Faith and Love belong together

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Cor 13:2 NKJV

If we share bible truth, God can use the power of His own words to turn some people from confusion to faith, but that is only the first step. Many believe at first, but they fall away.

People in this broken world are desperate for love. Faith without a deep ongoing experience of love leads many converts down a blind alley.

Either they become fanatically religious without love, or they become disillusioned with false promises of love and walk away from church, or even from God.

Prophetic gifts can be powerful in helping people to believe in God. A Christian may receive a revelation from the Holy Spirit and tell a person something about him or herself which no one else knows.

On the other hand, Christians can prophesy over people to control them and keep them in bondage to manipulative religion. A preacher can tell a person, supposedly from God, that God has planted him or her in this church and he or she should not leave.

Spiritual gifts and bible teaching can help people grow in love, but they must never be a substitute for love and respect for each person.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 Jn 4:7–8 NIV

We must not think we are spiritual because of our bible knowledge or spiritual gifts. The mark of a true Christian is a character motivated by the love of God.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 Jn 4:9–11 NIV

• Love means we must not blame or judge people if they are not healed when we pray for them.

• Love means we must not try to manipulate people to grow our church or our ministry.

• Love means we must respect Christians with different doctrines or in different traditions.

If we genuinely and patiently continue to love people, we will see more people attracted to Jesus and more people continuing in faith after conversion.

In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, he sums up the essence of Christian faith, in which believing is essential, but faith is more than just believing.

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Th 1:3 NIV

In his letter to the Galatians, he also teaches the true nature of faith.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Gal 5:6 NIV

Miracles in the Last Days

 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. Acts 2.17 NKJV

When did that happen? ‘In the last days.’ What does that mean? In the last days of the old Jewish nation.

But this expression also has another meaning. We now live in the end times, shortly before the return of the Lord Jesus, the time when the last of all terrible world rulers will appear.

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. Acts 2:20 NIV

But Peter’s message is also a message of hope.

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapour of smoke. Acts 2:17–19 NKJV

Some Reformed Christians believe that prophecy, signs and wonders were only for Bible times, but Martin Luther and John Knox shared prophecies that were fulfilled.

In 1909, some conservative Christians in Berlin declared that the signs and wonders in the Charismatic Movement came from below.

The Pharisees made exactly the same mistake when they declared the miracles of Jesus to be demonic.

I know a woman in Australia who visited heaven during an operation.

I spoke to a Persian woman in Germany who saw Jesus in a dream when she was a Muslim. Eight years later, she converted to Jesus.

A woman I know very well escaped certain death when God saved her from a collision.
It was too late for the brakes. She couldn't avoid a collision. Then she felt a terrible heat. The vehicle went right through her car, without noise, without causing any damage. It was like something out of a fantasy film.

The sensation of heat lasted for a few days.

The extreme multiplication of signs and wonders in our time is a problem for many conservative Christians.

Not all stories are true and not all supernatural phenomena come from God.

We have to test revelations, but if we condemn all strange events as counterfeit, we will also reject the miracles of God.
Maybe you come from a conservative background. You find these dramatic testimonies doubtful, but you are not sure.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Jas 1:5 NIV

Don't stay where you are. A true disciple is one who always wants to learn from God Himself.

C. Peter Wagner was a conservative lecturer at a Bible school in America. He heard amazing testimonies of miracles in Argentina and Brazil.
He attended meetings in which poor people received new teeth or gold fillings. He was then convinced that it was not a deception.

How a Muslim Girl became a Christian

 She was the baby of a large Muslim family in Central Asia. When the communist government collapsed, a terrible civil war broke out. There was hunger, murder and chaos. Women and girls were abducted, raped and murdered on a daily basis.

Her parents were educated and good people. She was tenderly loved by her parents and siblings and she wanted to honour her parents and their God.

Despite the genuine love in her family, she learnt that women were second-class people in Islam. She always aspired to become a virtuous Muslim woman in the hope of not suffering in hell.

She had a teacher at school who gave her a children's Bible. She was fascinated by Jesus, especially by the signs and miraculous healings.

Then she began to dream about Jesus. These dreams were real visitations and they kept coming back. She could feel the unspeakable love of God as Jesus explained how He loved her and that He was the only way to God.

She was very lively and loved sports and she learnt karate at school because martial arts were useful in a civil war where women and girls were always at risk. But then she could no longer pay for karate lessons.

