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How to touch God in faith Just think of it, day and night every day, millions of people bombard the Lord with prayers , petitions and requests. Just as well that God is omniscient (all knowing) and does not need a switchboard particularly as a switchboard might jam. Some people always seem to get through and connect with God with their prayer, whilst others seem to have less success. I personally believe that all our prayers which are in line with God’s will are answered , Yes and Amen when they are offered up in faith. Let us examine God’s word to find out if this assertion is true. Our first proof text is found in Mark 5:24-34 see footnotes [1]. There was a great multitude pressing in on Jesus. The sick woman says to herself ‘if I only could touch the hem of his garment then I would be healed’. Her faith made a difference and virtue proceeded from the Son of God and healed her. She reached out and touched Jesus the Son of God in a living and expectant way. This is how we must learn to touch God! Faith in God is a major and recurring theme in the Bible. Perhaps one of the best scriptures defining just what exactly is meant by faith is found in Hebrews 11:1-6 see footnotes [2]. Faith is at one level is just simply trusting God. It is an assurance in our hearts and minds that we can trust God both in terms of the truth of the scriptures and when He speaks directly by His Holy Spirit. If you believe that the Lord has spoken to you then faith means that you trust Him and do whatever He has called, you to do. Every believer has been dealt the measure of faith [3]. Faith is the gift of God [4] If we have no faith in Jesus Christ and His words, then there is no salvation. Even if all the people are pressing around God only those who reach out and touch him in faith will connect and receive from him. We can trust the bible when it says that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved [5]. And so our eternal lives begin when we place our faith (trust and belief) in Jesus Christ and His words (the words of eternal life). We begin our faith walk as become poor [6] in spirit by admitting our sins and our own inability to put things right with God by our own devices and thus we begin to inherit the kingdom of God. So our progress continues by faith for it is impossible to please God without it [7]. Praying or acting without faith is like firing a gun with blank ammunition. It sounds and looks like the real thing but does not do the job needed. Our prayers should be heartfelt and offered up in faith knowing that our Abba Father will hear them and grant all those that are in His will. We must realiose that our heavenly Father cares about us in every intimate detail of our lives. We should also be aware that we have access into the very Holy of Holies in time of trouble (I also believe at all other appropriate times because we are His children). We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ and are called the children of God. All our activities both secular and spiritual need to be performed in faith. Whether we pray in the Spirit or express thanksgiving, it is our faith that makes the act acceptable to God. Even our thanksgiving and offerings must be lifted in faith. What good would our praise and worship be if we do not enter in by faith? Without faith it is impossible to please God... Look at the staggering promise in Mark 11:23-24 then align your prayers with it… in faith. Sometimes we have to say with the demonized boy’s father ‘Lord help my unbelief’. And the Lord did help him and set his boy free! So in closing, I believe the Lord would challenge us today to consider our ways as to whether we are living our lives as lives of faith? Let us press in and touch Him now in faith believing that we will receive the very thing that we need from our Abba Father now! Amen Personal Prayer Scripture footnotes [1] Mark 5:24 And Jesus went with him; and many people followed him and thronged him. 25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace and be whole of thy plague. [2] Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. [3] Romans 12:3. [4] Ephesians 2:8. [5] Acts 2:21. [6] Matthew 5:6-11 Note stepwise progression of the Beatitudes. [7] Hebrews 11:6.

