Word for the Week edited by Rev. E. Anderson

August 27, 2007 at 12:58 am (Word for the Week)

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Rev. E. Anderson

TRUTH
Psalm 119: 142-160; John 8:32; 17: 17-19

Truth has been rightly defined as that which is reliable and trustworthy and is consistent with the character and word of God. Man’s need is to possess the truth so that he may be a true being in every way, to God, himself and others. He cannot afford to be deceived or live a lie as it is not to his advantage in the belief and conduct of life. He needs to be a creature that is true and genuine throughout so that he may become wholly trustworthy.

One thing he can be sure of beyond all doubt on this: God is perfectly true and speaks, acts and records the truth. The reason for the Scriptures is that all may have a divine reference book to which to turn in order to discover the essential truth on the all-important issues of life. God has caused it to be written and miraculously preserved so that truth in all of the vital aspects will be known and applied to maximum benefit. God wants a race of people that are true so that He can have a true and sound relationship with.

Christ came with the purpose of leading men into the knowledge of the truth. He is rightly designated the Truth – John 14: 6, and those who listen to Him will know this to be fact and consequently will be freed from all that is of a deceitful nature and order. They will no longer be hamstrung with lies and falsehood and be victims of Satan the instigator and perpetrator of lies and who is the prince of liars. To those who receive Christ’s words and become fully discipled by Him, He makes such trustworthy and dependable.

In giving the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Christ, He comes as the Spirit of truth to convey and confirm truth. He leads people into the revelation of divine truth – see John 16: 13-15. His task is to make sure that the mind is furnished with pure doctrine and knowledge that can be accepted, believed and applied to utmost benefit. He takes hold of God’s written word and imparts light and understanding on it so that its principles and procedures can be put into practice.

Each day the mind must learn to meditate on the truth and extract from it all that will nourish faith, obedience to the God of truth. It is imperative that you know reality and live in accordance with truth so you will be safeguarded from all that is erroneous/
 
“There is no problem in dealing with error if truth is presented intelligently and in love”.             White

PRAYER

Grant me your truth Lord at all times so that my life and service will be built upon that which is genuine and reliable so I shall be saved and enable to save others

 

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Messages of the Moment presented by Rev. E. Anderson

August 26, 2007 at 3:01 am (Messages of the Moment)

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Rev. E. Anderson

Sharing your Life Message

By Rick Warren 

 

“Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them.” (1 John 5:10a GW)

“Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word …. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore – you’re the message!” (1 Thessalonians 1:8 MSG)

When you became a believer, you also became God’s messenger. God wants to speak to the world through you. Paul said, “We speak the truth before God, as messengers of God.” (2 Corinthians 2:17b NCV)

Your Life Message includes your life lessons. These are insights you’ve learned about God, relationships, problems, temptations, and other aspects of life. David prayed, “God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course.” (Psalm 119:33 MSG)

Sadly, we never learn from a lot that happens to us. Of the Israelites, the Bible says, “Over and over God rescued them, but they never learned – until finally their sins destroyed them.” (P 106:43 MSG) You’ve probably met people like that.

While it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. There isn’t enough time to learn everything in life by trial and error. We must learn from the life lessons of one another. The Bible says, “A warning given by an experienced person to someone willing to listen is more valuable than … jewelry made of the finest gold.” (Proverbs 25:12 TEV)

Write down the major life lessons you’ve learned so you can share them with others. We should be grateful Solomon did this, because it gave us the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, which are filled with practical lessons on living. Imagine how much needless frustration could be avoided if we learned from each other’s life lessons.

Mature people develop the habit of extracting lessons from everyday experiences. I urge you to make a list of your life lessons. You haven’t really thought about them thoroughly unless you’ve written them down. Below are a few questions to jog your memory and get your started:

So what?
* What has God taught me from failure?
* What has God taught me from a lack of money?
* What has God taught me from pain or sorrow or depression?
* What has God taught me through waiting?
* What has God taught me through illness?
* What has God taught me from disappointment?
* What have I learned from my family, my church, my relationships, my small group, and my critics?

Jon Walker is a pastor-advocate living in Southern California and the former pastor of communications at Saddleback Church.

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Great Stories collated by Rev. E. Anderson

August 26, 2007 at 2:55 am (Great Stories)

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Rev. E. Anderson

LIVE YOUR DREAM 

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable,

Race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing goal of someday owning a horse ranch He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000 square foot house that would sit on the 200 acre dream ranch.

