Rev. E. Anderson

This is a daily prophetic word which is purposed to encourage you as you face this day with the Lord. He, above all loves to communicate with His people and servants and all must learn to hear His voice and take note of what He has to say. Christ said: ‘my sheep know my voice’ – John 10: 4. He speaks through His written word the Bible, God’s Holy Word, and you must read it often to hear and know what God has to declare. By His Holy Spirit He also brings a personal prophetic and inspired word to the mind and heart which confirms the written Word. Know that He is with you to bring to pass His perfect plan for your life. Listen to what He has to say and fulfil all His will and you will both know and grow in the things of God.

Friday - May 16^th

The call of the world of business is that you invest your life and money in the right companies so that at a later date you can draw upon them with enormous gain and interest. They offer lucrative results if you will but endow them with your wealth. But this is not always the case because it is possible for them to go bust and as a consequence you lose everything. This is not so with Me and my kingdom. The assured promise made centuries ago still holds good today, and  that is ‘But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things will added unto you’ – Matthew 6: 33. The word for ‘added’ in this instance means to super add. As you give your all in every sense to Me, and my business, then you will know that the blessings and benefits to be received and enjoyed at my hand far outweigh the great outlay made. The recompense that comes to those who are prepared to trust Me with their all is beyond anything that man can demonstrate. Make sure that today you readily and fully invest your all within my kingdom. Prove that this is true!

May 16^th   

A PERCEPTIVE PUPIL – Psalm 86

David was a keen and perceptive pupil from his earliest years. He discovered in both the formative years of his life and the remainder who the best Teacher was. The Lord was the One who became his instructor because he perceived God had the most invaluable lessons to teach. In v11 he says: “Teach me your ways, O Lord.” This shows that he knew that he needed to know from the greatest and wisest source of all the finest way to live and produce a worthwhile character and do a great work. He could do no better than come to the fount of wisdom and find out all he needed to know and have the answers that mattered.

He could neither trust himself or others to give him the guidance that he so desperately required. Men were subject to making serious mistakes and errors that could prove disastrous. Not so the Lord: His knowledge, judgment and wisdom were perfect, absolute, true and could be fully relied upon. He had perceived that when he followed out His instructions and directions he found out they yielded the maximum good.  There was no other that could serve Him to highest advantage.

We are all in life’s schoolroom and the Lord wills to be our Teacher in everything. He is most capable because He is omniscient, which means He possesses infinite, perfect and absolute knowledge. You need to learn as quickly as possible that the Lord desires to be your principal Mentor and that throughout life He has lessons of the greatest order to impart into your mind, heart and experience. Wise people turn and listen to what He always has to say thus they are richly and eternally benefited. Seek His direction today and discover He has things to teach you of worth.

Rev. E. Anderson

PRAYING FOR A DRAMATIC CONQUEST

Reading    Exodus 17: 8-16

Text          v11

Introduction

God’s people found themselves unexpectedly with a fight on their hands so soon after their deliverance from Egypt. An enemy, the Amalekites, were desirous of engaging in a conflict and to reduce this newly born nation to great straits. It was not something that the Israel wanted but the issue had to be faced and effectively dealt with. Thankfully they had a leader who knew what to do and he was not overcome by this sudden turn of events.

He knew what divine strategy had to be adopted in order to see this enemy off and enable Israel to be victors. There was no way that he was to resort to human designs and means but made it obvious that if there was to be supreme triumph then the Lord must step in and show His power.

There are a number of lessons to be gathered from this incident and above everything is the knowledge that Moses was praying and believing for dramatic conquest.

1/.  HE TOOK A POSITION OF VISION AND AUTHORITY – v11

He realised that he needed to have a clear perception of the battle that was to ensue and so he secured a position of advantage where he would miss nothing as the clash proceeded. It was imperative that he was in touch with all that was to occur and he must have believed that where he was that was where the thing would be resolved. The rod of God was symbolic of spiritual power and might and with the possession of it and its right use would ensure the outcome. That rod had been employed before to immense success and it would not fail again as it was held up to determine this encounter.

