Psalm 51:8+12Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  Seal resting on a rock on Loch Caolisport, Argyll There is always a consideration when The LORD speaks; is this a word for all, or a personal revelation? Not all times with Him are for sharing. My chosen devotional for this year is David Wilkerson’s ‘God is Faithful’, and it has proved it’s worth many times already. Today’s meditation (below) spoke to me deeply on a personal level this morning, and when I shared it with Gill, she too was greatly impacted. This we know, speaks to events and struggles for us, and having prayed on from the reading, we have both felt burdens lifted, through resting in His promises. We also know that the walk with Him is a daily pilgrimage, and it is ‘here a little, there a little’ in that resting, which is definitely a message for everyone. LEARNING TO FORGIVE OURSELVES ‘Meditate on these things…’HEBREWS 4:1-2 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. REST IN YOUR PROMISE — David Ruis A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on PEACE |
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| 22-03-29_rest_in_his_promises.m4a |
Philemon 1:4-7
I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,
hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,
that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
Gathering of The Saints
Does Christian brotherly love really work, even in situations of extraordinary tension and difficulty? Will it work, for example, between a prominent slave owner and one of his runaway slaves? Paul has no doubt! He writes a “postcard” to Philemon, his beloved brother and fellow worker, on behalf of Onesimus—a deserter, thief, and formerly worthless slave, but now Philemon’s brother in Christ.
With much tact and tenderness, Paul asks Philemon to receive Onesimus back with the same gentleness with which he would receive Paul himself. Any debt Onesimus owes, Paul promises to make good. Knowing Philemon, Paul is confident that brotherly love and forgiveness will carry the day.
FROM INTRODUCTION TO ‘PHILEMON’. [OLIVE TREE BIBLE]
Philemon is a short, one chapter book — not so much a book, as a quick note — sent to a friend, and asking a favour. Indeed, the name, Philemon, means ‘one who loves’, and comes from the Greek phileo, to love or kiss. We often find ourselves talking about agape love (the highest form of love, used in John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life) — phileo love is ‘brotherly love’, the love of the saints for one another, and it is at the heart of Paul’s words in these few verses.
It is made plain that the refreshing of the hearts of the saints is the great joy and consolation to Paul, but also to all who love the Lord Jesus, for it is a mainstay of our earthly experience of the life of faith. Yes, we will have disagreements and difficulties with one another from time to time — sometimes serious ones — but it is that love that comes from the Father through our brother and friend, Jesus Christ, that binds us together. We are never Christian believers in isolation; we are always a community of believers, saints and sons of God, a corporate body, the Church of Jesus Christ and thus, His bride.
Have confidence that, in Christ, whatever may befall, His brotherly love and forgiveness, within us, will carry the day.
It is made plain that the refreshing of the hearts of the saints is the great joy and consolation to Paul, but also to all who love the Lord Jesus, for it is a mainstay of our earthly experience of the life of faith. Yes, we will have disagreements and difficulties with one another from time to time — sometimes serious ones — but it is that love that comes from the Father through our brother and friend, Jesus Christ, that binds us together. We are never Christian believers in isolation; we are always a community of believers, saints and sons of God, a corporate body, the Church of Jesus Christ and thus, His bride.
Have confidence that, in Christ, whatever may befall, His brotherly love and forgiveness, within us, will carry the day.
‘Meditate on these things…’
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND — Carole King
Although this is very much a secular song, the words are a good expression of the brotherly relationship we have with Jesus Christ. If you read the words and consider Him as you listen, you can make a connection beyond what might seem to be the original concept.
Although this is very much a secular song, the words are a good expression of the brotherly relationship we have with Jesus Christ. If you read the words and consider Him as you listen, you can make a connection beyond what might seem to be the original concept.
