Christian Prime Timers supplied by Rev. E. Anderson

May 28, 2008 at 7:02 pm (Christian Prime Timers)

                                                 

Rev. E. Anderson

PRIMED, TIMED TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER

 

Reading    Genesis 37

 

Introduction

YOUNG PRIME TIMER: Looking at the life of Joseph right from the outset it is possible to conclude that here was a young person who was divinely primed and timed to succeed. There was an evident plan with respect to his existence and this knowledge and conviction inspired and directed his thinking, believing and procedures, and it was present so early in him. None are too young to be primed and timed by God, in fact, He loves it that way. EVIDENT DIVINE TOKENS: It is possible to discern and trace evidences of this priming and timing and know that these factors can be reproduced again in others. He is but a pattern set up by God of what can actually occur again and again as his life is viewed, valued and the things that were birthed and developed in him be further generated in those who desire the same. One of the great reason for the record and signs of this special feature is that it will promote even more being primed and timed people by God. GREAT QUALITY THROUGHOUT: Joseph was not a five minute wonder. He did not simply burn and shine for a short while, but consistently through his career on earth in his relationship with God and his life and work, he demonstrated immense graces, virtues and gifts that are most noticeable. As each stage and phase is negotiated he expresses tremendous qualities that pleased heaven and made him a worthy and noble person to be commended to all.

 

Here are some of the things to be observed that serve as a present inspiration.

 

  1. HE WAS BIRTHED INTO A CHOSEN RACE

 

From a very early age he would be conscious of the fact and reality that he was special and unique. The reason for this would be the knowledge of his ancestry and pedigree. He had a father, grandfather and great-grandfather who had known unusual and extraordinary experiences with God and that his family had been singled out as chosen by God to fulfil an exceptional destiny, and he was an essential part of it. It had all started with Abraham – Genesis 12: 1-4.

 

Those who have been divinely born again are divinely chosen and are a new race of people chosen to succeed and achieve divine expectations – see Ephesians 1: 4. Christians are not low but high-born to rise to eternal prominence and presidency!

 

  1. HE POSSESSED A SPIRITUAL AND LOVING FATHER

 

            One of the great blessings and advantages that was his lot in earliest days was to have a good, godly father. Jacob had not been the best of men but he had always entertained a deep desire for God and en route in his life God had been shaping him up in many ways. He had a great story to tell of God’s goodness, faithfulness and promises and in Joseph he found a good listener and learner. With tender, generous and spiritual care he invested into this son that he believed was different and was destined for significant things. Joseph was prepared to be mentored and this was a means of priming and timing by God.

 

            It goes without saying that every Christian has a great loving Father that wills to share things of enormous value and benefit. We must possess the aptitude to listen and learn and so be primed and timed in and according to His will.

 

  1. HE HAD DEEP ASPIRATION AFTER THE THINGS THAT MATTERED

 

This youth was not lacking in desires of a God-ward nature and it seems apparent that he was reaching out for the deeper and greater considerations of life. He did not want to exist in a vacuum but longed for real purpose to enter into his being and procedure. It is evident that he had moral and spiritual principles operative in his living which God must have been pleased with. There was no coarseness, vulgarity or unbecoming mannerisms only the will to be a quality young man. At this time God must have been pleased by giving him some unusual dreams that evidently had some immense significance with respect to the future – Genesis 37: 5-10.

 

It is vital that at the earliest stage possible we make known our affection for God and aspirations for spiritual realities and blessing.

 

  1. HE LEARNED TO COPE WITH ADVERSITY

 

He is one of the characters of the Bible that we know knew how to deal with major, personal problems and afflictions. His brothers were not very pleased with him and revealed their evil attitudes. Being sold into slavery and sold as a slave was not a very nice thing to happen but he managed it with grace and dignity. Being made a prisoner was also a galling experience but somehow he holds his head high and maintains his faith. In such, he was divinely primed, time and sustained – see Psalm 105: 17-19.

