THE HAPPY EPISTLE!

There are recurrent themes in this book of Philippians.

Christian Joy and rejoicing. 4:18.

The gain of knowing Christ.

The examples of godly men, such as Timothy and Epaphras.                       And the example of Paul.

What Christ means to the Believer.

Chapter One. In this first chapter the key thought is,

“For me to live is “Christ” to die is gain.”  Chapter 1:5. Christian, Christ must be your life, nothing more or no one else.

In the second Chapter the main verse is expressed in verse five.

“LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALWAYS IN CHRIST.“

The whole thought in this chapter is- CHRIST IS YOUR MIND.

In the third chapter there is a strong desire to know Him.

“THAT I MAY KNOW HIM.” Christ is the believer’s goal.

In the fourth chapter the key thought is… the

“ENABLING POWER OF CHRIST” See verse 13.

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.       Is Jesus your strength?

So we understand that Christ is:

YOUR LIFE.                  

  YOUR MIND.     

YOUR GOAL.  

       YOUR STRENGTH.

Is He your strength? Is He your life?

He wants to express Himself in and through you. If He has top priority in your life, His desires will become yours. He enables strength to carry out those desires. He begins the work, and He fulfils it. You will see things from His point of view.

You will feel as He feels. You will have His heart for the lost.

You will have His wisdom to make the right choices. His own motives and desires will become yours.

Pray… “Lord Jesus, magnify your life in mine be it by life or by death.”

ARE YOU WORTHY OF HIS PRESENCE IN YOU?

Paul loved Jesus so much that he had a strong desire and longing to leave this world 🌎 to live forever with Him. Can you say,

“NOT I BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME.”

HIS MIND.

Christ is your mind, the True Mind in your mind. We are to be like-minded,     

HAVING THE SAME MIND, THE SAME LOVE as His, being in accord with Him and one another.

Are you Christ- minded toward others especially those who hurt you?

“LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH STRIFE OR VAINGLORY, BUT IN HUMILITY OF MIND COUNTING OTHER PEOPLE BETTER THAN YOURSELF.”

This verse is a cure for fractions in Churches or in the family.

Don’t try to validate yourself even when you know you are right, yet misinterpreted and misunderstood. Have the mind of Christ and love anyway. God knows, and that’s all that really counts. God loves you and has given you His peace and guilelessness. (meaning innocent and sincere, lacking deceit). Be humble and unselfish when facing difficult people.

Jesus Christ is our example.

He being God- humbled Himself verse 8.

This self humbling came in seven steps

1. As God, He gave up His kingly rights.                             

2. He emptied Himself.                          

3. He became a willing slave.                             

4. He came in the likeness of men.                                

5.  He humbled Himself.                          

6. He became obedient unto death.

7. Even to the horrific death of the cross.

How unselfish, how miraculous and He did it deliberately.

GOD-MAN-SLAVE-    CRIMINAL!                        God is saying to us, “Have the same mind” Choose to be obedient to the will of God. You are working out your salvation with fear and trembling. And while you are… God is working in you for His good pleasure in Christ.

No matter how hard it is, we are to do this without complaining ( against God ) or disputing (with man).

The lovely Apostle Paul copied Christ with the “loss of all things.”

So he could “Gain Christ.”             

Dear Christian when you give up much, you become entirely like Christ. You are not a looser but you gain, apprehend, attain and “know Him.”

Christ Himself is the supreme object of our desire and the true goal of our whole life and being.

MAKE HIM YOUR ALL IN ALL.

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Amen.

YOUR WEALTH AND WALK IN JESUS CHRIST.

Although Ephesians is not the longest book of Paul’s Epistles, it is the most profound of them. There is a grandeur conception about it, a majesty and dignity, a richness and fullness that will bless your life.

TWO MAIN PARTS.

Its six chapters fall into two equal parts. The first three chapters end with a climactic doxology. This first half, 1-3, is doctrinal, about the “wealth” that is yours through  Jesus Christ.  

The second is practical, about your “walk” as a child of God.  How wealthy you are in Him who is precious.

Paul describes this wealth by saying.

“BLESSED BE THE GOD  AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO HAS BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST.”

Then in the second part the opening verse reads:

“I, THEREFORE, THE PRISONER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, ASK YOU TO WALK WORTHY IN THE VOCATION WHERE YOU WERE CALLED.”

So we see clearly that this book of Ephesians is the epistle of our “Wealth and Walk in Christ.“

WEALTH.

Chapters 1-3.

We praise God for our excellent spiritual possession. Verses 3-14.

HOW VERY RICH I AM!

We pray that you will perceive the riches of His Grace towards you.

Verses 15-23.

Then, in chapter two, we see His new condition:

Verses 1-10.

And our new relationship with Christ. Verses 11-22.

Chapter 3. Reveals the Divine mystery of our relationship with Him. Verses 1-12.

Receiving the fullness of the Presence of God. Verses 11-21.

WALK.

Chapters 4-6.

Regarding the Church corporately.  Please make the time to read…

Chapter 4:1-6              Regarding you as a believer individually. Chapter 4:2-17.

Regarding outsiders who live  sensual lives.

Chapter 5:3-21.

Regarding special relationships. Chapter 5:22. Chapter 6:9.