The Lord's table is a covenant meal As we come to the Lord’s table today, we want to consider that our God, the God of the bible, is a God of covenants. Our God is a Covenant making and covenant keeping God. The communion service is a memorial of our blood covenant with God through Jesus Christ. What is a covenant? Definition of a covenant; a formal and legally binding agreement between two parties. In modern life many important things are based on a covenant type agreement e.g. marriage is a covenant with vows taken. In sickness and in health etc. Such an agreement promotes trust and stability. A covenant usually involves vows or promises made by both parties with mutual benefits and may contain penalty clauses. Abram had the same dilemma he asked God how he could be sure that God would keep his promise to bless him with millions of descendants. You can read the story of Abram’s covenant with God in Genesis 15:1-18. Genesis 15:5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Jumping down to verse 17 17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates-- Blood Covenant A blood covenant is the most sacred or solemn type of covenant, and also the most significant and unbreakable. In a blood covenant you promise to give your life, your love, and your protection forever. God's new covenant with us When the time came, the eternal, infinite Creator entered time and space through the person of Jesus Christ. Christ, the Son of God, exchanged names with us and became Jesus, the Son of Man. He was the God-Man who came to identify with us in our human condition and cut the covenant for us so that we might be one with God. Because Jesus lived a perfect life, He was able to cut a perfect covenant with God on our behalf. When it was time, Jesus gathered His disciples together to participate in the covenant meal. Jesus took the bread and wine and explained that they represented His own life which was to be offered in our place as the covenant sacrifice for our sins. He further explained that through His sacrifice, we could have our sins forgiven and receive eternal life through union with Him. Afterward, Jesus planted a memorial tree and stained it with His own blood. That blood- stained tree was the cross. There Jesus paid the judgment of sin for-us by "cutting the covenant" with Father God on our behalf. This is where the exchange of natures took place. Jesus took the coat or robe of our liabilities on Himself. He took our sins into His spirit, our sorrows into His soul and our sicknesses into His flesh. In return, He gives us the gift of His garment of salvation and robe of righteousness. Through Him, we can have right standing with God and become partakers of His divine nature. Because Jesus never sinned, death could not hold Him in the grave. Three days later, He was resurrected and ascended back to heaven where He now sits on the throne of God with all authority and power over sin, Satan, and death. And He promises to come back to earth to rule over a kingdom of righteousness and peace with His followers. As well as being a covenant meal communion is more than just a memorial to remember Jesus' death and resurrection, the Lord's Supper is also an acknowledgement of each believer’s continual dependence upon Christ's life and a regular reminder of His soon return. The Institution of the Lord’s Supper is described by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Examine Yourself 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. Jesus always comes to His own table so let us commune with Him today and partake with Him and draw His life and strength into us as we partake of His covenant meal. Amen Prayer

The Lord’s Table Communion is more than just a memorial to remember Jesus' death and resurrection. The Lord's Supper is also an acknowledgement of each believer’s continual dependence upon Christ's life and a regular reminder of His soon return. The church of Jesus Christ today is becoming somewhat embattled with enemies on the outside and more worryingly enemies of the bible within its own congregations. Let us draw strength and sustenance from this wonderful sacrament that Jesus told his church to remember Him by. The Institution of the Lord’s Supper is described by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. Examine Yourself 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. Jesus always come to His own table so let’s commune with Him this evening and partake with Him in His covenant meal. Prayer and blessing

What does it mean? The cross in a church building is usually in a central place. The cross of Jesus Christ has a central place in our faith. Why so? For society the cross is merely a symbol, like a lucky charm and perhaps wards off evil. This is superstition which is offensive to the Lord. So let us turn to God`s word to find the true meaning of the cross. The need for the cross Genesis 2:16-17; Do not eat from the tree Genesis 3; Sin, loss of immortality or spiritual death. Appropriate it was that Jesus crucified on a tree taking away the sin problem back to the tree. Recovering immortality for those who believed. Shadows of Cross in Old Testament Numbers 21:8-9; People murmured, fiery serpents and Moses interceded. Brazen serpent on a pole represented the sin on a tree. They were healed when they beheld sin on the tree. John 3:14-15 2 Kings 18:4; Hezekiah destroyed idols The Cross must not become an idol. Do not offer prayers or worship to a statue. The Cross as an Altar In Leviticus, we see the various offering of sin, guilt, and burnt where the bull, goat, or lamb. Blood was put on horns of alter and rest of blood poured out at the base. Jesus Christ bled on horns of the cross and his blood poured out