Seeds of the Kingdom

Are You Wearing Old Clothes?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

1 Timothy 6:11, NIV
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

Holiness is separating ourselves from the world, the flesh and the devil, and putting off ‘the old self’ (our old sinful ways), and then putting on ‘the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness’ (Ephesians 4:22-23). It means separating ourselves to the Lord. We must throw out the old dirty carpet tiles before we can lay the new carpet tiles. We have to put something old off before we can put something new on.

The apostle Paul writes to Timothy and tells him to pursue ‘righteousness, godliness, faith, love endurance and gentleness’. To do this we need to deal with ‘unholiness’. When all known ‘unholiness’ has been washed away we can focus on pursuing holiness. We begin with repentance and cleansing and then we find we have a greater desire to spend time with God and develop a closer intimacy with Him.

In his book called ‘Set Apart – Discovering Personal Victory through Holiness’ Bruce Wilkinson quotes two shocking statistics. The first one is that the average born-again believer prays for less than two minutes a day, not counting prayers at meals or at Christian functions. Secondly, the average born-again believer reads the Bible for less than three minutes a day, discounting corporate Bible readings. Do these statistics surprise or shock you? Or instead do they make you feel uncomfortable because they describe you?

I believe we need to start breaking free from spiritual shallowness and move out in radical, biblical Christianity. We need to sow the seeds of holiness now if we are to reap a harvest of holiness later on. ‘For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight’ (Ephesians 1:4). Jesus Christ is going to return for ‘a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless’ (Ephesians 5:27). Are we preparing ourselves now, to be ready for when He returns?

In order to be holy we have to flee from everything ‘unholy’ and pursue righteousness as our verse today tells us. This is a person-to-person call placed by God on you and me. He is beckoning us to come out from all ungodliness and all conduct we know is inappropriate and to be separated unto Him, to depart from everything that isn’t Him and to devote ourselves fully to Him.

Pursuing righteousness is not optional for us. Our hearts need to discover the incredible power of God which is released when we’re obedient to this Scripture verse. We need to flee from all that is ungodly and pursue righteousness. Today is a good day to start.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be obedient to You in this and to get rid of everything that displeases You in my life, and to have a passion for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Please release the power of the Holy Spirit to enable me to embark on this today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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God’s Strategy for His Victories in My Life

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2 Samuel 5:24-25, NIV
As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam tress, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army. So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer'.

The moment David was anointed King over Israel he became a target for the enemies of Israel. In those days the Philistines were the chief enemies of God’s people, especially since the battle between Israel and the Philistines, in the days of King Saul, when David successfully killed Goliath with his sling and the first of his five smooth stones. There was no doubt that amongst the Philistines, David was probably the most hated of men. He had removed from them their champion, Goliath, and now he was King.

So the Philistines went up against King David ‘in full force to search for him’, (2 Samuel 5:17). But David was wise enough to ask the Lord what to do and as a result of hearing the Lord’s instruction, and then being obedient, the Philistines suffered a major defeat (2 Samuel 5:20-21). But before long the Philistines tried again. David might have thought ‘I’ll do just what the Lord told us to do last time’ – but if he had done that, he would have been defeated. David enquired of the Lord again what to do and God gave him a different strategy – to circle round the Philistine army and attack them from behind.

Then the Lord gave David the specific instruction which is our Scripture for today. Don’t move until you hear a rustling (the sound of marching) in the tops of the trees – and when you do, then move quickly. Once again David was obedient to the Lord and had another major victory.

There are four vital lessons out of this story. The first is this – whenever you face a difficulty, and don’t know what to do ‘Ask the Lord’. Secondly, when you know that God has spoken, obey. Thirdly, don’t presume that what happened last time will happen again – always go back to the Lord for his advice, even if circumstances look the same. Then fourthly, there will be times when you may need to wait for a sign from the Lord that now is the time to act.

If we carefully apply these vital lessons from the Word of God in our daily battling against our spiritual enemy, then we can be confident that He will go before us, as He did for David, and lead us into His victories.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you are a God who answers the prayers of your children, when they look to you for guidance as David did. Help me, Lord, to be careful to listen to what You are saying to me, so that I will not fall into the traps of the enemy in the way I conduct my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Wisdom

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Proverbs 2:4- 5, Amplified Bible
If you seek Wisdom as for silver and search for skilful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of our omniscient God.

I wonder how Obed-Edom felt when the Ark of the Covenant was first brought into his house? (1 Chronicles 13:13). He had no doubt seen Uzza being struck down by the Lord for daring to touch it during David’s ill-fated attempt to bring it to Jerusalem. David had ignored all the Lord’s instructions about how to lift it on poles carried by the Levites, and had instead constructed a new cart for it. When the oxen drawing the cart stumbled, Uzza put his hand out to prevent the ark from falling and the Lord struck him down.

I can imagine Obed-Edom feeling very fearful when he saw David heading in the direction of his house and must have wondered if he too, might be struck dead. Gradually, however, as he began to feel the tremendous blessings of the Lord on him and all his house, his terror changed to awe and reverence. The ark was only resting there for three months before David removed it, correctly this time, and took it to its resting place in Jerusalem. For Obed-Edom that must have been a sad day. He had been deeply touched by the Lord’s presence and did not want to be away from Him again. The last reference to him says that he was one of the gate-keepers to the ark (1 Chronicles 15: 21).

Today there is a great deal of teaching about how much God loves us, rightly, but less on the fear of the Lord. We somehow need to strike a proper balance between the image of ‘Daddy God’, who loves each one of us passionately, and the awesome, mighty God, the Alpha and Omega, who holds the entire world in His hands and knows our every thought, even before we speak it. (Psalm 139: 4).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for Your wonderful love for me. Please forgive me if I have approached You in an irreverent way and help me to recognise Your holiness. Amen.

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Tender Hearts, Humble Minds

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

1 Peter 3:8, LB
You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.

Some of us think that it is our right to be served in many ways and complain if we don’t get the satisfaction of service that we think we should have. Yet our Master was a servant to all. I know I often have just one thing on my mind, (what I am about to do or the things on my ‘to do’ list for the day). But I forget that those I meet that might be stressed, sick, sad or lonely. Just a little interest, kindness and concern for them would really warm their hearts and lift their spirits, especially during this season of the year. It would be like the sun coming out on a dull, rainy morning and lighting up all the grass, trees and houses, making everything look fresh and new.

In the Bible it says, ‘when others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad share their sorrow’ (Romans 12:15). So maybe I could slow down a little and take a moment to listen to others. Jesus went about doing good, giving hope to all He met and having compassion for those in need. When we share His love and compassion with others they can know there is something special in what we do because we love the Lord. We can preach the Gospel in this way, even without words.

There’s a lovely programme on the television where they get a volunteer, who’s a millionaire, to live and work in a poor community, disguised as someone who has nothing. The millionaire stays there for a few months and gets to know people, finds someone who has a special need and at the end suddenly presents that person with a financial gift to help make a dream come true. It’s lovely to see the surprise and joy on the faces of both the receiver and the giver. It reminds me of how Jesus ‘laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave’ (Philippians 2:7).

Prayer: Lord, Help us to have ‘servant hearts’ like Yours. May we be happy to do the humble things You ask of us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Pressing In

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Hebrews 12:1, NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

When I was in high school I was part of the cross country ski team. Many nights I practised - sometimes with the team, sometimes on my own. Our coach would often stress the necessary discipline to ‘press in’ and attack the many hills laid out on our school’s 10 kilometer course. It was necessary to maintain our pace and even to increase it when going up the hills. That way we wouldn’t lose our momentum. It was interesting that during the team practice, I was greatly motivated to press on up the hills when I had team mates ahead or especially when they were behind me. But when I was on my own, when no one else was looking, I was tempted to take it easy or even to stop and rest.

I think it’s like that as Christians. When we have others around us, also going through the tough situation, we often rise to the occasion and triumph over the obstacle set before us. But what happens when we’re on our own, with no one around to examine our efforts? What happens when there’s no one to ‘see’ how fast we’re going in the race that’s set before all who profess Jesus as their Lord. There are many lonely tracks stretched out on the course for believers. In my youth the efforts I put in when I was alone in the hills on the 10 k course dictated how well I was to do when called upon to carry my team to victory. Great would be the cheers of the spectators on the day of the race as they saw the effort we made as we pressed on up those hills! How are you doing when the hills of life come upon you in your race?

I encourage you to maintain your momentum and keep the pace, as you keep the necessary discipline of pressing in to what is set before you. The Lord is our strength in times of trouble. He will strengthen the weary in their hardship and will help you up the hills and through to the other side towards victory, as you lean on Him and trust in Him! Don’t let’s forget that those who’ve gone before us are witnesses to our efforts, and they’re cheering us with great exuberant cheers through the hills of our course, as we keep pressing in!

Prayer: Lord we need You. Our efforts to run the race sometimes seem so small, and often futile. Give us the strength to endure through to the end, and help us, dear Lord, not to quit even when we’re discouraged, but to rise up with new effort as You come and strengthen us in our spirits. Would You come and minister to us, giving us new vision for the course before us, and renewed hope to press in? Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving us strength to continue to run the race set before us and to live victoriously in this day. Amen.

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Friends of God

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Romans 5:11, NLT
So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God - all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.

I'm not the most technically-minded person on the planet! My five year old can operate the television remote controls better than I can, and will often be called to come to my rescue. With that in mind, nobody is more surprised than I am that I have become a fan of something so modern and technically advanced as ‘Facebook’!

Being overseas from family and friends, I have really enjoyed catching up with everyone's news and photos via ‘Facebook’. It has amazed me how easy it is to get back in touch with people you knew years ago in just the click of a button. It also amazes me how easy and effortless it is to collect friends, as my list grows week by week!

As great as it is, we must be so careful with the advancement of technology in social networking, that we don't overstretch the definition of the word ‘Friend’ in our hearts. When God says that He calls us ‘Friend’ it means so much more than the quick conversation and ‘catch up’. It means a relationship that is deep and intimate - a relationship where we can be ourselves and not be afraid of rejection - a friendship like we will find in no other relationship on this planet. No wife, husband, best mate, mother, father, child or twin can fill that need in our hearts to be loved and accepted like Jesus can!

We don't have to explain ourselves with Jesus. And He never changes His mind. He's not subject to mood swings. He’s the same, yesterday, today and forever and His love for us never waivers. His commitment to us never weakens.

All of us can grow in our relationship with the Lord. We can fall deeper in love with Him, and learn more of who He is and His love for us. I want to encourage you today to make Jesus your first love - your best friend. The person to whom you reveal the secrets of your heart and the one in whom you place your ultimate trust.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a privilege that You would call me Your friend! Lord, I’m sorry if I have looked to others to be the intimate love of my heart. Please show me how to build my relationship with You and to fall deeper in love with You each day of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The Lost Cat

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Matthew 10:29, NLT
What is the price of two sparrows — one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.

“I can’t find the cat!” my sister said. One look at her face and her eyes, wide with concern, and I immediately slipped on my coat, ready to go outside. I knew what she meant. This was New Year’s Day, people had been drinking like fish the night before, and the roads were the last place you’d want to be! Anxiety was now rapidly building in me too.

“God…” I started praying, but was stopped by the lump in my throat. I couldn’t, or wouldn’t talk to God right now. Better to call and search! Of course, the first place I hurried to was the road, which I searched thoroughly. “Kémuel!” I screamed in vain. I came back home heavy-hearted, shaking my head. This was a bad start to the day. We tried to get on with preparing for the feast to come, but our thoughts were elsewhere. Mum suggested praying, but I wouldn’t hear of it. We had lost several cats in the past, and it always started the same way. No matter how hard I prayed, nothing changed. It seemed like a curse.

In the end I decided I could speak to God about my anger and sorrow. Immediately a verse came into my mind: “What is the price of two sparrows - one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” It was as if God was telling me He had seen what had happened to my other cats, and He didn’t condemn me for the grief I had felt over them. I heaved a sigh of relief and murmured back: “God, I trust you! I don’t know what’s going to happen to my cat, but I put my whole life in your hands, whatever the outcome.” Relief washed over me. I wouldn’t let myself fully hope, for fear of discovering the worst. Still, I sensed God had touched the real issue. The loss and grief I would feel if I were to lose another pet.

At that moment, a muffled meowing came from behind the closed shutters. My heart soared as I rushed to open the window, and sure enough there he was. I can’t tell you how much I thanked God. Mum told me later she had felt prompted to pray for our little animal. More than an answer to prayer, this whole experience had taught me an important lesson.

Sometimes, things can come between us and our communication with God; between us and our ability to feel the Father’s heart; between us and His answer to our prayers. Things like unhealed hurts, disappointments or even curses. But God doesn’t condemn us when we come to Him with it all. No, He understands. He gently takes our pain away and shelters us under His wings and deals with what needs to be dealt with!

Prayer: Father, thank You because You truly are my refuge. Today, I come to You as I am, with what I have. Help me to not be mad at You, but to open my heart to You, so that You can deal with my real enemy. Take away everything that has distorted my relationship with You. And help me to get back what the enemy has robbed me of. Amen.

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Overcoming insecurity and a sense of failure

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Exodus 3:10, NIV
"Go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt".

When it was discovered that Moses had murdered an Egyptian he ran for his life to Midian, a distance of at least two hundred miles. Many years later God called to Moses from a burning bush and told him: ‘I have seen the misery of My people in Egypt, have heard them crying out because of their slavery, and am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them’ (Exodus 3:7-8).

Having felt for his own people as they were suffering at the hands of the Egyptians, this must have encouraged Moses immensely. But he was completely unprepared for what the LORD said next. He was not prepared when God commissioned him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Moses was to go to Pharaoh and ask him to release the people to go for a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD God. Even though God promised to be with him when he did this Moses became panicky, and presented all the reasons why he thought he was unsuitable for the task.

With miraculous signs God tried to convince Moses that He was with him and would help him. Yet Moses still argued that he was unsuited for the task, to the point that God ‘s anger was roused (Exodus 4:14).

Have you ever had the experience when you have felt God speaking to you and showing you a task He wanted you to undertake for Him, but you felt totally unsuitable? When God called me to leave secular employment and train to be a pastor I was convinced He’d got the wrong man, and, like Moses, could give reasons for being unsuitable and even thought of other people who were more gifted for that task. It was only through responding in obedience that I learned how God is able to do what He’s planned. He’s able to reach and save lost souls, deliver bound people and heal the sick. These were the very things I had read of Jesus and His disciples doing, and questioned why such things were not happening in the Churches today.

It’s wonderful how God chooses and uses ordinary people like us to do extraordinary things for Him by the power of His Holy Spirit working in and through us. As we consider the way God used Moses, during the next forty years of his life, to bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land, we have an example of how God fulfils His plans. This is possible when those He calls are obedient to His call and His guidance.

As we progress into this New Year, may we carefully listen for God, respond willingly in obedience to Him, and look on in amazement as we see Him do extraordinary things through ordinary individuals like us.

Prayer: O Lord God, I am sorry, and ask You to forgive me for those times when I have not listened to You, and let You down by doing things in my own strength. Please help me to listen more attentively to You when You speak, and respond obediently to Your instructions, I pray, in Jesus Name. Amen.

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Discipline

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Hebrews 12:1, NIV
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Some people seem to succeed in everything: their families, personal lives, and their work lives as well as service in the Church or ministry. They are active and are really going for God. When you get close to them and try to determine just how they manage to fulfil so much of their potential you’ll find that discipline plays a significant role.

Discipline is one of the most important character qualities we can possess and plays a key role in every area of life. It means that, often, we have to make a decision to face the tough challenges first so that we can enjoy the rewards later. When we go to a university or college we are choosing to put off earning money now so that we will benefit later on.

