Reflection on Colosssians 1:11-20

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Scripture
He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Observation
Paul prays for the Colossians to be filled with strength to endure, with joy and thanksgiving to the Father who enables us to share in the inheritance of His people. The Father has transferred us from the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of Christ who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Christ is the image of God and, like God is eternal. He is the one who created all things and holds all things together. Everything exists for Christ, including the church, His body.

Application
We have been set free from our sins by Christ. We were once in bondage to the kingdom of darkness, but Christ has set us free.
We need to understand this deeply. People sin because they feel they have no choice. People labour under feelings of guilt because they fail to appreciate the depths of God’s grace.
Christ has set us free from all of this.
Let us rejoice in His goodness to us and be thankful to our heavenly Father.

Prayer
Thank you Jesus for setting me free. Through your death my sin has been forgiven and I am now a child of the kingdom of light. Amen

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Meanwhile in the real world

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While the Labor Party and the Greens hang desperately to the dream of emissions trading as the cure for climate change, and they keep spreading the lie that the rest of the world is moving that way, in the real world things are very different.

Jo Nova, Australian scientist, has long advocated the maim “follow the money” when looking at the climate change advocates. Now the money is leaving the room.

London Bankers abandon trading — 70% of jobs gone: “it’s over” says Executive

At least someone once thought London was the home of carbon finance. Now, not so much.  According to the Financial Times, JP Morgan has scaled down their carbon trading team, Morgan Stanley traders are now “part time”,  Barclays sold theirs last year, Deutsche Bank closed the office, and UBS shut its climate change advisory panel. Then there is a slew of smaller fish, EcoSecurities, Camco Clean Energy, Nedbank, Sindacatum, and TFS Green.

[Financial Times] At least 10 London banks have scaled back or closed their carbon trading desks amid turmoil in the European emissions trading scheme.

The fledgling market was once seen as a promising growth area, with the City of London Corporation predicting in 2006 that London would become the leading provider of services to the “mushrooming” sector.

But the number of City workers employed on carbon desks has fallen by 70 per cent in the past four years, according to Anthony Hobley, president of the Climate Markets & Investors Association.

Things are dire:

“…as a stand alone business it is basically over,” said an executive who oversees European energy trading at one large bank.

Read the full story here (Paywall)

The State of the EU market is so sick the World Bank canceled the report.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the money is leaving the room…

Reflection on Jeremiah 23:1-6

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Scripture

“What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people- the shepherds of my sheep- for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for,” says the Lord.

Observation

The Lord proclaims judgement for the leaders of Judah- the kings and priests who were supposed to look out for the safety of their people but through their disobedience to the Lord actually destroyed the people.

The leaders will receive judgement, but the Lord Himself will gather together the sheep of his flock from all over the world. He will appoint responsible shepherds who will protect the Lord’s sheep.

The Lord will send a righteous King who will rule with justice and wisdom and bring safety to his people.

Application

God takes seriously the responsibilities of those who are in leadership whether political or religious leadership.

Those of us who are called to serve in this way should approach our task with solemnity. It is so easy to lead people away from the Lord rather than towards Him. We can do this through our silly words, inconsistent actions and loveless attitudes.

Jesus is our true King. As leaders we need to copy closely Hid perfect example.

Prayer

Lord make me like you. May everything I say and do reflect who you are. Amen.

 

 

Victoria Boyson: Partnering with the Holy Spirit Changes Everything!

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Victoria Boyson“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

Saturated with jealousy, satan has been consumed by his lust for power. God created humans and chose to give them a free will. Satan continually, without rest, pushes to steal that free will away from God’s creation. He will stop at nothing to gain power over humanity. Through his unquenchable thirst for power, he’s ravaged the earth in his war for dominance.

Satan coveted what belonged to God and fell from the exalted position God had given him. He burned with envy then and has not changed his tactics since this war began. He is still emboldened by jealousy – it’s the way he works – he can’t stand for you to have anything God wants to give you.

While subverting our destiny, satan seeks to align us with his twisted agenda. When we open ourselves up to trying to control others, we allow the enemy to use us. The strongholds of evil that we allow to have place in us can so easily beset us from the plans and purposes of God. So, like the generations before us, we must wage war for the control of our own hearts.

Read the full article here

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Reflection on Luke 21:5-19

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Scripture
“By standing firm, you will win your souls.”

Observation
The disciples admire the architecture of the Temple, but Jesus says that te time will come when it will be totally demolished and left in ruins.

Alarmed, they ask Jesus when  it will all happen. He gives them the signs: false Messiahs, wars, earthquakes, plagues, signs in the heavens.

What is worse is that the disciples will face persecution. They will be put on trial for their faith but they are to see this as an opportunity to share the gospel for Jesus himself will give them the words to speak.

The disciples will be hated for being followers of Jesus, but if they stand firm in their faith they will be saved.

Application
Like many prophetic words in scripture, this has several points of reference.

Firstly it speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans in 70 A.D.

It also relates to the catastrophic events of the end times and the return of Jesus.

There is a third reference also to the present age. All of the signs of the end have always been here, including the persecution of faithful Jesus followers.

We must always be ready to give an account for our faith in Jesus, even if we are called before authorities. No matter how bad things seem, Jesus will always be with us, empowering and speaking through us.

To come through the times of trial it is only necessary to stand firm and to never give up.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for your reassurance that when I trust you, you are with me. In the worst of situations you never leave me. Help me to trust you in the dark times. Amen