Monday Reflection – November 30, 2020

God’s Promises for His Precious People

Thus said the Lord of hosts: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye. Zechariah 2:8 What blessed promises are contained in Scripture for the people of God! Promises for every season and time. The book of Zechariah contains some of God’s precious promises to his chosen people. They are likely to be far more effective because they are spoken to people in exile and bondage. Zechariah 2 begins with the call to return to the Promised Land, depicted by an angelic being with a measuring line. He measures to see the width and length of Jerusalem. Apparently, Jerusalem was measured to make sure that it is large enough for the multitudes God would bring to it, though at the time there seemed to be too few people for the city. God promises that Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, as the crowds would overflow the walls of the city. In light of the absence of the protective walls, God promises protection, not from Hawkeye or King Alarm, not from the dons and donettes, not from alarm systems and security cameras. God promises that he will be a wall of fire all around Jerusalem. There is absolutely not a better protection than that.Based on this promise by God, the exiles are exhorted to leave Babylon and return home. In Zechariah’s day few of those who were carried to captivity in the Babylonian Empire returned to the Promised Land when they were allowed to. However, the Lord summoned His people to return back to their land. Sadly, most of the exiles were comfortable in Babylon and refused to endure the challenge to build a work of God. It is relevant to note that throughout the Bible Babylon is used as an idea as well as a literal city. If Jerusalem carried the idea of “God’s city” then Babylon carries the idea of the “city of the world”. Zechariah’s call to come out of Babylon therefore, is both literal and figurative. No wonder we sing “Leave Babylon, leave Babylon, leave Babylon and come…”The protection God promises was not just for the city, but more so for His precious people. He pledges destruction for the enemies, for “Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye.” The phrase “apple of His eye” is used to describe something precious, easily injured, and demanding protection. Charles Spurgeon says that the pupil of the eye is the most tender part of the most tender organ, and very fitly describes the inexpressible tenderness of God’s love.God’s people are dear to Him and He promises to protect, shield and defend us. Our God always provides a way out. Yet He puts us through the process, like a slow-cooker and not a microwave oven, to shape us into what He desires us to be. As we go through the God-directed processes of life, let’s stay focused and faithful and cling to His precious promises. Amen.Jermaine Gibson

Friday Reflection

November 27, 2020

Endurance

You know that the testing of your faith produces endurance , James 1:3

James , a half brother of the Lord, wrote a letter to the twelve tribes that were scattered abroad. In the letter, he encouraged his brethren to put faith to the test .

We have all been through difficulties and sometimes the hardest thing to do during that moment is to be happy or have faith . We often let anxiety, depression or sadness consume us and affect our ability to believe that God can change our situation. Those moments are normally when our faith is revealed and tested.

James tell us that regardless of the trials we face, we should always be happy because the testing of our faith produces endurance and better days are always ahead. It is important as Christians to endure whatever is thrown at us so that we can prove the wonderful work of God in us. Endurance is having the will power to face an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way. The word tells us that after you have endured and done God’s will that you will receive his promises. Faith is vital to salvation and it helps us to trust and believe in God’s word and his promises for us.

So going forward in our lives , let us all try to have more faith and try to endure whatever circumstances that comes our way and trust wholeheartedly that God will always make a way.

Stay safe , stay blessed
Toni-Ann Poyser

Thursday Reflection

November 26, 2020

Thanks and Praise to the Almighty (Part 1)

And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:13

Good day friends!

Stop! Pause what you’re doing for a minute. Think about this phrase by King David in verse 1, “The work ahead of him is enormous, for the Temple he will build is not for mere mortals—- IT IS FOR THE LORD GOD HIMSELF!”… The church [whether our bodies or the physical building] is not for us mere mortals to do as we please, but it is for God himself. Speaking to Solomon, his son, and the entire assembly that had gathered to hear David’s final set of instructions, before Solomon is named King, David highlights the importance of the Temple and the vast amount of work needed to complete the Temple. David knows that the responsibility to build the Temple is not his, but he wanted to play his part and make the work a bit easier for Solomon.

