"To be or not to be!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signing off

Tyrone  

    

DEFCON

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

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

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

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

Signing off

Tyrone

Repent

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signing off

Tyrone   

   

Hide your face from my sin...

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

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

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

What now?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signing off

Tyrone  

    

Slaying the Giants!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signing off

Tyrone  

     

   

Understanding the "signs of the times"...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signing off

Tyrone

The testing of faith

(2Corinthians 13:5) “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”

There must come a time in a believer’s life when the trial of life begins to drive home the reality of belonging to the Christian faith. For some the realism is a lot more severe! Just last week four Christians were martyred for their faith. Over time many have been brutally slaughtered for their faith. This then the ultimate test of what a person would be willing to die for. Death the last possible sacrifice for any individual! However while we still have breath we still live to see another day, it is this analysis I want to consider. While we live are we living as a Christian should, are we amongst the number by deed and not only empty words? Remember the verses of the Apostle James; “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18)

If we are to consider the father of faith, Abraham; did he not prove his faith by offering up his son on God’s request? With his obedience to the call of God upon his life he proved, when tested, that he believed God by obeying His instruction; hence he has proved his faith and the bible now refers to him as the father of faith! “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. (Genesis 22:1-3)

Let us learn from his example: - Note. We often may begin to believe no differently to what Abraham may have deliberated that God had now given him a son as He had promised and the storm had now run its course. God’s promise had now finally arrived and it would be plain sailing from here on in. But in fact the greatest of test was yet to happen. "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering”. He had another son Ishmael whom Hagar his servant had given him, but God did not consider that, look at the text; “Take your son, your only son Isaac”. The plans we make as men do not factor into the equation when true testing unfolds. When we do something of our own accord, when we make a plan I see that if we lose what we have gained, that really isn't a true test of whether we walk by faith or not. We can only really be tested when we are willing to sacrifice what God has blessed us with. I suppose we can all fill in the blanks to our lives as we examine it individually. I have lost or rather squandered much of what I have received throughout my life, but that is not what is now in question. Even though I may have lost over a million rand in the space of two years that was my own doing and that is irrelevant when we consider the true test of faith!

The consideration I now need to consider is will I sacrifice what God has blessed me with, will I sacrifice that which is most dear to me? I cannot say with any certainty that I know what that is, but I am sure in time it will become apparent. May God find me faithful I pray and give me the insight to understand the true test when I see it!

Job was another man that God tested which proved that he was not only a good man but a great follower of God. Strong faith is often exercised with strong tests.

“What the apostle here says of the duty of the Corinthians to examine themselves, etc., is applicable to the great duty of all who call themselves Christians, to examine themselves concerning their spiritual state. We should examine whether we be in the faith, because it is a matter in which we may be easily deceived, and wherein a deceit is highly dangerous: we are therefore concerned to prove our own selves, to put the question to our own souls, whether Christ be in us, or not; and Christ is in us, except we be reprobates: so that either we are true Christians or we are great cheats; and what a reproachful thing is it for a man not to know himself, not to know his own mind!” (Matthew Henry)

The beauty of God’s testing helps us understand our state before Him, it is not as if God isn’t aware of where we stand on this issue but sometimes we need to be shown our own reality and then we can call on God to help us find grace to right our wrongs. Please, Father God, renew a right spirit in me, I pray! Help all those who belong to you in this area of their lives, show us who we are in you is my cry! Teach us all the genuineness of what it means to walk by faith! For when we have progressed in faith it will be well with our souls! Thank you Lord Jesus for our dependency upon your finished work; praise and honour belongs to you and you alone, Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone   

    

    

    

Remembering that day

Because we (the Christian) have all been covered by the rich, free sovereign grace of God; we are indebted to our God and all because of the glorious perfect work of the Gospel that Jesus Christ our Lord accomplished, by willingly laying down His life for the scum of the earth, a person like me, a sinner, and once an enemy of the cross!

