My dear brothers and Sisters, have you ever felt alone or forsaken? It is a true test of our Christian courage. It is a time when we need to dig down into the depth of what faith we have and to rely on it. When we are feeling alone it is then that we understand the principles from scripture of absolute faith. We do not have a blind faith, blindly believing in anything. Absolute faith is real trust that God is there to support us and sometimes that is only challenged when we feel alone and forsaken. Absolute faith is allowing God to really take control. We often say that God is in control of our lives, but do we really believe it? Is God in control of every moment and part of our life? It is that faith that a child has that his father will catch him when he jumps. Unfortunately we can lose this absolute faith, yet we had it when we were baptised. As we get older we tend to start over-analyzing situations and instead of just jumping like the child, we worry about the distance and this makes us anxious. It is the same with our Father. We say we want to do His will but still try to explain situations to Him. When we understand and believe that God is in control, it will change our perspective in life, because we may feel alone but we are never alone.

A question we need to ask ourselves is, Will God ever forsake us? God knows we have trials and temptations and that we need Him (Deut 4:31). He remembers His oath and promises to us. The world might abandon us but God never will (Deut 31:6). He encourages us to be strong because one of the manifestations of feeling alone is fear. If we truly believe that God and Jesus are with us all the time and that the angels encamp around us, we need never fear, it is a waste of brain space. It requires faith to say that God will never forsake us. It is easy to say it until we are in a situation where we feel alone. We need to understand that we have nothing to worry about because whatever happens is God’s will. Yet there is a condition for God never forsaking us. We must truly trust and seek Him (Psa 9:10). If we don’t want to be alone we never will be. The decision is entirely ours to make (2 Chron 15,2). Sadly we often turn to men who forsake us or we rely on our own strength. We need to remember that no matter what others think of us, God will always be there to receive us.

The suggestion appeals, but it is not in accordance with the pattern of the word. ‘We do not find it pleasant to draw attention to errors of teaching or of practice that may be gaining a hold in the brotherhood, but it is a duty upon which we must engage unless we shirk our responsibility. It would be far more gratifying to the flesh to imitate the ostrich and hide our heads in the sand, refusing to acknowledge that danger looms, but such an attitude is a negation of the demands of the Truth’.

Isaiah was told, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1). Was it to a people completely irreligious to whom he had thus to speak? By no means. Yahweh continues, "Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness". They were a people self deceived because they refused to face the facts. They became impatient at the warning of the prophets and demanded that unless they could speak "smooth things" they should keep quiet (Isaiah 30:10). Because of their spiritual, self inflicted blindness, because of their refusal to hearken, the indictment of God became even more outspoken through the prophets, and the nation was warned that, "Because ye despise this word", it would be completely overthrown (Isaiah 30:12).

Did those prophets render a service or a disservice to Israel? Was it an advantage to the nation or a disadvantage that the errors manifest in its midst should be openly revealed for all to see? Obviously it was the highest form of patriotism and service that the prophets could render. Such considerations should govern our attitudes today.

Remember, the condemnation that rested upon the Laodicean Ecclesia was not that it was affluent, but that it was spiritually blind. It "knew not" its true state (Rev 3:17). Its members saw an increase in the material possessions on every side and were filled with a sense of self-sufficiency in these things to the extent that they simply could not recognize nor acknowledge how spiritually "wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked" they were. The same indictment can rest upon ecclesias today: because they exist in an environment that can induce such a state of spiritual blindness, where sickness exists, early treatment can effect a cure, but if it is neglected, it can become so deep-seated as to refuse to respond to such. Let us all by mutual consent ignore the problems facing the brotherhood today and soon we would be faced with a condition of things that will defy any curative treatment.

The scriptures are profitable for the purpose of reproving and correcting us. But how many people do you know who are even willing to be corrected when they are in error, to be reproved for the wrong things they do? People simply do not like to be reproved and corrected.

People love praise, they like flattery, but reproof and correction folk really hate. Now do you see why it is difficult for people to understand the Bible and agree on just what it says? The Bible is God’s spiritual mirror. It shows up every flaw in our thinking and reveals every spot of our character. It pictures us as we really are, as God sees us and not as we like to think we are or as we would have other people see us. "For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword. It cuts both ways and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb 4:12).

When little children do things that are wrong, that have been forbidden, do they usually admit it freely and frankly? We are all only little children grown up. When our Heavenly Father speaks to us through His Son and reproves, rebukes or corrects us we usually do not like to admit our errors, our faults, our wrong ways. Now, the word of God has become twisted, wrested, perverted with almost every false and counterfeit meaning imaginable being read into it. Instead of teaching and expounding the plain simple intended meaning, instead of acknowledging the truth, men seek to justify their own ways by perverting the sacred and holy word of God. In this way, Paul was inspired to write (2 Tim 4:1-4) that the time would come when men would not endure sound doctrine. People have turned away their ears from the truth and have turned to fables palmed off as the truth of God’s word. They tremble at the thought of what people say, instead of what the word of God says.

Finally, in John 13:34-35 Christ’s declaration for love did not mean give and take, eating and doing things together. He really meant love from the bottom of our heart, a love that can lay down life for one another (John 15:13).The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good.

In these fast moving days many are bewildered by the massive changes taking place. Their problem is not only that change happens, it seems to occur at an ever-increasing speed. Nothing seems permanent, fixed or stable.

But God is. In the swirl of rapid change, God’s word is eternal. It neither fluctuates nor varies. It was, it is and it will be the same. You can rely on it. You can trust it. It will not let you down. When all else fades or fails it stands firm. It has never eroded or crumbled. It is indestructible. It neither decays nor deteriorates. It stands firm as a rock, immovable as a mountain. In the midst of the fleeting changes of the day it is secure, sure and steadfast. You can shape your whole life around it, build your destiny on it and stake your future on it.

The years come and go. Human wisdom flourishes and then passes out of fashion. Ideas have their day and are then abandoned. Personalities rise and fall. The word of God remains. It is the truth unchanged, unchanging, the light of our dark sky. Believe it. Trust it. Know that it is the one great unchangeable certainty in this changing world. Know, too, that Jesus is the word made flesh, and he is the same yesterday, today and for ever (Heb 13:8).

But how changeable are we?

God never commands us to do something that is detrimental or unwise. There are times when we feel that to do what is right is so costly that it can only be harmful to our interests. We do not dispute the rightness of what should be done, but the cost of such an action makes us shrink from doing it.

The trouble is that we see the situation from a human angle and therefore it is incomplete and imperfect. We must have patience and not forget that the Eternal God sees the picture in its completeness. It is essential, though often not easy, to be obedient to God. There may be momentary difficulties, sacrifices and set-backs, but God is in debt to no man, and if we have the courage and wisdom to obey Him we will have the thrilling experience of seeing Him at work in our lives and in our affairs. This is one of the things that make a vital Christianity so utterly satisfying, the fact that God works His perfect will in our lives when you are obedient to His holy will.

