Why are you so troubled?

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"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me" v1

                                                                                            John 14:1-5   NKJV

The word 'Believe' that Jesus used here, recorded in John is used over 90 times in the Gospel and elsewhere. The Greek for this word is Pisteuo which means literally to 'Place one's trust in another.' Therefore, you believed in Jesus for your salvation, can't you trust Him for everything else that life brings before you. He is able! 

Many at this time believed in Jesus' miraculous powers but, they would not believe in Jesus Himself. These people wanted a political Messiah and could not believe in someone who suffered for their sins. Jesus told them about His imminent departure, which would have made His disciples feel extremely insecure. But, He also said that He would be back; He was leaving to prepare a place for them, then He would return.

And for you and I, He is preparing a place in heaven, in fact, it may even be ready for us now. However, He cannot return until the right moment - when the Father tells Him to go. When this happens, and we don't know when, not even Jesus knows, but, when He does, we'll be out of here and installed in our mansions, whatever they are. 

Until then, we have absolutely nothing to fear; you know Jesus so, your insurance premiums are paid up - He paid the price on the cross, so there is no fear for us. If we die today, we'll be with Him, if we are still alive when Jesus comes, He will gather up all of His people and we will be whisked away - the Rapture.

So, you may have money problems or can't pay some of the high energy costs, Jesus doesn't want you worrying. He also doesn't want you suffering hypothermia so, if you are cold, either wear extra clothes or put your heating on. If you trust Him, then He will supply. It all comes down to faith, whether you trust Him or not. There's no if's or buts to it. It is fact (Matt 6:33-34)

Stop worrying and being troubled, your Good Shepherd is in control

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

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Our Shepherd Part 4. Can we lose our salvation?

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27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

                                                                         John 10:27-28. NKJV

Can a person's sin or failures result in the loss of salvation? This is a topic that many Christians have struggled with, whenever they have sinned and are riddled with guilt.

Concerning our text above, Jesus makes the same promise two different ways: 1 believers will not perish and 2 no one can take eternal life from them. Jesus Himself says that He gives us eternal life when we are saved, and that we will never perish nor fear that someone will be able to snatch us away from His hand. Yes, we will sin and, keep on sinning throughout our earthly life but, the guilt that we will suffer because of this sin, will always bring us to repentance. And this is the difference between believers and unbelievers - we know what is wrong and, the Holy Spirit within us, convicts us of this leading us to repent.

Ephesians 1:13-14  says 'In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.' In other words, we have been marked with the owners name, rather like a shepherd would do with his sheep for identification purposes. We are marked by Jesus' name and secured as being His possession. This is our guarantee performed by the Holy Spirit within us "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory'. Ephesians 1:13-14. NKJV. And also "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption'. Ephesians 4:30

The Holy Spirit is your seal and guarantee of your inheritance and salvation. No one can change this. Aren't you blessed to have Jesus as your Shepherd?

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

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Our Shepherd. Part 3

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9I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.                                            John 10:7-18. NKJV

Continuing with our study of the Shepherd, we see that Jesus is the door for His sheep, but, so was the earthly shepherd. Let me explain. The sheepfold was a round rock wall with an opening for the sheep to enter or exit. Once in the fold, the shepherd would lie at the entrance to the fold, so that the sheep couldn't get out and nothing could get in. So here we see that the earthly shepherd was also the door. But even he, had weaknesses unlike the Good Shepherd. The earthly shepherd could easily drift into a heavy sleep, roll over and allow danger to the fold. Our Good Shepherd, never sleeps.

The sheepfold was extremely beneficial, it provided a dry, quiet place for the sheep to rest, normally away from any danger. In verse 9, Jesus mentions three benefits of entering God's sheep fold:

1  These sheep would be saved and protected from danger. We as the sheep of God, are of far more value and once we enter Jesus' fold, we are saved, cleansed from sin and belong to Him. We know that whatever happens, we will be saved and taken good care of.

2  These sheep will go in and out of the fold, moving about in security. We too, are secure in Jesus. He knows our name and even the number of hairs on our head. He knows everything about us - good and bad, and yet accepts us. He is committed to the good work He has begun in us, and He will continue to complete until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

3  These sheep will find pasture - a constant sustenance for the soul. This is the same for all who belong to Jesus and have a place in His fold; He will take care of us and provide all that we need (Matthew 6:33). There is no good thing that we will lack (Psalms 34:10 / 23:1).

Unlike the thief, who here, is a false shepherd, Jesus said that His purpose as the Good Shepherd, was that His sheep would have life more abundantly. Just think, rather like the earthly shepherd, who is out in all weather's cold or hot, wet or dry, Jesus is similar, but He goes one step further, He never sleeps and is there watching over us day and night 24/7.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

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Our Shepherd. Part 2

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  3To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  5Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”  6Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them."   John 10:1-6   NKJV

Notice that there are good shepherds and bad ones. One sheep farmer saw this happening in the farm adjoining his. His grass was green, fresh and bursting with health. The starving, under-nourished sheep from the next farm used to gather along the fence longing to eat and lie in this grass. Their land was just mud. This indeed was evidence of a bad shepherd. 

Some people attack sheep, as do wild animals and uncontrolled dogs. A good shepherd will always protect his sheep from attack and will do all he or she can do, to ensure their safety and good health. The sheep know their shepherd and will follow him wherever he leads them. They know that they are safe and if needed, the shepherd will rescue them from attack or falls into a ditch. 