It would be beneficial to recollect that glorious day when our eyes were opened for the first time, when at first we looked at life and it was hard to make sense of it all, but God stepped in and opened my eyes and I was able to cry, “I CAN SEE!” That was a great day, a blessed day! Perhaps the best day of my life! Can you remember your day? I feel the corners of my mouth rising as it cracks a warm pleasant smile remembering the zeal I had back then; day one and I was on the phone asking others if they had seen what I could now see? In spite of the “huh” response it was the best of days; for the first time I knew what it meant to cry with joy. I vividly remember wrestling to understand my new commitment to this gospel message, it took days of grappling with my decision on why I had favorably responded to this altar call, eventually the light switch flipped and then I understood the enormity of it all, “my sins had been forgiven”! Wow! I had done nothing to deserve this pardon! And yet I had been forgiven and that understanding was truly wonderful; praise the name of Jesus Christ my Lord! Thank you Father God for sending your Son to die for me!

Every child of God has to have “in type” a similar experience to that of “Christian” in “Pilgrims Progress”; the day when the heavy load of sin fell off his back. For some, I included; have made such a botch of this wonderful free gift along our journey, the reasons will vary with each individual, so many detours along the way; be that as it may, in spite of ourselves, our great God has worked out and continues to work out sanctification in the lives of Christians for His names sake. He is a merciful God, praise His name! There have been times when I have wanted to throw in the towel, but He has carried me through the “valley of death”, all glory belongs to my Father who is the only true living God with the cloak of salvation draped across my shoulders and only because of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice. To think on this fact; that God knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning. He is able to look into the future and even knowing that I would make such a hash of my life along the way He still was willing to save me, what a glorious reality! I am forever indebted to Him! I am truly grateful! The bill of my debt is so long that it cannot be measured! I cannot say with any accuracy whether my love and commitment to Him is less of greater now than it was back then. But of this I am sure I do indeed love Him and all because He first loved me! He sent His son to die for me! Thank you Father God!

I have a greater understanding of many truths to what I had back then, and yet I only know in part. However, sadly I certainly do not have the zeal I had back then; “renew a right spirit in me Father” is my cry! My life is hid in Christ, I am forever indebted to Him; if you do not share a similar thought I would implore you to call out to Him so that you may go free! He is but a cry away! But cry you must!

Signing off

Tyrone     

Take Care!

TAKE CARE!

How often do we haphazardly disregard this instruction? God help us to “take care” of all that He has and will still to give us. Sloppy stewardship can be a hindrance to our walk with the Lord. Often it is not something we willingly choose to ignore but by default something else in our life takes precedence; work, holidays, family responsibilities, TV, and anything else that hinders our progress to God’s call upon our lives. May my heavenly Father forgive me for failing so dismally in this area of my life; we only get one crack at life and when it is over it is over. There will come a day when the books will be opened and our stewardship will be examined not by man but by God! Nevertheless today is a new day and we have a brilliant opportunity by faith to find grace to right our wrongs whatever they may be; we serve as God full of compassion, slow to anger and full of love for His children. Let us resolve to call out to Him from here on in.

Every Christian has been privy to a pilgrimage from Egypt (slavery to sin), through the Read Sea (the miracle of salvation), into the Wilderness (the testing of our faith) on our way to the Promised Land (heaven).

Here then is the parable; "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.” (Matthew 25:14-15) – We must “take care” not to think that because we have not been given the measure that the minister or the pastor has that we are to sit on our laurels. The smallest acts of kindness to our brothers and sisters in Christ can only ever hold us in good stead with our Master; the idea on burying even the smallest of measures is nothing more than a trap full of deceit. Our mind-set must not be one of “I can’t” but rather “what can I do”! This is not a word of judgement but rather an encouragement. It would be good to ask God for grace to place this awareness in the forefront of our minds and have it written deep within our hearts, remembering what the Lord Jesus had to say about stewardship; “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'” (Matthew 25:35-40)

We needn’t have a great ministry with a booming voice or a charismatic character to be useful to our Master; it’s the little things that often have the greatest effect. A kind word in season, a visit, sharing someone’s burden by just lending an ear and the like we can all do! I believe that is what our great Saviour is teaching us with this parable. Let us “take care” to be sensitive to the needs of others. If we consider the design of our bodies which God has created to work in unison, if we twist our ankle the other ankle willingly works harder taking more weight, even though we walk with a limp. Before long the healing process runs its course and our bodies are back to normal.