Then came Americans who taught martial arts for free. It was Taekwondo, a martial art from Korea. She was thrilled.

The teacher explained that not only the body is important in martial arts, but above all the mind and soul. He was a Christian and boldly proclaimed the love and power of God.

She was deeply touched. She heard, ‘God is love’. In the Koran, Allah has 99 names, but no name speaks of love.

She heard that God is the Father, but she had learnt in Islam from an early age that Allah has no children.

She heard that God created men and women in His own image, but this was unheard of in Islam. She had always learnt that as a woman, she was only a second-class human being. Now she heard something totally different and immeasurably better.

She was still a Muslim. She asked the second coach if he believed that Jesus was the Son of God. This idea is blasphemous to Muslims, and the missionary already knew this.

He gave her the Gospel of John and said she would find the answers she was looking for in this little book.

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

When she read these words, she was touched, but she was still on her journey of discovery.

She still prayed her Islamic prayers five times a day, but Allah never answered.

As a Muslim woman in a religious civil war, it was life-threatening to attend a Christian service.

Nevertheless, she wanted to attend the service with the missionary, even though she feared not only persecution and murder, but also the flames of hell because of Allah's judgement.

She could not say a word to her family. She said she went to a training session with the martial arts trainer, but she said no more.

During the service, she immediately felt the overwhelming love of God and also the love of the Christians. The light did not come from countless candles, but from the hearts of the Christians. Here was something completely different from the old Christian religion she had seen before.

Allah had never answered her daily prayers. So she had the pastor pray for her in Jesus' name. The loving touch of the Holy Spirit came upon her and she could no longer stand on her feet.

As she lay on the floor for hours, she saw Jesus on the cross in a vision. God spoke to her for hours.

‘When I was finally able to get up again, I had become a new person.’

Face to Face with Jesus: A Former Muslim's Extraordinary Journey to Heaven and Encounter with the God of Love Kindle Edition. by Bodie Thoene, Samaa Habib

End Times. Alarm and Hope

 We see so many natural disasters today. Our survival on this troubled planet is precarious. So many conservative people, even Christians, refuse to recognise climate change. They condemn environmental activists. They call them left wing alarmists.

But why don’t these conservative Christians seriously read bible prophecies about increasing natural disasters in the last days before the return of Jesus?

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Mt 24:7 NKJV

There have always been wars, famines, epidemics and earthquakes, so why does Jesus emphasise these things in His prophecy about the End Times? Clearly, Jesus is speaking of an alarming increase of disasters, including natural disasters.

I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. Acts 2:19–20 NIV

Nevertheless, in spite of alarming droughts, heatwaves, hurricanes, floods, terrible wars, horrible hi-tech weapons and genocides, God warns that the return of Jesus will come as a surprise to most people.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Mt 24:42 NIV

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night … 2 Pet 3:10 NKJV

But God has a plan to restore everything, to make everything healthy and beautiful again.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Rev 21:1 NKJV

Your life in this world is also temporary. We will not remain here forever. I am now 75 years old and I do not want to remain in this body forever. It is not nice to become old and frail.

But Jesus rose from the dead and promises us a completely new life if we trust in him.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25–26 NKJV

An Australian was waiting to die. He heard the terrible sound of the massive bush fire that was inevitably advancing. He was an atheist, but in the panic of despair, he pleaded for God's help.

Suddenly, the wind shifted direction. The man and all those with him were saved from death.

But the man was not only alive, he was no longer an atheist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 2:20–21 NRSV

God's Heart Burns for You

God only wants the best for every person on earth. God created you for a good purpose, and his purpose is always good.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Gen 1:27 NIV

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Gen 1:31 NIV

But the first man and woman messed up God's plan by believing the enemy's lies instead of trusting God.

You and I have also messed up God's plan. We, too, have given in to temptations and believed lies. We have all gone astray.

Nevertheless, God does not love us any less.

If we are not kind and faithful, that cannot change the character of God, because…

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 Jn 4:8 NIV

God is love. He created you because He loves you. He loved you before the creation of the world.

He loved you when you were conceived and when you were born, and he still loves you.

If you were conceived unintentionally in a car or hotel room, you were still wanted by God.

And if you were raised in the worst witchcraft imaginable?

That was nothing but a challenge for God's love, because God's heart burns for you. Nothing can extinguish the fire of his love.

