Words of Encouragement

Watching and waiting with the right attitude

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV)

These verses instruct us to fulfil the purpose of God, by finishing the course that is set before us. Waiting with the right attitude and motivation for the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Preparing our hearts also, that we might be ready for His return, this will happen in the twinkling of an eye. When this occurs, Jesus will come with salvation, only for those who are waiting for Him. Those that are indifferent will encounter His judgement.

I believe it is vitally important that we practice and develop an attitude of watching and waiting, and there is nothing more important for God’s people.

Luke 12:37a says,

“It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.”

and in verse 40

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”

For many years I was lost and confused until God began to move in my life. It was only then I realised there was no hope in life without God.

In Psalm 34:4-5 David says,

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”

My heart was determined to be free from a life of failure, confusion and hopelessness. God brought me to a place where I was completely broken, and all I could do was to cry out for His help and forgiveness. It took quite a few years though, before I came to a place of total abandonment, and able to receive God’s mercy, forgiveness and blessing in a wonderful way.
The day after this encounter, I know I felt completely different. Someone I knew, knocked my door, and immediately realised something was different about me, and they took off with fright!

So this was the beginning of a new life in Christ, one with hope, purpose and peace. A purpose to fulfil God’s calling on my life. The darkness had gone, and the light of life had replaced it. I was now in the starting blocks, and knowing that what work God had started in me, He would enable me to complete the race, provided I remained faithful.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made know. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3:2-3

This process of sanctification has taken many years of peaks and troughs, but God remains patient, for it is still a work in progress! So my desire these days is to watch and wait for the second coming of Jesus returning from heaven. It is a wonderful expectancy for all who put their trust in Him.

“Yes I am coming soon”
Amen Come Lord Jesus

John Yates

Live out of your spirit

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Have you ever wondered how Jesus slept through the storm on the Sea of Galilee? (Matthew 3: 23-27). The passage tells us that Jesus calmed the storm and that shows us His power over the elements. However, perhaps the greater lesson we can learn from this passage is that in the midst of the storm Jesus was asleep!

The disciples however were far from sleep; they were anxious and woke Jesus to do something about their predicament. I suppose it is testament to their confidence in Jesus power that they woke him to ask him to save them. And no doubt we would have been anxious too if we had been in the boat. But, objectivity tells us that if that boat had been swamped, not only the disciples but Jesus too would have been in the water. Therefore a far greater power than the storm was at work and this power enabled Jesus to sleep through it. He knew that God’s purposes for Him did not include drowning and this confidence allowed Him to sleep through the storm.

One could say that Jesus was living out of His spirit rather than out of what his five human senses were telling him about the storm. He knew that when the time came for Him to return to the Father His followers would need help and so He said,

‘you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you’, (Acts 1:8)

This power enables us as disciples to (with faith) have victory over the world (1John 5:4). We have a choice, do we live out of our spirits and what we know of the Lord and His purposes for us, or do we live out of our five senses and what they tell us of the world and what comes against us. If we do the latter we are in no better a situation than people who do not have the Lord with them.

Trust in Him, if He is in the boat with you, you are not going down!

Russell Bowles

Trusting in God

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“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will, of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

And this is the will of Him who, sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
(John 6:38-40)

Praise God that when we surrender our hearts to Jesus, we can then have through sanctification His perfect purpose and will worked out through our lives, and the reassurance of eternal life.

We trust God that He knows what He is doing, for He never makes mistakes and through the trials, He is crucifying the old nature and developing our personalities to be more like Him.

Life is a journey for us all, Jesus started His in a humble stable, and will complete it when He returns in majesty as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Clothed in a robe dipped in blood, out of His mouth will go a sharp sword, and He will take His place on the Holy Hill in Jerusalem, and will reign over the Nations, and they will all come and worship at His feet.

Redemption

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When Jesus was crucified on the cross, He identified with our fallen humanity, and took all on our sin himself paying the price for it.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians 1:17.

When we have God’s forgiveness for our sins, we have redemption; we are redeemed. Redeem means “to buy back” or “to ransom.”

When a person is a slave, he or she has no choices. When slaves were sold in the market place in Jesus’s day they had to stand on a block, and from a post behind them a spear was extended over there head. The apostle Paul said “I am carnal, sold under the spear of sin, which is extended over my head. I have no options.

“I am carnal, sold under sin” Romans 7:14.

The good news is that Jesus Christ walked into the slave market and said,

“I’ll buy him; “I’ll buy her, I’ve paid the price for them. They are now My son and daughter.” That is redemption and it’s free to all who call on the Name of Jesus.

John Yates

A Fountain of Abundance

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“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9

I never cease to be amazed by the uniqueness of God. He is all omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. All seeing, knowing, powerful and everywhere, all at the same time. His love for mankind is so great that He sent His beloved Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice to bear the weight of the world’s sin. Yet, that love is so individual, so special to ‘each one of us.’ The deeper the relationship, the greater the revelation we will have of that love. Our lives will then become a fountain, an abundance of living water overflowing to those around us. A fountain that will never run dry.

This whole chapter speaks of an invitation to those who are thirsty, culminating to when Christ’s new order will be manifest on this earth.

Dear friends, I want to encourage you, do not become weary in doing good, and pray like you have never prayed before! We only need to observe world events to know that the time is short. So, let us use our time wisely. Let us be Kingdom minded at all times, empowered by the fullness of His Spirit

Pam Yates

Pressing On

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One requirement for running and winning a race is having a right mental attitude. This was brought out by words of the apostle Paul as he spoke about his relationship with Jesus Christ:

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. If, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead”
(Philippians 3:10-11)

Paul had an objective. He did not run aimlessly. He had an aim before him. He new what his goal was, which determined his attitude. He continued,

“Not that I have already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (verse 12).

auls vision was that Christ had laid hold of him for a purpose;

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (verses 13-14).

