Any gardener knows the importance of placing plants in the right place to ensure they grow to be fruitful. The Bible has quite a bit to say to the spiritual gardener. One example is found in Psalm number 1.
1 'Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.'
I see in this portion of Scripture God's Sovereignty and Man's Responsibility.
Notice the tree is planted, this is a deliberate act, nothing random here. We must plant ourselves in God's will away from the stony ground of the world. Then we see there are rivers of water, that's God's part and what is the combined result? Fruitfulness!
Where are you planting yourself?
Monday, 21 September 2009
Saturday, 15 August 2009
CHARLATANS
I was on holiday recently and had the opportunity (which I don't normally do) to watch some of the religious television channels that broadcast around the world.
There is a lot of good ministries using this particular medium to get the message of God's word across and I found this very encouraging.
However, I must sound a note of warning to God's people to be very discerning about what they watch even on 'Christian TV'. Sadly there are many Charlatans operating in this area whose primary message is send us your money. Of course they refer to it as your sowing a seed rather than sending money. They claim that you will prosper if you send gifts to them but there is no scriptural basis for these outlandish claims.
Others send bizarre gifts in return for your money like holy handkerchiefs that will cure your ailments and I even saw one crowd selling Manna, where they got the recipe I'll never know. Don't be conned by these false prophets and their health and wealth gospel. They only want to make themselves rich at your expense.
Deuteronomy 24 v7 warns against making merchandise of God's people, these Charlatans should take note of how God views their wicked practice.
There is a lot of good ministries using this particular medium to get the message of God's word across and I found this very encouraging.
However, I must sound a note of warning to God's people to be very discerning about what they watch even on 'Christian TV'. Sadly there are many Charlatans operating in this area whose primary message is send us your money. Of course they refer to it as your sowing a seed rather than sending money. They claim that you will prosper if you send gifts to them but there is no scriptural basis for these outlandish claims.
Others send bizarre gifts in return for your money like holy handkerchiefs that will cure your ailments and I even saw one crowd selling Manna, where they got the recipe I'll never know. Don't be conned by these false prophets and their health and wealth gospel. They only want to make themselves rich at your expense.
Deuteronomy 24 v7 warns against making merchandise of God's people, these Charlatans should take note of how God views their wicked practice.
Monday, 20 July 2009
GLOBAL WARMING
We hear alot in the media in these days about 'Global Warming'. A great proportion of our population are very vexed about the subject and sincerely believe that we need to act now to save our planet from certain destruction.
I must admit, I don't buy it. Call me a sceptic but I think it is a scam by the political classes to control our lives and extract more taxes from us.
One of the main reasons for my scepticism is because of my biblical mindset.
The greens our telling us we need to help save our planet. Hold on a minute, it's not ours, it's God's. He made it. 'In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth' Genesis 1 v1
Also, not only did God make it, but God is in control of it. 'He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.' Colossians 1 v7. How arrogant of man to think that his actions can effect the temperature in the atmosphere, man thinks he knows it all and yet he knows so very little about this vast universe we exist in.
Another compelling reason to reject the 'Global Warming' theory is God's great promise found in Genesis Chp 8 v22 'While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.' There it is my friend, there is no need to build your house on stilts, the normal cycles of nature shall not cease and that includes the atmosphere heating and cooling as it has always done.
Don't panic. Trust God!
I must admit, I don't buy it. Call me a sceptic but I think it is a scam by the political classes to control our lives and extract more taxes from us.
One of the main reasons for my scepticism is because of my biblical mindset.
The greens our telling us we need to help save our planet. Hold on a minute, it's not ours, it's God's. He made it. 'In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth' Genesis 1 v1
Also, not only did God make it, but God is in control of it. 'He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.' Colossians 1 v7. How arrogant of man to think that his actions can effect the temperature in the atmosphere, man thinks he knows it all and yet he knows so very little about this vast universe we exist in.
Another compelling reason to reject the 'Global Warming' theory is God's great promise found in Genesis Chp 8 v22 'While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.' There it is my friend, there is no need to build your house on stilts, the normal cycles of nature shall not cease and that includes the atmosphere heating and cooling as it has always done.
Don't panic. Trust God!
Monday, 6 July 2009
Sodomite Minister Installed
The Church of Scotland's General Assembly narrowly voted recently to allow the appointment of openly gay minister Scott Rennie to the Queen's (how ironic) Cross Church in Aberdeen. The vote was carried despite strong opposition from the conservative wing of the Church and Mr Rennie was installed as the minister in early July 2009.
Can a Christian Minister be a practicing homosexual? This is an important question that every child of God must consider particularly in a day when instances like this are becoming more common place. So what does God think of homosexuality?
‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.’ Leviticus 18 v22
That sounds pretty clear to me, God does not permit such practices. What is that I hear you say? That's the Old Testament, that's not relevant! Has God changed his mind, I think not.
‘Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.’ Jude v7
It would appear in Jude's letter above that God was just in his treatment of the sinful city of Sodom. Peter in his second letter gives a similar view 2nd Peter 2 v4-6. Quite Clearly God has not changed his view on this wicked practice.
Paul when writing to the Corinthian believers said these words regarding people who at one time practised sodomy but had now repented.
‘Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.’ 1st Cor 6 v 9-11
Homosexuality is a sin that must be repented of and no servant of God can be openly living in rebellion to God's word and expect God to use his service. One would even have to question if Mr Rennie has a personal knowledge of God's Salvation.