2/.  HE ACCEPTED THAT HE REQUIRED ASSSITANCE - v10

 Moses was not going to be a loner in this enterprise but was glad that Aaron and Hur were willing to accompany him on this mission. Just to have these two men with him made him realise that he was not alone in this crucial conflict. For them to be present and see what was to happen was vital training and instruction and as they saw what was about to see take place would be a lasting lesson learned. It is evident Christ sought partnership in prayer when He was engaged in spiritual conflict – Matthew 26: 38, 40.

3/.  HE LIFTED UP HIS HANDS IN INTERCESSION – v11

       The raising of the hands in this fashion is indicative of a prayerful, mediatorial posture, where the individual is pleading for some divine intervention. As he keeps his hands up the significance is that Israel prevailed so it was essential that he maintained this stance. It was imperative that he be able to perform this task so that there would be overwhelming victory. But there is the unveiling of the human and natural element. His hands and arms begin to tire and began to droop and as they did so the enemy started to gain the upper hand. It could be discerned that this was the place where the conflict would be resolved.

4/.  HE APPRECIATED THE SUSTAINING SUPPORT OF OTHERS – v12

       Aaron and Hur were alerted to this fact and sensed they were providentially there to play an active role. They didn’t wait to be asked because they knew that they must get alongside and uphold the arms of Moses. This great servant would not be able to say it was he that was responsible for the supreme conquest because he needed moral and spiritual support. These two men became major pillars and props that day and so saved a situation.

5/.  HE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT THIS VICTORY WAS A SETTLED ISSUE – v14

       The divine promise came assuring that Amalek would never be a threat again, ever. It would not simply be an initial success; Amalek would be effectively dealt with in the future so that God’s people should never fear any uprising in the future. This people were destined to defeat.

6/.  HE COULD RAISE UP AN ALTAR OF THANKSGIVING AS A CONSEQUENCE – v16

       When battles have been engaged in and been won according to divine direction then there will be every reason to raise an altar of praise to God. The Lord would always be a banner amongst them and it did not matter who the nations were that threatened their existence and continuance, as they raised it, he would be there alongside to give strategy and victory as long as they prayed.

CONCLUSION

The first battle and conquest was to be but the forerunner of many more. As they dealt with this formidable force in such a manner, there was no reason why all other antagonists shouldn’t be overcome.

Rev. E. Anderson

HUMOUR – MARRIAGE

At a Wedding Anniversary dinner to celebrate 37 years of married life the man replying to the toast told his audience that he and his wife had made a ‘NARGAIN’ right at the beginning.

It was that she could make all all the small decisions, but if a big problem arose she would agree that he should make the decision.

 Just imagine he said how fortunate we have been in all our married life, - that even after 37 years we have never had to make a big decision yet!

Mary to her fiancé,  John, ‘Wouldn’t it  be lovely if we could bring my mother on our honeymoon trip to Kenya on Safari’.

John, ‘Yes dear, that would be just lovely!’. During the night on safari they heard an ENORMOUS ROAR and looking out they saw twenty paces away from mother , who because of the heat had taken a walk from her little tent,

A LION, TAIL TWITCHING ETC. – READY TO ‘POUNCE’.

Mary, ‘Oh John darling – YOU MUST DO SOMETHING’.

John, ‘Its all right dear, the lion has got himself into this fix, let him get out of it’.

FLYING SAUCERS

Two men were discussing the possibility of Flying Saucers and after a short discussion, Bill said, ‘Oh yes, I believe in Flying Saucers, but I didn’t think about them nor experience it until after I go it married.

WISE BEYOND HIS YEARS

A young clergyman, fresh out of training, thought it would help him better understand the fears and temptations his future congregations faced if he first took a job as a policeman for several months. He passed the physical examination; then came the oral exam to test his ability to act quickly and wisely in an emergency. Among other questions he was asked, “What would you do to disperse a frenzied crowd?” He thought for a moment and then said, “I would pass an offering plate.” He got the job.

Rev. E. Anderson

The story is taken from a book compiled by the late Rev. Gerald Chamberlain, a great children’s story teller and a person who inspired and influenced many young people. With kind permission from his son. Paul.

