Train a Child...

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Current topic: Pray with us for the Church. Remember you can still pray for Families.

Good morning.

Children are the future of our countries and its future depends on how the children are brought up. People who are over forty years of age can see how much this generation differs from previous generations in terms of values. Yesterday I saw this picture – significant, isn’t it?

When I talk to the young people today I become so aware of the ‘throw away’ generation. What happened to value? The sad thing, however, is not so much the discarding of material goods as is the discarding of futures, ambitions, dreams and lives simply because nobody ever told them how to value life. I love children and it brings me much pleasure to make them happy. When I hand out prescriptions to children I always have some interaction and fun with them first, trying to teach them some values amidst the fun. I’ll for instance teach the boys a proper handshake and the parent’s to play with their kids. I can see the happiness and expectation when they come in the next time.

Being a keen people observer I’ve noticed how various parents treat their children and also how children act. From that a person can determine why certain children act the way they do and therefore also what they could be like when they become adults. Just yesterday I met a friendly little girl of one year and eight months old with the finest of manners, answering my questions accurately and even using words like ‘prescription’. She was amazingly mature for her age, but when I saw how her mother treated her, I understood why she was like that.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it,” (Proverbs 22:6). I’m convinced that if we could find an effective way to train young people in parenting based on this principle, our next generations will be very different and the world will be a much better place. Naturally there are certain children that receive quality training, hence the successful development of the world currently. But there are many children that don’t get it, which is why there is so much criminal activity in the world. Criminals are good at training children in the way they should go and also good at accommodating children who were not trained and have no fathers looking after them. They then become ‘fathers’ to these children who then become criminals and child soldiers.

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord,” (Ephesians 6:4). If we raise our children in the fear of the Lord, they may temporarily test the world, but in the end they’ll follow the Lord if we pray for them. But what about the children who don’t receive that? May organisations like Watoto children’s ministry that put orphans in homes and train them up for the Lord, be blessed. Each of us, however, and especially the church should make it our business to be fathers and mothers to children crossing our way. It could be that we have the opportunity to get them in Sunday school, even though the parents don’t attend church, or it could be that we simply touch their lives at single occasions or specifically reach out to them. When our team reached out to children on the streets of Cape Town, we played with them whilst letting them understand we’re from Jesus. One day they’ll remember their parents probably didn’t play with them, but Jesus did.

Lord, give me opportunity to make a child happy every day, even if for only a few moments. Please send us, as a congregation, children who need to be fathered.

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Without a Father

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Current topic: Pray with us for Families.

Good morning.

We call God our Father. “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word,” (2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17). Then we have earthly fathers, men who look after their children and train them according to the way they should go. And we also have the father of lies. “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies,” (John 8:44).

The role of a father is to be a pillar of support, to encourage, train and equip, guide, lead and motivate his children. This is what Father God does for His children as we see in the passage above, and it is even what the father of lies does for his children. Where do you think do criminals, witches and all the other servants of the devil get their support from? Satan must keep them happy in order to drag them with him to hell.

Any man can make children, but not any man can father children. A lot of men simply provide for their children financially and that’s where their responsibility ends. Many people walk around unbalanced, unfulfilled and hurting for they never had a father to look up to. The father therefore plays a very important role in society. The quality of the lives of people depends on how the father-figure functioned within the home during the growing-up stage of the children, in fact right throughout life, for a father will always have more experience than a child. Was the father available with advice, with encouragement, with playing with the children? Did he guide the children towards their heavenly father?

The father of lies understands the importance of fatherhood, since according to Jesus he himself is a father. He also knows how important fatherhood is to God the Father and therefore he makes every effort to cause as many people as he can to be raised without worthy fathers. Just look at the portrayal of fathers in many movies and television shows. A father, that is supposed to be a respected figure, is often humiliated, looked down upon and diminished by the behaviour of the children and the wife. In movie marriage relationships the husband often walks in the shadow of an overpowering wife.