Regarding the fight against the Spiritual powers of darkness. Chapter 6:10-20.

Do you comprehend how wealthy you are in Christ?              These excellent, spiritual, Heavenly, eternal riches are yours, through Grace in our Lord Jesus Christ.  You possess immense treasures that you may not have comprehended as yet.

1. YOU ARE CHOSEN IN HIM.

“Before the foundation of the world to not only to be saved but to live a Holy life without blame before Him in love.” Verse 4.

“FROM SHADES OF NIGHT TO REALMS OF LIGHT, OH PRAISE HIS NAME … HE LIFTED ME.”

You have been chosen out of this world, once and for all, to be God’s own peculiar treasure. He chose you to be “Holy,” without blame before him in love.

WE CAN NOT YET HAVE “FAULTLESS POWERS” BUT WE MAY HAVE …

“BLAMELESS MOTIVES”            IF!                                 WE WALK WITH CHRIST IN LOVE.

ADOPTED.

You are adopted in the sense that as an already child of God, He will publicly declare your legal rights as a born-again believer to live out your position as a chosen, adopted child of God with all the rights and privileges of Heaven that have been given to you.  What a promise, what privilege, and what prospect is ours. You are totally blessed.

When someone asks me the question How are you.? Instead of dumping all my illnesses upon them. I reply. “I am blessed.”

It’s the truth!  It’s a statement of faith in my total well-being in Christ. I am truly blessed.

REDEMPTION.

Verses  7,8. He not only fore-chose you as His own before you were born and for-fixed your destiny; He bought you with the price of His Precious Blood. Oh, at what cost to Himself to redeem you, ( buy back) to release you and ransom you from sin’s consequences.

You have been redeemed (set free) from the curse of the law Galatians 3:13.  Redeemed from the death penalty due to your guilt of sin.

His precious 💞  blood  has released you from the bondage of inherited depravity of sin.

We have been bought with a price.

1 Corinthians 6:20. We are His costliest payment. “Through His blood.”💕

REVELATION.

He has made known to us “the mystery of his will” in ages to come (in the fullness of times) beyond the Millennium and the Great White Throne.

To the ages yet to come, Ephesians 2:7. There will be one Throne of God and the Lamb. Rev 23:3. And a sinless glory that will never end.

Can’t wait!!😀

INHERITANCE.

“In Whom (Christ)  also you have obtained an inheritance.            The words                 “IN WHOM” are significant because God planned it before the foundation of the World, so no powers of darkness can overthrow the Divine purpose or rob us of our inheritance!

You are …

“IN CHRIST, and

“HE IS IN YOU.” Nothing will separate you from His Love.

SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

“After you had believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” The inheritance is made sure to God’s elect, and then the elect is sealed and secure for that inheritance. You are “His,” and you are “safe.” Many seals are broken, like Pilate’s, but no one will break this one because you have been sealed by the HOLY SPIRIT!

So, as we look back on these “Spiritual Blessings” which are ours in Christ…Those of…

Election.

Predestination.

Redemption.

Revelation.

Inheritance and the,

Sealing of the Holy Spirit. 

We praise the Lord for the breadth, length, and height of Divine Grace. This should drive us to our knees in praise and worship of His Holy Name, The Name above all Names in Heaven and on and under the earth.

Thank you, Jesus!

Amen.

And when the time is right, He will exalt you!

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Blessings Forever!

Amen.

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A TREASURE-TROVE IN  GALATIONS.

The Epistle, besides being a red flag against legalism, is a treasure trove of up-building truths. Let’s discover some of them.

Paul’s Theme in this EPISTLE was, The True Liberty of the Gospel.

The Liberty of a “Love Service” in place of,

“Law Bondage”

The Liberty of “The Spirit” in place of, Bondage to,

Hi”The Flesh.”

Then Paul at a later stage speaks about, Liberty of,

“The Spirit.”

He used agricultural terms fitting to the culture of the Galations. Such as “bearing”

FRUIT BEARING!

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, etc. (Galatians 5:22, 23).

BURDEN BEARING!

“Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

SEED BEARING!

“Whatsoever a man sows,” etc. verse 6:7. “Let us not be weary in well doing, for we will “reap” if we don’t faint.

BRAND – BEARING:

The marks “I bear in my body are the Brands ( marks) of the Lord Jesus .

This is an effective way to reach souls for Christ. We should stand on their own ground with them, as far as possible, talking to them in terms which are familiar and appropriate to them.

Jesus was a master of this, as He shared the Word of God in terms that were relevant to the culture of His day.

The lesson for us to take to heart is that we ourselves are to be fruit-bearers, burden-bearers,          seed-bearers and brand bearers for our dear Lord Jesus’ sake.

1. The first three are LOVE, JOY, and PEACE. These are those that you experience in your own heart. These portray your inner being to the World.
2. The next three are LONG- SUFFERING ( patient) GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, which are the dispositions you should reveal to others. For example, how you treat “your neighbour.”
3. The third three- FAITH, MEEKNESS  (humility) and SELF-CONTROL are attitudes that I must obtain to remain Godly, in this sin-sick world. These three have special reference to God.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT!