As we see the day of the return of our Lord approaching we remember Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah" and, "As it was in the days of Lot" so shall it be in the last days before his coming (Luke 17: 26-30). One of the signs that Jesus gave in Luke 21 was earthquakes. We have recently seen terrible earthquakes in the world. Another sign was famine; with the increased population of the world, this is a fact. Coupled with this we have in verse 26, "Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." So with these and many other signs, we know that the coming of the Lord cannot be far away.

The question to each of us is, Are we ready for the coming of the Lord? Our calling is a high and holy calling. We are called to be the sons and daughters of the living God, brothers and sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whether we live or die we are promised a glorious future in the Kingdom which Jesus will set up on the earth very soon, and the fact is that we want to be in that Kingdom. Psalm 2 gives us a picture of the Kingdom being given to Jesus by God, his Father. There will be no soft option for those who rebel. We are told that he will rule them with a rod of iron.

The fact is that we are in the time of the end. It is in our own interest that we are faithful stewards now. In Psalm 72:4 we read that Jesus will destroy the oppressor, verse 12, he will deliver the needy and the poor, verse 16, there will be plenty of food for all, and verse 19, the whole earth will be filled with the glory of God. We all want to be part of this time of joy.

We want to be with Jesus in that day, but it all depends on how we live now, so until the Master comes we all need to do our best to live perfectly and when we stand before the Judge of all the earth he will welcome us into his Kingdom with joy beyond measure with eternal life to live and reign with him. In the book of Habakkuk ch. 2:14 we read, "The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

If we keep this picture before our eyes and aim to please God in all that we do, we shall attain to the Kingdom and the glory by His love and mercy. May the blessing of our Almighty God be upon us all as we wait patiently for the coming of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.

Stand firm in the tribulations and trials that you are going through for the Bible says, "Count it all joy when you face all kinds of trials" (James1:2), for the Lord God promises that He will never leave us alone, but will always be there as our refuge. As your beloved brothers and sisters in Christ we are eagerly praying for you, and we are encouraged by your endurance and faith, since the time we read of the persecutions you are undergoing. Remember that from heaven the Lord God looks down and sees mankind (Psalm 33:13,18,19,20). Therefore brothers and sisters living in Iran and Pakistan, including all brothers and sisters around the whole world too, let us not lose hope due to whatever circumstances we are living in, let us trust our God without any doubt in His promises which should surely encourage us to live lives worthy of our calling. Brothers and sisters, remember that when a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him (Pro. 16:7). Therefore commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed (Pro. 16:3). May the Lord God guide and protect you and may His will prevail above anything else.

Lastly, my thanks for sending me the book, ‘Why are we here?’ which I received with many thanks. Also I am requesting once again that you send me the following books – ‘Exploring Bible Language’ by Alan and Margaret Fowler, other books and ‘The Book of Revelation’ verse- by-verse exposition. I shall be happy if you will send me the books in question, God willing. I pray that the Lord God will be with you all as we are waiting for His Kingdom to come.

In the book of Proverbs we are advised that the wisdom of God is not to be wise in our own eyes. We should fear God and avoid ways that can lead us into evil doing (Proverbs 3:7). In this way the God of patience and consolation will make us to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5). Further, in Romans 11:20-21 we are told that we should live by faith; God did not spare the natural branches, but cut them off because of their unbelief. This refers to the natural Israelites, when they did not believe their God as He taught them through Moses, and so they were punished accordingly. So we should not give praise to ourselves.

In one of the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ against evil, he said that we should have salt in ourselves, and have peace one with another. Our salt must be good (Mark 9:50). This calls on us to have good behaviour in the Truth. We should try as much as possible to be at peace with everybody, and not only to particular ones (Hebrew 12:14-15). We, as brethren and sisters in Christ, should not love in a mocking way towards one another (Romans 12:9-10), remembering that we are all the salt of the earth. So let the light in us be seen by all people, that is our good works, which will always glorify our Father in heaven. We are therefore called upon to forsake all our own evil ways, so as to be the true disciples of Jesus Christ. "Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits" (Romans 12:16).

This is the time when each one of us thinks his understanding is in harmony with the teaching of the Bible. Yes, everyone can say that. But the question is, when we say we understand, do we depart from the system of this world? If our mind is caught up with the things of this world, then our understanding of the truth as it is in Christ is in vain. Let us read Job 28:28, "To depart from evil is understanding." This world is full of evil because man, from the beginning, refused to understand God’s Word, which is Life. As a result death, which is evil, came upon us. So the only way to overcome this evil – death - is to understand God’s Word as it is in Jesus Christ whom He sent.

What should we do to understand God’s Word?

This, like other Bible basic teachings, is sometimes difficult to be understood, not only by our friends (those who are learning Bible truth with Christadelphians) but also by some of us (brethren and sisters), especially the newly converted by immersion into Christ, when we come close to some Bible quotations, this is one of the vital reasons why we need to meditate by studying them especially after being baptized. We can’t claim that we know everything and stay away from our Bible which is God’s personal letter to each one of us.

Several first principles: There will be a resurrection of the dead. Until then the dead are unconscious – asleep. The resurrection will take place at the time when "Michael" stands up for his people. There is not to be a universal resurrection (many, not all, of them that sleep will be raised). The judgment will take place after the resurrection, at which time some will receive everlasting life and others will be rejected.

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained" (Acts 17:30-31).

When a man or woman has sufficient scriptural knowledge and knows what God has commanded, then they will be held responsible in the day of Christ’s return whether they obey or refuse to obey.

The gospel is a wonderful invitation to love and mercy, but it is also a command to submit and obey. Only God knows the hearts and minds and understandings of His creation; He alone has given them the power to understand what He requires. When men and women know that they have received a command from God, this makes them accountable and responsible to judgment. We note that nowhere does the Bible say that resurrection and judgment only involves those who have been baptised. There is no statement exempting the disobedient from judgment - only those who are ignorant of the Gospel. There is no statement saying that man can decide for himself whether or not he will appear at the judgment seat.

Is a person under law when God has given a command directly to him to repent and be baptised, and he is fully aware of it? or is he under law only when he himself decides to start obeying the command?

Who puts man under the law – God or man himself? Light, knowledge, understanding, an opportunity to know God and His will, this is how the Bible explains what makes a person responsible for judgment.

Romans 2 tells us of Divine principles. The evil in ignorance to perish like beasts or do evil in the face of divine law and be judged and punished accordingly (John 12:48 and Mark 8:38).

Paul tells us to consider a seed which is sown and then germinates. There are different kinds of seed and they grow into different kinds of plants. Each set of seed is identified by its type, so we need not worry about the body we shall receive at the judgment because God will give us a body which preserves our own identity. Just as stars differ, so in the Kingdom incorruptible saints will differ from one another.

Moses fled for this life to Midian and after a period of time the God of Israel sent him back to Egypt to lead His chosen people, Israel (Exodus 3:10). Jethro, as a priest of an unknown god, who also gave his daughter in marriage to Moses, came to know the one true God of Israel through that same Moses (Ex. 18:9-12). This means God knows each one of us and our destiny and also shows how God calls people from serving false gods.

