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Beatitudes
I want to teach you a lesson. Blessed are those who are hungry in spirit, for they will have the Kingdom of God. Those that mourn will be comforted, the meek of the Earth shall inherit it. Those of you seeking righteousness will find it and be filled. You who are merciful will reap mercy, the pure hearted will perceive God. The children of God are peacemakers! If you’re persecuted for God’s sake the Kingdom of God is yours. If you are hated for Jesus’ sake you are blessed, and you should rejoice and be glad in him, as your reward in heaven is waiting.
I don’t know how many times in the Bible God encourages us to trust in him. I do know that, those who trust in God will be rewarded – in this life and the next. I frequently receive information about missions overseas. Places where its illegal to call oneself a Christian. Where you are arrested and tortured for leading people to Christ. It reminds me of the times spoken about and written about in the Bible. It made me start thinking, is it over there where the real Christians are, or is the world developing much faster in western society? I believe both have an element of truth. I heard of Muslim converts who were killed within a week of baptism. This startled me at first. I rejoiced however at the fact that they were accepting of Christ and had a space to repent and follow God. Whether you’re the labourer of the first hour or the last hour, you’re both labouring nonetheless (Matthew 20:1-14). Rejoice when someone comes into the vineyard with you, that’s one more pair of hands to share the load. Even if it be for thirty minutes, that is still some sizeable amount of time for you to rejoice.
People in the east are persecuted regularly and aggressively. Do you trust God to deliver you from any and everything? I’ve had visions about places God has in his heart for me to go. At times I’m fearful in thought about what may happen to me. God continually reiterates where he has taken me from, and where can take me to. Paul was willing to travel across the world, to both teach and be killed for the Gospel of Christ, how far are you willing to go? Are you willing to leave your front door? Have you left your bedroom, better so have you left your heart yet? Not all want to hear about Jesus, and many will kill and attack you for mention his name, but are you ready? Will you fight the good fight for God?
What do you know about your maker?
Reading recently in the Psalms, I came to the question, what do you know about your maker? The Psalms are a very exciting collection. Many noted by David, along with others who offered there devotion to God. In Psalms 104, I asked myself the question, there is so much God has done, but how much is spoken abroad. It was even funny to know that the next chapter then encourages the individual to noise abroad God’s plans, his wondrous works and his great person. Psalms is a very descriptive book and here we get into much of God’s characteristics. I questioned myself, to the level of relationship I really had with Jesus and his Father. Are we aware that God commanded water to go to a specific place and that he calls the rain to pour down on us? God provides streams for the animals to come to, grass continually grows for all cattle to have food. God made the trees for the birds to stay in, which is also needed by mankind, for the transfer of co2-o2. God has subjected the sun and moon to there prescribed times. A subjection that cannot be broken.
Do not forsake the gathering of the brethren
DO NOT FORSAKE THE GATHERING OF THE BRETHREN
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:25
The point of this article is to educate as always, secondly it is to bring you to the awareness of an encounter I had recently. I will discuss something which is close to my heart, the scripture above bearing witness of what I aim to speak about.
For the past year or so, I have not been part of one specific church (as a member). I am not the stereotypical Christian, which you can find at a church building every week. I would like to say from the beginning, that I am not in any way against people who choose to take one day in the week, in devotion to God. This devotion may not even be a church building as many believers in the time of the twelve disciples met in houses. Realistically it is fair to say, anywhere you may meet could be acceptable in the eyes of God. God doesn’t look on the outward but the inner man, we saw this when God spoke to the Prophet Samuel at the house of Jesse (1 Samuel 16).
I want to set out certain things early to eradicate any wrong preconceptions you may have. The church is not the building place, the church is the body of Christ, the word church comes from a Greek word which means a calling out, a popular meting or religious assembly. By looking at this root word we can see that if you and others meet to discuss God, you are effectively ‘in church’ as the term is said. The reason I emphasis this point is some are misled to believe that if you are not part of a mega church as it is known, then you do not go to real church, others say if in a house then that can’t be church. The truth is you could both be right and you could both be wrong! People meet up every day with the title Christ and are so far from worshipping him while others meet in little groups and live a sanctified life. This is also reversible. God is not completely interested in where you meet as God understands that not everyone can make it to these so called church buildings, God’s emphasis is on true worship. Jesus in John 4 highlighted that the Father wanted true worshippers, worshippers who worshipped in Spirit and in Truth.
