Values No 1 : Practice what you preach. Don't be a hypocrite

"(27) What sorrows await you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs - beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. (28) Outwardly you look like righteous people; but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness."
                                                             Matthew 23:27-28.  New Living Translation

For the next few days or so, let us look at Christian values and how they affect the way we present ourselves to the world. Jesus, in Matthew 7:12, quoted what is known as The Golden Rule, 'Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you' (NLT). This verse says it all. If you're wanting to be liked, loved, respected and whatever else, you must give it out firstly. In other words, you reap what you sow. If you give out bad things, then you will receive the same in return. If you speak harshly to someone, chances are they will speak harshly to you as well.

One of the dangers in our Christian walk, is what I call, The Behind Closed Doors Syndrome. You can preach, teach, pray for people and show them Christian love and compassion. You can then return home and throw a wobbly over something that either happened at church, on the journey home or within your home. 

For some people, it's like they're two people - the fine upstanding Christian man or woman at church, but at home, the moaning, grumbling, argumentative person that your family see, and your neighbours hear  In the car, someone may cut you up or be driving too slow, and because you own the road, you decide to throw a wobbly and use a few unsavoury words to reinforce this situation. On arrival at church, all of this can change and you turn into the delightful person, you want people to see. Then at home, because you are relaxed and don't have to put on an act, you can turn into the green monster.

This needs to stop and right now! Why? Because it is hypocrisy. It is what Jesus is talking about in our scripture. It is not only the things that we say that are most important but the things that we do. If we claim to be a Christian but Jesus' teaching is not evident in every area of our lives, then we are nothing but hypocrites. Jesus' words, not mine.

We all have problems such as this, so you are not unique. We all have the ability to be hypocritical at times. However, this does not make it okay. We must be committed to changing our behaviour and living for Jesus, each minute of each day.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Eagle’s wings

"But those who wait on the LORD, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles."                                                                  Isaiah 40:31.  NKJV

Reuben Morgan's song reads:

EAGLE'S WINGS

Here I am waiting, abide in me I pray.

Here I am longing, for You. 

Hide me in Your love, bring me to my knees;

May I know Jesus more and more.

Come live in me, all my life, take over.

Come breathe in me, and I will rise on eagle's wings

                                                                                      Copyright 1998 Reuben Morgan

Eagles do not flap, even when other birds try to mob them because they're entering their territory and near their young. When threatened, an eagle just rises up high on 7 foot wide wings, going much higher than the other birds are prepared to go. They don't flap, they soar.

The eagle often sits on very high rocks testing the wind. They are so huge and heavy they need the right breeze to set off. When the right one comes along, it expands its wings and gets carried on the breeze. In other words, it mounts up on eagle's wings. So therefore, it waits and this renews its strength.

To mount is too ascend. The eagle mounts up and rises above the problems coming against it. Do you get the picture? We need to rise above the worry and the anxiety that is around every corner, trying to envelope us. When trials come, God provides a breeze for us and His intention is for us to soar in it.

As we allow God to breathe in us, we will be able to rise up on eagle's wings. We will also renew our strength and as we do this, God will take us to new heights.

So, get close to Jesus and let Him hold you, love you and refresh you and then wait for Him to send that wonderful breeze of the Holy Spirit. Then without flapping, soar at a new height, higher than you have ever been before. If troubles come, rise above them. Refuse to lose this strength and peace that God has given you.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Do you believe in healing?

"(22) Have faith in God. (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. (24) Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray believe that you receive them, and you will have them."                                                                      Mark 11:22-24.  NKJV

I am a great believer in healing. This is how I came to know Jesus back in 1980. I had been ill with a severe bout of Bell's Palsy, and despite three months of daily electrolysis to my face, steroids and physio, it was getting no better. But I heard a voice in my head telling me to, 'Say a prayer and I'll heal you.' I ignored this voice, thinking I was mad but it wouldn't go away, so as I went to bed, I asked whoever it was, to heal me. The next morning, I woke up and my face had begun to go back into shape and by the end of the day, I was back to normal.
My wife was healed of throat cancer back in 1994 and there have been many times over the years when we have seen healing through our prayers and intervention with people.

Yet, I cannot explain why it appears, that some people are healed and others are not. I can't explain that and will not even try to. However, it will never stop me from believing in divine healing either.

I interpret this scripture as, (a) Make up your mind. (b) Visualise your victory and, (c) Speak to the situation. Oral Roberts, used to say, 'Capture this truth: Doubt and do without, with faith believe and receive. Expect a miracle.' Keith Moore says, 'Doubt asks questions, faith makes declarations.'

God doesn't respond to your needs, He responds to your faith. A look at the healing of the lame man in Acts 3:1-10 shows Peter and John's faith in action. The lame man was begging. Peter replied, 'Silver and gold, I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.' And he did. If there had been an inkling of doubt when they took this action, the man would have remained lame. Notice too, they didn't pray for him, they declared healing over him. Perhaps, that is why there are so many people who are not healed. From a distance, yes, prayer is needed. But face to face, like Peter and John and the many times we read of Jesus healing people, then perhaps faith declarations are the way forward.  

