Hard is the way that leads to life!

(Matthew 7:13-14) “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

It is one thing to always encourage one another and we must always look to err on the side of encouragement but there must be a time and a place for serious self-evaluation, especially when there are obvious considerations to consider.

It is one thing to understand doctrine in conjunction to what the bible teachers but to be free of being a hypocrite seems almost impossible. How many times have I purposed to do something and then gone and done the complete opposite? More times than I wish to remember! Why, why and why?

It would be easier to sit back, not make a stand and remain silent in some corner minding my own business. This ongoing disqualification that eats away at my soul is a great hindrance. But to now justify my actions as acceptable is unacceptable and by God’s grace I will not afford myself this lying luxury. I will consider none other than myself, myself I judge and I long for more resolve in these areas of my life. There are many areas where I lack but there is one that specifically hinders my prayer life.

Hypocrites God will judge! I would much sooner be expose here whilst on earth than when it is too late and the doors of repentance have been shut.

Having said that it would be wonderful to be more consistent as a Christian, Paul a very good example to what we should look like as believers. Can you say what he said about himself? I can’t but I will continue to strive toward his example by the grace of God. This then is what he had to say; “For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1Corinthians 4:4)

Where I have been taken this morning is once again a place of self-examination with soberness to it. I am once again reminded on this verse; “How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.” (Luke 6:42)

Yet having openly confessed my heart on this matter, I am not without hope and neither should you be if you have similar sentiments. Our great Saviour has overcome and He will get us home. We may stumble at times, far more often than we would like, at least more than I would like, so it would seem. Nevertheless our faith is in our Kings achievements and not our own failures. If we stay focused on our miscarriages we will be overcome with the “slough of despond”.

This then is the instruction wherever we find ourselves, whether it be in song, trial, tribulation, sorrow, depression or a need to find forgiveness. The cry must always be the same; Jesus, Jesus! He alone has overcome, He alone has risen from the dead with a glorified body and He alone has the power to forgive as well as condemn. The Lord Jesus Christ, the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, not only to the universe but in our lives and on a personal level. May we never forget it! It must begin with Him as it shall surely end with Him. We must always find refuge in Him. It would do us no good when we trip to remain moping in the dirt, cast our eyes heavenward and call upon the name of the Lord and before long we will be dusting the dirt from our knees with new hope and vigour, with these word on our lips; “our God reigns”! It may even take us a life time of constant repentance, in fact I am certain it will and must, but to whom else can we go? “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:40): - Therefore wherever we find ourselves along the celestial road we must will all diligence seek out our Saviour's face.   

It is our hope that must fuel our failures, we have a great hope and one day we shall be like Him in reality. With new glorified bodies as our reward, to ever be with God the Father addressing Him as such, eyeball to eyeball. If we lose sight of our hope, the chance of us perishing along the way is a real one. But when we remain fixed on our Saviour’s complete work, wherever we find ourselves there will be a place of rescue.

But let us not be hypocrites in practice without seeking out forgiveness if and when we fall; hypocrites God will judge!

Here is a sobering reminder; "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)   

 1. The account that is given of the bad way of sin, and the good way of holiness. There are but two ways, right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven, and the way to hell; in the one of which we are all of us walking: no middle place hereafter, no middle way now: the distinction of the children of men into saints and sinners, godly and ungodly, will swallow up all to eternity.

Here is, (1.) An account given us of the way of sin and sinners; both what is the best, and what is the worst of it.

[1.] That which allures multitudes into it, and keeps them in it; the gate is wide, and the way broad, and there are many travellers in that way. First, “You will have abundance of liberty in that way; the gate is wide, and stands wide open to tempt those that go right on their way. You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no check to your appetites, to your passions: you may walk in the way of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; that gives room enough.” It is a broad way, for there is nothing to hedge in those that walk in it, but they wander endlessly; a broad way, for there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful ways, contrary to each other, but all paths in this broad way. Secondly, “You will have abundance of company in that way: many there be that go in at this gate, and walk in this way.” If we follow the multitude, it will be to do evil: if we go with the crowd, it will be the wrong way. It is natural for us to incline to go down the stream, and do as the most do; but it is too great a compliment, to be willing to be damned for company, and to go to hell with them, because they will not go to heaven with us: if many perish, we should be the more cautious.

[2.] That which should affright us all from it is, that it leads to destruction. Death, eternal death, is at the end of it (and the way of sin tends to it), - everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. Whether it be the high way of open profaneness, or the back way of close hypocrisy, if it be a way of sin, it will be our ruin, if we repent not. (Matthew Henry)

God help us we pray to take sin seriously, whatever it may be that seems to want to lead us astray. We call out unto you our great redeeming King, save us from it, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone

Great Power!

