End Time Revival or Falling Away

 Falling away or revival? What is coming?

The end times have come. Israel is once again in Jewish hands, but besieged by enemies, just as in the prophetic writings.

In Europe, we have long seen the fall of Christian civilisation.

The French Revolution was not just a revolt against monarchy and aristocracy. It was a furious rebellion against the Catholic Church and against God himself.

The ideology of Voltaire and the anti-Christian philosophers in France also had a profound influence in other countries, including the Enlightenment in Germany and Switzerland.

Humanist philosophy and theology appeared in Germany. The Bible was no longer understood as the word of God. Everything was questioned.

Today, many Bible-believing Christians are indignant that their children are taught to reject traditional sexual morals and to believe all religions are equally valid.

Even among supposedly Bible-believing Christians, we find many who see sex before marriage as perfectly normal and don't want to wait for marriage themselves.

Many claim that this is the fulfilment of Jesus' prophecy, and they are right.

And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. Mt 24:12 NRSV

We see this fulfilled. This is the great falling away.

But then we hear a completely different message, that a great revival is coming and is already underway in many countries and regions of the world.

But that cannot be! The Word does not speak of revival, but of apostasy, and this is confirmed before our eyes every day.

But in China, Indonesia, South Korea, South America and all over Africa, tens of millions are turning to Jesus. We hear amazing stories of miraculous healings and even corpses being called back to life.

How can this be? Some see it all as a demonic counterfeit.

And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Mt 24:11 NLT

But the Bible also tells us that people from all nations, all tribes and all countries will come into God's kingdom.

And they sang a new song,  ... with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. Rev 5:9 NIV

How does this massive crowd of people from every nation come to Jesus?

Let's take an example.

But how do millions of Muslims all over the world come to Jesus in our time?

Millions of faithful Christians pray earnestly and fervently from the heart.
God answers these prayers and millions of Muslims experience visitations from Jesus in dreams and visions.

I met a Christian woman in Germany. She was a Muslim from Iran. Then she experienced a visitation from Jesus in a dream. Eight years later she converted to Jesus.

Countless Muslims see or experience miraculous healings. Not only Reinhard Bonnke, but many others have preached in Africa and released God's power for miraculous healings.

There are more Muslims in Indonesia than in Iran, Pakistan or Arab nations, but there are also millions of faithful Christians in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, Christian evangelists are allowed to preach, but they are not allowed to evangelise Muslims. Many sick people experience miraculous healings and Muslims come to be healed. As a result, many Muslims are converted to Christ, in Indonesia as well as in Africa.

Without evangelism with miraculous healings, countless Muslims would never be converted.

Faithful Christians love Muslims with kindness, prayer and practical help. I know this from personal experience.

Some Muslims are challenged to read the Bible for themselves and they are converted through God's Word.

God's kingdom does not only spread through method A, B, C or D.

It is about prayer, preaching, kindness, miraculous healings, practical help, reading the Bible, dreams and visions, evangelising through the internet and satellite TV, and, and, and, and ...

We must believe, love, pray, help, and not limit God.

God Uses Broken People

Is there a God?

No matter what theories you have heard or read, there is one question that no scientist can answer.

Why does anything exist at all? Why is there something instead of nothing?

If you can read these thoughts, you are alive.

How did you come into the world?

Were your parents a loving couple? Maybe not.

Whether you were wanted by your mother or came from an unwanted pregnancy, there is a God who made that pregnancy possible.

If no one on this earth wanted you, there is a loving God who created you because he wanted you.

There are so many people who have only experienced rejection. Then they may hear from preachers that they are also rejected by God because of their sins.

A young Christian approached a young prostitute and threatened her with the flames of hell.

Jesus threatened the proud religious people with the flames of hell, but he was always kind and compassionate with the prostitutes and other broken people.

The self-righteous religious professionals scolded Jesus for keeping company with supposedly wicked sinners.

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ Lk 7:34 NIV

Jesus was the Son of God who was in eternal fellowship with Father God before the foundation of the world. God saw broken people, ruined by their own sins, or by the sins of others.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Jn 3:16–17 NIV

When Jesus visited his hometown, he explained his mission of salvation by quoting the Bible.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Lk 4:18 NKJV

Jesus did not only want to forgive and heal broken people. He chose rejected people to proclaim God's new world.

Jesus chose despised women, and sent them out.

The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” Jn 4:18 NIV

This woman then believed in Jesus as the Messiah.

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,
“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” Jn 4:28–29 NIV

Jesus sent this woman to her village, and everyone came to believe.

If you are broken, Jesus doesn't just want to forgive and heal you. He wants to give you a new life. In this new life you can also help others.

Receiving from God

Receiving from God.

Everyone has received from God. Life, abilities, talents. Everything.
Everyone is born with different talents, inclinations.

But talent is not enough. You need to develop your talents. Beethoven was incredibly talented but he worked extremely hard to write great music.

The same thing applies to spiritual gifts. John Wesley was wonderfully gifted to preach, teach, evangelise and write spiritual literature, but he did not achieve any results without very hard work.

CS Lewis was a wonderful Christian writer and a profound original thinker, but his books did not just fall out of the sky. He was an academic teacher at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. He was an expert in English literature. He was a professional thinker and writer. God used his talents and skills to win many people to faith in Jesus, people who were not attracted by any form of conventional Christian religion, whether Anglican, Catholic, Evangelical or fundamentalist.

Jesus was not just a preacher but also a story teller. God used story tellers like CS Lewis to show children and adult intellectuals the eternal truths of the Bible.

One Christian writer tells how the Narnia fantasy stories taught him to believe in the Christian values of right and wrong, and the battle of good against evil. He explained that conventional Christianity turned him off.

“Why did one find it so hard to feel as one was told one ought to feel about God or the sufferings of Christ? I thought the chief reason was that one was told one ought to. An obligation to feel can freeze feelings.” Barney Zwartz

We can receive from God by responding intuitively to music and stories.

We can also receive from God through prayer and God’s answers to our prayers or the prayers of others for us.

Sometimes answers to prayer come quickly and easily. You are running late for an appointment and you ask God for a place to park in a crowded city. Less than a minute after your prayer, a car pulls out of a parking place in front of you.

