Author: words and signs

Fiddling while people burn

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“Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will repay each person according to what they have done.” Romans 2:5-6 NIV

If we believe in a place known as hell, with all the insight the Scriptures give on that place- why are we so silent? Silent as organisations and as individuals -we forget its existence. We become accepting of a complacent idea that some are saved and some are not. And we have no control or responsibility for the job of reaching out with the life-saving message of repentance, forgiveness and spiritual life forever. We are slightly embarrassed to talk about the most loving Saviour, who can give us life and bring us safely to heaven forever. We don’t understand salvation enough to explain it or tell it publicly, and we make no effort to do so.

Blaming God for the existence of such a place is folly. If only God would let everyone off the hook, we would all be happy. We fail to understand the holiness of God, The dreadfulness of our sin, and the cost of redeeming a soul. We are not afraid of His majesty or thrown down on the floor before His eternal throne. We are insensible and uninterested. As God’s people, we have no vision or little motivation for the salvation of other people.

Why?
Because we don’t get hell.
We don’t see what we have been saved from.
If me and mine are ok, who really cares?
It costs too much time and money.
Spending time in the Scriptures with God is not my thing…
I am not responsible for other people- it’s their choice…
It will all come right in the end..

There will be people who will lose everything. They will ignore their sin and the danger of facing a holy God without a Saviour, and will ultimately perish.
Our responsibility is to tell them, warm them and share the good news of being saved from the consequences of our sin.
Romans 5:8-9 NIV
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

This is the only salvation and the only escape from the destruction which hangs over us apart from God.
It will not come right in the end, unless we repent and believe…

Worldliness

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Worldliness is everywhere.
It is the staple diet of every human heart and psyche.
It infiltrates every organization and human construct.
It is based on the culture of the day.
We imbibe it because we see it gets results that people can see and measure.
This is the mind-set of the generations of human society.
We are happy with acquiescence and compliance in others and ourselves.
We automatically go to the refuges of this life rather than the person of our Saviour Jesus.
We seek satisfaction in the work of our hands, and not is the Spirit of the living God.
We blame others for outward misdemeanors, and tolerate our own deep-dyed sin.
We measure ourselves against the person we most like and admire. It isn’t Jesus.
We want to have the best this world can offer us, and we will do anything to get it. We have the right.
We are comfortable in the knowledge that our families are doing well at school.
We really have no personal knowledge or hunger for the Word of God.
Our spiritual lives have atrophied and we don’t even notice.
We think the minister is the standard. We pay him his salary.
Attending church is our devotion.
Our prayer is that our children will get married in church and get a house in a good area.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:1-10 NIV

Lord, purge my heart from the treacherous prejudices and motivations that infest it.
Turn my eyes to you and my life to the spiritual walk of faith with Jesus.
Forgive, Lord, for I wander so easily. Keep me beside you… I will walk beside you all day every day. I would know your presence dear and recognize your voice as you speak to me.
Your Word is my treasure and my reward.
Lord, I pray this for all my family.
Lord, may we all become like you before you would take us home.

 

Flesh and fear

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“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV

Fear of death is a huge issue in our lives. It feeds other fears, rejection, failure and isolation. For many people, they deal with these pains daily. As we get older and we start to see the apathy and carelessness in the world, the fear grows. People don’t understand and are caught up in their own problems. Where do we turn to or who do we turn to?

The Saviour Jesus knows our every feeling and fear. He is the Holy and mighty God, yet He took to Himself human skin and came and lived our lives for thirty three years. We hated Him for His love and sacrificial living, so we killed Him in a cruel cross. Whatever our weaknesses or failures, He has known them and has died for our failure and sin. He is able and worthy to be our Saviour, Lord and God.

The death of Jesus broke the power that Satan had over the human soul. Jesus paid for the sin we commit and the sinful nature that drives us. He paid for our sin so that we could be free from it, so the guilt and fear is gone. Satan has no more power over those people who have out their trust in Christ and have repented of their sin and turned from it.

If we have never come to Christ in repentance and faith, we are still slaves to sin and we live in fear of the judgment to come.

Perhaps you do not feel afraid. You do not believe, so you think it does not apply. It is promised by God that we will all answer for our sins on that last great day. We might not feel bad about what we do for now, but some day it will become clear. Let it be that we recognise our need before that last day. May we repent and turn from it, before it is too late.

Why hold on to things that drag us down and ruin eternity? Why hold on to a fake feeling of freedom, and miss the reality of liberty in God through not believing? We are so loved that Jesus was prepared to give up His glory and His life for you. Will your sins do that? Will your sins save you from the ultimate wrath of a holy God?

Jesus did not die to save fallen angels, but the fragile humans He created to be His friends. Why miss out on that?

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” Hebrews 2:18 NIV

We can be victorious over sin, through the power of that holy sacrifice on the cross. He who is holy, became unholy so that He could bear the punishment on our behalf. He overcame death and hell, so that those who believe would also overcome..

Is this our deepest treasure and desire?

 

Man of sorrows

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“He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.” Isaiah 53:3 NLT

Phillip Bliss was brought up in the back woods USA. He became a hymn writer for D.L.Moody’s gospel outreaches. Crossing America one night, the train he and his wife, Lucy, travelled in, was involved in a terrible crash. Lucy was left trapped with no possibility of release. As the snow fell, Phillip was told to leave the train and save his life. He refused. He died that night beside Lucy.
What a picture of the Saviour Jesus that he served. Jesus will never leave His people, whatever the circumstances.
This is Phillip’s hymn…

Man of sorrows what a name
for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned he stood,
sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Guilty, vile and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was he,
Full atonement, can it be?
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

He was lifted up to die;
“It is finished” was his cry;
now in heaven exalted high:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King,
all his ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!

The sword of the Lord!

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The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!

This is the sword…

It is razor sharp, to cut between the bones and the marrow.

It is fearful, it will cut to ribbons, if not wielded aright.

It is double edged, it cuts right and left, it brings death on both the sharp sides. It reveals what is true and what is fake.

What is this mighty weapon?

The very Word of the Living God…

Those who walk by it never go wrong. Those who learn to use it will bring many to righteousness. Those who use it wrongly, will suffer loss.

The stakes are high and the blade is sharp. Will you discipline yourself before the Lord to use it rightly?

Will you keep it hidden in the scabbard? or be a warrior saint, triumphant and victorious.?

This sword brings death and life.

It enlivens the faithful warrior who has taken it boldly and fights for others.

It slays the lazy and complacent who don’t realise its power or have never learned the battle cry.

 

Psalm 120

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“I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.
Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.
What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue?
He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I lived among those who hate peace.
I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.”

This is the voice of a child of God who is suffering at the hands of the people around them. This Christian is becoming tired and weary of the fight against sin and the war against hatred in their own hearts. This Christian sees and feels the oppression of the words and blame of other people. None of us are exempt from feelings and desires for our own recognition and protection. Yet whatever we do, we always seem to be on the defensive and the voices of accusation are everywhere. People will always criticize and the enemy of our souls is always ready to find the chink of doubt in our Christian armour.

This Christian is wise. This person calls on the Lord their God and He answers them. The scripture is full of this principle and comfort. Christians love the book of Psalms, because it is full of instruction on this very issue.

“Do not be far from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help me. May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” Psalm 71:12-14 NIV

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 NIV

We should be seeking peace and that our lives are filled with God, and not ourselves. Of course, that peace is grounded on repentance and faith, and not in some romantic idea that in this world we will find peace.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:25-27 NIV

The issue that hurts us, is when we realize that lies are being told about our life and conduct. These are being used to cover up the bad attitudes in the life of the accuser. The desire to put each other down is something we all face and must fight. There is nothing we can do about what other people say about us, but we take it to the Lord in prayer, because we know that He sees all. Whatever other people say, our confidence is in God and He will protect his people.

God hates sins that come through speaking. This prayer outlines God’s way of dealing with lies and false witness against a person. The sharpness of our sinful words will recoil on us, and we will feel the hurt of what we have said to wound another person. The burning words we have heaped on another person, will eventually be felt by us. God has no favourites.

God hates sin and He hates the way we treat each other, and the way we speak against each other, bringing people down and ruining their reputation in front of other people. We have here a person who is seeking to live a godly life in the sinfulness of a ruined world. The references to Meshek and Kedar, refer to tribes in the Old Testament who did not live in peace with each other. This is the state of our world today. We teeter on the brink of physical war, and we fight daily, against the forces of evil in this dark world. The fight is spiritual and we cannot do it without the Lord.

We must confess our sins to Him. We must acknowledge our total guilt and seek forgiveness from God, and others around us. To get the victory over this sin, we must repent and put things right. If I pretend it’s all the other person’s fault, the issue in my own soul will never be resolved.

This is the position of every believer in God who wants to grow in holiness and to keep to the righteous way. If you are a Christian you will find this to be so. You will seek the Lord, but few around you do so. You desire a peaceful life and to share the good news about Jesus, but few may want to hear. You may speak of friendship and love, but it eludes us.