He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, ‘See me after class.’

The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, ‘why did I receive an F?’ ‘The teacher said, ‘This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, ‘If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’

 

The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, ‘Son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.”

 

Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, ‘You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.

 

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000 square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.”  He added, ‘The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, he said, ‘Look, Monty, I can tell you this now when I was your teacher, I was something of a dream ~ stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.”

 

Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart no matter what.

                                                                                                      Jack Canfield

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Meet the Ministers introduced by Rev. E. Anderson

August 25, 2007 at 6:28 pm (Meet the Ministers)

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I have known the above couple for over forty years as they have served the Assemblies of God Fellowship and Christendom with distinction. Keith has been responsible for encouraging countless souls and has been an excellent preacher of God’s Word and still serves well, along with his partner, Elsie.

REV. & MRS. K. MONUMENT 

As a young boy of eight, in 1934, I heard Rev. Bramwell Evans, ‘Romany’ of BBC Children’s Hour fame, preach. He must have told us that to be a ‘Christian’ you had to invite the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Saviour as He was the only one good enough to take away our sin and make us clean enough to go to heaven. Anyway, I signed a card and Rev. Small, the local minister, sent me a letter with Bible texts in.

Nine years later I was an apprentice in an Engineering works. The war was on and ladies were coming in to the works. One young lady turned out to be an outstanding Christian, her name was Joyce. She invited m to an Assembly of God church. The second preacher that day was Walter Hawkins destined to be a Missionary in the Congo and later in charge of the Missionary office of the Assemblies of God. His preaching challenge us to know God more intimately. I faced that challenge and made a dedication to the Lord from which I have not wittingly withdrawn and subsequently attended the Assembly of God regularly.

In 1953 I was holidaying in Bury and was invited to preach at an assembly in Ramsbottam and it turned out that they had no resident minister and were looking for one. I was unaware of that. Eventually they invited me to take the pastorate although UI had very little experience in the ministry. It was there I met the girl who was to share my life and to be a tower of strength to me over fifty years.

Later on I was invited to take the church at Leek, Staffordshire and after a short while settling in. Elsie agreed to join me and we married in 1957. Since that time we have had a son, Neil still a bachelor, two daughters, Shirley married to Andrew and they have Aaron, Esther and Lydia ministering to the assembly in Burbage and Anne married to Nigel with Michael, Joel, Elizabeth and Samuel.

We are blessed. In the places where I ministered the blessing of the Lord was evident but I could not say that growth proliferated or revival broke out but I am glad to say that some found Christ and were baptized and saints established in the faith.

The Fellowship of Assemblies of God had at that time a Home Missions Department. A Council of five ministers appointed by the General Council supervised the planning and planting of new assemblies, one of which was appointed as secretary. later designated Director because of the nature of the work. In 1959 I was appointed and was elected sixteen times and served altogether 33 years.

I travelled over a million miles and never saw a serious accident5 though I had some hair-raising experiences. We were associated with 250 places with pioneer efforts and there were 175 Assemblies accepted into the Fellowship between 19660- 1990. During that time, Home Missions offerings rose from 3,500 pounds in 1959 to 39,500 pounds in 1987.

Most of the actual work was obviously done not by me but by others but it was privilege to be associated with them in the greatest of all tasks, that of telling the BEST of GOOD NEWS that JESUS SAVES.

In addition to the Home Missions work I was elected to serve on the Youth Council, the Board of Governors of the Bible College and for over 25 years on the Credential Council and the Executive Council which became the Board of Directors until it was dissolved in the 2007 Conference.

For a lad whose final school report read ‘a lad of average ability’ I have been blessed to be in the Fellowship that encourage and enabled me to serve the KING OF KINGS. HIS GRACE has been SUFFICIENT.  I travelled to preach in this country 20,000 miles last year and HE has not finished with me yet.

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Prayer Dynamics by Rev. E. Anderson

August 25, 2007 at 1:29 am (Prayer Dynamics)

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Rev. E. Anderson

 PRAYING IN AND WITH FAITH 

READING     Mark 11: 12-14, 20-26

  ELEMENT: In saying “Have faith in God” or “Have the faith of God.”, v22, Christ is highlighting the fact that divine faith is an essential element to seeing things of an extraordinary character. The disciples had been given an up-to-date illustration in reality of faith in action through the words of Christ. They had overheard Him curse the barren fig tree and seen its immediate impact within 24 hours and were amazed and astonished. Christ expressed the latent power behind the deed.

