Choose Your Words Wisely

“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore, let thy words be few… Ecclesiastes 5:2.”

Solomon, who the Lord used to pen these words, was full of wisdom. Scripture tells us apart from the Lord Jesus, he was the wisest man who ever lived.

What we are to remember from this verse is that God sees and hears everything we say; you mutter under your breath, he hears that; he hears ever little bit of gossip people say.

We think the more words, we say the better. We look and think, if I say this or that, I will be recognized.

Remember, Job’s friends were ok, until they opened their mouths! Their words did not edify Job or bring him closer to God.

How many words are you saying? What words are you saying? Are they words of encouragement and words of blessing?

Do your words draw people closer to God or drive them further away from him?

Remember God is in the heavens and hears everything and He weighs the intention behind all our words.

God bless you, Keith

Further, Deeper and Higher

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day that ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord… Joshua 24:14-15.”

In this passage, the life of Joshua, a mighty man of God, is ebbing away. He has seen it all; he grew up in Egypt and he and Caleb are the only ones to have been allowed to enter Canaan.

As the leader, it was Joshua’s role to say these things, indeed there is only one other who possibly could do this and that’s his good mate Caleb. Both were part of the twelve spies but unlike the other ten, they had the vision of God; they were the ones to believe and put their trust in God to assure victory.

This rallying call will be echoed down through the centuries. For example, you can hear Elijah saying it on Mount Carmel, David saying it to the Jewish People, and Jeremiah pleading with tears to the unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem.

Although the Israelites in Joshua’s day had conquered most of the Promised Land, they needed to know stagnation and standing still are not an option. As Joshua rightly points out, there is more land to be captured and more battles to be won.

Standing still in the Christian life is backsliding. There has to be no complacency. Just because you have served God and he has blessed you in the past is no guarantee for tomorrow.

We should make a daily decision to serve the Lord and put away any idols that stop us going further, deeper and higher with God. Like the Israelites, we have a choice and this is a daily choice.

The Children of Israel made a sweeping declaration that they would serve the Lord, but it didn’t last long. That is why every day, we commit anew.

Let us commit to go further, deeper and higher with God.

God bless you, Keith

In Spirit and In Truth

“Jesus replied, “Woman, believe Me, a time is coming [when God’s kingdom comes] when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You [Samaritans] do not know what you worship; we [Jews] do know what we worship, for salvation is from the Jews. But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers. God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth… John 4:21-24.”

This is probably one of the greatest discourses between Jesus and the people whom he met. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus displays His ability to connect with those who were considered outcasts. Conversations such as this one with the woman at the well reveal the heart of our Savior. And it reminds us that we serve a King who delights in showing compassion and mercy to those who broken and lost.

In his conversation with the woman, Jesus sought to open her eyes to her own spiritual thirst, and His ability to satisfy that thirst through faith in Him alone. But the woman, like many of us had a past. However, her past did not stop Jesus from connecting with her, and your past will not stop Him from connecting with you, if you are willing to receive Him.

The woman, realizing that Jesus was more than a man looking for a free drink, shifts the discussion to worship. What she did not know was the One she was speaking with knew all about worship. The woman told Jesus that her people (the Samaritans) worship God in their place, and that the Jews worship the Lord in Jerusalem. Jesus responded by telling her that worship is not about being at a specific place, nor is it exclusive to a particular ethnic group. He goes on to say that true worship will be based on a relationship with the Living God.

The old Jewish form of worship based on animal sacrifices was soon to be fulfilled in the ultimate and great sacrifice of the Son of God. Jesus, through His work of redemption at Calvary was creating a new and living way for anyone to enter into the presence of God (See Hebrews 10:19-22). In essence, Jesus says, “You Samaritans have no idea what you worship; the Jews think they do; but God is seeking those who will worship Him based on a relationship with HIs Son, Jesus Christ.”

This is so incredible and let me leave you with this: Have you any idea of who or what you are worshipping? We are not worshipping a thing or an object; we are worshipping the living God. So how does this affect our worship? On Sunday, do you worship God in Spirit and in truth? Do you worship Him with all your heart? Or is your worship just a show? Like the Samaritans, do you know who you worship? Or like the Jews, do you have a form of worship but no love for God?

This passage teaches that God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth. To worship Him in spirit and truth begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ. Next, our worship must be sincere, not pretentious. True worship transforms us, encourages us and sustains us.

What kind of worshipper are you?