What are we to do as Christian people?

We must call on the Lord in our distress and He will answer us.

The Lord saves all who call on Him, in truth….

“They lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall.” Ezekiel 13:10-11 NIV

This is another issue….

 

 

 

Is it yours?

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How do you know the inheritance is yours?

Ephesians 1:11-14 (ESV)
“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

The inheritance of the Christian has been bought for them by their Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. It is He who died and rose again, so that their sins are paid for and they are worthy to be in the family of God. Jesus lived a perfect life in this sinful world, and His glorious righteousness is transferred to the Christian believer when they come to Him in repentance and faith. It is not just a legal credential, but the love of God binds the believer to their Saviour.

No one can take it away, nor can they inadvertently loose it in a careless moment. We are kept by the power of that amazing compact.

Every child of God has the Spirit of God living in them. The Holy Spirit witnesses to Christians that they belong to God. We find ourselves wanting to learn the Word of God and prayer is not just a duty. We want to tell other people and to rescue them from a life of sin and ultimate punishment.

As we live for Christ, we tell the good news to other people. As we spread the Word, we have an inheritance of people who we bring to faith and people who seek God because of us. So our inheritance can grow and will come to full fruition on that last great day..

How seriously am I taking the divine directive to go out and make disciples? We personally are responsible for this. This also is the inheritance of the Christian.

Perhaps we need to check again our standing and if we are really possessors of the eternal inheritance of God. Is spiritual life my most treasured possession, or has the sheen gone low? Does the fact that my sins are forgiven and this world is dead to me, give me joy? Do I see the face of my Saviour in every trouble, or does doubt infest my mind?

Check out your salvation.

Romans 8:16-17 NIV
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Is the Holy Spirit within your soul? Is there that inner testimony that you are trusting in Christ? This is the measure. If you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ you will share the family glory with Christ. Do you seek holiness with tears? Do you experience rejection by the people of this world?

Rejoice.
Matthew 5:12 NIV
“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Whatever the trouble we experience, the inheritance is ours, and we rejoice with great joy…

Strong prayer

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Hebrews 5:7-10 NIV “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

It is hard to grasp how difficult is was for Jesus to walk this sinful world. The sights and sounds He had to cope with, which offended His holy soul. As He taught the people, He knew the sin that infested their lives and He knew the coldness of heart, even in His own disciples. He knew the selfish motivations of those who wanted healing of body, but not for their dead souls. They wanted the bread and fish, but not the Word of God and the power of the Spirit. He heard the grumbling in every heart against His authority over all people.

How could He deal with all this.? There was no human person to confide in.

His instinctive motion was to turn to His Father. His fellowship with the Father was constant and complete. As He served the human, His focus was on God. God was His refuge and strength and He spent long hours in prayer to the one who upholds all things. Sleep was a secondary consideration. Jesus prayed while the disciples took their rest. He was not powered by food and sleep, but by the Holy Spirit.

The prayers of Jesus were not temperate and calm, but strong cries and tears fell for the hardness that prevailed in human hearts. Jesus knew that the powers of hell were against Him and His life was in constant danger. He cried to God for protection and holy power so that His purpose in coming to the world, would not be thwarted. Jesus had a work to do. To pay the price for His people’s sins, so that He would gain His eternal inheritance and share it with those who belong to Him.

God heard His prayer and rescued Him many times from death at the hands of His enemies. He was able to walk away from them. He walked through the crowd and no one could lay their hands on Him. When the rabble wanted to take Him by force, they fell away backward.! God shows us clearly that Jesus is in full control. The Lord Jesus saw His prayers answered because He submitted to the will of the Father. Jesus was in total agreement and totally submitted to the Father.

When we grasp who Jesus is, His power and glory, equal to God the Father, we see how amazing His submission is.  In some glorious way, Jesus became the perfect High Priest of His people, because of this humility and sacrifice. His humble, submissive and sacrificial attitude, made Him perfect and our perfect Saviour.

Eternal salvation is only in Christ. He was given the task to procure forgiveness for those who would come to Him in faith. He is able because of who He is and of what He endured.  Those who obey Him become part of His kingdom.

Jesus was made a priest forever, like Melchizedek. Melchizedek the priest was a king of righteousness. He combined the two roles of the king and priest. Jesus takes this on as He is the true Messiah. He is the Saviour of the world. He is our king, our ruler. He is our priest, who pleads for us before God. God has highly exalted Him and He has a name above every name. There is none like Him…

If the holy Son of the Living God cries out in prayer, so much more we need to do the same. And more, as we see that great day approaching when He will return to take all His redeemed people home.