Do you believe what you believe Part Two

"Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them."    Mark 11:24.  NKJV

Yesterday, we ended our study with, 'Here am I, send me' Isaiah 6:8. Let's carry this a little further.

We need to be careful of making this declaration if we're unsure of what it will cost us in our lives. What I mean is, if you're not fully committed to making such a statement, then don't make it, at least not until you're really sure. It's no use to God if we agree to go and then when we get there, do nothing but moan and groan about it. 

One lady told me that she had done just that. Both her and her husband and children, had moved home to where they believed God wanted them and for the first five years or so, she hated every minute of it. She even blamed God for putting them into the situation.
You see, if we're going to act this way, it is far better to say no. God wants people with a vision, not whingers.

Let's take a look at what Jesus said about this:

'61 Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house. 62 But Jesus said to him, 'No one having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'   (Luke 9:61-62)

These two verses should not be mis-understood. Jesus is focusing on the fact that serving Him demands a person's undivided attention. Half-heartedness eliminates us from God's maximum use. Jesus is after people who are willing to stand up and take the flak, to bite the bullet and get on with His work. He wants those who are willing to spearhead forward and further His kingdom. If you feel you can't do this, then don't say you will.

It really is time to get serious with God. We're not playing a game here. We're in a battle - a battle between life and death and Heaven and hell. Time is limited. One day Jesus is going to return for Christians everywhere. Notice that I said Christians. There will be those who get left behind. Some maybe from our own family, or perhaps friends. If we don't tell them, it may be too late, and they will get left behind. 

We have a job to do. There's a world of people out there. God's looking for workers who have the backbone to get on with the job.

Is that you?

Copyright 2019 Hazel & Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Do you believe what you believe

"Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them."    Mark 11:24.  NKJV

What you receive is directly connected to how you believe and what you expect. Do you really believe that God wants to use you for mighty works? If you pray for someone who is sick, do you really believe that they will get well? These are serious questions and they determine where you stand in the case of faith. 

Some people are scared of faith prayers. They find them offensive and when a person who flows in this type of ministry comes to their church, they become suspicious of them and feel that something is not right about them. They thought that about Jesus but it never stopped Him. He knew what the Father had sent Him to do and got on with it. What about you? Where do you stand in this area? Are you willing to believe that? If you're a Christian, filled with God's Holy Spirit, then God expects you to be available to Him. 

Look what Jesus commissioned:

'15 Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My Name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 They will take up serpents  and if they drink anything deadly it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.'     (Mark 16:15-18)

Are you doing this? Is your church doing this? If not, why not? This was commissioned by Jesus and He expects us to obey His commands. Do you have opportunities to tell people about Jesus, but don't through embarrassment or whatever? What if you are the only person they will ever see again. If you don't tell them about salvation, they will spend eternity out of Heaven. How would you feel if they said to you, 'What didn't you tell me, that day we spoke?'

This is serious business that we're in. The church is not a pleasure boat, it's a lifeboat and people need saving. They also may need healing. Jesus said to lay hands on the sick and they will recover. He didn't lie, but we have to believe that they will be healed. If you don't, they won't - be healed.

The church needs to take the commission of Jesus seriously. Yes, it's great to praise and worship Him when we attend church, and we should do that. But what about the other bits. While we are praising and worshipping, people are going to hell. We need to get the balance right. Belonging to Jesus is not an exclusive club and He wants others to enjoy what He has to offer too.

Isaiah wrote: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us', then I said, 'Here am I. Send me.'
                                                                                                         Isaiah 6:8

Would your response be, 'Here am I, send me.' If God asked you this question?

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Shake it off

"3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, 'No doubt this man is a murderer, whom though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.' 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that  he was a god."                                         Acts 28: 3-6.  KKJV

Paul had been on his way to Rome when the ship was wrecked during a severe storm. Despite, Paul's warning about this, they had to run the ship aground on an island, and allow the raging sea to break it to pieces. The seamen didn't recognise that the island was Malta because they had come to the other side of the island, which they had never seen before.

It must have been difficult for the apostle Paul. He had been arrested for preaching the Gospel, sent on a ship to Rome, had been shipwrecked and now was on an island in the middle of the ocean. Just look at Paul's servant heart. He gathered wood for the fire. There were plenty of others who would no doubt have done this, but Paul volunteered. He had a heart after Jesus. 

As he gathered the wood and placed it on the fire, a viper - a vicious snake - latched itself onto Paul's hand. It would have been very scary if it had happened to us, don't you agree? But Paul, remained quiet, didn't scream or panic, just shook it off into the fire. The natives had watched all of this and made an assumption that he was a murderer and this was his payment. Therefore, they watched him, waiting for him to fall to the ground and die. Much to their shock, he didn't, he was perfectly ok. They therefore, called him a god.

