ISLAM AND THE BIBLE 2

Devout Muslims desire to know God but they do not believe God is personally knowable. The Allah of the Qur’an is a not person but an unknowable supreme authority, lawmaker and judge.
The Bible tells a different story.

God is love.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 
1 Jn 4:7-8
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 
1 Jn 4:16 (NLT) 
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV) 

Muslims strive to fulfil religious obligations in the hope that they might possibly escape eternal hell fire. They have no assurance that they will escape hell and reach paradise but many of them try very hard to obey their religion in the hope that their good deeds will outweigh their sins. 

The Bible tells us we can never be good enough to please God by our own efforts. We can only be saved by the GRACE of God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) 
If we can only be at peace with God through GRACE, it is important to understand what the word means. 

What is GRACE?
FIRST it is mercy.

God forgives our sins and blesses us in spite of our sins.
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 
Ps 32:1  
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. 
Isa 43:25
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26-28 (NKJV) 
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 1Jn 2:12 

SECOND it is acceptance.
God accepts us as His children.

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 1 John 3:1 (NLT)  

THIRD it is the power of God the Almighty Creator to Transform you into a heavenly person, by the power of His Spirit, not your own effort or good works.

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

FOURTH it is Divine Love, the Love of God that is not based on what you deserve because we don’t deserve the Love of God.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV) 

FIFTH it is a free gift. It cannot be earned or merited. It can only be received through trusting. That means by FAITH.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NKJV) 
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) 

UNDERSTANDING GOD'S HEALING

In the Gospel of Matthew some Jewish leaders tried to trap Jesus with a question. A woman married seven times but each husband died. Whose wife will she be in the next life?

Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” Mt 22:29-30

So often we also limit the meaning and the power of the Bible by sticking to traditional mindsets.

The Bible says God heals all our illnesses and disabilities but we experience some healings, many incomplete healings and many conditions which are not healed. So we believe according to our experience instead of believing the promise of God. Much of our theology is based on disappointment and human reasoning rather than on the Word of God which we profess to believe.

John G Lake was a missionary in Africa. In his ministry there were countless healing miracles. Then he returned to North America and set up a healing ministry in Spokane, Washington. In 5 years, over 100,000 documented healings took place. Was everybody healed? Probably not but the percentage of miracle healings was much higher than we normally see or expect.

When Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, everyone was healed.

He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes. Ps 105:37 (NKJV)

When Jesus ministered miracle healing in Israel, His failure rate was zero.

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." Mt 8:16-17

No one in our time has enjoyed 100% success but the stream of healings and miracles seen in some ministries should encourage us to take the Bible promises of healing at face value.

Does that mean we should advise seriously ill people to take off their glasses or stop taking medication? Of course not. This kind of fanaticism has caused much harm and offended many. God is not against medicine. He made natural healing available through giving knowledge wisdom to doctors and by creating the raw materials of medicine.

There is another problem with some healing ministries. Sick people are told it is their duty to believe and be healed. People feel guilty or rejected if they do not receive healing. We love people as they are, whether strong or weak in faith.

If you make a person feel he must prove his value by believing and being healed, you are not truly representing the unconditional love of God.

When the disciples of Jesus could not drive out a demon, Jesus criticised the disciples, not the sick boy or his father. (Matthew 17:14-21)

Some people distinguish between miracles and supernatural healing. Miracles happen very quickly but healing can take time.

Before the time of antibiotics, a pastor in England had tuberculosis. When he prayed in faith, God answered with an instruction, to spend two hours a day in prayer. When he obeyed God he recovered completely.

In His healing ministry Jesus often gave an instruction to a sick person. When the person obeyed Jesus, he was supernaturally healed. I believe if we listened to the Holy Spirit more and were open to hear and obey specific instructions from God here and now, we would experience more healings, here and now, or “HEAR” and now.

... "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God ... I will put none of the diseases on you ... For I am the LORD who heals you." Ex 15:26

Read His word; speak His word; listen to His Voice.