Once I cried out to God from the depth of my heart for a friend who had taken a fatal overdose. I prayed non stop for hours. A week later my friend recovered completely without any physical damage.

Then there are persistent prayers. I prayed for my unbelieving parents to believe in Jesus. I prayed for my mother for 25 years and for my father for 40 years. Both made peace with God on their deathbeds.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Mt 7:7–8 NIV

How to Receive from God

 To rest in the Lord + get the achievements done: both are important. Wisdom is to find out, when its time for which one. (Sarah Fischer, Swiss preacher)

God has ways of giving and so there are two ways of receiving from God. Some of God's gifts require serious effort on our part to appropriate.

Great musicians like Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frederick Handel had amazing musical gifts but they worked incredibly hard to develop their gifts. Some of God's miracles can only come through intense, repeated or prolonged prayer and sometimes also fasting.

Other times God just gives you a present that falls in your lap because you are his child and he loves you.

So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.
For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened. Luke 11:9-10 (AMP)

If God wants you to reach out and extend yourself to appropriate His gift, you will miss out if you just sit and wait for it to happen. On the other hand, if God just wants to drop a blessing on you as a present, you can miss out by fasting and praying or working hard.

We can limit God by expecting Him to give no more than we pray, work, expect and proclaim. God loves to surprise His children with little blessings but also sometimes overwhelming great gifts.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

In my youth I studied German as a foreign language and I worked very hard at it. Over the years God has used me to minister to German speaking people. I preach, prophesy and blog in German. 

Writing a blog in my second language involves serious work. I often refer to a dictionary to find just the right word. Writing in English is easier. It also took me some time to become proficient in typing in German on my computer and I still type faster in English.

But sometimes I just get a German message that flows into me and through me to others. I had a German colleague in my workplace in Australia. When she left our workplace, I sat down and wrote a lovely poem for her in German. It was so easy.

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:1-13 NIV

 If you are married, you will know that marriage is not easy. It requires work, sacrifice and patience. But if you have a good marriage, you will find that it is often easy and delightful to give and receive loving gifts. So it is with our relationship with God. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 (NKJV)

Delivered from Demons

 God created you. Your birth was planned and willed by God because he saw and loved you even before the creation of the world.

Regardless of whether the circumstances of your birth were favourable or not. God simply loves you.
No matter what you have done or what has been done to you. God simply loves you.

This creation is corrupted, but not completely ruined.

God has a cruel enemy who wants to poison and destroy all of God's works, and he has done a lot of damage, perhaps in your life as well.

No matter what has happened in your life, God has a plan to give you a good future.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11 NKJV

I once saw a preacher from Brazil in a video recording. She told how she was dedicated to demons from birth because her whole family worshipped the devil.

As a small child, she was tormented by demons. She could not sleep without terrible nightmares.

At the age of twelve, she was possessed by demons that drove her to live on the streets as a prostitute. Gradually, she learnt to live her life as a witch with magical powers. She became known as a witch and Christians prayed for her.

She herself was cruel, but also terribly tormented. The devil is very cruel, even with his slaves. Her suffering became unbearable until she desperately sought help. She didn't know which spirit was stronger, the devil or God, but she prayed for help.

Jesus then visited her and she experienced a revelation, like in a video. She saw Jesus suffer and die on the cross, taking the punishment for her sin upon himself.

She converted to Jesus, but then her little daughter fell ill. The devils sought revenge and her daughter died, but she herself was forgiven and set free by Jesus.

Then God raised her up to give her testimony. Many prostitutes and occultists were converted. As a witch she was very dangerous, but as a Christian preacher she became a powerful weapon in God's hands.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Rom 5:10 NIV

Healed from AIDS. New life from Jesus.

 A boy in South America was the eldest child in his family. He had no brothers, only a younger sister. His mother died.

His father had to work hard and always came home tired. The boy had to take over his mother's work and he fulfilled the role of a capable housewife and mother.

As a teenager, he felt no male instincts. His identity was more feminine. He looked beautiful and for gay men he was very desirable. He became involved with men as a feminine homosexual and then he became a homosexual prostitute.

Then he was infected with AIDS. It got worse and worse until he was hospitalised. He was dying, but he experienced no human compassion. Cruel people visited the AIDS ward, not to comfort but to laugh at the dying gay men.

But then a very different kind of  woman came to him. She went to the boy and spoke with God's love.

‘Jesus loves you. You will soon get your last blood transfusion. Jesus will heal you and forgive everything.’

The boy believed and was healed and saved.

His healing astonished patients, nurses and doctors. Many were converted to Jesus and the newly converted Christians in the clinic became a new church.

I heard this testimony from the young man himself about twenty years ago on a cassette tape.

He told how he became strong in his faith, how his testimony had awakened new hope, faith and healing in many homosexuals and prostitutes.

He told how he had come to realise that God had gradually changed his feelings and his identity. He began to see himself as a man, and he fell in love with a Christian woman and they got married.

His voice was still sweet and gentle and not at all masculine, but gender stereotypes are not important to God. God loves you just as you are, not as others understand or misunderstand you.

Here are some Bible passages that might encourage you.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Ps 147:3 NIV

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Is 61:1 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor 5:17 NKJV

Visualisation a Gift of God

 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Ps 77:11–12 NIV

The Jews in the Old Testament were to remember the wonders of God, not just in their own experience, but from ancient times.

How can you remember events without using your imagination? So the Jews were to visualise events from ancient times.

Many Christians reject visualisation because mystics in the New Age movement use visual imagination intensively and systematically.

But visual imagination does not come from New Age, it comes from God. According to the Bible.

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17 NIV

God created our visual imagination, and through visions and dreams He Himself communicates directly into our minds.

But God also encourages us to use our imagination consciously.

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Mt 22:37 NIV

What does all your thinking consist of? Logic, language, arithmetic, planning, but also music, art, imagination, daydreams... etc.

Your whole thinking includes everything that can happen in your mind, everything.

Your Angelic Bodyguard.

 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; Ps 91:11 NIV

Many Christians can sense the presence of the Lord and also the presence of demons, but when you talk about experiences with angels, they become very cautious or critical.

They are afraid of being deceived by devils in disguise.

They emphasise that it is necessary to distinguish between good and evil spirits. There are people who are quick to suspect or detect demonic activity but reluctant to recognise the activity or presence angels.

This is sometimes very understandable because many people in regions read books about angels. These books tell how one can seek a spiritual relationship with certain angels, how one can address prayers to these angels and receive special favours from these angels.

There are good Christians who rightly reject this unbiblical teaching, but then unfortunately do not want to hear about angels.

They don't even want to begin to celebrate the miraculous promises that speak to us of the constant presence and help of God's angels.

Elisha was not at all nervous or reserved about this.

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Ki 6:17 NIV

My daughter told me when she was eight years old that she had seen an angel.
I have a friend in Germany whose son also saw his guardian angel when he was 8 years old.

When I was preparing to visit Germany, a woman in our church prophetically said she saw a big angel standing behind me, and I believe this strong angel accompanied me in Germany.

This angel was not just to protect me, because I have my guardian angel like all followers of Jesus, but God had given me another angel to help me in His ministry.

God does this for all His children who do something for God where special miracle-working power is needed.

The Word of God promises that God will always stand by us and protect us through His unconquerable power.

And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:5 NLT

The Greek text tells us that God is guarding us with a garrison, or bodyguard, which refers to angels.

This verse from the Psalms has the same message.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Ps 34:7 NIV

I am always accompanied by angels and so are you if you follow Jesus and are active in His ministry by faith.

God does not abandon his children.
You should not be afraid of God's angels, and why should you not recognise and celebrate the presence of angels?

That is a gift from God.  

But someone will say that emphasising angels would distract us from worshipping God.

This can happen when our relationship with God is very weak and we seek other sensations.

But if we really love God but talk and think much more about demons than about God's angels, then we are making a very bad mistake.

And that is the situation with many charismatic Christians.
Just as in the story of Elisha, the participation of angels in our lives should be a great encouragement to us.

Recovering from Disappointment

Are you disappointed with Christians? Maybe God is disappointed too, but He still loves them, and He loves you too.

You can find God's love if you seek God yourself, no matter what other Christians or non-Christians do. Without God, there is no hope in all eternity. If you take God seriously, you will find Him.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Mt 7:7–8 NIV

Do you often think about bitter experiences or how people have hurt you? Sadly that is all too common. But too many such thoughts can poison your soul. You can deliberately reflect on beautiful memories. It works like an antidote.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Php 4:8 NIV

Once I was in a church service. I was thinking about my many disappointments in the church and in other churches. I thought about how I had experienced shipwreck again and again. I opened my heart to God and I received a whole new insight from God.

I was shipwrecked several times, but God gave me the treasure. In my spirit I saw an image of a treasure chest on the seabed.

Despite my many mistakes, despite mistakes of others and sometimes even bullying from church leaders, despite all this I had experienced a lot of grace and learnt truth.

Despite my failures and traumatic experiences, God's saving love was always at work in my life.

“I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. Is 45:3 NASB95

God wants to help you, but if you also need human help, a good therapist can sometimes help.

Escape from Prostitution

 A woman from a poor country flies to Germany, where she expects to earn money for her family in a decent job.
 
Then she is shocked. She is a prisoner, drugged, raped again and again, enslaved as a prostitute.

The ancient Greeks wrote tragic dramas in which we see that there are such hopeless situations in life where no happy ending seems possible.
 
But this woman was saved by a miracle.

God spoke to a German preacher and told him to visit a brothel. There he found this enslaved woman. With God's help, she was saved and freed. God answered her desperate prayers.

How many prostitutes are crying out to God for deliverance?

I know wonderful Christian women in Germany who visit brothels to help the women. In one year, they helped four women to escape from forced prostitution.

There are situations where people have no hope even in this life, but Jesus can totally transform such lives and turn hopeless destinies around completely.

I can also say that from my own experience.

In my own family, I have seen how my mother and grandmother found peace with God through Jesus on their deathbeds.

I once knew a little boy who was totally deaf and was completely healed through prayer within a few weeks.

I have seen so many miracles.

• Maybe someone has betrayed you.

• Maybe you have been betrayed in your family life or in the church.

• Maybe you've heard the false teaching that you can't expect miracles these days.

If we want to receive God's miraculous help, we must dare to hope again.
 
From this hope, miracle-working faith can arise in your heart, the faith that we can only receive from God as a gift.

God can transform dark situations with his light.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jn 8:12 NIV

It is possible to be imprisoned, but not by iron bars, but by darkness through which you cannot see to find the only open door.

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jer 33:3 NIV

Supernatural Gifts for All Believers

When Peter preached the first Christian sermon after the cross, he proclaimed a revolutionary message. The glory of God is no longer just for prophets, kings and priests, as in the Old Testament, but for all who believe in Jesus and receive and give free rein to the Holy Spirit.

“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.  

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Acts 2:17–18 NIV

Religious tradition has robbed us of our inheritance. The spiritual gifts and manifestations of God's power and presence are severely limited or excluded in many churches.

In some churches only men and not women are allowed to speak for God.

In other churches, only pastors, preachers or leaders are allowed to speak for God.

But Peter totally abolished these rules and restrictions in his preaching.

But this was not just in one sermon.

We read something similar in the Gospel of Mark.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;  

they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mk 16:17–18 NIV

There are extremely strange cults where people play with snakes, but that's not what the Bible meant. Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake.

But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. Acts 28:5 NIV

We should not play with poison or snakes but God promises us his protection in our time of need.

I have an Arab friend who converted from extreme fundamentalist Islam to Jesus but along the way he was led astray and became a Mormon.

When God delivered him from this sect, he visited many Mormons and also helped them to escape from the evil religion.

Then all the Muslims in his neighbourhood heard about his new faith and some converted.

He was not ordained but God used him with supernatural power.

An Arab once gave him something to eat. A week later he was amazed that his Christian compatriot was still alive. He had put enough poison in the food to kill a camel.

The unsuccessful assassin converted to Jesus.

Heide Baker is a missionary in Africa. She rescues little girls from sex slavery and little boys from forced service as soldiers.

