Are you prepared to take the flak?

"While they were speaking to the people , the priests, the captain of the temple police and the Sadducees confronted them 2 because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus, the resurrection of the dead."  

                                                                                                         Acts 4:1-5   CSB 

Wherever you go and talk about Jesus, you will come up against flak. Whether you are preaching, teaching or just chatting to friends, family or work colleagues, you will come under fire. You may even become unpopular and in extreme circumstances, be asked to leave or be quiet.

The name of Jesus stirs people up. Strangely enough, they can tolerate speaking about God - everyone knows of Him. However, Jesus is too personal. People may say, 'Isn't he a baby who we talk about at Christmas?' Others may say, 'Isn't He dead?' Many cannot comprehend that He is actually God.

Jesus is the Word. 'In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God' John 1:1. And yet we read in John 1:11, 'He came to His own and His own people did not receive Him.' The priests, the temple police and the Sadducees came and arrested Peter and John because they were preaching about Jesus and the resurrection; and even though some 5000 people had accepted Jesus, they didn't care. It was blasphemous to them. The Sadducees didn't even believe in the resurrection from the dead, (this is why they were 'sad - u - see. Sorry).

This was the beginning of the persecution. Jesus received it, Peter and John received it and so will you, if you talk about Jesus in certain quarters. But let me say, there is no stopping God when Jesus is glorified.

The thing is, are you prepared to receive the flak? Are you? Christians have lost their jobs and their homes and families for doing this. In some countries, they have suffered beatings and imprisonment. Some have been tortured and killed. It's true and it is happening today. Are you prepared to bite the bullet? It's ok going to church each week but it is a different thing to make a stand for Jesus against all of the immorality and corruption in our world today. Are you prepared to take the flak?

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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What's it got to do with you?

"If I want him to remain until I come", Jesus answered, "what is that to you?" v22  

                                                                                           John 21:20-25  CSB

Straight talking from Jesus will always follow unwholesome behaviour and talk. Here, after being restored, Peter the rock, reverts to his pebble ego and starts asking, 'Lord, who is the one that's going to betray you?' And then looking around and seeing John following them, 'Lord, what about him?'

Jesus loves us very much but, He will have no favourites by giving them information about someone else that could lead to the promotion of rumours. This is why Jesus said, 'If I want him to remain until I come - what is that to you?' In other words, 'this doesn't concern you, so don't go there; just follow Me and do what I have told you. I may have something different for John to do.' 

Gossip, false accusations and telling tales are not for the person of God. Over the years, they have split churches and ruined ministries. They are always detrimental to church life. Gossip is so easily received as the truth and once ignited, spreads everywhere, and this is why Jesus didn't discuss anything about John. Check out v23, 'So this rumour spread to the brothers and sisters that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him he would not die but, 'if I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?'

It didn't concern Peter what would happen to John, he had to decide if he was going to follow Jesus or not; and not interfere with what God is doing with someone else. And this includes each one of us as well. Charles Spurgeon commenting on this passage wrote:

I have come to the conclusion that, instead of trying to set all my Master's servants right at once, my first and most important work is to follow my Lord, and I think my brother, that it will be wise for you to come to the same conclusion.'

Jesus is interested in us and what we are doing, not about what we believe someone else should be doing. 'WHAT IS THAT TO YOU?'

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Restoration and Re-installation

"Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" v15  of John 21:15-19   NKJV 

In this piece of scripture, we deal with three denials and three confessions. Peter had denied Jesus on 3 occasions, even though he had said he never would. Therefore, Jesus wanted Peter to confess 3 times that he loved Him. This is where the restoring and re-installation of Peter's calling began.

Many people miss how Jesus addressed Peter that day. He said, 'Simon, son of Jonah', and yet in John 1:42, Jesus had said to him, 'You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called 'Cephas', which is translated stone. Cephas was a name of Aramaic origin meaning rock or stone, and yet, Jesus reverted back to to his original name - Simon. Why was this? The name  Simon was translated 'Pebble' and this is how Peter used to be and was displaying when he denied Jesus. It was Jesus' intention that he be a rock and Jesus was reminding him of this.

