we left the hospital that her silence was because while the doctor was telling her what procedures they were intending to do, God was telling her that this was not the route He wanted her to go down. So, her decision was to obey God not the doctor.

I have to say I could have fell down and wept at the news. At this moment in time all I could think of was, that this was the love of my life, my soul mate, the woman I had met at 16, married at 20 and spent my whole life loving, and now I’m being told she is going to die and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Nevertheless, I knew I had to stay strong for her and be there every step of the way and let her know that no matter what we were in this together.

One of the hardest things I had to do was to tell our three children and then the rest of our family. This was one of those moments that I prayed earnestly to God for His strength and to help me keep it together as I called each one of them in turn and felt my heart breaking as I gave them the news.

There have been moments over the past two years when I’ve found it hard to keep it together especially when I’ve been on my own, and my wife couldn’t see me, but I have known the hand of God continually holding me up and giving me the strength to keep going. In fact, there’s one thing that both my wife and myself have known through all of this, and that’s the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, and for that I am eternally grateful to Him. Philippians 4:6-7 ‘do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

 We also know that for us death has lost its sting, and when we leave this earth we don’t die, we simply change addresses. My pain therefore, is at the thought of the absence of my wife until I see her again in glory.

It has been during this last two years that I’ve come to realise that I’m married to one of the most faith filled people I have ever had the privilege to know. She has complete trust in God and has never wavered once to my knowledge, in knowing that He has her right in the palm of His hand, and she has taken every opportunity to let people know this, including the doctors and nurses when they asked her why she had refused all the treatment offered. In fact, if you didn’t know she has cancer you would never know, because she never tells people unless they ask, as her focus daily, is not on her illness but on serving God. I truly believe my wife lives Galatians 2:20 which says:  'I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.'

One of the instances of her faith in action was when the oncologist told her shortly after her diagnosis, that if she didn’t have treatment immediately (chemo therapy) she would be dead by the end of the year (2018). To which my wife’s response was to look her straight in the eye and say, ‘that’s okay I’m not afraid of death, I know where I’m going’, and by the look on the oncologists face, it was obviously a response she had never had from anyone before and was suddenly lost for words.

At the beginning of this diagnosis my wife asked God how she could now pray for other people who were sick to be healed when she had this disease. His response was simply to say to her ‘those who honour Me I will honour’. Two years on from my wife finding the lump her faith is still as strong as ever and she has had the privilege of praying for people and seeing them healed, including two people from cancer. God is always true to His word. 

None of us know when our final day will be, but one thing we can be sure of, God knows, and nothing or no one can take us before the date and time that He has set. So for those of you reading this blog, if you know Jesus as your Saviour, then until the day He calls us home let’s serve Him with surrendered hearts, knowing that He has called us, predestined us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come, and look forward to the time we share with each other and Him at the wedding feast of the Lamb. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 ‘Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.’

For those of you reading this blog who don’t know Him or have walked away from Him, you are missing out on the adventure of your lives and are in danger of an eternity for which none of you would want and is described in Revelation 20:11-15. Read it and answer this question: Where is your name written? Know this, God loves you, and demonstrated His love for you on the cross. But you have a choice to make before your last day on earth draws to a close. Both His love and the choice you have to make can be found in the Bible in the gospel of John chapter 3.

To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 24-25)

Author: Kevin Hunt

GOD is Faithful

When the medical profession have drawn the curtains on your life but you have that inner peace and know that God is in control of your life story.

I pray that as you read this you will be encouraged that God is in control of all things – the good and the bad.

Two years ago I found a lump in my breast and it was discovered that I had a very rare type of cancer which is basically incurable. As the physician was telling me what procedures they were intending to carry out I felt an audible voice say ‘’This isn’t the road I want you to go down’’.
The physician asked me if I had heard what he said as I hadn’t given a reaction. They were setting up 5 procedures for the next week but I said I wanted to go away for a couple of weeks and read up on this particular strain of cancer. What I read was pretty awful but I had the peace of God in my heart. They initially wanted me to have 2 years of the most toxic chemo and radiotherapy, which I declined.

