He cares for you!

(1Peter 5:7) “…because he cares for you.”

It is the greatest of privileges to be called the sons of God and as children to be able to “call out” to so such a wonderful God and Father, the only true God! Our God, our Father! Let that thought resonate deep within our souls, pause-- and let us ponder that consideration and all its ramifications. -- Are there any ramifications? Absolutely not!

For every born again believer who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and believes that God raised Him from the dead, are afforded the privilege of this wonderful access and it is no different to any other true Father son relationship. It is a marvelous privilege to be able to cry out “ABBA FATHER”.

How thankful I am for Christ’s selfless sacrifice. We are entitled to fall to our knees and cry to the only true God in and through the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. And no matter how pre-occupied this great God is in ruling the universe while ensuring His plan remains on course, He will give an ear and intently listen to our cry, without any miscarry! And all because His great Son has made a way for us, praise His name!

So when we are down cast and feeling low, remember this truth; it is not might nor by power, that enables us to come, but it is only because of the spilt blood of the Lamb that when we cry out to Him our voice is heard, lets us the come to Him in the name of Jesus. No longer will the mountain shake as it once did. But our great King has died once and for all; “Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:25-26) - No other sacrifice will ever be needed. Did you hear me? No other sacrifice will ever be needed as Christ has paved the way!

Let no one lie to you, now as children you have Father-son freedoms. For four thousand years no man could ever approach the Father without being veiled, but now we have direct access to the Father through the Son. Why and how does this work? The why part is obvious; the Lord Jesus died on our behalf for our sin and we now have His Spirit, we now have access into the spiritual realm. And how it works is just as glorious: “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27) 

It is the Lord Jesus who now reveals the Father to us as we rely on His finished work. How I love my Jesus so and all because He first loved me! How fortunate we all are who now have eyes to see. The grace of God and their mercies never end, for this I will be forever thankful.

Our heavenly Father takes His role seriously; He is not like so many human dads, who put their lives before their children’s. NO! He is the greatest of all Fathers and He has a deep concerning care for us; when we cry out to Him, He is touched with our infirmities and all because of our great Saviour experience here on earth: - “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16) 

The Lord Jesus now intercedes on our behalf and we are heard. And now not only when we walk obediently does this rule apply, for if we disobey, our Fathers love is so great that He take time out from His busy schedule to discipline all whom He loves: - “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? (Hebrews 12:6-7)

We must and will learn to obey! I pray Father God please help us to have ears to hear what the Holy Spirit now teaches us. Who else has these rights and treats but the children of God! Think of who we once belonged too, was not the devil our father, he was until we were shown our need for a Saviour in and through our sin.

The Muslims call on a prophet Mohammed, the Hindu’s rely on Buddha, the Egyptians relied on the sky, sun, moon, plant, sex and plant gods and they were no match for Moses and Aaron. And then Elijah faced-off against 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah and they too were no match for our great God, in fact Elijah was bold and mocked there gods, he knew in whom he believed! We serve the only true and living God, and it is the Lord Jesus Christ who has opened the way for all who believe on Him.

There is no equal to our God and heavenly Father. But above all things our Father cares for us, so remember to call out to HIM!

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1Peter 5:6-7)   

Thank you Peter for these true and very encouraging words.

Signing off

Tyrone

         

A light Burden!

(Matthew 11:30) “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Our Christian walks leaves us in one of two three camps on a daily basis; firstly it could be filled with disappointment and failure as we find ourselves surrounded by “worldly sorrow” (on the surface it may look like repentance but is actually self-pity); secondly we could have a spring in or step and a psalm on our heart, even as we realize that in ourselves it is impossible to walk as Christ walked when He was here on earth. Grace becomes a reality and we begin to embrace the goodness of God in our lives and find ourselves thankful as we walk in His victory; in other words we look to our Saviour’s finished work and His Spirit that now lives in us which in turn enables us get through the day.  There is once again no real in-between, or is there? If I feel indifferent (believe in Christ’s dead burial and resurrection but the life I live has very little evidence to His resurrection); then I suppose, on the basis of what the scripture teachers I would be worse off. -- How so? “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)

When we consider this verse; -- “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30), it gives us an inkling to what the Lord teachers us and hopefully we will grasp the lesson. I suggest we will eventually all arrive at a true understanding to this lesson, so long as He (the good Shepherd) is leading us we will ultimately learn, I am convinced of it. Why? Well there can never be any greater teacher, than the Lord Jesus and if He has saved you, He will finish the work. Some are slower than others (I included), but He is far greater than my or any other opposition that He may encounter along the way. Best you believe this! “And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” (Romans 4:5)

And just as my friend and brother Malcolm took a while to arrive at this conclusion, I too confer and I quote, “it’s taken a while, but I am now fully persuaded that living the Christian life is not humanly possible.” I think I know what he is saying, but I know what this means to me. We will hopefully get him to give us some input in the comments column.