Furthermore, encouraged by benefits from government sources, many girls see to it that they get pregnant in order to get benefits and in this way many children are raised fatherless. This also happens due to peer pressure because their mates have children. The result is an unbalanced, ill-equipped next generation.

What are we to do about it? As Christians we are the salt of the earth and we should make an effort to pray intensely for these situations. On our prayer blog we have a prayer for families and fatherhood. Within the church we should realise that there are many fatherless people that may visit the church and when we reach out in evangelism we should understand that many children grew up fatherless, so we need to be fathers to them. Men in the church can consciously take up the role of fathers to young people who had no father. When we counsel people with problems, even in their older age, many of the problems may relate to the absence of a father-figure in the home and we need to keep it in mind.

Lord, help me to be a good father and even a father to the fatherless.

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Trick the Hardship

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Current topic: Pray with us for Families.

Good morning.

Why would the urging on of people to obedience be seen as encouragement? Aren’t you just motivating me to do more work, to get more trouble in terms of persecution? I have enough trouble as it is. Aren’t encouragement saying things like ‘keep going, the Lord loves you and will bless you’?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” (Hebrews 12:1).

This sounds like encouragement to me, but what are we encouraged to do? Are we encouraged to hold out under the circumstances, to pray until life is better so we can continue living for ourselves or to be patient for the Lord is dealing with our weaknesses? No, we are encouraged to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that ties us up so we can’t move in the direction the Lord wants us to go. The Holy Spirit will point out what we should get rid of, but it is up to us to get the hindrances out of the way ourselves with His power.

Then we are encouraged to run the race marked out for us with perseverance. We have a goal to pursue – the purpose for which we are called. Each of us has a purpose on earth and one day, when the race is over and we’ve accomplished our purpose, we’ll enjoy the rewards. That’s why urging one another on to obedience is actually encouragement – keep going, heaven is waiting. Life is tough and doing the Lords bidding makes life even tougher at times, which is why we should run the race with perseverance.

Encouragement to do what we’re expected to do in spite of hardship is therefore actually saying ‘keep going, the tougher it is on earth, the sweeter it’ll be in heaven’. Isn’t that insane? Shouldn’t we comfort one another with words like ‘the Lord will look after you; He is good and kind and will not let you suffer too much’? Shall we consider the following? “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart,” (Hebrews 12:2, 3).

Jesus set the example. With joy He set out to run the race placed before Him, accomplishing the purpose for which He was sent to earth. Do you think it was tough for Him? I’m sure He desired some comfort in materialism and relaxing entertainment at times and when all these sinful men opposed Him and circumstances threatened to overcome Him he felt like giving up His call. But He persevered right through the shame of the cross and now He’s enjoying His reward – sitting at the right hand of God.

Encouraging one another to do what we need to do, to get rid of our materialistic lifestyles and accomplish our goal in spite of the resulting hardship and persecution is actually encouraging one another to a better life – in heaven. We live for heaven and earth is just our day job. Jesus said in John 9:4: “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” During the work day (our lifespan) we’re not sitting in our comfort zones having fun – we work. But when the day’s work is over, heaven is our home!

Lord, I want to run my race like you did yours.

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How About You Who Minister?

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Current topic: Pray with us for Families.

Good morning.

Why do we serve the Kingdom of God – just to do our duty or to see results?

In this respect the Lord pointed out 2 Corinthians 13:2-9: “On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, ³ since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴ For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.

⁵ Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶ And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.”

What is Paul’s objective with the church in this passage? Isn’t it perfection (V9)? The minister (whether ordained or lay) should not only do things in order to be seen doing something, but should aim for results. Although the ministers in this passage have already succeeded in the test of following Jesus, it is more important to them that people notice that their students (congregation, listeners) actually also follow Jesus. If their students fail to follow Jesus, the ministers’ success is of no value – they have actually failed (V7).