Paul spoke about the graces the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a consecrated believer. He called them the “fruit” of the Holy Spirit. Paul lays them out beautifully. Nine fruits are mentioned. They fall neatly into groups of three each.

So these three trios respectively express the Christian life that concerns yourself, your neighbour, and your Maker.

The first three look, inward,

The next three look, outward.

And the third three look upward.

These trios cover all relationships of life. They tell us that a life under the control of the Holy Spirit is one of fully absorbed beauty. True beauty springs from the heart rather than in outward doings done for appearances sake.

What you are determines the value of what you do! Only the Holy Spirit can produce these qualities in your heart and life. You will never produce them by “play acting” or through “Self Effort.”                        God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, and so can spirit-filled Christians tell if you are genuine  or not. You will not have many meaningful relationships if you keep faking it …

BE REAL, BE HUMBLE, BE TEACHABLE and allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify and change you from within. Don’t justify yourself by blaming others.

Of course you will make mistakes and fail, admit your weakness and remember it takes time, it’s a growing thing not self effort. 

Hand everything over to the Lord, nothing holding back and allow Him to stamp His image upon your ❤️ heart.

But there’s more!! These nine Graces (virtues) are arranged beautifully.

1. Love, joy, peace. Love comes first, then joy, then peace. The first mention of the three virtues is the foundation of the other two. So love is expressed by joy (love exhausting), and then comes peace, which is love resting (bringing tranquillity and relaxation).

2. The second trio is long-suffering, gentleness and goodness. “Long-suffering” is the foundation and its outworking is “gentleness”, which expresses the passiveness of patience. Then comes “goodness”, which is the active expression of long-suffering.

3. Take the third trio: faith, meekness, self-control. Here again, the first mentioned is the foundation of the other two. So first comes “faith,” then “meekness,” which expresses faith in God. And then comes “self-control,” which is faith expressed in everyday living.

How beautiful these Graces of the Holy Spirit are. You already have all these virtues dwelling inside of you.

But!  YOU MUST EXERCISE THEM TO THE POINT THEY BECOME A NATURAL OCCURRENCE.

Blessings upon you as you draw near to the heart of God.

He that has begun  good work in you…

“WILL PERFORM IT.”

Amen.

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THE LAW VERSUS GRACE.

Fake JUDAISERS had infiltrated Paul’s reasonably new Church in Galatia to persuade them that they must keep the Law to be saved.

Many people were being swayed away from the Gospel of Grace and were embracing once more the bondage of legalism in order to be saved.

If you have time to read this fantastic book, here is an outline you can use.

1. The attack of the Gospel. Chapter 1:1-16
2. Law versus Grace. Chapter 2:21
3. Salvation by faith verses Salvation by Good Works.
4. Slavery verses Sons and Heirs of God. Chapter 4.
5. The Sinful Flesh verses the Holy Spirit. Chapter 5.

  6  How to live well in a Christian Community

PAUL DEFENDS THE TRUE GOSPEL.

He reassured the  Christians who were troubled and confused by the false teachers who taught them that Salvation only comes by adherence to the Law of Moses: instead of accepting the Grace of the New Covenant.

PAUL’S EXPLANATION.

God had promised Abraham that He would bless him and his descendants after him, including the whole world (us). This was an everlasting Covenant that could not be annulled. Genesis Chapter 15.

THE LAW.

The Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai in Exodus was to set apart the Israelites from the World.

                                    Paul reminds the people that faith in Christ does not originate from the promises given to Abraham or the Mosaic Covenant; instead, it extends beyond Israel to us today.

Now, anyone who puts their faith in Christ is a Spiritual child of Abraham. Galations 3:9.

You are not only a child of Abraham but a child of God.                                       We are adopted into God’s family. Galatians 4:5,6.

This is why God sent Jesus. He lived the Law and died for our sins, then rose again victorious over the penalty of the Law of Sin and Death. He was the only One who could fulfil the Law.                                  You see, the Law is the schoolmaster of God that brings us to Christ. It makes it clear that we need a Saviour.

Jesus Christ introduced the New Covenant through His death by shedding His precious blood for our sins on the cross of Calvary.

When He cried, “It is finished”, refers to the Old Covenant being finished and the New Covenant having begun.

Each time we celebrate the Lord’s supper, we are reminded as we take the bread that it is a symbol of His Brocken Body, and as we partake of the wine, we also are reminded it is the Cup of the New Covenant, that is:

His blood is shed for the remission of our sins.

WHAT ABOUT SIN?

After our conversion, we still continue to sin, but we hate sinning against the ‘One’ who freely saved us.

Now, our conscience has been sharpened, and the indwelling Christ is changing us. His Spirit, which works in us, helps us to battle sinful desires. 

When we do fall short and sin, we remember that we can come humbly before God and apologise for that failure, knowing that His blood continuously avails for us and we are totally forgiven. 

The law is now written upon our hearts. We choose to obey the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit.

There are Churches today that place upon people burdens too heavy to bear, and they never find peace within themselves as guilt and shame tear them apart on the inside. 

These dear souls try to please God by performing good works to gain His acceptance, but never measure up to the standards that are placed upon them. No person can ever earn Salvation by Good Works.

“FOR BY GRACE YOU ARE SAVED THROUGH FAITH AND NOT OF YOURSELVES. IT IS THE FREE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.”  