(James 5:16) “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

If prayer is such a precious weapon for the Christian, what must the enemy achieve to hinder its progress? This is then today consideration and it is crucial we explore this with some accuracy and then peel away hopefully with a clearer understanding equipping us with a freedom to march forth with even more power than before.

A group of men that meet on a Saturday morning with the intention of being equals and encouraging one another in the faith have now decided to lock hands in prayer as they begin to consider their brother’s needs. At 5am on most mornings of the week they phone one another to remind each other of their commitment. Prayer is often a very selfish endeavor, but as soon as we put some structure to our prayers it helps us find strength through prayer. Let me explain; it is a good thing to put time aside, to prioritize and then to stick to that resolution come what may. Why is this necessary? It is a tool, by which we are trained up in the ways of righteousness, it teachers us to be self-controlled (longsuffering - to stick with something even when it would be a lot easier to throw in the towel), which is a fruit of the Spirit.

How, for so many years I resisted this type of structure, thinking that I must be Spirit lead, not allowing any man-made programs to influence my thinking. If we remain faithful to our God even in the smallest of things, He will always honour that and will never deny Himself, He will always bless faithfulness! He longs as a Father to bless His children, but we must apply ourselves to the pattern He has left us and prayer is a vital part of that design.

We must be Spirit lead and it is often through prayer that we are lead spiritually, look at what Paul teachers; “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27): - Pray we must!

I then suggest that you put time aside, habitually if you like for prayer, set a specific time aside for prayer and then come what may by the grace of God stick to it. The baby may cry, the earth may move and life may seem to fall apart around us, but only for a time. We all have hectic lives, some more hectic than others but this I will say we have all been given the same amount of time in any one day, 24 hours for all, not only some and it is what we do with it that will count in eternity.

Our late brother Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a man that was undoubtedly Spirit lead and yet he was the most structured man if we examine his example and lifestyle. It is not a program that we must be faithful too, but our commitment and relationship to God. All we need do is set time aside and the let the greatest of teachers lead us; Gods the Holy Spirit will guide us. Nevertheless we must be clay that is pliable in God’s hands. It is imperative that we present ourselves to Him as willing vessels so that He may mould us into the image intended for us from before the beginning of time.

Who then will want to stop this process in our lives? Satan and his ministering spirits! Sin that so easily besets and the lust of our very own flesh; “For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.” (John 2:16)

We must see the truth for what it is and not pretend that these enemies are not real, it is only the ostrich that look to bury its head in the sand when looking to elude obvious danger. Let us be sober when considering these truths…

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)   

“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. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1Peter 5:6-10): - This portion of scripture ends with a promise from God; “will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2Corinthians 10:3-4)   

The Lord Jesus set aside specific times to pray! How much more should we do exactly the same?

What will hinder our progress when we commit to a time of prayer? Sin is one of the great destroyers; “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): - But it is through prayer that we are able to call out to God and to seek forgiveness. How are we able to buy eye salve for our eyes if we remain silent? God help us to constantly cry out to Him and let us remember that there is no locked door to the throne room of grace. Our great Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ has opened that door. All of God’s children have been afforded the opportunity to approach it with boldness and to seek out its grace and therefore obtain mercy in time of need.

My conclusion then, remember that prayer is a great weapon, let us therefore learn to use it skilfully, resolve to put time aside. Out of it will flow rivers of living water!

Lastly let us remember to be open and honest with one another, why? So that we may pray for one another with purpose; “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16): - But in order to do that we need to be committed to other believers, if you are out there somewhere and you feel you stand alone, you are not alone, drop me a prayer request and I will be sure by the grace of God to pray for you.

Signing off

Tyrone   

    

   

My grace is Sufficient!

(2Corinthians 12:9) “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."”

Most of us have a festering sore (a thorn in the flesh) that never seems to heal and the more we pay it mind the more it looks to live. Have you ever wonder why? I do constantly ponder the area I am weakest and long for the day when I will finally be rid of the way I seemed to be lured by the very thing I hate the most.

Even Paul had this to say about the boast to his life, but first let us think about this man’s achievements and how we should view him in our own minds because of what he achieved of Christ behalf. There was no man as committed to the cause of Christianity, no man as disciplined and no man as persecuted or so it would seem. We as fellow Christians can only look on in admiration when we look on his example; “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one--I am talking like a madman--with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (Corinthians 11:23-28) 

It would appear that Paul seemed to suffer from anxiety, he so fear for the lasting work of his ministry; I would suggest that this may have been his greatest distress. The thought of his hard work in Christ being hindered worried him tremendously. It was as if that type of thought would not leave him, “there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” I wonder could this have had anything to do with the “thorn in his flesh”. It no doubt it had its part to play.