David pledged all of his fortune to the building of the Temple in addition to all the other materials that he previously collected. After giving his gold and silver, David encouraged the rest of the assembly to follow his example and give, not to the Temple, but to the Lord. Other families, leaders of the tribe of Israel, generals and captains of the army, and the King’s administrative officers all gave WILLINGLY. We are told of something amazing in verse 9, “Then the people REJOICED because these had given WILLINGLY, for with SINGLE MIND they had offered FREELY to the Lord; King David also REJOICED greatly.” David then praised God in the presence of the assembly, giving God thanks and noting that everything comes from God and what the people possess was given to them by God in the first place.

Friends as we look at this text there are so many teaching points that we can develop, but what is current through the text is that everything belongs to God.

1. The Temple belongs to God. Whether it is our bodies or the place we worship, it hosts the presence of God. It is not ours, but God’s and we must treat it as such. It is not ours to do as we like or desire. We cannot manipulate the church, we cannot treat it as our own personal possession, and we cannot degrade it for it hosts the presence of God. We MUST give an account of how we deal with God’s possession. We must give an account of the places we go, the things we say, the actions we carry out, the life we live, our interaction with people and how we treat God’s Temple. We must give an account, because it does not belong to us!
2. Our possession belongs to God. David was able to freely and willingly give because he knew that everything he owns belongs to God in the first place. His gold and silver belong to God so he was just giving back to God what belongs to God. This thought of giving back to God surpasses our finances and includes our time, talent, our investments, our family, our friends, and our prized possession. Everything belongs to God.

With this knowledge David praised the Lord and gave him thanks. It is God who allows us to share with him what He has given us, so let us give him thanks and praise. There is more I want to say on this topic but I will leave it part two.

Shalom

Christopher Euphfa

Wednesday Reflection, November 25, 2020

False Security

Amos 6 opens with what may appear to be a contradiction to the lifestyle of the people at in that day. The prophet warns, ‘woe to them that are at ease in Zion’. Why would anybody want to warn anyone about being too comfortable?

Zion, was a fortified city, made that way by both nature and art. The people there were secured in a type of vain conceit thinking that they would be protected and spared from anything or anyone who would pose a threat to them. Zion was that great a city, it had a rich history and was ranked a top class place with automatically top ranking citizens.

The people were lovers of themselves, became self seeking individuals who disregarded the commands the Lord gave them and instead sought their own pleasures. They thought that their positions in life and the location of the city in which they lived were enough to secure them.

In today’s watchword, Amos 6:6 says, ‘you drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but do not mourn over the ruin of Joseph.’ This reflects the state of a people who were consumed only by what happened to their own selves. They were preoccupied with filling their bellies with the best and using only the best personal care items wihout giving a thought to the cost of their actions.

Brothers and sisters, some of us may be considered inhabitants of Zion. A people specifically chosen and given benefits however, we have become spoiled and presumptious sinners who abuse the privileges we have been given. Conforming to this world or allowing vain confidence to bear fruit in our lives.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 tells us, ‘as for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselvrs the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Friends, as we reflect today, and during this upcoming yuletide season, may we only boast of God’s grace. May pride never take root in our heart and may we not be deceived by our own lusts but rather wait on the Lord and put all our trust in Him instead of in our own abilities.

Would it be too much to ask that we consider thr needs of others above our own? That we give to someone without them having to ask? That we harbor good/positive thoughts and only speak life? Starting today, what acts of kindness will you begin to perform?

Until next week, I urge you to not rest at ease in Zion but challenge you to keep the commands of God.

Amen

Kerone Lamoth

God Gives us Hope.
Just imagine a nation oppressed by more powerful nations of the world. They are desperately in need of deliverance but their cries for help is unheard by the other stronger and more powerful nations around them. This was the situation of Israel as they were help captive in Babylon. In time however God who heard their cries and had been with them throughout this period, gave them the release they needed and they were able to return to Jerusalem, the holy city, home of the temple and center of their religion. Just as their capture and captivity had been know the world over, so their return and re-establishment was now also seen by the entire world. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Psalm 98: 3.

