Jan | 21 | Blind love

PERSEVERE

Blind love

John 1:31
I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." NKJV`

John says: “I did not know Him?” Now then, this is very curious and I cannot believe that John did not know of Jesus. after all, it was John’s mother Elizabeth who felt John’s very first leap of faith, worship and joy, inside her wondering womb.

And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” Luke 1:41-45NKJV

Surely such an Annunciation would have been legendary within the family? Did John know Jesus? Of course He did. However, maybe it would be better to say “John know ‘of’ Jesus.” You see, the actual Greek word for ‘know’ is used primarily for ‘seeing’. It was the Magi who say to Herod regarding Jesus the Messiah, “We have ‘seen’ his star in the east and are come to worship Him.” So we can translate this verse also as John saying of Jesus, “I did not see Him? I was not personally acquainted with Him? I had had no previous contact with Him.” Jesus has been with Joseph in Nazareth. John has been in the mountains of Judea and the wilderness. Jesus had been in hidden the hubbub of common a day life, John has been hidden amongst the wild beasts. Jesus has been hidden amongst the noise of the hoi polloit, John had been hidden in the quiet winds of wilderness. It is not unreasonable to assume that neither of these sleeper cells had seen one another, their differing directions would only be discovered by one another according to the directions and the disposals of the Divine command in heaven. when the time was right, both would be revealed to one another and both would be revealed to Israel and both would accomplish their purpose.


Today, Jesus the commander of heavens armies and of all the soldiers of the church militant here on earth, has too laid up His servants in space and time, who often, unbeknown to one another, prepare ways and pioneer paths that others should follow after them. Yes, Jesus has many of His servants, separate and unknown to one another, shining for a time and only to then diminish and let another in; to fall exhausted at the side of the track only to find the baton not dropped and lost but passed to another eager Ahimaaz, another smiling head backed runner, gazing into heaven and straining toward the tape.

Jesus has had His longing servants of Old, all crying "Where is the Lamb? And His servants now in the world are all proclaiming this: “Behold the Lamb”, and will do so until all the servants of the Lord, which have often been secreted from one another and laid up along the time of line to testify in a multitude of different and lonely spaces, shall gather atop the cool foot stepping crystal sea, and being together at last in happy and smiling adoration shall shout together: “Worthy is the Lamb!”

Presently you are behind enemy lines. Yet you are not abandoned. Have you forgotten that you have a vital job to do? Get on with. Lift up your voice O lonely servant of the Lord! For even now the unseen hosts all shout a loud amen to your words, and soon my friends, real soon, you shall stand amongst the unnumbered multitudes, and that wonderful tune you presently sing to the unheeding waters of the world, shall be carried on singing seas and fill your ears with the echoing response of the deep sea thunders of booming and light cracking delight of the Lord Most High.

You know Him. You are in the right place. You are speaking to the right people. God is listening. Preach on my friend, preach on.


Listen:- Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls. Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things which angels desire to look into. Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:3-16 NKJV

Pray: -  Father. Keep me faithful. Amen and let it be so.

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Jan | 13 | Sit-Reps From The Storm (2)

PERSEVERE

Sit-Reps From The Storm (2)

Acts 27:5-12
And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board. When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea. Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. NKJV

Long time ago, seated in the sonar room of a Polaris boat, I regularly radioed the control room with a situation report (Sit-Rep) from the Sonar set I was operating at the time.

In our text for today, the ship had started the journey late already. The contrary winds had held them up even further. Even so, God in His goodness had brought them to ‘Fair Havens’, which was a good harbour to stay in, a safe harbour to wait in for it was obvious that the season of safe sailing was about to pass and the winter storm season would be upon them. Now was the time to wait.

Maybe girl friends in another place, family, perishable goods, messages to be delivered, doctors or friends to visit, for whatever reason the Captain and his crew did not want to stay in Fair Havens, but judging that they had enough time, decide to skip along to that other harbour to spend the winter in. Paul, warned his ‘friendly’ centurion about the perils of ‘chancing it’ now, but frankly, as Paul had no ‘salt on his shoulders’, the centurion took the council of the ship’s Captain instead and allowed the craft to put out to sea. After all, if the experienced owner of the ship was willing to put his personal property at risk, well surely all would be well.

Look here. Often times, despite our warnings, the ship we are inextricably attached to will set sail in the direction of the prophecied storm and with us reluctantly on board. You know what’s coming, but there will be nothing you can do about it but keep on praying. It’s as simple as that. If you’re on ‘The Flying Dutchman’ just keep on praying through.

Listen:-And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." Acts 21:10-14 NKJV

Pray: -Father, when I am sailing into stormy situations, when the dark clouds and the seas roll toward me in threatening consummation, Father protect me and keep me strong. Keep my heart and ears open to You O Lord and mouth open to those that need to be saved. Amen.

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Jan | 12 | Sit-Reps From The Storm (1)

PERSEVERE

Sit-Reps From The Storm (1) 

Acts 26:28-27:4 
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." And Paul said,"I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains." When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying,"This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains." Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. NKJV

Long time ago, seated in the sonar room of a Polaris boat, I regularly radioed the control room with a situation report (Sit-Rep) from the Sonar set I was operating at the time.

Personally, I think Paul’s political use of his Roman Citizenship card and his subsequent appeal to Caesar had got him out of the present frying pan and put him into the future fire. (Acts 25:1-12) Even so, Paul saw this as being in the will of God, indeed, maybe, Paul even engineered the whole process in direct line with the direct testimony of God toward him? “But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” Acts 23:11

There is some kindness and favour being shown to Paul along the way here, especially from the Roman authorities, but right here at the beginning, we can see the journey is going to be a difficult one. Paul is on the way to testify in the right ventricle of the heart of the Roman Empire and its Praetorian guarded citizen judicial system. Satan, most certainly did not want this loose cannon of a Christian, unloading his blunderbuss of blessedness in this most crucial of spatial and spiritual conduits. Paul therefore, must never reach his destination and I wonder if forty stormy demons had made a pact to halt him on the way, even to destroy him in the way?

