"You did not choose Me, but I chose you." John 15:16. NKJV
How are you feeling today? You may have woken up still tired and filled with the knowledge that you have so much to do today, it's unbelievable. (a) You may have to go to work (b) get the kids ready for school and then go to work (c) Clean the house and then do the gardening (d) Take the dog for a walk. The list of chores can be never ending and many times you may struggle to do them because of the way you feel.
The mainstay of your problem, can be your thoughts. You can wake up with an agenda that seems impossible to meet and your thoughts can feed you with exaggerated lies and negativity. You need to take hold of your thought life and make them submissive (Read 2 Corinthians 10:4-5) because they lead you to worry and depression. You can become overwhelmed by your thoughts and this can ruin your day.
One thing I do know, is that we have a friend who wants to be involved in our lives every moment of every day. Just think, the nights when you just can't sleep - Jesus is there, right there with you. Those mornings when you wake up burdened by what your day includes - Jesus is there, saying, 'We'll do it together, there's not much to do anyway.' Those places that you have to go but you're dreading the thought of it - Jesus is there, saying, 'Don't fret, we'll have a good time together, no matter what.'
Our friend Jesus, is right beside us in every situation but we have to seek Him. What I mean is, if we don't recognise that he's with us; if we don't talk to Him and leave Him out of everything, He can't really be involved. We have to make a choice to involve Him in everything or leave Him out.
Don't forget that He made a choice about you. 'You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.' (John 15:16). What an amazing verse! The King of kings, Jesus Christ, who was there at the beginning of time, chose you. You didn't choose Him. he considered you worthy to die for and be His friend. therefore He chose you.
It doesn't really matter what type of day you have before you. If you allow Him, He'll accompany you and help you through each and every step.
What is bothering you at this time? What is robbing you of your peace and making you feel miserable or stressed out? Jesus knows, you don't really need to tell Him, He knows already and all you need to do is say, 'Lord, help me please.'
Now that's not too difficult is it? He's 100% interested. You're selected by God; hand-picked and part of His elect. I have no proof of this, but God probably talks about you all day. He loves you so much. You like to talk to others about your kids and family, don't you? So does God, He just can't help it.
Right now, give your day, filled with busy-ness or boredom and ask Him to share this day with you. He wants you to have a good day, whatever has happened. You are very special to Him, and He wants to build you back up again; take the pain and loneliness away and give you life in abundance. (John 10:10)
Feel good about yourself; you're one of the chosen one's.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
This is a blog that centres on Jesus Christ - my Lord and Saviour. My aim is to describe how He has helped over the years, together with offering daily teaching and encouragement
Wednesday 11 September 2019
Tuesday 10 September 2019
Shalom Shalom
"(3) You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Because he trusts in You. (4) Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength."
Isaiah 26:3-4. NKJV
In the Hebrew, repetition communicates intensity, therefore the term isn't just Shalom, but Shalom Shalom, which means perfect peace.
There is an important clause here in verse 3. It says, that the Lord shall keeps us in perfect peace - WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU! In the New Living Translation, it reads, 'whose thoughts are fixed on You.' It is God's intention that we remain not only in peace, but in perfect peace - nothing missing, nothing broken. He wants us to live and try to make our world a better place to live in. How? By blessing people, not by cursing them with criticisms and judging all that people do.
However, for us to live in perfect peace, we must keep our focus by keeping our minds stayed upon God. We must have our thoughts fixed on Him. If we say that we do this, or intend to do in the future and then begin to worry when something goes wrong, or when a large bill drops on the mat, then we are not keeping our thoughts fixed on Him; we're not living in perfect peace. In fact, we're fooling ourselves.
Jesus told us not to worry (Matthew 6:31) but to trust in God, who will supply our needs and take care of us. If we believe this and live this way, we're living in perfect peace. If not, then really we are disobeying Jesus because He told us not to worry.
Are you the type of person who tries to help God? You know, you pray to Him about something and instead of leaving it with Him, you try to manufacture things, to make it happen. God doesn't need your help. He's pretty good at sorting things out; far better than we could ever be.