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 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 12:2-10)

It is imperative we pay heed to the warning I now put out there, whether I have consciously or sub-consciously looked for leeway with this portion of scripture as a license to excuse my sin, one thing I know for sure, grace is available to all of God’s children to help us handle weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities but not an excuse to reason away our sin, whatever it may be.

Grace is available to help us walk in the “good works” prepare for us before time began. What then are those good works and how do we recognise them? That is an easy answer; the fruit of the Spirit proves them, which are; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:22-24)

Therefore it is reasonable to have hardship in our lives and this is God’s design to help us look to Him for all our needs, in fact it is often the hardship that helps us fall to our knees as we cry out to Him. Without them we become complacent, lukewarm and of no use to anybody let alone God. Some hardships in our lives will remain with us until we die, but let us not use grace as a licence to habitually sin. Let me give an example I once heard someone say; “It is not my fault I have a European temper I was born like that!” You alone must look into your own hearts and see where you lack; you stand alone as do I before God almighty as nothing is hidden from Him. Forgive me Father God as I have been guilty of this type of reasoning and I thank you for revealing it to me, help me put off the old and to put on the new, to walk in Christ’s victories, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone

     

True power lies with true prayer!

(Judges 16:28) “Then Samson called to the LORD and said…”

Where and how does the power of God show its fruition in a believer’s life? What is the greatest of all our weapons? It may be tough to want to categorize the armour of God as if we could neglect the attention to any part of it as all is as needful and all have their specific domicile in battle. We are encouraged to put on the whole armour of God; “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:11-13)

But what if by our own neglect or by a unforeseen circumstance we find ourselves wounded in some trench somewhere with the enemy gaping as it where at our wounded body. Could we stand on own merits, absolutely not! We will never stand on our own accomplishments, but sometimes we need to be brought low in weakness so that we can once again gain strength in and through our great Redeemer, the Lord Jesus. “God resist the proud but give grace to the humble.” We will only ever understand the true power of God when we find ourselves in a state of humility. It is here where we have a “point of reference” that if found, will be a well of life giving water, enabling one to draw from it. It will be our “point of reference”, reminding us of a life changing experience.

Salvation was such an experience, the flood gate of my very own tears rolled down my cheeks and I realised that Christ had died for me. Some twenty-four years have passed and I am still able to call on that experience. My “point of reference”! There have been others special moments along the way, which I also draw from, but this I will say, every time, prayer was part and parcel of the experience. But always a prayer of sincerity and from the heart, not with mighty swelling words or doctrine that has pinpoint accuracy. A heartfelt cry without any pretence before my almighty Father, speaking to Him as a child would speak unto his father. Some may say, this type of prayer style is taboo, as I do not show enough reverence to God almighty. This I will then humbly say, I stand and fall before my Holy Father and it is not men that will judge me, but God! Do you have a “point of reference” to your Christian experience? Have you had tears rolling down your cheeks with the realisation that God has saved a wretched sinner like you? I thank God for those times in my life, as this morning is such a time.  

With that then understood we will only ever find true power in true prayer! The greatest of all our weapons must be prayer! Why do I make such a brash statement? Because there is only One who has the power and the keys to heaven as well as hell, He is God Almighty; the only true God whose name is Hallowed and all power belongs to Him. If He has decided the outcome of any particular event who can stand in His way? No one or nothing will ever be able to stand in the way of our great King the Lord Jesus. Many great men of faith understood this as their lives depended upon it. Do we view prayer in the same light? I have been guilty of my lack of faith, but I will now change this by the grace of God. I resolve from this day forth to be more diligent in prayer, believing God, believing that I am heard as I Know I am heard and all because of my Saviour accomplishments. Praise His name!

Prayer must never be view as our right if and when we walk in accordance to our own reckoning of self-righteousness. Prayer is a weapon that every child of God can call upon whenever the need arises. Sin in that sense does not disqualify us from calling out to God almighty, in fact it is sin that should help trigger prayer. Does a man eat if he is not hungry? Faith is an acknowledgement of our need to rely on the mercies of God and not our own abilities to somehow provide. Samson learnt this lesson, probably better than most, but it took many unfortunate circumstances to learn this lesson, but praise God he understood this for sure, the power of prayer!