Immediately then, though there was some favour on the one hand, externally, the ship was running into some difficulty. The winds were contrary. Note that well.

Late in the sailing season or no, these sailors thought they could make it through safe in the end. They had no doubt since they had done it before. It was not unusual for the wind to be against them, but right now, it is recorded that it was. "He who looks at the clouds will never sow”, that’s for sure, but these sailors were sowing themselves into the unmerciful sea and they were not stupid with their lives! Yet, the wind was contrary. So what? Well, like I say, by itself, this wind report without the rest of the story, this statement of contrariness is but an entry into the weather log.
However, I want to suggest, that this statement, should for us who know the story, become the recognition of the opening salvos of an attempt at demonic assassination.

Paul was always resisted in his journeying. Powerful people in God often are resisted in these ways, when even the very roads, ships and seas they travel on, breaking up the way before them. So today, I tell you, if you are journeying to a God directed destination and the wind is contrary to you, it is not a sign that God is not with you, but it may well be a sign that the devil is against you. Start praying my boys! Start praying through.

Listen:-Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV

Pray: - Father, repeat your command to me. In the contrary nature of the winds before me, let me hear Your command to me again today. Amen.

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Dec | 10 | ‘Merry Makrothumia & Happy Hupomonee!’

Dream Word – PERSEVERE

Romans 15:5-6 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV

‘Merry Makrothumia & Happy Hupomonee!’

I refuse to allow anyone to pray for me, that I would have more patience. I hate the patience most of my fellow believers wish on me, for it always reminds me of a reluctant acquiescing to depressing disappointment, or a soul-shattering suffering, or a worthless waiting of some kind and most of all, a wimpish acceptance of a neverending and fun-less frustration! That kind of patience, thank you very much, you can keep!

To compound my refusal of such patience, one ancient commentator remarks that, “Patience is that calm and unruffled temper with which a good man bears the evils of life.” What rubbish and when I get to heaven I am going to find that brother and slap him! For you see friends, such silly and unruffled remarks, actually dehumanize the Christian, actually make us less biblical, less like Christ and sometimes force us into such an unreality, that it morbidly moulds us into a kind of religious madness! Remember, that when the winds of life sweep down onto the sea of Galilee, it heaves in disappointment, crashes against the shore in anger, slaps its waves together in desperation and weeps its salty lament across the watching shores and in the same way dear friends, in the same way, you the cruelly betrayed, you the hurt and disappointed, you the robbed and rubbished Christians of this world, are allowed to be that sea. Unruffled indeed! What poppycock! That’s not biblical patience, it’s dehumanized, dysfunctional madness.

In all your venting hurt and in all your disappointment though, what you are not allowed to be, is a deserter of Christ. What you are not allowed to be, is an unbeliever in His goodness. What you are not allowed to be, is one who turns his back on all the duties of His love. What you are not allowed to be, is a teeth gritting and angry charlatan, kicking the sheep of His pasture. What you are not allowed to be, is miserable, unfocused, faithless and hopeless, and I tell you this, without God's gift of ‘ Happy Hupomonee’, real biblical patience, you shall most certainly become and do all these nasty things.

Thank God that He is patient! Indeed, He is all patience! His ‘Merry Makrothumia’ (one of two Greek words we have translated as patience) that is, His long forbearance and faithful fortitude in holding back the pouring out of His righteous, hot and burning cup of molten anger upon us all, allows us time and affords us opportunity to change our minds and our direction and return to Him. God is happy to exhibit this longsuffering and forbearant patience with humanity because the end of it, is both our repentance and His shared and singing joy. How wonderful! We have a patient God.
Thank God that He is patient! Indeed, He is all patience. His ‘Happy
Hupomonee’ (the second of two Greek words we have transalted as patience) is a gift He freely gives His children, for as His ‘Merry Makrothumia’ is related to His love, ‘Happy Hupomonee’ is related to our continuing hope.  Now this hopeful patience is one I both need and want, is one I both like and practice. This hopeful patience is one you can pray down from heaven upon me anytime dear friends, for this ‘Happy Hupomonee’ is not a miserable swim in the sea of Christian Karma, no! It is a warrior-like attitude, that rejoices in the attacks of the foe. It is a fruit bearing gift from on High, that flowers in the face of all adversity. It is a courageous and continuing persistence in well doing, when we’ve been well done at! Not only is this kind of patience, this kind of miraculous and joyful perseverance a gift to us, but it is an obligation for us to both put on and to walk in and in the so doing, we shall be found to be that most sweetest fragrance of heavens hopefulness, rarely found but greatly prized among the hosts of smelly and disappointed humanity. A truly patient people of biblical proportion.
I say again, that this truly biblical patience, this Happy Hupomonee is both encased in soulish humanity and expressed in spiritual faithfulness. So, let me patiently encourage you tonight then dear friends, that in all your expressed and sometimes violent storms, you remain focused, you remain faithful, you remain joyful, hopeful and you remain even apostolic in your continuing on with your mission! Now that’s biblical patience.

Listen: - Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, (Happy Hupomonee) in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. 2 Corinthians 12:12-13

Pray:- Lord, grant me this gift of warrior-like, joyful and focused endurance. Despite the wind at my face and the clouds above my head, help me to press on with the hope of reaping a fruitful crop. Grant me then this so great a gift and help me to put it on and walk in it, in Jesus name I pray, amen!

Nov | 22 | Festal Festus Finishes 'Gits R Dun'

Key Word:- PERSEVERE

Title:- Festal Festus Finishes & 'Gits R Dun'

Haggai 1:8 “Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the LORD.


I suppose out of many Red Neck phrases, the one I like the most is 'Git 'R Dun.' In other words, get her done, get on with it, you know, 'stop yer whining', stop your loudmouth planning and proctrastinating and just 'Git R Dun!'

The apple of God’s eye, the Jewish people, had now returned from Babylonian exile. The task of rebuilding themselves, their nation, their families and communities, was a most enormous one and every last penny was poured into that end! That focal point for the Jews, that centre of the manifest presence of God, the temple of the LORD, was however now being left till last. They had made a good beginning, but difficulties and problems had turned a temporary lull into a long term postponement! “Now,” everyone was agreed, “Was not yet the time to rebuild the temple of the LORD.”