All He wants you to do, is live in perfect peace - shalom shalom. Many Jewish people greet each other with this phrase. They bless who they greet by giving them health, happiness, well-being and peace. Why not try it yourself, the next time you have contact with a Christian brother or sister. Say to them shalom shalom and bless them with:
Isaiah 26:3-4. NKJV
In the Hebrew, repetition communicates intensity, therefore the term isn't just Shalom, but Shalom Shalom, which means perfect peace.
There is an important clause here in verse 3. It says, that the Lord shall keeps us in perfect peace - WHOSE MIND IS STAYED ON YOU! In the New Living Translation, it reads, 'whose thoughts are fixed on You.' It is God's intention that we remain not only in peace, but in perfect peace - nothing missing, nothing broken. He wants us to live and try to make our world a better place to live in. How? By blessing people, not by cursing them with criticisms and judging all that people do.
However, for us to live in perfect peace, we must keep our focus by keeping our minds stayed upon God. We must have our thoughts fixed on Him. If we say that we do this, or intend to do in the future and then begin to worry when something goes wrong, or when a large bill drops on the mat, then we are not keeping our thoughts fixed on Him; we're not living in perfect peace. In fact, we're fooling ourselves.
Jesus told us not to worry (Matthew 6:31) but to trust in God, who will supply our needs and take care of us. If we believe this and live this way, we're living in perfect peace. If not, then really we are disobeying Jesus because He told us not to worry.
Are you the type of person who tries to help God? You know, you pray to Him about something and instead of leaving it with Him, you try to manufacture things, to make it happen. God doesn't need your help. He's pretty good at sorting things out; far better than we could ever be.
All He wants you to do, is live in perfect peace - shalom shalom. Many Jewish people greet each other with this phrase. They bless who they greet by giving them health, happiness, well-being and peace. Why not try it yourself, the next time you have contact with a Christian brother or sister. Say to them shalom shalom and bless them with:
The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you,
The Lord lift up His countenance
upon you, and give you peace. shalom shalom
Number 7:24-26
So keep your thoughts fixed on Him - all of them. Cast any problems or burden upon Him and trust Him. Then be filled with shalom shalom - perfect peace.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
Monday 9 September 2019
Re-focus before you're consumed
"(1) If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. (2) Set you mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:1-2. NKJV
'If you don't redirect your focus, the problem will consume your life. ' Kenneth Copeland 2005
This means either focus on the problem or be grateful that other things are going well in your life, for instance, having gratitude. Sometimes though, it is so easy to focus on the wrong things. It may be something like a disability and this may lead to a 'Woe is me,' type attitude. You can begin feeling sorry for yourself by allowing thoughts such as, 'It's just not fair'. As long as we focus on this, it will consume us and our faith will begin to dwindle.
Think what is going well for you. "Not a lot,' you may say. Well you're alive for one thing. Many who have died would give anything to be in the place that you are at this time. You have life, they don't.
We can remain where we are or re-focus - on Jesus and what He has done for us. The old chorus goes:
P Doddridge
'If you don't redirect your focus, the problem will consume your life. ' Kenneth Copeland 2005
This means either focus on the problem or be grateful that other things are going well in your life, for instance, having gratitude. Sometimes though, it is so easy to focus on the wrong things. It may be something like a disability and this may lead to a 'Woe is me,' type attitude. You can begin feeling sorry for yourself by allowing thoughts such as, 'It's just not fair'. As long as we focus on this, it will consume us and our faith will begin to dwindle.
Think what is going well for you. "Not a lot,' you may say. Well you're alive for one thing. Many who have died would give anything to be in the place that you are at this time. You have life, they don't.
We can remain where we are or re-focus - on Jesus and what He has done for us. The old chorus goes:
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away,
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day,
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away.
