15 Jan 2011. N.C.C. Revelation truth

Text:

Deu 29:29 The secret things are the Lord our God's: but the things which have been made clear are ours and our children's for ever, so that we may do all the words of this law.

Deu 30:15 ( Msg ) Look at what I've done for you today: I've placed in front of you Life and Good, Death and Evil. 16 And I command you today: Love GOD, your God. Walk in his ways. Keep his commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by GOD, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess.

If I don’t know or understand something, I cannot be held responsible, but once it has been revealed or explained and I know the consequence, I become responsible!

We make countless unconscious decisions every day:

• What we should eat
• what we should wear
• what we should watch on television etc.

Those decisions are made unconsciously based on our patterns, habits and our personal priorities.

Our choices form us. In order to ‘live’ integrity, we need to consider the cost and benefits of all our actions and align our actions with our intentions.

Ø How bright or worthwhile is your future?

Ø Our perceptions of the future determine our views about the present.

Ø Optimistic thinking immediately enhances our lives.

Through pursuing our dreams and goals and daily acts of human kindness, we validate ourselves by creating a profound legacy. Our personal priorities and goals shape our daily and long-term choices by giving us direction.

Ø Making decisions are not always easy.

The question to ask is: “will the consequence of my decision add value to my life and the live of those I influence?”

Ø If the answer is no to any of these questions, then you should consider an alternative.

Mat 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the grain-measure, but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. 17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. 19 Therefore whoever shall relax one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.

Ø What do people say about us?

Ø What do they do after a conversation with us?

By us I mean ‘believers’, confessing Christians, followers of Christ, the people with the WWWJ arm-bands and the `fishes` on our cars and the “honk if you love Jesus” stickers displayed on our cars.

Jesus commands us that our actions, our words and our conduct should be of such a nature that people should sing the praises of our God when they see the way we act.

Perhaps a New Year resolution could be:

“I’m going to check myself. Constantly”

“I’m going to talk less about other people and the way they live and act and focus on the way I live and act”

“I’m going to find ways to serve people, instead of finding ways to make them serve me”

“I’m going to `wish` less and pray more”

“I will tell people about my Savior”

Truth be told – perhaps that is what Jesus would do. “But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.”

Psa 139:23 O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested: 24 See if there is any way of sorrow in me, and be my guide in the eternal way.

Personal accountability is a matter of choice.

David made a personal choice, he sat down and invited God in, to examine his heart and to show him, where change is needed.

Select a quiet spot, and review and reflect:

ü When did I fail today and why?

ü Where did I succeed and why?

ü When did I give love today?

ü Where did I receive love today?

ü What habits and patterns do I notice in my day?

ü In what ways did I notice God in my day?

ü When did I feel most alive? Most drained?

ü When did I have the greatest sense of belonging? The least sense of belonging?

ü When was I most free? Least free?

ü When was I most creative? Least creative?

ü When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself?

ü When did I feel most whole? Least whole?

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God! I will be praised among the nations, I will be praised in the earth.

Treat everyone as equals. No matter what their position in the organization.

ü Act as though you believe this every day and you will attract strong and successful relationships.

Keep your intention in mind in all your dealings with others.

ü If you find yourself feeling spiteful or resentful, let go of that and decide to be kind. Being good-natured and co-operative is a choice.

Always say less than you think. At least think, before you speak.

Pro 10: 11 The mouth of a righteous one is a well of life; but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirs up fights, but love covers all sins.

Pro 17:9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.

Have you forgiven a transgression or do you continue in your judgement.

ü Jesus walked towards the lepers, He did not turn or walk away.

ü He fellowshipped with the sinners.

It is His love that draws people, not condemnation and judgement

What Is Faithfulness?

Some interesting stories I have read about being faithful:

A shepherd once came to the city of Edinburgh from the country. He had his small obedient dog with him. While there, the man died and was buried. That little dog lay upon its master's grave-not for a day, a week, or a month, but for 12 years. Every day at one o'clock a gun was fired in the castle of Edinburgh. When the gun was fired the dog would run to the local baker who gave it food and water. Then back to the grave it would go. This continued till the dog died 12 years later. That was faithfulness!

A man threw a goose, which had been run over and crushed by a car, into an oil drum. For seven years the gander, that goose's mate, never went more than ten feet away from that oil drum. That was faithfulness!

George Mueller prayed for 52 years for a certain man to come to Christ. A pastor visited an elderly man 21 times before being admitted, but then he befriended the man and led him to Christ. That was faithfulness!

