Repent

15 January  2013    

Matthew 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Repent the kingdom of God is at hand. This message was the opening words of Jesus Christ, these were the words of John the Baptist, these were the words of the Apostles, and these are the words of the true Church. This consistent message is repeated and repeated and should be repeated into every generation of believers. This message is directed at you, repent the kingdom of God is at hand.

Now like many others people would say I have repented, I have been forgiven, yet when we truly examine our daily motives, our attitudes to others if we still feel we having nothing to repent of, the we are liars and there is no truth in us.

When we listen to how people talk about our father, and we listen to the untruths spoken of him, and we now how he loved us, yet people call him unloving, harsh and vindictive, would you not speak out in his defence, because they do not know him like we do. How much more do we need to speak out in defence of our heavenly Father, who loves us beyond what we could ever comprehend.

Be encouraged today to repent.

 

David

Point to ponder: God loves a repentant heart.

Question to consider: Have you repented today?

Stupidity

14 January  2013   

Matthew 7:24-25 "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

There is always a tragedy if stupidity and there are always those that no matter how stupid their arguments they will continue in their stupidity. Now one of the most stupidest things in life are those people who live in such a way as if Jesus Christ is irrelevant to them. They simply believe that there is no consequences to their stupidity and ignore all the warning signs given to them.

Last year the end of the world was supposed to have taken place, and some people thought about the what if’s, but the foolish and stupid people just carry on. The problem is that there are so many stupid people today and it seems to be getting worse, stupid officials, stupid politicians and the stupid people that vote for them. As long as the what can be got out is more than you put in life is a bargain, this stupidity will come to an end when Jesus returns. It is a wise person that does what pleases Jesus Christ, it is a really stupid person that doesn’t. On this scale of wisdom where are you.

Be encouraged today to live a life relevant to Jesus

 

David

Point to ponder: Stupid people gain little.

Question to consider: Has your life relevance to Jesus?

Comfort Zones

11 January  2013   

Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay.

Jesus sent out His disciples to the local towns with the instruction to say, ‘repent the Kingdom of God is at hand’ then to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. Now what is interesting is that Jesus in none of the Gospels explains how to do this. He simply expected the disciples who followed Him to go and do it. The only logical explanation is that they had observed Jesus, so they followed His example. We also know that they laid hands on people and anointed them with oil.

So when we follow Jesus and we claim to be His disciple, then no matter how we may feel about moving out of our comfort zone, we just simply go and do it. The truth is that the same Jesus is returning and He will expect  to find us doing what He told us to. Many of us are very good at attending church and bible studies, even good at preaching and liturgy but this becomes useless to Jesus unless we trust and have faith in Him and go and do what He has asked us to do. To reach out to the lost, confused and sinful world and bring to all that will listen the hope of Christ. We cannot always hide behind the gifts we claim, without recognising the Master’s wishes.

Be encouraged today to go and do what Jesus has asked you to do.

 

David

Point to ponder: Obedience validates our call in Christ.

Question to consider: Will you move out of your comfort zone for Jesus?

Jesus Lord of all

10 January  2013   

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The name that is above every name is that of Jesus, and whether we like it or not or accept it or not this will not change. Each and every person ever to have lived will be required to acknowledge this and will bow down to Him and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. All creation in heaven and on earth will do this to the glory of God the Father. Nothing ever created will be exempt.

As we look upon the world today and even within our own lives we need to ask that question, is Jesus Lord of all we are? Is He Lord of our bodies, our thinking, our feelings? For where we find those places within us that have not yet submitted to His Lordship, we find a rebellion against His will for us. It is in obedience that we find submission and the more we submit to His will, the more we are able to confess His Lordship within us. When He is truly Lord, then we live to please Him and Him alone.

Be encouraged today to live a life where Jesus is truly Lord of all.

 

David

Point to ponder: Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Question to consider: Is Jesus Christ truly Lord of your all?

Conceited

9 January  2013     

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.

Some of us that has a long memory will possibly remember the hit song “Its hard to be humble” and although this was written and sung sort of tongue in cheek, there is a lot of truth in it. There are those of that have fasted for forty days, those that pray and get up and spend hours in prayer, they let everyone know what they are doing, and it makes others feel like second rate Christians. We have to so aware to examine our motives with regard to why we do things, is it from selfishness is it because we are conceited?

The older one gets the more one realises that all the people we meet are better Christians than we are. So each person we see, we see the potential of Christ in them. This stops us from being conceited and selfish, simply because we should also be reflecting the image of Christ as well. So no matter how important our position in life, our how grand we may be, we need to recognise the importance of others around us. Sometimes we find it very hard to be humble.

Be encouraged today to stop being selfish and conceited, you are really not that good.

 David

Point to ponder: There is always someone better than you.

Question to consider: Do you believe you are the best of the best?

Be mindful

8 January  2013     

Philippians 2:1-2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

For those of you that have been attentive to this text one will note that there are so many facets about it that it may be used over and over again. I suppose when  Paul placed these words into this letter his intention was relatively simple, yet in it’s simplicity it has a depth of meaning. This again goes to show that all Scripture is God breathed.

In all of this text, this is a text that leads  in a way a key to Christian living, and how to live a Christian life. It is in the steady process of living a life acceptable to Jesus Christ and allowing all that we do to be scrutinised by the Holy Spirit before we do it. For we must seek to be united with Christ, before we seek unity with others; so often we have this the other way around. Yet in the same way we need to be mindful of others, when are sick we do not use this as a lever to get our way, when we are hurting we do not use our hurt to hurt others, we become what we fill our lives with. If we fill it with money, money becomes our issue, if we fill it with peace, we become peace.

Be encouraged today to  be mindful that the only Christian others will meet is you.

David

Point to ponder: You represent Jesus Christ.

Question to consider: Do others recognise that you are a Christian by the way you act?

One mind

7 January  2013  

  

Philippians 2:1-2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

There are those people who because of various reasons need to dominate others and be in control, usually as a result of past insecurities and failures. They find that when they are insecure, afraid and unsure they take it out on those that are under their authority or perceived authority. What often happens the spouse is bullied into submission so that the other controls the situation.

As a Christian we need to first recognise the behaviour within ourselves before we start to find fault with others. When love is the dominant emotion and not fear and insecurity one becomes able to allow the other to be who they are without needing to control them. The natural flow of this love is being of the same mind and slowly being in full accord with each other.

Be encouraged today to recognise when you are starting to bully someone else.

David

Point to ponder: Love is more important than getting your own way.

Question to consider: Are you a bully?