For many years I and many other Christians have struggle with the carnal man and the spiritual man as seen in Romans chapter 7 and 8. But when the goodness of God the Holy Spirit turns on the light switch to this teaching and we get our suppositions out the way and we stick to what the texts is teaching us then the Christian walk becomes manageable. Let me explain; it is impossible for a man or woman to walk as Christ walked in the flesh both before and after salvation. We have inherited an enemy that lives and feeds off us, it is sin! When God created the man and the woman, he gave them trees in the garden to eat from, there was a “tree of live” and there was a tree of the “knowledge of good and evil” which was forbidden. Now when Eve ate form the tree of the “knowledge of good and evil” what we tend to overlook is that although sin found life in man it brought with it knowledge, not only of that which was evil but also that which is good. Now we know that God’s law is good, we know it is wrong to steal and as a young child when we lied to our parents no one needed to tell us we were wrong, we understood it from our conscience that we had just done was wrong. Here we have proof that our consciousness is alive to both good and evil. Now once they had eaten from that tree God acted quickly as He placed a cherub and a flaming sword in the garden to protect and stop them from eating from the “tree of life”. Why? Sin was now alive and before sin had been dealt with, life for mankind was no longer an option, death now lived!

It is only through what our Lord and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ achieved on Calvary that now removed the flaming sword and the cherubim from the tree of life. How was this achieved? Christ relinquished His authority and left the portals of heaven under the wish of His Father (God) and God the Spirit impregnated a virgin woman (Mary) with God’s seed and a child was born in a manger in Bethlehem. He grew up like any other child, he was subject to his parent’s authority, he went through puberty etc. Throughout the duration of his life He never once broke one of God’s commands, He lived a sinless life and therefore was now worthy to be sacrificed and conquer sin. It only ever needed to happen once. This is why when He died that cruel Roman death and was crucified for our sin and when God raised Him from the dead on the third day, that once again the “tree of life” was available for us to eat from, praise His glorious name!

This is why no man can come unto the Father but by the Son, Jesus Christ is the “tree of life”.

Now with that established the Apostle Paul’s lesson to us in Romans chapter 7 and 8 is simple. No other man but Christ could open the way for mankind to partake of the tree of life. If we find repentance in and through Him we in turn receive His Spirit, we are born again. A new beginning, we have now partaken of the tree of life and Christ has free us from our old bondage, sin! However as men we still have this knowledge of good and evil alive in us. We know to do well but we often fail. Why? - “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)

Even as Christians we still struggle with this on-going battle against sin but when we come to grips with this reality we find a freedom in depending upon His grace to get us through the day. Until then life is but a struggle.

We must forget to take on sin in the carnal man (naturally) as we will never win, it is impossible! This is why every minute of every day we must come with confidence to the throne room of grace to find assistance in and through the finished work of our risen Saviour to get us through the day. It is only when I relinquish relying on Him that I fail. This is a process and it will be an on-going (carrying something that is therefore readily accessible) saga.

When this becomes a reality then we too will echo these words; “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." – The Greek word for “easy” is Khrase-tos, is from the word employed, that is, (by implication) useful (in manner): - better, easy, good, gracious and kind. In other words Christ has made the way all we need to do is rest in Him and find grace to trust Him with our daily walk.

Signing off

Tyrone

     

            

A True Father!

(1John 3:1) “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God…”

Saturday was a day with most of my family as my nephew Wesley had just turned twenty-two. We do not have get-togethers as often as we should. It is good to be with family and who we see helps us to remember who to pray for. Times like these bring us back to a reality check of what is really important, the souls of our unrepentant family. The conversation is often around work and money and a lot of temporal trivia. But this verse should scream at us on days like these; “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36) 

It is clear from scripture that those of our family who do not bend the knee to Christ and repentant of their sin and believe in their hearts that God rose Him from the dead and begin to confess Him with their mouths to others that He is Lord, their Lord, they will not make it to heaven and hell will be their final destination.

