The Christian life is a life of victory, joy, peace and purposeful living. Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” True, there are many who are defeated and discouraged but this is not the New Testament norm. Let us picture the Apostle Paul and Silas imprisoned in Philippi. They were beaten and cast into the inner prison where their feet were locked in the stocks. Yet they prayed and sang praises unto God. (Acts 16:24-25) How did they do this? Their confidence was not in themselves; but their confidence and trust was in the true living God whom they loved, worshipped and served. Picture the disciples and thousands of other first century Christians singing praises to God as they were burned at the stake, crucified or fed to the lions. They faced horrible deaths with courage and joy because of their vital, personal relationship with Christ, remembering that “The servant is not greater than his Lord.” (John 15:20). Such dedication to Christ is not limited to the disciples and early Christians: Down through the centuries, there have been — and are still — many thousands of Christians who have dedicated their very lives to Christ. They are living the abundant life which Christ promised. We may not find it necessary to die for Christ, but are we willing to live for Him? Referring to the world crisis of this time, the desperate need of this hour are men and women who are utterly committed to Jesus Christ — who are willing to serve HIM “at any cost”.

The more I think of and pray about the state of religion in this country, and other parts of the world, the deeper my conviction becomes that the low state of the spiritual life of some Christians is due to the fact  that we do not realize that the aim and object of conversion is to bring the soul even here on earth, to a  daily fellowship with the Father in Heaven. When once this truth has been accepted, believers will  perceive how indispensable it is to the spiritual life of a Christian to take time each day with God’s Word and in prayer to wait upon God for His presence and His love to be revealed.

It is not enough at conversion to accept forgiveness of sins or even to surrender to God. That is only a beginning. We Christians, especially the young believers, must understand that we have no power of our own or his own to maintain our / his spiritual life. No, we need each day to receive new grace from heaven through fellowship with the Lord Jesus. This cannot be obtained by a hasty prayer, nor a superficial reading of a few verses from God’s Word. We must take time quietly and deliberately to come into God’s presence, to feel our own weakness and our needs, and to wait upon God through His Holy Spirit to renew the heavenly light and life in our heart. Then we may rightly expect to be kept by the power of Christ throughout the day, and all its temptations.

Many of God’s children long for a better life, but do not realize the need of giving God time day by day in their inner chamber through His spirit to renew and sanctify their lives. Let us meditate on this thought. The feeble state of our spiritual life is mainly due to the lack of time day by day in fellowship with God.  On this time of crisis we all experience because of Covid 19, a period of lockdown…God the Almighty gives us this privilege and opportunity to have more time for Him, to meditate on His statutes and promises and have more time in His presence. Let us all make sure we test positive for Faith. Keep distance from Doubt, and isolate from Fear. Let us Trust God through it all.

My Greetings and love to all. Stay safe! Amen.

In quiet reflection of this text, and reliving the recent celebrations in our spiritual walk, the following exercised my mind.

During Lent we have been preparing for the celebration of Christ’s paschal mystery. Before this day, Jesus entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph. The people welcomed Him with palms and shouts of praise.

But the path before Him led to self-giving, suffering, and death.

Today we greet Him as our Sovereign, although we know His crown is thorns, and His throne a cross. We follow His journey from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrection, by way of the dark road of suffering and death. United with Him in His suffering on the cross, we share His resurrection and new life.

The ascension message from God’s angels rings in our minds. “Why stand ye gazing up in to heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Be with us, and help us, God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy into the celebration of those mighty acts whereby you give us life and immortality; through our Redeemer Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ, you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant, and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation: give us the mind to follow you and to proclaim you as Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father.

What can we say? We can only re-integrate Revelation 5: 13 “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

These are the words of Abraham’s servant who was seeking a bride for Isaac. They were addressed to the people in the bride’s surroundings. We are familiar with this event. With God’s help and grace Abraham’s servant found Rebekah as a bride for his master’s son. Having been successful, nothing could keep him from returning home. His thoughts and wishes were directed towards home and his master to whom he speedily wanted to bring the adorned bride. And Rebekah was prepared to go with him and leave all former things like her ancestral surroundings, her family and friends.

From a spiritual perspective the apostolate is taking us as Jesus bride to the Master. 2 Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealously. For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” No one among us experience exactly the same things as the other. We have different natures and live in different circumstances. A foundation for a wonderful development has been laid within all of us. We are to be prepared to belong to Jesus bride at His return. The objective of our journey is to be united with our bridegroom, Jesus Christ. Here the example of Rebekah is apt again. What does it mean to “go to the master”. We earnestly strive to let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 2:5). This is demonstrated by our faith, deeds, conduct, and nature.

Moreover, it is imperative that we do not allow ourselves to be detained. Our surroundings in the broadest sense or our conduct could be a hindrance. We must not allow even well meant offers to keep us from pursuing the goal of our faith. Habits, inclinations, interests, and traditions of which we have grown fond must not hinder our spiritual development. We want to overcome those traits and peculiarities which are inappropriate for Jesus bride.

God prospers our way. He helps and blesses our genuine intentions and efforts. The bridegroom of our soul will also come to meet us. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18).