POSSESSION: He, by this declaration, indicates that it is possible to have this element as a possession. It is not something to be exercised by Him alone. Whilst he was glad that they had been impressed and influenced by what they had noted taken place in His life and ministry, He is evidently teaching that this was not simply to be known and shown by Himself. The fact that He says, “Have” means it is something for all that want to inherit it. He was more than simply dangling a carrot before their gaze. It was there for the taking.

POTENTIAL: It is apparent that faith has enormous potential, such is divine faith. In the example revealed, the fig tree immediately died from its roots, right from the seeming source of life and being and the result was the tree was shriveled up with no further possibility of production. It is imperative to really know what divine faith in the human spirit and being can effect. 

1/. CHRIST IS DESIROUS THAT WE SHOULD POSSESS THIS DIVINE FAITH 

The real reason why Christ did this deed upon the fig tree was in order to provoke and promote divine faith in those who were to be His leaders in Christendom. If it took possession of them and was manifested, then it could be released further through them to successive believers. He was simply entertaining Himself in the work or ‘showing off’ quietly to these men, but was engendering inquiry that would move on to seeing these same men exhibiting this divine principle and power. It is more than having ‘faith in God’, such is essential and is the basis really of having ‘the faith of God.’ As true trust in God is known and evident so there can come the added benefit of the faith of God that moves into doing the works of God. It means be able to inwardly believe and outwardly speak things into and out of existence. The first gives genuine birth to the second. Being sure of God brings and develops the sureness of God within the life and being and becomes the dynamic grounds of the expression of divine life and action. And this is what Christ wants to happen. He was always encouraging the faith factor in His ministry and teaching, by deed and word. He is still affirming: “Have the faith of God.” 

2/. CHRIST GAVE EXAMPLE OF WHAT DIVINE FAITH COULD ACHIEVE

He not only gave living proof of it in the removal of the fig tree, He makes the great affirmation that much more could be wrought by its presence and released. Even mountains could be moved out of sight from the landscape and place into the sea out of view – v23. What an earth moving operation in one single moment! The bulldozer of faith and comes and shifts this monstrous factor from view in and by a single omnipotent word!  By stating this, he reveals there is no limitation or restriction to the power of divine faith. Faith is greater than the object or problem. It is leveled off and reduced to its proper size and shown to be impotent before the law and power of omnipotence. This latent dynamic of faith must become a patent force that produces the results that are needed. This is beyond any doubt : “For verily I say.   . . . .” 3/.

CHRIST REVEALED THAT DIVINE FAITH SHOULD BE LINKED TO PRAYER

Faith of this nature can come into operation and manifestation in and through prayer, so prayer becomes an exciting project and prospect. Praying is not to be drab and dull and full of foreboding but an occasion where things really begin to happen and taken place. The divine dynamic produces the dramatic and historic! The prayer factor should be an important part of the Christian’s schedule ‘when you pray.” Because of what can be wrought through this powerful ministry, prayer should be much in evidence. At prayer time there should also be a ‘desiring’, “what things you desire . . .” Big and wholesome desires should be present and motivating and inside the faith level that energizes and inspires to a sense of expectancy and proclamation.

4/. CHRIST UNDERLINES THAT DIVINE FAITH IS ASSOCIATED WITH A RIGHT STATE

By declaring His mind with regard to forgiveness, it would Christ is dealing with that which is hinders this divine faith being birthed and released – vv25, 26. This can be a blockage and a barrier to what can occur of and explosive character.  

CONCLUSION

 ·         If Christ is desirous that it should be ours, let us not miss out on the possession.

·         Let our prayer become divinely adventurous in divine expectancy and exploits. 

·         Do not permit anything or anyone to see these things fully manifested.                

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Top Ten by Rev. David Gilpin

August 24, 2007 at 6:16 am (Top Ten)

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Rev. D. Gilpin

INTRODUCTION

Behind everything you see is something you don’t see. This book ‘Top Ten’ is designed to outline nuggets of wisdom that often remain invisible behind thriving churches and ministries. Mixed with a touch of humour, Top 10 of Everything looks into the Private World, the Practical World, the Handy Hints World and the Wide World of Knowledge. It gives advice on many subjects that may prove to be invaluable to established and up-and-coming leaders. Read it all at once or read it one Top Ten at a time. This book can also provide new preachers with an opportunity to ‘borrow’ some of the Top Ten outlines to create live and dynamic sermons.