 

No Christian believer is immune from adversity and trial and must see such as part of God’s training and timing for greater status. They are part of the divine deal in coming to effectual leadership and ministry. Within those experiences a proper spiritual attitude must be birthed and developed – see James 1: 2-4.

 

  1. HE RESISTED THE SUBTLE TEMPTATION TO SIN

 

Opportunity readily presented itself to sin but he reacted rightly against it through the wisdom and grace of God. It was quite a thing to be desired by the mistress of the house and she could put on the charm and make things seductive. But he was primed and timed by God to reject this trap and safeguard God’s Name and his own integrity and spirituality – Genesis 39: 8-10. His name has gone down historically as one person who knew how to confront temptation and overcome.

 

The Christian is assured that temptation will come to try but that there is a way of escape if it is divinely sought – 1 Corinthians 10: 13. Your reaction to this sort of thing will reveal whether you are primed and timed by God.

 

  1. HE WAS ABLE TO USE THE SKILLS OF MANAGEMENT

 

He did possess unique skills and abilities that marked him out as a person who possessed wisdom and strategy to direct things in a successful manner. As he was primed and timed by God he was graced with practical as well as spiritual powers that enabled him to give leadership. In a humble but dynamic manner he was able to use his God-given talents and potential for good, in Potiphar’s home, the prison and later in a national way. He would be the first to recognise that God had equipped him with such aptitudes.

 

As life is lived for God, it is within His sovereign power to bestow and bless people with certain capacities that cause them to be fruitful and stand out in ministry. He can take ordinary people, prime and time them for exceptional service – e.g. Peter, from fisherman to apostle etc. 

 

  1. HE MANIFESTED A GREAT SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS

 

The time came when he had to evidence a terrific attitude towards his brothers that had greatly grieved, wounded and offended him. But he knew that God had primed and timed him in order to demonstrate this spiritual grace and he made this obvious – Genesis 45; 1—8. It says that ‘Joseph could not refrain himself from all that stood by’ – v1. This was the crucial moment when love, grace and forgiveness had to break out in an incredible manner. He had been made ready for this display by God and he was not lacking in this grace.

 

It is possible to discover and know how good and great people are when this comes into view. Joseph had not become hardened by all that had gone wrong but softened by God to give an example of unreserved mercy, forgiveness and absolution. God is glorified when this is in full view.

 

CONCLUSION

 

   The same God that was with Joseph and in his generation is still existent and operates in similar manner. None are too young or old to be primed and timed by and for Him for major significant roles.

 

   There are stages and experiences to be successfully negotiated by His help and input and when is all worked out, the person is in a place to live and serve the Lord to the maximum.

 

 

 

 

 

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A Time to Laugh served by Rev. E. Anderson

May 28, 2008 at 6:58 pm (A Time to Laugh)

                                                   

Rev. E. Anderson

Humorous Factors

 

A man was talking to God and he asks God, “God, since you made everything, what is money to you?” God answered, “Well, one million dollars to you would be one penny to me.” The man thinks and asks, “God, since you have been around forever, what is time to you?” God replies, “Well my son, one second to me would be one million years to you.” The man thinks some more and asks, “God, can I have a penny?” God replies, “In a second.”

 

Which Bible character had no parents? Joshua, the son of Nun.

 

There was a tradesman, a painter called Jacque who was very interested in making a penny where he could, so he often would thin down paint to make it go a little bit further. As it happened, he got away with this for some time, but eventually a diocese decided to do a big restoration job on the painting of one of their biggest churches. Jacque put in a bid and, because his price was so low, he got the job. And so he set to erecting the trestles and setting up the planks, and buying the paint and, yes, I am sorry to say, thinning it down with the turpentine. Well, Jacque was up on the scaffolding, painting away. The job was nearly completed when, suddenly, there was a horrendous clap of thunder. The sky seemed to open and the rain poured down, washing the thinned paint from all over the church. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck and knocked Jacque for a loop. He flew from the scaffold landing, landing on the lawn, amongst the gravestones, surrounded by telltale puddles of the thinned and useless paint. Jacque was no fool. He knew this was a judgment from the Almighty, so he got down on his knees and cried: “O God! Forgive me for all the wrong I have done! What should I do?” And from the thunder, a mighty voice spoke…. “Repaint! And thin no more!”