If you were not only abused but also led astray as a child, it was not your fault.
God loves abused children.

In the Bible, we find a man with a terrible past. We don’t know his name.
 
Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.
He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” Mk 5:5–7 NIV

He was so confused that he could not distinguish his own thoughts from the voices of the devils, and he was possessed by hundreds of demons.

But the demons could not resist the command of Jesus. When the demons were gone, he trusted Jesus with all his heart.

For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” Mk 5:8–9 NIV

Not only was the man freed from the devils, but, amazingly, he was no longer mentally ill.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Mk 5:18 NIV

Then Jesus said something quite unexpected.

Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mk 5:19 NIV

But the man did not just talk to his family.

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

Jesus healed a dangerous psychotic man and set him free to evangelise his entire region.

Before this man began preaching, the people demanded that Jesus leave their area.
When Jesus came back, crowds of people came to him. Many were converted.

It may be that you have experienced rejection and bullying for years. Perhaps your life is plagued by illness or depression. Even if you are cursed with witchcraft, sexual abuse or drug addiction, you are still important and valuable in God's eyes.

God wants to give you a future and a new hope.

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

God Feels your Suffering

 Life can be a hard test.

God did not create us for rejection and disappointment, but for love and fulfilment. Nevertheless, we are rejected and disappointed so often.

Do you know what? God also suffers because we so often reject and disappoint him. Nevertheless, he also loves you and me.

But maybe we doubt whether God really has such feelings. God wanted to show us how He really is, how He loves us and how He suffers for us.

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 was with Father God eternally before creation.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. Jn 1:1–3 NIV

Jesus is also God Himself and remains God forever but also man, for He came to us on earth to share in our humanity.

He came to us humans, but we all rejected and deeply hurt him.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Jn 1:10–11 NIV

Jesus was born without an earthly father because God was his Father, but his contemporaries saw him as an illegitimate child. Can you understand how the people in his village would have tormented him?

When Jesus started healing the sick and offering his love to the outcasts of society, he was accused by the religious leaders of being possessed by the devil. Jesus delivered suffering Jews from demons, but the Pharisees said that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of the devil.

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? Mt 12:25–26 NIV

Do you feel misunderstood and alone? Jesus understands. He has been there too.

Jesus suffered a lot, not because He lived wrongly, but because He was good. The enemies of God hate God and everything that is good. Jesus understands your broken heart and He is on your side.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; Ps 34:18–19 NIV

Jesus does not promise His followers a life without problems, but He will help you in all your troubles.

Some Miracles Take a Long Time

 Nowadays, some couples want to live without children. Some women only want to have one or two children. They want to pursue a career first and only try to get pregnant when they are 35. Many then have problems and end up paying a lot of money for artificial insemination.

In the biblical era, it was quite different. A woman was expected to be married, and there was great shame in being childless.

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.

Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. Lk 1:5–7 NIV

Elizabeth was old and despite her strong faith and devotion, and her many prayers, she remained childless. Had God forgotten her? She was faithful, but was God not faithful?

But God had a plan for her. She was to be the mother of a great prophet. Her son was John the Baptist.

Sometimes our faith and patience must be tested for years before God can perform a great miracle and give us even greater blessings.

When Moses fled Egypt at 40 years old, he was not a prophet and was not at all ready to rule a nation. After 40 years as a shepherd in the desert, he was able to begin fulfilling his destiny.

Abraham was to be the father of many nations, but he received this promise at about 75 years of age. He had to wait until he was almost 100 years old, and his wife was over 90 before they had their promised son.

Sometimes we see miracles happen very quickly. I know of a family that had a baby who was completely deaf. Before the little boy was 18 months old, he and his mother attended a service where the preacher prayed for him. A week later, he could hear a little, and three months later, he had 100% normal hearing.

When Jesus performed miracle healings in the New Testament, it didn't take long. The sick recovered dramatically. This also happens today, especially in revivals, but there are also healings where the recovery time takes longer, but the healing is still miraculous.

For many years I was a member of a congregation with a wonderful pastor. The pastor became ill. He was very close to death because of cancer, but God healed him. His recovery took quite a long time and afterwards he was never strong, but he lived for more than ten years. His ministry after his healing was even better and more blessed than before.

Before the war, there were no antibiotics. A pastor in England became ill with tuberculosis, which at that time was incurable. The pastor believed in miracle healings and he prayed that God would heal him.