In verse nine Paul pointed out that a minister doesn’t have to look good and they don’t need to appear strong. Their image is not of importance, but rather the results they have, i.e. the fruit they bear. The success of a minister is not measured by the flashy church building, or the attractiveness of the programme, or the eloquence by which they minister, or even numbers of people, but it is measured by the sinless lives, obedience and fruitfulness of their students.

In verse two Paul mentioned how he anticipated dealing with the sin of those who have not yet passed the test and in verses three and four he points out that although those who minister are weak before the Lord, they are powerful in dealing with righteousness. Christ paid a terrible price and His expectation of the resulting fruit is perfection – maturity and obedience in Christ. We will always make mistakes, but are we mature enough to obey Christ and deal with sin in our lives? This is the objective of Jesus via His servants, the ministers (ordained or lay) who should point out sin in their students’ lives.

How would we know whether we’ve passed the test of being in faith (V5)? We will be doing the right thing (V7a). Doing the right thing means both not doing the wrong, such as sin, and doing what is right – obedience. This should be the aim of every Christian – holiness. I watched a programme on television where a young pastor in Indonesia ministered in great power to a church of 30 000 people, seeing many miracles daily. He said he desired to be the Holy Spirit’s friend on first name basis. Then he realised that the Holy Spirit’s first name is Holy, and he as pastor therefore needed to be holy.

Minister, are you holy before God? Are your people holy? People are you holy?

Lord, help me to test myself and pass the test.

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Power of Life

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Current topic: Pray with us for Families.

Good morning.

Today we’re celebrating the fact that Jesus is Alive!

That’s where the power is in Christianity. Buddha is a piece of stone and idols are made of wood or metal. The father of all lies, whose pretence are the gods behind false religions, was defeated during this very three days we’ve been celebrating for centuries. But our God, our Lord and Saviour is alive and active, serving with power all who chose to love Him.

Because He conquered death and is alive:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Aren’t you glad the old is gone? Through the years this loving, living Jesus has pruned away all death producing branches from my being and filled me with His love. During times where the flesh and the devil so fervently fought back in an attempt to steal my soul, Jesus fought relentlessly for me. Sometimes I only managed to weakly hold onto the last straws of hope with the tips of my fingers as I was dragged down, but Jesus’ generous love and powerful Spirit held onto me with the power gained from the victory on the cross and through the resurrection.

He loves me and has a purpose for my life and therefore sustained me as I “continue to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in me to will and to act according to his good purpose,” (Philippians 2:12, 13 personalised). Through His grace I desire more – more understanding of His Word, more understanding of Him, more understanding of the complexities of this world, more understanding of how evil functions (since any good army understands their enemy’s strategies) and more understanding of myself. This is what I desire, for I believe it was His desire for me when I was called.

Most of us have a story to tell. Most of us can sing our praises to Him for we have crossed over from death to life (John 5:24) as a result of Him who conquered death.

I don’t know where you are in your walk with the Lord. You may be well on your way serving Him and bearing productive fruit, or you may struggle with sin, but are fighting the good fight of the faith to overcome, or you may be religious and just go through the motions every week to please your conscience, or you may be searching for truth. In our struggle against the flesh and evil that constantly try to drag us down, shall we give up? “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Romans 8:37-39).

Jesus conquered death, which consists both of physical death at the end of our lives and spiritual death, which is the condition we live in without Christ.

Are you alive in Christ? I don’t ask whether you go to church or whether you believe in Jesus. I don’t even ask whether you are born again. Jesus is alive and on fire to build His Kingdom here on earth. He conquered death and together with Him we are more than conquerors. Are you alive and on fire with Him to build your part of His Kingdom in response to His calling?

Have you ever invited Him into your heart to change you from death to life?

Jesus, thank you for conquering death – also for me. I invite you into my life to give me New Life!

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Quality of Sacrifice

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Current topic: Pray with us for Families.

Good morning.