She adopts these orphans and they get to know Jesus well.

A girl of 11 became a preacher, not ordained of course. She went to a village where Islam and witchcraft were totally dominant. When she spoke loudly about Jesus, people started throwing big stones.

Suddenly she proclaimed healing for a dove among her persecutors. The deaf man dropped his stone. He could hear and cried out loudly. ‘I can hear.’

The stones stopped flying. The crowd heard the gospel and were converted en masse.

Condemned Man Refuses Pardon

 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Heb 4:15 NIV

We have a wonderful high priest. He continually cares for you. He never stops thinking about you.

All his thoughts about you are loving and kind.

You can't stop God from loving you.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8 NIV
 
For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us! 2 Corinthians 5:21 (TLB)

God wants to grant you a complete pardon and give you a whole new life.

God's love is unconditional. He loves you as you are and he loves you because he loves you.

But God grants his pardon with one condition. You cannot earn God's forgiveness, but you must accept his mercy.

In 1830, a criminal in the USA was sentenced to death, but the president wanted to pardon him.

The man, however, refused the presidential pardon and he had to die.
That was his God-given freedom of will.

You and I also have this freedom of will. We can gratefully accept or reject God's grace.

Jesus sees all your offences and failures, but he also sees your despair and feels your suffering.

His heart beats for you.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Rev 3:20 NIV

A woman in Iran was watching a banned Christian television program. She heard the preacher quoting this invitation from Jesus. Then she heard a knock. She went to the front door and she saw Jesus. She invited him in and she immediately believed in Jesus.

Do you want to invite Jesus in too?

God will not reject you. It's up to you.

God Uses Unsuitable People

 In his brilliant book on Marketplace Christianity, Ed Silvoso tells the story of a newly converted Filipino taxi driver.

He felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to personally go and evangelise in a pub. The pub was called "Sweet Moments".

"Every day he visited the pub, ordered a soft drink and prayed for blessings and peace for everyone in the pub, the staff and the customers.

After a few days, he became friends with Brian, the manager. Brian was a drug addict and a drug dealer. He was also a pimp with 35 prostitutes.

The friendship became closer. After a few days, Brian became a convert and the newly converted taxi driver baptised him at a nearby beach.  

When Brian emerged from the water, the power of God came upon him and he experienced an instant transformation.

He was instantly freed from gambling, drug addiction and all his vices. He was no longer a pimp either. He had previously done this to finance his vices.

Soon the 35 prostitutes were also converted and the lawyer who owned the pub was also converted.

The pub became a dynamic Christian church and the newly converted taxi driver was the pastor and church leader."

But can that be biblically okay? Can a newly converted Christian plant a church? Can a non-ordained preacher baptise? For many, this is unthinkable.

But Jesus is our role model, isn't he?

Jesus chose disciples who had no theological training.

He drove demons out of a raging possessed man who had terrorised an entire region.

Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.

When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him.

With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!”
For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.” Mk 5:5–8 NLT

The man was completely set free. And what did Jesus do then? Did he refer him to a good rehab centre?

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him.
But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” Mk 5:18–19 NLT

And what did the man do?

So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. Mk 5:20 NLT

The man became the evangelist for an entire region, just like the newly converted Filipino taxi driver who evangelised in a brothel and planted a church.

When it comes to totally crazy projects with unqualified preachers or missionaries, Jesus is the specialist par excellence.

Jackie Pullinger was a young unmarried English woman who God chose to be a missionary, but no missionary organisation would have her.

She went on a sea voyage and disembarked in Hong Kong with virtually no money.

She started missionary work in the dirtiest place in Hong Kong. There were no policemen and no toilets in the walled city, but there were many drug dealers, many prostitutes and many brutal pimps. 

She had no sponsor and no financial support, but with God's help she founded a mission that transformed the worst place in Hong Kong.

When it comes to totally crazy projects with unqualified preachers or missionaries, Jesus is the specialist par excellence.

Reconciled with the God of Love

 If you are in any kind of need, you must know that God loves you.
Because God loves you, He wants to help you. His love comes from His heart, but His help is also totally practical.
 
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Is 41:10 NASB95
 
This text is for all those who know God personally. He always stands by his children, for he is the faithful Father in heaven. He never abandons his sons and daughters.
 
    But if you don't know God personally, then you need his help all the more. God Himself has made a way for you to find Him if you are spiritually blind and have no relationship with your Creator.

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Is 59:1–2 NIV

 But despite our estrangement from Him, whereby we have become spiritually blind and like orphans, God still loves us and wants to reconcile us to Himself.
 
The word ‘reconcile’ means that He wants to receive us as His sons (or daughters).
 
Many of us have a longing for God's love.

The German poet Schiller summarised this longing beautifully.

‘Brothers above the stars must dwell a dear Father.’

Perhaps you  cherish a feeling in your heart that you must be a child of the universe.
But God is not the universe. He created the universe and He loves you personally. God wants to give you something much better.

God loves you and understands you. God wants you to know Him, to know Him as a person; and for you to know that you have a heavenly home and belong to a heavenly family.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus was God in heaven, who chose to be born as a human being, to live among us humans as a human being and to sacrifice himself to death as a human being.

Why?

He was executed on the cross in order to bear the punishment we deserve for our sins. Our debt is paid!

Now you can get to know God.

You no longer need to be separated from your heavenly Father because of your guilt. Everything is forgiven if you want to receive God's wonderful grace and boundless love.
You can never earn God's love and grace.

You can never pay your debt.

No amount of virtue or repentance can persuade God to accept you. He wants to receive you as his child.
 
Jesus said 2000 years ago and he is still saying to you today:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 
Mt 11:28 NASB95

He reads your thoughts like a book, but He doesn't want to be a threatening policeman. He wants to be like your father or your mother or your best friend.
   
Just tell him the thoughts that are in your heart. He understands your heart and your language.

God Makes Himself Small

 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Lk 2:11–12 NIV

What is the message of Christmas? God made himself small and weak because he wanted to be one of us, because he wanted to be close to us, because he wants to be close to us, because he loves us infinitely.

When he grew up and became a strong man, Jesus still renounced his unlimited divine power.

