FREE – but still living in prison!

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2, NIV

Familiar surroundings make us feel safe and comfortable. We like the security of the world that we know and believe we can trust – even though there may be much more exciting places to live, work and play in. It’s amazing how often people are just content to enjoy living in the same old familiar surroundings that they've known all their life – even when they have all the resources at their fingertips to make radical and positive changes to their lives.

Equally, I find it surprising sometimes, when trying to help people face the real issues in their lives, to find that often they have known the Lord for many years but have not allowed the supposedly abundant life they now have to change their way of living! They are still in bondage to the same old temptations and the same old behaviours. What they were familiar with in their unredeemed life has continued to be the furniture with which they are still comfortable.

Yes, they are looking forward to the joys of Heaven, but they have rarely experienced the blessings from Heaven on earth – in spite of the new law of the Spirit that God has written in the heart of every believer. This new law gives us authority over the law of sin and death which tries to drag us back into the attitudes and activities of Satan’s Kingdom. Satan does his best to blind us to the fact that we can use our free will to walk free of his chains, using the higher authority that we now have in our lives – if only we would use our free will to let the Spirit of God transform us from the inside out many of the problems which beset believers on a day to day basis would simply fall away.

Those who are in Christ Jesus are freed from the curse of sin – they don’t need to remain sitting in the jail of Satan’s making oblivious to the fact that the chains that formerly held them there are broken. Jesus – the Lion of Judah – has  broken the chains. Now is the time for His people to start living in the reality of their new found freedom.

Prayer: Thank You Jesus, that you have broken the chains of bondage for all those who have trusted in You. Help me, Lord, to live in the reality of that freedom, now and for the rest of my life. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.
Today's Writer : Peter Horrobin

Daily Smile:

Fourth Grade Logic

A fourth-grade teacher was giving her pupils a lesson in logic.

"Here is the situation," she said. "A man is standing up in a boat in the middle of a river, fishing. He loses his balance, falls in, and begins splashing and yelling for help. His wife hears the commotion, knows he can't swim, and runs down to the bank. Why do you think she ran to the bank?"

A girl raised her hand and asked,

"To draw out all his savings?" 

Are You Confused About What to Do Next?

Luke 24:8 "And they remembered His Words."

Have you ever been in a tough situation facing tough circumstances and found yourself saying, "I just don't know what to do?" That might be a good thing. What I mean, is even when you think you know what to do it may be the wrong thing. We've all done things we were convinced were right, only to be proven wrong. When you view things this way, you are more likely to be dependent on God for all your decisions and choices. That's good! It will make you hungrier for the presence of God.

In Luke 24 we read about the women `his friends - that came to Jesus' tomb after his death. They were heartbroken, confused, and didn't know what to do. They had believed that He was the Messiah that would reign, not die a brutal death. Now instead, they come looking for His body but had an unexpected encounter to make things even more confusing. Luke 24:1-3 says, "Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus." In the next verse we see their state of mind. Verse 4 says, "And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed and wondering what to do about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments."

They didn't know what to do but the story goes on. God helps them. He speaks to them through angels. Verse 5-8 says, "In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men (angels) said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" Then they remembered His words." This was the promise of Jesus: that after His death, He would help them remember His Words. In John 14:26 Jesus made the promise, "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." 

The point I want to make to you today is that we all have times where we don't know what to do. And even when we think we know what to do, it would be better to have confidence that God is leading us in what we do with occasional confirmation. You do have a God that loves you and that has proved His love to you through Jesus. He is an intimate God and really does want to help you in all the details of your life. He wants to teach you AND remind you of things He has taught you; things that will direct your thinking and the steps of your life. In order for you to do that, you need to put yourself in atmospheres that God dwells,  such as church, bible studies, personal bible reading, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians. God speaks to us in those atmospheres. 

You mostly likely won't encounter many angels, but, He does live in the presence of His people. In Mat 18:20, Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." 1 Cor 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?"These verses say that when we come together about Him, His presence is there. They also say He is in and with you! You need to have fellowship with other Christians that sincerely live for and seek God.  When you are with people like that-- because they have the Holy Spirit indwelling  them-- God can speak to you through His Word and through them.

The women at the tomb were hurting and perplexed as to what to do, that is, until they were put in the presence and remembrance of God's Word. Then, as the verse above says, "they remembered His Words." When they did, they were refreshed, re-encouraged, and were able to continue on in the plan of God. The bottom line here is this: surround yourself with more atmospheres of God so that the Holy Spirit can speak to you and direct your steps. 

Remember
Only one life, will soon be past,
Only what is done, for Christ will last.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Love & Prayers,                                         

Michael Jeremiah Knight.

Daily Smile:
Vanishing Pastry
 
On a visit to New York, an Englishman and a Scotsman go to a pastry shop. The Englishman whisks three cookies into his pocket with lightning speed. The baker doesn't notice.
 
The Englishman says to the Scotsman, "You see how clever we are? You'll never beat that!"
 
The Scotsman says to the Englishman, "Watch this, a Scotsman is always more clever than an Englishman."
 
He says to the baker, "Give me a cookie, I can show you a magic trick!"
 
The baker gives him the cookie which the Scotsman promptly eats. Then he says to the baker, "Give me another cookie for my magic trick."
 
The baker is getting suspicious but he gives it to him. He eats this one too. Then he says again, "Give me one more cookie."
 
The baker is getting angry now but gives him one anyway. The Scotsman eats this one too. Now the baker is really mad, and he yells, "And where is your famous magic trick?"

 
The Scotsman says, "Look in the Englishman's pocket!" 