So if what has been written prior is the case, then why does the Bible say “Do not forget to go to the ‘church, in relation to a building?’ Well if you are like me and actually take time to build relations with God and study his word, you would be saying that the Bible never ever said that. Someone recently questioned me and said Israel, what’s going on? The Bible says don’t forsake the gathering of the brethren. I did not really respond but thought about what was being attempted to be imposed. As I wrote this it came to me, forsaking the gathering has nothing to do with a building. I associate myself with believers many times during the week, I worship with people, I share my understanding and lessons with many during the week and I say this not to prove anything to you. God knows I do not forsake gathering together with believers. I may never go to a building again which has the title church on the front post and still will not be in violation of the scripture above.
You must now ask the question, what does the word forsake mean? The word forsake comes from a Greek word which means to leave behind in some place or to desert. If I went on to decide that I no longer wish to meet with other saved people, or fellowship then that is where a problem will occur. Do not let people force you into going to a church or specific meeting, as if you are not there with your heart then it is worse for you. You have to do things in life for God and not men.
Remember that.
God Bless
NINE ways to draw closer
This month’s blog chain topic for Christian writers is the number nine, I am choosing this opportunity and will discuss several different ways to draw closer to the king. There are many ways which I could discuss but I will choose a selected few and discuss briefly.
The first way I want to look into is prayer, to be prayerful is a clear way to move closer to God. The Bible says in Psalms that if we call on God in the troublesome times, then we will glorify him after he has delivered us. When captured by the town authorities in Philippi (Acts 16), at midnight Paul and Silas prayed to the king of heavens and rejoiced. This was a time when God’s followers needed help and may have been weary. I have learned that in times of need are somewhat the best times to worship God.
Secondly, fellowship is vital for growth in God. Hebrews 10:25 says we shouldn’t forsake the assembling of the brethren, this means we should be joyful and not shun meeting with likeminded believers. In the times of Acts, disciples loved to be with each other. In the book of Acts there was a specific time when they met together on the first day of the week and broke break. Now you don’t have to meet up on Sunday and you don’t even need to break bread but this is a clear example of a group who were willing and joyous to celebrate together.
The third example I want to discuss is worship, with no real specific example in mind, I highlight how many people offered up sacrifices in the Old Testament as an offering to the Lord. This was a sign of worship and humbleness. Abel was accepted because he was willing to worship the way God desired, Cain was only willing to show his worship through his own ways. What we do is vital to whether or not God accepts our worship, in Isaiah 1:11-15 shows us that we may be in motion of worship but God is not willing to accept it. One thing I have recently learned is that God does not need to accept our worship. The two examples above show us this truth and we must be mindful.
Studying is the next useful technique, Paul told Timothy to study to show himself approved (2 Timothy 2:15). The importance of study is vital in our salvation, I have seen so many people experience God’s goodness for them to walk away due to a lack of study. When people who oppose Christ question you, they invoke doubt if you have no knowledge. When someone imposes their belief in a calculated way you are vulnerable to being deceived. This is why Jesus told us to be watchful and beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15).
Waiting is also essential, whether this be for rebuke or praise. The example I love so much in regards to waiting, is the prophet Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:1-3). The way in which Habakkuk was diligent to wait for his maker can show us how important waiting on God really is. . He knew that he was being reproved but still decided to show the right mentality. Many people can’t wait for God and choose to make rash decisions in life. To wait on God is essential. Psalms 37:7 teaches us to be patient and wait on the Lord. We should rest in him the Word says, to be a waiter is good at times.
To testify to others is more than we think it is. We give others wisdom which we have experienced so they do not need to make similar mistakes we did, we also make them better, earlier. One reason I feel Paul was chosen to be an apostle was the impact he could have through testimony. Being able to say you have killed a man, or woman or child, and then to say I’ve been reformed shows real ample example. To know someone can come back from that lifestyle shows the power of God and that we can change too.
The Bible says in Hebrews 11 (6) that Faith is what God looks for in us and that we should believe he is who he said he is and that he is rewarder of the diligent kingdom seekers. Believing in what you do towards God draws us closer to him, if we just go through the motions as you would have it, eventually we will realise that we are stagnant and have no real relationship. I was talking to someone recently and telling them how I believe in God unconditionally, no reason can startle me, money or success or not enough to sway me from my walk. Be a believer in what you’re doing not a faker.
To act is one of the most important components of growing closer. In James it says draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you. Action is how we draw closer, by doing things which move us closer to him and then God reacts and responds to this.