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Php 2:6–8 NIV

He raised the dead, but Elijah and Elisha had already done this in the Old Testament.

He calmed a storm, but Moses parted the Red Sea.

Of course, the prophets did not perform these miracles themselves, but God performed the miracles through their faith. Jesus performed these miracles by faith, in the same way as the prophets, as an example for us.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Jn 14:12 NASB95

What Jesus did as a man through his faith, we can also do as men through the faith that God gives us.

I find this challenging, even intimidating. My faith cannot handle fasting for 40 days or raising the dead, but when I have been faced with urgent needs, God has given me an extra gift of faith, and I have seen miracles.

God made himself small so that we could live in close fellowship with him through faith, so that we as small people could have access to his unlimited power and love.

Jesus Loves You with all His Heart

 Love is patient, love is kind. 1 Cor 13:4 NIV

1 Cor 13 describes the love of God, which is the way Jesus loves, because Jesus is the perfect expression of the love of God.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Jn 14:6–9 NIV

Jesus has patience... Despite all frustration, he can wait. He wants us all to live holy lives. He wants us to trust Him completely. He wants us to heal the sick and lead many people into His kingdom and we often fail but He can wait because He loves us.

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” Lk 9:41 NIV

Jesus' disciples could not cast out a devil and Jesus felt great frustration.     
    
What about us?

Jesus expects a lot from us, but He can wait because He loves us.

But He does not wait passively. The Spirit of God is always at work to transform us through His love
Jesus is long-suffering and kind.

Martin Luther translated Kind as “Freundlich”. (Friendly) I find this inspiriting.
But Jesus is kind and friendly.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Jesus is kind. This doesn't just mean that Jesus likes to help. Ps 118:1 NASB95

Jesus also seeks to win you as His friend. He is looking for a genuine, deep friendship with you!

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. Jn 15:15 NKJV

Jesus wants to give you so many revelations because He loves you so much.

Jesus wants to equip, train and use you as His partner in ministry because He loves you so much. 

We are often so busy in Christian ministry that we sometimes neglect our love and friendship with Jesus.

But what can make our ministry fruitful? Only the love of God and our friendship with Jesus.            

Can Women Teach Men?

 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.
I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 1 Tim 2:11–12 NIV

1 Tim 2:11-15 The subordination of women in this passage is situational, not an eternal law.

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer
or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 1 Tim 1:3–4 NIV

There were certain people, men and women, who were teaching pagan doctrines. The dominant pagan religion in Ephesus was dominated by the goddess Artemis. A pagan form of feminism was infiltrating the Christian church. Women were dominant in Artemis worship and some women were trying to dominate after their Christian conversion.

Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.

But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.

They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently. 1 Tim 1:4–7 NLT

It is clear here that not all the instructions in 1 Timothy are meant for all the Christians in Ephesus, and certainly not for all Christians or all women at all times.

One aspect of Gnostic teaching was the invention of fables about Adam and Eve. Some of these can be found in 2nd century documents, but the ideas were already widespread in the later New Testament period.

A common feature of these stories is that Eve is idealised and often appears before Adam.

For Adam was created first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and fell into sin. 1 Tim 2:13-14

The point of these verses is to refute the false teachings of the early Gnostics.

 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.
I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 1 Tim 2:11–12 NIV

The domineering woman (or perhaps some domineering women) who was not to teach but to learn humbly was most likely one of the false teachers who spread Gnostic fables.

Incidentally, the word PERMISSION is a translation of EPITREPEO, a Greek word that always refers to situational instructions.

God is Father, Mother and Friend

 Life is a gift. Everything we are and have comes from God. The Bible presents God to us as Father and Mother.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Jas 1:17 NIV

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Php 4:19 NIV

But also in the Bible, our God reveals himself as love, with a tenderness that we expect from a good mother.

But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.”
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! Is 49:14–15 NIV

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Mt 23:37 NIV

God is spirit, neither female nor male, but the Bible emphasises his fatherhood rather than his motherhood for two reasons.

There are many pagan religions that worship mother goddesses, often in a carnal and sexual way. The Bible makes it very clear that the true and living God is totally different from the pagan cults that worshipped sexual goddesses through cult prostitution.

The second reason is the fact that God is strong, the Almighty, whose abilities are limitless, who can do everything, who can totally protect us and wants to help us.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Is 41:10 NIV

Your life is a gift from God.

But if you believe in Jesus, you have something more, something infinitely important and wonderful. You have eternal life, a personal fellowship with God. You can know God as your Father and Him as your best friend.

You can also experience the motherly tenderness of the Holy Spirit, and not only in church services, but in your daily life and in your private times of prayer.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor 5:17 NKJV

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. Jn 15:15 NKJV

Just as Jesus invited his first disciples into his holy friendship, he also wants to invite you to become his personal friend. You cannot earn this. You must receive God's friendship through trust.
This is not just for pastors, chosen saints or church leaders.
It is for you.                     

Overcoming Despair and Bitterness

Have you experienced a humiliating defeat? Maybe you've lost your job or your marriage.
You wonder if you are the victim or if you have failed yourself.

Many Christians give up or blame God themselves.

Some blame themselves. They become passive and resigned.

This is very dangerous. It can lead to a serious depressive illness, perhaps alcoholism, or pornography addiction, or suicide.

The most miserable failure in the Bible was Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. When he realised his terrible guilt, he did not plead for God's forgiveness. Instead, he fell into despair and self-hatred.

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Mt 27:3–5 NIV

No matter how you have failed, you are still totally loved by Jesus. He wants to forgive you. He wants to give you a completely new start.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Ps 34:18 NIV

Peter also let Jesus down.

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.

Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Mt 26:73–75 NIV

But Peter did not give up. Jesus met him and Peter was ready to receive forgiveness and love from Jesus.

When you are rock bottom, you can reject yourself or hate your adversaries. But you won't find a way out with hatred and rejection.

Forgive those who bully or abuse you. Above all, forgive yourself.

This is so hard, but no one was more terribly abused than Jesus, hanging stark naked on the cross. How did he pray?

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Lk 23:34 NRSV

But maybe you are a victim of sexual abuse. Can you demand justice?