Unfortunately this was not a good move. Whilst leaving the temple of God undone, half built, in ruins, open to the elements, disheveled, lack luster, -you get the picture don’t you? - they had in-fact continued to invest in their own homes in a substantial manner. Indeed, what was meant for God was going to themselves. ( Oh, and by the way, this isn’t a message about money. It’s far more important than that! )

I am not a good finisher. Countless projects yet to be completed are testimony to that. Examining myself, I am aware of a number of reasons for this. However one that bobs to the surface of my unfinished waves the most, is the lack of FOCUSED PERSEVERENCE. Interestingly, I have observed that this is a particularly bad trait in the area of many of our spiritual lives. Maturity, growth, healing, possession of the land, does not come without a fight which in turn is often a grueling and exhausting experience. So when the tiredness sets in, the tendency of many of us after making such a good start, is not to press on through to completion, but on reaching these difficulties, to lay our existing unreached goals aside and like the good Christians we are, begin yet another good start! The results of this are clear, for unfinished works, especially in the spiritual realm, do not lie quietly, but rather stand and shout at us as a testimony to inconsistency and then they become a further invitation to spiritual mockery and attack and accusation from the enemy. Consequently, the maintenance of such unfinished work becomes in-fact, far higher than the completion of it and if you have a number of these yet to be finished, then be sure, resources across the board will quite naturally get a little tight!

Of course, in Israel’s case there came a time when God also stepped in and said “Enough! This is embarrassing. You are spread too thin. You have not put Me first. It’s a bit of a disgrace and great danger for you. So for now my children, all My good resources are also withheld from you until you put things right! Laziness, lethargy, unholiness, death and disease, are all spread by contact you know? Holiness, wholeness, life and prosperity however, need to be pursued with perseverance. So go up to the mountains, start logging and then COMPLETE THE WORK YOU STARTED! I’ll take pleasure in it, I’ll be glorified, and trust Me, you will be happy. You’ll have enough, you’ll be filled and even be able to save all those resources you have lost to the hungry ground. TRUST ME, put Me first and persevere in the completion of those most spiritual of projects, that I have shown you to do.”
The good news friends, is that the Jews listened to this message from the Lord, attended to the temple and were truly blessed of God in doing so. Now what about us? It is time, isn’t it, for many of us to lay aside our fine houses and our continual good projects that we begin well, and say “Ok Lord. Enough! Where should I first begin to bring to completion, that which I have already started? “Oh Lord! Please finally turn my fretting frustration into thankful festivity.” He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Listen:- Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, spoke the LORD's message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the LORD.” So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,….. see:- Haggai 1:12-15

Pray: - Lord, show me today my half built houses. Lord, show me today what You would have me to first attend to and complete. Lord I want to put you first in my life. Please be my building manager today, that I may persevere in such a way, that it would lead to some completion, rest, provision and much greater glory for You, O my God. Amen.
 

Nov | 16 | Praying Until You Taste The Blood

Dream Word – PERSEVERE

John 7:38-39 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. NKJV

Praying Until You Taste The Blood

Ah, what can ail thee, wretched wight,
Alone and palely loitering?
The sedge is withered from the lake,
And no birds sing.

As I write this 'Night Whisper', I find myself living just a five minute walk away from the former ‘playground’ of Georgian gentry and Royalty. This Colonnade Walkway I speak of is called The Pantiles and was originally paved with S-shaped roofing tiles of the same name. The place is now so famous that the area of The Pantiles is being proposed to become a world heritage site! The main reason for the existence of this area, indeed the whole town around it, is the discovery made by a drunken nobleman called Dudley Lord North, who, upon returning home after getting smashed out of his skull with his friends, then being dry mouthed and drooping from his horse, happened to spot a reddish water, seeping out of the ground. He drank it, felt revived, informed his friends of the red water’s properties of rejuvenation and, “hey voila!” An iron rich watery star was born. Just the other week, I went down to that same spring and drank from it out of a glass stained red by the high iron content of the water. It tasted like blood. Did you know that same living water springing from the belly of the Christian, the centre of our being, also tastes of blood for it is also full of iron. I mean the waters of His life, of eternal life are just jam packed full of iron. The precious blood of Jesus you see, is fortified with ferrous from the nails upon the tree!

From this great fact, I need to remind you tonight, that Christ never yet bred anaemic Christians. There are no chocolate soldiers in His ranks and no one that will not be fortified by the springs from heaven bubbling up within them. You see, the springs of heaven are Chalybeate springs, tasting of His blood, putting iron in your backbone and strength in your veins. So, if you cannot taste His blood in your mouth tonight, if you are stooped and not upright, if you are frail and palely loitering fair knight of the King, then I tell you, I’d suspect that so called spring in you, for it just might not be His! Yes, if you are that pale and wretched knight, that poor human being, that pitiful Christian, then you need to pray tonight! Yes, you need to clear the well and then pray and pray again, yes, you must keep on praying until you taste the blood.


Listen: - And in that day you will say: "O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'" Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. (Isaiah 12:1-3 NKJV.)

Pray:- Let the living waters testify of Your presence within me! So, spring up O iron waters and fill my mouth with the taste of blood, the taste of nails pulled from the wood. Amen.

Nov | 12 | Of Suicidal Spit & The True Signs of Salvation

Dream Word – PERSEVERE

1 Samuel 19:18-23 So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. Now it was told Saul, saying, "Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!" Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, "Where are Samuel and David?"And someone said, "Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah." So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. NKJV.

Of Suicidal Spit & The True Signs of Salvation

Just in case you didn’t know, the collective name for a gathering of prophets, is in fact ‘A School of Prophets!’ Now from our text tonight please note that there appears to be no geographical place called Naioth which is currently known. However, as the Hebrew word here word means ‘dwellings’, some believe that it is likely that Naioth was in fact the name of the collegiate residence of this school of prophets, in, or maybe just outside, Ramah. The great water cisterns in that place, I believe could be seen as metaphors for the gathering of that same spirit of prophecy that resided there like an enveloping cloud. So much so, that people entering the cloud became wet with capacity, overwhelmed with propensity and overcome by the ability to speak forth words from God. The old questioning saying of ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’ is resurrected here, because of the manifestation of this gift upon him in particular. My answer to that question is a resounding "No".