 

A guy breaks into a house and is creeping across the pitch black living room when he hears a voice, “WATCH OUT, Jesus is behind you!” Startled he flicks on his flashlight and breathes a sigh of relief to see a parrot in front of him. Again the parrot says “Watch Out Jesus is behind you.” The robber says to the parrot, “What’s your name then?” and the parrot replies “Moses.” The robber laughs and says, “Who on earth would call a parrot Moses?!” and the parrot says, “the same one that would call a rottweiler Jesus!”

 

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that humans had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell God so. The scientist walked up to God and said, “God, we’ve decided that we no longer need you; We’re to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don’t You just go on and get lost.” God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, “Very well, how about this? Let’s say we have a man-making contest.” To which the scientist replied, “Okay,great!” “But,” God added, “we’re going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.” The scientist said, “Sure, no problem” bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt. God looked at him and said, “No, no, no. You go get your own dirt.”

 

A lady was asking God how long she had to live one day. “40 more years,” said God. The lady was so happy, she went out and had plastic surgery done to her face. On the way home, she got hit by a bus. “You said I had 40 more years,” she complained. “Sorry,” said God, “but since you had plastic surgery, I didn’t reconize you!”

 

A rich, Christian man was talking to God, “Can’t I take it with me when I go?” God always answered the same way, “NO!” Finally one day the man talked God into it and God said, “Okay you can take two suitcases full of anything you want.” The man filled up two suitcases full of gold. When the rich man reached the pearly gates St. Peter asked the rich man why he had two suitcases. The rich man said, “It’s okay I’ve already cleared it with God.” St. Peter asked him to open the suitcases, when the rich man opened the suitcase, St. Peter said, “Why’d you bring paving?”

 

One Sunday, a pastor exhorted about I Corinthians 13. The congregation loved it so much because everyone can easily relate to the topic. The pastor said, “Next Sunday I will preach about lying, and I want you to read the seventeenth chapter of Mark.” The other Sunday, the pastor asked the congregation, “Who among you read Mark chapter 17? Half of the congregation raised their hands. Others said “AMEN!” The pastor paused then remarked, “Now I will begin my teaching about lying, Mark has only 16 chapters.”

 

 

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Childrens Page collated by Rev. E. Anderson

May 28, 2008 at 6:52 pm (Kids Stories)

                                            

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.

 

JACKIE AND THE SMUGGLER’S CAVE

 

It was a blistering hot day and Jackie had just finished a smashing sand-castle and after having had a very hectic time bathing in the sea.

 

Suddenly she heard a voice . . . . . ‘TAKE TWO STEPS FORWARD AND THREE STEPS TO THE RIGHYT AND YOU’LL FIND THE KEY TO TREASURE UNDER AA HEART SHAPED STONE’. Jackie was startled and thrilled. .A key to treasure, indeed . . . . He was on his feet in no time.

 

TWO STEPS FORWARD . . . . EXCITEDLY Jackie fulfilled the instructions of the Voice . . . . THREE STEPS TO THE RIGHT . . . . .He looked down . . . .Sure enough, there was a great-heart shaped stone. Jackie struggled and struggled and eventually . . . .success . . . .the stone moved and there was THE KEY TO THE TREASURE.

 

He moved again back to his original position . . . .  But where was the Treasure? He’d got the key, but where was he to put it. He had been leaning against a cliff side . . . . very, very rocky and he guessed it must be there somewhere that the Treasure was hidden.

