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John 21:1-6
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:
Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No."
And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No."
And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
John chapter 21 feels like an afterthought, or more, an expression of what life hearing from the Holy Spirit will be or now is. After Jesus’ death on the cross and His subsequent Resurrection, the disciples appear to have returned to their former lives, until this moment. They seem to have lost their way somewhat.
They have yet to understand that knowing Jesus means that their lives are forever changed, that they cannot continue the life they once knew. Even if we turn away, He stands near us, ever present, watching and waiting for our attention to return to Him; waiting to restore life and joy and peace.
Maybe the disciples were grieving in this moment. Hard to think that they were not. The message here is that the disciples were fishing — looking for their provision, for that which they had taken for granted since they had come to know Him, but had now found dissipated with the death of Jesus. And then — when they had found nothing; when their efforts to do it all themselves had come to nought — Jesus appeared on the shore -- from the safety of dry land — and said Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.
The ‘right side’ is the place of honour — seated at the right hand of God -- hearing from the Holy Spirit, for only then will you find, and find abundantly. That is The Lord’s way. Follow ye in it.
They have yet to understand that knowing Jesus means that their lives are forever changed, that they cannot continue the life they once knew. Even if we turn away, He stands near us, ever present, watching and waiting for our attention to return to Him; waiting to restore life and joy and peace.
Maybe the disciples were grieving in this moment. Hard to think that they were not. The message here is that the disciples were fishing — looking for their provision, for that which they had taken for granted since they had come to know Him, but had now found dissipated with the death of Jesus. And then — when they had found nothing; when their efforts to do it all themselves had come to nought — Jesus appeared on the shore -- from the safety of dry land — and said Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.
The ‘right side’ is the place of honour — seated at the right hand of God -- hearing from the Holy Spirit, for only then will you find, and find abundantly. That is The Lord’s way. Follow ye in it.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
1 PETER 2:21-25
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
"Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
"Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE — The Inspirations
PRAYER requires OBEDIENCE
JESUS DID NOT say, "Go into the field," He said, "therefore pray the Lord of the harvest . .." That does not so much mean that the harvest is the world, it means that there are innumerable people who have reached crises in their lives and are "already white for harvest." We find them everywhere, not only in foreign countries, but in the houses next door to us. The way we discern is not by intellect, not by suggestions, but by prayer.
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’ by Oswald Chambers]
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’ by Oswald Chambers]
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COMING NEXT … #505 BY THE SEA 2: COME AND DINE
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Revelation 18:1-4
After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.
And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
In Revelation 18, Babylon is portrayed as the ultimate enemy of God, and in verse 4, we read of the heavenly voice calling to God’s people, warning of the dire consequences should they/we fail to come out of her. If we are hearing from the Holy Spirit — in whatever way that He chooses to show us — He will teach us to spurn the darkness and walk in the light.
For we have been called out — out of captivity, out of bondage and out of darkness. Jesus announced His purpose in Isaiah’ words as "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
In these words we can recognise Jesus’ mission to call out His people, the calling out meaning to heal; and this setting free — breaking the ties that bind — is salvation. His name translates as ‘Jehovah is salvation’, that is who He is.
“Come out of her” is a command, not a request. There is no equivocation in these words, and so it becomes part of the ‘hear and obey’ of The Lord’s economy. This way or no way. If we have chosen to follow Jesus then we — as ‘His called out ones’ — must follow through in our commitment to give our utmost for His Highest.
For we have been called out — out of captivity, out of bondage and out of darkness. Jesus announced His purpose in Isaiah’ words as "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
In these words we can recognise Jesus’ mission to call out His people, the calling out meaning to heal; and this setting free — breaking the ties that bind — is salvation. His name translates as ‘Jehovah is salvation’, that is who He is.
“Come out of her” is a command, not a request. There is no equivocation in these words, and so it becomes part of the ‘hear and obey’ of The Lord’s economy. This way or no way. If we have chosen to follow Jesus then we — as ‘His called out ones’ — must follow through in our commitment to give our utmost for His Highest.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
1 PETER 2:6-9
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS — written by John Newton,
performed by Chris Bowater
performed by Chris Bowater
PRAYER requires HONESTY
NOTHING IS MORE difficult than asking. We long and desire and crave and suffer, but not until we are at the extreme limit will we ask. A sense of unreality makes us ask. We cannot bring ourselves up against spiritual reality when we like — all at once the staggering realization dawns that we are destitute of the Holy Spirit, ignorant of all that the Lord Jesus stands for.
