Transfiguration - a new message

Praise the lord that he allowed me to share the word in the new covenant church (bracknell) on last sunday. I shared on the topics like transfiguration, fellowship with God, revelations that God gives us and on the fall and rise of Peter.

here's the mp3 for the same.
http://newcovenantbracknell.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/sunday-11th-september.mp3

I hope to post a summary of the message sometime soon.

God bless

Seek the honor from God

"How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?"  Joh_5:44

THE life of the renewed soul, springing from the indwelling of Christ by the Spirit, includes the crucifixion of self in us. "I live, yet not I." What a depth of meaning is contained in these words! We may not in this life be able fully to measure its depth, but we may in some degree fathom it. There is not-indeed there cannot be-a more sure evidence of the life of Christ in the soul, than the mortifying of that carnal, corrupt self-boasting that is within us. For its utter annihilation, in this present time-state, we do not plead. This would be to look for that which the word of God nowhere warrants. But we insist upon its mortification; we plead for its subjection to Christ. Who has not detected in his heart its insidious working? If the Lord has given us a little success in our work, or put upon us a little more honor than another, or has imparted to us a degree more of gift or grace, oh what fools do we often make of ourselves in consequence! We profess to speak of what He has done-of the progress of His work-of the operation of His grace, when, alas! what burning of incense often is there to that hideous idol self! Thus we offer "strange fire" upon the altar. 

But the most gracious soul is the most self-denying, self-crucifying, self- annihilating soul. "I live, yet not I. I believe, and am comforted-yet not I. I pray, and am answered-yet not I. I preach, and sinners are converted-yet not I. I labor, and good is done-yet not I. I fight, and overcome-yet not I, but Christ in me." Beloved, the renewed life in us will be ever striving for the mastery of self in us. Self is ever seeking to take the glory from Jesus.

 This is one cause of the weakness of our faith. "How can you believe," says the Savior, "which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor which comes from God only?" "We know but little of God," remarks an eminently holy man, "if we do not sicken when we hear our own praise." And if we have kept the glory of God in view, rather than our own, remember, it is the gift of God, the work of His Spirit, which has gained a victory over self, through faith in Christ. Oh that the life of Christ within us may more and more manifest itself as a self-denying, self-mortifying, self- annihilating life-willing to be a fool for Christ, yes, to be nothing, that Christ may wear the crown.

The good Samaritan - a gospel message

Praise the lord! Here is a message I shared with the beloved brothers and sisters of the New covenant church at Bracknell. 

 

God's perfect timing

"And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush?saying?I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt" (Acts 7:30, 32, 34).

 

That was a long wait in preparation for a great mission. When God delays, He is not inactive. <Amen> He is getting ready His instruments, He is ripening our powers; and at the appointed moment we shall arise equal to our task. <Amen> Even Jesus of Nazareth was thirty years in privacy, growing in wisdom before He began His work. --Dr. Jowett

 

God is never in a hurry but spends years with those He expects to greatly use. He never thinks the days of preparation too long or too dull. <Amen>

 

The hardest ingredient in suffering is often time. A short, sharp pang is easily borne, but when a sorrow drags its weary way through long, monotonous years, and day after day returns with the same dull routine of hopeless agony, the heart loses its strength, and without the grace of God, is sure to sink into the very sullenness of despair. Joseph's was a long trial, and God often has to burn His lessons into the depths of our being by the fires of protracted pain. "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver," but He knows how long, and like a true goldsmith He stops the fires the moment He sees His image in the glowing metal. We may not see now the outcome of the beautiful plan which God is hiding in the shadow of His hand; it yet may be long concealed; but faith may be sure that He is sitting on the throne, calmly waiting the hour when, with adoring rapture, we shall say, "All things have worked together for good." Like Joseph, let us be more careful to learn all the lessons in the school of sorrow than we are anxious for the hour of deliverance. There is a "need-be" for every lesson, and when we are ready, our deliverance will surely come, and we shall find that we could not have stood in our place of higher service without the very things that were taught us in the ordeal. God is educating us for the future, for higher service and nobler blessings; and if we have the qualities that fit us for a throne, nothing can keep us from it when God's time has come. Don't steal tomorrow out of God's hands. Give God time to speak to you and reveal His will. He is never too late; learn to wait. --Selected

 

"He never comes too late; He knoweth what is best;

Vex not thyself in vain; until He cometh--REST."

 

Do not run impetuously before the Lord; learn to wait His time: the minute-hand as well as the hour-hand must point the exact moment for action.

 

The danger of emptiness - Replace your mind with the holy spirit

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished— Mat_12:43-44

 

Christ's Insight into Secret Failures

Our Lord had a quick eye for moral tragedies, and in the pictorial setting of these two verses He has delineated one of the saddest of them all. One marvels at the sure touch of Christ in dealing with the disasters of the soul. Men felt instinctively that He would understand them, and so they came to Him when things were going wrong. And one of the inexplicable wonders about Jesus is this sure insight into secret failures. When we have failed, we grasp a brother's failure, and our insight is the child of fellow feeling. There are whole ranks of tragedies we never suspect, just because God has mercifully guarded us from them. But Christ, in the panoply of perfect manhood, was separated from every taint of sin, and yet had an exquisite understanding of the sinner. It is something to feel that you are known. Your tragedy is not so secret as you thought. You are haunted with a dull sense, that unless there is effort and clearing of your feet, your last state is going to be worse than your first; and Christ has spoken on that theme long ago.