A HOLY CONDITION — Oswald Chambers on PEACE
— Life in the SPIRIT --
JESUS CHRIST'S ONE aim is to bring us back into peace and oneness with God. The whole purpose of the Redemption is to give back to man the original source of life. In a regenerated man this means "Christ formed in you." Am I willing that the old disposition should be crucified with Christ? If I am, Jesus Christ will take possession of me and will baptize me into His life until I bear a family likeness to Him. It is a lonely path, a path of death, but it means ultimately being at peace with Divinity. The Christian life does not take its pattern from good men, but from God Himself.
[from ‘Biblical Ethics’]
[from ‘Biblical Ethics’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking below…
| 22-03-27_the_hearts_of_the_saints.m4a |
Acts 27:33-38
And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing.
Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you."
And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you."
And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea.
“Take nourishment for this is for your survival”
From our gathering on Tuesday 22nd March 2022
“When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.” [Acts 27:13-14]. Often, over the last few years I have found myself led to Acts 27, and each time The LORD has had something new to show me. Paul, a prisoner in chains, is being transported with many others across the Mediterranean Sea to Rome to be judged by Caesar. At first the journey goes well; the south wind softly blessing their journey; but passing the island of Crete, a tempest arises in the east, threatening the lives of all aboard.
‘Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food.‘ Fourteen is a number which points us to deliverance and salvation, and ‘the fourteenth day’ signifies Passover, setting us on the road to victory. Part of the great feast of Passover, is the feast of unleavened bread. This passage is unveiling a picture of salvation for us, as it is often at times of storm in our lives, when we can see no way of escape, that the LORD’s saving grace and abundant provision carries us through.
Paul urges those on board to take nourishment ‘for this is for your survival’ — a matter of life and death. His next words which he attaches to ‘survival’, seems to our understanding to be unusual. ‘Since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you’ is likely used to refer to The LORD’s covering, The hair on our heads being a metaphor for His protection over our minds, bringing peace instead of panic, comfort instead of fear. He then took bread and gave thanks to God. We are encouraged to give thanks to The LORD ‘in all things’, and the very act of giving thanks to God, changes our mindset. ‘Then they were all encouraged.’
Until I heard of the numerology of scripture, I wondered why The Bible was so keen on numbers, giving the dimensions of things in such detail, describing the number of men in a battle, or the number of loaves and fishes Jesus’ distributed to the crowd. Once you discover the meanings attributed to numbers as a sort of Biblical shorthand, you soon come to the conclusion that ‘the numbers always add up’, and underpin the spiritual truth being expressed. In verse 37, we are told that there were ‘two hundred and seventy six persons on the ship. In older Bible versions, this would likely be expressed as two hundred and seventy and six.
This strongly suggests the idea that is the underlying theme of Acts, chapter 27, which is that we have insufficient within us to restore, or continue our natural lives beyond the allotted span. Only God has the power of life and death. Only God has the power to save and bring deliverance.
Why do the people throw away the wheat to lighten the ship? Again, this is pointing to our insufficiency, but also promotes our trust in God. Cast away all that is dragging you down. It is not your real provision. All you need, The LORD will provide. Take nourishment— all you need — from Him; freely given.
‘Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food.‘ Fourteen is a number which points us to deliverance and salvation, and ‘the fourteenth day’ signifies Passover, setting us on the road to victory. Part of the great feast of Passover, is the feast of unleavened bread. This passage is unveiling a picture of salvation for us, as it is often at times of storm in our lives, when we can see no way of escape, that the LORD’s saving grace and abundant provision carries us through.
Paul urges those on board to take nourishment ‘for this is for your survival’ — a matter of life and death. His next words which he attaches to ‘survival’, seems to our understanding to be unusual. ‘Since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you’ is likely used to refer to The LORD’s covering, The hair on our heads being a metaphor for His protection over our minds, bringing peace instead of panic, comfort instead of fear. He then took bread and gave thanks to God. We are encouraged to give thanks to The LORD ‘in all things’, and the very act of giving thanks to God, changes our mindset. ‘Then they were all encouraged.’