God bless you, Keith

Religious or Repentant

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbled himself shall be exalted… Luke 18:10-14.”

The Pharisee sought to justify himself. He was arrogant and prideful. Everyone thought he was addressing God, but he was in fact addressing himself。 You see the same type of people in church every week. They are just a little bit better (or think they are) than the rest.
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The publican was a man who knew what and who he was. He was a sinner and was aware of his sin. Unlike the Pharisee who knew only his so-called self-righteousness.

This publican talked to God. But he couldn’t even look up to heaven. He showed a holy reverence for God. and by the beating of his chest, he expressed genuine sorrow and repentance.

So, which are you? Are you someone who goes to church twice a week and gives tithes but only has a form of religion? Jesus would say you are like a tomb full of dead men’s bones? You have a form of godliness, but you deny the power of God.

There are many like this; they may even hold a high office in the church but are filled with self-righteousness and of their own importance. Jesus will say that he never knew them when it comes to Judgment Day.

We must all come to God like the publican; he stood afar off. But like the prodigal son, when he was a great way off, the Father saw him and ran to Him.

God sees your heart; he sees the heart that is repentant and he will accept you right where you are.

God bless you, Keith

Sitting Still or Standing Strong?

“Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the LORD has given them…? Numbers 32:6-7.”

This is a question that every Christian needs to be asked. Are you as a Christian who chooses to not sit on the sidelines, while your brothers and sisters are engaged in spiritual warfare?

Moses asked this question of his brethren, and it has application for us today. Yes, we have to be refreshed at times and take time out for rest. Jesus even took time out with his disciples, when He said…”let’s go and rest a while in Mark 6.

Many of us are engaged in hand to hand combat with the enemy. As Christians, we are called to fight a fight that will not stop until the day we die. We are up against an opponent, who is very powerful; an adversary that cannot be defeated with carnal weapons. We must fight Him with the “Whole Armor of God.” (See Eph. 6:10-18)

The children of Reuben and Gad had settled on the east side of the Jordan River. Their refusal to cross over the Jordan with their brethren was not only a betrayal of duty, it became a source of discouragement for the remaining tribes who were about to fight for their very existence as a nation and as a people.

When we sit out of the battle, or simply give up, we not only experience defeat in our personal walk; we may cause others to lose heart as they seek to go into battle.

If you have become comfortable sitting in the pews, I want to encourage you to suit up for the battle for the souls of men and women. Christianity is not a spectator sport; it is a war between the people of God and the adversary of our souls. But through Christ we have the victory!!

The time is short, and the return of the Lord is near. When Christ returns, will He find you in the midst of the fight, or on a spiritual vacation?

God bless you,

 kk

Keith

THE 5 W’S OF Service

1 Kings 18

36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”

I want to put everything into perspective. Serving the Lord is such a privilege, it is the outflow of knowing the Lord.

When the Lord called me to write, he called me using these verses, so these verses are very precious to me.

Let’s look at the five W’s of serving GOD, through these wonderful verses.

THE WHO OF SERVICE VS 36

Elijah knew who he served; he knew that he served the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We serve the all-powerful God, we can serve him, because we know who he is. We can have this amazing confidence in preaching the gospel and sharing Christ, because we are not serving gods of wood, stone and iron, like the 450 prophets of Baal were.

Do you have that confidence?

We know that the same God who did the miracles in the lives of his former saints, is still the same today. He doesn’t change and his power does not weaken.

THE WHERE OF SERVICE VS 36

We serve God in two situations, first of all, we serve God in the midst of the world, we seek to share Jesus in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. We live in the world, but we are not of it. 

Secondly, we serve God’s people. Look at the time, Elijah was serving and sacrificing, at the time of the evening sacrifice. We are to serve God’s people in the local church community, that is where we serve. Our gifts are for the edification of our fellow brothers and sisters.

THE WHAT OF SERVICE VS 36

Luke 17:10 says

So, you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

What are we?

We are nothing really, God is everything.

Elijah says, that he is God’s servant, he doesn’t try to grab any of the glory for himself.

Someone put it like this” We are nobodies, seeking to tell everybody about somebody who saved my soul”.

THE WORD OF SERVICE VS 36

We all want to serve GOD, we want to be at the forefront, me included. So often we fail in our service for God, we fall flat on our faces and we wonder why.

The reason is that God didn’t tell us to do that thing, we are led by our flesh, we need to make sure that the service we do, is because the Lord tells us to..

