So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. Deuteronomy 6:5 CEV https://bible.com/bible/392/deu.6.5.CEV
Love the Lord
Author: newlifenarrabri
How to Hear God’s Voice
In the book “Overflow Of The Spirit”, Mark Virkler and others describe a way of tuning into God called “Two Way Journalling.” In Two Way Journalling, we write down a conversation, in which we ask God a question and then write what we believe He is saying back to us.
Virkler describes the constant stream of thoughts passing through our heads as a flow of ideas. Some of these thoughts are from our own head- “I am cold”, This is boring”, “I need to remember to buy milk”, and so on. Some of the thoughts are from satan: “You are no good”, “God would never talk to you”, etc. Then we have the voice of the Holy Spirit bringing revelation, exhortation and comfort. This flow is like the social media stream where all sorts of ideas just appear as we scroll through.
To hear God’s voice, we need to filter out what the other voices are saying to us and focus on God. Virkler describes a 4- step process to aid this.
1. Go to a quiet place and still your thoughts and emotions. Write down the things that might distract you and put them to one side. Breathe steadily and slow your body down.”Be still and know that I am God.”
2. Focus on Jesus. Play worship music, start to worship Jesus aloud with your words. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
3. Recognise that the voice of the Holy Spirit is heard in the spontaneous flow of thoughts. Having quieted your mind and focused on Jesus, the thoughts in your head are more likely to be the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Listen. Receive.
4. Write down your prayers and what it seems that God is saying to you. Let it be spontaneous and flowing. Don’t analyse anything. Listen and write.
Later, read over what you have written. Does it agree with Scripture? Does it sound like Jesus? Show trusted christians and ask their opinion.
We are not saying that this is the definitive way to listen to the Spirit of God. It is a way to sharpen our focus on the Holy Spirit and to learn to walk in a lifestyle of being led by the Spirit.
“Living by the Spirit means intentionally staying tuned to the flow within, which is the Spirit, the living water that flows from the throne of God.”
Jesus said that His sheep know His voice. God gives us His constant presence and regular guidance. All we need to do is learn to listen.
Reflection on Matthew 5:17-20
Scripture
“I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.”
Observation
Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it. Until heaven and earth disappear, then not even the smallest detail of God’s law will pass away, until its purpose is accomplished.
We must not ignore the commandments or teach others to do so. To enter the kingdom of heaven takes a righteousness greater than that of the Pharisees.
Application
This is one of those passages that we can approach from a number of angles.
The phrase “until heaven and earth disappear” might refer to the literal end of the earth. It might also be a metaphor for the end of the age of Israel or the end of the Old covenant.
Jesus is telling His Jewish followers that they must obey the Law to its ultimate conclusion in that present age. For them this then raises the question “Who can be saved?”
If is is a literal end of the earth that Jesus is talking about, He is not saying that we who are Gentiles must obey the least commandment of the Law. Christ has fulfilled the Law on our behalf. He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
When we put our faith in Christ, He pronounces us “Not guilty.” He can do this because He is the law giver and the law keeper.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Thank you for taking away my sin and for fulfilling the law n my behalf. Amen.
POTD
Quote for the Day
Being creatures isn’t “rubbish,” as Satan wants us to believe. Being creatures who love, obey, and depend upon God without shame is glorious. Rebecca Manley Pippert
No other name…
Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone. Acts 4:12 CEV https://bible.com/bible/392/act.4.12.CEV
Ephesians 4:8
Here is my commentary on Ephesians 4:8 . I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au
Ephesians 4:8
“This is why it says:
when he ascended on high
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.”
Paul uses this verse from Psalm 68:18 to explain his argument that we have all been given a measure of grace as Christ has apportioned it. Paul we’ll see in a few vs go on to list the ministry gifts comma sometimes called the ascension gifts.
Paul is arguing that the grace given to a each of us comes from Christ. This is a gift given to us from Christ’s ascension.
Christ ascended to Heaven forty days after he rose from the dead. We are told in Acts 1:11 that “ this same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Christ ascended “on high,” that is all the way to heaven. It was a physical ascension, so Jesus literally rose up to heaven. it was not just a symbolic or virtual ascension. He will come back in the same way, physically and full of glory.
When the ascension took place, Paul says, He led a train of captives. It was a common practice in ancient times for a conquering general to return with a procession of prisoners of war, captured slaves, and the like.
When Jesus ascended, he led a captive procession of bound demons and the legions of hell. We should not get to caught up with the chronology of events here. It did not occur on the day of ascension. Rather the ascension is, so to speak, the event which seals and foreshadows the literal event.
The cross and the resurrection destroyed the power of Satan to hold humanity in bondage. The fact that sin continues to dominate many people is not a sign of the failure of the cross. The verdict has been pronounced, “Not guilty”, but many people voluntarily return to the guilt of sin and the captivity it engenders.
