Man of War

“To be or not to be” is the question I find myself pondering this chilly eve spring morning. Another early rise, as I wait with anticipation for my Heavenly Fathers voice to ring true. Sunrise yet a long way off and yet with baited breath I eagerly await His instruction! I am learning to love these early mornings as I know I will of a certainty hear the voice of my GOD. “Be still and listen” now rings true to my ear; just me, my thoughts and some running water outside my study window and silence, what bliss! Absolutely no disturbance from family or foe as my mind processes so many thoughts at the same time, looking to latch onto that which is now relevant. “To be or not to be?” Although this is one of Shakespeare’s famous quotes it could well be a banner for the Christian. It fits into so many building blocks within the Christians travels. That fine line that I have at times foolishly crossed, “being all things to all men” taken out of context and leaving many a scar; zeal without knowledge! And yet this also has been my journey and even those bad decisions molding me into the person I now am. Oh that God would save a wretched sinner like me boggles my mind and yet it deepens my gratitude, praise alone belong to my God and King!

Although I do not like David sit in some cave in the early hours of the morning searching the inner depths of his heart, I can somehow relate to his experience as he must have waited for God’s instruction for that day. Processing all his victories and failures along the way; to have but a snippet of David’s heart will suffice. May my dependence on the grace of my God grow in strength from here on in, is my prayer. To share in the experiences of my Lord and Saviour even now is what we have all been called to experience. This then is what the Christian has before him. Our natural minds looks to shirk our responsibility but the Spirit drives us to share in His suffering, so that we may understand what it meant for Him to die in our place; It is these actual experiences that hone and fashion us into His image. We must learn to be settled by them and not to continuously shirk them! O what love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be named amongst the sons of God, bless His name!

This then was the plea of the Apostle Peter, one who knew what it meant to wrestle with himself; “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1Peter 5:10) – In other words to consolidate us upon the call we have been called to. We are now at work and we need to understand the responsibility of that call, it is not a time for rest, that will come in the not too distant future but for now we are at war and we are to be men of war. It is a high calling and very foreign to the ways of the world. Their slogan is “only the strong will survive”, but ours is “turn the other cheek”. We have been called to go beyond the call of duty; “To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.” (Luke 6:29-30)   

    

It is easy to love those who love us as this comes naturally. The Lord Jesus loved those who crucified him and in his dying moments had this to say; “Father forgive them…” – "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” (Luke 6:32-33)   

   

It is now time for men to be men, or maybe I should rather direct this at myself, it is time to man up! May God give me the resolve to see it through is my prayer! I am persuaded that through these types of encounters I will experience the sweetness of what it meant for Christ to die for a wretch like me! This then is the call and I have heard the voice of my Father with clear distinction, it is one thing to hear and then to soon forget, but quite another to apply what we have heard to our daily lives, be merciful Father I pray, help me man up and be what I have been called to be, A MAN OF WAR!

Signing off

Tyrone

Oil from the oil press

Oil is needed for the light; no lantern can burn without oil but we must ensure that we purchase the correct oil, no man-made oil will do; we must seek out pure spiritual oil. Oil of the human kind will have no everlasting benefit; our example is the wise virgins who timeously bought oil for their lanterns. Our objective is to keep them full to the brim and not to become complacent with the free gift of salvation; “easy come easy go” must not become our slogan for life. It is very easy to become unperturbed as curators of our great God. I am finding it rather daunting as I look back on my life and see how I have been robbed of the role I once had in the body of Christ. So much wasted time on nothing more than sin! Slice it any way you like but this then is the cold hard fact of my reality. And I am convinced that I am not alone!

The time for the harvest is soon approaching so let us guard against the “little foxes”, home disputes that mean very little in the context of eternity. So much pathetic energy is wasted on what keeps us inattentive to our God and King. I thank God that He is so much wiser than us. What would I do without His mercy and His undying love, thank you Father God for who you are; “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” If God is for those who belong to Him who can be against us? This is the truth personified! However with that said scripture is full of warnings to the professing Christian and if we become lethargic the bridegroom will announce His arrival at an unexpected time. We know that some will be caught unawares!  If we as parents give our children an instruction that tuition is for all, both the foolish and the wise have been instructed to buy oil and to trim their lamps. But sadly only half in this parable respond positively. God’s sheep hear the Shepherd’s voice, they are aware of the pitch to that instruction and they respond positively to it. There is a distinct urgency to that tenor!

It is good to call on the saving graces of our God, to go back in history to those blessed times we had in Christ, those times when we felt the goodness of God surround us as we went about His business, yet we cannot rely on our past to keep our lanterns burning. We need fresh oil and we need to buy it continuously. It must become a way of life. This is one of the reasons why we have been placed by God into a body of believers, to be useful to our God and to others that also belong to Him.

I am finding a war raging as I have become rather independent and am far happier doing my own thing, I am wrong! God help me to seek His face with zeal becoming a way of life once again as that day draws even nearer.