The Holy Spirit promised him that if he would pray two hours each day, God would heal him. He believed and obeyed. He prayed every day and he gradually recovered completely.

In the Bible, we read how devout Jews and Christians somehow, in some mysterious way, received messages from the Holy Spirit. God has not changed. He still speaks. It is part of His nature.

Do you know God's voice? You can learn to listen to God. Ask God to help you. He can heal the deaf ears and also awaken a listening heart in you.

Christian TV, Pros and Cons

 Some people don't like Christian television. They don't like the high pressure fundraising or the promotion of celebrity preachers. Or they may disagree with some of the teachings or questionable viewpoints.

I have seen all of these weaknesses, and yet I continue to support Christian television. Why?

I have also seen the same flaws in some local churches where I have been a member for years. These negative things hurt much more when you are exposed to them up close and personal, when you know the leaders and they know you.

In many years in different churches, I have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly.
The good has often been wonderful, the bad has brought disappointment and frustration. I thank God that He has healed me from much pain from ugly experiences in the past.

Most Christians have been involved in local churches. I thank God for them, with all their faults. Without them, it is hard to imagine how most people could even know about Jesus.

Jesus was human, but perfect.
We are human and very imperfect. Local churches are also human and very imperfect because their members and leaders are human and imperfect.

So when people find Jesus in local churches, but then get so hurt that they give up on the church, where do they turn to build their relationship with Jesus?

Some find help on the internet, others in home groups, and for many people Christian television is a form of life support.

I have been active in churches for 50 years.

For many years, I was addicted to Christian books. Why? Because Christian books allowed me to expand my faith and understanding.

Without books, I felt completely dependent on the limited perspective of my church leaders.
Then I discovered the internet and eventually Christian television. I could read or listen to a wide variety of Christian input and decide for myself where to dig deeper to find the gold of God's kingdom.

There are also millions of people who have never been near a church, but they watch TV. God wants to reach them.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Pet 3:9 NIV

God loves people who go to church, but He also loves people who don't go to church and people who have reasons to mistrust or even hate everything related to religion.

Sometimes we read about people who have committed suicide as a result of traumatic experiences.

If you have been extremely hurt in a church, I want you to know that I have been there too. I also want you to know that God did not do this to me and He did not do it to you. Jesus also suffered at the hands of people who were supposed to represent God.

He (God) longs for everyone to embrace life and to return to the full knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 (The Passion Translation)

The apostle Paul was in prison. He was a victim of persecution because of his preaching. His sermons were motivated by devotion to Jesus and love for people.

He saw clearly what is also obvious to us today, namely that not all sermons are inspired by pure love of God and compassion for people.

Nevertheless, he did not attack preachers who proclaimed Jesus, even if their motives were questionable.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
...
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. … Php 1:15,18 NIV

God uses very flawed people. In the Old Testament, we see, for example, Samson and King Solomon. We don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater. People who have hurt you have also told you about Jesus. Hold on to him. He wants to heal you.

Right now we need radio, television and the internet like never before. Stay open to God's blessings.

An Atheist Finds God

Perhaps you think you cannot believe. If you want to believe, God will help you to come to faith.

A young atheist felt the emptiness in his soul. He saw a church and went in, where he observed pious worshippers.

He began to speak to God in his own way.

God, if you exist, and I don't believe you do, then I don't think it's my duty to believe in you. On the contrary, it is your duty to reveal your existence to me. If you exist, then let me find you.

In a remote village lived an old man who loved Jesus. He prayed for years that God would help him bring a Jew to faith.

One day, the young atheist, who was Jewish, was going on a journey. He looked for accommodation in the village and the old Christian welcomed him.

He gave him a Bible to read. As the young man read the Testament, he felt the love of God like fire in his heart and he believed.

The young atheist was of Jewish origin, but only when he met Jesus as his Messiah did he find the God of Israel.

Are you Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist? It doesn't matter. Jesus was born a Jew and lived on earth as a Jew, but he died on a cruel cross to suffer the punishment for our sins.

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

God Helps in your Deep Need

 If we have no need, we do not need a miracle from God. If we can manage it humanly on our own, we often try to do just that.

• Barak Obama became president and tried to win the support of the world with the well-known words, ‘Yes, we can!’ But despite these words, he has failed in many ways.

