Speaking Jesus

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As I patiently wait for the language to speak to my neighbours, I pray. I pray daily and consistently for the place I find myself in, I pray for my home country and pray for the various people groups that stand out to me in the world.

I post these blogs and use social media to make a stand. I am travelling back to Australia on 26/5 for a month, I am looking forward to sharing my faith there. Meantimes I will pray for people to have dreams and visions of Jesus.

I cannot pretend that the role of sharing my faith is not a real one, it is. I am grateful that my son and his children are out there evangelising. Praise God! I am blessed to see this. However, I have a part to play. Amen!

Truth in prophesy

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Truth is not found within us, we are a fallen people. Truth has to come from someone that is pure and without sin. Jesus is the only man born without sin, who lived without sin. The above words were spoken by Him. He was speaking about the Holy Spirit who was poured out, on the believers in Jesus, on Pentecost Sunday. From that day timid fishermen became bold speakers about Jesus.

Not only does the Holy Spirit speak about Jesus, what He has heard from Jesus, He speaks prophetically about the future. The believer in Jesus carries the Holy Spirit  in their hearts. Under divine inspiration, much like Peter’s first preach in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit fills a person with vision and boldness. In the Book of Acts we see many such divine encounters and hear prophesy being given.

The prophesy of the Holy Spirit is given for edification , rebuke and encouragement. The Lord wants His people to be holy as He is holy. We are to be set apart for His work and His purposes. We are told to test prophesy. In other words prayerfully accept it and wait on God for His direction. If we are concerned about a prophesy given to us ask those mature in the Lord to discern with us the truth of the word given.

Jeremiah battled against false prophets in his day. The word God had given Him was dire, God’s people were going to be taken captive because of their sins, the false prophets told the people “all is well, nothing bad will happen”. Jeremiah was persecuted, however his words proved true. The Book of Revelation is filled with dire prophesy. It tells of things to come. It is the only prophetic book in the New Testament, apart from the words spoken by Jesus in the gospels. He spoke of the future and it was not pretty.

Having said all this, I am not encouraging anyone to be a prophet of doom. This is a heavy task and only given to true prophets by the Holy Spirit. A prophet must be recognised in the body of Christ as a prophet. Every believer can prophesy but not all carry the mantle of a prophet. Be wise! Amen!

Glory

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.”Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

If we stop and think about this verse, we come to realise that the skies tell a tale of the glory of a creator. The perfect symmetry, exact distances, the amazing uniqueness of the Earth, the Sun and Moon the smallness of our solar system in the vastness of space shows intelligent design.

A chance glorious sunset is enough to cause our hearts to wonder and praise. I come from Tamworth, NSW, Australia where we had the best sunsets. My flat faced the west and every day glory would streak the sky. I would find myself running outside to snap pictures and fill my phone wit sunsets all so diverse and yet so similarly full of glory.

I am now in Nepal and such sunsets are rare. Yesterday I was walking at sunset and saw a few rose -pink clouds and was in raptures. How easy I am caught with joy!

As an astronomer, I wonder at the constellations, the Milky Way, the distant planets. I appreciate the technology in the James Webb and Hubble telescopes that enable us to zero in on beauty hidden in the dark night skies. 

As a child of God I worship the creator of all this and know my God is real. He is magestic and worthy of praise. Amen!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=lCurAnLiwiY&si=-rAvJUJ0zjKI3Yrk

Words

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In this chapter Paul is addressing works of the flesh and giving a good reason for living righteously:

“And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.”Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In the book of Revelation we see something about the church at Ephesus. They were doing many good things but the one the the Lord had against them is they had lost their first love. When we lose our first love we become jaded with others and sink into the flesh. We start to listen to the accuser of the brethren and do and say things that are ungodly.

I have watched the opposite happen. I have a friend who frustrated me no end and caused me to react and complain. Now, I love that friend and fully appreciate him. As I have changed and continued to pray for him he has also changed, to become more godly.

 My constant challenge is to love the Lord like I did at the beginning. I was so thankful and joyful. May ai constant stay in that place for the outcome for the church at Ephesus was that the Lord would remove their lamp stand.

In looking at the history of the church at Ephesus there was a gradual decline, and it was eventually called the church of Mary. There was a debate about the deity of Christ at birth in the third ecumenical council. The church survived until the 12 century and now is in an area ruled by muslims.

If we want our faith to produce fruits that last we must stay true to our God. He is worthy of all praise. We would do well to continually come back to our first love. Amen!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=1E70xEt3wIM&si=62kkgzIdv0mFiZVG

Perseverance

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 NIV

Are you in a trial? If not you will be in some way. We are all tested and face trials. I am there at present. My flatmates and I have determined to praise our way through. I know Bill Johnson says the only thing that works for him is to dance, I could do that as well.

Yesterday, when walking through the neighbourhood, on my way to the swimming pool, I saw a crowd of brightly coloured women gathered outside a home on a narrow street. A band was playing and the women were dancing. Last night as my friend and I walked by there they were still dancing. My friend told me that Nepali people love to dance. It was a part of a wedding ceremony in which the bride is brought to the husband’s home. They will be celebrating again today.

This speaks to me, dance and sing and rejoice before the Lord for He is good. When we returned home we did a Bible study and then worshipped. I play a ukulele and have been learning Nepali worship songs. As we sometimes find it hard to agree on the tune I also put the song on the speaker to guide us. It was quite funny and fun.

This morning I awoke early with anxiety trying to him entrance however one of the songs was playing in my spirit. It kept anxiety at bay.

The ‘crow of life’ sounds very good. Crowns are a symbol of victory and rulership. The early athelete wore a wreaths like crown when victorious. David, after persevering for years being chased by Saul received a royal crown.

I claim this crown and will persevere! Amen!

No anxiety

“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.”Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭76,7 ‭TPT‬‬

Paul writes this from prison in Rome. The Philippians church was his first church in Europe. This chapter is full of faith and hope. 

Yesterday I was handed a problem which to me was a giant. I have no answer, but it is ripe for a miracle. I want to see my God’s glory all over this. What the enemy of God wants to use to destroy me, my God can turn into a feather.

Paul goes on to say in verse 13:

“I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.”Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I will sing, I will praise my God who is able to overcome all things. My enemy is not God! He is a thief, but cannot overcome the glory and power of God.

Let Your glory shine forth of Lord! Amen!

Destined

“We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭TPT‬‬

When I think back to my childhood in Bingara Australia, I see a glimpse of what God had for me. I loved linguistics even then, I drew people together even then, I loved adventure, and I loved the Lord, and His word.

However, I did not find Him as my personal saviour until I was 19. I had to leave my small town and venture to a large city south of Sydney. It was here I encountered two girls who knew Jesus personally. I did not know all that God had for me, I was insecure and did not have a vision for working in ministry apart from my nursing. At work I often talked about Jesus.

It was not until I visited a friend in Japan that missions became a factor in my life. In that time I was functioning as a pastor but longed for outreach to the lost.

I am now in Nepal and learning Nepali so that I can speak to my neighbours coherently. They would like to speak to me but I lack enough language. It is coming. My tutor is working hard on my perception and ear to hear the language. We walk each night and she quizzes me, I learn new words and put them in to practice.

When I read Ephesians the verse 1:18 jumps out at me, if fact I was dreaming about sharing it before I awoke. So here it is:

“I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling —that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones!”Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We have a hope of His calling for works He predestined us to do. He has had a plan all along. Let us seek it and follow it! Amen!