Until I heard of the numerology of scripture, I wondered why The Bible was so keen on numbers, giving the dimensions of things in such detail, describing the number of men in a battle, or the number of loaves and fishes Jesus’ distributed to the crowd. Once you discover the meanings attributed to numbers as a sort of Biblical shorthand, you soon come to the conclusion that ‘the numbers always add up’, and underpin the spiritual truth being expressed. In verse 37, we are told that there were ‘two hundred and seventy six persons on the ship. In older Bible versions, this would likely be expressed as two hundred and seventy and six.
- Two hundred = insufficiency
- Seventy = restoration of life/the span of life in the natural man
- Six = the number of man (God created man on the sixth day)
This strongly suggests the idea that is the underlying theme of Acts, chapter 27, which is that we have insufficient within us to restore, or continue our natural lives beyond the allotted span. Only God has the power of life and death. Only God has the power to save and bring deliverance.
Why do the people throw away the wheat to lighten the ship? Again, this is pointing to our insufficiency, but also promotes our trust in God. Cast away all that is dragging you down. It is not your real provision. All you need, The LORD will provide. Take nourishment— all you need — from Him; freely given.
‘Meditate on these things…’
JOHN 12:24
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
“Salvation Belongs To Our God”
A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on PEACE
— Life in the SPIRIT --
IF I WAS peaceful and happy, living a clean upright life, why should Jesus Christ come with a standard of holiness I never dreamt of? Simply because that peace was the peace of death, a peace altogether apart from God. The coming of Jesus Christ to the natural man means the destruction of all peace that is not based on a personal relationship to Himself.
[from ‘Biblical Ethics’]
[from ‘Biblical Ethics’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking below…
| 22-03-23_take_nourishment.m4a |
LUKE 21:25-28
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
“the sea and the waves roaring”
The sea and the waves are roaring at this time. Whatever direction you turn there seems to be upset, disillusionment, distrust, manifest lies set up as truth as never before. Satan is having a field day and is becoming ever more bold. And yet, in that very boldness lie the seeds of his destruction. The Heavenlies are being shaken.
The signs are there, just as scripture reveals. However, just as all seems lost, the heavenly cavalry come charging in — Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Notice that when the earth is in turmoil, it is manifested in the seas, but rescue and redemption comes in the air, in the clouds. The heavenly kingdom realm treats fear, distress and perplexity as anathema. The denizens of the deep will be confounded.
The Lord shows us what is happening in the spiritual by an outworking in the natural, and we need to pay attention to world events, whether local or national or international. But… we must also exercise Holy Spirit discernment, lest such things overwhelm us.
Jesus’ words in Luke’s Gospel, sets all aright for us — though we see the things of earth in chaos around us; recognise that disorder for what it is — the result of men seeking their own ways, looking to the earth for their reward. ‘Lift up your heads’, look to the heavenlies, ‘and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.’ All perplexity vanishes, we understand and are comforted, knowing whose we are.
The signs are there, just as scripture reveals. However, just as all seems lost, the heavenly cavalry come charging in — Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Notice that when the earth is in turmoil, it is manifested in the seas, but rescue and redemption comes in the air, in the clouds. The heavenly kingdom realm treats fear, distress and perplexity as anathema. The denizens of the deep will be confounded.
The Lord shows us what is happening in the spiritual by an outworking in the natural, and we need to pay attention to world events, whether local or national or international. But… we must also exercise Holy Spirit discernment, lest such things overwhelm us.
Jesus’ words in Luke’s Gospel, sets all aright for us — though we see the things of earth in chaos around us; recognise that disorder for what it is — the result of men seeking their own ways, looking to the earth for their reward. ‘Lift up your heads’, look to the heavenlies, ‘and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.’ All perplexity vanishes, we understand and are comforted, knowing whose we are.
‘Meditate on these things…’
PSALM 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory.
Psalm 24:7-10 St George’s, Edinburgh, Scottish Metrical Psalter 1650
A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on PEACE
— Life in the SPIRIT --
FOR A MAN to be undisturbed and in unity with himself is a good condition, not a bad one, because a united personality means freedom from self-consciousness; but if his peace is without any consideration of Jesus Christ, it is simply the outcome of this disposition of darkness which keeps men alienated from the life of God.