P Doddridge
We also sing, 'Through the storm, He is Lord, Lord of all.' You know something, soldiers get shot at and blown up and many have horrific injuries and disabilities. Yes, they may have bad feelings about it all at first, but then, they fight back and get on with their life, no matter what their disability is, they fight on.
Do you know something? You're a soldier as well. Your Commanding Officer is Jesus Christ, you know, the one who died on the cross just for you. The one who had nails pierced into His hands and feet, was laughed at; spat on and whipped so badly that His back was ripped open. Did He moan about it. NO. He was heard to say, 'Father, forgive them because they do not know what they do.' Luke 23:34. ‘Yes, but He was the Son of God.’ True, but He was also human at that time. He hurt, He bled, He had feelings. Don’t let us forget that.
Millions of people have disabilities and it can be difficult to live with at times, believe me, I know. The thing is, if you keep focusing on this, you will miss out on the many blessings that God has in store for you.
As the old chorus above says, you need to live your life in such a way that you live, 'rejoicing every day.' Hard to do? You bet it is. Beneficial, you bet it is.
Start living your life with with these words on your breathe,
'Happy day, happy day
When Jesus washed my sins away.'
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
Sunday 8 September 2019
Don't lose your persistence
"(41) Then Elijah said to Ahab, 'go up, eat and drink for there is the sound of abundance of rain.' (42) So Ahab went to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground and put his face between his knees, (43) and said to his servant, 'Go up now, look towards the sea,' So he went up and looked and said, 'There is nothing.' And seven times he said, 'Go again.' (44) Then it came to pass the seventh time that he said, 'There is a cloud as small as a man's hand rising out of the sea.' So he said, 'Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you." 1 Kings 18:41-44 NKJV
Before this time, Elijah had prayed that there would be no rain and therefore there had been none for 3 Years and 6 months, causing a drought on the land. This was because the pagan god, Baal, professed to be the Sky god or weather god, creating a large following of the people.
As time went on, God called Elijah to go to Ahab and tell him that rain would come once again on the land. There was a humiliating contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal where Elijah had challenged the prophets of Baal to see who could call down fire on a bull that had been prepared for sacrifice. No matter how much they tried, the prophets of Baal failed to call down the fire. Eventually, Elijah, on God's direction, prepared an altar and fire came down and consumed the burnt sacrifice. The people believed and the prophets of Baal were gathered together and executed.
Therefore, Elijah knew that it was time to pray for rain. He went up Carmel to pray, bowing down before God. Seven times he asked his servant to go and look out to sea and for six times the servant gave the answer, 'There is nothing.' Many people at this stage, would have given up believing that they had not heard God properly. Not Elijah, he had told Ahab that he had heard the sound of abundant rain - the sound of a large thunder storm. He was not going to give up at all. On the seventh time, the servant reported that he could see a cloud, the size of a man's hand. Elijah knew this was it and sent the servant to warn Ahab to get in his chariot and head off before the rain fell.
If you don't have persistence, then not very much is going to happen, in fact, you may miss out on all that God has for you. We need to accept the small blessings to make way for the bigger ones. Don't forget, massive oak trees grow from small acorns. Some times, what we receive from God we may feel insignificant. Don't ever be tempted to feel this way. As Bob Gass used to say, 'Walt Disney began with a mouse.'
Following our prayers, we may have a promise from God to provide for us in some way. This doesn't mean that we stop praying for this. We should carry on until we see fulfilment of that promise. Even though his servant said those faithless words, 'There is nothing,' he still carried on. People who know that you're waiting for God on something, may come and say that perhaps you haven't heard God properly. If you believe God, don't give up. Hang on to your prayer - your dream and look for that small cloud.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Before this time, Elijah had prayed that there would be no rain and therefore there had been none for 3 Years and 6 months, causing a drought on the land. This was because the pagan god, Baal, professed to be the Sky god or weather god, creating a large following of the people.
