KEITH's Spiritual Steps

Keith to bless you
REVIVAL: IT REQUIRES OBEDIENCE
by A. W. Tozer

"But why do you call Me "Lord, Lord," and not do the things which I say?" - Luke 6:46.


It is my conviction that much, very much, prayer for and talk about revival these days is wasted energy. Ignoring the confusion of figures, I might say that it is hunger that appears to have no object; it is dreamy wishing that is too weak to produce moral action. It is fanaticism on a high level for,according to John Wesley, "a fanatic is one who seeks desired ends while ignoring the constituted means to reach those ends."...


The correction of this error is extemely difficult for it entails more than a mere adjustment of our doctrinal beliefs; it strikes at the whole Adam-life and requires self-abnegation, humility and cross carrying. In short it requires obedience. And that we will do anything to escape.


It is almost unbelievable how far we will go to avoid obeying God.


We call Jesus "Lord" and beg Him to rejuvenate our souls, but we are careful to do not the things He says. When faced with a sin, a confession or a moral alteration in our life, we find it much easier to pray half a night than to obey God.

VEHICLES OF THE MESSAGE
Scripture: Acts 3:12 "Why do you look so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we have made this man to walk?"
A lame man sat and begged at the gate called Beautiful. He did this all of his life until one day Peter and John passed by him, and in the Name of Jesus, power was extended through them to heal the man. As the healed man walked, leaped, and praised God, the people were filled with wonder and amazement thinking that Peter and John had healed him. Verse twelve says that when Peter saw the people's response, he asked them, "Why do you marvel at this? Why are you staring at us as though, by our own power or holiness, we've made this man to walk?"

Peter realized that it was not his own power or ability, but the power and ability of God that had flowed through him that accomplished the miracle. He also told the people that the miracle did not occur because of his own holiness. Peter knew that he was only the vehicle for God's power. He did not allow the people to misdirect their worship, but pointed them to God. He receive no glory for what God had done. In verse thirteen he explained the reason for this miracle by saying, "God has glorified His Son."
God uses whom He pleases, and it is God's message that is important, not the messenger. For the servant of God to take the glory or credit for the miraculous would be like the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem to think that the shouts of "Hosanna" and "Blessed be the King" were for him rather than for the Christ that he was carrying! We must understand that we are merely like the donkey that carried Jesus before the people. When we come to this realization in our life that God's works are not by our own power or holiness then God can use us for the miraculous.
Copyright 2008 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved

From Keith
By Craig Livas
The Word of God teaches us through His Holy Spirit, that a person must first believe that God is, and that acknowledgement comes through the things that are made, in this they come to know that God exist, so when I see a person enter in the House of God for the first time, and the message is all about getting earthly gains and blessings, I see a preacher who has miss His opportunity to bring a lost
soul to Christ Jesus, and Has dishonored His God by the doctrine and traditions of men, and not the teaching that comes from the Holy Spirit. Why do people feel the

need to encourage the people with things that perish, this is not the message Jesus taught or the prophets and disciples, for the message from the very beginning is Christ saves souls by His Death, Burial and Resurrection. Through His Blood
the Washing away the Sins of the Whole World, by nailing of them to His Croos, by His stripes are we Healed, and through His Holy Spirit are we made New. walking in the Newest of life, going from faith to faith, glory to glory being transformed into the likeness of Christ Himself. A Holy Preisthood of good works. I am persauded that this gospel has escaped many that proclaim they are called. I love visiting different churches and meeting new brethern to followship with and all look at me crazy when I say such things, they all do the same thing, they parially
agree. but not to the point of total surrender, in other words they are cool with

Christ being their Savior, just not the Lord of their life. So they remain lost through the blindness of their own heart. And it is always the same, they quote Romans 8:1 but leave out half the verse. Which goes like this, There is therefore now no
condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, but that is not the whole verse, the rest of the verse said those that walk not after the flesh, but are leaded by the Spirit...The Gospel is still being preached I know, what I don't know is where at in the States? I will tell you another thing, preacer are not aware they have
been preaching the law, for example, in every church here in the States, you will see and hear of people doing all sorts of things for their community, but preahing

the uncompromising word of God, so therefore they process that their good deeds will get them into Heaven, that is the law and no flesh is justified through
the law in the sight of God, men are only Saved through the Blood of Christ Jesus...if you don't believe what I say, watch for yourself, the message being preahed and taught today is not the message Jesus, the prophets
or His disciples preached...We feed the hungry, but have not love, we visit the sick, but have not love, we claim Christ, but hate others in the same church they attend, what happen to being of one mind and of one Spirit in the Lord? Is it just me? or are we deceiving and been deceived? Judge for yourself what I say.
And why is people coming to the alter but no one is being baptized any more? in my Bible they believed and was Baptized...

That Jesus May Be Glorified


"It is a great concern to be well instructed what to pray for and without divine instruction we know not what to pray for, as without divine assistance we shall not pray in such a manner as we ought..." - Matthew Henry

"That the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified; this is the end we should aim at in everything we do and desire, that God and Christ in all things may be glorified. Our own happiness and that of others should be subordinate to this ultimate end."
- Matthew Henry

"Let the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ be the one great aim above all other motives." - Pulpit Commentary - New Testament

In 2 Thessalonians 1, the Apostle Paul addressed a very important subject - the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. He related that, in preparation for this great event, the saints' faith would "grow exceedingly" and their love "toward each other abound" (2 Thessalonians 1:3). They would exemplify great patience and faith in all their "persecutions and tribulations" that they would be called upon to endure. On the other hand, he tells us that the heathen - those who "know not God, and obey not His Gospel" (2 Thessalonians 1:8) - would "trouble" the saints more and more as the time of this great event approaches. There would be increased persecutions and tribulations - severe revilings...cruel mockings... a disturbance in the possession of their estate or belongings...as well as imprisonments and bonds.

The blessed consolation for the "troubled" saints is the fact that Jesus will come - be "revealed from heaven with His mighty angels" (2 Thessalonians 1:7). When He does, He will be "glorified in His saints" and "admired in all them that believe" (2 Thessalonians 1:10).

The picture for the wicked is not so positive. In fact, it is very grim and frightening for Jesus will come "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:8). This is what they have to look forward to - "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

What an awesome yet catastrophic event this will be!

After explaining the lineup of events to come, Paul does something worth noting. He moves into a prayer - a constant, fervent prayer - that he feels compelled to pray - considering the circumstances.

What kind of prayer is it? Is it one like we hear today - asking for the wealth of the sinner to fall into the hands of the righteous? Is it one asking God to advance His people in this world - giving them one promotion after another so that they could build "bigger barns"?

