Peter on: A Living Hope

"Blessed be the God  and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

                                                                                                                1 Peter 1:3    NKJV 

Peter here, speaks of a living hope. Let us look at this. Worldly hope is nothing more than wishful thinking. We say things like, 'I hope it's not going to rain today.' Also 'I hope that there isn't another lockdown.' These, when you think about it, are just throw-away statements. There is no substance to them. They are nothing more than wishes. However, Peter goes deeper here. Whereas worldly hope deteriorates and dies, a Christian hope is biblical and built on a resurrected Saviour - Jesus Christ. It is a foundation, one that cannot be shaken. A biblical hope is knowing what you believe in and standing on it. In other words, a certainty. God showed me years ago that we should discard the word 'hopefully,' because there is nothing to rely on, it is uncertain and just a wish. However, if we separate the word into two 'hope-fully' then we are into biblical thinking. We are biblically and fully hoping in God, in other words we are speaking a 'living hope.' It is something that I took on board and encourage you to do so, as well.

In verse 4, Peter says, we have a living hope of being with Jesus - eternally. If we have asked Jesus into our lives, we received salvation. The living hope is kept (garrisoned by an army), reserved there for when Jesus calls us home. We have mansions to dwell in there and He intends to come and take us there one day. (John 14:2). The term, 'garrisoned by an army' is the translated Greek word for kept. Therefore, no one can take our salvation away, not even the devil. We have a reservation in Heaven that is awaiting us.

Now this living hope is built around our faith, we can't see it but we know that it's there. 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, 'while we do not look at things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' It is a faith thing, and we know that we can trust Jesus. He will be true to His Word and one day we will share in the splendour of heaven with Him and others. Imagine having a chat with the Apostle Paul or King David. Wowzer, that blows you away, but you will be able to when you arrive there at your Heavenly destination.

These are the things that the prophets foretold and the things that angels long to look into. The  Heavenly angels do not need salvation; they are there already. However, the fallen angels, together with their leader, get a glimpse of what we will have every time they see us.

So remember, keep your living hope alive! It will happen soon.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Prayer - Praise and more Prayer

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing Psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord." 

                                                                                                James 5:13-14    NKJV 

Prayer is an essential ingredient to a successful life in Jesus. Without it, we are lost. Many people only pray when things become bad. After that, they go back to the occasional prayer. This is not the way God wants us to be. We need to be in daily communication with Our Lord and Chief - Jesus. Tony Evans writes, 'If you want to gauge your spiritual life, look at the thermostat setting on your prayer life.' It is so essential that we get the balance right. 

Communicating with God is important when we are suffering; but, so is communicating with Him, when we are cheerful. This is the time that we need to be showing our gratitude to Jesus through praise and worship. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, '

'Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus for you.'

When we are sick, James says that we are to call for the elders of the church so that they can pray and anoint us with oil. However, let us look at the meaning of this. The Greek word for sick is astheneo, which translates to 'weak'. This refers to any kind of weakness, physical or otherwise. The text means if anyone is so weak and struggling, then they should seek help from the elders who would pray for them, offering encouragement, joy - which is another meaning for anointing with oil - and refreshment. The idea was that, each church should have practical ministry in place to aid members who were weak. If they were sick and were healed, then praise God, but this was not the main purpose James was referring to. Furthermore, if it was thought that a person, who was sick, had sin in their lives, so they should confess this to the elders who could then pray accordingly, so that the person could be forgiven. However, it must be stressed that not every sickness is the result of sin being in a person's life.

So, we see how prayer is essential to a successful life in Jesus. What setting is your prayer thermostat showing? It is something that we have to work on. If you're like me, I have a tendency to drift off, possibly owing to a poor attention span. I therefore, have to concentrate or, better still, speak in tongues where I find I can manage that a little better. Probably, you are similar. It is something that is worth building on because, having a good prayer life brings great benefits.

Have a good day. Tomorrow we'll look at 1 Peter.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

James on: Waiting for things to fit into place.