Yesterday we remembered Jesus’ crucifixion. He brought the perfect and ultimate sacrifice, not sparing Himself when sacrificed as the unblemished Lamb of God. In the last two messages we saw what it cost Jesus, and those who watched the crucifixion scene from the movie ‘The Passion of Christ’ would have a faint idea of what He experienced.

Once the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they didn’t spare themselves either. You just have to read Hebrews 11:35-38 to see what it cost them to obey the Lord http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%2011:35-38&version=NIV1984.

Paul spelled out the cost of his sacrifice in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2011:%2023-29&version=NIV1984 and Peter chose to be crucified upside down for he didn’t consider himself worthy to die as his Lord did. Apart from their persecution and their suffering, they sacrificed their time and freedom for the sake of the gospel.

We sing in church songs like ‘I surrender all’ and make all kinds of commitments, but what do we give to the Lord in obedience? When I prayed about today’s message the Lord confirmed that I have to give Malachi 1:6-14: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%201:6-14&version=NIV1984. This forms the basis of this message, so it’s imperative that you read it.

What the Israelites did in physical sacrifice, we in the New Testament should do in good works and the utilizing of our gifts. The Israelites needed to be obedient in observing the law and it was the quality of their sacrifices that the Lord was unhappy about in this prophecy of Malachi. Have you sensed the Lord’s emotions?

We need to be sacrificing in obedience to Jesus’ commands, both those from the Word of God and the daily instructions from the Holy Spirit. What quality sacrifice do we bring? Are we prepared to sacrifice our family time to serve a lost soul? Are we prepared to feed the hungry sacrificially, invite the homeless into our private homes, spend hours of support and counselling with emotionally struggling souls, use our private time for the sake of the Kingdom in teaching, encouragement or whatever our gift is. Do you give sacrificially? The Lord said in Malachi 1:8: “Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” Does He get the same dedication from us that i.e. our boss gets?

In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus told of the King who separated the sheep from the goats. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:31-46&version=NIV1984. On which side would you find yourself? In Luke 14:15-24 Jesus told the parable of the Great Banquet and in verse 21 the master of the house said: “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” The Lord showed me these people include the spiritually poor and -blind as well as the emotionally crippled and -lame. We don’t have only physical needs in our area, but also plenty of spiritual and emotional needs.

What kind of sacrifice do we bring? How is the Lord going to feel about our sacrifice? As a church leader, do you equip your people for meeting the spiritual and emotional needs of the people in their environment? (Ephesians 4:11-16: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%204:11-16&version=NIV1984). Do you meet the spiritual and emotional needs of God’s people, assigned to you, to the best of your ability or is your effort pretty lame.

People of God, do you seek training to be effective in leading people to the Lord, comforting them with counsel from the Word of God, praying with- and supporting them in faith and praying with them for deliverance from the bondages of sin? Some very effective churches have Bible schools purely for equipping the members to minister effectively among one another. How about your church?

Lord, thank you for your sacrifice. Please send me opportunity to be equipped to serve you well sacrificially.

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Experience, Outcome, Action

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Current topic: Pray with us for Families.

Good morning.

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth,” (Isaiah 53:3-7NIV).

“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: ‘He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’ Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing,” (Psalm 22:6-8, 12-18NIV).

“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’—which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his Spirit,” (Matthew 27:45, 50).

“From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfil my vows. The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him— may your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn— for he has done it,” (Psalm 22:25-31NIV).

“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them,” (John 17:20-26NIV).

Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for me and thank you for your prayer. Let it be done.

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The Day Ahead of Death

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Current topic: Pray with us for Families.

Good morning.

Tomorrow is Good Friday. Jewish Passover will start on Saturday (http://www.when-is.com/passover-2012.asp). What happened in Jesus’ life this time, so many years ago, i.e. the Thursday before Good Friday?