When someone asks us to pray for their healing, should we gather round that person and go through lengthy prayers or would it be better to take authority, speak to the situation and declare healing on that person? This is what Peter and John did. I think at times, people tend to be fearful of this type of action, just in case it doesn't work and they're left with egg on their face. For some, it is much safer to lay hands on a person, say a prayer and then leave it with God. This is what I saw an evangelist do back in 1982. He was visiting a particular church and after his lengthy sermon, he said he would pray for people but he wanted people to know, that, 'No one has ever been healed under my ministry and they may not be tonight, but I'm willing to pray for you.' Guess what? You're right; no one was healed that night.

God told me to ask for healing. I did and I was healed. My wife asked a pastor to pray for her and he spoke to the spirit of cancer and it came out - she was healed.

We should always pray for people's needs, and that's what prayer groups and prayer chains are for. But when we have a sick person right in front of us, doesn't it make sense to follow Jesus' example, together with Peter and John's, and speak to the situation?

Now that's food for thought.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

God will never let you down

"(17) Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labour of one olive fail. and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls - (18) Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on high hills."   Habakkuk 3:17-18.  NKJV

We go through very bad times at different periods of our lives and it can be difficult to find the reason why. It can feel like no one cares or is there for us. We can feel all alone. We probably are not, but that can be the way it feels to us. We then have the habit of isolating ourselves and this may be because we feel sorry for ourselves because no one seems to care or it can feel like, all of our supposed enemies are having a hey-day because we have hit rock bottom.

Our minds can play tricks with us when things have gone a little pear-shaped. We can begin to look at other people, feeling jealous about them because they're not going through a bad time like we are. Our minds can make us feel like life is so unfair that this has happened to us, but other people are being blessed and are having a great time with lots of money, holidays, nice house and the fact that nothing ever seems to go wrong for them.

The thing is, we don't know what other people are going through. Perhaps they hide it well, or perhaps they have learnt to live with their difficulties better than we are at this present time. Some of these people, may have hidden illnesses or disabilities that they have to cope with on a daily basis. There may be problems in their marriages, lives or general family that we could never know about unless they told us. However, it doesn't prevent them praising God.

The fact is, when we go through these bad times, it is no use looking at what other people have or what their lives are like. We need to focus on us and find a way through the problem. The more we look at others, we will not be able to deal with what is happening in our own lives.

You my be feeling like life has given you a bad deal just lately. Have you considered that God may be teaching you something? Could He be taking you to another level in your Christian walk and all you're doing is moaning about it, instead of praising Him and allowing God to work with you? This may sound harsh, but perhaps God is speaking to you at this moment. He may be wanting you to get on your knees and LISTEN, instead of doing all of the talking. 
I have a word that I would like you to dwell on. It is from the book of Zephaniah:

'The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing'

                                            Zephaniah 3:17   NKJV

God at this time, is rejoicing over you, not because you're having a bad time - He'd never do that. No, he's rejoicing and dancing, because he is so joyful at what He wants to do in your life. He cannot contain Himself; He is so excited about YOU!

But you need to praise Him and get close to Him and listen. Sometimes, we tend to do all the talking. If that is you, then stop that and listen to what your Father has to say to you. Change is on the horizon for many of us and this may include you. I know that not many people like change. But if, you trust God, it will be ok. Things may seem glum this morning, but by tea time, things may be much better. Don't forget He can change a situation - SUDDENLY.

So, get alone with God and just sit, walk or whatever, and listen to His leading. I know that He has something for you,

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Marriage and divorce

"(31) Furthermore, it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. (32) But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery and whoever marries a woman who is divorced, commits adultery."                     Matthew 5:31-32.  NKJV 

In Jesus’ day, many people interpreted the Mosaic permission for divorce as granting virtually any reason as grounds for divorce. (Deuteronomy 24:1) Some rabbis who taught this even extended to allowing a man to divorce his wife if she burnt his breakfast. All they needed to do, according to the Mosaic Law was to give the wife a certificate of divorce and they had to leave the home.
It must be said that back in the times of Jesus, it was really a man's world. A woman had little security and could be divorced for the most bizarre of reasons. There were two schools of thought to this matter:

The School of Shammai, which was a very strict and severe school. No divorce was allowed except for adultery.
Then there was the School of Hillel. This was a liberal and broadminded school, where a man could divorce his wife if she burnt his breakfast or put too much salt in his meal. Furthermore, if she went into public without a head covering, spoke to a man in the street or if her husband found a much more attractive woman, she could also be divorced. It became so bad that many young women were refusing to get married because of this insecurity and the way they were being treated.