There is a checklist against scripture we can use to verify whether someone is a true believer or not. To believe there is one God is not enough; “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!” (James 2:19)

Time for false love must end if that has been our portion, suppositions must end and they must end with us! God knows who are His!

By the grace of God while seated with some of the youngsters of the family and some of their girlfriends, I was given an opportunity to present the gospel when my youngest nephew Wesley aged fifteen asks me a very relevant question; “if you get drunk does that make you unborn again”? Now without trying to interfere with the question and over think it, which we have a tendency to often do, I turned it on him and asked him a question. I asked, “If you lie to your mother does that mean you are now not her son”?

“We can only ever be in two camps and these are the camps; “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9) – There is no rocket science needed to understand this truth. You either have been born again or you haven’t, there can never be an in-between. If you have His spirit living within you, this means the entire Godhead is living in you, you are a son!

If not then repentance is needed and if you call upon the name of the Lord He will not turn away from your request; “For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."” (Romans 10:13)

However, if we already belong to Him we belong to His household and if we get drunk or sin in any other area of our lives that does not make us any less children, all it shows us is that we are disobedient children. And the call for all of our lives is that we learn to become obedient children, this will be our on-going struggle for us as long as we have breath in this life. Now if we choose to ignore our sin and continue with a mind-set of lasciviousness (if we are blatantly lustful and unruly) God will not just throw us out as we disregard let’s say a friend when he betrays us. Our God is far greater than that! He is able to save from the uttermost to the uttermost. He will then discipline us as a father should discipline his child when he disobeys. Can I prove this thought from scripture or is it just a nice hopeful idea without any grounding? I can! – “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 12:6-8)

We are in one of two groups there is no in-between!

If we are not chastised for our unrepentant sin in our lives then we were never truly born again, and we should then worry, fall to our knees and ask God to save our souls. But when we are disciplined for our disobedience we then have an assurance that God is guiding us and that He will get us home, praise His name!

I am so thankful for all of God’s discipline throughout my life, yes I was once committed to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, Yes I did nearly die in a motor car accident when I was twenty-four, but God spared me and yes I am also HIV positive. But on reflection I would have it no other way; I am truly thankful that God never cast me to the wolves and left me to rot in some gutter, today is a day where I am able to praise His name and give Him all the glory, for He alone is worthy and He alone has the power in His hand to achieve such an amazing outcome. One day I will see Him face to face and then I will be able to thank Him in person, how I long for that day.

God will have His way as He teaches all His children to obey His voice, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone

The trickery of the devil!

(Genesis 3:1) "Did God actually say?”

It amazes me how the same questions and struggles we face as Christians today, is no different to what every Christian faced in time past. Throughout the ages our enemy has used the same deceitful tactics looking to lure us into disobedience before a Righteous and Holy God. And it is not always with the obvious, like blatant sin that we are trapped. His greatest weapon would be the distortion of scripture. How do we know this? We look to what has already been recorded; “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "did God actually say,’ You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" (Genesis 3:1-3) 

Here we see Satan posing a question and probing for weakness in Eve’s understanding on God’s Word, "Did God actually say?” Let us examine what has been recorded for us by Moses on God’s behalf on this exact question. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17)   

Note: Nothing was recorded in this portion of scripture about touching the tree; there is no mention of it. But Eve answers the serpent’s question and adds to God’s instruction; now whether Adam misrepresented the message to his wife or whether Eve chose not to listen intently to God’s instruction is not certain. However eve’s response added to what God had originally instructed; “neither shall you touch it”, was her response to the serpent. An immediate avenue for Satan now to exploit; Note: He immediately goes for the jugular; “But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4)