"Therefore, be patient brethren until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth; waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain"                                                                                                     James 5:7    NKJV 

A patient attitude here, means to control one's temper in the face of mistreatment and to be ready for God's vindication. We should never grumble and criticise one another. We never know when Jesus will be returning. Therefore, there may be a need to reassess one's attitude and conduct. A tongue that criticises, places a person in grave danger of judgement. Someone may have wronged you or things may not be going as well as you had anticipated but, be patient, things have a habit of changing quickly when God's in charge.

Oaths are generally best avoided. People have been known to say things such as, 'May God strike me down dead, if I'm lying to you.' Don't say it, He may just take you at your word. Others have said, 'I swear on the Holy Bible', or 'Cross my heart and hope to die.' We should never say such things. Our 'Yes' or 'No', should be all that is required. You have no need to convince people at all.

A farmer is dependent on the early and late rains for a successful crop. While he is waiting, he doesn't just sit around looking at the fields, He busies himself with other things. Likewise, Christians need this type of patience for what they require. Only heaven can bring the rain so while you are waiting for your particular rain, are you like the farmer fulfilling your responsibilities until it comes?

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

James on: Humility and Direction

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."                                                      James 4:7-10    NKJV

Submit

When we resist the devil in Jesus' Name, he must flee from us. However, there is more to do than this. Firstly, we need to submit to God. In other words, we need to place ourselves under His care and direction. Some people find it difficult to submit to anyone, let alone God. But, to refuse to submit demonstrates a 'proud spirit'. To be proud in this way shows rebellion, selfishness, the act of being puffed up and that you are better than the others. 

Lucifer became this, (Isaiah 14:12-21). He became proud and wanted what God had. It brought him to his downfall. Now Satan is hell-bound, together with his demons dreading the day that Jesus returns.

Draw near

To draw near is a phrase used in the Old Testament describing the Levitical priests approaching God with their sacrifices, (Exodus 19:22) hence, when God's people draw near to Him in worship, He will always draw near to them in response. (Zechariah 1:3).

Lament, mourn and weep

In verse 9, James writes that we should lament, mourn and weep about our sin. When we sin we often have a great awareness of it - a heaviness that won't go away and creates, guilt and remorse. This is conviction and the feeling can be horrid. This is the time we need to draw near to God and confess this, seeking His forgiveness. When we do, He in return will draw near to us and totally forgive us. (1 John 1:9). We all have times such as this, you are not the only one. Check out verse 10: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

He is a forgiving, loving God who longs to give us His best. Just reach out to Him and receive all that he has for you. You will never regret it.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

James on: Godly Wisdom v the Wisdom of the World

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual and demonic.                                                                                               

                                                                                                          James 3:13-15    NKJV

David Jeremiah writes: 

'With this passage, James presents the dramatic contrast between earthly and heavenly wisdom'.

A person's life reflects the source of their wisdom. Those who have a sound relationship with God, are understanding and concerned for others. They demonstrate the wisdom of Heaven. In contrast, those who are not walking with Him, will be sensual and selfish, reflecting the wisdom of Satan. 

God's wisdom is offered continually (James 1:5) to meet the many demands that we face in any given day. Let us take a look at seven characteristics of Godly wisdom:

Purity.  Wisdom is based on God's holiness. He is morally blameless and totally incapable of producing sin in any form. (James 4:8)

Peaceable.  True peace is always grown out of purity. When we are walking in purity and God's peace, it will affect people around us.  (Isaiah 26:3, John 14:27, Philippians 4:7)

Gentleness.  Strife come from belonging to the world, but gentleness is a characteristic of God's servants as they go about their day. (Matthew 11:29)

Willing to take instruction.  God's people are ready and willing to learn about Him and serve Him as they walk in His ways. Someone who is unwilling to take instruction should be treated with caution. Such people may be puffed up with pride, wanting their own way all the time.

Full of Mercy and Good Fruit.  God's wisdom must be demonstrated in word and truth, living up to our calling, introducing Jesus to whoever we meet.

