Praise for deliverance (Psalm 18)

He reached down from heaven and took hold of me; He pulled me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my distress, but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out to a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; He repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
Indeed, I have kept all His ordinances in mind and have not disregarded His statutes.
I was blameless toward Him and kept myself from sinning.
So the Lord repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

Lord, You light my lamp; my God illuminates my darkness.
With You I can attack a barrier, and with my God I can leap over a wall.
God — His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides Yahweh? And who is a rock? Only our God.
God — He clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and sets me securely on the heights.
He trains my hands for war; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You have given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your humility exalts me.
You widen a place beneath me for my steps, and my ankles do not give way.

our HELP comes from the Lord

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

A medley of psalms (91, 46 ,27 and 121)

We are not alone our Father is watching us and He is moved and concerned by our need. Let us not let fear change our reality.

In our country we are on day 5 of lockdown to try and control the spread of the corona virus COVID-19.

I thought I would remind us all of who our Father is and that He cares for us; fights for us and protects us.

Also at this time we all have an opportunity to dwell with our Father for whether we are locked-down or not; the pandemic is spreading globally and ours is to pray for a vaccine and for the spread to slow down in the meantime.

If you don’t know what to say in prayer use the psalms to encourage yourself and to call on your Father on behalf of all human kind.

Walking in Fellowship with one another (3 John)

I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the pre-eminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.
Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

We walk in fellowship with the Father; fellowship with the Son and in fellowship with one another.

Do not be deceived (2 John)

I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

2 John and 1 Corinthians 10

Let us be aware of a diluted version of our Lord.

John writes and says some are still holding on to the truth from the Father. It is easy to fall away and so I thought I would remind us that even if we fall our Father provides a way for us.

We have both the Father and the Son(reconciled and redeemed).

The Father's witness (1 John 5)

This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.

And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.

For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

know and discern the Spirit of Truth and Love (1 John 4)

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Children of the Father (1John2:28 to 1John3)

​Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:

Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

Children of the Father love the Father and love one another.

Abide in the Truth (1 John 2: 18 - 27)

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?

He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

Abide in the Word(in me) and I will abide in you; our Lord promised us.

In this portion of the second chapter in 1John we are urged to abide in the Word as this is the mark that will separate us from the anti-christ.

If anyone comes to us and the Word is not in them, they speak a different truth to the one we learnt about from the beginning (John1) then we know they are against our Lord.

Proof of our commitment (1 John 2(1-17))

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

How do we prove that we are committed to our Lord?

We do so by keeping His commands.

We do so heeding His warnings.

We do so by walking in His Light; loving in fellowship with Him; the Father and with one another.

I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Walk in the Light (1 John 1)

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us

This epistle was written to correct false doctrine that denied Christ’s deity and humanity. This led to people not taking sin seriously.

We are urged to walk in the light and in truth; in fellowship with the one who is from the beginning and to walk in fellowship and  love with one another.

We cannot walk in Love with one if we do not walk in the Light.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

It is important that we remind ourselves what beginning is John talking about..

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Genesis 1; John 1

The Word that transforms Psalms 119

Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.

I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes.

I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.

Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness.
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.

Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord—Your salvation according to Your word.
So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.

Psalms 119 : 25-48

In His Word we find transformation our souls are natured in kingdom language, kingdom culture and kingdom life.

Celebrate the Word in reverence Psalm 119

Your word I have hidden in my heart That I might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes.
With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.

I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times.
You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies.

Your testimonies also are my delight And my counsellors.

I have only published parts from verses 1 to 24. This psalm celebrates the Word in reverence. The Word teaches who our Father is and our need and reliance on His Word.

The promise of the Word

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!

Blessed are You, O Lord!
Teach me Your statutes.

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, 

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree; Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

In the mist of that life is; the highs and the valleys; one thing remains true the gospel.

That our Lord died for us to reconcile us to the Father.

That our Father loves us; is concerned and moved by our circumstances and needs.

That no matter what I see; feel; or are grappling with the truth remains that in Jesus our Lord we have been adopted and the daughters and sons of the King. And that only through the comforter (the Holy Spirit) can we live the life our Lord’s truth (the gospel) calls us to.

Learning to trust

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

The Lord is good and upright; therefore He shows sinners the way.
He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

In the mist of life is; the highs and the valleys; one thing remains true the gospel.

That our Lord died for us to reconcile us to the Father.

That our Father loves us; is concerned and moved by our circumstances; and needs.

That no matter what I see; feel; or are grappling with, the truth remains, that in Jesus our Lord we have been adopted and are the daughters and sons of the King.

And that only through the comforter (the Holy Spirit) can we live the life our Lord’s truth (the gospel) calls us to.

Proverbs 3; Psalms 91 and 25

A humble heart trust the Father

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me

Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with things too great or too difficult for me. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself like a little weaned child with its mother; i am like a little child.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forever.

What does a humble heart look like?

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.

Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men.

And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross.

For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth — and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Peter 5; Psalms 131; Matthew 18; Phillipians 2

sincere apology