Discipline will also involve planning ahead. For example, if we are living on a budget we will have to plan and work out what our expenses are in advance, and however much we may like to buy something which isn’t in our budget, we can’t allow ourselves to do it. We’ve already made the decision about it ahead of time.

We can’t live our life making last minute, knee-jerk decisions. We have to do things because we have already planned what we should be doing. We can’t leave making a decision whether to go to the early morning, prayer meeting until we’re feeling tempted not to go, in the pleasant warmth of our beds. We have to have already decided what to do before then.

Galatians 5:23 says that the Holy Spirit helps us to produce discipline in our lives. We can always depend on God for His strength for us to do His will in our lives.

There are pay-offs for discipline. If we are spiritually disciplined, the reward is a victorious and fulfilled Christian life. The pay-off for financial discipline is freedom from debt, always having sufficient for our outgoings and an ability to give to the needs of others.

The rewards for discipline are great but they’re not instant. The world and the flesh clamours for instant gratification. “I must have it now!” despite the consequences. The world wants quick fixes. Therefore, it can be hard to choose the disciplined lifestyle, but we will never be the people God has called us to be without discipline.

Do we get up late? Skip our prayer time and rush out to work without eating breakfast? Are there areas in our life that need discipline?

Jesus calls His disciples to be disciplined. Today is not too soon to take our first small step towards a disciplined lifestyle. ‘Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us’ (Hebrews 12:1).

Prayer: Lord Jesus I know that in my life there are undisciplined areas that I need to address. Will You help me to start recognising them today. I know You want me to be led by the Holy Spirit, not by my carnal nature. I thank You that You’re changing me into the image of the Son of God and I want to work with You so that these things can be accomplished in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The Winter is Past!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Song of Songs 2:11-13, NIV
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

In January much of England was under a thick blanket of snow which remained for nearly two weeks in some parts. When the snow finally melted in our garden, I noticed some little snowdrops which had pushed their way up through the hard ground and had been flowering under the snow. These delicate little flowers were tough enough to flourish even in such harsh conditions and were a sign that springtime was to follow.

Sometimes in our Christian lives it seems as if we are in a winter season, when nothing appears to be happening and the circumstances seem very hard. If you are feeling like that today, be encouraged. God always wants to bring new growth in our lives and to give us new beginnings, in the same way as spring follows winter.

With plants and trees there needs to be a dying back of the old before the new growth can emerge. We sometimes also need to go through such a time in our lives. Often there is much happening below the surface during winter in preparation for the new growth. Similarly in our lives, even when there appears to be nothing happening, God can be at work preparing us for the new season.

Today’s verses from Song of Songs tell us to see that the winter is past and a new season has come. Perhaps God wants to encourage you by saying the same to some of you today. The exhortation is then: ‘Arise, come, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me’ (Song of Songs 2:13b). God may be calling you today to rise up out of the passive ‘winter’ season of your life and to go on with Him, in the intimacy of relationship that we can have with Him, into a new season of growth and fruitfulness.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You are always at work in my life, even when I don’t feel anything happening. I want to rise up now and come with You into all that You have for me, and I pray that it will be a new season of fruitfulness with You. Amen.

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Are you a ‘High Definition’ Christian?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Philippians 2:15-16, NIV
So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.

According to current advertising it would seem that the latest ‘must have’ in home entertainment is an HD television. These ‘High Definition’ televisions are said to give a much improved and brighter, clearer picture in which everything can be seen in greater detail. These new TVs are designed to give a sharper, crisper picture and display an image which is bright, clear and easily seen, and more like the real thing.

What about us? As Christians shouldn’t our lives portray an image of Jesus which is clear, easily defined and as close to the real thing as possible? Perhaps there are areas which are somewhat blurred and indistinct and not always as clear as they should be.

We may not be called to hold a prominent position – but perhaps a strategic place in the home; not a church leader – but nevertheless a very valuable member of the congregation. Wherever God has placed us we have an image and a message to convey. Is this message clear and undistorted? Is there indeed a contrast between us and those around us, who don’t profess to be Christians, in what we say and what we do? Is the contrast obvious? Or in the interest of ‘Political Correctness’ is our image becoming increasingly more fuzzy and indistinct as we merge in with the majority.

In these dark days God is looking for a people who can be a beacon on a hill projecting a beam of light which is bright and clearly defined as it seeks to present the un-distorted truth of God. The Apostle Paul says ‘If the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for the battle?’ (1 Corinthians 14:8), and these challenging words are included in Chris Bowater’s song ‘Here I am’ (1981 Sovereign Lifestyle Music, Ltd):

‘As salt our we ready to savour,

In darkness are we ready to be light?

God’s seeking out a very special people

To manifest His truth and His might.’

Prayer: Dear Lord, I’m sorry that the image I so often portray of You isn’t always what it should be, please help me to portray a clearer and more distinct image of You from today onwards. Amen.

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Healing and Destiny - Teaching CD

Only One Thing

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Luke 10:41, LB
But the Lord said to her, “Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it – and I won’t take it away from her!”

I had worked for about ten hours on creating a piece of work on my computer, which I was very excited about, when in a couple of seconds it all disappeared in front of my eyes and I was very upset. Then I read the above words and they went deep into my spirit.

I thought how much life is like that. It is like a vapour that lasts for a little while and then vanishes. Jesus wants to give us something that can never be taken away. I know that I should be like Mary, wanting that one thing that’s worth far more than anything else.

As it says in Psalm 27.4, ‘The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in His Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory’.

If I wanted this more than anything else these trials and disappointments would have little effect compared to the gladness and joy He gives, which is far greater than anything we can achieve or create. This is something, way beyond ourselves, that is worth being concerned about and we can’t be robbed of this joy.

We can welcome Jesus into our lives and even serve him, like Martha, and yet still be too busy to listen to Him. But Jesus really loved Martha and didn’t want her to miss out.

Prayer: Forgive me Lord, for being busy and concerned about little things. Help me to sit at Your feet and to choose the best part that can never be taken away, like Mary. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Use your Mind

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

1 Corinthians 2:16, NIV
But we have the mind of Christ…

Sometimes it seems to me that the mind – I’m talking about the reasoning part of our soul which responds directly to our senses, to what we see and hear, is an undervalued part of our beings. Sometimes it is viewed with suspicion, or seen only as an enemy of our spirits, an enemy of faith. The subtle lie is introduced that intellect and faith are incompatible, and especially it seems in today’s culture, that science and God are incompatible. We are repeatedly told that our mind is a battleground, and that every sin starts in the mind.

Of course there is the unregenerate, sinful mind of which these things are true. But there is also a renewed mind, and a reason that leads to faith and does not oppose it. God gave you a mind. He gave you a hand, and you use it without thinking. You use your feet without hesitation. So why not your mind?

If sin begins in the mind, how much more powerfully will righteousness begin there if we allow God to renew our minds?

Christ had a mind, an intellect, and I am sure He used it in a godly way that glorified His father. Indeed, we too can have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2.16).

Moreover there were plenty of people in the Bible who put their minds to good use.

The centurion had heard about Jesus (Matthew 8:6-10). As he considered what Jesus was like he reasoned that Jesus didn’t need to visit his house to heal his servant – Jesus only had to give a command. Jesus was amazed at his faith – and it started in his mind. Abraham too thought it all through. Hebrews 11:19 tells us that before he went to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command, he reasoned that God could raise him from the dead. So there is a godly reason that leads to faith, which prompts and strengthens it. Paul had it – consider the godly logic of Romans chapters 1 – 8, where every new thought is built upon the ‘therefore’ of a previous set of statements. Faith and intellect can mutually encourage one another. So don’t leave your mind at the door of the Church – use it to build your faith!

Prayer: Lord please help me to use my God-given intellect in a right way. May my reason produce and encourage faith, as I consider Your ways.

Living in the Promises - Teaching CD

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Discipleship - Its challenge.

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

John 13:37, NIV
Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’

For many Christians Peter is the disciple we can most readily identify with, because of the shortcomings he displays.

In this verse I identify with his desire to stick close to Jesus whatever the cost and wish I had Peter’s directness and boldness at times, especially when I’m amongst those whose faith and commitment seem to have slipped into the ‘easy chair’.

Peter’s question, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now?’ was really the desire of his heart at that moment, and I don’t doubt that he meant what he said. But what Peter didn’t know was that a series of circumstances would soon follow where the real weaknesses within him would be revealed.

Probably we all have heart’s desires that are genuine like Peter’s, but when we’re faced with totally unexpected situations we discover just how powerless we are, and like Peter, we fall short.

Jesus knew all about how Peter would fail and deny Him, long before it happened, but that didn’t prevent Him calling Peter to follow Him.

Jesus reinstated Peter after the Resurrection, and he became a mighty man of God in the early church. Tradition has it that Peter was crucified upside down at the end of his ministry. When Jesus calls us to follow Him can we face the challenge of what it could eventually lead to?

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me to follow You, and thank You for all the help You’ve given me over the years as I’ve endeavoured to fulfil that call. Please help me to be aware of pitfalls, and help me avoid those situations where I could so easily fail You, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Waiting for the Bridegroom

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Matthew 25: 1 – 2, NIV
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

The first service of the New Year in our church was the Covenant service, when we remind ourselves of the vows we have made to our heavenly Bridegroom. Similar to the Lordship prayer we often pray at Ellel Grange, the Covenant prayer reminds us that we have promised to serve our Lord wholeheartedly, whether it is glamorous or not, whether it is costly or not and whether what He asks us to do is something we want to do or not. This is followed by Communion, reminding us that Jesus has kept His side of the bargain completely, and that He has fulfilled all the promises made to us through His sacrifice on the cross.

Last year, my husband and I celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary. We had a wonderful party to celebrate and a blessing in church which brought back many happy memories. Our courting had been brief, and at a distance, so there were many phone calls to keep in touch and deepen our relationship.

Our courting with our heavenly Bridegroom has been much longer of course, though there are many signs which appear to be showing that all our waiting may soon come to an end. But how has the courting been? Have we been constantly “on the telephone” and really getting to know Jesus through His Word?

It’s still not too late to make New Year’s resolutions so maybe it’s time for some of us to make a fresh resolve to keep in better touch with our Bridegroom and to ensure we aren’t caught without the oil in our lamps.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I don’t know when You are coming back, but I want to be ready for You when You do come. Please forgive me that I don’t spend enough time with You, and help me, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, to set aside more time to get to know You better. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living in Vision - Teaching CD

No Secrets from God!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Isaiah 29:15, NIV
Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, 'Who sees us? Who will know?'

It seems very obvious that there is nothing in all of creation that can be hidden from God. There is nowhere in the universe we can go to escape His presence. He is everywhere – and how I praise God that He is everywhere. The world would be a pretty scary place if there were places where it was impossible to be in touch with Him. It’s not difficult to find a place where your mobile phone is out of reach of a signal – but it’s impossible to find a place which is out of reach of God.

And yet people behave as if this obvious fact is not a fact at all. They harbour secret sins in their mind, hide their ungodly behaviour from others, somehow or other thinking that if nobody else knows about it, then God doesn’t know about it either! We reduce the vision of God to that of physical humanity and are deceived by the enemy into thinking that there will never be any accounting for hidden works of darkness.

But the truth is that one day there will be an accounting. Everything that was hidden will be exposed for ‘nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account’ (Hebrews 4:13). And when that happens there will be nowhere for us to hide. I have come to realise that hidden sins stack up like secret bricks around our heart. The more bricks there are the more our heart is hidden from the love of God and the more artificial our relationships become with God and everyone else. Eventually we would finish up with a hardened heart and an artificial personality.

There is only one solution – repentance at the foot of the cross. There is only one solvent that can melt the hardest of hearts and that’s the love of Jesus. But not even the love of Jesus can melt away the hardness, if we don’t own the reality of what we’ve been doing and come before him in repentance. Better to shed genuine tears of repentance here, and experience the love of Jesus melting away the consequences of forgiven sin, than to try and keep things hidden and suffer the wrath of God in eternity. An open heart before God is quickly healed!

Prayer: I am so sorry, Lord, for the times when I have been deceived into thinking that I can hide things from you. Please forgive me, and help me to face reality about the hidden things of my past and live my life as an open book before you in the future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Forgiveness - The Master Key - Book by Peter Horrobin

How discerning are you?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

1 John 4:1, NIV
Dear friends do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

In these days of difficulties when we are all waiting to hear God’s solutions for our crises, it is tempting to take every word that others say as if it is God’s word, especially if it sounds plausible. We need to be discerning so that we hear the true word from the Lord, otherwise we might put the wrong actions into motion.

I recently had a practical illustration of this. We needed a new thermostat for our heating system at home, and I duly went to the suppliers to buy one. When fitted by the electrician it looked good, but didn’t work properly. We assumed it was faulty and exchanged it for one which looked better - it even had a blue light in it! This didn’t work either, and we considered putting in a bigger heating system. However we then discovered we had the wrong type of thermostat for our heating system. When the right type was installed, all worked wonderfully. Testing the system would have helped in the first place.

The enemy loves to deceive. When people are hungry for God’s direction they are tempted to be hearers and doers without being testers. It’s so important that we not only test the spirits, but also weigh what’s being said in the light of who’s saying it. Does the person bringing this word have integrity and credibility? Are those in leadership happy with the prophet as well as the words he or she speaks?

I believe that God has important things to say to us in the light of the current financial situation, but He also wants us to be discerning. ‘It’s best to test before we invest’.

Prayer: Father, thank You that you are always ready to speak to us in our time of need. Thank You that Your Word is always Truth. Help us to be discerning as we listen for that Word, so we aren’t led astray by deceptive ideas, and we can follow Your perfect plan for our lives. Amen.

Discernment and Deception - Teaching CD

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Removing the covers!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Psalm 51:6, NLB
But you desire honesty from the heart so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.

When we first moved to Florida we were given a rather old fashioned pair of sofas. As the sofas were excellent quality but just not our style, we decided to disguise them with modern sofa covers. They looked great, but took up lots of time each day re-arranging and adjusting them trying to keep them in place. Despite being washed many times, after 3 years of being sat on by the family and the dog, the covers were officially dead! No cushion, throw or pillow was going to pretend otherwise! So, a few months ago, I pulled off the covers and tossed them in the trash.

This got me thinking. How much do we hide ourselves under cushions, blankets and covers trying to be something that we aren't - trying to fit other people's expectations or ‘likes’? Maybe we have produced our own covers because we really dislike what’s underneath and we feel ashamed and afraid that the real ‘me’ isn't good enough.

It’s scary, but just too easy to do! Instead of allowing the Lord to reveal the truth of our hearts, we cover it over and pretend it’s not there. Whatever’s underneath - jealousy, bitterness, pride, a hunger for love and acceptance, greed, a deep search for significance and worth, judgment and criticism (the list goes on...) - God wants us to be real. He wants us to come to Him in truth - flaws and all.

What a relief to give up the pretence and the sheer effort of keeping ourselves covered! Jesus sees all the beauty and muck that we’ve hidden, and He accepts us. Does He want us to change? Absolutely, but we can't do it ourselves in our own strength. Only He can bring the true change to our lives, as we acknowledge our need (or repent of our sinful ways), and allow Him to transform us deep on the inside.

Today, will you ask the Lord to show you any covers you have adopted and dare to trust Him to reach underneath with His love and His truth?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I’m sorry for the times I have tried to re-create myself into someone I deem more acceptable either to You or the people in my life. Thank You that, as the craftsman of my life, You love me as your precious creation. Lord, please help me to be real. Would You show me the covers I have placed over my heart, and would You help me to begin a journey of walking in true relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Creativity and Healing - Teaching CD

To Whom Shall We Go?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

John 6:68-69, NKJ
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Man goes to the ends of the earth or even searches the World Wide Web for the knowledge of the truth, to find their ‘raison d‘être’ - to understand why they were born.