Without Partiality.  God's people should never discriminate against others

Without Hypocrisy.  The hypocrite says one thing and does another. Wisdom is sincere and real. Wisdom doesn't play games. Wisdom is transparent.

As we have seen, wisdom is freely available to whoever asks God for it. We cannot live without it. We need wisdom to guide us along the truth, discerning what God wants of us. Walking in the Spirit will always equip you with this. He is full of wisdom.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

James on: The Untamable Tongue

"But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.      

                                                                                                         James 3:8     NKJV 

A horse has a bit place into its mouth so that they obey us and we are able to turn their whole body. This is only a small implement but it does a perfect job. After a while, the horse become rein-trained and able to safely have a rider on its back. A ship has a rudder, which again is only a small implement but, it is able to steer the whole ship into the direction that it should be going. The human tongue, again is only small, but unlike the other two, a person finds it practically impossible to tame it. We can come close but the only one who is successful in taming the tongue is God. This is why we need Him each and everyday, in whatever situation we find ourselves in.

James, in our text, says that it is unruly and full of deadly poison, and it certainly can be. It boasts and brags if we're not careful and can kindle a fire in no time at all. With the tongue, some people started gossip fires years ago and the flames are still burning. The uncontrolled tongue can set a life on fire; it can destroy self-esteem, devastate relationships, ruin careers and kill a ministry rather like a match or a discarded BBQ can start a forest fire.

With the tongue, we praise God and curse our brother or sister. We can praise God in church and have a great worship time and then, on the journey home, have an argument with a spouse or, shout abuse at another motorist, allowing words that curse. This happen when we're not in control. We think we are, but we allow the devil to trip us up because, like a poisonous snake he is waiting to strike and inject his poison. The one who controls the tongue is mature and it can be seen that this person spends a lot of time in the presence of God.

The uncontrolled tongue doesn't only leads us to use angry words and have a shouting match with someone. What about the words we use most days like, 'I feel awful today, I think I've got the flu.' Or, 'I feel like death.' And another favourite, 'I'll never get this right, I just can't do this.' These are words and phrases that we should avoid. We're confessing curses upon ourselves and we need to stop this habit at once. 

In order to change this, we need to allow God to take the reins; we need to surrender all to Him and allow Him to teach us how to live; how to speak; how to think. It all comes down to what I always say, there's evidence that we need to spend more time in God's presence.

Try a little test, when you know that you have said something you know you shouldn't, try taking the word back and replace it with a more appropriate word. Also, try saying sorry more often. Just keep trying. God likes that!

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

James on: Faith and Works

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?                                                        James 2:14     NKJV 

This verse together with the Apostle Paul's writings, has often clashed over the years. However, once studied, it is so clear - so understandable. Instead of what people have called contradiction, they are actually in agreement and both bring it out in their own way.

A person who has asked Jesus into their life, is saved. That cannot be taken from him or her, and it is by faith in Jesus that this has happened. One cannot earn salvation by doing good works. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-10 says:

'For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.'

Notice, carefully, Paul is saying that we are saved for, not by our works. This is very important and shows how Paul and James were in harmony over this matter. Therefore, if we profess to be a Christian, one who is a bible reading, Spirit-filled confessing man or woman of God and someone asks for help, God would expect us to assess the situation properly, not just send them away with a blessing. If by example, someone is hungry and has no means of satisfying that hunger and, we have the means to satisfy this need but instead, send them away with a, 'I'll pray for you brother. Things will get better, just trust God.' That does not show the love of God. It's the same if a person needs money or clothes; if we are able to meet their need - comfortably - but instead, send them away empty-handed, have we demonstrated the love and the works of God? No, we haven't. 

To profess Christianity, we must act as Jesus did and would in any given situation. This doesn't mean that we should allow people to take us for a ride and con us. This is why we need to be open to the Spirit of God. If we are, He will show us who are genuine and who are not.

As we have seen, we cannot earn salvation. This comes through faith in Jesus. However, it doesn't stop there. Remember, we are saved for our good works not because of them.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE