A New Commandment!

(John 13:34) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

Wherever there is smoke there must be fire or at least the potential of a flame. Smoke may be useful when retrieving honey from a bee hide; the military whilst under attack may use it as a form of cover. Actually the more I think about it the more I realize the benefit smoke can play at times. It could be used as a signal to save the lost; we cook with it to change the natural savour of food. Yet we resent it so! All have stood around a braai (barbeque) and had the smoke follow them as if it had a personal vendetta. Once it has locked on it is very unpleasant resulting in red and stinging eyes and at times it is so unbearable that one is force to find somewhere else to sit, no matter how entertaining the conversation around the fire may be.

Smoke that irritates drives us away or we look to extinguish it, but it is not so with our God and King; He is patient, kind and we could never ask for a better High Priest, our Saviour is truly magnificent. No matter how full of smoke your life seems to be at times, everyone may look to desert you and where many once stood with you, you now seem to stand alone, take courage in this one fact; “…and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;” (Matthew 12:20)

Salvation will never be left to the abilities and the tolerances of men; yes we all have our part to play as we are clearly taught that we are particular members of the body of Christ (the church) and we will be judged on how we have functioned as member in particular. However we will often run from the smoke, instead of running to it, helping to fan at it until the flame once again burns bright and clear. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6): - If then there has been a time in your life where peace seemed to be the order of the day but now there is very little of it, remember who is at the reigns, it is our Lord and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Only remember to call out unto Him as everything is in His hands, He has the keys to heaven and hell. Do not let the trial of this life extinguish the smoking flax.   

Do you know what I love about the character of God? His ways are so far above our ways that when we just get a glimmer of His hand at work it is glorious to witness. When others have written you off, remember He hasn’t! It all began with the Lord Jesus, the Apostle John in his gospel is very clear on this and it will also end with our great King. As Christians we must run to our wounded and not from them, why is it that so many Christians have such resentment at times. Why is it that the Lord is willing to leave the ninety-nine to find the lost sheep but we are not? We see so many Christians making so many bad mistakes and we tend to write them off, but Jesus never!

Remember this story…

“Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.” (Luke 15:13-15): - How many are able to relate to this story on a personal level? Thankfully not many! Yet to some degree all have tasted some form of desertion; betrayal even played a part in Peter’s life; did he not deny the Lord three times? However the more we realise how much we have been forgiven and this would include all the bad choice we have made even after salvation, the more we will love; “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." (Luke 7:47)   

Why do I now mention this? Well the time is coming when the love of many will wax cold and judgment must begin at the household of God. We must guard our hearts against the hate that will take at will the hearts and minds of so many. We must continue to wrestle with God, striving like Jacob to find a blessing, even if it costs us personally. We must remember what price the Lord paid to set us free, it cost Him His life!

There is a real danger that we will begin to run from each other instead of toward one another. May God hear my cry! Please Father God, guard your children’s hearts in this matter.

It’s the end of the account that is glorious and heaven will be magnificent; "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.” (Luke 15:17-24)

Now there is one of two ways we could react to similar accounts with others in the church of today. We could take on the mind of Christ or we could let envy have its way; "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'" (Luke 15:25-32)

I love the way God deals with His faithful son, such compassion.

Our God is truly great and there is no comparison to Him, let us learn to embrace His character, glorifying His name, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone  

   

   

Prayer and its power!

It is another morning where many simultaneous thoughts bounce back and forth with no clear direction, not as yet anyway. I will silently sit, listen and pray until I find some bearing…

(James 5:6) “…The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

What would be the benefit of a Christian’s life if he had no access to God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son with God the Holy Spirit as our guide and teacher? We might just as well call on some dumb idol or totem pole or look at some superstition like looking for signs from angels walking around looking for feathers and hopefully they are white and not grey. The blind leading the blind and both will fall into the ditch if they haven’t already. Strong words you may say, but nevertheless true!

There is no place for idolatry in a believer’s life; Horoscopes and the like are nothing more than idolatry; God demands to be acknowledged for who He is, the only true God! He has given us everything in Christ, praise His holy name! But let us be careful to acknowledge Him for who He really is, an awesome God who in one hand holds the access into heaven in and through Christ because He is love. Yet in the other hand He is a consuming fire and He will ultimately destroy all who oppose Him.

“Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.” (Jeremiah 13:16): - This then a stern warning; let us look to be free of all in our lives that does not glorify His name and His name alone! “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (Thessalonians 5:6)

If we have that understanding as our foundation and a springboard from which to launch our relationship with God our Father, let us then consider the importance of prayer and how it frees us to serve Him. It is the means in which God has chosen to allow sinful men once they have found repentance through the Lord Jesus to communicate with Him. What a privilege and what power!