They go to a thousand different gods to find food for their souls and enlightenment for their spirits. But Jesus says ‘Come to me all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and burden is light and you will find rest for your souls’ (Matthew 11:28-30).

Some may go through unspeakable tragedies, painful illnesses, unbearable losses and heartaches. When these things happen it’s very hard to face them alone and sometimes not even enough for someone close to console you, it’s then, knowing that Jesus is holding you, bearing you up by his Holy Spirit, that you have the hope and the will to carry on. It’s often in a tragedy that something beautiful can be born in you – like the new buds that burst forth from the fir cones after a forest fire. If it wasn’t for the fire, the seed would never break out.

But we can’t always see where we are in the plan of God. When we think something is the end, it’s often the beginning. So to whom can we go when we need that answer in our lives but to the ‘Light of the World,’ the One who can give us the ‘Light of Life’. If the apostle Peter was speaking the truth, there’s no one else to go to, and Jesus will give us rest for our soul.

Prayer: Jesus – be the centre, be my source, be my light. Jesus – be the centre, be my hope, be my song, be the fire in my heart, be the wind in my sails, be the reason that I live, Jesus. Jesus be my vision, be my path, be my guide, Jesus.

(From Vineyard lyrics by Michael Frye.)

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

ShepherdLove Series - Books/CDs by Pam Smith

Holding a grudge can hold you back!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Genesis 50:15, NIV
What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?

In 2001 the world’s first secular forgiveness course was held at Leeds University. The candidates on the course included victims of burglary, bullying, abuse, abandonment, betrayal and jilted husbands. They were all angry and bitter, wanting revenge. The Daily Telegraph reviewed the conference under the heading, “Holding a grudge can hold you back and even damage your health.”

When Joseph was a youth, his brothers hated him to the extent that they were willing to do anything to get rid of him. Initially they contemplated murder and then decided on selling him into slavery in Egypt. The root of the brothers’ hatred was jealousy. Joseph was the favourite son of his father Jacob.

After their father Jacob had been buried the brothers became anxious and disturbed. They had been re-united now with Joseph and he had dealt kindly with them. Obviously he had truly forgiven them, but now they asked one another a burning question, ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’ (Genesis 50:15)

Joseph’s brothers misjudged him. Long ago he had forgiven their jealousy, cruelty and murderous thoughts. He had let them off the hook completely. His words to his brothers when they asked for his forgiveness were, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:17-20).

Here are two questions –Firstly, do you hold a grudge against someone? If so, today, choose to truly forgive that person and let them off the hook. Holding a grudge can certainly hold you back in your relationship with God and also with others. It may even damage your health.

Secondly, do others hold a grudge against you? If so seek to be reconciled to them. If they’re unwilling, let them off the hook and cease to fret over them. Allow God, who knows every heart, to develop your character through the experience. Whatever your circumstances today, remember that God intends every experience in your life to be for your good. He works it out that way when your heart attitude is right before Him.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your dealings in my life and for the many times I’ve experienced You working through difficult relationships to develop my character. I choose not to hold a grudge against anyone. Thank You for Your unlimited forgiveness. I desire to live in forgiveness towards others because I’ve been forgiven by You. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Forgiveness - the Master Key - Book by Peter Horrobin

Healing through Forgiveness 1 - Teaching CD

He has Scattered

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Luke 1:51, NIV
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

In Luke 1 we read that Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited her relative Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, her own baby (the future John the Baptist) leapt in the womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. She exclaims a blessing in a loud voice, to which Mary, also inspired by the Spirit, responds with a declaration sometimes known as ‘the Magnificat’ (verses 46 – 55). Verse 51 reads ‘he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts’ which means, literally, those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

Scattering is seen as something God does to those who are proud. Do we have any example of this?

The first generations after the flood, instead of obeying God and filling the earth, stayed together and started building a tower of their own manufacture. God had said that if they remained united, there was little they could not do. God had to divide their language and scatter them around the world. The tower remained unfinished (Genesis 11:1 – 8). In fact, God considers the proud in heart his enemies.

It’s interesting that it’s inward pride that Mary spoke of. God sees through our outward show of humility to the pride and self reliance that lurks within. Too often the outward ‘Thy will be done’ contrasts with the inward ‘my will be done’. The danger is we trust in our own ability, our own works and righteousness, and our faith is in ourselves and not God. Perhaps this attitude is one root of disunity in our lives. Are our lives ‘scattered’ and disjointed, full of unfinished towers? Are our churches like that as well, full of ineffective troops?

Being proud is the opposite of Proverbs 3:5 - 6, ‘trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.’

Let’s ask God to give us humility in the thoughts of our hearts, in that secret place – to trust in Him and not in our own strength – then we won’t be scattered but united and effective.

Prayer: Lord, please give me an undivided heart. Help me to acknowledge You in all my ways and to be humble in the thoughts of my heart, in the inward place where only You see. I choose not to lean on the bruised reed of my own abilities, but on the strong, comforting staff of God. Please make the twisting paths of my life straight. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

No Compromise - Teaching CD by Jill Southern

Courage

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

1 Peter 1:16, NIV
Be holy, because I am holy.

I was once challenged by someone asking me these questions, ‘Do you believe in Jesus? Do you belong to Jesus? Do you behave like Jesus?’ The last question is a huge one for most of us. I would like to ask it this way, ‘How do we behave when no one’s looking?’

I consider a holy character is the world’s most pressing need. Think about it – if all 6 billion inhabitants of this earth had holy characters, there would be no wars, no hunger, no family break-ups, no crime and no poverty. Of course, that can’t happen until Jesus Christ returns and this whole earth is made new. If we’re hoping for a major move of God, either individually or corporately, then I believe we need to be working on having a holy character.

Our character is not just what we’ve done but who we are. Love is part of our character. Love is being tender-hearted but sometimes it’s being tough. Like Jesus we are to have a radical love for the broken, the hurting and the wounded. A most important chapter in the Bible for us to study is 1 Corinthians 13.

A holy character includes courage. My father, who was in Dunkirk in May 1940, told us of the huge acts of courage done by the allied soldiers who were being evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk. The first boat my father was on was bombed and caught fire, but he went into the water to save a friend before getting to safety on another boat. He ended up back in Margate, very thankful for his deliverance. As I listened to such stories I can remember thinking, “When I grow up, I want to be a woman of courage!”

We make choices that show whether we’re courageous or cowardly. We can choose to do the right thing or the convenient thing. Do we stick to biblical principles or cave in for the sake of our carnal nature, our comfort, our greed, or other people’s approval of us? These choices come at us every day in rapid succession. Do we go with the flow or stop, and choose to be courageous when other people are not?

Things like owning up to the truth takes courage and how much courage is required today to stay sexually pure in a sex-crazed culture? What about when your non-Christian family or friends say that you’re terribly old-fashioned or even a little bit strange? Even to become a Christian takes courage. We have to own up to our sins before a holy God.

Today, take time out to consider your willingness to be courageous on a daily basis because courage is part of a holy character.

Prayer: I thank You, Jesus, that You had the courage to go through with the cross and set Your face steadfastly towards Jerusalem. Help me to stand with great courage in a difficult or hostile place and to behave like You, especially when no one is looking. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

NETS Training School

Sex - God's Truth - Book by Jill Southern

Be Wiser Than Your Enemies!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Psalm 119:97-98, NIV
O how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.

Wisdom and knowledge are very different. Two different people could look at exactly the same sets of information and come to entirely different conclusions. The problem is this – our understanding varies according to both our perspective and our experience.

We may think we know what a familiar mountain looks like, but when we see that same mountain from a different direction it looks entirely different. It’s all a matter of what our perspective is. We may set out to climb the mountain a certain way, but discover it’s impossible to approach the summit from that direction. Whereas the man with experience of having climbed the mountain before, may set off in a direction that looks longer, but he will always get there first, because he has learned from experience.

The problem with life is that we can look at all the circumstances prevailing around us and be at a loss as to what is the right thing to do. Our knowledge is limited, our perspective is not perfect and we have limited experience. What we lack is the wisdom to know what to do. We may have the facts but we don’t have the understanding as to what to do with the facts!

But there is One who has all knowledge, and His perspective on events and circumstances is always just right. The Lord is not limited by the horizons of our own experience. On our journey through life we desperately need to be taking our instructions from Him. No wonder the Psalmist was able to say ‘your commands make me wiser than my enemies.’ When we hear and obey His voice we will always be on solid ground.

His wisdom is essential if we are going to make our way through this fallen world, in which the enemy of souls is constantly wanting to trip us up and take us off course. With His wisdom we will always be wiser than our enemies – as we acknowledge Him, He will make our paths straight and show us the way to go – every step of the way.

Prayer: Father God, I confess that many times I have depended on my own knowledge and experience and have not listened to your voice or taken note of what you have said in your Word. Help me, Lord, to look up to you for the wisdom that passes all human understanding so that I will be wiser than my enemies and experience your blessing on my path. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Forgiveness - The Master Key - Book by Peter Horrobin

Be prepared!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Matthew 25:10, NIV
But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Here in the UK we have experienced one the harshest winters of modern times with unprecedented snow falls and plummeting temperatures. Much of the country ground to a near halt as the local authorities struggled to keep the roads, airports and railways clear.

As you could have expected, here in the north of Scotland we received much more snow than in the south of England, and it stayed for longer. Yet it was the roads in England that caused the most trouble with the wintry weather.

Reflecting on why that’s so is simple: Scotland’s prepared! With a fleet of gritters and ploughs on 24 hour standby, local farmers equipped with plough attachments for their tractors, mini-tractors with ploughs and gritters for the pavements, and a well-trained team of workers, Scotland’s roads and pavements are kept relatively clear and safe.

Living here, we simply expect the snow. We know it’s going to come at some point and we’re well prepared for its arrival.

The parable about the virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom talks of being prepared for Jesus’ return. We’re not just to think His return is something that may happen, but we’ll deal with that when it comes. We’re to live our lives knowing that Jesus will return again and this time He will be returning for His Bride.

Can we honestly say that if Jesus came today we would be in a position to respond immediately? Would we be able to look at Jesus, face to face and say, “I come in total humility, clothed only in your righteousness, through the work of Your Cross”? Or would we need time to work through a sin issue, forgive someone or ask for forgiveness?

Let’s live our lives prepared for His return, for He is coming again and He’s looking for a pure and spotless Bride.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, let me not be complacent about Your second coming. Help me to live my life in such a way that I’ll be prepared for Your arrival, any time. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Finishing Well - Teaching CD

This Moment with Jesus

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Psalm 16:11, LB
You have let me experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasures of your own eternal presence.

Like the mountain tops that reach far above the clouds into the clear sky there are those important times in our lives when we touch eternity. I call them ‘now’ moments.

So often I live for what I’m planning for the future or what provisions have to be made for my daily life. Other times I’m recalling past events or even, in my case, making films from previous video recordings. (When you get older you have more to recall.)

Therefore the present moments can be fleeting and go unnoticed, and yet, it’s these very moments that are precious to Jesus and should be precious to us.

God says, My Name is ‘I AM’, let us be ‘I am’ people, and just stop and be alive to Jesus for these moments, before we rush on to fulfil our plans. It can be a most joyful experience. It’s like spending time with someone you love, and afterwards you still feel a joy that continues until you meet with that person again. Although the Lord is always with us, these moments are ones of special intimacy.

In the UK we have something called the ‘Green Cross Code’. This is a safety rule for crossing the road. Basically it says, Stop, Look and Listen. It may serve to remind us to stop what we are doing, look up to God and listen to what He is saying. We can then go on safely, and joyfully. These moments are only limited by our busy lives. May we have many of these ‘Pinnacle’ moments where we touch Heaven ‘now’.

Moment by moment I’m kept in his love,

Moment by moment I’ve life from above –

Looking to Jesus ‘till glory doth shine,

Moment by moment, O Lord I am thine. D.W. Whittle

Prayer: Lord, thank You for those precious moments of intimacy, when Your Holy Spirit warms my heart with joy, like the sunshine on the mountain tops. Praise Your Name. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

ShepherdLove Series - Books/CDs by Pam Smith

Carry Each Other’s Burdens

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Galatians 6:2, NIV
Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

With all the snow and ice we had recently in the UK, there have been many instances of people helping each other to do the practical things of every day life, such as collecting shopping and clearing footpaths. Cars slipping on the ice have provided many opportunities for able bodied individuals to help others by giving a push, (but also opportunities for those helpers to damage their backs if not careful!)

One night, when I was taking a young person from our team to the station, we encountered a train stuck on icy rails which needed another train to come along and give it a push in order to get it on its way. There’s no telling when help may be needed.

It reminded me of the verse in the Bible instructing us to ‘carry each other’s burdens’ (Galatians 6:2). To me this means that we should endure with, or walk with, someone in their problem. Much of the healing ministry involves walking with individuals as they take hold of Kingdom teaching and then receive healing from Jesus. Occasionally there may be a dramatic and instantaneous change in their life, but often we need to be patient and spend a lot of our time to come alongside them. Instead of the one-off input of muscle power which is needed to get a car on its way, we are to take the Jesus way of helping others which more often involves aiding a gradual process of restoration to wholeness.

So as we minister to people let’s not just pray for wisdom and discernment, but also for the patience to allow God to do His work. Carrying the burdens of others may not be a short term matter!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, since You walked on this earth You have been patiently bearing the burdens of Your people, carrying the load of our sin on the Cross and then continuing to help us by Your Spirit. Please give us the enduring love for those we seek to minister to so that we too can go on, supporting them into the place of healing and wholeness, even though it may take some time. Thank You for not giving up on us when things get difficult, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

When Life Gets Tough - Teaching CD

Persecution

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Matthew 5:10, ESV
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I once heard a challenging question. If it was a crime to be a Christian believer would there be enough evidence to convict you? Do we keep such a low profile that no-one out there knows we are a Christian? Are there any truths we are willing to die for?

Jesus never kept it a secret that persecution would come to His followers. He said the world would hate them just as it hated Him. But He wanted them to know that standing up for Him would bring all the blessings of God upon them. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:10-12, ESV).

Jesus wants us to know that He’s with us through hard times when we suffer for the Gospel. He’s pleased with us and we can have a special joy that can’t be destroyed through circumstances. This is why I love to read testimonies of Christians who’ve gone through dreadful situations and found that Jesus was with them. They’ve proven the truth of being blessed at times like that. The apostle Paul knew about that as he was often ill treated and physically abused as a result of his evangelism ministry. But he regarded it as the greatest privilege to share in the sufferings of Jesus.

I heard Corrie Ten Boom, the Dutch evangelist, share that during her experience in a solitary prison cell she was so close to Jesus and enfolded in His love that she hoped that when she was free she wouldn’t lose that closeness.

In small ways I have sometimes known persecution in the form of disapproval, rejection, hostility, and lies which have come because of speaking up for Jesus. It’s not been a very heavy price to pay for all that Jesus gives to me. I know I still have much to learn of how to put approval of my Lord above the discomfort of man’s disapproval. I don’t know what lies ahead in the way of persecution but I understand I need to be prepared. I have this promise of Jesus to lean upon. It will be worth it. I will be blessed right where I am and my reward in heaven will be great.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your wonderful promise that we will inherit every blessing of the Kingdom of Heaven even though we have to go through the suffering of persecution. Help me to care more about pleasing you than getting the affirmation and praise of men and women. One day I want to hear those words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Life is for Living - Teaching CD

Our high calling

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2 Thessalonians 2:14-15, NIV
He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

As the Apostle Paul looks back, and thanks God for the way he’s observed the growth in faith and perseverance of the believers at Thessalonica in the face of persecutions and afflictions, he writes to encourage them further.