•  Angela Merkel has taken the same line: ‘We can do it!’ She still says so, but has it worked?

• Politicians claim that Islam is a religion of peace, but where do we find peace in the Middle East?

   After 1990, a new era began, where the Russians were supposed to be our democratic partners in a new world order, but now we see a not-so-friendly leader in Moscow.

  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will protect you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
   
  God does not deceive us with false assurance and hollow promises. Where there is no threat, we do not need encouragement to overcome fear.
   
  The prophet David, king of Israel, had to confront real threats. He left us many psalms that testify to his struggle against fear.
  
  Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack.
  My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me.
  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Ps 56:1–3 NIV
   
  These are our invincible weapons against fear, the testimonies of those who have overcome danger and fear.
   
  God's word is not just made up of dogmas and commandments, but also of totally reliable promises. They are reliable for two reasons.
  
  Firstly, they come from God, who will never let us down because he is completely truthful and also almighty.
  We can also rely on God's promises because they have been proven in hard times of affliction.
  
  God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Ps 46:1 NASB95
   
  The words in the Bible are not just words. God has kept his promises again and again in the Bible stories.
  
  I have seen time and again how God has saved me and others from death, illness, poverty and unemployment.
   
  So often we expect our parents, partners, friends, doctors, communities, employers or politicians to provide the help we urgently need. Sometimes we get help from people and sometimes they let us down.
  
  But God has never let me down. I have often seen God intervene in humanly impossible circumstances.
   
  It is often precisely in impossible situations that we have to make a decision. Should we panic or just seek human help? Panic doesn't work at all and passive resignation is like death itself.
  
  But we have a God who gave his son to death but then raised him from the dead. Jesus died so that we can always find a way out of any situation.
   
  Jesus said before his death:
  
  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
  and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25–26 NASB95
  
  God has work for the unemployed, healing for the sick, joy for the depressed, a future for the hopeless.
   
  When Christian children in Syria or Iraq are beheaded by terrorists because they refuse to become Muslims, they are immediately caught up and their souls appear in God's heaven, where they immediately receive God's comfort and love.
   
  Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
  For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
  You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps 16:9–11 NRSV

What is Healthy Self Love?

God loves you and me. We have all gone wrong. We are all unworthy sinners, we need God's forgiveness. Without God's forgiveness, we must always strive to hide our shame and disguise our failure.

You and I long for love, but we always doubt whether we can be lovable.

Many react with excessive self-centredness. For this reason, religious Christianity has rejected all self-love as a sin. Many strive to resist self-love. They try to love others but not to love themselves.

But this does not work well.

From social science, we learn that a great many patients visit a doctor, get a prescription, but do not buy the medicine.

‘Imagine a hundred people being prescribed a medicine. What happens? One in three doesn't even go to the pharmacy. Two-thirds pick up the medicine but take it incorrectly. They just forget to take their pills, for example in the morning when they have to rush.’

Peterson, Jordan B.. 12 Rules For Life:

Why do we neglect our own health? Because of a lack of genuine healthy self-love.
But social scientists have revealed an even more astonishing finding.

When they get a prescription from the vet, almost all people are very reliable and use the medicine exactly right.

Jesus tells us to love ourselves. But no! Really?...

… ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Mk 12:31 NIV

But many preachers have always claimed that each of us loves ourselves too much. We must therefore strive not to love ourselves.

And the very many people who despair and commit suicide, do they really love themselves?
So many people do not respect themselves, do not take care of themselves, do not protect themselves.

Yes, there are people who seemingly worship themselves, but there are also so many who hate or despise themselves.

I visited a church in Germany where the pastor prayed with longing for revival. He once asked God why the long-awaited revival had not yet come.
He told us that God gave him an amazing answer.

We are still waiting for revival because so many Christians do not love themselves. 

Once I had a problem because a pastor had dominated me arrogantly.

Again and again I thought about how I should have resisted his domination. Again and again, anger and resentment welled up in me. Then I repented every time. I prayed to God for forgiveness. I proclaimed my forgiveness over the pastor.

But a few days later the anger came up again.

Then I gave up the fight. I simply said to God,
‘Dear God. You see my thoughts. What do you think about this?’
The Holy Spirit answered immediately:
‘You can't forgive the pastor because you can't forgive yourself. You should have resisted and you failed. You have to forgive yourself for your failure.’
Then I was set free.