I am not sure we understand the weight prayer carries for the believer, it is a great gift if use skillfully. Think about this, as a photojournalist I often meet influential and important people and at times I have stood face to face with many a great man, take Nelson Mandela for example; we exchanged words and many people seem to envy me for the opportunity I have been afforded. Yes he is a great man and he has achieved much, but in comparison to the almighty God he is but a man, a sinner in fact, no different to any other, as in need as any other to be set free, to find forgiveness in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every Child of God has the opportunity to call out through prayer to their heavenly Father, Jehovah God, the great I AM, the same God who created the universe, the One who walked and talked with Adam in the garden of Eden and let us never forget why we have this pleasure, it is only because of the Lord Jesus’ obedience, praise His name! Nothing else will do and no other way will give a soul access to God through prayer.

How then should we prayer is the question we should be asking?

"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.” (Matthew 6:5-8)

If God knows what we need before we ask Him why then should we pray? It is the Facilitator through which we can deepen our relationship with Him; God has so willed it, praise His name! It is a means whereby we are able to gain strength to overcome any given trial. It is the way in which we find grace and obtain mercy in time of need. The Lord Jesus taught us this very plainly in the way in which He lived whilst here on earth; it is our greatest weapon if we are to overcome. We must not rely on our own will power to overcome but find grace in time of need through prayer to overcome.

Here is the greatest of examples…

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation."” (Luke 22:39-46)

Let us therefore remember to pray as it is only through pray whereby we will find strength to overcome.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) 

Signing off

Tyrone  

      

The wages of sin is death!

(Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Freedom is a word often used to describe liberty or independence. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island for eighteen years  and his life was filled with a struggle against the then governing party, known as the Apartheid Regime. His life was a fight for freedom and he was the voice for so many black South Africans. He achieved something no one else has achieved, he re-united a divided country through democracy and South Africa is now nicknamed the Rainbow Nation. He was the catalyst in getting different ethnic groups to live as neighbours. This idea was taboo for so many white South Africans, it was so shocking that the black citizens of South Africa were forced to carry “a pass book” with them and if a policeman called for it were and when he chose and that individual could not produce the necessary identification document they were thrown in jail or beaten. Think of being a citizen of a particular country, ones place of birth and to constantly live in fear. A terrible thought but nevertheless true.

I have come through both governments in South Africa, both the National Parties rule as well as the ANC and it surprises me that as a boy growing up I was taught that what happened in South Africa was the norm, scary!

Nelson Mandela fought for freedom and he conquered the system, his people are now free, or are they? Sure, they may be free from any racial discrimination, per say, but what really constitutes freedom? The vote is now an equal vote for all South Africans, so all are free to vote, is this true freedom?

It is one thing to be free from alcohol if you were once and alcoholic but you still compulsively lie, as your life was so full of lies because of the habit that ensnared your for so long. One may be free from substance abuse and feel good about it, but unless one is able to get rid of all that associated with that vice, we will never really be free. It may appear that we are free; many might even pat us on the back and compliment us for our efforts.

Be careful of the patchwork in our lives that tricks us into believing we are free, when it is just a smokescreen keeping us from seeking our true freedom. What then is true freedom? There is one enemy that keeps us from peace and freedom in this life and that is “SIN”. It has been this way from the beginning! Life is full of different chapters to our lives; all have had some driving force that feeds and motivates us to pen words to these episodes of life, which in turn leaves us happy or sad. Accusing or excusing!

Think long and hard on the point I make, be honest with yourself, if that be possible and consider your actions throughout a day, just evaluate one day and then ask yourself if you are really free. I am not suggesting that if you once drank but now that drinking is something of the past that you are not free of alcohol, it is a given, you obviously are. But does your mind still question many facets of life trying to make head or tails of what is really the truth? So many options on so many different levels when it comes to varying religions, which one is right? That type of reasoning is tiring and it does not corroborate freedom, but confusion. Freedom goes a lot deeper than just a topic; freedom speaks about a liberty of being free from the bondage of sin and its entrapment. It speaks about a “not guilty” verdict when accusations come against you if you are charged with a particular sin. 

The breaking of God’s laws is common to every single individual. What then separates the Christian from the unbeliever? It is a simple answer; the blood of Christ has covered the sins of all Christians. They will never be charged for sin as the Lord Jesus Christ has died on their behalf. Now that is true freedom! This understanding and gift will only ever be realized if and when we understand our need for a Saviour, when we reach out beyond the measure of our own abilities and we call out to God to save our souls, in and through the One who has already paid the ultimate sacrifice; He has already been charge for the sins of mankind, it cost Him His life. He died so that we could go free. This does not mean we will be free from the daily struggles of life but we will escape the judgment of God which every individual will ultimately face. This then is true freedom! “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

I implore you to look beyond the surface, go a little deeper and ask yourself the questions are you really free?