As time went on, God called Elijah to go to Ahab and tell him that rain would come once again on the land. There was a humiliating contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal where Elijah had challenged the prophets of Baal to see who could call down fire on a bull that had been prepared for sacrifice. No matter how much they tried, the prophets of Baal failed to call down the fire. Eventually, Elijah, on God's direction, prepared an altar and fire came down and consumed the burnt sacrifice. The people believed and the prophets of Baal were gathered together and executed.
Therefore, Elijah knew that it was time to pray for rain. He went up Carmel to pray, bowing down before God. Seven times he asked his servant to go and look out to sea and for six times the servant gave the answer, 'There is nothing.' Many people at this stage, would have given up believing that they had not heard God properly. Not Elijah, he had told Ahab that he had heard the sound of abundant rain - the sound of a large thunder storm. He was not going to give up at all. On the seventh time, the servant reported that he could see a cloud, the size of a man's hand. Elijah knew this was it and sent the servant to warn Ahab to get in his chariot and head off before the rain fell.
If you don't have persistence, then not very much is going to happen, in fact, you may miss out on all that God has for you. We need to accept the small blessings to make way for the bigger ones. Don't forget, massive oak trees grow from small acorns. Some times, what we receive from God we may feel insignificant. Don't ever be tempted to feel this way. As Bob Gass used to say, 'Walt Disney began with a mouse.'
Following our prayers, we may have a promise from God to provide for us in some way. This doesn't mean that we stop praying for this. We should carry on until we see fulfilment of that promise. Even though his servant said those faithless words, 'There is nothing,' he still carried on. People who know that you're waiting for God on something, may come and say that perhaps you haven't heard God properly. If you believe God, don't give up. Hang on to your prayer - your dream and look for that small cloud.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Saturday 7 September 2019
Receive things differently
"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
When things are coming at us right, left and centre; instead of giving into the injustice of it all, it's far better to turn the situation around. Instead of seeing them as negative, try to see them as positive. Instead of seeing chores and bad feelings, try to see them as blessings. In fact, be blessed instead of being robbed. Now this obviously is not easy to do. It takes practice, patience and perseverance.
It may help to look at a very basic form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Using this, one is helped to take control of their thoughts and look at the emotions it causes. They can then look for a better outcome to the situation.
In basic CBT, we have, a Situation, an Emotion, an Automatic thought, a Rational response and an Outcome. Let us look at an example very briefly:
SITUATION
This may be the pain of seeing someone promoted into a job that you thought was yours.
EMOTION
You may be hurt, jealous and very angry because of this.
AUTOMATIC THOUGHT
'I hate that person, they always do better than me. I'm always left on the sidelines.'
From here, a person can throw a wobbly and cause a major scene, even putting their own job at risk. They may even walk out, telling everyone what they think of them
Therefore, we need to adjust our thinking somewhat:
RATIONAL RESPONSE
* 'I have a choice here. I can leave and find a better job.'
* 'Does the person realise the amount of responsibility that they're taking on? They won't cope'
* Congratulate the person (I know it sucks) but do it anyway - genuinely, and offer to help
them in anyway you can.
OUTCOME
Relative peace and the knowledge you've done it God's way
We need to train ourselves to think differently. Doing things the way Jesus would do them, is not always easy. We want to rant and rave and moan and groan at some people - Jesus blesses them.
Hating a person because they have done better than us, is not the way forward and it shows the state of the heart. We need to rectify this - immediately!
What issues or problems are you facing at this time? Together with prayer, Romans 12:2 and this basic form of CBT, which is basically in tune with this scripture, try to forge a better way forward. The way Jesus would go. This CBT formula can be adapted to whatever you may be facing.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Romans 12:2. NKJV
When things are coming at us right, left and centre; instead of giving into the injustice of it all, it's far better to turn the situation around. Instead of seeing them as negative, try to see them as positive. Instead of seeing chores and bad feelings, try to see them as blessings. In fact, be blessed instead of being robbed. Now this obviously is not easy to do. It takes practice, patience and perseverance.
It may help to look at a very basic form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Using this, one is helped to take control of their thoughts and look at the emotions it causes. They can then look for a better outcome to the situation.