Ruth was a Moabitess who used to worship Baal. Naomi preached to Ruth about the true and living God of Israel and she believed. Ruth realized how good and gracious the Lord God is and she forsook pagan beliefs and gave allegiance to God. For she said to her mother-in-law, "Your God is my God" (Ruth 1:16) and in v 14 of the same chapter we are told that she clung to her, or remained with her. In chapter 2 of the same book we are told how God richly blessed Ruth because she had (v.12) taken refuge under God’s wings. She even became the ancestor of our Sovereign and Lord, Jesus Christ. See how fitting it is to fellowship with true believers of God and remain under God’s wings for life, the ultimate result is God’s blessing in His Kingdom.

Let us really be encouraged by the examples of Ruth and Jethro toward God. These two had made their decisions to serve God, that’s why God also gladly received them into His fellowship. Let us continue with our hope, for it is written, blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because when he or she has stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12; 1 Cor 9:25).

Remember, God hates idol worshippers, He willingly received Ruth and Jethro after they renounced their foreign gods. We should all know that an idol is anything that comes between us and God. Anything that hinders us from giving what God requires of us, is a god in our heart, for which God condemned Israel (Ezekiel 14:4). We therefore need to cling not to transient things, but rather, denying all ungodliness, let us be like Moses, who refused to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time (Heb11:24-26). We need to renounce all unrighteousness and God will gladly receive us into His Kingdom, which will be set up very soon.

Outside the city of Jerusalem is a place called Golgotha. There we see the man, the Son of God, hanging upon a cross – a man who had done nothing worthy of death. We see him hanging until he finally dies. We ask ourselves, as we look at the Son of God placarded before the eyes of the whole world, Why did such a sinless man have to die? What did he accomplish in his death? How are we forgiven through him?

Jesus had to die in the first place because he was mortal, he was subject to the nature which God had condemned to death back in Genesis 3. But more than that – why die on a cross? He died on the cross because God asked him to, as a representative man, for us, to show us what needs to be done to the flesh which we possess.

Hebrews 2:14 summarises one aspect of what Jesus Christ showed upon the cross: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." He destroyed whatever had the power of death, called here "the devil". What had the power of death? What is the devil? It is called elsewhere "the enmity", and results from the weakness of the nature we possess. This nature is the consequence of the first sin, so that every living person is susceptible to temptation, sin and death.

Therefore the Lord Jesus, in his life and in his death, destroyed every impulse to sin and declared this openly on the cross.

The weakness and frailty of mortality is inconsistent with God’s eternal kingdom, and our bodies must be changed if we are to live for ever. If this was true for an innocent man, a man who had never succumbed to evil desires, then it must be true of us, too, who sin constantly. When Jesus allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, he was declaring that God’s condemnation of sin was just: "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:25-26).

Jesus showed that God was righteous in His condemnation of sin, and by sentencing Adam to a life of mortality because he was disobedient. Thus Jesus:

1. Declared God’s righteousness for the remission of sins (Romans 3:25).
2. Destroyed sin in his body of flesh and blood (Hebrews 2:14).

In the Lord Jesus Christ’s death and sacrifice, God is exalted and vindicated and sin is destroyed and crucified. The moment Jesus died upon the cross the battle between flesh and spirit was finished, the desires and impulses ravaging through his body were put to death, the serpent power in him was destroyed, and the mind of the spirit was victorious.

WHAT HAS THE LORD’S DEATH ACCOMPLISHED FOR US? If we come in faith, honouring God, and identify with these principles Jesus showed in his death, God will forgive us. If we confess and declare our sins, recognizing just what position we are in, God will forgive us upon the foundation of these truths shown in His son’s sacrifice.

Photo: Bro John Muyala during his missionary trip to Mwanza, giving the word of exhortation

A teacher once wanted to know which meals his students liked the most. One student said that his best meal was fish; others said fish, meat and chicken. One student, after careful thought, stood up and told the class that if you like food to the extent of choosing the best meal, you will find yourself worshipping food instead of worshipping God. The best meal that one should never miss is the word of God. It will help you to grow in harmony with man and God. Paul, who had tasted this food, was able to tell Timothy (1 Tim 4:8) that physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. Let us take the Bible as our favourite meal and we will find ourselves worshipping the one true God, the Father of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I want to thank God our heavenly Father for His power, mercy and love which has been shown to me. I also want to thank Harare ecclesia and Bro. Fred and Sis. Nancy Milburn. May the Lord increase their faith and love which they showed to me in 1999 when I became blind. Although I’m still feeling some pains, I must sing glory to God. If we read Matthew 7:7, 8; 8:1-4, 5-13, 14-16 and Luke 5:1-8 we learn that there is no one with the power of our true God.

Some people in my area were forcing me to go to traditional healers, but the voice of God rang in my mind saying, ‘Believe in Me and My Son and you will be healed’. John 14:1 says "Trust in God: trust in me also". So I say to you, my brothers and sisters, Jesus in my number one. No matter what other people say, to me Jesus is my number one.

After revealing the origin and Sonship of Jesus, John shows how Jesus identified as the Word made flesh by "signs" (miracles) which John said he recorded "that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name". The eight signs begin with the turning of water into wine, and end with the raising of Lazarus. These signs were the proof and the guarantee that Jesus was both the Son of God and the Messiah. If for no other reason, said Jesus, "believe me for the very works’ sake" (John 14:11).

In a similar way the Epistle to the Ephesians establishes the origin of the saints in Christ, and shows how the mortal saint can ultimately become the word of God, by incorporation into the body of Christ. Later, in seven ‘signs’ Paul shows how the saints can be clearly identified as sons of God: the signs that are the proof and guarantee that they are "children of light".

The first ‘sign’ of the saint is his/her active response to the call of God with its characteristic unity of spirit, and its assertion of the fundamental and sevenfold teaching: "One body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father" (Ephesians 4:4-6). The second sign designates the active gospel work of the saint: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers; all having in some sense their counterpart in the ecclesia today, and all for the "perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11, 12).

The third sign indicates the way in which the saint should walk: "As children of light," who imitate God, the Father, in fruits of goodness and righteousness (Ephesians 5:1,8,9). The fourth sign exhibits the pattern of spiritual life lived by the husband and wife who are likened to Christ and the ecclesia (Ephesians 5:22-23).

The fifth sign is the way the spiritual life of the saint is manifested in the relationship between parents and children (Ephesians 6:1-4), and the sixth is the service which is rendered, not for the sake of self or master, but "as unto the Lord"(vs 5-7). The seventh sign is the armour the saint accepts as a soldier of Christ and which he uses against "the wiles of the devil" and "spiritual wickedness in high places" (vs 11-12).

God always guides His people, and I thank Him for the safe journeys I have in my preaching activities. I thank CBM too for supporting me financially.

Ths is an area which has been faced with many difficulties of wranglings. However, these have paved the way for the growth of the ecclesia. I was able to interview some people but they didn’t qualify due to lack of basic teaching and conviction. I spoke about God, that He is One and He is the Creator. Jesus is the Son of God and the Holy Spirit is the power of God. I added that ecclesial life is bound by love. We took some time to prepare for the Bible School, which never took place as scheduled due to some difficulties. We pray that the ecclesias in this area may grow to the glory of God.

