a prophetic word just for you today

May 25, 2013 at 7:16 am (Prophetic Word)

ernestanderson 2

Rev. E. Anderson

Be encouraged with a prophetic word today that may just suit you in your particular circumstances. It is purposed to inspire you with confidence in the LORD and to trust Him to do some good things in your life and to give great testimony to His love and interest in your life in all of its outworking.

PROPHETIC WORD

There can be spiritual and mental blockages in your mind and heart that you are not aware of and conversant with that can be hindering what the LORD would fully seek to bring about within both my life and work. Hardness, lack of forgiveness, unrepentance, bitterness, lukewarmness etc., can frustrate all He would do in and through you. It is needful for you to allow the searchlight of God’s Spirit and Word to investigate and seek out anything that may be acting as preventatives to all He is seeking to do. Then you must ask and authorize Him to dispose of such so that He may be able to demonstrate His immense grace and power. Let nothing and no one LORD frustrate your wonderful purpose at this time in your life. Come and do your gracious work and remove every hindrance and encumbrance so that you can flow in and be dynamically effective for Him and His kingdom.

100_0888

Leave a Comment

welcome to this christian website

May 25, 2013 at 7:13 am (Profile)

ernest - computor

Rev. E. Anderson

WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTIAN WEBSITE

Welcome, if it is your first visit to the site. I trust that you will enjoy reading and noting the contents and benefit enormously from the material presented. If you visit often, thank you very much. It gives me some pleasure to know that what is presented is being of service to you to bless others.

If you will look at the left hand side of the page you will see and note, select category. Place your cursor there and it will give you a list of many categories on this site. Click on any subject and it will provide much material relating to the subject. It is a library of contents that has been placed on the site for over three years. There is much material for you to see, note and use as desired.

I have been a Christian minister for over fifty years and now in my retirement am engaged in encouraging all who are in the later stage of life still to be active for the Lord in releasing the spiritual potential still waiting to be released with much blessing. God’s will for us is that we shall be possessed by divine zeal and usefulness. May we who lead others have such a passion and commitment.

sunwave

Leave a Comment

christian testimony

May 25, 2013 at 7:10 am (Christian Testimony)

jorgino

Jorgino

CAREER AFTER INJURY HEARTACHE

BRAZILIAN football legend Jorginho has revealed how God saved his career when injury struck.

The right-back, who played 64 times for his country, was prepar­ing for the World Cup in 1986 when he was stretchered off the pitch in a key game.

He said: “I must have kicked the ball the wrong way and all the pain was there.

“I felt my body suddenly stop and I had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. 1 cried a lot.

But rather than worry about the injury, Jorginho – whose .full name is Jorge de Amorim Campos – turned to Christ.

“On that – same night I made a decision to follow Jesus,” said the former manager of Japanese side Kashima Antlers, who played for clubs such as Flamengo and Bayern Munich during his impres­sive career.

CHANGED

“Jesus Christ changed my life completely. My pain just disappeared – it has never since returned! I was able to continue playing soccer, and I was sure I didn’t have to end my career before my time came.”

Jorginho, who was assistant manager for Brazil’s national team for four years after his retirement, also revealed how God changed his reputation as a Tiardman footballer.

He said: “I used to be a *bad boy’ in Flamengo before that. -The referees may have got tired of showing me the red card as the most violent of all Flamengo defenders.

“But the peace I found for my spirit was so evident that it even changed the%ay I played soccer on the field.

flowers 1

Leave a Comment

pastor’s weekly thought

May 25, 2013 at 7:07 am (Pastor's Weekly Thought)

ianwilliams

Rev. Ian Williams

OBSTACLES

Ian continued the theme of the Spiritual Health Check today reminding us that God’s plan for us is to grow and produce fruit. Sounds obvious really but I was challenged today to recognise areas in my life where, without me even realising it, I might be holding back my spiritual growth.

1. THE CHOICES THAT I MAKE – Do I build my house on the sand or on the rock? Watching the house at the Oddicombe fall in to the sea is a visual reminder of building on solid ground but in our spiritual life are we making good choices that will stand the test of time?

2. CIRCUMSTANCES – Whatever happens am I prepared to grow in this experience or shrink and let it take over me? Romans 8 reminds us we are more than conquerors.