He reminds them that God will deal with those who’ve been oppressing them, and prays for them, that they’ll be able to stand firm to the end so that Jesus will be glorified in their lives.

But Paul also reminds them they mustn’t let themselves be quickly unsettled or alarmed by the things their opponents say, things that are untrue. They’re not to let any strange ideas or spirits they encounter disturb them, but they must steadfastly continue to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whatever the nature of the opposition they encounter, Paul goes on to remind these Christians of their calling by God. It’s to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because they know that Jesus is coming again and they’ll be gathered to Him, this glory can’t be taken away from them by the world.

In recent years Christians world-wide have been made aware that there’s a growing opposition toward their God-given principles, and Godly heritage. But, like the people Paul was writing to, we also are being encouraged to ‘stand firm, and hold on to’ those things that have been passed on to us. We’re encouraged to look upwards, because the One who has called us ‘to share in His glory’will come again to take us to be with Him for eternity.

The writer of Hebrews says; ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’ (Hebrews 12:2).

As we get closer to the return of Jesus and are likely to face difficult times and spiritual opposition, let’s follow the words of Jesus; ‘Stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near’ (Luke 21:28).

El. Nathan wrote the hymn, which starts:

Jesus is coming! Sing the glad word!

Coming for those He redeemed by His blood,

coming to reign as the glorified Lord! Jesus is coming again!

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for saving me and giving me a hope no one can take from me, that You’re coming again. In the meantime, please enable me to keep my eyes fixed on You, keep me faithful to You, and looking forward to Your return so that I shall be unashamed when I meet you, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Slaying Goliaths - Teaching CD

Opportunities and Choices

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Malachi 1:2-3, NIV
Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated…

There are many opportunities that come to us in life (some of which are life transforming) which lead us down different roads, according to the decision we make at the time. Of course, most people know when they are choosing between what is good and what is bad, but we sometimes have to weigh between what is good and what is best, so that we are not robbed of God’s best.

If we are in the habit of asking the Lord to help us before we decide, we will always choose wisely. The most pivotal opportunity that comes to any of us is the moment when we are faced with choosing Jesus to be our Lord and Saviour, because at that moment we are choosing between life, if we choose Him and death if we don’t.

When Esau chose to despise his birthright, and Jacob chose to take it from him, the course of history was changed for a nation. For when Esau despised his birthright he ultimately despised God, and this cost him dearly, for the birthright was linked to the blessing, which also finally slipped from his grasp. For a plate of lentils, momentarily fulfilling his fleshly desire - Esau exchanged and forfeited God’s favour and was not able to reverse the situation even though he sought it “with a loud and bitter cry.” Jacob, on the other hand, realised the value of the birthright, and not only grabbed the opportunity to obtain it but, in doing so, subsequently gained the blessing that went with it (although he used deceit to get it). As a consequence in Malachi 1: 2-3 we read that the Lord says “I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated.” From that time onwards the Lord’s favour rested on Jacob for the rest of his life and on his descendants.

We therefore need to give serious thought to the opportunities that come our way in life – some can lead to great gain – others to great losses. Some – as in Esau’s case, are irreversible. We need to choose wisely, identifying God’s outstretched hand to bless us, while being careful not to take for granted what God has given us. God has entrusted us with the holy riches of Heaven, which we need to guard and treat with the utmost respect. Don’t let God-given opportunities pass you by!

Prayer: Dear Lord, please would You help us to make the right choices in life that are pleasing to You, and help us to have the wisdom to make the most of the opportunities that You give us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Life's Decisions - Teaching CD

Has your well run dry?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

John 4:13-14, NLT
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

It’s hard to believe, but it even got cold in Florida this winter as temperatures dropped well below freezing. This was bad news for the 8000 acres of strawberry farms that are located around Plant City – the nearest town to Ellel USA – which has the title, ‘Winter Strawberry Capital of the World’! To protect this delicious fruit, local farmers stayed awake through the long cold nights, irrigating their fields so that the fruit would be insulated by the ice and not get frost damage. Well, when you combine this extra irrigation with being in the middle of the dry season, it meant that the water-table dropped by 35 feet in just 5 days! The result of this was that many residential wells (including our own) ran dry.

We made a call to the local water authority to report what had happened and they sent someone out to assess the situation. The bottom line was that the well in our backyard was not deep enough – we would need to go deeper. To have this work done was going to be a huge job and we would be waiting about 3 weeks without any water. Thankfully we live near the Ellel property, and we were able to go there to fill buckets and use the shower. Also, a few days into our water shortage, the County delivered 72 gallons of drinking water for us to use.

This alternative supply of water made me think about our ‘spiritual wells’. Do you ever feel you are running dry on the inside? Perhaps you don’t even notice your own well has run dry because you are so busy using alternative sources of ‘water’ to sustain you. Maybe you go to other people and draw from their ‘well’ or maybe you look for people to bring ‘water’ to you. The problem is that all of these other sources run out. It might seem great at first but it doesn’t last and then we need to find another source.

God’s heart is that we will allow Him to dig deeper in our hearts so that we can drink from His water – water that will never run out. He wants to be that source for us and to be our wellspring of life. Why don’t you ask Him today to be that source and allow Him to dig deeper in your life.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living in the Promises - Teaching CD

Blessed are the Peacemakers

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Matthew 5:9, ESV
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

What does the word ‘peace’ mean to you? In the Middle East it’s a customary greeting, whether in the Arabic or Hebrew language, ‘May peace be upon you’. It sounds like a prayer for blessing. ‘Hello’ or ‘good morning’ doesn’t seem half so significant. The Hebrew word ‘shalom’ has a richness of meaning and means everything that is good, health, prosperity, relaxation, laughter, good relationships, justice, harmony, fairness and righteousness. When we are at war we lose everything we enjoy, all beauty, creativity of the arts and music, sport, games, and we are overtaken by evil, suffering, pain and death. Jesus wants us to bring peace to others.

So how do we do it? I suppose it starts with valuing relationships. Every Sunday in the Communion service at church we have the little ceremony of greeting one another with the words ‘Peace be with you’. It’s just a smile and a friendly handshake or an embrace, but I find these gestures are important in making relationships work. They bring a sense of acceptance and belonging and community. When I lived in Tokyo and was surrounded by American friends I learned to ‘extend myself’ somewhat. British reserve often means people keep very much to themselves and are afraid of invading anyone else’s space. But the price we pay is often loneliness.

What do we do about conflict? It’s unavoidable so we might as well make up our minds what to do when it comes. Jesus wants us to restore relationships if possible. We need to pick our battles carefully. Some things are so trivial that they aren’t worth making a fuss about. We can forbear and refrain from comment and forgive. Other things need confronting or things will definitely go from bad to worse. Yet confronting can be done respectfully and kindly but with firmness. It takes a lot of effort but we will save everybody from future stress if we can successfully diffuse situations of conflict, pouring oil on troubled waters.

The blessing for peacemakers is that they shall be called the ‘sons of God’. This means we are full heirs to the riches of our Father, knowing security in relationship with Him and having all authority which is rightfully ours.

Prayer: Please help me, Father, to value peacemaking in Your Kingdom and to do it for Your sake. I want to inherit all that You have for me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Life According to the Book - Teaching CD

Place of Mercy

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Exodus 30:4, LB
Place the altar just outside the veil, near the place of mercy that is above the Ark containing the Ten Commandments. I will meet with you there.

In the Old Testament Tabernacle the mercy seat (the place of mercy) was inside the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from everything else. No-one was allowed access to it but the High Priest who was allowed in once a year behind the veil to make atonement for the sins of Israel’s people. But in the New Covenant, Jesus has entered within the ‘veil’ into Heaven itself, as High Priest, and will always be there to remind God that He has paid for our sins with His blood. Now we can enter right into the Holy place and obtain mercy and grace to help us in our times of need.

In the Salvation Army Citadel, they have a seat right across the front of the meeting place where you can go and kneel if God has called you to salvation, or to respond in answer to Gods’ call on your life. It’s a picture of the ‘mercy seat’ in heaven where anyone can come. God will meet with us there.

Jesus is as near as the whisper on your lips. As soon as we turn to Him, He’s there to forgive us and receive us, or to heal us. He has brought God’s mercy right down to earth. Unlike the case of the man who was executed in China for drug smuggling, where many pleaded for mercy but none was given, we will receive mercy, because we have Jesus to plead for us. At the cross, mercy and justice kissed each other. This means although we are all guilty of sin, we are able to be pardoned and walk free.

As Jesus said, ‘Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful’ (Luke 6:36) and ‘Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy’ (Matthew 5:7).

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that Your goodness and mercy have followed me all the day of my life, and that I may live in the House of the Lord forever. May I be full of mercy towards those around me. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

ShepherdLove Series - Books/CDs by Pam Smith

Bringing Joy to Others

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Psalm 16:11, NKJV
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Have you ever asked Father God for a touch of His joy in your heart? We may find that touch of joy in His creation or a piece of music which enables our spirit to soar. I experienced God’s joy through the simplicity of a good deed. A bulb had blown in one of my headlights and I was wondering whether I was safe driving in the teeming rain? So the car’s workshop was my destination on the way home.

The young man suggested I stay put in the car while he investigated – a new bulb was needed, but was not the answer, as a fuse was eroded with being wet and had to be changed. The problem went deeper, a piece of wiring needed replacing. When it was done I went inside to pay. The owner of the workshop said to me ‘Here’s your keys, nothing to pay. It’s your first Christmas present’. Wow! He must have known I was already wondering how much it would cost. Thanking him profusely he said ‘Just pass the word around - that we’re good – not the free bit’. As I left the workshop his mate said to him ‘What’s the matter, gone soft in the head?’ We all laughed and I made a quick exit in case he changed his mind!

Prayer: Father God, thank You for being a God full of kindness and love. Please bless that man You used to make my heart sing – it wasn’t the cost but the gesture. Show me how I can do something simple yet profound for someone else to bring Your joy into their day. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Healing and the Love of God - Teaching CD

Have you been ruined yet?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Isaiah 6:5, NIV
‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty’.

Like Isaiah have you been ruined, ruined for anything less than a major touch from God? In the Old Testament, a prophet was a person who had great intimacy with God in heaven which gave them the authority of God upon the earth. In Isaiah Chapter 6 we read about the vision Isaiah received of God and his calling as a prophet. At that time he felt unfit to be in God’s holy presence, but God graciously sent an angel to bring Isaiah assurance of forgiveness and cleansing.

Isaiah’s name means ‘Yahweh is salvation’ and Isaiah went on to prophesy very extensively about the coming Messiah, our Lord Jesus. The apostle John tells us this about Isaiah ‘he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him’ (John 12:41).

As I was preparing to speak on this sixth chapter of Isaiah, God touched me powerfully and asked me the question He asked Isaiah, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ I found myself replying in the same way as Isaiah did in verse 8, ‘Here I am! Send me’. And God said to me as He did to Isaiah, ‘Go’.

I’m conscious that those of us who teach about God need to know Him for ourselves in a personal way. God is pleased to commission us and to send us out. But those whom God sends are themselves sinners, and we could all ask the question, ‘who is sufficient for this’? I believe we shouldn’t just set ourselves up as preachers and teachers. We have to be commissioned like Isaiah. In Romans 10:15 the apostle Paul asks “how can they preach unless they are sent?” I would say we have to be ‘ruined’ for anything less than God Himself.

The writer of Hebrews mentions many characters from the Old Testament who suffered for their faith and says of some ‘they were sawn in two’, and Jewish tradition has it that Isaiah was martyred in this way by King Manasseh. When we respond to God and are commissioned to go, are we willing to pay the ultimate price if that’s required of us? This is an important question and we need to know the answer to it before the day when we’re required to make such a decision. Nowadays more Christians are being persecuted for their faith than at any previous time. I personally sensed God saying to me, “Are you willing to pay the ultimate price as many of the prophets did?” How could I answer this question? Only ‘Lord, the desire of my heart is to stand for you and to finish the race, and I look to You to strengthen me for whatever You have for me in the future.’

Prayer: Dear Lord God, would You come and touch our lips with the coals from Your altar so we know our guilt is taken away and our sin is atoned for. Would You help us to speak out Your life-changing words of truth and to say today, ‘Lord, here I am. Send me.’ Let this be so in our individual lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

NETS Training School

Dew From Heaven

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Hosea 14:5-7, NIV
I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; his young shoots will grow. His splendour will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. Men will dwell again in his shade…

The Lord’s been talking to me about rain. I kept finding verses about how He sends water, rain or dew on the earth. I began to understand an important principle. Man is like a seed. He’s got the potential of life. But two things are required for the spark of life to begin. First of all the seed needs to be planted and hidden in the soil, and secondly it must have the rain. The seed thirsts for the rain.

The verses in Hosea speak of the importance of rain. Rain enables roots to grow and be strengthened so that they’re able to go down deep. With its roots, a young tree is able to draw in essential food, but also to have the stability it needs to survive. Each part of the tree is then able to grow and develop and bring forth its own special blossom.

After a period of time, the tree matures and shows forth all its finery. Its splendour and fragrance bear testimony to the good environment it has enjoyed. As the seasons come and go it blossoms and bears fruit. Its branches provide shelter to those in need.

Isn’t that a great picture of life? Every part of the tree is alive and well, fulfilling its purpose. The Bible says that the source of richness is the water supply –dew to be exact. A friend told me that it rarely rains in Israel. But there’s a counterpart to rain. Mist rises from the sea and settles over the mountains as dew, gently soaking into the earth. What a beautiful illustration of the work of the Holy Spirit in us!

So why is this water so vital for our lives?

The Bible is filled with references to water as the provision sent to us from heaven. Isaiah 45:8 describes justice as the rain of heaven, clearly sent by God. When it comes down, it produces the fruit of ‘salvation’ and a harvest of ‘righteousness’.

God has put the seed of life into every single one of us. But He patiently waits for us. Our part is to open up the ground of our hearts to Him, and crave for His water.

Prayer: Lord, You alone know the seed that You’ve put in me and the ground of my life. You know if it’s become dry, broken or even dead. Your eyes see what You’ve sown in me. Would You help me to open up to You, to realize that You alone make me come alive? Would You send Your rain so that I can flourish by the work of Your Spirit? Thank you Father!

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Copying Dad

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ephesians 5:1-2, NIV
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

In our early years we learn the most by copying our parents. We watch what they do, take it into our mind, think about it and then we imitate them. Often it is a huge shock to parents to see just how closely their children have been watching and copying them – and it seems as though the children find it easier to copy the bad things than the good things! What Mum and Dad do becomes the example they will follow.

God intended that the way godly parents conduct themselves would teach their own children about godliness. But what He didn’t intend was that mankind would use their free will to rebel against God and thereby conduct themselves in ways that are far from godly, thus introducing their children to the rebellious ways of their parents.

Paul was well aware of the problem in the Ephesian church. There was a lot of very ungodly behaviour which he was drawing their attention to in his letter. Then he tells them that there is only one way to put things right – to forget the ungodly lessons they have learnt from ungodly parents and start imitating their heavenly Father – the only Father who will always give us a good and right example to follow.

But if we’ve never seen God, how is it possible for us to imitate Him? The answer simply lies in the character and nature of His Son. For Jesus is a perfect imitation of His Father. When we look at Him, we can know exactly what the Father is like. And if we take our standard of living from His example, as opposed to the defective examples that many of us have had to follow, then He will build in us, and then in our children, an image of love – that sacrificial love which Jesus had for all people and which is constantly drawing people to Him and then to the Father.