The phrase “press on” occurs twice, once in verse 12 and once in verse 14. That is the mental attitude we need to share with Paul: “I press on. I have a goal. I have not arrived yet, but I know where I’m going.” The last time Paul used that phrase, he said,

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

There is a reward for those who complete the course. Keep pressing on!

John Yates

Multiplication

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“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gve the increase” 1 Corinthians 3:6

If we will sow seed into the soil, as directed by the Holy Spirit, then, in God’s time, we will begin to see it grow. We will be amazed at how it grows, when it grows and what it grows!

I believe the key is to know what God is saying and where to sow. If we will remain in the centre of God’s will, then, in God’s time, we will see the increase.

I would like to encourage you to keep pressing on to what you have been called to and not give up, but keep sowing into good soil.

The Uniqueness of God

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

I never cease to be amazed by the uniqueness of God. He is all omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. All seeing, knowing, powerful and everywhere, all at the same time. His love for mankind is so great that He sent His beloved Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice to bear the weight of the world’s sin. Yet, that love is so individual, so special to ‘each one of us’. The deeper the relationship, the greater the revelation we will have of that love. Our lives will then become a fountain, an abundance of living water overflowing to those around us, a fountain that will never run dry.

This whole chapter speaks of an invitation to those who are thirsty, culminating to when Christ’s new order will be manifest on this earth.

I personally feel a little sad that the concept of church today is so sophisticated. Modern technology had brought video screens, the internet and plush buildings. The early church was so simplistic. In Acts we read that the believers were all together and shared everything. No-one was in need, they were all one in heart and mind, and many wonders and miraculous signs were performed. They devoted themselves to prayer and the breaking of bread.

Let’s get back to basics! We must take the church to the market place, and each day pray for folks as the need and opportunity arises. The Lord is changing lives, bringing healing and restoration in wonderful ways. As the enemy throws everything at us to wear us down we rejoice because God is on the move, He is faithful, and something wonderful is about to break in the spiritual realm.

Life is Precious

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Romans 14:10b-12
For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. For it is written, “As I live,” says the Lord, “every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.

As I get older, I am aware that the days sweem to get shorter, but it’s probably because it takes me longer to do things! But it also makes me realise that life is a gift from God and so precious. Many years ago I was given a prophecy, part of which said, “Don’t let a day go by that you don’t bless somebody.”

Many times whilst in Meriden we proved God’s faithfulness, favour and blessing to us. God’s provision continued to flow in enabling us to support and bless others. We have seen ‘The Master’s plan’ unfold. First of all, ploughing up the hard ground, establishing a beachead. Sowing the seeds, then watering, seeing the fruit deveop, and finally harvest time. Folks, l harvest time is coming, get ready, be prepared. This nation is going to see a gathering of souls as never before, but only as we cry out to God for His mercy, love and forgiveness for our land. As darkness increases, God will pour out a greater anointing upon His Spirit filled Church to overcome all onslaughts of the evil one, so that He will be glorified and righteousness prevails.

Each day was exciting! The Lord brought the people – believers, non-believers, regardless of colour, creed and denomination, and as we ministered the love of God unconditionally, we never ceased to be amazed at what He did by His Holy Spirit. A mum was prayed for, a single parent, she couldn’t afford to smoke, and wanted to give up. The Lord met her at her point of need, and set her free. Praise His wonderful Name. One of our helpers, who wasn’t yet a Christian, injured her back badly and was in chronic pain. As we prayed God healed her instantly. After this she is brought her mother for prayer who had chronic asthma.

This is the reality of the gospel. Jesus giving people life changing experiences and a hope of eternal life with Him! What a wonderful God we serve!

Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not loose heart.
Galatians 6:9

Breakthrough

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In January 2002 we had a tremendous visit from the World Prayer Centre Team in Meriden, when appocimately 60 – 70 people attended and God really touched His people through the Team.

I personally believe that God’s people gathering together and praying with one spirit in the centre of England was and is a vital link to seeing God visit His people in this nation.

Paul Miller, one of the members of the Prayer Team, was a real encouragement to those that attended and a challenge to take with us into 2002 and for many years beyond! Paul shared about how to really ‘breakthrough’ in prayer:

‘To really reach God, we do not need to pray with our understanding – we need to ‘breakthrough’ in the realm of the Spirit. God is waiting for His Body (the born-again Church) to move into a much deeper and more meaningful relationship with Him – we need to open ourselves up to God and allow Him to reveal what He wants to do in this nation –

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 64:4)’.

We should not be saying, “Father, what can I do for You?”, but rather, “Daddy, here I am – I want to spend time with You!”. How awful we would feel if our own child developed a servant attitude, to the point that they were only happy in serving us and self-sacreifice. However, they never wanted to be in our presence and just be in our company and sit and talk to us purely because they loved us enough to want to know us better and wanted us to express our view, delights and fears (although, of course, God has no fears, only a loving concern for His children). God must so often feel like a slave-driver when we continually come to Him saying, “What can I do now for You!”

I can only imagine His pleasure when we say to Him, “Daddy”, and then just sit at His feet and listen. We need to ‘breakthrough’ in the Spiritual realm, where He is in control and not us.

I don’t know about you, but I have found God to be a constant source of peace and a haven of rest when I approach Him in this way with a sincere and open heart.

In this way, we can each say, “Father, let Your will be done on earth (through me), as it is in Heaven!”