at the base. The Shame of the Cross Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Anyone hung on a tree was God-cursed, and openly disgraced. Galatians 3:13; Jesus became a curse for us Colossians 2:13-15; Jesus nailed our sin charges to the cross and paid in full for our sins. Colossians 1:20; Restoration through the blood of cross. Ephesians 2:15-16; Reconciliation between the Jews and Gentiles through the cross. Jesus' attitude to the Cross Hebrews 12:2; Joy set before Him Philippians 2:8; Humbled himself to death So what does the Cross mean? 1 Corinthians 18:23; Christ was crucified for Jews (stumbling block) and Gentiles (foolishness) To the believers the cross is the Power of God involving mighty dunamis power. The miraculous power of God cancelling out our debts Effects of preaching the Cross Acts 2:36-37; Hearers were pierced in the heart, leading to repentance. Acts 5:29-33; When Peter and the disciples told them the truth about Jesus Christ the listening crowd wanted to kill them. The preaching of the Cross separates those who will believe or will not believe. But we preach Christ crucified and our only boast is in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Kneel at the foot of Jesus cross today if you have never done so before. Amen Personal Prayer

Each person needs it to be saved My message today is an overview about Jesus' blood. Have you ever donated a pint of blood? This can be used to save someone’s life. When Jesus was crucified, he gave not a pint of his blood but all of it, every drop. He gave it willingly, not just to save a mortal life but to save many lives eternally. What did Jesus blood achieve for you and I? Acts 20:28 …Be shepherds of the church of God, which be bought with his own blood. Jesus purchased our forgiveness of sins with his blood. Romans 3:25 Whom got hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood… for the remission of sins which means that our faith in his blood turns away the wrath of God. Romans 5:8-9 God demonstrates his own love for us in this; whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us 9. Since now we have been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him. We can be justified through his blood, which means that we are made legally righteous before God. Ephesians 1:7 in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Jesus’ blood brings forgiveness for all our sins i.e. we are redeemed. Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ, that means near to God. Christians celebrate the blood of Jesus and all that it has achieved at our communion service. 1 Corinthians 11:25 This cup is the NT in my blood, this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Will you remember Jesus Christ's blood today? All Jesus blood was shed for you and me to wash away our sins, to turn away the wrath of God, his blood brings us near to God and makes us legally righteous before God. Each one of us needs to receive that eternal life-giving blood transfusion from Jesus Christ- Will you consent to receive it today? Amen Prayer See how to become a Christian in the messages below this one. If you need any help with this contact us through the links at the bottom of the home page.

who turned to Jesus in his last minutes alive Luke 23:33-43 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Comment: Could you forgive those who were about to execute you, a tall order? 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” Comment: these people were blind and clueless. 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” Comment: the vinegar was to drug him and might have been an act of mercy, but Jesus did not want it. The cross was surrounded by mockers. 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Comment: the notice was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, the main world languages of the day. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Comment: another mocker! 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Comment this thief recognised Jesus as a righteous man with a righteous mission. 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Comment; it is not clear exactly what the 'good' thief expected from Jesus. 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Comment: we know from other scriptures that paradise means heaven, Wow what a result for the penitent thief. When we look at the criminals in this story, we find one is proud and thinks he can make it on his own, the other thief at the point of death becomes humble and turns to Jesus. Can you identify with either of these thieves today? The moral of the story is that it is never too late to turn to God at least whilst we are still alive. It is never too late to say you are sorry and do a U-turn in your life towards God. Amazingly, this 'last chance saloon' offer is still on the table today. Even today, it is not too late for you to turn to God through Jesus Christ and embrace Jesus as your saviour. Today, if you hear God's voice (if you feel he is tugging your heart strings) do not harden your heart. Repeat this scripture two more times. We never know in life just when God will come knocking on the door of your heart, this could be for you, a 'last chance saloon' offer. Today, this very day, you can book your place in heaven, so do not leave here today without speaking to one of the team and make your peace with God. Prayer, Lord we confess, we are sinners, help us turn to you through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross, and Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Amen Read how to be born again at https://www.psalmonesermons.com/post/how-to-be-born-again If you need help with this contact us, we will be happy to help.

