Tuesday 30 November 2021

Who associates with sinners? Jesus does.

"How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"v16   
                                                                                                          Mark 2:13-17    NKJV 

Discrimination was rife in Jesus' days, as it is today. Some say it has gone over the top. However, when a person is less thought of because of the colour of their skin; who they are or where they live, then it is wrong. The Pharisees were renowned for their pompous attitudes and deeds, and today, it is no different.

Matthew or Levi, was a tax collector; not a very popular person in their day because they were thought to over charge a person and keep the money for themselves. In the Pharisee's eyes, they were unclean because they worked for the Gentiles. and their whole business acumen was suspicious. Jesus' reputation was not helped because He spent time with them, eating, drinking and in their eyes, socialising. Actually though, Jesus' intention was to speak to them about the kingdom of God and that was all.

The religious leaders had misunderstood Jesus' mission and, so have many churches today. We see homeless people begging in the street and it can be so easy to give them a wide berth, thinking, 'If I gave them some money, they would only go and drink it away'. That may be so, but ask yourself, 'Do I have the the right to judge these people?' We don't know where they have come from in life or what has led them to be out on the streets. Yes, they may come from unsavoury backgrounds and have unwholesome intentions, but then again, they may not have. Some are genuine. I worked with ex-prisoners and people with addictions for some time when I was pastoring a church and I learned that they can come up with the most convincing of stories about what had happened to them in the past. Some were war hero's, ex veterans down on their luck. The thing is, I was not there to judge them, just to be discerning, show them the love of Jesus and try to help them in whatever way we could. We ended up opening part of the church as a day centre where we clothed and fed as many as we could. Many ripped us off that's true, but they were ripping Jesus off, not us. That was the difference. As long as we continued to show them love and meet as many needs as we could, we had done our job. We did have many successes.

The thing is, Jesus said, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance' v17. And this is the bottom line. People who need Jesus may not be dressed in nice suits and frocks but may be smelly and dirty. However, to Jesus, they are precious and lost.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
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Monday 29 November 2021

It is your turn

"Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.'                                          Mark 1:14-15    NKJV  

John was no more on the streets, his mission was near its end, he was in prison. He had fulfilled his mission and now, it was the time for Jesus to take over. This is the way it is, a person's ministry starts and then ceases when their mission is complete. From thereon, it is time for new blood to take over. It has always been this way; there was John the Baptist, then Jesus. Peter, John, James, Paul and the others then followed, the difference being here, Jesus was within them, guiding and blessing. Eventually, it is our turn. God always has a plan and will have until He comes to claim us.

Let us concentrate on ourselves You may be a believer or you may not. If you are a spirit-filled believer, God may be calling you to do great things for Him, like the others did. It may be full-on, such as a preacher, pastor or evangelist in a full time position. It may not be; your calling may be to tell your family, friends and work mates about Jesus, Why is this? Because it is your turn. You have the opportunity to serve God each and every day, just by being Jesus to the people you meet. If you are not a believer, you have the opportunity now - it is your turn. Don't take this opportunity lightly. The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is near. Do not miss out; we have to spend eternity somewhere and surely you would prefer to spend it in heaven, the alternative is total separation from God and from all who belong to Him - eternally. 

Eternity is a long time, in fact timeless. Jesus told us here that we should repent and believe in Him. You believe it when you hear on the TV that a new series is coming soon, why then, don't you believe when Jesus says, 'I am coming soon - believe'. 
Today is your turn, you have two opportunities:
(1) If you are a believer, it is your turn to serve Jesus anyway He wishes. Will you say yes?
(2) If you are not a believer, it is your turn to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Will you?

To accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, having your sins forgiven, say this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to accept You as my Lord and Saviour right now. Please forgive my sins and come and live in my heart - forever. Please fill me with You Holy Spirit. I give You my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

If you said this prayer, your time is fulfilled, you belong to Jesus. Serve Him, walk with Him and love Him. He will never let you down. That's a promise.

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Sunday 28 November 2021

In the Wilderness

"Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him"                                                                            Mark 1:12-13.  NKJV

The wilderness can be described as a dry, desolate and uncultivated region where little vegetation grows. It is burning hot during the day, especially around noontime, and freezing at night. In Jesus' day, it was roamed by wild animals such as, bears, leopards, jackals, dangerous snakes and spiders. Not a nice place to be on your own.