Jesus asked Peter, 'do you love Me more than these? and then twice more He asked, 'Do you love me?'. Peter answered that he did love Jesus and then Jesus told him, Feed My lambs, Tend My sheep and Feed My sheep. Jesus' intention was that Peter would be a powerful yet tender leader of God's people. He knew Peter was willing to give up everything - his livelihood, family, friends, whatever, to follow Him. He also knew that possibly the other disciples would struggle with this. Therefore having satisfied Himself that Peter was faithful, He restored him.

You may have departed from Jesus because of certain things. It's never too late to return to Him. If you do, Jesus will place His arms around you and give you a great welcome. What are you waiting for?

"Lord, I return to You and ask Your forgiveness that I walked away. Lord, please forgive me and accept me back. I come to You now. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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Do you recognise Him?

"The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said, 'It is the Lord'" v7    John 21:7-14   CSB 

When the disciples first saw Jesus on the shore, they didn't recognise Him. This is quite strange as they had spent 3 years or so with Him daily. They were not alone; the two men on the road to Emmaus had done the same. They were in deep conversation about the resurrection and the chaos it had caused, when Jesus joined them on their walk. They didn't recognise Him until they had broken bread; then their eyes were opened Luke 24:13-36. Then of course, there was Mary Magdalene who had visited and found the tomb empty on resurrection day. In her distress, she mistook Jesus for the gardener, until He spoke her name John 20:18. They all knew Jesus in His human form, but perhaps what happened was. they didn't recognise Him in His glory. 

John shouted from the boat, 'It is the Lord!' With that, Peter put on his outer garment and jumped into the water making his way to the shore. He would have been wearing a loin cloth whilst he carried out the hot and sweaty work on the boat, most fishermen did. Now, it was a Jewish law that when greeting another person, people must be clothed appropriately. Therefore, Peter wished to greet Jesus in a respectful manner.

When Peter and the others arrived at the shore, Jesus already had a BBQ going, with fish and bread ready to eat. Just where He got them all from, we do not know, it is just a part of who Jesus is, always expect excitement and the best from Him. They soon realised who Jesus was, when he gave them the fish and bread together with blessing it. This must have reminded them of the feeding of the five thousand.

The main part of their time with Jesus, reinforces the fact that, without Him, we can do nothing John 15:5. Experienced fishermen, out all night and yet, they caught nothing. Notice though, Jesus was very near to them, on the shore. They only had to call to Him and things may have been different. They had answered, 'No' when He had asked them if they had caught any fish but, the difference came when they obeyed Him and cast their nets on the right side of the boat; they were blessed. This was an amazing catch and would have gone towards supporting their families.

Jesus had provided for them and He will do the same for you, as well. Notice how John became the encourager here, 'It is the Lord'. We always need an encourager among us as we need this from time to time. Could you be an encourager? Would you be able to encourage someone to call on Jesus? Give this some thought, it is important.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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What is the Fear of the LORD Conclusion

"Love has been perfected among us in this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.'                                                                 1 John 4:17-18  NKJV

Many Christians, including myself over the years, have struggled with the subject of fearing God. It has almost made Him look like a great ogre who terrifies His subjects. But this is very far from the truth. God is a loving God who, cannot get enough of us, He loves us dearly and wants us to feel the same way about Him. 

How easy it is to get the wrong picture. God is not an ogre. He is a loving, caring God who sent His only Son, Jesus into the world to die for us that we may have, hope in this world and a place in Heaven at the end of our time here on earth. This is not fear, it is love.

People can bring fear upon us if, we allow them to. As children, many of us were told by our parents, that if we don't go to sleep, the bogy man will come for us or, the ten o' clock horses. As an 8 year old, my mum told me that, if I didn't behave, the gypsy people would come and take me with them. I was petrified. Imagine how I felt, when one day a gypsy stood at our door trying to sell pegs. We need to be so careful what we say to people, especially children. Many times, what is said is believed as the truth.