Jesus spoke about the True Shepherd in this passage above. Notice how He said, the shepherds calls them by name. Of all the people in the world, Jesus the True Shepherd knows your name and will call you by this when He wants to. That in itself is amazing and a very personal thing. 

There are people around who are not your friend; in fact, they are not Christians either, and all they want to do is drag you down. They will lead you astray if they can. They can be so convincing that if you are not careful, you will believe the lie they are telling you. 

Be aware of this. Not everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet as you are. Satan, uses people to distract, confuse and teach lies - things that sound convincing but, are not the truth. Be careful. If you are confronted by this, call on your True Shepherd,

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if He hasn't warned you first, which He probably has. Stay connected to your Shepherd, if you don't you may wander into danger and make a terrible mistake. As I said and say again, not everyone is your friend. There is no need to be paranoid and suspect every new person that comes your way; this is not what I'm saying. Just be discerning and open to the Holy Spirit. He will show you the way.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

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Our Shepherd

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters".     Psalm 23:1-2. NKJV

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     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>David was a shepherd, therefore, he knew how important it was to take care of his sheep. Sheep do not have a lot of sense and, wander off into all directions often becoming lost or trapped. They don't naturally go into green pastures for food, water and rest. Therefore, the shepherd keeps a close watch over them, keeping them safe and well-nourished.

David wrote this Psalm from a sheep's perspective. After many years of shepherding, this was his life and he related this to how God was his Shepherd, keeping Him safe and provided for. He does the same for us as well. If we get into problems, such as being lost, Our Shepherd will come and look for us and gently guide us to safety. Of course, this all depends on our relationship with Him. He will never force us against our will. We have free will.

Note how David writes, 'I shall not want'. This was written by a man who knew his Shepherd through and through and spent time with Him 24/7, shepherding and writing his music. He was devoted to Him. Notice, how David as a young boy, stood up and defended Israel against the formidable Goliath - a giant of a warrior. While the rest of the Israelites, including Saul, were reluctant to fight against this giant, David, a mere slip of a youth, stood before him and said 'You come to me with a sword, with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'  1 Sam 17:45. David then, killed this giant.

How was he capable of this? Because, he knew his God and he knew that he would take care of him. He trusted his Shepherd wholeheartedly and knew, He would never let him down. And He won't you either.

Your Shepherd, Jesus Christ, is your friend and protector, and if you keep Him by your side He will lead you beside the still waters and will restore your soul - your mind, will and emotions. Place your Shepherd in His rightful position, in your heart and keep Him there. Acknowledge Him in everything you do and He will guide you through every single hour of your day.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

Competitive Spirits

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,  3and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  4Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me".  Matthew 18:1-5  NKJV

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     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>We must realise fully, that when people are filled with themselves, they cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit. The disciples had it all wrong; they thought Jesus would remove Rome's yoke and bring an earthly kingdom that would restore Israel to prominence - a kingdom in which the disciples expected to be given high profile positions. They were looking at rank and status and wrestling with who would get the best job. But the Kingdom of heaven is spiritual not political, and would be run on different standards to what an earthly one is.

Jesus was quick to change their thinking. People who expect to be great in the Kingdom of God, should be willing to be as humble as a young child. There should be no competitiveness within 

the church and most definitely in the Kingdom of God.

One can understand the disciple's thinking. They had not fully grasped the principles of Kingdom business and what Jesus' role was. Therefore, if Jesus was going to come into His Kingdom, as they were His 'top men' surely they would have some important role and, one of the them would be in charge of the others. 

This can be a delicate subject within the church today. A pastor may be appointed to a church, but in some places, there may be some people who consider they have a certain standing within the church and may try to usurp the new pastor, causing problems behind his back. I remember one pastor friend, who was sent to a 'problem church.' On the first Sunday evening, he told the church exactly what he intended to do, asked the present elders and deacons to step down and then said to the congregation, 'All of those who agree with what I intend to do, please remain in your seats; those who don't agree, please leave now.' Three quarters of the congregation left the church and the new pastor addressed those who remained. 'Right, let's start building our church.' And he did, and the church became one of the most successful of churches in the area.

There is no room for a competitive spirit within the church of God. If you struggle with this, please seek help from a trusted Christian friend or submit to God. Be humble, as Jesus was humble.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

True Discipleship

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works."  Matthew 16:24-27  NKJV

Jesus shared three different laws  of discipleship, Self denial, sacrifice and submission:

1 Self-denial  'Let him deny himself

2 Sacrifice  'Take up his cross

3 Submission  'Follow Me'

Jesus doesn't just leave us with this criteria. He points out the rewards that belong to those who become His disciple. 

A 'For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,' Giving one's life in dedication to Jesus on a permanent basis, brings total joy and fulfilment. This is granted to the one who exchanges their life for the life of Jesus. Giving their all to Him

B 'For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?' Living our lives by faith in Jesus, is priceless, because of the rewards that one receives. Yes, the going can be tough at times, but it's far worse in the world, without Him. At least, giving our all to Jesus means, our lives are always in profit, because He is with us..

C 'He will reward each according to his works.' Jesus is very generous and He will reward us for placing our lives into His hands and, at the end of the day - in heaven, the blessings will fall like we could never imagine. (Eph 3:20).

What would you sooner do, live your live in submission to Jesus or, take a chance on your own?

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

Lord Jesus, I have sinned   

I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2024 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, grahame.howard@hotmail.co.uk

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out