Ephesians 2:8,9.

God wants all men to come to repentance and receive the gift of Salvation.

He made the way very easy so that even a little child can understand and come to Jesus. His arms are open wide to all who will come to Him. The most evil  wicked person is also welcome into His loving arms.

Dear reader, stop striving and stressing to please the Lord. You, yes you are accepted in the beloved. Praise God, it’s all by …

GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

IT’S THE FREE GIFT OF GOD.

Why?

BECAUSE HE HAS “ALWAYS” LOVED YOU.

Are you a church attender and yet do not have a relationship with Him? Then you are just practicing religion and still on your way to Hell.

God doesn’t send you to Hell, He wants you with Him in Heaven.

So let’s pray this prayer of Salvation together and make Him Lord and Saviour of your life.

“Lord God, I am a sinner and I cannot save myself by my own merit. I need You, Jesus, to save me from the penalty of sin. Thank you for dying for me that I might live in eternity with You. Come into my life now, change me and use me in the plan you have chosen for me.”

Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, tell someone, then find a Spirit-filled Church that believes in “Free Grace” and attend regularly.

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PAUL’S THORN!

First, let’s read the passage from 2nd Corinthians Chapter 12:1-10.

Paul pleaded with God to remove a very troublesome thorn from his life. What was this thorn?

There are many and various opinions concerning this thorn.

Was it a physical thorn that was causing Paul so much distress?  He does mention that it was… ‘In the flesh.’  Those who believe this interpretation hold to their conviction that because they suffer long-term illness and have not yet received healing, they have learned to live with it because they have decided that their malady is their personal thorn given by God to teach them something or to chastise them to change their behaviour, to make them Holy.

These people suggest that Paul had extremely bad eyesight. Others speculate, Malaria, epilepsy, migraines, speech disability or some other physical ailment.

Now, Paul does mention some of these infirmities. But was it ‘THE THORN’ that is referred to in this passage?

God never puts evil on a person, and sickness is not given by Him because,

‘HE IS THE HEALER!’ “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord, and He never changes His mind.” James 1:17.

A PERSON?

Was the thorn a person? For example, Alexander the Coppersmith did Paul a great deal of harm. 2 Timothy 4:14.

But God dealt with him according to His deeds. And Paul knew this.

FALSE TEACHERS.

Other scholars say that the thorn refers to false teachers sent by Satan who had entered the Church and were attempting to lure people away from the truth of the Gospel of Christ. All these afflictions and  many more added together could result in a huge nasty thorn.

But was this the thorn that Paul pleaded with God to remove? Speculation is really a term for guessing!

THE TERM FOR THORN.

In the Greek (Skolops) implies more than a rose thorn that caused mere annoyance: Paul’s thorn generated agony corresponding to what he saw in Heaven. The beauty and glory of the   presence of God in the highest Heaven.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAUL’S THORN,

God, or Satan?

The thorn, according to Paul himself, was from Satan, a messenger or an evil Angel to harass him.  

Though God didn’t directly afflict him, He allowed Satan to torment him to prevent him from being ‘puffed up’ with pride due to his unspeakable experience of the third Heaven.

It was a preventative measure so Paul who was an incredibly humble man would not succumb to pride.

So rather than being possessed by a demon within, Paul was attacked from without.

Paul could see some way forward and it was not very satisfying.

The Lord could remove the thorn, and Paul would cope in the ministry, though the ministry would be hindered, and he would continue to be afflicted.

Now God responded by leaving the thorn, but gave Paul  “Grace”.

SUPERNATURAL GRACE! 

It is not the “forgiving type of grace” but rather “empowering grace,” a sustainable, calming, supporting, and very satisfying grace. 

This is wonderful as God was offering          HIMSELF!  He will make Paul perfect in his human weakness with “HIS DIVINE POWER.”

You and I must admit our weaknesses and draw upon His strength. It is in our weaknesses where God dwells, waiting to empower us to fulfill our calling.

Instead of us wanting to run from hardships, He is in the boat with us. Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.”

We all have areas of weakness as did the Apostle.

1. Human incompatibility.
2. Insults and mistreatment.
3. Hardships that take you beyond your limits.
4. Persecutions, afflictions at the hand of hostile enemies.
5. Overwhelming and devastating experiences.              

No longer Paul needed to decide to live with weaknesses or even delight in them because they opened him up to Heaven’s Blessings of strength and power.

“CONTINUED WEAKNESS IS THE GATEWAY FOR GOD’S STRENGTH.”

Humility, not pride can only draw from God the supernatural Power to make us fruitful in our lives.

Power to be calm.

Power to be joyful in tribulation.

Power to evangelise the lost.

Power to preach the Word of God boldly.

Power to heal the sick.

Maybe, Paul’s thorn was the Ministry itself!  He does mention the “Care of the Churches.”

Whatever it was, it caused him to come to the end of himself, his own efforts.

We, as Paul, must “Die to Self.

Once we crucify self then we can live by the resurrection power of the Risen Christ. Then we can do ” all things” through Christ who strengthens us.

We can learn from this study how to rightly divide the Word of God. Let’s not argue from silence and keep in mind as we read this Bible quote:

IF THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES SENSE … THEN SEEK NO OTHER SENSE.

