All

Packed Full Of Superlatives

Lately, while I have been reading my Bible I have been surprised by the number of superlatives it contains, you know, words which cannot be bigger, words like: eternal, every, and its derivatives: everyone, everything, everywhere, also: always, boundless, full and fullness, and perhaps the biggest: "all" - "all" means "without exception". Years ago we regularly had a preacher who would say "all" means "all", and then give us the look!

In my favourite Bible, above Colossians Chapter 1, I have written ALL in big letters and marked verses 15 to 20 as being special; they are so wonderfully descriptive of my hero brother and Lord, Jesus.

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:15-20). (The word "all" appears six times in these few verses; Jesus surely is the "all" of God, and of all the Universe!)

This is the same Jesus who came to the Earth as a human to "destroy the works of the evil one" (1 John 3:8), and redeem all humanity from their sins. Here was God, incarnate on the Earth, Creator, Saviour and Head. I see His humility as a big part of the "all" that He is. Glorious God humbled even to death on a cross for us, fallen humanity, (Philippians 2:8). The cross was the worst death the ancient Roman Empire could devise. Our Jesus submitted Himself to it for me, and for you.

No-one else in all of history could do what Jesus has done, praise God. "Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).

What a mighty God we serve. It's not surprising that Paul rejoices that he is able to preach the "boundless riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8). And later in the same book to declare that our mutual ministries, our sharing in Jesus' work on the Earth, will grow each and every one of us "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). These are among my favourite Bible verses, just packed full of superlatives!

Early in our Christian walk my wife, Trish (who indeed was Christian but I was not there yet), and I were taught about Spiritual Gifts, and that Christian life includes serving our Lord God, and also other Christians in the church and the people of the world. I found this very daunting. It seemed like a very big ask. I have heard others say the same thing adding things like "God will want me to marry an ugly girl and go live in some drought ridden, threadbare, corrupted country thousands of miles from anywhere; and besides, what can I do? What skills do I have as a preacher or missionary? I'll likely just get in the way". Then the person will smile and begin to tell about the miracles, and how beautiful and (nearly) perfect his wife is, and the delightful children they have been given and are privileged to raise together, and the exciting places they have been to, and the amazing people they have met and worked with and helped, and how Jesus has always, (another superlative), gone before!

Spiritual gifts enable us to do God's work despite the many shortcomings of our abilities and skills, our patience and endurance, our wealth or experience, our knowledge of Scripture and Christian doctrine.

Paul's letters to the Christians at Corinth address his concern over the rampant immorality associated with the paganism, (godlessness), of the people there. This had begun to infect the Corinthian church with factionalism, self-promotion, greed, faithlessness, idolatrous worship, and sexual licentiousness.

Then, in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 Paul details to us some of the ways we become "a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17) when we are "born again" (1 Peter 1:23). At the moment of salvation we are brought into the person of Jesus and become part of His family and of the church on Earth. Scripture refers to the church as the ecclesia or gathering-of-the-people (not as an institution or building!) and also as "the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12), and "Christ's body". There are many parts to a human body and the parts each serve the purpose or function for which they were designed and included; in the same way, in Jesus’ Earthly body each and every one of us will have a unique role:

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for [each of] us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

Likewise each of us is Jesus' earthly body today (1 Corinthians 12:27). Jesus' human body is in Heaven, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, ruling and reigning. We are to be His physical manifestation here on the Earth. His Holy Spirit fills us and binds with our now awakened human spirit to teach, guide and help us.

Much of Paul's purpose in writing 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 was to show us how Jesus' mighty power can still be used to do His work here. He gives us gifts, by His Spirit. These are called "spiritual gifts", (in some translations "spirituals") (1 Corinthians 12:1), because they are given by Holy Spirit and add to our spiritual abilities. Paul makes it plain that he wants us to understand the kinds of gifts Jesus gives, and their purpose and their power. 

All the gifts are to help people. 

They enable us, as week and powerless as we may be, to do the "greater works" Jesus promised (John 5:20).

There are many kinds of gifts:

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:4).

The gifts enable us, in Jesus, to serve people:

"and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord" (1 Corinthians 12:5).

Every Christian is included in this gifting and enabled to hear from God, to pray, speak, act, heal and help others:

"and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone" (1 Corinthians 12:6, note the superlatives).