“That which the devil aimed at was to persuade Eve to cut forbidden fruit; and, to do this, he took the same method that he does still. He questioned whether it was a sin or no, Gen_3:1. He denied that there was any danger in it, Gen_3:4. He suggested much advantage by it, Gen_3:5. And these are his common topics. 1. He questioned whether it was a sin or no to eat of this tree, and whether really the fruit of it was forbidden. Observe, He, by aggravating the exception, endeavours to invalidate the concession: Hath God said, You shall not eat of every tree? The divine law cannot be reproached unless it be first misrepresented. [3.] He seems to speak it tauntingly, upbraiding the woman with her shyness of meddling with that tree; as if he had said, “You are so nice and cautious, and so very precise, because God has said, 'You shall not eat.” The devil, as he is a liar, so he is a scoffer, from the beginning: and the scoffers of the last days are his children. [4.] That which he aimed at in the first onset was to take off her sense of the obligation of the command. “Surely you are mistaken, it cannot be that God should tie you out from this tree; he would not do so unreasonable a thing.” See here, That it is the subtlety of Satan to blemish the reputation of the divine law as uncertain or unreasonable, and so to draw people to sin; and that it is therefore our wisdom to keep up a firm belief of, and a high respect for, the command of God. Has God said, “You shall not lie, nor take his name in vain, nor be drunk,” etc.? “Yes, I am sure he has, and it is well said, and by his grace I will abide by it, whatever the tempter suggests to the contrary.” It was contrary to the word of God, which we are sure is true. See 1Jo_2:21, 1Jo_2:27. It was such a lie as gave the lie to God himself. [2.] It was contrary to his own knowledge. When he told them there was no danger in disobedience and rebellion he said that which he knew, by woeful experience, to be false. He had broken the law of his creation, and had found, to his cost, that he could not prosper in it; and yet he tells our first parents they shall not die. He concealed his own misery, that he might draw them into the like: thus he still deceives sinners into their own ruin. He tells them that, though they sin, they shall not die; and gains credit rather than God, who tells them, The wages of sin is death. Note, Hope of impunity is a great support to all iniquity, and impenitency in it. I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, Deu_29:19.” (Matthew Henry)

We therefore must be diligent in what the Word of God instructs us to do; we must heed and obey its commands. If not, we will open ourselves up to the tempters lures of deception and deceit. We must examine what men teach! It will always be by grace through faith, but to be safe, we must follow the letter (Bible) God has left us as accurately as possible. If the Word teachers; “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) - This is exactly what will happen to those who do not find repentance in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, they will end up in the “lake of fire” no ifs and buts!

When men teach that there is no hell or propagate that God is love and because He is love He would never send someone to hell, it is a lie and that man or woman does the work of the devil. If you are part of such a church or organisation, flee from it. There are many other traps that seek the same objective, and sadly many snares are found amongst those who propagate that they are Christian.

God’s Word is the final authority and never the suppositions of men. My prayer would be that God would light such a fire within our souls that we would be diligent in seeking out His truth in and through our lives. May His name be praise now and forever more, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone  

   

  

   

And God Said!

(Genesis 1:31) “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”

The church and the way we should operate is what I am currently looking for answers too. My daily thoughts continuously develop around this topic. This morning it has dawned upon me that we are unique; we are rebellious by nature; I understand it is sin that has caused this type of behavior. Sin the root and father of so many evils!

Have you ever had a moment where something hits you between the eyes, a thought that should have always been there and was but only as a vague consideration? Then you have a break-through and what should have been obvious now becomes extremely apparent. Well this morning had such daybreak, and I feel rather… no! In fact I am not sure how I feel, all I can say is thank you Father for the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice; without His obedience I would be in very serious trouble, praise His name! Obedience is vital!

It’s ironical that I am the one now seeing this facet of Christianity so clearly, as my life has been so full of disobedience; historically I has been dull of hearing and full of rebellion to God’s instruction. Hence my comment about my great Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, without Him, His gentle forbearance and possibly above all else, His loving patience never outran its course in my life. For this I will be forever thankful. This is why the Apostle Paul makes statements like these; “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1Corinthians 2:2) – It must always be about Him and not our stupid man-centred ideas. How I am starting to hate, yes hate man’s interference with God’s design.

What then have I seen?

To see what I now see so clearly can only be the influence of God the Holy Spirit as He mercifully teachers me through revelation, as He wills, it is all of God! It is no great new revelation as there is nothing new under the sun. It is obvious to the eye when looked for, but I know that it is very seldom obeyed. How do I know that it is seldom obey, all you need do is look around and it will be obvious? Begin with our own hearts and then look at the hearts of others and it will be unmistakable. We all have a tendency to “do it our own way”; we always look for other possibilities to find the easy out! Which is a lie!