This world with all its systems teaches us to survive, “eat or be eaten” this however is not the instruction for the Christian. Freely we have received now let us learn to freely give! Do not let the lie of the enormity of the task at hand render us useless but rather let us look for every opportunity to be actively involved. And remember that even offering someone a glass of water will go a long way into eternity.

Signing off

Tyrone

     

     

Hyssop

(Psalms 51:7) “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean…”

How many of us as Christians, have stumbled in a one area or another? What I mean by that is after salvation we have outsiders disqualifying us on our merits. “And you call yourself a Christian” is a phrase often coined! How many can actually say with Paul? “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1Corinthians 9:27) – I am guilty of not sharing his testimony in many areas of my life. In hindsight I hang my head in shame because of it. What is a man to do with such a burden over his head? I cannot do anything about my action prior to today, they have come and gone, but I most certainly can now cry unto my God and ask for forgiveness. I can ask Him to purge me with hyssop. I now beseech you Father to act favourably unto me, in spite of my poor judgment, for your name sake!   

I take solace in the fact that I am not alone as regret eats away at my soul. Others faced similar shames; David had great regret after going into Bathsheba, his sin was great but has my behaviour been any different in that sense? I may not have taken another man’s wife and then killed her husband to cover my sin; but I most certainly have failed in many other areas and on numerous occasions. I know I have been pardoned thanks to the greatest of Advocates who pleads my case on His merit and not mine. However that does not excuse my sins as if it is a light thing. Sins in a believer’s life are so serious and this is what Paul has to say about it; “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:1-4)

Disobedience has robbed me of so much joy, but I thank God that He is slow to anger and has been extremely patient with me. He has used discipline to teach me the errors of my ways, and for this I am forever grateful. He is a God who cares for His own, a shattered femur, HIV and divorce are but some of the scars I carry, even though there is much regret I wouldn’t change it for the world! In fact it is what God has chosen to use to open by eyes to my own idiocy. But to now know that I am covered by the blood of the Lamb will more than suffice! Continue to teach me the severity of anything contrary to your will for my life my gracious heavenly Father. Thank you for showing me with a renewed vigour that to continue in sin in any form whatsoever you will never accept. We must all be purged with hyssop!  

Sin must rock us to the core as we cry to our God, seeking His forgiveness. If we turn a blind eye to it, all it proves is that we have once again been enslaved with the yolk of bondage; the shackles that Christ obliterated by hanging on that cruel roman cross, where He defeated sin once and for all! Our cry must be the cry of David; “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalms 51:7-12) -The blood of the Lord Jesus is the “hyssop” than now sanctifies us. Praise his name!

God’s means is far above all others, He is brilliant in the way He is able to turn and teach those who are covered by His grace; He is the greatest of Fathers and I love him so!  To think on my life with so many ill-advised mistakes, how they left me leprous and unapproachable and yet I am now able to cry with great assurance “it is well with my soul!”

We too like David must find forgiveness for our treachery, it is up to the individual to stand in the mirror and confess their errors. But once grace floods our soul and we find forgiveness we must also share in his objective and that was to teach others from his mistakes; “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.” (Psalms 51:13)

  

Why is it that I am once again able to have a joy in my soul and freely commune with God my Father in and through my precious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ? God alone knows the depths of that answer, but what I do know is I too found it upon my hearts to cry, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” There was and still is a deep desire for God to continue to expose the rot, even within the deep hidden fractures of my life. How I long to be more like my Saviour! And what a great Saviour He is, who can ever compare? There is none like Him, praise His brilliant name now and forever more, Amen and Amen!   

    

“Singing” off

Tyrone

Lessons of Faith

Faith is a consideration that needs far more attention than most give it; however it is clear from scripture that those given to it reap great reward. I must also conclude that as I have wrestled with certain needs in my life, which I am thankful for, for if I had no need, there would be no necessity to learn the valuable lessons that faith teach. When we learn to rest in the eye of the storm this is where we find great benefit. I have much to learn but the little I have learnt has been very rewarding. Continue to show me your ways my great Father God. Your ways are far higher than the ways of man, praise your name! You have chosen to teach your children so many valuable lessons that are foreign to the majority. But not to those who put their trust in you. Thank you!