We do not preach ourselves, but we preach Christ.

THE WHY OF SERVICE VS 37

This is the most important one, why do we serve God.

We serve God for one reason and that is to turn the hearts of the people back to God. How can you spot a faithful ministry or a faithful preacher?

They are seeking to bring people closer to God, they are seeking to lead people to Christ, they are seeking to uplift God and the gospel. It is not about them.

It’s all about Christ

THE RESULTS OF GOD’S SERVICE VS 38-39

When we keep to the five w’s, God does certain things:

He shows his power.

The people worship God.

They acknowledge HIM AS GOD

They turn from their idols and serve God

Right service brings right results, God blesses right service.

Elijah honoured GOD, so God honoured Elijah.

In all we do, lets serve God in the right way, we will surely get the right results.

God bless you

Keith

True Faith



“And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net… Luke 5:3-5.”

True faith is taking God at His Word. There are many examples of true faith in the Bible, and in this passage, Peter is about to learn that lesson. To many of His day, Jesus was the new teacher in town, and when He talked, people listened. In this text, Jesus requests the use of a boat in order to keep the crowd from smothering Him as he spoke. The boat that He got into belonged to Peter. What Peter did not realize is that the moment Jesus stepped into the boat; life would never be the same.

After preaching to the multitude, Jesus turns His attention to a crowd of one: Peter. He directs his future disciple to launch the boat out into the sea for a catch. Peter’s response was based on experience. He was being real with Jesus. Many times, when Jesus asks us to do something that appears not to make sense, we feel the need to get real with Jesus, and tell him our situation. We often stop at the first part of peter’s answer. We say, we have tried everything, but no result. The response from Peter is incredible. Here he is an experienced fisherman and he is trusting this carpenter turned teacher.

Remember that Jesus was and is God; he knows everything and he understands everything. His deity shines through in this story, Jesus knows us totally; he knows our needs and he provides. Peter shared with Jesus the fact that he and his friends had been fishing all night long and caught nothing. However, Peter did not stop there. What he says next would change his life forever: “Nevertheless, at Thy Word I will let down the nets.”

Faith looks beyond our obstacles! Perhaps you have toiled all year at your church and seen no fruit… don’t give up! Keep letting down your nets. The fish will come in due time. Peter obeyed Jesus, even when it did not make sense. Listen carefully: Jesus did not need to know anything about fishing, because He was in control of the sea and the fish that were in it! As soon as Peter let down the nets, Jesus called for the fish to fill them! And that principle works for you and me today. Jesus knows what we are dealing with, and He has the power to command every situation to bow to His will.

So take Him at His Word, and wait patiently on Him to move on your behalf. Faith is summed up in this verse in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Peter and his fellow fishermen were tired. They were frustrated. They were demoralized. But, this one act of obedience by Peter transformed a long night of failure to a moment of overwhelming success!

There is another important lesson we must consider. After looking at the abundance of fish, and the financial benefit that would come from the catch, Peter took another leap of faith: He walked away from the fish, and the financial success to follow Christ. As Christians, there are two insights we gain from this passage: First, we need to take God at His Word and let down our nets. Second, we need to be willing to walk away from the “catch” and follow Christ, depending on Him and Him alone to meet our needs.

God Bless, Keith

A Passionate Heart

“A prophecy: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi… Malachi 1:1.”

Malachi was a very special prophet. He was the last prophet to speak before the long silence of 400 years and he had a real passion for speaking truth. So, what did Malachi have a passion for? He had a passion or a burning desire for God, and for God’s honor.

Look at verse 6 of chapter 1:

“A son honors his father and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the LORD Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

Let me ask you… Do you have a passion for God’s honor and glory? Do you have a burning desire for God Himself? Malachi had a passion for the word of God. The word of God was being trampled underfoot. It was listened to but not obeyed, just like it is today. Does that make you burdened or even angry?

Malachi had a passion for God’s work. All through the book, especially in chapter 1, he sees the altar of the Lord being polluted (vs 7). He sees eye service to the work of God and he is burdened and passionate to speak out under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Malachi has a passion for God’s people. They were living lives that appeared to the outsider, good and sacrificial lives, but in reality, within they were living lives that were a lie.

There were many in Malachi’s day, which saw the same things, but said nothing… It is the same today. Be open to the Spirit’s voice. Share God’s passion with the world. Share God’s passion with His church.

God bless you, Keith