We must be careful to buy the correct oil, although petroleum burns it is not fit for the Christians lantern. It must be the best olive oil that we seek out and that alone will suffice to keep our lanterns trimmed. “Pretended grace from natural goodness, fancied grace from priestly hands, or imaginary grace from outward ceremonies will never serve the true saint of God;” We must go to the olive press of Gethsemane and only from our Saviour and His sufferings must that oil be purchased. If we are to live with Him we must be prepare to die with Him, less of self and more for others is what is needed to keep our lanterns trimmed. This is not possible if we do not look to God the Holy Spirit to keep the purest of the oil presses oil in fresh supply. This must begin in our closets at home with the plea to our God for His graces to carry us home.

It is one thing to roll with the crowd as if we belong with our lamps trimmed with the wrong oil, dead works alive and well but quite another for us to die in order that we might live; God help us as we earnestly seek out His graces to equip us for the Masters use. The only oil that will stand us in good stead in the oil we find on Gethsemane's hill.  

Signing off

Tyrone

   

     

God has paved the way...

“Because He lives I can face tomorrow!” However today is the day of salvation “do not harden your hearts in rebellion”, as some did and many have! Our glorious King is alive and He intercedes for all who would dare to acknowledge their sin, repenting in need of the eventual crutch, yes Crutch! I have heard many shy away from that word when referring to their Saviour, He is much more than any “crutch”, and at the very least we should all acknowledge that He is our prop. He is the Aid of aids; which carries with it unwavering commitment. There is no pressure seen or unseen that will bend that staff. It is indestructible, praise His name!

Let us reason together; what is the ultimate goal for mankind? Is it not heaven and to be in a blissful state for the rest of eternity? We know that light and darkness cannot co-exist, they may share a room but they cannot mingle. This morning as the desktop lamp lights my work area I can clearly see my work space but if I look behind me into the opposite corner it is dark and the bookshelf is but an outline; light on the one side but dark and dingy on the other. I need a globe and electricity to generate light, a globe alone will be of no use to me and visa-visa. The idea of making it to heaven may be well and alive in our minds but unless I have the means to get me there it remains but a dream.

Can we who are full of darkness co-exist with a Holy God? Absolutely not! Unless I have the means to carry me into that light I will never end up there. My thoughts and hope will never be enough and only the fool reason like this. What then do I need to make it to heaven when I pass from this life into the next? I need a crutch or a vehicle, some sort of transport to give me access into heaven. GOD HAS MADE A WAY! He so loved the world that he has offered the sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to be the crutch for all who will call and trust Him to get them there. It is His way and no other way will suffice! The Bible is very clear on this!

We have all been given logic to reason things out, even the simplest of us understand that we need supply to create; does a man say I will build a house without any bricks? Or can a person walk into a grocery store without any money and fill a trolley full of groceries expecting to walk out with them? No one will make it to heaven if they have not been washed by the blood of the Lamb, period! Only the thief goes into the store without any money hoping not to get caught. And we know that there will be thieves at the marriage feast of the Lamb who did not have their lamps trimmed; “But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.” (Matthew 25:6-10) – it is imperative while it is still day that we learn to rely on God’s provision to get us ready for that day, that glorious reunion when all those who have oil, those who have believed God for His provision and made it their business to buy the oil needed for that great day. However for those who ignore this call, it will end badly; ““Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'”” (Matthew 25:11-25)

Lamp without oil is no different to a globe with no electricity. It is imperative that we buy oil now because no one can with any confidence say they know what the future holds. The wise man will plan for the future; it is only the fool that hopes beyond hope.

God has made the way and He has sent out an open invitation to all, what will you do with that invitation? I pray that God would be merciful and give us all the understanding to act upon this warning.

Today is the day of salvation, call unto Him and He will be merciful; He will not turn one away! But call you must!  

Signing off

Tyrone

 

 

There is victory for me...

Sin is like an aggressive cancer, but if caught early enough it can be stopped in its tracks. As a rule it is impossible to end something that enslaves us outside of the freedom we find in Christ. The Apostle Paul makes that very clear in the book of Romans.

Chemotherapy and radiation is hard on one’s body but in some cases are the only alternatives. However those types of treatments must be used timeously, before the cancer has caused havoc! It is no different for the Christian in principle; we must learn to nip any bad habits in the bud before its destructive roots seats themselves. But seeing that we have been freed from sin and death it would be good for us to live as those who have understood that sin should no longer have dominion over us. As long as we breathe sin will continue to fight for its right of dominance. Nevertheless we must seek out God’s grace to overcome whatever our particular challenge may be. Christians have the mind of Christ! “Not my will but thine be done on earth as it is in heaven” would be a good place to start. It will be impossible to live with Christ in heaven if we do not die with Him here on earth, that is a given!