When we imitate Him, our lives will be a fragrant offering to Father God, which will bless Him and then be a blessing to all with whom we are in contact for the rest of our days. We all have a wonderful Dad we can copy – and it’s wonderful to have His Son as our Brother!

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for showing us just what Your Father is like, so that we will know what a wonderful Heavenly Dad we all have. Help me, Lord, to do what Paul says and imitate Him, so that our lives will be a fragrant love offering to God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Forgiveness - The Master Key - Book by Peter Horrobin

On what are you basing your confidence?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

2 Chronicles 32:8, NIV
“With him (Sennacherib, king of Assyria) is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

I read recently that a UK telephone directory enquiry service has recently released figures for 2008. During that year there were 20 million callers. Those wanting information about churches and religious organisations fell by 24 percent whereas those wanting information about clairvoyants, palmistry and other spiritual services went up by 161 per cent.

We live in days when security is threatened on every hand. Things that people in the western world have put their confidence in are no longer trustworthy. There is no guarantee that things will turn out all right and so many people are turning to divination for assurance, which is, of course, false assurance.

In the text above King Hezekiah was living in days of unrest and insecurity. He was faced with a tremendous challenge, “In what are you basing your confidence?” His people were afraid. Even his military officers needed reassurance so he gathered them together and spoke words of encouragement to them.

They simply needed to be strong and courageous. There was no need for fear or discouragement. Even though a great army was attacking them they were safe because, “There is greater power with us than with Assyria.” The people gained confidence from the words of the king who trusted in God.

Jesus warned that before He comes again men’s hearts would be failing them for fear (Luke 21:26 KJV). As we read Scripture we can sometimes see its words being fulfilled in our time. God’s word is true and God Himself is true to His word.

On what are you basing your confidence? Here is a promise for today, "Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unchanging character. Thank You that all Your words are true and Your purposes stand firm to the end. Please forgive me for any times when I have placed my confidence in earthly things because I have failed to fully trust in You. Today I hold on to the changeless promises of Your word. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Follow the Radical Jesus - Teaching CD

Faithful One

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Psalm 92:2, LB
Every morning tell him, thank you for your kindness, and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness.

It's good to remember our God is timeless and knows the end from the beginning of all things, not only in the coming year but in our lives and in our world.

He knows the sad times and the glorious times and He knows about the things we don’t understand like the expanding universe, black holes, dark matter and unknown forces of gravity. He’s in control of global warming and the next ice age, and yet He’s Emmanuel, God with us, and walks through the flood, fire or famine right where we are. He’s there to hold us securely in the unknown, or to receive the soul of the tiny child that slips into eternity.

He has put into motion the laws of science and nature, the laws of sowing and reaping, the laws of the Spirit of life and death, the laws of blessing and cursing and yet, His heart breaks over the fallen-ness of humankind. Through the Scriptures He has revealed to us, Salvation in Christ, and all we need to know about the Faithful One who suffered for us to bring us into ‘life eternal’.

He has promised ‘a future and a hope’, to those who are His and every day we can go forward rejoicing in His great faithfulness in our lives knowing that we’re safe in His hands, whatever happens. ‘For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid’ (Psalm 112:7).

Faithful One, so unchanging, Ageless One, you’re my rock of peace,

Lord of all, I depend on you. I cry out to you, again and again.

You are my Rock in times of trouble; you lift me up when I fall down,

All through the storm, your love is my anchor –

My hope is in you alone. Brian Doerksen

Prayer: Dear Lord, as I step into the future I put my hands firmly in Yours and rejoice in Your great faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

ShepherdLove Series - Books/CDs by Pam Smith

The Wise and Foolish Builders

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Matthew 7:24, NIV
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and put them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

I always love to read the words of Jesus as He taught people. He sometimes spoke plainly and sometimes in parables. He taught with such wisdom and authority that it demanded that the listeners pay attention. At the end of the parable in Matthew 7:24-27 the people were amazed at the teachings of Jesus because of the authority He spoke with.

In this parable there are two men who built houses. One built a house on rock so that when the storms came the house didn’t fall, but the other man built a house on sand, and when the storms came that house fell, and with a great crash, Jesus adds.

The parable was a symbol of two people who both heard the words of Jesus. One put what he heard into practice, but the other didn’t. The similarity between these people is that they both had to experience the storms that came.

I believe that this message is as much for believers as it is for unbelievers. We live in a time where there’s a great exposure of the Word of God from the media, the churches and thousands of outreaches. I would say the world is full of hearers of God's Word, but only few people are committed and willing to do as the Word of God says, either because of ignorance or unbelief.

The painful truth is that we’re always exposed to the storms of life that are all over the world, inflation, wars and conflict, global warming, insecurity, drugs, terrorism to name but a few.

How do you deal with all this as an individual? I believe that the answer is in God’s Word, reading or hearing it and doing as it says. Then when the storm comes, your foundations are strong and nothing can shake them.

There are questions in our time that we can ask about issues we face, that Jesus answered in His teachings. He taught about money and material things, divorce, hostility, forgiveness, lust, insecurity, and persecution, amongst many other things. Jesus has all the answers about what’s affecting us in this day and age. The answers for us are contained within His teachings if we will hear what He’s saying and then go and do what He says.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You for Your word and the opportunities You have given me to hear or read Your word. Forgive me for my ignorance and unbelief. Lord, lead me deeper into understanding Your word and give me the strength and grace to put Your Word into practice. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Healing and the Love of God - Teaching CD by Peter Horrobin

Waiting Patiently

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Psalm 27:14, NIV
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

How good are you at waiting? It seems to me that in our society we have become more and more used to instant results – instant coffee, microwave meals, fast travel, and instant credit, and that most of us have lost the art of waiting patiently.

In Exodus Chapter 32 we read about the people of Israel who were waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain, where he had gone to meet with God and to receive instructions from Him. He had been gone for forty days and forty nights, and during that time the people became impatient and seemed to forget the amazing miracles that God had worked for them only a short time before in bringing them out of Egypt. In their impatience they demanded that Aaron make them a ‘god’ to be with them. As they began to worship the golden calf, all restraint went and they began to indulge in all kinds of revelry and debauchery. The consequence of this was death for many of them – all because they couldn’t wait.

During the time of waiting God was giving to Moses very precise instructions about the tabernacle and the pattern for worship and living. This was to be how the people would meet with their God and know His blessing and protection, but by not waiting to receive these instructions they replaced God’s plan with their own substitute, and there were dire consequences.

God has a plan for each of our lives. If we fail to wait on him for specific instructions, and if we substitute our own way of doing things, the consequences can be disastrous. Abraham failed to wait for the fulfilment of God’s promise and he put his own solution into effect – resulting in the birth of Ishmael. We are still reaping the consequences of that in our world today!

Are you waiting for the fulfilment of a promise in your life? Don’t be tempted to look for the ‘quick fix’. Wait patiently for God. Spend time in His presence, listening to Him and receiving His instructions. That’s the safest place to be and He will never let you down.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for not waiting patiently for You. Please help me to remain in Your presence, listening to You, receiving instruction from You and not acting on my own thoughts and ideas. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Creativity and Healing - Teaching CD

Blessed are the pure in heart

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Matthew 5:8, ESV
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

In 1977 the Archbishop of Cape Town, Bill Burnett, preached at my confirmation service and, although I can’t recall exactly what he said, I still remember the text he used. It was ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ (Matthew 5:8, ESV). Mostly he told us about his close walk with Jesus and it was very encouraging to me as a brand new Christian.

Seeing God is surely the ultimate thing that we want. I know it is for me. I want to fully experience being in His presence, so I must ensure that I have a pure heart.

The popular evangelist and writer J.John concludes from Jesus teaching that ‘it is the heart that is ultimately responsible for our actions.' I couldn’t agree more. I once did a study of all the places where the Bible mentions the heart and found it was our will, our emotions of love, our mind and thoughts, our personality, and the core of our identity within our human spirit.

My question is ‘Can I do anything about the state of my heart’? King David prays to God and asks Him to deal with his heart, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit (Psalm 51:10-12, ESV). Keith Green once used those verses from Psalm 51 to compose a beautiful song which has recently been played a lot on UCB Christian radio. I often heard it during the time our international team had set aside a special week for prayer and fasting. God spoke to us that week many times about the state of our hearts and finally this message summed it all up ‘At the end of the day, He just wants our hearts. From our individual hearts to the heart of the ministry, re-alignment must be brought and soulish things stripped away’.

Peter Horrobin has been examining the subject of the new birth in his teachings in ellel 365. When we are born again we are cleansed in our heart and have peace with God. Our sins are forgiven. But that’s just the beginning of our new life and we have to keep our hearts cleansed and pure. Perhaps as mature Christians we need to be reminded about that.

Prayer: Oh Lord, please help me to understand when my heart is in danger of becoming unclean and when it needs to be purified. Help me not to get distracted by things that are not so important in Your eyes. I want to be as close to You as I can. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living the Life DVD Series

Reflections

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Proverbs 27:19, NIV
As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

Reflections on a still pool of water are a wonder of nature. I never cease to be fascinated by the amount of detail and colour that are reflected. If there’s the slightest breeze the image shimmers a little but remains intact.

Scripture, in telling us that ‘a man’s heart reflects the man’, is saying that our heart reflects who we are. It reflects our inner person. It’s from the core of our heart that we live out our life. Our decisions, emotions and ultimately our behaviour originate in our heart. This means that whatever is going on in our heart is in some way evident in our life.

This is a truth that we may not necessarily like. Attitudes, beliefs, resentments, dislikes, anger, fear, arrogance are a few examples of what is lodged in our heart and we don’t want people to know about them.

The world we live in is one that promotes deception. This is nothing new. Deception originated at the Fall when the serpent deceived Adam and Eve into believing that they wouldn’t die if they ate the forbidden fruit. Satan has been leading us on paths of deception ever since.

A common deception that we experience is when something is made to look better than it really is. Think of the images of beautiful women who don’t have a flaw in either their looks or their shapes. This isn’t reality but the work of an airbrush. What about the picture advertisements for hotel rooms that always look bigger and smarter in print than they are in reality or whose magnificent view can be seen only from one corner of the bathroom window?

When it comes to what’s going on in our heart we too can use deception. The person we want to portray is different from the inner reality. We can pretend to be calm when actually we’re very angry, to be kind when we’re harbouring unkind thoughts, to be forgiving when deep down there’s resentment, and to be happy when we’re actually sobbing inside.

What we often don’t realize is that people can see through the masks that we’re hiding behind. They may not see the fine details that are reflected in clear water, but they do see the outline of what’s in our hearts. They aren’t fooled. But we are!

So what are we to do? We must turn to our loving Father who wants to heal and restore us deep within. We must ask Him to show us what we’re trying to hide, whether it’s sin or hurt. We must ask Him to help us deal with it so we can be restored and reflect pure hearts. We want to be open, transparent and guileless so others see something of the reflection of Jesus in our lives

Prayer: Father I want an open heart, a heart that reflects a pure life committed and dedicated to You. Please show me the things that are staining my heart and also my life and help me to deal with them. Thank You that with You all things are possible.

In Rebel Hands - Book

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Faith testing times

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Luke 22:32, NIV
I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.

It’s more than likely that we’ll experience times when we feel our faith is being tested, and we become concerned about making a decision which could have far-reaching consequences.

This was Peter’s experience, and it came immediately after he and the other disciples had been arguing about who would be considered the greatest after Jesus had gone.

Jesus had picked up this point and shown them what humility is about. It’s about serving others. Then He tried to encourage them by stating that they were the ones who had stood by Him throughout His trials, and what they could eventually look forward to in His Kingdom.

This was where Jesus told Peter, and the others, since the ‘you’ is plural, how the devil wanted to test them, hoping to bring them to spiritual ruin. But He told them that He was praying for them to be strengthened.

When we are going through our own ‘testing times’ it’s comforting to know that there is One who ‘speaks to the Father in our defence’, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (I John 2:1, NIV). He’s our ‘advocate’, our intercessor and defender.

In our difficult times of making important decisions we’re not alone. We’re encouraged to ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him , and He will make your paths straight’ (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Psalmist also encourages us to ‘Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this; He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn’ (Psalm 37:5-6).

We are all aware of the fact that Peter denied and failed his Lord, and that the Lord restored him afterwards. And although we too may be aware of our own shortcomings, we have a faithful God who will always hold us, and keep us from falling, when we trust Him in the way He encourages us to.

Prayer: Thank You, dear Lord, that when I find myself in difficult and testing situations I can always turn to You and ask for guidance. Than You for each and every time You have brought me through such difficulties and even brought me into a blessing. I praise You for Your faithfulness. Amen.

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Walking with a Limp

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Genesis 27:41, NIV
Esau held a grudge against Jacob, because of the blessing his father had given him.

The English word, grudge, is so expressive. It sounds exactly like it’s meant to. Not very nice! Show me a person who is carrying a grudge against someone else, and I will show you a person who is limping through life with a serious disability. The extent of that disability is directly related to how deep and bitter the resentment is in the heart of the person who is bearing the grudge.

Esau bore a grudge against Jacob for the way he lost his father’s blessing. Jacob did not behave well and had cheated his brother. As a result Jacob had to be on the run for his life for many years, because of Esau’s grudge and his murderous anger. It destroyed the rest of Esau’s life too, and robbed him of so much.

The fundamental issue at the heart of carrying a grudge is always unforgiveness. When unforgiveness grows in intensity and become hatred, it turns into a grudge, and a person with a grudge can then turn in his anger against whoever has hurt him, sometimes even in violence. When a serious crime has been committed the police will always look for a motive for the killing. When they find it, so often they uncover a long-held grudge which has eventually become an uncontrollable force in the person’s life leading to them committing a crime.

I feel the Lord very specifically directed me to this Scripture for today, because there will be people who are reading this devotional who are carrying long-held grudges against certain individuals who, like Jacob did to Esau, have hurt them, robbed, them or cheated on them. What has happened is fact and cannot be changed. But there is one thing that can be changed – and that’s your attitude towards the person or persons involved. Carrying a grudge against them can only ever create more problems for you.

Unless you forgive, that grudge will be like a developing lameness in your character and personality, which will eventually rob you of your capacity to live and enjoy life. And it could even lead you to do something that you would forever regret.

I realise it may be hard, but may I encourage you to live the Lord’s prayer, and forgive, as you would want to be forgiven. Allow Jesus to take the pain and the hurt and trust Him with the outcome – and watch Him heal your limp as the change in your heart releases you from the bondage of the enemy – and, even, brings His blessing into the life of the person who hurt you. That is what Jesus did for us – won’t you do to others as you would want Him to do for you? Carrying a grudge is always destructive. Forgiveness is always life-transforming.

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to forgive anyone against whom I’m carrying a grudge. I don’t want to be limping through the rest of my life because of the attitude of my heart. I do want to live the reality of the Lord’s Prayer. Help me to overcome the resistance of my own carnal nature and walk in your ways. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Forgiveness - The Master Key - Book by Peter Horrobin

Lessons to Learn

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
1 John 5:14, NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.

When Scripture is clear about what is God’s will and His way, it’s relatively easy to make decisions that will bring future blessing. However there are times when we’re seeking God’s will for our lives, but find it’s not that simple to know what His will is. For instance how do we decide what to do when we want to buy a house, get married, or make a choice of going on holiday to a beautiful coastal resort or to a mission into Africa? I suppose in the latter case I would find it easy to make the choice – an exotic holiday. But, what is God’s will? And sometimes the seemingly practical things of life stop us from doing God’s will, like not having any money.