Underground Tragedies

Now what strikes us first in this man with an unclean spirit is that all his tragedy was underground. I mean by that that his very nearest and dearest friends and relatives had never suspected what had been going on. If you had asked some villager about him, he would have answered, "He is an unclean beast." And if ten years later you had asked again, you would have been told he had been going downhill steadily. Steadily, gradually, so it had seemed to everybody. Always a little worse, a little lower. And only Christ knew that that view was false—the man had been standing at the gates of freedom once! He had played the man against his tyrannous vices. He had cast them out, and cried to God to help him. He had breathed liberty, and tasted the joy of triumph, and known what a noble thing it was to live! And when the ousted tenants came back again, and the old disorder began to reign within, none but Christ knew the struggle, the cry, the passion to be free, of the man whom all the village thought a prisoner.

Are not many of our tragedies underground? They are transacted in the hidden sphere. There are molten fires under the vines of Etna. There are hidden graves among the garden flowers. And we sow and water the flowers in our garden, just to conceal the sepulchre that is there. Who knows how you have dreamed, how you have struggled?—and men look at you and call you contented, merry! But there are memories of prayer stored in your heart, and of days when your life seemed utterly unworthy, and you stood up and cast the devils out. And they are all back again, and never a soul knows of it, except yourself and Christ.

But there is another feature in this story besides its secrecy. It is the story of an unused triumph. This man did not fail because he never won; there was one morning when his heart was clean. That was his day of victory, and the promise of final conquest was in that, but he misused his victory and was lost. One of the saddest stories ever written is just the story of our mismanaged triumphs. It is our little victories that curse us, because we have neither head nor heart to manage them. We are so apt to be self-centered in success; so ready to forget how weak we are; so prone to think that the campaign is ours, because in one skirmish the enemy has fled. Then we grow careless, we do not walk with God; we do not garrison our heart against assault; and in an hour when we think not comes the old temptation, strong, subtle, doubly sweet because forsworn, and we are taken unawares and mastered, and our last state is worse than our first.

How Wisely Christ Used His Triumph

I have often thought, on reading this little parable, of the wonderful wisdom of Jesus in His victory. I have often thought of the self-restraint of Christ, when He triumphed over sin and death. If there was ever a triumph in the history of man used for a lasting blessing, it was the triumph of Jesus when He rose. There was a sweet restraint in resurrection joy. There was no spectacle of a risen Saviour for the crowd. There was a watchful reserve, a choosing of times and companies, a holy management of the resurrection glory, that marked the risen Saviour as divine. Even Christ was guarded in His hour of triumph—how much more guarded should the Christian be? This man cast out the unclean spirit, and said all's well. And his last state was worse than his first!

A Soul That Is Empty Is an Open Invitation for the Devil

And you see what his peculiar danger was? It was the peril of the empty heart. His soul lay vacant, that was the pity of it. There was room for the ousted devil to return. Some men are tempted because their hearts are full. Life is so rich, so strong in a thousand interests, there is no room in it for Christ at all. But many are tempted because their hearts are empty, and the old ways creep back again to stay. It is not sufficient to expel the wrong. We must fill the emptied heart with nobler things. A tenantless heart—a soul that is to let—is a standing invitation to the devil.

Something Good Must Fill the Vacuum Created by the Expulsion of Evil

It was there the man of our story failed. Have you never failed just at that point? There was struggle with evil, and momentary triumph, there was an empty and swept and garnished house. And that was something; you were right proud of it, after the moral disorder of the past. But you forgot that a habit expelled is not by any means a habit slain. You forgot that new interests must fill the life if the old interests are never to lodge again. It was because no ruling passion had been begotten, that you began to hanker for the old again. It was because there was no new enthusiasm, no worthier tenants to occupy the soul, that you craved for the ousted things and drew them back. Had the empty house been filled with a new purpose, controlled by a new hand and nobler will, the cast-out spirit would have acknowledged defeat, and felt there was no room in that soul for him. It was the soul to let that did the harm.

Christ within You Saves You from the Peril of the Empty Heart

And so I bring you face to face with the great mystery of an indwelling Christ. I want you to set that truth in the light of all I have been saying, until you see how practical it is. These deepest doctrines of the Word of God were never meant to be speculative wonders —it is when we live them, we find how real they are —and it is Christ in you the hope of glory, that saves you from the peril of the empty heart. The Gospel does not merely come to you and say, "My brother, my sister, you must give up that sin." It does not bid you empty your heart of evil, and leave it empty and garnished to the end. It knows the danger of a soul unoccupied; the certain fall of a heart without a tenant. And so the Gospel is prepared to give you something far better than what it drives away. It is prepared to inhabit the temple of your heart with the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. Know ye not that your bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in you? That is the glad exchange the Gospel makes. In place of the unclean spirit who is gone, the Spirit of the Lord comes in to dwell.

Christ in the Heart Means Freedom and Life

Now where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is life. And it is that new liberty and life within the heart that make us strong when old things steal back again. "I can do all things," cried the apostle—not through a barred door and an empty heart—"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"; his empty and swept and garnished heart was full. You have been fighting out your sin. But what you want is a new enthusiasm in its place. And I wish to ask you seriously and simply, have you ever made room for Him to take Him in? There is love, there is power, there is liberty in Christ. Open your heart. Receive the gift of God. It is in the bitter hour of temptation that men find the worth of an indwelling Saviour.