Enjoy and be inspired – by Dave Gilpin

This book is available from Hope City Church, The Mega Centre, Bernard Road, Sheffield S2 5

 TOP TEN By Rev, D. Gilpin minister of Hope Church Sheffield  

TOP TEN TESTS THAT GOD TAKES A LEADER THROUGH (from the life of Abraham)  

THE ACID TEST 

Every leader undertakes seasons of preparation. God tests our faith and takes us through the refining fire. He takes out all that is of human origin and leaves that which has been divinely inspired. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness, Joseph and David spent 13 years in obscurity. Abraham spent 25 years plus more, in his season of preparation, so that he could fulfill his call to be the ‘father of many nations’. Every skyscraper needs deep foundations and every leader needs them too.

  1.   The familiarity test

God asked Abraham to leave his country and his people and go to a land where he’d never been before.

     2.  The famine test

When Abraham arrived in Canaan the place was in famine. Things often get worse before they get better. Remember – don’t run away. Stay committed. It’s only the famine test.

     3.  The forensic test

Abraham lied in telling the details of who his wife was. It’s the little foxes that can spoil the vine.

     4. The first-shall-be last test

Abraham told Lot that he could be the first to choose the land he wanted. Abraham wasn’t going to ‘manufacture’ or ‘force’ prophecy to come to pass. God would give the land to him.

    5. The forerunner test

Lot was in trouble. Abraham won with only 318 men. God will give you a sample of war and a sample of victory. Be faithful to it.

     6. The first-fruits test

What do you do when victory comes? Abraham knew that God had given him the victory. He gave a tithe to Melchizedek to honour God, not himself.

     7. The fidelity test

When options are placed in front of you – do you go with Hagar or stick with Sarah? Do you want an Ishmael or an Isaac? 

        8. The fruition test 

It took 25 years for the first part of the promise to come to pass. The time test is often the hardest of all. Don’t quit.

       9.  The funeral test 

God called Abraham to give the dream up – to kill his son, Isaac. Resurrections only come from funerals. The ‘death of a dream’ test is the test of trust and the test of true love. Who would come first?

       10.  The finishing test 

The secret is in the follow through. Abraham buried Sarah and gave instructions about his son. Many start the race, but fewer finish it. True success is to raise up a successor who will take the baton and run with the promises.

 

Bible Extra      Hebrews 12: 5-13; James 1: 2-4; 1 Peter 1: 6-9

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Quotes supplied by Rev. L Goodwin

August 23, 2007 at 5:56 am (Quotes)

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Rev. L. Goodwin

QUOTES TO NOTE ABILITY 

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done  - 

Longfellow 

A buried talent is never a buried treasure.  Talents become treasures only through use  - 

 Rupert 

They are able because they think they are able  - 

Vergil 

ACTION 

What’s done can’t be undone  -  

Shakespeare 

Heaven ne’er helps the men who will not act  - 

Sophocles 

ADVICE 

Never give advice unless asked   - 

German Proverb 

Whatever advice you give be short   - 

 Horace Many receive advice, only the wise profit by it  - 

Syrus We all, when we are well, give good advice to the sick  - 

Terence         

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News and Views provided by Rev. A. Hocking

August 23, 2007 at 5:49 am (News and Views)

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Rev. A. Hocking

THE IRAQ SITUATION 

Recent Bombings in Iraq Remind the World That an Early Withdrawal of American Troops Would Lead to the Extermination of Religious Minorities in Iraq

Contact: Christian Defense Coalition, 202-547-1735, 540-538-4741 cell

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 /Christian Newswire/ –The death of hundreds of innocent lives in northwest Iraq, where terrorists targeted the religious sect known as the Yazidis, has been called “ethnic cleansing” by American military leaders.

 

Iraqi Christian leaders recently told an American prayer delegation to Baghdad that Christians would face extermination if American troops withdrew early.

 

The delegation, led by the Christian Defense Coalition, met with Prime Minister al-Maliki and cabinet members to discuss religious liberty in Iraq with a special emphasis on the persecuted Church. 

 

The Christian Defense Coalition is calling upon Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid to give assurances that Christians and all religious minorities will be protected in Iraq.