A Welsh postman had the British Empire Medal conferred upon him by Queen Elizabeth; he had not missed a day's service in 43 years. Paul Dhrlick, the chemist, performed 605 unsuccessful experiments; the 606th was a success! Thomas Edison made 18,000 experiments before he perfected the arc light. After experiencing 50 failures on another project he said, "I have found 50 ways it cannot be done!" That was faithfulness!

During the Korean War a man buried himself in the muck and mud of a pig sty (except for his nose and mouth so he could breathe) for eight days and nights rather than betray his buddies and surrender to the enemy. That was faithfulness!

Are you not glad that Jesus was faithful in dying for us and that He now lives and is faithful to care for us? God grant us grace to be faithful!

1Th 5:23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who called you, who also will do it.

Someone once asked James J. Corbett, at that time heavyweight champion of the world, what was the most important thing a man must do to become a champion. He replied, "Fight one more round."

The Duke of Wellington said that the British soldiers at the Battle of Waterloo were not any braver than Napoleon's soldiers-but they were brave for five minutes longer.

That is about it for the Christian. A secret for success is: "fight just one more round. Be brave for five more minutes." It is the difference between defeat and victory.

Mic 7:7 But me, I'm not giving up. I'm sticking around to see what GOD will do. I'm waiting for God to make things right. I'm counting on God to listen to me. 8 Don't, enemy, crow over me. I'm down, but I'm not out. I'm sitting in the dark right now, but GOD is my light. 9 I can take GOD's punishing rage. I deserve it--I sinned. But it's not forever. He's on my side and is going to get me out of this. He'll turn on the lights and show me his ways. I'll see the whole picture and how right he is

Stay in the game. God is on your side.

Worshiping the Preacher

Henry Ward Beecher, a famous preacher, once had to be absent and his brother was invited to speak for him. The church house was crowded, but when it became evident the eloquent Henry Beecher was not going to appear, many started to leave. Beecher's brother was not disturbed. He stood up before the murmuring crowd, called for silence and said, "All who came this morning to worship Henry W. Beecher may now leave. The rest will remain and worship God."

What are we doing in our assemblies? Some, like the Athenians, come only to hear the preacher say "something" (Act_17:20-21). "Is it relevant?" "Is it positive?" Are mental guidelines used in judging sermons? Some attend to judge the singing, the prayers, or the friendliness of the congregation. These go away with a host of criticisms, perhaps, or even pride, but worship has been forgotten.

Why do we gather for worship? Some come to "get it over with for a week"; to get their tickets validated once more. But those who come because they need strength in carrying their crosses know the value of true worship.

Worship has nothing to do with the song leader or the talent of the preacher. It has to do with you and your God. Let people do what they will to please themselves. "The rest will remain and worship God."

Joh 4:23 But the time is coming--it has, in fact, come--when what you're called will not

matter and where you go to worship will not matter. "It's who you are and the way you

live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth.

That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly

themselves before him in their worship. 24 God is sheer being itself--Spirit. Those who

worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in

adoration."

It`s not about who you are or about the place, it`s about whom.

Whom do we worship, why do some even bother to go to church. Do we go for the band, which plays incredibly well, is it to hear the frontline singers, the evening show with all the lights and bells, or is it really, to sit in a sanctuary, with hearts opened and ready to receive, an excitement to worship the King of Kings.

I often test myself after a service, what does my heart say to me about the message, the praise and worship. I think the most important question to ask oneself is this: “did I participate in the service from the heart, or did I just go because of duty?”

Maybe it boils down to having a personal relationship with God. Do I really believe in my heart that God is, through Jesus Christ, MY Father.

When I answer `yes`, then I can be my true self in His presence, no play-acting in my worship. Truly worship.

After all, He desires us to be His “sons and daughters”.

Let’s praise His name today, really praise Him, in spirit and in truth.

The words I chose

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 By faith we understand that the ages were framed by a word of God, so that the things being seen not to have come into being out of the things that appear. ( MKJV )

The Message Translation puts it this way : Heb 11:1 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. 2 The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. 3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see.

With my mouth I confess what I believe.

So often our words contradict what we supposedly believe. Even our confession, our statements, should be the result of choice. I have the free will and the ability to choose what I say about a situation. Do I speak life or death over situations?

This is my choice:

Never again will I say, "I can't," for "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Phi_4:13).

Never again will I admit lack, for "My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Phi_4:19).

Never again will I fear, for "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2Ti_1:7).

Never again will I harbor doubt and lack of faith, for "The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear" (Psa_27:1).

Never again will I allow the supremacy of Satan over my life, for "the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1Jo_4:4).

Never again will I admit defeat, for "God always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him" (2Co_2:14).

