WHICH WAY ARE YOU LOOKING?

2 Timothy 4

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

It’s the end of another year, what have we done with the year just gone?

Millions have died, most to a lost eternity, so are time on earth is so short.

Paul reflecting on his life, penned these amazing words to hos protege, Timothy.

He looked at his life, he looked squarely into the eyes of the death shortly to happen to him and had the utmost confidence.

Backwards

In verse 7, Paul reflects on his life, he looks back and says that he has fought a good and finished the race. Can we say that? I wonder if I could, you know as you get older, you look back, I certainly look back and think about my past and I know that the words penned by Paul couldn’t be mine. I Have failed the Lord so  many time, but he has been so gracious and merciful to me.

There is good in looking back, but there is bad in looking back, remember that our focus mustn’t be on the past, we can’t change it, however much we want to, we can learn from it. If we are truly saved, we have to remember that God is merciful and has forgiven all our past failures.

Many of carry the past with us, it is like a ball and chain round our feet, but only the devil reminds us of our past, it is his aim, to keep us looking at our past, it is the Holy spirit’s aim to help us learn from our past.

Are you continually looking at your past or learning from it?

Forwards

 PHILIPPIANS 3

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul was a mature believer, but still he wanted to obey the call of God, the call of God to the Christian, is always to go FULLER, DEEPER AND HIGHER.

Standing still in the Christian life, is never an option, If a climber, wants to climb Mount Everest, he never stays at base camp, he moves onwards and upwards.

The Christian needs to constantly be going forward, to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Christian should be always on an upward trajectory.

Are you moving forwards in your Christian life?

Are you spending quality time in your bible?

Are you spending more time in prayer?

UPWARDS

TITUS 2

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Jesus is coming soon, we see what’s happening all around us, the last days are upon us, we need to be awake. Jesus makes it clear that we need to keep awake, as we do not know what time the son of Man, would come and blessed is that one who have their lamps trimmed and ready Matthew 25.

Philippians 3

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

20

citizens of heaven, our whole focus, should be heaven ward and not earthly.

LOOK AROUND US

JOHN 4

35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

As I walk around every day, I see thousands of people, we must see every person as a divine opportunity to either share the gospel or stir another believer to faith and good works Hebrews 10:24

Colossians 4:2-6 and 2 Thessalonians 3;1-3 are great passage, these passages can be used to pray for opportunities to reach people, remember every person is an opportunity. Look around you and pray for God to bring people into your lived. He will.

We have been positive so far, but let’s look at the things, we shouldn’t look at/

Sideways

We need to be looking  straight ahead, not to the right or to the left. We need to have our focus on the road ahead and not be distracted. There are lots of things that can grab our attention, but we need to have clear focus and not to be distracted by the attractions of the world.

Peter is John 21, was distracted by looking at others, he said to Jesus

What will this man do?

Downwards

So many Christians are pessimists, they hang their heads in shame. They are constantly looking down.

Psalm 42-43 are illustrations of the Christian who is constantly looking down, you cannot make progress in the Christian life if you are looking sideways or downwards, you will simply fall over.

It’s time to stop looking sideways or downwards and start looking straight ahead.

STOP LOOKING AT OTHERS

It’s time to stop comparing yourself with others. my ministry isn’t as good or great as that other person.

DONT STAND STILL AND LOOK AT THE WORLD

1 JOHN 2

Do Not Love the World

15 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. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

The pull of the world is very strong for the Christian, if we stand still and look at all the world offers, we will end up in trouble. We live in a world that offers so much to trap the believer, so we need to walk forward, clear headed and focused, like Paul was in Philippians ch 3.

Demas stood still and looked at the world, he was trapped by the pleasures of this world, the Christian world is littered with people, who have left the faith for the love of the world.

LOOK TO JESUS

HEBREWS 12

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

God holds us and helps us, through his precious holy Spirit.  What a saviour we have, one who cares and prays for us.

So to walk properly, we need the following things:

The right light Psalm 119:105 The word of God

The right mindset Romans 12：1-2

The right power source.. Prayer Example of Daniel in Chapter 6 of his book 

The right clothing Spiritual armour Ephesians 6:10-20

So what direction are you going to be looking at in future years.

God bless you

KK

As we enter this new year,  here are five things we need to do.