 

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments, “This recent bombing in northern Iraq shows what will happen to religious minorities if American troops leave Iraq early.  Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid must remember an early withdrawal of American troops means genocide and extermination for non-Islamic traditions by the terrorists.  This would especially be true for hundreds of thousands of Christians.

 

“We cannot allow 2,000 years of Christianity to be brutally removed from Iraq along with other faith traditions.  Congressional leadership must lay out a clear plan and agenda detailing how to protect religious freedom and liberty in Iraq and ensure all religious minorities do not face ethnic cleansing and genocide.”

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Sermon Starters by Rev. E. Anderson

August 22, 2007 at 6:22 am (Sermon Starters)

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Rev. E. Anderson

THE TEACHING LORD -  MATTHEW 19:16-30; JOHN 3 

IGNORANCE: Into the world of man’s is ignorance and understanding Jesus Christ to bring light by means of His life, calling and ministry. Man lacked the true understanding of God and a real perception on life and its purpose and destiny. He, throughout his existence has been groping in the dark and seeking to find through his mind the reason for life. He has been exposed to a host of philosophers and philosophies and has become no wiser. What was required was a true teacher He really had the knowledge and the answers and was able to communicate them for the blessedness of society.

REVELATION: It was revelation from God and of God that was the basic and fundamental demand and Jesus Christ came as the revealer of God as God and genuinely taught the things of God. Even Nicodemus recognized that fact – John 3:2. People in Christ’s day and  ministry saw there was something different about Him as a Person and also noted there was something unique in His communications as He spoke. He shared and taught things of a heavenly order and character – John 3:12. He made the point that His doctrine was more than that of a natural factor – John 7:16.

VOCATION: Jesus Christ fulfilled a great and good vocation in this area alone. He was and is the Master-Teacher. He stands supreme amidst all humanity as the One who knew what mattered and was able to freely and fully impart instruction and revelation that ensured the real and full blessedness of mankind. It is imperative that all sit at the feet of Him who is the greatest and wisest Teacher of all. We are called to be disciples of Christ, called to be His pupils and mentored in the knowledge of Him and His ways. In this sphere we are in the schoolroom of life preparing for eternity.

 1/. HE CAME TO TEACH THE DIVINE BIRTH INTO GOD’S FAMILY  -  JOHN 3 

This religious ruler needed to know the importance of spiritual birth and Christ the Teacher came straight to the point to affirm to him his need of it. The fact that he was a Jew and had been schooled in the Scriptures and in the history of his people and tradition was not enough. He must be born of God and thus be by the Spirit of God.

 2/. HE CAME TO TEACH THE DIVINE WAY TO LIVE  -  MATTHEW 5-7 

The Sermon on the Mount is Christ the King conveying the Manifesto of His Kingdom, what it requires to be and live within His domain. At first He shows what the basic spiritual attitudes are to be and then makes known the life-style of all would be His subjects and disciples.

 3/. HE CAME TO TEACH THE TRUTH AND GIVE DIVINE  REVELATION  - JOHN 8:31,32; 716,17; 1:17 

He was and is the truth (John 14:6) and came to communicate the same to the sons of men, especially to those who would follow Him. Moses, great deliverer and teacher of Israel, was the man who gave the divine law under God to disciple and instruct a nation. Christ became the Master-Teacher to the world to bring the mind of God to all men and make known His ways, plans and processes – Hebrews 1:1.

 4/. HE CAME TO TEACH WITH DIVINE AUTHORITY  -  MATTHEW 7:24-29 

When He had finished His speaking the folks knew this man spoke and taught with a difference. An individual who was really ‘in the know’ as far God and the things of God were concerned. There was the stamp and mark of heavenly authority upon His person and words. He was entire unique, different to all the other teachers around. He gave directions and commands and made the people sit up and take notice. He spoke the absolutes, See John 7:46.

 5/.  HE CAME TO TEACH WITH ALL DIVINE SIMPLICITY  -  MAR 11:37 

Christ used parables a great deal in order to make the profound simple so that all could understand essential spiritual truth. It was one of His favourite ways of speaking and teaching. The common folk were really glad because they could hear and learn and understand the great truths of God and life. He was able to deal with questions that were loaded in a simple and dignified way.

 6/.  HE CAME TO TEACH BY THE WAY OF DIVINE EXAMPLE  -  JOHN 13 

He was the Master-Teacher and He mentored by His own life. Those especially nearest to Him could the divine explicitly manifest in what He did. He dramatized His words by gracious deeds that were most convincing. His best sermons are to be seen in what He did. He did not simply talk about love, he demonstrated it for all time by His death on the Cross. He illustrated humility – John 13.

