TEXT: ‘She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour’ – Matthew 15:27-28 THOUGHT: The desire to see people’s lives enriched by personal faith in Jesus Christ drives evangelism. After all, what greater thrill than to see a person’s eternal destination change from hell to heaven! Seeing lives change from fear to peace, illness to health and godlessness to holiness is truly wonderful. This is why we have designated June as a month of evangelism. A concerted effort by a few to reach the many. That is not to claim we are the only ones evangelising, but to ensure that we are doing our part regardless of what other Christians and churches do. After all, I will stand before God to give an account for what I did with the gospel. Recently reading the Book of Revelation reminds me, all too vividly, of the terrible things that are coming on this earth. If I can help anyone to avoid that, it will be well worth it. When the need for help involves one’s own children, that desire for...
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It’s Time To Call! TEXT: ‘Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven’ – James 5:14-15 THOUGHT: The Bible reveals various means through which a person can be healed, although all are only through the name of Jesus. One way which is largely neglected by Christians is calling for the elders to pray and anoint them with oil. The promise is that the prayer of faith will save them, and the Lord will raise them up healed and forgiven. There are 5 aspects we would do well to consider in order to see this practise prominent in the church again. Frustration Is sickness stopping you from doing what you want, especially in regard to the church? Often sickness rears up its ugly head and says, “You can’t go now”, or “You can’t do that anymore!” What is our response? Usually we try to battle through on our own. But often we sink in doubt and despair, particularly if it is something that...
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TEXT: ‘O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? – Romans 7:24 THOUGHT: When God created man with freewill, there was always the danger of self-will and self-reliance. It’s so easy to think, “I can please myself and do what I like! Why do I need to rely on God?” After becoming a Christian when we realise we need a Saviour, it becomes all too easy to fall into the trap of trying to live the rest of our life in our own strength. Then we wonder why we come crashing down to earth when things go wrong and we end up drifting away into isolation and self-condemnation. The world is filled with self-help motivational books, dvds and tv programmes advocating we can find the answer within if we look hard enough. Just as we could not save ourselves from the consequences of sin, so we cannot live the Christian life apart from Christ. It is time for Christians to take a reality check and cry out, “I can’t do all things” and then in faith turn to the One who can. There are several key areas in which we need to acknowledge this truth. Temptation and Sin It is much easier...
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TEXT: ‘Abraham called the name of the place, The Lord will provide; as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”’ – Genesis 22:14 THOUGHT: One of God’s covenant names is Jehovah-Jireh. The One who provides! This name has been a revelation and blessing to countless thousands of Christians down through the ages, who have witnessed God’s miraculous provision in times of great need. It has also been the subject of sermons advocating a prosperity where God can step in and change our finances and fortune. As most people do not live within their means but are usually over-stretched by debt repayments, the promise of a God who will provide sounds almost too good to be true! A God who will always pick up the tab whatever our lifestyle, is somewhat at variance with the truth the Holy Spirit showed me when reading this verse. So what can we learn that will help us? It is in the Mount of the Lord that miraculous provision occurs – ‘In the mount of the Lord it shall be provided’ All too often people want God to come into their world and do a miracle, but God wants us to come into His world...
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TEXT: ‘”Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”’ – Matthew 24:3-4 THOUGHT: Both Daniel and John heard and saw things about the end of this world as we know it, but they did not fully understand, nor were allowed to reveal a clearer picture of what will happen at that time. When Jesus taught His disciples about His second coming, they too tried to find out when it would take place, but Jesus was unable to reveal the date. 1 The Jehovah Witnesses and other cults have foolishly claimed to know that date of Christ’s literal return, but when that date came and went with no return, they had to hold their hands up and admit their error. Just as the birth of Jesus, although prophesied in the Old Testament, caught most people out as to where and when it would take place, so too it will be with His second coming. What can we learn from the prophecies of Daniel, John and others that will help us to be ready? If the fact that Jesus will return does...
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