No, in light of the coming of the Lord Jesus to bring swift and fiery judgment on an ungodly world, this is the kind of prayer that emanated from Paul's heart for the church - "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

This was Paul's' earnest and constant prayer for the saints in Thessalonica. He wasn't asking God to give them "bigger" and "better." His thoughts were not on the temporal but on the eternal. These saints were facing horrible persecutions and tribulations for their faith. They didn't need a "Cadillac" or a six figure income. They weren't much interested in a promotion on the job, a bigger house, or the luxuries of this life. Their main concern was simply surviving and enduring to the end so that they could be counted among the saved.

First and foremost, the Apostle prayed that they would make it to heaven. They were headed for glory, and he wanted to make sure that they made it there by living "worthy of their calling" - by walking on "higher ground" above this world and its lusts and pleasures and by living in obedience to the Lord and His Word. They were called to fellowship with Him in holiness, liberty, peace, glory, virtue, and eternal life. His image was impressed on them. They were to mirror forth His glory. Paul prayed for the necessary preparations to be made in anticipation of their future glorification.

He then prayed for the perfection and completion of every good work of grace that God began in them by His goodness and eternal kindness - that He would fill them with all the good which was pleasing to Him. Also, he prayed that God would mightily fulfill in them a faith which was active, living, energetic, and productive of good works.

His last prayer - but certainly not the least - was a prayer for the glorification of the saints which encompassed their holiness of living.. victory over the world and sin...and their steadfast loyalty to Jesus unto the end. This was the ultimate object of the Apostle's prayer - to see the saints of God promoting His cause and reflecting His glory by displaying the graces of His Spirit through a life that was holy and in conformity to His likeness and image.

The People's New Testament explained it in this way - "Holy lives glorify the Lord."

Notice that Paul's prayer - in lieu of the soon return of Jesus to this earth - made no mention of the prosperity of the saints or their enjoyment of everyday life. His prayer strictly concerned the eternal matters rather than the carnal, fleshly, and worldly ones which we so often hear about in our present-day supplications.

We need to ask ourselves some very pointed questions - In light of the glorious return of Jesus, what do we find Paul doing? What are most Preachers doing today? What are you doing?

This passage of Scripture demonstrated clearly that Paul was praying "always" for the saints at this crucial time. The soon return of Jesus fueled and empowered prayer in his heart.

However, like the Apostle, has the truth of the soon return of Jesus - to be admired in His saints and to bring fiery judgment on the ungodly - impacted and effected the way you pray? In what way? Or perhaps we should ask - why not?

Has the subject of the soon return of Jesus empowered your prayer life in any way? Has it fueled you to pray more than ever for your brothers and sisters in Christ...your family...your fellow ministers...or those who still do not know or obey God?

Or perhaps you are feeling rather rebuked by this message because you haven't given much thought lately to the glorious return of Jesus. You are so caught up with this world and its pleasures that you do not have time to consider such "trivial" matters!!!

Perhaps you have joined the ranks of Preachers and Teachers who have swayed you to "set up camp" in this world and "claim" by faith all the goods you can before ever thinking of leaving it. To some, the soon return of Jesus makes them nervous because they have not yet reached their "American Dream," and certainly this event would interrupt their wild pursuit of such a thing.

Paul was focused in his prayer. Basically, he prayed that Jesus would be glorified in His church - in all that they say and do. Nowadays, that would be a problem for some because they want all of the glory and are not too happy about sharing it with Jesus!

Folks, let's get real here! This passage of Scripture needs to jolt us into reality. Paul wrote this almost two thousand years ago. Yet, he felt compelled of the Holy Ghost to pray earnestly for the preparation of the saints for the soon return of Jesus. How much more should we be earnestly praying such when we are living in the year 2011?

We believe that this prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1 is instructive for the church. We need to take heed to what Paul wrote here and pray accordingly.

This is the kind of prayer that we should be praying "always" for our spouses, children, families, ministers, brethren, and coworkers.

Our top-priority at this point in time should be to see Jesus glorified in our hearts and lives.

We close with a Scripturebfrom Romans 11:36 which says - "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen."

One final thought - Jesus is coming back for a Church who will look upon Him with great wonder and admiration. He is not coming back for those who are too busy looking with wonder and admiration at the world and its goods.

In which camp do you belong?

Actually, your prayer list and the content of your prayers at this point in time will answer that question.

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

Submit to God’s Training

Zac Poonen

Whenever God wants to do something for His people, He always begins with a man. He had to find a suitable man before He could deliver the Israelites. The training of Moses took 80 years - and it wasn’t academic training alone. Moses was trained in the best academies of Egypt, but that did not qualify him for God’s work. In Acts 7, Stephen says that Moses was mighty in both word and deed. He was a strong man, and an eloquent speaker at the age of 40. He was a great military leader, a very rich person, and had been educated with the best education that the most advanced country in the world could give -for Egypt was the world’s only superpower in those days. At the end of it all, he was unfit to serve God. Stephen says that Moses thought that the Israelites would recognise that God had raised him up to deliver them. But they did not recognise him as their leader. All his earthly fame and abilities could not prepare him for the task God had prepared for him.

Today, many Christians imagine that they can serve God just because they have Bible knowledge, musical ability and plenty of money. But they’re mistaken. They need to learn a lesson from Moses’ life: 40 years of the best that this world could give him could not prepare him for God’s service.

God had to take him through another 40 years in the wilderness, in a totally different environment from the palace, in order to equip him. He had to be broken of his human strength. And God accomplished this by making him look after sheep, and by allowing him to live with his father-in-law and work for him - for 40 long years. Living with one’s father-in-law for even one year can be quite humiliating for a man! I know that many married women in India live with their fathers-in-law all their lives. But it’s different when a man has to live with his wife’s father and work for him as well. That can be quite a humbling experience for a man. But that’s how God broke Moses. That was how God broke Jacob too. He too had to live with his father-in-law for 20 years. God uses fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law to break His children.

What all the universities in Egypt could not teach Moses, he learnt in the wilderness, looking after sheep and working for his father-in-law. At the end of those 40 years, Moses is so broken that he who was once so eloquent and who thought he could deliver Israel, now says, “Lord, I am unfit. I cannot speak properly. Please send somebody else to lead your people.” It was then that God said, “At last you are ready. I will send you to Pharaoh now” (Exodus 4:10-17).

What is the lesson we learn from Jacob and Moses? Just this: When you think you are ready, you are not. When you think you are capable, that you are strong, that you have knowledge, that you can speak and sing and play musical instruments, and do wonderful things for God, God says, “You are unfit. I have to wait until you are broken.” With Jacob that process took 20 years, with Moses it took 40 years, with Peter it took 3 years, and with Paul at least 3 years. How long will it take with us? That depends on how quickly we learn to submit under God’s mighty hand.

