Quick Thoughts

The cry of God’s people ever since He ascended to be on the right hand of His Father. All those that walked and talked with Jesus were hoping He would return in their lifetime. Jesus didn’t, and as all generations of God’s people would be hoping He returned in their lifetime, it is now our turn to hope. But whether Jesus does return in our lifetime or not, importantly we are told by Him that in (by) our patience (endurance) we possess (gain) our souls (life).

Jude wrote that we are to earnestly content (fight for, protect, guard) the common salvation that was once delivered to the saints. The word ‘common, means ‘shared by all’.  The common salvation was first experienced by people on the Day of Pentecost (Acts2). Over 3000 people experienced the common salvation when they repented (changed their thinking to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God), were baptised by full immersion in water and received the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues. Anything less than this is no longer the common (shared by all) salvation that God has provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you have not experienced the common salvation then please contact us.

Whilst we have sincere endeavours to make a difference in our world and for those in our circle, we cannot make a real difference until God has made a difference in us. This difference that God makes in us happens when we receive His Holy Spirit. Only with the Holy Spirit can we truly make a difference in our world because we become the reflection of who God is, being truth and love.

Since historic records have been kept, it is clear that our world has had wars, conflict and distress amongst nations. There have been famines, local and global diseases, poverty, injustice and unlawfulness. Understandably, we may feel perplexed, uncertain, anxious and even fearful because of these things. However, it is written in the Bible book of 1 John 4:18 that there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. The love that John was writing about, is the love God has provided for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We receive God’s love when we are baptised with the Holy Spirit. When a person is baptised with the Holy Spirit they know it because they speak in tongues (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-6).This is the true everlasting love that is essential to be able to navigate through all the issues of [y]our world. If you have not had this experience, then we urge you to make contact.

We are told quite clearly that the Lord will come like a thief in the night. So whilst there are many events in our world that draw our attention, we need to be careful that if we become overly focused on these things, looking for meaning or signs, we can become so distracted that we don’t see the ‘thief’ entering into our house. So, we are encouraged to watch (be vigilant, on alert) so that we are walking carefully, being guided by God’s Word.

As summer comes on and we head off to the beach we take some comfort knowing there are dedicated men and woman, boys and girls who are patrolling our beaches and watching out for our safety. In like fashion, when Jesus Christ told His followers to go and preach the gospel to every person, He was telling them to become spiritual life savers. The message we bring of Jesus Christ is the message that will save a person’s spiritual life. Speak this message every chance you get.

Hebrews 11 provides a list of people who in their varying circumstances demonstrated an unwavering faith in God. The decisions they made to trust in and follow God leaves a lasting positive impact on us whereby we are inspired and encouraged to also keep an unwavering faith in God.

“We have found the Messiah”

The words of Andrew to his brother Simon Peter. (John1:41) And what wonderful words they must have been to Simon Peter to hear. Andrew was initially a disciple of John the Baptist. The first thing Andrew did after he met Jesus Christ was to go and tell his brother. He then went on and brought his brother to Jesus. In our personal experience of receiving the Holy Spirit, in type, we have ‘found the Messiah’. The next thing for us to do is, through our testimony in word and deed, bring as many other people to Jesus so they can also personally ‘find the Messiah’.

On one hand Jesus directs us to not get ahead of ourselves in living life. (Matt6:34) On the other we are encouraged to lift up our heads for our redemption draws near. (Luke21:28) Even Paul the Apostle wrote how he presses towards the mark of the high calling in Christ. (Phil3:13-15) So which is it? Do we just live moment to moment, or do we keep our focus on the beyond today in anticipation of the return of Jesus Christ? The answer of course is that God’s people are directed to live each moment of life as though Jesus is about to return.

Jesus spoke to Nicodemus that for a person to enter the kingdom of God they must be born again. (John3:1-8) This experience occurs when a person is baptised by full immersion in water and baptised in the Holy Spirit. The evidence of a person being born again of the Holy Spirit is the sound or voice of the Spirt. On the Day of Pentecost, the faithful believers had this experience which was individually evidenced in them by speaking in tongues. (Acts2:1-4)