Paul told  us that the thorn was a demon, and the purpose of its presence was to prevent him from doing anything in his own strength but to do:

“ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES HIM STRENGTH.”

Paul definitely fought the good fight of faith; despite all opposition, his relationship with God grew from strength in faith, love and power. He was more than a conqueror through Christ, who loved him so.

When life goes into meltdown, when your feet are swept from under you. Don’t throw in the towel but continually draw upon “His Strength.”

Move forward trusting that He loves you, and in Him, you live and move and have your being.

Amen.

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ABOUT THE JUDAISERS.

The influence of this sect of JUDAISERS was momentous in apostolic history. Barnabas and Peter were swayed by their legalistic doctrines, and  Paul singularly stood against such teachings and brought them back to  God’s principles of right living. 

This erroneous teaching was spreading amongst the Pauline churches, undermining Paul’s authority, and poisoning the minds of his converts.  Paul refers to this in 2nd Corinthians 11:26.

The Apostle was now ” in perils among “false brethren.”

PAUL’S DARK HOUR.

This EPISTLE was penned in a quilt dipped in tears. Yet there is a lovely rainbow 🌈 shining through it all, for in his dire distress and deep disappointment, he is discovering more than ever before that the “Father of mercies” is the “God of all comfort” and that the “Heavenly Master’s strength is made perfect in His servant’s weakness.”

Paul was expecting to hear from Titus about the state of the Corinthians Church by meeting him at Troas, but he did not turn up. 2 Cor 2:13.

This disappointment plus physical illness caused much concern to the Apostle who was desperately trying to to preserve the true Gospel.

He writes, “When we were arriving in Mace donia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side, Without were people fighting: within were fears Chapter 7:5.

The Church at Corinth appeared in full revolt against him.  The Galatian Church was falling away to, ‘another gospel.’ Under all this anxiety, he began to lose his strength and was seized with an attack of severe sickness that could quickly terminate his life.

Read his own comment: “We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch as we despaired even of life… We had the sentence of death in ourselves.”

chapter 1:8,9. In chapter four he tells about ” bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus.” And of, “the outward man perishing” verses 10,16. Yet he knew what it was to be renewed in the ” inner man.”

Weak flesh… Strong Spirit!

All this, no doubt, gives an accurate account of Paul’s suffering mentally and physically, and it seemed that his vital ministry was nearing it’s end.

What a fantastic hero our brave Apostle is. In all this anxiety, he discovered a new opportunity open to the Lord in chapter 2:12. He preached the Gospel and started a new Church there!

How do you respond during your moments of anxiety and stress?  

Do you,

Lose it! and throw a ‘Hissy- fit’ in front of everyone you know?

Or do you throw in the towel and just walk out on all your responsibilities and totally give up?

Oh, how much we can learn from Paul.   Paul knew what crucifixion with Christ truly meant.

It meant to die to all selfish desires, crucifying the flesh, the lusts that war against the Spirit.

We are so grateful to this man of God, the Apostle Paul. Great is his reward in Heaven.

WORDS.

The things that came out of the mouths of his enemies were cruel.

They accused him of being “bold only from a distance.

“His outward appearance was “base” (contemptible, vile or low.) and his “speech was despicable.”

Compared with themselves Paul was “inferior.”

His preaching was a “poor edition of the Gospel.”

They verbally attacked the thing dear to his loving heart … His Church, saying. “This is a low-grade church.”

They undermined his Apostleship, accusing him of “not having the right credentials or personal qualifications” which they from Jerusalem could boast.

They even criticized him for “refusing financial support.”

As painful as the slurs upon him personally the worst was they were preaching … Another Christ … Another Spirit… and … Another Gospel thus taking away the simplicity that is in Christ.

Having spent time as a Pastor’s wife, my mind boggled as we heard the many things spoken against us—things that never crossed my mind, things that hurt.

Paul stood firm though deeply wounded by such ungrateful people.

He was indeed steadfast and unmovable, passionately defended himself, and gave a thorough account of the ministry in such a way as to clear himself against cruel misrepresentations.

How did Paul remain so strong?  I think that utmost in his mind was his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

He remembered what trials and tribulations he vehemently put upon the rapidly expanding Church. 

Only an encounter with Jesus can turn a person from evil to good, from legalism to love, from Satan to Christ. This calling to remembrance of what he was and now who he is motivated him to keep on keeping on. In his profound love and appreciation for God, he used these experiences to teach doctrine, to reprove, and to bring correction.

Paul knew his God. He constantly prayed for strength and endurance, and God honoured him, and his influence spread throughout this vast world. 

GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN.

Amen.

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GENUINE LOVE!

What is true love?

True love goes beyond the grand gestures and poetic words found in literature.

It’s not  only about the sparks of sexual pleasure that defines genuine love.

Love rightly expressed toward a person can bring health benefits that can impact their mental and emotional capacity which brings about physical well being.

It will increase life expectancy by lowering your Blood pressure and in turn will prevent heart attack or a stroke.

It can also can prevent cancer from taking hold due to a compromised Immune system.

Genuine love expressed frequently will cure feelings of depression caused by isolation and loneliness. It brings an increased sense of belonging, trust and happiness.

