Sort things out amicably and serve

"(1) Now in those days , when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.                                                                                     Acts 6:1-7 NKJV

There will always be complaints in churches wherever you go. It is part of the territory. Here though, the complaint was quite valid. The Hellenists were Jews who were natives of the Greco-Roman world and spoke Greek. Their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

The twelve apostles were busy each and every day in the temple and in every house teaching and preaching Jesus to everyone (Acts 5:42). They couldn't possibly do everything and their daily work was far more important than waiting on tables. Therefore, after seeking direction from God, they directed the disciples to choose seven men, who were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom so that they could organise and oversee day to day chores that needed carrying out. 

A church needs to be organised, especially when it is growing like the early church was. Otherwise, people will be left out and neglected. Having people who are able to organise others and delegate, is so very important. It is also extremely important that the leader delegates roles to other people. After all, while trying to spin all of the plates themselves, it is inevitable that pretty soon plates are going to start falling and people are going to get hurt.

The people delegated to this role of a deacon however, must be faithful, Spirit-filled people whose role is not to rule with a rod but with love and sensitivity. The hallmark of a deacon is one who is not afraid to get their hands dirty too. You will always find them serving people wherever they go and in a way, they can be considered, the backbone of the church; because without them, work such as evangelism, preaching and healing ministries would be neglected.

To serve people. is to emulate Jesus. He was the most wonderful servant of all and don't forget, He was the one who washed people's feet, something that not many people would like to do.

A thriving church needs servants and servants produce a thriving church. If you want to belong to a thriving church, try being a servant too.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

God's Provision No 3

(18) "So she said to Elijah, 'What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?' (19) "and he said to her, 'Give me your son.' So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room, where he was staying and laid him on his own bed."                                                          1 Kings 17:17-24. (18-19).   NKJV

At times, we can be forced into a corner of life, where we shout out, 'Why Lord? Why has this happened to me? What is going on?' You know what I mean? It can feel like all the presence of God has left us. It can be so frustrating, painful and confusing.

But He hasn't left us. It's just that we become so wound up in what's happening around us, that we feel all alone. Now this is when we need to be careful! Satan would have us crying out, 'I thought You loved me God.' When we get into this way of thinking, we're on a negative slope to despair.

Things happen. Life happens and there really is nothing we can say that will explain why. But, if we just stop and think just for a moment and gather our thoughts, we realise God's around and He has a plan. For the widow, it was the raising of her young son from the dead. Now, don't forget, she had been receiving regular provision from God. He had been supplying flour and oil on a regular basis, so that they could all eat. She knew God's provision and she was aware that Elijah was different from other men. However, when giant things come our way, it's so easy to forget that God's around and go into panic mode, which results in nothing but upset.

The woman, being a widow, had no one else to converse with, so she challenged Elijah who she believed was from God. Elijah agreeing with her, took the child up to his bedroom and prayed that life would return to the child. In other words, he interceded and the child's life was restored.

Two things stand out here:

1  The widow went to where she felt God was - Elijah. She knew no different. We as believers should always do this, but through Jesus, where we have direct access. The widow didn't have this.

2  The power of intercession. Never frown on what this ministry is. It can be a lonely, tiring ministry, one in which people pray without ceasing for something or someone. An intercessor's ministry is crucial, yet sometimes overlooked.

God loves us and demonstrates this on a daily basis. Be confident in Him. He'll never let you down; but at times it will not be easy to walk this way. It wasn't for Jesus, but He did it for us!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

God's Provision No 2

"(10)'Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.' (11) And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, 'Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.' (12) So she said, 'As the LORD your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin and a little oil in a jar; and see, I'm gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.' 
(13) And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first and bring it to me, and afterwards make some for yourself and your son.' "                                                   Read 1 Kings 17:8 - 16  (v10-13).  NKJV

Let's look a little further into God's provision. Here we see Elijah teaching a poor widow about faith. She was destitute and had only a very small amount of food left for her and her son. Things were so bad, she felt that they would die through lack of funds. God had told Elijah to go Zarephath - a city on the Mediterranean coast in Phoenicia - and there would be a widow there who would provide for him. Elijah obeyed and called to the widow as he entered the city. Firstly he asked her to bring him a drink of water and then, called to her as she went to do this, asking her to bring him a small piece of bread also.

She was totally honest with Elijah and told him that she only had a small amount of food left for the day and this was for her and her son. After that, they may as well die. God, however, wanted Elijah to teach her about giving a seed-faith. There are two important principles demonstrated here in this scripture. First, we must give something out of our need. This involves our faith. The woman had needs herself but as she gave firstly, out of her need to God's prophet, Elijah, God would multiply what she was given back. Second, she had to give first before she received anything. 