Why not? God is the God of mercy, but also of justice. If criminals are not punished, they can continue to sin and destroy other victims.

But it is so important that you allow God to cleanse your heart of all bitterness.

Are you a victim or a failure? It doesn't matter. Jesus loves you. He still has good plans for you.

Despite everything, you can have a future.

Women as Pastors or Elders

 Many Christians dogmatically teach that there were no woman pastors in the New Testament. They also claim that the New Testament forbids the ordination of women to the office of pastor.

Such dogmatic teachings require strong biblical evidence. However, it is very difficult to find unambiguous evidence to support this belief.

In Ephesians chapter 4, we find the one and only text which is considered the basis of the Five Fold Ministry.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph 4:11–13 NIV

There is no mention here of any qualifications or requirements for a person to be a pastor. Nor is there any hint of what the leadership position of pastor involves or how pastors relate to Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists or Teacher.

The office of pastor in churches since the Reformation is based on the office of priest in the Roman Catholic Church of that time, but this is not in any way derived from Biblical teaching or practice,

Protestant theologians typically teach that a pastor is the presiding elder in a congregation, but this is not based on any biblical text. It is pure speculation. The bible simply does not give us any definition or description of the authority or leadership position of a pastor.

Not one minister, preacher or leader in the NT is referred to as a pastor. Not one.

So how can church leaders dogmatically declare that a woman cannot be a pastor?

Conservative bible teachers commonly equate the office of pastor with a senior eldership position. There is also uncertainty about the meaning and role of elders. There are two Greek words which seem to be interchangeable.

EPISCOPOS, which is translated as overseer or bishop.
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 1 Tim 3:2 NASB95

Does this mean an overseer must be married? Then Paul and Jesus would not qualify.

Does it also mean that an overseer must be a man? An important source of information on this question is the teaching of John Chrysostom, the eminent Patriarch of Constantinople around 400 AD. He was certainly no feminist, but his understanding of the NT Greek text was unsurpassed. His mother tongue was Greek, which had changed little since the time of Paul.

John Chrysostom asserted that 1 Tim 3,2 did not imply an overseer could not be a woman.

In 1 Timothy chapter one, dealing with qualifications for ordained leadership, women are only referred to as wives of overseers of deacons in conservative translations.

Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 1 Tim 3:11 NKJV

Actually, this is not what the NT Greek text says at all. Some modern translations are literally accurate.

In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 1 Tim 3:11 NIV

This can either refer to wives of ordained ministers or to women who are themselves ordained ministers of the gospel. There is nothing in the text to exclude women from ordained preaching ministry.

PRESBYTEROS, which is translated as elder.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 1 Tim 5:17 NIV

The Greek words for older men or older women can also mean male or female ordained leaders, so the Greek NT text cannot be used to exclude women from ordained eldership.

Why did Jesus Die?

 Why did Jesus die 2000 years ago?
He did not have to die. Because he was God's eternal Son, he was immortal.

The first people were immortal before the Fall. God warned them not to eat the forbidden fruit. If they did, they would lose their immortality.

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Gen 2:16–17 NIV

The first Adam was created without sin and was therefore immortal, but when he sinned he became corrupt and mortal. Since then we have all been born with a corrupt and mortal nature.

Jesus was born without our corrupt nature. Paul wrote that Jesus is the last Adam, the heavenly seed for a new humanity.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Cor 15:21–22 NIV

Jesus willingly gave up his physical immortality to suffer the punishment for my sin and yours.

His last word on the cross was the voluntary sacrifice of his earthly life.

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. Lk 23:46 NRSV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

Stars and Celebrity Preachers

 People today are infatuated with celebrities and stars, but in the Bible we see that God has a very different view.

Who did God choose to be the mother of Jesus? A humble and completely unknown girl in Nazareth, a town with no good reputation. Mary was a nobody in Nazareth.

Shortly after the beginning of his ministry, Jesus chose Philip.

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. Jn 1:45–46 NLT

None of the first apostles were rabbis. Only one was rich, Matthew, a tax collector with a bad reputation.

Mary and the first apostles only became world-famous much later, long after their deaths.

Despite their humble origins, the disciples were not free of ambition.

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” Mt 20:20–21 NIV

Jesus had no desire for worldly honour.

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. Jn 6:15 NIV

Many in this world want to be famous. Many are infatuated with celebrities and stars. Unfortunately, there are many Christians who also have this attitude.

Christians in the traditional protestant churches and in the independent churches reject Catholics because they ascribe superhuman authority to the pope, but in America there is a church on every street corner where the head pastor rules like a pope.

 In the Old Testament, the Hebrews wanted a king even though that was against God's will. They demanded a king and God gave them Saul. Saul was humble at first, but gradually he became proud and self-centred.

Paul rebuked the Christians in Corinth for wanting to identify themselves as disciples of this or that preacher.

Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” 1 Cor 1:12 NLT

Many Christians want to find their identity in the glory of a great preacher, but your true identity as a Christian is only that of a beloved daughter or son of God because Jesus sacrificed his life for you on the cross.

Even Old People Need a Father. God is our Father.

 It is said that elderly people can become like children, weak, dependant and in need of support. I am nearly 76. My mother died at that age, but I am still mentally and physically active, and I expect to live past 80 at least.

When I turned 70, I started to think about the limited time I have left in this life. It didn’t frighten me. 

I had been reading a lot about near death experiences, in which people were clinically dead, talked to Jesus or even visited heaven. I am looking forward to the next life. Every year is a year closer to a much better life that never ends.

I am looking forward to seeing my parents and other believing friends and loved ones. I am looking forward to pursuing my passion for music and art.

It is wonderful not to have to go to work. I don’t have to comply with stupid bureaucratic procedures that contributed nothing to the effectiveness of my work. I don’t have to deal with fastidious managers and stressful deadlines. I don’t have to get up at 6 in the morning, deal with peak hour traffic, and keep working in the afternoon when I am getting tired.

 Some things are better, but some things are distressing.

I miss the social stimulation of working with students and colleagues. In the last few years I have also lost some dear friends. People get sick. People die. Even if they are believers and went to heaven, I miss their friendship.

