Spiritual Pregnancy. New Life in the Spirit

 If you grew up in an English-speaking country, you may remember a conversation like this.

“Mummy, where do babies come from?”
“Babies come from mummy’s tummy.”

Of course, we know that the tummy or stomach is for digesting food and babies grow in the womb, or uterus, a totally different thing. 

But in all three languages of the Bible, Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, there is an interesting word which can be correctly translated as stomach, belly or womb.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:37-38 (KJV)

But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:39 (NKJV)

The word BELLY is the translation of the Greek KOILIA. 

The equivalent Hebrew word is BETEN. When Jesus spoke these words in the temple, He may have been speaking Aramaic. 

The Aramaic Bible uses the word: K'aRSeH, which can also mean BELLY or WOMB. These words are often interpreted figuratively as HEART or INMOST BEING.

In the flesh, the womb and the stomach are quite distinct and only a woman has a womb. 
But in the spiritual realm it is a different story.

Jonah went down into the belly of the great fish or whale. When he came out of the fish’s belly, it was like a resurrection. The belly of the fish was like the womb giving birth to a new man.

The satisfaction of hunger and thirst sustains life. This is the function of the belly, to convert food and drink into life, to keep us alive and refresh us.

But the function of the womb goes further. The womb is the place where a seed sown grows into new life until a new person emerges. The stomach sustains life but the womb reproduces and multiplies life.

The inmost being of every born again Christian believer is potentially both a spiritual stomach and a spiritual womb. 

In this spiritual dimension, there is no male or female. God desires to fill us with the Living Water of His Spirit to nourish, sustain and refresh us but He desires more. God fervently desires to satisfy our thirst but then to take us further, to make us bearers of new life for others.

To hunger and thirst for new life and refreshment in your own soul is not selfish. It is essential. But it is not enough. God wants his people to be like healthy young mothers, reproducing, multiplying, bringing newborn again believers into the world.

The conversion of unbelievers is the birthing of new life. Nothing is more wonderful than the restoration of a sinner to the heart of the Father in Heaven.

But evangelism is not the only way to birth a work of God’s Spirit. 
To sing an inspired song, write a book or paint a picture with God requires a joining together of the Spirit of God with the human spirit in an intimate connection like a husband and wife producing a new person. 

Every work of faith involves the bearing of living fruit, like giving birth to a child.
Have you been feeling tired and heavy lately? Maybe you need to stop struggling in your own strength. Get filled with the Spirit who can produce new life in you and then through you.
Or can it be that you are heavily pregnant in the Spirit?

Do you have a vision for a ministry, a mission, a book, a business, a child, a family revived and restored, a move of the Spirit in your city?

You may feel heavy because the baby is nearly due.
Be encouraged!

Some of you are in labour now and your dream or vision is about to be transformed from faith into sight.

God Speaks to You and Every Believer

 In the Old Testament, God led His people by giving directions to prophets, priests and kings.
God often spoke in direct supernatural ways to these ordained leaders, and the people were expected to follow these directions.

When Jesus released the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, everything changed.

“ ‘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

Christianity is either supernatural or it's nothing. We are called to be fruitful and multiply.

There is a Christianity that does not welcome supernatural revelations, healings and the active presence of God doing surprising stuff.

The Reformation achieved some good things in its time. Salvation through faith in Jesus was preached. The Bible was translated and restored to the people.

But the Reformation was very incomplete. God is the god of miracles. 

Faith in a God who only did miracles 2000 years ago will not impact the world today.

When Christianity is truly alive and healthy, every believer hears the voice of God and every believer follows Jesus directly and personally.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; Jn 10:27 NASB95

In the Old Testament, the people of God only heard the voice of God indirectly, through the Bible and the words of the prophets who spoke for God. We still read the Bible and it is God speaking through His perfect revealed word.

But how do you know what God is saying to you now?

The Bible says different things to different people in different passages. Is God telling you to rest in His love or to radically change your life?

•     Is God telling you to hide His truth in your heart, or to tell everyone what you believe?

•     Is God telling you to marry or to stay single?

•     Is God telling you to preach in Africa or stay at home?

•     Is God telling you to work in a job or to be a missionary who trusts Him to provide?

Bible reading alone will not answer these questions. Many people resolve this difficulty by putting themselves under the direction of a priest, pastor or spiritual adviser. This is putting a man in the place of God. 

It is Old Testament thinking, but it is common in the church. It is like the old-fashioned Roman Catholic system, where the priests told the believers what the Bible says and what they should do. I hope you don't think I am against Catholics. Many Catholics love Jesus and listen to the Holy Spirit.

