 At Keillmore, looking to Isle of Jura, 21st November 2021 Tuesday Gathering — 23rd November 2021Therefore, "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty." Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. [2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1 NKJV] This Tuesday’s gathering was beautiful in its simplicity and looking to the Lord for His guidance and covering. Prayer was more intercessory on behalf of others than we have seen recently and we who were there were much encouraged by the moving of The Holy Spirit in the midst of us, and realising that in turning to Him, either individually or gathered in the fear of God, holiness is being perfected in us. The challenge is always to hold on to the gains made and walk in them. There is not too much to be expanded upon, other than looking at the scripture readings that His presence guided us to consider, and in particular REVELATION 18:4-8 reproduced in our endpiece below. We also looked at GALATIANS 5:16-26 and PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9. We sang songs such as
Perhaps most meaningful from our meeting (outside of many prayers for healing) was this Oswald Chambers reading from ‘My Utmost For His Highest’. “What we must beware of is not damage to our belief in God but damage to our Christian disposition or state of mind. “Take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously” (Malachi 2: 16*). Our state of mind is powerful in its effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. There are certain attitudes we should never dare to indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what rules our lives. Beware of “the cares of this world” (Mark 4: 19). They are the very things that produce the wrong attitudes in our soul. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by “the cares of this world.” Another thing that distracts us is our passion for vindication. St. Augustine prayed, “O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.” Such a need for constant vindication destroys our soul’s faith in God. Don’t say, “I must explain myself,” or, “I must get people to understand.” Our Lord never explained anything—He left the misunderstandings or misconceptions of others to correct themselves. When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block” A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on Peace People are tired of the preaching about a future heaven and they have gone to the other extreme and deal only with what is called the practical. Consequently they rob themselves of the unfathomable joy of knowing that everything that God has said will come to pass. The Redemption covers more than men and women, it covers the whole earth. Everything that has been marred by sin and the devil has been completely redeemed by Jesus Christ. At present that is absolutely inconceivable to us. The world represents the societies of men on God’s earth, and they do as they like; the earth remains God’s. “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” The meek bide God’s time. [from “Biblical Ethics”] Click on the download below to listen to this meditation
“Holiness Unto You Lord” — Vineyard Music “MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS”REVELATION 18:4-8 NLT Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, “Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her. For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God remembers her evil deeds. Do to her as she has done to others. Double her penalty for all her evil deeds. She brewed a cup of terror for others, so brew twice as much for her. She glorified herself and lived in luxury, so match it now with torment and sorrow. She boasted in her heart, ‘I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow, and I have no reason to mourn.’ Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day-- death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.” 
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 Acts 2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. Tuesday Gathering — 16th November 2021Our Tuesday Gathering was led by His Presence to follow the theme of service. He is ‘The Servant King’, and although we did not sing that song, His servanthood was expressed over and over again by His Word. This brief meditation cannot hope to do justice to all that was shared, so only a part can be written here, but a list of the scriptures will be given in our ‘Meditate on these things’ endpiece. This meditation is less a report on what we shared, more some thoughts that have occurred during the last few days, amid all the usual thinking turmoil which conspires to keep one from completing anything useful. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." [MARK 10:41-45 NKJV] Here (and also reported in Matthew 20) is the story of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who ask if they can be seated at either side of Jesus in His glory. Jesus explains that such a thing is not in His gift, but for whom it is prepared. He then concludes with the words reproduced above in verses 41 to 45. The import of these words are set out in GALATIANS 5:13-15 … For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! This lesson is another where Jesus turns our natural assumptions on their head, as we see in MATTHEW 10:39, He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. We are shown that if we are to declare the love of Jesus by our actions, it can only be done in humility, through service. To serve is to love. A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on Joy |
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“The Servant King” — Graham Kendrick
‘MEDITATE UPON THESE THINGS’
SCRIPTURE VERSES CONSIDERED ON 16TH NOVEMBER 2021,
SHOULD YOU WISH TO FOLLOW HIM, ‘LINE UPON LINE’:
Acts 2:17-21
Luke 1:38
Galatians 5:13
John 12:26
Romans 12:1
Colossians 3:23-25
Mark 10: 35-45
Hebrews 9:15
Revelation 7:14-17
Psalm 85:10-13
Isaiah 55:11
SHOULD YOU WISH TO FOLLOW HIM, ‘LINE UPON LINE’:
Acts 2:17-21
Luke 1:38
Galatians 5:13
John 12:26
Romans 12:1
Colossians 3:23-25
Mark 10: 35-45
Hebrews 9:15
Revelation 7:14-17
Psalm 85:10-13
Isaiah 55:11
Some joyous flowers at Love Dove Studio gathering — October 2021
1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
- And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.