However, let us first get this right, Jesus was not alone; the Holy Spirit had compelled or driven Him there by a strong wind. He also had angels there to minister to Him continually. Israel had been in the wilderness for forty years, Jesus was there for forty days but, I am convinced that Jesus had the worse deal. He was isolated from civilisation, among the wild beasts and tempted by Satan. The word forty, is used in scripture as a considerable time and it was also considered as a testing time. In comparison, the Israelites repeatedly disobeyed and rebelled against God during their forty years. Jesus' forty days were victorious, demonstrating the power of God over the devil, when led by the Holy Spirit.
How difficult the must have been for Jesus; let us not forget, He was in His humanity. Just the fact that angels ministered to Him gives us the answer. It would have been very hard going, this is the reason for the angels, who would have given Him sustenance and encouragement.

There are times in our Christian walk that we, have wilderness experiences, where we feel so dry and weak. It can seem like everything is being piled upon us and, no one seems to care or take notice. You may be feeling this way at the moment. Be encouraged, this can happen to us all, you have done nothing wrong. There may be things akin to wild beasts around you, threatening to attack. They may be in the form of temptation, or bills that need to be paid but very little in the bank to pay them with. You may have family issues where words have been spoken that have hurt; you may have been ignored by your family or left out of something that you used to belong to. The pain or the humiliation may be so great at this time that you feel like you can't take anymore. But you can, for the same reason that Jesus overcome His wilderness experience. He was not alone, neither are you. You also have your own personal angels around you Psalm 91:11-13. You have the Holy Spirit to guide you and help; and you have your friend Jesus who knows what it feels like to be in your position.
Call on Him now, He will be so happy to help you Psalm 91:14-16.

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Saturday 27 November 2021

Determination, Conviction, Confession and Restoration. (2)

"Do not be afraid; only believe" v36                               Mark 5:21-24 & 35-43   NKJV

We saw yesterday how the woman with the issue of blood, handled her situation. Today, let's check out how Jairus did. Jairus' twelve year old daughter was very ill, in fact, close to death. He went to Jesus with a determination, fell at His feet and begged Him to come and lay hands on her that she may be healed and live. He confessed all of his heart to Jesus and Jesus could see the determination and faith within him. So He followed Jairus to his home.
On the way, Jesus was distracted by a woman who had been ill for twelve years. There was total havoc around Jesus as the woman was healed. Jesus spent a long time with her, talking to her about her faith and generally showing her His compassion. Jairus just stood there, waiting. What was he thinking at the time? Did he come under conviction because of his feelings towards this woman for distracting Jesus? To add to his tension, a crowd came from his home and informed him that his daughter had died; there was no need to bother Jesus any longer. Jairus' emotions must have been all over the place at this time; wouldn't yours have been in the same position? He had asked Jesus to come but, this woman had delayed Him, now it was too late. Conviction was just around the corner.Jesus heard this negative statement and said to Jairus 'Do not be afraid; only believe' v36. Jesus gave this broken man a Word of Life. Jairus said nothing and continued to his house with Jesus following; and this twelve year old little girl, was restored.

Note the reception that they received at Jairus' house. It was pandemonium, with people wailing and weeping aloud. This was sent to rob Jairus of his faith, but his determination remained; his trust in Jesus was still within his heart. Notice also, that Jesus would not allow the doubters to enter the room where she lay. There's some lessons to be learned here:

(1) Remain determined and keep your confession alive.
(2) Do not become affected by distraction  - Jesus knows what He is doing!
(3) Do not be tempted to have a bad attitude to people who may interrupt your time with Jesus.
(4) Hang on to your faith
(5) Do not allow doubters to rob you of your faith

You can trust Jesus with everything!
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Friday 26 November 2021

Determination, Conviction, Confession and Restoration

"Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you well. Go in peace"  
                                                                                                          Luke 8:43-48    NKJV 

A desperate woman with an appalling medical condition went up behind Jesus and touched the hem of His cloak. This woman had suffered an issue of blood for twelve years; had sought the help of physicians who did her no good at all, but still took their large fees. She was bankrupt, desperate and weak because of the illness. She was also, ceremonially unclean which affected her ability to worship at the temple or to have contact with people. Her physical condition led to financial, spiritual and social problems. In people's eyes, she was a reject. In Jesus' eyes, she was magnificent.