“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. ‘But not during the Feast,’ they said, ‘or there may be a riot among the people,’” (Matthew 26:1-5). Jesus was to be secretly arrested and killed before those who believed in Him realised what had happened. This is typical of the devil, whose style can so often be seen in the people of this world. Many unwary Christians would probably be caught by such cunningness, but Jesus was in too close contact with the Holy Spirit and His Father. He already had the word of knowledge what was going to happen.

How close are we to the Holy Spirit when Satan tries to close in on us? Can you recall some regrets to this regard, where you were caught for a sucker because you didn’t heed to the warning of the Holy Spirit?

“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table,” (Matthew 26:6, 7). When the disciples complained about it “Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial,’” (Matthew 26:10, 12). This woman was more in the Spirit than the disciples were. We don’t know her name and we don’t hear of her again, but of the disciples we heard great things on many occasions. Yet Jesus said of her: “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her,” (V13). This woman didn’t desire the limelight or bothered about the expense of the perfume. The disciples were more materialistic than she was. She was just grateful for the opportunity to give her best to Jesus on the eve of His death. Mark 14 records this account quoting Jesus’ words: “She did what she could.” She blessed Jesus that way for what He was about to do for her.

In what way can we bless Jesus for what He has done for us? How about some obedience?

The rest of the day was taken up with intimacy with His disciples. They ate together and Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper. For three years He had trained them and they had worked hard together. On this Thursday it was time to chill out, for this is the Lord’s greatest desire – to work hard with us to build His Kingdom, but at times to just chill out with us, having intimate communion with us. When we share the Lord’s Table, we need to remember the Thursday before His crucifixion and be intimate with Him.

The Thursday evening was traumatic for Jesus. He had had this intimate day with His friends, but as evening approached the reality of what was awaiting Him dawned on Him. His only desire was then to be close to His Father in excruciating prayer and petitioning. This was followed by His betrayer handing Him over to the authorities and Peter’s denial that He knew Jesus.

Jesus was just a man like us and it hurt so much. We form a good idea of His torment in Psalm 22 http://bibbytes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/cries-from-heart.html. I have also written three messages on this: http://bibbytes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/let-him-touch-your-heart.html, http://bibbytes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/o-agony.html and http://bibbytes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/o-agony-part-two.html, which may be appropriate for this time.

Jesus did and still does so much for us. As we remember His crucifixion tomorrow, won’t we make a commitment to make the price, which He paid for us, worth the while to Him by showing our love through obedience? If you are not born again, take note that this is what this Passover is all about – Jesus giving His live so you can get new life in Him.

Jesus, I invite you in to make me a new creation. Please show me the way.

If you benefited from this, why don’t you link it to your Facebook or Twitter or forward the e-mail reminder to make it available to your friends? You can also use the e-mail link to pass it on. Please pray as well for its distribution to those who need it and feel free to ask questions or discuss thoughts. 

Be Perfect (God's Temple)

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Current topic: Introduction to Salt of the Earth – a study worth reading.

Good morning.

We are looking at 1 Corinthians 3, which you’ll find at this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%203&version=NIV1984. Please read the previous two messages as well.

In the context of our previous message (V9-15) we read these words: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple,” (V16, 17). How can we destroy God’s temple?

We can build with straw, which are things like worldly ideas, wrong doctrines such as a focus on materialism (mammon), carelessness, neglect, etc. When we see our fellow disciple headed in a wrong direction and we do nothing, or when we give a person secular or unbiblical advice, or when we see a person doing sinful or harmful activities such as listening to destructive music, being caught up with pornography or gossip and we don’t act, we’re involved with the destruction of the temple of God (Luke 15:3-7 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:3-7&version=NIV1984).

The words ‘you yourselves’ indicate also a congregation as the temple of God. “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them,” (Matthew 18:20). If a pastor or church leaders are self-centred with their own agenda and do not look after the needs of the congregation, but build their own kingdom for their own glory, such a leader destroys not only the temple of the church body, but also individual temples. We need to build with gold into the temples of God and gold could only be sourced in heaven. Those who live in heaven during their private time, so to speak, and give to the people what they’ve received from the Holy Spirit, will give that which they’ve received from heaven – gold, and their people will flourish.