The answer for me is to spend time alone with Jesus. I find out what’s in my own heart and then I listen to His voice. This invariably settles me in my heart about the right thing to do. But the most important lesson I’ve learnt is not just to spend time with Him when I want something, but to enjoy being in the presence of our heavenly Father because we love Him. The apostle John says; ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him’ (1 John 5:14).

So when we approach God it’s important that we know and have that confidence that He hears us. When that happens, what we are asking for from God is as good as ours, even before we actually get it.

Jesus had this confidence and this is what He said to His Father just before He commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb; ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me’ (John 11:41).

I encourage you to make this a lesson to learn for 2010. Learn to know when God hears you.

Prayer: Father God, please help me to spend the best time of the day with You. Give me the confidence and faith to know Your will and the obedience to do what You want me to do, even if it’s contrary to the things on my heart. Teach me Your ways, Lord. Thank You. Amen

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Never hungry, never thirsty!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
John 6:35, NKJV
I am the Bread of Life. No one coming to me will ever be hungry again. Those believing in me will never thirst.

Jesus was very aware of the physical needs of people and He told the disciples to feed the five thousand that were listening to Him teach, but He also wants us to feed on the ‘Living Bread’, from Heaven, that is Himself, and to drink the ‘Living Water’ that is the Holy Spirit, (which Jesus gives as the gift of the Father). God supplies the hungry with food, and we read ‘He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty’ (Luke 1:53).

If we are hungry we can come to Jesus and everything that He is will satisfy our longing hearts. If we are thirsty, we can ask Jesus to fill us with the Holy Spirit, which will cause us to have rivers of ‘Living Water’, welling up within our innermost being and we will be overwhelmingly satisfied with His amazing love and power.

So often we ‘dry up’ and try and eat yesterday’s bread or try and substitute stagnant water for the ‘Living Water’. It looks good but doesn’t quench our thirst. We are created to worship – therefore anything less will leave a vacuum in our lives. Our emptiness will continue and can only be filled by the Living God. Many think that gold or wealth is the answer to everything in life and spend their whole lives pursuing it, but in the end, lose their own souls.

Once you’ve tasted the goodness of the Lord, there’s nothing else that compares with it. Those who love the Lord can testify of this.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank You that You satisfy the deepest longing of my heart. Yours is the Power and the Glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

ShepherdLove Series - Books/CDs by Pam Smith

Light to the World

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
John 9:5, NIV
I am the light of the World…

At first glance when Jesus said ‘I am the light of the world’ it might be seen to contradict other words which He spoke when He said to His followers ‘You are the light of the world’. Both of course are true - Yes Jesus is THE Light of the World but whereas He no longer is physically present in the world, we are, and He expects us, as His people, to emanate something of His light.

In the 21st Century light is available in many different forms and is used to give direction, security, comfort, warning, healing, entertainment and much more.

Many spiritual analogies can be drawn from light and its many attributes and uses. In these dark days, as we, the Body of Christ, grapple with the challenge of being that ‘light on a hill’ that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 5:14, what kind of light are we displaying? Is it clear and easily identifiable from all the other lights that dazzle and confuse?

Each of us has a part to play in displaying something of the character and nature of the Light of the World. Just as flood lighting used to illuminate a sports arena is inappropriate for lighting up a cupboard under the stairs, and a torch, which is so useful in a power cut, does little to offer the healing potential of an Infra red lamp, so we need to be sure that we’re using what God’s put in us in the way He intends it to be used, and in the place of His choosing.

As we allow the Holy Spirit to direct how and where we minister the love of Jesus, whether it’s by a word of encouragement, warning, or comfort, an act of kindness or a prayer for healing, the light of Jesus will undoubtedly shine through and reveal more of Him and help to dispel some of the darkness.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me today, and every day, to shine for You wherever You place me so that others can see more of You. Amen.

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Arise O Lord in the Darkness - teaching CD by Jim Graham

Blessed are the Merciful

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 5:7, NIV
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

In our church Bible study group we looked at the speech written by William Shakespeare for the character of Portia in ‘the Merchant of Venice’. It begins with the words ‘the quality of mercy is not strained’. It’s beautiful poetry but as Christians you can soon spot that Shakespeare obviously knew his Bible quite well. Mercy is a gift to others but it blesses the giver as well. It is a quality that comes from God. We must give mercy if we are to have the mercy from God that we all need. The Good News Bible has this translation of Matthew 5:7; ‘Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them’.

Jesus taught many times that having received forgiveness of our sins we are expected to forgive others who sin against us. If we don’t then it seems that we set a divine law in action whereby we ourselves will eventually receive judgment rather than mercy. When we are forgiven we have a second chance to live according to the laws of the King of kings.

The greatest examples of mercy are shown in the life of Jesus, our Lord. I was reading the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) where the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees wanted to Him to choose between having her stoned to death or letting her go unpunished. Jesus allowed her to have a second chance to put her life right with God.

Jesus asked God the Father to forgive those who were crucifying him. He had compassion on the suffering and the sick and broke people free from the curses of the Devil.

I wonder how I can show mercy to others around me. It could be in the seemingly small matters of life. I might feel perfectly justified in pouring scorn and ridicule on someone who makes a silly mistake(one that I wouldn’t make). It might be that I join in the general criticism of someone in the church when I could put in a good word for them instead. I know Jesus is challenging me to try and live as a true disciple of His.

Prayer: Please remind me, Lord, when You would prefer me to be non-judgmental, kind and merciful instead of being a harsh critic of others. Help me to remember how much mercy You have shown me. I want to live according to Your standard not the one of the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living the Life - Teaching DVD series by Peter Horrobin

The season of winter

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 147:16, NIV
He spreads the snow like wool, and scatters the frost like ashes.

As I look out the window from where I sit, I see deep snow covering the ground. Everything is white and beautiful, and the whole of nature seems to be in deep peace. But I know what the garden looked like a few weeks ago, and I know that the white flakes have covered fallen brown leaves, withered grass and plants. It’s all there, but it won’t be seen now as long as winter lasts.

The winter may seem unpleasant to many, but frost and snow in our country (Sweden) are an indispensable part of life. Without winter, spring and summer wouldn’t be what they are.

There are seasons in our lives too. And we often have difficulties in understanding why they are there. Why do we have to pass through winters with barren branches and frozen ground, times without flowers and fruit, without singing and joy? Why?

It’s good to learn from the way nature works, because He who created us also created nature, and through His works we can better understand Him, and His ways.

Winter may seem a time of death, but in reality it’s a time of rest. When harvest is over, trees aren’t ready to bear new fruit immediately. They need a rest, and winter gives them time to do that. Many of us get so easily caught up in a treadmill of producing all the time. ‘God can’t be satisfied with me if I don’t produce anything for Him, can He?’ is the way we think. But in His grace God allows a winter season in our lives, to give us rest. He doesn’t expect us to bear fruit when it’s winter, and we would do well if we could learn not to expect fruit when we should be having a rest.

At the same time winter is preparation for new flowers and new fruit. Under the snow, in the unseen depths something is going on. It’s only on the surface that it looks like death. Under the surface life is active and stirring! Roots are filling up with nourishment, and buds are bracing themselves for spring. In late winter it only takes a sunny day, and you see how the buds begin to break forth! They were ready for it.

When you inwardly go through a time of winter, you may well withdraw from many expressions of life, but that doesn’t mean your spirit is dying. It only means that for a time you are resting, and preparing for a new season, a season of flowers and growth. God takes you aside to prepare you for what is to come, and without that thorough preparation, you won’t be ready for a new season!

So, if you’re in a winter season in your life right now, it’s not the end! After winter, comes spring. All part of God’s plans for His children. Be prepared, one day you’ll suddenly become aware of an irresistible pull in your spirit that tells you winter is past, and the time for singing is upon you again (Song of Songs 2:11-12)!

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

The ‘One Way’ to Salvation!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Acts 4:12, NIV
Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

After his sad experience of failing Jesus, then the joy of being restored and commissioned to serve Him, Peter was a key figure in the development of the early church. He was one of those who were later accused of ‘turning the world upside down’ (Acts 17:6).

Peter knew the importance of the task ahead but he also knew the power of the Holy Spirit and the name of Jesus. When he and John were brought before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem to give account of their actions, after the healing of a crippled beggar, Peter boldly declared ‘Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12).

In and through Jesus we not only have salvation from the punishment of all our sin, we also have a security that will last throughout eternity. This is something we have never deserved, but it’s part of what Jesus has achieved for us by His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross.

Then there’s that wonderful hope of what Jesus promised. Because we are recipients of this great salvation, we shall also be with Him for eternity, in glory.

Meanwhile, we are able to enter through the ‘door’ to the presence of God in worship and praise whenever we choose. We’re free to come and go as we choose. Whenever we’re in danger or distress, we can run to that door, and enter the safety and protection of our loving heavenly Father.

Being ‘saved’ in the way that Jesus spoke of has brought us into that protection and safety of God’s loving care for us. It’s given us the freedom of access to come into His presence for our daily sustenance and feed from His table. But, as Peter was saying, there’s only one way of achieving this, ‘there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved’.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me and restoring me. Thank You for bringing me into Your Kingdom and for the access I have to come to the Father through You. I thank You, too, for the prospect of being with You in glory, and pray that I might be kept faithful to You until then. Amen.

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

The Father’s Delight!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 37:4, NIV
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Don’t you just love the promises of God?! Like any good dad, He rejoices to bless His children. He wants them, whenever possible, to know and to enjoy His provision and his blessing in their lives. But there’s a condition attached to the promise – it’s a simple one – first delight yourself in Him.

Now what does that mean? First and foremost it means you must know Him and love Him. You cannot delight yourself in someone you don’t like or love! If you have an idea that God’s not loveable then you will probably have had some difficult experiences in life, especially when you were young, that have made it difficult for you to trust and love God. God is able and willing to heal those as we forgive those who have hurt us.

Then, when you really love someone, it’s your joy and desire to find out what will bless them. And as you do so you discover that you are getting blessed yourself, and the things that you desire change, so that you are looking for those things that will be a blessing in your relationship with God. It’s in this process that we discover the amazing dynamic taking place that the desires of our heart have become the things that God wants to bless us with.

Yes, there are often tough times in life as well – but if our relationship with the Lord is right, then He will sustain us through the tough times and even then, we will discover the amazing truth that our desires, at those times also, are those that will bring joy to father God – and those things that bring joy to Him are also the things that will bless us the most!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your amazing love and that you delight to bless your children. I choose, Lord, to delight myself in you and trust you to then give me the desires that you fill my heart with. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 5:6, NIV
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

I love to study this word ‘righteousness’ in the Bible. It pops up everywhere. Here Jesus is saying we can obtain righteousness. It’s not something beyond our reach. One of the leaders in our church preached on the verse ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled’ from Matthew 5:6.

He defined righteousness as ‘everything in its right place as God intends it to be’. What a brilliant description! If I can be in the right place that God intended for me, the centre of His will, then I’m in the safest place in the whole universe.

The awful reality in our world is that everything isn’t in its right place. There’s unemployment, oppression, poverty. There are relationships falling apart. There are people dying from violence. Parents don’t treat their children as if they are loved and wanted. And what if I’m not in that right place? The good news is that if I want to get it sorted out, if I want to be in that place, then God is with me and will help me as I try to sort things out. Jesus isn’t saying ‘Just hang on in there.’ He proclaimed the message that God is with us even when things aren’t as they should be.

Do you long for things to be put right – on a personal level and an international level? What kind of appetite do you have for the things of God? Are you hungry and thirsty? In my experience the more I see others who are hungry and thirsty the more I get to be too. It seems to be catching. I thank God for people like that who inspire me and make me want more of God. When a large number of people like that gather together it’s a taste of heaven. The presence of God is felt so strongly. The expression often used is ‘open heaven’.

Prayer: Lord, increase my appetite for You. Make me hungry and thirsty for Your presence and your will. Don’t let me get distracted by lesser things. Don’t let me be satisfied with a crumb when I could have a heaped plateful of food. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living the Life - DVD series

It’s Not That Difficult!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
1 John 5:3, NLT
Loving God means keeping His commandments and really, that isn’t difficult.

I am immensely grateful that I grew up in a home environment that encouraged my spiritual growth as well as my physical growth. I have many fond memories of reading my Bible in my bedroom and getting exciting about a passage, knowing I had found another ‘gem’ in God’s Word.

Yet, there was so much I didn’t understand. I struggled my way through Leviticus in a haze of vague confusion. I battled through the seemingly unending saga of Job and his three very annoying friends (well, that is how I perceived them as a child!) I gritted my teeth and read of all the bloodshed through King David’s reign, not really understanding how such violence had any meaning in my life today. I enjoyed much of the New Testament but still found myself living in a sense of not wanting to get it ‘wrong’, or missing something vital hidden in the depths of the long words. I just wanted to love God.

Not much has changed today! I still don’t understand as much of the Bible as I would hope. I still have to battle my way through confusion or lack of knowledge as I try to read through the Scriptures.

When I read the simplicity of this verse I felt like I had taken a breath of fresh air. For those of us who are not theologians, who don’t understand the intricacies of biblical doctrine and just want to ‘love God’, we can be encouraged. It isn’t difficult. You don’t need to be highly intelligent or understand the Greek and Hebrew derivatives – you just need to obey His commandments.

So as we look at obeying His commandments let’s remember what Jesus Himself said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these’ (Mark 12:30-31).

Prayer: Father God, I may not understand all I read in the Bible but I pray that You would simply help me to obey Your commandments because my heart is to love You, regardless of how much or little I understand.

Start 2010 with Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Truth and Freedom Series - DVD set

Knowing what to do

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Proverbs 3:6, NKJV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

We need to know what to do when we ‘don’t know what to do’. A nurse in charge of a busy ward in the middle of the night would have to know what to do in the event of an emergency which was something she was unable to deal with herself. She would have to know who to call and what immediate action to take while she was waiting for help.

There are times when we are faced with a situation or decision where we just don’t know what to do, but as Christians we have a guide and helper in the Holy Spirit who lives within us. If you love the Lord and have no strife, sin or un-forgiveness in your life and walk in constant communion with Him, you can expect to hear His voice. As we learn to hear that inner voice we will begin to recognise the Shepherd’s voice saying – walk this way or that way, or sometimes a simple direction from him.

In the Middle East the shepherds sometimes bring their flocks together for food or water. When it’s time for them to move on, you wonder how on earth they will they sort out their own flock from all the others. But the shepherd calls out to them, sometimes by name, and all his sheep leave the rest and follow him because they recognise his voice alone. We read in John 10:4, ‘And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them and the sheep follow Him, for they know his voice’.

O let me hear Thee speaking, in accents clear and still,

Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will.

O speak to reassure me, to chasten or control;

O speak to make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

(John Ernest Bode)

Prayer: Dear Lord, Help me to learn to recognise Your gentle voice. Show me how to keep my hearing clear and my heart in tune with Yours. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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How Cute!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 147:5, NLT
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!

Recently, on a break during one of our courses here at Ellel USA, I phoned home. My five-year-old son, Isaac, answered the phone and so I asked him what he was doing. He replied, ‘Oh, I’m just sat here relaxing’. It took all my energy not to crack up laughing at this ‘grown up’ comment coming out of the mouth of such a little kid – it was very cute! As Isaac’s dad, I also felt a deep sense of love for this child of mine and, after hanging up, I proceeded to tell those on the course about this funny conversation.

It made me think about how we never see ourselves as being young in our thinking. When we are children we think we understand everything perfectly and we have all kinds of beliefs and opinions about the world around us – firmly believing that we have it all sorted out. As adults we do the same even though in God’s eyes, we are still His children.

