pause for thought

The writer of this psalm felt overwhelmed by trouble and afflictions, problems and difficulties of life can often weigh heavy and it’s in times like these that we are more likely to believe our feelings and think that even God has deserted us, instead of knowing that it is only God who is able to comfort and strengthen us 102:1-2

Whatever we go through in life we need to remind ourselves of three things. One we are not the first or indeed the last believer to be tested in this way. Two Jesus Christ experienced everything and more during His time on earth. Three Because Jesus went through the same experiences that we do, but without sinning He completely understands how we feel He not only sympathises but is able to help us in our need, there is still a throne of grace available to us. Hebrews 4:15-16

The whole Bible is the WORD of GOD this psalm underlines this ”let this be recorded for future generation” surely the nation yet to be created is the Christian Church? 102:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17. The apostle Paul wrote that the Old Testament scriptures were written for the benefit of the church Romans 15:4

God is eternal He has no beginning or end He will never age! He was around to help every generation that ever lived. He is not subject to change or decay, He’s never old fashioned He knows about every invention before mankind claims the patent. He is always the same and His years will never end PTL!

Like the Psalmist we can count our years how short they are! Our achievements seem nothing in the great scheme of things only what God does has any real value Psalm 127:1. God the Son, Jesus is the member of the trinity who laid the foundation of the earth 102:25, Hebrews 1:10-12. This creation will one day be no more, in its place Jesus the eternal son of God will complete a new creation 102:27 see Hebrews 13:8

Memory verse

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever Hebrews 13:8 N.L.T.

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David wrote this psalm from his own experience when as a shepherd boy he looked after his fathers sheep, and from his personal relationship with his heavenly Shepherd. Jesus the good Shepherd went further than David could imagine by giving His life for the sheep 1:1, John 10:11

Every Shepherd knows that his sheep need the right nutrition, but there are often discontented sheep amongst the flock ( speaking from my experience from my farming days as a shepherd) for whom the grass always seemed to look greener on the other side of the fence! David is making the point that only God knows what is best for His Sheep, When Jesus came He said he knew his own sheep by name and that He would be known by them John 10:14. We can rest assured that the Lord has prepared the very best for all who follow Him and that the grass that the restless sheep forage after may sometimes look greener but will always disappoint, in contrast here are the blessings that pursue those who follow the Great Shepherd of the Sheep our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ Hebrews 13:20

Sheep who follow the Good Shepherd will never be in want 23:1

lie down in green pasture rest, contentment, led beside still waters refreshment 23:2

He restores my soul free from anxiety, Leads me in the right path Jesus the WAY 23:3

For the Christian death is just a shadow death is no longer to be feared because Jesus has given eternal life 23:4

Rod and Staff for direction, examination and healing

Table and oil provision and Strength 23:5

Gods goodness and mercy (grace) will always be with us and we have the promise of our heavenly dwelling 23:6

memory verse

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

Don’t get sucked in by those you socialise with into compromising with the standards of the world, no christian can afford to live with one foot in the world, if you meet one and there are many, you will find an unhappy discouraged person who has lost their way.

A Christian deceives himself if he thinks he cannot be influenced by others. Do your friends build you up in your faith, or do they tear it down? Do not be misled: “bad company corrupts good character” 1 Corinthians 15:33.

The more we delight in obeying Gods Law and meditating on it the more fruitful we will be. This ”Law” means all Scripture, we should be reading and meditating on the whole of Gods Word both Old and New Testaments. As we do this the Holy Spirit is able to bring back to our memory a Word that will guide and help us in our daily decisions 1:2-3.

Those who refuse to believe in redemption through Jesus Christ are pictured as chaff scattered by the wind chaff is the fruitless part the outer husk this is how God sees sinners unfruitful and destined for the judgement 1:4-5

Don’t you just love Gods promises in Psalm 92:12-15 Those who delight themselves in the Lord are like trees planted by rivers of water that bear fruit and continue being fruitful in old age!