However, there was a characteristic within her that stood out, she had determination. She was determined to see Jesus and touch His cloak. She knew in her heart that if she did this, she would be healed. This was her faith and nothing would prevent her from doing what she had determined to do. 

In the midst of the crowds, she came up behind Jesus and touched the hem of His cloak. Immediately, Jesus knew that someone had touched Him. 'Who touched me'? Jesus knew she had wanted to do this but, He wanted her to admit to this. Reluctantly, after Jesus' enquiry, she decided that she must own up. There were three things that happened within her. She came under:
CONVICTION She came trembling to Jesus and fell at His feet pouring out her heart. Then:
CONFESSION She declared to Him in the presence of all the people, the reason she had done this. She took the risk that the people could force her away because of her being 'unclean', but after twelve years of suffering, she was past caring. She told Jesus how she had been instantly healed and, although scared of the situation she was now in, how elated she felt that her faith in Him had proven right. She then received:
RESTORATION The woman was made well and Jesus actually told her, that it was her faith that had done it. She had done what Jesus wanted her to do - bore witness to God and glorified Him. He then told her to go in peace - perfect peace, Shalom, Shalom.

Perhaps you are in a similar situation to the woman. Notice Jesus' compassion. He has it for you as well. Follow this woman's lead; she had a determination, no matter what, that Jesus could heal her and she went for it. As she did this, Jesus used her to come under conviction and then, confess to the people, that she trusted Jesus and that she had been healed. She was then restored. If this is for you, go ahead and seek your healing, right now!
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Thursday 25 November 2021

Watch that you don't have a great fall! (2)

 "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does God require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"    
                                                                                      Micah 6:8    NKJV Spirit Filled Bible

As we saw yesterday, there are some that think they are ok with God and have nothing to fear. They believe and that's all that matters. This is not the case however. Take a look at James 2:19:
'You believe that there is a God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble.'

Intellectual assent to a creed is not saving faith. One has to ask Jesus into their heart, submitting their whole life to Him. This as we know is salvation. It is the only way to Heaven. People may say, 'Yes, but I live a good life; I never hurt anyone'. 'I give to charity and I go to church every Sunday'. The thing is, it is not enough. It is all or nothing. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.'

God offers grace to the person who will accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. Grace is God's unmerited favour and undeserved blessing. It is His mercy offered to us - His people, who go to Him to be saved. Mercy means God's unfailing love, His kindness and tenderness, in fact, as we have discussed before, Hesed. Hesed is a Hebrew word, sometimes referred to as Chesed, a silent 'C'. It means God's faithfulness towards us. The full meaning can be found in the Strongs Concordance 2617.

We need to adopt the phrase, 'I do not earn God's favour and grace, Jesus earned this for me by dying on the cross, in my place. He paid the price for my sin' When we accept this, and ask Jesus into our lives, we will be saved and have no fear of falling. He holds us steady as a rock.

Our text today, is almost a blue print of three commands that the ancient rabbis found after careful study: (1) To do (Act) justly, (2) To love mercy and (3) To walk humbly with your God. This can all be explained as:
(1) REMAIN HONEST IN ALL YOU DO
(2) CHERISH COMPASSIONATE FAITHFULNESS
(3) COMMIT YOURSELF TO LIVE IN SUBMISSION TO GOD

If we can honour these commands, we are certain of living safe with Jesus and of sharing eternal life with Him, one day when we are promoted to be with Him, as He has promised. 
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Wednesday 24 November 2021

Watch that you don't have a great fall!

"Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation]."                                    1 Corinthians 10:12     Amplified Study Bible

Yesterday, we fleetingly looked at this verse together with v13, dealing with temptation. Today, let us take a closer look at verse 12 and the consequences it holds for the person who believes that they are able to conquer sin - alone.