Bre. Martin Mulwa, Sammy Mutunga, Harison Mbeve

This area is a new preaching place. Bro. Allan, UK, and his team previously visited this area. Recently the visit had proved very difficult – carrying drinking water due to drought. The sun is scorching and the famine is severe. There are many orphaned children due to Aids. The going has been tough and we pray that CBM may support this area with welfare.

Baptism of Peter Kyalo

Gethsemane, ‘garden of the oil press’, lies across the Kidron Valley, somewhere between the city wall and Mount of Olives. Here went Jesus with his disciples after a very difficult and weary day. Something occupied their minds: the emotions of the supper, sensed, but very little understood, lay just beneath their thoughts. There was something which eluded their minds about their Master as he said to them, "Tarry here and watch with me". Wearied with grief and anxiety, they fell asleep under gnarled olive trees. The gap between Christ and his men had opened on the road to Jericho and became wider still under the moon in the garden. They slept.

Here was Christ alone left to watch; the agony in the garden; He was "sore amazed". What amazed the Son of God in this most dreadful hour? Was it the depth of human evil which surrounded him? Was it the depth of the abyss into which he knew he must step to achieve man’s salvation? Or was it the very pain of loneliness which grieved him? It overwhelms the heart.

Here was Christ, the only begotten Son of God, seeking, in the hour of fierce pain the hope and comfort of men.

God created man for Himself and for a purpose – to glorify Him, and He desires man’s loyalty, fellowship and devotion at all times.

We, too, can grieve the Lord by failing to "watch" with him during the very busy preoccupation of our daily lives when his return is so near at hand.

My two dominant worries that prevented me going on my first preaching trip earlier was bizarrely 1. Food! the dread at the thought of anything non-western, bits of animals, gruel-type stuff or even curry and rice - as I detest and shudder at both. As God arranges things, I ended up in a place where they have not only rice but both curry and rice even for breakfast let alone every meal and snack, daily thereafter . . . Amusingly, the first exhort on my return home was about the monotony of the manna in the wilderness! The only way I could deal with this was just prayer - that God would not let that be an issue.

Rather I prayed that he would put me in the very best learning environment to help me grasp what experience I needed - to then go work somewhere more remote, God willing and to show me which country to visit without effort so I had no fussing about choosing that which I knew not. And the trip arrangements were literally as effortless as that! I virtually woke up one morning, after less than a week's vague enquiring, apparently booked on a plane to the country of God's choice – awesome. Thanks to the interventions of God and my precious sponsors; I wish all life's decisions were that provided for! Then perhaps they could be, if only we did a bit more praying by asking and trusting, ie leaving the question with God, rather than our western tendency of asking and doing ourselves anyway.

Secondly, I felt paranoid about lack of first principles - being caught clueless on the spot, and my shrinking from giving talks or being a focus in public! Well, that fear also still remained and, with only a week's warning before flying out for two months, preparation at home was almost zilch on that score. So I warned my hosts I just needed chucking in at the deep end and

within 48 hours I was standing in the local dress, with a mosquito-bitten balloon-shaped ankle, in a third world village, talking through a translator for the first time in my life, to an audience of 40+! I soon distracted myself with ways of bringing stick-men into my mini-whiteboard teaching method, which lightened the intensity of straight lecturing for speaker and audience alike. The following weekend I was responsible for, and running, an 8-lecture first principles Truth camp, sharing the talks, while for my second month I was living on my own with a translator in a third world village, giving the whole 8-lecture weekend alone, plus 3-hour baptism classes daily with one village, and 3-hour daily unprepared open discussion/Q&A groups with another brand new ecclesia.

The latter were, until very recently, a pentecostal church, so this visit largely encouraged the transition from church to ecclesia.

The co-ordinating brother, back at base, was just wonderfully supportive and agreed that many things were experienced brother issues, but was convinced that God was in control and, had a brother been there, he may well have tackled the issues so head-on it could well have shut the group down! Instead, he felt God had provided a sister with the people and counselling skills for the job that neither of us would have planned or expected. How humbling to see God working so close at hand and to experience, in front of your very eyes, the realization and immediate willingness to change in those you are sharing God's words with. A humility rarely seen in the west.

Phew! Wow, it was sooooo awesome, so humbling, so thrilling, so enlightening, such a privilege, so right - just what the Dr ordered! You just have to go into almost open-all-hours prayer-mode where you feel like an open and hollow tube through which God is freely speaking and dealing. I understand more now how, without Holy Spirit gifts, we can still today say, ‘Don't worry about what you will say in a challenging situation, as God will provide the answers’. Not at all to make us lazy and avoid the preparation work, but He is amazing - at the slightest little hint of ‘Father Help!’, bringing to a blank mind recollection of a verse you read somewhere, at sometime, in this connection. I don't believe He supplies us with answers we haven't been aware of, or done some work with at some stage.

The frequency with which I was giving talks or providing fluent explanations of stuff I'd never prepared, or ever tied together before, was alarming to me, yet it was all stuff I knew or had discussed in jumbled other ways at some time in my western upbringing in the Truth.

The upshot of this exploit was that in each of the two villages on the same trip, four were baptised as the result of one month’s intensive work – that’s an average of two baptisms a week. Sure, these mission fields are ripe for harvest but alas the labourers are few, unless someone likes to take the plunge and jump in at the deep end.

So this verse is not telling us that Jesus existed at the creation of the world. It is talking of the new creation that is the church that exists because of Jesus. Without Jesus there would be no church – he is the one who created it.

To show them that Jesus was a special priest, Paul reminds them of Melchizedek, the first mentioned priest in the Old Testament. The Jews accepted him because he was chosen by God, even Abraham honoured him. Then Paul compares Melchizedek with Jesus, who was also a special priest chosen by God. Neither of them were from the tribe of Levi, neither of them had parents from a priestly line, neither of them had started their priestly service at the age of 20 and finished when they were 50. But Paul is showing that this doesn’t matter. God had chosen them for a special work, they were to be accepted as special priests. Paul is not saying that Jesus has no beginning or ending. He is saying that unlike the priesthood in the Old Testament, Jesus did not start being a priest at the age of 20 and finish at 50, Jesus is a priest FOR EVER (verse 17). All of these verses are just comparing the Old Testament priesthood with the New Testament priesthood of Jesus.

So, the priesthood of the Law of Moses in the Old Testament ended, but the priesthood of Jesus will never end.

We have to understand the language of the Bible. Remember God can speak about things as if they have already happened because he knows nothing is going to stop His purpose. Jesus also knows this. Look at how the Bible talks about the reward that WE will have as faithful Christians.

Now we know we haven’t received our reward yet. Revelation 22:12 says that Jesus is bringing our reward with him when he returns to the earth in the future. These verses are just saying that we will have this when the time is right because God promised it. Nothing can stop it happening.

So the Bible is using language to show us how certain God’s promises are, telling us that we HAVE something before we get it. In these verses Jesus is asking for what is his. He’s not had this glory yet but in God’s plan from the beginning it was something that He would give to Jesus. He would make Jesus Saviour of the world and a future king.