I have yet, so much dying to do, God give me the resolve to seek your face when it really counts is my prayer! I have been found wanting in this area of my life, please forgive me! How this particular battle continues to rage but I know the end is near, there is victory for me just over the hill. “God will make a way when there seems to be no way”, praise His name! This He has proved throughout scripture time and time again! But more than, has He not proved himself to us as believers? Amen and Amen!

Faith must be envisaged prior to the victory in one’s life. Now some in authority teach this reality falsely, they say if you have an ailment you must deny the reality of it. You must not believe that you have the disease, you must not give it any place, and they say that even if clinical tests prove your condition, it is a lie. They are the ones who lie; we must look into the mirror and be real with our own reality. Unless you see your sin you will never have the need to find forgiveness from it! However having said that we must now not believe that we do not have the wherewithal to overcome, that too is a lie! Christ has overcome and we have His Spirit! The sin that once held us captive can be conquered! That is a given! But we must believe it with all our hearts prior to relishing in that victory. We must believe the promises of God, praise His name! Sin looks to rob us of that actuality!

In other words we must step out in faith believing God for the victory that is yet to happen; this is what feeds our hope. Our senses are called upon to implement this truth; with our eyes we have been called to look; “Look unto me and be ye saved.” With our ears we have been asked to listen; “Hear and your soul shall live.” But the scent of faith must drive us to action; do you remember the woman with the issue of blood? She said in her heart if only? If only what? If she could only push through the crowds and get to touch the Lords garment she knew of a certainty that she would be healed. Now that is faith in action! What a lesson for us all!

Unless we learn to eat from the tree of faith how will we ever be able to speak about the sweetness of its taste? “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalms 119:103) - “Except a man eat my flesh,” saith Christ, “and drink my blood, there is no life in him.” Without faith in action it will be impossible to please God! Faith must feed our hope of that which is unseen; it is “faith that will lead us home”!

Regardless of the mountains that we see before us we know that just over the hill we will have the victory. There must be a progressive application to this truth in our lives; faith must feed our hope, which will ultimately be heaven. But along the way we must believe God for snippets of that victory, whatever that may be for you and me. Our lives must begin to prove this authenticity! What good would it be if we continue to grovel in the mire of the sin that once held us captive, we then only deceive ourselves!

When the lion roars and it will rumble will we be able with Samson to sing his song? "Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet." – My prayer for all of God’s children is that we may trust Him in faith for our specific deliverance. God be with us all in our endeavours to glorify him, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone  

Unity of mind

(1Peter 3:8) “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind…”

Unity is strength; it is like pollen to the bee, the morning dew to the flower and the moon to the night, however, unity in Christ tops it all! It is the “Usain Bolt” of the 100 meters. Like a body of believers working together in unison bringing glory to God their Father in and through the finished work of Calvary.

What gives rope its forte? “A rope is a group of piles, yarns or strands which are twisted or braided together in order to combine them into a larger and stronger form”. Take a single strand and apply pressure to it and it will easily snap, but fortify it with the same strands and it increases in resistance, strength in numbers. It is like our natural bodies working together to help us function as we ort. Remove any body parts and we are categorized as handicapped. We (Christians) have all been given the mind of Christ; it is a gift of the Spirit and it is that truth we need to explore. Sound doctrine is the treasure. “They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.” (Jude 1:18-19)

I tell you that there is an onslaught coming that will be so unified, fierceness so intense and with true Christians in the cross-hairs as their targets. There will be a unified plot against the Christian on a global scale, it will happen! “Sound doctrine” (the actual teachings of the bible and not that which appeases the natural mind which will always look for opportunity to live a life of sin) will be targeted on a more ferocious scale. The breach has already happened but will soon intensify; it falls under the banner of “Tolerance” and where there is no tolerance for sin then in accordance with God’s law that is known as “Hate Speech”. However this is not the unity I look to address even though it has already surfaced. We have been warned of this time and it must happen.   

It is the unity amongst believers that the Christian must embrace, but before we can find unity we must first understand what it is we need to be unified in; it must and can only be about the “mind of Christ”. We must learn to put off anything that opposes His mind, that is a daunting task but we now have His mind (“The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ” - 1Corinthians 2:15 -16) so it is most certainly obtainable. Look at the lack of understanding some of the Apostles had and Jesus’ response to them; it must never be about money, this type of mind-set must be the furthest thought from our concentrations. Judas betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver and then hung himself. Peter was so committed to his master that he believed that he was doing what was right in his mind but in fact was doing the work of the devil: - Observe. “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Note. Peter had at this stage already been spiritually awakened; “Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”” – He was not thinking with the mind of Christ but reasoning as a man! If we reason with our natural minds and we do not put on our spiritual thinking caps then we fall into the same category, we do the work of the devil! Our goal must be to understand God’s will for our lives; we must learn to forsake our wants for His will. We must make every effort to walk in the Spirit and to reason with the same. Our carnal minds will always oppose this truth. Scripture is given in order to test if our reasoning is that of the mind of Christ. If we are true to the text it will be easily understood. Keep it simple and it will be well with our souls! If there is doubt in our understanding, let us rather lean on the understanding of a child. What I mean by that is don’t over reason a simple instruction. Although we have been saved by grace, this does not give us licence to ignore the teachings of the law.