The first result of being brought up against reality is this realization of poverty, of the lack of wisdom, lack of the Holy Spirit, lack of power, lack of a grip of God. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God."
[from ‘Our Brilliant Heritage’ by Oswald Chambers]
The first result of being brought up against reality is this realization of poverty, of the lack of wisdom, lack of the Holy Spirit, lack of power, lack of a grip of God. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God."
[from ‘Our Brilliant Heritage’ by Oswald Chambers]
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COMING NEXT — #504 BY THE SEA 1: ON THE RIGHT SIDE
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1 Samuel 16:7+11-13
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep."
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."
So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep."
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."
So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
At The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Chrism oil which will be used to anoint The King at the Coronation in May, has been consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, The Most Reverend Hosam Naoum.
The oil has been created using olives harvested from two groves on the Mount of Olives at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene and the Monastery of the Ascension. The Monastery of Mary Magdalene is the burial place of His Majesty's grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece.
The Coronation oil is based on the oil used at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth Il, the formula of which has been used for hundreds of years. It will also be used for the anointing of Her Majesty The Queen Consort.
BBC NEWS
We may think that much spoken of in Scripture is dead and gone, and that past traditions and practices have no relevance in the modern world. Certainly many in the world would like to believe so — indeed many believe in no belief, thus confounding themselves twice over. However, anointing is of relevance to all believers.
The coronation of a king is of great significance, and resonates even if you are a republican by conviction. A previous King Charles — Charles I — was a strong proponent of ‘the divine right of kings’; that as an anointed king, he had been empowered by Almighty God to rule and reign in this temporal realm, and the practice of the King’s Anointing derives from ancient times. And Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, or President of presidents and Ruler of rulers for that matter.
The Book of Revelation confirms that we are each one kings and priests unto God, but to be so there has to be an anointing — it is the one thing that identifies and confers the kingly status on a believer. You and I are unlikely to be anointed with oil consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, but if we accept Jesus Christ as King and Lord over every aspect of our lives, He will anoint us with the oil which is the Holy Spirit, opening heaven’s door that we may enter in to His presence.
Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.
The coronation of a king is of great significance, and resonates even if you are a republican by conviction. A previous King Charles — Charles I — was a strong proponent of ‘the divine right of kings’; that as an anointed king, he had been empowered by Almighty God to rule and reign in this temporal realm, and the practice of the King’s Anointing derives from ancient times. And Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, or President of presidents and Ruler of rulers for that matter.
The Book of Revelation confirms that we are each one kings and priests unto God, but to be so there has to be an anointing — it is the one thing that identifies and confers the kingly status on a believer. You and I are unlikely to be anointed with oil consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, but if we accept Jesus Christ as King and Lord over every aspect of our lives, He will anoint us with the oil which is the Holy Spirit, opening heaven’s door that we may enter in to His presence.
Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
REVELATION 1:4-6
John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
KING OF KINGS — Jenn Johnson + Moment
PRAYER requires HONESTY
ASK MEANS BEG. Some people are poor enough to be interested in their poverty, and some of us are like that spiritually. We will never receive if we ask out of our lust rather than out of our poverty. A pauper who asks from no other reason than the abject panging condition of his poverty is not ashamed to beg. Blessed are the poor in spirit.
[from ‘My Utmost For His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers]
[from ‘My Utmost For His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers]
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COMING NEXT… #503 HIS CALLED OUT ONES
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Matthew 24:9-13
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
When we heard recently that the First Minister of Scotland was resigning, many I am sure gave the matter only a casual glance. There might be disappointment or pleasure depending on your politics, but what has happened is that — with the reaction to a strongly Christian candidate putting her name forward for the First Minister role — Our Lord has highlighted for all Christians, precisely where present day attitudes are when it comes to Faith, and many, it seems, now positively discriminate against Christian views
Peter Horrobin of Ellel Ministries said this in his blog post, which you may find illuminating…
Peter Horrobin of Ellel Ministries said this in his blog post, which you may find illuminating…
HATED?