There was a man sent by Jesus who also gathered himself into another collective grouping: the assembly of the apostles. This man was sent to heal the sick, raise the dead, and in the so doing, he lived by faith, enjoying the life of an itinerant minister, eating frugally and thankfully, yes, blessing the people and heartily preaching the coming of the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 10:1-13). His name was Judas and he sold his Master for thirty pieces of silver.

I have lived long enough to see a number of nationally applauded, well-loved and well-respected preachers, teachers and so called miracle workers, all ‘go to the wall.’ Yes, I have seen their suicidal spit drench the cheek of Christ. I tell you tonight friends, that even though the whole of the Christian world would in embarrassed shame rather forget these symbols of our own culpable gullabilty, these dreadful disasters are never the less of great importance to us, for they teach us that neither gifting nor anointing is a sign of true salvation. No, there are in the end only two real signs of this: The Fruit of The Holy Spirit and perseverance in the Faith. Scary, but true.

Listen: - And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:21-23 NKJV.)

Pray:- Stick with me O God and then I shall indeed stick at it. Amen.

Oct | 02 | Do & Diversify!

Key Word:- PERSEVERE

Title:- Do & Diversify!

Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.

Just about everything we do, seemingly, has no guarantee of success. Work hard, live frugally, save your money, and the stock exchange or the housing market crashes. Love your husband, raise your children , sacrifice your career to being the best mom in the world, the best wife a man could have, and he leaves you for a busty bimbo! Build a business, work every hour that God sends and then watch it sink beneath the backwash of fierce financial demands, from markets that vanish over night influenced by a communist regime in China that decides to buy the world's copper! Pray for that kid, nurture them, love them, invest in them and then watch stupidity overtake them like an armed man and disaster wreck both their lives and yours.

Friends, I hate to disappoint you but there is no spiritual equation that if intimately followed, will automatically churn out the right numbers of your hearts desires at the other end! Little if nothing in life comes with a guarantee of success.

Now friends we don’t like this and we don't like it for a number of reasons.

First of all it goes against what most of us have been taught in church and see and hear on Christian television each day. Secondly, it tends to initially breed despondency and despair, and thirdly, it appears to leave us powerless in a hard and cruel world. I think it is this seeming ‘powerlessness’ that we fear the most?

Our verse for today however is exceptionally encouraging. It provides us with true power and the distinct capacity to change things. First though, here are some hard facts:-

• If you are a dragon of a domineering wife, you can almost guarantee he might just leave you for a soft, sugar-coated, sweet and busty bimbo.
• If you are a louse-bag of a father, you can almost guarantee you’ll have to visit your kids in an institution.
• If you are a blind businessman you can almost guarantee a sinking business.
• If you are an unwise and un-spread investor, you can almost guarantee some losses.
• If you do not follow God’s instructions, you can guarantee negative results, destruction and even death.

These things in life are guaranteed!

What our verse today actually says is “Hey! Try this, try that, persevere, don’t give up, because you don’t know, it just might work; indeed, they all might work!”

In life then, disobedience, laziness, despair and despondency will almost always lead to failure. This is guaranteed! However, though there may be no secured guarantee of success for hard work and hope…..who knows! Life is full of people who persevered through setbacks and seeming failures; from scientists to novelists, from designers to dancers. Perseverance and diversification seem to be some of the keys to success!
Whatever happens, do right and do good and remember, though we are not in control, God is. Guaranteed! Though terrible things may happen, God is good. Guaranteed! Strong winds and dark clouds eh? Well what did you expect? This is a fallen world! Now get up and get on. Who knows what good may yet come to you from your faithful perseverance and the loving hands of our good God.

Listen:- He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4

Pray: - Give me new ideas O Lord and the strength to carry them through, but in all things O God, let me always delight in You. Amen.

 

Oct | 01 | Dreadnought

Key Word:- PERSEVERE

Title:- Dreadnought

Job 38:22,23 “Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?"

God here refers clearly to the secret stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction. In this case it would appear to be hail, large enough and hard enough to kill thousands of armoured men. Like it or not, God has these terrible armaments in prepared storage.

It was the large metropolis of Gibeon that by subtle subterfuge, had tricked Joshua and his leaders into making a peace treaty with them. Those destined for dispatch had by deceit, successfully secured their life and their protection. However, in return for their wily treachery, a confederacy of five Caananite kings marched upon Gibeon with a terrible judgment to deliver to them. In response, Gibeon sends out a distress call to Joshua, who in return, runs by night, yomping and ascending over 4000 feet of terrible terrain, to bring them both their redemption and their rescue. The purpose of the their fellow countrymen coming against them was that if the five Canaanite kings had wreaked vengeance upon Gibeon, it would surely stop any other attempt to make peace with the Israelite invader, despite the fact that Israel of course, were not commanded to make peace but to make war! I am assuming also that after raising Gibeon to the ground the coalition of then but five kings would have grown substantially, drawing more people to their banners and have followed on with a powerful and united uprising and marching against Israel. I wonder as well, if at that point it would not be unreasonable to assume that supernatural and demonic aid would have been summoned on their part to fight against the God of Israel? For the text seems to infer that the appearance of such a confident confederacy, was a dreadful force for Joshua to deal with.

Never the less, the clash of arms goes well for Israel and the collapsed five king Canaanite confederacy flees in defeat before them, only to meet with the smart weapons of God's pounding artillery falling upon their heads, and upon their heads alone! We read in Joshua 10:11 'And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.
I remember my visit to Her Majesties Submarine 'Dreadnought' in Faslane, Scotland, sometime in the late 1970's. This first nuclear submarine of the British fleet was by then looking old and very well worn. Yet its name still carried the intent of this once new class of submarine. 'Dreadnought', fear nothing, be not afraid. So God comes to Joshua and in the face of this cruel confederacy, this dreadful display of armed animals, He says in Joshua 10:8-9 “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.” Get it? 'Dreadnought!