How long does it take to go through school from First Standard (Grade) to Twelfth Standard (Grade) ? 12 years? Yes, if you pass each year. But I know children who have taken 16 years to complete 12 classes in school. I know medical students who have taken up to 15 years to complete a 5-year medical course!! How long anyone takes to finish school depends on how quickly he learns his lessons. It is the same in the Christian life too.

Welcome to "God's Word to You"!







God's Word to You today is found in Romans 12:1-2



¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.





When I look in the mirror I can’t help but realize that I’m not the same person I saw 30 years ago. Now I know you are saying to yourself I have to be kidding, but no, my hair was darker, my face had at least a few more wrinkles and possibly I was one or two pounds lighter. Well maybe a few more than one or two.

I actually can remember when I was in my twenties thinking I’d never make it to my 40’s let alone my 50’s from my life style. I drank and caroused and did drugs. I also bounced from one relationship to another as well as one job to another.

I’ve changed. Physically and mentally and spiritually. It’s part of God’s plan.

And now I’m more into God’s plan. See God made my body to change. I have some control over some of it. I can diet and exercise and effect how my body is in shape. But I can’t naturally control my color of my skin, my eyes or hair or even what grows where.

I also can’t control my salvation. I either accept it or not. But I can control how I use it and how much I let Him change me and mature me. God gives me free will and with that comes the ability to make decisions and have partial control so my decisions can either glorify myself or Him.

But my whole life is about change. God is about change. The question or challenge if you will is where and how much YOU will allow God to change you?

From: Mary Padgett Ministries, Inc.
A Word In Due Season
WALKING WITH GOD

Scripture: Genesis 5:22 "Enoch walked with God ..."

This is a simple testimony of a man that pleased God. God was so pleased with Enoch that his name is recorded among the other giants of faith (Hebrews chapter 11). Yet, Enoch didn't spend 120 years building an ark like Noah, offer his son on the altar like Abraham, roll back the Red Sea like Moses, shout the walls down at Jericho like Joshua, or stand faithful in a lion's den like Daniel. In today's world, he didn't write books, hold conferences all over the nation, go to the foreign field, and wasn't a radio personality or the host of an evangelistic television program. Enoch just simply walked with God. One day at a time, one step in front of the other, he remained faithful in that walk for three hundred years.



Sometimes we make Christianity too hard. We substitute works for relationships with God, conference attendance in place of our communion with God, and sacrifice instead of obedience to God. Yet in reality, what God really wants is for us to walk with Him, one step at a time. He wants our every moment engulfed in His perfect will for that moment. If He goes to the left, He wants us to go to the left. If He goes to the right, He wants us to follow. If He picks up the pace and begins to run or slows down, He wants us to follow suite. If He stops to rest for a while, He wants us to be there right by His side, sitting next to Him, and resting in His presence. He wants us to be where He is and He doesn't want us to be anxious about the time or fretful over the future, for there are no wasted moments in His presence.



God invites us to walk with Him and to be conscious of His presence, knowing that He is going to direct this day that He has made. Time and again the Lord said that He would be with us always. We just have to acknowledge this awesome fact and be assured that He is with us for every battle and for every celebration. Walking in the natural is healthy, for it strengthens every area of your body and gives you energy. So it is with walking with God. As we walk with Him, we grow stronger and He restores and regenerates our spirits. Today, do not dwell upon what you must do for God, but dwell upon where you must be with God. Simply make a determination to walk with God as Enoch did, one step at a time. You may not become famous in the eyes of the world, but you can be assured that you will become famous in the eyes of the Lord as you walk with Him at His bidding. +++

Copyright © 2009 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved

Brought to us by Keith

"We Need Revival"
(Written by Nancy L. DeMoss)
[Edited]

We Need Revival When:

. . . we do not love Him as we once did.

. . . earthly interests and occupations are more important to us than Eternal ones.

. . . church dinners are better attended than prayer meetings.

. . . concerts draw bigger crowds than prayer meetings.

. . . we have little or no desire for prayer.

. . . we would rather make money than give money.

. . . we put people into leadership positions in our churches who do not meet scriptural qualifications.

. . . our Christianity is joyless and passionless.

. . . we know truth in our heads that we are not practicing in our lives.

. . . we make little effort to witness to the lost.

. . . we have time for sports, recreation and entertainment, but not for Bible study and prayer.

. . . preaching lacks conviction, confrontation and divine fire and anointing.

. . . we seldom think thoughts of Eternity.

. . . God's people are more concerned about their jobs and their careers, than about the Kingdom of Christ and the Salvation of the lost.

. . . church services are predictable and "business as usual."

. . . believers can be at odds with each other and not feel compelled to pursue reconciliation.

. . . Christian husbands and wives are not praying together.

. . . our marriages are co-existing rather than full of the love of Christ.

. . . our children are growing up to adopt worldly values, secular philosophies and ungodly lifestyles.

. . . we are more concerned about our children's education and their athletic activities than about the condition of their souls.

. . . sin in the church is pushed under the carpet.

. . . known sin is not dealt with through the biblical process of discipline and restoration.

. . . we tolerate "little" sins of gossip, a critical spirit and lack of love.

. . . we will watch things on television and movies that are not holy.

. . . our singing is half-hearted and our worship lifeless.

. . . our prayers are empty words designed to impress others.

. . . our prayers lack fervency.

. . . our hearts are cold and our eyes are dry.

. . . we aren't seeing regular evidence of the supernatural power of God.

. . . we have ceased to weep and mourn and grieve over our own sin and the sin of others.

. . . we are content to live with explainable, ordinary Christianity and church services.

. . . we are bored with worship.

. . . people have to be entertained to be drawn to church.

. . . our music and dress become patterned after the world.

. . . we start fitting into and adapting to the world, rather than calling the world to adapt to God's standards of holiness.

. . . we don't long for the company and fellowship of God's people.

. . . people have to be begged to give and to serve in the church.

. . . our giving is measured and calculated, rather than extravagant and sacrificial.

. . . we aren't seeing lost people drawn to Jesus on a regular basis.

. . . we aren't exercising faith and believing God for the impossible.

. . . we are more concerned about what others think about us than what God thinks about us . . . we are unmoved by the fact that 2.5 billion people in this world have never heard the name of Jesus.

. . . we are unmoved by the thought of neighbors, business associates and acquaintances who are lost and without Christ.

. . . People complain about prayers not being allowed in schools but churches can't get people out for prayer meetings where it is allowed

. . . the lost world around us doesn't know or care that we exist.

. . . we are making little or no difference in the secular world around us.

. . . the fire has gone out in our hearts, our marriages and the church.

. . . we are blind to the extent of our need and don't think we need revival.

So blessed to be God's girl
Jesus loves you and so do I
Put your trust in God and keep looking up

God Said It
I believe it
That settles it!

