Only Jesus...

In his letter to a confused and some might say worldly Corinthian church Paul focusses on one thing: “I decided that while I was with you, I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified”.

www.pinterest.com

Before our prayer meeting for a local prison on Wednesday night, I was mulling over some things that have been troubling me. Then the person leading read from 1 Corinthians 2 where Paul writes:

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you, I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 

I thought about the lads in prison who are trying to reach for Jesus and I thought about our message. Jesus: the Son of God who loved us and descended from the throne of heaven:

* came as a baby

* lived amongst us (the only truly “good man” who has ever lived)

* tempted and tried in every way that we are but without sinning

* provoked by sinners to the point where He could have justly called on His Father to send angels to destroy the world

* suffered death for everyone, paid the debt of sin for everyone who would believe

* rose from death on the third day and made it clear to all the powers in heaven, on earth and under the earth that He was victorious for us

* returned to the Father and sent His Holy Spirit to live in all who believe and truly ask Him for this new life

* returning to earth one day to judge the living and the dead and receive all His followers to be “with Him” forever – with a promise that we will know Him as He knows us

This is a great and profound story with a glorious ending! Prophesied in the Old Testament, and fulfilled and discussed in the New Testament, the lynchpin of which is Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

In his letter to a confused and some might say worldly Corinthian church Paul focusses on one thing: “I decided that while I was with you, I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified”. This wasn’t though a mere matter of words; indeed, Paul says that He avoided “trying to be clever”, the words were backed up with a demonstration of the power of God, clear for all to see. Likewise reading about followers of Jesus in previous generations to ours - they retained a simple faith in the gospel, didn’t always agree on the detail, and didn’t have the benefit (if that is what it is) of our up-to-date education, learning, research and resources. What they did have though was spiritual authority and a demonstration of the power of God.

Jesus clearly lays out what the Kingdom of Heaven is and what it means to be part of it. Paul spends a good amount of his letters trying to undo the work of those who had come into the church and contaminated or added to the gospel – robbing people of their Christ- given freedom and putting unnecessary burdens on their shoulders.

More than once (see Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 10) he has to get into things like what people are eating, and what days they celebrate as “special” or don’t. For example, he talks about some followers of Jesus who realise that meat bought in a marketplace and placed before them by a host, might have been purchased from idol worshippers. 

dailyverses.net

However, the people that he is thinking about don’t pay this any heed, because they know that to them the connection with idolatry means nothing – they are just eating meat. On the other hand, someone who is a follower of Jesus but young or weak in the faith may not be able to separate out the difference between the practice of idolatry and just eating what is put before them. Not only is this a stumbling block to them, but also, they feel the need to warn those who know that its just - meat - and it is God’s provision. Paul advises the believer with stronger or maturer faith to refuse the meal even though it will do them no physical or spiritual harm so that the person with the weaker faith will not be compromised in their spiritual walk.

So, we see two principles at work – what is and what is not the practice of idolatry and care for a “weaker” brother or sister who cannot distinguish between the two.

It seems that we have the ability to complicate everything and Paul goes around in his books in the New Testament like a spiritual “whack-a-mole” – every time he has addressed a problem in one place, another one – or the same one leaps up somewhere else.

John Westley wrote:

“I have thought: I am creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen. I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven -- how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God! I have it. Here is knowledge enough for me.”

The full gospel of Jesus Christ is the epicentre of the Word of God and faith for all those who follow Jesus. It is the whole reason for the bible. Let’s focus on that and let the Word and Spirit do their work?

Author: Chris Pearson

May God bless and enrich your life

Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.

Trusting Gods Heart

Jesus!! He is the essence of God's heart of love for me and the whole world. 

www.pinterest.com

I was recently invited to a ladies evening which featured a Christian singer who I had never heard of or heard any of her songs before. The evening was lovely and I had a chance to be reunited with some ladies I had not seen in a long while. The singer shared with us how she had found the Lord and some of the things He had been doing in her life. She sang some of the songs she had written and I must admit I enjoyed the songs. But as she sang her final song I was really blessed by the lyrics as they resonated with me because of some of the life experiences I am currently working through. But I was also challenged by one line:

Though I can`t see what’s before me

I know that I can trust your heart,

And this one truth will be my story

You still reign and your still God

It was the line `I know I can trust your heart` that made me ask myself what does that mean?