Joshua needed to learn three things.

Firstly,  that though great demands were to be placed upon him and his troops, God's provision was greater than these piled up pressures.

Secondly, that although the odds were seemingly stacked against him, God was greater than the odds and the odd fellows of obstinate hate he now faced.

Lastly, Joshua had to see that when they were in covenant and obedient relationship with God, that God Himself would engage His secret forces and weapons against his enemies. “Therefore general Joshua” says God, “Dreadnought!"

Listen:- “Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Deuteronomy 1:29-31

Pray:- Lord, help me to keep so in Your way that You would then keep and kick my enemies out of my way. In Jesus name I pray, amen!

 

Aug | 31 | Singing Songs at Midnight

Key Word:- PERSEVERE

Title:- Singing Songs at Midnight

Acts 16:37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, innocent Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

Paul had met the band of women alongside the river at Philippi. Lydia had received the message of salvation with joy and she and her whole household had been baptised. Paul having been invited to her house, encamped himself and the band of brothers with him, right there! Daily he proceeded to prayer at the synagogue and daily was accosted by a demon possessed girl who loudly followed them proclaiming his mission, his proclamation and his purpose. After many days Paul must have judged that this was becoming ‘bad press’. Turning around then and addressing the spirit of divination within her, he cast it out in the name of the Lord Jesus. The slave girl is now free but unable to fulfill her previous and profitable role; her owners therefore have lost a good earner and are not well pleased! In spiteful revenge, they stir up an angry mob in the presence of the local magistrates who hearing only the accusations and not the defense, publicly tear off the clothes of Paul and Silas and have them beaten with rods and thrown into prison.

Naked, badly bruised and beaten, their feet in stocks, Paul and Silas sing songs at midnight. By Earthquakes without and earthquakes within, the watching jailor and his whole family are saved and baptised…all in one night.

Morning comes. The misuse and madness of the magistrates is now passed, the slave owner’s revenge is satisfied and the crowd is dispersed. All is well in Philippi once more, except that the earthquake of the night which had rocked the city and released the prisoners had probably also been seen as an omen of judgment against the magistrates of Philippi. Their conscience aroused, in the morning, as early as possible, the magistrates send word to the jailor to release Paul and Silas.

The new Christian, the saved jailor, is obviously delighted and says “now depart and go in peace.” Paul of course before the new believer, and above all wanting to keep the peace, will set a good example and turn the other cheek and scurry off into the distance from whence he came. Not likely! Nope! Surprise surprise, for with a flash of fire, ‘Paul the Peeved’ thoroughly rooted in the scriptures says “Noah waya Hosea!” let them come and get us! Let them do the hurrying and scurrying, this is outrageous!” Paul was intent on the whole city seeing the mistaken magistrates humbled for their illegal proceedings and also see that they as innocent Christians, had been unjustly condemned.

Friends there are three things of note here.

Firstly, that the battle we are engaged in is fierce. It is a battle that is waged on physical, material, magisterial, economic and spiritual levels. It is a pan-dimensional battle front.

Secondly, that God expects His servants to endure hardship. It would appear that naked and scabby midnight singers that did not ‘do a runner’ when they had the chance were the only people that could purchase an audience with this hardened individual of a jailor!

Lastly and most wonderfully, despite and because of all the ensuing drama, the purple house of Lydia is quickly becoming the peopled house of Lydia. Jesus is building His church through it all. HOW ABOUT THAT THEN! Don't be too frightened about a little controversy.

Listen:- You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:2-3

Pray: - Lord in all our endurance, send us glimpses if gold, baskets of fruit and messages from heaven. Come and tread upon our obedient pathways, come and shake the earth before us O God. In Jesus name, Amen.

Aug | 30 | Charging The Church

Key Word:- PERSEVERE

Title:- Charging The Church

Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”

Hussars were originally Hungarian mounted troops raised by Matthias Corvinus in 1458 to fight the Turks. The name Hussar, meaning “twenty,” indicated that one man in every twenty inhabitants was pressed into the service. Long ago, the demand in the British Army for light cavalry with greater mobility than Dragoons, led to the formation of several Hussar regiments. Today of course, all light Cavalry Regiments have been turned into armoured Brigades.

At their inception into European Armies, Hussars became the incredibly brave and ferocious fighters that broke in waves upon the squares of marching pike men and musketeers. They had great success, their lances being lighter and longer than the average pike. Certainly the Polish Hussars constantly defeated much larger forces with far fewer casualties than any other mounted force. The Hussars with frightening force advancing on the enemy, moving forward from a walk to a trot and then to a gallop, was a most terrifying sight to see. One writer records a charge of the Hussars as follows:

“We saw it…. the hussars let loose their horses. God, what power! They ran through the smoke and the sound was like that of a thousand blacksmiths beating with a thousand hammers. We saw it…!!! The elite's lances bent forward like stalks of rye, driven by a great storm, bent on glory! The fire of the guns before them glitters! They rush on to the Swedes! They crash into the Swedish riters…. Overwhelm them! They crash into the second regiment - Overwhelmed! Resistance collapses, dissolves, they move forward as easily as if they were parading on a grand boulevard. They sliced without effort through the whole army already! Next target: the regiment of horse guards, where stands the Swede King Carol. And the guard already wavers!”

Calculated, repeated, fast and persistent bravery seem to sum up the success of an Hussar attack.

Now friends we know that God has many weapons in His armoury. We know that He also has different types of soldiers. Right personnel for the right job, with the right weapons, at the right time. I would assume that in the host of heaven there are not only charioteers but companies of charging Hussars. It’s also my opinion that in the church militant that there is need today of some charging Hussars to break upon the well organized and marching gates of Hell.