The devil will whisper lies to us, he can't speak the truth if he tried. He can be so convincing and can make us feel guilty about something, an unloved person and totally condemned. But as we train ourselves to know the voice of God, we know the difference when we hear such things. The devil accuses, God doesn't, the devil lies, God doesn't and God will never condemn you but, the devil will

The devil has an appointment with God that he cannot avoid. Hebrews 10:31 says, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God', and one day soon, he will; this is certain and he will not sweet-talk his way out of that.

Remember, 'There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear - 1 John 4:18 and as Charles Spurgeon writes:

' What love is this that shone on us when we were the serfs and slaves of satan, the dishwashers in the kitchen of iniquity'

God is love, not fear

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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What is the Fear of the LORD Part 4

"For God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgement"  

                                                                                                2 Timothy 1:7  CSB 

HOW DOES LOVE CAST OUT FEAR?

Fear in this verse comes from the Greek word Deilia, which means cowardice, timidity and fearfulness. Fear in the bible is a key element to change. It helps us to have a humble perspective of ourselves in relation to God. It also helps us to remember the seriousness in times of temptation and disobedience and motivates us to become more God like.

Reverential fear is designed to help us grow and become more like God. It helps us to grow in love and grace towards other people, especially the ones who have hurt us. God loves us so, there is no need to be terrified of His judgement. We repent and our sin is taken away and we are declared, 'Not Guilty.'

'Love has been perfected among us in this, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.'

                                                                                          1 John 4:17-18  NKJV

CONSIDERATIONS

(1)  God loves us so, there is no need to be terrified of His judgement

(2)  As we repent from our sin, we are declared, 'Not Guilty'

(3)  The subject of fear in the bible, is a key element to change. It helps us to remember the seriousness of temptation, of disbedience and motivates us to be more like God.

(4)  Fear, if not taken hold of, can completely disable a person leaving them totally unable to live their lives properly. It is a major tool that our enemy, Satan uses against us and, triggers bad thoughts into our spirits. Once we allow these thoughts to become a stronghold, they can be very difficult to be free of them. We need God's help in activating the tools of warfare as written in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. 

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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What is the Fear of the LORD Part 3

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."                                                                             Proverbs I:7

Basically, if we truly fear God, we acknowledge in our hearts that He is the creator and we are His creation. He is the master, we are His servants. We respect Him for who He is. We will do all we can to be obedient to His word and try not to displease Him. This is not an example of a slave to His master - far from it. It is a reverential and respectful attitude towards Him, such as, a child to a parent.

To fear God properly, God expects us to live a reverent life. The problem is, we are still open to committing sin and sometimes, wilfully. From one point of view, we could expect God to wipe us away for deliberately sinning. However, He is full of grace; we are still learning and will be until we are with Him. God is faithful and loving.

Psalm 130:3-4 tells us:

'LORD if you kept a record of our sins, who O LORD could ever survive? 4 But You offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear You.'  NLT

God has provided the ability for us to repent and as we do, we receive a reason to fear - a reason to change. Gratefulness and the desire to grow in love and, to be more like Him.

Just for a moment, consider Psalm 130:3-4. Just imagine if God did keep a record of your sin; it's easy to understand how we could never survive this. This is how it will be for all those who refuse to accept Jesus as Lord. When they stand before Him at the end of time, they will need to give an account for what is written in His book about them. If Jesus hasn't rubber-stamped it with His forgiveness, they will be lost without any hope. This is what the fear of the Lord is. He offers each individual a place in Heaven through Jesus Christ. If they fail to comply, there is only hell to look forward to

CONSIDERATIONS

(1)  God is our master - we are His servants. We are not slaves to our master -God. We have a reverential and respectful attitude towards Him - a child to a parent.

(2)  We are to live reverent lives; God is full of grace and understands that we sin, often; He knows that we're still learning.

(3)  When we repent, He gives us a reason to fear - a reason to change. Any sin is then cancelled out.

Copyright 2022 Grahame Howard.                                

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If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

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