What is God saying to you now?

There is nothing wrong with seeking wise counsel and teaching but this must not be a substitute for growing up in faith yourself. A Christian who is spiritually healthy is able to receive direct personal communication from God Himself.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 NASB95

‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Rev 3:20 NASB95

In the New Testament, every believer is invited to hear the voice of God and to share with others what he hears.   

“ ‘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

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Cor 14:1 NASB95

The Return of the King

 Wonderful things are happening. Prepare to be surprised.

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)

If we belong to Jesus, we believe in a God who delights to do new things.

“You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. Isaiah 48:6 (ESV)

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5 (ESV)

God is bound to be true to His wonderful and perfect character but He has never restricted Himself to merely repeat what He has done before.

Some people get upset when Christians report miraculous experiences which are different from the miracles recorded in the Bible.

Two preachers were having a meal in a café in Berlin. A pile of gold dust appeared under the table. A preacher in America was upset about such stories because there is no record of gold dust appearing in the Bible. He preached a sermon against gold dust but the babies in the church creche were covered in gold dust.

Some people are afraid of “lying signs and wonders.” The bible warns of lying signs and wonders but the only reference is in the story of the Anti-Christ in the book of Revelation.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:9 (NKJV)

The only protection against being deceived in spiritual matters is to stay close to Jesus, to be led by the Spirit of God, to live in faith, hope and love, to obey God and to live by His Word.

Does that mean we should only believe in miracles if they are exact copies of miracles recorded in the Bible?

Why?

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 (ESV)

How many of the people who criticise contemporary miracle stories are working the signs and wonders that Jesus did on earth? None that I know of.

If God is only allowed to repeat what He did in the Bible, how can it be possible for us to do GREATER works than Jesus did?

If God is only allowed to repeat what He has already done, how then can Bible prophecy be fulfilled?

But weren’t the miracles of Jesus all practical acts of mercy, like healing the sick and raising from death the son of a widow?

I wonder what was the practical benefit of Peter walking on water?

If the prophecy of Jesus is to be fulfilled, then people in these last days will see manifestations more amazing than Peter walking on water. If that does not happen, then the prophecy of Jesus will not be fulfilled and that would make the Son of God a false prophet.

But why should God be doing these things?

At the birth of Jesus, the wise men from the pagan east brought Jesus wonderful gifts, GOLD, frankincense and myrrh. If mankind gives God a gift of gold, should we surprised if a gracious God gives gold to mankind?

And what about the jewels?

“O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. Isaiah 54:11-12 (ESV)

But doesn’t this refer to the jewels in Heaven itself? Of course it does. But did not Jesus announce the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven? Did not Jesus teach us to pray: “Your will be done on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN?”

If the first visit of the Son of God was heralded by human gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, why should the approach of the return of Jesus not be heralded by supernatural gifts from the Heavenly Bridegroom to His Bride to be, the Church. 

What could be a more appropriate gift to a bride from her husband to be? Does not a man announce his intention to marry a woman with a gift of a diamond ring?

Christian Churches Care for People

 The church of Jesus Christ is a community of people who care for people. We care for people because God loves and cares for everyone, believers and not yet believers.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 The Living Bible, Paraphrased

The pagan culture in New Testament times was brutal. The husband in Greek and Roman culture was the absolute ruler. He could order his wife to keep a male baby but to leave a girl baby outside to die of hunger or cold.

Slave traders would harvest female babies and raise them to be prostitutes. Christians in the early church would rescue abandoned female babies and raise them as daughters.

Christian churches are called to care for people.

Churches in my city provide free evening meals to people in need. Some churches collect surplus bread from bakers and shops and offer them free to neighbours in need.

The motto of my church is to reach, raise and release.

We reach needy people with free food and not for profit food shops.
Churches in my city have schools for teenage high school dropouts.

Our pastor reaches teenagers by teaching jujitsu. Before that we had a pastor who played basketball with neighbourhood kids. Some of them then came to church and he played basketball with them in the church hall after the service. 

We team up with churches in India and Africa who reach out to their communities with practical help and sharing the gospel of salvation.

We reach people and care for people, raising them up with encouraging counselling and bible training.

We release people into ministry, sending teams on mission trips to Africa, India and other Asian countries.

Where are your Roots? Your life is from God.

 In many churches, you hear a call. The preacher issues an invitation to all who do not know Jesus personally to accept Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. 

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— Jn 1:10–12 NIV

Many pray with the pastor and ask Jesus to come into their lives and forgive all their sins. Then we see how some experience a whole new life. They think differently. They speak differently and they live differently.