Whenever, we are faced with the fire of God - a mighty awakening of the Holy Spirit, the snakes will come and attack. This is in the form of people who may be demonised and do all they can to stop God's work, by calling it fake, a work from satan, or whatever else. When this happens, we need to shake it off and go on. Don't let it stop you from fulfilling what God has given you to do.

People will criticise you and spread malicious lies around about you. Shake them off and move on. They're attacking God, not you and I wouldn't like to be in their shoes when God deals with them.

People may upset you, don't retaliate. It is so easy to get home and think over what someone has said to you and then text them with a mouth load of verbals. DON'T SEND THE TEXT! Wait until the morning when you're rested and have thought things through properly; then, shake it all off.

When you're on Kingdom business, you'll never please everybody, so stop trying. Please God instead and shake the others off.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

God will supply your need

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"33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."   Matthew 6:33-34.  NKJV

We really must seek the Kingdom of God first in our lives. This includes, our jobs, our business, our homes, wife, husband, children and our marriage, just to mention a few of the important ones. Surely too, our health must be in there, without good health, we are very limited.

Jesus says to, 'Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.' Can you see what sticks out and hits us on the nose? Jesus said to, 'Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.' If we want an enriched life, we must place God first. He must be number one; the all important person in our lives. Yes, even more important than our wives, husbands, or our family. Let's face it, He gave them to us in the first place. He placed us at the right place, at the right time, for us to meet the love of our lives; and He wants us to cherish each other, but He must come first. There's no other way around it.

He doesn't want us to worry about things. We may lose our jobs and not be able to pay the bills. We may be facing bankruptcy. Yes, it is a fearful place to be at. But, He says for us to put God first and He'll take care of the rest. If you've never done anything like this, it can be a scary position to be in. However, that's where God wants us - totally dependant on Him. If we are prepared to live like this, He is committed to taking care of us - that's a promise.

I like what James Hudson-Taylor said in his book of ministry. He said about Matthew 6.33:

'If we can only wait right up to the time, God cannot lie; God cannot forget. He is pledged to supply all our need.'

Mr Taylor, wrote this many years ago when he had his ministry to China running. He lived totally by faith and God never let him down. He did though, have to wait until the last minute at times, before God came up with the goods, but God supplied for him.
Then there was George Mueller, who had orphanages around the Bristol area. many is the day when the children sat around the breakfast table, with no food. Mr Mueller would thank God for the food that was on its way. He was never let down; suddenly the door would knock and someone had delivered fresh food. This is unbelievable to read, I know; but it is true. These men, and many others, put God first and God was committed to supplying their need. 

I'm not suggesting that we all start to live by faith; although me and my wife did this for quite a few years and God supplied food, clothes and even a car. However, what I am suggesting is that we put God first in our lives. Read the text today, study it and take it to your heart. God does not want you worrying about anything. He wants you to trust Him with your life and whatever you may need.

Put Him first. You'll never regret it.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Be a Mountain Climber

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"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed."
                                                                                                  Proverbs 13:20   NKJV

When Sir Edmund Hillary succeeded in climbing Everest, him and his native guide Tenzing, were walking back down when Hillary lost his footing. At the risk to both their lives, Tenzing held the rope tight until they were both safe. Later when asked, 'Why?' He simply replied, 'Mountain climbers always help each other.'

They were not only companions, but friends too and friends help each other up when they fall. Do you get the picture? I'm sure there's been times when you've been helped up during your life. I can remember well, the people who have helped me. 

But sometimes we don't receive the help that we expect. It hurts, especially when something has floored you and certain people appear to take no notice. I've been there too. The thing is, if we focus on the times when we haven't been helped instead of the times that we have, we can begin to feel sorry for ourselves, it can hurt so much. We need to keep our hearts right.

The thing is, not everyone expresses themselves the way we want them to. We're tempted to feel that they're, 'not very Christian,' but there may be a reason they don't respond the way we feel they should. But there may not be a reason. They may just be that way. This doesn't mean they don't care, they just don't wear their heart on their sleeve like others do. We should never criticise them. Be grateful for the ones who do openly share and help.

Jesus was a mountain climber. he used to get up very early in the mornings, even before it was light, to go and pray, and this included climbing a mountain to find a solitary place that He could be in touch with His father. Can you think of the times when you've been faced with a mountain? At times it feels that you will never get around it, climb up it or go through it. The thing is, we need to learn to climb a mountain, or better still, command the mountain to be removed and cast into the sea. (Mark 11:23) 'For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.'

