Be Not Anxious!

Remembering God's Greatest Gift to Mankind - Jesus Christ

At a time when Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas, it is a fitting time to remind ourselves of the unfailing, unending, unfathomable love that God has for us.

For God so loves the world that He gave His only Son - God incarnate as man. More than ever before, let us believe in Him, cling to Him and surrender our all to Him; for this is what honours Him. It will show Him that we truly value His great grace - God amongst men, God with us, Emmanuel!

May this King of glory and majesty bless you with peace and joy as you recall this amazing favour we call Christmas.

The Glory of God in the Birth of Christ – He is Sovereign

The Lord God rules over all creation, things seen and unseen. There is nothing that He does not have dominion or authority over.

The prince of darkness tried his best by using Herod to kill the Lord Jesus. There was not a stone the wicked king left unturned. He massacred innocent children in his quest to eliminate the ‘King of the Jews’. Yet the Sovereign God who reigns in power and majesty kept Jesus from harm.

God is a strong fortress to the one who takes refuge in Him. He is our Shield and Defender when we call unto Him for help. There is not a single creature, however powerful he may be who can thwart the plan of God (Heb. 13:6).

Let us therefore surrender ourselves completely to the will and plans of the Sovereign Lord. Let His mighty hand cover us and guide us. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord God his refuge (Psa. 34:8); and who dwells in the shelter of the Most High. Such a one will rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psa. 91:1).

The Glory of God in the Birth of Christ – He is Omnipotent

A third attribute of the Most High that one can see from the birth of Jesus Christ is God’s Omnipotence. With Him, all things are possible. 

The virgin birth, impossible with men, is possible only with God. No one in the history of mankind can ‘boast’ of this, except Jesus. Just as our Lord said when He was on earth, “The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Lk. 18:27) 

We come across numerous situations in our life where we are required to make decisions and choices. Each time, we are assailed with our human intellect, worldly wisdom and so-called logic. Yet, if we are willing to submissively bring all of our choices to the feet of God in complete surrender with the one plea, “I want you O King of the universe to have your way in my life,” – we will find the Sovereign One directing us in ways we could never have got to with our own intelligence.

Let us honour Him as King of our lives; let His will reign over all our desires. Let us lean on His mighty power - all the time remaining at rest, for He is in control. Let us constantly testify to our soul, “There is nothing my God cannot do.” 

Such faith that stems from sincerity and conviction not only honours God, it also paves the way for the working of the Almighty. And the beauty of it is that all the time, we are safe in His hand (protected); our decisions are guided by a perfect God (free from all error); and our lives are blessed (His favour is upon us).

The Glory of God in the Birth of Christ – Faithful and Immutable

Another attribute that one can clearly see from Scripture is the faithful and immutable attribute of God. 

Though it may appear as if God is silent and that nothing is happening, the truth is that God is always working (Jn. 5:17). Whatever he promises He is sure to fulfill. There was a gap of close to 400 years between the writings of the prophet Malachi and the coming of John the Baptist, a period that some refer to as, “the silent years”. But there were those like Simeon who knew the Sovereign One to be faithful and a covenant-keeping God. (Lk. 2:25-32)

Let us cling to this God with the deep conviction that He can never fail. All else may fail. Even the dependable may cease (Mt. 5:18), but the Word of God abides forever. Let us build our lives by making all our choices and decisions with the Word of God as our foundation. We can be certain, absolutely certain, that our never-changing God who is honoured with this reliance and dependability on Him will never put such to shame. They that put their trust in God can never be disappointed (Rom. 10:11).

The Glory of God in the Birth of Christ - God is Eternal and Omniscient

The Eternal and Omniscient attribute of God is revealed in the incarnation of His only begotten Son. 

For hundreds, even thousands of years before the birth of Christ, God made known His plan of salvation which was to be found through Jesus. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac; the Passover lamb and all the prophesies in the Old Testament pointed to Christ. 

His birth reveals that the God we serve and believe in is eternal and all-knowing. He is before all things and encompasses all things. He knows the end from the beginning. Nothing is hidden from Him and nothing takes Him by surprise.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that he who comes to God, must believe that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Let our faith be with eyes that sees Him as the eternal One and the all-knowing One. Let that understanding fill our hearts with the peace that comes from knowing that the God we believe in has our future safe. Our days are in His hands.

No Longer Slaves of Fear

Fear is not from God. Peace is. 1Cor. 1:3 is just one of the several verses in the Bible that repeatedly tells us this. We must remind ourselves of this truth every time we are afraid or anxious. Fear is a spirit of unbelief. The opposite of fear is rest or peace. 

Rest then in the absolute conviction that the God we trust in is living; He is all powerful; He is sovereign, forever on the throne ruling in majesty. In addition, His love is everlasting, unfailing and boundless. 

"I am a child of this powerful, loving God."

Let us therefore be anxious for nothing but in prayer make our request known to this awesome, majestic, Most High God, our Father. The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will then guard our hearts (Php. 4:6, 7). "I know whom I have believed in," can be our confident boast.