Those who enjoy a loving  relationship tend to recover more quickly from an illness.

True love will tend to lower blood pressure as it reduces stress and brings peace into a relationship that is difficult emotionally.

Genuine love and understanding eases chronic pain and increase activity the area of the brain associated with the control of the brain. Happily married couples report fewer headaches and back pain.

True, genuine love 💕 improves sleep. There is less tension and worry, and you feel supported and that “Someone” believes in you. There is evidence that suggests that happily married couples are ten per cent more likely to sleep peacefully and enjoy a restful night.

1 Corinthians chapter thirteen will help us understand what true, genuine love is from God’s point of view.

Though love affects the mind will and emotions, it doesn’t come from them.

So to find this wonderful love we must find the true source of love…

        GOD IS LOVE!

He does not just posses love,

         HE IS LOVE!

1 John 4:19.  8:16.

Our love is tainted by sin, God’s love is Pure and Holy. His essence is love.

True love can only be found in Him alone. Let’s look at the qualities of God’s Love.

1. UNCONDITIONAL.

Proverbs 10:12. “Love covers all sins.”

2. UNDYING.

John 15:13. “Greater love has no man than this, that  a man would lay down his life for a friend.”

God’s love is supreme, Jesus laid down His life for us while we were His enemies. (Sinners)

3. SACRIFICIAL.

John 3:16. “For God so loved the world 🌎 that He gave His only Son, that whoever chooses to believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.“

OH WHAT LOVE! 💕

4. UNENDING.

Jeremiah 31:3. “Yes, I have loved you with an amazing everlasting love.“

5. UNSELFISH.

Proverbs 17:17. “A friend loves at all times.“

6.  INSEPARABLE.

Romans 8:38,39.

Paul asks, who shall separate us from the love of God?

Can sickness, pain, sorrow or death, grief, shame, or depression? No! Because you are already healed of all these things. Don’t own them; Jesus has taken them upon Himself, and they are no longer yours. By the wounds that wounded Him, you “are” Healed.

Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Shall anything separate you from the love of God?       No, not one thing! Not even death, not life, not angels, not principalities, not powers, not things present, not things to come, not any other demonic creature, will be able to separate you from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus your “Love” and Lord!💕

From these qualities of God’s Love springs forth the fruit of practical love, such as:

Kindness. Forgiveness.                 Loyalty.  Faithfulness.

Honesty.                  Pure motives.                Good intentions.

Thoughtfulness. Goodness. Gentleness, and so much more.

How you treat  another person should come from a pure heart 💜 motivated by His love flowing freely through you.

You may not have received the love you deserve, so your cup of love is only partially complete, so you find giving and receiving love challenging. You can only give from the amount you have.

There are many people walking around who are starving for genuine love, craving to meet the ‘one’ that will totally satisfy that  need for love only to be disappointed over and over again. So they settle for less just to be wanted or provided for.

That is not your sentence, there is great hope offered to you in Christ Jesus.

Your cup of love can be filled to overflowing with the love  of God, yes, to the point that it supercedes human love. His love perceived and received  brings a security that far surpasses all that a partner could give or a close friend can offer. If a friend disappoints or rejects you it no longer affects you so deeply as you are totally enveloped in God’s all encompassing love.

If you are feeling empty, emotionally drained of love The Word of God is a good place to begin.

Do a study on the Love of God.

The love of Jesus.

Pray for a baptism of God’s Love. Crave His love.

Begin to love those who despitefully use you. Go slowly! go carefully!

True love will seek to bring out the potential in a person. As you continue to bless the unlovable, something extraordinary happens … You begin to sense more profoundly the feeling of God’s love filling your cup and increasing your security in His Love.

KNOW THIS! 

“WE LOVE HIM,  BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US ”

Prayer… “My Father in Heaven, I feel empty, lonely, even in a crowd. I’ve never felt loved and accepted, and I’m tired of trying to attain it. Please baptise me in Your Love, I surrender my heart into Your Heart. I now forgive those who have starved me of true love. Holy Spirit, fully immerse me now with your presence and grant me the Divine ability to give and receive love.”

“In Jesus’ Name,”

Amen.

Amen.

This ministry is motivated by an overwhelming love for Jesus and the Gospel. My desire to see people find true love that only He can give, just as I have experienced. Please pray for those who are lost and lonely to come to know the Lord as their Saviour.

For comments or questions, text … Heather Dalzell 0417 545 814.

For needed financial support, please email me at…

heatherdalzell777@Gmail.com.

To read more studies:

Website Address lightinthedarkness152884863Wordpress.com

PAUL AN EXAMPLE OF TRUE CHRISTIANITY.

It is a wonderful thing as a Christian Counsellor to be able to encourage people by saying,

“Copy me as I copy Christ.”

Paul said, “Do as I say” and “Do as I do.”

Let this be the ideal of every Christian, Pastor, Evangelist, and Teacher. We need to maintain  an equally higher level in our witness and ministry.

Paul never boasted about himself to be popular or praised and admired by those who heard him.

The only time he used himself as an example was to press home a “truth” that would challenge the listeners to change their own lives.

Oh how these personal touches challenge us !

Can you urge people to copy your behaviour as you copy Christ?