Finally, look at 2 Timothy 1:9,10. WE have been saved by the death of Jesus. This work of salvation - everlasting life - was given to Jesus. This was God’s plan from the beginning. And this purpose was revealed when Jesus was born 2000 years ago. He started doing the work that God had created him to do, ‘this grace was given us in Jesus before the beginning of time’.

Salvation for us through Jesus was in God’s plan from the beginning of the world too. But we didn’t need to have grace (forgiveness of sins) until we were born because that is when we started to exist. But God knew that as humans, we would be sinners and would need saving, so He put this in His plan before we were born.

The living scriptures say that blessed is the one who reads the Bible and blessed are those who hear it and follow what the good news requires of them. We should follow Jesus’s footsteps, for only he offers us refuge from the coming storm, giving us promise of everlasting life in God’s glorious kingdom coming on an unknown day. To the new generation, let’s weigh the consequences of not following the only one with the key to everlasting salvation. Let’s think before we act. Rev.2:26 says, "To him who does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations." Let us be united in Christ to achieve this kind of power. We should learn to ignore the world and its people and let them know what the firstborn from the dead has got in store for them in the coming Kingdom. A security guard is employed to safeguard the assets of his master, and especially to give the master peace of mind at night. But during his presence thugs do get away with stuff. Even those electrical security devices cannot give a human being security. But the one who has chosen Jesus Christ to guard him, is assured of eternal peace of mind.

One day Jesus will return to the earth to end this world of uncured diseases and famine year after year leaving millions of orphans across the globe with no one to care. Why do innocent souls suffer the effects of terrorist attacks, yet they have nothing to do with the misunderstandings?

Why should we continue following this dirt path, brethren? Matthew 1:21 gives the answer, yes, Jesus is the answer. There is no room for quarrelling in Christ’s family. Christ died in agony to give us peace with God. We must not spoil that heavenly peace by earthly bickering. God’s power is there to produce fruits in those who let the word work in their lives. That word can work wonders in helping us to develop Christlike characters.

The Bible, the Word of God, teaches us how to live with others in unity. We are told to love our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). We were all created by God, the true God, meaning we are all one, created in the image of God and we must also love Him.

We love God and His Word, because it teaches us to lead a genuine life before the Lord, in faith and good works and gives us hope of life everlasting promised through believing in Christ and his grace towards us.

The Word of God keeps us united if we really follow what it says; the only division which is within the Word of God is the separation of the righteous from the wicked. But if we are in Christ we are one because Jesus’ followers are as one big family. Jesus is the Head, the leader of the church and we are members of his body, so is the body separated? No, the body works in union, let us learn from it. If you want to get something the thought comes into your mind first, then you use your hand to get it. If it is too far away you use your legs as well as your mouth to negotiate. Through all this your eyes will be watching where you are going and what you are doing

The body is united, every part depending on each other, all being started by the brains located in the head. So if Christ is the Head then he issues commands to his followers (members of the body) who in response, will depend on each other to do the job (preaching and keeping the commandments) enabling them to perform their duties in a righteous way. When we are baptised into Christ there will not be any difference, we will all be one (Galatians 3:26), so brothers and sisters, if we have received Jesus let us live in unity with one another.

Now after unity, we have to have total faith and good works which please the Lord. Remember, if we claim to be Christians (the claim which comes through believing in Jesus) be careful, because there are some things which may seem right to man but are unacceptable to God. The major reason we are Christians - or Jesus’ followers - is that we want to inherit the Kingdom of God. So there are many things which we must not do if we really hope for everlasting life. As already said, some things sound as if they don’t cause any trouble but they are not righteous before our God. The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:9 listed some of the people who will not inherit the Kingdom of God? He said "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the Kingdom of God."

If we are real Christians we will show the glory of God in whatever we do. Don’t let us be caught unawares when Jesus comes, live in faith and have patience. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

I am to tell you that the sufferings we have today Jesus Christ has suffered already. He was arrested and crucified on the cross and killed for us. So for today we know how Jesus has experienced this life. So I would like to encourage you brothers and sisters today. Don’t forget what Jesus said about his coming. He said the tough life of today we are suffering is the same life he experienced. For sure the coming of the Lord is near so let us all understand this. In 1 Thess 4:16-18 it says "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." That’s what the Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonians, and it was said not to those people only, but to us also. Then in verse 17 it says, "After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, so will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."

Let me encourage you with the following words: Deut.1:30-31 "The Lord your God who is going before you will fight for you as he did for you in Egypt before your very eyes, and in the desert where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." Job 16:5 says "But my mouth would encourage your comfort, my lips would bring you relief." As well again in Psalm 10:17 "Hear O Lord the desire of the afflicted, you encourage them and you listen to their cry." So the encouragement in the Bible is to keep in the ways of the Lord. Lastly, 2 Samuel 19:7. "Now go out and encourage your men: for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now."

The first epoch of man’s history was when he was naive and innocent, in the Garden of Eden. He was without the knowledge of good and evil. After that I think there was another kind of epoch, until the time of Noah. During this time, mankind had a conscience about sin, perhaps he was reminded of what had happened by the flaming sword that guarded the entrance to the garden of Eden. But then mankind’s conscience would have grown even stronger after the flood. Everyone would have known that the system of things on earth had been destroyed because of sin and rebellion. As the judgments of God continued over time, and the history of them was passed down, so people would have thought more about what is good and evil. All this time, God was making covenants with people - first with Adam, then with Noah and with the whole world, then with Abraham and (even) with him, those covenants became more detailed. So as God continued to punish sinners for sin and to teach all mankind about sin, so man’s conscience grew, and the detail of God’s covenant with man grew as well.

Then there came the time of the Law of Moses. Now everything was written down and defined, mankind’s conscience was intended to grow even bigger, and the details of God’s covenant were more developed and more detailed than ever before. An awareness of obedience and disobedience developed by all the different commandments of the law. Again, God repeatedly punished His people for their sins, so that they were living all the time with more and more consequences of their sins. Not only the result of Adam’s sin and the sin of the world at Babel, but the result of the sins of the Jewish people themselves with all the various invasions etc.

Galatians 5:22,23 reads, "But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL, against these there is no law". Truly, brothers and sisters, this is a very difficult and big problem for people who want to be in God’s Kingdom. It is so because one may think that having, or following, all these things could mean something else. Now let us look at them one by one and see how to achieve these things, because with God by our side we can make it.

LOVE: Love has got many definitions and many people use the word to express their feelings for many things such as people or animals to mention but two. Now for us, we can define this word as "sincere": it is patient and kind, it does not harm, does not boast and does not envy, it does not fail. We should love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our strength, with all our soul and with all our mind. This is the first commandment. We’ve also been commanded to love our neighbour as ourselves, because the Lord God loves us all – and wants everyone to come to repentance. Therefore we have to test ourselves, whether our love towards others is as described.

God showed us His greatest love by sending His only son to die for mankind, so that through him, and if they believe, they may inherit God’s Kingdom on this earth. Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us love one another, for love comes from God(1 John 4:7-8.Matt.5:43-45).

JOY: "We must go through many hardships to inherit the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Whilst on this journey to the Kingdom, let our hearts be filled with joy, though going through problems. Our Bro. Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians said, "Be joyful always. Pray continually" – 1 Thess. 5:16,17. Let us try to be like that.