For those of us who have been set free, this then is my encouragement; learn to live in this freedom as we put of all the sins that so easily beset, always looking to Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith; “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:1-4)

May God mercifully engrave these truths upon our hearts, Amen!   

Signing off

Tyrone

Our Hope is in you Lord!

(Matthew 12:21) “And in his name the Gentiles will hope."

The accuracy of scripture and the importance their instruction plays in our life’s as an imperative in accordance to our wellbeing for this life and the life to come, is crucial. Many Christians do accept the importance of this truth, but will rely on their own interpretation or understanding to any given text. Because of our own deceitful hearts we at times like to fashion text from scripture into the molds of our lives, whatever suits our needs, better put, our lusts! But before long we are taught by God the Holy Spirit through scripture and through life to reason with a sound mind. What then do I mean by this? I am convinced about this truth; The Lord Jesus came to do the will of His Father, Jehovah God; “Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”” (John 4:34); and part of that will is to get us (believers) home to heaven. 

But how do I know this is true, “I know because I know”, is often coined and I too have lay claim to the phrase, but are you willing to place eternity and how it plays out in your life on a warm fuzzy feeling, be careful! We must learn to settle on the Holy Scripture as out text book for life. If not, we may just as well play Russian roulette and hope the bullet designed for death does not find the chamber as we randomly pull the trigger.

My concern for every believer is that some seem to undermine the importance of the Word of God, the Bible! Get it wrong here and it will be like building a house on sand, as soon as the storm hits we come toppling down. In other words as long as life pans out to our liking, we will hold to our faith, but as soon as the pressures of life seem to push down on us, we come toppling down.

It is imperative to hold to Scripture as the be all and end all, it gives direction to our lives. It must come first and not second. Faith has its part to play in application as it proves to us where we stand in this relationship with almighty God. We will be tested, not that God needs to see our hearts on any given topic as He obviously knows all things, but our hearts are then expose through the trial and we see ourselves for who we really are. The trial of life must never captivate us above the Word of God. We must not let them rob us of the promises from God.

Twelve spies went to spy out the Promised Land even though God had promised it to Abraham and then to Moses, so based on His word it was a given. It would happen! Although all the Israelites who came out of Egypt had been in the same company marching through the desert; they all witnessed the same things; manna from heaven, the drowning of the Egyptian Soldiers in the Red Sea and water gushing from a rock. However not all believed God’s Word! Ten of the spies related to the trial of life as unconquerable, they brought back a bad report! They said that the land could not be occupied. But as for Joshua and Caleb, they believed God at His Word even though there were giants in the land and they knew that God was about to give them their inheritance, the Promised Land!

Regardless of the trials of life we must believe our great heavenly Father is in perfect control and take His Word on face value, we must! To find the deeper truths to scripture takes more of an intensive study and we must study to understand, but the promise of God is not dependant on how much we understand but rather on His promise.

May we learn to rely and rest upon His written Word, the Lord Jesus has begun the work and He will complete it on that day, whenever that may be for each of us individually, or when the trump of God may sound.

It is the cares of life that look to choke so many, by they will not exhaust our breath, if our eyes are fixed upon His Word, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Be then encouraged to look to Him and remember…

“Babes in Christ.”

- 1Co_3:1

“Are you mourning, believer, because you are so weak in the divine life: because your faith is so little, your love so feeble? Cheer up, for you have cause for gratitude. Remember that in some things you are equal to the greatest and most full-grown Christian. You are as much bought with blood as he is. You are as much an adopted child of God as any other believer. An infant is as truly a child of its parents as is the full-grown man. You are as completely justified, for your justification is not a thing of degrees: your little faith has made you clean every whit. You have as much right to the precious things of the covenant as the most advanced believers, for your right to covenant mercies lies not in your growth, but in the covenant itself; and your faith in Jesus is not the measure, but the token of your inheritance in him. You are as rich as the richest, if not in enjoyment, yet in real possession. The smallest star that gleams is set in heaven; the faintest ray of light has affinity with the great orb of day. In the family register of glory the small and the great are written with the same pen. You are as dear to your Father’s heart as the greatest in the family. Jesus is very tender over you. You are like the smoking flax; a rougher spirit would say, “put out that smoking flax, it fills the room with an offensive odour!” but the smoking flax he will not quench. You are like a bruised reed; and any less tender hand than that of the Chief Musician would tread upon you or throw you away, but he will never break the bruised reed. Instead of being downcast by reason of what you are, you should triumph in Christ. Am I but little in Israel? Yet in Christ I am made to sit in heavenly places. Am I poor in faith? Still in Jesus I am heir of all things. Though “less than nothing I can boast, and vanity confess.” yet, if the root of the matter be in me I will rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the God of my salvation.” (C.H.Spurgeon)

Wherever we may be on the Celestial road, whether it be just passed the starting line, near the end of our journey or anywhere in-between, let us remember the promises of God and hold fast to them and let today be filled with the words of this song; “very, very soon we are going to see our king.”

Our great God and King will get us home, praise His glorious name!

We will say with the psalmist; "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” (Psalms 39:7) 

Signing off

Tyrone

Stone throwers!

(John 8:7) "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."

We can all relate to dreams and the reality they carry with them. Even last night I had a simple dream about reversing into a barrier and denting a rented car, server enough to need to call on panel beaters to have it fixed. In fact the metal had peeled back leaving the cars body as if a can-opener had gone to work on it. The accident seemed trivial and yet the damage it left was severe. Is it not the same with sin? Sin often leaves people damaged, distraught and in need of help. This is why so many look to the counsellors of this age for help. But we must understand that the scars of sin go deep and no patchwork will ever free us from its yoke and the bondage it has on us. It has been this way from soon after the beginning, when sin entered in through one man, Adam!

How many like snakes? I know that I am not particularly fond of them, we are aware of the danger some of them pose, get bitten and you’ve had it. It is like that with sin and we all have fallen by its lures in one form or another. With some it is obvious and their sin cannot be missed yet with others one has to look deep to root them out, but both individuals are damaged goods! Both need repairs and so we go through life from repair shop to repair shop and yet we never are freed of our sin, that enslaving bondage, we may have patchwork done but have you ever seen what new fabric does to old, it aggressively pulls at it. Sow a new piece of fabric onto an old pair of jeans, before long the hole is in fact bigger and in need of a larger repair until they have run their course and eventually thrown on the rubbish dump. Why? Sin has an amazing ability to destroy and keep one in bondage. Some sin is obvious while others are just as deadly and yet they need to be rooted out, hence the psychologist.

God has proved through the law to all of mankind that patchwork will never cut it, we need a new beginning, a new start and this is why I love Him, because for me He bled and died for me. Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice, it was Him alone that died for sin and yet He was sinless. This in itself is phenomenal; He has broken the shackles of sin once and for all. This is why we need to be born again, it is a simple new start not by new a year’s resolutions or some form of patch work through some consoling group, they may well have their place, but they have nothing to do with a new beginning in Christ. At salvation the slate of sin is wiped clean, forgiveness by God the Father is sealed, never to be remembered. Why? Because of God’s love and Christ’s perfect sacrifice, it has nothing to do with our abilities or any patch up work through life. Reject His forgiveness and hell will be your final destination. Just like an alcoholic would need to understand that he has a drinking problem, so too do we need to understand that we are sinners in need of a Saviour before we will ever find forgiveness.

My concern is now not for the sinners of the world but for the believers, the forgiveness that is required from all of God’s children after salvation. We seriously lack compassion in this area of our lives. Once again I speak on behalf of myself and others that I am in fellowship with, so if you are clear in this matter then praise God, but if not pay attention!

The Lord Jesus teachers us in that what is known to many as the Lord’s Prayer a very important truth to daily living and that is this; “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12): - A good example to highlight the importance of coming to grips with this truth would be the woman caught in the act of adultery. So, let us spend some time here…

“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.

But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."]] Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."” (John 8:3-12)

Here is the danger of not wanting to forgive others for sins committed whatever they may be; "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27-28)

This is why Christianity is full of forgiveness, it is to help us take our eyes of the law in that sense and to remember what Christ achieved on our behalf. We are all guilty in one form or another even after salvation if we were to base our salvation on our own works, we would all deserve hell, if it had not been for the Lord Jesus and His accomplishment. May we never forget this and may we remember to forgive those who trespass against us just as God has forgiven us for our sins.

Signing off

Tyrone  

   

The price has been paid!

(1Corinthians 6:19-20) “…You are not your own, for you were bought with a price…”

To be tried or purged as by fire is my thought of the day and it is in this context that we need to put on the mind of Christ. Although trials are needful for our sanctification, so many of us look to shirk them instead of welcoming them, why? We reason as carnal men and not spiritual, we enable the lures of Satan to hanker us feeding the fruits of the flesh instead of feeding off the nourishing fruits of the spirit. We misunderstand their importance and why they have been tailor made specifically for us as individuals. God is in perfect control! Each individual trial must teach us to walk by faith, looking to Jesus in and through it all; in fact God has so designed it.

In order for us to put on the mind of Christ, we must endure the trial whatever that may be. We must come to the throne room of grace to obtain mercy. This is a topic most like to avoid, why? Sure our words will always be tested, and we may have to be sifted like wheat, and because of it we like to avoid certain topics. I will not by the grace of God play into the hands of the devil in this area of my life; Instead of asking the question, why? Rather ask are we are men without hope? Never! Let us learn to shift gears and get excited by the trials of life, as we know that God the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, we must learn to use them correctly, it is the trial that will refine us into the image of Christ and nothing else will do. Trials through life are helps designed to help us walk by faith and to bring glory to God our Father, looking to our God for strength, to find grace and obtain mercy in time of need. They have a specific role.

I want us to break this down so we get a clear understand of what this will entail. Why is it we demand excellence from others and yet not from ourselves; why do we live in the fickle reality of accusing or excusing? My summation would be for this exact reason; we have not been schooled by the trial of life. It is the only teacher that will teach us to walk by faith. These are my thoughts as I often look to avoid the trials in my life, I do it by “goose stepping” the issues in my life and I know that I am not alone!

Let me find scripture to back this up as suppositions will simply not do!

We must however lay the correct foundation to our understanding, we have been bought with a price; “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1Corinthians 6:19-20): - Once something is bought, so long as it has been paid for in full, it no longer belongs to the seller, their rights are now no longer applicable as they once were. I sold my car awhile back, it once belonged to me but now that I have sold it, as much as I may want it back, it no longer belongs to me and if the new owner looks to paint it with pink dots, what is that to me. I agreed on a price and the trade was finalised.

It is no different for the Christian. How so? We had a debt that we could not pay; sin had kept us from God and for those who may still be trying to understand what this actually means. I will ask you but one question; can light and darkness co-exist? If you enter a room at night and it is pitch black once the light switch is flipped what happens to the darkness? It dissipates! Sin and righteousness cannot co-exist, that is why there will be two final destinations for all, heaven or hell! There will be no wolves living in the sheep’s pen. 

We as sinful creators by nature are never taught to sin as that comes naturally. No one teachers a child to liar but put them in a tricky situation and they will lie. And so our lives riddled with a vortex of sin and debtors to its leader Satan and his followers. However, only up until the time the price for sin was paid for in full, I am no longer subject to my previous owner's demands, praise the name of Jesus!

He died on a cruel Roman cross for the sins of mankind; He bought back the keys for repentant sinners to once again enter into a relationship with God. For those of us who have now been bought by His blood it is easy to understand this; “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price”, or at least should be! My right to my body just like the privileges to my previously owned car no longer belongs to me. A price had been paid, in fact it was the ultimate price as God’s only begotten Son came to die and pay a price for my sins so that I could go free.

With that hopefully understood, let us now look at the trial of life and their purpose in our lives. The Apostle Peter gives us much insight on this topic, let us therefore glean from some verses of his epistles to help us put on the mind of Christ.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, (remember that we no longer have rights we have been bought with a price and we now belong to God to do what He so chooses) than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” (1Peter 3:12-18)

Having said that I will bring to our attention that we are now not just slaves but sons, and our Father knows what we need to put on the mind of Christ, what we need to go through and endure to help us become more like His Son, our Saviour! The mind-set that I must always be blessed with material goodies is far from the truth. There will be times when I will have in abundance but there must also be spurts of lack. Was this not Paul’s conclusion?” Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (Philippians 4:11-12): - Have we learnt, or are we still in the starting blocks after a numerous number of false starts? 

May God give us ears to hear and eyes to see the importance of the trials in our lives and how they are there to hone us into the image of Christ, to Him alone be glory now and forever more, Amen!

Our lives may be full of many mistakes but God never makes a blunder!

Signing off

Tyrone

Grow up into him in all things!

(Ephesians 4:15) “Grow up into him in all things.”

Did you know that according to the Apostle Paul love never fails? Love never ends [fails (the Greek word “epipto” which means to drop away; specifically to be driven out of one’s course; figuratively to lose, become inefficient)]. (1Corinthians 13:8)  Now we know the love of man often fails, or we would not see so many divorces throughout the world. After all isn’t the reason we get married, because we love someone and they love us back…

On the evidence of this graph, I was about to pen that times had changed and this lure was a lot worse than periods past. But if I was to reason like that my head would be in the clouds and full of pigmented imagination. Sexual immorality has always played its part throughout time. Even Sodom and Gomorrah was a city that God destroyed through judgment because of their wickedness and it was a result of their warped lust. We also see in the time of the Corinthian Church that the Greek culture was full of love feasts. Sexual orgies part of their culture! Let me spend some time on misguided lust as it has had its part to play in my life, why else would I be HIV Positive; we also know that God has so designed us that we are attracted by nature to the opposite sex. A man is attracted to a woman and for this reason; “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) 

It therefore is good for a woman to leave her father and then to be cleaved to a man as they two become one flesh. Marriage has been God’s design from the beginning. This is no longer the normal way of thinking amongst the masses, but I wonder how many apparent Christians understand this principle. “The two shall become one flesh”! Satan no doubt understands the significance of this truth as we can witness throughout scripture how he has lured those into fornication through adultery and fornication and it is still rife amongst us today.