But unfortunately, we see others who do not change. Some stay in the church for a while and then disappear. 

Others stay in the church, learn to fit in and become religious, but their colleagues at work see no trace of God's love in their lives.

What is the difference? 

Jesus explained that the message of God's grace is like a seed. The seed must fall into the ground and take root. 

Are you ready to let God's Spirit work deep within your soul? Jesus is no longer physically on earth, but He has sent His Holy Spirit to us. 

• The Holy Spirit wants to help you.

• The Holy Spirit wants to heal the wounds and scars in your soul.

• The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of love.

• The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. He is like Jesus Himself, but invisible and close to us.

 
When you give the Holy Spirit space in your soul, you will be able to read the Bible in a new way. God's Word will come alive for you.

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Jn 7:37–38 NIV (from their heart or from their inmost being)

You are like a plant in God's garden. Without roots and water, you will die. 

Where are the roots of your life? In your job? In your family? In your church?

God gives us work, families and churches. These are gifts from God, but only God Himself is the source of your eternal life.

And now just as you trusted Christ to save you, trust him, too, for each day’s problems; live in vital union with him. 

Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done. Col 2:6–7 The Living Bible, Paraphrased

Overcoming Weakness. Encouraging Others

 We all have difficulties in life. 
‘Be pitiful, for every man is fighting a hard battle.’ Ian Maclaren, 1897

I am someone who likes to help. I am happy when I can support someone.
But I am not always a model of selfless love. 

I am someone who likes to read, think and talk about my ideas. That is my gift from God. That is why I am a blogger.

But my strength is often also my weakness. 

My daughter once wanted to talk to me, but I didn't hear her. I was lost in my own thoughts.

She said, ‘Dad is visiting the moon.’

I can also be impatient in conversations because I want to say something. What does the Bible say about this?

You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 
for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Jas 1:19–20 NRSV

My tendency is to make my voice heard. That can be good, but it can also be selfish. Some people are reserved when they should speak. I am not like that.

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  Mt 5:14–16 NRSV

We must let God's light shine in our lives, but we often have to overcome our weak human nature so that Jesus can be seen in our lives.

Today I must listen to my wife with compassion. Today I must listen patiently and compassionately.

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. Rev 21:7 NKJV

Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. Rev 21:7 NRSV

If you want to follow Jesus, you must use your gifts from God every day and overcome your own human weaknesses.

Jesus promises to reward you and me eternally if we overcome with His grace.

What difficulty can you overcome today? Jesus wants to help you.

How can you help someone today? How can you be an encourager today?

Witch Set Free from Demons

 God created you. Your birth was planned and wanted by God because He saw you and loved you before the creation of the world. 

No matter 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 corrupt, 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 even in your life.

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

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 NIV

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

As a toddler, she was tormented by demons. She couldn't sleep without terrible nightmares. 

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

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

Jesus then visited her and she saw a vision from God, like in a video. She saw Jesus suffering and dying on the cross, taking the punishment for her sins 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 freed 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

Mission in Dark Places

 Before his conversion, the Apostle Paul was not a good person.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Tim 1:15 NIV

It hurt Paul to think about his crimes before his conversion, when he had Christians murdered. 

There was a chaplain in the American army after the war who spoke German well. He received an undesirable order. He was to serve as a pastor for the worst Nazis in Nuremberg. 

Some simply wanted to remain evil. Hermann Göring did not want to stand trial. He killed himself with a vial of poison. 

But some criminals were different. Hitler's foreign minister, Von Ribbentrop, was executed, but before his death he begged his wife to raise their children as Christians. 

Jesus taught us to love our enemies. We never know who will be converted.
But be careful. Wolves are dangerous.
 
A sex offender visited a church. A good Christian woman gave him shelter and the pastor wanted to help him.

One evening, a young woman from the church was missing.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Mt 10:16 NIV

It is not always easy to love predators while protecting our wives and children.
 
Paul warns us against men who take advantage of our trust to abuse women. (2 Timothy 3:6)
 
But God's saving love requires us to take risks.

A small group of Christian women visited brothels. They were not aggressive evangelists. They were simply friendly.

A prostitute decided to go to church. In the middle of the service, she stood up and shouted loudly.

‘Now I believe in Jesus! Now I want to be baptised!’

World Religions. Only in the Bible

 Jesus and the world religions.

Only in the Bible will you find an almighty God who loves you from His heart.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 1 Jn 4:16 NIV

The God in the Koran is Creator and Judge, but in the Islamic scriptures there is no Father God.