The spirit of the Lord is upon me. In Isaiah 61:6, it says, “But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God”. Do we think of ourselves this way, regardless of our nature and abilities? To be the servants of God, we must do the work of our God, then the word of 2 Corinthians 1:21 will apply us. “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God”.

Because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. We usually consider the poor to have no food, no family, no home, lacking the essentials of life. Spiritually the poor lack the essentials for the rebirth and do not really belong to anybody (no future). We are anointed to preach (teach) the gospel to those who stand in their own blood (Ezekiel 16:6) “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live”. We must bow down and have compassion for these souls. Preaching is more than standing behind the Altar, we must all go out to them on the wayside where usually trash (sin) accumulates. Souls must be dealt with warmly to draw them into the community. We have to do a soul’s work, this does not come out of our own nature, but must be prompted by the Spirit of the Lord.

He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted. The most sensitive operation is usually a heart operation. Spiritually too, if we do not have understanding for the souls, they will die. To heal is a hands on, person to person activity.

To preach deliverance to the captives. How many souls are captive in their own ideas, thoughts and passions. To preach deliverance is a true teaching that takes time, patience and love. By love the souls are drawn out of their circumstances into the joy of the Lord.

Recovering of sight to the blind. Recovering the sight means they have seen once and now do not see. Many times, we as the Officers and the visible church are the reason that people are spiritually blind. They cannot see in us true servants of God. They cannot see in our way of life and our activity the Lord’s Altar and the true meaning of the Lord’s Work. Perhaps we and our family do not uphold the Lord’s Altar and thereby they become blind to the Lord’s Work through our way of life.

To set at liberty them that are bruised. Let us leave things alone that have happened in the past. If one constantly touches a bruise, it can never heal. If we always bring up the mistakes of the past, it can never heal. Let us free ourselves and others from the attitude and events of the past.

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. This means that we preach that which is acceptable to God in order to make our worthiness for the first resurrection and Christs return.

The question now presents itself, can we say that “this scripture is fulfilled” in us and our activity, so that our brothers and sisters have access to the blessings of our Heavenly Father? Let us take this text word as a handbook, so that what we do is prompted out of the Spirit of the Lord and that it can be said of us, we are truly “Priests of the Lord”. 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, A royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (blessed) people; that ye should shew forth his praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”

To properly understand the story of David and Goliath we should know it from the beginning.
David was specially chosen by God, who used His Priest and Prophet Samuel to anoint him.
David came from Bethlehem, just like Jesus, his father was Jesse. The genealogy of Jesus
stretches back through David and Jesse to Rahab, who was the great, great grandmother of Ruth
who married Boaz, and they became the great, great grandparents of King David. The blessing
of God was upon this whole lineage, because Rahab had helped the spies which Joshua sent into
Jericho and so helped the children of Israel ultimately secure possession of the Promised Land.
The despised harlot Rahab became one of the most blessed of women, likewise the callow
youth David became the giant killer and King of Israel. Jesus the humble carpenter, the King of
Kings, all because “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1.Samuel16:7. All of these people have certain
characteristics in common. They loved God and were fearless enough to have the courage to
implement their convictions.
Goliath had a brass helmet, armour, a great spear and a shield. 1.Samual 17: 5-7. David was
offered armour etc. by King Saul but decided not to wear it, instead he chose 5 smooth stones,
which he put in his shepherd’s bag or scrip.
When Goliath was confronted by David he was insulted that the Israelites had sent a young boy
with a staff to challenge him. He cursed David and threatened to feed him to the birds and the
beasts. I.Sam.17: 43-44. David replied “Thou comest to me with a sword, and a spear, and with
a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel,
whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand.” I.Sam.17: 45-46.
Then, as we have heard in our textword, the fight was very short indeed. The giant did not get
time to wield his mighty spear or sword, neither did his armour and helmet protect him. It was
all over in a flash, it only took one of the 5 stones which David used with his sling, it struck
Goliath in his unprotected forehead piercing his skull and immediately he fell dead on his face.
It is all in the mind as people say nowadays. Jesus said if we have faith as big as a grain of
mustard seed we could command a big tree to be uprooted and transplanted into the sea. Luke
17: 6. When circumstances and problems seem to overpower us have courage, dear Brothers
and Sisters, let us remember our spiritual ancestors. With courage and faith in the Lord
everything is possible.

Jesus was enthusiastically welcomed by the crowds when He entered Jerusalem. “They took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Him, crying Hosanna: Matthew says: “The multitude that went with Him cried out: “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9).

Did Israel believe that it was truly their king who was coming? The king of peace, the king of heaven, the Messiah? Though they said so in their songs of praise they did not really believe. When the people of Jerusalem questioned, “Who is this?” the multitude replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matt. 21: 10-11).

The people cheered Him and were ready to acknowledge Him as King, because He was a prophet from Nazareth who had worked many miracles. They were thrilled with His miraculous powers. The news that He had raised Lazarus from the dead had quickly spread through all Jerusalem. “For this cause the people also met Him, for they heard that He had done this miracle” (John 12:18). The people of Galilee were looking for a king who could give them as much food as they required. The people of Judea and Jerusalem were eager to have a king who could raise the dead to life. Is this how faith should be? Certainly these works should help us to believe (John 10:38). It is not right when a believer does not recognize God’s power in miracles but wants them only to gratify his own needs. Such believers are enthusiastic only for as long as there are miracles and refuse to accept the cross.

