Tuesday Reflection – July 07, 2020God is Always By Your Side

In my over thirty years of ministry I have met many persons who were banished from a congregation in which they worshipped because of disagreement with those in leadership. I have never felt justified in making any such decision because it is my firm belief that we will have members of our family with whom we do not agree, but we ought to do our very best to live together in harmony with everyone. I grew up with my parents reinforcing in me the idiom, ‘family stick together no matter what’. For me that has always included church family. Our church has always disciplined members which allows continued care and spiritual nourishment as well as the hope of reinstatement. Here’s something else I always wondered about. If you expel someone from your congregation, they automatically become a member of another congregation so what happens when everyone meets in heaven? Hmm! Today’s watchword is the cry of David, believed to have been written as he was being pursued by King Saul. He was feeling the pangs of being banished from his people and place of worship. I had said in my alarm, ‘I am driven far from your sight.’ But you heard my supplications when I cried out to you for help. Psalm 31: 22 

The situation is that David had fallen into Saul’s bad grace because of the king’s jealousy of the younger, more popular warrior. King Saul vowed to kill David and this had set David on the run. Bear in mind that prior to this David had been Saul’s son-in-law and living in the palace. For the next four years David is pursued by Saul and they have close encounters. David could have killed Saul once when Saul went into a cave in which David and his men were sleeping to relieve himself. Instead of hurting Saul, David cut a piece from Saul’s clothes and later showed it to him as proof that he meant him no harm. At another time when Saul had David and his men surrounded, David believed that it was his end and lamented, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1) Right then and there, a messenger came to Saul to tell him of an attack by the Philistines and Saul had to move out immediately, leaving David. (1 Sam 23:26 – 28). When we look at the two statements of David quoted above, both believed to be referring to the same event in his life, we get a glimpse into his mind at the time. Chased by Saul for four years, David was banished from the city where the Ark of the Tabernacle was. He could not go to worship as he was used to doing having been banished by Saul. He felt far away from God’s presence. Yet even in that place of deep spiritual despair, he called out to God, ‘why have you forsaken me?’ and God heard and came to his rescue. Persons may banish us from the physical temple but not from the spiritual presence of God. We are the only ones who can keep ourselves away from the spiritual temple, away from a good and beneficial relationship with God. As Paul states in Rom 8: 28, nothing can separate us from God’s love.  Friends we learn from David that there will be times when our path to God may seem obscured, whether by what others do or by what we are experiencing. During such times however we should not be afraid to seek God’s presence. David had a sense of being kept away from God, unable to gather for worship, unable to fellowship with his religious family, unable to sacrifice as required. This however did not stop David from stating his case to God, to call out to God for help. It tells us that when we are faced with situations that leave us feeling far away from God, God will still be close to us, providing for us and protecting us. In David’s own words we find security. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23: 4. We also learn that in life we will face many moments of uncertainty. What we ought to realize however is that it is never about what we face but who faces it with us. Jesus promised the disciples in Matt. 28:20 I am with you always, to the very end of the age. This presence gives us strength and courage. We can rest easy knowing that regardless of what we face or where we find ourselves, God will be with us. This is what God has promised to all who trust in Him. Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10. Indeed God is always by your side dear friend. 
Bevon White

Today the Moravian Church worldwide commemorates one of our Festivals – The Martyrdom of John Hus. Hus was burnt at the stake on July 6, 1415 on his 46^th birthday for having led a movement against the false teachings and corrupt practices of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church had Hus killed because he challenged the status quo and defied the edict designed to silence him. As I reflected on the life of John Hus and the reflection of last Monday which was titled ‘Defiant Daniel’, it struck me again that Hus was defiant as he demonstrated a daring, open and bold resistance to authority.

While Daniel was defiant against the orders of King Darius who decreed that whoever prays to anyone, except him, for thirty days would be thrown into a den of lions, Hus was defiant against the beliefs, teachings, practices and systems that he believed were contrary to the principles of the Bible. Daniel was defiant against the political powers that threatened his worship life to God. Hus was defiant against the religious powers that threatened and undermined the authenticity of the gospel of Christ.

Today’s Watchword brings to the fore one of the main challenges that Hus had with the practices of the Church. Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.” The Church then was engaged in the corrupt practice of selling indulgencies, where one could pay for their sins being forgiven by a priest. This irked Hus and he could not remain silent. He disagreed and proclaimed that only God could forgive sins; no priest or human had the authority or capability to forgive sins. There was no need to pay for one’s sins to be forgiven for Jesus had guaranteed our forgiveness of confessed sins, by his shed blood on the cross. He knew that only God could remove our transgressions from us. He also knew what Paul says in Romans 5:20, “Where sin increased, God’s grace abounded all the more”.   