The variety of gifts are given so that, through the whole body of Christ, all Jesus' work on Earth can be accomplished:

"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good"  (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Here are some of the gifts:

"To one there is given through the [Holy] Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues (spiritual languages), and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:8-11).

God decides who will receive the different kinds of gifting. But remember, by prayer we can ask Jesus for anything; so if your heart desires a particular gift, ask God, perhaps you will be able to bless many people: "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

For a long time I desired the gift of discerning of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10). I asked and I asked, meanwhile I kept looking at the spiritual landscape around me, and the spiritual content of my pondering and prayers, trying to see what Jesus saw. Then I found that I could see; Jesus had given me this precious gift. Thank you Lord.

 God always looks at our heart (1 Samuel 16:7), but He also loves our obedience (Deuteronomy 5:33), Psalm 119:96 says "To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless" .. "boundless", with no limit, (another superlative)!

One of the great joys of this time of Bible reading has been all my surprises, the number of passages I've read many times before and suddenly discover that in His Word, right here, Jesus inspired His human author to use the maximum word, the superlative, to really nail down what He wanted to say.

I've touched on just a few examples in this piece, but there are a great many. We can enjoy our Bible, after all it is another face of Jesus who is the "Word of God" (John 1:1). Another face: He is every aspect of the "full", (another superlative), "armour of God" (Ephesians 6:10-20); "finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes".

And, Jesus is fully the content of the 13th Chapter of 1st Corinthians. This is known as the "love" chapter and is sandwiched between the two chapters which teach us about the spiritual gifts. If you read this through, and where you see "love", read "Jesus", you may get a new and fuller understanding of love. I did and I was humbled; for many years I've thought of "love" as being a "doing" word, a verb, and not so much an emotion. Now I see it as more all-encompassing and reflective of  what Jesus is doing in me by His Spirit (Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 4:13, 1 John 4:16).

"He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;  he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:9-12).

From The Beginning

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). "After six days the Creation was completed. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31). "Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array" (Genesis 2:1).

So at the very beginning of time, and matter, and life, "all" was "very good", I think that God likes superlatives; He does not want to do things half-hearted or in a lackadaisical way. He is our God of the superlatives and full of lovely surprises.

And Into The Future

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Yes! Amen!

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Praise Jesus.

Who Am I?

Mystery Part 1: Who Am I?

My wife, Trish, came home from her school with a page bearing the Four Big Questions asked by billions of people over the past thousands of years:

1.       Who am I? The world's answer: A clever monkey

2.       Where did I come from? The world's answer: Out of the primordial slime

3.       Why am I here? The world's answer: No reason

4.       Where am I going? Or, what will happen to me when I die? The world's answer: Nothing, that is the end of you.

Our civilization is thousands of years old, yet the world has no satisfying answers for any of these questions. As I read what Trish had brought home I felt very saddened; it is no wonder that so many people feel trapped and are unfulfilled, restless and depressed if they believe these answers. "Surely", they seem to be saying, "the beauty of love, family, friendship, and our world and the universe, and all the vast symbiosis we see among the millions of species on our planet, it all must have some meaning!"

In the Old Testament Job's friend asks him a rhetorical question:  "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" (Job 11:7). Zophar knew that the answers to these two questions were "no" and "no".

Well, I am delighted to report that when we meet Jesus and enter His Kingdom, these Big Four mysteries of life receive cheering answers!

God's Word tells us from Paul: "My goal is that they, [God's people], may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3).

It seems clear to me that Paul is saying that if we know Jesus, we also know the whole of the content, or secret, of the mystery which has hung over humankind since the Fall - (Adam and Eve began their lives in intimate and loving relationship with God, they would not have been troubled by these Four Big Questions).

Jesus is more than God's Son, He is God. It was Jesus who humbled Himself to come to Earth as a human baby, then boy, then man, to redeem humankind who were a fallen race (Genesis 3) and were living a fallen life (John 3:16). Jesus bought us back for His beloved Father (Galatians 3:13), so that Father God might have many children, (Hebrews 2:10), children just like the human Jesus (Genesis 1:26), and so that the Father could give His Son a bride (Revelation 19:7, 21:9).

If Zophar were to ask his questions today, in these New Covenant times, the answers would be "yes" and "yes" in Jesus!

"[Jesus] replied, 'Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you .. '" (Matthew 13:11).       

".. we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began". A literal translation of this verse might read "We declare the divine wisdom hidden in a mystery" (1 Corinthians 2:7). "Mystery" is such a strong Christian word; it is God who has all the answers!