If we can learn to anchor the following instructions to our lives we will begin to learn like never before to put on the mind of Christ; “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:3-15)

Less of self and more of His character in our daily lives, He gave of Himself we too must now learn to give of ourselves and that list is endless, but it must be addressed with urgency if we are to be unified with the mind of Christ!

This instruction is simple but some of us may have lost our way and it may well be time to right our wrongs. May God help us all to find his mind, Amen! Even so come quickly Lord Jesus, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone  

 

 

"put on"

To “PUT ON” is something we do all day from the rising of the sun to the setting of the same. And it has such an influence of how our day turns out. Distraction is a lure that looks to divert us from what is important. You can fill in the blanks. For me to wake up in the morning prior to sunrise and to sit on my desk with an espresso and a pipe in hand with the bible open in front of me is a very happy place, it is probably the finest chunk of my day. However I have noticed the distraction that looks to rob me of this tranquil but insightful time. I now resolve to get my priorities right once again, not that they had drifted far from where they should be but even the slightest deviation in course will find us in the wrong place. “Ahoy there, trim the sail!” “Aye, aye Captain”, I have heard your voice my Lord and Saviour, thank you for your correction.

It is not enough to put off a bad habit; we must replace it with something good. In context we must put off every distraction that keeps our eyes off the Lord Jesus, period! “Easy said than done”, some may say; perhaps but only when we capitulate to the distractions. Here then was my very first thought after rubbing the sleep from my eyes, “put on the mind of Christ”. With that as my foundation I am now ready to build with confidence.

I (we) must now begin to reason correctly, faith must become the springboard for our reasoning; I have an old nature that always if given the chance looks to rob me of the victory that is mine in the finished work of Calvary. But the truth be told, I am no longer justified by what I do but rather what Christ has done for me. In other words I am no longer classed as a sinner although sin still drives hard at my heels looking to trip me up. Every single Christian whom God has saved is no longer justified by what they do but rather what Christ has done for them. Now there are those who claim to be Christians, who in fact are not born of the Spirit. Religion is just another distraction, a vaccination, just enough of the distraction to keep one from the truth! Many amongst the catholic faith fit this bill. I know as I grew up catholic!

We all get dressed in the morning prior to setting out for whatever the day may hold. As Christians it is no longer colours we need to coordinate by, rather to pay careful attention to these instructions; “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:12-14) – Regardless of where we may find ourselves in this Christian walk it is the same for all, the tug is real for all! But when we learn to dress properly and in the right order it will be well with our soul.

There is much to say on this topic but let us look to our King to resolve to put off the distractions, cry out to Him to help us see them clearly and then once seen to “PUT ON” whatever is needed for the time. We may need zeal when timid, of carefulness when in danger and the lists are endless but let us remember these words; “and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)

First thing in the morning prior to any other distraction looking to set you on the wrong course let us all learn to appropriate this counsel; “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesian 6:11)

As I punch away at the keyboard even now I see a burst water pipe distracting my efforts to focus on my Saviour, no water to even flush the toilets. Praise God for His confirmation in all things, bless His name! Remember the words of the Lord Jesus; “foxes have holes and birds have nests but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” It’s the trivial things that often distract us, but we now have the mind of Christ, let all who belong to Him learnt to right our wrongs and seek out his grace and goodness throughout today, Amen and Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone  

  

  

Restoration

Why do people blog? Here are a few reasons; some want to be heard, others noticed and some even accepted. Why do I blog? It is simple; it is my diary, thoughts, struggles, joys, trials, failures and the lessons along my Christian pilgrimage. All I have chosen to do is make it public! Why? I hope to encourage others who may need encouragement. It is one thing to stand on a platform proclaiming the good news with a squeaky clean testimony, being blameless from accusation, to have the testimony of Paul the Apostle. But I do not share his testimony, in fact many have chosen to ignore my voice for the exact opposite reason, and who can blame them. As I look back on my Christian journey, it has been marred by many mistakes. For this I have already suffered loss and will continue to face the consequences of my actions along the way. BUT GOD is far greater than any blunder I may have incurred along the way. And this goes for all who trust in Him! There is no failure too great, so long as we haven’t trampled underfoot the perfect work of the cross, having once believed and then denouncing that Jesus Christ died for our sins. There is “much to do” about these verses we wrestle with in Hebrews chapter 6, but who can of a certainty say, thus and thus says the Lord? All I know is God will complete what He has started, regardless of the opposition He faces along the way. He is greater than all! Sin may very well need to be irradiated from many of our lives, but our God has conquered all!