I wondered if there were times when God hears our comments and turns to His angels saying, ‘Did you hear that? How cute!’ I wondered if, when we share about our impression of Him or His ways, He is overwhelmed with love for this little child of His who thinks they understand it all but just understand a fraction of the fullness of His ways.

It reminded me that God is our Father and that His primary love for us is that of a Father to a child. Remember today that God doesn’t expect you to know everything about everything – we have Him to rely on for understanding. He just wants us to remain in Him and to trust that He has it all under control.

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Sheep

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 23:1, NIV
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

Psalm 23 is a wonderful psalm that conjures up a picture of contented sheep, white and fluffy, chewing on the lush, green grass. The sheep in the fields round us at present are not like that at all. In this terrible wet weather we have experienced recently in Cumbria, they look thoroughly bedraggled. Their fleeces are filthy and they often have bits of bramble or twigs stuck in them and some have even been partially stripped of their fleece as they pulled themselves out of a hedge.

I think the “sheep” Jesus sees are just the same. We get ourselves in a mess from time to time, problems and difficulties surround us and things get stuck to us, things of the world that ensnare us. The wonderful thing is that Jesus, being the Good Shepherd, is wanting to release us from all those things if we will let Him.

We received a testimony of a lady who said she had hidden away from everything and everybody, being afraid to look out at the world, but that God had met her in the dark place of isolation and had gently drawn her out. The change in her was dramatic and others were noticing that she had a radiance about her that was unmistakeable. It was a tough walk, but Jesus was with her all the way.

If we allow Him, He truly will lead us beside the still waters and restore our souls.

Prayer: Dearest Father, Thank You so much for Your faithfulness in sticking by me when I am in difficulties. I know that if I reach out my hand You are there to lead and guide me and that You will never leave me. You are a wonderful God! Amen.

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Blessed are those that mourn

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 5:4, GNB
Happy are those that mourn; God will comfort them!

If the word ‘blessed’ means ‘God will be with you’ it makes more sense in Matthew 5:4 where Jesus says ‘Happy are those that mourn; God will comfort them!’ Emotionally it’s impossible for me to be happy when I’m mourning, (when I have grief). There have been a few times in my life when I’ve had grief and mourned the loss of someone precious to me who’s died or who’s been taken away from my life in some way. But I have to say that before I had a relationship with God through Jesus Christ the comfort of God was not really available to me. That was when I turned to a substitute source for comfort.

But I’m not convinced that Jesus means the kind of mourning that we do when someone we love dies. Yes I do believe that He brings comfort and healing to that form of grief, but if we are to have the values of the Kingdom then I think we must mourn over the things that God mourns over. Maybe they aren’t the kind of things that we spend our time thinking about. Perhaps we are more concerned with our own little world than the suffering of others.

God must search for those with a heart to grieve about innocent children and babies who are abused or treated cruelly, or for adults who are helpless and trapped in bad situations. When we care with His heart of compassion we will cry out in prayer and we will take whatever action is within our power to bring change.

I don’t think, however, that when our hearts are softened and we are compassionate that we must become overburdened and depressed. That would be a triumph for the enemy of our souls to see us in such a state. There are people who never feel joy and never allow themselves to have fun. They struggle under a load of condemnation and false guilt. I know that Jesus wants us to have an ‘abundant life’.

If we care enough with some of God’s own heart for others we will ourselves receive comfort from God. That is the promise Jesus refers to here. There will be enough love and comfort for the suffering we are trying to help and some to spare for our own troubles. God will be with us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be sensitive to the suffering of others and to notice the things that are so easily overlooked in my busyness and self centeredness. Help me to show love and do whatever I can, relying on You for what I can’t do. I want to see things from Your point of view. Give me Your eyes and Your ears. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Playing on the Beaches

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Hebrews 13:14, NIV
For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

On Boxing Day 2004, thousands of people were enjoying themselves on the beaches of Thailand. It was a glorious day for holiday makers from all over the world, who were enjoying a Christmas break in a warm and inviting climate. Conditions were idyllic when, quite suddenly, the sea began to go out exceptionally quickly. People were fascinated and confused by what was happening. Boats, that a few minutes earlier were bobbing happily on the water, were now stranded on the sand.

A few informed people knew what was happening and began to flee the beaches and head off inland as fast as they could possibly go. But the majority were left playing on the empty beach. Far out to see the biggest wave that anyone had ever seen was gaining momentum, as the sea was simply responding to the consequences of a huge, underwater earthquake. Even when the huge wave could be seen approaching the beach, it was beyond their comprehension and people had no idea what to do. The majority were just swept up in an unstoppable torrent of water. On that day about 250,000 people lost their lives in the biggest tsunami the modern world had ever seen.

This is all fresh in my mind because I’ve just watched a film made up of the video clips from the cameras of those who were caught up in it all. The frightening suddenness of the tsunami was totally overwhelming. But as my wife and I watched the unforgettable images of disaster we realised that not only were the pictures a record of unparalleled disaster, but they were also a parable for an unthinking world.

None of us have any idea when Jesus will return, or what traumas the world will have to endure before that great and terrible day when God winds up the clock of the ages, but right now it feels as though the tide has gone out on the beaches of life and the world’s people are playing on them as if there’s no particular problem. They don’t see the terrible consequences that will one day come, as a result of the hidden earthquakes that are shaking the world’s financial, political, religious and moral systems. In recent months the world’s financial systems have been severely shaken. The tide is going out and it seems as though a world shaking tsunami is gathering momentum.

There is only one place where mankind can be safe when such a ‘tsunami hits the beaches’ and that’s to be hidden in Christ. He is our only absolute security, for, as our Scripture for today says, we don’t have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Christ has gone on ahead. he is preparing a place for us. He is our, and the world’s, only hope. How important it is that we know who we are trusting in, and that we pray with greater intensity and urgency for the people who are playing on the beaches, ignorant of what is happening.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that in You I have absolute security and that even though we have no enduring safety, in You we have eternal security. Open my eyes, Lord, to the needs of those around me so that I may use every opportunity to warn those who are unconcerned about the need, to urgently find their place in the Kingdom of God – where believers will dwell in our eternal and enduring city. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Trapped

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 42: 6-7, NIV
I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

My friend noticed something odd in the corner of a high window. It looked like a mushroom, but surely it couldn’t be. “Look at that” she said to her husband, “what do you think it is?” “Oh yes, I noticed that a few days ago” he said. “Well, it can’t stay there” she thought, so she climbed up to remove it.

As she took a closer look she could see that the white ball was actually a spider’s web of some sort. Inside were about 20 dead-looking ladybirds. Carefully she broke the web and suddenly to her amazement all the ladybirds rushed out into freedom, scattering themselves about, very much alive!

They were all alive and well, despite their previous appearance, and she was thrilled to have rescued them from their prison and given them another chance of life. She likes ladybirds because they are good to have in the garden - they eat aphids and they look pretty.

How many of us are trapped in a prison, in at least some area of our life? We feel as if that part of us is never going to be any different and has no hope. Hopelessness can make us give up and be like those ladybirds who looked as if they were dead. Not moving, not thinking, waiting but waiting for nothing good.

They could not help themselves or get themselves out of the trap they were in. Yet help came to them from outside. As soon as the web was broken, they were free! Free to live and be who they were meant to be, to fulfil their destiny as God-given blessings.

If you feel trapped today, whether trapped in one area of life which seems like it can never be any different, or worse still, trapped totally in gloom and hopelessness, then look outside to Jesus. He has seen you. He can help you. He loved you enough to come and find you and He can set you free. It’s true that you can’t do it but He can! Jesus can break the web.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I can’t set myself free. I’ve tried. Please come and break this web around me that my enemy has made. Please come and find me. You are God so You can do anything. You love me, so You will find me. I will wait until You find me. Thank You. Amen.

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A safe refuge

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 91:2, NIV
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

On one occasion when my husband and I were walking high up in the Alps we were caught in a violent storm. In the middle of nowhere we came across a small hut, a refuge which was locked. We pressed as close as we could into the sheltered side of the hut and under its protection we waited for the storm to pass, sheltered from the wind and driving rain.

As the psalmist faced the storms of life, the Lord Himself was His refuge – his place of shelter and protection in uncertain times. He could testify that those who trust in God are secure whatever is going on around them. Even though there was open threat from the enemy, hidden dangers that he couldn’t see and terror at night, because God was his refuge, his permanent place of resting, he knew he was safe. Because He knew the character of God he could say, “He’s my God and I’m trusting Him.” In this security the Psalmist didn’t give in to fear.

None of us escape the storms of life. Sometimes they come without warning and they can be quite furious at times. The noise of the storm can even deafen us so that we don’t hear the still small voice of God whispering peace to our souls.

When Jesus was asleep in the boat with His disciples, a storm blew up on Galilee. The terrified disciples seemed to momentarily forget that Jesus was with them in the boat and that in His presence they were safe from harm. Jesus spoke to the storm, “Peace, be still.” The sea became calm and the fearful, troubled hearts of the disciples were stilled.

The Christian life is about relationship with Jesus. In our turmoil He whispers His words of comfort and assurance as He did on the Sea of Galilee. Does He say to you today, “Why are you troubled and so afraid? Don’t you have faith, to trust Me to carry you through the storm?\"

Storms only last a short time. They can be God’s opportunity of drawing us closer to Himself and of growing our faith as we prove His faithfulness and experience His protection.

Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your presence and protection during the storms of life. Thank You that You are trustworthy at all times. May I find peace today in the knowledge that You are with me as my shield and defender. Amen.

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Moving into the New Year with confidence.

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Philippians 3:13-14,NIV
Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.

Amidst all the uncertainties and insecurities of the present period of time we all need something to inspire and encourage us as we move into a new year, and Paul’s words seem to sum up what we should be aiming for as believers in Jesus.

Instead of being bogged down because of past failures or difficult experiences, Paul is looking ahead to the indestructible promises of God’s Word and is encouraging us to move forward with a positive objective in view.

We can’t change the past, so he says, ‘leave it behind and put it out of your mind.’ The future is already known by God, and He knows the plans He has for each one of us (Jeremiah 29:11). If God has promised that He will hold us with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10) we know that no one can remove us from that safe place (John 10:28).

Let’s press on towards the finishing line where we will meet our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, and receive from Him those encouraging words, ‘Well done!’

There are some things that this world, with all its uncertain ways, can’t do for us or give to us, and one of these is our salvation, our eternal inheritance.

We know that we can’t be unaware of the things that are happening with the economy and the financial situation of the world around us, but let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and all that’s in store for us through Him. Let’s not allow the uncertainties of this world and its systems to disturb us.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, that I can face the uncertain future with the assurance that I’m secure with You. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You, and be diligent in living for You, so that I receive Your ‘Well Done!’ Amen.

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Joy

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Neh 8:10, KJV
The joy of the Lord is your strength.

In this wonderful Christmas and New Year season, there is one thing that surfaces spontaneously each and every year, irrespective of any temporary setbacks - and that is JOY! Although the UK is in the iron grip of its worst weather conditions for years, this has not deterred the look of wonder on the faces of excited children as they play in the snow, and equally excited busy shoppers who have braved the weather to buy gifts for their loved ones.

This season of good-will was aptly demonstrated by the manager of a major department store who came to the aid of stranded shoppers and motorists, by arranging for them to sleep overnight in the bedding department of the store, as their cars were abandoned in heavy snow. Recession - or no recession - in December 2009 when people needed a bed for the night there was room at the department store!.

Whether people are aware of it or not, the news of the birth of the Saviour of the world still injects spontaneous joy into the world. There was no room at the inn for Him, but His birth brought the most wonderful news that mankind had ever experienced. The angel announced 'Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour who is Christ the Lord'. What a wonderful thing that down the centuries this great joy is still rehearsed afresh in the heart of all those who invite Him into their lives.

This infectious joy is also deep. It permeates every facet of our lives. It is, quite frankly, a taste of heaven!! If you have never exprienced it, it's not too late - don't let another minute go by without it - it will transform your life!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the birth of your precious Son Jesus, will you draw near to all whose circumstances of life need your transforming touch, so that they too can rejoice with joy unspeakable. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Little Flock

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Luke 12:32, NLT
These things dominate the thoughts of most people, but your Father already knows your needs. He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

In our family we have lots of pet names for our children. "Sausage", "Chicken", "Sweetheart", "Poppit" are just some of the adopted names we use to refer to our children most days. Regardless of whether the kids think these names are sweet, cool, or (as my 11 year old would tell you) "embarrassing" - they all know without question they are terms of endearment and just a silly little expression of our love.

As I was reading the above verse in Luke 12:32 today, I was struck by the way Jesus went to the bother of referring to us as "little flock". It hit me with such tenderness that Jesus would add this little endearment into His sentence.

In Luke chapter 12, as Jesus talks about the worries we can face and struggle with in life, He's not condemning or criticising our tendency to worry and get stressed about what the future holds or how God will provide. He wasn't despising the weakness in our human desire for comfort and control. He wasn't just telling us "Stop worrying, trust God. Stop being weak and afraid". He was saying, with true tenderness, compassion, care and understanding "Don't be afraid, little flock".

Today, whatever niggles of worry, doubt or fear may lie in your heart I pray you will know His tender voice whispering this truth into your heart. No matter what uncertainty we face in the physical, what a security to know He has it all in hand and we are safe in His tender care.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me with such a tender Father heart. Please, Lord, will You teach me to trust You more - to lay down the worries and fears that can grip my heart - and to grow in my relationship and understanding of the depths of Your love. In Jesus’ name Amen.

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Prince of Peace

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 9:6, NKJV
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

While we are safe in our homes, enjoying family, warmth and care, our hearts cry out to God for those in conflict and disaster, full of fear, hurting, dying, with lives shattered and hearts torn with grief and without hope, in places all over our world. How can we pray for them?

All people want peace in every area of life, but peace will only come when the Prince of Peace comes. Jesus has promised to return to the Mount of Olives and we are told to look for His coming, to be ready for His appearing, as a bride is ready for her bridegroom. This hope and expectation of His coming purifies us.

We know the time is drawing near, although no one knows the exact day, but we can pray for these desperate situations with this hope uppermost in our minds. We can pray that the Spirit of God would cause people to cry out to the Lord, for He has promised to hear the cry of their hearts. We can pray for governments and kings that they would turn their hearts to God. We can ask the Holy Spirit to show us how to pray in line with God’s will.

Personally, we can only have peace in our own hearts and minds when the Prince of Peace reigns in our lives and we can only have peace in our time and in our world when Christ returns to reign on the earth. The road to peace can only conclude with this glorious event. Wherever Christ reigns in the hearts of men they experience a peace and unity that is unrivalled, whatever their background.

The first Christmas the angels sang ‘Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth Peace, goodwill toward men’ (Luke 2:14). I was interested to see that the song that was voted top of the charts in the UK last Christmas was ‘Hallelujah!’ (a word in Hebrew which means ‘Praise the Lord!’). I praise the Lord and say ‘Hallelujah’ for peace of mind and heart that is beyond all understanding.

Prayer: Father, Thank You for sending the Prince of Peace to us. We cry out to You for those in conflict and distress. Have mercy on this fallen world. Even so, Come Lord Jesus, Come. Amen.

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Grow Up!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Ephesians 4:14-15, NIV
Then we will no longer be infants . . . instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him, who is the Head, that is Christ.

Children don’t behave like adults! They have so much to learn when they are very young. It is only little by little that they grow in understanding and behaviour and develop their character and potential in God. Everyone is so happy to see the children grow up like this to maturity. That was God’s desire and intention from the beginning.

