Grace our teacher...

If we are saved by grace, not of works, as it is a gift of God… which we are! It still remains that we must learn through faith to seek out grace.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8) – How then does grace work in our lives to get us to heaven? Life then must be full of varying trials to teach us our dependence upon the mercies of God. Life cannot be a cruise, it must be filled with hardship, how else would we ever come to appreciate this wonderful gift of salvation?

Let us go back many years, many epochs ago God chose a man by the name of Moses to save the Israelites from slavery out of Egypt. They were engulfed in great hardship! But before he used Moses to free them, even move hardships were placed upon them to help them realise their desperate state, just in case they never understood the severity of their plight. He used great signs and wonders to show them who He was and He uses similar rescue tactics with us. Not great signs and wonders like times of old, but that small still voice that rescues us out of our difficulty. Through prayer and our personal experience of Him coming to our aid is what it is all about.

I have come to understand this in a new light of late, how would I come to appreciate this truth if it wasn’t for various hardships in my life. It is only through my desperate state when I am forced to cry out unto Him that I realise I am unable in my own capability to rescue myself, that the magnitude of the grace of God will dawn upon me, as He comes to my aid. It is the same for one and all. The greater the responsibility in God’s kingdom, the greater the trial!

Let me explain…

It is only when I am desperate that I will realise how valuable the grace of God actually is. If life is a “bed of roses” and plain sailing how will I ever appreciate what I have been saved from?

Read through the accounts of Exodus and it will become evident what God’s intention was and now still remains. He hasn’t changed His approach, the same lessons that applied back then apply to us today. It is an example of how we should walk today, not to always ungratefully complain about out predicament but rather to be thankful for what we have in Christ. There is a promise just on the horizon, where we will enter into His rest, but until then we must seek out His graces to get us there. It is these trials that show us our faith, what it is made of!

“Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.”

- Job_10:2

Perhaps, O tried soul, the Lord is doing this to develop thy graces. There are some of thy graces which would never be discovered if it were not for thy trials. Dost thou not know that thy faith never looks so grand in summer weather as it does in winter? Love is too often like a glow-worm, showing but little light except it be in the midst of surrounding darkness. Hope itself is like a star-not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. Afflictions are often the black foils in which God doth set the jewels of his children’s graces, to make them shine the better. It was but a little while ago that on thy knees thou wast saying, “Lord, I fear I have no faith: let me know that I have faith.” Was not this really, though perhaps unconsciously, praying for trials?-for how canst thou know that thou hast faith until thy faith is exercised? Depend upon it, God often sends us trials that our graces may be discovered, and that we may be certified of their existence. Besides, it is not merely discovery, real growth in grace is the result of sanctified trials. God often takes away our comforts and our privileges in order to make us better Christians. He trains his soldiers, not in tents of ease and luxury, but by turning them out and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long mile with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. Well, Christian, may not this account for the troubles through which thou art passing? Is not the Lord bringing out your graces, and making them grow? Is not this the reason why he is contending with you? (Charles Spurgeon)

“Trials make the promise sweet;

Trials give new life to prayer;

Trials bring me to his feet,

Lay me low, and keep me there.”

Signing off

Tyrone

God or Money

(Matthew 6:24) “…You cannot serve God and money”

There has be much to do about the Christian and money; the prosperity preacher hones in on money as a form of blessing, whilst other shy away from it completely.

When we chase money, no matter who that person may be, their focus will be engulfed with reaching that goal, to have lots of it! Whether one has a little or abundance, this in no way proves a person’s status before God! King Solomon was arrayed like no other; he was very wealthy and gold surrounded him and this is what he had to say about that; “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

That man who insists that we need to be rich to be happy is a liar and he does the work of the devil. If you find yourself cashing money as I once did. It is no more than a red herring that will never bring satisfaction. In fact, anything that we place before obedience to our God is no more than a snare waiting to be triggered.

I mention a story that my brother Michael told me many years ago that has been engraved into my mind; it goes something like this; in his early Christian life he recalled walking into a poor man’s house, it was dimly lit and in the centre of the room a candle glowed on a humble table with an open book on it, it was a very unassuming abode, although base, this habitat with its simple furniture is not what caught his eye, it was neither the  glow from the candle but the radiance that shone from the man’s face. “Get to know this book” he said pointing to the Bible. I have heard many a fool say I do not believe the bible it is full of contradictions. But I often wonder if they have even held it in their hands let alone read the first chapter of Genesis. True peace and happiness comes from our relationship with the King of kings and the Lord of lords, get to know Him, get to know his Father and it will most certainly go well with our souls. Now whether a person has an abundance of money or apparently a lack thereof, that is not why we are told to avoid chasing it. The lesson is simple; if we chase money, all it proves is that we are more interested in this life than the life to come.

This then is the warning; no one can serve two masters, God and money. For if we serve money we will have our eyes fixed on this life, we will be chasing a temporal existence. It will past away! Whilst on the other hand if we can settle with what we have and be thankful for our daily provision which God shall supply we will then be able without distraction to focus on Him, storing up treasure in heaven, which will be our eternal abode.

Let us not be duped into believing the lies that so many false teachers like to proclaim. Don’t you know that your Father knows what you need before you even ask Him?

We must learn to simplify our daily walk along with our priorities; it is one day at a time that is all God our Father requires from us. It is a walk of faith! But not faith in uncertain riches, but faith in the great I AM! Does He not feed the birds of the field, how much more then will He not feed us!

Money or the lack thereof can fill our eyes with a hazy dearth to these truths; this is why we are taught by the Lord Jesus not to worry about tomorrow but rather to focus on today. Why? So that we can learn to put our trust in Him and not to hedge our bets just in case He doesn’t come through for us. He always will, because He cares for all those that belong to Him!

 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34)

Signing off

Tyrone   

God shall supply all our need...

(Hebrews 5:8) “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”

Our heavenly Father is without question the greatest of all teachers’; to even consider that the Lord Jesus (God in the flesh) was required to face exactly the same process every Christian here on earth faces, is almost beyond our comprehension and yet without sin, is a phenomenal thought.  We know that He learnt obedience through the things He suffered whilst here on earth; “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,” (Hebrews 5:8-9)

Why did He have to suffer? We find the answer in the text; “he learned obedience through what he suffered.” It is not different for each and every one of His believers, every child of God will face the same process, the only way we will also learn obedience is through our own suffering. The sooner we accept this truth the sooner we will be free of anxiety and learn to walk by faith and be settled in our understanding when we face our daily trials.

Thankfully this will only be for a season…

Let’s face it, suffering isn’t pleasant, but without question needful; it teachers us to rely on Him and not our own self-worth, which is rather pathetic anyway. O to rest in the finished work of Calvary as it gives us such peace. He has accomplished what God the Father required from Him, O what a Saviour we serve!

With that now understood, let us also learn this valuable lesson; “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:31-34)

“And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.”

- 2Ki_25:30

“Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king’s palace with a store to last him for months, but his provision was given him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord’s people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow’s supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet; if we have enough for each day as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day’s supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveller, but a bundle of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast, but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy. This is all that we should expect; a craving for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we should be content with his daily allowance. Jehoiachin’s case is ours, we have a sure portion, a portion given us of the king, a gracious portion, and a perpetual portion. Here is surely ground for thankfulness.

Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Thank you Father God for my daily supply I am truly grateful, continue mercifully to teach all you children to obey your wants; to God who is forever wise be glory for now and evermore…

Signing off

Tyrone

Hope fuels our faith...

(1 Corinthians 15:54) "…Death is swallowed up in victory…"

From the rising of the sun to the setting of the same we are constantly challenged, pressure on every side. But God in his infinite wisdom uses examples that teach us why there is such need in our lives. Direct one’s eyes at the beauty of the diamond; Carbon dioxide combined with extreme heat deep below the earth’s surface, under extreme pressure and voila! The result, precious gemstones sought out by one and all.

When do we find an urgency to fall on our knees and cry out to our God for help? Only when the pressure is on, is there real need for prayer. But it is this refining process that teaches us the value of walking by faith. Let us not shy from it, but rather find grace to embrace it, as it will teach us to become more dependent upon our God.

How often does the brightness of our righteousness flicker in winds of the trials of life? Far too often I would suggest! If only the penny would drop as we begin to understand the need for these times in our lives, for then it would be well with our souls.

Teach us O Lord to be thankful for what we have and not always striving for what we think we need. With food and raiment let us therefore be content, our God shall supply all we need. Beloved we are now the sons of God and it has not yet appeared what we shall be and that is just over the horizon. This we know for a certainty; that when we see Him, we shall be like Him and what a day that shall be. Even so come quickly Lord Jesus as we eagerly await your return!

A day is coming where the Holy Spirit will refine our minds and God’s divine power will change these corruptible bodies into eternal incorruptible glorious bodies just like that of our Saviour’s; a day where death will be swallowed up by victory! How I long for that day!

It is this hope that fuels our faith, therefore embrace you King as it will be worth it all…

Signing off

Tyrone

Temptation...

As my mind wonders amid my thoughts, governance resonates with this awareness; I have often heard it said that because God is not evil He cannot be evil, which is obviously true. “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” (James 1:13) – If that be true, which it obviously is, why then are we taught by the Lord Jesus to pray, “Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil (the evil one).”

Some of you may remember the account of Job; if not, here it is; “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"” (Job 1:6-8) as this account further unfolds, although instrumentally it is Satan who brings evil upon Job, we can very clearly see that it is God who allows the calamity (evil) to fall on Job, “Have you considered my servant Job”!

Although the Apostle James teaches us that when we fall into sin, that it is because of our own wicked hearts that we hacker after so much of what God hates, yes hates! And sadly we are often lead astray by our own lust. It is one thing to have a thought but another when it becomes an intention. There is without doubt an aspect of God’s sovereign will which allows us to be tested in certain areas of our lives. Why? So that we may see where our treasure lies! For if we love God, like every Christian would be quick to confess, the apostle John teaches us this truth; “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.” (1John 5:2)

The Apostle Paul on the other hand is quick to help us understand the severity the Christian faces on a daily basis, the coalface of our walk looks something like this; “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)   

With all this to consider where does that leave us? There is a testing that God require from every believer, sanctification must be tried and tested on a daily basis, we must get to a stage in our lives whereby we begin to have victory over the areas we once where enslaved to. That does not mean we should cavalier into areas that could easily trip us up, but rather pray, “Father lead us not into temptation”, however when we are tempted we have an obligation to seek out God’s grace to overcome the trail and in so doing we will come out on the other side more refined. This is the walk we have been called to! Has God every said to Satan have you considered my servant Tyrone? I somewhat doubt it, nevertheless I have an obligation by his grace to shoot for the mark. It is our duty as Christians to live a life that brings honour to God. The Lord Jesus has left us with his perfect example to follow.

May we be quick to seek His face as we less frequently buckle under the weight of our own sin! May God help us all; remembering that it is not by our own strength that we will overcome the evil one, but rather by the finished work of Calvary! We must call on Jesus to find the grace to overcome, but overcome we must!

Signing off

Tyrone

  

Irony!

(2Corinthians 12: 10) “…For when I am weak, then I am strong”

Irony… what is irony? It means “a form of humour in which you use words to express the opposite of what the words really mean”.

Paul the Apostle liked the use of irony to help us understand certain truths about the walk of the Christian; how so? He came to a place in his life whereby he uses his own experience to teach others. We see Paul struggling with an infirmity (ailment), what that was I cannot with any certainty say, God Knows! Nevertheless, whatever that disability was, it caused him to earnestly seek out God’s face asking Him to remove it; God didn't! What can we conclude from this? God’s grace will always be sufficient for the believer!

Here is Paul’s experience…   

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2Corinthians 12:7-10)

So, instead of wrestling with God about a particular issue, rather find rest in your current predicament, making this truth your very own; “for when I am weak, then I am strong”.

With this principle rooted in Christ, who is the chief cornerstone to our foundation, let us help others just as He has helped us.

This morning is a daybreak full of sombreness as I consider my character and all my failures along this pilgrimage; although this at first glance would seem negative it carries with it great strength when applying the mind of Christ to the equation. A proverb I have come to love which has help me find repentance over differing sins throughout my lifetime is this; “for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” (Proverbs 24:16) – And yet I know that it has always been the grace of God who in His mercy has helped me see the wood from the trees. Through different aids and in different circumstances He has brought me to a place of repentance, praise his merciful name! Have I deserved his forgiveness on my own merit? Absolutely Not! And yet I have found His forgiveness, thank you Father God. Thank you Lord Jesus!

What then is the purpose regarding all the lessons I am learning here on earth? They must bring me to a place whereby my experience, although vastly different from Paul’s, as his life was above reproach in every area, whereby mine certainly hasn’t been. Nevertheless, by the grace of God, the dirt on my knees must once and for all be finally dusted as I leave certain past follies in my wake. This in turn will empower me to help other who struggle in similar areas. This goes for every one of us; our experience must be positively used to help others…

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1)

Here is what this means; “The apostle here lays down two precepts, with reasons to enforce them, showing the duty of the strong Christian to consider and condescend to the weakest.

I.            We must bear the infirmities of the weak, Rom_15:1. We all have our infirmities; but the weak are more subject to them than others - the weak in knowledge or grace, the bruised reed and the smoking flax. We must consider these; not trample upon them, but encourage them, and bear with their infirmities. If through weakness they judge and censure us, and speak evil of us, we must bear with them, pity them, and not have our affections alienated from them. Alas! it is their weakness, they cannot help it. Thus Christ bore with his weak disciples, and apologised for them. But there is more in it; we must also bear their infirmities by sympathizing with them, concerning ourselves for them, ministering strength to them, as there is occasion. This is bearing one another's burdens.” (Matthew Henry)

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:21-25)  

Signing off

Tyrone