For me the process has been severe, but needful! We must never think that we are beyond reproof. Correction will often right our wrongs along the way. To think back on how I found my place in the body of Christ (a local church) and to be used by Him to minister into the lives of others was a peaceful time in my life. And then to have that taken from me, because of my sin and pride, and there is much more I could add to that list! BUT GOD, my merciful Father was willing to stay the course with a reprobate like me! I am forever thankful!

This I have learnt along the way, God exalts and He disparages those whom He once elevated. He is God and He is Supreme; it is about His will and not the wants of men. Sin looks to rob us of that reality. But even if that is some of our testimonies, our God is not only capable but in certain cases willing to be merciful to those who have fallen victim to themselves; I am forever indebted to Him! He chooses to change the mindset of certain men, thank you Father! I owe everything to my Lord and Saviour, praise His blessed name!

This morning I will share a brief testimony at Florida Baptist Church, it has been a long time since I have been in such a position, I am so thankful that God my ABBA FATHER has seen fit to patch up what I so miserably destroyed, my life! Regardless of where you may find yourselves, know this that God is able and knows how to give good gifts to His children, and what better gift can a child receive than to know he finds favour with His Father! He has such a big heart, who will ever be capable of measuring His mercies? They are unmeasurable! I am so thankful that I belong to a God, the only true living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, The God who is full of compassion and who cares for me, thank you Lord Jesus for doing all the will of the Father, enabling me now to call out to Him. Bless you now and forever more, Amen and Amen!

Here then are some of my experiences I needed to face along the way as a Christian; it hasn’t been pretty but extremely needful. Wherever you may find yourself today, step out in faith believing God and He may very well cover you with His mercies, I am praying for you!

Restored

At the age of 22 I came face to face with my depravity and the realization that I needed to find forgiveness for my sin and that could only ever happen in and through the finished work of Calvary. Jesus Christ paying the price for my sin! Once I understood the magnitude of it all my life did a radical 180 degree turn and the life I once lived, wine, women, and song was now a thing of the past.  For years it was well with my soul and then sadly deception began to wiggle its way back into my life with license becoming a way of life. Before long I was involved in a relationship that I should have avoided at all costs. I didn’t!

If we despise the chastening of the Lord and carry on in a life of sin, as I was doing, then the Bible teaches that a more drastic step needs to be taken.

When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:4-6)

This then happened to me, at that time, accepting church discipline wasn't easy. Those were trying times and the spiral of sin took root like never before. Before long I noticed that my glands on my neck where very swollen and I went to see the doctor. He was newly qualified and couldn’t diagnose what was wrong. He then consulted his partner and I heard him say, “Test for HIV!” I was 27 at the time and I then knew that the rubber had now hit the tar. Prior to being tested I understood that this was now God’s judgment on my life. My test confirmed my hunch.

In hindsight I thank God from the bottom of my heart for caring enough to do what was needed to bring me to a place of true repentance. God used church discipline and the eventual result was restoration back into fellowship in the local church. Verses very dear to my heart are; “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”  (Hebrews 12: 5-8)

I am truly thankful for God’s discipline in my life. Without it where would I be? Possibly on some street corner begging bread. All honour and glory belongs to my King, praise His name now and forever more, Amen and Amen!

This life is about 70 years but God is eternal and He is merciful and He has it in His power to choose what to do with His mercy, I am thankful for His mercy, in spite of myself. I am forever indebted to Him who at the time would have been able to understand the restoration that I now enjoy. Thank you Father God!  It is well with my soul.

Signing off

Tyrone

"To be or not to be!"

(Proverbs 19:15) “Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.”

Retirement is a time to be idle and yet it is a shame to be idle; the more I look into the mirror the more I realize how wrong I have perceived so many things along life’s journey! Just about every voice we hear in society today is a trap! But why have I not understood that until now? But then again how many people ever understand! I thank God my Father for opening my eyes! It is obvious that we can be so active in the throes of life that we miss out on our calling to serve Gods as we ort! So let us understand what this lesson actually teaches!

Here it is plain to see the disposition of the sluggish; those who are always looking for easy-outs; it causes a slothfulness that will only ever end badly. It carries with it no sense, a life full of dreams with very little action. From the beginning we were all burdened with this reality and that is if we do not work we shall not eat; “And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."” (Genesis 3:17-19) – Note. The penalty for sin was to work until we die and yet man in his wisdom has looked to defy the odds and at the age of 65 is now able to retire, pension funds and the like have been put into place, and then what? This perception is largely accepted by most, that the time has come to now relax, you have worked hard all your life and now it is time to be idle. Gather shells on a beach, or spend the time we have left living a life of leisure, whatever the individual determines… and then the judgment!

It is obvious to conclude that we are all meant to find a job, get busy, work and then eat. No free meal-ticket! This is the one part of the equation, but the other slice is far more valuable and often overlooked. As children of God we have all received “talents”, it is the soul we must pay careful attention too. This life with all its gathered wealth and materialism will pass away but our souls will exists forever. Here then is the observation; one that is idle in the affairs of their soul, is the one is very serious trouble. Sure, the idle who lazes about never doing a honest day’s work will suffer hunger and ends up begging bread, but the ones who take no care in working out their salvation in fear and trembling will suffer far greater loss and carry it into eternity.