There are three things that gives us hope this week as we reflect on Thanksgiving and prepare for Advent. Firstly, God journeys with us through hard times. I have heard so many people hoping there can be a reset for 2020, or wishing there was a way to not add this year to their number of years lived, or even being so scared of what disaster would be next. We have had massive fires, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, plagues of locusts, the deadly coronavirus, and much more. While some have impacted specific parts of the world, COVID-19 is everywhere. We have all been impacted at some level. Of one thing we can be assured however is that at no time have we been abandoned. God has been in the midst of it all with us. Just as Israel was reminded time and time again while in captivity, we too need to remember. God reminded Israel through Daniel’s rescue from the Lion’s den, through the rescue of the three Hebrew boys, and through the positioning of Esther to bring about their rescue. God has reminded us by sustaining us through this turbulent year. God never abandons those who love and trust him, even, or especially when we find ourselves in the direst situations. Jesus’ promise to the disciples still holds true for us today. ‘I will be with you always, even to the end of the ages’. Also relevant to these times is God’s promise through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 43: 2 – 3. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Secondly, God rescues us in time. This is about God’s timing, not ours. We are thanking God that in time, God acted on our behalf and we were not allowed to get to an irreparably state. Note that God never acts in accordance with our expectation and timing, but whenever God acts, it happens just in time. The woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9 had suffered for 12 years, the man at the pool of Siloam suffered for thirty-eight years and I would think he waited there for most of that time, seeking the help he needed. There are people around us who have been waiting for years. You may be waiting for your breakthrough for many years, but I encourage you today, do not lose hope, do not lose heart, God will rescue you and he will rescue you in time. When we see how God’s plan for salvation was carried out, we should gain hope. Paul explains in Gal 4: 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son.

Thirdly, God re-establishes us on time. God’s journeying with us through time and God’s rescuing us on time is in order to re-establish us on time. To be re-established is to be brought back into God’s favor, to enjoy God’s blessings. There is no hiding this away. Everyone who sees you when you are down, everyone who mocks, laughs, turns a blind eye, behaves indifferently, will see and know that God has changed your circumstance, has changed your life. Everyone will see you move from, captivity to freedom, from sin to grace, from sickness to health, from poverty to wealth, from condemnation to redemption as God rescues and re-establishes you. Indeed all the ends of the earth will see God’s salvation as God works to establish His church and his saints. Keep us trusting God friends as we wait in expectant hope. Things may be tough now, but God has a plan, and He will see us through. Amen.

Monday Reflection – November 23, 2020
God’s Dwelling

I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15

Today’s Watchword evokes a sense that we should sit up and listen to God speaking to us. The verse actually begins with, “For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy…” God is speaking directly to His people and begins by giving a little description about Himself; a key thought that His people needed to remember. But why? When we read the context of Isaiah 57, we find that God’s people had lost sight of the majesty of God. They had lost their reverence for God. Many in fact were not even giving Him a thought anymore. Their once high noble thought of God had descended to that of mere household idols made of wood. These idols were now their saviour. So, God begins by reintroducing Himself again in His right context. Have we lost sight of God – His holiness, His majesty, His glory? Do we walk in reverential fear of God? We will do well to recognize and remember God’s exalted position above all powers, rulers and authority. There is none above God and He has complete and utter power to act as He pleases.

The text reveals an amazing dimension of God. Yes, God is high, lofty and holy and he dwells in the high and holy place, yet he also dwells among mortal beings. When we read that God is ‘the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity and whose very being is holy’, we may tend to think that He would keep His distance from people like you and me! But, NOT SO! The God of the universe shows His care and love for us, inspite of us. Hallelujah!!! God dwells with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. The text challenges us to walk humbly before God and allow Him to lead us to reflect his glory.

Interestingly, this same thought of humility and contrition is presented to us later in Isaiah 66:2, “To this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” The Hebrew word for contrite is translated ‘crippled’ or ‘lame’. It reflects one who realizes that his walk is not what it should be and so comes humbly before God. There he finds himself blessed with the presence of the Almighty God who dwells with such souls in order to revive their spirit. This is the God who is worth knowing, worshipping and experiencing!

In the presence of our high, lofty and holy God, let us demonstrate a humble spirit and a contrite heart so we can truly experience His presence with and in us. May we decrease and God increase in us. Amen.