- Be at peace among yourselves.
- Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly,
- comfort the fainthearted,
- uphold the weak,
- be patient with all.
- See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
- Rejoice always,
- pray without ceasing,
- in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- Do not quench the Spirit.
- Do not despise prophecies.
- Test all things; hold fast what is good.
- Abstain from every form of evil.
[1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 NKJV]
In ‘Be Thankful And Give Thanks’, we noted that the final group of verses written by Paul in 1 Thessalonians, formed a group of seven denoting a whole, a completion, but in fact there are two groups of seven to be discovered in chapter 5:12-22. The first group can be seen as an exhortation; an urging for our earnest attention, while the second are instructions — essentials for the journey — which, if put into practice, will help in guiding us in dealing with the exhortations.
For example, how can I be patient with all if it is not within me to do? Only by the Holy Spirit working through me will the longsuffering fruit of the Spirit enable me to overcome my natural impatience with all. Furthermore, we can learn much by the order in which the second grouping is presented.
Do not quench the Spirit is central to our discernment and all that we are accomplishing for The Lord. Without the intimate voice of the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. However, to be ‘in the Spirit’, we must be in ‘the right spirit’, having a heart that is praising and rejoicing, ever praying and giving thanks — three things that have us effectively ‘abiding in Christ’.
But having that relationship with Jesus Christ means that we can lose it unless we take four conscious steps to avoid that outcome — two ‘do not’s’, which would otherwise leave us rudderless in the sea of humanity, and two aspects of spiritual discernment — Hold the good; reject the bad.
This is Paul’s checklist for the journey, as it were, which if I bear in mind can be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. [Psalm 119:105 NKJV]
For example, how can I be patient with all if it is not within me to do? Only by the Holy Spirit working through me will the longsuffering fruit of the Spirit enable me to overcome my natural impatience with all. Furthermore, we can learn much by the order in which the second grouping is presented.
Do not quench the Spirit is central to our discernment and all that we are accomplishing for The Lord. Without the intimate voice of the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. However, to be ‘in the Spirit’, we must be in ‘the right spirit’, having a heart that is praising and rejoicing, ever praying and giving thanks — three things that have us effectively ‘abiding in Christ’.
But having that relationship with Jesus Christ means that we can lose it unless we take four conscious steps to avoid that outcome — two ‘do not’s’, which would otherwise leave us rudderless in the sea of humanity, and two aspects of spiritual discernment — Hold the good; reject the bad.
This is Paul’s checklist for the journey, as it were, which if I bear in mind can be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. [Psalm 119:105 NKJV]
A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on Peace
Life in the Spirit
Lord, may I be full of calm peace which comes from knowing that You reign.
[from ‘Knocking at God’s Door’]
[from ‘Knocking at God’s Door’]
Click on the download file below to listen to this meditation
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“Rejoice In The Lord Alway” — George Rathbone
‘Meditate on these things’
1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-23
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.
‘Battlefield Caravan Park’ near Inveraray, Loch Fyne, November 2021
Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
[1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC]
[1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC]
I chose the Amplified Version of Thessalonians 5:18 here because it says be thankful and give thanks. It emphasises both aspects of giving thanks — the words and, more importantly, the heart. To give thanks we must also be thankful. I can say “Thank You, Lord,” but if I am gritting my teeth as I say it, then I be not thankful at all. It requires a change of heart, and the answer to the change is the ‘ever and always’ one — prayer.