A meditation for Easter by Ian Atkin Believers in Jesus Christ are familiar with the belief that Jesus is a King and refer to Him as such. In our Churches we speak of King Jesus, we proclaim Him to be King, we sing hymns about Jesus our King etc. but perhaps over familiarity with our faith contributes to our forgetting how unusual it was that at His birth and death Jesus was identified as a King and King of the Jews at that. How can we explain to non-believers our absolute certainty that Jesus is a King and even more so King of the Jews – How is He? EASTER Jesus , King of the Jews In the Gospel stories of the birth of Jesus we hear how the Magi followed the star to Jerusalem and then on to Bethlehem. While in Jerusalem they asked Herod: “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?” (Mt 2:2) When reading this story I have found it puzzling to think about how baby Jesus could be born a king – how could this be? Usually someone who is a king started off as a prince and in later life becomes a king (like Prince Charles is now King Charles). For a prince to become a king his parents would normally have to be royalty, a king or queen. Mary and Joseph were neither. No Jewish Royal lineage was in place in Israel in the times of Jesus’ birth, His parents were not king and queen of Israel - So how, when He was born, could Jesus be regarded as a king and how king of the Jews? It is quite an interesting question to ask. The gospels also tell the story of Pontius Pilate and the role he played in Jesus’ trial and subsequent execution by crucifixion. At His trial Pilate very directly asks Jesus: “Are you King of the Jews?” (Mt 27:11) Jesus directly replies: “Yes, it is as you say.” When reading this account I have found it puzzling to think about how Jesus could say He was a king and how King of the Jews? He never had a coronation, had no palace, no throne. What made him King of the Jews? It is an interesting question to ask. In these two stories, which tell of the beginning and end of Jesus of Nazareth’s life on earth, it is striking to note that. Jesus was born “King of the Jews” and died “King of the Jews”! But how could this be? As Christians we believe in the virgin birth; that Mary conceived by the Spirit of God. Jesus’ father therefore is God, and we believe that God is King over all He created. Divine royalty is therefore part of who Jesus is from His conception. In the genealogy of Jesus in Mathew 1:6 and Luke 1:27 and 2:4 we see that Jesus is of the Royal lineage of King David. David was King of Israel, and Jesus as a descendant of King David, is of the royal lineage prophesied in the Scriptures to be the Messianic bloodline. It is an interesting observation that it is through Joseph, though not His physical father, that this royal ancestry is passed on to Jesus. The Magi, through their knowledge of the ancient Hebrew Holy Books and through their knowledge of astronomy knew that ancient prophecies were being fulfilled when they asked Herod the question “where is the One born King of the Jews?” – Later, having arrived in Bethlehem, before their very eyes they saw baby Jesus. It is amazing to realise that they knew they had found their King and bowed down and worshipped Him – the One born King of the Jews. Through ancient Hebrew records of genealogy and ancestry Jesus of Nazareth is identified at birth as ‘The Christ’ (in Greek), ‘The Messiah’ (in Hebrew) – i.e. ‘The Anointed One’ – a King! Because of His divine conception, due to His bloodline, and, in fulfilment of prophecy, Jesus, at birth was a royal - Thus Jesus was born. Subsequently, 33 years after Jesus’ birth, Pontius Pilate, who had heard the stories and claims that Jesus was King of the Jews, The Christ, The Messiah asked his question of Jesus and got this answer! Pilate ordered a sign to be put up above the head of Jesus on the cross saying: “This is Jesus King of the Jews” (Mt 27:37). Thus Jesus died. We of course know that this is not the end of the Easter story! In ancient times God longed to be the only King over His chosen people, the Israelites, but we understand from scripture that He was rejected as such by them; In 1 Samuel 8:4-9 God says: “They are rejecting me as King, they want a man just like all the other nations.” We know that God granted the Israelites their wish and chose David to be King over Israel; God foreknew that through David’s ancestral bloodline He, God, would regain for Himself His relationship with Israel as their King. The first stage in re-gaining His Kingship was through the life and death of Jesus, His Son, King of The Jews at birth and King of The Jews at death. The second stage was through Christ’s resurrection from death to life Mat 28:6 and His ascension into heaven Luke 24:50-53, Acts 22:36. The Kingship of God on earth will be fully restored and fulfilled when Jesus returns to take up the Royal Davidic throne in Jerusalem, Luke 1:32-33, Zechariah 12:10, John 19:37, Acts 1:11. “LOOK, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, AND EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM, AND ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN BECAUSE OF HIM. SO SHALL IT BE! AMEN. Revelation 1:7. Then, as the Scriptures inform us, Jesus will truly be “King of the Jews”! King over Israel. And – King of the whole world! Because as Zechariah 13:10 prophesies: “THE LORD WILL BE KING OVER THE WHOLE EARTH. ON THAT DAY THERE WILL BE ONE LORD, AND HIS NAME THE ONLY NAME.” Jesus is The Lord, it is He who will be King of the whole world, He will be The One Lord and at His Name, JESUS, all the inhabitants on earth will bow… Happy Easter time! The King lives! Amen