The next year was full of tests, results, hospital visits and an operation. Not a day went past where I was not encouraged by a scripture, love of a friend or a hug from my favourite person in all the world, my lovely husband. This last year we have celebrated both our 60th birthdays our Ruby wedding anniversary and the birth of 2 new grandchildren, (one of them being an extra special miracle from God).

One really important lesson I learned was to tell and show the people around us that we love them. My dear childhood friend got in touch with me just before my 60th birthday and took me to a spa retreat as a gift. She isn’t a Christian but when she found out about the cancer she threw her arms around me, kissed me over my face and told me how much she loved me and was there anything she could do to make things easier for me. Another blessing was that there was a drawing closer of my two sisters and myself that through sheer busyness and time constraints had become distant.

All my Christian life I had believed others should know we are Christians by the way we conduct our lives, but since I received the news they expected me to be dead by the end of 2018 it has made me more bold to proclaim the goodness of God. In the past few weeks as I have sat having a coffee two people just started telling me their life story (both very sad), and I asked if they would like me to pray for them, and they both said ‘yes’. Something I know I wouldn’t have done previously.

When I say now that every day is a gift it has so much more meaning. When the medical profession have drawn the curtains on your life but you have that inner peace and know that God is in control of your life story.

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you be not dismayed, for I am your God I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

When the doctors and nurses asked why I refused all the treatment I just replied that God has me in the palm of His hands and only He knows my first and last day and whether He heals me or takes me home that’s up to Him. I am not saying this route is right for others, I always thought I would just follow the doctor’s advice until this illness came knocking at my door and that was all turned on its head. I rarely tell people about this illness because, often others don’t know how to deal with it and feel awkward as to whether to mention it or ignore it.

I can honestly say that I have loved and served God in many ways over nearly 40 years, but I have never felt as close to Him as I have whilst dealing with this storm in life. I realise He really is the Author and Perfecter of my faith. That I am the apple of His eye. That no weapon formed against me will prosper. So for anyone reading this blog today, if you are struggling mentally, physically or spiritually, know that God is just a breath away. He knows what you need, He’s just waiting for you to ask.

I pray that if you are one of the people who have walked away from your faith because something or someone has cut in on you, make the decision today to go back to your first love and give Him the honour He deserves. I promise if we look to Him and not to others, we will NEVER be disappointed.

Author: Lyn Hunt

The one in the Shadows

Many 'modern Christians' do not believe in a real figure called 'Satan' at all, others have constructs that reduce His significance to the same level as a Halloween party.

Recently I saw the film 'War Room' (also a book – writers Stephen and Alex Kendrick) it was recommended to us by Christian friends who had been blessed by it. I watched it with tears in my eyes as I saw the story unfold. For those who have not seen it, the ‘War Room' is a room for prayer. In the story the people creating 'war rooms' create a place in their homes free of distractions to get down to real prayer. I was challenged by the film in a number of ways.

My reason for mentioning it here is that in one scene one of the key characters is speaking to a woman whose husband is wayward and says to her something like "your husband is not your enemy - our real enemy is in the shadows". This and other recent happenings got me thinking. Our real enemy is 'in the shadows'! I thought of all of the things that the world blames God for: everything from our daily troubles to the lack of world peace and global hunger. People blame God for everything that goes wrong but our real enemy gets off scot free!

Let me be clear that I have no wish to give Satan any extra publicity or credence with this blog. I want to point out though, that the spiritual war going on around us and with us is just as real as our morning breakfast. The Bible clearly tells us that we have any enemy who Jesus says was a murderer and liar from the beginning (John 8:44) and who wants us all in hell if he can manage it. Despite this for so many people he is 'in the shadows'. He doesn't mind being there, and finds great advantage in being hidden or hiding His true nature 'in sheep's clothing'. Many 'modern Christians' do not believe in a real figure called 'Satan' at all, others have constructs that reduce His significance to the same level as a Halloween party.

This is not what Jesus had to say on the subject. His already quoted direct warning was that the Devil was a liar and murderer from the beginning and scripture warns moreover to be careful of those who follow his ways. To one group Jesus says: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44). They protest as if unwitting accomplices but He says 'and the works of your father you want to do'. Peter warns us to be aware of our adversary who 'roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour’ (1 Peter 5:8).