Never again will I lack wisdom, for "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him" (Jam_1:5).

Never again will I be worried and frustrated, "Casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1Pe_5:7).

Never again will I be in bondage, for "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2Co_3:17).

An old country preacher used to say: "There are two parts to the Gospel. The first part is believing it, and the second part is behaving it." The hearer only is the one who is satisfied with just believing without behaving. That is what James describes as dead faith (Jam_2:17).

What We Think

Our Thinking:

"It's impossible."

"I am too tired."

"Nobody really loves me."

"Nobody really cares for me."

"I cannot go on."

"I cannot figure things out."

"I cannot do it."

"I am not worth it."

"I cannot forgive myself."

"I cannot afford to."

His Thinking:

"All things are possible" Luk_18:27.

"I will give you rest" Mat_11:20-30.

"I love you" Joh_3:16.

"I care for you" 1Pe_5:7.

"My grace is sufficient" 2Co_12:9.

"I will direct your steps" Pro_20:24; Pro_3:6.

"You can do all things" Phi_4:13.

"I am able" 2Co_9:8.

"It will be worth it" Rom_8:28.

"I forgive you" Psa_103:12; 1Jo_1:9.

"I will supply all your needs" Phi_4:19.

You cannot control the length of you life-but you can control its width and depth.

You cannot control the contour of your face-but you can control its expression.

You cannot control the weather -but you can control the atmosphere of your mind.

Why worry about things you cannot control when you can keep yourself busy controlling the things that depend on you?

There's much truth in saying that every man is the architect of his own fate. Your choices affect your destiny. Out of a rough block of stone one man may make a beautiful statue, another, gravel. Both products are good and useful under certain conditions. But a statue can be immoral in conception, and gravel can be the grudging and punitive work of a criminal condemned to a rock-pile.

The point is, whether you are a gifted artist or a competent gravel maker, you can choose whether to use your abilities worthily or unworthy. In building a Christian life you have the same choice.

Think about this:

A certain farmer had an unusual weathervane on his barn. Inscribed on the arrow were these words: "God is love." A passerby turned in at the gate and asked the farmer, "What do you mean by that? Do you think God's love is changeable; that it veers about as that arrow turns in the winds?" "Oh, no," replied the farmer, "I mean that whichever way the wind blows, God is still love."

Finding the Blessings with a Thankful Heart

“If one should give me a dish of sand, and tell me there were particles of iron in it, I might look for them with my clumsy fingers, and be unable to detect them; but let me take a magnet, and sweep through it, and it would draw to itself the most invisible particles. The unthankful heart, like my finger in the sand, discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day, and as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find some heavenly blessings.” ( author unknown )

Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.

Have you ever watched little children?

It always amazes me how, being naughty, mischievous, deceptive, selfish comes natural to a child. From birth they know exactly how to manipulate, throw tantrums, take cookies from the cookie jar when nobody is watching.

Yet we have to teach them, how to `play nice now`, how to `say thank you` and `please may I`.

It`s like we are told in the passage above, we have to cultivate thankfulness. By implication, it does not come naturally. Perhaps because of our fallen nature. The fact remains, we have to work at being thankful.

It`s so much easier to complain about things we do not have than it is to be thankful for what we have.

2Th 1:3 You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it's a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it's only right that we give thanks.

It`s only right that we give thanks. To be thankful for our salvation, to be thankful for the ability to be thankful. For life, children ( even the naughty ones ), so many things to be grateful for.

Psa 106:1 Hallelujah! Thank GOD! And why? Because he's good, because his love lasts. 2 But who on earth can do it-- declaim GOD's mighty acts, broadcast all his praises? 3 You're one happy man when you do what's right, one happy woman when you form the habit of justice

This Psalm says it all: Why should we thank God? Because He is good and He has an everlasting love for us. The Modern King James Version : Psa 106:1 Praise Jehovah. O give thanks to Jehovah; for He is good; for His mercy endures forever. 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of Jehovah, or cause all His praise to be heard? 3 Blessed are those who keep judgment, he who does righteousness at all times.

Do you notice verse 3? Being thankful is equated with being righteous, and that blessings will follow who act righteous all the time.

How often do we face a child that is skulking around the house, `dragging a long lip` around because they `don`t ever get anything`? then we tell them “stop sulking and put a smile on your face” or else……..

Perhaps God has such a desire for us. To start celebrating what we do have, to be thankful in all things, and as we begin to praise Him in all things, the shackles will fall off.