A great man of God who from birth was chosen by God to deliver the children of Israel out of the hand of the enemy, a prodigious man of faith! And yet a man with so many disappointments to his life, I suppose this is why I am also able to relate. Not that I would dare to compare myself as a man with similar faith, but I have understand his mistakes as I too have made many along the way.

I would like to highlight some of his “points of references” that he obviously drew from when called upon. He was alone when he ripped apart the young lion with his own two hands; “Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.” (Judges 14:5-16): - No one witnessed this event, but do you think he could ever forget it? Never, as it was his experience! What about the time when the Philistines plotted against him and they locked the city gates in order to trap him? “But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.” (Judges 16:3): - Again another “point of reference”. Then there was the time of his great victory, one man against an entire squadron of soldiers; “And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.” (Judges 15:15)

You see we must all have our own personal experience with God in and through His beloved Son, our great Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to be able to draw from our own “point of reference” when the chips are down and we are finding that the pressures of life are beginning to choke the life out of us.

Listen to this parable; “"Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."” (Mark 4:3-9)

If the cares of life choke and our bad decisions leave us for dead will we throw in the towel, I suggest if we have no “point of reference”, we may well do exactly that! But look at the end of Samson’s life and learn from it remembering that he had been captured by the enemy and he had lost his eyesight. They had put out his eyes! But because he was able to draw from his “points of reference” in life, look at his glorious end, but please take note it was only accomplished through prayer…

“Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes." And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines." Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.” (Judges 16:28-30)   

  

I beseech you, wherever you may find yourself to call out in prayer to our heavenly Father with sincerity not with mighty swelling words, but just simply to bear your hearts to Him, for He cares for you and He most certainly hears the cries of His beloved children, praise honour and glory belongs to Him now and forever more, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone  

    

Becoming a curse for us...

(Galatians 3:13) “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…”

Why do so many things in life that should be blessings end up a curse, if not a curse at the very least a struggle? The dimension to both the blessing and the curse is well worth a thought! A curse has its place just like a blessing. I am rather intrigued as I begin to understand the importance of both the blessing and the curse with a clearer mind, just another small glimpse into God’s brilliance.

Because of our sin, mankind’s sin through Adam, we have had our eyes open to both that which is good as well as evil. One tree, however the fruit of it when eaten meant that both avenues would then be explored, an awakening to good and evil, part of the experience. It is not as if we are able to use some sort of food processor and separate the fruit’s contents, good in one glass and the evil in the other.

In order to understand the blessing we must understand the curse. In order to understand forgiveness we must understand punishment and finally if we are to embrace and enjoy life we must understand death.

It was the Lord Jesus who taught that the same tree cannot produce both good and bad fruit; “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:17-19): - And yet this tree had both or did it?

Let us hold that thought! In creation was God unhappy with anything He had created? The answer is absolutely not! “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): - Would that not have included the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? It most definitely did!

   

Let us explore this a little deeper; an awareness of both good and evil is then very good and needful for all of God’s subjects to understand. Not an understanding of one or the other but both clearly understood as God would understand. It takes a curse to be recognized before a blessing may be realized.

Let me explain…

This tree (knowledge of good and evil) was forbidden by God in the beginning, every other tree in the garden was permitted food, even the tree of life. But why did they not eat from the tree of life? The answer obvious, death had not yet been realized! We (mankind) are well aware of death that is why so many parameters are put into place to prolong death; we are taught to eat healthily, we exercise to keep illness away and we look at all cost and by any means to retain our youth and yet we all know death is imminent. The Egyptians mummified their bodies in hope of preservation that a cure for death would eventually be realized and that they could even after death be restored to life, or so it seemed. Why else go to such lengths to preserve dead flesh? What then instilled this passion for life into mankind; it was the knowledge of good and evil. Can I prove this thought? I believe I can, shortly after Adam and Eve had eaten and they now knew that they were naked and were now ashamed, what did God do? He now kept them from the tree of life; “He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:24)

Punishment for the knowledge of Evil (disobeying Gods commandment) was to be kept from the tree of life. Because of their action even the earth was curse and would ultimately be destroyed, but until then it would no longer be very good as it was when created, but it would now bring forth thorns and thistles as well as edible fruit. Both alive and both now needful; “And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:17-19)

However because of the curse man now had something to look forward to and that was God’s blessing, the tree of life even though it had now been forbidden. What is the definition of hope? To wish for something with expectation of its fulfilment. What was man to do? When Adam was allowed to eat from the tree of life he chose not to. Why? Because he had not understood death or any curse. Something or rather someone good would have to break the shackles of the curse. God alone could undo the curse. Because of the awareness of the curse man now longed for a blessing, eternal life, and the hope we all have. Even the atheist does no run out into oncoming traffic. Was mankind now doomed for eternity? We know this is not the case. Praise the name of Jesus! However with that now understood, we realise that it would take another curse to set mankind free. What and who was then that curse?