Are people, saved and unsaved,  scrutinising you to justify their own behaviour be it right or wrong?  Those who will not face their own sins of pride, criticism, and self righteousness will look at you to find reasons for their own faults and failures and use you to make excuses for themselves not to change.  These people are modern day Pharisees.

They are, “White washed graves full of decaying dead mens bones.”

Then there’s the ones who’s hearts 💕 are pure who do not judge and condemn others, but are keen to learn and grow up into Christian maturity. These people will only see whatsoever is good, holy and without blame so they can grow in Grace and Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was at the high point of Holiness as he had walked the the same path as Jesus had trod.

He didn’t need the approval of men as he was fully yielded over to the Holy Spirit to mould him into the image of Christ.

Let’s take a closer look at his life and ministry to discover how you can  incorporate these qualities in your life and benefit from these.

1.  Utter Loyalty.     Paul was loyal to his message, method and motive—chapter 2:1-5.

2. Soundness. Soundness in finding and building lives.

Chapter 3:10-23.

3.  Faithfulness.   Faithful to the Gospel message Chapter 4:1-6.

4.  Endurance. Endurance during severe trials and tribulations for Christ. Chapter 4: 9-16.

5.  Consideration.   Consideration for the weak Christians who struggled in deep waters. Chapters 6:12. 8:13.

6. Dying to Self.        He yielded to his right to receive support from those whom he taught the Gospel.—

Chapter 9:12-18.

7.  Self Denial.            He denied himself for the saving of souls—chapter 9:9-23.

8. Self Discipline. Paul demonstrated amazing self discipline in his body and behaviour. Chapters  9:27. 10:33.

9. Self Restraint.      He knew how to restrain himself in front of his enemies. Chapter. 14:18-20.

Humility.                  Paul humbled himself in the sight of God and man in a Spirit of gratitude and thankfulness.

Chapter 15:9-10.

We all can learn from Paul and examine our own lives. Can you measure up to his standards?                    If you don’t then you had better get your eyes off the faults of others and repent.

With myself included let us pray.

A prayer of repentance.

“Lord God, please forgive me for my critical expectations of other Christians. Create a clean heart, oh God, and put a right Spirit within me. I come to the cross and crucify myself afresh to You. Take from me this religious Spirit of selfishness and pride, and from now on, I will refocus on You and not on the faults of others. Holy Spirit, please make me a carbon copy of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Amen.

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Heather Dalzell 0417 545 814.

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THE GLORIOUS  GOSPEL AND ITS MINISTRY.

We have examined Paul’s thoughts on the dreadful schisms in the church and concluded that they should not be tolerated.

Now, we view the message and the ministry of the Gospel.

The Gospel is delivered by the preacher who has been given the power to present it. It is a revelation to those who receive it’s message.

The Gospel has also been given to us as fellow workers to share with those God sends across our paths. We are “all fellow workers for God.” He has freely gifted us the ability to impact the message differently, all for God’s glory. Sometimes, it may cost us to share and live the Gospel, a sacrifice pleasing to God.

The Gospel is not just to bring people to God but it teaches right living and a separateness  from   this ungodly world.  🌎

That  means removing ourselves from all evil practices.

The church, if it is going to function properly it needs to be Holy and blameless in this wicked society.

That means we cast aside impurity, lying, defrauding (cheating). This may seem foolish to the worldly-wise but so necessary for Salvation of the lost.

The centre-point of this central message of life is …

“THE CROSS” to which the  prejudice Jew, the prideful Greek seem to be foolish.

The Gospel is made by God to be so simple that the proud, religious, sophisticated person must humble themselves, admit their weakness and meekly receive the power to be saved.

Paul addressed the natural outcome of a life worth living after our salvation. 

He addressess diet, marriage and the sanctity of it. The importance of obeying the ordinances in meekness and fear.

He talks about our spiritual priorities regarding the the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Also the right motives in regards to our giving financially for the support of those who need assistance.

And he speaks of the importance of the resurrection of Christ to the Believer.

RELEVANT TODAY?

It certainly is relevant to us as Christians today. It should affect us very closely as it affects the whole question of:

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.

That is, our freedom in Christ to make the right choices for our benefit and for…

“His Glory.” To benefit from this teaching richly, you will need to study it for yourself.

Paul reminds us that knowledge, “puffs-up” (religious pride.)

But love, “builds-up!”

AM  I  A STUMBLING BLOCK?

We always need to keep in our minds when we take liberties, we may be ok within ourselves, but it’s not acceptable for those who are watching.

You may be giving them a licence to fall back into sin.

This can be in the  areas of Alcohol, Drugs, Immodesty, Smoking, Gambling. Profuse Language. Imoralty, Gluttony.

There may be addicted people who are struggling to refrain from temptation. They see you partake of these things and want to rationalise their behaviour by saying,

“She’s a Christian and she does it!”

We become a stumbling block of offence to them.

They say…

“Such and such goes to these places, watches R-rated movies, gets drunk, swears like a trooper, doesn’t go to church every week, so why can’t I?”

Alcoholics will find you as an excuse to resume drinking again.

They end up falling deeper into sin than ever before they came to Christ.

You may need to be sensitive to a diabetic and refrain from eating sweets in their company.

