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Eternal Life

“I speak to you an eternal truth: if you embrace my message and believe in the One who sent me, you will never face condemnation. In me, you have already passed from the realm of death into eternal life!”  John‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭TPT‬‬ I do not need to wait until I die to pass from death to life, in Jesus I already have! Now, this is a mystery! How is that, although still alive, I have passed from death to life? In this world we hear much condemnation, yet here also, I will escape from the condemnation that matters. Whilst mankind might condemn me, my God does not! Another mystery! When I accept Jesus as my perfect sacrifice, the price had been paid. He redeemed me! These truths are what matters! Whilst the world is full of noise, only One voice matters! If Jesus said it, it is truth! His truth remains when all else is burned away! https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9ibJEyjVMsU&si=sU3BzuY6cWyT5CrQ

Making disciples

“Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭19‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Making disciples is not easy. They may know Christ as saviour, but taking Him as Lord is another matter all together.  I live with two women who have made Jesus saviour but have areas in their lives where they refuse to love the unlovely. They do not see the problem and believe, in their hearts, they are righteous. I alone can smell the stink of self-righteousness and pride. Taking Jesus as saviour is hard for Hindu people, without a revelation of sin and the need to repent and turn, they cling to their many gods. I can only pray for this revelation to come and be the light. I attend college with a Buddhist, a western man who practices Hinduism and a western woman who seems to believe in herself. As it was for me, it will be for them, only revelation can bring change. My own awareness of making Jesus Lord is a continual process. As ...

He isn’t here!

“He isn’t here—he has risen victoriously, just as he said! Come inside the tomb and see the place where our Lord was lying.” Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭6‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Jesus had told His disciples many times what would happen; that He would be treated brutally by the chief priests and crucified but that He would rise again on the third day. None of them heard the last part. This leads me to wonder if we hear God correctly. Do we hear all or only part of what He is saying to us today? Their minds were dull to the truth He was bringing to them. Why? They had another scenario printed upon their hearts. He was supposed to be the glorious king who had come to deliver them from Roman occupation. The fact that He was telling them He would be crucified did not fit with that narrative. What narrative do we have playing in our hearts and minds? What does Jesus want us to know? Jesus’ resurrection is also ours, He went to the cross to pay for our sins, infirmities and rebellion, He rose again in new life so that w...

Laying down our lives

“This is how we have discovered love’s reality: Jesus sacrificed his life for us. Because of this great love, we should be willing to lay down our lives for one another.”  1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Yesterday was Good Friday, we remember the brutal sacrifice Jesus made for us. His sacrifice was beyond measure. What He endured for us, the perfect, sinless Christ becoming sin, was the ultimate sacrifice. John is above telling us that because of the great Love Jesus portrayed, we should be willing to lay down our lives for others. Is there any comparison in me suffering a potential bad reputation for others? No! There is no comparison! We are so used to defending ourselves, or selfishly taking our own part and refusing to defend others or elevating others. Laying down our lives for the gospel is another matter indeed. There are saints, worldwide, who, rather than denying their faith or surrendering names of other Christians, are willing to suffer torture.  How  would we behave?...

By His wounds

“But it was because of our rebellious deeds that he was pierced and because of our sins that he was crushed. He endured the punishment that made us completely whole, and in his wounding we found our healing.” Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬ I want more than mental assent to this scripture today, I want a Rhema! This word is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, it pierces bone and marrow. It interprets and reveals the secret thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The Israel nation read this scripture and without a Rhema do not understand that it speaks about Jesus.  Jesus fulfilled this scripture, and this same Jesus will come again as they expect Him to come, as a victorious Lord and King. Each of us need to find the truth that sets us free from a darkened mind, to a mind that completely understands and embraces all that Jesus accomplished for us. He set us free from the bondage of sin, saved us from the power of our enemy. In desth we will meet Him, He paid f...

His peace

“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭TPT‬‬ The disciples were struggling to understand what Jesus was saying about dying and in a little while they would see Him again. He told them they could ask anything in His name and He Father would do it for them. They thought they had finally ‘got it’ but Jesus tells them they will all desert Him and leave Him to face the cross alone. However, even in this knowledge He tells them this last passage of scripture. We may, at times desert our Lord or feel like we have, He has not given up on us and sees beyond our failure, just as He did the disciples. They were the closest to Him in human terms but they still ran in fear. We can be courageous, for He has indeed conquered the world and the ruler of this w...