Finally can I conclude with a word to those conservative minded people within the Church of Scotland.
'Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.' Revelation 18 v4
Can a Christian Minister be a practicing homosexual? This is an important question that every child of God must consider particularly in a day when instances like this are becoming more common place. So what does God think of homosexuality?
‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.’ Leviticus 18 v22
That sounds pretty clear to me, God does not permit such practices. What is that I hear you say? That's the Old Testament, that's not relevant! Has God changed his mind, I think not.
‘Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.’ Jude v7
It would appear in Jude's letter above that God was just in his treatment of the sinful city of Sodom. Peter in his second letter gives a similar view 2nd Peter 2 v4-6. Quite Clearly God has not changed his view on this wicked practice.
Paul when writing to the Corinthian believers said these words regarding people who at one time practised sodomy but had now repented.
‘Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.’ 1st Cor 6 v 9-11
Homosexuality is a sin that must be repented of and no servant of God can be openly living in rebellion to God's word and expect God to use his service. One would even have to question if Mr Rennie has a personal knowledge of God's Salvation.
Finally can I conclude with a word to those conservative minded people within the Church of Scotland.
'Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.' Revelation 18 v4
Friday, 19 June 2009
THE PERSECUTED
James Chapter 5 v13 Asks the question, 'Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.'
The sad truth is that many Christians around the world are afflicted because of their faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
In recent days a Pastor in the Punjab province of Pakistan had his home attacked by a Muslim mob and a 12 year old Christian girl was forced to marry a 37 year old Muslim man, the girl's mother is currently trying to get her daughter back through the courts.
It is not only Muslims who are persecuting God's people, in Communist China a Christian book shop owner was sentenced to 3 years in prison and fined 150,000 yuan (£13,000) for 'illegal business operation', i.e. selling Christian Literature.
As God's people we need to pray for our afflicted brethren across the world, remember, 'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' James 5 v16
The sad truth is that many Christians around the world are afflicted because of their faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
In recent days a Pastor in the Punjab province of Pakistan had his home attacked by a Muslim mob and a 12 year old Christian girl was forced to marry a 37 year old Muslim man, the girl's mother is currently trying to get her daughter back through the courts.
It is not only Muslims who are persecuting God's people, in Communist China a Christian book shop owner was sentenced to 3 years in prison and fined 150,000 yuan (£13,000) for 'illegal business operation', i.e. selling Christian Literature.
As God's people we need to pray for our afflicted brethren across the world, remember, 'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' James 5 v16
Friday, 12 June 2009
Eternity Where?
Where will you be in Eternity?
This is the most important question that you will ever consider in your life. The Scripture shown in the banner gives the advice, 'Prepare to meet thy God'. This was the message of the prophet Amos 2700 years ago.
That message is just a relevant today as it was in the day Amos uttered it.
If you are concerned about your eternal welfare then visit eternitywhere.com today.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Confused Gospel Singers
The Baptist Church that I attend, like many others, invites 'Gospel Singers' to the Sunday evening service in an effort to stir the soul of the unsaved through the singing of the Gospel message. It is of course acknowledged that an unsaved soul will never be stirred apart from the workings of God's Holy Spirit. However, the idea is, that if the gospel message including the sinners need of salvation and the Saviours provision of the same not to mention the need for the sinner to repent and trust Christ, then God's spirit can take these truths and cause conviction in the heart of the sinner.
Sad to say many so called 'Gospel Singers' are confused about their role in this matter. This is not only in my own church but I have come across this problem in many assemblies up and down the country.
'Gospel Singers' in many cases are not 'grapsing the nettle' and dealing with the themes of sin, God's wrath, Christ's atonement, faith and repentance. In evangelical circles we often cry out for a preacher who will take us to the cross and as Paul said in 1st Corinthians 1 v18 'For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.' There is power in the preaching of the cross and there is power in singing about the cross.
'Gospel Singer', sing about the cross. We don't want nice little dittys about heaven or about prayer, these songs might be alright for our own edification but they are not for the Gospel meeting. Sing the message that will be of use to a perishing sinner. What would you think of a doctor who when consulting with a patient who was gravely ill spent the time rambling about secondary issues instead of dealing with the root cause of their patients problem and discussing the cure. Let us ask the sinner in our songs:-
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
I trust this will help clarify the confused.
Sad to say many so called 'Gospel Singers' are confused about their role in this matter. This is not only in my own church but I have come across this problem in many assemblies up and down the country.
'Gospel Singers' in many cases are not 'grapsing the nettle' and dealing with the themes of sin, God's wrath, Christ's atonement, faith and repentance. In evangelical circles we often cry out for a preacher who will take us to the cross and as Paul said in 1st Corinthians 1 v18 'For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.' There is power in the preaching of the cross and there is power in singing about the cross.
'Gospel Singer', sing about the cross. We don't want nice little dittys about heaven or about prayer, these songs might be alright for our own edification but they are not for the Gospel meeting. Sing the message that will be of use to a perishing sinner. What would you think of a doctor who when consulting with a patient who was gravely ill spent the time rambling about secondary issues instead of dealing with the root cause of their patients problem and discussing the cure. Let us ask the sinner in our songs:-
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
I trust this will help clarify the confused.
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