A Journey From Islam To Christ – From Bondage To Freedom. I was born to a Muslim family in Indonesia. My parents have five children, and I am the second child. When I was 5 y/o, I saw a vision of Jesus when He ascended to heaven. Of course I didn't know who He was, not until my parents sent me to Catholic Primary School two years later. At school, they only taught about Catholicism, no other religion. As part of the teaching, we went to the Mass every Wednesday. The school had its own church building. Here, in the Catholic church, for the first time I heard about Jesus. I remembered very well that I really enjoyed being in the church. I was so exited to be there again next week. I became more and more curious and slowly but surely I recognized the Man of my vision. Jesus was my only teacher. No one taught me about Christianity; nobody invited me to a church. Until my 17th year, I learned everything in a deep secret while on the outside I was doing the Muslim duties such as praying five times a day, reciting Quran and fasting during the Ramadhan. When I was 14 y/o, my parents got divorced. My mom moved out of the house, left Islam [she became a Muslima when she married my dad] and returned to her Christian faith. I lived with my dad. One day I visited my mom and told her about my vision, and she was shocked! She never heard me talking about it when I was five. I was shocked, too. Young children are not capable of keeping a secret. But in my case, God has kept my mouth shut. My mom was so happy; she took me every Sunday to her (Pentecostal) church. There I felt HOME for the first time. Home as knowing my Heavenly Father and having personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. During those three years, I learned so much about my new faith. I was no longer interested in Islam. I was so in love with Jesus that I decided to get baptised. I got baptised and born again when I was 17 y/o. Few days after my baptism: I was home listening to Christian music, but very soft. I still lived with my dad in a Muslim neighborhood. So, I didn’t want anybody to find out about my new faith. I thought I was alone in the house, but suddenly my dad came home early from work. He caught me listening to Christian music. He confronted me, and I confessed everything. I told him about my vision when I was five. Just like my mom, he was shocked too. He never heard me talking about it. Truly, God has set a guard over my mouth! My dad didn’t believe my story; he blamed my mom for my conversion. I hurt my dad deeply. And the fact that I was his favorite child, made it even worst. I betrayed his trust. I was ready to pay the price and accept all the consequences. My dad could kick me out of the house, he could take me out of school, he could even kill me. Instead, he shunned me for three years. We lived under the same roof, but he treated me like I was not exist. No words, totally silent! During those very painful years, I stopped doing the Muslim duties, but continue on walking with the Lord openly. My dad became soft by the years seeing how committed I was to Jesus. His love for me was unconditionally; I remained his favourite despite the hurts. My dad passed away 14 years ago. Two days before he died, I ministered to him on his death bed. I asked him two questions: if he wanted me to pray for him, and if he would allow me to pray in Jesus’ name. He couldn’t talk. He only used his eyebrows and gave me the permission. So I prayed, but I felt a heavy spiritual battle around me. The darkness was real. During the prayer, I couldn’t speak out the name of Jesus, only in the name of God. I felt something like a muzzle over my mouth to prevent me from saying the name of Jesus. I tried so hard. But when I finally said the name of Jesus, I felt light immediately. I asked God where my dad was. Few weeks later, the Lord gave me a dream. I saw my dad arose from his bed and walked towards me through the burning fire without being burned. I shared this dream with an Elder in my church. He assured me that it was God’s Grace that save my dad. And I truly believe that when I finally said “in the name of Jesus”, in that same moment my dad accepted Christ as his Saviour. Faith in Christ brings peace, joy, comfort, solace and reflection. But Islam is not one of reflection, but of ritual without understanding. It is about punishment, pain and barriers, rather than enlightenment, openness and the nurturing of creative thought. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. [John 14:6] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ. [Romans 5:1] May my testimony bring you closer to Jesus Christ, and help you get to know what God is like and what He can do. Shalom, Maria