"these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Then we realise again how blessed we are to be New Covenant believers in Jesus; we are "born again" (John 3:3), we are made a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17),  and we receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) when we believe in Jesus, repent of our sins and come to Him!

So it is no surprise that a Christian's life is full of good things ..

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

Question 1: Who am I?

Who am I? Who are you? We are both children of God because we were uniquely created by Him. Some people know that this is true and, sadly, some do not.

You are precious, and were hand made by Jesus to be you! He wants you to be saved from your sins and transgressions so that you can become His brother or sister, and His friend and co-worker.

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame'" (Romans 10:9-11).

.. "will not be put to shame" .. Isn't that a mighty promise? (See Romans 8:1).

Identity is a subject much discussed in Western countries today. Many people are not sure who they are, or even what they are. I believe that this is part of the reason for the epidemic our cultures are experiencing in depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. The good news is that Jesus gives us a profound identity and grows us so we can experience life to the full.

 

"The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you - they are full of the Spirit and life" (John 6:63).

God has always known that one day you and I would be born, He planned it as carefully as He planned and implemented the Creation: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love  he predestined us for adoption to sonship [and daughter-hood] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:4-5). You are here because Jesus wants you to actively be His brother or sister and to bring glory to God!

There is an aspect of identity that is only true of unbelievers. God has made each of us, but each of us are born in a fallen world and set apart from God (Isaiah 59:2). This affects our identity. Non-believers are cut off from the source and meaning of life (Romans 11:36) and from the fullness of the spiritual world; often they are not sure who they are. 

Some deny God’s existence despite the fact every person "knows" in their inner self that God is real: "since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse" (Romans 1:19-20). I have read where people have said "God is not real, and I hate Him". Others say "God you are not there but I miss you". 

We are made to share with God and to reflect who He is. But, being born into a fallen world, we start life "dead in [our] sins" and "by nature children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:1-3). Is there some way to be redeemed, to get past our guilt and sin? Yes, Jesus came to save us!

Scriptural Truth: Who I Am

•  I am God's child (John 1:12)

•  I am protected by God (Luke 10:19)

•  I am a branch of the true vine, joined to Jesus (John 15:4-5)

•  I am Jesus' friend (John 15:15)

•  I am free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)

•  I am assured all things work together for good for me (Romans 8:28)

•  I am free from any charge against me (Romans 8:31-34)

•  I am God's co-worker (1 Corinthians 3:9)

•  I am God's temple (1 Corinthians 3: 16)

•  I am united with the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:17)

•  I am bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

•  I am established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21)

•  I am filled with God's Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:22)

•  I am free (Galatians 5:1)

•  I am a saint, consecrated and set apart for God (Ephesians 1:1)

•  I am God's adopted child (Ephesians 1:5)

•  I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

•  I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)

•  I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

Profound .. No wonder we know we are blessed!

Amen.

 

The next article on PsalmsOfJohn.com entitled "Mystery: Why? Where From? Where To?" discusses the other three of these Big Four Questions ..

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Praise Jesus.

Why? Where From? Where To?

Mystery Part 2: Why? Where From? Where To?

** The article above on PsalmsOfJohn.com entitled "Mystery Part 1: Who Am I?" discusses the first of these Big Four Questions **

My wife, Trish, came home from her school with a page bearing the Four Big Questions asked by billions of people over the past thousands of years:

1.       Who am I? The world's answer: A clever monkey

2.       Where did I come from? The world's answer: Out of the primordial slime

3.       Why am I here? The world's answer: No reason

4.       What will happen to me when I die? Where am I going? The world's answer: Nothing, that is the end of you.

Our civilization is thousands of years old, yet the world has no satisfying answers for any of these questions.

As I read what Trish had brought home I felt very saddened; it is no wonder that so many feel trapped and are unsatisfied, restless and depressed if they believe these answers. "Surely", they seem to be saying, "the beauty of love, family, friendship, and our world and universe, and the vast symbiosis we see among the millions of species on our planet, it all must have some meaning!"

Well, I am delighted to report that when we meet Jesus and enter His Kingdom, these Big Four mysteries of life receive cheering answers!

".. we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began" (1 Corinthians 2:7).

“[Jesus] replied, 'Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you .. '" (Matthew 13:11).       

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

Question 2: Why Am I Here?

On the sixth day of the Creation God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.  So God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:26-27).