There is another hindrance to healing. Many sick Christians stay in churches where healing is rare. If you need healing, go to where healings are happening. In the Gospels, people did not usually get healed by waiting for Jesus to visit their synagogue.

Faith is contagious, and so is unbelief. Go to where faith is strong.

If you have a sick friend, pray for him and if necessary take him to a good healing ministry.

Releasing the Power of the Bible

Someone once asked the great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon: “How should you defend the word of God?” Spurgeon answered: the Word of God is like a lion. "Unchain it and it will defend itself.”
Why does the Word of God seem to be so weak, that we struggle to defend it? The answer is simple. We have put a chain on the Bible. We have kept the lion in a cage.
For centuries the Roman Catholic Church put the Bible in the cage of a Latin translation which few could understand and only the priests were supposed to read it.

The meaning of Bible words was changed to fit in with Church traditions. Saving Grace could only be received at the hands of an Ordained priest through Catholic baptism, ritual confession to a priest, going to mass and so on.

It is so easy for Evangelical Protestants to criticise the Catholic Church but we need to examine ourselves.

Have we also kept the lion in a cage?
Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye. Luke 6:42       
We have also restricted the meaning of Bible words and so robbed them of much power.
Only a Catholic priest can celebrate the Mass and many Protestants will only recognise communion administered by a Pastor.
Jesus said: “Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst...” I take bread and wine alone with my wife at times. Why should not any believer or believers partake reverently of bread and wine at any time? Release the lion!
The word Pastor (Shepherd) is only used once in the New Testament to refer to certain Christians gifted to nurture, train, feed and guide other Christians.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ... Eph 4:11-12 (NKJV)
There is no context here or in the New Testament to define the institutional role of evangelists, pastors or teachers. Yet we have restricted the meaning of Pastor to refer to an ordained minister in charge of a congregation. Of course the Apostle Paul did appoint elders and the New Testament refers to leaders in churches, so I am not suggesting God does not call leaders.
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 1Ti 5:17 (NKJV)
This text supports leadership. To whom should you give double honour? YOU must decide who YOU consider to be leading well and give credit where credit is due. Many sincere pastors sacrificially serve their congregations and do not receive the support and encouragement they deserve but We should not be in a hurry to submit to leaders who demand "double honour". On the contrary, we should cautiously put them to the test.
I know your works, your labor, your patience... And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars... Rev 2:2
I highly honour the pastor of my church. Once the Holy Spirit prompted him to pray for a young man in a meeting. Pastor Phil was led to tell the young man he was a Pastor and his sheep were the young people in the street. This young believer was actually a security guard in a nightclub and he ministered in faith and love to the young people he met in his job.       
My aunt was never an ordained minister but she was a wonderful pastor. Her husband had been a prisoner of war and needed a lot of support. Their seven children became Spirit filled Christians who serve God in various ministries. My aunt pastored her husband and children and many other people including myself.
What is your ministry? If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you are appointed by God to release the power of the Bible in your own life and in the lives of others.

God bless you from
Bill Derham

THE POWER OF WORDS

In the beginning God spoke, and it happened.
“Let there be light!” and the light appeared.

God speaks. It is in His eternal nature. He is not a silent God.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets... Heb 1:1 (ESV)
Then God sent His Son into the world to show us what He is like. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God became flesh and blood.
...but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Heb 1:2 (ESV)
The eternal Father sent His eternal Son to represent Him on earth to act for Him.
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. Jn 5:19 (ESV)
And the Father also sent Jesus to speak for Him.
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Jn 14:10 (ESV)  
We have a wonderful record of the words of Jesus in the Bible, which we rightly consider to the Word of God in book form. It is in the very nature of God to speak. He did not stop speaking when the Bible was published. The Spirit of Jesus who inspired the Bible also speaks through the Bible as we hear it and read it today.
The words of God give life.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. Jn 5:25 (ESV)
When Jesus spoke to the lifeless body of Lazarus in the tomb, the stinking corpse stood up and Lazarus walked out alive. Even today, there are believing Christians who have spoken to dead bodies and they have returned to life.
Death is the great enemy of humankind, but there is an even more terrible curse upon us, spiritual death. If you don’t know Jesus personally, you are separated from God and as good as dead for ever and ever.
We can only be truly alive by receiving the words of Jesus and getting to know the eternal ONE whose words give life.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. Jn 10:27-28 (ESV)
How spiritually alive are you? This question is a good test.
Do you know what God is saying to you now? Do you frequently receive direct communication from the Spirit of Jesus?
In the time of Jesus, each sheep was in constant personal contact with the shepherd. Where the shepherd walked, the sheep followed. When the shepherd called, the sheep heard and responded.
This reminds me of a lovely song.
“I heard the Lord, call my name. Listen close you’ll hear the same. Take it and we are glory bound.”
But take care not to confuse the VOICE of God with the words of Christians who water down the truth.
The Bible says we are saved by grace and not by our works. That is true. But often the wonderful word GRACE is watered down. We think it means mercy, and it does mean mercy.
But grace means much more. The grace of God is also the creative power of God.