We've probably all met the person who repeatedly says, 'I have never sinned'. An unbelievable statement, but some really believe this. I remember someone who was adamant about this, even to the point of defending her belief in an angry manner. She has died now and I often wonder how she got on when she came face to face with Jesus. It is a dangerous thing to deny that sin has never dwelt within you. 1 John 1:10 clearly tells us, 'If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.' Romans 3:23 states, 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' It is a dangerous statement to suggest that we have never sinned.

There are other people who believe that they are standing firm in their belief in Jesus and, this is ok. However, if they become too overconfident about this, they may feel that sin could never overtake them and again, this is an unwise place to be in. We are all subject to sin and temptation can take over us at any time. This is why Peter says, 'Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.' 1 Peter 5:8. Why would Peter have said this if we didn't have to worry about sin attacking us? 
Peter goes on in verse 9 to say, 'Resist him, steadfast in the faith'. Steadfast means firmly loyal, constant and immovable. Hence, 'Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord'. 1 Corinthians 15:58.

The devil is very sneaky, he has the ability to creep into any situation and cause havoc. He has characteristics rather like a snake and has a deadly tongue, lies in wait ready to attack, crawls into situations and then strikes and bites. Just be very careful. He is not your friend and he will trip you up if you give him half a chance. 

As long as we keep our eyes on the King of kings - Jesus Christ, we will have the victory and He will take us by the hand and ensure that we take the safer path. To go without Him, is very unwise.

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Tuesday 23 November 2021

There's a way out; keep digging!

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."    
                                                                                               1 Corinthians 10:13    NKJV 

From time to time in our walk with Jesus, the road becomes very difficult indeed, with temptation and spiritual attack coming from all directions. This is common to all Christians because God will test us to assess how we are doing and whether we are ready to move to the next level He has planned for us. These times come when we are least expecting them. God tests us and the devil attacks us, the difference being, God will help us to overcome the trials He puts our way, the devil won't. He will keep on with the attack until we are tempted to surrender. Never consider that.
It can seem that we are at the bottom of a mine and as soon as we try to climb out, something happens and we slide back down again. Do you know what I mean? You feel trapped with no way out. However, there is a way out, we just have to begin digging to find it. 
The Moody Bible Commentary, discussing this verse, puts it like this:

'Note that the escape is not the complete removal of the test, but is the ability to endure it.'

God wants us to have endurance so that we can remain steadfast no matter what is thrown at us. We will have 'wilderness experiences' where we feel dry and the temptation to do wrong is so strong. We will fall to this as well and then feel terribly guilty because of it. We will also suffer spiritual attack, sometimes so strong that we feel like giving up. However, Jesus will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear and when we are, will provide the way of escape.

We will have days when we feel like throwing the towel in and shout, 'I can't do this, the road is too difficult.' You may have felt this way every now and again, probably even now. When this happens, start digging. You are in a mine so pick up your spiritual spade and dig away by prayer and more prayer. In fact, if you can, sing praises. Remember Paul and Silas in the stocks? They did this and they had a major release. So will you. Praise opens doors and it stops the devil in his tracks. Never underestimate prayer and praise. It's a digging tool.

Jesus wants us to begin to stand on our own but, is always around when we need Him. But remember, 'let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall' 1 Corinthians 10:12. Don't become too over-confident that you leave Jesus out all together. Keep praying, praising and digging placing Jesus as your guide.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Monday 22 November 2021

'It's their fault, not mine'

"Then the man said, 'The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate'. 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me and I ate."               Genesis 3:12-13   NKJV

The blame game has been going since the creation and it continues today. People just do not want to admit to their faults and blame others instead. Just check the text out today. Adam had the audacity to pass the blame onto God and then Eve, 'The woman whom You gave to be with me'. Wow, that is dangerous, we should never blame God for things that we do wrong, He is no fool and knows the truth. It was Adam's responsibility, not God's and not Eve's either. He was there when Eve was tempted and should have spoken up and stopped her; but he failed to do this. Eve was just the same. She also had heard what God had told them both about eating of the garden fruit. She knew that this particular tree should not have the fruit taken from it. However, she did and also failed. But both of them failed to take responsibility for their actions and both used the blame game.

