humble ourselves and pray

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

It appears from this scripture that pray is an act of humility. The opposite then must be pride. I have never considered this concept as polar opposites. I had always looked at failure to pray just slackness hanging around in the middle somewhere, the middle of what I can't really say, probably the middle of the mess created by lack of faithful prayer.

I have dedicated myself to prayer and am seeing fruit. I am partnering in prayer for victory in many key areas as well as a harvest of souls. It is happening. Why would I not pray?

I tend to fall asleep early and this past week have been woken at around 11.30pm to pray. I know evangelistic crusades are happening in Africa, what else I do not know but even that is enough. The joy of seeing the results is phenomenonal. Praise God! The joy of seeing souls saved and healed is the best! Amen!

my address

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 NLT

Each of us has an address, it might be temporary or permanent. However, the address says something about us. If we still live with family or friends, it says we are not yet our own person.  If we move around a lot, it can indicate instability or armed services. If we have no fixed address and retain a PO box, it tells others we don't know where we live or we don't want them to know.

When we become a Christian Jesus invites us to abide, or live in Him. He is home base, He is our security, He is our companion.

What is your address?

live as Jesus did

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 NLT

This is a challenge to most of us, as we don't. Remember the wrist bands that bore WWJD? They were a reminder, and for a time had an effect.  However, unless we have a heart change, we revert to our previous path. It is much like, do we love God with our heart, soul and mind or just with our peripheries,  our occasional thoughts, or Sunday face? Without us allowing the Holy Spirit to rule and reign we are poor imitations of Jesus.

However, possessed by the Holy Spirit, we are like Jesus and bring honour to the Father.

I am watching Daniel Kolenda from Christ for all nations. He is on fire and setting Africa ablaze right now with the gospel and hope. A man or woman on fire will do great exploits.  Amen!

the narrow gate

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13‭-‬14 NLT

A narrow anything implies difficulty.  If I am overweight, I struggle to get through. If I am overburdened, I struggle to get through.  Yet if I am, trim, fit, able and determined, I will get through.

The gate is narrow for a reason. It will deter the lazy, the incompetent,  the overburdened, the overweight. It is difficult for a reason, a purifying reason. 

A beautiful garden does not need riff raff trampling it down. It begs for considerate, thoughtful, appreciative people to enter it and enjoy.

The Lord of glory is in this garden. He wants our fellowship but not our junk.  People, when they talk, are often unaware of the junk they offload on others, all because they are given space. I do not like listening to junky talk. Lord make us aware! Amen!

the highway to hell

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Matthew 7:13‭-‬14 NLT

If it is good enough for Jesus to address this matter, it is good enough for me. It is a warning. We must consider our ways. 

When the media waxes eloquently about someone dying and now being reunited with their family, this may be all emotional clap trap. They may find themselves in hell, and far away from people they loved, or equally caught with them in torment.

This emotional rubbish that so clutters our lives has to be faced with the truth. The way to life is narrow and few find it. Jesus said that the road to life is difficult. Perhaps this is why people refuse to go that way.

We must keep in mind Jesus' parables about the seed and the soil, about finding the kingdom and selling all to buy it. We must have ears to hear. Amen!

remain

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

John 15:4 NLT

Another way of saying remain is 'stay put' , or 'don't move!' I have discovered that remaining in Him is the most fulfilling place to be, it is also the most exciting.

Staying can cost us. I have been measuring my steps to be faithful to the task the Lord has given me, a university degree in Linguistics. On Monday I invited a Wycliff bible representative to visit. She open my eyes to all the connections I have right here in Tamworth to serve in the capacity I am being trained to do. A local indigenous man has a desire to translate the bible into his Kamilaroi language. How good is that? 

Whilst remaining in Christ leads us to confront, which I also did this week, the peace that followed was amazing.

Another task this week brought is sitting exams. I have 2 more next week but then done for the term. Only 2 more terms to go!! Woo hoo!!

Remaining also brings surprises.  I received an email asking if I'd be willing to volunteer for our denominations state conference. I said yes as I am on holidays then, and it is at the beach. Woop woop!

God is good! Trust Him! Amen!

fruitful

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

John 15:4 NLT

How do we know we are in Him? We produce fruit? What does that look like? What sort of fruit does the vine produce? Disciples? Disciplined ones? Are you being discipled? Are you discipling anyone? Discipled people exhibit growth in character and then themselves go on to disciple others.

For everything we do, a test is created to examine that acts worth. I think the Lord must be a scientist,  this is exactly what physicists and chemists would do. It is very logical and practical.

Smiths Wigglesworth would say: if each day I am not changing in some way, then I am backsliding. A sobering thought. He also said, if I am not experiencing persecution I am not progressing.

Examine the life of Jesus, did He progress towards a goal? Yes! Was He persecuted? Yes! My greatest persecution has come from family. Many of the martyrs for Christ are persecuted by family. Jesus was persecuted by those He came to help, the lost tribes of Israel. His family even turned against Him.

When Jesus said, take up your cross and follow me, what did He mean? Remember, wide is the road that leads to destruction and narrow is the road that leads to life. Which road are you on?