The world coins this phrase “if the world deals you lemons make lemonade”, but I say, “thank God for the lemons for they can be the greatest of teachers!” They lead us to depend on the unseen and we can of a truth share David’s sentiments; “A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalms 23:1-6)

We are saved by hope that will never disappoint, because we have trusted in our God and not our own circumstances. Without witnessing the hand of God in our lives how would we ever be able to share David’s sentiments? It is only when we understand our need that we learn to cry to our God. He has an ear for His children and is quick to bless, praise His everlasting name! “Jesus, Jesus Lord to me, Master, Saviour, Prince of Peace! How does He bless? Who has the right to speak on His behalf as if we were there at the beginning of time? All I know is My God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! He fills the person’s soul with peace! And how sweet it is to dwell there!

There are many bellowing voices that look to bend our ears, but we must pay careful attention to the voice of our Shepherd, it has a different pitch and his instruction may at first seem foreign to our reasoning, however the more we learn to trust His tuition the sweater our relationship will become. I have wasted so much time on instruction from family and friends that have been no more than worldly tripe, which has come out of its instruction manual, it will only ever produce thorns and thistles; I would implore you to Look to Jesus and live. The lessons we need to learn are harsh and even brutal at times, but of this I am convinced, they are all working together for the good of those who belong to God, in and through the saving power of our great Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ.

My words have been bold and they shall be tested, nevertheless I am persuaded that God will teach me His way through it all! Help me find grace my great King and teach me to be wise through it all, Amen! My God will be with all those who depend on Him and who is stronger or wiser than our God? Shall tribulation separate us from the love of God, or distress, or famine? No, through it all we are more than conquerors in Him that loved us when we were yet enemies of the cross; how much more now that we belong to Him and are able to cry ABBA FATHER Will he sucker us along life’s journey? Faith demands that we trust our God. Trust we must and we must never lean on our own fickle understanding if it drives us from it!

God help us to learn to appropriate faith with a new resolve from here on in.

Signing off

Tyrone    

  

The phenomenal love of God

(John 6:37) “…whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

Amazingly we serve a God who is too wonderful for comprehension. A God full of empathy and always willing to bless; praise His marvelous name! The only true and living God could have been a mean harsh God quick to anger and ready to destroy all those who oppose Him. And yet He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to die in our stead. This thought humbles me so! We had all gone astray, like sheep without a shepherd. Enemies of the cross! Why would God even consider saving His enemies? Because He is full of compassion, praise His glorious name! This is the God I serve; He is my God and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, one and the same. The great I AM! To Him alone will I bend my knee? And why is it that I am able to replicate the love He shows me? Because He first loved me, without God making the first move I would be lost in my sin, blinder than a bat, but now I see! All hail King Jesus my Saviour!  

To God alone is the glory, what marvelous love, which creature could ever exhaust the depths of it? God’s love is immeasurable! And I am one who has found it, a sinner like me who is now free to bask in His incredible love. Why would He love one day and then despise the next. He is not human and full of changes like rippling water. His love is forever true; applaud His name now and forever more! He who has begun this great work will surely see it through unto the end!

The deeper my relationship becomes with my God the more I realize that He will never snap the bruised reed or quench the smoking flax. This is the God I serve and the invitation has gone out to all, look to Jesus Christ the Lord and live. He will not turn one away! But look you must! And once you see Him, call out unto Him and He will respond favorably. Praise the name of my God and King!

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37) – Why is it that some believe there would be an expiry date set to this promise? Or is our great God only capable of operating in ideal conditions; as if His assurance is like that of the contra-indications on a medicine bottle; as if any “allergic reaction” would hinder His undertaking. I have tried to avoid this topic for the sake of my Arminian brothers, but that will help no one! We must be accurate with the text! As they believe that salvation is partly up to the individual and they have it in their power to lose their salvation. This is not what the text teaches! If I struggle along the way, which has most certainly been my testimony, my God will certainly bring me through in spite of myself for His name sake. This is the God I gladly serve with my whole heart; He is not only capable of changing a man’s stubborn ways but amazingly willing to teach Him the ways of the righteous.