Old Sins Hang Around to Find Emptiness in You Again

For our old sins are hungering to get back. That truth is clearly written in our text. They are houseless and homeless, and restless and ill at ease. They crave their old shelter in our lives again. And you do not mean to give it to them. No! You are done with the past forever and a day. But so was the hero of our text, and yet his last state was to be lost. Your cast-off vices are not dead. They are going to return in subtle ways. Do not pride yourself on a swept and garnished house; there is no pledge of victory in that. But there is in a heart where dwells the love of Christ, and something of the high power of His passion. It is in Him that we are more than conquerors. It is in Him that our last state shall be our best.

~George Morrison

 

Precious gift of the Holy Spirit

Neh 9:20  Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

 

Common, too common is the sin of forgetting the Holy Spirit. This is folly and ingratitude. He deserves well at our hands, for he is good, supremely good. As God, he is good essentially. He shares in the threefold ascription of Holy, holy, holy, which ascends to the Triune Jehovah. Unmixed purity and truth, and grace is he. He is good benevolently, tenderly bearing with our waywardness, striving with our rebellious wills; quickening us from our death in sin, and then training us for the skies as a loving nurse fosters her child. How generous, forgiving, and tender is this patient Spirit of God. He is good operatively. All his works are good in the most eminent degree: he suggests good thoughts, prompts good actions, reveals good truths, applies good promises, assists in good attainments, and leads to good results. There is no spiritual good in all the world of which he is not the author and sustainer, and heaven itself will owe the perfect character of its redeemed inhabitants to his work. He is good officially; whether as Comforter, Instructor, Guide, Sanctifier, Quickener, or Intercessor, he fulfils his office well, and each work is fraught with the highest good to the church of God. They who yield to his influences become good, they who obey his impulses do good, they who live under his power receive good. Let us then act towards so good a person according to the dictates of gratitude. Let us revere his person, and adore him as God over all, blessed for ever; let us own his power, and our need of him by waiting upon him in all our holy enterprises; let us hourly seek his aid, and never grieve him; and let us speak to his praise whenever occasion occurs. The church will never prosper until more reverently it believes in the Holy Ghost. He is so good and kind, that it is sad indeed that he should be grieved by slights and negligences.

 

 

Importance of Prayer

Praise the lord! Prayer can revive our spiritual journey. The benefits that a believer enjoys when he turns back to prayer is amazing (what better benefit than the prolonged presence of the Lord and the joy that you get in your life when you spent that extra hour in prayer and meditating on the word of God.). When I post this, I pray a humble prayer that the holy spirit may move graciously and abundantly amidst us all, that we may enjoy the presence of the lord and be treated to divine revelations on the perfect plan that our Lord has in our lives.

 

Some references that I got when I searched the importance of prayer.

Isa 55:6 (ESV)

"Seek the Lord while he may be found;  call upon him while he is near;  

Phil 4:6 (ESV)

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Isa 58:9 (ESV)

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;  you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.'  If you take away the yoke from your midst,  the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,  

 

Below is a beautiful excerpt from the site : www.kernal.org on the importance of prayer. May the holy spirit move amongst us as we request Lord to draw us to him in prayer. Amen.

    Consider, if you talked with your wife six minutes a day, what kind of relationship would you have with her? If you pray six minutes a day or less, what kind of relationship do you have with God?

    Are you not commanded to pray? Jesus said MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY-Lk 18:1. The way to receive things from God, is to ask Him in prayer. God's Word reminds us that, YE HAVE NOT, BECAUSE YE ASK NOT-Ja 4:2. There is joy in prayer: ASK, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL-Jn 16:24. Prayer will deliver you from your troubles: THIS POOR MAN CRIED, AND THE LORD HEARD HIM, AND SAVED HIM OUT OF ALL HIS TROUBLES-Ps 34:6. Prayer can open to us the treasure chest of God's wisdom: IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, THAT GIVETH TO ALL MEN LIBERALLY, AND UPBRAIDETH NOT; AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM-Ja 1:5. Prayer is a channel of power: CALL UNTO ME, AND I WILL ANSWER THEE, AND SHEW THEE GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS, WHICH THOU KNOWEST NOT-Jere 33:3.

    Did you know that it is sin not to pray? MOREOVER AS FOR ME, GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD SIN AGAINST THE LORD IN CEASING TO PRAY FOR YOU: BUT I WILL TEACH YOU THE GOOD AND THE RIGHT WAY: ONLY FEAR THE LORD, AND SERVE HIM IN TRUTH WITH ALL YOUR HEART: FOR CONSIDER HOW GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE FOR YOU-1 Sam 12:23,24.