 

He peered closely at the Rock face and then, sure enough, he saw the key-hole. In a flash the key was into the lock and little Jackie struggled to open the lock, but it mut have been years since the lock had been used for he went red in the face and the veins stood out on his temples as he sought to turn that key. Eventually it yielded to the strength of our Midget Adventurer. He pulled and with a creek the Rock Door swung open and there was a SMUGGLER’S CAVE.

 

Everything was coated din dust of centuries. There was an old table with a Candlestick on it and a Candle in the Candlestick. Have I a match? He was a wise lad and didn’t smoke but he happened to have his camping shorts on and there in the pocket was ONE MATCH> He mustn’t let it go out. He struck the match . . . .It spluttered and faded, he quickly inverted it and it survived and now the Candle Light was casting eerie shadows around the Cave. There was a sword on the wall and a few old Muskets and there . . . .  over the other side  . . . .was surely . . . .THE TREASURED !!!!! Three Huge, Old Battered Chests. Jackie placed the key on the Table by the Candlestick and dashed over to the First Treasure Chest. After a great struggle, the lid began to creak and groan to reveal, hundreds and thousands of Copper Coins . . . . .

 

This is it thought Jackie…..Lollies for life.   Ice Creams for ever.  Bubble Gum till I stop chewing.   He crammed his pockets with the coins, thought of all the machines he could play on, of the great times he was going to have and with a chortle of glee moved over to the Cave Entrance with his rich hoard of Copper Coins.

 

He was about to jump from the Cave  on to the Sands when the same VOICE spoke again . . . .

 

‘Jackie, YOU’VE LEFT THE BEST BEHIND’.

 

‘Left the best behind,’ said Jackie out aloud.  ‘What could be better than all this lovely money.      But he didn’t jump and after a while, he dragged himself, loaded down with Copper Coins back to the other Chest.

 

He began to struggle with this lid . . . . It opened rather easily . . . . and in a moment the Cave was ringing with his shouts of delight. Guess what was inside??????

 

It was packed with Silver Coins . . . .  In a jiffy the Copper was thrown into the dust of the Cave.  ‘Anyone can have that lot,’ said Jackie, ‘Its’ Silver for me’.   Now he was thinking of Ten Geared Cycles, Smashing Electric Railways, World Cup Football. Games, Action Space Games, Full Sets of Lego, “Cheyenne” Cowboy Outfit and, of course a Super Mobo Track Master !!!     He loaded. himself with Silver and made again for the Cave Door . . . . .but the VOICE spoke again . . . . .

 

‘Jackie, YOU’VE LEFT THE BEST BEHIND’.

 

‘But there can’t be anything better than this’, thought Jackie. Perhaps if he went again, this wonderful exciting adventure would come to an end.  But he’d done well obeying the VOICE before”, he’d try again.

 

The third chest was forced open. Jackie, gasped, gulped and gurgled “Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy, I’m a millionaire”, he yelled.    And sure .enough Jackie was right.   There. in the third chest was Sparkling Jewels, Solid Gold ornaments, Costly Diamonds and Rubies. Jackie was wealthy.  Out! Out! Out! with the Silver.  And he crammed every pocket with the Treasure.  As he staggered to the Door the third time, he thought ‘of touring; the World, of owning Manchester United, of a Pleasure’ Yacht better than Burton’s etc., etc. BUT THEN THE VOICE AGAIN! ‘You’ve left . . .’  ‘Oh shut up’, shouted Jackie and with a bound leaped out into the sunshine but as he landed he twisted his ankle and lay in agony.  After a time the pain eased and he began to rise.

 

BUT . . . . THE TREASURE . . . .IT HAD GONE . . . .  A PRECIOUS PIECE LEFT . . . . .  ‘I’ll get some more, if I can climb up’,  thought Jackie . . . .But the Key, he’d left it on the table AND THE CAVE DOOR SLAMMED BEHIND HIM . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

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