It was a lack of self-respect. There is a God-given self-respect. This is one aspect of the healthy self-love that Jesus talks about.

Paul covers the same ground.

He warns against extreme servility, which is also an aspect of a lack of self-love.

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

Jesus also warns us against authoritarian preachers.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Mt 23:8 NIV

Extreme submissiveness is terrible, but rebellion and selfishness are no better.
When a man pays a prostitute, he despises not only the woman but also himself.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Cor 6:19 NIV

Healthy self-love is also an antidote for drug addiction and porn addiction.

You can only truly love yourself when you learn to experience the love of God, when you learn to value yourself as God values you.

Finding Meaning and Purpose in Your Life

Is the story of your life interesting?

A church member once stood up and testified.
“Before I was saved, I was wicked, sinful and boring. I want to thank God I am not sinful any more.”

When you respond to the call of Jesus, God forgives all your sins and changes your character. God’s purpose is to make you like Jesus.

Most of us will never walk on water or die on a cross. But if you are like Jesus, the story of your life will never be boring. If your life is routine, ordinary and predictable, ask Jesus to show you what is missing, and he will answer.

Please don’t misunderstand me. Many people today demand constant entertainment. I am not suggesting every moment must be exciting. We also need to cultivate patience. But spiritual patience is not the passive acceptance of a mediocre life.

Are you actively pursuing a big dream for your life? Are you living an adventure story?

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. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

The peace God gives is not a domestic tranquillity where nothing exciting happens. It is the peace of Jesus who slept through a terrible storm at sea because He trusted in His heavenly Father’s care.

The prophet Jeremiah was in prison when God spoke to him.

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

Prison can be a place of dark suffering because you stand for God in spite of persecution. Prison can also be a life dominated by a grey routine.

God can deliver His children out of both kinds of prison.

"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 broken-hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;  Luke 4:18 (NKJV)

Even if you are trapped in domestic slavery with no means of escape, God can give you adventures in the Spirit.

'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. Acts 2:17-18 (NKJV)

God created you with a purpose. When you repent and believe, you are forgiven. But the plans of God do not stop there.

Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Romans 8:30 (NKJV)

God has a plan and a destiny for your life. He wants you to experience His glory and to reveal His glory through you.

Why not read the story of Jesus of Nazareth? Fast-forward to the book of Revelation and see Jesus in Heaven. Then you will understand that glory can never be boring.

If your life has no adventure, ask God to put you on track to glory.

I hope you will allow me to conclude with some essential practical wisdom. One thing which imprisons so many good people is the tyranny of the urgent.

Of course, you must not neglect essential practical duties. But are you setting aside time every day to work on your life dream?

For example, if you are called to minister the Good News of Jesus, start a house church or do something special for God, you need to make time to prepare, to read and pray.

What are you doing today to advance towards your destiny?

Faith is a Choice

 Faith is a decision.

I cannot trust God without the enabling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. God always wants to help me to trust God, but you must choose to believe and trust.

He speaks to me through testimonies. I hear or read stories of how God has supernaturally helped other people. 

I saw a video on You Tube. An American pastor prayed for hundreds of people suffering from Covid. Almost every person miraculously recovered, even those in intensive care.

Ken Fish Covid Healing

Pastor Ken Fish commanded the spirit of destruction to leave the sick people.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. Ps 91:5–6 NASB95

We can be strengthened in faith by the spiritual gifts of others, by the testimonies of miracles from others and by putting our trust in the promises of God in the Bible.

Two years ago two members of my family were in bed with Covid, while I cared for them. God protected me and I didn't get sick.

I encourage myself with this memory of God’s protection. I read Psalm 91.

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection. Ps 91:3–4 NLT

A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Ps 91:7 NKJV

God encourages and enables us to trust in so many ways but in the end, faith is a decision. You must choose to believe and trust.

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Ps 56:3 NKJV

Christian Love for Muslims

In 2001, two planes were hijacked by Islamic terrorists and destroyed the Twin Towers in New York. Since then, the world has not been the same. Islamic extremists have been engaged in Jihad, religious warfare, both with weapons and propaganda.

Many of us Christians have not known how to respond. I know an ex Muslim from Saudi Arabia to fearlessly shares the Christian gospel with every Muslim he sees.

God sent him to a secular university, where he completed his doctorate. There were many Muslims at that university and every one of them heard the message of Jesus.

