A WORD IN SEASON - 2007 ARCHIVE

Transformed and renewed - PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2007

Are there moments in your life when you feel as if you are marking time as a Christian - that you cannot see any noticeable spiritual development? This could be for a number of reasons which cannot be covered in a short article such as this. But if you are genuinely seeking the Lord there is good news for you today.

The Bible teaches quite clearly that you are being transformed and renewed, whether you realise it or not. In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he writes these two revealing portions of scripture.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (see 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18)

“Therefore we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (see 2 Corinthians 4 verse 16)

It is important to remember that your spiritual growth does not rely on how you feel. Feelings can be deceptive and very often mirror a person’s circumstances. For instance, if you have received bad news you are likely to feel downcast. Whereas if you have received some good news you will probably feel quite elated. Rest assured, the Holy Spirit will continue to work in you despite your feelings.

He will bring about a transformation and renewal that no human philosophy or man made religion could ever accomplish. Remember what it says in Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” So do not rely on your feelings; instead trust what God says in His word the Bible. Trust in Him and allow the Holy Spirit to change you day by day into the image of Jesus Christ.

Finally, a cautionary note. Ensure the Holy Spirit has full reign in your life. Do not quench or grieve Him by trying to do His work in your strength. If you do you will fail every time, hinder Him and feel worse than ever.

Sin - a dirty word?- PUBLISHED JULY 2007

If you look around the Christian church today, you will see pockets of believers who are loathe to use the word sin when explaining the gospel. It is as if sin has become a dirty word.

I believe this has come about because of those Christians who desire to see the gospel message become more acceptable to the world. So instead of explaining to a non-Christian that they “...must repent of their sins”, they ask them to “...try our church.” Thus, the gospel message is watered down and the church is reduced to a mere social gathering.

Yet you cannot speak of the effect without explaining the cause otherwise people will not understand what you are trying to convey. In other words you cannot preach Jesus without explaining why He came. For as John the Baptist proclaims in John chapter 1 verse 29, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Do not let the word sin depart from your vocabulary. Use it when explaining and demonstrating the gospel, because without it you are denying the hearer the full gospel.

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Some of the many reasons to pray - PUBLISHED 1 JUNE 2007

Listed below are a few of the very many reasons that scripture gives us regarding the need to pray. Some you may be familiar with, others you might be reading for the first time. Nonetheless, I hope you will be blessed by them all and encouraged to ‘Pray without ceasing”.

PRAY FOR GUIDANCE

“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.”

Luke chapter 6 verses 12 to 13

The Lord had a big decision to make. What did He do? He spoke to the Father and in the morning, He chose the twelve called to be the apostles, who followed Him throughout His ministry. If the Lord prayed for guidance, can we do any less?

PRAYER DELIGHTS GOD

“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

Proverbs chapter 15 verse 8

God loves to hear from us. He is not deaf to our praise of Him, our requests to Him, or our cries unto Him. He is delighted because He wants us to seek Him in prayer. In doing so, our relationship with Him grows. After all, what kind of father does not want to hear from his child?

GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS

“So Cornelius said, ‘Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’”

Acts chapter 10 verses 30 to 32

The righteous man sought God by faith through prayer and his prayer was heard. God responded but there are times when we have to wait for the answer. It is then that we must exercise patience. You can be confident that in God’s time His response will come.

GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

“So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”

Ezra chapter 8 verse 23

Here is one of many examples found in scripture where testimony is given to the fact that our God answers prayer. Yet when we have to wait, doubt can creep in. Guard against this at all cost. If you feel doubt beginning to envelop you, turn again to the examples of answered prayer in the Bible.

PRAY WITH CONFIDENCE

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

1 John chapter 5 verses 14 to 15

Confidence will always counter doubt and here it says quite plainly that we can be confident because God does hear us. Many Christians allow doubt to rob them of the peace they should have after they have offered up prayer. Do not allow your peace to be stolen.