This is the whole thing about faith and the one that people struggle with - big time. We must give from what we have first before we can expect to get anything back. This is called sowing a seed. A farmer doesn't just dig some soil up and there is a load of potatoes there. He firstly has to sow the seed and the principle is the same for us.
I have heard people say that they can't afford to tithe because what they have, they have to live on. It sounds hard, but, a person can't afford not too tithe. It's God's in the first place and if we want Him to bless us, we must honour and bless Him first. And this is what Elijah was teaching the widow. 
When she obeyed and provided Elijah's need, God blessed her and provision came to her for many a year.

Are you struggling with lack of funds and have fear about tithing or giving your money and resources to people that God directs to you? Elijah said to the widow, 'DO NOT FEAR.' And God is saying the same to you too.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

God's Provision

"And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."                                                           1 Kings 17:1-7.  (4).   NKJV

As long as you're walking in God's will, He will always look after you and provide your needs. As someone as said, 'Where the Lord leads, he feeds, where the Lord guides, He provides.'

Now Ahab, possibly the worst king that ever reigned in Israel, took Jezebel as his wife and together, they worshipped Baal, who was believed to be the god who controlled the rain. Ahab did evil in the sight of the God. Therefore, Elijah said to Ahab that there would be no rain until he said so. From that moment, Elijah was in a dangerous position and God told him to get away from the area and hide by the Brook Cherith. He would have water to drink and God would send ravens with food day and night, to feed him.

When God calls you to do a particular work for Him, He will always supply your needs. Your obedience brings you provision. The key to releasing Heavens supply, is to do exactly what God tells you to do. You will always miss your place of divine provision when you stop listening to God's voice and start following your own reasoning.

At times, things may appear stupid and silly to obey, but God knows what He is doing - you don't! If Elijah had gone to another brook instead of where God had told him to go, he would have missed his supply. Do you get the picture?

When you're living this way - by faith - you must obey God. At times, you can be tempted to take the road that seems to make more sense; if you do, you will miss out. 

When I was doing my theological training, I received no pay at all and no bursary or grant. My wife had a job but it didn't bring in what we had to pay out. I had a choice - give up and get a job, or trust God for His provision. We chose the latter and a great adventure began, where God would supply food for us, clothes and even a car with all expenses paid. They were exciting times.

God will never let you down if you obey His leading. Whatever you are doing, planning or if you're being called out by God; trust and obey. As Elijah realised, God is a God of supply and protection, even though it may be a bumpy road ahead at times.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Competiveness

"What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or untruth, Christ is preached and in this, I rejoice, yes and will rejoice."   Philippians 1:12-18.  (v18).  NKJV


Competitive people exist, not only in business, sport and other everyday activities, but they exist in the church too.  Some church leaders can become jealous of another leader who has a bigger church. Some preachers want to shine and be the one who can get more people converted. Some worship leaders, want to outshine any of the other worship leaders. There is competition nearly everywhere that we look.

Paul faced this type of competition when he was on Roman House arrest, prior to his court appearance before Caesar. Therefore, he wrote to his close friends and Christians in Philippi. Some people were preaching from envy and strife, wanting to surpass Paul in ministry. They were trying to promote their own names above the good name of Paul. Some of these people, were glad Paul was imprisoned because it gave them the opportunity to get on and outdo him. Paul knew that they preached from selfish ambition. He knew they had wrong motives to do this, but he felt that if they were preaching the true gospel, it didn't worry him what their motives were or how much they were trying to be better than him. He more or less felt, that if their motives were bad, God would deal with them. At least the true gospel was being preached and people were hearing about Jesus, and that is all that mattered to him.

If people are preaching the true gospel of Jesus Christ, that is fine. Competitiveness is a normal, human characteristic. As long as it doesn't lead to someone being puffed up with pride and splitting a church because of their selfish ambition, it is tolerable.The proof of the pudding is in the eating; if Jesus is promoted in every area of a church, then all is well.

A great way to tackle a competitive spirit comes in the words of AW Tozer, who wrote a piece rebuking attitudes of competition among those in ministry: 

“Dear Lord, I refuse henceforth to compete with any of Thy servants. They have congregations larger than mine. So be it. I rejoice in their success. They have greater gifts. Very well. That is not in their power nor in mine. I am humbly grateful for their greater gifts and my smaller ones. I only pray that I may use to Thy glory such modest gifts as I possess. I will not compare myself with any, nor try to build up my self-esteem by noting where I may excel one or another in Thy holy work. I herewith make a blanket disavowal of all intrinsic worth. I am but an unprofitable servant. I gladly go to the foot of the cross and own myself the least of Thy people. If I err in my self- judgement and actually underestimate myself I do not want to know it. I purpose to pray for others and to rejoice in their prosperity as if it were my own. And indeed it is my own if it is Thine own, for what is Thine is mine, and while one plants and another waters it is Thou alone that giveth the increase.” (from The Price of Neglect, 104-105)

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Second Wind

"But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."                                                 Revelation 3:16.  New Living Translation

Cast you minds back to when you first got saved. We became Christians in October 1980 - my wife two days before me. It was an amazing time, one that was filled with a spiritual excitement that we had never thought was possible. We purchased bibles and bible notes; Christian books to tell us what we needed to know and Christian music records and tapes. We also went everywhere where we could learn more about Jesus. We both walked around with a copy of The Living Bible New Testament in our pockets and read it at every opportunity. It was an amazing time.