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree--.” (Galatians 3:13)

It was the Lord Jesus, God in the flesh that now became a curse as He hung on that cruel Roman cross so that every believing saint would now find life, eternal life. But He would need to be perfect in righteousness to break that curse, which He was. Even in His perfection He needed to be cursed so that we would go free. Mindboggling! How great is our God? It was God the Fathers will to curse His own Son in order to break the shackles of the curse He had inflicted on Adam in the Garden of Eden. If we do not see that as the zenith of love we have not understood true love. God institutes a curse through Adam’s sin but with it makes away of escape in and through His Son. Praise the glorious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. He was obedient even unto death! This act of love and mercy was instituted while we were yet sinners; “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:8-10)

I trust we see the importance of curses and how they lead us to a place of repentance as they help us to see our need to call out to God to be saved from them. Therefore curses are as much a part of our lives as blessings and this is why Paul is able to make such a profound statement in the book of Romans; “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28-29)

It is then through both curses and blessings that God is preparing those who will inherit eternal life and one day we will face to face be able to call the only true God our Father. How I long for that day! The Lord Jesus the “firstborn among many brothers.”

Signing off

Tyrone   

    

 

  

Our God has prospered!

(Isaiah 54:17) “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.”

Do things formed against us prosper? What I mean is do we let certain habits slip? I know I am guilty as charged, but is that enough to rob me of my faith in Christ? No never, by God’s grace! Wherever our minds look to take us we must always remember to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and His victory. He has conquered, He bled, died and it was Him who rose from the dead. The last of the enemies He destroyed was death. He had complete victory, from beginning to end and it is already finished. Mission accomplished! This is hard for us to process as we still breathe and live in the natural realm. We have yet to open our eyes on the other side of the veil. Nevertheless the “book of life” has already been penned and all whom will make it to heaven in God’s reckoning are there already. What a mind blowing thought! This is a help, it should encourage us to shake the dust from our knees if need be and to understand this, that our God and Father is in perfect control and we have proof; Jesus has risen from the dead! Just as He rose from the dead, so too will all who have His Spirit also be resurrected to eternal life.

Some history…   

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.”

- Isa_54:17

This day is notable in English history for two great deliverances wrought by God for us. On this day the plot of the Papists to destroy our Houses of Parliament was discovered, 1605.

“While for our princes they prepare

In caverns deep a burning snare,

He shot from heaven a piercing ray,

And the dark treachery brought to day.”

And secondly-to-day is the anniversary of the landing of King William III, at Torbay, by which the hope of Popish ascendancy was quashed, and religious liberty was secured, 1688.

This day ought to be celebrated, not by the saturnalia of striplings, but by the songs of saints. Our Puritan forefathers most devoutly made it a special time of thanksgiving. There is extant a record of the annual sermons preached by Matthew Henry on this day. Our Protestant feeling, and our love of liberty, should make us regard its anniversary with holy gratitude. Let our hearts and lips exclaim, “We have heard with our ears, and our fathers have told us the wondrous things which thou didst in their day, and in the old time before them.” Thou hast made this nation the home of the gospel; and when the foe has risen against her, thou hast shielded her. Help us to offer repeated songs for repeated deliverances. Grant us more and more a hatred of Antichrist, and hasten on the day of her entire extinction. Till then and ever, we believe the promise, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.” Should it not be laid upon the heart of every lover of the gospel of Jesus on this day to plead for the overturning of false doctrines and the extension of divine truth? Would it not be well to search our own hearts, and turn out any of the Popish lumber of self-righteousness which may lie concealed therein? (C.H.Spurgeon)

Help us focus on our great God and King Father as He was the One that pleased you. Less of us and more of Him!

Signing off

Tyrone

True reflections!

(Galatians 5:19) “Now the works of the flesh are evident:”

In order for us to qualify as those fit for the masters use, as those who wish to serve God with any amount of success, those who will work well and triumphantly must all hinge on the sense of our own weakness. There is a new tainted voice that speaks like this, “I” always hinging on our own abilities and not acknowledging things for what they actual are and it is a lie; a sense of false security the order of the day or should I say the lie of the day. Pretending all is well, when in fact some are blind and in need of eye salve. We often need to be reminded by a stern warning, which helps us take note of our current situation. It is true we have no need to fear if we walk circumspectly before our Holy Father. But if we say all is well with my soul, I shall not fear when I eat and drink with the drunkards, woe would be the warning. It is better to acknowledge our faults before our Heavenly Father than to pretend we have none.