Charles F Stanley comments on blame, 'Sin impels us to blame others for our disobedience and folly, but God holds us personally accountable for what we do.' Let's be honest, we know when we have done something wrong, we just know. When we lie about this - because that is what it is - God hears and prods us to admit to the truth. This is why we often feel guilty; the Holy Spirit is telling us to admit that we were in the wrong, not someone else.

Marriages fail, with one partner leaving and blaming the other for the breakdown. The partner who leaves may become involved with someone else and uses the blame game as an excuse for their adultery, 'He/she didn't do this or that and it was all her/his fault. I just had to get away'. In a Christian marriage, vows have been taken before God and we really do not have the option to just walk away. God has joined us together and we should remain so. We can't just blame each other; we are both as bad as the other and we have to find the solution to remain together. We can't just end a relationship just like that. If a partner is violent, then this is another story and the other partner needs to be safe. However, many partners just take off because they've had enough and want a more exciting time. Let me just say, if you allow God to take total control of your marriage, He will put the excitement back into your relationship.

Beware of the blame game. We should always take responsibility for our actions. One day we will stand before Jesus. We will have no chance of blaming others then, for wrongs that we have done. Everything is recorded down and the truth will be revealed. It is time to realise these things. 
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Sunday 21 November 2021

C.A.S.T

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."v4    
                                                                                                         Psalm 37:3-5   NKJV

Keith Moore, Pastor of Branson Church in Texas says, 'When you want what God wants, for the same reason He wants it, you become unstoppable.' And it is true; God only wants the best for His children and when you get in position, He opens the gates  of blessing to shower you with His love. Now this doesn't mean asking God if you can win the Lottery. If He allowed that, you would be trusting in your wealth instead of in Him. You don't need this. It may sound nice and it may help you be secure financially; but it is not the way of God. He is far richer than the Lottery people anyway.

As our quotation from Keith Moore says, you can expect God to work when your thoughts and desires line up with His. He actually desires to bless you more than you could ever imagine. Have a read of Ephesians 3:20: 
'Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.' Note the 'power that work in us'. It's by having a close relationship with Him and by delighting in Him, that opens the way for Him to bless you. As you delight in all He is and all He does and approach the Throne of Grace with confidence, He is able to pour His grace and love into you.

Therefore, there is a need to commit each moment to Him, even when the chips are down; even in the scariest of moments and when all seems lost. These are the times when you learn that He is faithful and can be relied on to help, assist and lead the way through each and every storm. Jesus brings security. The word security means:

(1) Freedom from doubt, anxiety or fear which gives us  CONFIDENCE
(2) Jesus is our security guard, which at times gives us  ASSURANCE
(3) Freedom from risk or danger, which gives us             SAFETY
(4) Jesus is the only one that we can rely on and            TRUST

This all gives you the acronym of C.A.S.T, which shows you that you need to CAST everything over to Him and delight in Him for every moment of every day, knowing that you have a Saviour who is 100% for you. He is sold out to you; be the same to Him and you will never regret it!

 
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Saturday 20 November 2021

Why do I think this way?

"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."   
                                                                                                      Philippians 4:8     NLT

In other words, think about good things. Why allow your mind to be contaminated by bad thoughts? To think bad stuff is is a recipe for torment and fear. Read The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis and you will read how the devil uses his demons to wind us up and cause us heartache and aggravation by placing bad thoughts in your mind. Don't allow this. 
Your thoughts have a positive or a negative angle. A bad thought causes worry, anxiety and fear. It seems that from nowhere they appear in your mind and begin their task of causing you anxiety. The thoughts can be so convincing, that you begin to believe them, and this is where the problem begins. You believe the lie.
Are you open to the fact that your enemy, is attacking you by sending these bad thoughts? Think about them for a moment. Would God send you thoughts that pierce your heart, cause you fear and worry and lead to total suspicion and heartache? The answer is a firm no. Therefore, this is the time where you need to say, 'that's enough', I refuse to believe this thought. I am going to take it captive and make it submissive to God, 'We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ' 2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT.
You can tell the difference in a thought from God to a thought from the devil. The thing is, the enemy can blind you to this fact and uses such convincing tactics, that it is difficult to decipher the origin. Stick to the facts - God will not send you anything that causes you fear and anxiety. That's the bottom line.
A negative thought, when born within you, can create havoc in your life, marriage, home and family. If you're going through a bad time in these areas at the moment, check your thoughts and your reactions. Negative thoughts have the power to floor you. Just think for a moment when you see a doctor for test results, straightaway you can examine the doctor's face and believe that it is a bad result. What about when you're driving along and find a police car at the back of you. Straightaway, you can fear the worst, that you were speeding or there is something wrong with the car. Then of course, there is the dentist's. Just a visit there can bring anxious thoughts to your mind such as, 'This is going to be expensive and it will hurt.'
It is time to practice having positive thoughts. Look at the list above in our text, It is possible to train your mind to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Well straightaway, that is Jesus. If you think about Him, it is difficult to think about bad thoughts as well. The New King James Version, directs us to 'meditate on these things'. When a thought comes into your head, analyse it. Is it from God or the enemy? Think it through carefully and don't be tempted to act quickly. Take your time. The real answer is, would Jesus send you a bad thought? Of course He wouldn't. Therefore, get tuned into Him and train your mind. It really is the best way.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
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Friday 19 November 2021