Jesus saved an adulterous woman from execution by stoning. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” Jn 8:10-11 (ESV)
This was not only mercy but powerful grace. The words of Jesus imparted inspiration and divine power to change her life.

GIVING BIRTH TO GREAT DREAMS

REGENERATION means being born again, a recreating or re-birthing.
It can refer to conversion, in which a person puts his trust in Jesus and becomes a reborn child of God.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3 
REGENERATION can also refer to God’s restoration of the Kingdom of God and of Israel and the recreation of Heaven and Earth.
So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. Mt 19:28-29 
However, regeneration has a wider meaning.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV)
The word here is WHAT-ever, not WHO-ever. Some translations get it wrong. Only the person WHO is born again overcomes the world but that is only part of it. Many born again believers live defeated lives, defeated by family problems, financial problems, workplace problems and health problems.
So what does it mean that WHAT-ever is born again overcomes the world?   
When the great classical musician, Frederick Handel, was advanced in years, struggling financially and in poor health, he received a commission to write the oratorio, THE MESSIAH, a musical feast with           scripture set to music for choir and orchestra, entirely focussed on glorifying Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Handel set himself apart to receive heavenly inspiration and to compose his greatest masterpiece. He said it was as if heaven opened and the music poured down. Yet the music did not all descend directly from heaven. Handel was also inspired to adapt music he had previously written for Italian opera, yet the whole work fitted perfectly together as if designed in Heaven. When the King of England attended a performance, the great Alleluia chorus rang out.
The King stood to his feet and everyone else also stood, as is the custom in the presence of a king. From that day to the present, Handel’s Messiah has been performed before Christmas every year around the world. Handel’s inspired music was born of God and it overcame the world.
Jackie Pullinger was a young English woman who longed to do something great for God. She wanted to be a missionary overseas but no church and no Christian organisation would accept her application. Finally she spoke to a wise pastor who encouraged her. She bought a ticket and boarded a ship travelling to Asia. She went on until she reached Hong Kong and she looked around. She found a terrible slum area ruled by violent gangs and drug dealers. The only industries were drug dealing and prostitution. She felt the touch of God’s love calling her to stay. Appointed only by God and not by any Christian church or missionary society, she began to serve the people with the power of God. Today there is a Christian mission there and the darkness has been banished from that area. Jackie Pullinger’s mission was born of God and overcame the world.

God wants you and me to not only be born again but to give birth to His wonderful plans. Dare to be like Mary who conceived the Son of God and gave birth to the Saviour of the world. Dare to be like Frederick Handel and Jackie Pullinger! 

What is your gift? What is your calling? What is your hope? What is your desire? What is your dream? 
Why not just go for it? 
Start small if you must but don’t stop there. Be led by the Spirit of God like the saints of the past and the often unsung heroes of today.