    Sinners can be saved if they pray in faith and follow in obedience to the Gospel: FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED-Ro 10:13. Jesus while here in the flesh, prayed often to the Father. We are to PRAY WITHOUT CEASING-1 Thes 5:17. God heard Solomon's prayer, and promised He would watch over the temple, and cause Solomon's descendants to be kings of Israel forever. This promise was based on the people of Israel following God. If they did not, God promised that He would remove the people of Israel from the temple, from the land, and He would disperse them. Israel would become an astonishment to the nations, and a proverb of sudden disaster. The temple would become a heap of ruins. Those that pass by would see the ruin, and wonder why God punished Israel. This happened because the people worshipped other gods. Do you worship other gods, such as astrology, money, success, or getting ahead in this world?
   DOES GOD ANSWER PRAYER? Yes, beyond our expectation-ref Jere 33:3; sometimes after delay-ref Lk 18:7; sometimes differently than our desire-ref 2 Cor 12:8,9; sometimes immediately-ref Isa 65:24. Our prayer is not answered if we ask amiss-ref Ja 4:3. We read in Gal 6:7-BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP. Jeremiah's prayers for the sparing of Israel from captivity were not answered, even though they were given in earnestness and faith. He understood God's will, and was willing to take no for an answer. Jerusalem had gone too far. They had sinned. God said of her, it was too late. JERUSALEM HATH GRIEVOUSLY SINNED; THEREFORE SHE IS REMOVED-Lam 1:8. Do you mock God time after time as He calls you to repent, yet you will not? When the day comes that you need God, what will you do? It was too late for Jerusalem. God turned away. Yet the Scripture tells us, LET US SEARCH AND TRY OUR WAYS, AND TURN AGAIN TO THE LORD. LET US LIFT UP OUR HEART WITH OUR HANDS UNTO GOD IN THE HEAVENS. WE HAVE TRANSGRESSED AND HAVE REBELLED: THOU HAST NOT PARDONED-Lam 3:40-42.

    Many Christians think prayer is a time to ask God for what they want. Perhaps this is why so many prayers go unanswered. It was suggested that the following is a good guideline for prayer. First, praise and worship God in truth. Second, confess all your sins to Him, and be willing to turn from all willful sin, and obey the Gospel. Truly have a repentant heart. Third, give thanks for all your blessings. Give thanks even in difficult times. Finally, let your requests be known to God. Pray in faith, and in accordance with the Scriptures. This means you need to study God's Word. Do not compromise in reading and studying the Bible. Some people pray much, but study God's Word little. A person that reads only one or two chapters a day, is usually misled and not serious about God.

    Now we are reminded that, FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN-Heb 11:1. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God, and the Bible tells us FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD, BEING ALONE-Ja 2:20,17. If you are not reading your Bible and serving Jesus, when the time comes that you need faith, it will not be there. Since without faith it is impossible to please God, how will you get an answer from God? Praying something like, "Well, if it be God's will," is praying with no faith at all. You need to know what God's will is (from the Bible), then pray the prayer of faith. You need to have unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.

    The Bible tells us that David prayed about the erection of a temple, but his prayers were answered during Solomon's day. The Bible shows us our prayers cannot be answered when: it seeks to change God's decrees-ref Deut 3:23-27; when it seeks to avoid deserved chastisement-ref 2 Sam 12:16-18; when it is prompted by selfish, personal motives-ref Mt 6:5 and Ja 4:2,3; when a prayer is meaningless and repetitious-ref Mt 6:7; when it is offered without first confession of conscious known sin-ref 1 Jn 1:8-10; when it disregards the known will of God-ref 1 Sam 8:9,10; and when we do not honor our wives-ref 1 Pe 3:7. We should pray for our needs not selfish things. For we read in Ps 107:13-THEN THEY CRIED UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE, AND HE SAVED THEM OUT OF THEIR DISTRESSES. Here, the remnant of Israel is no longer proud. Now, they look to the Messiah for help, and to Him alone. They have learned that the key to prayer is obedience to God. God was always there, but they did not call upon Him. The telephone is there, but it only works when you pick it up and dial a number. You may forget the telephone, but when you need help, suddenly you remember it. God's telephone number is listed in Jere 33:3. To receive answers you must be born-again. You must forgive others who have offended you-ref Mk 11:26. You must repent of known sin, forsake it-ref Isa 55:7. You must pray in His will-ref I Jn 5:14,15. You are to DELIGHT THYSELF ALSO IN THE LORD; AND HE SHALL GIVE THEE THE DESIRES OF THINE HEART. COMMIT THY WAY UNTO THE LORD; TRUST ALSO IN HIM; AND HE SHALL BRING IT TO PASS-Ps 37:4,5. Delight means that God, and the things of God, must be your daily constant joy. If you only remember God when you want something, or in a quick grace at meals, this is not delight. When you begin to delight in the Lord, God may begin answering your prayers. Our grateful acknowledgment to the Salem Kirban Bible and Royal Publisher's The Open Bible for part of the previous commentaries. God has at times answered prayers contrary to some of these to fulfill his purpose.

 

Access to the abundant grace

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all . . . And God is able to make all grace abound toward you.  (2Co_8:9, 2Co_9:8, and Rev_22:21)

We have seen that abundant grace is available from the Lord, not only for justification, but also for sanctification. Yet, how does a person access the sanctifying grace of God? How does one actually live day by day by grace? Soon, we will consider the two relational realities that God wants to develop in our lives that we might live daily by His grace. First, a reminder of where that grace is, and the ability upon which it all depends.

The grace we need is always found in a person, not a procedure. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ." Consequently, in order to access this grace, we must be seeking after the person in whom the grace resides. No wonder that many of the letters of the New Testament end with "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all" (Rev_22:21).

Our God is not one who wastes words. He does not speak vainly. Nor does He stand on human formalities. These repetitious conclusions are an emphasis from the heart of God. When all is stated on any subject to any people, the ongoing need will ever be that they learn to live by the grace that is found in Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, upon whose ability does the grace of God depend?  We so easily become preoccupied with our own ability. "Will I be able to please and serve God?" "Will I be able to be an effective witness?" The focus of the word of God is on His ability, not ours. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace" (Dan_3:17).  "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (Heb_7:25). "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling" (Jud_1:24). "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph_3:20).