Revelation paints a picture of an angry Satan (‘the Dragon’) who knows that His time is short (Revelation 12:17). Full of wrath this 'accuser of the brethren' (Revelation 12:10) seeks to destroy men and women by every means possible - either by frontal attack on our families and lives or by subtle means such as temptation and the deceitfulness of riches and materialism. The parable of the sower spells it out - the seed (God’s Word) on the footpath was taken directly by the birds - meaning Satan and His acolytes snatched it away before it had impact. The seed choked by thorns represented those overtaken by the deceitfulness of the world and the world system. 1 John 2:15-16:” Do not love the world (Greek Kosmon or ‘world system’) or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world”. The seductive world system and its present ambitions, pursuits and pleasures are designed by the ‘Prince of the power of the air’ (Satan) to draw us away from Godliness and consume us with distraction and confusion.

In 2 Corinthians 2:11 Paul comments on the danger of allowing Satan have something to manipulate us with: “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices”. In my own experience and walk it is at that very moment when all is going well that we should be most wary. I remember well times with a young family when my wife and I would get together on Sunday night and agree to press forward with something that the Lord had laid on our heart or challenged us with. As surely as night follows day by Wednesday of that week, we would be sitting in shock wondering where all the problems had come from. Problems at work, with the children, with each other they seemed to pour in like a flood as soon as we determined to walk more closely with the Lord.

So unfashionable as it is, we must be aware of our adversary and his intentions and warn men and women, boys and girls that there is a thoroughly ruthless enemy of our souls who we ignore at our peril. Having said all of this what are we to know and to do? Well Satan is the one who Jesus outwitted and defeated at the cross. Despite every attempt of Satan to destroy Jesus, deter Him from His mission and corrupt His offering, before the cross Jesus said "the prince of this world is coming and he has no hold over me"(John 14:29).

To say again our Lord Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, overcame Satan for us on the cross and by His mighty resurrection from the dead: Colossians 2:13-15 says: “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it”. And Hebrews 2:14: “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

When he returns Jesus will vanquish Satan’s representatives on earth: 2 Thessalonians 2 v 8: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” and finally consign Satan and death to Hell when He makes all things new: Revelation 19:10 “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever”.

Because of what Jesus has done for us, we read in James 4:7 ‘submit yourselves to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you'. Clearly both parts of this scripture are important – submitting to the Lord and His rule being established in our lives is crucial if we are to resist the Devil and see him flee from us. If Jesus is King of our life then we are entitled to wear the King’s armour.

It is because our warfare is spiritual and not against flesh and blood that we are urged to 'put on the whole armour of God' (Ephesians 6 v 10 – 20). Here we are urged not only to use the Shield of Faith to quench the fiery darts of the evil one but also to get on the offensive using the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. We are urged by scripture and many who have fought a good fight of faith to use scripture in our spiritual warfare, prayers and praying. (The ‘War Room’ film mentioned at the start presents this beautifully). In a message on Spiritual Warfare back in 1995 Suzette Hatting urged us to use the Sword of the Spirit in our spiritual battles. In practice this meant seeking the Lord for a scripture for any given situation and then praying that / those verse(s) over it until it was resolved.

We are urged not to underestimate our adversary - he is like a fierce lion and in Jude we are told not to speak flippantly about spiritual powers. We are told that even Michael the archangel did not dare raise an accusation against Satan when He was contending with him but said "The Lord rebuke you". (Jude v 9). In Daniel we have a picture of a mighty angel being resisted when he tries to break through in response to Daniel's prayers. The picture is one of a spiritual struggle in which we are all involved - for real. It’s important to be on the winning side (see the outcome in Revelation chapter 19 and 20:7-10 if in doubt) and we are urged to save those who we can 'as brands from the burning'.

Satan was exposed and expelled from heaven and one day his judgement will be public before the universe and before God the righteous judge. Jesus whose offering was determined and agreed before the foundation of the world will stand and own all who belong to him before the father. Before then we must stand for Him in every possible way and refute and enforce the victory of Jesus over the evil one and his hold on people: ‘Submit yourselves to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you'. (James 4:7)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Author: Chris Pearson

May God bless and enrich your life

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