In basic CBT, we have, a Situation, an Emotion, an Automatic thought, a Rational response and an Outcome. Let us look at an example very briefly:
SITUATION
This may be the pain of seeing someone promoted into a job that you thought was yours.
EMOTION
You may be hurt, jealous and very angry because of this.
AUTOMATIC THOUGHT
'I hate that person, they always do better than me. I'm always left on the sidelines.'
From here, a person can throw a wobbly and cause a major scene, even putting their own job at risk. They may even walk out, telling everyone what they think of them
Therefore, we need to adjust our thinking somewhat:
RATIONAL RESPONSE
* 'I have a choice here. I can leave and find a better job.'
* 'Does the person realise the amount of responsibility that they're taking on? They won't cope'
* Congratulate the person (I know it sucks) but do it anyway - genuinely, and offer to help
them in anyway you can.
OUTCOME
Relative peace and the knowledge you've done it God's way
We need to train ourselves to think differently. Doing things the way Jesus would do them, is not always easy. We want to rant and rave and moan and groan at some people - Jesus blesses them.
Hating a person because they have done better than us, is not the way forward and it shows the state of the heart. We need to rectify this - immediately!
What issues or problems are you facing at this time? Together with prayer, Romans 12:2 and this basic form of CBT, which is basically in tune with this scripture, try to forge a better way forward. The way Jesus would go. This CBT formula can be adapted to whatever you may be facing.
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Friday 6 September 2019
Captivate the people you see
"Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father." Matthew 5:16 New Living Translation
Repetitious preaching and teaching can have the affect of being a hammer that is continually knocking a nail into a wall. It can seem tedious. However, it is needed. You will notice that many preachers, especially on the God channels, appear to teach on the same subject and text every week. I love listening and watching RT Kendall. In my opinion, his teaching is powerful and reaches me every time. However, he will teach on the same subject for many weeks. This is because he is expounding the scripture - squeezing every drop of it out for our benefit.
You may find, that many daily commentaries do the same, including this one. When I seek God for what He wishes me to write each day, I wait until He has given me the instructions. Therefore, I must write what the Holy Spirit gives me, and the preachers and teachers we see, have to do the same.
The Apostle Paul teaches us on this subject: 'Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. ' Philippians 3:1. Paul is saying that this method of his teaching is important to safeguard them. There were many people out there, and still are today, who seek to mislead us, taking us away from the truth.
Therefore, let us once more look at Matthew 5:16. Jesus is saying in The Sermon on the Mount, 'Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.'
Note the words 'everyone' and 'good.' It is God's desire that everyone, throughout this world, get to hear the Gospel of peace. With the technology that we have today, this is a great possibility, but there is more to do here, and this may be the person who lives next door to us.
The Greek word for 'good' here in our text is Kalos and means that a thing is not only good but it is also captivating, beautiful and attractive. Kalos draws people and charms them in a Godly way. It draws attention to God - not ourselves. We should never be tempted to think how good a job we have done but thank God what He has done through us or enabled us to do.
This is the type of 'good' that the world needs and is seeking. People are searching for something but many don't know what it is. For some it may mean money, for others it may mean a better house than other people have. Yet others may be seeking sexual relations with as many people as they can. Drugs, booze and the wrong type of excitement. At the end of the day, what good will it do them if Jesus isn't their Saviour.
Notice Jesus in the Gospels. As He walks around (doing good - kalos) He captivates and draws crowds to Himself. People just couldn't resist Him because He had something, they hadn't, but wanted but they wasn't sure what. And this is what it is like today. People need Him. When they are in our presence, they know there is something difference about us but they just can't figure it out.
As we get closer to Jesus, and start to spread Kalos wherever we go, we too will captivate and draw people to us; not because of ourselves, but because of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ lives within us.
Now that is 'good' news
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Repetitious preaching and teaching can have the affect of being a hammer that is continually knocking a nail into a wall. It can seem tedious. However, it is needed. You will notice that many preachers, especially on the God channels, appear to teach on the same subject and text every week. I love listening and watching RT Kendall. In my opinion, his teaching is powerful and reaches me every time. However, he will teach on the same subject for many weeks. This is because he is expounding the scripture - squeezing every drop of it out for our benefit.