When we meet someone for the first time, we tend decide whether we like them or not. Sometimes first impressions cause us to decide whether we want to spend more time with them, which can lead to us enjoying a light fun friendship or can lead to us really connecting, and developing a deeper friendship, which sometimes can develop into lifelong friendship. This happens because we get to know the persons heart and whether we can trust the integrity, honesty, and faithfulness of their character and if they can be depended on in a crisis. As well as, and more importantly, if they have my best interest at heart and if ultimately, they will not do anything to hurt me. 

So, this challenged me to evaluate.  Do I know I trust the Heart of God?  

When thinking about this I went right back to the beginning (not of time, although in some ways its all to do with the beginning of time) and thought about how the Lord had reached into my life and revealed His love to me. Jesus!! He is the essence of God's heart of love for me and the whole world.  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT) So from our first meeting I knew that Gods heart for me was that I would not perish (die) because He had died to save my soul from death.   And so began my journey of discovering the heart of God.  There have been many milestone experiences through my life and the word of God (the Bible) has helped me get to know Gods promises for me as His child. And I have held on to so many through my life:

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) `Don’t be afraid for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand`. This got me through 2 years of a nervous breakdown and mental health issues. 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) `For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. They are plans to for good and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope`. This got me through so many times of wondering what and where the Lord was taking me and did it make any sense. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) `The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.  When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure`. This was such a gift in all the times I thought I would sink under the pressure of life, temptations and issues that seem too much for me.  That He would not allow it to drown me but He will show me how I can endure and come through the other side stronger than before 

And finally, for now; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NLT) `All praise to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and source of all comfort. He comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.' This teaches me that Gods love and heart for me is that I will survive and grow through my difficult experiences. That He will provide relief and comfort for me. And even more that no experience that matures me and strengthens me is a wasted and pointless experience. It is for my good so I can experience Gods comfort and that I can then comfort others.  

I have learned to trust the Heart of God because the Heart of God is for me.  For my development and growth. To keep me safe and protect me. To develop a relationship with me that is not superficial but deep and strong and redeeming. To ultimately bring me to Himself at the end of my life having used all the experiences in my life to perfect me and my trust and dependence on Him, my heavenly Father.

www.youtube.com

So, because I am experiences some difficult situations in my life right now, God again assured me by causing me to reflect on whether I do trust His heart, by  revisiting some of the times I have learned that I can trust His heart towards me to be one of love, grace and mercy. 

The lyrics of the song are below. Today I pray that it will speak to you in whatever way God determines that it should. And that you will know that today you can trust Gods heart.  

When all foundations have been shaken

When I'm left standing in the dark

And all I feel is my heart breaking

You still reign and You're still God

And when it feels all hope has faded

The heavy questions hit so hard

And though my soul may feel forsaken

You still reign and You're still God

Though I can't see what's before me

I know that I can trust Your heart

And this one truth will be my story

You still reign and You're still God

I will declare that You are with me

Though voices whisper that You're not

You'll never leave me nor forsake me

'Cause You still reign and You're still God

Though I can't see what's before me

I know that I can trust Your heart

And this one truth will be my story

Your truth's still reign and You're still God

Though I can't see what's before me

I know that I can trust Your heart

And this one truth will be my story

Right You still reign and You're still God

I know You reign and You're still God

And when my enemies surround me

I'll trust the victory of Your cross

And fix my eyes upon You Jesus

For You are God and I am not

You are good and You are faithful

As You have been from the start

You're working all things for Your glory

'Cause You still reign and You're still God

And though I can't see what's before me

I know that I can trust Your heart

And this one truth will be my story, yes it will

That You still reign and You're still God

Yes, this one truth will be my story

You still reign and You're still God

Author: Jan Pearson

May God bless and enrich your life

Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.

A Joyful blog

The redeemed, we who have the privilege of  being called by God, have joy as part of our birthright in the kingdom of God.

It's surprising what songs come to mind when you have been in Christian circles for years, here is one that some of you may remember :

www.youtube.com

Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return

And come with singing unto Zion 

And everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. 