The tenor of scripture is clear. Persistence and bravery are the marks of the day. Maybe if just one in twenty of us were to take up some lighter and longer weapons and charged in persistent fierceness against the pike men and musketeers of the devil, the mangling of Michmash and the crash of Jericho would occur more frequently! Tell me, just where are the Kings own Hussars today friends? Where are they?

Listen:- Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.” 2 Kings 13:18-19

Pray: -Lord, help me to be persistent in attacking the ranks of our advancing enemies, that they may be truly defeated and routed, for I believe that the gates of Hell shall not be victorious over your charging church. Amen.

Aug | 30 | Let's Face The Music & Dance

Dream Word – PERSEVERE

Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. NKJV

Let’s Face The Music and Dance!

These past few years of my sojourn here, I have walked the road with not a few ‘long-time Christians,’ who have lately proclaimed that, “I don’t know if I have ever truly believed?” or, “I don’t know anymore about the reality and truth of Christianity,” and often, “You know Robert, I have lost God and so much so, I wonder if I ever had Him.” It’s quite a concern don’t you think? Whenever this is said out loud, it is usually by people who have an overwhelming tiredness about them. Whenever this is said out loud, it is usually by folks who have an overwhelming sense of a disappointment in God and especially a disappointment in His people, the church. More frighteningly though, is the fact that this is felt by so many people, who have neither previously had the desperation nor the courage, to vocalize out loud their most definite and inward experience! Let’s face it, these proclamations dear friends, are increasingly common.

Let me tell you right now, that whenever I hear that ‘long-time Christians’ have ‘stopped believing in God,’ I do not believe it! In fact their extreme tiredness and disappointment in God, is usually indicative of their continued belief, rather than a contradiction of it, for you do not get disappointed and distraught, you do not get desperate and disillusioned about someone you had no real investment or value in, or experience of! What’s happening here then? Why are so many long-standing Christians now seemingly disowning God altogether?

I believe the first reason for disowning God, is that there has often been a low value put on personal experience. There has been a low value put on the emotional content of their faith. I tell you now though, that how you feel about God and how you experience your walk with Him, is so very important! Your experiential relationship with God is absolutely vital to your continued spiritual health! If the Words of the Bible are not received as Spirit words into your experiential soul, then your following unfulfilled and ravening hunger for the experience of God will eat you up! Your unquenched and rapacious thirst for an experiential encounter with God, will leave you as parched and dry as an empty old seed husk, left broken and cavernously open beneath the greenest of trees. To stop this happening, you MUST cultivate an experiential walk with God! The Bible itself will not suffice, for it is only the Bible declared and Bible promised accompanying the manifest presence of God, that is sufficient for life, that is sufficient for love and that is sufficient for the pursuit of happiness.

The second reason for the disowning of God, has been a failure to maintain our own vineyard. Most of these folks that have uttered these words to me, have been former faithful servants of the most High God, however, they have been sucked dry in the service of God, bashed about, chewed up and spat out like green snot sputum on the grey and gravely ground. No, it’s not nice, no, it’s not nice at all. It is so easy to become dehydrated in the service of God. It is so easy to compare and to compete with one another in such a fashion, that we just cannot keep up the race, we cannot keep up the pace. These folks are simply and most profoundly burnt out.

The third reason for the disowning of God, is that the product we are selling will not do the job we are telling! Yes, we ministers of Christ are sales people. We invite people to come and buy, to taste and see, to turn and learn, to open and invite, to have God make things better for them, better for their health, better for their finances, better for their family, better for their future! However, when the product does not perform in this ‘better way’ in the way in which we have said it would, then the buyers reject it and we the sellers, eventually, get very disappointed in the veracity of the product itself.

The fourth reason for people disowning God, is quite simply sin. I have observed that unrequited love, desperate thirst and harbouring hunger, if not fulfilled righteously, will be fulfilled unrighteously. When people get desperately disappointed dear friends in close relationships that promised so much but gave so little, they feel betrayed, they feel robbed, they feel they have lost out in their righteous restraint, and often their response to these strong feelings, is to break all previous boundaries in trying to have that hunger filled, to have that thirst quenched, to have that sense of so severe a loss, somehow now satisfied. Of course, these my lovely brethren, have simply taken poison to themselves and often locked the door behind them as they left the building of God to die quietly alone. Now, they are more hungrier than they ever imagined, but now they have nowhere to go.

Tonight then, I leave you with five antidotes to a possible future disowning of God. Oh, and don’t be arrogant in thinking these things might not happen to you, for I have seen it happen to better men than either me or thee!

FIRST then, be sure to experience God! You must FEEL your relationship with your Father. The pump of desire must be primed and the circle of satisfaction must be complete. Make sure your emotional life is satisfied in God, is satisfied WITH God. If it isn’t, then there may be trouble ahead!

SECONDLY, take care of yourself, for NO ONE ELSE WILL! You had better get that brother, NO ONE ELSE WILL! Take time to rest, take time to recharge, take time to rejuvenate, take time to court Jesus in the courts of The Most High God. Make the most of the moonlight and the music, of the love and the romance. Take time to dance! You need to do this friend, before the fiddlers flee thee.

THIRDLY, if the product you are selling is not working, then maybe you’ve not read the instructions correctly or, you’ve got the wrong product! Is your Gospel working? Check it out and if it is not working, then chuck it out for you’ve undoubtedly not got the real deal. GET THE REAL DEAL! You need to do this before the bill needs paying.

FOURTHLY, you need to rejoice in the wife of your youth and let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Can the Scripture be any more clearer than this? Make sure you have a passionate relationship with God and that your satisfaction is found fully in Him. This has to happen! If it doesn’t, then there maybe teardrops to shed.

FIFTHLY, recognize that you have the key to your heart and therefore the key to unlock the door of this your heart and to return to God your maker, return to Christ your lover. Dear friend, you have the possibility to re-open the door of your heart to desire! Tell me, if you are desirous of the reality and the fullness of the Father at no matter what the cost, indeed at any cost, do you think that He would be interested in such a proposition?

I tell you, God is always interested in the propositions of your heart! Always!