The five S for the new year

Seek God with all our heart Jeremiah 29:13,James 4:8 and Zephaniah 2:3

Speak to God often in prayer  Philippians 4:6-7, 1Thess 5:17 and Ephesians 1:15-23

Serve God and people every day  1 Peter 4:10,  Deuteronomy 10:12 and Galatians 5:13

Share Christ every day  2 Thess 3:1, Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Timothy 4:1-2

Soak yourself in the word of God  Psalm 119,  2 Timothy 3:16-17 and  Colossians 3:16

God bless you

Keith

PSALM 37

Psalm 37:25

Ihavebeenyoung, andnowamold; yet haveI not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM GOD IN THE FUTURE

I was walking along the street tonight and this verse came to mind, I had not been planning to write a new year’s devotional, but here it is.

I am a very blessed man, I have a beautiful family, my wife, daughter and new son in law are my treasures.

Although I have so many blessings, I still have pangs of hurt within my heart, for long stages of my life, especially those years between the ages of 25 to 42 I wasted, due to my own arrogance, sin and disobedience. These were the best years of my life, wasted, but God has restored all these years.

But God is gracious and every year life gets better and better, so as we enter another new year, what can we expect of God.

The first thing we can be sure of is God’s forgiveness and restoration if we are truly repentant, we can be sure that he will forgive us, if we are truly sorry.

This is what we can expect from God, these verses say this:

1 John 1

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 32

5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Psalm 103

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

The second thing is God’s grace, now grace is unmerited favour, we do not deserve it. We have God’s grace through salvation, but we also have God’s grace through all the daily situations of life

Paul went through difficulties, but God’s grace was enough, in 2 Corinthians 12 it says this:

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Thirdly, we can be sure of God’s faithfulness. Even when we stray and are not faithful to Him, he always is to us. Every day and in every way, he is faithful, he cannot deny himself.

Again this is such reassurance to us, look at these verses.

Lamentations 3

22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Psalm 89

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

I am amazed continually about the faithfulness of God, despite my wanderings. If I was him, I would of just said ” I’m tired of all his rubbish, I’m walking away’, but amazingly he doesn’t.

Fourthly, we can be sure that the promises of God will stand, we have so many precious promises that stand the test of time.

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

These promises give us so much confidence, these promises are given by the one, who cannot and will not even lie. His promises to us are constant, consistent and complete.

Fifthly, God’s power is unchanged. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the same power that brought the world into existence and the same power that parted the red sea.  This same dynamic power lives in us, through the Precious Holy Spirit, isn’t that amazing.

He is still the same in his power to save, he is the only one, who can save and transform individuals, communities and countries. He can all transform people, all we have to do is to proclaim that Jesus is Saviour and Lord

Hebrews 7:25

Wherefore he is able also tosavethem totheuttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Galatians 1:4

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliverus from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

God through Jesus and the working of the holy Spirit, is the only way to salvation, God is also powerful to deliver the believer, the other so called God’s cannot help.

Psalm 40:17

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

2 Timothy 3:11

Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lorddelivered me.

Sixthly, God is the only one who can and does answer prayer, note the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 18, the prophets of Baal cried out to their so called Gods, this is still the case today, people are crying out to their God’s of materialism etc.

1 Kings 18

26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

God answers our prayers, we can be sure of this:

Psalm 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 17:6

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words.

Doesn’t it give you confidence that God will and does answer prayer? No one else does..amen

Seventhly, God is still is and will be sovereign, as we enter and go through this next year, we can be reassured that God is still on the throne.

Psalm 2

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

Man may rage, things on the news may get worse, but we as Christians know that HE is still on the throne.

We know that all things are under his control and the world is working to HIS timeline.

We know that God is in control of our lives.

So we can be confident because we know that God is all these things.

That God is:

Forgiving

Gracious

Faithful

Promise keeping

Powerful

Prayer answering

Sovereign

All this should give us confidence, hope, comfort and strength, whatever we will go through this next year, we can rest assured, because God is who he is, he doesn’t change.

Hebrews 13

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

We can rest on these great verses in Romans 8:

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Some of the people who are reading this, may not be here this time year next year, we all die, but if they are saved, they have the same confidence that Paul and Job had:

Job 19:25

For I know that myredeemerliveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

2 Timothy 1:12

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for IknowwhomIhavebelieved, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which Ihave committed unto him against that day.

Do you have the same confidence that Paul and Job had?

Time is very short

TRUST CHRIST TODAY

2 Corinthians 6:2

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in thedayofsalvation have I succoured thee: behold, nowisthe accepted time; behold, nowisthedayofsalvation.)

HEBREWS 2

3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

As we go into this new year, we go with confidence, we go with boldness, because of who God is and what he has said.

2 Timothy 1:7

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Let us go forward with assurance and confidence, living with powerful spirit filled lives that challenged and change the world.

I FOR ONE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD WILL DO IN THE FUTURE, WE GO WITH CONFIDENCE AND BOLDNESS SINGING

HALLELEJAH AND AMEN

God bless you

KK