One Muslim tried to kill him with poisoned food. A week later he met him and was astonished to find him alive. He had put enough poison in the food to kill a camel.

My Christian friend calmly answered with a promise from the Bible.

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

The Muslim assassin was convinced by the power of God and became a Christian himself.

A Christian girl from England went to a holiday island in Thailand to reach out to people for Jesus. Many Muslims came to faith in Jesus, so other Muslims were determined to kill her.

When she was caught in an ambush, God made her invisible and she quietly walked away.

We must not be intimidated by Muslims. I have met a number of ex Muslims who no longer believe in Islam. Some have become Christians but others are in no-mans-land. They no longer believe in Islam but they are not converted to Christianity.

Some still believe in God and are appreciative if Christians pray for them.

I knew a young Muslim woman who wanted to know more about Christianity. She said her next door neighbour was a Christian who cared for her as if she was her own sister. They were both refugees and spoke the same language.

This woman asked me to help her learn more about Christianity, so I went to a Christian bookshop and bought a cassette tape with a reading of Mark’s Gospel in Persian.

If you are friendly with Muslims, you may be surprised to find how many are open to Christian love and truth.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Mt 28:19 NIV

Millions of Muslims are becoming Christians today. How is this happening?

Christian TV, friendship and love from Christians, miracle healings, supernatural dreams in which they encounter Jesus.

Pray for Muslims and don’t be afraid.

The Answer is the Love of God

 There are so many people who are not satisfied with money, things, sex and empty entertainment. They are hungry for something more, something spiritual. Many turn to New Age meditation, or even witchcraft, but they don’t find real contentment there.

There is a God, a loving heavenly father. He wants to reach the lost souls who stumble from one thing to another.

As Christians, many of us are partly to blame for the confusion around us.

Many Christians read the bible and believe in a supernatural God, but they don’t let God step into their own lives with miraculous answered prayers, even though they have serious needs that they try to deal with in their own human ways.

I have experienced many miracles, but I still often fail to trust God.

There are other Christians who are so upset about divorce, homosexuality and abortion, that they become self-righteous culture warriors and forget to love the people around them.
God is holy, but we must never forget that God is love.

There are also Christians who believe for miracles, but then get trapped in pornography or some other vice.

Many children believe in God, but then turn away because of the failures of Christians.

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! Mt 18:6–7 NIV

As a Christian, I was always zealous for truth, but I have had to learn to be gentle and understanding with my own family and others around me.

We must learn to be kind and loving, as well as strong in our spiritual and moral beliefs.

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

If I am constantly open to receiving the love of God and sharing that love with others, I will not be a spiritual policeman who offends people who need love.

People need Jesus, but they will not recognise Jesus in us unless we love like Jesus loves.

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

If you are not yet committed to believing in Jesus, I pray you will meet Christians who love with the love of Jesus.

If you have not yet found the reality you long for in Christianity, talk to God about it. Ask God to show you more of His love and truth.

Paul. Greatest sinner became God's Messenger

 God used the shameful past of Rahab and other prostitutes as a testimony to help other sinful people believe and be forgiven.

Paul's sinful past was not adultery or witchcraft, but self-righteous religious pride.

Paul's religious ambition drove him to be an outstanding biblical scholar, but there was no humility of love in his heart. His religion led him to persecute and murder followers of Jesus.

Paul became an enemy of Jesus and an enemy of the God he thought he served. Then came the day when everything changed.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:3–6 NIV

God never forgot Paul's sin. It is recorded in the Bible, in the Word of God.

Paul also remembered his sin.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Tim 1:15–16 NIV

Paul was a living example of the mercy and grace that were at the centre of his message and ministry.
If there is extreme shame in your life, be encouraged.

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. Is 54:4 NIV

How can the deepest shame lead to eternal blessing in God's hands? Jesus hung stark naked on the cross to open the door to eternal glory for you and me.

Jesus forgave prostitutes and brutal religious leaders when they believed and repented. What can we learn from this. Pray for pimps, drug dealers and hypocritical preachers. No one is too bad to be forgiven.

God has not Forgotten You

 Are you at the end of yourself? Has God forgotten you?

In the Old Testament, the Jews were desperate. They had gone wrong. They still believed in God to some extent, but they had not taken God seriously.

God had commanded:

“You shall have no other gods before me. Ex 20:3 NIV

God had strictly forbidden the worship of idols.