3. CHARACTERISTICS – Be a person of good character. Read 1 Peter 2:1-2. Avoid malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. If you know you fail in some of these characteristics be sure that they will stunt your spiritual growth.

4. OBSTACLES

  • Self – you can’t blame anyone else. Only you can make changes.
  • Sin – you can try and hide it but God knows.
  • Peers – Who are you doing life with? Are they championing you or holding you back?
  • Comfort zone – it’s ok to be comfortable for a season but not all the time!
  • Busyness – this doesn’t always mean productive.
  • Lack of nutrition – if you’re only having one spiritual meal every week on a Sunday morning then you are starving yourself. Eat healthily, little and often!
  • Distractions – be careful you don’t get confused and distracted and head off course.
  • Frustration – will eat you up from the inside out. Deal with stuff you need to deal with.

What sort of tree are you? Are you a Bonsai Christian or a Cedar of Lebanon. The two trees look quite similar but one is a fraction of the size of the other. The Bonsai is just living in a pot and is cared for by its owner. The Cedar of Lebanon is cared for by God. Which one are you? If you need to change some stuff in your life in order to live in the freedom Jesus died for to grow and bear fruit, then do it today.

flowers 3

 

Leave a Comment

a beginner’s course

May 25, 2013 at 7:04 am (Beginner's Course)

JOHNWILLOUGHBY (2)

Rev. John Willoughby

15. GENEROSITY

Jn 3:16. God has put into motion spiritual laws, which govern life – one of these is the law of generosity. It teaches us that, “whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ” (II Cor 9:6).

1/. PARTNERSHIP WITH GOD

The Bible says, “We ‘work together as partners -who belong to God. You are God’s field, God’s building — not ours ” (I Cor 3:9). It is important for us to understand where our responsibilities lie.

a) Ownership of all-is with God. IChron29:10-12. The Bible says, ” The heavens are Yours and the earth is Yours; everything in the world is Yours – You created it all” (Ps 89:11). Everything belongs to God, including all we have – possessions, careers, families. He has given us all of these things to enjoy (I Tim 6:17), however, when we realise that they still belong to Him, we can rest in the assurance that God also has ultimate responsibility for them.

b) Stewardship of what we have – is with us. I Cor 6:19-20. Unlike an owner, a steward manages that which belongs to someone else. Therefore as God’s stewards we have an obligation to be faithful in taking care of all we have for Him and He will hold us responsible for this (Mt 25:14-30). When we understand the Owner-steward relationship it becomes easy to give. Before God, stewardship covers every single thing that belongs to us – our time (Col 4:5), our talents and abilities (I Pet 4:10), our possessions (Mt 6:19-21), our finances (Mt 6:24) and the message of the Gospel (I Cor 9:16-17). Many Christians still struggle to tithe, but the action that releases us into the full blessings of good stewardship is surrender – the unreserved submission of one’s entire life, possessions and plans to God’s will and purpose.

2/. GENEROSITY IN THE EARLY CHURCH

Acts 2:44-45. 4:32. The attitude of the early Christians laid the foundation for every expression of giving that was to come later. It expressed their understanding of stewardship – that everything ultimately belongs to God and the words of Jesus, “// is more blessed to give than to receive ” (Acts 20:35) became a reality.

a) They supported the needy. Acts 6:1-3. Special men were chosen to serve as deacons, who made it their ministry to channel all the giving to where there was a practical need.

b) They gave sacrificially to one another. II Cor 8:1-4. When some Christians were in need, others supported them.

* They worked to be able to give. Eph 4:28.

* Giving was the proof of their love. IJn 3:17-18.

c) They supported ministries. Phil 4:15-18. The Apostle Paul, while travelling to establish new churches, sometimes worked with his hands to provide his own support (II Thess 3:7-9). On other occasions the Christians showed the true spirit of giving, which God commends, by supporting him and other ministries.