The honeymoon period  of our Christian relationship with Jesus, lasted for ages. Every night when I came home from work and we had eaten and cleared everything away, Christian music was played all night and we would read and fill our minds with more and more of Jesus. We just couldn't get enough of Him. Life was so exciting. 

The thing is, it is a honeymoon period. We're starting a new relationship with Jesus. However, after a time, rather like a marriage, reality kicks in. There is work to do, bills to be paid, kids to be fed and as the reality sets in more and more, spiritual attacks begin, something that we've heard and read about but have no clue how to handle them. It can be a confusing time. But we realise that Jesus is with us but as we grow more and more as a Christian, that wonderful feeling that we had initially, seems to go away.

When Jesus first comes into our lives, it is so wonderful and He holds us in His arms for quite a while as He feeds us with spiritual milk. As time goes on, He expects us to mature so that we are on solid food and able to go forward in our new life with Him. He never leaves us, He just wants us to start making our way in the Christian world. There are wolves out there and He wants us to learn how to fend them off. Our enemy, the devil will try all he can to get us to curse God and turn away from Him; and we have to learn to make a stand against him for Jesus.

It's not easy and for some, we can begin to lose a little of that fire that we first had - that spiritual excitement. You may be feeling that way right now. We need our 'Second Wind.' This is a return of the strength and energy that makes it possible for us to continue our activity or even start again.

Jesus, in our text above, refers to The Church in Laodicea, as being lukewarm. They had lost their fire - their get up and go. It's easy to do this. Lives are busy and if we take our eyes off the captain of the s hip, we can hit the rocks or sink. We need that lift - that Second Wind, to put us back on the road of excitement and fire. If that is where you are right now, say this prayer along with me and fly high in Jesus once more.

Lord Jesus
I come to You right now a little worse for wear. I confess Lord that I am lukewarm; I have lost that fire and excitement that I once had. But I recognise that You are the Chief Fire Starter and I ask you to give me my Second Wind right now. Fill me with the fire of the Holy Spirit. I mean business Lord. I do not wish to be lukewarm any longer, but red hot for You.  Lord, come right now. I receive Your fire; I receive Your Holy Spirit, I receive that excitement for You once again. And I will get back to the business of doing Your will, of spreading Your Word; of letting people see who I belong to.
In Jesus' Name. Amen

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Values No 9 - Hope

"(2) We give thanks to God always for you, making mention of you in our prayers (3) remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of our God and father,"   
                                                                            1 Thessalonians 1:2-3   NKJV

In our final day of looking at Christian Values, let us look at hope. The Greek word for hope is elpis which means, not having wishful thinking without any foundation; but a confident expectation based on solid certainty. 
Kenneth Copeland says:

'Wishing accomplishes nothing in the Kingdom of God; but hoping will, especially when you couple it with faith and love'.  Copyright 1995 Kenneth Copeland

Biblical hope is certainty! Many people say, 'I hope to make it into Heaven one day.' That is not biblical hope, it is wishful thinking; it is almost like we say, 'fingers crossed.' Biblical hope says, 'I hope - fully that I will go to Heaven someday. I have a certainty about it Because Jesus is My Lord and He has gone to prepare a place for me.' (John 14:2-3) 
But saying, 'I hope to make it into Heaven one day,' is uncertainty. As born again believers of Jesus Christ, He has given us a certainty of Heaven. It is not being facetious or big-headed, rude or pompous. It is being certain of what Jesus tells us: 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.' (John 3:16).

Living with biblical hope changes your life. God wants us living this way. He wants all of us and that includes our ailments and problems. As we give everything to Him, totally trusting Him for everything in our lives, we transfer over from uncertainty to certainty in Jesus. To be uncertain is to doubt Jesus. Have you ever considered that.? When problems come our way or a big bill drops onto the mat, the best way is to say, 'Lord, we have a problem here, but I'm trusting in you.' It is not being irresponsible. It is putting Jesus in the driving seat of our lives. Doubting and getting all wound up and upset about stuff, is putting Satan in the driving seat. Who would you sooner have drive you? Yes, so would I.

So grab hold of biblical hope and start living at a new level in Jesus. Yes, it may be scary at first but if you trust Jesus, you know that He will NEVER let you down.!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com