Seated

“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬ What is ‘this’ mentioned above? “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ We are made holy by the faithful sacrifice of Jesus. Holy means set apart. We do not belong to the world, we belong to Jesus. If we have accepted His offer of salvation we are now His. We therefore must walk and live as His. How do we live as His? We keep our eyes on Him, the prize. We run the race looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). We do not stop and sit in the mess, we discipline ourselv...

Servanthood

“But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world Lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭25‬-‭28‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus taught this as James and John had their mother come to Jesus and ask that her two sons be able to sit with Him in His kingdom, one on the right and the other on the left. When the other disciples heard about it they were indignant. This was not the only wicked thing they did, their request came just after Jesus had told them He would be beaten and killed by the leaders in Jerusalem. There seems to have been no compassion for His suffering just greedy desire. As I read these passages I am mindful that two people have w...

The word

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Jesus is the ‘word of God’. As I study scripture I see Him everywhere. He holds the Old Testament and appears randomly among men. I can see Him walking with Old Testament saints. In the New Testament I see Him fully in the gospels and then His influence remains in the Epistles. In the above scripture John was testifying about the Jesus He knew for three years on this earth. There were others who knew Him the longest: his mother Mary and her children. However, He was not accepted as Messiah by His siblings until He rose from the dead. Now we can read their experiences in James and Jude. John has captured Jesus the best. He has been given divine insight. How he describes Jesus here is deep and meaningful. We know how treasured the Bible is by watching persecuted Christian’s receive their first Bibl...

The King comes!

“As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭36‬-‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Today is Palm Sunday. Today begins the final week leading up to the cross. Jesus’ disciples and His followers were shouting praises because they believed He was the Messiah king who would deliver them from Roman occupation. They failed to realise He was about to do something abhorrent , they had failed to recognise their deeper need to be free from the penalty of their sins. We can come to God wanting Him to do something amazing, in our eyes, when He is more interested in our heart transformation. The only way we could become sinless is by the sacrifice of a perfect lamb. Jes...

My shield

“But in the depths of my heart I truly know that you, Yahweh, have become my Shield; You take me and surround me with yourself. Your glory covers me continually. You lift high my head.” Psalms‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭TPT‬‬ I can know this as I become more aware of the Holy Spirit within me. He is for me and not against me. He is interested in my welfare. He is listening to my heart cry. The more I wait on God,the more I know He is for me. He goes before me, He surrounds me with His love. I do not need to fear, He is with me. The more I read His word, the more that truth is in me, the more time I spend in worship the more my innermost being resonates with His songs. My spirit is alive! It is well within me! The psalmist goes on to say: “So now I’ll lie down and sleep like a baby— then I’ll awake in safety, for you surround me with your glory. Even though ten thousand dark powers prowl around me, I won’t be afraid.” Psalms‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Daivid wrote this Psalm when he fled from his son Absalom. ...

Unity

“Now may God, the source of great endurance and comfort, grace you with unity among yourselves, which flows from your relationship with Jesus, the Anointed One.” Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Our relationship with Jesus causes us to love others with patience and endurance. In ourselves we are impatient and selfish, whereas, Jesus patiently taught His disciples how to live in unity. At the last supper He took a bowl of water and washed their feet: “After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I just did?” Jesus said. “You’ve called me your teacher and Lord, and you’re right, for that’s who I am. I  speak to you timeless truth: a servant is not superior to his master, and an apostle is never greater than the one who sent him. So now put into practice what I have done for you, and you will experience a life of happiness enriched with untold blessings!” ‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭12-‭17‬ ‭TPT‬‬ The disciples were contifnually fighting as to ...

Looking

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Jesus gave us an example of looking. He told about a woman who had lost one silver coin and searched diligently throughout the house until she found it. When she found it she gathered her friends and told them about the find (Luke 15:8-10) I am challenged by this! Is my search for the Lord wholehearted? What is stopping me from this wholehearted search? When my search is wholehearted I find Him and my delight is complete.