Suggestions as to how we might keep freshness in our relationship with the Lord In Part 1 we considered three suggestions that might help us stay fresh in our relationship with the Lord. They were 1. Not taking the Lord for granted 2 Keeping a child-like humility 3 Always committing our way to the Lord We are now going to consider a further 4 suggestions (4-7) that might help us stay fresh with the Lord. These suggestions all can help based on my own experience. 4 Walking in the Spirit Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. So often, we start in the Spirit but end up in the flesh performing what has become a ritual. The ritual becomes a tradition which then becomes a tablet of stone. Walking in the Spirit entails being responsive to the voice (wind) of the Spirit. When a yachtsman sets off on a voyage, he must catch the wind at the right angle so that the yacht will be propelled by the prevailing wind. However, he will not have gone far before he will need to adjust his sails to keep moving in the desired direction. So, it is with the Lord we need to keep going back to the Lord for redirection and course correction. If the yachtsman is sailing at night, he must navigate by his compass or by the stars (if it is a cloudless sky). Modern navigation is assisted by satellites which allow the navigator to triangulate their location. However, the sailor or airplane pilot must keep making constant checks on their direction to avoid drifting off course and into danger and so we must keep referring to the Lord for fresh directions. 5 Cleave (cling) to the Lord Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before your life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. Deuteronomy 4:4 But ye that did cleave [1] unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. We need to stick to the Lord with His superglue (love). Sometimes we feel that we are on a bucking bronco but if we cling tight and hold on all will be well. Our walk with the Lord is like a dance in which He is the leading partner, the minute we stop holding on to Him as he moves, we are at first out of step then eventually dancing on our own i.e. doing our own thing! Sometimes we hear the still small voice from behind saying this is the way we ye in it. 6 Intimacy with God In the bible the physical intimacy between a man and his wife was described in terms of ‘knowing’ e.g. and Adam knew his wife. Our spiritual intimacy with God comes through knowing Him and we come to know Him progressively through meditating on His word and by fellowshipping with Him in prayer. Not just petitionary prayer! We can get intimate with God in praise and worship as we open our hearts to him. Telling your spouse that you love them increases intimacy. To know God is to love Him so we ought to tell him. 7 Desire for God When read how the psalmist panted for God like a deer for water in the desert (Psalm 42), we must admit that sometimes our hunger and thirst for the Lord is not what it should be. However, our God is so gracious that we can pray to Him asking Him to increase our hunger and thirst for Him. We can be sure that such a prayer is in His will! Other areas you might want to explore in seeking freshness with the Lord include abiding in the vine, staying accountable, remaining faithful, staying teachable, being available and finally resting in the Lord. Conclusion and prayer Let us repent of taking the Lord for granted and stepping out without consulting Him. Let us ask Him to give us a child-like humility and trust in Him. Lord teach us how to commit all our ways and all our works unto you, for unless you the Lord build the house we labour in vain. Teach us how to walk in the spirit, moment by moment, constantly being aware of the Holy Spirit’s leading, not getting ahead or behind you or to the left or the right. Lord teach us how to cleave and cling to you knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Give us a hunger and thirst for you each new day that we might know you in all your glory and grow intimate with you the living God. Amen After thought: The aroma of your fresh relationship with God is attractive and can draw people to something real. [1] Cleave; 1692. dabaq, daw-bak'; a prim. root; prop. to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; fig. to catch by pursuit: --abide, fast, cleave (fast together), follow close (hard, after), be joined (together), keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take.