JERRY

‘Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the. Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” James 5: 14, 15

It was nearly thirty years ago” that Jerry came home from his very first camp. He was not well.  Hot and feverish, he had struggled for a few days, the last days of Camp to, hide his sickness and as he

tumbled into his nice soft bed, he thought it felt like heaven.

Sleep was sweet and he coiled into the usual untidy bundle that was usually Jerry when he was in bed.   As the clock showed about 3 a.m. he awoke and felt very ill indeed.  As he attempted to sit up in bed HE DISCOVERED HE WAS PARALYZED IN EXACTLY THE SAME POSITIQN HE HAD BEEN SLEEPING.  Not wishing to alarm his widowed mother and fatherless sisters he swallowed hard and tried to be brave, but the pain was acute from the chest upwards through the guides of ‘the neck and through to the ears.

When morning came, after a seeming eternity of waiting, the household stirred and Jerry attempted again to get into an upright position; BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.   Mother and sister came in to the room and knew that something serious had happened.

After a great struggle he was able to sit up, but his body was distorted by the disease into a grotesque shape. His head was set at an awful angle, and his chest like a young hunchback.

After half an hour they had succeeded in dressing the young teen-ager but it was impossible to stand and the pain was excruciating.

Many forms of treatment were experimented with, but the chest, neck and head remained locked. Eventually it was decided that Hospital treatment with some form of manipulative operation would be tried. 

At this time Jerry, had considered asking his Pastor to come and pray for him. Young Pastor McGilivary duly arrived on November 11th on his way to a Remembrance service. Just a short prayer was offered. The laying on of hands and that night the miracle happened. By morning Jerry was healed of his paralysis and by Saturday he was playing football. Not in 30 years has Jerry felt a twinge of the old pain and those who know him, know his shoulders are as straight as a Grenadier Guard’s.

Rev. E. Anderson

This is a daily prophetic word which is purposed to encourage you as you face this day with the Lord. He, above all loves to communicate with His people and servants and all must learn to hear His voice and take note of what He has to say. Christ said: ‘my sheep know my voice’ – John 10: 4. He speaks through His written word the Bible, God’s Holy Word, and you must read it often to hear and know what God has to declare. By His Holy Spirit He also brings a personal prophetic and inspired word to the mind and heart which confirms the written Word. Know that He is with you to bring to pass His perfect plan for your life. Listen to what He has to say and fulfil all His will and you will both know and grow in the things of God.

Thursday - May 15^th

To arrive at one’s destination after a long and demanding journey is often with a great sense of relief and satisfaction. En-route, one has had the delight of witnessing so many things and experiencing quite a lot of varied happenings. Your life from the cradle to the grave is a very long pilgrimage and it is important to arrive safely having successfully and spiritually negotiated each stage. Just as Israel had to make the passage from Egypt to the Promised Land so it is similar to you. There are many factors to be confronted and dealt with in a worthy manner so that it leads to your maximum development. Be assured that in whole expedition, I am with you to make certain that you are wholly provided for and preserved. Never at any moment will you be alone, and it is my commitment to see you safely reach the ultimate destination, heaven. Take and live each day at a time and gain from each moment and hour those things that will enhance your faith and relationship with Me. Know that soon you will reach the ultimate of your pilgrimage and discover that  it will have been worth it.

May 15^th   

GREAT PROSPECTS – Psalm 85

There are always great prospects when God is manifesting His grace and favour. The psalm opens up with the fact that God has already been favourable to His people in that He has restored their fortunes and granted them the blessing of forgiveness.  Any divine anger that had existed was over so the possibility was there for the experience of untold prospects for good. From God’s view it was now opportune for things to move ahead into a fresh period of relationship, growth and abundance. There is a desire for a glorious revival of His people so that they will enter into a bigger phase of freedom, fulfillment and delight.