We learn from the life of Hus and the Scriptures that there is grave danger in being gullible, easily trusting everyone and everything, and being tossed to and fro by every wind and sound of doctrine, cunning craftiness and deceit (Ephesians 4:14). We must test every spirit by being armed with the word of God – the sword of the Spirit – and the indwelling and enabling power of the Holy Spirit. We learn from Daniel and Hus that we must be prepared to stand up for our faith and for the right, or we will fall for anything. Fortunately, Daniel survived the lion’s den, but Hus died for standing for the right. Reality check – we will not always survive standing for truth and righteousness. Some things will cost our lives. Even while being tied to the stake, the authorities persuaded Hus to recant and he would be spared. But he said that it is better he died for the truth than lived for a lie. He embraced the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”   

Thank God that the forgiveness of our sins rests solely in His hands and His grace abounds and multiplies. Let us march forward with deep guts defying everything and everyone that opposes the sovereignty and principles of God, fully prepared to face whatever the cost. We press on guided by the Moravian motto, “Our Lamb has conquered, let us follow Him!”Jermaine Gibson 

Wednesday Reflection, July 1, 2020

Come out of Hiding

Brothers and sisters, I greet you well. As I reflected on today’s verse, I was reminded of Adam and Eve and how, after they ate the fruit, realization dawned on them and they, recognizing for the first time during their existence that they were naked, sought to hide from God.

When the Lord called out to them asking, “where are you?” It wasn’t a question about their physical location but about their spiritual health and position; for who among men can flee from the presence or knowledge of the Lord?

Culture and socialization has taught many of us to be secretive and to hide our feelings, habits, thoughts and whatever else we may possess. Sin also keeps us from going to God. It fills us with a foolish sort of pride that deceives us into thinking that we can make it on our own. Without leaning on or seeking God.

In today’s watchword from Jeremiah 23:24 the Lord puts it perfectly, “who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? Says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? Says the Lord.”

My friends, there is nothing too hard for God. There may be some situations and circumstances that you may think incomprehensible; you may have been tempted like Adam & Eve to partake of and experience that which would change your life and changed it has but instead of bringing you closer to God it has somehow made you feel distant and placed you into a worse situation.

Be not dismayed, seek the Lord earnestly, He is concerned about the condition of your soul and doesn’t care that sin has made you naked. Come out of hiding, recommit to God and allow His peace to fill you.

Until next week be encouraged, be reminded, rest assured because, “Anyone who loves God is known by him.” 1 Corinthians 8:3

Amen

Kerone Lamoth

Tuesday Reflection – June 30, 2020
Responding From The Heart

Today’s Watchword comes to us from Psalm 27: 8. When you said, “Seek my face,” my heart said to you, “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.” Psalm 27 was written by David before his coronation. It is most likely that at the time it was written, David was being hunted by King Saul and his army, explaining the danger David was in. In the Psalms we find many pleas for God to deliver the writer from danger. Many were written by David based on the horrible experiences he endured and his undying faith in God to rescue or deliver him from these persecutions and trials. David’s cry is the cry of every child of God who faces danger and persecution on a daily basis. ‘If God is my light and my salvation, who or what shall I fear?’ This is reflected in Paul’s ‘if God is for us, who can be against us?’ of Romans 8. David’s response also set’s the example for each of us as we respond to God’s care. God’s instruction to David is to seek God’s face, that is, to bring it to God, or talk to God. In the New Living Translation, the prompting to seek God is heard in the heart of David and his response is from the heart. This friends, is an example of the response that God seeks from each of us on a daily basis. He speaks to our hearts and we should respond from the heart.

In a paper published by Saybrook University, we learn that Aristotle taught that the heart was the center of the human body, the seat of the soul and the emotions, a primary sensory organ of the body. For this reason he described anger as a seething heat in the region of the heart. Known as the cardiocentric theory, this belief was widespread in the ancient world and saw the heart as the center of mental processes including thinking and memory. This helps us to understand David’s reasoning within his heart about God. His heart guided him during his dilemma to seek God, to put his case before God and his heart also helped him in deciding to do what needed to be done. ‘Your face Lord I will seek’. What this seeking from the heart did for David, was to remove his fear, or rather replace his fear of the enemy coming at him with faith in the God who was able to protect him, who was able to keep him in the time of trouble, who was able to hide him, that is, to shelter and protect him from the danger that was coming towards him. Friends how do you react to trouble, to danger? Do you get lost in the danger, the fright of what is coming towards you, or do you relax in confidence because of the presence of the one who surrounds you? The text reminds us to respond from the heart, that is, with all our emotion and intellect. Responding from our hearts will always give us confidence in God’s ability to protect, to save us. We are constantly reminded that he that is for us is far greater than those against us, that Christ who is in us is far greater than satan and his fallen angels who are in the world. Responding from the heart reminds us to depend on God and not on self or systems. As we reflect today then, let us face the enemy with great confidence even as David did knowing that God was with Him.