The description of our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem is a picture of “Victory”. What did the disciples think of it? Perhaps that they had won? Perhaps that there were no dangers for them now, that it was the end of the Jews, or that no threats (John 12:19) hung over them now? On the contrary, it was clear to the Pharisees that now nothing was to be achieved by merely forbidding certain things, they had, therefore, decided to kill Him (John 11:53). Christ knew this and was not deceived by the triumphant welcome which He received. His soul was troubled (John 12:27). The reason for the jubilation was not as it should have been because He was the Son of God, but because He had raised Lazarus from the dead…. Hosanna! David’s Son is coming to Zion. Ah, prepare a throne for Him, erect a thousand triumphant arches, scatter palms, make way for Him to enter. This is what we sing in one of our hymns. What should be our reason for this exultation? Should He be king of our “Country”, of our lives, because He miraculously gives us everything and solves all our problems? Let us remember that faith, based on miracles, cannot face the cross. Jesus has said: “He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10:38). If faith is founded on just one miracle that foundation is not at all firm. True faith is to the Saviour of sinners and the Son of the living God. Once we have realised this, this knowledge and love will give Him His rightful place and we will adore Him saying: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessings. (Rev. 5:12).

When the Lord began His mission of teaching, He went up on the mountain and His disciples surrounded Him. Jesus then began to instruct them and the people. At the point in the sermon on the Mount from which the text is taken, the Son of God calls those He is talking to, the salt of the earth and the light of the world. To these designations one attaches certain characteristics which one would then expect to see in the character and deeds of those who follow the Lord.

Salt, used for preserving food and giving it taste, was an integral part of every offering brought in the time of the old covenant. Leviticus 2:13 “And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt”. It served to ‘sanctify’ the offering of the Israelites and symbolized the eternal covenant with God. The light created by God makes all forms of life possible. In another sense, however, light is a condition in which God reveals Himself, for God Himself is light. 1 John 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” To man this light is incomprehensible and inaccessible, 1 Timothy 6:16 “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

And yet the Son of God calls sinful man: salt of the earth and light of the world. To this is attached a high and holy task. Being connected to the living altar, Christ, ensures that every living child of God possesses the inner strength to live as a true Christian. If we keep the word of God as found in Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

When the life of a child of God is shaped and moulded by the gospel of Jesus Christ, then His example shines as light which brightens the darkness of this world with goodness and friendliness.

When disciples of Christ lose the connection with the word of God, then it is as salt that has lost its savour; it is useless. Being too far removed from the altar of the Lord (which can happen even regularly attending the divine services!) causes on to gradually slip back into a condition of darkness. At the close of the Sermon on the Mount the audience had experienced something great: they had heard someone who had taught them with authority. To date the word of the Lord has lost none of its spice or illuminating power; let us continue to make the most of it. Then the whole world – a metaphor for mankind – will see our good works and praise our Father which is in heaven.

We live in a world where many people refuse to serve God, do not recognise God or His existence and where the appearance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as the Messiah is questioned and challenged. For them the freedom to do exactly what they desire without obligation to God or Godly interference is too important. They see and utilise the wonder of the creation, but do not attribute it to the work of God’s Almighty Hand. One can define this as a spirit of selfishness and one that will do and believe almost anything other than God to ensure independence — A rebellious nature. Scripture declares this foolish behaviour. Psalm 53:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good”.

There are also those that serve God reluctantly, with human reservation, half-hearted and no real commitment and unwilling service. Despite accepting and acknowledging the Triune God, they are noncommittal and show limited dedication or labour in His House and often begin to develop some resentment. They are often upset that they cannot live life purely according to their own desires and devices and therefore service is often rendered out of pure duty and not necessarily out of love — often thought of as pointless to serve and not recognising the benefits and reward of serving God, Malachi 3:14-15 “Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what  profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?”

It is imperative that we do not judge nor condemn the above described people, but rather pray that they are enlightened and by the Grace of God find their way to Godliness in James 4:12 “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

Fortunately, there are those that Willingly Serve God, are Delighted to do His Holy Work and are a sweet and pleasant savour of Jesus Christ unto God, 2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:”

It is a wonderful gift to have a Willing Spirit based on deep heartfelt love for God and His Son Jesus Christ (like a mother towards her child – despite there being a lawful obligation, a mother does this because she loves her children). Serving God in this way allows us to develop our Spiritual Gifts, experience Miracles, Joy and Peace, increase our Faith, experience God’s Presence in many new ways and above all, it is Good for our souls!

For all who serve the Lord, that have tasted the Heavenly Gift of God, that are partakers of the Holy Sacraments, there is a stern scriptural warning to remain steadfast in the Household of God in Hebrews 6:4-6 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame”.

Which of these behaviours do we identify ourselves with or do we recognise in those that are close to us? Proximity to those that are willing and are delighted to serve God is utterly important — who do we mix with and how do we spend our time?