Technology has not helped as we all have access to the lures of this lust through this medium. I know as it has ensnared me over time and I know I do not stand alone. Nevertheless this is what the scripture has to say about this very serious topic; “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh."” (1Corinthians 6:15-16): - We also know; “The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, 'No eye will see me'; and he veils his face.” (Job 24:15); - We think we will get away with secret sins, but God sees all! I suppose it is one thing to actually fall in a sexual act with someone other they ones wife, but even if we look upon a woman with intent we have committed adultery. This is what the Lord Jesus taught and with it comes a stern warning!

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:27-29)

Let me then be clear, I have fallen many times in this area of my life, both in actuality as well as with lustful intent. Nevertheless we can never try justifying our actions as acceptable, we must repent and seek the throne room of grace to overcome if we have been and are still being lured by this trap. May God give us strength to fight this on-going battle so many face. Nothing is and will ever be hidden from our great God, Jehovah God. Our great King, the Lord Jesus Christ has paid the ultimate price for our sins and we now need to look to Him to put off all that hinders.

Some have overcome and we praise God for them, we know that the Apostle Paul was clear in this matter; “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!” (1Corinthians 6:15)

Having now established where we should be and the mind of Christ on this matter I come back to my opening statement, “Love never ends (fails)”. God is love and He is perfect and someone who is perfect can never make a mistake. We may make many mistakes throughout our lifetime, but not God.

So if you now have His Spirit, you are known by Him and you are His Son then heed the warnings look to Him to overcome whatever your struggle may be, I have but highlighted just one facet of life and there are many we could discuss but know this God will never fail. Let me leave you with these very encouraging words from a dedicated brother of the Christian cause…

“Grow up into him in all things.”

- Eph_4:15

Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed in spiritual things, so as to present the same appearance year after year. No up-springing of advanced and refined feeling is manifest in them. They exist but do not “grow up into him in all things.” But should we rest content with being in the “green blade,” when we might advance to “the ear,” and eventually ripen into the “full corn in the ear?” Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, “I am safe,” without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fulness which is to be found in him. It should not be so; we should, as good traders in heaven’s market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very well to keep other men’s vineyards, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening. Why should it always be winter time in our hearts? We must have our seed time, it is true, but O for a spring time-yea, a summer season, which shall give promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus-in his presence-ripened by the sunshine of his smiles. We must hold sweet communion with him. We must leave the distant view of his face and come near, as John did, and pillow our head on his breast; then shall we find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope-yea, in every precious gift. As the sun rises first on mountain-tops and gilds them with his light, and presents one of the most charming sights to the eye of the traveller; so is it one of the most delightful contemplations in the world to mark the glow of the Spirit’s light on the head of some saint, who has risen up in spiritual stature, like Saul, above his fellows, till, like a mighty Alp, snow-capped, he reflects first among the chosen, the beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and bears the sheen of his effulgence high aloft for all to see, and seeing it, to glorify his Father which is in heaven. (C.H.Spurgeon)

Therefore; “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5: 29)

My prayer Father God is that you would help all of us deal with the tares of life, glorifying your name.

Signing off

Tyrone

    

 

He remains faithful!

(2Timothy 2:13)  “If we are faithless, he remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself.”

It was a rough night last night, I bit my tongue, slapped myself in the face walking up and my leg throbbed. Yet even through that is seemingly a bit of useless information, I am excited on the condition of how my mind reasons. Even with these distractions my mind ticked over looking for biblical truths to help equip me to find obedience to God, my Heavenly Father.

I may hear or see something and my mind looks to examine it against the Word of God; it seems to be instinctive, and this excites me as it was not always like that of late. It was however stronger when I was a babe in Christ; soon after salvation so much around me had a bad stench to it. I noticed it mostly through Hollywood in the way they manipulate our reasoning though blockbusters with their under toned messages; keeping people's eyes off Christ and getting people to believe a liar. It is a conditioning tool that has its part to play in Satan’s economy. Without wanting to overplay their role, I suppose everything in life that does not lead us to Christ and His conditioning will leave us bare and expose to so many different lures and we know that once sin is conceived it brings forth death.

Therefore we must be on guard against those initial thoughts that look to trap us. It is like cheese in a mouse trap. Before long if we continue to let certain patterns in our lives dominate, it is our conscience that ends up seared; I do not speak about other people’s ethics or how they see you and look to place you under bondage about a liberty you may or may not have in Christ; “…For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?” (1Corinthians 10:29)   

But I speak of something that we in ourselves have always once believed to be wrong and unacceptable but now accept it as the norm. This is where the individual’s conscience has been seared. I know as it has happened to me. But unless we seek God’s face and His graces how will that ever change?

This then is the thought that excites me this morning; God is love, His word is true and He looks out for His children but if we remain faithless He cannot deny Himself.