The practicalities In Part 1 we looked at what the bible teaches about forgiveness in two dimensions. The vertical dimension is about our need for forgiveness from God, and the horizontal dimension about us seeking and/or giving forgiveness from and to other people. 1 Corinthians 11:27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. Paul reminds us that especially when we are taking communion that we need to keep short accounts with the Lord and with our fellow believers. We need to put right anything in our lives that is displeasing to the Lord and seek His forgiveness as in 1 John 1:9 (see Part 1), and forgive other people or where possible ask forgiveness of other people. How to deal with someone in the church who has sinned against you. Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. This scripture gives you a path to follow when a brother/sister sins against you. Please note 99% of offences are opportunities to grow. If it is serious, then check all the facts before going to see him/her. v17 The purpose of going is to bring him into a place of repentance with the view of forgiving him and restoring unhindered fellowship. We must go alone in the first instance, to protect the person from potential scandal, that is what we would like if we were the offender! We have no right to blacken their reputation before we even have raised the matter. The offended person should be humble and prepared to listen and discuss the matter and being hoping that reconciliation can be achieved. The offending person, should realise that we all have blind spots, and that the person coming to him is upset about something. They should listen and if convicted of sin , express sorrow and repentance. If they feel that the accusation is unjust they should agree to pray about it and get back to the offended brother in due course. v18 If the offender is unrepentant, then the offended person returns with two witnesses, this is an escalation, and should show the offender that he means business. The two witnesses should be praying and reasoning from the scriptures and always appealing to both parties to walk in love. v19 If reconciliation has still not occurred the offended brother has the right to take it to the Church . The church has the right to exclude this brother from fellowship. At any stage if the brother repents he must be forgiven. We ought to bear in mind that if we sow mercy then we shall reap mercy. Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. We must guard against any root of bitterness springing up from unresolved issues. Bitterness can destroy our walk with the Lord and disrupt the church fellowship.. Ask your church leaders (if appropriate) for prayer if you are struggling with the aftermath of dealing with someone who has sinned against you. Amen Personal Prayer

What does the bible say? Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian faith with hundreds of scriptures that pertain to this subject. We are going to consider a selection of them. But first let me ask you to consider the cross. The cross gives a good visual aid for looking at the dimensions of forgiveness. The vertical beam signifying our own vertical need for forgiveness which can only come from Father God via Jesus Christ (see Isaiah 53). The horizontal beam represents firstly our need for forgiveness from other people whom we have wronged, and secondly our own need to forgive others who have wronged us. Definition Forgiveness [1] is the mental and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feel resentment, indignation or anger against another person for a perceived offense, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. Forgiveness may be considered in terms of the person who forgives, in terms of the person forgiven and/or in terms of the relationship between the forgiver and the person forgiven. In some contexts, forgiveness may be granted without any expectation of apology/compensation, and without any response on the part of the offender (for example, one may forgive a person who is dead). In practical terms, it may be necessary for the offender to offer some form of acknowledgment, apology, and/or restitution, or even just ask for forgiveness, in order for the wronged person to believe they are able to forgive. Key Biblical texts about forgiveness: The ‘Lord’s Prayer’- "Forgive us our [debts], as we forgive our [debtors]" (some versions have sin instead of debts, the Anglican Book of Common Prayer uses trespasses instead of debts), see Matthew 6:12. "Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times (or seventy times seven).' See Matthew 18:21-22. This brings us to a relevant parable, that of the ‘Unmerciful Servant’, which concludes: "In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." See Matthew 18:34-35 . Many people today are tormented by guilt, fear , bitterness, and resentment. It is often those closest to us who are involved in actions that generate the need to give or to receive forgiveness. "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." See Mark 11:25. This can be taken to imply that the exercise of forgiveness is part of that repentance through which the believer has access to the forgiveness of God. "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." See Luke 23:34 as uttered by Jesus Christ as he was put to death. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." See Ephesians 4:32. The Apostle Paul said, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” See Colossians 3:13. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When God forgives us, he blots out the record-He forgives and forgets! Further aspects of forgiveness The Benefits of forgiveness Psalm 32 The joy of forgiveness 32:1 A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed (plural) is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. The benefits of forgiveness include lovely things such as reconciliation, peace, concord, mutual understanding, restored relationships and renewed fellowship. Forgiveness bears beautiful fruit. Forgiveness may even benefit our health with psychiatrists and other health care professionals now agreeing that restored relationships can affect our health. Failure to forgive produces bad fruit; bitterness, resentment, hatred, and can lead to feuds, vendettas and even wars. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and therefore we all need forgiveness. Even at our personal best we can still stumble and be capable of wronging people. Forgiveness is part and parcel of our daily Christian lives. It should be a lifestyle. Yet sometimes it is so difficult to forgive someone! Forgiving someone is not simply excusing them rather it is having considered the matter and arrived at the conclusion that the person or persons involved did wrong to you or your loved ones and that through the power of God you are going let them completely off the hook! Who do you ned to forgive today? Amen Personal Prayer See Part 2 which discusses the practice of forgiveness. [1] Wikipedia

Dealing with rejection Most of us at some time in life will experience some form of rejection. Family or so-called friends might decide to terminate their relationship with us under various circumstances. We might feel let-down, bewildered and angry that people can be as unkind, but it is a lesson unfortunately we need to learn in this world. Even when we go for a job interview or some selection process for sports or team ventures, we might be rejected. In all these forms of rejection we must be humble, forgiving and fight any tendency towards bitterness. This what Jesus Christ himself experienced. The one people in the world who should have known who and what the Son of God would be like, were the Jews. But when He came to them, most of them including their secular and religious leaders rejected and dismissed Him as an impostor. He was the precious stone which the builders rejected yet he was and still is the most important stone in the building known as the church, that is the cornerstone! The corner or cap stone is usually laid at a ceremony in honour of a new building. All the other stones fit in around the cornerstone. So, is there someone whose judgement that we can trust? When we look at people we can be so influenced by external things, such as their appearance, demeanour, dress sense, personality etc. But when God considers a person, He looks right into their heart. A clear example of this was when the Lord sent Samuel the prophet to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as King over Israel. Read Mark 11:25 John 1:11 1 Peter 2:6-8 1 Samuel 16:6-11 Samuel considered each one of them from the natural point of view, how tall or handsome that they were. But God makes it quite clear in 1 Samuel 6:7 that He is interested in a person’s heart. The inner qualities not the external are much more important. So, what does this mean in practice for us in our day to day lives? Firstly, when we are rejected and feel put down, our loving heavenly Abba Father is always there to remind us of our true value, which is that you are valuable and precious to Him. So much so that He gave His only begotten Son…John 3:16. The world’s value system is superficial and dangerous. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light! Do not trust outward appearances, Jesus told the Pharisees that they were white-washed tombstones, white on the inside but inside dark and horrible, full of dead men’s bones! Secondly, we must ask the Lord for discernment in all the appropriate areas of life. The wrong choice of a marriage or business partner can easily ruin someone’s life. Running with the wrong crowd of friends has also caused much unnecessary suffering and grief in some lives. We can take a good example from the disciples after the resurrection when they gathered to choose a replacement for the traitor Judas Iscariot. They prayed indicating that only God Himself truly knows what is in a man’s heart and therefore they asked the Lord to show who His choice for the vacant position was. The Lord then spoke to the hearts of the disciples and they chose whom they believed that the Lord had already chosen. Since only God truly knows a person’s heart, we must ask Him to guide us in all our decisions involving people. We might not always get the answer we want or like, but we can console ourselves by the knowledge that the Lord’s choice will always be the right one! In conclusion, no matter what rejection people say or do to you, God will always love you and never let you down. God accepts you and wants to heal you of any sense of rejection today. Amen Personal Prayer