  June 22, 2017 Silence Tim Gustafson Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:20 How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?  Habakkuk 1:2 Skittish chickens scattered as relief trucks clattered past the weathered huts of the village. Barefoot children stared. Traffic on this rain-ravaged “road” was rare. Suddenly, a walled mansion loomed into view of the convoy. It was the mayor’s house—although he didn’t live in it. His people lacked basic necessities, while he lounged in luxury in a distant city. Such unfairness angers us. It angered God’s prophet too. When Habakkuk saw rampant oppression he asked, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Hab. 1:2). But God had noticed, and He said, “Woe to him who piles up stolen goods . . . who builds his house by unjust gain!” (2:6, 9). Judgment was coming! We welcome God’s judgment of others, but there’s a pivot ...

DON’T COLOUR IT! -JOB 33:1-13 KEY VERSE: "My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly" (Job 33:3). If people decide to be more careful with their words, they will get into fewer problems. There is no doubt that our homes and families will be more peaceful and there will be less strain in our relationships. The truth is that many problems arise from what we say. They fail to consider the consequences of what they say. Even those who say the things that appear to be the truth do not say it with the right motive. Elihu, in our text, gives us a principle that should guide the way we talk. He knew that it is possible for people to appear to be speaking the truth but not out of a sincere, upright heart. When truth is spoken for the purpose of ridiculing, then that is blackmail and sarcasm – just to mock. Are you careful about the way you speak? It is always helpful to put the right construction to our words and conversations. We...

Memorise:  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. John 4:34 Read:  2nd Timothy 3:1-5 (King James Version) 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Bible in one year:  Joshua 8-9, Jeremiah 44:11-19, Hymn: Sing hymn 6 MESSAGE From Matthew 6:10, we understand that man was created to do God’s will on earth so that he can ultimately continue doing so when he gets to Heaven. Although God has a plan for everyone He created, He will not force us to do anything against our will, because He cre...

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES WEDNESDAY, 7TH JUNE.  http://bit.ly/2dZqtLQ THINK AND TALK PROSPERITY. Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever (Psalm 112:1-3). The Christian is an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ. Romans 8:17 says, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ….” This means all things are yours (1 Corinthians 3:21). If you function with this mind-set, you’ll always walk in superabundance. Some people have struggled all their lives; they’ve lived in lack, want and penury for so long that it has become so hard to believe in prosperity. The challenge is with their minds; if they can only think right, things will change. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: ...

  June 7, 2017 God Calling James Banks Genesis 3:1–10 This is how God showed his love . . . : He sent his one and only Son into the world.  1 John 4:9 One morning my daughter gave her eleven-month-old son her cell phone for a moment to entertain him. Less than a minute later my phone rang, and as I picked it up I heard his little voice. He had somehow hit the “speed dial” to my number, and what followed was a “conversation” I will long remember. My grandson can only say a few words, but he knows my voice and responds to it. So I talked to him and told him how much I love him. The joy I felt at the sound of my grandson’s voice was a reminder to me of God’s deep desire for a relationship with us. From the very beginning, the Bible shows God actively pursuing us. After Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God and then hid from Him in the garden, “the Lord God called” to Adam (Gen. 3:9). God continued to pursue ...

OPEN HEAVENS 2017 BE REFILLED – Thursday June 1st 2017 Memorise:  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 Read:  Ephesians 5:17-19 (King James Version) 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Bible in one year:  Acts 22-23, Jeremiah 39:11-40:6, Hymn: Sing hymn 15 MESSAGE The moment you give your life to Christ, a long drawn out battle for your souls begins. While your spirit would want to begin to exercise control over your soul as it rightfully should, your body would resist it and ask you to go in the opposite direction. To be victorious in this protracted battle, you need to understand your new nature and the life of the Spirit, so that you can easily flow in it. ...

RHAPSODY OF REALITIES THURSDAY, 1ST JUNE.  http://bit.ly/2dZqtLQ GLORY REALISED. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:26-27). What some Christians assume from our opening scripture is that if Christ is in you, you have a hope of glory in the future. In a sense, that’s correct; if Christ is in you, there’s hope in your life for glory. But what that portion of Scripture means is, Christ in you is the fulfilment of that hope of glory. He’s not saying we have a hope that we’re going to have glory in the future, or in the sweet by and by. The hope that man was looking forward to has been fulfilled in Christ. Christ in you is glory realised. The latter part of our theme scripture says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches...