Archive for January, 2007
You are currently browsing the Philip K Stone blog archives for January, 2007.
22
Jan
2007
Get ready for the test! But when?
Saturday Morning started off with a bit of a bang in my world, I had a rather unexpected, untimely interuption in my life, i’ve been soaking myself this year so far with much scripture, a lot of teaching and a few good books, But Saturday morning was something that had no warning signals.
Someone approached me to make an accusation about something which I knew was firstly blown out of proportion and secondly untrue, as the rage started to build up inside me i knew i had a testimony to guard, so I tried to be as peaceful as i could to come to an agreement that was on His terms, It reminded me of one of those childhood moments when I apologised for something I wasn’t at fault for, but remembering that I had planted a seed of evangelism in his home a few months ago i didn’t want to harm that seed, so i took full responsibility for an action that was nothing to do with me and said sorry.
I spend the next 6 hours trying to come to terms with the human issues that this had raised, trying to deal with the anger it had risen inside me, trying to deal with how i will look at this person in the future with love, trying to deal with those unGodly thoughts, at the end of the head wrecking I come to a point where I asked god to forgive me, forgave myself for the negative thoughts I’d had and forgave the guy who approached me,
Its funny how as Christians we always seem to be in preparation mode for the ‘tests of life’, i would only consider mine on saturday to be tiny in comparison to the trials and tests that some of my family have been through lately but the fact is that God Must Test us so that we can prove God in situations, I failed on many counts on saturday afternoon when trying to come to terms with what had happened, but I would have to say if the same thing were to happen tomorrow I would deal with it a lot better, the thing I have learned this weekend is dont treat mistakes as a failure but rather as a learning curve.
The fact that I’m human is not an excuse for my failings but rather my opportunity to show How Great God can work through Human when Hes allowed.
19
Jan
2007
Gods Glory
I’ve heard many preachers try to put into words the Glory of God, But I think the description in Exodus ch.33v9-10 betters anything I’ve ever heard
‘And it came to pass that Moses entered into the tent, the pillar of cloud descended, and stood at the door of the tent, and Jehovah spake to Moses, And all the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the tent: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man at his tent door. And Jehovah spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto His friend.
I don’t know about You but reading that excites me, that God has come down, Can Come down and will come down in all his Glory!
Gods Presence is something I’ve experienced many times, but I have to say that I Long for the day when I get to experience the Glory of God, and if its not on my time on earth, I’m more than happy to wait for Heaven, Lets not try to conjour up Gods Presence or Glory in meeting etc, Let God decide how He will fill and change people, if we focus on having clean hands and pure Hearts as we are told in the psalms then I believe God will invade our lives with His Glory and presence.
I Love the imagery in the words God Spoke to moses face to face, as a man speaks to His friend, Not only does that Confirm that God is interested in individuals but it shows Gods willingness to invest time and energy into individuals, but its a two way thing remember, If You expect God to speak to you, You need to let Him and give him the opportunities to speak.
Have a super weekend!
18
Jan
2007
Only the BEST will do!
Throughout the old testament we read many times about people offering a sacrifice to God as an act of worship, Most of the time we read about these sacrifices being the Best Lamb or animal that can be found, without spot or blemish. So in many instances it was the most valuable possession. God demands our first fruits, lets face it, God gives it to us in the first place so to give him some of the first fruits is very little to ask. I’ve come accross many who disagree with Tithing, many I think use it as an excuse for not giving, but I will let God convict them about that as I have no right to say what they should or shouldn’t do.
We only have to switch on our TVs to see the poverty that is gripping many parts of the world, more recently i’ve been stunned to see poverty creeping into many homes even in the town of lurgan, people living on nothing. I’m proud to belong to a church that is doing something in regards to helping poverty, not talking about it but actually doing something, Feeding 40 Lepors daily in india, feeding 300 kids in Uganda daily at at Home looking to support one group of people in our community, so this month is about Mums! and to know when I give my First fruits to God that I can see things happen in my own town just adds a new dimension of Blessing!
I know I for one very often take what I have for granted! But heres a thought that I had last night, Why in the old testament did people sacrifice the Best for God but we as christians sacrifice sometimes very silly things, I know there is no longer a blood sacrifice needed since Jesus Died for our Sins, but I mean sacrifice in terms of things we give up to be more focused on him.
Over 2 years ago now I was involved in a ministry in Church, at the time it was Great, I loved it, but over time I had become the joint leader and was probably more focused on the position than on the job (Being honest) I realised over a period of months that I was involved in leading a ministry that I had lost my vision and passion and probably interest for, but for me my position had become my identity. I put a letter together to resign my position and involvement, i would say writing the letter was probably the easy bit but handing it over was definately not. I knew I had done what was right. It has probably taken me a good year and a half to get myself back to were I once was with God – (on a peak) But a life lesson I have learned from this is that God only expects the best we can give, anything Less is not enough,
Today if your in a position in work or ministry or in any walk of life, I think You must look at your position, do you do the role for the title or for the work it involves? Are you giving your best? God demands it. I Hope you receive this challenge with the same Love it is written with.
17
Jan
2007
Come Near unto Jehovah!
As I read Exodus Ch.24 this morning I got so excited for Moses, in Verse 1 God invites Moses, Aaron, Nadah & Abihu and the seventy elders up the mountain to Worship Him, away from all the Children of Israel, But Moses Gets a special invite (verse 2)
‘and Moses alone shall come near unto Jehovah; but they shall not come near; neither shall the people go up with him’
Now that the veil in the temple has been torn we to have the same invite from God, To Come near to God, God wants our Time, He wants our worship, He wants relationship with us! But God will never push us to give Him worship, worship must come from within our own hearts and if it doesn’t Its not worship, just empty words and deeds.
This morning I want to remind you that you are just as important to God as Moses or Abraham or Jacob or any Human you know. God Loves His creation equally, None of us are favoured in His eyes, He longs for us to desire to enter that Holy presence, that close and intimate place of worship, silence, renewing and rest!
This morning I’m seeing Jesus turn to us and wave us to come to Him, He’s not being pushy, He’s not demanding it, But He Is asking out of Love and nothing else for us to come and be ‘Alone with Him’ I Dare you today to take the step of faith to move closer to God, closer to His presence and to untangle yourself from the pull of this world!
16
Jan
2007
Live Forgiven & Free!
These are three words that we hear a lot about in Christian teaching,
Live, Forgiven & Free, the Truth that we choose to Live, we choose to be forgiven and we choose to be Free! And God through His son Jesus has given us that Choice – A choice that requires no payment, but a choice that will require your time commitment, your energy committment and Your life committment, Its a sacrifice of Your earthly life for Gods eternal life.
Sin has so much false power, a power that tricks minds and holds people back from discovering Who God is and What God can do in their Lives, God Loves seekers, His eternal Game of hide and seek is made easy because those who want to find Him will! He has made it so easy. Jesus Perfect sacrifice on the Cross opened up the opportunity for us to be seen in Gods eyes as perfect, spotless and pure. Often when I slip up i get so annoyed with myself because I feel I have belittled Jesus Resurrection power, but then Grace comes in and tells me that Gods love has no boundaries that All sin is forgiven and that I will never be let go from the hand of God because He Loves me and is passionate about me so how could anyone say No to an eternal Father Who Loves and Cares and provides in every situation!
I thank God that I am Forgiven (and i mean that) I think Life without God would be a waste, empty & meaningless But God is the reason for Life (as i said a few blogs ago), He Made it, sin tried to Destroy it, But God has opened a doorway called salvation that can and will resuce anyone who seeks to know and Find God for themselves!
“…who that believeth in Him will have eternal Life” John 3:16