So one purpose of our being here is to "rule". This does not mean to ravish and take whatever we want, but to rule, to steward, to care for and nurture. Wilderness which is managed (and often also protected), by humans is usually much more productive and more balanced than if people let nature simply take its course.

In Genesis 2:7 we read that "God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life". Our species began with the breath of God, and His desire is to remain in intimate contact and share His love with us.

We are the only creature with a spirit, a part of us that is from "the beginning" and never dies. Our spirit is our absolute essence. God's Spirit can bond with our unique spirit and then we become spiritually alive in Him, this may sound mysterious but it is very real; The Bible is very clear. Also, I have heard hundreds of testimonies from others who agree with my understanding.

We also have a soul; this is our personality, our will and our emotions. Some other creatures seem also to have a soul as we do, dogs, cats, cows, horses and whales come to my mind, I'm sure you can suggest many more; (I have seen humpback whales playing in the ocean, an awesome sight).

We are also the only creature with language, when Genesis says that God created "a living being", the original Hebrew text can be translated as "a speaking spirit" (Genesis 2:7). Stephen Fry, the well known commentator and comedian says that every human child is "a miracle" because of our singular ability to acquire vocabulary and grammar from those around us, whatever the language or culture, and to express ourselves, not in pre-formed, or standard sentences like a computer, but uniquely in our own individual style! Indeed this is miraculous!

So you can see that humankind and monkeys have very little in common. We may share some DNA with the apes, but we also similarly share with many other species. Apes do not have a spirit. To link us with the ape species is like saying that a Governor's palace is the same as a city water treatment plant because they were built from the same kinds of bricks and tiles!

Humanity, or homo sapiens, is a completely separate species and always has been. Every species is a different "kind" (Genesis 1:12, 1:21, 1:24, 1:25, 6:20, 7:14), completely different. Every human was "made in the image and likeness of God" (Genesis 1:27, Colossians 3:9-10), we are the only such species, to me a very satisfying truth!

You were born for a purpose. God has created you for His glory and with great potential that He can use as you (and I) participate with Him in His work in the world. When He designed the Creation, you and I were included in His plans. Father God so loves Jesus that He wanted to have many children, you are one He chose and created to bring glory to Himself. Father God wanted to bring a bride to Jesus, He gave Him us, the church, as His bride, ultimately without "spot or wrinkle", a perfect bride for a perfect Husband! "to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:27).

Jesus prayed: "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world" (John 17:24). This prayer includes every Christian.

Scriptural Truth: Why I Am Here

•  I am the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14)

•  I have been redeemed and forgiven (Colossians 1:14)

•  I am Jesus' co-worker (Matthew 5:13-14)

•  I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)

•  I am a witness of Christ to the ends of the Earth (Acts 1:8)

•  I have been justified and have peace (Romans 5:1)

•  I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)

•  I have every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)

•  I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)

•  I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)

•  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

•  I have been called that God may work in me to fulfill his good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

Question 3: Where Did I Come From?

Every human being came from God's love, and for His love. “God  is love” (1 John 4:8,16). He is where love comes from .. and compassion, generosity, altruism, empathy, even kindness. We see these qualities every day, and everywhere, and know that our lives, families, governments and cultures would totally collapse without them. (See Note 1).

In the hypothetical (imaginary) model of the world that the "non-Creation" scientists tell us about, none of these things could possibly exist as theirs is a design-less, meaningless, anarchic, accidental, dog-eat-dog, survival-of-the-fittest world. This doesn't sound very nice and I'm glad I don't have to live in it. But our world is mostly full of peace and beauty with lots of love and great food! Everywhere we see symbiosis, millions of species working together around the whole world! Very reassuring! Praise Jesus!

Trish and I have six grown children and four grandchildren. Our children came from Trish's and my love for one another; we (unknowingly) fitted in to God's plan that they should be born and grow "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14) .. They are God's creations and were given to Trish and I to love and nurture. We are delighted and humbled and blessed by these great gifts. Every day our children are our joy!

Where do we come from? Primordial slime? There was no primordial slime. The possibility that life accidentally formed millions or billions of years ago has been discounted in many ways; there is no empirical (observed, seen, factual, actual, real, verifiable, first-hand) evidence of life forming accidentally. The proteins which have been manufactured in laboratories bear little in common with those found in life, and to make those found in living things, there are conflicts that to build one part of the protein molecule there will be so much heat or pressure, for example, that another completed part will be destroyed! I have pondered these things for many years and examined many arguments and now believe that one needs much greater faith to believe in primordial slime, or evolution, or millions and billions of years, than I have to believe the Word of God and His Creation narrative.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).

Scriptural Truth: Where I Came From

•  I am born of God (John 1:13, 1 John 4:7)

•  My spirit came from Holy Spirit (John 3:6)

•  I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be completed in Jesus (Philippians 1:6)

•  I am a full citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20)

•  I was born through the Word of truth (James 1:18)

•  I am born again of imperishable seed (1 Peter 1:23).

Question 4: What will happen to me when I die? Or, where am I going?

God created our spirit for eternity. It was some years after I became Christian that I realised that my eternal life had already begun (Romans 6:23), that I am already a child of Father God, my Abba Daddy, and am a brother to Jesus my Saviour God and my Lord (Romans 8:17). None of this will change when my physical, earthly, body dies. Sure, my body will stop working and my human relationships will end. My family and friends will miss me and will grieve; I believe that I accept this as part of this life. I have lost family and friends and have grieved. But God will continue to love me, (and you), with an indestructible love, for ever.

In Jesus I am already in almost continuous worship and I rule and reign with Him at the right hand of Father God (1 Peter 2:5)! At the same time, here on planet Earth I face every-day troubles (John 16:33), and bigger troubles constantly, but I share in Jesus' work, I seek out ways I can help; I do my best to be obedient to Him, and will continue to do so!

Sometimes at meetings I get really excited and declare that we are "rocking with Jesus"; considering my generation and upbringing this is a huge affirmation! Other times can be a struggle, but it is never boring and never futile or a cause for despair. And I always move forward and always grow!

"as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).

It is the whole purpose of the Creation that we become and eternally remain family and fellow workers with Father God, Jesus the Son, and Holy Spirit, Counsellor and Enabler; and that the Godhead and the Creation are reunited in Jesus. This is the good news!

Scriptural Truth: Where I Am Going

•  I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35,38-39)

•  I am [eternally] seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)

•  Jesus assures us that He is preparing a place for us in Heaven (John 14:2).

Simple but profound .. Such assurance .. When I die I will go "home" .. Praise Jesus.

Amen.

Favourite Bible Verses

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age'" (Matthew 28:18-20).

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way" (Ephesians 1:19-23). Totally awesome, right?

"Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered'.  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:34-39).

"In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" (Joh 14:2).

Amen.

Note 1

The Godly qualities of Christian people ensure that our societies survive, that our poorest and least able to defend themselves have someone looking out for them. Of the more than 1,000,000 volunteers in Australia, most are Christian even though we are just a small proportion of all the population. Of all the financial giving in the entire world, records show that more than three quarters of the money comes from Christians! You will not hear this from your favourite TV channel, radio station, or newspaper, but it is true. Much Christian giving is anonymous, and much of it is sacrificial, it costs the giver and affects their lifestyle, it is not trivial.

This generosity hugely helps the worlds wheels turn where there are gaps or hiccups left by the governments and corporations.

Praise Jesus.

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Amen.

Walking With A Limp - T10

Testimony 10 - Walking Without A Limp

Today, 27th February 2019, I gave this testimony at "Perth Prayer", a lovely city-wide-church meeting which happens Wednesday lunchtimes at Wesley Church (which could not be nearer to the centre of Perth City, capital of Western Australia). I was asked to testify because the previous week I received a beautiful miracle at that meeting. Jesus is alive and blessing the world .. They gave me 20 minutes to share so this post is quite long ..

The last part of this post is all new, and to me, very exciting. Other parts are also new and there are parts which have been previously published in earlier posts. We had a rich and sweet meeting, and I trust that you will be blessed by reading this, bless you, John.

Early Years

When I was little we didn't go to church much. Then when I was 10 my dad took me along to Sea Scouts which were part of our local Anglican church. Scouts was great, and I learned about nationhood, honour and loyalty, and to sail and row boats, to build boats and fabricate their rigging, and to camp and cook and trek in the mountains.

Twice a month we scouts attended "church parades" where we would help old people to their seats and carry the flags and sing really loud when the songs had some zing; I remember "Onward Christian Soldiers" very well. I did not become a believer.

By the time I finished high school I was offended by the Church, I did not see Jesus or godliness there, instead I saw disinterest and hypocrisy. So I stopped having anything to do with church people. I had learned some Christian doctrine and many songs. Church was very much a part of society in those days, so avoiding it was a big step.