Jermaine Gibson

Saturday Reflection – 21 November 2020

“God, your steadfast love is better than life.” Psalm 63:3

God is good! All the time! And all the time, God is good! We often say these words to express God’s goodness in our life, especially when we have overcome some trial or obstacle. And we often come to this point of celebration, having recognized that amid danger, imminent threat, or certain destruction, were it not for God’s grace and mercy, we would have certainly been destroyed.

The Psalmist finds comfort in the fact that even though, he is being pursued by Saul, and finds himself wandering the wilderness of Judah, that he was surrounded by God’s presence. And even though thirsty and weary, it was that assurance that fuelled his songs of praise to God. It was not for water nor rest that he cried to the Lord, but that God would draw near to him in his distress. Hear David in verse 1 “O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” He longed to spend time in worship and communion with God, even to recall God’s guiding, sustaining and protecting hand that would energize him, in his moments of suffering.

It is in this longing, that he recognizes God’s continued care, and he turns to praise. David felt overwhelmed by the pursuit of his enemies and their continuous attacks, a feeling which turned to joy and praise as God’s love would be sufficient to sustain him in the storm and then lead him in victory over his adversaries. No wonder he says in celebration that God’s love is indeed better than life. For life is riddled with ups and downs, thorns and thistles, days on the mountain, in the valley or on the plain but it is God’s love that never changes. It is God’s grace that is greater than our sin. It is God’s mercy by which we are not consumed. It is in God, that we live, and move and have our being.

Where David was concerned, God’s love was not determined by whether there was a calm, or a storm – whether there were golden days or weary ways, but that God was present with him in either circumstance. That as he surrenders himself to God’s love and mercy, he would find himself assured that God, who promises, never to leave us, nor forsake us, to work everything for our good, is faithful. It was that resolve, that led David to long for God’s presence and that recognition, that fuelled his song of praise and worship. Though he was in danger, and felt the human effects of these pursuits, he was assured that by God’s love, all will be well. And in that perspective, he sought his loving God, who in sustaining him, would breathe peace, joy, and love.

It is this example, that turns us away from measuring God’s goodness on account of the storms we’ve avoided or not met, but by God’s sustaining presence, God’s moulding and shaping care, and the victory that we celebrate when we come out, on the other side. It is by God’s love that we are reminded that God is a promise keeper and is the glory and lifter up of our heads. And that in God, is our strong tower, that as we run to it, we are safe. When we are surrounded by God’s presence, when we stand in the name of Jesus, as the songwriter declared, tell me who can stand before us. When we stand in the name of Jesus, we shall have the victory. And in that resolve, we search not for the pleasures that this world offers, but for the one who in his unrelenting love for humanity, gives us life, and gives it to us, more abundantly.

Until next week, like the deer that pants for the water-brooks, may we long for God’s sustaining presence; our refuge, rock, and defence. The Psalmist declares that “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1, NKJV) The pleasures of life are fickle and fleeting but God’s love is eternal and unending, and in that love, we shall not be moved. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair

Friday Reflection – November 20, 2020
A Warning to Leaders

He changes times and seasons, deposes kings and sets up kings. Daniel 2:21

Greetings Friends! 

I’m sitting in for Sis Shaneka as she seeks to accomplish her assignments. Our prayers for her.

Have you ever had sleepless nights? Those long, dark and endless hours of the night when we cannot settle down to sleep because of something on our minds? Such matters usually cause worry and anxiety as we wade through the difficult waters of life. If your answer is yes, then you are not alone. Rich and poor, black and white, uptown and downtown, Christian and non-Christian have all been there. King Nebuchadnezzar understands this reality as he had a dream and was so troubled by it that he couldn’t sleep. He summoned his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to interpret his dreams, but none could. This was beyond human comprehension.

Nebuchadnezzar got so mad at his men that he ordered them killed, including Daniel and his companions. To save his life and further bloodshed, Daniel begged the king for a little time to determine the interpretation of his dream, and such request was granted. Daniel consulted his three companions and they sough Yahweh’s revelation. God answered their prayers and revealed the secret of the revelation in a vision to Daniel. The king got the interpretation of his dream.