 7/.  HE CAME TO TEACH THE DIVINE PROPHETIC WORD  -  MATTHEW 24 & 25 

He spoke of things that were to be in relation to His own life, death resurrection and of the future of Jerusalem and His Second Advent etc. He was the Teacher who was in the know of what would occur at the end of time. He was a man of foreknowledge and foresight and could clearly as to what is to be. Note the coming of the Holy Spirit and His ministry – John 14-16.

The important thing for us to receive our teaching from Him through His Word and the help of the Holy Spirit sent to be our Divine Mentor. He is the Master/Teacher we must be the master pupil and learner.

     

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In Hindsight by David Hind

August 22, 2007 at 6:17 am (In Hindsight)

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THE REST THING 

I am writing this on a day when I am tired. This week I have been over busy and this has meant less sleep than normal. Added to this, on Sunday night, our burglar alarm went off at midnight and I rushed downstairs shouting, ‘Hello’ to anyone who may be helping themselves to my possessions. I was comforted by the thought that my lads would be down in a flash if a fight ensued. With the alarm eventually turned off, the house checked and silence restored, all I could hear was the sound of my boys, soundly sleeping, not having been stirred.

 

When the same thing happened again the next night, I decided to ‘poke around’ with one of the screwdrivers in one of the sensors. He whole alarm fused (costing me £170) and the alarm bell rang out for longer than I am emotionally able to face telling you. When the emergency call-out man arrived at 1-30 a.m. he reversed at high speed into a lamp post outside our house. When he eventually prised open the boot of his car, his car alarm sounded and he loudly greeted my already suffering neighbours with language I haven’t heard in too many Christian choruses!

 

Life is lot easier to face after a good night’ sleep.

I recently went to see Thomas while he was working in our computer room. He was communicating with around eight people on MSN Messenger, listening to music, had the television on, and at the same time he was trying to text someone on his mobile phone, peel an orange and do his homework! I jest not! Call minding, conference calls, email, mobile phones, coffee in a travel cup, multi-tasking. Is there no end to the things that seek to rob us of a little rest?

Now I believe in hard work and that every adult is called to be a ‘working’ person. For some this may mean working in the home, for others it is working outside the home, but we are all called to work hard. I also believe that every Christian is called to serve their local church. Churches suffer from too many self-seeking Christians who can worship with passion, but then not serve, pick up litter, or make time to help others.

 So when you consider all this, how does the rest thing work? 

* Rest was built into the natural rhythm of life by God. He rested on the seventh day after creating the world and mankind.

* Rest draws boundaries around work and gives us chance to celebrate what we have achieved.

* Rest brings refreshment and re-orientates our values.

* Rest sets a pattern for life. Jesus said, ‘Come with Me yourself to a quiet place and get some rest’ – Matthew 11: 28.

* Rest is the promise of God.

Learn the secret of contentment

In his fantastic book, Ordering Your Private World, Gordon MacDonald talks about driven people:

1. A driven person is most often gratified only by accomplishment and its symbols.

2. A driven person is usually caught up in the uncontrolled pursuit of expansion.

3. Driven people tend to have a limited regard for integrity and are easily angered.

 

4. Driven people are abnormally busy and highly competitive.

I love to achieve, push things forward and dream of growth, but I don’t want to be a driven man and the balance is not always easy to find. Content is a key to rest and Paul writes, ‘I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or I want’ – Philippians 4: 12. Have you learned the secret?

 Watch how you live? 

You are precious and you need to look after yourself. A healthy diet, drinking lots of water, observing wise bedtimes, getting regular exercise, having structured time when you are quiet, and plenty of laughter are all important.

 Maintain healthy relationships 

Honouring marriage and friendship is healthy. If you say sorry, forgive regularly and practise loyalty you will find it easier to rest.

 Like yourself 

If you live with skeletons in the cupboard of your life, then rest is hard to find. Have a ‘clear out’, live in the light and realise you are amazing.

 Be secure and trust Him for everything 

Lean on God, hold on to Him, rely on Him and walk with Him. Everything is alright.

 Live Close to Jesus 

If you walk close to Jesus you will be a more restful person. Jesus said, ‘Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ – Matthew 11: 28

   

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