What should be seen in the revelation of the unfolding prospects is the unfailing love of the Lord - v7 “Show us your unfailing love, O Lord.” The great characteristics to be enjoyed are that of righteousness, peace, prosperity and every kind of blessing. As God restores, an era of blessedness and happiness that will cause all to rejoice will be experienced. God positively coming through for them will mean an enriched and abundant life. They have everything to look forward as God brings about these changes in them and their situation.

Ever realize that it is the Lord’s desire to fill your life and future days with great prospects. As you seek the Lord’s favour, and endeavour to live in it, then be sure of His love and goodness being manifested. As you turn to Him in reverential fear and faith, He will turn to you in favour and fullness and so enlarge your being and borders. Your whole future can be changed from this day forward as you allow Him to assume total control and permit Him to be the director and blesser always. There is no limit as far as God is concerned as to what can be wrought.

Rev. & Mrs. S.D. Anderson

Season of Pentecost

Hello

My name is Sid Anderson and for the last eighteen years with my wife Jean’s constant support I have fulfilled the role of Senior Pastor of Bentley Pentecostal Church near Doncaster. Next week we hand over the leadership of the Church to James and Nichola Seager.

After recently completing my Masters in Missions at Mattersey, I was contemplating what I would be doing in the final few weeks before re-tyring from the Church when it dawned upon me that it was the ‘Season of Pentecost’.

Having just moved the venue for our Church Prayer Meeting to an upstairs room; then why not call it an ‘Upper Room Prayer Meeting’ in expectation of a move of the Holy Spirit. We were not disappointed as Mike (pictured above, third from the left) a Methodist for 45 years was filled with the Spirit and spoke out in a beautiful tongue. He’s been shining ever since. We then decided to make Pentecost Sunday special this year with a Celebration of the Gift of the Holy Spirit in the Morning Service followed by a Water Baptism Service in the evening.

In the morning service Pastor Henry Drabble was scheduled to speak on the ‘Hurricane of Pentecost’ instead of hearing the sermon we experienced it as everyone came forward to receive something from God. A high point of blessing was enjoyed as the men sang ‘He Touched Me’ and the women came forward and prayed for them.

In the evening service seven were baptised in water, both young and those a little older. After Pastor Sid presented the Good News of the Gospel four made decisions for Jesus Christ.

The four girls are the second phase of baptismal candidates from the Youth Café for early and late teens held every Monday and Thursday evening. Kevin Watts the Youth Pastor (he’s is the one on the right trying to look older) reports that over 100 teenagers attend most evenings and over the last two years over 800 different teenagers have attended. The Christian young people who help run the café were recently presented with an award by local M P Ed. Milliband for their services to young people.

Sid expects to visit West Africa on a more regular basis to assist and encourage missionaries from Burkina Faso to engage in frontier missions in Mali and Niger. If you would like to know more about this work feel free to contact him on e-mail siddanderson@aol.com

To God be all the Glory.

Rev. Joy Gascoigne

AGE CONCERN  by Rev. joy gascoigne

LOTS OF PEOPLE SEE

how stars like Madonna look, and watch the things they do, but what’s really going on?

Michigan-born Madonna was the third of eight children. Her mother died of breast cancer when she was just years old. Madonna later said, ‘I became an over-achiever to get approval from the world.’

Now with a career spanning three decades, she turns 50 this year.

No doubt there are lots of factors in the discussion about age; our health, of attitude, the company we keep, and the make-up we use all play a part

It’s true that what we do stems from who we are, but the Western world has a big emphasis on image, so that how we look almost takes priority over anything else. So how can we grow older gracefully? First of all, grow older thankfully. Many people don’t live to see even middle age! If you’re in good health you’ve a lot to be thankful for.

Take care of yourself, watch your diet, and try to rest and keep fit. In the UK we’re blessed with the opportunity to live in a wonderful country. Enjoy, and thank God!

Second, remember you’re a human being, not a human doing. Often it’s easy to evaluate the quality of our life by what we do. Look after what goes on inside.

Don’t allow yourself to become bitter or critical. Don’t become cynical or carry baggage from the past. Live largely, and to quote the Message New Testament, ‘love from the centre of who you are’. There’s a great story of a little girl who went to the funfair with her daddy. She had a little money to spend and immediately ran to the candy stall, and bought a huge pink candy. Her father looked on and asked if she was really able to eat it. ‘Don’t worry, Daddy’, she replied. I’m much bigger inside than I look on the outside’.