PEACE: Are we at peace, beloved brethren, with one another? Are we at peace in our homes and where we work with our fellow-workers? Are we at peace with our neighbours and all the people around? At times we struggle within our hearts because there may be something wrong. Let our hearts be at peace – all the time. Whoever does not love, has no joy and is not at peace.

Blessed are the "peacemakers" for they will be called children of God (Matt.5:9) and surely that is what we must be called if truly we are at peace and are trying to make peace where there is disorder and confusion. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since, as members of one body we were called to peace – Colossians 3:15.

PATIENCE: Where there is love, there must be joy, peace and patience. We have to be patient with everything – people and even the promises others make – if we also have faith we will be able to get what we are patiently waiting for. If anyone owes us anything and tries to explain the reason for failure to pay, we must understand. All the same, if they don’t pay, let us not force them to. And let us know that even if we may not owe anything to anyone, we know that we owe the Lord a lot, and because we want him to be patient with us, let us be patient with others, and not be like that unmerciful servant we read of in Matt.18:23-35, because what happened to him at last may also happen to us.

"And we urge you brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to everyone else and to each other" – 1 Thess. 5:14,15. Therefore, brethren, we must not be selective, to whom we shall be patient and to whom we shall not be, otherwise we stand no chance of the coming Kingdom.

KINDNESS: Again, we have to be kind to everyone as God is to all of us. "And as God’s people, let us be clothed with compassion, kindness, patience, humility and gentleness. We don’t have to be hard on anyone because to show kindness is to love and care" – Colossians 3:12-14. Bro. Paul tells us in his letter to Titus that God saved us through His kindness and mercy, from all our sins and other bad things we have done – Titus 3:3,4. As it is this way, brothers and sisters, let us try to be kind to others also.

GOODNESS: Firstly, God created the heaven and the earth. When they were filled with light, He said "this is good". Again, when he made everything, He said that it was good. Everything He made was good and still good today. That means everything was full of goodness and no bad side could be seen in them. We, being God’s creation, should be good. Therefore, we must be good to all, and at all times let us try to do good to all those we live with, and to those in the outside world. We don’t want to be "trees that bear bad fruit, that will be cut and thrown into fire". Let our good outside appearance match our inside thoughts. Our actions also must be good and pleasing to God. Let our hearts be filled with goodness, so that on that day the Lord will find us blameless and without fault.

FAITHFULNESS: Several people in the Bible are said to be faithful to both God and mankind. Let us take Abraham, for example. He was a God-fearing and faithful man, and was called God’s friend. God promised him a nation of countless people. Though he had no child and was growing older and older, and his wife was barren, he knew God would fulfil the promise. He trusted God and everything he was told. Then in their old age he and his wife had a son, after a long period of promise. Are we faithful in what we do? If we are, do our actions go together with the faith we have? Let us consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 17:20, "If you have as little faith as a mustard seed you can tell this mountain to move and it will do so".

GENTLENESS AND LONG SUFFERING Paul, in his first letter to Timothy says, "You must not be violent but gentle in everything you do" (1Tim.3:3). To the Philippians he said, "Let your heart be evident to all and rejoice in the Lord always." (Phil 4:4,5). For sure we know that our Lord is not violent and since we are part of his body, we have to imitate him and his actions. If he were a violent man, he would have acted violently to protect himself from being crucified. But he showed his complete humility and gentleness, he had to die – as it was in accordance with the mighty Father’s plan. If it will mean suffering and being mistreated, we accept it as Jesus did.

The word heart, in scripture, usually refers to the will or the spirit of a person. The physical heart is the ‘pumping station’ of the body, which is concerned with the circulation of the blood throughout the whole body. It is used also to describe the centre of the person, but when we apply it to the ‘thinking’ part of the anatomy we are really referring to the brain, or the mind.

The prophet Jeremiah states (Jer 17:7), "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is in the Lord, for he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought and will not cease from yielding fruit". He continues (v 9), "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to the fruit of his doings."

David, in Psalm 45:1 says, "My heart is overflowing with a good theme, I recite my composition concerning the King …" which is doubtless a reference to the Lord Jesus, the world’s future King.

In the NT we have the words of Jesus, in the sermon on the mount, (Matt 5:8) "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God …" and in Matt 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Let us look after our hearts, both physical and spiritual, so that we are able to serve God and be pleasing in His sight. Here are the words of a hymn we sometimes sing:

Oh blessed are the eyes, that see the living way,

To grasp the glorious prize of everlasting day.

Oh blessed are the ears, that hear the Spirit’s voice,

And heed not carnal fears, but in God’s love rejoice.

Oh blessed are the hands, strong in the power of prayer,

To meet the Lord’s demands, and of his mercy share.

Oh blessed are the feet, that run the gospel race,

In righteousness to meet the Bearer of the grace.

Oh blessed is the man, who knows the joyful sound,

Salvation’s wondrous plan, for him all things abound.

This shows God’s concern for us all and his desire is for us all to be saved.

Jesus usually taught in parables based on the merciful love that God has for His wonderful creation, man. The father, whose son had wasted his share of inherited treasure, did not show hatred upon his son’s return from worldly pleasure, but instead hugged him and gave him a tender kiss. He welcomed him into the warmth of the house and held a feast for him, despite the treasures that he had squandered. His brother was not happy over all of this (Lk 15:20-24).

This, and many more of Jesus’ parables, teaches us about the love that God requires of us. The blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross of Calvary is the symbol of love. It is a reconciliation of the human race to God. We are living in the last period of the time when we expect Jesus to return to this earth to set up God’s kingdom. We have to be like the prodigal son’s father. We have to show love however much we are persecuted, because God’s love is abundant and He forgives whoever believes in His son. If ever we don’t show love like the prodigal son’s father did, we are condemned to everlasting shame.

If we also read 2 Timothy 3:1-9, we will come to the conclusion that we are living in the last days of this order of things. The prodigal son was fortunate to have a father unlike many in our days. God is a real Father to us and so let us be guided in our lives by Him and daily read His instructions to us in the Bible where He clearly speaks to us in a true still voice. Read the Bible today, as the only time left is today, because tomorrow may never come.

Gideon was one of Israel’s renowned warriors. He was the son of Joash, the Abiezrite (Judges 6:11). Gideon was the one the Lord used to deliver the Israelites from the hands of the Midianites. He was from one of the weakest clans in Manesseh and the least in their family (v.15). God decided to use Gideon for a purpose.

When Gideon was about to go to war against the Midianites, he first of all had thirty thousand men with him. But because the Lord does not work with numbers, it was reduced to ten thousand men out of the thirty thousand men. Ten thousand men were too many for Him to use, and eventually were selected three hundred men out of the ten thousand with whom he routed the army of the Midianites.

The Lord commanded Gideon the way he was to go about the war and Gideon went about it exactly that way and was able to achieve victory.

We are told that all that was written in the scriptures is written so that we can learn from it (1Cor.10:11). From the case of Gideon, we can see that the Lord already knew, before Gideon was born, that he would be the one to deliver Israel from their bondage (Ps.139:1-12). In the same way, He already knew, before Jesus was born, that he would be the one to save the word from the bondage of sin.