Let’s unpack some scripture; “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.” (Genesis 1:1-3)

And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." (Genesis 1:6)

And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. (Genesis 1:9)

God spoke and His voice was obeyed which left Him please, in fact well pleased! “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31)

Then man came along under the influence of Satan and sin was conceived, disobedience had now found life. Leaving God not pleased! Now men and women were awakened to freedom of choice. But if we ignore God’s voice we will never find His blessing, it is as simple as that. We must follow His model in and through the Bible to hear our God and Father say “I am well pleased.” Nothing else will do! The sooner we learn this lesson the better and it is no different to the model Paul has left us to follow as members in particular within a body of believers, the church.

Signing off

Tyrone

  

Consider the ant!

(Proverbs 6:6) “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

In yesterday’s post I received some positive remarks, a few resolute comments and others remained silent, no doubt digesting what was said. Even throughout life we are taught that a divided house will never stand. Unity must be unanimous if one is to have the best possible opportunity for success. The greatest of teachers is found in nature and we needn’t look much further than our feet; just look at the ant, they are so regimented and work with such purpose, unity the order of the day. Something so small and yet they achieve such amazing feats. Ants work in groups, and achieve their goal in unity Alas!  Most men lack this and fail; amazingly they do not have a leader. The ant never gives up; it is not in their character to succumb to defeat. Destroy their nest for whatever reason and they immediately attend to their new task at hand as they start to rebuild a new home. They do not stop to lick their wounds, but get on with the task at hand; “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8)     

What is interesting in the above verse is what I have highlighted. I see them teaching us the body principle, even God’s creation through nature speaks. Will we have ears to hear! What is the objective for a body of believers is it not “unity of the faith”. Yes it is! – “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)   

Why is this important? “So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:14-16)

This is why for this very reason we need to be part of a body of believers that have amongst them teachers that propagate sound doctrine, as they have been appointed by God to steer the ship, His ship! Get this wrong and the ship will soon go off course and its heading will no longer be heaven but some hidden reef seeking to destroy all those who venture into those treacherous waters. Having said that the teacher has as much need of the weaker vessels input; the bruised reeds if you like; for when they work together in unity they will “grow up in every way who is the head, into Christ”! This is not up for debate as God’s Word is clear; “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. (1Corinthians 12:14-18)

I am convinced that a body of believers, a church must avail itself to allow each member to function as God has intended for them to function, if it does not, then it is no more than men interfering with God’s design. Men putting their hand to that which is holy; “God’s altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all.” (C.H.Spurgeon) 

This is one of the responses I received from yesterday’s post and I quote; “The operation of the local fellowship: Still working through this but I definitely do not see the 'body building itself up in love' as every Tom, Dick and Harry using the pulpit. We build one another up through prayer and fellowship.”

I couldn’t agree more, as it is only the teacher that should teach, but he should not dominate and shackle the other members from their rightful role within that body of believers. Would a teacher cut off his left hand because he only thinks he needs his right hand to write with, no! That would be preposterous! Or what if I was an athlete and trained for a body building competition and it was obvious that my biceps were smaller in proportion to the rest of my physic, I wouldn’t spend more time doing squats building my legs but rather give more attention to doing curls and the like, in other words giving more opportunity to the weaker vessels not less, thus giving myself every opportunity to win the competition. Why then do we not reason wisely as men in authority, is it that we feel we know better that God! I pray this is not the case!

Therefore provision in application must be afforded each member the platform to operate within their measure and no more, so that the body may eventual find unity and grow and build itself in up in love.

Signing off

Tyrone

The church, the body of Christ!

To be sensitive to the leading of God the Holy Spirit is this even biblical? This is why I have woken up earlier than normal. Who is now influencing my actions? It is as if I am in a corner of a wrestling ring waiting for the bout to begin. I am here because I have chosen to be here, or have I? Either way I responded to the call, firstly in prayer and now I eagerly wait on God for revelation with great expectations. Although I am not quite sure what to expect and I am a little apprehensive, nevertheless eager for battle. Although it was 2:00 am I lay in bed with a choice to make, back to sleep or to get up. It is now 2:26 and my tenacity is to now wrestle until I find the truth to my question.

Interestingly enough I have been led to this place, how you may ask? A simple thought entered my mind, nothing more and no! There was no booming voice from heaven just a strong gut feeling if you like.

Initially I was directed to C.H.Spurgeon and his daily devotion and this is what it had to say;

“If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.”