Praise and worship, coming from a grateful heart just does something to an otherwise miserable situation.

a Dog`s life

Two dogs actually own my property. Yes, that is true. For long now I have thought that, becuase I pay the bond/mortgage, the property surely belongs to me. But ohh nooooo, these dogs own it.

They do as they please, they pay no attention to any limits on where they are allowed to dig, mess, destroy or any such restrictions. Why shoulod they - it`s their property.

Now you need to understand. The one is a large, Pitbull and the other one a very small Wiener/Sausage dog. Logic would say that the large male Pitbull should be in charge but......oh noooo...... Maya the little female rules the roost.

She decides where and when to do large scale excavations, which trees needs `pruning` and Scoobie the Pitbull obliges.

I do the normal human thing - I run around shouting and screaming at them, pointing towards the mess they created and what do they do? Listen to me, obediently retreat to the safety of their kennels. Nope, capital "N" - Nope.

They look at me as if I have lost all sense of logic, after all, did I not get the memo, it is their property. Then they continue to plot and plan the next move.

Sometimes I am convinced that they have formed an alliance with all those out there who plan to `get me`. You know.... those people who are out there who plot and scheme on how they can make our lives miserable, everyday. The cashier who patiently waits for you to arrive and then decides to close the paypoint, after you ahve been in line for 30 minutes. The people at the call center who wait untill you call and then all of them suddenly become busy on other calls of so-called importance.

I watched them from behind the curtains and the safety of my bedroom this morning ( the two dogs that is ) I am convinced more than ever that they plot this: they were lying with their noses touching and I am totally convinced: smiles on their faces. All of a sudden, she jumped up, looked towards my room, ran towards the flower bed and started sniffing, scratching and digging. He followed, she took a step back and he continued the dig, she assumed the supervisory position.

a Hadida flew over and made the sound that only these birds can make: something like the laugh of a crazy man. I am convinced the Hadida laughed at me.

Why can life not be fair, just once? Why is it that sometimes this `faith thing` is just so difficult? Why is that sometimes it feels as if life is out to get me?

Perhaps the problem lies with me and not the conspiring world:

Perhaps if I change from `must` to preference` - life will change and faith will become easier:

I strongly prefer to do well and get approval, but even if I fail, I will accept myself fully.

I strongly prefer that you treat me reasonably, kindly and lovingly, but since I don't run the universe, and it's a part of your human nature to make mistakes, I now know that I cannot control you.

I strongly prefer for life to be fair, easy, and hassle-free and it's very frustrating that it isn't, but I can bear frustration and still enjoy my life.

For now I will accept the two of them, turning my garden upside down, believing that it is actually their property.

But... I too, can plan..............

Unshakable trust

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Joel C. Gregory writes:

"How many times have we had to reach the end of our own resources before we remembered to trust in God, the one steadfast resource of our lives? We're all in need of a spiritual exodus day by day. When our faith causes difficulties, our first response is to fall back on our familiar resources-people, things, self -and only when these do not help can we truly lean only upon God for our needs.

"I like what Dwight l. Moody said about Moses. Moody, had an unusual insight into Scripture. He said that Moses spent forty years in the king's palace thinking that he was somebody; then he lived forty years in the wilderness finding out that without God he was a nobody; finally he spent forty more years discovering how a nobody with God can be a somebody.

"And he was right. When Moses and the people found out they were nobodies without the resource of God, that's when the exodus began."

Psa 20:6 Now am I certain that the Lord gives salvation to his king; he will give him an answer from his holy heaven with the strength of salvation in his right hand. 7 Some put their faith in carriages and some in horses; but we will be strong in the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are bent down and made low; but we have been lifted up.

God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to produce rain, broken grain to give bread and broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is the broken Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.

Someone wrote:

The twenties are the molding years when the young person forms those habits that will direct his career. Then he finishes his school work, stands before the altar, establishes a home, and looks the world in the face.

The thirties are the years of discouragement. It is a hard and trying time. It is a time of battle without the dreams and poetry of youth.

The forties are the years of vision, when a man finds himself, finishes his castles in the air, and knows the value of his dreams.

In the fifties life comes to ripening. These should be the years of jubilee, and a man should do his best work then.

At sixty, a man has committed enough mistakes to make him wise beyond his years. He should live better and do better work than in any other decade in his life. No man has a right to retire in the sixties; the world has a need for his wisdom.

And in the seventies, some of the best work in the world has been done. It is the time when talent, experience, and insight combine to make a worthy and memorable life.

Psa_90:10 says, "The days of our years are threescore and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is there strength, labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

The key I believe to living life to the full, is to live it with an unshakable trust: “but we will be strong in the name of the Lord our God”