A final caution. Seeking God’s face suggests a seeking of God’s favor. It’s ok to worship and be in oneness with the saints and with God. Imagine however being in a crisis and seeking God’s face. What is desperately needed in a time like this, is the assurance of God’s face turned towards you the seeker of help. In the priestly blessing of Numbers 6: 22 – 27, the assurance of God’s blessing and favor was the turning of God’s face towards the seeker: “the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ God’s face towards us is the assurance of divine favor. When God is displeased with us, God’s face is turned away from us. Psalm 143: 7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. When this happens, we ought to seek God with all our hearts and confess our sins. Responding to God from the heart assures us of God’s forgiveness and promises God’s favor in our lives. Amen.

Bevon White

Monday Reflection – June 29, 2020
Defiant Daniel

Daniel said: “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me.” Daniel 6:22

To be defiant is to demonstrate a daring or bold resistance to authority (Dictionary.com). It involves open resistance and bold disobedience. Defiance is not usually a word used to describe a Christian, because many believe that compliance and falling in line is what is expected of a child of God. Even many of those who would consider opposition to authority believe that such should be subtly demonstrated. Yet, we find in this well-loved and treasured story of Daniel a defiant act against King Darius. This story is a dramatic one which involves the jealousy of political subordinates, the vanity of a king, the integrity of a man, and the power of and preservation by God, even against wild animals.

Daniel had distinguished himself and was one of three leaders directly under Darius, and he shined above the other two leaders because he had an excellent spirit. Daniel had a good attitude in his work and life, and this made him the object of attack. A plot was conceived and initiated against Daniel by the governors and satraps who sought to find some charge against him. Unfortunately for them, they not could find any charge or fault against Daniel; they looked for a flaw in his actions or his character but came up empty. There were no skeletons in Daniel’s closet. His enemies knew he could not be trapped into evil, but they also knew that he would be faithful to his God in all circumstances. So they had Darius sign a decree that whoever prays to anyone, divine or human, for thirty days, except the king, would be thrown into a den of lions.

What would Daniel do? He was confronted with a test of loyalties. He was a loyal subject of his king, yet he knew that the King of Kings deserved a higher loyalty. Daniel refused to give to the government the measure of obedience that belonged to God alone. He knew that the safest thing he could do was to radically obey God. We ought to recognize that the power to obey God and stand for him comes from a settled understanding that God is ultimately in control. Daniel defied the king’s edict, went to his house, opened his windows toward Jerusalem, got down on his knees three times a day and prayed to his God. He wouldn’t hide and pray and then turn up before Darius pretending that he was obeying him. He openly and boldly disobeyed the king’s orders.

Daniel faced the penalty by being thrown in the den of lions. However, God honoured his faithfulness and spared him. As Darius comes out the next morning calling out to Daniel and enquiring whether God had saved him, Daniel responds that God shut the mouth of the lions so they could not harm him. Daniel is an example of obedient disobedience. Like Daniel, we are called to be defiant against anyone or anything that threatens the superior place that God has in our lives and in the world. Any person, authority or institution that seeks to lead us away from God or acts in deliberate contravention of the will, commands and purpose of God should be defied. God is sovereign and any threat to that should face our defiance and rebuke. God will honour our faithfulness! Remember, Paul’s assurance in 2 Corinthians 4:9, we may be persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

Jermaine Gibson

Friday Reflection

June 26, 2020

Do the will of God and LIVE forever

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:17 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1jn.2.17.NIV

Background: 1 John 2:15–17 is a warning from John about un-Christian attitudes. Other portions of this chapter discuss how behavior provides evidence of fellowship with God. Here, John explains that thoughts and desires do the same thing. Since these are temptations, it is possible for a true Christian to stumble into them. However, habitually displaying these is a cause for concern Loving “the world” is defined here as physical lusts, lusts in one’s thoughts, and arrogant pride.

Application: In the text ,John notes that this world is temporary. The world is temporary for each person, since every person dies a physical death on earth. As a result, the desires of this world are also temporary. Believers are to resist evil desires, following the example of Jesus and not engage in certain practices that displeases the Lord our God.