Gideon came from one of the weakest clans in Manesseh, and was the least in their family. In the same way Jesus was from one of the least towns (Bethlehem) of Judah (Micah 5:2).

That God used three hundred men out of thirty thousand shows us that He delights in humility and does not work with numbers. He is able to use a single person whose heart is right to achieve whatever He wants to achieve. He said: "so that the Israelites might not boast saying; By our own strength we have saved ourselves" (Judges 7:2).

Finally, if Gideon had not fought the battle according to the way the Lord had commanded him, he would not have succeeded. But because he fought according to the guidelines laid down for him, victory became his. In the same way, in our battle against sin, we must fight according to guidelines in order for us to succeed. We must look at the way Jesus fought his own and follow his example.

Comment: So, Christadelphians may be regarded as a small group – but with God’s help, and our personal commitment, the Gospel can be preached to all the world.

We always wonder about choosing what to do, how to do it, and when to do it!

We need to consider and copy the examples set for us. Let us take the example of Noah (Gen 6:9-14). Noah made his decision to follow the ways of our living God. His decision was right. He found favour with God because of his obedience. He was saved from the great destruction.

Many believers have a problem by forgetting that all our daily activities are guided. When we face life’s problems, we forget our Guide who, during every flash of a second, is holding a leading rope for us. We all should be God-centred, not self-centred. When we choose a direction to follow, we have to think about God, if what we want to do would please our Heavenly Father.

When the Israelites were journeying from Egypt, Phinehas killed a fellow Israelite for taking a Midianite woman (Num 25:7-8). He made this decision in a critical situation, but it was the right one. God loved him for his action. Everything is possible and simple is any decision when made with God in mind. God should be the first to be considered. God knows what we want. He has given us a Redeemer who searches our hearts every moment that we live. He is the corner stone, the capstone.

We should be very careful in choosing which direction to take. In the chapter about creation, we find that God made us in His likeness. When He gave the first man an option, man made the wrong decision.

Our decisions must not be made from fear or in haste but we should consider first, giving much concern to God. Our consciences should be pure at all times. God is the controller of all creation, and we see in many scriptures that all His promises will be fulfilled.

The word of God stands firm. It will never fail (Gen 8:22). We have all made the proper decision to follow and live according to the word of God. Let us all be strong and make right decisions.

God loves us so much which is why He has given us the option of choosing to serve Him or of serving the world and perishing. He wants us to serve Him and live to glorify His name.

Previously, I was preoccupied by things of this world and with its desires. My life had no plan to follow, since everything that concerned Jesus Christ seemed unpleasant to me, I had failed to press on towards my goal.

Paul, writing to the Philippians, (3:12) clearly explains this subject. "I do not claim to have attained the goal, nor that I have already become perfect. But I continue to advance, to strive to grasp the prize in the race, because Jesus Christ has already grasped me". That is to say, without placing Christ at the forefront of our lives, the result is often failure, and we cannot succeed. In verse 16, he tells us to continue to advance in the direction we have followed until now.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us imitate the life of Jesus and try to live as he wants us to. We look firmly towards him, because he is the only one who knows our life. Let us no longer follow those who trust in fleshly things and whose God is their belly, they make themselves enemies of the cross of Christ. Such people fail to reach their goal. As for us, Jesus gives us power, safety, joy and salvation, as well as the guarantee of ultimately sinning no more. He will transform our miserable earthly body and make it like his glorious body, exercising his power and his authority.

We have different calls in different ways: going to a ceremony, being welcomed to a party, going on a journey sometimes, and visiting. Those who are called, before leaving their places, prepare by dressing suitably, arrange transportation to be on time.

We were called to inherit the earth and life eternal in the Kingdom of God (Matt. 5:5) also we shall be made priests (Rev.5:10). We are waiting our incorruptible inheritance, undefiled and that fadeth not which is in heaven (1 Pet. 1:4). We cannot take this honour to ourselves (Heb.5:4). We shall be crowned by Christ Jesus. So let us not be ashamed by giving the testimony and teaching the truth of the word of God. We are partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God who called us with a holy calling (2 Tim.1:8-9). God had a purpose when he called us, not because we were good, no; our Father in heaven didn’t call the Jews alone but also us Gentiles (Rom.9:7-8,11 and 24-25). As we continue reading the word of God, Paul tells us that all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to his purpose (Rom.8:28-29), and Peter declared openly saying, this promise was for us (Acts 2:39).

Paul said, that to some people these teachings, or the word, is foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power and the wisdom of God – 1 Cor.1:23-24. In Mark 10:15, Jesus said that we must be like little children if we are to enter into the Kingdom of God. Our Lord Jesus continued to teach the people and us, too, that he came to call sinners to repent (Matt 9:13).

"You see brethren, our call is not to wise men after the flesh, not many mighty or many noble are called" (1 Cor.1:19,26,29). The labourers in the vineyard worked and received their wages, because no one can work for nothing. But our call is to be rewarded by our Lord Jesus when he comes to establish God’s Kingdom on earth and we shall dwell there for ever (Ps.37:29).

So I urge every Brother and Sister in Christ to remember that we will be rewarded at the time of the return of Jesus (Rev 22v12). Therefore let us wait for our Lord in patience, because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Rom.11:29) AMEN!

Bro Edward Kunikina

Walking along the street today hearing the Mullah calling the ‘faithful' to prayer made me realise yet again just how strong Islam's influence is in this land and in the others where Islam rules. The culture is strong and Islam rules with a strong arm. Turkey is interesting because it so strongly desires to have a place in the western world and yet is reluctant to leave its place in the Islamic world. It also is different in the Islamic world in that it has stability and a government that functions and infrastructure that works. Its constitution is secular its aims integration. It is a bridge that crosses from one to the other and on a secular level, it does this well. But deep down, on a religious and spiritual level, the crossing is more stepping stones than bridge and the river is deep and crossing is dangerous and many fall and are drowned. The thinking is Islam, the way of life is Islamic, it is in the psyche. The police rule punitively and without interference from the government, it is well documented, and none wants to fall foul of them. Whatever theoretical freedoms are enshrined in the constitution carry little weight in practice.

In the west we can wander between bridge and stepping stones, but here, and in the stricter Islamic world, to follow Christ means that a true believer must leave family, friends and familiarity and face the dangers of the river with no lifeline to the bridge above. It is, maybe, the most difficult thing they will ever have to do. The rejection of their past life, the commitment to their new life that impels them to leave the comfort that we all desire, has to be stronger than anything else.

It is not difficult to draw parallels with our Christian walk and the difficulties we struggle with. We waver between wanting to follow Christ and not wanting to leave the things we enjoy and are familiar with. Like them, we can’t shake off our past - or rather we are reluctant to, because it is the basis for who we are. None wants to be stateless. And yet Christ calls us to leave our homes, our families, our comforts and go into a harsh world that will forsake us when the going is tough and we try to stay strong to principles. Is it that we doubt His strength to hold us and keep us? I don’t think so, not really, but rather that we don’t trust ourselves to stay faithful and need to know there is somewhere that we will belong. We all need the affirmation that we are important within the lives we lead, that we. have approval and that we are loved for who we are. To be thrown out of a system we desire to belong to is painful.