When Jesus Christ comes in He upsets this false unity.
[from ‘Biblical Ethics’]
When Jesus Christ comes in He upsets this false unity.
[from ‘Biblical Ethics’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking below…
| 22-03-20_lift_up_your_heads.m4a |
Psalm 121 (A Song of Ascents)
I will lift up my eyes to the hills--
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Paps of Jura in winter, from Kilberry, Argyll
Following on from our Tuesday gathering on 15th March 2022
‘Where two or three are gathered, there am I in the midst of them’ is a wonderful expression of His presence whenever we meet and The Holy Spirit flows from one to another, melding individuals into one expression. And He is faithful to bring this blessing whenever we meet, binding us together ‘with cords that cannot be broken.’
The spirit word which launched us in ‘His way’ this week was ‘nourishment’, and we were led then to Psalm 121, which begins with ‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills…’, to the higher ground, out of the miry clay of our valley existence to meet in the heavenly realms with Him. The version of Psalm 121 quoted in the title comes from — not from the Authorised Version as I thought — but from the Scottish Psalter, the first verse of which is …
The spirit word which launched us in ‘His way’ this week was ‘nourishment’, and we were led then to Psalm 121, which begins with ‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills…’, to the higher ground, out of the miry clay of our valley existence to meet in the heavenly realms with Him. The version of Psalm 121 quoted in the title comes from — not from the Authorised Version as I thought — but from the Scottish Psalter, the first verse of which is …
I to the hills will lift mine eyes,
from whence doth come mine aid.
My safety cometh from the Lord,
who heav’n and earth hath made.
from whence doth come mine aid.
My safety cometh from the Lord,
who heav’n and earth hath made.
Having sung this since primary school, it sticks in my mind, the older form of expression giving a majesty to the words that some modern translations seem to lack, even if they are more accessible. But this beautiful psalm brings comfort and peace in any form, for it expresses the undeniable experience of a deep relationship with our Lord and Saviour.
Our world seems to have reached a crossroads at this time, and we see the bellicosity being expressed in many quarters, pushing us all to make concerted choices. That the release from captivity of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori should come at such a time as this — with unrelenting punishment meted out on civilians in Ukraine — highlights the fact that despite these dark days, the light of The Lord still shines. Indeed, a recent report from Ellel Ministries in Ukraine reveals that the Lord is answering prayer in miraculous ways [see links 1 and 2 below], along with tentative evidence that the Russian invasion is faltering. We pray that a just conclusion to this war is found, sooner rather than later.
And as our gathering drew to a close, the words of a song came to mind, the words of which are an amazing inspiration and reminder of whose we are.
Our world seems to have reached a crossroads at this time, and we see the bellicosity being expressed in many quarters, pushing us all to make concerted choices. That the release from captivity of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori should come at such a time as this — with unrelenting punishment meted out on civilians in Ukraine — highlights the fact that despite these dark days, the light of The Lord still shines. Indeed, a recent report from Ellel Ministries in Ukraine reveals that the Lord is answering prayer in miraculous ways [see links 1 and 2 below], along with tentative evidence that the Russian invasion is faltering. We pray that a just conclusion to this war is found, sooner rather than later.
And as our gathering drew to a close, the words of a song came to mind, the words of which are an amazing inspiration and reminder of whose we are.
I am destined for a kingdom
Anointed by the Lord
Made for glory
He's preparing me to reign
I am called to judge the angels
And I know I'm being restored
To the vision that God gave
In Jesus name
In Jesus name
I soar on wings like eagles
In Jesus name
I'm full of power in the Son
And as I lift His name on high
And my spirit starts to cry
He is here! He is here!
And he is LORD!