A BLIND MAN
by Lahry Sibley

John 9:1 And as Yahushua passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

I was given a book recently by a precious brother in the LORD, called “The School of Chirst” by T. Austin Sparks. He testified to me, that aside from the Bible, this book was probably the most important book he had read to date. I’m about half way through it. I’m inclined to believe he is right.

To be honest, I was a bit distracted by things going on around me when I began reading it, and the first part of the book seemed a bit “slow”. I was laboring to get through it. Then SUDDENLY I came to a part in the book, that provided for me an astounding revelation from the HOLY SPIRIT. I pray that I can convey this to you, in such a way that you too will be blessed. Before I get into it, let me just say that if you have not read this book, you need too. It’s free, no shipping or handling. Look up T. Austin Sparks on the internet, you’ll find it. You’ll be hugely blessed to read this book. Amazing. I’m just glowing inside from the insights I’m getting, and the “loose ends” that are being tied together as cords that cannot be broken in my heart.

Getting back to our text, let us read it again…


9:1 And as Yahushua passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

From the MESSIAH’s perspective, we are all born blind. We are spiritually blind. We simply cannot see an inch in front of our noses. Furthermore, we find some pleasure in some activities of our blindness. If we fall into a pot hole, we naturally cry out for someone to come and fish us out. But our purpose is not to keep from falling in the pot holes, but to merely be fished out.

We don’t see the consequences of our choices, until we look behind ourselves, having fallen. Then we understand that if we had done things a bit different, the consequence we are lamenting could have been avoided. Had we been able to see in the forward direction, like we are able to see where we’ve been, we would make better choices, right? But we simply cannot see. We are born blind, spiritually speaking, much the same way that the poor fellow in our text was from birth BLIND.

I’m sure in his many years of living, he had much help from those who were able to see what was physically around them. There were probably some sympathetic souls about, who would patiently describe to him all of his surroundings, and what it was like to be able to see. In fact, because he could not actually see, he probably knew more about “seeing” than most sighted folks. Yet he could not see. Had he been alive in our day today, he would likely be able to read brail, a substituted way of reading that allows a conveying of knowledge by the sense of touch, rather than the sense of sight. Then there are countless stories recorded, for them to listen too, with the sense of hearing, but not by sight. He/she could be assisted by a dog especially trained to lead them about, affording them some independent activity, without being a burden on their fellow man. But he was yet, blind still.

Man had done all they could do to help the poor fellow. He had a strong desire to see, but the very best man had to offer, could not give him a single moment of sight. The blind man needed help that could not come from mere mortal man. He needed a miracle, and there was no miracle worker for him, that is, until one day, YAHUSHAU passed his way.

Beloved, there is not a more clear illustration in all the Bible, of our spiritual state we are all born with, our spiritual blindness. Every man is born spiritual blind. There is no amount of works, no amount of good intentions, no way of changing this undeniable fact, we are spiritually blind. As we began to grow and interact with our family, and then beyond, we at times here about “seeing” into the spiritual realm, yet we are still blind. We can learn religion. We can practice socially “correct “ behavior. We can lead others in these pursuits. But we are yet blind none the less. Oh we are able to move about with great pride, and pretend we “see”. But the reality is we are yet blind. We live in and participate in spiritual darkness. We cannot do otherwise, for we are born blind.

Back to our text, there was this excitement going around, and talked about on the streets of the city, and perhaps the blind man had heard about this man named “YAHUSHUA”, and more, that when it comes to the physical maladies of men, this YAHUSHUA was able to work miracles and do what no physician could do.

9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Had the man shrugged off the commandment of YAHUSHUA, he would have died one day, as blind as the day he was born. But he did not do that. No, he believed in HIM, and he KEPT HIS COMMANDMENT, and in the twinkling of any eye, he saw, for the very first time. EVERYTHING he had ever heard about “seeing” became a living reality, in a heartbeat. Nothing he had ever been told before, could measure up to the gift he had been given, by the only one capable of supplying his need. HE SAW! No one need instruct him further, about how to act sighted all the while being blind. Oh no!!! NO!!! He could SEEEEEEEE!!!!!! The darkness would never again hold him prisoner to its limitations and dangers .HE COULD SEE!!!!!! No more brail. No more lead dog. No more white cane. No more begging. No more falling in to holes. No more running into things. He could SEEEEEE!!!!! No more describing what the world looks like, he could see it for himself. Now, he could explore it, unassisted. And what a freedom he enjoyed from that point on.

9:8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

What an astounding thing this was. Everyone knew he was born blind, but now he sees. All the blind schools, and the well intended teachers and helpers knew he was blind. They had given him all of man’s best, but none of it opened his eyes, that he may see for himself the wonderful world before him.

And just as it took a SUPERNATURAL act of the CREATOR OF ALL THINGS to open his eyes that he may see, so it is with SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS, beloved. Unless there is an intervention by the CREATOR in the spirit of fallen and blind man, he will die as spiritually blind, as he was the day he was born.

There is no substitute for the miracle working power of HAYAH (I AM). It only comes to us from one place, that being HIS SON WHO died for us, that we who hope in HIM, may at some point on our life, begin to see. It is a SUPERNATURAL work as much as this healing of the blind man in our text. Make no mistake about it. If the MASTER has not had HIS hand upon it, the person who is told they can see, is still blind, and they know it is true. Since those who tell them these things are yet themselves blind, and walk in darkness, the blind person does not feel out of place. He/she acts the way they do, and so they think they see, when it fact, the whole bunch are yet blind, pastor included.

Oh they have their programs. They have their bible studies. Their hope is in what they may learn, rather than meeting the ONE that can give them sight. They have several versions of the Bible, they have learned its central themes and doctrines. They can narrate the life of Paul. But they have never been sighted spiritually speaking, by the touch of the MASTER’s hand.

Folks, unless there is a SUPERNATURAL revelation of light and truth from the MASTER HIMSELF, you will never be more sighted than the way you were born, and you will die in your spiritual darkness.

We’ve invited folks to our church. We encouraged them to join our denomination. We welcomed them to the altar, and led them in a “sinner’s prayer”. We’ve told them that if they believe, they can avoid going to HELL. We welcome them to our Bible studies, and to encourage them, we treat them as “sighted” people, even though they are still stumbling into holes of bondage just as before they “got saved”. We tell them they are under grace and need not worry. We send them off to Bible college, and make leaders of them. The blind leading the blind. We send them to the mission field, and they tell others how they too can act sighted, even though they will yet remain blind. And we have 2000 years of religious stupidity to prove my case.

Well intentioned men and women have failed to be able to do what only HAYAH could do. We had to invent substitute spiritual prosthetic devices, to keep them corralled in a world of darkness, all the while assuring them they were safe by faith. They believed they were not reprobates, by faith. But they were never given sight.