Do what you want, when you want if it allows us a license to sin is a lot of garbage, it is a snare from Satan himself. Our attitude must be one of humility and not arrogance; for a man to pretend that he is no longer a liar, if all he does is tells lies proves the point, who’s fooling who? We have been summoned to be honest and real before God and with ourselves.

Here then is the stern warning; But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16): - But if I say I walk by the Spirit and I practise things such as these; “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

Therefore if I excuse any of the above as acceptable I fool myself and should therefore fear. Fear what? That my efforts of making it to heaven would have been in vain; “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2Timothy 2:5-7)   

 

It is true we have not been given a spirit of fear but if all we do is use our liberty in Christ as a license to live like we once did, as slaves, we fool ourselves and not another; “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:15-17)

How do we suffer with Him? We no longer live the way we once did! “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:1-10)

We are at war, we have not entered into our rest, not yet anyway, as that day is still coming and how I long for it. But until then we must acknowledge our need of our High Priest, the Lord Jesus and constantly look to Him to overcome and not to live like we once did.

“When God’s warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might, when he boasts, “I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my conquering sword shall get unto me the victory,” defeat is not far distant. God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for “it is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” They who go forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace. Those who serve God must serve him in his own way, and in his strength, or he will never accept their service. That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never own. The mere fruits of the earth he casteth away; he will only reap that corn, the seed of which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the sun of divine love. God will empty out all that thou hast before he will put his own into thee; he will first clean out thy granaries before he will fill them with the finest of the wheat. The river of God is full of water; but not one drop of it flows from earthly springs. God will have no strength used in his battles but the strength which he himself imparts. Are you mourning over your own weakness? Take courage, for there must be a consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give thee victory. Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up.” (C.H.Spurgeon)

“When I am weak then am I strong, Grace is my shield and Christ my song.”

That then is my pray for all, but we must see the “wood form the trees” or “the chaff from the wheat” and be honest with ourselves. God give us strength to be opened faced before you as you see and know all things.

Signing off

Tyrone

   

Who shall live?

(Numbers 21:8) “…everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."

What is it about a man’s ego, pride and makeup that tend to drive us to swelling thoughts that puffs us up with pride? I am not making reference to the pride that is obviously obnoxious and blatant for all to see. It is that inner pride that we hold within our own hearts which is possible to keep from other, but not from God. How often do I allow myself to get away with the obvious even when I know it is wrong, thinking that I will not be seen? Excusing myself, time and time again; then on the other hand I find I tend to beat myself up, as I constantly accuse. I am so self-absorbed, forgive me Lord!

What an amazing achievement the Lord Jesus achieved on Calvary. He was lifted up on a hill called Golgotha, its pinnacle higher than all its surroundings and there was a reason for that, so that all around could focus on Him. Even the blasphemer could not avoid His presence, this is why even those who reject the message of the Gospel still use His name in vain, have you ever thought about that? How many reject Christ’s accomplishment and yet they chose His name and not another when cursing, go figure! Just another confirmation that He lives!

Up on that hill and on a wooden cross He was in plain sight for all to see Him. He must always remain in plain sight; we must resolve to keep Him in the forefront of our minds and that above everything else. As soon as we begin to lose sight of Him, our focus shifts onto another and normally onto ourselves, a very dangerous place to be!

Do you remember when the children of Israel where in the wilderness and they had acknowledged their sin and were surrounded by venomous snakes, dead just waiting to lunge! Why were they in this position and then what was their instruction if bitten? They were unthankful but some realized their mistake…

“And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food." Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." (Numbers 21:5-8)

What would save them? They needed to take their eyes off the serpent and their current dilemma and focus on another; they had to look at that which was in plain sight, that which was higher than them, in “type” they were instructed to look to Jesus. We too have been given the same instruction; repentance where and when needed but always looking to our Saviour the Lord Jesus to find it and not to ourselves as we so often tend to do. This is why we often hear about calamities in life, the death of a child or some other traumatic experience, for me it was HIV, to bring us to a place that we realise we are in desperate need, only when broken and without any other answer do some of us look at the “fiery serpent that was set on the pole”. There is no other way by which a man may be saved, nothing else will do! “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”” (John 14:6): - And just like those in the Wilderness who had been bitten anxiously awaited death, but where thrown a life line, they acted on it. We too have been thrown a life line as sin has taken its toll on all. Jesus Christ the Lord beckons you to come, what will you do I wonder? Do not delay, make haste and look to Him as the cares of this life will begin to grow strangely dim. Struggles we will continue to have, but with the hope which now burns bright and clear, they will dwindle into the background as we focus on the brilliance of our magnificent Saviour and all His accomplishments.