Listen:- "Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel. Isaiah 44:21-23 NKJV

Pray:- Jesus, when You have fallen in my heart and Your flavour and the scent of Your presence and power have become to me but a rumour on the wind, have mercy upon me and please come knocking upon my doors once more. Jesus, lover of my soul, come and throw stones at my window, get me up from my death bed and ask me to marry You once more. Amen and Amen and Amen.

Aug | 27 | UB 40

Dream Word – PERSEVERE
 
2 Thessalonians 3:6-11 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. NKJV

UB 40
I was watching T.V. one night and saw them again and wondered if they shall indeed go down in history as one of the great white reggae bands? UB 40 was formed in 1979 out of $8000 dollar damages which the lead singer received from an under-aged bar fight he was involved in. The band advertised their presence in the city of Birmingham before they ever had, or could play any instruments! Interesting eh! Oh and by the way, at the time of their formation they were all claiming unemployment benefit.

Actually, 'UB40' was the number and name of an unemployment benefit claimform. (Unemployment Benefit - Form 40) Whenever you signed on as being unemployed, but available for work, you would fill in a UB40 and then of course, you would be entitled to unemployment benefit, job seekers allowance, indeed whatever the financial support was then called, together with all the other personal and family social security benefits.

For those who cannot work, either through lack of fitness, lack of training, or simply lack of work availability, this quite frankly phenomenal national provision of finances for food and clothing formed in the United Kingdom after the Second World War, has been the physical salvation of many folk. For those who will not work through laziness through indolence, or through theft, it has proven to be a curse to them and a burden to the nation as a whole. For there is a GREAT difference between those who cannot work and those who will not work and it is to that difference that our text speaks this evening.
There are three things I need to say here.

The first is for those folk who are immediately grieved in their heart on reading these words. You may have been unemployed for some time and you may feel yourself hopelessly unemployable. The morning brings for you nothing but dark clouds, for you daily see others rise from their beds and get off to their profitable labour, while you drag yourself from yours to try and make it through another day of disappointment and rejection. The words in our text for today are not for you. I can only speak from what I am and what I am is a man, and I tell you tonight, there is no greater weight on the spirit of a man than for him not to be able to earn his own bread. Real men when jobless, especially over long periods of time become sick at heart and sick in the head. There is only one answer for such men and that is that they are afforded the opportunity of profitable labour! Until then, if this is you, you must on the morrow count your search for work as a full-time job in itself and one of the hardest jobs you shall ever undertake. I say again tonight, looking for a job is a full-time job and one of the hardest on the planet. In this you are to be most commended. Keep at it friend, keep at it my brother, my sister. No this text is not for you tonight.

The second thing that needs to be said is that if you have every intention of not using the system to assist you in finding employment, but rather abusing the system of your nation's provision with all intention of taking and no intention of making an effort to gain employment, then you are a thief. You should be allowed to go hungry and your hunger should force you to change your laxadaisical ways. This is tough, but it is tough love, for I tell you that a nation of skivers have no honour in themselves and brings no honour to their community or their nation. Such a people brings nothing to the table, such people bring nothing to any table! Such a people leave others hungry, but really should themselves be left to go hungry. These are very hard, but very necessary words.

The third and most important thing I must say is addressed in particular to the religious worker and those disorderly religious workers in particular, those religious workers who are in fact, out of order! Before I continue, let me say right now that my experience of religious workers, those labouring in preaching teaching and planting, has been to see them and their families mostly overworked! Indeed, my experience has been that most religious workers overexert themselves in their calling to the detriment of their own body soul and spirit. On the whole, I have seen them work like mad monkeys and get paid in just the same kind of monkey currency..... PEANUTS! However, there are those religious workers who quite frankly are fleecing the people of God in both their laziness and their trickiness. They are soldiers out of rank, exhibiting such slackness in their marching, that they have become disrupters of the rest of the rank and file. These people are clearly seen, in that they are nothing short of meddlers, busybodies, bustlers and hustlers, always sticking their spoon in someone else’s cup, always telling others how to buy and sell, what to do and where to go and how to do it when they get there! They are to be seen always busying themselves in trifling and in the end, useless matters. Avoid such ‘religious workers’ and make sure you do not support their financially philandering lifestyles.

In closing may I suggest that religious workers need three levels of accountability. First of all to God, secondly to themselves and thirdly and probably most importantly, to points of reference, points of accountability, points of safety, points outside of themselves. To the religious worker the Word of God is especially clear, be orderly in your work, and may I say that means, be accountable!

Listen:- For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15

Pray:- Lord, bless your workers. Lord bless those folk who are ‘robbing’ other churches to do the work You have directed them to do in the hard places of the world. Lord please provide for all Your workers, remove the muzzle from the oxen and give them their daily bread. Lord, bless those without profitable labour tonight and grant them hope in the morning; grant them a mighty perseverance and with that, a real prosperity that follows hard on its heels. Lord please provide for and reward, both all your workers and all those that seek to work, in Jesus name we pray this together, Amen!

Aug | 26 | Hold Fast

Key Word:- PERSEVERE

Title:- Hold Fast

Revelation 3:8 for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name..

Corporal Jones, the calmest platoon leader who ever lived and veteran of the Crimea War, knew the enemy “did not like it up 'em” and we can all say an Amen to that! The highly decorated and very vocal (once he had permission to speak) Corporal Jones, would have had great empathy with this poem by Rudyard Kipling entitled. ‘Infantry Columns’. So today, I dedicate this poem to the millions of faithful men and women, who get up at the same time each morning and travel to the same job every single day and who by their faithful and consistent lives, give great testimony to Jesus each and every day.

(to be read to a marching rhythm)

We're foot-slog-slog-slog-sloggin' over Africa -
Foot-foot-foot-foot-sloggin' over Africa -
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!

Don't-don't-don't-don't-look at what's in front of you.
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again)
Men-men-men-men-men go mad with watchin' em,
An' there's no discharge in the war!

Try-try-try-try-to think o' something different -
Oh-my-God-keep-me from goin' lunatic!
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!

Count-count-count-count-the bullets in the bandoliers.
If-your-eyes-drop-they will get atop o' you!
(Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again) -
There's no discharge in the war!