What is the 'them' in my life today?

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."  
                                                                                            Deuteronomy 31:6    NKJV


It is so easy to become afraid and discouraged. When you allow yourself to get into this state, you find it difficult to cope or make sense of things. It can lead to despair. Notice the word 'them' in the verse today. 'Do not fear not be afraid of them'. Now ask yourself what is the 'them' in my life? What is it about 'them' that is disabling me and stopping me from getting on with my life?

Your thoughts carry a lot of weight at times. You can think your way into defeat so easily. Your thoughts cause you to worry about things that have not happened but, could if you allow yourself to believe so. Most of these worries never happen anyway, so there has been a lot of nervous energy used and wasted. 

Take a look at today's verse. Does this describe you? Are you strong and of good courage, or are you in fear of 'them'? Haven't you realised yet that when God says something, He means it? He has told you that He is with you and will never leave you. If you believe this, how then, can you worry, be afraid and be discouraged? Your fear contradicts your belief.

Identify the 'them' right now. What is it about them' that is so important that it is causing you unrest, fear, upset and worry? Ask yourself, what can I do about it? Well the best place to start is in God's Word. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, 'casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.' Then there is Psalm 55:22, 'Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.' These are not empty words; they carry life and as soon as you accept them and put them into action, you will receive the help that you need.

If 'them' is preventing you from living a happy life, it is time to take action. Start thinking thoughts of victory instead of defeat. Do you realise that you can think yourself happy if you try hard enough? And this is the emotion that your friend, Jesus wants from you. He wants you happy and content; He wants you strong and courageous and He wants you victorious in all you do. It is time for you to receive this. It is time for you to deal with the 'them' in your life; it is time for you to live a victorious life. Speak to Jesus about it and cast it over to Him, then enjoy your day. Now that makes sense!
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
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Thursday 18 November 2021

"I've had enough, get me out of here, Lord"

"And he prayed that he might die and said, 'It is enough! Now Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.' V4                                                1 Kings 19:1-18     NKJV 


Elijah had just had a major victory over 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. But often, after such exciting feats, we can often suffer bouts of fear, doubt and depression. The adrenaline has worn off and we are left alone with our thoughts. This is what happened to Elijah. The threats of death from Jezebel totally terrified him and he ran and ran, getting as far away from her as possible. The thing is, as far away as he could be, he couldn't leave his fear behind. It was still rampant.

Elijah was a great man but human just like us. He was subject to fear and depression but instead of facing it, he chose to run away, went into his own little shell and isolated himself. Does this remind you of someone? Fear had overtaken his faith and he went into the world of self-pity, asking God to end his life v4. He didn't mean this however, it was just the way he felt at the time. We too, can often say similar things when we are going through a bad time. Thank goodness, God doesn't act on this!

The Lord had Elijah rest, exercise and eat sensibly which is one of the best cures for times such as these. After a good old grumble to God about things, and he had rested, God told him that it was time to return to work v15. Even though he had been in such a bad shape, he was still God's man and he had work to do. 