In verse 32, the text mentions 'Causes her to commit adultery and whoever marries a woman who is divorced, commits adultery.' An illegitimate divorce, such as mentioned in the School of Hillel, gave place to adultery because God didn't recognise divorce, and saw a new relationship as bigamous. Even though He was against divorce, God recognised that adultery would damage the union totally.

God still holds marriage very dearly today and totally frowns on adultery. A man and woman are joined together in the sight of God and His word in Ephesians has much to say about this matter. (Please read Ephesians 5:22 - 33)

In 1 Peter 3:1 - 2 and verse 7 we read:

'Wives, likewise be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, (2) when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 
(7) Husbands likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.'

The words here, 'the weaker vessel,' have no derogatory meaning.  or are in any way politically incorrect. They just mean that God would want a husband to love and take care of his wife as a precious, breakable vessel. If we are at loggerheads, our prayers are just going nowhere. So we need to beware of this point.

Marriage is a wonderful institution, given to man and woman by God, where families are created and love shared by all members. Both man and woman need to honour each other because by doing so, they are honouring God; and then, God can bring blessing. 

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Stumbling blocks

"If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell. (30) And if your right hand cause you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell."                                               Matthew 5:29-30.  NKJV

Jesus was not suggesting self-mutilation here. If He was, then there would be a lot of people walking around with one eye and one hand. None of us are free from this type of thing. No, rather than self-mutilation, he was prescribing a rigid, moral, self-denial over our thoughts, desires and actions. In other words, complete self-control.

There are many stumbling blocks in life, that try to trip us up and we need to be more aware of what we're doing and where we are going. The Greek word for a stumbling block, is an interesting one. It is a word called Skandalon which means the bait stick in a trap. It is the stick or arm on which bait was placed and which operated the trap to catch the lured animal to its own destruction. Therefore, the word came to mean anything which causes a person to fall to destruction.

Just think for a moment about this. We have habits that we wish we didn't have. They have the power to seduce us into evil. This may be evil thoughts or even actions. This type of pleasure, is the pleasure that Jesus was talking about and the pleasure that we need to get rid of. But how?

To say we don't suffer this way, would be a lie. We all have the times when we do, say or think things that we know is wrong. None of us are free from this and never will be until we are safe in our Heavenly home, free from the temptations of this world.
We could go to some distant planet where we would be on our own, but these thoughts and temptations would follow us there. We could go out into the deepest part of a desert where we could live alone for evermore, but the thoughts and temptations would also, follow us there. It is useless to say that we'll never think these things again because as soon as we confess this, the temptations become greater.

Possibly, the only way to beat thoughts and temptations is to fill our thoughts with good things - to think wholesome thought and fill our lives with Christian action - being busy helping people, spending time doing bits and pieces for God, whatever that may entail. As I've mentioned many times, praying, reading God's Word, listening to teaching CD's and worship. Paul has the right attitude in Philippians 4:8:

'Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.'

Alter your thinking and your habits. If you're more likely to suffer temptation when you're on your own, then go out somewhere, or ring someone for a chat, busy yourself. Really, it's training yourself to think and act differently (Romans 12:1-2).

Don't beat yourself up about this. Try new things that will help you to be an overcomer, which, actually, Jesus thinks you are!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Holiness

"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy for I am holy.'"                   1 Peter 1:15-16   Leviticus 11:44-45.  NKJV

In other words, set your life apart, fully to God and be holy as God has commanded. Set apart means what it says, we belong to God, not ourselves. Holiness says we say, 'No, to the demands of our flesh and live totally for God. 

Note the words, 'all your conduct.' This means in everything we do, and that means 'everything.' We cannot compromise on this. We can't have things our flesh wants and be holy too. One has to go. Make sure it's compromise.

We should always remain alert, with a clear mind focused on God, as we walk each day with Him. 'It's impossible to live that way. How can I live and be holy?' You can and it's not impossible or God would have told us so. Instead, He told us to be holy just like He is.

We need to be set apart. This means to be separated to God so that as we live for Him, we become more like Him and we learn to take on His nature. We're not made holy by giving all of our money to worthy causes anymore than we're not holy because we have read the bible through, many times. This is commendable but in so doing, you might end up skint and very knowledgeable to the theory of things but not from the heart, so that you know God the way He wants you to.

Holiness comes little by little by spending time with Jesus; being led by Him in all that we do and being, 'sold out,' for Him. As we do this, we become more like Him. When we're really walking with Jesus, we have the attitude of, 'What would Jesus do about this?' and 'What would Jesus say?' And this turns into true holiness.

Perfection is not what we're seeking here. In fact, someone once told me, and I don't really doubt him, that the root of perfection is fear. He had a point because, to strive for perfection means we can become fearful when we realise that we can't do this and this can cause us to fear that someone else can.

All in all, I feel we should concentrate on what God tells us to do - 'Be holy, as I am holy.' It may take a while but it's well with the effort.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com