But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame. Is 42:17 NIV

Apostate kings in Jerusalem had worshipped idols since Solomon's time, and the people copied the sins of their neighbours.

Many believed in the god Baal and the goddess Asherah, Baal's supposed wife. This religion was all about sex and fertility. The priestesses of Asherah were prostitutes. The men worshipped the goddess by visiting these prostitutes.

This also happened in God's temple. This was supposed to make the land fertile so that they would have a good harvest.

It's a bit different here today. Sex is worshipped, but not fertility.
Exactly the opposite. We want to have very few children, and there are no longer enough young people in Western Europe.

The Jews in the Old Testament cruelly slaughtered their children in order to gain the favour of the pagan god Moloch.

Abortion is sometimes needed to save the life of the mother but millions of unborn babies are killed for all kinds of reasons.

God's prophets had warned again and again, but most people did not want to take the warnings seriously.

The people had surrendered to the rule of the cruel false gods. Finally, they had to reap what they had sown.

At that time the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it … 2 Kings 24:10 NIV

Nebuchadnezzar's army conquered God's people and Jerusalem was occupied.

The Jews were deported en masse to Babylon, where many were enslaved.

But what does this ancient history have to do with us? Does slavery exist today?

You can find drug dealers everywhere. If you have an addiction, you are enslaved. Many young women end up in prostitution to buy drugs.

There are boys on the street who spend the night with gays to avoid freezing on the street.

When people are exposed to such terrible alternatives, we can speak of slavery without exaggeration.

How can God allow such suffering? God has given us free will as human beings. We can suffer because of our own flawed choices, or often because of the evil choices of others.

One of the young Jews who was taken away by Nebuchadnezzar was Daniel. He was very intelligent and of noble birth. Even as a teenager, he was enslaved and castrated.

But God loved Daniel and all the deported Jews. In the prophetic book of Isaiah, we see God's heart for the suffering Jews.

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

Daniel was determined to remain faithful to God in his miserable circumstances.

God sees your heart and His heart beats for you, as it did for Daniel. Daniel became the administrator of the government under Nebuchadnezzar and one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament.

Are you in a mess where you can't see a way out?

God has not forgotten you. He loves his suffering daughters and sons, just as he loved Daniel.

God's love never gives up.

Ordained Ministers in the New Testament

 Most Christian churches make clear distinctions between ordained ministers and lay Christians. It is difficult to find this in the New Testament.

In the Acts and the letters of Paul, we find many names of Christians with significant ministries, but what were their titles?

The eleven original apostles are named. In Acts chapter 1, Matthias was added to the list.
Later, Paul is identified as an apostle.

In Acts chapter 6, the first seven deacons were appointed. It is clear that they were ordained to be ministers of the Gospel.

They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. Acts 6:6 NIV

These seven men were supposed to “wait on tables” but that meant, in reality, that they were supposed to administer the finances and income redistribution for a rapidly growing mega church with thousands of members.

They were also powerful anointed preachers, but in Acts 6 Luke tells us what they did but does not give them ministry titles. Only in Acts 21, Philip is identified as an evangelist.

Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. Acts 21:8 NIV

What about other prominent ministers?
Luke, Mark, Titus, Priscilla and Aquila? What were their ministry titles, if any?

We see that Titus functioned with much greater responsibility and authority than most pastors of local congregations, yet he is not identified explicitly as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher.

Apollos was also a very prominent preacher, but he is only once referred to as a DIAKONOS, which can mean Deacon or a generic term used by Paul for a minister of the Gospel. Paul used the same word to refer to Phoebe in Romans 16:1.

But we are often told that a woman cannot occupy the office of Pastor or Teacher.

Why? Because no woman in the NT is identified as a Pastor or Teacher. But neither is any man in the NT designated as a Pastor or Teacher.

Yet Priscilla and Lydia functioned as important leaders. But they are not explicitly identified as ordained ministers. Neither are  Luke or Titus.

In the Gospels, the word DIAKONOS is used to refer to household servants, but in Paul’s letters, the same word refers to ministers of the Gospel.

In Romans 16:1-2 Paul refers to Phoebe as a DIAKONOS. Why would Paul use a grammatically masculine word to refer to a woman? The only reasonable explanation is that it was a ministry title, and that she was an ordained minister of the Gospel.