January 2009
So the old year rolls away and a new one begins and many Christians long for revival in their churches and in their lives. Some congregations may experience renewal but true revival is much rarer.
Renewal is a church based and church driven movement for better worship and prayer in the services. It can even be organised and managed by the leadership in the church. However, it is not revival even if some people may call it that.
Revival is a sovereign move of God on people, both believer and unbeliever, through the Holy spirit. Revival is characterised by a spontaneous conviction of sin and a desire to confess, repent and turn away from sin and turn to God. It is always preceded by consistent and fervent prayer by a few over a period of time.
So let us join together and pray for a true revival.
Bruce
June 2009
Recently I had visitors from another town come to my home. Knowing they were coming I spent a day or two cleaning and tidying up. I could have made a better job of cleaning but then my excuse is that I am a man and we men just don’t notice everything that needs to be done. I chance remark by a friend that if we knew exactly when Jesus will return we would make very sure we were ready, that our hearts were clean of sin, our minds clear of sinful thoughts and desires and that we are living as God would want us to.
Few people do a thorough spring clean of their houses everyday, But if we knew that we might have to open our homes to an important visitor at any time we would be more concerned about the appearance of our homes. When Jesus returns He will be visiting our minds, hearts and spirits. We need to have all of these in such a condition that we will be unashamed to receive Him, so that we may rejoice in His return. We need to keep our eyes on our Heavenly Father and on His Son and to become conformed to His character. We need to be ready and alert for His return at any moment.
Matt. 25:13
Be blessed
Bruce
August 2009
I expect that like me, most of you reading this will have had to make a number of decisions in your life. Often without having any idea whether they will turn out for the better or for the worse. Many of our ordinary day to day decisions have to be made this way. Sometimes we may even come to regret a decision or even some of the decisions we have made in our lives. The Lord has, however, promised that He will work out all things to the good of those who love Him. Of all the decisions I have ever made in my life, there is one I know I will never regret having made. That decision was to give my life to Jesus and to ask Him to make His home there. Whatever may happen in the future I will always hold that decision as being the best, and possibly, the only right decision I have ever made. I pray that everyone who reads this may be able to say deep in their heart the same thing.
Be blessed
Bruce
September 2009
One of Isaac Newton’s laws of motion states that “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” There are those who do not realise that for every action we take in our lives there is also a spiritual consequence. Indeed there are fewer still who would recognise that every decision each of us takes there is a consequence on our spiritual lives. I wonder how many people realise that there are consequences on our spiritual lives produced even by our thoughts.The consequences of our actions, decisions and thoughts can be either positive, neutral or negative on our spiritual lives and indeed even on our “normal” physical or social lives.
Jesus taught the necessity of purity both in our outward and inward lives. Often His teaching was radical and considered extreme by many. (Mark 9: 43,45,47.) He was concerned that the consequences on our lives would be positive and beneficial to us spiritually. He lived what He taught and encouraged us to live as he lived. Jesus lived a life directed by the agape love of God. (John 15:12.)We should aspire to the same high standards.
Be blessed
Bruce
November 2009
I recently heard someone say that when Daniel was in the lions’ den, he survived because he wasn’t looking at the lions! This would seem to go against all the rules of self preservation. “When in danger; look at that which threatens you, so as to be sure where the strike is going to come from and then you can do something to avoid it.”
No, Daniel was not covering his eyes and wishing he was somewhere else. The lions were his potential and very real threat of destruction. At the moment of his greatest threat and danger, Daniel had his eyes fixed on God and trusted all to His hands.
When problems arise and would overcome us, there is a temptation to fixate entirely on the problems (I speak from personal experience here.) When there is a threat (whether real or only imagined) to our survival, there is no better place to keep our eyes than on the Lord.
Be blessed
Bruce
December 2009
Once again it is that time of the year when we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus. It is a time for joy and for giving and giving thanks for the gifts we have received. The birth of Jesus was a great gift from God. Without the sacrifice of Jesus there could be no forgiving!
Emptying Himself of His Godhood, Jesus came to earth as a helpless, vulnerable human baby totally dependent on the woman who gave Him birth. His life and death in obedience to the heavenly Father have a great lesson to teach us about the meaning of giving.
The heavenly Father gave us His Son, the key to forgiveness and salvation. Receive, then, His great gift; for there is no better gift.
Amen
Be blessed
Bruce