There will be, on the day of the Lord, a victory procession. Those evil spirits that have sought to undermine the kingdom of God will be the first to be thrown into the Lake of Fire. They will be followed by all who have lived in unrighteousness and refused to bow their knee to the Lord.
So Jesus leads this captive train, this victory procession, rejoicing in the fruit of His death on the cross .
Out of the ascension, also, Jesus has given many gifts and graces to people .
Every one of Christ’s followers has received grace upon grace. We might list some of these gifts:
- Salvation- we have been saved from eternal punishment
- Eternal life- we will live with Christ for ever in the new heavens and the new earth
- Abundant life – a life of purpose and calling in God’s Kingdom
- Holy Spirit – equipping us to be God’s children and blessing us with fellowship with God
- Victory over sin
- Joy
- Fellowship with other believers
- The church
- Gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit
- Victory over every form of violent persecution
- Grace to be Christ’s witnesses and make disciples of all nations
These are some of the gifts, poured out upon people in the ascension of Christ.
Key points in this verse:
- Christ ascended to heaven and will return
- The ascension is a forerunner of a victory parade
- Christ has conquered all the forces of hell
- He has given to us many gifts
POTD
Reflection on Matthew 5:13-16
Scripture
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it loses its flavour? Can you make it salty again?”
Observation
Jesus tells us we are salt and must not lose our flavour. We are light for the world and must let our good deeds shine before people so that they will praise our heavenly Father.
Application
Saltiness is the flavour of God in my life. For all of the many sermon illustrations about salt and its many uses, this is about flavour.
If I am salt with the “flavour” of God, it means that I have to “bury” myself or “hide” myself in the world n order to give it the flavour of God. Salt does not do its work if left in the salt shaker.
Saltiness is a feature of the nature of salt. Godliness must be “baked in” or “hard wired” into my nature. This is the Holy Spirit who kills the old nature and replaces it with the new nature, the shape and flavour of Christ.
Each day I am sent into the world that is dying to add the flavour of Christ. It is the savour of life in a world of death. Some will recognise the life in me and be excited by it, while others will be disgusted by the scent of life.
Salt does its work by being salt. I cannot be salt if I am taking on the nature of the world. I cannot bring life if I am carrying death.
Salt can lose its flavour when it takes on the appearance and taste of the world, when it is more world than salt. We have to be in the world but remain different from it.
Can you make salt that has lots its saltiness salt again? No. But God can. “Return to your first love,” Jesus urges those who have lost their saltiness. “Come back to me, and I will give you rest. You are mine, so let my saltiness infuse through you.”
Prayer
Please help me, Lord Jesus, to remain true salt in this world that so desperately needs you. Amen
Healthy Polar Bears and Thriving Tigers: The Common Climate Tale
From cornwallalliance.org
by Vijay Jayaraj and E. Calvin Beisner
Last year, the world applauded Greta Thunberg’s emotional “How Dare You!” speech at the UN summit in New York. The teenager famously said, “Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction.”
The mainstream media’s narrative is similar. Ecosystems are dying. Animals are going extinct. Our evil desire to consume fossil fuels is to blame!
What do you think? Are species going extinct because of manmade global warming? Christians, who honor God as Creator, should care about these matters. But caring by itself isn’t enough. We also need truth, for there is a way that seems right, though its end brings death (Proverbs 14:12).
Take two key species as examples. Polar bears have been climate alarmists’ mascots for years. Tigers are an important species in South Asian jungles.
Tigers: No Longer Crouching
To the dismay of climate doomsayers, tiger populations are on the rise!
Tigers are a keystone species. The integrity of their ecosystems is crucial to their welfare. Thriving tiger populations are evidence of healthy ecosystems.
So, what do you suppose is up with tigers?
India’s tiger numbers have doubled since 2006. That’s despite the country’s ever-expanding cities, industries, and mines. India counted 2967 tigers in its latest census. That is more than double the number in 2006.
Celebrating International Tiger Day, Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar noted that “the country today has 70 percent of the world’s tiger population.”
Two-thirds of these tigers live in forest zones categorized as tiger reserves. The remaining third is a testament to the safe habitations outside highly protected zones.
Recent surveys affirm the healthy state of Indian forests on which tigers depend. Total forest and tree cover in India increased by 5,188 square km from 2017 to 2019. I witnessed the health of these ecosystems as a field ecologist in the buffer zones of a tiger reserve in the heart of India.
The primary concern of tiger conservationists in India is unlawful encroachment, not climate change. Climate change in the past decade has impacted tiger populations positively.
Tropical forest ecosystems in India are not dying. They remain healthy and are expanding. Tiger numbers benefit.
Read the rest of the article here