I have known hard working men who have had the role of elders in a church and when retirement age was reached, they have chosen to relinquish that role to retire at the coast. They haven’t understood! What of family and friends who have chosen rather to pursue careers at the expense of their obligations to the body of Christ (the church), they too haven’t understood!

For those who wandered about in sheep’s clothing, persecuted day and night, the off scouring’s of the world, those who have been looked upon by society as useless; - “Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated-- of whom the world was not worthy--wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:36-38) -

They understood!  Where do I stand, where do you stand with this consideration? The time is short, may God help us all!   

Signing off

Tyrone  

    

DEFCON

“DEFCON” (a cry to make ready) has always been the command for the Christians throughout the world. We are no longer children of the world, but new creatures in Christ! From the day our eyes were opened to see the kingdom of God (the day we were “born again”), from that day onwards we have been at war! My journey has most certainly had its highs and its lows; I suppose all would voice a similar testimony. Be that as it may, although we may have improved tactically along the way, and yet, very volatile at times, similar to water, we can nevertheless take comfort in this fact; our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ has never changed, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! He is our Admiral who leads the way, He has conquered all! It is now our time to trust and obey and in turn conquer all. We have the greatest Instructor; He is patient and will never leave you dead for the enemy to ravish. He is for all who bend the knee to Him! He will never leave nor forsake you, NEVER! He is the great Shepherd!  

When we consider the current news, worldwide; it can have one of two effects, it can send us into a panic as I heard around lunch yesterday, “what if Ebola gets to South Africa?” real concern for their lives. Will we also panic when the trial of our faith gets personal? When it comes knocking on our front doors. It is one thing to sympathize with our brothers in arms that are now being martyred across the globe by the enemy, observing from a distance but quite another if we were to be personally confronted. This is not something we in ourselves welcome, it is a scary thought! Nevertheless it may just be what we were born for, could it be the exact reason? This may be the pinnacle, of what God has intended for our lives from before the foundation of the worlds. In His master plan it may just be the queue for our scene! If so there is no need for panic, just go with the flow.

Do you remember the question the disciples asked the Lord about a blind man? Here is the question; “And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2) – Here we see a tragic circumstance that must have had an effect on so many people. The parents with the realisation that their son was blind, the young boy who was born blind and never being able to relate to those who could see. People walking by him as he begged their eyes capable of admiring God’s glorious creation but all he saw was darkness. Did he have siblings, and how was he treated? The list goes on… an apparent disaster!  Now look at the Lord’s interesting retort; “Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”” (John 9:3) – Do you see how that now puts a whole different spin on things? We must begin to reason with the eyes of the Spirit and move away from reasoning with our carnal minds, which can only ever produce death! We must put on the mind of Christ! Here was a man born blind for no other reason but to glorify God! Praise God! Where do we fit in? What are we doing to glorify our Father in heaven? These are the questions that need to captivate our minds, and not trivial things that will pass away.

The crop is ripe and ready to be harvested; the sheep shall be separated from the goats and it is only tribulation that will differentiate between the two. The proof is in the eating. Let us not cower away from what lies ahead but rather with an earnest expectation look to Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith. As we trust Him, He will certainly equip us for what lies ahead, praise His name! May God give us the insight to know what it is He requires from us. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all those that rely and call on Him, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone

Repent

Keeping abreast with the current news; an unpleasant odor oozes out of Africa carrying with it, its deadly virus “Ebola”; “a lethal virus transmitted by blood and body fluids that cause the linings of bodily organs and vessels to leak blood and fluids usually resulting in death”. The questions the experts are asking; where did it originate, what is the source? Some speculate hunters coming into contact with monkeys who have been exposed to bats that carry the virus.

Many varying questions need to be answered but why is no one asking the question, why?  It is that type of inquiring mind that will often lead to the truth! If we look back in history and go back to the time of the “judges” we see that God answered the cry of His people when they voiced “repentance”. “And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way. (Judges 2:18-19)

With that now in mind and with the current distress upon our planet, earthquakes and the like! Could we class Ebola as a pestilence? “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” (Matthew 24:7) – You decide!   

Forget the bats or the monkeys, could this be God’s judgement unfolding? Could this be the beginning of sorrows? If you knew that a thief was about to break into your home at a specific time, would you not make provision and set up watchmen to warn against the intruder? That would be a given! So then why is so much money and energy spent on looking for bats and monkeys when we should rather be calling out to God and seeking out His forgiveness?