Where do we get the straw, which destroys the temple of God, from? We get it from religion and other people’s ideas, which are usually not anointed. Gold is everlasting, fresh and clean, sparkling with value and hard to come by. Those who find it went to great trouble to seek the Lord’s face for it. Straw is dead, useless and easy to come by and those who use it are lazy, following the easy route.

Building a building that lasts takes time, sacrifice and dedication. It takes only a few hours to knock together a straw hut, but a proper building demands much work. How much time are you prepared to spend with those buildings the Lord gave you to build? Are you aware of those with needs in your congregation or those that cross your way individually? Not everybody talks about their needs. Sometimes we need to be sensitive to people’s body language and the voice of the Holy Spirit, who points us in their direction. In order to do this we need to care – to look out. Our time is not our own and neither is our energy. We belong to the Lord and unless we build well at His temple, this passage said He’ll destroy us.

To build well at a temple brings much reward even here on earth. To see how an individual denies sin and grow in faith and their love for the Lord, or a congregation in their love and dedication to the Lord as a result of our input, gives much satisfaction and fulfilment. No earthly entertainment or adventure can compare with it. But it demands care, dedication and sacrifice.

How do you feel about your building work? How does God feel about it?

Lord, teach me to care, sacrifice and be dedicated.

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Be Perfect (Build one Another)

Pray with us in our Intercession blog – find link to your right è

Current topic: Introduction to Salt of the Earth – a study worth reading.

Good morning.

We are looking at 1 Corinthians 3, which you’ll find at this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%203&version=NIV1984. Please read it.

In verses 9-15 Paul talks about building into people’s lives. He refers to the apostles as the Lord’s fellow workers and to the people they served as the building. The only difference between the apostles and the people he was writing to, was that the apostles had walked with the Word. They therefore had something to build with; material they could build into someone else’s life.

Have you walked with the Word? Do you have some knowledge of the Word of God and a relationship with Jesus and experienced His presence and working in your life? That’s all the disciples had. They saw what Jesus did, heard what He taught them and was empowered by the infilling with the Holy Spirit. This qualified them as builders. They didn’t need extensive theological knowledge and neither do we. We only need to know the Bible well, so the Holy Spirit could use it as material to build into others’ lives through us. Some practical training such as evangelism techniques, how to serve people with deliverance from oppression of various kinds, and principles of prayer and spiritual warfare will make us experts in those areas. I would advise you to look into those kinds of information. In this blog the Holy Spirit gives a lot of training that can be helpful.

Paul said in verse 10 that the foundation laid is Jesus Christ. The first step in building into someone’s life is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our salvation. Unless someone is born again it’s pointless to try and explain Biblical truths to them. Their spirit is dead and needs to be made alive by Jesus living inside them by His Holy Spirit, which happens at rebirth. Have a look at our evangelism blog where you’ll learn more about laying the foundation: http://fishfojes.blogspot.co.uk/.

In verses 10 and 12 Paul indicated that we need to build into one another’s lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. This is why Ephesians 4:10-16 encourages us to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and in 1 Corinthians 14:26: “When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” We are there for one another, and as our house is built by those better equipped than us, we get equipped to build at the houses of those less equipped than us.

Remember if you are filled with the Holy Spirit you are able; “for God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline,” (2 Timothy 1:7). It’s up to us what kind of reward we’ll get one day, for 1 Corinthians 3:13 says our “work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” Is it gold- or straw quality? If our work doesn’t pass the test of fire, we will not be rewarded (see V14, 15).

What is our attitude towards the people the Lord loves? Are we concerned about one another’s spiritual growth, spiritual battles and obedience to the Lord? If the Holy Spirit tells you to encourage or rebuke another, do you obey? When my children did their chores I always told them: ‘Do not just do your duty to get it done – do it right and to the best of your ability.’