Years later, Jesus had to soften me up before I would be open to His approach.

So He gave Trish and me to each other.

I love to tell how Trish and I met in New York when I was there as a tourist. I saved Greenwich Village until Saturday night and was in my first bar enjoying live jazz music when this really beautiful young lady came through the door; my heart leapt! She was with this handsome young man who made a bee line for the loo. She came and stood near me and we began to talk. I was delighted to learn that the young man was her brother! That is how I met my bride to be; I fell in love across a room!

How impossibly unlikely that meeting was, and how un-alike we are, we are like chalk and cheese, yet we have six gorgeous grown children, daughters-in-law and grandkids; there are now sixteen of us in our immediate family! In July we'll have been married 39 years. What a very long and lovely conversation Trish and I are enjoying. Why should I be given such a glorious gift? Why such favour towards me? It is the mighty outpouring of God's grace like this which shows us how minutely He cares for us and how much He loves us.

First Light

Trish was a church-goer and went to Mass in Hoboken every Sunday evening. An amazing priest would give the sermons; he was on loan from the local diocese to the office of the Governor of New Jersey. As he spoke he would reflect Jesus' light on all the events and happenings in New Jersey and even the USA and the world. I saw Jesus in a new way - in today's world. I believe this was a very important step in my coming to Jesus.

In 1980 Trish and I were married, also in New Jersey. Looking back we see the grace of God. The church we were married in is in the classic movie, "On The Waterfront" with Marlon Brando. It is an Episcopalian (Anglican) congregation and our priest had been Catholic but fell in love and married so had to leave his priesthood. We were married by a Christian who had been Catholic and was now Anglican, and who loved Jesus and loved marriage! Neither Trish nor I were Christian but Jesus showed His love for us. We look back and are in awe of what Jesus does for His people!

Soon after we came to Western Australia where I had an apartment by the sea.

The beginning of our marriage was rocky for Trish and, after some time, a group of ladies from church took her to a prayer meeting .. it was there that she met Jesus and her life was changed. She "knew" that she had "come home". I became interested and went to many meetings with Trish and these other, very excited, Christians.

Salvation

It was some time later when we were expecting our third baby, we attended an Anglican charismatic conference in Manjimup, in the southwest of Western Australia, that I finally gave in to Jesus. 

The keynote speaker was Father Terry Fulham, then the parish pastor at St Paul's, Darien, Connecticut, USA, and previously a university professor. Terry talked about John Baptist, announcing that Jesus would come and baptise His people with the Holy Spirit, and what this means in the light of the Book of Acts, the Gospels, the New Covenant and the whole Word of God. He was talking about the charismatic element in Christian life and in the life of the Church.

By now Trish had been an enthusiastic Christian for three years, but I was not. In truth I was "sitting on the fence", with one foot either side. We, and the people we fellowshipped with, were familiar with "life in the Spirit" that was why we were at this conference.

Pastor Terry's teaching was very compelling, it had a certain academic and scriptural rigor, I saw things more clearly than I had previously. On the Saturday night, as we drove to our friend's house where we were staying, I told Trish that for my birthday I wanted one of the new NIV Bibles. She immediately asked "so you are ready to give your heart to Jesus then?" "No" I replied, "not yet", I knew that I would have to bow my knee to Jesus when I became Christian, and I didn't think I was able to do that. "Maybe next year".

Next morning we did Sunday Church at the conference. At one point Pastor Terry asked if there were any present who wanted to give their heart to Jesus that day, who wanted to become Christian right then and there.

I had thought this through the previous night so stood quietly, a bystander, with my hands clasped behind me.

Soon, very clearly, I felt strong fingers encircle my right wrist and tug me backwards. "Very funny", I thought. Trish had gone out to check that our kids were OK; no doubt this was her having fun with me as she returned to her seat.

Imagine my surprise when I turned and nobody was there. No Trish. No-one was near enough to have reached out to touch me.

Who held my wrist? Who tugged my arm? In my innermost self I knew that it was Jesus. "Come now", He seemed to be saying, "don't wait till next year, I want you now".

Straight away I went to the front, I did whatever was asked of me, probably I prayed the "sinner's prayer", it was all just "extra"; I already had said "yes", I already knew that I belonged to Jesus, I was in a cloud of love. I was almost forty-three years old.

