HEARING GOD'S WORD

THE BIBLE
The Bible is a living book. What it is to us depends on what we are to it. If we approach it with unbelief and sneers, it shudders like a wounded thing and closes up its heart, and we gaze only on a cold and gross exterior. We behold the form of its words, but discern not the treasures hidden in them. It appears cold and lifeless and repellent, and we go away depressed and unbelieving.
If we approach it reverently, trustfully, and confidently, it opens up to us its hidden depths. It shows to us its wonders. We may see in it unequalled beauties, un-fading glories, magnificent vistas of thought; we may hear its voice of love, tender beyond words; we may feel the warmth of its affection, be uplifted by its hopefulness, and thrilled with the tones of its joy-bells.
If we open to it our heart's door and pour out our treasures of affection, it in turn opens to us a great storehouse, and we may eat and be satisfied, and drink and thirst not. We may revel in its rich perfume, the rhythmic cadences of its music, the splendour of its heavenly light, and to us there is no question whether it is the living truth.
The Bible is to the Christian what the forest is to him that delights in nature. He who walks through the forest laughing, talking and singing, hears not the sweet notes of the songster nor sees the wild things. He who would see and hear the things that delight the nature lover must steal softly and silently along, watching his footsteps, hiding in the shadows, and thus he may see nature as she is. Likewise he who comes to the Bible full of self-importance with mind and heart self-centred sees not the natural beauty of the Bible. We must come to it effacing self, seeking not our own but the things of Christ, and we shall find it a mine of spiritual gold, a fountain of living water, a balm for every sorrow, a light in every dark hour - the one and only book that meets and satisfies the needs of the human soul.

DO YOUR CHURCH PRAY FOR THE SICK ?

‘Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.’ James 5: 14

In Bible terms elders do not necessarily mean old men they can be pastors or bishops, some one that teaches the true faith to others.

Why is it that at times there seem to be more sick people in the church than there are in the World?
The church should be a barracks for the army of God, rather than a hospital for the sick.

I am convinced that it is time that Church set a goal to get to the place where it didn’t have any sick people because they have been healed.

James makes it very clear what should we should do if we are sick, call the elders to pray for them.
I take it to mean that we should call the elders to pray for us before we call the doctor.

It saddens me that people will only look for prayer to be healed, after the doctor’s treatment has failed.

There is a good lesion in the book of 2 Chronicles that we need to pay attention to and which will help us.

‘ And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was very severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. So Asa rested with his fathers, he died in the forty-first year of his reign.’ 2 Chronicles 16: 12 – 13.

Asa, like many of us, turned to the doctor rather than turning to God first. Yes at times we need doctors and God created doctors and nurses and thank God for them, but first call out to God for His healing.

When I had cancer I cried out to God to heal me, to help the doctors to make me well. I know that without God reaching out to me, I would not be here today. Even the doctors told us that it is a miracle after having a lung taken away and living 35 years after they gave me 10, then having cancer and now fighting fit again. They telling me 7 years ago now that I never work again, here I am working 10 – 12 hours a day for the Lord an apart from a few aches and pains that we all get I feel good.

Yes I told them God is a miracle worker, he can do any thing through faith.

SAY THESE WORDS: I will call out to God when I get sick, I will call upon the elders to pray for me.

I BELIEVE
I believe that the Bible, in its entirety in the original writings, is the inspired, inerrant, infallible and authoritative Word of God.

I believe there is only one God who reveals Himself to man as The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

I believe man is separated from God due to sin.

I believe God's Son, Jesus Christ, was born of the virgin Mary, died on the cross for man's sins, and rose again on the third day.

I believe Man can only be saved, have eternal life in heaven with God, by repenting of sin, and by faith, accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savoir. This salvation is provided by the grace of God. Man cannot be saved through his own efforts or works.


SAY THESE WORDS: I believe in God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and I believe in the Holy Bible as God’s teachings tool for us.

IF DIFFERENT WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

KEEP THE FAITH!

HEBREWS 4:14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.

Here on Earth, it is considered wise to save up for the future, to have a plan for how you will be supported in your old age. But how much more important should it be considered, to prepare for eternity.

Some day, you will be living in Heaven. Then you will be glad you trusted Jesus and honoured Him here on Earth.

1 PETER 1:6-7 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Jesus never promised that following Him would exempt us from facing problems in this life. But He did promise to always be with us, and to help us overcome whatever we face.

The devil's whole strategy is to steal your faith in God. Whenever we receive revelation of God's Word, it is to be
expected that the devil will try to steal that word from our heart.

MATTHEW 13:19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

MARK 4:15 "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

How could satan take the Word away from someone? Only by getting them to doubt it. By trying to arrange circumstances and feelings to make it seem like God's Word is not true. Why else would anyone turn loose of God's Word unless the Word does not seem to be working in their life?

God requires you to trust Him -- and He deserves your trust.

HEBREWS 11:6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

So hang on tight to your faith in God and His Word!

If things don't seem to be working, ask God to teach you and give you understanding of how to act on His Word accurately. But never doubt God's faithfulness to keep His Word. Not only will this benefit you in this life, but through all eternity.

SAY THESE WORDS: I will keep my faith in God because He is worthy of my trust.



THE OCCULT.
By Pastor Dave Burrus

Open your bibles to Deuteronomy 18: at verse 9 – 22

Any kind of involvement with the occult will be a hindrance to receiving God’s blessing. You might think that is a very sweeping statement, but it’s true.

At this point many people maybe saying ‘I don’t believe in the Occult. It doesn’t affect me and I only read the horoscopes for fun. Like Halloween, the horoscopes are not harmless fun. As you read them or taking part, you are planting seed.

How?

When you read the Word of God, you put seed of the word in your heart, it’s watered by the Spirit and it springs forth and yields fruit after a time.
When you read a horoscope the same happens, only this time you are reading the word of the devil. You plant seed in your heart; the fruit is a ‘dry’ heart, one that is closed to the Holy Spirit and that always means bondage.

The Bible makes it very clear what God thinks about occult activities. In Deuteronomy 18: 10 – 11 there is a list, which helps us understand what is meant by the occult.
I will also include reading books about these kind of things.

If you have been involved in any of these activities, then please repent; you may have been unaware of God’s commands but you still need to confess to God and be cleansed by Him and made new again.

Read Deuteronomy 18: 9 – 22 and see what God has to say you about it.

SAY THESE WORDS: Lord I thank you for Your wonderful Book that teaches me the right way.