Anointed by the Lord
Made for glory
He's preparing me to reign
I am called to judge the angels
And I know I'm being restored
To the vision that God gave
In Jesus name
In Jesus name
I soar on wings like eagles
In Jesus name
I'm full of power in the Son
And as I lift His name on high
And my spirit starts to cry
He is here! He is here!
And he is LORD!
LINKS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
1 — ‘How God is working in Ukraine’ — report from Nina Rotkina
2 — Peter Horrobin’s ‘Seeds of The Kindom’ message, ‘I cry to You, Lord’ from 16th March 2022
‘Meditate on these things…’
REVELATION 5:8-10
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
“I to the Hills Will Lift Mine Eyes” — Scottish Festival Singers”
VIOLINISTS ACROSS THE WORLD PLAY FOR UKRAINE
Mention of this You Tube video was made in this morning’s Argyllshire Advertiser, and includes — among the 94 violinists from 27 countries taking part — Campbeltown’s Archie McAllister (now living in Lochgilphead). Illia Bondarenko, whose video leads the performance had to complete his video between bombing attacks.
Mention of this You Tube video was made in this morning’s Argyllshire Advertiser, and includes — among the 94 violinists from 27 countries taking part — Campbeltown’s Archie McAllister (now living in Lochgilphead). Illia Bondarenko, whose video leads the performance had to complete his video between bombing attacks.
A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on JOY
— Strength in The LORD --
PEOPLE NOISY IN words are not always turbulent in spirit; excessively quiet people who have nothing to express in shouting, may be joyous in heart.
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’]
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking below…
| 22-03-18_from_whence_doth_come_mine_aid.m4a |
Mark 13:4-8
“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.
But when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.
But when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
“The Battle of Alexander at Issus” by Albrecht Altdorfer
If we thought that we lived in troubled times with climate change and a global pandemic, Russia’s barbaric war on Ukraine has raised the spectre of worldwide catastrophe to add to the list. There is much to trouble us in these ‘end times’.
Maybe these are the times of ‘great tribulation’ as spoken of in th book of Revelation — we will not know until the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. What we must understand at this time is that whatever may befall, we need not succumb to panic if we are ‘in Christ’. Easy to say, but hard to hold on to. Turn always to Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit presence.
Here is what I read from Oswald Chambers today …
Maybe these are the times of ‘great tribulation’ as spoken of in th book of Revelation — we will not know until the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. What we must understand at this time is that whatever may befall, we need not succumb to panic if we are ‘in Christ’. Easy to say, but hard to hold on to. Turn always to Jesus Christ for His Holy Spirit presence.
Here is what I read from Oswald Chambers today …
THE BASIS OF PANIC
Mark 13:7 But when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
That is either the statement of a madman or of a Being who has power to put something into a man and keep him free from panic, even in the midst of the awful terror of war. The basis of panic is always cowardice. Our Lord teaches us to look things full in the face. He says — "When you hear of wars, don't be scared." It is the most natural thing in the world to be scared, and the clearest evidence that God's grace is at work in our hearts is when we do not get into panics.
Our Lord insists on the inevitableness of peril. He says, "You must lay your account with war, with hatred, and with death." Men may have lived undisturbed over a volcano for a long while, when suddenly an eruption occurs. Jesus Christ did not say.— “You will understand why war has come," but — “Don't be scared when it does come, do not be in a panic.”
It is astonishing how we ignore Jesus Christ's words. He said that nations would end in war and bloodshed and havoc. We ignore His warnings; and when war comes we lose our wits and exhibit panic.
(OSWALD CHAMBERS, from THE SHADOW OF AN AGONY)
‘Meditate on these things …
REVELATION 7:13-17
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
And I said to him, "Sir, you know."
So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?"
And I said to him, "Sir, you know."
So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
We have two videos today. The first is from Pastor Tim Dilena of Times Square Church in New York, and the second is the Gaither Vocal Band’s rendition of ‘These Are They …’
“The World Changed In One Night” — Pastor Tim Dilena (Times Square Church)
“These Are They …” — Gaither Vocal Band
A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on JOY
— Strength in the LORD --
OUR LORD TEACHES that moral progress must start from a point of moral innocence, and is consequently only possible to a man when he has been born again.