And so do you! You may have been going through a difficult time lately. You may have fell to rock bottom; but wherever you are at this moment, God is there too. At the time of this crisis in Elijah's life, he took his eyes off the Lord and put them on to Jezebel and this is where the fear came in. Whatever you are going through at this moment, God is greater; and what's more, He wants to show you how great He is if you will only allow Him to. You have done nothing wrong, life events have just worn you out, that is all. It happens. Focus on God, do what He says and then, get back into the race for that prize. You can do this

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Wednesday 17 November 2021

Things can change just like that

"Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"v29     
                                                                                                             John 4:1-38   NKJV 

Jesus was on His way to Galilee and while His disciples went shopping for food, He went through Samaria. For many Jews, this was a 'no go' area. The Jews hated the Samaritans because of their cultural, racial and gender issues. However, as we will see, Jesus was willing to engage with them, despite the differences.
 
Jesus came to Sychar, a city of Samaria and sat down at a well. He was weary from the journey and the noon day sun was beating down on Him. A woman from the city came to draw water from the well where Jesus was sitting by. He asked her for a drink and despite their differences, Jesus struck up a conversation with her and eventually, revealing who He was, 'I am He,' challenged her because of the life she led, 'you have had five husbands, and the one who you now have, is not your husband' V18.
After more conversation this all blew her away, and leaving the water pot, she ran back to the city shouting, 'Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?' Jesus didn't criticise or judge this woman, He engaged with her, showing her that, despite their differences, He was still willing to drink water from her cup - something a devout Jew would never do. He didn't give up His own cultural, racial and gender identity in doing so but showed her a willingness to speak with her which opened the door to reach her spiritually. We should never ignore or reject the humanity of different people, as we seek to share with them the Gospel. Jesus gently and politely, challenged her, and because of this, her testimony was so effective that crowds of locals turned out and came to Jesus.

Notice a couple of things, firstly this woman had had no bible college training, she had just spent time speaking and listening to Jesus and this had a great effect on her. Secondly, Jesus made three distinct changes this day. (1)  His disciples were amazed at Jesus' behaviour and learnt the lesson of accepting other people's differences, without judgement. (2) This woman's life would never be the same again. She was completely changed. (3) Also the people of Sychar were introduced to Jesus and despite cultural, racial and gender issues, were able to accept Jesus and each other.

Jesus' beliefs were not changed, He was secure in His Father's Word; but He was willing to get alongside other people, leading them to believe without ever having to compromise His own faith. This is something that we all need to work at. Things can then change, just like that.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Tuesday 16 November 2021

Increase or Decrease (4)

"He must increase, but I must decrease"                                   John 3:26-31    NKJV 


With the popularity that John had, he could so easily have agreed with the people, that he was the Messiah, they would have believed him. However, he would have nothing to do with that. He knew his place and was happy and content with that. We should be the same; we should never attempt to be who we are not. We tend to copy and model ourselves on the people that we admire. Doing this, we end up not knowing who we are; and we live the lie. Like John, we should be content with who we are and with what we have.

If God wants to promote us, He will do. When we try to promote ourselves, we tend to become people-pleasers instead of God-pleasers. But notice John's words in verse 27: 'A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.' There is absolutely no chance that we can promote ourselves. If God wants this, he will do it Himself. The most important thing for us to do, is to be like Jesus by modelling ourselves on Him and no one else. In other words, 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'

We often hear the term, 'Give me more, Lord, give me more,' This is people's way of asking God to pour more of the Holy Spirit into them. This, in itself, is not a bad thing, we all need to be topped up each day. However, we should always seek the giver, not the gift. Many get this the wrong way around and bombard God with this request. It is far better to: 'Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you' Matthew 6:33. Seek the giver first - Jesus and He will ensure you receive what He wishes to give you.

You know, we can read the bible from cover to cover and not completely understand it until we receive revelation from heaven. Many people have tried to make sense of scriptures, such as Revelation. This is not an easy book to understand and we need the Holy Spirit to give us the necessary insight into what it is saying to us. The Holy Spirit gives us the revelation and tells us the truth and what is to come (John 16:13). He is the authority to seek; He is the one who will help us decrease whilst we ensure that Jesus increases. We need to be Spirit-led. 