Though you would have heard this song, 'No Longer Slaves', I share it with the purpose that as you read what I wrote, you may be encouraged.

Holy Overshadowing

Holy Overshadowing is a beautiful song by Graham Kendrick and Ben Trigg

How lovely is the grace of God through Jesus, that we can run to the Most High and make Him our Defender and our Hiding Place.

Rest in the peace that comes from knowing that God is good and faithful. When we run to Him, believing, He covers us with His holy overshadowing.

Psalm 91

A Prayer!

My Father who art in heaven!

You are God! There is none like You.
You rule over heaven and earth; All things are made by You.
As Your creation, a creature of Your handiwork, I acknowledge You; I submit to You; I cling to You and I bow in worship before You. 
In one brief phrase - I love You!

Everything I need is in You. My soul is satisfied when I am with You.
You bring meaning and purpose to my existence.
Thy mighty hand and Thy perfect wisdom - they guide me into Thy best.
You sustain me; You cover me; You reveal Yourself to me and You fellowship with me.
Even my hope is secure in You.

Despite my constant failings; Inspite of all my stubbornness - You show me exceeding mercy, immense patience and overflowing compassion. Thy love is so enduring. You never give up on me.

I don't want to let You down Lord. I never want to grieve You.
Help me! Please help me to lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

I ask this of You in Jesus' name. Amen!

God Gives Us The Holy Spirit!

One of the greatest privileges we have been given in the gospel is that when we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, He gives to us what the Father promised - God, the Holy Spirit. 

What a blessed gift. That our earthen vessels can contain this beautiful treasure - we being filled with God and clothed with His power. 

It is a promise we should never let go of. A promise we should long for always. God is faithful. He is gracious. If earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to their children, will our Heavenly Father hold back the Holy Spirit when we ask Him?

Believe in Christ Jesus!

When we put our complete faith, our life's choices and all our decisions into the hands of Jesus Christ we can be assured that we are resting in the perfect will of God; we can be certain of our hope to eternal life; fully assured that on the last day we shall be raised to heaven.

Believe even when you don't see

Unbelief and Disobedience Leads to God's Wrath

Proud, self-centered and fallen as man is, he seldom can see that he owes his existence to his Maker, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

By unbelief and disobedience we reject Him and His purpose. It amounts to telling our Creator, from whom we have breath and by whom we are sustained, "I don't need you."

While God in His infinite mercy and patience permits this choice we make, as long as we are on earth, His sovereign nature that has authority over all creation will not permit it on the Day of Judgement when each will be recompensed according to what he has done. 

At judgement, our unbelief and disobedience which is tantamount to rejection of God, His purpose and His love invites His wrath.

Believe in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ whom He sent for our salvation. He promises us eternal life and every blessing in the heavenly places. The Holy Spirit is ever present to help, strengthen and guide us.  

Now or Later? Choose

Believing in Christ Jesus, His work on the cross and the cleansing power of His blood frees us from sin and makes us righteous.

We then have each day of our life on earth to judge ourselves in the light of God's Word, making choices that please Him; choices that will keep us righteous and holy.

He is with us to help. His grace is sufficient for us.

So let us judge ourselves on this earth. On the day of judgement when every one will give an account for what he has done, we will not be judged.

United Faith Releases Answers to Prayer!

When we believe - God Unleashes Limitless Power!

When we believe - Jesus Removes our Blindness!

When we believe - All Things are Possible!

Jesus Prays that our Faith may not Fail!

Consider Unbelief - If we shrink back, God is not pleased!

God - The Longing of the Soul!

“Deep calls to deep,” wrote the Psalmist in reference to the great longing of the soul for Him who alone fills all in all. ​​Continuing in the same vein, Tozer writes, “In the warm language of personal feeling this is stated in the Forty-second Psalm: ‘As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?’ ” There is nothing in the whole wide world that can satisfy this God-filled vacuum save the fullness of God who designed it for such a purpose.

We may have the most flourishing ministry in the kingdom of God, but if our soul is not filled with the fullness of Him whom we serve, we come short of the most beautiful blessing that we have in Christ Jesus in the New Covenant. We may have the most successful career and all the wealth and respect we can dream of but if that God-shaped vacuum is not filled with the fullness of Him who occupies the heavens and the earth with His omnipresence, it profits us nothing.

Dr. A. B. Simpson described this fullness with an illustration which is as good as any we may hear. He said, “Being filled with the fullness of God is like a bottle in the ocean. You take the cork out of the bottle and sink it in the ocean, and you have the bottle completely full of ocean. The bottle is in the ocean, and the ocean is in the bottle. The ocean contains the bottle, but the bottle contains only a little bit of the ocean. So it is with the Christian.”

This fullness is the purpose of our existence; the end to all our striving. It is the culmination of all righteousness. It is the peak of all faithfulness. It is the result of all love and kindness. It is the reason for all of our praise and worship.