“You will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9)
In the end-times we will need to get used to the fact that Jesus was right! Believers who remain faithful to Jesus and the Word of God will be under constant attack from the liberal wokery that is now prevalent across society, and which it is so easy for the church to bow down to, in an attempt to make itself acceptable to an unbelieving world. Sadly, compromising on truth only makes the church less noticeable and less relevant, as the borderlines between faith and apostasy become ever more blurred.
This past week the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) stood down as the First Minister of Scotland. Immediately, the race for a successor began and one of the leading contenders is Kate Forbes, a young very committed, born-again believer. A remarkable article in the London Daily Telegraph asked some telling questions, “Is she too Christian to lead a political party? . . . Does her faith debar her from public office? . . . . It’s dangerous now to hold old-fashioned views on marriage, gender and abortion.” A spokesman for the SNP is quoted as saying, “There will be a massive campaign against her, particularly by the woke crowd, because of her religious beliefs.”
Without realizing it, the Telegraph writers were simply recognizing that what Jesus said all those years ago is coming true. The world hates truth and while people will patronize Jesus by saying he was a good man with teaching worth hearing and following, they will not tolerate any intrusion of Biblical truth into the affairs of a world that has not only lost its moral compass, but in which most people seem to have no desire to find it again.
The article also asked another telling question: if it’s OK to have a devout Hindu as the Prime Minister of England, why wouldn’t it be OK to have a devout Christian as the First Minister of Scotland? The difference is simple, real Christian faith is not a religion with a set of steps to appease God, but a relationship in which the price of having a relationship with Him has already been paid by Jesus on the cross. Through ownership of our sin and repentance, we receive new life and have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to overcome it. Jesus said he was THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life. The plumbline of truth which hangs from the cross is offensive to those whose lifestyle is challenged by the central tenets of the Christian faith.
Christian truth is not just a system of beliefs, only of relevance to an inner circle of believers and which don’t have any significance for everyone else – the teachings of God’s Word are applicable to the whole world, believers and unbelievers alike. So, when a Christian says what they believe, and those beliefs cut across the liberal secularism of society, there is an instant reaction, prompted by the god of this world, which, in recent years, has cost people their jobs and caused many believers to be dragged through the courts, just because they hold to Biblical truth without compromising what they believe. Our post-Christian, so-called liberal, society breeds hostile intolerance.
I suggest that, whatever our political thinking may be, we should be praying for Kate Forbes. In an interview to the BBC she said, “I believe in the person of Jesus Christ. I believe that he died for me, he saved me and that my calling is to serve and to love him and to serve and love my neighbours.” Wow! Since when have we ever heard a politician in the UK speak such truth to the media! Or, even more significantly, since when have we ever heard the national leaders of our churches, certainly in Britain, share such a clear testimony with the media and the world?
All the nations of the western world, the nations who in recent centuries have been the preservers of Christian truth in their governance of the people, are falling like dominos into a godless hole. The end of the age is closing in, Jesus told us to rejoice and keep watch with prayers that focus on the signs of the times and on those who are prepared to be a light shining in the darkness so that the light will not be put out by the enemies of truth, but will shine ever brighter in a darkening world. As the darkness gets darker so the light of Jesus will shine brighter. If He is lifted up, He will draw all men to Himself.
Another political commentator was even brave enough to say that it would be a dark day for the world if a Christian believer was debarred from office simply because of their faith. Yes, indeed
by PETER HORROBIN
of Ellel Ministries
of Ellel Ministries
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
PSALM 25:18-20
Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
BEGINNING AND END — Eden’s Bridge
PRAYER requires HONESTY
IT IS rarely the big compellings of God that get hold of us in our prayers; instead we tell God what He should do. We tell Him that men are being lost and that He ought to save them. This is a terrific charge against God; it means that He might be asleep. Prayer with us often becomes merely a way of patronizing God.
(from ‘The Psychology of Redemption’ by Oswald Chambers)
(from ‘The Psychology of Redemption’ by Oswald Chambers)