To become "as little children" means to receive a new heredity, a totally new nature, the essence of which is simplicity and confidence toward God. To develop the moral life, innocence must be transformed into virtue by a series of deliberate choices in which present pleasure is sacrificed for the ultimate joy of being good. The natural has to be transformed into the spiritual by willing obedience to the word and will of God.
[from ‘Biblical Ethics’]
To become "as little children" means to receive a new heredity, a totally new nature, the essence of which is simplicity and confidence toward God. To develop the moral life, innocence must be transformed into virtue by a series of deliberate choices in which present pleasure is sacrificed for the ultimate joy of being good. The natural has to be transformed into the spiritual by willing obedience to the word and will of God.
[from ‘Biblical Ethics’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking below…
| 22-03-15_do_not_be_troubled.m4a |
"My Lord and My God, I have hoped in Thee:
O Jesu, sweet Saviour, now liberate me!
I have languished for Thee in afflictions and chains,
Through long years of anguish and bodily pains.
Adoring, imploring, on humbly bowed knee,
I crave of thy mercy to liberate me."
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, 1587
TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN BY AGNES STRICKLAND
O Jesu, sweet Saviour, now liberate me!
I have languished for Thee in afflictions and chains,
Through long years of anguish and bodily pains.
Adoring, imploring, on humbly bowed knee,
I crave of thy mercy to liberate me."
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, 1587
TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN BY AGNES STRICKLAND
“Mary, Queen of Scots 1542-1587” (detail) — Artist Unknown
Psalm 7:1-2+17
O Lord my God, in You I put my trust;
Save me from all those who persecute me;
And deliver me,
Lest they tear me like a lion,
Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver...
I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
Save me from all those who persecute me;
And deliver me,
Lest they tear me like a lion,
Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver...
I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
Mary wrote in Latin, as most educated persons in her day would have done. Instead of ‘liberate’, we might expect to see ‘set free’, or ‘delivered from’; or ‘save me’ instead. Even with such a translation, we can hear the deep cry of Mary’s heart, seeking release from all her troubles.
Thinking of Queen Mary’s distress and her seeking the Lord to free her from her plight took me to Psalm 7, where David pleads with God to deliver him from persecution. Amidst all their troubles their only recourse was to cry out to The Lord, ‘Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake!’
This morning on BBC Radio 4’s ‘A Point of View’ programme, Rebecca Stott talked of her Russian friend Veronika, who is a gifted gardener, and their friendship, but with particular emphasis on how Veronika views her country in the light of events in Ukraine. The programme shows how this Russian lady has gone from a position of belief that Putin would not invade Ukraine, to being ‘depressed’ at her pride in her homeland being so cruelly shattered. She now says ‘there are no words’. It sums up the feelings of so many of us. The world has profoundly changed, and each new day brings further revelations of horror.
It is often said that we must come to the end of ourselves before The Lord will move. Certainly, it is when we are in extremis, when we can see no other way, that we find that God brings comfort and release. Being ‘at the end of ourselves’ really means that we have come to the place of complete surrender to God, so that pain, loss and all the awfulness this world can throw at us is replaced by ‘the light of His countenance’, by ‘the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, [which] will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ [Philippians 4:7]
Thinking of Queen Mary’s distress and her seeking the Lord to free her from her plight took me to Psalm 7, where David pleads with God to deliver him from persecution. Amidst all their troubles their only recourse was to cry out to The Lord, ‘Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake!’
This morning on BBC Radio 4’s ‘A Point of View’ programme, Rebecca Stott talked of her Russian friend Veronika, who is a gifted gardener, and their friendship, but with particular emphasis on how Veronika views her country in the light of events in Ukraine. The programme shows how this Russian lady has gone from a position of belief that Putin would not invade Ukraine, to being ‘depressed’ at her pride in her homeland being so cruelly shattered. She now says ‘there are no words’. It sums up the feelings of so many of us. The world has profoundly changed, and each new day brings further revelations of horror.