To be a guide is something we see throughout the Bible. God always wants us to have guides who can lead us and this is why God raises up people to lead his people. Paul said follow after him as he followed after Christ. Jesus wanted us to follow the Father by believing in his name, we must be guides for children, siblings and others in the world.
I want you to add one more, I want to allow you, the reader to choose something significant to you and post a comment with what you feel is important.
The Testimony is Vital
This is a testimony I have come across and felt it necessary to post it on my blog. I did not write it myself but am sure this will still bless people.
Truly Faithful – “Can you talk to your wife or husband about anything? Can you go to them about your struggles? Can they come to you about their struggles? To those in marital covenants (husband and wife), you should be able to pray with your spouse through whatever struggles that come your way, no matter the struggle. There should be honesty in your marriage like no other relationship you have. If you have an intimate relationship with Christ, you should ALSO have an intimate relationship with your husband or wife.
I remember early on in our marriage I was struggling with LUST. Even though I had married my husband and was being totally fulfilled sexually, I still had this issue. I was working in the mortgage industry at the time and was working with a client who was “nice on the eyes”. Being that I had to check out so many things about him, I found out this guy had great credit, was in the military, had no children and had lots of what we called “Man Toys” (motorcycles, fast and furious racing cars and loads of electronics) and those THINGS really caught my attention. This guy knew I was married, but he flirted with me every time I had to call him about his deal or when he came to my office. His advances were beyond flattering as now I was beginning to have impure thoughts about him and I had not even been married 6 months. I had set up an appointment to meet him at a house for sale so he could make his decision on if he was buying it or not. I knew in my heart what was going to happen if he and I met at the house alone but I wanted to go anyway. My thoughts were wrong and I was convicted, but my flesh wanted what it wanted and it wanted to be fulfilled. That day I got off work knowing what was planned the next day, knowing that it would not be just be a meeting with this guy to look at a house, but it would have been a premeditated act of adultery.
Instead of walking into our apartment loving on my husband like normal, I told him that I needed to talk to him right away. My husband dropped everything he was doing to listen to me and I just poured my heart out to him in tears. I knew what I was saying was hurting him. For a husband to hear that his wife had been thinking immorally about another man was one thing, but for him to hear that it was planned to “meet and cheat” was another. I didn’t know if his heart was breaking. I didn’t know if he would be so mad that he would leave me. I just didn’t know how he would respond to my confession. But I had to get this out and I had to get this out to HIM! Not to a friend, not to an acquaintance, not to a family member, but to MY COVERING! I sat there with crocodile tears rolling down my face, crying so hard but telling my husband EVERYTHING! I told him how I wanted to give into my flesh, how I had been thinking and lusting after this guy, and even about the meeting that was set for the next day. I told it ALL! And then I said words he and I will never forget. I said, “If you don’t pray for me, I am going to fall away”!
At that very moment, I saw a look in my husband’s eyes that I had never seen before. It was like all the hurt he was feeling was gone. It was like the authority that he has in Christ just took over. Before I could say another word, he grabbed me in his arms, hugged me and prayed for me like no one had EVER prayed for me before. I’m not one to say you feel a lot of things happening spiritually when in prayer, but that time when he prayed, I literally felt something lift from me. The more he prayed, the more I cried and the more we embraced. By the end of the prayer we were both in tears, his shirt was drenched and I KNEW I was free! I just knew it! Of course sex was next and it was (at that time) the most passionate, reassuring and confirming sex we had had because it was like it sealed the deal that there would be NO ADULTERY in our marriage, not even the “Look of the Eye” adultery talked about in Matt 5:28 and Job 31:1. Afterwards while we held each other he said, “No secrets. You always come to me and I will always come to you and we will pray each other through”. I said to him, “Always. No matter what it is, we will be honest”! And I thanked him for loving me through instead of being mad and upset! And we have been that way ever since, even through our trials, we’re honest. Even if it takes a few days before we say anything, we are still HONEST!
We stand on God’s word, especially James 5:16! It doesn’t matter where you are in your marriage, if you BOTH are believers, you should be able to go to each other in HONESTY, share your struggles and PRAY for each other! I know this is another long one because yes I could write all day (lol) but I just feel it pressed upon my heart to share about “confessing and praying in marriage” because many couples are not praying as they should! You never know when you will have to pray your husband or wife through! You never know when your husband or wife will be struggling with something unless you can go to each other about anything and pray each other through! There have been times we have had to put our feelings aside and just PRAY for each other! I say all of that to say you should always be able to go to God and then to your spouse! But the questions are DO YOU? And if not, WILL YOU?”
Israel Ikhinmwin's Site 