Finally, go first class. It’s about attitude really. We each only have one life to live, and so it’s to be lived to the full. Stay positive, and take the opportunities that come your way.

Try something new – a fun hobby or sport, perhaps.

Go the extra mile and be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Be a reliable friend, not just a number in the crowd. And by the way, happy birthday, Maddona!

Archbishop John Sentamu

THE DARING ARCHBISHOP

The daring Archbishop of York will make a ‘leap of faith’ to show support for British soldiers in Afghanistan.

Dr. John Sentamu will jump from 12,500ft with the Parachute Regiment’s Red Devils team to raise money for the families of soldiers killed while serving with 3 Para.

Dr Sentamu , 58, said, “The armed services and their families make enormous sacrifices on our behalf. Unfortunately, many of the families who have lost loved ones are not being given enough financial support. And for those who return as wounded heroes, the support can be a long time coming, and then not nearly enough.

Dr Sentamu will be leaping out of an aircraft over RAF anger, near Nottingham, on May 27^th, in tandem with businessman Guy Brudenell.

Dr Sentamu and the Red Devils hope to raise more than £50,000  in sponsorship for the Afghanistan Trust charity, which helps paratroopers and their families in the event of injury or death.

CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN PRISON

The women of South Sudan, a mainly Christian part of the country, face many difficulties. In 22 years of civil war, many have been widowed and must shoulder new responsibilities to care for their children. Many such women are living in refugee camps in North Sudan, which is ruled by a strongly Islamic government that enforces shari’a  (Islamic law). Some have been arrested and imprisoned because they failed to conform to demands of shari’a, for example, the Islamic dress code. Others are in prison for debts which they could not repay because of their poverty.                

A grant of £4,000 (US$ 8,000; £5,200) to a Prison Christian Fellowship helps  to provide these women with blankets, clothes. Bibles, medicines and the fines they must pay on release as well as the travel costs which are then needed. It also helps their families and dependents.

Rev. E. Anderson

PROVISION-DIVINE

One of the many interesting stories of the Bible is that of Elijah and the ravens. You remember that God sent ravens to bring His servant food, when be at the brook, hiding frorn Ahab. Sometimes we seem to think that such wonderful things happened long ago, but that they do not happen any more. But in this we are mistaken. God still cares for His people. He is always near, when they need Him.

David Brainerd was a famous missionary who went to the Indians to preach the Gospel. As a result of his labours, many of the Indians found their Saviour. Brainerd was a man of prayer. In his diary he tells of his experiences on his many travels. And he often mentions how the Lord heard and answered his prayers.

One day, on one of his many journeys to visit an Indian tribe, he was overtaken by a severe storm. He looked for a place of shelter and eventually found one in a hollow log of a very large tree. While there, he prayed for the Indians and also that the Lord would take care of him and his needs.

When meal time came, he was hungry, but there was nothing to eat.  He noticed a squirrel approaching the tree. The squirrel chattered a while. When the little animal disappeared, Brainerd noticed that he had left a few nuts behind. The missionary ate those nuts.

Three days the storm continued, and for three days Brainerd remained in the log. Each day the squirrel came to deposit some nuts at the entrance. David Brainerd knew that the Lord had sent the squirrel – Philippians 4: 19.

Rev. A Linford, before his decease, was recognized as a good, great and interesting Bible teacher in the Assemblies of God Fellowship for many years. He was a well-loved Bible College lecturer and writer that bequeathed a tremendous amount of Biblical material in his generation. What a legacy he has left to be researched and brought forth to refresh our day! We shall be using such on this site: His writings from the book of Proverbs and also his Editorials that he wrote for the Redemption Tidings when he was its editor. I trust you will enjoy and appreciate his inspired teaching.

THE WAY OF GOOD MEN

“Walk in the way of good men” - Proverbs 2:20-22

Admonition has its uses, its oftimes negative approach is a preservation. It tell of ways we should not go, and warms of moral cul-de-sac, paths that lead nowhere. We should obey spiritual road signs on the way to Glory.