And even within our Christian walk we can suffer rejection by those who we considered true friends, and even by family. Betrayal, always painful, becomes even more so when done by those whom we trust. Rejection is a pain that robs us of vitality. It affects us on every level of our emotions. It is destructive. And yet, we shouldn’t be seeking approval on an emotional level, even though this is where we all function, but focus on the reality that our Approver is also the Man who died for us, and is now Lord of our lives and our Redeemer. We must also trust Him that He will give us the friends we need to journey with and the comfort we so strongly desire. Our prayer is that He will carry us over the river and bring us safely to the other side and to His glory.

L.E

We believe that holiness of heart, zeal for service, compassion for souls and action to revolution is missing in the majority of professing Christians. Without all of these things, we cannot fulfill the great commission that was given centuries ago by the greatest man who ever lived, Jesus Christ.

In Luke 6:12-16, Jesus had his own personal all-night prayer, at the end of which he gathered his disciples. Judas was one of those chosen but he never fulfilled his offered destiny. Why? Because he wouldn’t pay the price.

God has chosen us and there is a price to pay. The calling depends on God and the choosing depends on us. If we go back and study this scripture, we find that Jesus was talking about two kinds of labourers. Jesus made disciples and asked the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. We can help to change the world by introducing men to Jesus Christ, the only one who can produce a changed campus, a changed city, state, nation and even a changed world. Jesus Christ was, and he is, and still will be the same yesterday, today and for ever.

Some lazy souls believe that the word "Go" was only for those eleven in verse 16 of Matthew 28. If that were true, where would you and I be today? The words of Jesus would have stopped at the death of his disciples. But God’s people are commanded to proclaim the ‘Gospel’ of Jesus Christ throughout the world in every generation (Mark 16:15).

The gospel of Jesus Christ is ‘Good News’ to the living not to the dead, for our Almighty is the God of the living, not the God of the dead. So for those living with and around us, there are full reasons for us to take the gospel to them. Look carefully, you cannot spell the word GOSPEL without the word "Go". Jesus said "GO TEACH", "GO BAPTISE" and "GO MAKE DISCIPLES" of all nations.

These three, things GO TEACH, GO BAPTIZE, GO MAKE DISCIPLES, state our goal, responsibility and commission in the army of God. Jesus said, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted"etc. (Luke 4:18-19). It was the life style of Jesus when he was on earth to preach, for it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

The great commission is an obligation to every Christian, the word of God teaches it (Matthew 4:19; Acts 1:8; Rom 10:14-15). The gospel power requires it (Romans 1:16). The joy of heaven encourages it (Luke 15:10).

Jesus Christ is our best example of how to seek out and save those who are lost. Notice how he witnessed to the Samaritan woman (John 4:4-30). In verse 7 he made a tactful approach and in verse 10 he recognized a need and offered an answer. In verses 13-16, he aroused a deep interest in spiritual things. While in verses 16 and 18 he produced a conviction of sin. In verses 19-24 he corrected the misunderstandings which would hinder faith. In verse 26 he directed the discussion to a decision point, when a public confession of faith was made in verses 28-30.

Witnessing is taking a good look at the Lord Jesus Christ and then telling others what we have seen. We do not stand in the world bearing witness to the world. In this work, God has a part and we have a part. These parts are distinct and separate, but they work together. Do not confuse them. Our part is to use the tools, the BIBLE which is the word of God, the sword of the spirit (Hebrews 4:12), and God supplies the power. We can never convert a person; only God, through His Word can do that. We simply tell the story and back it up with consistent living. God will do the rest.

The eight signs of John provide a series of remarkable events that reveal the divine plan of salvation. We considered various features of these signs and some beautiful principles emerged. The first sign was the turning of water to wine (John 2:9); the second, the healing of the ruler’s son (John 4:47); the third, the healing of the lame man (John 5:6-8). This first group of signs reveals the power of transformation that results from an understanding of the gospel message. We do not need to be forever doomed to the weak condition of our human nature. The doctrine of Christ can redeem us from such a condition, and strengthen us spiritually. Such a wonderful experience will bring us inner peace and spiritual health.

The next four signs occurred during the last year of the Lord’s ministry. The turning of five loaves and two fishes into a meal for 5,000 (John 6:9), followed by the calming of the stormy sea (John 6:19-21), the healing of the blind man (John 9:1) and the resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:43-44) speak in sequence of our need to ingest the bread, the word of God, and what we gain from it: a faith in, and vision of, God’s purpose ultimately established and our salvation therein. In the eigth sign (John 21), there are parallels to the events that follow the resurrection, should we fall asleep before the return of Christ Jesus. One of these is the gathering together of the faithful from the last 6,000 years to share fellowship with Christ and one another. It is our eager anticipation to be a part of this group, but there are risks along the way of which we must be wary.

In Mark’s parallel account (16:9), Jesus first appeared to Mary (who then ran to tell the disciples that he was risen), then he appeared to the two disciples as they walked in the country (and likely they told the other disciples) and then appeared to the "eleven". But in verse 14, Jesus "appeared" to the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. Matthew’s parallel account (28:16) records that Jesus commanded the eleven disciples to meet him in Galilee (prior to his manifestations to them and 500 brethren as reported in 1 Corinthians 15:6). The eleven gathered on this occasion, but some doubted (Matthew 28:17). John chapter 21 records the last appearance of Jesus and there is no mention of any doubting.

There is another interesting point. John 21:2 mentions only seven disciples awaiting the coming of the Lord and who, with Peter’s encouragement, decided to go fishing. They were busy when Jesus returned – busy with activity that gained them nothing. The exhortation is urgent and important: if we grow tired of waiting, we should consider for a moment just how much time and effort we are currently expending in pursuing the things of this life.

What are we doing with our time? Consider how quickly we entertain thoughts such as moderation in our calling to a life of prayer and walking with God, or actual involvement in activities that do not, of themselves, involve God. There is no real reason why our thoughts and necessary daily activities shouldn’t involve God. We select the materials with which we fill our mind; the activities we undertake, the company we keep; the topics we discuss. Let us be careful of a little moderation here, a little compromise there, for we could become weakened (sign 3), spiritual vision become blinded (sign 4) and resurrection be only an obscure and distant idea (sign 7).

Actually, human nature is a very subtle and adverse influence within us, continually prompting us to seek personal rewards and pleasures rather than future rewards and eternal pleasures through present discipline. What should we do so that we can achieve faith and sustain a faithful life until we breathe our last – so that it will not be said of us that we doubted or grew tired of waiting?

We are supposed to stimulate ourselves to achieve this desire by considering the fact that our actual physical nature can be changed. Paul thought "as we have borne the image of the earthy (the nature of the first Adam) we shall bear the image of the heavenly (the nature of the second Adam)" 1 Corinthians 15:49).

‘And we shall be like him’! What a glorious prospect is before us. Our present efforts to walk with God are imperfect at best, but by developing and maintaining an intense desire to walk with Him in humility and reverence, the Master can intercede and eventually we will be made wholely.