Seven Promises in Him


Join Our Pastor Ray as he shares on the Seven Promises

7 Promises ‘In Christ’…

You know one of the most amazing things I find is the way that God talks to us. If we dwell on the fact that He is all powerful and everlasting… then it’s even more incredible that He would take time to talk to you and I.

One of the ways He shares His heart with us, is through His word.

Look at this scripture in the book of Ephesians: …and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…. One of the incredible things here is that the scripture speaks in the past tense – isn’t that amazing…. We have already been raised up into heavenly places with Christ!!!

Have you ever come across the expression “In Christ” or “in Him”?  So… what does “In Christ” or “in Him” mean?   It simply means how we behave as Christians here on Earth.  In other words, the way we walk our Christian path on a daily basis. As we obey God (or His Godly principles), we are walking “In Christ” or “In Him”. The more we walk in His principles – the more we are ‘in Him’.  When we miss the mark with Him in our walk, we are no longer “In Christ” or “In Him”.

I’d like you to do something positive for yourself in the next few days and spend a bit of quiet time on the following encouraging 7 promises:

No Condemnation

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. Are we feeling condemned over any issue? – no need – as we walk in Christ there is no condemnation.

Free from our sinful nature

“…Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death”. There is no longer any need for us to do things the way we do them – we have a new nature – in Christ.

Our new nature is in Christ

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive”. Our new nature (which desires to follow God) is in Christ.

Never separated from God

“…nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. What a wonderful promise – we are safely in His hands!

No partiality

“… for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. The Lord sees all His children as equal.

We will walk in good works planned by God for us

“…created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them”. We may have many plans but God has already ordained our steps.

His promises to us are guaranteed

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore, also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us”.

Notice here that each of these 7 promises applies if we are ‘in Him’ or ‘In Christ’. Trying to imagine what ‘In Him’ means could be very difficult and complicated for you and I. However, as we’ve shared before, God’s word is never complicated when He opens it up to us, by the power of His Spirit.

God needs to control our walk here on Earth, until Jesus returns. As we walk ‘In Him’ (or according to His principles), He is able to bless us. Let’s see confirmation of this in the Psalms: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.

Lastly, if we’re are finding it difficult to stay ‘in Him’ on a daily basis, remember that it’s God’s doing that we find ourselves ‘in Him’ – not any work of our own. We can strive to be good Christians daily, but we will fail at some point, until we learn that it is Christ in us, who gives us the strength to change.

Thanks for this blessed time together – may the Master richly bless your week ahead – until we meet again – blessings

From: “…time with the Master…”

If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

“…time with the Master…”

Insurance or Assurance?


Insurance and Assurance… Psa.139

There are times in all our lives when things are very difficult. The more we focus on these things, it seems the worse they get – know what I mean? If we could take our focus off those situations and dwell on something positive, it would really help. I find looking in God’s word for a few minutes really helps to bring peace to an unsettling time. I had a look at Psalm 139 the other day and was led to personalize the words and then just let them flow over me for a few minutes. Join me as we see together, the depth of what the Lord showed me:

“Lord, You know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every moment of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it enters my mind.

You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I’ll take, before my journey even begins.

You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me, to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me.

This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me, brings me wonder and strength. Where could I go from your Spirit? Where could I run and hide from your face?

If I go up to heaven, you’re there! If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too! If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there! If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting!

Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me. It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night.

There is no such thing as darkness with you. The night, to you, is as bright as the day; there’s no difference between the two.

You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, and wove them all together in my mother’s womb. I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex!

Everything you do is marvellously breath taking. It simply amazes me to think about it!

How thoroughly you know me, Lord! You even formed every bone in my body when you created me in the secret place, carefully, skilfully shaping me from nothing into something.

You saw who you created me to be, before I became me! Before I’d ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me, were already recorded in your book.

Every single moment, you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought!

O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you’re still with me”.

The Lord’s Word encourages us. Let’s spend more time in the positive place of His word and allow His Spirit to open wonderful pearls for us. In a quiet place – pick the words of a psalm and personalize them – say them aloud to God and you’ll be amazed what He will share with you!

The great I AM, is the great I AM, but yet He is not too great to share His heart with you and I on a personal level. There never has been, nor ever will be, a Father who knows His children, as He knows each one of us. Be encouraged – our Father never leaves our side.

I pray that the Master will share His heart with you this week, as He never has before – be blessed – until next time.

From: “…time with the Master…”

If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others. Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers. Often, sharing them results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

“…time with the Master…”

Wanted; Dead or Alive


Weekly encouraging messages from our Pastor Ray…..enjoy and be uplifted.

Wanted Dead or Alive?