When the Word of God then teaches us; “Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me."” (Romans 10:20): - However, now that we have been found and have His Spirit we have sons privileges. And so when the Lord Jesus makes a statement like this it should bring with it great excitement; “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"” (Luke 11:9-13)

Although this portion of scripture makes specific reference to the Holy Spirit it is the mind-set of the individual I wish to highlight. Do we ask truly believing that God hears our prayers and more than that gives us what has been requested? Do we really believe that He has ears to hear? OF course He does! Even to reason like this is bordering on blasphemy, forgive me Father God! But I know my own heart in this matter. Because some have perverted the application of this teaching by looking for goodies, prosperity and the like does not mean there is any less weight to it. Look at the man Elijah; “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” (James 5:17-18)   

If we therefore learn to put on the mind of Christ with our application in our prayer life imagine this glorious world as it unlocks to the realm of seeking, finding and receiving. Let us not make the same mistake so many make and have made; “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3)

If we therefore ask anything in accordance to the will of God we better believe we will receive it, all we need resolve is seeking out the will of God for our lives. We must spend time studying the scripture and pay no attention to the luring voice that lurks in the dark alleys alongside the Celestial road.

This is a walk of faith!

Signing off

Tyrone    

The importance of prayer!

(1Peter 3:12) “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.”

I wonder sometimes how the coincidences in life have their part to play in our lives, is this what we believe and do we think that at times that some events were just a coincident? I do not believe in chance as everything has been mapped out, in details beyond our own comprehension and yet we are totally responsible for everything we do.

The reason I mention this train of thought is I got an email from a friend and brother on prayer and its importance for our ongoing sanctification and then this morning I decided to let another speak through my blog; I went to Charles Spurgeon’s daily devotion and this is what he has to say…

“Thy paths drop fatness.”

- Psa_65:11

Many are “the paths of the Lord” which “drop fatness,” but an especial one is the path of prayer. No believer, who is much in the closet, will have need to cry, “My leanness, my leanness; woe unto me.” Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy- seat, and become like the parched fields in times of drought. Prevalence with God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong-if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of the heavenly grace. Much alone, and you will have much assurance; little alone with Jesus, your religion will be shallow, polluted with many doubts and fears, and not sparkling with the joy of the Lord. Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is open to the very weakest saint; since no high attainments are required; since you are not bidden to come because you are an advanced saint, but freely invited if you be a saint at all; see to it, dear reader, that you are often in the way of private devotion. Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew the rain upon famished Israel’s fields.

There is another especial path dropping with fatness to those who walk therein, it is the secret walk of communion. Oh! the delights of fellowship with Jesus! Earth hath no words which can set forth the holy calm of a soul leaning on Jesus’ bosom. Few Christians understand it, they live in the lowlands and seldom climb to the top of Nebo: they live in the outer court, they enter not the holy place, they take not up the privilege of priesthood. At a distance they see the sacrifice, but they sit not down with the priest to eat thereof, and to enjoy the fat of the burnt offering. But, reader, sit thou ever under the shadow of Jesus; come up to that palm tree, and take hold of the branches thereof; let thy beloved be unto thee as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, and thou shalt be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. O Jesus, visit us with thy salvation! (C.H.Spurgeon)

This then a typical example of the how God the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, as He will always lead us to Jesus and no one else. Yet we get confirmation from different sources pointing us in a certain direction and it would be good to pay attention to it, when confirmed by the Word of God.

But I would also remind us that the devil also understands this and will use lures getting us to believe what we think is the voice of God but in fact is not! Always consider the fruit from our actions, are the fruits of the spirit clearly evident; less of self and more of Christ, then we are confident that we walk the right road, but as soon as it become more of self and less of Christ, it then becomes a path we have chosen to detour through, and who knows what is out there waiting to meet us? God Knows!

If it is a sign you are after, this is all I have to say about it; ““An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." So he left them and departed.” (Matthew 16:4): - What then was the sign of Jonah? He was in the belly of a whale for three day and then spat out on a beach where he then preached to a city that repented and found life. It speaks about Christ’s resurrection; if we have been born again and we understand that God raised Him from the dead that then is the sign, no other sign is needed. If it is any other signs you choose, beware!

But where we are led to certain truths in scripture that pertains to keeping us focused on Christ, do not take it lightly, it is a means to get us to sit up and pay attention and if we heed what we see in the scriptures it will nourish our souls.

Let me now role-play this morning prior to this post; I opened an email and I quote, “Please read this. I have battled with prayer my whole Christian life and I believe it is a type of missing link in my sanctification.” Now my mind could settle with this thought, fair enough that is where my brother is and it is where he lacks in his sanctification process and leave it at that or I could look at my own life in that regard. However when I am looking for a thought to spark my daily blog, I was immediately led to Spurgeon’s daily devotion, and I do not always start there. If and when it tackles the exact same topic, I better take note, if not I will then suffer loss.