In our translation here we are told that this thankfulness is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus. And the bracketed qualifying statement tells us that Christ is the Revealer and Mediator of the will of God. Unless we are in Christ Jesus — in the Holy Spirit — then we are nowhere and our thanksgiving is hollow and without meaning. Verse 19 tells us “Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit;” and quenching the Holy Spirit is what looking to ourselves and our own disquiet is doing, but we can avoid this quenching of the Spirit, and be in the right spirit to be thankful, if we heed the preceding verse — verse 17 — “Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];” Prayer comes before being thankful, because it brings us into relationship with Christ.
Paul recognised God’s order in our relationship with Christ, and that order always involves prayer, because prayer is our direct link to Him. Without that communication, there is no relationship. Look at the sevenfold order that Paul states at the conclusion of 1 Thessalonians 5:
We also considered this verse from 1 Thessalonians in the meditation ‘In Everything Give Thanks’ from October 2020. Click on the title if you wish to visit that meditation.
In our translation here we are told that this thankfulness is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus. And the bracketed qualifying statement tells us that Christ is the Revealer and Mediator of the will of God. Unless we are in Christ Jesus — in the Holy Spirit — then we are nowhere and our thanksgiving is hollow and without meaning. Verse 19 tells us “Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit;” and quenching the Holy Spirit is what looking to ourselves and our own disquiet is doing, but we can avoid this quenching of the Spirit, and be in the right spirit to be thankful, if we heed the preceding verse — verse 17 — “Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];” Prayer comes before being thankful, because it brings us into relationship with Christ.
Paul recognised God’s order in our relationship with Christ, and that order always involves prayer, because prayer is our direct link to Him. Without that communication, there is no relationship. Look at the sevenfold order that Paul states at the conclusion of 1 Thessalonians 5:
- Rejoice always,
- pray without ceasing,
- in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- Do not quench the Spirit.
- Do not despise prophecies.
- Test all things; hold fast what is good.
- Abstain from every form of evil.
We also considered this verse from 1 Thessalonians in the meditation ‘In Everything Give Thanks’ from October 2020. Click on the title if you wish to visit that meditation.
A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on Joy
Strength In The Lord
The people who have plenty of time for you are those who have been through suffering, but now seem full of joy.
If a man has not been through suffering he will snub you unless you share his interests, he is no more concerned about you than the desert sand; but those who have been through things are not now taken up with their own sorrows, they are being made broken bread and poured-out wine for others.
You can always be sure of the man who has been through suffering, but never of the man who has not.
[from ‘Baffled To Fight Better’, also known as ‘Our Ultimate Refuge’]
If a man has not been through suffering he will snub you unless you share his interests, he is no more concerned about you than the desert sand; but those who have been through things are not now taken up with their own sorrows, they are being made broken bread and poured-out wine for others.
You can always be sure of the man who has been through suffering, but never of the man who has not.
[from ‘Baffled To Fight Better’, also known as ‘Our Ultimate Refuge’]
Tap on the ‘Download File’ link to listen to this meditation.
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“Thank You, Lord” — Don Moen
‘Meditate on these things…’
2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-15 NKJV
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
“The Newborn” (image edited) - 1648 - Georges de la Tour
Proverbs 20:27
The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
[Proverbs 20:27, NLT]
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
[Proverbs 20:27 NKJV]
[Proverbs 20:27, NLT]
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
[Proverbs 20:27 NKJV]
One of the regular jobs I have in our home is to clean the windows inside and out. As we live in a bungalow this is a fairly easy task. It doesn’t require the use of steps or a ladder. I always try to make as good a job of them as possible and not leave any smears, streaks, or blemishes on the glass. When I finished this job a few days ago and inspected what I had done, I was satisfied with my achievements as all the windows appeared clean and free of dust and dirt and seemed to sparkle. A job well done, I thought.