They shall obtain gladness and joy 

And sorrow and sighing shall flee away 

This was a popular song that I enjoyed singing; and the result is that I can still remember it decades later. The song is based on a passage of scripture at the end of Isaiah 35:10. The redeemed, we who have the privilege of  being called by God, have joy as part of our birthright in the kingdom of God. The apostle Paul writes to the church at Rome, ‘that the kingdom of God  is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’. He also reminds the believers in the letter to the Galatians that the fruit of the Spirit includes: love, joy and peace. So when he commands the church at Thessalonica to: ‘Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances’, he is reminding them of their calling; this is who they are supposed to be. 

Joy is simple, uncomplicated, unsophisticated. In Luke chapter 10, we read how Jesus sends out the 72 to preach and to demonstrate the kingdom of God and they return to him full of joy. Then in verse 21: ‘At that time, Jesus full of joy through the Holy Spirit said: ‘I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children, yes Father for this was your good pleasure’’. Most of the songs that I can recall, which contain the theme of joy, are children's songs. I could fill the blog with them but here is a well-known one, 

The joy of the lord is our strength…repeat x4..

He gives me living water and I thirst no more…X4

If you want joy then you must sing for it

If you want joy you must shout for it 

If you want joy you must dance for it 

The joy of the lord is our strength.

www.animalia-life.club

Like many things in the Kingdom of God, joy is something that we can experience in part now but the full  measure waits for us in the future when there is no more sorrow. You may know the saying about the Kingdom of God that it is, ‘now and not yet’. Indeed this was true for Jesus as we read in Hebrews12:2: ‘let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’. There are seasons in life when we must persevere, joy may be in short supply, but we are commanded to be joyful in hope taking Jesus as our example. The psalmist captures this thought in Psalm 126: 

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like streams in the Negeb!

Those who sow in tears

shall reap with shouts of joy!

He who goes out weeping,

bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him.

So cultivate joy throughout your day and may you be a blessing to your community but especially to the Lord.

Author: Richard Windridge

May God bless and enrich your life

Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.

Your word is a lamp to our feet

The Word, which is the lamp, does not give us the ability to see the whole road in front of us. It just gives enough light to take one step at a time.

www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk

British campsites are much better these days. They used to be awful but now they are as good, if not better than some of the ones on the continent. However, a number of them still have poor lighting at night and so we always leave a torch or two in the camper van in case we need to get to the facilities in the night. Walking by torch light you have to tread very carefully as it only illuminates one footstep at a time. If you go too quickly or try to attempt the walk without the lamp you are in danger of falling or bumping into something or even someone, which is not a good idea in the middle of the night.

In Psalm 119:105 it says: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ When we are trying to find our way through the journey of life, God lights our path with His word. The truth of His word never changes. It will always take us in the right direction. We sometimes use our feelings or other people’s suggestions as a guide as to what we should do but they are not to be trusted. Jesus said: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by me.’  Jesus himself is the word, who is the lamp to our feet.  In John 1:14 it says: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ 

Earlier in Psalm 119 it says: ‘I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways’ (Psalm 119:15). We need to read our Bibles every single day. There have been times when I have neglected to read my Bible and it has shown in my behaviour and decision making. On the other hand, reading the word regularly has saved me from many a heartache. I am sure there are others, who have the same testimony.

Many people, who profess to be Christians don’t accept the Bible as the authoritative, infallible word of God. They find some parts offensive or unbelievable but we can’t just pick and choose. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it says: ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’ It says all scripture, not just the bits we like.

www.pinterest.com

Our walk through this world can be dangerous and treacherous. There can be places where we can wander down another path that will lead us away from the Lord; we can stumble and fall but if we turn to the lamp to our feet we will get back on the right track. 

The Word, which is the lamp, does not give us the ability to see the whole road in front of us. It just gives enough light to take one step at a time. If we knew the future beforehand, we would be too terrified to walk along the dangerous paths and the deep valleys. God wants us to trust Him to take us along his way, stage by stage, not all at once but as needed. God’s Word operating as a lamp brings wisdom and truth into the mind of the believer. It is not about how much of the path ahead we can see. To God success in life is not about striving for certain financial and occupational standards, but about a closeness with Him. In Matthew 22:37 where Jesus was asked which was the greatest commandment in the Law he replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  If we can focus on loving God, obeying His Word, then our journey will be better for us. We may not be prosperous as the world understands that word but we will have a meaningful and fulfilling life.