It is obvious what will unfold will come to pass, God has predestined it to happen. But it would be wise for those willing to understand that they need to prepare themselves, making ready for the future. Do not be troubled by the signs of the times, rather be thankful and make yourselves ready. God has graciously warned those who call upon His name of His wrath to come. We need to buy oil for our lamps and store it up for the dark times ahead. It is one thing to fall victim to the severe penalties of the law of the land but quite another when God chooses to pour out His judgement! It is imperative that we find ourselves on the right side of that wrath! Repent! “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelations 2:5) – It is now the time to make right what is wrong and to seek out God’s grace earnestly to help in time of need; Our Saviour is interceding for all that call upon Him, we must begin to seriously consider those secret sins, whatever they made been and look to find grace to overcome. We all need to do a refresher course in basic training; back to basics then, God help us all!

The time is at hand; “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"” (1Peter 4:17-18)

Signing off

Tyrone   

   

Hide your face from my sin...

(Psalms 51:9) “Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.”

Who would ever in their right minds look to shirk this reality and believe that they will, on their own merits, be able to stand before God and confidently say, “Please God accept me into heaven because I am a good person?” Many believe that this is how they will make it to heaven, excepted on their own merits! It can and will never happen! But don’t take my word for it; examine yourself not on the standard of others but on God’s requirements. At the end of the day it will be up to Him, will it not? Of course it will!

But how will we know what his requirements will be? We have all heard the phrase coined, “birds of a feather flock together”. You will never see an eagle nesting with a dove. God has a personality which exemplifies who He is. He is righteous (the quality of being morally right or justifiable); He is Holy (relating to, belonging to, or coming from a divine being or power); He is Omnipresent (always present everywhere); He is sovereign (He is self-ruling and answers to no one but Himself) and the list is endless but I trust that establishes my point. He will never co-exist with anyone outside of His own Character. Heaven can and will only ever be occupied with those of the same character – “birds of a feather flocking together”. This leaves us all in a bit of a pickle!

What now?

Firstly we need to understand our sinful states before God. If you believe that you are without sin and you are a good person you are automatically disqualified for heaven. Hell will be your destiny! Some may take offense to that statement but the Bible clearly teaches this truth.

We must match up to God’s requirements to coexist with Him in heaven; The Ten Commandments is the yardstick we need to examine ourselves. If we are guiltless in all, which would mean if we have never broken a commandment then we can with confidence rest in making it to heaven but if just one commandment throughout our lives have been breached we are guilty as charged. And hell will be our penalty! Separated from God for eternity!

Examine yourselves! The bible declares all guilty before God; “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. (Romans 3:10)

Just one white lie condemns you, guilty as charged, not to mention never honouring God as God, stealing, cheating, coveting, malice, guile, gossiping, fornication and the like to mention but a few. God in His goodness gave mankind the law to help us understand our very own characters. Without it how would we know what His requirements are? If the law didn’t say, “You shall not steal” how would I have known that I was a thief as I took something that wasn’t mine? But if I now take something illegally I am pricked in my conscience and guilty as charged! It is the knowledge of the law which condemns us all!  But it has a purpose and that is to teach us that we need a Saviour, because sin taking hold of our lives turns us into vultures and not doves. The law leaves us guilty before God; therefore mankind has been condemned and will never ever make it to heaven on their merits. God needed to step in and forgive us for our sinful natures, and thankfully He did exactly that! Praise His name!

The world was already doomed because of our sinful characters but God has given all a way of escape; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18) - I trust that finding our way to heaven is now very clear, if we do not see ourselves as sinners and in need of a Saviour to sanctify us in order for us to be accepted by God the Father, we will never arrive!

Our own merits will never justify us before God, we need the sanctification of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice to cover us and in thus make us righteous because of what He has done. It is His covering that is needed to get us to heaven, nothing else will suffice!

If you accept your sinful state before a righteous God, cry out to Him, looking unto the Lord Jesus Christ seeking out His forgiveness for your sin, do not think that any sin is a light matter before God, it is so severe that it moved Him to send His only begotten Son to die in our place. Our sin is now paid for by the blood of the lamb, never to be remembered! No greater love can anyone show than to send someone to die for their enemies. God did exactly that for you and for me, what will you now do with this free Gift? I have made up my mind, now make up yours!

Signing off

Tyrone  

    

Slaying the Giants!

(1Samuel 23:4) “…for I will give the Philistines into your hand."

“Revenge” is the last of the “fruits of repentance” and very satisfying if applied with victory, in faith when slaying the “giants” in our lives. If the correct preparation is followed, when the spoils are eventually eaten, it shall be sweeter than honey!

The Israelites were petrified when Goliath the giant bellowed on the mountain top, but not David! He knew in whom he believed! When the challenge came forth; “He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us."” (1Samuel 17:8-9) 

There are some points we need to pin your ears back too, dissect and then we will understand: - Note. The Philistines were the enemies of Israel, Goliath was a Philistine; Saul was the king of Israel and appointed by God on behalf of mans will, in other words he symbolises the flesh! Our own efforts in the flesh will never conquer any of the giants in our lives, it is impossible! That is why the Lord Jesus Christ needed to conquer sin on that cruel Roman cross. The Apostle Paul teaches us this very clearly; “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (Romans 7:14-17) – Simply put, our sinful natures leave us powerless when confronting the giants in our lives! The sooner we learn this lesson the sweeter the victory will be. David was not reliant on his abilities, although he was trained with a slingshot his trust was in his God. He knew that God would be with him when he confronted the giant, Goliath! There was absolutely no doubt in his mind that he would chop off the giants head.