3. GOD’S PRINCIPLES OF GENEROSITY

In I Cor 10:11, we are told to learn from Israel’s example and to apply the principles given them by God, avoiding their mistakes and rebellion. In the area of giving, we find some excellent guidelines in the Old Testament that can help us today.

a) God expects us to tithe of our income. Mai 3:8-12. Let us note from these verses that we “rob God”, if we do not tithe (v8) and the result of this is a “curse ” (v9). If we “bring all the tithes into the storehouse ” (church which we attend), great blessings result (vlO-12). Jesus said, “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving- large or small – it will be used to measure what is given hack to you” (Lk 6:38).

b) We are to give the first and best to the Lord. Prov 3:9-10. Under the old covenant when offering sacrifices to the Lord, they always needed to give an animal, which was without blemish – the best of their flocks. How much more so do we, who live under a “better covenant” need to give our best. The Bible says, “a generous man devises generous things and by generosity he shall stand’ (Is 32:8).

MY COMMITMENT

I realize the importance of having a generous heart and attitude towards others. Today I commit myself to begin a life of giving, by starting to tithe (a tenth of my income) to the Lord’s work. I will also.

 flowers 5

Leave a Comment

womens’ page

May 24, 2013 at 7:06 am (Uncategorized)

JACKIEWILLIAMS

Rev. Jackie Williams

CHEERING ON

When a team has someone cheering them on, they can often outplay their ability.

The Bible says that we, too, have an audience cheering us on. Hebrews 12:1 says we are surrounded by a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, pioneers who blazed the way, veterans cheering us on!

They are not just ordinary bystanders but veteran athletes who have run their race to the end so they know what it is like. They have done the journey;

Negotiated the hurdles, felt the pain, healed the wounds and kept on running!
Got over the hurts, dealt with the disappointments and kept on running!
Fed the hungry, loved the unlovely, touched the untouchables and kept on running!
Forgiven their offenders, shrugged off their critics, and kept on running!
Celebrated their victories, shared their successes and kept on running!

When we’re scared, they’re rooting for us to be courageous. When we want to give up, they’re urging us to keep going. When we feel insignificant and forgotten, they’re in our corner.

What an encouragement that they kept on running and did so living under the old Covenant of The Law.

Let us be encouraged to keep on running, living under the new Covenant of Grace and knowing that we have a squad of cheerleaders rooting for us!

 flow 1

Leave a Comment

wisdom’s ways

May 24, 2013 at 7:03 am (Wisdom's Ways)

aaronlinford

Rev. Aaron Linford

SLANDER NOT A SLAVE

“Accuse not a servant unto his master” – Proverbs 30:10

The underlying thought here is that a servant (or slave, as it really means) is not in a position to defend himself. Who would take a slave’s word against an influential accuser? We may not have to do with slaves, but we should not in any case take an unfair advantage of any person. We draw three suggestions from this ancient saying:

FIRST, DON’T HIT THOSE WHO CAN’T HIT BACK. There are situations where harsh criticism is levelled at people who, because of their status or condition, are forbidden the right of reply. Example: it is wrong to expose royalty to the gossip that hurts, distorts the truth, or exposes privacy. It is not that they are above criticism, it is that they cannot, for reasons of delicacy and status, make public riposte. But publicity – mongers break the rules of moral etiquette to gain notoriety and profit. An employee, also, may not have the opportunity to counter malicious gossip. It is cowardly to flay the reputation of one who cannot reply. The American habit of “de-bunking” the character of dead notabilities can be as cruel as it is unjust. And don’t give me the excuse of unveiling truth. Some skeletons are better left interred in oblivion.

SECONDLY DON’T KNOCK A MAN WHEN HE IS DOWN. There are those who recklessly, thoughtlessly and inhumanely tread on a victim of circumstances, especially if he held some high status. Yes, some great men do slip, their morals lapse, their purposes fail. They are culpable – but shall we crush them? Or shall we rather remember the words of Jesus, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone”? (John 8:7) Without condoning sin we should have compassion on the sinner, be he master or slave.

THIRDLY, DON’T FORGET THAT REACTION FOLLOWS ACTION. A fair-minded master will investigate the accusation; not like Potiphar, who condemned Joseph without a trial (Genesis 39:20). An inquiry would have exposed the truth even if it wrecked the domestic situation. And what of curse of a badly-treated wretch? God watches over the human situation, and sees to it that ultimately good is rewarded and evil punished. Providence is the leveller of life.