In Matthew 4:4 when being tempted by the devil Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’   

Jesus Himself indicates here the significance of applying God’s word to our lives. He tells us that reading and living by God’s Word are essential to our daily life, We must take heed. The more familiar we are with the lamp to our feet, the more we can become like Jesus. The more like Jesus we are, the more God can use us. Not only will we be saved, but we can help to save others.

As usual I will finish with a quote from Charles Spurgeon, which seems to sum up quite nicely my thoughts in this blog.

‘We are walkers through the city of this world, and we are often called to go out into its darkness; let us never venture there without the light giving word, lest we slip with our feet. Each man should use the word of God personally, practically, and habitually, that he may see his way and see what lies in it. When darkness settles down upon all around me, the word of the Lord, like a flaming torch, reveals my way.’

As a finishing prayer I want to quote part of a hymn by John Henry Newman:

‘Lead, kindly light, amid the encircling gloom

Lead thou me on.

The night is dark, and I am far from home,

Lead thou me on.

Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me.’

 .

 Author: Thelma Cameron

May God bless and enrich your life

Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.

Love Like Jesus

Once we’ve received God’s love then nothing can separate us from it.

www.biblestudytools.com

John 13:34-35 ‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’

Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant by this, and do we see this love within the church for fellow believers? Also, is it possible for us to love each other the way Christ loves us?

Let’s start by considering Jesus’s love. 

Firstly, we see in Romans 5:8 that His love is unconditional ‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’. We don’t have to become perfect or reach a certain grade before He forgives us, we don’t have to do amazing or kind deeds. No! it was while we were still steeped in our sin that Christ died for us.

Secondly, in Romans 8:38-39 we see that His love is powerful and inseparable. ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Once we’ve received God’s love then nothing can separate us from it, even when we continue to get things wrong He still loves us. He may show this by disciplining us at times but as we turn to Him He embraces us with His love.

Thirdly in 2 Corinthians 5:21 we see that His love is sacrificial. 'God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.' Isn’t this amazing, that even though we were lost in our sin and deserving of death, we are the righteousness of God because Jesus became our sin and defeated it through His blood on the cross. 

Fourthly in John 13:12 we see His love is to serve. 'When He had finished washing their feet, He put on his clothes and returned to His place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them.'

Now let’s think about the church. Do we see this love within the body of Christ?

For instance, what causes church splits, arguments, angry outbursts and egotistical desires such as a need to lord it over our brothers and sisters, or to get the best job in the church (whatever we consider that may be), unforgiveness, selfishness and insincerity. It certainly isn’t the love of God. People who act this way live in the flesh not the Spirit. In fact Paul describes such people perfectly in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 ‘But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.’

Unfortunately we do see these things within the church, but if we want to see change and see the Love that Jesus commanded us to have for one another in the body of Christ, then we need to do something about it. God says in 2 Chronicles 7:14  ‘If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.‘ So how about it, are we ready to do this?

Finally, is it possible for us to love each other the way Christ loves us?

www.pinterest.com

Well the answer to that is Yes it is! We have the Holy Spirit within us so we have the Love of Christ within us too. John 4:7-11 says ‘Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.’ And 1 John 4:20-21 says  ‘Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And He has given us this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.’

We’re never going to always agree with each other, we’re never always going to see eye to eye, we may from time to time fall out with each other. But if our love for each other is greater that our own opinion or the need to be right, then we have a chance. I think we need to ponder on what Jesus said to His disciples in John 13:12 and ask ourselves the same question. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ He then went on to say ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord”, and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

I believe this has nothing to do with washing each other’s feet, but has everything to do with a servant heart and a heart that loves as Jesus loves. Brothers and sisters in Christ; ‘Do we really understand what He’s done for us’?

May God bless you.

Author: Kevin Hunt

May God bless and enrich your life

Please feel free to share this article and other articles on this site with friends, family and others.