HOPE IN A DARK WORLD

Dear Friends
I hope you find these thoughts helpful.
Clearly the world is in a mess. What then can we hope for? Many people just seem to live for themselves and try not to think about the kind of world their children and grandchildren might inherit. The worse things become, the more selfish people are.
So what is the answer? The United Nations? The League of Nations failed and the UN is little different. A benevolent dictator? How benevolent have the dictators been in the last 100 years?
What about a new world religion? We know how cruel human religion can be. Islam became a world religion by a process of brutal conquests. Hinduism has a terrible record of fatalism and cruelty to women.
The Bible was written by Jews and it tells of the wonderful work of God in Jewish and world history. Yet in the Bible we also see the a sad history of the spiritual failures of the Jewish people. This is strong evidence for the genuineness of the Bible text.  
Is Christianity any better?
Christianity came out of Judaism because Jesus and His disciples were Jews. Most of the New Testament was written by Jews. Yet Christians down the centuries have savagely persecuted Jews. Christianity gave birth to the Spanish Inquisition and the civil wars in Ireland. I personally believe there is a divine glory which gave birth to both Judaism and Christianity but in every generation many human religious leaders have corrupted the glorious faith they claim to represent.
Why would a man made United Religion be any more helpful than the United Nations?
Many people find hope in a personal faith in Jesus Christ, who lived a wonderful life admired by His friends and even by many who do not follow His teachings.
Was Jesus the Son of God, was He the Creator of the Universe who visited our planet? Many people admire Him as a wonderful human being but do not believe in his divinity. This seems reasonable but is it?
What did Jesus Himself say?
Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (ESV) This is not the religion of the Spanish Inquisition.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:7-9

This is not the religion of religious terrorism, either Catholic or Protestant.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

These are not the words of a good man, unless that good man is who he says he is, the eternal Son of God.
If you believe in Jesus, you have an eternal hope, a secure future in heaven with God. But what about the earth. Should our faith be only a lifeboat ticket to escape Titanic Earth?
The Good News of Jesus Christ is the core of true Christianity. It is summed up in these famous words of Jesus.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
The Almighty Father cares about you and me but also this world. God also has a plan for this world.   
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Revelation 21:1

God is not finished with this world which we have messed up. But will you and I be part of the problem or part of the solution?
Jesus said:
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.  Matthew 12:30 

New Life with Jesus

How do you become a Christian? By believing the Word of God about Jesus, the eternal Son of God who lived and died as a man on earth because He loved you and gave Himself for you.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 
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?" John 11:25-26

For by grace you have been saved  through faith. And this is  not your own doing;  it is the gift of God, not a result of works,  so that no one may boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
God created us and loved us but we did not love Him. God IS love but we did not love him. God sent His only son to die for us but we did not love him. 
God created a perfect world but we mess it up but He still loves you and me.
If you owe money and your creditor gives you three days grace, you have three more days to pay. But God saves you by grace because His grace is eternal, so you never pay God the debt you cannot pay.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23      
All this is PURE MERCY but the Grace of God is also more than mercy. GRACE is beautiful. Grace is an essential aspect of the lovely character of God who is eternally beautiful.
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
When Jesus died on a cross, He paid the full penalty for all our sin, all our indifference, all our selfishness, all our human faults for all people for all time. This is amazing, wonderful and beautiful. This inspired Handel’s Messiah and the greatest artists of Europe.
The GRACE of God is the power of His creative love to make a true believer a beautiful man or woman in the true image of our Creator and Father.
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
The GRACE of Jesus Christ sets us free from punishment and condemnation, saves us from death and hell but more than that, the Grace of Jesus Christ TRANSFORMS you into a new person on the inside and God wants His goodness and love to show on the outside, in your smile, in your kind words and in your new life.
When you believe and invite Jesus to be your Master and Teacher, your Lord and your God, He changes you but He does not take away from you the freedom to make decisions, whether right or wrong. You are called to be a free and willing partner with God in becoming the wonderful person He created you to be. More than that, you are called to be a free and willing partner with Jesus in restoring His Kingdom of love and goodness.
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10 (NKJV)
If this message is already the theme of your life, you may know someone else who needs to read it. Please don't hesitate to pass it on to as many people as you like. TELL THE WORLD THAT JESUS LIVES!!
If you are not already a follower of Jesus, you can make a new start now WITH HIM.
Why not talk to Jesus now?
Please write and tell me what you think.