Concerning grace we may even be thinking, "Will I be able to live by God's grace?"Again, God's ability is the issue, not ours. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you."  If we are willing to rely upon the one who is able, God, we will experience His sanctifying grace abundantly in our lives.

Dear Lord, Teach me these great matters of access to Your grace. Remind me often that grace is found in Jesus. I confess my tendency to explain the Christian life by a formula, instead of by a person. Help me to remember that living by grace depends upon Your matchless ability. I admit my inclination to hope in my inept ability. So, Lord, I now look to You to abundantly pour out Your grace upon my life, through Christ Jesus, my Lord, Amen.

 

 

Grace Perfecting Strength in Weakness

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness . . . He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  (2Co_12:9 and Isa_40:29-31)

When the subject of spiritual strength is raised, our thinking often turns in one of two directions. Either we consider how we can muster up our own strength, or we dwell on our own weakness, doubting that adequate strength can ever be found. Well, it is clear from the scriptures that God is not expecting that mere human strength will be sufficient for our spiritual callings. "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall." Natural strength is never more abundant than in youthful lives. Yet, even that supply is not what people need for spiritual endurance.

God's word is also clear that an awareness of our weakness need never lead to despair over finding strength. Actually, the opposite is true. When we realize our drastic insufficiency, that is a reminder of our qualification to receive God's supply of strength. "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." Those who admit that they are weak are the very ones to whom  God offers His strength. Those who confess that they have no might at all are the people in whom God increases His strength.

It is an amazing truth that God's strength is perfected (displayed the most fully) in the arena of our own weaknesses. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Whenever we agree with God concerning our complete frailty in any given area of life, His grace is available to meet the need. Whenever we personally look to Him to pour out that strength, we will find that it is sufficient. "Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength."

Waiting upon the Lord involves hoping in Him, placing our expectations upon Him and not upon ourselves. For all who depend upon Him in view of their own weakness, "they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Thereby, our confession can be: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phi_4:13).

Lord, You are my only hope and my sufficient strength. On my own I am hopeless and powerless. Thank You for Your gracious patience, when I think my human strength is enough. Lord, I am weak; give me Your power. I have no might; increase Your strength in me. I wait upon You. I put my expectations in You. Unleash Your glorious grace in me, perfecting Your all-sufficient strength in my life, in Jesus name, Amen.

 

Praise the lord !!!

 

Everlasting Covenant from the Lord

“Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant.”

- 2Sa_23:5

This covenant is divine in its origin. “HE hath made with me an everlasting covenant.” Oh that great word HE! Stop, my soul. God, the everlasting Father, has positively made a covenant with thee; yes, that God who spake the world into existence by a word; he, stooping from his majesty, takes hold of thy hand and makes a covenant with thee. Is it not a deed, the stupendous condescension of which might ravish our hearts for ever if we could really understand it? “HE hath made with me a covenant.” A king has not made a covenant with me-that were somewhat; but the Prince of the kings of the earth, Shaddai, the Lord All-sufficient, the Jehovah of ages, the everlasting Elohim, “He hath made with me an everlasting covenant.” But notice, it is particular in its application. “Yet hath he made with ME an everlasting covenant.” Here lies the sweetness of it to each believer. It is nought for me that he made peace for the world; I want to know whether he made peace for me! It is little that he hath made a covenant, I want to know whether he has made a covenant with me. Blessed is the assurance that he hath made a covenant with me! If God the Holy Ghost gives me assurance of this, then his salvation is mine, his heart is mine, he himself is mine-he is my God.

This covenant is everlasting in its duration. An everlasting covenant means a covenant which had no beginning, and which shall never, never end. How sweet amidst all the uncertainties of life, to know that “the foundation of the Lord standeth sure,” and to have God’s own promise, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Like dying David, I will sing of this, even though my house be not so with God as my heart desireth.

 

From : Spurgeon

Zeal of your house - Divine Zeal for Jesus !

Psa 69:9  For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

 

As a Christian (a true born-again believer), it is common to experience a burning zeal for the lord of your salvation. May the zeal never ever diminish and dwindle. The psalmist prophesies the zeal that consumes Lord Jesus. It is the choices that we make that proclaim the divine election that we have received. What topic in your life can cause zeal within you ? What topic are you passionate about, seeing that same topic evokes the most emotion or passionate response within you ?

 

·         Is it your pleasures ? Do you tend to become zealous if your pleasure is disturbed ? Are you aware that pleasures are of this world , of the flesh ? A true believer rejoices in only one pleasure – of close communion with God; And delights in one pastime – spending hours knowing his precepts.

·         Is it your family ? Do insults to your family drive you to anger ? Are you driven by a passion for family heritage ?

·         Is it your religion ? Discern the truth in any religion. There is only one truth – it’s the revealed word of God. Anything which goes against or beyond the Bible is untruth or part truth or a lie. Lie is of the satan – he is the liar and the father of liars.

·         Is it your job ? Do you react passionately if someone comments on your position ? Is the job yours through your credit ? Is your skill endless that your job is independent of the grace of God ?

·         Is it yourself ? Do you consider yourself to be the most important factor that you are on fire ? In order to achieve a state that God desires of you – you need to empty yourself – only at that point would God have space in your heart. He desires your empty heart – to start his perfect work on you. And once you allow him, he doesn’t stop till you become like Christ one day!

·         Is it your good works of a self righteous spirit ? Your good works are as filthy rags for the Lord.