- Exo_20:25

“God’s altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labour might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead, however, of improving the gospel carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord’s own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Saviour’s work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonour it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man’s chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in His dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in him alone.

Many professors may take warning from this morning’s text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelation; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord.” (C.H.Spurgeon)

Although this speaks about sanctification in and through the finished work of the cross, it goes even deeper and in principle it can be applied to the full counsel of God's Word, the Bible!

This now has set the tone for my deliberation, what about the work of the Holy Spirit and His role in a believer’s life and what is our responsibility to Him.

Was Paul only speaking to a select few when he told the believers at Corinth that they were to desire spiritual gifts or is it relevant for us as believers today? We could lift up our tool of human reasoning and chip away at it until we arrive at an acceptable conclusion, but would that not just confirm Spurgeon’s point. I think that is exactly his point. He often makes the point that we need to rely on the leading of God the Holy Spirit. In fact reformed theology is big on systematically going through a book, one verse at a time and I also see the benefits of teaching like this. But Spurgeon never used this methodology when preaching from the pulpit. His Sunday sermon to the His congregation were topical; no doubt he waited on the Lord as he was led by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Delivered on Sabbath Morning, 2^nd of December, 1860, by the REV. C. H. Spurgeon, At Exeter Hall, Strand. He preached on "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies."— (Philippians 2:1)

And then on the 9^th of December he preached on "Suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment."— (Jeremiah 4:20)

And then again on the 16^th of December he preached on "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse."— (Job 9:20) and so he preach throughout his life.

Why then do we avoid his technique with such vigour? Maybe because we have seen so many abuse this type of preaching; scripture taken out of context.  Now because some abuse the Word of God, does that mean we are not entitled to pursue the “prince of preachers” example and seek out the truth the same way he did. If he found merit in it, then we too must sit up and pay attention. We are far too stiff in our application and possibly this mind-set is to our detriment. “Has the potter no right over the clay…” (Romans 9:21) – should we not be flexible!

Wherever I look I am saddened, I do not see men building as he did.

Let us consider the role of God the Holy Spirit. Is He not as much God as God the Father and the Son? Of course He is! To suggest anything else would be blasphemous. God forbid we would ever go there! So what does scripture teach us about His function?

But before we go there we must first understand our role as believers in the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul is our teacher and this is what he has to say: - “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1Corinthians 12:27)

What does this actually mean?

“The relation wherein Christians stand to Christ and one another. The church, or whole collective body of Christians, in all ages, is his body. Every Christian is a member of his body, and every other Christian stands related to him as a fellow-member (1Co_12:27): Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular, or particular members. Each is a member of the body, not the whole body; each stands related to the body as a part of it, and all have a common relation to one another, dependence upon one another, and should have a mutual care and concern. Thus are the members of the natural body, thus should the members of the mystical body be, disposed. Note, Mutual indifference, and much more contempt, and hatred, and envy, and strife, are very unnatural in Christians. It is like the members of the same body being destitute of all concern for one another, or quarrelling with each other. This is the apostle's scope in this argument. He endeavours in it to suppress the proud, vaunting, and contentious spirit, that had prevailed among the Corinthians, by reason of their spiritual gifts.” (Matthew Henry)

With this now in mind let us look at God’s design for his church and how each member should function; “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Therefore we need one another and place must be given to every member of the body so that it may function properly, this is God’s design! “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” (1Corinthians 12:14-22)

If we ignore this teaching it will be no doubt to our detriment and we walk in disobedience.

Therefore God’s church must give all its members a platform to function to His glory if we are to find unity in Him. A one man ministry with only the influence of the teacher/pastor is only one aspect of the body of Christ. If this is the churches mind-set then just maybe Spurgeon’s point is now a valid one as the tool of men now hinders the potter from His original design. Not that man will ever interfere in that sense with God’s plan, as he will build His church, but ears are needed if we are to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

This then would lead us into the way we structure our meetings, we would have to give every member an opportunity to be a foot if that is what they are, or if a kidney then a kidney etc. This could never be achieved systematically; our total dependency would be upon God the Holy Spirit as he leads and guides us as He wills; “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1Corinthians 12:11)

It would then be up to the teachers to ensure that sound doctrine is taught throughout this process, so that we would not be led astray by vain imaginations.

I would be happy to find myself part and parcel of such a church… it is now 5:15 am and my heart has been satisfied, praise the name of Jesus, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone

   

Faith and its War!