We’ve heard it said that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for us, but I wonder if we have really applied deep thought into what actually took place on the Cross at Calvary. Normally when thinking about Jesus’s death, we are inclined to focus on His physical death, the pain suffered, how His body was disfigured and how much it was damaged. Now I certainly don’t wish to take anything away from the seriousness of His physical death, it must have been horrendous to say the least, but is His physical death what the Lord wants us to focus on?

Continue reading “Wanted; Dead or Alive”

Loving God’s Way


Weekly encouraging messages from our Pastor Ray…..enjoy and be uplifted.

Loving God’s Way

In line with the desire to make our walk with the Lord more practical, let’s look at the most important commandment….’Love your neighbour as yourself. I’m sure we’ve heard these words many times, but have we really understood what Jesus meant? In order to appreciate His command, we need to see how it is that God intended us to love others.

Continue reading “Loving God’s Way”

Is His Spirit Dormant?


From the day of The Garden of Eden, the Spirit of God dwelt in Adam and Eve. “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Continue reading “Is His Spirit Dormant?”

Thy Kingdom Come


Luke 17:20-21 KJV

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/17-21.htm

20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

‘…Is within you…”- This is capable of two interpretations.

  1. The reign of God is “in the heart.” It does not come with pomp and splendour, like the reign of temporal kings, merely to control the external “actions” and strike the senses of people with awe, but it reigns in the heart by the law of God; it sets up its dominion over the passions, and brings every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
  2. It may mean the new dispensation is “even now among you.” The Messiah has come. John has ushered in the kingdom of God, and you are not to expect the appearance of the Messiah with great pomp and splendour, for he is now among you. Most critics at present incline to this latter interpretation. The ancient versions chiefly follow the former.

There are those among us that believe that the arrival of the Kingdom of God, was heralded by the ministry of Jesus, via John, as option 2 above.

My own personal understanding is as option 1 above.

Whichever option we choose is up to us and I would not engage in an academic discussion as to which understanding is correct.

Being fully immersed at baptism in a Pentecostal denomination, I had followed option two. After a few years I left denominational fellowship and decided to, “go it on my own.” I spent eighteen years in the mission field before I had personal clarity about the Kingdom of God ‘within me’. This clarity worked for me and has done since that time.

Never before has the love of God been so realistic to me.(a useful note here; I started to search for God at the age of twelve years.)

Not only in a spiritual sense, but in a strong practical sense, on a day-to-day basis do I enjoy the thrill of God’s presence. I don’t preach or teach anymore, and I don’t know if I ever will again. If I did, I could only say, “God is within me, He is my inner being.”

I have come to the place of loving my fellow humans more than ever before and offer them assistance whenever, wherever and however possible. My prayer is that as His loves flows forth from me, others will desire that which has been given me so freely (Zech.8:23.)

My spiritual life is now very deep within me and I refer to the Protagonist of my life as ‘Father Coach’. I hope this expression won’t offend the more conventional among us. I call Him this because, He coaches me day and night, through work and play.

My use of words like Father, Him, He, are more in the secrecy of my heart, because I do not believe that one who is indescribable and whose works are far beyond the scope of my understanding can be caught up in the issues of sexism.

Whether you believe ‘in’ or ‘among’, ‘Father’ or ‘Mother’, ‘Him’ or ‘Her’; have peace, love your fellow humans; try not to judge anyone, enjoy and be grateful for the life you have been given.

All rights reserved sirpeterjamesdotcom©2018-01-20

If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others, Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers and very often when we share them, it results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

See my other site; www.sirpeterjames.com

Please feel free to send in questions and comments. Comments at bottom of each article and  here for contact.

All rights reserved sirpeterjamesdotcom©2020-01-20

If you feel this article has value, please send this link to others, Writings are meant for people, not for dormant files in our computers and very often when we share them, it results in positive changes in the lives of individuals and communities.

 

 

 

 

Mission Malawi – Chapter Eleven


Why not start at the beginning of this amazing series……..

South Africa
26th January 1995 – 29th May 1995

We had planned a break to S.A. and Zimbabwe for six weeks, during January 1995, so we were quite amazed when it turned out to be so long. In our last newsletter we shared about the challenges with the Combi and how wonderful it was to see the various parts arriving from South Africa to try and get us on the road.
“….We finally left for Zimbabwe on 26th Jan. On nearing the border of Mozambique (after finally getting visas, which is another whole story!), the power in the Combi began to fade. There was a terrible feeling in my stomach. As the situation worsened, I was freewheeling the down hills to try and make it to the Zimbabwe border where Kathy’s parents had offered to meet us.

Continue reading “Mission Malawi – Chapter Eleven”