Recently I was praying. I felt that I was still a young person in an ageing body. I no longer had parents to love me, although I was happy that they are in heaven. I felt like I needed a father. Although I am devoted to God, the fatherhood of God is something I have never fully emotionally connected to.

I lay in bed and repeated over and over.

“I need a father. God, you are my father.” Even though this was not an overwhelming feeling, it was a reaching out to my real heavenly Father. We all need a father, no matter how old we are.

A couple of days later, I was reading the psalms. I came across a familiar promise of God, and it was an answer from heaven to my prayer.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Ps 27:10 NIV

This verse took on a new meaning for me. I know Christians whose parents abused or deserted them, but that was not my experience. My parents cared for me long after they reached old age. They never abandoned me.

I did not grieve when they died, because both of them became believers on their death beds. I was relieved and happy they were safe in heaven.

But now I realise I need a father. And God spoke to me through psalm 27. God is my Father and he will never let me down.

Strong and Weak Believers

 Do you trust Jesus with all your heart? Are you determined to live in a way that pleases God? Then you will be completely forgiven, not partially forgiven.
Are you saved then?

Absolutely.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

You are either on your way to heaven or on your way to hell.

But Jesus preached not only forgiveness, but repentance. God doesn't just want to forgive you, he wants to free you from sin.

When sinners are converted, we often see dramatic changes, but in other cases the change seems slower, but if your character does not begin to change, your faith is nothing more than religion. Religion does not save.

My father gave his life to Jesus when he was 88. He lived another 3 years after that. He was demented and helpless, but we saw a change. Before his conversion, he was desperate and hopeless.

How are you doing? ‘Still alive.’

But afterwards we saw no trace of despair.

Paul was very strict in some respects.

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9–10 NIV

But he recognised that some Christians are strong in faith and others are weak. We need to remember that it is not a sin to desire something forbidden. It is only sin if we give in to temptation.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul recognises Christians as saints, although he then writes in the letter about their sins and character flaws, which they have not yet overcome.

There are Christians who regard sex before marriage as normal, and these Christians should recognise their danger.

But there are also Christians who condemn themselves for every misstep and see themselves as hopeless failures and damned sinners.

It is for these Christians that Paul wrote the marvellous promises of God.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Rom 5:1–2 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Rom 8:1 NIV

Too Good to be True?

 A woman had lost her sight. Her eyes were badly injured and no doctor could help her. She attended a church service where the preacher prayed for healing.

She began to see again and was thrilled, but when she shared her miraculous news with her family, they didn't want to believe, even though they clearly observed how she could see.
Then she began to doubt herself and after a short time she could no longer see.

God wants to bless us beyond comprehension, but often we don't want to believe it. A negative thought is firmly rooted in our mindset.

‘It's too good to be true.’ With this thought, we often block the wonderful gifts that God wants to give us.

After Jesus died on the cross, the disciples were traumatised. They had believed that Jesus, as the Messiah, would free Israel from Roman occupation, and then he died.

It was supposedly too good to be true. The time for Israel had not yet come, but God had even better plans for his disciples.

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:6–8 NLT

Thank God the disciples believed. We read in the Acts of the Apostles how the disciples ministered with the same miracle-working power as Jesus himself before his death on the cross.

Then, in the Gospel of Mark, we see Jesus authorising and empowering his disciples to continue his miracle-working ministry. Was this only for the apostles? No. It was for all who believed.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mk 16:17–18 NRSV

But some Christians do not want to believe that this promise still applies to our time.
Some doubt whether this passage really belongs to the Gospel of Mark because it may not have been written by Mark himself.

It is possible that Mark did not write this last passage. So what!

The first five books of the Bible are attributed to the authorship of Moses himself, but the last chapter of Deuteronomy 5 was obviously not written by Moses.

So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day. Dt 34:5–6 NASB95

When I read this verse, I burst into tears. This is not normal for me. The Holy Spirit communicated to me in this way how God himself felt when Moses had to die. He wanted to bless Moses even more.

Then I heard the voice of God as a clear but inaudible thought.

‘Please don't limit God.’

Please open your heart to many more blessings and miracles from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Eph 3:20 NLT

God Will Restore Lost Beauty

 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Rev 21:4–5 NKJV

I saw her face, and she was no longer beautiful, but I still loved her. I could read her trauma in her face, and I could not hold back my tears. Love is much stronger than the beauty of youth.

But despite much suffering and loneliness, she couldn't help but love Jesus. She is waiting for her new life in a better world.

In God's new world, the crippled will leap and dance.
The blind will paint beautiful pictures.
The deaf will play beautiful instruments.
Faces disfigured by sorrow and illness will be young and beautiful again.

‘And he said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and certain.

I see her face, and I cry, but I must write too.  

No matter how your life has gone wrong, Jesus sees His beloved child in you. He sees your sorrow and He weeps, but He also sees the beauty He will restore in heaven and He smiles with an unimaginable tenderness.

Beautiful Thoughts are Therapeutic

I felt discouraged and a little depressed. It was only ten days after a life saving operation and didn't  feel strong. That's normal. I was grateful for the operation.

But I'm human and I have dark moods sometimes. I wanted to write a blog post to encourage others, but I had no inspiration.

Then I took a shower and suddenly a song came to mind. Intuitively, I knew it was from God.

When the dog bites,
When the bee stings,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favourite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

This is from the film, ‘The Sound of Music’.

Fond memories came to mind. I saw my grandmother's house, which I loved so much. I saw myself in the living room of my parents' house when I loved playing chess with my father as a child.

There are some strict Christians who disapprove of daydreams, but Paul said we must always be thankful and let beautiful thoughts shape our minds.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Php 4:8 NIV

Only God is the Judge

 “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. Mt 7:1 NRSV

What does that mean? Are we supposed to gloss over all sin? Are we to think that Hitler or Stalin were only mentally ill?

What is God trying to say? Should we differentiate between good and evil? Absolutely.

Should we confront and resist sin? Of course.

If you are a church leader or pastor and someone in the church is causing trouble or abusing children, should you passively allow it? God forbid.

On the other hand, if a pastor or priest becomes arrogant and authoritarian and causes trouble in your family, are you allowed to rebuke that man even though he is the leader?