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 
For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. Lk 12:29–30 NIV

Only in the Bible will you find an almighty God who loves all people.

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

This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 
who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Only in the Bible will you find an almighty God who loves his enemies. 1 Tim 2:3–4 NIV

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Lk 23:34 NIV

This is what Jesus prayed when he was hanging on the cross and dying.

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

Only in the Bible do we find an eternal, almighty Father God who sacrifices his eternal Son to pay our debt so that we may have eternal heavenly life through repentance and faith.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23 NIV

Your New Life with Jesus

 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Cor 5:17 NLT

You are no longer the same person. You are a son or daughter of the Heavenly Father. You have eternal life.

 Your eternal life has already begun and will have no end. 

 You are already a citizen of the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God. 

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12 

Jesus is the eternal Son of God. His life is yours and your life is His.

 You have an eternal love relationship with God. 

 You are IN Christ and the Spirit of God is in you.

Because Jesus died on the cross for your sins, you no longer need to die for your sins.

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Rom 8:11 NLT

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 
Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Rom 8:31–32 NLT

But God's abundant grace is not given to us so that we may live selfishly like spoiled children.
God gives us His heavenly power, wisdom, healing and love to save the world, to bless our fellow human beings, to rescue people from darkness and hell.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
Jesus rose bodily from the dead, but he did not remain on earth; he returned to his Father in heaven. Jn 3:16–17 NLT

Now we are his representatives on earth.
 
Jesus has no hands on earth except yours. 

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. 

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 
Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Mk 1:40–42 NLT

What Jesus began, we must now continue.

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

Jesus' wounded feet are now healed, but we will see the scars in heaven. Jesus now walks on golden streets.

Jesus now has no feet on this earth except yours. Will you now go to those who need eternal life?

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, 

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt 28:19–20 NIV

Porn Dealer finds God

 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Mt 20:16 NIV

You did not come into this world by chance, no matter how good or evil your parents were, no matter whether your parents planned your birth or did not want you at all. 

God has a calling for every single person. God is our Creator. He created you. God is a good, creative Creator. He does not create anything or anyone without a good purpose. 

John Dawson was a missionary from New Zealand who served in Los Angeles. He wanted to reach the owner of a porn shop for Jesus. He had breakfast with this man every week and explained the gospel to him. The man believed everything, but was still not ready to give his life to Jesus.

Then John Dawson received a new insight from the Holy Spirit.

He told the man that he was hard on the outside but had a soft heart. God had given him the gift of mercy, but he was using that gift wrongly by giving false comfort through pornography.

The porn dealer was deeply moved and he began to hope.

That same day, the man made Jesus the Lord of his life.

Jesus told the religious professionals of His day that they were blind because they were proud know-alls.

… Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 

For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. Mt 21:31–32 NIV
 
There are still such theological experts and high-ranking church leaders today. This story of Jesus and the religious professionals is unfortunately still relevant.

Are you a human being? Then you are called. You have a calling from Jesus, but your calling must be activated. You must believe and repent.

Are you already converted, but somehow stuck? Your life is more or less virtuous, but for you, God's kingdom is only in the Bible and in heaven. 

Jesus has very specific plans for you and important tasks.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 NIV

You can continue to strive to be a good, virtuous Christian, or you can take time out to perceive God's guidance and find the true purpose of your life.

“Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. Ps 39:4 NIV

“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

Death is Not the End

 I love classical music. I was listening to music on the radio when I heard the last composition of Piazolla, the great Argentinian musician. He was in his late sixties and in very poor health. He knew his end was near and this music was his sad farewell to life.

I felt the horror of approaching death with no sure hope of eternal life in heaven. I started to feel a little nausea. How terrible that would be!

My father was a super-intelligent, high achieving psychiatrist. He loved his work, and he worked a few hours a week until he was 79. 

After a minor stroke forced him to retire, he was a lost soul. His health was not good, and his intelligence was declining. He had been an excellent chess player, but he gave up playing with me when I started to beat him easily.

When I talked to him on the phone, he would tell me he was still alive. That was all. He was just waiting to die. He had no hope in this world or the next. 

But as time passed, I began to see a shift in his thinking. When I cautiously talked to him about faith in God, he started to be a little open. When he was 85, he could no longer live at home because he would often fall over. When my wife or I visited him, we would read the bible to him and he listened with keen interest.

At 88 he was bedridden and seriously mentally impaired. One day my wife and I visited him and my wife asked him if he wanted to pray and make peace with God. When she prayed, he responded by squeezing her hand. From that day onwards, his conversation changed. The despair was gone.