Very, very soon we are going to see our King, how I long for that day, to finally be rid of this body of death. So many look to live as they look to prolong the inevitable by any means possible, life support, medication, chemotherapy and even anti-aging creams the common practice of today’s society. Should I share their sentiments? I suppose I have something built in that drives me to live, as we all do, but true life will and can only ever be found in the Lord Jesus. I say come Lord Jesus! But if you decide to prolong that day for the sake of some, then it is the Father will. Nevertheless, I am reaching a point in my life where the thought of death is rather inviting. That is the death of my flesh; a new door will open as my eyes will then see the spiritual realm once and for all. No more any hindrances, no more aching bones or operations. But above all things, forever to be with God almighty and to see my glorious Saviour in person is a day I long for. But while we live in our current states let us remember to always look to Him who has been high and lifted up, Jesus Christ our Lord, bless His name now and forever more, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone

Fastening???

(Acts 13:2) “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…”

The power of words has undoubtedly been proved over time. We understand the wonders of God even if we do not acknowledge Him as the only true Creator. I am yet to find a hater of nature, someone that curses a beautiful sunset. Prayer is a tool used especially when in need; it is often a very selfish tool. Think about how often we pray for something that would benefit us directly and we are clearly taught our prayers are not answered only when our prayers are misguided; “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3): - I love the way the Bible has an answer for so many daily applications to one’s life, “seek and you shall find” its underlying formula. Why we tend to look to it last instead of our first point of reference is proof that we are in desperate need of our Saviours helping hand alone the way. All hail King Jesus!

There is another facet to the bible that we often tend to acknowledge but give it very little thought, let alone any participation and that is fasting. I would like to explore this a little further.

Fasting is often linked to repentance, it seems a perfect match. Fastening is about conquering a stronghold, whatever that may be! Look at the pattern through the Old Testament and it is obvious that one would fast to get God’s attention or at least use it as a tool to get noticed. However, some made the mistake of looking to people to be noticed whilst fasting and this we shouldn’t do. If we are too fast and there is no doubt a place for it in the lives of the New Testament believer, it must be done silently and secretly before God and Him alone.

How not to do it -- “Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.” (Isaiah 58:4): - there is an implication that fastening is obviously a tool we can use to be notice by our heavenly Father in and through our great Saviour. Obviously we can never be justified outside the finished work of Calvary; we can add nothing or take away anything from His finished work, praise His name! Yet we are nevertheless given instruction on how we should live as new creatures in Christ. We are taught to put on the mind of Christ; we need to follow His example and learn from Him. I ask the question, did He ever fast and if so why?

Fasting obviously deprives the body of something it needs or craves. It is all about denying the flesh. We are taught that the natural and the spiritual are enemies; “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8): - I speak in principle and I do not use this text to proof the need for fasting, it is a mind-set I look for us to understand. It is the mind of Christ we seek to understand.

What was the Lord busy doing prior to His first recorded encounter with Satan and why then should be our next question?

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1-2)

Let us unpack this; firstly Jesus was led by the Spirit (God the Holy Spirit) away from any home comforts, into the wilderness, in other words away from the norm whatever that may be. And it was for a specific purpose, which was to be tempted of the devil. But before this account actually took place, the Lord fasted for forty days and forty nights, leaving Him hungry, His physical body in need of food. It was in this state that the Lord Jesus was now ready to confront Satan; “And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:3-4)   

The necessity to give place to God’s Word over and above our carnal needs even to the point of denying oneself the necessity of food, which the body needs in order to survive, is clearly seen in this example. Faith has much to do with fasting, it means we need to step beyond our comfort zone and try something new. Not as some new fade but as a help, aiding us with our walk if we look to be victorious.

It is there as a help to build our relationship with God our Father: if our reasoning for doing it is wrong then we have misunderstood the purpose of fastening, which is to help us find strength to overcome in time of need. If we do it as a custom and make everyone aware of what we are doing, then it has no benefit as God will not recognise us; "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18)

What reward do I seek? Is it an easier life? that it is! But not through wealth and prosperity, but rather seeking out victory over any bondage to my life that hinders my relationship with my heavenly Father, if it be sin that so easily besets then fastening and prayer may be exactly what I need to find strength to overcome.