Drinking deep

“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.  (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” John‬ ‭7‬:‭38, 39‬ ‭NLT‬‬ We are offered the ability to drink from living waters. This is a divine gift. The cost is humility, that’s all. Coming in humility we find delightful waters that satisfy better than any drink ever made by man. Yesterday I saw an add for Pepsi Cola, it was made to be the world’s version of living water. It’s not! It is a temporal satisfaction of a natural thirst. However, deep within us is a thirst for the divine. We can attempt to satisfy this thirst with natural treats but they only minister to our flesh. Our spirit needs ‘living water’. The Lord is drawing me into His world, I am desiring more of Him. When I fast and press into Him ...

Ask, seek, knock

““Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ The criteria is to continue asking, seeking and knocking. Jesus goes on to say: ““You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬ We can then assume that our Heavenly Father hears us and knows how to respond when we ask. We must ask in faith, believing that He will respond to us and we also must ensure that what we ask for is not to spend on our flesh. For example, “God give me a car, a house, a good job etc” how w...

Longing

“I long to drink of you, O God, to drink deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from your presence. My longings overwhelm me for more of you!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬ ‭TPT‬‬ Being in Nepal and away from delights back in Australia, I could find myself longing to see the sea; longing to shop in a grocery store that had all the things available that are not here in Nepal;’longing to see family. However, I must say my greatest longing is for the river of God. Finding spirit filled English speaking churches has been hard, in fact I haven’t found one yet. I’ve been here almost three years. So, for me, I be determined to find the river in my bedroom. I am willing to fast and pray until the breakthrough comes. There are so many of my prayer that have had no answers, but when I fast the answers come. Saturday I fasted and that night I had a call from a grandson saying, “Nan I have had a huge revelation in my relationship with God!” It was not where I expected it to come but it was most welcome....

Sorrow

“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.”  2 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Do you know the difference? Does your sorrow prompt change or does the problem continue? This is the test! Is their fruit of repentance? Sometimes to find the sorrow that results in salvation we might need to fast. Yes fast! Food should not have such a strong hold on us. Ask the Holy Spirit to help. Yesterday I wanted to fast, as there were many things I wanted to see broken in my life and those around me. I had a godly desire. The fast was easy and it took me to a hunger for more of God. I love it when I find Him in the fast. Last night I heard from a family member, who was one of those I had been praying for. He had a ‘big-time’ encounter with God. That was quick! I now have a greater desire to fast, not for myself or weight loss but fo...

When I am afraid

“But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬ These verses come from a Psalm David wrote over 3,000 years ago. David had escaped from Saul who was trying to kill him. He went to Gath in the Phillistine territory. However, when it was reported that this man, David, was a mighty warrior from Judah, the same one who had killed Goliath, he knew he was in trouble. He feigned madness and escaped. David was in real trouble and had good reason to be afraid. Not only was King Saul trying to kill him, King Achish of the Phillistines would have done him harm also had he not pretended to be mad and escaped. Right now we watch the war against Iran unfold. Israel is being bombed, relentlessly. The Middle Eastern countires are also under attack from Iran. Shipping through the straight of Hormuz (the sea between Iran and United Arab Emirates) has come to a...

Rest

“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.” Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬ The rest here is a deep soul rest, it has nothing to do with what I can contrive, but what my God gives me as I come to Him. I have just woken from sleep and do not, naturally, feel rested, due tot eh fact that for over a week Inhad been battling a nasty cold. Although I had plenty of sleep my body craves more. It can have it tonight. Yet my spirit is at rest knowing God has me and He is in control. He knows exactly where He is taking me. Today I attend college. The lesson may be difficult but I will press on as I am in Nepal to learn the language and use it to communicate with the Nepali people. How long I will be here is His decision, not mine. I will trust Him to take me forward.

Goodness and mercy

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Being pursued by a lover is good, in fact the greatest lover pursues me. He is faithful, loving and kind. He has sent goodness and mercy after me, He goes before me! What more could I want? Many are pursued by evil out to destroy them and those around them. However, having God in our lives ensues He replaces evil with Himself. Elisha was a prophet of God. When the king of Aram found out that Elisha knew every move he was making he determined to kill Elisha. However, even though the Aramian army surrounded his house, he saw the armies of heaven surrounding them. (2 Kings 6). Elisha saw what we need to see, God is with us! God is for me! Who can be against me? Amen!