He was somehow aware that death was not the end, that Jesus was there for him. He eagerly listened to us when we read the bible to him. He was happy for us to pray for him, but he was very unwell and suffering terribly. 

I hated to see him suffering and I hoped he would pass away quickly, but God was not finished with him. He lived until he was 91. 

On his ninety-first birthday, I read Psalm 91 verse 16.

With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.” Ps 91:16 NKJV

Then I prayed a very daring prayer. 

“Dear God. How would it be if my father died exactly 16 days after his 91st birthday?”

God was strangely pleased and my father passed away peacefully exactly 16 days later.

Comfort from God

 You are weak, but you keep believing. God will reward you.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mt 5:3 NIV

You are broken, misunderstood, mistreated, but you refuse to blame God. God wants to comfort you.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Mt 5:4 NIV

You are in a dark place. You see no way out, but the light of God's love shines in the darkness.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jn 1:5 NIV

You are in trouble, but Jesus is on your side. Don't give up!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jn 16:33 NIV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:31 NKJV

When you are mistreated, never give in to hatred and bitterness. God still loves you. Never give up.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom 12:21 NKJV

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 
Jas 1:12 NKJV

Love Your Neighbour. No discrimination.

 Honour your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’” Mt 19:19 NIV

Love your neighbour as yourself.
In practice, this involves much more than acts of kindness by one person to another.

If you are a man, every man and every woman is your neighbour. 

If you love yourself with a healthy God given self-respect, you will recognise your gifts and talents and make the most of them to realise your potential.

If you love your neighbour as yourself, you will love women in the same way as you love men, and I am not talking about romantic or sexual love.

Just as you make the most of your own gifts and talents, you will seek to give everyone of both genders the maximum opportunity to realise their potential.

I love classical music. The most celebrated classical composers are all men, but there have been amazingly gifted female composers who have not been allowed to reach their full potential.
Felix Mendelssohn wrote the most popular wedding music of all time. 

He was one of the greats, but his sister Fanny was equally talented. Why could she not devote herself fully to becoming one of the celebrated great composers? Because she was a woman. She was expected to marry and devote herself to serving her husband.

My grandmother was an amazingly talented woman. Her father was an engineer and a university lecturer with a personal library of wonderful books. She learned to read at home and taught her sisters to read. 

She only attended school for one year, but she became an art teacher and a lecturer at a training college for kindergarten teachers. She was an excellent artist herself and she wrote a textbook for teaching art to small children. She also raised four sons. One became a farmer, another became a professor of law and my father became a psychiatrist.

How terrible it would have been if she had been forced into a traditional role as housewife with no outlets for her talents.

You Reap what you Sow

 God is a generous giver. He gave His only son to suffer a painful death on the cross. 

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Lk 6:38 NIV

God longed to win back the billions of men, women and children who had turned their backs on him and forgotten or rejected His love and goodness.

God began the creation of the world by giving. He gave us life and a beautiful world to live in. Tragically, one by one, we turned away from out maker and imagined we could do better by ourselves. Look at the mess we have made of the world.

God is a giver, so He began His rescue plan by giving again.

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 wanted to get back his lost children, so He gave. He gave his only son in order to receive many sons and daughters.

This is the law of sowing and reaping. If you want to reap a harvest, you must begin by sowing seed. 

If your sons or daughters turn away from you, you will not win them back by taking away their inheritance or disowning them. Keep giving them your love, your kindness, your prayers on their behalf. Tragically, not all children come back, but many do. If you want to harvest love, sow seeds of love.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Lk 6:38 NIV

If you need the mercy, be merciful.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Mt 5:7 NIV

If you need healing, pray for others who need healing. I have done this for many years and I have seen wonderful answers to prayer.

If you have financial needs, don't stop giving. Some prominent preachers have misused this principle with aggressive fund-raising. They never stop preaching about money. This is very sad.

God does want to meet your needs, but money must not be the centre of your attention.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Mt 6:33 NIV

Never forget that God is good. He is a giver. He wants to bless you.

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

Sometimes you might give and receive a miracle of provision almost instantly. I once gave 20 Euros to a church. A friend in the church did not know about this but he gave me 200 Euros the same night. I was on a mission trip for God and I needed help.

But God is not an automatic teller machine. We often have to wait days, weeks or years for our harvest to appear.

Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1 NASB95

God wants to bless you and reward you for your loving service, but we will not see God’s greatest blessing until we see Jesus in the next life.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Mt 6:19–21 NIV