Memory verse

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing their fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1.3

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End time false teachers ridicule the promise of the coming of the Lord failing to understand 1 That by the word of God the former world was destroyed by water and that by the same word of God this present world will be destroyed by fire on the day of judgement. 2 That our time scale is not the same as Gods. 3 That God has not forgotten His promise to bring fire on the earth, but is patiently waiting for the last sinner to come to repentance. 4 That the coming of the Lord will be sudden and unexpected. 3:4-11

Here are just a few ways we can hasten the coming of the Lord 3:12

Something to look forward to a new heavens and a new earth where only righteousness dwells 3:13

Something to live for Jesus is coming when we least expect Him to, let Him find us living peaceful lives that bring Him honour 3:14

Something to avoid don’t let yourself be led away from your faith in the coming of Jesus by false teachers who water down and compromise the truth of the gospel, please don’t pay them any attention 3:17

Something to grow in and Someone to know better never think you’ve arrived! keep on growing in the grace and in the knowledge of our wonderful saviour the Lord Jesus Christ 3:18

Verse to remember

Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! 2 Peter 3:11 N.L.T.

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Robert and Pam wish you all every blessing through Jesus Christ throughout 2022

Pause for thought

Jesus had already warned His disciples of false prophets, see Mathew 24:11. Peter now warns of false teachers who will bring secret destructive heresies. Beware of such teachers who mix a little error with the truth, they do this because the truth of the true gospel is to much of a challenge to many of their hearers who only want teachers who will tell them what they want to hear 2 Timothy 4:3

Jesus said that false prophets can be identified by their fruit much like a tree Mathew 7:15-20. Peter describes the sort of fruit false teachers produce in their own lives and attempt to seed into the lives of their hearers. They teach ”cheap” grace that leads to immorality, they tell clever stories that are really lies and they are full of greed as they try to get hold of your money 2:2-3, Jude 1-25

God has not left us to the mercy of such wicked people, we have the person of the Holy Spirit and the Word, reread 2 Peter 1:20-21 and remember the true ministers of Jesus Christ are also validated by the good fruit they produce.

Just as God rescued Noah and his family and Lot and his family God is able to rescue true believers from the wickedness that seeks to entrap them. Some see these past events as pointing to a pre tribulation rapture, its a possibility? However Peter is reminding believers of the redeeming work Jesus Christ and the Cross. Just as God was able to rescue Lot He is able to rescue us from trials and temptations 2:9

The more we keep growing in our knowledge of Jesus Christ and experience His grace and peace the less likely to fall into the deception of the devil and see through the false teaching brought by false teachers and false prophets.

Never let the fear of the false cause any one of us to reject the genuine!

A Verse to remember

So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 2 Peter 2:9 N.L.T.

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Robert and Pam wish you all a very Happy Christmas and every Blessing throughout the coming year.

If any teachers message contradicts the scripture then their message cannot be from God 1:16-21.

Mathew 16:28- 17:8 is the account of the transfiguration of Jesus as witnessed by Peter, James and John. the appearance of Moses and Elijah reveals that both the Law and the Prophets pointed to and affirmed the redeeming ministry of Jesus. When Peter said ”we have the prophetic word confirmed” he meant the Old Testament scriptures. As eye witnesses of the transfiguration what the three disciples witnessed was the affirmation of the Fathers pleasure in His Son and a foreshadowing of the return of Jesus in all His radiance and glory 1:16.

When Peter says that the Prophetic word was confirmed (NKJ) or ”more sure word of prophecy” (KJ) meaning the Scriptures were confirmed at the transfiguration he is making a point that His experience with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration is subordinate to the more sure word of scripture. No experience be it miracle, dream, vision or prophetic word holds more authority than the Scriptures 1:19.

Peters letter is never meant to put us off of experiential christianity or to stop us seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit or receive and minister spiritual gifts. These words are written for are own good, and although written 2000 plus years ago they are exactly what we need to know and take to heart right now! Taking heed of the sure Word of Scripture will keep us from falling into error 1:20-21

memory verse

For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 1:21

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When we were born again the Holy Spirit empowered us with His own holy nature, the power to live a redeemed life is life God 1:3

Believers today must be on their guard against falling away, false teachers and false prophets, heresy and cult activity. Peter writes if we determine to keep on growing in Christ we will never fall away 1:10

As Christians we must never stop growing in our faith and in the knowledge of God. In his second letter Peter reminds his readers that through their faith in Jesus Christ they all share the same faith, and share in the divine nature. our faith has to be more than belief in certain facts it is first and foremost faith in the person of Jesus Christ. Our faith must result in action we need to put on some muscle! When Peter tells us to add to our faith he wants us to put into practice those same graces the full resources of our Holy God that were given us when we first believed 1:4 Add, supplement put into practise and take action are just some of the words used in different Bible translations 1:5

Believers must never become complacent, if we’re not growing in Christ (getting to know him more) we are easy prey for the devil. Peter says we are short sighted or blind to what we have been cleansed from, Suggesting that the more we work at putting our faith into action the more we will know the Lord and His call upon our lives 1:10

Memory verse

But those who fail to develop in this way are short sighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 2 Peter 1:9 N.L.T.