Further in the verse, John mentions the “will of God.” This phrase has a rich usage in the New Testament. Jesus stated, “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). In the same way he’s saying, those who do the will of God will live forever. Doing God’s will or desires is to be the goal of every believer. Just so we know, the “live forever” speaks of external life.. NOT life on earth.

The most important point that I want us to note today is this: Doing God’s will cannot save us! No good works can overcome our sin. We are saved by Christ’s sacrifice, when we put our trusting faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8–9). We should be able to trust him to guide us into all truth. He will help us with our desires and ensure they are in alignment with his will.

Until next week, walk in the will of God and pray his will on earth as it is in heaven. May your life as a believer be an example to those who are desirous of being apart of the family of God.

Blessings
Shaneka Raymore Euphfa

Thursday Reflection

June 25, 2020

Jesus LOVES you

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35

As I reflected on this passage I thought about friendships. There are expectations that we have of our friends, but those expectations are not always met. Our friendships sometimes become affected by the situations happening in one’s life. The true nature of one’s friendship is revealed during hardships. Hardship determines who will remain with you and who will leave you. Your true friends stick with you during hardships.

Jesus is a true friend right until the end. This is what Paul highlights in Romans 8:35. Who will separate us from the love of Jesus. The verse continues by stating, “Will hardship, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” None of these challenges will ever cause Jesus to stop being there for us or stop loving us. No matter how much trouble we face; no matter if we have nothing at all; no matter if our lives are being threaten Jesus will always LOVE us.

What a reassurance! We can rest assure if no one else is there for us, Jesus will be there. He doesn’t allow our situation and circumstances to stop him from loving us. If we are poor Jesus still loves us. If we are downtrodden, Jesus is still there. If we are oppressed, we’re not alone. The song writer says ‘What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” A better friend than Jesus you will not find. But there is a condition.

This assurance of Jesus’s love is for those who accept him. Hear the question asked in verse 33, “Who will bring charge against God’s elect?” The condition here mentioned in verse 35 and really all of chapter 8 is for those who have accepted Jesus as their saviour. These persons are God’s elect. Those who have accepted Christ can rest assure that nothing can separate us from God’s love. That’s how great the LOVE of Jesus is for us.

Until next week know that Jesus LOVES you and He’ll always be there for you.

Shalom

Christopher Euphfa

Tuesday Reflection – June 23, 2020
God’s Word is Still Alive and Active.
 
Psalm 147 is a Psalm of praise to God the creator who cares for us. It can be divided into three sections. The first section, vs 1 to 6, praises God for his protection and preservation. Section 2, vs 7 to 11, praises God for his work in nature, and the third section, vs 12 to the end (20) praises God for his wisdom, power and word. In this section the concentration is on God’s power and care for his creation and the presence and witness of God’s word among God’s creation. The watchword for today is verse 15: He sends His commands to the earth. His word runs swiftly.
 
In a world which many describe as being devoid of the presence of God, today’s text is a stark reminder that God is very much present and at work among the creation. His commands and the swiftness of His words are a sure sign of God’s continued activity and presence. When God speaks, when God issues His commands, his words, they quickly reach their destination. In describing the swiftness of God’s word during the creation the Psalmist says in Psalm 33: 9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. This is the speed at which God’s commands move and his words impacts the world around us. There is an immediacy to God’s words. He speaks and it happens. Paul understood this when he asked for prayer in 2 Thessalonians 3: 1: Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, just as with you. God word moves throughout the earth and is glorified as it finds fulfillment among God’s people. There is no stopping the word of God nor its fulfillment. Rather we ought to make ourselves channels through which God’s will is accomplished. Is 55: 10 – 11 reads similarly to the Psalm. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Indeed we are being reminded today of the continuous presence and power of the living, active word of God. 
 
The constancy and power of God’s word both encourages and cautions us. It encourages us to know that regardless of where we find ourselves, or what we may be going through, God has a word for us. The writer to the Hebrews describes the word of God in 4: 12. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Imagine the penetrative power of God’s word friends. Soul and spirit, joints and marrow, is descriptive of the core of our very being, of who we are. This is the us that God alone knows. The watchword therefore invites us to open ourselves for an intimacy with God that is experienced only by those who lay bare their hearts and souls before him. That God would even want to be with us in such intimacy is hope for a fallen humanity. This is the hope that the world needs today. Gladys Moore wrote the Hymn, ‘God’s word alive and active, proclaimed throughout the years, still comforts us when hurting and calms our hidden fears. God’s word of truth and justice sets weary captives free, and joins God’s holy people in new community.’ The caution to us is that even as we are drawn closer in intimacy, we must realize the futility of trying to hide the true us from God who is all knowing. We cannot live a double standard before God and think that all is well. God’s words reveal God to us and us to God. The call for us then is to ensure that our thoughts and actions are a reflection of God’s commands, that our words and ways mirror God’s words and intentions for us. In this way we will be true stewards of God’s grace, reminding the world that God is indeed present with us. Through our living we are called to let the world know that God’s word remains alive and active in God’s creation. Amen.  