We-can-stick-out-'unger, thirst, an' weariness,
But-not-not-not-not the chronic sight of 'em -
Boot-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!

'Taint-so-bad-by-day because o' company,
But night-brings-long-strings-o' forty thousand million
Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again.
There's no discharge in the war!

I-'ave-marched-six-weeks in 'Ell an' certify
It-is-not-fire-devils, dark, or anything,
But boots-boots-boots-boots-movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!

Friends when your calling and your obedience to it, leads to the often boring predictability of 'the daily grind', know that despite the lack of excitement and terror, you are never the less in very known and demanding circumstances. Called repetition, consistent witness and careful treading, demand a dedicated and faithful perseverance that will not go unrewarded for there is nothing more demanding than the daily grind.

Listen:- Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Revelation 3:10-11

Pray: - O Lord, let me not hide myself in the mundane, or allow my heart to die in the debilitating and seeming nothingness of my days, that pass like infantry columns going nowhere. Where You have called me to be persistently and constantly faithful in the daily grind, give me the power to persevere in pleasing You. Give me please the warmth of Your pleasure on my back and the joy of Your presence in my front, for it is You who has called me here. Help me to hold fast. In Jesus name I ask this, Amen!

Aug | 20 | Waiting With NAMES!

Key Word:- PERSEVERE


Title:- Waiting With NAMES!

Genesis 32:27-28 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

 
A month after war broke out between the United States and Great Britain, on July 16th, the USS Constitution, encountered a squadron of five British ships off Egg Harbour, New Jersey. The constitution was surrounded and preparing to escape when the wind suddenly died. Out of gunnery range and both sides now dead in the water, for 36 hours the Constitution's crew kept their ship just ahead of the slowly pursuing British by towing the frigate with rowboats and by tossing the ship's anchor ahead of the ship and then reeling it in. Later when the wind came up, the Constitution was far enough ahead of the British warships to then make her escape by sail. She was running rather than fighting, a wise move for the day.

It was actually yesterday, August 19th in 1812 that the USS Constitution earned it’s battle name of ‘Old Ironsides.’ During a ferocious engagement off the coast of Nova Scotia resulting in the sinking of the British frigate Guerriýre, witnesses to the crash of cannon balls claimed that the British shot ‘merely bounced off the Constitution's sides, as if the ship were made of iron rather than wood.’
The wisdom, courage and tenacity of the crew of the Constitution seen in these two incidents, fire my blood, for I am increasingly convinced that perseverance cannot exist without passion and passion cannot succeed without focus and dedication. The crew of the Constitution showed such tenacity and bravery that they were attributed a name far beyond their design and capability. A ship that seemed so unsinkable, it was attributed with both hidden design and secret properties. A wooden ship with 'iron sides' even.

I am equally convinced that the Sovereign Lord awaits with names to knight in the field, those with a constitution sturdy enough to turn to flight armies of demons, be valiant in battle, bring forth strength from weakness, escape the edge of the enemy sword, quench violent burning, stop the mouths of lions, obtain promises, work righteousness and by faith subdue kingdoms! O brave hearted friends, step up, step out, tread down, trample and be victorious in the fight for He is waiting with names!

Listen:- ……..to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Mark 3:17b

Pray: - I hurt O Lord and my day breaks upon me but I will not let You go, until you give me a prevailing name O my Jesus. Amen & let it be so.

Aug | 19 | From Backside to Flipside

Key Word:- PERSEVERE

Title:- From Backside to Flipside

2 Peter 1:5-8….add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Along with thousands of others today and in the future, I will be writing of the extraordinary scenes in the Athens 2004 Olympics concerning the young American, Mr Paul Hamm and his amazing achievement of being the first American to win the all round Gymnastics Gold Medal. How he did it, was high drama indeed!

I can’t imagine the years of training that go into preparing for such an event. Out of six disciplines, after the third, Hamm was on the top of the leader board. A Gold medal was expected of him and was in his grasp. Disaster struck in his fourth discipline of the Vault. Failing to rotate well enough, he landed to the side, the impact causing him to topple off the mat and land flat on his bottom right in front of the shaken judges and unbelieving crowd! Hamm, in an instant plummeted from 1st to 12th place. At this point if he could summon the wherewithal to exceed expectations in his performance on the final two disciplines, then maybe, with a miracle, just maybe, he might achieve a bronze medal. That alone would be quite a comeback.

Whilst sitting flat on his bottom, cameras and commentators zoomed into the blank and staring eyes of Hamm, speculating on the raging storm of doubt, disbelief and shocking disappointment that must have been wreaking havoc along the coastlands of his soul and even laying waist to the inlands of his spirit. It was cataclysmic, it was catastrophic, it was awful.

Somehow and I don’t how, Hamm managed to attack the final two events of parallel and high bars with such glorious and determined precision, that onlookers were shocked that such audacity and determination should come from someone who just earlier had landed on their embarrassed backside before the judges and the watching world. The near perfection of his final performances meant that Hamm shot from 12th to 1st place winning Gold by the slimmest of recorded margins, 0.012. Now, just how utterly amazing is that!

One hour after being crowned Olympic champion Hamm made the following remarks. “I'm very happy right now,……I was so angry at myself after I'd missed the vault. I had worked years for that moment, and it all went down the drain. ……And then I had the best performance of my life on high bar. I'm proud of myself. I realized my dream. And I never, never, never gave up.”

Friend, don’t give up! Skin that cat a different way maybe, but don’t give up. Find a different angle of attack maybe, but don’t give up! Cast your net on the other side of the boat maybe, but don’t give up. The gold medal is always possible even if it’s by the slimmest of margins, even if it’s by the skin of your teeth, so today; don’t give up! Go Hamm it up! Yes, be determined to find the perfect better way.

Listen:- And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9

Pray: - Lord, I am more than an Olympian, for You have made me more than a conqueror through Your love and Your sacrifice. How then can I not persevere? So heal me, so help me, so infuse me, so empower me, so change me, that I would indeed persevere to the final victory. In Jesus name I pray, amen.