Wisdom’s call is spatial, it adds new dimension to living. Those who respond are upright, that is morally perpendicular and righteous, that is straight, or morally horizontal: a life that reaches upward and a life that stretches outward. Men of principle are men of influence.

Wisdom’s call is “settlemental“, it produces not only motion in “the way of good men” and “the paths of the righteous”, but it promises settlement “in the land”. To walk in the way of good men brings us into the “land of promise” where God’s blessings permanently abide. The Christian life is both progress and rest. The same epistle that exhorts us to enter into God’s rest also exhorts us to run with patience the race that is set before us (Heb 4:11, 12:1). Resting and running may be concomitant.

Wisdom’s call is separational, it divides men into responders and rejecters. On the one side are the “good”, that is, those whose disposition inclines them to follow the Lord, and the “perfect”, that is those who are steadfastly loyal to God and resolute against all temptation to unfaithfulness. They make the right decision and maintain it devotedly. On the other side are the “wicked”, whose disposition is evil, whose morals are distorted, whose character is bent, and “transgressors” who actively cross the line from decency to indecency, from the will of God to the whim of the flesh, from moral truth to moral turpitude. These “shall be cut off from the earth”, that is, they will forfeit all the benefits that God promises to those who love him and be “plucked up” from all those blessings that make godly living so enjoyable.

Those who seek to live after God’s order are often accused of avid negativism; but there are things a follower of Christ cannot do, should not do, will not do. The first principle of discipleship is a negative denial of self - Matt 16:24, 25 but it leads to a very positive experience of spiritual benefits. Self-abnegation is a prelude to self-absorption in God: t( thus lose our life is to gain it to life eternal.

PRAYER:   May I answer wisdom’s call, 0 Lord, to walk in the way of good men.

DOUBLE THINK

George Orwell, well-known author of Animal Farm, wrote: ‘Double think means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously and accepting them both.” I don’t know the context of this definition, but the concept has tremendous implications.

Double think is a denial of logic, which asserts that a thing cannot both be and not be at the same time. But life is larger than logic. We need to systematize thought, but concepts were there long before they were regi­mented.

But it is as we approach spiritual things that logic becomes less valid. To reason-bound pedants the actions of Christians border on mania. Jesus was accused of being “beside Himself”, that is, out of His mind. Paul’s passionate seeking after the lost and the appalling risks he took to reach them was regarded by some as sheer lunacy. His testimony before Agrippa wrung from Governor Festus the scornful ejaculation, “Paul, you are mad I”" I am not mad, most noble Festus”, was the nonchalant reply, “but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.”

And yet Festus had a point. Christians live in another world, under the laws of Christ. Judged by the lesser laws of men - we are mad. We see the invisible, we hear voiceless words, we know the love of Christ “which passeth knowledge”, we enjoy “peace that passeth all understanding”, we rejoice with joy unspeakable. The nearer we get to spiritual things the less logic seems to apply. Paul could describe himself as “less than the least of all saints”. Illogical. Ungrammatical. I But it was the only way he could express his feeling of humility. At the other end of the scale he could speak of seeing things “which it is not lawful for a man to utter”. Spiritual life is fraught with experiences too much for words, experiences beyond the power of logic to analyze or the reason to define - but real enough.

Double think: Is it too illogical to accept two contra­dictory propositions at the same time? Relativity poses that if we proceed in a straight line far enough we shall describe a circle. Is light a series of waves or a procession of particles? Why not both at once! Apply this double think to doctrine. Jesus is God: Jesus is man. He is completely both at the same time without diminishing the perfection of either. A mystery? Yes, but faith grasps hold of what logic gasps at. Take the age-old controversy between fatalism and freedom, determinism or free-will, Calvinism or Arminianism. Are not both sides true - but only true together and not apart?

And so we could go on. Logic is essential, but its use is relative. There are areas in which it ceases to be valid. We must serve God “with all our mind”, but there are planes of experience that rise above reason.