On the following day when I had an opportunity to sit down and enjoy the sunlight coming through the window, I was disappointed to discover that what I had thought to be a clean, clear pane of glass the day before did, in fact, still have marks and smears. The sunlight highlighted the imperfections of my efforts.
This has caused me to think how we can be like that. We can so easily deceive ourselves and others into believing that we are doing well, and living and behaving as we should, doing and saying all the right things. Proverbs 21:2 reminds us of this when it says, ‘People may be right in their own eyes but the Lord examines their heart.’
When the light of God’s word of truth and love is allowed to shine into our heart, it reveals things which otherwise would remain unnoticed and may have done so for a long time. Things such as wrong thoughts and desires, pride, jealousy and bitterness can be revealed when we allow God, by His Spirit, to highlight them, and when we begin to look at them from His perspective, in line with His word.
Inconsistencies and lack of integrity, not noticed, or perhaps overlooked, by others, are made visible when the Holy Spirit is allowed to scrutinise our hearts and point out the blemishes and smears which need to be dealt with. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provided the means by which forgiveness and removal of these ‘blemishes’ is available. We are then to appropriate that for ourselves personally. This is the sanctifying process which the Lord is wanting to do in each one of us, changing us into His likeness.
The words from Psalm 139:23-24 would be a good way to pray each day, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life,’ or these words from Graham Kendrick’s song, ‘Shine Jesus Shine’. ‘Lord I come to Your awesome presence, from the shadows into Your radiance; by Your blood I may enter Your brightness: search me, try me, consume all my darkness – shine on me.’
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to allow the light of Your love to highlight the irregularities in my heart, so that I can offer them to You for forgiveness and cleansing. Amen.
Today's Writer : Malcolm Wood Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
On the following day when I had an opportunity to sit down and enjoy the sunlight coming through the window, I was disappointed to discover that what I had thought to be a clean, clear pane of glass the day before did, in fact, still have marks and smears. The sunlight highlighted the imperfections of my efforts.
This has caused me to think how we can be like that. We can so easily deceive ourselves and others into believing that we are doing well, and living and behaving as we should, doing and saying all the right things. Proverbs 21:2 reminds us of this when it says, ‘People may be right in their own eyes but the Lord examines their heart.’
When the light of God’s word of truth and love is allowed to shine into our heart, it reveals things which otherwise would remain unnoticed and may have done so for a long time. Things such as wrong thoughts and desires, pride, jealousy and bitterness can be revealed when we allow God, by His Spirit, to highlight them, and when we begin to look at them from His perspective, in line with His word.
Inconsistencies and lack of integrity, not noticed, or perhaps overlooked, by others, are made visible when the Holy Spirit is allowed to scrutinise our hearts and point out the blemishes and smears which need to be dealt with. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provided the means by which forgiveness and removal of these ‘blemishes’ is available. We are then to appropriate that for ourselves personally. This is the sanctifying process which the Lord is wanting to do in each one of us, changing us into His likeness.
The words from Psalm 139:23-24 would be a good way to pray each day, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life,’ or these words from Graham Kendrick’s song, ‘Shine Jesus Shine’. ‘Lord I come to Your awesome presence, from the shadows into Your radiance; by Your blood I may enter Your brightness: search me, try me, consume all my darkness – shine on me.’
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to allow the light of Your love to highlight the irregularities in my heart, so that I can offer them to You for forgiveness and cleansing. Amen.
Today's Writer : Malcolm Wood Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on Joy
Strength in the Spirit
God is so immediately near and so immensely strong that I get more and more joyous in my confidence in Him and less and less careful how I feel.
[from ‘Run Today’s Race’]
[from ‘Run Today’s Race’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking on the link below
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“Shine Jesus, Shine” — at The Royal Albert Hall
‘Meditate on these things’
REVELATION 22:1-5
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