You may find, that many daily commentaries do the same, including this one. When I seek God for what He wishes me to write each day, I wait until He has given me the instructions. Therefore, I must write what the Holy Spirit gives me, and the preachers and teachers we see, have to do the same.
The Apostle Paul teaches us on this subject: 'Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. ' Philippians 3:1. Paul is saying that this method of his teaching is important to safeguard them. There were many people out there, and still are today, who seek to mislead us, taking us away from the truth.
Therefore, let us once more look at Matthew 5:16. Jesus is saying in The Sermon on the Mount, 'Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.'
Note the words 'everyone' and 'good.' It is God's desire that everyone, throughout this world, get to hear the Gospel of peace. With the technology that we have today, this is a great possibility, but there is more to do here, and this may be the person who lives next door to us.
The Greek word for 'good' here in our text is Kalos and means that a thing is not only good but it is also captivating, beautiful and attractive. Kalos draws people and charms them in a Godly way. It draws attention to God - not ourselves. We should never be tempted to think how good a job we have done but thank God what He has done through us or enabled us to do.
This is the type of 'good' that the world needs and is seeking. People are searching for something but many don't know what it is. For some it may mean money, for others it may mean a better house than other people have. Yet others may be seeking sexual relations with as many people as they can. Drugs, booze and the wrong type of excitement. At the end of the day, what good will it do them if Jesus isn't their Saviour.
Notice Jesus in the Gospels. As He walks around (doing good - kalos) He captivates and draws crowds to Himself. People just couldn't resist Him because He had something, they hadn't, but wanted but they wasn't sure what. And this is what it is like today. People need Him. When they are in our presence, they know there is something difference about us but they just can't figure it out.
As we get closer to Jesus, and start to spread Kalos wherever we go, we too will captivate and draw people to us; not because of ourselves, but because of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ lives within us.
Now that is 'good' news
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
Thursday 5 September 2019
We're here on serious business
"Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15. NKJV
William Barclay says:-
'One of the most poignant tragedies of life is for someone, especially a young person, to come and say to us, "I would never have been in this situation in which I now find myself, if you had only spoken to me in time."
Let those words sink in for a moment. The words remind me of a question from Evangelism Explosion, which was a successful evangelism training programme back in the 80's. One of the questions that people had to ask someone they met was, 'If you were to die today and go up to the gates of Heaven and you were asked why you should be allowed in, what would you say?' Of course the right answer to this would have been, 'Because Jesus is my Saviour.'
The first example would be directed at us with someone basically saying, 'Why didn't you tell me that I needed Jesus to get into Heaven?' The second example would be the realisation that a person cannot go to Heaven by attending church, reading a bible, being good to people or giving lots of money to charity. They are good works, but not good enough. Both of these examples require Jesus. He is the link into Heaven. People need Jesus, He has the key to Heaven. Without Him we are lost.
Charles Finney wrote:-
'However perfect and holy we may become, Jesus Christ will forever be, the sole reason that we are not in hell.' Charles Finney Living for God P14
Finney was a very direct and strict man but he was sold out for Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, and his presence alone caused fire to fall. Here's an example:-
'Charles Finney passed through a small community in upstate, New York. Houghton, New York, was a normal town, yet one day as Charles Finney's train was passing by, the Holy Spirit fell on the sinners of the community. Men in bars fell on their knees, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and asked Jesus Christ to save them.'
Intercessors Arise International, Facebook page
We all get one chance at being a human being. This is it. The thing is, what are we going to do about it? People are dying everyday. What will be their destination? This brings us back to the first example; are we going to tell people about Jesus or not? Thanks If not, how will you feel if they come up to you in Heaven and ask, 'Why didn't you tell me? I don't know Jesus, but I could have done if you had told me.'