Then one day, cloistered in their own dwelling, moving out among people, listening to a “message”, something quite undescribable happens. HAYAH shows up in our heart. Like our poor blind man in our text, suddenly they see what words fail to articulate. We can see what all the others have been talking about. And what stands before us? The MESSIAH HIMSELF!

9:10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

The religious are looking for a technical recipe, a ritual to be performed, some methodology, a work of man to accomplish only what HAYAH CAN!!! Never mind about the ONE WHO opened the blind eyes. How did HE do it? That is what they want to know, so they too can be like HIM. They want to work the miracles, but they will not obey HIS commandment. When their methods fall short, they blame the blind person. That is, until a sighted person shows up and the light shines.

When the light enters in, it begins to expose the darkness. Things are seen for what they really are, and the person with the light, must be extinguished. Otherwise their blindness will be validated and pride will not allow for exposing the deception they have been floundering in, since they “believed”. It never occurs to them, that there may be a flaw in their methodology, their denominational doctrines and protocols. Oh no, the flaw is with the one who has been touched by the MASTER. All they care is about is not that HE could do this and in fact has done it. But they want to find out how it was done. What did HE say. How was the mud applied? What were HIS exact words? If they cannot find this out, they cast it out as heresy, a cult, or an act that is not loving. They make excuses and devise clever substitutes. But the fact remains, they are yet blind. Why? Because they have not been touched by the MASTER. They want to see, but only for their own benefit and use. They have no desire to use the gift of sight for HIS glory, only their own. And they pass HIM by. Of even if HE speaks to them, “go wash in the pool”, they miss their deliverance from the malady they were born with, because they will not obey HIM!

The church does not need a revival, beloved. The church does not need a fast. The church does not need a new song. What the church most desperately needs, is the MASTER HIMSELF! HE ALONE has the power to deliver us from our sins, and spiritual blindness. Unless HE does the work, we have nothing more than religious futility. And what a sad lot, the so called “church”, come judgment day.

The MASTER IS ONLY FOUND IN ONE PLACE. Oh HE begins to invite us. HE even welcomes all who will come. But come we must. The first stop? The CROSS! The birth place of true repentance, our turning from our sin, as being dead to it. Then HIS death, in the eyes of HAYAH, becomes our death, and HIS resurrection is ours as well. And the POWER of NEW LIFE surges from within. It is SUPERNATURAL and undeniable. We begin to live “in the MESSIAH”.

If we do not enter in by being crucified with HIM, we do not benefit from HIS sacrifice, and we cannot and will not be saved. We are an enemy of heaven, and our sin will be condemned, and we with it, forever and always amen.

Brothers, sisters, what man needs now, is what the blind man needed then. We need a touch of the MASTERS hand. Like the woman with the issue of blood, we need to touch the hem of HIS garment. We need to place our hope completely in HIM, and accept no substitutes for HIS healing touch. And we must wait at the CROSS, for DEATH, that LIFE, HIS LIFE, may then enter in. No touch, no supernatural work, no hope beloved.

This is NOT NEW. IT has been in place since before creation. Salvation is in the person of YAHUSHUA HA’MACHIACH and NO OTHER. Anyone who will tell you differently is not aligned with the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIGHT. They are speaking the opposite of the revelation of scripture. They themselves are lost, and, they are enemies of your spiritual health. Believe it!!!!! …..or NOT!!!!! Selah – Lahry

Welcome to Simply Scripture
What a joy and privilege it is to share with you once again. I do hope you are blessed by what the Lord has shared with me and I am sharing with you. Please take time to pass on this message to others and to also click on the links at the bottom of this message

Thanks
Keith

GUARD YOUR MOUTH
Matthew 5

34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil

The subject that we are going to study, is one of the most important in scripture and is so important to the believer. We start off by taking these verses as our text, but we will be all over scripture, so please keep an open Bible at your fingertips.

You may have guessed that the subject is the tongue.. what we say is so important.. it reflects our Lord in so many ways and it is important to understand what scripture says .. about what to say and what not to say.

Many Christian's today say it makes no difference to swear.. the world does it.. and if a Christian swears or uses bad language.. then well we are only human really. This is not what scripture says at all.

We are to be distinct and completely different from the world. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul states that we are new creations. in verse 21 he says that we are ambassadors for Christ, we are the Lord mouthpieces on this earth. Romans 12:2, states that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, and not conformed to what is happening in the world.

Romans 12: 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jesus states in Matthew 12:33-36, these words:

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

He makes the connection between the heart and the mouth, whatever is in our heart will eventually come out of our mouth. He gives a stern warning, that any and every idle word, we will have to make account for before the Father.


What excuse is good enough for gossiping about another believer, the Lord is going to ask us why we did it, can you answer Him?

Paul and James also have stern words so say, In Ephesians 4:29, Paul says let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth, in the very next verse, he says do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, do our words, grieve the spirit of God.?

Colossians 3:8 is another key verse, we are to put off these things, look at this list.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

James in Chapter 3:1-13, writes possibly the greatest passage on the tongue, he says so much, please study this in detail for yourself, this is such an awesome passage.

One of the best chapters in the bible is Proverbs 15, the tongue is described here as:

verse 2 It uses knowledge
Verse 4 it is a tree of life
verse 7 it disperses knowledge
verse 23 it brings joy to the speaker
verse 26 words of the pure are pleasant

Does My/your tongue do these things?

Having found out that the words we speak are so important, how do we control the tongue? Well we have to let the word of God penetrate our souls, the psalmist wrote, thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee, it is important to let the word of God penetrate our hearts Colossians 3:16.

There are some things the Lord wants us to speak

Speak Praise Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 34:1 Psalm 40:3

How Important this is, in Psalm 34:1, we are told that the praises of God are to be continually in our mouths, if this happens then there is no room for gossip, complaining or backbiting.

Speak Prayer Phil:4:6, 1 Thess 5:17

What an awesome privilege, you know the more time you spend talking and spending time with the Holy one of Israel, your speech will become more and more beautiful, because you realise you are in the presence of the Holy one and your speech will be reverent and good.

Speak Peace Proverbs 15:1, 16:7, Psalm 15:3

Jesus Said My peace I give unto you, my peace I leave with you. How often with our words in various situations, do we bring the peace of Jesus into that situation or leave the peace of God with the person we are talking too?

Speak Unity John 17, Psalm 133,Ephesians 4:1-16

I was so struck with the verse in Galatians 5, which says

15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

This is so important, we are doing the same work for God, the devil wants to destroy the church and our fellow believers, let us not help him by our careless use of our mouths.

Speak Love 1 John 3:11-14

Galatians 6

10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Let us do this, in both word and deed, note it does not say, be good to those in your own church, but it means to be kind to all believers, including those of churches where we have doctrinal differences and that means with our words.


Do we speak badly of another church?.