PRAYER: May I ever speak kindly and truthfully, O Lord.

flow 2

 

Leave a Comment

sermons to note

May 24, 2013 at 6:58 am (Sermons)

ernes1

Rev. E. Anderson

REACHING FORTH

Reading    Philippians 3: 1-17 

Text           v13

Introduction

REACHING FORTH: Paul reveals to the church at Philippi his mind and heart with regard   in time. He had already stated that that for Him his great objective was ‘to know Christ’ and that everything was minor and minimal in comparison to Him – v10. Further, he goes on to make the point that he wants to ‘apprehend that for which he had been apprehended of by Christ’ – v12. Not only does he desire to lay hold of Christ as Christ has laid hold of him, but to lay hold of everything that Christ desires him to lay hold of.

IMMENSE POSSIBILITY: He knows this to be a tremendous possibility because he has now been laid hold of by a new life and dynamic an power. There is reference in ‘unto the resur-rection from the dead’ – ‘from among the dead’ – v10. There was a period when he was amongst the spiritually dead and without the life of God but that has been radically transformed by Christ in resurrection power and he is now able to reach out, forth and up and find a fresh dimension of expression and fulfillment. Whilst he is grateful for what has been accomplished he knows that there must be a moving on. Whilst grateful for the past, he knows it is but the starting point for something bigger and better in the present, and he fills his mind with the thought of grander prospects.

What is it the Lord desires that His people/servants should reach forth unto in their lives and experiences?

1/. A GREATER WORSHIP OF GOD CREATED B A SANCTIFIED AND WHOLESOME REVELATION OF HIM

All will admit that our primary role is that of being a true worshipper of Him but fail to really make good our ministry in this connect-ion. There is the need to see what God regards as worship and then personally attend to it as He desires. The woman of Samaria had her ideas on the matter and it was Jesus who had to give her a basic understanding in relation to it – John 4. For the OT people God wanted them to be a nation of true worshippers and so gave detailed instructions on this issue. Worship really arises out of our understanding of God and His worth-ship and is not to be sim-ply focused on the music employed. It is primarily the adoration of the heart in its utmost appreciation of Him – see Isaiah 6; John 12: 3-8; Revelation 1. A focus of life is how best we can daily express our worship of Him.

2.   A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD SEEN IN A SACRED AND DEVOTED COMMUNION WITH HIM

The daily and constant express-ion of Christian life should be in an increased association with Him in walking and talking with Him. What was recorded of Enoch needs to be the experience and testimony of each one that pro-fesses a oneness with Christ – ‘and Enoch walked with God’ Genesis 5: 22, 24. This is something that has to be cultivated and developed as a genuine habit so that in the procedure of life there is a growing intimacy with the longing to get as near to Him as possible. The hymn ‘Oh for a closer walk with God’ is a relevant song to sing and anything that prevents such should be dealt with. Note: Abraham was ever building his daily altars.

3.   A FULLER AND RICHER WORD FROM GOD RESULTING IN INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WAYS AND PURPOSES

It is a very choice thing to have God speak into your life, and He can do so in a number of ways. Two of His main lines of com-munication are through his writ-ten and prophetic word. Mind and heart should always be open and sensitive when He seeks to address – 1 Samuel 3: 10. When He comes to make His word known there ought to be a maxi-mum tune in and response. He wants us to be up to the fact of revelation so that we become in-formed and inspired by what he has to say. He seeks to increase the knowledge so that His people are upgraded in their comprehension.  Note His statement to His disciples: Mark 7: 18; 8: 17; Matthew 16: 11; John 15: 12.

4.   A GREATER WORK OF GOD IN ORDER TO DO MORE AND TO SEE THE GREATER WORKS OF GOD   

Whatever we may have done for God is small in comparison to what He has truly done for us. There is no way that anyone can fully pay back the immense debt that is owed to Him. It is essen-tial that everyone has the desire and commitment to improve their serve and service. God gives time and opportunity to do this and it should not be over-looked or treated indifferently. 

But then there should be the immense desire and prayer to see the greater works of God made manifest which Christ promised – John 14: 12 and which the infant Christian Church saw.

CONCLUSION

How many really want to see improvement on all of these four fronts?

Thank God for progress made and the success story so far? All is not disappointing and negative.