Today’s Watchword is part of Daniel’s prayer of thanksgiving to God for the revelation. Daniel praised God for His power and might. Daniel thought of how God, who changes, deposes and sets up, is in command of all things, and how God is mightier than a mighty king like Nebuchadnezzar. The God of omnipotent and ultimate power rules and over-rules all by His divine providence.

Daniel’s acknowledgement that God deposes kings and sets up kings is a serious warning to all in leadership in whatever sphere of life, be it political, civic or religious. We are not invincible nor irreplaceable; the God who enables us to get there, will take us down! Nebuchadnezzar came to learn this startling truth. Daniel 4: 31-33 says, A voice came from heaven says to him: “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: The kingdom has departed from you! You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will.”  Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. Another example is King Saul. Hear Samuel to him in 1 Kings 15: 17-19, 23: “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission… Why did you not obey the Lord? Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

May those who lead humble ourselves, pursue God’s purposes, and seek always to be faithful to him. 

Jermaine Gibson

Thursday Reflection

November 19, 2020

Come and experience the goodness of God

O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

Good morning friends,

Today’s text which is located in Psalm 34, extends an invitation to the readers to come and experience God as David has done. The Psalm begins with David offering praises to God. Why is David offering praises to God? Well, he sought the Lord and the Lord answered him. The Lord delivered him from all his fears. The Lord sent his angel to encamp around him and the Lord saved David from his troubles. What is this trouble you might ask?

Psalm 34 has its genesis in 1 Samuel 21: 10-15. David was on the run from King Saul and fled to Achish the King of Gath. Whilst there, the servants of Achish identified him as David whom Saul was hunting. David became afraid and pretended to be insane. He made markings on the door and made spit run down his beard. When Achish saw this he thought David to be mad and let him go. It is against this backdrop that David offers praises to God and now extends an invitation for others to do so.

Even though David acted crazy, he realised that it was the grace of God that allowed King Achish to be convinced that he was crazy. It was the grace of God that protected him from King Achish as well as King Saul. David proved God’s faithfulness time and time again. God protected him, God delivered him, God sent his angels to encamp around him and God provided for him. God simply has been good to David.

As a result of God’s goodness, David now extends an invitation to others to come and experience the goodness of God. God does not show preferential treatment and as such God will do the same thing he did for David. Accept the gift of God which is Jesus Christ his son. Watch and see that you will experience the same deliverance, the same provisions, the same resolution to your problems and from your enemies. David has proven the Lord, I have proven the Lord and many others have done so. It’s now your time and come and see that the Lord is good.

Shalom

Christopher Euphfa

Wednesday Reflection, November 18, 2020

God above idols

O Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but we acknowledge your name alone. Isaiah 26:13

Whilst it would appear that idolatry (the worship of idols) was merely a thing of the past in which images be it of stone or wood, were created and people bowed to the inanimate objects; idolatry is still a very prominent thing today and is practiced perhaps more frequently than some of us even realize.

Unger’s bible dictionary defines idolatary as ‘the paying of devine honors to any created thing; worship in the form of idealism or abstractions or mental qualities.’ The bible also defines the practice as coveteousness, which is setting one’s heart and mind on anything other than the Creator and His perfect, living laws.

Tim Keller wrote, “what is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give”.

When the Isrealites entered into Palestine after their 40 years sojourn, they found the Canaanites already deeply rooted in idolatry. The people were enticed partly because it was new and different from Godly religion and possibly because of a tendency of a rigourous faith and ethic to weaken under the influence of sexual attractions. They ignored the Lord’s admonitions and found them self sinking in a pit they themselves dug.

According to C.S Lewis, “what satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could…be their own masters- invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history- money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery- the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy. The reason it can never succeed is this. God made us…”

Friends, what idols have we created and are holding dear? What are the things, who are the people we are inclined to give more devotion to than the Lord? Is it a job, relationship, spouse/child, social media, ambition, money?

2 Timothy 3:2-5 described our current reality, “people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

Until next week, I pray we will all become aware of idolatrous influences, leace no space for such curiosity but give top priority to God and His Word.

Amen

Kerone Lamoth