Speak the Word Matthew 4:1-11

Let us use the same method, Jesus used to derail the devil. The word of God, it works every time, the power of the Word will always defeat Satan, it is our sword and we have to use it, as it gives us victory every time.

Speak the Name of Jesus Phil 2:5-8

The name of Jesus has authority, we can use this name , because it has authority. Peter and John used it in Acts 3 to heal the crippled man and still today the devil cringes at this name, let us use the glorious name of Jesus.

Speak Victory 2 Cor 10:4-5, James 4:7-8,Matthew 17:20

Let us always remember that we have the victory through Jesus Christ, let us always be looking up to Jesus and to Him, because He has won us that victory, let us never speak negative words of defeat, He didn't even when on the cross.

Speak Witness 2 Timothy 4:1-3, Isaiah 52:7, 62:6, Romans 10:9-14,Acts 4:19-20

This is our commission, this is our privilege to carry the gospel to a needy world. Let us be eager and ready to do this, let our mouths be full of the story of our Saviour.

I hope you are blessed by this study.

God bless you


Keith

Featured Website

Please stand with these dear brothers and sisters in prayer and support

http://www.asianoutreach.org/

Special Song

I hope you enjoy and are blessed by this wonderful song. I hope the wind of God's Spirit.. blows through every area of your life and the life of your church

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MWGJ5EFjkE

To bless your hearts
My children, as you sit in My presence I come to you with words of comfort and love for I have always loved you and I shall never forsake My people. It is not My desire to forsake any and I want to gather all in My arms of love for I AM a loving heavenly Father unto all who is seeking their Father of love. I turn no one away but I have always been turned away from the unwilling heart to accept Me as I AM but I have accepted you even as you were. I accepted you when you were dead in trespasses of sin. I accepted a lost people and brought them into the kingdom of righteousness through grace and love. There has never been one that needed not to be saved by grace. There has never been one that needed not to be born again for all were lost and undone but I became your sacrifice for sin and paid the sin debt of the world in full. Oh! that all mankind would believe and receive Me even as I have received you and I AM always willing to receive the lost and dying. I died for you that you might live for Me and have life more abundantly because I AM a live and I AM with you always. Many know not that they are lost, and many fail to believe they are saved because satan comes to accuse and to cast down those that I have lifted up. I AM your cloak of salvation for besides Me there is no other. I say unto you, I AM the only way, I AM the only truth, and I AM the only life for I AM the only light of the world. I AM the Spirit that is drawing those in darkness to the light. I came that I might draw all mankind unto Me through the Spirit of the Most High God that lives and reigns forever and ever. Come unto Me and I shall meet you at the cross of redemption for all must come by way of the cross.

Is Your Primary Desire In Life To Be Happy Or To Be Holy?

Nothing in the Bible remotely suggests the idea that we should seek "happiness."

But there is plenty written about seeking holiness: "Pursue holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord… like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior." (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15)

While many blithely pursue the life depicted on "Fantasy Island," a battle is raging between the forces of heaven and hell — between good and evil. It is here that Satan seeks to destroy us while God is preparing us for eternity. It is here that either godly character is being forged, or souls are in the process of destruction. Hardly a place for "happiness."

"The whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth… waiting eagerly for our adoption… the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:22, 23)

The pursuit of "happiness" is centered in self and has about it a kind of Disneyesque surrealism. Surrounded as we are by struggling humanity in the abyss of misery and devastation, chatting about "happiness" seems a tad trite. Consider King Solomon's poignant observation:

"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting… to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than… to listen to the song of fools." (Ecclesiastes 7:2, 5)

Paradoxically, it is only out of a life of holiness and service centered on glorifying God that we experience purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. Note Isaiah 58:10, 11:

"And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will… satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."

If "happiness" were achievable in the wealthiest nation on earth, why then are we plagued by boredom, crime, drugs, the murder of the unborn, teenage pregnancy, and divorce? It is my suspicion that Satan has been less than truthful to us in holding out the carrot of "happiness." What do you think?

poem for you from pastor johan
Go Back To The Cross
Too many times,
our life seems to be so tough.
We feel like just throwing up our hands,
and say I've had enough.

Ive done all I can,
there's nowhere I can turn.
Satan tells us, I'll let you go back,
to those bridges you burned.

When our Lord died,
on that old rugged tree.
He left it behind,
for you and for me.

Jesus knew there would be times,
we would feel at a loss.
Child all you need to do,
is go back to the cross.

Down on your knees,
you'll find the cross is still there.
Down deep in your heart,
you'll know Jesus still cares.

Jesus loves to hear,
when we call on his name.
And by way of the cross,
we shall never suffer again.

Our Lord knows we are not perfect,
but still he loves us all.
He is waiting for us,
when on his name we do call.

So speak from you heart,
your soul shall not be lost.
When our Lord takes us home,
we'll go by the way of the cross.


Pastor Johan

Welcome to Simply Scripture

GOD'S CONFIDENCE IN YOU

We approach another new year my friends. I wonder if you are looking forward or dreading it?

If you love Jesus as your Saviour, a new year changes nothing. God is still the same.. amen. He can be trusted in 2012 just as He was in 2011 amen

The question really is. Can God trust us?

Could HE make the same boast of us, that He made of Job?

Job is so often looked at as an example of suffering. But God, had total confidence in Job. He knew his heart.

This book speaks of the complete faithfulness of God, despite what Job went through, God still held him. As you look forward to the new year, have confidence, because whatever the future holds, you are in the hands of the Lord God Almighty and HE has never let anything go.

Have a blessed and Happy New Year my friends

Please pass this message on and take time to click the links at the bottom of this message

God bless you

Your friend and Partner in the Gospel

Keith



Reading: Job Chapters 1 and 2

As we enter a brand new year, we have many expectations of what is going to happen. We have anticipation of how God is going to work through us and within us.


As Christians we have to remember that everything that will happen to us, God is in control of. He is the One who already knows the future, He sees what lies ahead, and He will give you the grace to handle anything that will come up.


Let us look at the life of Job,and on one particular aspect of his life. People seem to concentrate on Job's suffering, and it is indeed true that Job did suffer loss and did go through pain, but this is only because God allowed it, and indeed did not let the devil test him, more than he was able. Look at what the Apostle Paul said to the church at Corinth:


1Co 10:13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.


That is a wonderful promise, for the believer and one indeed that I don't take seriously enough, as I have fallen flat on my face just lately, because I have tried to do things my way, instead of relying on God to provide a way of escape.


So why did Job get into this situation ? Well it was basically because God was boasting about Him. Yes that's right, God was actually boasting about Job.


Job 1:8 GOD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him--honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil."


Job 2:3 Then GOD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him, is there--honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity! You tried to trick me into destroying him, but it didn't work."


So why was God boasting about Job?. What made him so proud of Him? In the early verses of Job , we find the answer.