I have never for a minute doubted that Jesus actually came and took hold of my arm, and drew me to Himself. No matter how tough things have gotten over the years: how my life seemed to be inconsequential, how I was unemployed for long periods, how spiritually I was stuck for years and years, how I seemed not to be growing in Christ, not going anywhere .. Never for a moment have I doubted!

Three Strands

Trish and I had serious trouble with our marriage for a time. My memory is that neither of us moved out from home  because we both wanted to keep the children. Truth be told, I was more scared of God, who had given me Trish, than I was of Trish herself. Then after much prayer we decided to link up with Jesus into a three strand cord. He has kept us together, bonding us ever stronger and closer.

(Ecclesiastes 4:12) "Though one person may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. But a cord of three strands is not easily broken".

Now, more than thirty years later, I see Jesus' plans for me, for Trish, our marriage, our family, and His Kingdom, all working out. There was never no progress. But it was always His progress. It is His plan, He equips and makes ready in His own time. Patience and perseverance are fruits of Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We do not grow and become patient by living only in gratification. "God is love"(1 John 4:16), "Jesus is Lord"(Romans 10:9).

Jesus has been going before Trish and me, all these years, pouring out His grace upon us and our marriage and our family. He has our backs. He is at our shoulder.

Paul again: (2 Corinthians 12:9) ".. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness ..".

I think I understand something of how there is so much trouble and pain in the world: many people do not want to acknowledge that the spiritual world is real, that God is, and that He is in charge, Lord of all. They prefer to think of themselves as ruling their own destiny and providing their own wealth and wellbeing and that their ideas are the best for everybody. But their ideas come from the world ..

(Ephesians 2:1-2)  ".. you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air".

www.PsalmsOfJohn.com

Some years ago Jesus began to ask me to "write this down" when I was pondering something from the Scriptures or from the world. So I did. As a kid I had wanted to be a writer and this desire never left me; a few failed attempts made it clear that I was unlikely ever to be a published author!

I thought that Jesus and I were preparing for us to write a book together and became very excited. Well, you can imagine!

But soon enough Jesus told me to start www.PsalmsOfJohn.com and publish the pieces that we had written together. I knew that no-one would want to read me .. but the idea of having Jesus as my ideas man, my mentor, my editor, and my only reader was explosive, it gave my life new meaning. I was very excited.

Now, 9 years later, Jesus and I have published 113 articles, and His thoughts are being read all over the world, in my WWW statistics Russia comes up, and the USA, and France, China, Australia, Britain, The Philippines, New Zealand, Canada, and countries I don't recognise.

If Jesus and I had written a best-selling book I'm sure I would have been ruined with pride, but with PsalmOfJohn I am anonymous, most people I know only say something briefly then let it drop. What a blessing. Thank you Jesus for the work and the great satisfaction, it’s the most satisfying work I’ve ever done, and thank you for the anonymity.

Charismatic

Trish and I found Christian life and faith in the Charismatic Renewal, our early experiences were mostly at prayer meetings and healing meetings. We knew to expect to pray and that prayer introduces God's power on the Earth. I have seen and experienced wonderful things which have helped people and that science cannot explain.

Miracles

A miracle is something which occurs outside of what science can explain, in other words, it's a supernatural event, a spiritual event. This is God's realm. I have experienced many miracles and witnessed hundreds, possibly thousands more. 

Trish and I were once at a city wide Christian meeting where a man had a heart attack. A doctor was there and immediately did what he could; after a time he announced that the man's heart had stopped and he was now dead. This was shocking to us who were gathered to worship Jesus. We all prayed, together as one; the heart began to beat again. Soon the person was able to be taken to hospital by the ambulance which had arrived. The doctor said the man had a good prognosis, (a good chance of full recovery). Praise Jesus who tells us: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give" (Matthew 10:8); this was that teaching realised, in our city, in our time and witnessed by hundreds. 

Praise Jesus.

My Healings

All my serious health problems have been healed. Sure, I can't do everything that I could when I was 40, I am slowed down and a bit limited. But I am not unwell .. 

My skin is damaged, and I have a tummy! I cannot run. Neither my balance nor my memory are what they were .. but I can remember the people I love and can still do hugs and kisses. 

I love to cook. And I can still share Jesus.

And

•  I no longer have a heart problem, (Atrial Fibrillation), I've been healed after 25 years.