Take time to make sure that these things are functional and where there needs to be some tuning up, let spiritual action take place that will please the Lord and ensure your progress.

flow 3

 

Leave a Comment

sermon starters

May 23, 2013 at 7:06 am (Sermon Starters)

ernes1

Rev. E. Anderson

A PROPHETIC ILLUSTRATION  

This is a simple outline for you to think about and meditate on. The introduction, main thoughts and conclusion need further material to be added. It is an outline for you to expand, develop more fully and fill in to spiritual profit and inspiration.

Hosea 1

This is quite a unique and telling personal story of how God called upon a man who was His servant to marry a prostitute. There are those that are of the opinion that she was not such when Hosea married her but that she had a spirit of prostitution in her when they were joined together as man and wife and this unfaithfulness was to reveal itself later in the marriage. It was purposed that this would serve as an illustration and a poignant revelation of Jehovah in relationship with His covenant people – v2. It can be appreciated, it was to turn out to be a very demanding and painful experience for His servant but he was ready to respond to the direction. In the first revelation three children are to be born to Gomer, whether they were Hosea’s children one is not clear but he showed his responsibility in spite of her waywardness and wickedness. The naming of the children was to convey important messages on a wider front to the nation.

1/. THE FIRST CHILD IS CALLED JEZREEL – ‘GOD SOWS’ – vv3-5

The simple meaning in the name was ‘God sows’, at this particular point, in judgement. The northern part of the nation was to know the severe hand of God in bringing desolation which affects their union. Because of her wicked whoredom she is to experience great punishment. The time has come when the inevitable has to occur. It is to suffer because of the way she has behaved and is represented in what the monarchy had done.

2/. THE SECOND CHILD IS CALLED LO-RUHAMAH – ‘NOT LOVED’ – vv6.7

This child was an expression of the awful truth of not being wanted and loved. Possibly the worst thing in life is not to be loved and wanted and it must be a terrible thing to sense and feel and to cope with. It could well have been that she was a child of prostitution and Gomer was not really bothered about her birth or existence and even Hosea may not have been very profuse in affection. The truth is, God is saying to His people, “you have forfeited my love by your doings, taking yourself out of my covenant and covering”.

3/. THE THIRD CHILD IS CALLED LO-AMMI – ‘NOT MY PEOPLE.’ Vv8,9

This would kind of suggest ‘divorce.’ The birth of this child was the last straw. Hosea had no alternative seemingly but to part company and send her away. She is to be rejected and left to face the music of her carrying on with other men. Israel is to be sent into slavery to learn a hard and bitter lesson.

CONCLUSION

But it is not to end like this. The love and grace of God is to break out in a greater manner and measure and restore the broken relationship between the two parts of the nation and make them one again and one with Himself – WIO-11. A miracle is to occur later on that will deal with this sordid situation and effect a pure and true union and where the names are to take on new meaning. God sows in blessing and where they will be ‘My people’ and ‘the one I love.’

sparrowhawk

Leave a Comment

powerful quotes

May 23, 2013 at 7:02 am (Quotes)

leigh 10

Rev. L. Goodwin

POWERFUL QUOTES

 

LOVE

A Wayside Pulpit outside a church in the RhonddaValley, Wales had the message `Love your neighbour’ but someone had written underneath `I can’t – I know him.’

“Love reduces friction to a fraction.”

“Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live with” – James Baldwin 

“The hardest of all is learning to be a well of affection, and not a fountain; to show them we love them not when we feel like it, but when they do” – Nan Faitbrother 

“Love is a circle whose shining span returns to the point where it began.

The love you give sincere & true, curves gently & surely back to you”  – From the Empire State beacon

 LYING

“Get hold of these 2 principles & you won’t go far wrong: God cannot lie; He will not delegate to you the privilege of lying for Him.”  – Dr Speer – Christian Ethics teacher 

“Nothing destroys the truth faster than stretching it.” 

“If you tell white lies be careful that you do not become colour blind.”

“The best way to avoid lying is to do nothing that needs to be concealed.”

A minister was disturbed one day to see a group of boys surrounding a stray dog. He went up to them & asked them what they were doing. They said that they were holding a competition. The boy who told the worst lie would be able to keep the dog. The minister was horrified by this & told them that when he was their age he would never have dreamed of doing such a thing. One of the boys sadly stated “Well that’s it boys, it looks like he wins the dog!”

 

“The ability to lie is a liability.”

 bird

Leave a Comment

« Older entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 31 other followers