Does this sound like a trip is being laid upon you? I'm sorry, but that is because it was intended of you to do so. We are not all like Charles Finney and we don't need to be. He had a special calling. However, let's not forget the commission that Jesus left us with, 'Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.' Mark 16:15.
We all have the ability to talk to people about our faith and why we believe as we do. We don't need to have attended a bible college to do this. We don't have to be a certain age to carry this out either. The young can do it and so can the elderly. There's no retirement in the Kingdom of God.
The young are learning about it and the elderly have a wealth of knowledge to show them, almost like, 'Watch and learn.' The thing is, whatever age you are, there's still a lot more to learn about Jesus and He still has a job for us to do, whatever that may be. No one is too young and no one is too old. In God's eyes, we're all valuable assets.
Finney, before he knew Jesus, was searching for Christianity, and told people that he was going off into some woods and wouldn't return until he had heard from God. A couple of days later, the power of the Holy Spirit came down upon him with so much force, that he would never be the same again.
Jesus introduced Himself to Mr Finney and then taught him. Whatever age, we need to be doing the same, because we're here on serious business!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
William Barclay says:-
'One of the most poignant tragedies of life is for someone, especially a young person, to come and say to us, "I would never have been in this situation in which I now find myself, if you had only spoken to me in time."
Let those words sink in for a moment. The words remind me of a question from Evangelism Explosion, which was a successful evangelism training programme back in the 80's. One of the questions that people had to ask someone they met was, 'If you were to die today and go up to the gates of Heaven and you were asked why you should be allowed in, what would you say?' Of course the right answer to this would have been, 'Because Jesus is my Saviour.'
The first example would be directed at us with someone basically saying, 'Why didn't you tell me that I needed Jesus to get into Heaven?' The second example would be the realisation that a person cannot go to Heaven by attending church, reading a bible, being good to people or giving lots of money to charity. They are good works, but not good enough. Both of these examples require Jesus. He is the link into Heaven. People need Jesus, He has the key to Heaven. Without Him we are lost.
Charles Finney wrote:-
'However perfect and holy we may become, Jesus Christ will forever be, the sole reason that we are not in hell.' Charles Finney Living for God P14
Finney was a very direct and strict man but he was sold out for Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, and his presence alone caused fire to fall. Here's an example:-
'Charles Finney passed through a small community in upstate, New York. Houghton, New York, was a normal town, yet one day as Charles Finney's train was passing by, the Holy Spirit fell on the sinners of the community. Men in bars fell on their knees, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and asked Jesus Christ to save them.'
Intercessors Arise International, Facebook page
We all get one chance at being a human being. This is it. The thing is, what are we going to do about it? People are dying everyday. What will be their destination? This brings us back to the first example; are we going to tell people about Jesus or not? Thanks If not, how will you feel if they come up to you in Heaven and ask, 'Why didn't you tell me? I don't know Jesus, but I could have done if you had told me.'
Does this sound like a trip is being laid upon you? I'm sorry, but that is because it was intended of you to do so. We are not all like Charles Finney and we don't need to be. He had a special calling. However, let's not forget the commission that Jesus left us with, 'Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.' Mark 16:15.
We all have the ability to talk to people about our faith and why we believe as we do. We don't need to have attended a bible college to do this. We don't have to be a certain age to carry this out either. The young can do it and so can the elderly. There's no retirement in the Kingdom of God.
The young are learning about it and the elderly have a wealth of knowledge to show them, almost like, 'Watch and learn.' The thing is, whatever age you are, there's still a lot more to learn about Jesus and He still has a job for us to do, whatever that may be. No one is too young and no one is too old. In God's eyes, we're all valuable assets.
Finney, before he knew Jesus, was searching for Christianity, and told people that he was going off into some woods and wouldn't return until he had heard from God. A couple of days later, the power of the Holy Spirit came down upon him with so much force, that he would never be the same again.
Jesus introduced Himself to Mr Finney and then taught him. Whatever age, we need to be doing the same, because we're here on serious business!
Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard
dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com
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