Our flesh will always doubt, look at Saul’s response; “And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him.” But look at David’s response; “But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.” (1Samuel 17:34-35) – When we rest upon God’s victory nothing can come against us, regardless of how daunting it may appear. There is nothing greater than our God, we have nothing to fear! If we belong to Him, He is for us and not against us, regardless of the giants that bellow and make idle threats, so long as we put our faith in Him, it will be well with our souls! What a great victory the Lord Jesus has wrought on our behalf, praise His name! Thank you my great Saviour! Keep our eyes fix on you and not the giants that threaten our faith, they are but chaff in the wind in comparison to what you have freed us from. Keep us walking in the Spirit and we will have victory over our flesh, in every area of our lives! “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) – When we get it wrong we will continue to struggle in many areas of our lives; but when we get it right God receives the glory and the revenge on that which once held us captive now no longer keeps us wallowing in the “mud of self-pity” like it once did. Praise the name of Jesus!

Faith will never be unfolded by the wisdom of men; it operates outside the realm of that which is seen, but it initiates the power of God in our lives. It may be time to shift gears; “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2Corinthians 5:7) – I pray with an earnest expectation that our God will help us in this area of our lives.

Regardless of the giants you face in your life, trust our Saviour and His finished work, remembering that God raised Him from the dead and likewise will raise us up from the dead and give us whatever victory we now need in our lives. Remain humble, seek out grace with boldness and BELIEVE! Our God is not only able but willing to bless those you believe in Him, praise His name now and forever more, Amen and Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone  

     

   

Understanding the "signs of the times"...

(Romans 8:23) …as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

Creation rumbles stirring from its sleepiness, “watchmen cry out and warn of the danger just over the horizon.” “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:22-23)  - Could the grace of God be drawing to its conclusion for all those who refuse to bend the knee? We are told to watch for the signs of the times; let us examine the scriptures, tick the boxes and then come to our conclusion …

Yesterday we had an earthquake in South Africa, something very foreign to our country; in fact, I have lived here all my life and cannot ever recall experiencing the shudder I felt yesterday. At first I wasn’t sure what it was, no damage done but still a sobering experience, people running out of the office just in case the roof caved in. We are told that the Epicenter was about 200km away and yet two hours later we were hit in Randburg. Could this be Gods judgment beginning to unfold? I am convinced of it! But you make up your own mind.

God the Holy Spirit inspired Matthew to pen these words; “And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”” (Matthew 24:4-13)

The Lord predicts a time in the future that is yet to come, could that time be now? Here then are the warnings to watch for…

·         "See that no one leads you astray” – there will be many voices with differing opinions and many will be led down the wrong road, be watchful! Examine the scripture to see if in fact those voices align with sound doctrine, if not run far from it!

·         “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.” – No need for the Christian to panic. Not yet anyway! We have been informed by our Great Saviour that what is now happening should happen.

·         It’s the “and” that must grab our attention; “and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” An earthquake in South Africa, really! What could that be about? You decide! Prior to a woman giving birth she experiences contractions and the closer she gets the nearer the delivery. “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”

·         From here on in the trial of faith may take the believer through a time of true testing. The reason I use the word “may” is because some believe we (Christians) will be raptured before this happens; I am not convinced! Be that as it may here is the warning; "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” The world with another voice, backing the enemy (Satan) will target the Christians and look to have them killed. The world in general will begin to hate the Christian like never before. Our lack of tolerance for false Gods will put us in the class of “hate speech”. “Hate speech is, outside the law, speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of e.g. race, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation”. In other words if I was to say, that no person will make it to heaven outside of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone, I will be classed amongst the “hate speeches” because I have not accommodated someone else’s belief. But for the Christian it is obvious that we must stand on the finished work of the cross and nothing else; any other message is a lie!

·         Because of this; “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” At this time the voices of differing opinion will boom!

·         Nevertheless if we are still here at this time. If the Christian has not yet been caught up into the air; “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (1Corinthians 15:51-52) – As this period in history will be a treacherous time “for the love of many will wax cold”, “dog eat dog” (selfishness like we have never experienced it).

·         The rubber will hit the tar and only those totally committed to our God will make it; “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

It is time for the Christians throughout the world to lock hands as we pray for one another and set up watchmen to watch out for the prowling lion, he is on the scavenge and there will be tough times ahead. But be of good cheer; “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)   

Come what may our God will see us through, just hold on tight! And remember to buy the oil needed for our lanterns, let us be amongst the five wise virgins and not the five who were foolish.

Signing off

Tyrone