This is the voice (sign) we should be on the lookout for and not the heretical Prosperity Gospel and the like. These are the signs that will feed our souls with fatness. The small still voice of God by means of the Holy Spirit, who leads us and guides us to Christ and not some figment of our imaginations. It is amazing how so many years ago I was exposed to that demonic teaching of the “signs of angels”, if one saw a feather and it was white something good would happen but if it was black, one should be on the lookout for trouble on the horizon. Although I have settled on this as a trap and not a help as the Word of God gives us no teaching on feathers and it is only the Word of God that we must and can use as a point of reference for all truth. It nevertheless still plagues my mind and when I see a feather I have to resist where it looks to take my thoughts. Ridiculous I know, nevertheless part of what I personally need to combat. Some bad choice so many years ago still trying to latch on. Now I am sure there are many areas in your life where you will see a similar pattern, and if not then praise God!

My prayer life needs strengthening, that then is what has been said today, and will I have ears to here?

Signing off

Tyrone

Preaching the Gospel!

(Mark 16:15) “And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Many things in our lives have very little to do with us per say; it may involve us but be totally out of our hands. The air we breathe, the healing and aging process etc. I am aware that my body is designed in such a way that it is able to heal, God has ingeniously put together all their working parts. Although my knee is now painful after my operation, it must feel pain before the repairs is completed and functioning as it once did. There is a great principle we are taught from this type of example; it is pain that helps to teach us to look forward to our hope. The trials of life are painful at times! Now would this have been necessary if Eve had not eaten of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, if sin had no bearing on our lives? There is no point in debating what could have been, let’s stick to the facts of life. Imagine how many people will be reasoning like that throughout eternity; if only I had taken Christ sacrifice seriously, if only I paid attention to what he or she had to say about Him.

So as long as I shall animate, God gives me oxygen to breathe in order to live, there is no need on my part to make an effort to find air to breathe, it is a gift from God and all receive this gift, both those who believe and those who curse God. A person gets injured and the body goes to work and through a process and time it heals itself, were possible; actually amazing when we stop to consider the brilliance of creation, the focal point of God’s creation, mankind.   

The ongoing debate between the Calvinist and the Arminian; although this had its place in my life and in fact actually got me clutching for air as I had to deal with an actualization of being wrong once and now having to readdress my understanding on certain truths according to scripture. Nevertheless, there is no doubt about the brilliance of God’s Sovereignty and how amazing His mind is, Einstein’s mind insignificant in comparison. To be able to unroll a plan from before the foundations of creation, before time began and to cross every “t” and dot every “i” is no mean feat, it is incomprehensible to the human mind and this is why I believe so many Christians struggle with this truth; the “Book of Life”, when was it penned? Forget suppositions, what does the scripture teach? “And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” (Revelation 13:8)

This then give us inkling into the brilliance of this awesome God we serve and what He is capable of. God’s sovereignty (supreme authority over creation) at play! Nothing or no one will be able to alter His plan, Satan will continue to try but will ultimately fail. This truth must resonate with us in order to get a grip on so many perspectives through life. Having said that we have been given the ability by God to make choices; “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."” (Joshua 24:15): - Although Joshua’s name had been written in the book of life before the foundation of the world, he still needed to make a choice. The thought that the Hyper-Calvinist likes to live out his life and because it has already been pre-ordained that he no longer is responsible, is ridiculous!

It is this type of mind-set that confuses the carnal mind and we know; “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

We must now begin to put on the mind of Christ, we must begin to walk by faith and we must trust God and His Word. Some points in scripture are so far reaching that if we get caught up in trying to rationalise them, before long we are spinning out of control.

We must settle on this mind-set; we have been given a choice and if we choose unwisely there will be consequences to our actions. Here is a prodigious example; “The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." (Matthew 26:24): - And yet, David penned this event would happen many years prior to the event; "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." (Act 1:16-17) 

However the focus of daily living must shift onto the individual, it is up to us to independently make daily choices; Get them wrong and we will pay the ultimate price, hell will be our final destination.

My conclusion then, some things in life are beyond our control, like the air we breathe! But whether or not we turn to Jesus Christ the Lord finding forgiveness for our sin must be left up to the individual. It is our responsibility even though God has pre-ordained the outcome from before the foundations of the World. The scripture is clear on this! Here are some verses to back up my point and it is our responsibility as workers together in the gospel to present these options to the world…

“For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."” (Romans 10:13)

“And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15): - it is not up to the individual to decide who will and won’t be saved or whose name has been written in the Book of Life from before the foundation of the world, that is God’s domain and it must remain with Him.

Let us therefore be faithful in proclaiming the gospel to all of creation and to then sit back and watch God work according to His good pleasure. Praise the name of Jesus for what He achieved on the behalf of repentant sinners.

Signing off

Tyrone