Therefore, if you're faced with a mountain, you have some choices, (1) Find someone who is a mountain climber, (2) Speak to the mountain and get it removed, or (3) Call on Jesus, who is the best mountain climber around. If you fall, Jesus will pick you up. Don't just rely on someone else to do this. They might, but then again, they may not. Save yourself from being disappointed and allow Jesus to lift you up and put you back together again.

If you identify there is a lack of mountain climbers in your area, set yourself up as one. If you identify that there is a lack of people who lift people up in your area, determine to be one. By doing this, you will not only bless people but you may start a trend

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

It's a con Part Two

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"And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
                                                                                                         Roman 12:2.  NKJV

Yesterday, we looked at the contentious subject of abortion and the Christian view. We also looked at how, if we take the first three letters of the word conformed, we are left with the word 'Con,' which can describe how the world may con us into believing that something is right in the world, when God says different.
Today let us look at perhaps a more contentious subject - homosexuality and same- sex relationships and marriage.

The bible tells us very clearly that:

'You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination."
                                                                                                         Leviticus 18:22.  NKJV

This includes both gay and lesbian relationships and how God feels about them. In a nutshell, He loves the person who practices this lifestyle but finds the act, an abomination. We are told in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: 'Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.'  Quite clearly the bible tells us that no one who lives such a life will not enter Heaven. This is quite serious.

There has been an upward trend in gay rites and, from a legal point of view, a gay person cannot be discriminated against. Pride rallies are taking place all over the world; even many churches are now willing to conduct same-sex marriages. Also gay priests are being accepted into the ministry. Schools can no longer teach the full subject of Christianity and yet teaching and advice on gay sex is taught that it is an acceptable alternative to what we have always accepted as normal. The thing is, God's Word is the final authority. He hasn't changed His mind on this subject. 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever,' (Hebrews 13:8). 

Many people feel that the bible is outdated. God is definitely not outdated and therefore, neither is His Word. It stands as it was written. We cannot take what is now accepted as an alternative lifestyle and fit it into what God has ordained. The bible - God's Word, cannot be updated. It is fact and actually, set in stone. What God said, He means and always will mean. This is how the world is trying to con people into believing what is not God's will.

This doesn't mean, that as Christians we can judge people who choose to live this way. We have no right. We do have a right however, to challenge what they say about God's Word. God finds it unacceptable and an abomination and that is final.

Does this mean that if we as Christians, have a family member who tells us they're gay, we should disown them? Certainly not! We should love them just the same and continue to allow them to see Jesus in our lives, leaving this with God himself. The same if we have gay friends. As long as they don't try to force their lifestyle on us, they have a right that we don't force our lifestyle on them. Jesus is in charge and he is very skilled in showing us the way forwards.

However, we need to be mindful that, because we're a Christian, we need to establish righteousness wherever we are and never allow compromise to take us over.  What God says - stands and we should uphold that Word and never bow to any other way of life.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

It's a con

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"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

                                                                                                          Romans 12:2.  NKJV

The world system is totally hostile and in competition with the things of God. If we're not careful, we can easily get sucked in. If we take the first three letters of the word, 'conformed,' we get, 'con,' and that is what the world is - a con. It is out to con each and every person believer and non-believer. 

The world is not genuine. People put their trust in the world; in riches, fancy houses and lifestyles, amazing jobs, unlimited cash, just to name a few things. However, it is false. Being the richest person in the world, with the most amazing lifestyle ever, will not get the person into Heaven. In fact, they cannot take this wealth with them when they die, it will go to someone else, who will no doubt duplicate this lifestyle. The sad thing is, many people can abuse this lifestyle. There is a starving world out there, many men, women and children are dying each minute because there is very little funding for medical supplies. And yet, some people will spend amazing amounts of money on drugs, booze and lush parties. 

This type of life will rob a person given the opportunity. We often read in the media that some film star, pop star or business person has died very suddenly. Many of these people are not happy. All the wealth in the world cannot give happiness or good health. many millionaires are not happy with their wealth and seek to get more, worrying about it all.

The world is in rebellion to God's ways. Dare I mention abortion, as an example? This is a contentious area. The world says it's ok and there is an army of people who would agree with this. However, God does not agree. This is totally against His law and it breaks His heart to see that the world is treating it as a normal way of life.

Abortion is the murder of an unborn child. It doesn't even get a choice. God gave life and yet, abortion can take it away, just like that. At times, it may be argued that through certain circumstances, there may be a suitable reason for abortion. But it must be a valid reason - if there is one, for taking a life like this. 

We have a mind and the ability to make choices. If we belong to God, we do not belong to the world, we belong to Jesus and we obey and uphold His word. It's called, 'Thinking differently,' It's saying, 'What would Jesus do here?' Or, 'What would He say?' 

As a Christian, each of us needs to think and do things differently. We are not a copy of this world but a copy of Jesus. Do you not agree?

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com