·         Is it Christ ? Are you on fire for Him who saved you from certain death, who died a tormented death on the cross, who was pure but became impure by taking our sins on the cross ? Do you realize the love of God YHWH who, knowing the adamic nature to sin, sought to send his beloved son as a sacrifice to end all sacrifices ?

 

My friend, let’s choose our priorities right. Make a decision to live for him. Make Jesus the first portion in your life today. Know him intimately. Get to know more of the mysteries by poring over his word. May the holy spirit guide you and lead you in your constant journey towards Christ, and one day (and that day is coming soon!), we will be risen with him in Glory when he comes !!

 

Proclaim to the world – I am on fire for Christ Jesus! I delight to do my father’s bidding. I feel for the world that it has not realized the beauty and comfort of losing yourself for Christ’s sake. Win souls for him. Once you know the joy that comes from being in Christ, you would be filled with a love for the lost souls – that you would want everyone ( your friend, your family, your co-workers, your enemies, your priest, your church mates) to know Him closely and experience the love of God intimately – and to lead Salvation, repentance, renewal, baptism and a victorious Christian life!

 

Friend, heaven is big enough to house all of us – if only we will repent and accept Jesus as our lord and savior – and we lead a life which exhibits the fruits of the spirit.

 

May the holy spirit lead us all into a life closer to Jesus – A life where we burn with zeal for our lord – a life where we , through our testimony and example, lead millions to the Saviour, a life where our sole mission on this earthly abode is to win souls for him – a constant prayer life – filled with the spirit to help us overcome this world and to rebuke satan from interfering with any aspect of our life!

 

If you are a believer, I praise the lord that he has touched us. I greet you as a brother. May this message strengthen you and provoke you to press on in your walk of faith and in your spiritual race.

If you are one who attends a church, thinks he is a Christian, my friend, you should pray to the holy spirit to help humble yourself and seek truth. The truth is not far away but your eyes have been blinded by false religion. Enjoy the yoke of Jesus which is easy – forget the heaviness of following an organized religion.

If you are not a Christian, I pray that you may know the delight that comes from knowing Christ and intimately knowing his nature. I challenge you my friend to know him and not to love him.

 

I bless you in the mighty name of Lord Jesus Christ !

 

Thomas

God's provision for believers - He cares

"Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, He smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? They did eat, and were well filled."-- Psa_78:19, Psa_78:20, Psa_78:29.

 

THIS IS always the cry of unbelief, Can God? whilst the triumphant assertion of faith is: God can. What a difference is wrought by the collocation of words! Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? God can spread a table, even in the wilderness, and in the presence of our enemies our cup can overflow. Can He give bread also? He can satisfy the desire of every living thing, by the opening of His hand. Canst Thou do anything for us, our child is grievously possessed of the devil? If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

The wanderings of the Israelites for forty years were due to the fact that they looked at their difficulties and questioned if God could overcome them. Amongst the people, only Caleb and Joshua looked away from the Canaanites and their fortified cities to Him who had brought them where they were, and was pledged to extricate them. Some people speak of Giants with a capital G, and forget to magnify the power of God. what wonder that they account themselves as grass-hoppers, and lose heart! Let us not forget that we are sons and daughters of God, "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (Compare Num_13:33 and Rom_8:17.)

Look back on the past; see what God has done for you; remember He is pledged to finish what He has begun. If He gave water, He can certainly give bread.

"They did eat, and were well filled." When we are poor and needy, we are inclined to humble prayer. But if suddenly our lot is changed, and there is abundance instead of poverty, how often there is a change in our demeanour. We are apt to become self-indulgent, and forgetful of the needs of the world. Instead of remembering that we are still God's pensioners, we magnify ourselves as though we were exclusive owners. Probably this is why God keeps some of us in poverty, for no greater temptation could befall us than to find ourselves with riches. In this way He answers our daily prayer, "Lead us not into temptation!"

 

PRAYER

We thank Thee our heavenly Father, for the new mercies of each returning day, for all that Thou hast given to us, and not less for that which Thou dost withhold. May we be receptive of all things that pertain to life and godliness. AMEN.

 

A note from Br. Meyer

Love the Lord God

“The upright love thee”
- Son_1:4

Believers love Jesus with a deeper affection then they dare to give to any other being. They would sooner lose father and mother then part with Christ. They hold all earthly comforts with a loose hand, but they carry him fast locked in their bosoms. They voluntarily deny themselves for his sake, but they are not to be driven to deny him. It is scant love which the fire of persecution can dry up; the true believer’s love is a deeper stream than this. Men have laboured to divide the faithful from their Master, but their attempts have been fruitless in every age. Neither crowns of honour, now frowns of anger, have untied this more than Gordian knot. This is no every-day attachment which the world’s power may at length dissolve. Neither man nor devil have found a key which opens this lock. Never has the craft of Satan been more at fault than when he has exercised it in seeking to rend in sunder this union of two divinely welded hearts. It is written, and nothing can blot out the sentence, “The upright love thee.” The intensity of the love of the upright, however, is not so much to be judged by what it appears as by what the upright long for. It is our daily lament that we cannot love enough. Would that our hearts were capable of holding more, and reaching further. Like Samuel Rutherford, we sigh and cry, “Oh, for as much love as would go round about the earth, and over heaven-yea, the heaven of heavens, and ten thousand worlds-that I might let all out upon fair, fair, only fair Christ.” Alas! our longest reach is but a span of love, and our affection is but as a drop of a bucket compared with his deserts. Measure our love by our intentions, and it is high indeed; ‘tis thus, we trust, our Lord doth judge of it. Oh, that we could give all the love in all hearts in one great mass, a gathering together of all loves to him who is altogether lovely!