It is often said that we must come to the end of ourselves before The Lord will move. Certainly, it is when we are in extremis, when we can see no other way, that we find that God brings comfort and release. Being ‘at the end of ourselves’ really means that we have come to the place of complete surrender to God, so that pain, loss and all the awfulness this world can throw at us is replaced by ‘the light of His countenance’, by ‘the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, [which] will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ [Philippians 4:7]
‘Meditate on these things…’
PSALM 27:5-6
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
"Living Hope" - Phil Wickham
A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on JOY
— Strength in the LORD --
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 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’]
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 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’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking below…
| 22-03-13_liberate_me.m4a |
Jude 1:20-25 [KJV]
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen
‘Pilgrimage’ by G J Stewart
I felt led a few days ago to look at this passage from Jude, and this morning I read this commentary by Oswald Chambers on the same verses… it emphasises the essential need for prayer. Prayer is everything in our relationship with the Lord. It is what keeps us ‘on track’ on our pilgrimage through life …
PRAYER PERVADED BY PENTECOST
We have to pray relying upon what has been revealed by the sent-down Holy Spirit, and the first revelation is that we do not know how to pray. (See Romans 8:26)
We have to learn to draw on our relationship to Jesus Christ. As we do, we realise that the Holy Spirit keeps us in simple relationship to our Lord while we pray. When we pray in the Holy Spirit we are released from our petitions. "Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8) Then why ask? The whole meaning of prayer is that we may know God.
The "asking and receiving" prayer is elementary; it is the part of prayer we can understand. But it is not necessarily praying in the Holy Spirit. Those who are not born again must ask and receive; but when we have received and have become rightly related to God, we must maintain this simplicity of belief in Him while we pray. Our minds must be saturated by the revelation of prayer until we learn in every detail to pray in the Holy Spirit. Prayer is not an exercise, it is life.
(OSWALD CHAMBERS from “IF YE SHALL ASK”)
Our Lord is undoubtedly able to keep us from stumbling, but do we access His ability to do it?
On our previous post (‘Truth Is Fallen In The Street’), we saw that each of us is capable, at some level, of failing and falling into sinful ways. What is so amazing, and comforting, is that we have a God, who, if we commit to Him and allow the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ to inhabit every aspect of your life, is able to keep you from falling (stumbling), but — much more fundamentally — present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. He will not just ‘wipe the slate clean’, but He does the work in the fullest expression of joy. Hallelujah!
- He is ‘the way’ — ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’ [Psalm 119:105]
- He is ‘the truth’ -- ‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ [John 8:32]
- He is ‘the life’ — ‘For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.’ [1 Timothy 4:8]
On our previous post (‘Truth Is Fallen In The Street’), we saw that each of us is capable, at some level, of failing and falling into sinful ways. What is so amazing, and comforting, is that we have a God, who, if we commit to Him and allow the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ to inhabit every aspect of your life, is able to keep you from falling (stumbling), but — much more fundamentally — present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. He will not just ‘wipe the slate clean’, but He does the work in the fullest expression of joy. Hallelujah!
‘Meditate on these things…’
ROMANS 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
“A Love For Truth” — Dylan Woodward
A HOLY PROMISE: Oswald Chambers on HOPE
— In Doubt: Hope in GOD --
God grant we may accept His clouds and mysteries, and be led into His inner secrets by obedient trust.
[from ‘The Place of Help’]
[from ‘The Place of Help’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking below…
| 22-03-12_able_to_keep_you_from_falling.m4a |
Isaiah 59:13-15
In transgressing and lying against the LORD,
And departing from our God,
Speaking oppression and revolt,
Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands afar off;
For truth is fallen in the street,
And equity cannot enter.
So truth fails,
And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
And departing from our God,
Speaking oppression and revolt,
Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
Justice is turned back,
And righteousness stands afar off;
For truth is fallen in the street,
And equity cannot enter.
So truth fails,
And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.
