Made right

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus became sin for me, so that I could be free from it’s power. We all sin in many ways: in word or deed, however, when we confess our sin to Him we are set free. 

If I know Jesus has made me righteous (without sin) then I do not need to stay under it’s control. I do not need to yield to it’s power. Satan lies to us and tells us we are guilty of sin just because he plants an idea in our minds. However, we only sin when we act on Satan’s idea. He does this regularly in relationships, he suggests our family, friends and colleagues are doing selfish things to us and proposes we become offended. We only sin when we act on his suggestions.

Know we have an enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Tel him to get lost. Amen!

Greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world! 1 John 4;4. Rely on the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and direction. Amen!

Remain

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How does one remain in Christ? How do you remain married? How do you stay friends with people? By being faithfully connected! How do you stay faithfully connected? By being in constant communion with that person.

We cannot abide by casually reading our bibles, praying when the mood strikes. We need a love relationship with Him, a vital love relationship. This is found as we seek Him as our life force, our breath, our thought, our comfort. Comfort is not found in food or drink, drugs, spending money, or casual sex. When we give ourelves to these we allow them to take up residence, and we become their slave.

Jesus does not enslave us, He welcomes us into a love relationship. His ways we find in our bibles, His truths we find there. He is good alone!

Seek freedom in a love relationship with Jesus! Amen!

Blessed

““But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Ah but there is more:

“They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As rumours of war swirl, God is faithful and I need not fear. Today in Kathmandu there are two protest groups assembling, both hate the other and oppose the other.  China is reading for war to take back Taiwan and oppose those who would try to intervene, Australia being one. Australia is surrounded by Chinese war machines should they dare. Australia is caught with minimal defence, but God!

This event will purify the church and get her focused on her God! Currently she is distracted with ease. Ease dulls the minds and comfort isolates from truth. However, it does not prevent the enemy from preparing to devour.

Today I had planned to go to a NGO service provider on behalf of a refugee. I would have had to go through the mass of men assembling to demonstrate. I will need to find another way, perhaps email. God knows the need of my refugee and He is not hardened to his plight. I can trust Him!

Lord may Your kingdom come, Your will be done. Amen!

Prayer

“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Peter believed that the end was coming soon, perhaps he thought it would come in his lifetime. As we Christians study the scriptures and watch the unfolding of godlessness in our world we also say, “the end is near”. However, Jesus said when the gospel has been preached to all nations, then the end will come. We , therefore, need to go and preach the gospel, but, importantly, we should pray that all will hear.

Jesus said, ‘stay alert for you do not know what day your Lord is coming…. You must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect’(Matt 24:42-44). A way to stay alert is to stay in prayer and reading the scriptures.

Jesus used the analogy of a man who, if he knew when the burglar was coming to break in, would have stayed already and not allowed it to happen. Satan wants us lulled to sleep. 

Jesus warned that the devil roams around seeking someone to devour. He devours those removed from fellowship, lulled to sleep by entertainment, and not having their lamps burning brightly, because of lack of oil. The oil is the Holy Spirit. 

Stay alert! Stay in Christ, pray without ceasing! Amen!

Clothing

“You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others.”Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭TPT‬‬

My challenge is staying gentle. When I see compromise with the devil, allowing him to steal, kill and destroy I become angry. This causes me to be harsh and it is not the people I should be harsh with but Satan. I invariably have to repent and apologise.

Jesus became angry at the hardness of heart: “Then looking around at everyone, Jesus was moved with indignation and grieved by the hardness of their hearts and said to the man, “Now stretch out your hand!” As he stretched out his hand, it was instantly healed!”Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭TPT‬‬ 

This is what I want to walk in! Unbelief really gets my goat! Therefore, I want to display the kingdom of God and not retaliate against those with hard hearts. Help Lord!

I want to walk in the power and authority of my God, not wimp out in some corner somewhere! I find so much unbelief! I am constantly battling this beast! Many prayers are unwhealming, limp, wet rags! Our God is looking for those who believe Him! Amen!

Work hard

“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These words were written to Timothy by his father in the faith Paul. Paul knew how to work had and he suffered in his doing. 

What has God given you to do? Are you applying yourself diligently? I am in Nepal learning the language so that I can speak fluently to Nepali people the word of truth. However, whilst being a student I am advocating for three Pakistani families. Today I travel 40 minutes on a motorbike taxi to visit a Lutheran group who works with UNHCR to assist refugees. I am hoping to obtain a grant to assist a couple who are tailors buy their own sewing machines. I have been told to keep knocking, and so I will.

Later in the year I hope to have obtained a research permit and visa to travel to a place called Mugu in western Nepal. It is remote and inhabited by Tibetan descendant, a tribe called Karnarong. In June I am travelling to China and Tibet to prepare for this project. This trip is expensive but God has shown me how to fund it. He has also showed me practical ways to help my refugee families, my fortnightly stipend stretches in amazing ways. As I go to God with a desire to be obedient He helps me. It is not about me following my heart, but His.

Although I am 71 I have much energy and drive to fulfill the work before me. I do not have time to be lazy, I have a mission to accomplish.

I watch my son and grandchildren embark as evangelists back in Australia and am pleased that they carry the torch there.

What is your task?

Temptation

“We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.”1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I have found that investigation of solutions and seeking God in prayer works. However, sitting in the problem and wailing does not provide an escape. Neither is, ‘I’m going to beat this thing!’ Sometimes I must seek to understand the source of the temptation before I can solve it.

Not feeding on certain movies or books can keep you from the cliff, as in sexual temptation. Refusing to entertain fantasies about potential mates is another. I cannot give my mind to fantasies. I can only focus on what God has before me.

Food and drink can be a temptation to gluttony and greed. Not going there or having friends who go there is important. Get new friends! If you are strong enough set the pace for change with friends, if not, leave.

Lust for clothes, shoes, houses, cars can be managed by seeking God for His spending plan. If we think it is all ours, we have a problem. Seek God for what is seed and what is for food. Seed is for sowing, food for eating.

Temptation to lash out in anger is fleshly. Paul tells us in Romans ‘walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh’. God has a solution, seek Him! Mercy triumphs over justice. Think on that! Amen!