Bevon White

Monday Reflection – June 22, 2020
Bountiful God

You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. Psalm 65:11  

Psalm 65 is a beautiful song of praise to God; a song in which all of creation joins in jubilant celebration of the goodness of God. We know not of the occasion of this Psalm; however, because of the tone of thankfulness and praise connected to flocks and grain, many think it was composed for a harvest festival. It begins with David describing a wonderful picture, the idea that praise was waiting to be given to God in Jerusalem. The sense is that when God came to meet his people, he would be received in an atmosphere of praise. But isn’t this the mood and spirit we ought to be in as we anticipate God’s presence in our midst? The reality or anticipation of God’s presence should automatically engender a spirit of jubilant praise, for indeed ‘In God’s presence there is fulness of joy’ (Psalm 16:11).

Interestingly, the word translated ‘wait’ in verse one comes from a root meaning to be silent. Morgan says, “This does not mean that there is no praise, but on the contrary that praise is so complete that at first it can find no utterance.” Charles Spurgeon adds that when the soul is most filled with adoring awe, it is not concerned about utterances, but feels most deeply how inadequate are all mortal songs to proclaim the divine goodness. Assuredly, no matter how much we try, our limited fragile words are always inadequate to describe the unlimited, infinite God.

David also speaks about God’s invitation to humans, since God is the initiator of the connection between himself and us. Such a connection begins when God chooses and then causes us to come to him that we may dwell in his courts. There we experience satisfaction because of God’s goodness. David also spends time in this Psalm describing the far-reaching greatness of God, evident in creation. As God of the whole world, Yahweh cares for the earth and makes sure it has what it needs. He provides rivers of water and grain for the earth. While the farmer breaks up the ground, ploughs, and sows the seed, God attends to with rain and heat, allows the seeds to grow and prosper, and crowns the year with his bounty. A full and plentiful harvest is the crown of the year; and this springs from the unmerited goodness of God.

Creation is happy and joyful before God because of his great power and care for them. While nature makes sweet melody in song to God, humans have a greater cause to give praise to him. We are beneficiaries of the gift of nature, as well as the priviledge of connection with God and the joy of atonement for our sins. We must never fail to give to God the praise and honour that is more than due. Yet, we also demonstrate our gratitude to God by our proper stewardship of his gifts, including our generosity to others. May God be glorified in and through our lives. Amen

Jermaine Gibson 

Saturday Reflection – 20 June 2020

“Full of honor and majesty is the Lord’s work, and his righteousness endures forever.” Psalm 111:3

Fear not, I am with you; O be not dismayed,
For I am your God and will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you and cause you to stand
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand (J. Rippon, 1787)

Brothers and sisters, often we may find ourselves anxious by the prospects of a new normal. The truth is, we may be comfortable in the way of operation that has always been put into practice, and that has always been our reality. But COVID-19, in a way has restricted that comfort, as in many ways, we have to modify our normal way of doing things, our way of relating and engaging people and the mission that we have called to. This realization is even clearer, the more our borders open, and we grapple even more, with returning to a state of normalcy.

Today’s watchword is a reminder for us, that the even as we contemplate the new normal, that the Lord is still at work, transforming and changing lives by the power of the Holy Spirit. That our new normal has not changed our focus and has not shifted our eyes from our Chief Elder. The work of the church goes on, and the Lord still calls us to labour in his vineyard. And that in the work of the Lord – as we live and labour together, we find fulfillment, joy and purpose even as we live godly lives and cling to our hope and confidence. For the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and draws us closer, (by our living and our serving), in a deeper relationship with him.

The Holy Spirit has empowered the church to consider worship and witness and we must avail ourselves to the Holy Spirit, giving all that we are, all our plans, and all that we have, that he may use us to his honour and to this glory.

As we acknowledge this Pentecostal renewal, may the Holy Spirit empower our church; through its leaders and members that we may discern new methods for discipleship; our worship and witness that we may be effective in our new normal.

Until next week, let us not lose our resolve, but let us – by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit – press on as the church – to be salt and light – that we may be faithful to the very end. Amen.

Dominic J. Blair