Overcoming self

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city." _16:32

What a foe to one's peace is one's own spirit! And what shall I call it? It is often an infernal spirit. Why? Because it bears the mark of Satan upon it. The pride of our spirit, the presumption of our spirit, the hypocrisy of our spirit, the intense selfishness of our spirit are often hidden from us. This wily devil, SELF, can wear such masks and assume such forms; this serpent, SELF, can so creep and crawl, can so twist and turn, and can disguise itself under such false appearances, that it is hidden often from ourselves.

Who is the greatest enemy we have to fear? We all have our enemies. But who is our greatest enemy? He that you carry in your own bosom; your daily, hourly, and momently companion, that entwines himself in nearly every thought of your heart; that suggests well near every motive; that sometimes puffs up with pride, sometimes inflames with lust, sometimes inflates with presumption, and sometimes works under feigned humility and fleshly holiness.

Now this SELF must be overcome; for if SELF overcomes us eventually, we shall perish in the condemnation of SELF. God is determined to stain the pride of human glory. He will never let self, (which is but another word for the creature,) wear the crown of victory. It must be crucified, denied, and mortified; it must be put off, so that Jesus may be put on; that in the denying of SELF, Jesus may be believed in; and that in the crucifixion of SELF, there may be a solemn spiritual union with Him who was crucified on Calvary.

Now, are we overcoming SELF? Are we buffeted? What says SELF? "Buffet back." Are we despised? What says SELF? "Despise back; retort angry look for angry look, and hasty word, for hasty word; an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." But what says the Spirit of God in a tender conscience? "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

The way to overcome self is by looking out of self to Him who was crucified upon Calvary's tree; to receive his image into our heart; to be clothed with his likeness; to drink into his spirit; and "receive out of his fullness grace for grace."


From Philpot : Way farer

Be spiritually minded

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Spiritual-mindedness is life. We fearlessly challenge every believer- What has been the effect in your soul of a low state of grace? What has been the effect of carnal indulgence of allowed sin- of needless communion with the world- of conformity to its policy and its pleasures- of unruly temper- of a volatile disposition, yes, of any species of carnality whatever: has it not been "death"? When a process of spiritual relapse has been allowed to proceed stealthily and unchecked- when the world, and sin, and self have gained an ascendancy, what has been the consequence? "Death!" 

The habit of prayer may not have been totally neglected, but there has been no communion with God- and so there has been death upon prayer. The Bible has not been entirely unread, but no light has beamed upon the sacred page- and so there has been death upon the Bible. The means of grace have not been utterly forsaken, but no grace has distilled from these channels- and so there has been death upon the means of grace. Thus a spiritual deathliness has crept over the soul, the effect and fruit of indulged and growing carnality. 

But "life" is the blessed effect of heavenly-mindedness. It is life springing from life, or rather, the inner life in its outer actings. What spiritual mightiness, almost omnipotent, does he possess, whose mind and heart and faculties are deeply immersed in the Spirit of Christ, closely allied to the Divine and heavenly! As sin is weakness, so holiness is strength. As carnality impairs, so spirituality invigorates. The one deadens, the other vivifies. Close dealing with Essential Life increases the life of spirituality. Much communion with Jesus draws forth "life more abundantly." 

It is impossible to live a life of faith in the Son of God, constantly taking to His blood every sin, to His heart every care, to His sympathy every sorrow, to His grace every corruption, to His arm every burden, without being conscious of new life, of augmented power, of increased heavenliness. Inquire of the man of prayer what is the effect in his soul of close filial communion with God? Ask the reflective mind what is the effect upon his spirit of holy meditation? Ask the conscience much beneath the cross what is the result of the constant sprinkling of the atoning blood? And, as with one voice, and with one utterance, each believer will answer, "Life!" Oh, there is an energizing influence in spirituality, a quickening of the spiritual life in heavenly-mindedness, which he only can understand whose converse is much with things heavenly, much with God. 

There is life in prayer, life in the word, life in ordinances, life in the enjoyment of vital religion, which transmits the thrill of its deep pulsations through the whole soul. Nor life alone in these. But when the storm of adversity blows- when sore affliction comes- when the "noise of the water-spout" is heard, and the tossing waves and the foaming billows roll over the soul- when the shadow of death is settling upon all creature-good; then, even then, the spiritual mind panting after life exclaims, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me." "This is my comfort in my affliction; for Your word has quickened me." And what is all this but the pledge and the prelude of the glorious consummation and crown of all- the life that is to come, even life everlasting?


From Spurgeon : The language is a bit archaic - but well explained!

God's Promises and God's Rest

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest.  (Heb_4:1-3)

Through the promises of God, spiritual rest can be experienced by all who believe. Initially, those who believe enjoy rest from the guilt and condemnation of sin. Additionally, those whose faith embraces more of the promises of God can enjoy rest from carnal striving and worldly indulgence. 

When the children of Israel were delivered from Egypt, they had rest from the bondage they had known there. This pictures our rest from sin and guilt. Yet, the Lord had more rest to share with His people. He wanted to give them rest from the barrenness of wilderness striving that lay between Egypt and the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey. This pictures our rest from fleshly striving in doubt and disobedience by drawing upon the riches that are ours in Christ. 