INTERCEDE FOR ONE ANOTHER

“For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Philippians chapter 1 verses 19 to 20

The apostle Paul would be delivered through the intercessory of his brothers and sisters in Christ. Their prayer would make a difference to his life. He was confident in that fact. We too should intercede for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

PRAY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.”

Acts chapter 12 verses 4 to 6

There are many Christians around the world who are being persecuted and even put to death for their faith in Christ. Pray for them. Keep them before the Lord in your prayers. It does not matter if you do not know who or where they are – just pray for them and the Lord will hear you.

PRAYER SERVES GOD

“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Luke 2:36-38

Anna was a woman of prayer and through her ministry, she served the Lord. Maybe God is calling you to serve Him in this way. What an honour to have a ministry such as this. Whether you pray alone or with others, if this is your ministry use it to His glory.

PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

“Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.”

Colossians chapter 4 verses 11 to 13

By praying for others, you are lifting them before God. This will have a tremendous impact upon their lives; things will happen that they cannot explain. Your prayer for them is like seed sown in the ground, and it will bear much fruit in their lives.

Finally remember “...the effective prayer of a righteous man availed much.”

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More than conquerors - PUBLISHED 1 MAY 2007

“Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Romans chapter 8 verse 37

This is such an encouraging verse and yet, in the past, I have often failed to grasp the enormity of what it is saying to us today. In many nations Christian’s face persecution daily. But such is the world’s onslaught against the truth that even in supposedly Christian nations such as the US and the UK, preaching the gospel is being curtailed and even outlawed. So it is vitally important that we take hold of the fact that, in God’s words, we are more than conquerors!

“Yet in all things...”

Notice it doesn’t say a few things, or some things, or many things. It says all things! That little seemingly insignificant word ‘all’ means everything. There is nothing excluded from its definition.

“...we are...”

This word ‘we’ doesn’t just mean the saints of old, such as the apostle Paul; nor does it refer to those we think of as being ‘super spiritual’. My brothers and sisters, this word ‘we’ refers to you and I.

“...more than...”

Have you ever really noticed and understood that word ‘more’ when you previously read this verse? Well you are not alone, neither have I until recently. A conqueror, once he has defeated his foes, then has to worry how he can keep them subdued. But to be more than a conqueror means that you can rest in your victory. You do not have worry because the Lord’s peace is yours.

That is not to say there will never be any more foes in your life. As sure as the Lord will return they, like the waves of the sea returning time and again to the beach, will return to attack you. You are in a battle but no one ever conquered his foe by giving up on the fight. Remember the battle belongs to the Lord so go out in the power of the Holy Spirit and conquer. Then rest in the Lord.

“...conquerors...”

The two most potent adversaries the Christian can face is the devil and sin. One seeks to destroy your relationship with God; the other seeks to poison your spirit. But in Christ you are more than conquerors. You will overcome. Not might or maybe, but will.

“...through Him...”

As has already been alluded to, this cannot be achieved in your own strength but only in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. So don’t gloat in your victory rather thank God that He has enabled you to conquer. Your victory was bought at a price on the cross of Calvary. Always remember that. It is nothing of you but all of Christ.

“...who loved us...”

There is the justification for your being a conqueror. It is the love of God. The same love that took Christ to the cross, seeks to keep you victorious against those things which would undermine your faith.

But what if we fall, does that mean we are no longer conquerors? No - that is a lie spoken by the devil. If you fall it simply means you fell. Repent, get back on your feet, take hold of the Lord’s forgiveness and continue the race that is set before you.

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Rooted and grounded in Him - PUBLISHED 1 MARCH 2007

One night without warning a hurricane blew across the land with such ferocity that thousands upon thousands of trees were felled. Some were easily removed from their earthly slumber because they were decayed and had no life in them. Others simply couldn’t resist the powerful force that uprooted them from the ground, because they were not strong enough. This mighty force that had been unleashed cut a destructive swathe where ever it blew. The following day the country awoke to a landscape changed beyond recognition.

Could this be a picture of today’s church? Will the devil strike the church when it least expects it? Is it slumbering in the comfort of tradition displaying an outward appearance of health whilst beneath the surface lay a rotten core? Will it be able to resist the devils evil, destructive force? When the devil roars who will be left standing? And when the church finally wakes from its slumber what condition will it be in?

As trees make up forests so Christians make up the church. And just as trees are rooted and grounded in the earth so Christians should be rooted and grounded in Christ (see Colossians 2 verse 7). But are you? What will sustain you when the storms rage?

Below are some Biblical verses that if applied to your life will help you to stand when the evil day comes.

Ÿ	Do not be ignorant of the devil’s plans (see 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 8).

Ÿ	Cut out the rottenness (see Matthew chapter 5 verses 29 and 30 and Colossians chapter 3 verses 1 to 11).

Ÿ	Put on the armour of God (see Ephesians chapter 6 verse 11).

Ÿ	Stand firm in the truth (see 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 13).

Ÿ	Be built on the rock (see Matthew chapter 7 verses 24 to 29).

Ultimately what counts is your relationship with God. As the forester will tend the trees in the forest nurturing the saplings and pruning where necessary, so the Lord will nurture and prune you, if you allow Him. As he does so your faith will grow stronger and you will be more able to weather the storms. Then when the Lord returns to claim you as His own the storms will become history.

It is by faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ that you will stand. Make sure your faith and trust is centred on Him and that your walk is according to His word.

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Government or God: Who should you obey? - PUBLISHED 1 FEBRUARY 2007

Governments are ordained by God and Christians are called to obey governmental authority (see Romans chapter 13 verses 1 to 7 and 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 13 to 17). But what should we do when governments pass legislation that makes it illegal to live according to the word of God? The best way to answer that question is to look at two Biblical examples of three men who were faced with exactly that dilemma.

In the Old Testament we read about Daniel. He rose to become a governor and confidante of kings. Yet neither the office he held nor the trappings that came with it could dislodge God from being the rock on which his life was built. And the conflict that was to occur between his faith and the will of men nearly cost him dearly.

Daniel was an obedient man. He could not have risen to the exalted position he attained without obeying the commands of King Darius. But then the king made a decree, which had been engineered by Daniel’s political opponents. It prohibited anyone from petitioning their ‘god’ or any man except the king, for thirty days (see Daniel chapter 6). Now he was faced with a choice. Either he obeyed this decree, which had he been of a liberal disposition he might well of justified by saying, “Well, it’s only for thirty days”, or he disobeyed it and faced certain death.

In Daniel’s mind there was only one choice he could make. He would obey God not man and trust God with the consequences. The rest of the story you know. God delivered him by sending His angel to shut the mouths of the lions because Daniel chose God over man.

Now let’s move into the New Testament and look at two men who faced a similar situation.

In Acts chapter 4 verses 1 to 31 we read about Peter and John. They had been preaching Jesus to the people in Jerusalem and performed a miracle in Jesus’ name. Because of this they were
arrested. The following day they were brought before the Sanhedrin council. Here were two ordainary men uneducated and untrained. Yet there was one key thing they did possess - the Holy Spirit. He enabled them to speak boldly and because of Him they were able to confound and amaze their accusers. Unable to decide what to do with these men, the council ordered them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

In verse 19 we read Peter’s response . “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Neither Peter or John would be cowed into submission by the Sanhedrin’s edict because they chose God over man.

These three men weren’t any different to you and I. They weren’t ‘super spiritual’ but they were saved sinners just like us. We also have something else in common with them - faith in Almighty God. It was by faith that they were prepared to suffer the wrath of men, rather than deny the word of God.

There may well come a day when we too are faced with a similar situation where we have to choose God over man. But Daniel, Peter and John, have left us an example to follow. God