Posts

Telling people everywhere

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ When Jesus said, “even to the ends of the earth”, He saw in His mind what that looked like. I am sure the disciples had a more limited version. However, they did find themselves in far flung places. Paul had purposed to go to Spain, James the greater went there, Matthew was sent to Ethiopia, Thomas went to India, Andrew went to Russia and Ukraine, Jude and Simon the Zealot went to Iran and Iraq and Batholmew went to Armenia and India, Peter went to Rome and John to Ephesus. The Americas were not mentioned, nor Australia. However, the English, French and others took the gospel there. Their forebears had received it from the Apostles. God took untrained, unschooled fishermen, tax collectors, zealots and other unknown people and used them to take His ...
Post a Comment
Read more

How can they call on Him?

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Last year a friend of mine an I attempted to go to a remote village to do research and speak to the people in a particular village about Jesus. We were prevented. It was most frustrating! However, I then picked up a call to another area to educated the children about trafficking. It has had its own challenges. Every move has been resisted. When we want to go with good news into an area that is bound in darkness we face an enemy who resists us. This does not mean, “Don’t go at all!” But it means pray and see what God will do. If I have a cure for disease in an area then it would be cruel not to take the news to the people. I have such a cure for the blackened soul. I have a light in the darkness. I have a healer for all maladies. Yesterday I sensed someone praying ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fearing people

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.” Proverbs‬ ‭29‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Fear rather what God thinks is better! The fear of God is deep respect and honour. I am aware that as a child I grew up very timid. I had a school bully who kept me in line until I was 17 and she left school. The freedom I experienced was amazing. Until I finished school and became a nurse. The nursing system has it own bullies, which I discovered in management at the hospital. We all have a bully and his name is Satan. He and his minions seek to keep us pushed down and believing that  are worthless and unable.  However, how does God see us? How does He see our situations? What does He call us? He calls us beloved! He calls us sons and daughters! He goes before us and follows us with love and mercy! When He brought me to Himself He began to show me His freedom. He does not judge me but lifts me up. People may form opinions about me but He knows me! I am His! He is mine! Opinion...
Post a Comment
Read more

Flesh or spirit?

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Paul spells it out plainly here! He goes on to tell us what the attributes of both flesh and spirit are: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

No boasting

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I read something recently that reminded me of how grace controls my life. If I am good, I am good because of the Holy Spirit that dwells within me, if I am Holy it is because of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. I can claim no glory for myself. The good I do is through the indwelling presence of God. How do I know this? Without Him I am a sinner filled with fleshly desires and corrupt attitudes. He has His ways of revealing this truth to me. Paul says it this way: “I am crucified with Christ and I now live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me”. Galatians 2:20 By remaining aware of this I am kept safe from egotistical manoeuvres and attitudes. If I do anything worthy of praise it is because of Jesus and He must receive th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Doing good

“Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”  1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬ My young Nepali friend who had charges made against him for ‘religious conversion’ has been spared jail time whilst his enemies collect evidence. Normally a person is put in jail for 27 days. We who prayed are grateful, as is our young friend. Our young friend was doing much good, he had built a children’s home, was building churches and...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Spirit of Truth

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” ‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬ I am having to make a major financial decision by tomorrow and as yet I have not heard guidance. I am in a position where faith and wisdom disagree. A man of God once taught me: “if faith and wisdom disagree, choose wisdom every time”(Phil Pringle). My challenge is finding the wisdom of God, I have man’s wisdom. Perhaps the Lord has spoken and I’ve not heard or listened. I need clarity! Bill Johnson says God does not always tell him what to do but wants him to move then God directs, especially if he is at the wrong door. Perhaps this is the way. I cannot rely on the wisdom of man, it is fraught with emotion. Jesus said, “I am the Way!” I will follow Him! Amen!
Post a Comment
Read more