What does Jesus say?

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. Mt 18:15 NIV

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph 5:21 NIV

We must confront other Christians strongly, sometimes.

But we must never forget that only God sits on the heavenly judgement seat, not us.

If you correct another Christian, you must first bow before God's judgement seat. We are all flawed.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Mt 7:3–5 NIV

We must sometimes confront other Christians, but if you're acting like a policeman always on the lookout for sins in the community, then you've really gone astray.

It is sometimes all right to correct other Christians. Sometimes.

But am I appointed by God to correct all the faults I see in other Christians? Christians who think this way are proud and self righteous.  

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Gal 6:1–3 NIV

“You who are spiritual” is an important qualification. People who think they are always right are not spiritual. Spiritual Christians are humble, gentle and loving.

Heal the Sick, Raise the Dead

 I have only heard God's audible voice once, and that was not with my natural ears, but in my spirit. That is, it wasn't just thoughts, but a voice.

Actually, it wasn't just one voice, but a few voices speaking together. I assume it was the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The voices were not loud but very clear.

‘Tell the church: Heal the sick, raise the dead.’ ‘Speak to the church: Tell the church: Heal the sick, raise the dead’

When God speaks, he can question our traditions. He may challenge us to change our perspective, but He will never contradict Scripture.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mk 16:17–18 NIV

Who is to release these miracles? Only the apostles? Only the Christians in the New Testament?

No. ‘Those who believe.’

And these signs will accompany those who believe: … Mk 16:17 NIV
 
In the New Testament, only Jesus and the apostles brought the dead back to life.

But Jesus has given us a blank cheque for all time.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Jn 14:12 NIV

I was in a Pentecostal church for years, where I saw and experienced miraculous healings. The Christians in this church told of a miracle in a service in this church where I was unfortunately not present.

A man was sitting in the service and had a heart attack. He died in the middle of the service. One of the women in the congregation was a nurse. She confirmed that the man was really dead, but the preacher prayed and commanded the dead man to come back to life, and he came back.  

The pastor had been a child in a church in England where Smith Wigglesworth preached. Smith Wigglesworth brought the dead back to life several times through his gift of faith.

We cannot work miracles on our own, but God has given us his Holy Spirit, just like in the New Testament.

Did Jesus raise the dead? Certainly. Did Peter and Paul raise the dead? According to the Bible, yes.

Should Christians do the same works? According to Jesus, yes.

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Jn 14:12 NIV

This statement by Jesus is open-ended. Jesus did not say a word about a time limit.

I have not personally seen a dead person revived, but I once prayed and someone I knew made a full recovery after a lethal overdose.

No one Knows it all.

 Are you the kind of person who is always right?
What does the Bible say about this?

Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.
But whoever loves God is known by God. 1 Cor 8:2–3 NIV

The apostle John said of Jesus that he was full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jn 1:14 NIV

Truth is so important. Bible knowledge is essential because the Bible is God's Word.

But if Bible knowledge is your first priority, if you think your assignment from God is to always rebuke Christians who think differently, where is your humility? Where is your love for your neighbour?

John didn't say Jesus was filled with truth and grace. He said Jesus was filled with grace and truth.

Grace and truth, not truth and grace.

What did Paul say about Christians with different opinions?

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters.
One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.

The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them.

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Rom 14:1–5 NIV

Perhaps you are a trained Bible teacher with excellent spiritual gifts. You have a calling as a pastor or church leader.

But be careful! Being opinionated is not a virtue. Know-it-all attitude does not come from God!

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 1 Cor 13:2 NIV

Do you always know better?

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 1 Cor 13:9 NIV

Here Paul includes himself, confessing that he did not know it all.

But maybe you're not a trained church leader, but your pastor or an elder behaves like an infallible pope. You are not obliged to always give in.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1 NIV

If the leaders in your church or denomination are dictatorial, if they demand unconditional submission, if they always put you down when you express your own thoughts, then just leave ...

But Paul himself could also be very harsh and dogmatic. He was particularly tough on legalism and lawlessness. Some thorny issues are important and others are not so important. We need the wisdom that only comes from God.

But if you experience bullying in a church, just leave ...

Paul himself admonished Christians not to give in to spiritual dictatorship.

In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 2 Cor 11:20 NIV

Goals, Callings and Priorities

 It is so important to have goals for your life. Without clear goals in life, we go round in circles without achieving anything significant.

If you have ten priorities, you have no priorities.

But it can also be dangerous to have too few priorities. There are very successful doctors, preachers and business people who have neglected their spouses or children.

I love classical music. When I think of the greatest composers, I always see amazing achievements but abject failures in their family lives.

But one composer shone with heavenly glory.

Johann Sebastian Bach was so devoted to music that he damaged his eyesight studying sheet music by candlelight. He was extremely focused, but his first priority was the love of God.

He was also a faithful husband and a very good father.

He had many children and some of them also became excellent composers.

There are fanatics who only have one goal in life, but there are also duty-bound people who only want to be good Christians without a clear idea of a particular goal or personal calling from God.

What would it be like if Paul only wanted to be a good Christian and nothing more?
What if Johann Sebastian Bach only wanted to be a good father and church organist and nothing more?

Do you only have one goal in life? Perhaps you should ask yourself whether you are perhaps too self-centred or whether you are neglecting some important duties.

Do you have a clear idea of your identity and calling or do you only have a vague idea that you should be a good Christian?

Ask God to show you what he has created you for.

Every person is unique. God has created you for important tasks. Not only famous people are important in God's eyes. God has a plan for your life.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Rom 12:6–8 NIV

You may think you are not a prophet or teacher, but you can study the Bible and teach your children.

You pray for someone and an encouraging word comes to you for that person. Maybe you should share that thought with the person.

Maybe you are a practical person. You are a good gardener. Your neighbour is sick and his garden is unkempt. If you work in his garden, you might be able to win your neighbour for Jesus.

If you like to play the piano or guitar, maybe you can visit a retirement home and encourage the elderly with music.

We all have talents and abilities that we can use for Jesus.

What is your thing? Who needs your help? When you pray about it, what comes to mind?