Be aware of other areas where you may cause the weaker brother or sister to fall back into sin.

Let’s not be the cause of someone else’s failures.

Our goal is to help the weak, love and encourage the back slider. Help them to break free of anything that is holding them back from total commitment to Christ. I am not saying that you must abstain from these things altogether.

It’s about protecting a weak brother or sister in Christ from stumbling back into sin. You are responsible to God for the things you choose to do. He will guide you into all truth and it’s up to you to have a conscience void of offence before God and man.

Christians in the West are more liable to embrace lower standards of compromise than those who are living in the East, mainly because they are willing to die for the sake of Christ and will gladly obey the Word of God in more detail. They are fully yielded to obey God because they are so grateful to be saved from the bondage of Islamic law.

People here will miss Church and go to watch football, attend a family picnic rather than being in the house of the Lord.

Paul is emphatic:

“WHEREFORE IF WHAT IF WHAT I EAT STUMBLES, MY BROTHER, I WILL NOT EAT FLESH WHILE THE AGE LASTS.”

(not eat meat ever again)

We must be consistent, Considerate, loving, and always encouraging so that that they can do “All things through Christ,” who gives them strength.

---

This applies to us in all areas of our lives.

It means, as Paul mentions five times, self denial, self effacement, self discipline, all for the sake of others.

CHRIST’S WORDS.

“WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, AND WHOSOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL’S … SHALL FIND IT.”

Doing this will purify, glorify and unify the church of Jesus Christ in this sin-sick world and draw many people close to the Lord.

And you will win the high prize of your calling in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

“The Peace of God that surpasses all understanding.”

For comments: SMS HEATHER DALZELL 61 04 17 545 814.

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Email heatherdalzell777@Gmail.com

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A “LIVELY ORACLE” against…

“DEADLY ENEMIES “

Every part of it pulsates with energy, sympathy, concern and relevance for us today.

The first six chapters are a rebuke of schisms, but in “substance” they are a stirring explanation of the true Gospel .

The Gospel is:

1. FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE OF THE WORLD. 🌎

 2. IT’S OPERATION IN THE PREACHER AND THOSE WHO HEAR.

3. IT’S THE TEACHERS AND THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY.

4. IT’S MINISTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO GOD.

5. IT DEMANDS A SAINTHOOD OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

The message seems foolish to the unsaved mind because the “Gospel is simple” and it takes a humble person to receive and embrace it.

For those who are puffed up with religious pride,the Cross of Christ seem to be a sign of helplessness and weakness that it seems almost impossible to believe with the intellect. It is hard to intellectually. understand it’s Divine saving-Power.

God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

It’s for the despised, the weak, the non-enities.

It’s so childlike, a fool can understand it.

The weak can be made strong. The unintelligent can receive the mind of Christ.

Have you personally been thinking that you are inadequate, too weak for Christian service and ministry. To step out and evangelise the lost?

Praise God you feel that way because you are perfectly fit to be recruited in to God’s Army.

You are suitable for enlistment in the first rank, the “front” rank.

Now, you could also fit into the second rank with those who are fools for the sake of the Gospel.

Or if you feel you are not good enough the second rank is also where you can feel comfortable. You can fall-in with the “base” (low level people) the”despised” and the “nobodies”

“I am a nobody, telling everybody about “Somebody,” who can save anybody!”

You see, the cross reaches out to everyone, everywhere.

The army into which you have enlisted is built to charge the enemy line.

The CROSS is your weapon. Christ in you, the “Hope of Glory” is living victoriously within and though you in the irresistible Power of the Holy Spirit.

Though a host of Midianites may daunt you, you are in God’s handpicked army, and He will fight for you. You are “more” than a conqueror through Christ, who loves you. He will fight beside you, though the enemy be great.

In God’s Army, the Goliaths go down.

The Lamb slays the Lion.

The Dove is wiser than the Serpent.

You become strong, because He gives power to the weak.

Are you in a battle now?

Don’t despair or give up and become AWOL! (Absent without leave.)

Take hope, the battle is the Lord’s!

JESUS HAS FOUGHT AND WON!

As a good soldier: You surrender to His leadership.

Obey his commands.

Do His will and rejoice in your position under the Chief Commander.

You will come through VICTORIOUS and all GLORY is His.

AM I A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS?

Am I a soldier of the cross- a follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own His Cause, or blush to Speak His Name.

“In the Name, the precious Name of Him who died for me. Through Grace I’ll win the promised crown. What ever my Cross may be.”

“Must I be carried on beds of ease, while others fight to win the prize and sail through bloody seas?”

“Are there no foes for me to face. Must not I stop the flood. In this world a friend He gave, to help me onto God?“

‘So I must fight if I would increase my courage, Lord. I’ll bear the toil and endure the pain… Supported by the Word.“

“In the Name of Jesus Christ who died for me.”

Yes dear reader, There is no other Name. No other way.

“Not on earth or sky or sea.

No other hiding place, no none but thee.”

Deny yourself, take up the cross and follow Him.

Amen.

For enquiries and comments.

HEATHER DALZELL. MSM 047545815.

To support this ministry financially:

heatherdalzell777@Gmail.com

To read more studies: Website Address lightinthedarkness152884863Wordpress.com