Job 1:1 Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion.

Job 1:2 He had seven sons and three daughters.

Job 1:3 He was also very wealthy--seven thousand head of sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a huge staff of servants--the most influential man in all the East!

Job 1:4 His sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking.


Job 1:5 When the parties were over, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, "Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly." Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they'd sinned.


Honesty, truth and kindness were key attitudes in his life, also although he was wealthy, his heart belonged to God, he did not put his riches before God.

Another key attribute was his care for his family, he was an intercessor for his children, he covered them with prayer and care.

He looked on evil with a real hatred, with the same hatred that God has for it. He could not even stand to see his children fall into sin, he made a habit of the sacrifice for his children.

The question that I wish to ask you is the same one that God asked the Devil. Can God speak with the same confidence about you?. If God allowed what happened to Job, to happen to you. What would you do? Would you curse the Lord to His face or would you make Him proud by response?

Everyday the devil is accusing the brethren of doing wrong things, he comes and tries to bring us down. Would the LORD, have the same confidence in us, like He had in Job?

This is a key question, one that we must answer. May our Lord have true confidence in us this year and always, we can have true and constant confidence in HIM.

CAN HE HAVE THE SAME CONFIDENCE IN US?


My friends


All I have is God's word and the promises contained in it, they have stood countless servants in good stead over many years and I see no reason to stop trusting in these true and precious promises

What God has laid on my spirit is that the time is very short. Every day is one day nearer to the second coming of our Lord.. amen. Every day we have the opportunity to share the gospel.. are we doing that? people are perishing my friends. Every day thousands die without Christ. Let us live every day for Christ and care for what HE cared about.. People

How desperate are you for God my friend?

God is desperate for the pure love of His children.. after all He gave everything for us.. shouldn't we give our all to HIM.. without reservation.....do I hear an amen here?

Jim Elliott once said

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose"

I wish to finish with some things for you to do this year. These are things that you can do.. make a covenant promise to do one or more of these things.. no one needs to know about it.. Just you and God.

Attend and be committed to your home church. Make sure you are at the prayer meeting and bible study.

Encourage your pastor, tell him/her, how much they mean to you and how their ministry has blessed you. Do this on a regular basis.

Support a missionary or missionary society in prayer and giving.

Pray on a regular basis for the persecuted church.. more Info from Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs.

Join me to pray for revival at 7pm every Wednesday in your time zone..

Study the scriptures and spend time quality time in prayer with the Father.

Tell God EVERY DAY that you love Him.

These are just suggestions, you can probably think of many more. They are for your consideration.

God bless you

Keith

Special Song

By Now you are starting to realise, that I am a massive fan of Casting Crowns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT84jNQmAZs&feature=related

Featured Website

This website is an awesome resource. Please make use of it

http://www.wayofthemaster.com/




Hello Dear Friends

Happy New Year to you all


I have been seeking a way to better do the devotions and as I was just about to go to sleep last night, the Lord dropped something in my spirit. It was to divide the Devotions and Prayer Requests. Here is what the Lord wants me to do


Monday and Tuesday


Prayer Requests


Either Prayer Focus, China Cry or India Interest




Wednesday and Thursday


Devotions


Noonday Devotion, Simply Scripture or Spirit Steps




Friday and Saturday


Persecuted Church


I hope we strike a real balance here. and I hope you enjoy the new way of doing things. Which will start from January. If you receive these devotions in any of the groups or by e-mail, you will find devotions/prayer requests 3 times per week. I am not asking you to view everything.. but you know that these devotions are available to you on the days specified above




I wish to thank each and every one of you for your fellowship in the gospel. There is no charge for these devotions and if you wish to share then please do, post them on any other groups you have and share with your friends.. that is my only request.. that you share them.. so the gospel goes out ALL OVER THE WORLD..LETS GET THE WORD INTO THE WORLD


God's glory is the aim of these devotions.. it is God who enables me to do them. I have no bible knowledge of my own.. it is God's holy Spirit, who shares these things with me.. I am a weak human vessel that God is pleased to use.. all glory to Him. I pray that I would never put this ministry above God Himself.. the worship of God is paramount.. my love for Him is no 1.


I love you Father
I love you Jesus
I love you Holy Spirit


I would love you to join me at 7pm every Wednesday and pray for revival in your own life, the life of your church, life of your town/city and life of your nation. Pray at 7pm in your time zone and let us create a wave of prayer all around the world.


Please pray for me as the Lord has a clear call on my life.. not only with my writing. but with preaching.. both in church and in the open air. If you feel that I can be an asset to you in coming and sharing the word of God please contact me


I feel that 2012 will be a real year of change..In 2011 Helen has come into my life and in 2012 we will be meeting up and then as the Lord leads moving forward in HIS will. We both believe that we are to be together, so please pray that this happens in God's time. Helen is the most godly and beautiful woman in the world.. and she lives in China


Love you Helen


God bless you all


Keith






HERE IS MY ANTHEM


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc8y0DL8Hr4

KEITH
Welcome to Simply Scripture

GOD'S CONFIDENCE IN YOU

We approach another new year my friends. I wonder if you are looking forward or dreading it?

If you love Jesus as your Saviour, a new year changes nothing. God is still the same.. amen. He can be trusted in 2012 just as He was in 2011 amen

The question really is. Can God trust us?

Could HE make the same boast of us, that He made of Job?

Job is so often looked at as an example of suffering. But God, had total confidence in Job. He knew his heart.

This book speaks of the complete faithfulness of God, despite what Job went through, God still held him. As you look forward to the new year, have confidence, because whatever the future holds, you are in the hands of the Lord God Almighty and HE has never let anything go.

Have a blessed and Happy New Year my friends

Please pass this message on and take time to click the links at the bottom of this message

God bless you

Your friend and Partner in the Gospel

Keith
Reading: Job Chapters 1 and 2

As we enter a brand new year, we have many expectations of what is going to happen. We have anticipation of how God is going to work through us and within us.

As Christians we have to remember that everything that will happen to us, God is in control of. He is the One who already knows the future, He sees what lies ahead, and He will give you the grace to handle anything that will come up.

Let us look at the life of Job,and on one particular aspect of his life. People seem to concentrate on Job's suffering, and it is indeed true that Job did suffer loss and did go through pain, but this is only because God allowed it, and indeed did not let the devil test him, more than he was able. Look at what the Apostle Paul said to the church at Corinth:

1Co 10:13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

That is a wonderful promise, for the believer and one indeed that I don't take seriously enough, as I have fallen flat on my face just lately, because I have tried to do things my way, instead of relying on God to provide a way of escape.

So why did Job get into this situation ? Well it was basically because God was boasting about Him. Yes that's right, God was actually boasting about Job.

Job 1:8 GOD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him--honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil."