(Hebrews 3:13) “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

This morning I wish to thank you my God for your brilliance in and through your glorious instructive Word as it teaches us how to act. Today is a new day and it is filled with new possibilities. Yesterday may have been a disaster, or it may have been filled with obedience, but the truth be told, it has passed and we will not get it back, and it has been recorded in the history books of time. The 12^th of July 2011 has passed and will never return, not at least until judgment day and how that will exactly unfold carries with it some guesswork. But be sure it will happen!

So wherever we find ourselves this morning; whether we are in a state of sorrow or the opposite may be our portion, we could feel good about Yesterday and how we engaged with our God and Father throughout the day. The Bible has an instruction for ever scenario. This morning we can find obedience, all we have to do is find an answer in and through God’s Word, the Bible and act upon it. How great is our God? So we are without excuse, the Lord Jesus has made a way, praise his name! “Obedience is better than sacrifice”!

If there is one lesson I am learning to value the most and although I still fail miserably at times, it is patiently teaching me to live day by day and no more… "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) 

If we have had a torrid time of late just remember that today is a day with new beginnings, if we have sinned all we need to do is to fall to our knees and seek God’s forgiveness, as we know what His response will be; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9)

If we are standing with our shoulders back and as proud as a peacock, then the caution would be; “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)

If Yesterday was a day full or tears, today may just be the day where mourning is turn to laughter. Or it could even be the time of our testing with hardship on the horizon. There are numerous different possibilities we face. Conversely the Lord Jesus has experience every single one of them and yet without succumbing to the sin that so easily besets. The warfare is fierce and Peter gives us this warning; “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” (1Peter 2:11)

If anger has not been part of our daily routine, I pray that we would be filled with righteous anger as we call on our Lord for assistance. It is far too easy to compromise and succumb to the temptation of sin. It will never gratify or edify and all it can ever accomplish is a sense of failure as it leaves us covered in dirt with grazes all over. Nevertheless today has new beginning, so call out to the Lord! “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” (Proverbs 24:16)

Whatever our state, there is a truth that will never change and that is the Lord Jesus has overcome, so then, what will we do with His victory today?

Signing off

Tyrone   

     

Denial!

(Matthew 7:5) “…first take the log out of your own eye…”

There are some verses I tend to brush over, they are not as appealing or encouraging as other stanzas; on the surface our minds dismiss them as negative. We love to concentrate on the unconditional side of God’s love which is beyond measure, and so we should! But we will never automatically be drawn to the harder verses, those that speak of discipline which are full of constructive warnings, never consciously seeking out their truths and only because denial plays such a massive part in our lives.

In October 1993 I remember walking into the doctor’s office with what appeared to be a throat infection but walked out the following day with HIV, a death sentence! I was 27 years old at the time and at first ever fiber in my life did not want to accept this truth. Denial had taken hold of me and was now looking to aid the virus in my demise. In 2001 I was no longer fit to work and was admitted to hospital with glandular fever, phenomena, dementia and suspected tuberculosis. My CD4 (immune system) count had lowered so badly that is was operating at less than a percent of the norm, which should read a count of 1000 and now only recited a reading of 9. For seven years I had chosen to reject anti-retroviral medication. One of my physicians at the time did not think I would make it, but for the grace of God some ten years later here I am, as I sit punching at this keyboard with my stubby clumsy fingers. I never ever wanted to believe that I hadn’t actually accepted the fact I was HIV positive, as I had, or so I thought! As I was even open about it and spoke freely to all who posed the question. On the surface there was no hidden agenda but there was something deep down that was alive which tricked me into believing a lie and I supposed I wouldn’t die. Denial almost claimed another scalp! BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD!

HIV is a virus known to most, but many who contract the virus live out long periods of their life in denial and in fact some have even died in that state. Denial seems to be a common flaw amongst the human race. It is one of those ugly character flaws that sin has sunk its teeth into as it trickily deceives. There is no doubt who is behind this wicked deception, Satan the mastermind of sin and all its exploits. For as long as I was not willing to reach out for this lifeline, which was anti-retroviral medication I was toying with death, I was playing “Russian Roulette” and so is everyone when they exclude the bibles teachings on all topics.

With these thoughts in mind I have been lead to examine this verse and search out any root of denial that would look to rob me of my freedom in Christ: - “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:5) – If I lie to myself but continue in denial it then makes me a hypocrite…Definition of HYPOCRITE. 1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. 2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs.