What would The Day bring to light about your work for the Lord?

Lord, I’m sorry if I haven’t obeyed and built well until now. Please help me do a good job in future.

If you benefited from this, why don’t you link it to your Facebook or Twitter or forward the e-mail reminder to make it available to your friends? You can also use the e-mail link to pass it on. Please pray as well for its distribution to those who need it and feel free to ask questions or discuss thoughts. 

Be Perfect (Part One)

Pray with us in our Intercession blog – find link to your right è

Current topic: Introduction to Salt of the Earth – a study worth reading.

Good morning.

We are looking at 1 Corinthians 3, which you’ll find at this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%203&version=NIV1984

In verses one to eight Paul addresses a real concern that is still very prevalent today.

During those days people seemed to be more focused on the great Paul or the great Apollos or the great Cephas, just as the church today admires the great well known preachers. Christians flock to meetings introduced by popular men or women and during conversations they quote what these preachers have said and seem to talk about them endlessly. I, however, love visiting with friends who can talk endlessly about Jesus, but have you noticed how little that happens?

Paul calls it: “You are still worldly... Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere men?” (V3, 4). ‘But we are mere people, aren’t we?’ you may say. Are we? With the Spirit of the Almighty God living in us and with us being in Christ, the son of God – are we mere men and women? In verse one Paul told them: “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.” The key to his message is in the words ‘mere infants in Christ’ and with the emphasis on ‘in Christ’. What are we in Christ? How is our relationship with Christ? Say you are quite good at your job, but you portray immature behaviour all the time, doing silly things to impress people. In short you act like a child. Would your boss consider you for the position of team leader or manager? I don’t think he would.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:48: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The Greek meaning of the word perfect in this context is ‘complete’ or ‘of full age’, i.e. mature. Those who are mature in Christ are complete in Him. To them total focus is Christ and they have nothing to do with this world – fame with people, money or power. Did you know that those seemingly great men and women, who we so often worship, could be completely immature in God’s eyes – infants in Christ? How dare I say that? Only He knows their hearts and motives, and if people flock to their charismatic influence, it doesn’t mean those people flock to Jesus Christ. The test is the depth of spiritual maturity and Christ-centeredness after receiving ministry from such vessels. Did you know that a small-group leader or an old lady with her friends or a single intercessor by the side of her bed or a teacher running a prayer and Bible study group could be much greater in the eyes of the Lord because they make a real difference in the lives of people, and usually only God knows about it?

We’re living for heaven my brother and sister and we need to be impressed by- and impress the Lord and not man. We had Dr. RT Kendal ministering to us this weekend and when he was exalted by men as people so much like to do, he simply said something like: ‘I don’t know about that. Usually when men are admired, something pops up that cause their bubble to burst. I don’t want that to happen to me. We all have feet of clay.’

Therefore in the words of Paul: “So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God,” (1 Corinthians 3:21-23).

It’s ultimately all about the Lord God and our depth in Him.

Lord, I desire to focus on you.

If you benefited from this, why don’t you link it to your Facebook or Twitter or forward the e-mail reminder to make it available to your friends? You can also use the e-mail link to pass it on. Please pray as well for its distribution to those who need it and feel free to ask questions or discuss thoughts. 

Who Did It?

Pray with us in our Intercession blog – find link to your right ->
Current topic: Introduction to Salt of the Earth – a study worth reading.

Good morning.

During the next few days we’re going to look at 1 Corinthians 3. Today I leave it (NIV 1984 translation) to you to read and meditate upon. Lord, please open my eyes and heart to see what you tell me.

¹ Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³ You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? ⁴

For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?

⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. ⁹ For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. ¹⁴ If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” ²¹ So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, ²³ and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

If you benefited from this, why don’t you link it to your Facebook or Twitter or forward the e-mail reminder to make it available to your friends? You can also use the e-mail link to pass it on. Please pray as well for its distribution to those who need it and feel free to ask questions or discuss thoughts.