Letters to the Editor are a popular feature in our national and local press. Some years ago the Times newspaper asked its readers to answer this question: ‘What is wrong with the World?’ It provoked a flood of letters giving all kinds of reasons why. If that same question was put to us today, no [...]
I was regretting the past And fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “My name is I AM.” He paused, I waited, He continued. “When you live in the past With its mistakes and regrets, It is hard, I am not there. My name is not I was.” “When you live in the future [...]
SERMONS WE SEE I’d rather see a sermon, than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear; Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear. And the best of all the preachers are the men who [...]
They lie on the table side by side, the Holy Bible and the TV guide. One is well worn and cherished with pride, not the Bible, but the TV guide. One is used daily to help folks decide, no, not the Bible, but the TV guide. As the pages are turned, what shall they see? [...]
In the year 2009 some four million Bibles were printed and distributed in China. Since the end of the cultural revolution in 1976, the Bible has become China’s best seller. Next year, 2011, marks the 400th anniversary of the King James version of the Bible. Yet, according to the Bible Society m0ore than 4,400 languages [...]
My Bible & I We’ve travelled together through life’s rugged way, O’er land and o’er water, by night and by day; To travel without it I never would try; We keep close together, my Bible and I. In sorrow I’ve proved it my comfort and joy, When weak, my strong tower which none can destroy; [...]
God won’t ask you what kind of car you drove, but will ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transport. God won’t ask the size of your house, but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home. God won’t ask about how many clothes you have in your wardrobe, but will [...]
Prophecy Becomes Reality! The annual conference of British Assemblies of God ministers took place in 1984 when two Pentecostal leaders from the Church in the Soviet Union, were present. They gave moving accounts of the persecution and progress of the Church, behind what was then known as ‘The Iron Curtain.’ In the light of these [...]
These are the Mothers the World needs today. Mothers whose faith never wavers or falters; Mothers whose spirit the World never alters; Loving the right and scorning the wrong; Facing the problems of life, with a song. Mothers whose bravery transcends their fears; Winning the battle, with patience and tears; Never submitting to weakness or [...]
I went to a meeting held at Debden Pentecostal Church, Essex, UK, where Peter Cavanna from Cambridge was the speaker. This was in May 2006. I had been having trouble with my knees for many years and had an appointment to see the specialist about my right knee. When I was prayed for at the [...]
What various hindrances we meet in coming to the Mercy Seat! Yet who that knows the worth of prayer but wishes to be often there? Prayer makes the darkening clouds withdraw, prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw, Gives exercise to faith and love, brings every blessing from above. Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; prayer [...]
Some wrapped in self-regard or greed, Have little time to stay, To hearken to the urgent need Of those met on their way. Whilst others with true loving care Discover if they can Perchance another’s burden share Spare time for fellow man. So oft our Lord Himself was stirred By someone’s urgent plea To heal, [...]
I almost went to church last night but could not find the time. So much to do about the house, to leave would be a crime. So I sewed and I dusted and polished, and went wearily to bed, But I made a resolution to go next week instead. I almost went to church last [...]
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR? What! Go to my neighbour? You’ve got to be kidding! That woman’s a menace, an absolute bore. And he’s not much better: you’d need all Job’s patience If you had the neighbours I’m stuck with, living next door. And the people behind us are really the limit Their taste is appalling, [...]
The apostle Paul wrote thse words from a prison cell to the disciples at Philippi: I have learned how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens. So had a leper in [...]
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Thoughts for today are centred around the following verses: Acts 16. 9-15. Our text is found in verse 9. ‘Paul had a vision. He saw a man over in Greece pleading with him: Come over here and help us.’
The book of Acts is the first record of Church History. It contains the story of God in action in His human family.
Paul’s first missionary journey was with the approval of the Holy Spirit. Acts 13. 2-3. Paul set out on his second missionary journey without seeking Divine approval. As a result, Paul and his party were subject to restraints and constraints. Acts 16. 6-7. David Livingstone attempted to go to China as a missionary, but God sent him instead to Africa.
Acts 16. 9. ‘A vision appeared to Paul in the night.’ He saw a man from Europe calling for help. Visions and dreams are not the sole property of the New Testament believers. Joel 2. 28. ‘I will pour out My Spirit on all of you. Your sons and daughters will prophesy; your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions.’ Visions and dreams have a place in our lives and in the Church, today.
‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ Proverbs 29. 18. Quote ‘The most pathetic person in the World is someone who has sight but no vision.’ (Helen Keller) Many Christians are short sighted, always looking down, looking around or looking within. We need to be driven by 20/20 vision. Make a practice of fixing your gaAudio – Click Heree on things that are unseen and eternal. After all, we are called to be horizon people!
v 10. ‘After Paul had seen the vision we got ready at once to leave for Europe.’ Paul’s response to the vision is immediate, positive and unquestioning. What is the quality of our response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our lives? The Church at Philippi was birthed in vision, prayer and public witness. A formula we need to follow!
v 9. ‘Come over and help us.’ God has appointed ministry gifts in His Church including helpers. 1 Corinthians 12. 28. This is a common gift of the Holy Spirit exercised by the greatest number of Christians. Paul, in his farewell talk to the Ephesian elders said among other things, “Help the weak.” Acts 20. 35.
Helpers are people who are motivated to lift heavy burdens from the shoulders of those who are weighed down.
After a journey of 150 miles by sea, and an inland hike of ten miles, Paul and his party arrived at the cosmopolitan city of Philippi, situated in continental Europe.
Europe became the first Christian continent sending out missionaries to the rest of the World for many years.
v13. ‘A number of women made a practice of joining together for worship and prayer at the riverside. Paul and Silas joined them. No doubt the arrival of Paul and Silas was a direct answer to the faithful prayers of these women. Having seen invited to speak, Paul shared with them the Good News of Jesus Christ. Thus a
Christian Church was birthed in continental Europe. Don’t despise the day of small things. After all the drought in Israel was broken after 42 months when Elijah’s servant saw a cloud in the sky, the size of a man’s hand! 1Kings 18.44.
v14. ‘A certain woman named Lydia.’ She was a business woman, who specialized in marketing cloth treated with and expensive purple dye. She lived a comfortable lifestyle, owned her own house and employed servants.
v14 tells us that Lydia worshipped God, she was a religious person. But religion alone does not qualify a person a place in Heaven. Ephesians 2. 8-9. ‘Because of God’s kindness you have been saved through trusting Christ, and even trusting is not of yourselves, it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it.’
Lydia – the woman with an open ear, and open heart, and an open home. AN OPEN EAR. Acts 16. 14. ‘Lydia heard what Paul had to say.’ Don’t become a hostage to distractions. Be focused, pay undivided attention to what Christ has to say in His Word. The risen Christ signed off each letter to the seven churches in Turkey with this appeal: ‘He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.’ Revelation 2. 7.
Hymnwriter: O give me Samuel’s ear, the open ear O Lord, alive a quick to hear each whisper of Your Word. Quote: ‘Blessed are they that listen for they shall learn.’ THE OPEN HEART. Acts 16. 14. ‘The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to pay attention to what was aid by Paul.’ Here, God shows Himself to be sovereign over the human heart. Lydia’s heart opened to the Good News of Jesus Christ as a flower opens itself to the sun. v15 ‘Lydia was baptised and her household.’ At conversion Lydia became a witness to the people around her. Are we sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with our neighbour? BAPTISM – an outward confession of an inward change. Our old selfish sinful lifestyle is buried in the waters of baptism. We come up out of the water to begin a new resurrection experience of eternal life. Baptism play a vital part in a real, genuine conversion. Acts 2. 38. Peter climaxed his first apostolic message with this appeal to the crowd: ‘Repent (or change direction) and be baptised every one of you for the forgiveness of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’
THE OPEN HOUSE. Acts 16. 15. ‘Come, stay at my house. And Lydia urged Paul and Silas until they did.’ Self interest was replaced by an act of generosity and hospitality. Read Hebrews 13. 2. Jewish proverb: ‘To welcome a fellow man is to welcome the Divine presence.’
CLIMAX: The Church in the city of Philippi was probably birthed in Lydia’s house. Some twelve years later, the apostle Paul wrote a letter to the believers at Philippi. Writing from a Roman prison cell he was able to say, “Rejoice always, and again I say, rejoice.” He had overcome his unpleasent circumstances!
As a result of receiving a vision from God, Paul pioneered the Gospel in mainland Europe. May God give each one of us vision that will motivate us to break new ground for the Kingdom of God in the community where we live!