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Peter was a witness of Christs suffering which gave Peter a solid certainty that he would share in the coming glory when Jesus comes again. Faith in the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf will produce the same hope in us 5:1

True authority is the result of service and not power 5:2

Christian leaders must be humble and lead by example, however they can only lead those who have been entrusted into their care by God. The question then arises am I ready to receive the delegated care of a loving God through those He has appointed to lead me? The bottom line is wether we are the leaders or the led we are all to serve and receive from one another with a humble spirit 5:3-5.

Watch out! there’s a lion about! although we are all targets the devil like a lion is looking for an easy prey, he is attracted by the solitary christian who is weighed down with troubles, so resist him stand firm in your faith in Jesus Christ 5:8-9

Gods grace is sufficient in every situation. I really love this suffering is temporary, but God will restore, support, strengthen and settle us, this is eternal! whatever our experience stand firm in Gods grace 5:12

Memory verse

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 N.L.B.

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Pause for thought

Please don’t expect a life of ease if you’re an on fire christian! 4:12. Jesus said ” in this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world” John 16:33 N.I.V.

Sometimes people may take offence simply because we are christians Although we may not realise it they could be coming under conviction because the Holy Spirit is with us 4:14

We all suffer from time to time just make sure its not because of any wrong behaviour on your part, but because you are living to honour Jesus Christ 4:14

Judgement starts with the members of Gods household to test that our faith rests totally on Jesus who was judged and punished by God for our personal sins. Christians are to examine (judge) themselves to make sure that their faith is genuine 2 Corinthians 13:5. Church members are responsible under the leadership of the elders to judge the action of erring christians bringing appropriate correction 1 Corinthians 5. Note if judgement is ever appropriate it is always towards sinning believers inside the church, never towards unbelievers in the world 1 Corinthians 5:9-10. God corrects (chastises) every son He accepts Hebrews 12:7, God’s every action towards us is always in love He will work every circumstance good or bad to accomplish His purpose in us for our benefit that we may share in his holiness Hebrews 12:10. ( I don’t believe Gods chastening of a christian should be described as judgement)

If God judges his own, how much more the unbeliever? Only the Cross can stay the Judgement of a Holy God 4:18

God will never fail us 4:19

Memory verse

But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:32 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

Jesus Christ suffered physical pain when he took the judgement for our sin and died in our place at calvary. We are to reckon ourselves to of died when Christ died (suffer with Christ) and to of been raised (given new life) when Christ was raised from the tomb. However as followers of Jesus Christ we will be called upon to suffer (for him) when we resist the former sinful things we followed. This can put us in the line of fire with those who approved of our formal behaviour. As we resist we find that sin loses its power as we focus on Christ and refuse to budge despite the pain 4:1-4

Everyone dies and will have to face one of two judgements The Great White Throne Judgement, or The judgement seat of Christ, the choice is ours! Every Christian who’s body has already died is alive in the Spirit just like God Himself. No one will miss out on the return of Jesus Christ for christians its a wonderful hope. For the unbelieving dead a day to dread.

Christians who truly love their fellows will not be quick to publish but cover another’s sin and help and encourage them just as Jesus has done for us 4:8 , 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Some christians are unsure if they have any spiritual gifts, but Peter is clear we all have been given spiritual gifts by God who is glorified when we use them in blessing others. If we shy away from discovering and then using the gift or gifts assigned to us we rob God of glory, someone of blessing, we also rob ourselves also. 4:10

We Christians must learn to be good stewards of Gods gifts, we are channels so that Gods love can flow out to others. In the gospels a Steward was someone who managed another mans property, spiritual gifts must never be used just as the bearer pleases, It must always be recognised that it is God who is ministering through His people. 4:11

memory verse

God has given gifts to each of you from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. 1 Peter 4: 10 N.L.T

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