Civilians flee from Irpin as the Russian attacks continue …
Gathering — Tuesday 8th March 2022
In a conversation with a friend, The Lord gave Gill this word; ‘Truth is fallen in the street.’ It is to be found in Isaiah 59, a chapter which can be divided into three segments describing ‘separated from God’, ‘sin confessed’, and ‘The Redeemer of Zion’, and concludes with chapter 60, verse 1, ‘Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.,’
Isaiah presents us with the transformation from darkness to light that is the foundation of faith. The acknowledgment that we are separated from God and need to confess that sinfulness is the first step towards our redemption.
At this time, our planet is being driven into chaos by one man’s ambition, an overweening arrogance displaying lies and deceit at every turn, a refusal to reach agreement, and belligerence which pulverises life without thought. There is not a vestige of compassion. Many are already calling this the third world war. Anything further from God is impossible to imagine. What are we to make of it?
It would be easy to slide towards despair, but the Lord would have us resist such a reaction. We must continue to understand that He is in control of all things — that these tragedies occur because of the free will He has granted to every one of us, and there are times when evil seems to be concentrated in one man. However, this is no more than something inherent in each one of us, but which, thankfully, most keep on a tight rein, and/or have no knowledge. It is only when a tyrant arises that we see the reality of our earthly existence.
The Lord is calling us to stand in this hour, to hold fast. Evidence seems to show that the Ukrainian people have strong faith in God and a determination to hold onto the land the Lord has given them. Playing out before our eyes in the natural world is The Lord’s picture of the war in the spiritual realm between angels and demons; the war within each one of us.
During the First World War, an American senator declared, ‘the first casualty, when war comes, is truth’, echoing Isaiah, who wrote ‘for truth is fallen in the street’. What happens when you drop something in the street? It get trampled, ground down, covered in dirt until it is unrecognisable and eventually lost. We must pray that His truth is not lost at this time, by looking always to Him ‘who is able to keep you from falling’. Only He has the answer.
Isaiah presents us with the transformation from darkness to light that is the foundation of faith. The acknowledgment that we are separated from God and need to confess that sinfulness is the first step towards our redemption.
At this time, our planet is being driven into chaos by one man’s ambition, an overweening arrogance displaying lies and deceit at every turn, a refusal to reach agreement, and belligerence which pulverises life without thought. There is not a vestige of compassion. Many are already calling this the third world war. Anything further from God is impossible to imagine. What are we to make of it?
It would be easy to slide towards despair, but the Lord would have us resist such a reaction. We must continue to understand that He is in control of all things — that these tragedies occur because of the free will He has granted to every one of us, and there are times when evil seems to be concentrated in one man. However, this is no more than something inherent in each one of us, but which, thankfully, most keep on a tight rein, and/or have no knowledge. It is only when a tyrant arises that we see the reality of our earthly existence.
The Lord is calling us to stand in this hour, to hold fast. Evidence seems to show that the Ukrainian people have strong faith in God and a determination to hold onto the land the Lord has given them. Playing out before our eyes in the natural world is The Lord’s picture of the war in the spiritual realm between angels and demons; the war within each one of us.
During the First World War, an American senator declared, ‘the first casualty, when war comes, is truth’, echoing Isaiah, who wrote ‘for truth is fallen in the street’. What happens when you drop something in the street? It get trampled, ground down, covered in dirt until it is unrecognisable and eventually lost. We must pray that His truth is not lost at this time, by looking always to Him ‘who is able to keep you from falling’. Only He has the answer.
‘Meditate on these things…’
EZEKIEL 36:23-28
And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
“The Battle Hymn Of The Republic” — The Mormon Tabernacle Choir / West Point Band
A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on JOY
— Strength in the LORD --
We go to God when we have no joy in ourselves and find that His joy is our strength.
[from ‘The Highest Good’]
[from ‘The Highest Good’]
Listen to this meditation by clicking below…
| 22-03-11_truth_has_fallen_in_the_street.m4a |
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