Today, make the decision to allow Jesus to increase in every area of your life; by doing this, you will then be able to decrease.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Monday 15 November 2021

Increase or Decrease (3)

"He must increase, but I must decrease"                                John 3:25-31     NKJV 


When John the Baptist mentioned that he needed to decrease and allow Jesus to increase in his life, he was saying that he must step into the shadows, allowing Jesus to take the glory for all He does and will do and just be His servant. We all need to do this, however nothing comes easy; as soon as you try, obstacles begin to stand in your way. One of these is Disputes, which can cause three side issues - Division, Destruction and Devastation. Let's look at these:
DISPUTES  You will notice from verse 25, that a dispute arose between the Jews and John's disciples. Disputes carry a certain amount of venom and bad feeling and if not squashed immediately can lead to serious consequences within a fellowship and your relationship with God. Whether it is within a church fellowship or your own walk with God, disputes can overtake us all, so we need to be on guard. Disputes lead us to take sides and before you know it, one of the side-issues surface - Division.
(1) Division Disputes when not dealt with quickly will always cause a division. Whether we have bad feeling about what someone has said or done or it is about the interpretation of certain scripture, this is not helpful. How can Jesus increase in such an atmosphere if we have allowed ourselves to criticise, judge or berate a brother of sister? Sadly, division is a prime weapon for the enemy and many churches become split over it,
(2) Destruction Disputes can affect our walk with Jesus in many ways. When someone gossips, it can be received as the absolute truth and from there, we can allow ourselves to become involved in this behaviour. When we become like this, we tend to leave Jesus out of the equation. We begin saying things that may not be true - believing the lie that has been spread by the devil. We can also read a comment from a Christian writer, or hear a comment from a preacher, misinterpret it and tell the world to avoid the book or preacher. This destroys ministries and Jesus does not increase in your life.
(3) Devastation The results of disputes, as you can see from above, can have a bad effect on us. The results to a fellowship or to your own personal walk with Jesus, can be devastating. Think about it, does this behaviour demonstrate love? Does it promote Jesus? Does it build you up? The answer to these three questions is a big 'No'. All it does is promote people to use unedifying words, take very unwise action and cause argument and unrest to the people around and most definitely to your testimony.
If Jesus is to increase in your life, you must decrease. Jesus will never increase in your life as long as disputes are around, and, you will never decrease the way you should, if you are involved. To decrease means that you are elevating Jesus. One can hardly be seen to elevate Him with such behaviour as this.
Do not allow anything to rob you of promoting Jesus in your life. He is too special for that! Allow Him to increase, while you decrease.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Sunday 14 November 2021

Increase or Decrease (2)

"He must increase, but I must decrease"                                   John 3:26-31    NKJV 


There is no need for competition in the kingdom of God. We're not running a business. If John the Baptist had been competitive and running a massive building complex, he may have felt different about what the people were telling him, 'Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified - behold, He is baptising and all are coming to Him.' v26. However, it didn't worry John. He was secure in his relationship with Jesus. In fact, he said,'A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, "I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him" 29 He who has the bride is the Bridegroom; but the friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice, Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.' 
The size of a church can be a concern to some pastors and congregations. If the church has a lot of members then it must be blessed; however, if there is only a small congregation, concern may be shown by some and the thought conceived that, someone may be doing the job wrong. The thing is, if Jesus is there, this is all that matters, He is the one that must increase, not the church size. Let the people get this right and the church and the believer's life will grow vastly.
We as the bride, belong to Jesus, the Bridegroom. We belong to Him, not Him to us. He is in charge. Gratitude must be high in our lives because we belong to Him and because He chose us. Things may seem important to us but may not be to God; then of course it may be the other way round. We may not see or agree with what Jesus is doing, but we belong to Him and He must increase, He must have the lead, He knows the way.
Notice verse 29, 'He who has the bride is the Bridegroom; but the friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice.' This comes down to our relationship with Jesus. We can either be an obedient believer, doing all we can for Jesus the Bridegroom, but never really getting too close; or we can be a friend of the Bridegroom, something Jesus has called us (John 15:14-16) and share in His walk. He has given us permission to have this close, and wonderful relationship with Him. The choice is ours.
One thing though, we must never forget that we are to decrease and Jesus must increase in our lives. He requires the first place, the first choice, the first of everything. When He becomes this, He increases us, not we ourselves. There is a big difference.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 
 
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