In the bigger scheme of things, this topic is very seldom mentioned and yet the Lord chooses to deal with this exact topic in conjunction with His instruction on how one should pray and I find that very interesting. But always remember that fastening has a sister and that is prayer and they are inseparable. If we fast lets us also remember to pray.

Signing off

Tyrone 

    

  

  

   

There is still time!

(Isaiah 55:6)  "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;”

It is God who calls but will we respond to that call? I thank God for calling a wretched man like me. I once was blind but now I see, nothing short of a miracle. Who is it I have to thank for my sight, none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the only true Saviour given by God to mankind, which enables the individual to enlist in God’s army. Praise, bless, exalt and magnify the name of Jesus! So many look at that name as a hoax, many add it to their vocabulary as a common part of speech and yet it is used to curse and not bless. Do they not know that for every word every spoken they will be judged?

Do you know what one of my most intriguing thoughts I have as a man when considering God and His Character? I stand in awe; I am gob smacked when I see Him for who He really is. There is no one above Him, neither in title or ability and whatever He wills comes to pass and yet He has chosen to extend this hand and not withhold it. Knowing the heartache He would have to endure and the bursts of anger that would need reeling in at times, with destruction executed where needed; considerer the flood! And to think it was God himself who from the dust of the earth created Adam. I wonder what emotion He felt as He saw so many grasp for air; obviously He is righteous so every decision is just and right. I understand that without question, but I wonder, was there any sadness attached to that account, I think there might have been. Mankind has been created in His likeness and image. But I would dare not make any suppositions as fact.

What then do we know? God is love! He could have been the opposite, but that is not the fact; He is love! And instead of withholding his hand He has extended it to all who would call upon the name of the Lord.

This was the state of mankind; as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Romans 3:10-12): - We all were either in this state of mind prior to salvation or we still live in here as we go about our business with God as an afterthought. Forgive us Father and thank you for your patience with mankind.  

It was God who decided to initiate His plan, which was and still is on offer, for now anyway; “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (Romans 3:20-22)

God has extended a life line to his enemies, those who once opposed Him in every area of their lives. It was when Christ’s accuses hated him the most, that God began to show His character; which one of you would open your arms to someone furiously beating you little boy? “I would suggest, never! Not even one could act in such a manner, but it was not so with God; “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

His Son, my Saviour, beaten to the point of death and humiliated as if He was the chief of sinners and yet He was without sin. Nailed to cruel Roman cross, where He was spat upon and mocked with a crown of thorns as headgear. Being God He could of called legions of angels from heaven to smite the accuses, but it was His Father’s will that He should suffer for a crime He never committed, why? Because God is Love! How so? Without Christ’s sacrifice every single human ever born would end up in hell, because of their own sin. But because God so loved the world in that deprived state, not that He would every tolerate sin, for He never has and never will. But because of the deception and cunningness of the serpent; the deceiver, Satan himself, God willed to bruise his head with the heels of the woman’s offspring. If the devil had known what it meant when Jesus was crucified, he would have never unleashed the Bulls of Bashan to gape so fiercely at our great Saviour; Our God is ever wise and His wisdom is past finding out; Paul has this to say; “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," (1Corinthians 3:19): - Even Satan will all His pomp and glory no match for our God! All hail King Jesus!

We must all stand alone before God as we will be accountable with what we did with this message whilst still alive on earth; “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:15-18)

It is important to understand that God could have done what He please, as He has done what He has pleased, and that was to send His Son to die for sinners, or rather repentant sinners. He is no longer dead but well and alive, as God raised Him from the dead. Now those are the facts, but God being God could have cursed mankind because of their sin and been done with us, but this was not His choice, thank you loving Father for remembering such a wretched man like me and choosing to send you perfect Son to die in my place. If that isn’t the greatest manifestation of love available to mankind, if we cannot see it, we are still blind and grope in the dark, may God have mercy upon our souls. Brett and Richard I pray you find God’s mercy and experience His love in and through my great Saviour even Jesus Christ the Lord, my Lord.

Call out to Him, but it must be on His terms and not your own agenda’s and you will find life.

If we reject so great an act of love, hell will be our final destination. I thank you Father God for who you are; you could have been wicked and evil (NEVER! God can never change) or Satan could have the helm and what a disaster that would be. Nevertheless the truth is told, the offer still stands, which is; “the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Act 2:20-21)   

Seek the Lord while He may be found.

Signing off

Tyrone