Now would be a good time for me to receive instructive direction from another tried and tested bible expositor, so that I may not be blind-sided by my own pet subject…  

“1. It is not every one who is fit to reprove. Those who are themselves guilty of the same faults of which they accuse others, or of worse, bring shame upon themselves, and are not likely to do good to those whom they reprove, Mat_7:3-5. Here is,

There are degrees in sin: some sins are comparatively but as motes, others as beams; some as a gnat, others as a camel: not that there is any sin little, for there is no little God to sin against; if it be a mote (or splinter, for so it might better be read), it is in the eye; if a gnat, it is in the throat; both painful and perilous, and we cannot be easy or well till they are got out. [2.] Our own sins ought to appear greater to us than the same sins in others: that which charity teaches us to call but a splinter in our brother's eye, true repentance and godly sorrow will teach us to call a beam in our own; for the sins of others must be extenuated, but our own aggravated. [3.] There are many that have beams in their own eyes, and yet do not consider it. They are under the guilt and dominion of very great sins, and yet are not aware of it, but justify themselves, as if they needed no repentance nor reformation; (my very own consideration,DENIAL) it is as strange that a man can be in such a sinful, miserable condition, and not be aware of it, as that a man should have a beam in him eye, and not consider it; but the god of this world so artfully blinds their minds, that notwithstanding, with great assurance, they say, We see. [4.] It is common for those who are most sinful themselves, and least sensible of it, to be most forward and free in judging and censuring others: the Pharisees, who were most haughty in justifying themselves, were most scornful in condemning others. They were severe upon Christ's disciples for eating with unwashen hands, which was scarcely a mote, while they encouraged men in a contempt of their parents, which was a beam. Pride and uncharitableness are commonly beams in the eyes of those that pretend to be critical and nice in their censures of others. Nay, many are guilty of that secret, which they have the face to punish in others when it is discovered. Cogita tecum, fortasse vitium de quo quereris, si te diligenter excusseris, in sinu invenies; inique publico irasceris crimini tuo - Reflect that perhaps the fault of which you complain, might, on a strict examination, be discovered in yourself; and that it would be unjust publicly to express indignation against your own crime. Seneca, de Beneficiis. But, [5.] Men's being so severe upon the faults of others, while they are indulgent of their own, is a mark of hypocrisy. Thou hypocrite, Mat_7:5. Whatever such a one may pretend, it is certain that he is no enemy to sin (if he were, he would be an enemy to his own sin), and therefore he is not worthy of praise; nay, it appears that he is an enemy to his brother, and therefore worthy of blame. This spiritual charity must begin at home; “For how canst thou say, how canst thou for shame say, to thy brother, Let me help to reform thee, when thou takest no care to reform thyself? Thy own heart will upbraid thee with the absurdity of it; thou wilt do it with an ill grace, and thou wilt expect every one to tell thee, that vice corrects sin: physician, heal thyself;” I prae, sequar - Go you before, I will follow. See Rom_2:21. [6.] The consideration of what is amiss in ourselves, though it ought not to keep us from administering friendly reproof, ought to keep us from magisterial censuring, and to make us very candid and charitable in judging others. “Therefore restore with the spirit of meekness, considering thyself (Gal_6:1); what thou has been, what thou art, and what thou wouldst be, if God should leave thee to thyself.”

(2.) Here is a good rule for reprovers, Mat_7:5. Go in the right method, first cast the beam out of thine own eye. Our own badness is so far from excusing us in not reproving, that our being by it rendered unfit to reprove is an aggravation of our badness; I must not say, “I have a beam in my own eye, and therefore I will not help my brother with the mote out of his.” A man's offence will never be his defence: but I must first reform myself, that I may thereby help to reform my brother, and may qualify myself to reprove him. Note, Those who blame others, ought to be blameless and harmless themselves. Those who are reprovers in the gate, reprovers by office, magistrates and ministers, are concerned to walk circumspectly, and to be very regular in their conversation: an elder must have a good report, 1Ti_3:2, 1Ti_3:7. The snuffers of the sanctuary were to be of pure gold.” (Matthew Henry)

This is now sound council and may it help me and all of us to first remove the log from our own eyes before we endeavour to be helpful to our brethren.

Signing off

Tyrone