•  I am healed of four melanoma cancers. When Doctors read my history for the first time, they pause, look at me, and laugh, "Four melanomas" they say, they laugh again and continue to read. Melanomas are very dangerous cancers because parts of the tumour can flake off and travel through your blood-stream to your heart or brain or kidney or breast or eye, or anywhere and everywhere. I am a miracle and believe that I'll never have a 5th melanoma!

Treatment for my last melanoma was tough. The surgeons took out all the cancerous tissue from my temple and then 34 lymph nodes from my upper body. There are scars under my chin which look like zips and I now have a lop-sided smile. Also, my thermostat and sweat system are very damaged.

•  My cancer oncologist put me on Interferon (which is like chemo-therapy); I injected myself every day for almost a year; it was a painful treatment and I became very run down; this tipped me over from being pre-diabetic into full-on type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a filthy disease; your body rots out from the inside .. your eyes begin to fail, and your circulation deteriorates, feeling goes from your legs and feet, from all your extremities, and ultimately you may need amputations! Many doctors say that diabetes is incurable, effectively a life sentence. To be diagnosed is very scary!

But I no longer have diabetes, I have been healed.

•  Jesus healed me from smoking after I tried to quit many, many times, a miracle healing! I have COPD in my lungs from years of heavy smoking, but my respiratory doctor no longer needs to see me, I'm in steady-state and not at risk.

•  My eyes are old but my ophthalmologist also kicked me out of his clinic, he said my eyes had improved (I was about 70 then), and I no longer needed his skills!

I am now 76 years old, nearly 77. Most people my age are deteriorating noticeably, but I can report that I am healthier today than I was at 66, 10 years ago. Thank you Jesus.

Feet and Knees  - Walking With A Limp

I was born with unusual feet, my family said I had "Grandma's feet". Grandma was my Dad's mother. By the time I was 45 I could no longer fit into footwear from the shops. For about 30 years I have seen orthopedic surgeons who have done wonders with what would have been rapidly declining mobility. The first surgeon said "It's a good thing you're here, otherwise you could be in a wheelchair by age 60". I wear custom made orthotic boots, shoes, and sandals and can still be a house-husband and family handyman, I can walk, climb ladders and hike in the bush. Praise Jesus for the lovely, caring medical people He has given me.

Along the way my "basketball knees" became troublesome; x-rays showed them to be arthritic with torn cartilages "like an old worn blanket". At one time I believed that Jesus healed the left knee (which was much worse than the right); my symptoms went away and my walk was easier. More recent x-rays show that the damage was still there; I now believe that Jesus simply made everything work better so that I could get around.

Recently

Last Christmas Trish and I went camping down South for 2 weeks. Most days we would go on a bush walk, which we just love to do, and my left knee suffered, there was constant swelling and pain in the knee, and my limp, which I had had for years, was more pronounced.

A New Miracle - The Reason I Was There Today

Last Wednesday Jesus gave me a new miracle .. It happened here at Wesley Church, in the very centre of Perth city ..

A fellow named Fred gave his exciting Christian testimony. I felt strongly to ask him to pray for my mobility. I was in shorts and able to show him my swollen knee.

Fred asked me to sit, he picked up my feet so that my legs were parallel to the floor; he noticed that my left leg was shorter than the right, by about a centimetre, I think. While continuing to hold my legs he prayed. After a short time I saw looks of amazement on people's faces and Fred announced, with great excitement, that my two legs were now of equal length.

He asked me, "Do you still have pain? How will we know if you are healed?" I replied that there was still mild pain in my knee and added "I walk with a limp". I then stood and walked, not limping, towards the font at the entry to the sanctuary .. and walked back .. I am told that I was grinning from ear to ear .. There was much laughter. We all gave a spontaneous clap offering to our lovely Jesus. It was a miracle. My mobility is assured for another season!

Later, walking to my train I noticed that muscles were working differently, they were having to get used to the new configuration of my leg!

The disciple John wrote: "This is the Bread that came down from heaven. It is not like the manna which our forefathers ate, and yet died; he who takes this Bread for his food shall live forever" (John 6:58 AMP).

Grace and Kindness

There are countless testimonies of God's love and grace and kindness today.

Our testimonies and our stories are the evidence of God's promises being worked out.

We can say "this is that of which the Bible promises", or, "this is that which Joe talked about at the house meeting last week". 

It's everywhere amongst God's people and it never stops .. 

"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written" (John 21:25).

Praise Jesus

Amen

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Bless our lovely Lord Jesus.