Job 2:3 Then GOD said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him, is there--honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity! You tried to trick me into destroying him, but it didn't work."

So why was God boasting about Job?. What made him so proud of Him? In the early verses of Job , we find the answer.

Job 1:1 Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion.

Job 1:2 He had seven sons and three daughters.

Job 1:3 He was also very wealthy--seven thousand head of sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a huge staff of servants--the most influential man in all the East!

Job 1:4 His sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking.

Job 1:5 When the parties were over, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, "Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly." Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they'd sinned.

Honesty, truth and kindness were key attitudes in his life, also although he was wealthy, his heart belonged to God, he did not put his riches before God.

Another key attribute was his care for his family, he was an intercessor for his children, he covered them with prayer and care.

He looked on evil with a real hatred, with the same hatred that God has for it. He could not even stand to see his children fall into sin, he made a habit of the sacrifice for his children.

The question that I wish to ask you is the same one that God asked the Devil. Can God speak with the same confidence about you?. If God allowed what happened to Job, to happen to you. What would you do? Would you curse the Lord to His face or would you make Him proud by response?

Everyday the devil is accusing the brethren of doing wrong things, he comes and tries to bring us down. Would the LORD, have the same confidence in us, like He had in Job?

This is a key question, one that we must answer. May our Lord have true confidence in us this year and always, we can have true and constant confidence in HIM.

CAN HE HAVE THE SAME CONFIDENCE IN US?


My friends


All I have is God's word and the promises contained in it, they have stood countless servants in good stead over many years and I see no reason to stop trusting in these true and precious promises

What God has laid on my spirit is that the time is very short. Every day is one day nearer to the second coming of our Lord.. amen. Every day we have the opportunity to share the gospel.. are we doing that? people are perishing my friends. Every day thousands die without Christ. Let us live every day for Christ and care for what HE cared about.. People

How desperate are you for God my friend?

God is desperate for the pure love of His children.. after all He gave everything for us.. shouldn't we give our all to HIM.. without reservation. ....do I hear an amen here?

Jim Elliott once said

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose"

I wish to finish with some things for you to do this year. These are things that you can do.. make a covenant promise to do one or more of these things.. no one needs to know about it.. Just you and God.

Attend and be committed to your home church. Make sure you are at the prayer meeting and bible study.

Encourage your pastor, tell him/her, how much they mean to you and how their ministry has blessed you. Do this on a regular basis.

Support a missionary or missionary society in prayer and giving.

Pray on a regular basis for the persecuted church.. more Info from Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs.

Join me to pray for revival at 7pm every Wednesday in your time zone..

Study the scriptures and spend time quality time in prayer with the Father.

Tell God EVERY DAY that you love Him.

These are just suggestions, you can probably think of many more. They are for your consideration.

God bless you

Keith

Special Song

By Now you are starting to realise, that I am a massive fan of Casting Crowns.

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=rT84jNQmAZs& feature=related

Featured Website

This website is an awesome resource. Please make use of it

http://www.wayofthemaster.com/

Welcome to a special Simply Scriptures

TRUST HIM AS SAVIOUR
This is a wonderful time of year.. Amen. But we must never forget the real reason for Christmas and that is the greatest gift ever given.. the gift of Jesus.. who was the Saviour of the world. Although we celebrate His miracle birth at Christmas, it was like no other.. Amen.

Jesus came into the world to die my friends, he came to give Himself as a sacrifice for sin and to pay the price to set us free. Let us remember also that every prophecy regarding His First coming came true and so also will all prophecies that relate to his Second Coming. This time, He will be coming with all the power and glory of heaven. In His First coming, hardly anyone saw Him, but in His Second coming, every eye will see Him and every tongue confess that HE IS LORD

Make sure that you are ready for that Day. Trust Him as Saviour

I do hope you will enjoy the following devotion. Please pass on these messages to all your friends and please click on the links at the bottom

God bless you

May you all have a truly blessed Christmas and peaceful new year

Please check out this card sent to you with all best wishes and Love in Christ

http://www.crosscards.com/cards/holidays/christmas/christmas-peace.html

Keith

Reading Matthew 2:1-13

Fascination

The wise men had studied all about Jesus, they had read the prophets, diligently seeking truths about Him. They were earnest seekers, people who had minds that were open. Are you like the wise men this Christmas? Are you seeking Him? If you are you will truly find Him. Maybe you are searching for the meaning of life, maybe you are asking the question, 'is there more to life than this'.

Well there is, the more is Jesus. He says in John 10:10, that He came to give life and to give it abundantly. Please read the wonderful verses in John 10:1-14

Full of joy vs 10

After all that searching, the wise men have found Jesus, they are totally overjoyed. After many miles and many months of traveling, they had come to the place of true peace, in the presence of the Savior of the world. Maybe you have come a long road and come through so much, that doesn't matter, what matters is that you have come to the place where Jesus can transform your life.

To find Jesus and to know Him as Saviour and Lord is to know Joy overflowing. Let me say that after 35 years of knowing Jesus as Saviour and Lord, he still makes my heart leap for joy, the very thought of Him is so wonderful. He gives lasting joy, a joy that the world cannot replicate.. amen

Faith

What is so good, is that the wise men went in to Jesus, they didn't stay outside. Please go in to Jesus as He wants to receive you. They were important people in their own country, they had prestige, but they fell down and worshiped Jesus, this is the only response one can give to Him. The gifts of the wise men, are likened to our lives, which we give gladly unto our Saviour.

John said in chapter 1 verse 12 of his gospel, that as many as received Him, He gave the power to become the sons of God. Jesus is the gift, but you have got to ask for the gift, if you are sincere, God will give you the greatest gift, Jesus will come by His spirit to live in your heart

Freedom

The Journey home must of been one of delight, these men were not the same men who came to see Jesus, they were different because they had been in His presence. Everyone who comes into the presence of Jesus, is never the same again, He is the one who can transform your life, the only One who can. Be like the wise men and have your lives transformed this Christmas.

Finally

Isa 9:6 For a child has been born--for us! the gift of a son--for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness

Let me finish with a question? What is Jesus to you this Christmas? Is He the greatest gift you have ever received? He is more than a gift, He is the giver of the gift of Life, true everlasting life, He promises to give you life in abundance. When you trust hHm as Lord and Savior, he becomes your Counselor, your Friend and your peace.

My friends, what I have shared is far too important to push to one side. Please don't say, that there is another day, another time where I will trust Christ. Peter says in Acts 4, that today is the day of Salvation.. not tomorrow and not next year. It is time to decide my friends.


God bless you
Keith

Special Song

I hope you enjoy these beautiful Hymns and songs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB5-95pVK98

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jddK0JlhLjg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf6OoAZbAQg

Special Link to Beautiful Site

http://www.christiananswers.net/christmas/home.html