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Building on a rock

““Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I have a friend who built a house here in Nepal and every time bad rains come his foundations sink. He thought he had built on a solid foundation but no, the sinking proves him wrong. He had instructed the builders, who were Nepali to not bolt the house to the foundations. Initially they refused but after the foundations sank and his house twisted, he insisted. His house is an unusual A frame house that came in panels. The local builders did not understand this type of housing. My friend’s example speaks to the need for our lives to be built on Jesus, not our version of Him, but actually all of Him. He is the rock! All of His teaching is good and brings life. It protects us, feeds us, rebukes us. In the ...
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Hidden

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus said: “where your treasure is your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). If we think about this and reason out what we really treasure we will have an idea of where our heart goes. The psalmist says he has hidden God’s word in his heart. This psalm has no claimed author, however Jewish scholars believe it was written by King David. It beats similarities to other psalms written by him. It is an acrostic. That is it uses the letters of the alphabet to start each section. He has done this in other psalms. David treasured God’s word. As we learn to treasure His word we delight in it. We seek Him in it. We look forward to Bible study with others. We feast on it.  When Jesus was being tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Jesus used the word to counteract Satan’s temptations. Specifically, when tempted to turn rocks into bread He said, “ it is written, ‘man shall not live on bread alone, but...
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The dividing line

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Have you ever considered the diving line between soul and spirit? No? Neither has I! Yet, in this scripture we see there is and that the word of God cuts between both.why?  Our spirit is where the Holy Spirit dwells. It is how we connect with God. It is the part of us that is wired for God and desires His company. The soul on the other hand is made up of our minds, wills, and intellect. Our soul is usually pitched towards selfishness and through it we judge. We judge our own thoughts, desires and actions. We judge others and we judge the word of God. Yes! If we are honest we do! We decide if God really meant that verse or if He really loves me and intends to bring me through. Now that we have clarity, we can see why the word of God divides these two entities....
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The word

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”  John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Who was the word? Jesus! He is God, always was God! In August I was in Amsterdam and had been out for the day, when returning to my accomodation I was met by three Muslim preachers. They tried to tell me Jesus was only a prophet and I took them to task.  After a healthy discussion, I prayed for them and left. I told them that Jesus was who He said He was. I told them Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father but through Me!” I will not fool around with rubbish about what men, who choose to deny Jesus’ deity, believe. I did not give them room. They ...
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All scripture

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”  2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Just think, all scripture was only the Old Testament, and as someone pointed out recently, Abraham had none and yet he was faithful. There was nothing written down until Moses. He was the first to be educated in writing. Until Moses there were only stories handed down. We who live in modern times are so blessed. We have all scripture on a small hand held screen. We do not need to turn pages, all we do is scroll. And yet we believe! Jesus said, “blessed are those who have never seen but still believe.”(John 20:29) the disciples were the only ones to see Jesus. They were blessed indeed! I am grateful for the New Testament. I love the gospels and see my saviour in action. I love the epistles that...
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Search me

“¶Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭AMP‬‬ I am so grateful that the Lord sees all: hidden thoughts; anxious thoughts; troubled thoughts; vengeful thoughts; judgmental thoughts. He knows me intimately.  He tests me so I can also see. When I think my heart is empty of resentment He gives me an opportunity to speak about a person and suddenly I also see my rotten heart. Yesterday I received communication from a friend. This friend carries a bitter spirit. Every time she communicates out of that spirit I taste bitterness. It is repulsive. This is the same when we do it with others. We cannot pour out acid on others, we must pour out life. I can hear my father saying: “if you have nothing good to say, don’t say it at all!” I hear Paul telling us: ‘Whatever is good and clean and lovely, think on these things!’ (Philippian...
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Rescued

“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬ I have read so many testimonies of people who have been saved out of the floods in Nepal and had a divine encounter with Jesus. They were not only physically rescued but spiritually rescued. They had literally been transferred from darkness to light, by God’s grace. In every instance there had been someone praying for their souls. This highlights to me the importance of prayer. I undertake daily to pray for those facing death, that they would have a divine encounter, be aware of their sin and be given the gift of repentance. Repentance is a gracious gift from our God. Without it we do not change. I find with every non-believer I have ever spoken to about Jesus, they have someone in their lives praying for them. Two such cases were, within weeks of experiencing an earthquake. God knows what is ahead of people. He knows their need better than we do. Jesu...
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