Let us move further from the shore than we’ve ever done before. Let us make it the one thing that we ever want or need. Let us knock and ask and cry out. The One on the other side of that door answers. He is attentive to the cry of the righteous. Let Him come crashing over us. It is the best place we would ever want to be.

I revisited a video that I had watched several years ago; one in which Louie Giglio beautifully reveals our indescribable God. You may have watched it already but it is one worth watching again. The link is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNgJhuICrVA

To this indescribable God, magnificent and full of glory; to Him who has loved us with an everlasting love that did not hold back anything from us; to Him who is more than willing to fill our being with His manifest presence; indulging with us blessed fellowship and revealing to us the knowledge of His glory; to Him be glory and honour and praise now and always.

Consider Unbelief - It Provokes God!

Consider Unbelief - It Easily Gives Up!

Consider our Unbelief - It Disregards God who Rules in Majesty and Power!

Consider how Unbelief Insults God who Cares for and Provides

Consider Faith - It knows that with God, All things are possible!

Consider Faith - It Prepares for Eternity with all Seriousness!

The man of faith knows that God is real and all the promises of eternity are real. S/he also knows that these are incomparably precious compared to the present passing of sin and pleasure. S/he does not take lightly the planning and preparation for eternity but diligently makes all choices and decisions needed.

Consider Faith - It Knows God is Faithful and True!

Close to 300 years may have gone by since Joseph died. The children of Israel could have forgotten God’s promise to Abraham concerning the promised land. But not God! 

God never forgets! He is faithful and true from generation to generation.

Consider Faith - It is Assured that God will Perform what He has Promised

One of the most precious lessons we can learn from our wonderful Teacher is that of waiting, and waiting patiently. Oh that we can be so full of faith that our hearts are at rest, being fully assured that what God has promised, He will perform. He is not only faithful, but what He does, He does with perfect timing.

Consider Faith - It knows that God can Call into Being that which Does Not Exist!

Consider Faith - It Witholds Nothing From God!

Consider Faith - The Child of God Lives as a Foreigner on Earth!

Men of God were distinguishable from their attitude to the things of this earth. The faith that reaches the heart of God recognizes that it is making God your complete possession, your all-in-all; it is this that pleases the All-Sufficient God.

Consider Faith - There is Complete Surrender!

The child of faith is convinced that the ways of the living God are higher than man's ways and His all wise thoughts, higher than man's thoughts. S/he gladly submits therefore in complete surrender, even though the path is unknown, for that child knows well that the all wise, eternal God never makes a mistake. His ways are perfect and the outcome, the best. 

Consider Faith - It is Convinced God Never Fails!

God honours those who honour Him (1Sam 2:30). In reverence let us trust Him and His Word; fully convinced that our Everlasting, Sovereign God Never Fails.

Consider Faith - By It, Men Gain God's Approval!

Consider Faith - It is Eyes that See the Unseen!

Consider God, the Great Reality!

We recognize all that we see around us as real because we can associate them with our five senses. God, however is the Great Reality, though we cannot see Him. All other realities are dependent on Him.

Endure to the End!

Consider the Root of Salvation - The Instructions are Clear!

Our Lord Jesus has given us clear instructions what we are to pursue. He has made it clear what the chief goal of our life should be. The devil has made fear and unbelief reverse that order, much to our own loss. Let us trust God's instruction and heed them. They are truth and life.

Consider the Bride of Christ!

The Church, the Bride of Christ makes herself ready. Her wedding dress is made up of the righteous deeds of her members.

The Righteous receive Revelation and Insight!

The last 10 days or so has carried one message - What is it that is at the heart of Salvation? Having received mercy and compassion from God and made a new creation, what must our main goal be? What must be the chief ambition to pursue that will please our Maker? One common thread comes through all the verses that were posted and indeed all through the Holy Bible - that we should be holy and righteous. Having this purpose therefore, let us with single minded devotion, love the Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ. In this way you will be storing treasures in heaven.

Consider those who walk in the Purpose of God!

God keeps us from Stumbling that we may Stand Blameless!

Consider those Focused on Christ's Return!

Consider the Purpose of God's Working!

Throughout scriptures, we find this purpose - that we should be holy and blameless. In the new covenant that we have in Christ Jesus, let us be faithful to this purpose.

Consider the Purpose of God's Discipline!

Knowing this therefore, let us guard our hearts 

from grumbling and complaining. 

But like Paul exhorted in Php. 4:4, 

let us rejoice in the Lord always.

Consider the Root of Salvation - Pursue Holiness!

We have been cleansed by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus; made a new person in righteousness and holiness; that we no longer live as we did before regeneration, but now, with the help of God, in pursuit of holiness. 

Consider the Root of Salvation - In Christ, we are a New Creation!

The USP of this new person is righteousness and holiness.

Consider the Root of Salvation - We have been set apart for God as Holy and Righteous!

Consider the Root of Salvation - Christ is our Righteousness!

Consider the Root of Salvation - Immeasurable Love!

Consider the Root of Salvation - All have Sinned!

Blessed are the ones Insulted for Christ's Sake!

Blessed are those who face Persecution because of Righteousness!