Who Are You Sharing the Gospel With Today

The time of thy visitation

"If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes... because you did not recognize the time of your visitation" Lk. 19:42, 44. There were so many prophesies about the Messiah's coming and Israel ignored them, refused them, rejected their Messiah and have paid an awful price. 

"His (Jesus) blood be on us and our children" I pray for "the peace of Jerusalem" Ps. 122:6 , every day, just like the Word of God tells us. I love Israel but oh the sorrow and price they have paid for those terrible words, "His blood be on us and on our children" Matt. 27:25. Simeon knew the Messiah Lk 2:25-33.and the other leaders should have too. They ignored or did not believe the "signs" of the Messiah. 

Two applications for us

Remember the two parables of the foolish virgins and the foolish servant in Matt 25? The foolish virgins were not looking for, nor ready for the coming of the bridegroom and the servant who was given money to invest for the master, he too was not ready for his master to come and they both missed much.

Dear people, there is an application for us. We, who are saved, are  told to use our gifts, invest for eternity and be ready for the coming of Jesus. MOST Christians don't even know what their gifts are and most are not using their gifts faithfully to win the lost people to Christ. "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" Matt. 4:19. We could really change the world if we believed and became fishers of men today. 

Secondly, Israel, in the time of Christ, did not know "the day of thy visitation" and look what they missed. Most Bible scholars believe we are living the Laodicean days of the church and Jesus is saying to us, "'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20. 

YOUR day of visitation

I love you. Is and/or has God, been knocking at the door of your heart? Open you heart and accept Christ as your Lord and Savior if you haven’t already and if you have obey His word and share the gospel with those around you everyday. Are you following Jesus and fishing for men? Jesus is coming and we will be caught up to meet Him in the air and then comes the day of for our accountability 2 Cor. 5:10. We all need to get busy sharing this wonderful Gift of Salvation with everyone(don’t let anyone miss this gift).   We can do something about it in 2010.  

Prayer:  Father, bless this child of Yours and make them sensitive and responsive to Your visitation to them on a daily basis, In Jesus  name.

Daily Smile:

Father Murphy walked into a pub in Donegal, and said to the first man he meets, "Do you want to go to heaven?"

The man said, "I do Father."

The priest said, "Then leave this pub right now!" and approached a second man. "Do you want to got to heaven?"

"Certainly, Father," was the man's reply.

"Then leave this den of Satan," said the priest, as he walked up to O'Toole.

"Do you want to go to heaven?"

"No, I don't Father," O'Toole replied.

The priest looked him right in the eye, and said, "You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?"

O'Toole smiled, "Oh, when I die, yes, Father. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now."

What is Real?

by Holly Good

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 (NIV 1984)

Has your trust ever been shattered by someone you love? A few years ago I was faced with a very unsettling situation. I was shocked when I learned of hidden sin that had spun its way into the life of someone I care about deeply.

For weeks, I pleaded with God on my knees for an explanation, for understanding, for clarity. My sense of reality had been threatened and betrayed. I desperately cried out, “What is real Lord? Tell me what is real. Because what I thought was real may not be.”

One night as I went to bed, I tried to make peace with the fact that maybe I was never supposed to understand this devastating circumstance. There were many questions, but few answers. Many thoughts, but few explanations. The next morning, during my quiet time, the Lord gently began to reveal some answers to my wounded heart.

I was reminded of my need for Him – my never-ending, all-consuming need for Him. Too often I take my eyes off of the Lord and attempt to live difficult situations in my own strength. Colossians 3:1-2 profoundly challenged me, “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (NIV 1984). Unfortunately, my focus had shifted to my questions and myself. And apart from God, my focus had become distorted.

I was reminded that I needed to continue to seek the Lord and patiently wait for what He had in store. I began to beg the Lord to take this hurt away. Make it disappear, Lord. But then I’d sense Him saying to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). By admitting my frailty, God was able to affirm His strength in me.

And finally, He pointed me to what is real. He gently reminded me that He is real. My God is real. Though on this earth I will face many stressful situations, many disappointments, and many hurts, I know that my God is real and He will never leave me. I once again found loving comfort in the words from Moses to Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:8, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (NIV 1984). I knew I had to completely depend on God and believe in His goodness.

My assignment in this difficult circumstance was clear. The Lord was asking me to continue to pray, believe, trust, seek, wait and focus on Him and Him alone. I am so thankful that nothing will ever separate me from His unfailing love. And THAT my friend is real.

Daily Smile:

A very loud Texan Engineer was visiting Australia, and talking big about all of the large civil works in the USA that he was involved in. To be polite his Australian counterpart took him on a tour of some of Sydney’s larger constructions.

First he took him to Gladesville Bridge. The Texan exclaimed, "What’s that!” In reply the Australian said, "That's the Gladesville Bridge".

"Hmmph" said the Texan, "How long and how many men did it take to build?” The Australian replied, "About 5 years with 1000 men."

The Texan replied, "Well in Texas we would've done it in 2 years with 500 men."

Next they went to the Sydney Opera House. "What's that" said the Texan. "That's the Sydney Opera House" was the reply.

"Hmmph" said the Texan, "How long and how many men did it take to build?” The Australian replied, "About 10 years with 200 men". The Texan replied "Well in Texas we would've done it in 4 years with 200 men."

By this stage the Australian was a little put out by the Texan's attitude so he decided to get some revenge, they walked around the Sydney Opera House and as they did the Sydney Harbor Bridge came into view.

Immediately the Texan exclaimed, "Wow! What's that?"

The Australian Engineer replied, "I don't know, it wasn't there yesterday."