The Israelites wandered through the wilderness in hardness of heart for forty years. All of that generation (except Joshua and Caleb) missed the additional rest that God wanted them to experience. "Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest' " (Heb_3:10-11). They were out of Egypt, but they would not enter into the Promised Land. 

Are we entering into the additional rest that God has for us? "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it." The Promised Land is a picture of  the abundant spiritual life (not a picture of heaven - - no battles or failures in heaven). This additional rest is what Jesus offers to all who believe in Him. "I have come that they may have life (eternal life, forgiven of sin), and that they may have it more abundantly (richness of life, growing in practical righteousness)" (Joh_10:10). This abundant life is enjoyed by faith in the word of God, as it describes the riches that are ours in Christ. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph_1:3). Will we take the Lord at His word and believe that we might enter in? "For we who have believed do enter that rest." Israel did not believe, so they did not enter in. "The word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."  

Dear Lord, I thank You for giving me rest from sin and guilt, simply by trusting in Your promises. Now, I ask for new measures of additional rest from barrenness and striving, simply by trusting in Your promises of abundant life, in Jesus name, Amen.

 From Hoekstra

Job's Reasons to Praise the Lord

When Job's life fell apart, and God was silent, Job still found reasons to praise God:

• He is good and loving (Job 10:12).
• He is all-powerful (Job 42:2; 37:5, 23).
• He notices every detail of my life (Job 23:10; 31:4).
• He is in control (Job 34:13).
• He has a plan for my life (Job 23:14).
• He will save me (Job 19:25).

From Rick Warren's notes:

Thomas

Tithe - a grand promise from the lord

"Prove me now" (Mal. 3:10).

What is God saying here but this: "My child, I still have windows in Heaven. They are yet in service. The bolts slide as easily as of old. The hinges have not grown rusty. I would rather fling them open, and pour forth, than keep them shut, and hold back. I opened them for Moses, and the sea parted. I opened them for Joshua, and Jordan rolled back. I opened them for Gideon, and hosts fled. I will open them for you--if you will only let Me. On this side of the windows, Heaven is the same rich storehouse as of old. The fountains and streams still overflow. The treasure rooms are still bursting with gifts. The lack is not on my side. It is on yours. I am waiting. Prove Me now. Fulfill the conditions, on your part. Bring in the tithes. Give Me a chance. --Selected

I can never forget my mother's very brief paraphrase of Malachi 3:10. The verse begins, "Bring ye the whole tithe in," and it ends up with "I will pour" the blessing out till you'll be embarrassed for space. Her paraphrase was this: Give all He asks; take all He promises." --S. D. Gordon

The ability of God is beyond our prayers, beyond our largest prayers! I have been thinking of some of the petitions that have entered into my supplication innumerable times. What have I asked for? I have asked for a cupful, and the ocean remains! I have asked for a sunbeam, and the sun abides! My best asking falls immeasurably short of my Father's giving: it is beyond that we can ask. --J. H. Jowett

"All the rivers of Thy grace I claim,
Over every promise write my name" (Eph. 1:8-19).

Walk the Gospel Walk

"Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ." _1:27

What is this conversation? The word means the whole of your life before God and before man. It is a very comprehensive term in the original, meaning, literally, "Conduct yourselves as citizens." It therefore includes the whole of our spiritual fellowship and daily communion with God and man. It thus views us as citizens of no base city; as citizens, I may indeed say, of a heavenly city, the new Jerusalem; and it bids us walk and speak, live and act, as becomes citizens of a heavenly country. This, then, is the meaning of the word "conversation" in our text, and by it we are called to walk with God as becomes the gospel. He has reconciled us to himself by the blood of his dear Son; and when we receive the atonement, or reconciliation, as the word means, then we can walk with God in peace, equity, and amity, for sin, which made the breach, is removed out of the way. So Levi, as ministering at the altar, and those near to God, walked of old. "My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear with which he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips--he walked with me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity" (_2:5; _2:6). This is walking in the light as He is in the light, and so far as we can do this, our fellowship is with the Father (Jo_1:3-7).

And our conversation with God, our walk with God, must be as becomes the gospel of Christ. If we walk at freedom with God, in sweet liberty, with holy access, pouring out our heart before him, enjoying his presence, and having some discoveries of his goodness and mercy, then our conversation with God becomes the gospel. The gospel is a message of mercy. When, then, we embrace that mercy, and feel the power of it; when that mercy reaches our heart, melts our inmost soul, dissolves our doubts and fears, and removes legality and bondage, then we walk worthy of the gospel, as walking before God in the light of his countenance through the power of the gospel. God does not send the gospel to condemn us, for "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit;" and they walk after the Spirit when they have access by him through Christ unto the Father.

Devotional - Merchants of Hope in this world

"Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope." (1Peter 3:15).

We have been justified by faith, and have peace with God through Jesus Christ. We now stand in grace and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. But as Paul contended, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Co.15:19).

Christ has risen from the dead and thereby given us full assurance of our hope. Now our lives can be everything God intends while we are on this earth, and our future in heaven holds only the brightest of possibilities. Our hope is eternal!

John the Beloved put it this way, " Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." He then added, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:2,3).

Our hope of Christ's return, and of eternal blessing in Heaven, should have a clear and comprehensive influence in our lives while we live on this earth. So much so that others find themselves compelled to ask us why we are so hopeful.

When was the last time someone asked you that?

We are merchants of hope in a world desperately in need of it. Let's honor Christ by yielding our lives to His Lordship, and then we will be ever ready to deliver the goods of hope to all with whom we come in contact day by day.