When examining the text no limit is set to the duration of His promise; Charles Spurgeon says it best: - “No limit is set to the duration of this promise. It does not merely say, “I will not cast out a sinner at his first coming,” but, “I will in no wise cast out.” The original reads, “I will not, not cast out,” or “I will never, never cast out.” The text means, that Christ will not at first reject a believer; and that as he will not do it at first, so he will not to the last.

But suppose the believer sins after coming? “If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” But suppose that believers backslide? “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” But believers may fall under temptation! “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” But the believer may fall into sin as David did! Yes, but he will “Purge them with hyssop, and they shall be clean; he will wash them and they shall be whiter than snow”; “From all their iniquities will I cleanse them.”

“Once in Christ, in Christ for ever,

Nothing from his love can sever.”

“I give unto my sheep,” saith he, “eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” What sayest thou to this, O trembling feeble mind? Is not this a precious mercy, that coming to Christ, thou dost not come to One who will treat thee well for a little while, and then send thee about thy business, but he will receive thee and make thee his bride, and thou shalt be his for ever? Receive no longer the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption whereby thou shalt cry, Abba, Father! Oh! the grace of these words: “I will in no wise cast out.”

Some may present different formulas on how to stay saved; some say it’s the body of Christ that will get us home! It is obvious that by belonging to the body of Christ (a church) as an active member that it will help with our faith but it is God alone who will see us through unto the end! We must continue as we did at first looking to Jesus, He alone has accomplished the work, praise His glorious name! We began in the Spirit and others may believe that it is now the works of the flesh that will justify us; as if what we do or don’t do will qualify us for heaven. This is what the Apostle Paul had to say about this type of mentality; “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3)

Our total dependency is on the person of Jesus Christ and nothing more, look to Him and live. He will not only save the strong but also the weak in the faith shall all arrive at their final destination, heaven with all its glory. Praise His majestic, everlasting, treasurable name, now and forever more, Amen!

Wherever you now find yourself; did you once look to Jesus but find that the mud of sin has veiled your vision, be of good cheer all you need do is cry out unto Him and before long His righteous accomplishments will become your endeavours as His beauty once again begins to fill your life with joy unspeakable and full of glory! Are you barely hanging on to your faith with hurting cotton threads that are just about to snap under the pressure? Fear not! Look to Jesus and live! For you shall be plucked from the fire of unbelief! “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

  

Signing off

Tyrone

This body of death!

(Romans 7:24) “O wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death?”

How often do I have to eat my words with the bitter herbs of repentance? It would seem far too often! “O wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death?” Thank God for the hope the Christian has. Without the hope of one day putting off this sinful body of the flesh, I would most certainly be amongst the most miserable of all living! However it is the hope in Christ that keeps me pressing on. There are times when I would far rather cry, “Take me home Lord, this life has nothing to offer me.” And yet there is work to be done for the sake of the kingdom! It is not as if I have lived a model life like many that have gone before, on the contrary I have blundered more than I care to consider. It is extremely demoralizing! Nevertheless I know that my God shall present me faultless on the day of reckoning. A miracle indeed!

How weak am I in so many areas of my life; thank you for your patience with me my great Father, I have often wanted to throw in the towel but you have come to my aid more times than I could count, Thank you! If only the sin that so easily besets, could once and for all be gone for good. The weight of it has such a negative reaction on those around me, please forgive me. My short temper is such a selfish trait and for this I seek your grace to deal with it in a godly manner. Keep my eyes fixed upon the finished work of Calvary. In comparison to what Christ endures my life should be but a breeze and yet it is far from that. “O wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death?”

The cares of this life my God weighs up heavy on a man’s shoulders. How I long to be like my great Saviour, always focusing on the will of His father and even to the point of death! Praise His name! As the screws tighten may the searching out of your sustaining grace always be in the forefront of my mind. Renew a right spirit in me! In fact most of the distracting “has much to do about nothing”. Trivial nonsense! I shall focus on the promises of God, bless your name my great Jehovah, someday I shall be like Him and what a day that shall be. There is a day coming when I will in person see my God face to face and sing praises to His glorious name!  How I long for that day! Even so come quickly Lord Jesus! But until then help me to remain focused on what counts; the will of God for my life, Amen!

“O wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death?” Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:25) 

Signing off

Tyrone