But if a person should remain a child, way beyond the years of childhood, it would be obvious to everyone that something was seriously wrong. How sad it is that so many people in the Body of Christ do remain like children in matters of faith and doctrine and living the Christian life, but hardly anyone seems to notice!

It is vital that those who are the Pastors (shepherds of the sheep), should be encouraged to speak the truth in love to people, so that they will take up their responsibility to grow up in Christ, teaching them how to grow to maturity as believers and disciples of Jesus. For if they don’t, the witness of the Body of Christ to the society in which we live will always be weak and less effective than God intended.

Each and everyone of us is an evangelist to our friends, neighbours and family. It’s so important that our witness to them, should be one of Christian maturity and love. Jesus called us to follow Him and that also means being an agent for the King as we represent His Kingdom on Planet Earth!

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to recognise those areas of my Christian life where I have not grown to maturity, so that I can grow up and be more effective witness for the Kingdom of God in the community in which I live. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Power Cuts and God’s Faithfulness

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Deuteronomy 4:9, NLT
But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

Power cuts are a fact of life – especially if you live in the country. I remember a time when Cath and I had left our boys in the bath for a couple of minutes while we chatted in the living room. We knew all was OK because there was a huge amount of noise coming from the bathroom, as they merrily emptied the water onto the floor during one of their bath-time adventures! Then, suddenly, the lights went out because of a power cut. It was pitch black. Now the noise from the bathroom was different, as the shock of no longer being able to see their noses, caused fear and panic to take over. I remember Cath and I trying to reassure the boys that all was OK as we literally crawled along the floor trying to find a flash-light! Our concern was for the kids – not for us. We knew that the power would soon be restored and the lights would return. How did we know this? Experience! We had been through many power cuts - and had lived to tell the tale!

In the above passage we see Moses strongly urging Joshua to never forget the experiences of seeing God help His people to overwhelm the kingdoms east of the River Jordan. He was not to let these memories escape his mind and he was to pass them on for the benefit of future generations. This experience was something that was to be a source of peace, so that when facing an impossible battle, Joshua could remember God’s faithfulness in the past and find courage for the future.

So today let’s remember the faithfulness of God in our own lives and draw encouragement from it. May we know that even in the most impossible of situations, He is faithful and He doesn’t change. Let’s share these experiences with our children and grandchildren so that they too can grow and have the courage to step out in faith and trust of our loving Heavenly Father.

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Waiting in Hope!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Micah 7:7, NIV
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.

When I was a child, Christmas Day was the most exciting day of the year. My brother and I would wait in great expectancy for Christmas morning. But it wasn’t just us who were excited. Mum and Dad were just as excited as they watched with great pleasure and joy at our reactions when the annual pillow-case was opened long before dawn. I can remember even now some of the childhood gifts that made the greatest impact on me!

For hundreds of years God’s people had hung on to the promises of the prophets. One day they knew there would be an astonishing event that would transform the world, when God himself would fulfil the expectations of the waiting people and their Messiah, God their Saviour as Micah described Him, would come.

But as the centuries rolled by and the people of God went through times of great distress, you can understand their constant questioning of God as to when it was all going to happen. But each time one of God’s prophets spoke out what was on the heart of God, it seemed as though the promised coming of the Messiah was still on God’s agenda. And that was what Micah was saying in our verse for today – ‘I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour.’ He’s still coming!

Just as children feel that Christmas will never come, but eventually it does. God’s people thought Messiah would never come, but then He suddenly did. We have so much to rejoice in and give thanks to God for. Sadly, most of the Jewish peoples didn’t recognise Him when he came. But today we are seeing a new day dawning, with more and more Jewish Messianic believers joining with the Gentile believers and together worshipping our Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

I pray that this Christmas will be a time of great rejoicing for you and your family as you look to the One who is Saviour and Redeemer – the one who opened up the way for all God’s children to enter once again into relationship with Father God. Just as my parents rejoiced at how we loved our presents – Father God rejoices when we welcome His Son – the greatest gift the world has ever known!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that your promises were gloriously fulfilled in Jesus. Thank you that this Christmas awe can celebrate the fact that Jesus came and that we can look forward to the time when He comes again. Thank you for the joy of knowing the One who is God my Saviour. In His Name, Amen.

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Immanuel

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 7:14, NIV
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

As we approach this time of Christmas we hear ‘Immanuel’ spoken of more frequently than during the rest of the year. Yet, do we truly understand the beauty and depth that this name of God brings to us and to our daily lives or does it merely get jumbled into the usual melee of Christmas?

A few years ago I found myself considering ‘Immanuel’as a name and found my mind being drawn to the wondrous acts of God throughout the Bible. To me it was like looking at the stars, the more you look the more you see, and as I progressed I found myself remembering more and more of these amazing stories. Just sitting and thinking through this started to bring a deeper level of faith and hope to my heart.

And then I came to the expression ‘Immanuel, God with Us’. This God that performed all of these mighty and wonderful acts in the Bible is exactly the same God that we love and serve today. He hasn’t changed. I had to ask myself, “Do I really live like I am serving that God? Or am I serving a form of God that I can understand, that I have personal experience of, or that I have limited to make myself feel safe?”

Do I really believe that God could provide for me just as He so wonderfully did for the Israelites? Do I really believe that God could protect me just as He did Daniel in the lion’s den? The list is endless but it reveals a depth and a beauty of the name Immanuel.

As we enjoy the celebrations of the birth of our Saviour my hope and prayer is that you will have a revelation of the God of the Bible and Immanuel… for God IS with us and He hasn’t changed, nor will He change.

Prayer: Immanuel, You are with us and You are the same God that I read about in Scripture. I pray that You will bless me with a deeper revelation of Yourself so that I may be strengthened in my walk with You. Amen.

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God with us

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 7:14, NIV
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel which means “God with us.”

I recently read these words in Tel Aviv airport, “The State of Israel is living proof that God is alive today. He is the Alpha and Omega.” Those who know and love the One who is called Immanuel can never doubt that God is with us. He is alive today, living in and through us who belong to Him.

However, looking back over 2009 it would seem that atheism has had a good year in Great Britain at least. Firstly, there were the secularists adverts on many British buses stating that (probably) there is no God. The Bible clearly states that it is the fool who says in his heart there is no God. (Psalm14:1) Secondly, there have been all the celebrations of Darwin’s birth along with the ongoing articles and debates that continue to argue that there is no God.

Sadly when God is denied there is a devastating effect on a nation. Corruption of social values in individual and collective lives and in high places leads to evil and oppression. It is good to remind ourselves as we move forward into a New Year, that despite what we see around us, God is with us.

Immanuel is a wonderful name. This one word contains the Christmas message and a New Year message. “Those who believe in His name have the right to be called children of God.” We are never alone and will never be left alone because through Immanuel we have been brought into the family of God. His presence is within us as we move into another year. Whether or not we are aware of it, His presence is for ever with us.

The forecast for 2010 doesn’t sound too bright. The nations are being shaken. Fear is predominantly ruling the world. However, as we, who believe, live in the knowledge that Immanuel came and He is “God with us,” forever, we need not fear. He has promised, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You sent Jesus, Immanuel, into our world to be one of us and to die for us. Thank You that Your presence is with us today in the person of the Holy Spirit. Whatever the future may hold, help us to trust in You, remaining secure that You know and hold the future. Amen.

Dynamic Praying - Teaching CD

Blessed are the Meek

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 5:5, NIV
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

It was fun to discuss this verse ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth’ from Matthew 5:5 in a small group of people from my church. We realised that the attitudes in the ‘Beatitudes’ are concerned with relationships. Certainly we can’t be ‘meek’ by ourselves in isolation. As soon as we begin to complain about the arrogance and lack of meekness in other Christians we betray our own lack of this quality. The word ‘meek’ is an archaic one and isn’t used in modern day conversations. Yet it has a certain ring to it which other words don’t. We decided it could be interpreted as humility, gentleness and self control. But it didn’t mean being weak and powerless.

Meekness is a character quality which must come from Jesus Himself. He was bold, powerful and strong and yet He showed self control and was quiet when falsely accused before Pilate. He showed respect towards Pilate because of his position of authority. He spoke to him of the truth and wasn’t frightened yet He didn’t get angry with Pilate.

Jesus described Himself as ‘gentle and humble in heart’ (Matthew 11:29). He didn’t have false modesty, but always spoke the truth.

We shared that it was easy to be self controlled when we were prepared for some kind of disagreement or attack, but much harder when aggression descended upon us unexpectedly taking us unawares. We longed for a godly response to become automatic in our lives.

We wondered what it meant to ‘inherit the earth’. My Good News Bible puts it this way ‘Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised!’ I learnt that there is an almost identical verse in Psalm 37:11 which says ‘but the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.’ It would seem that Jesus was quoting this verse. If we are acting with a godly self control and in harmony with God’s will for our lives, not trying to use power in a wrong way, then we will be given authority from God. We will be entrusted with possessions, land and money. We will be given protection. There are many passages in the Bible which talk of God’s delight in man’s humility and lack of pride. The outcome is that God will elevate a man or woman like that.

Prayer: Lord, please remind me when I am being proud and arrogant. Help me to change and become more and more like Jesus who is the perfect role model. Help me to have the fruit of the Holy Spirit as a reality in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sarah - Inspiring story of Sarah's journey from brokenness into freedom

True Discipleship

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
John 8:31, NIV
To the Jews who had believed in him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”.

There’s a certain pride in men, and maybe in some women as well, that wants people to believe they can do things, without anyone else telling them how to do it! Commonly, for example, people will set about assembling a piece of equipment without first reading the instructions. Eventually when all their efforts have failed and somehow or other the equipment doesn’t look or function like it should, they will dig out the instructions and start again!

Sadly, many believers adopt a similar approach to living the Christian life – they try and work it out for themselves, without reference to the instruction manual. Often, it’s only when things seem to be getting really out of order that people begin to think they may have got something wrong. And by the time that happens there could be serious problems in their life.

Many people look to Jesus for the freedom He has promised, thinking that, as believers, such freedom is theirs by right. They can’t understand why God isn’t answering their prayers! Our Scripture for today contains one of the most important keys to the problem. Of course, it’s true, that Jesus wants people to know His freedom and experience His healing. Jesus says as much when he clearly states that ‘the truth will set you free’.

But before that, He equally clearly says there’s a condition attached to the freedom He promises, and that is ‘if you hold to my teaching’. Or, in other words, if you read the instructions and put them into practice in your life! A disciple is not just someone who believes in the truth, but someone who obeys it. And that is the vital point that Jesus is making.

As believers we can expect God to honour the promises in His word, but only when we fulfil any conditions that are attached to them. In order to fulfil the conditions, we first need to know what they are – or read the instructions! The Bible is God’s instruction manual for the human race – if we ignore it our pride will always get us into trouble!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You not only want us to know Your freedom, but You loved us enough to teach us what it means to follow and obey You. Forgive me Lord for my pride of wanting You to bless me when there are things in my life which are not in line with Your will and purposes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Healing Through Deliverance - Book by Peter Horrobin

Blessed

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 5:3, GNB
Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

In my church it was decided that in the season leading up to Christmas, known as Advent, we would study ‘the beatitudes’.

The Latin word for blessed is ‘beatus’ and in the gospel of Matthew chapter five we have an account of Jesus starting off His teaching with eight statements beginning with the word that can be translated ‘blessed’. We find that Jesus wasn’t teaching for the crowds, but for those who were committed to following Him.

Straightaway we had a problem understanding what Jesus meant by the word ‘blessed’. This must be why the Good News bible decided to use the more commonplace word, ‘happy’. The trouble is it doesn’t make sense to use the word ‘happy’ in this context. How can we be happy in the eight situations Jesus described? One of the leaders came up with his own interpretation which I really like. It was ‘God is with you’.

So the first thing Jesus said was ‘Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the kingdom of heaven belongs to them!(Matthew 5:3). We began to understand this must mean that, if we find we can’t make it on our own and are conscious of constantly failing to reach God’s standard, then He is with us to help us. Having the values of the Kingdom of God means we are different from non-believers. We try to do the things Jesus would do in our place and we rely on God and bring all that we struggle with to Him in prayer.

When I think about the opposite of being spiritually poor I remember the Pharisee in the temple who prayed to thank God that he wasn’t a bad sinner like the tax collector there in the temple with him (Luke 18:10-14). So it’s being self righteous and full of pride. It’s thinking you haven’t got anything to learn – that you’ve arrived.

Jesus said the tax collector went home that day from the temple with God’s blessing on his life. Why was that? Because he confessed all his sins and asked for mercy. He was serious about getting his life right with God. He knew he was spiritually poor. God really loves that kind of attitude.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help me to be fully relying on You and letting You be Lord of my life. Help me not to be complacent with my spiritual state and not to compare myself to the standards others have. Help me to have Your values – the values of the King of kings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living the Life - Book by Peter Horrobin

Sanctuary

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 63: 2 – 3, NKJV
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your Glory. Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

Is the whole world shouting at you through the media, the airwaves, the screens, the ipods and the phones. Are there a thousand voices telling you a thousand different things that you need to have, to do and to hear?

Is the voice of the Good Shepherd whispering to your heart, beckoning you to go with him to the sanctuary? Can you hear Him? Do you want to go with Him? Or is He drowned out by the noise of life? What would happen if the Lord turned everything off and was standing there in front of you with His arms open wide?

Last week my computer died and as I walked into my study, early one morning – with these thoughts, I searched my heart and wondered what I had been missing. The Lord wants to shield and cover me in His Sanctuary. He wants to show me His beauty and glory. He wants to change me continuously on the inside. He wants to sustain me with the power of His strength. He wants to overwhelm me with His love as He fills me with His Spirit afresh and refines me with His Holy Fire. In His presence joy flooded my soul and I realised that I desired the same things as He wanted.

I needed to walk humbly with my God, with my ears open to His voice, knowing there is a sanctuary in the busyness and tumult of this life - in the Lord Jesus. Only then can I walk with Him, my hands in His, who reigns above every circumstance, and be effective in bringing His heart to bear and uplift those that need His Sanctuary.

The Oxford Dictionary says that a sanctuary means a refuge (somewhere to hide and be safe). These are the words of a beautiful hymn by George C. Stebbins:

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide,

O how precious are the lessons which I learned at Jesus’ side,

Earthly cares can never vex me, neither trials lay me low,

For when Satan comes to tempt me, to the secret place I go.

Prayer: Please Lord, Bring me into Your sanctuary and let me see Your glory and Your love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Shepherd Love - Book by Pam Smith

Expressing Grief

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
John 11:35, NIV
Jesus wept.

Our young grandson has just experienced his first loss of a pet – his nearly three-year old hamster died over the weekend and he was heartbroken. His parents handled it well. His dad asked him if he wanted to hold it, which he didn’t, but together they went and buried it in the garden. He spent a tearful evening with both of them and the next morning said to his mum, “I don’t know how I am supposed to feel”, possibly thinking that it was “only” a hamster and should he be feeling so upset. Her reply was that it was quite all right for him to feel sad and that it was natural to miss the little creature for a time.

I have prayed with many people who experienced the loss of a close relative, sometimes a parent, when they were very young and were never able to grieve. Now, as adults, they have discovered a well of untapped grief which they have never expressed. Probably the adults around them at the time wanted to spare them the pain of loss and so from the best of motives they didn’t encourage the expression of grief. But now the buried feelings have either come to the surface – or else all emotions have become trapped under a layer of ‘concrete’.

Jesus freely expressed His emotions. On two occasions we read that He wept, once when He knew that He was going to raise Lazarus back to life and once over Jerusalem. He was not ashamed of His tears, nor of people seeing Him crying. Children should be encouraged to grieve, to know that people, and creatures, that they love are going to die sometime, and that they should not bury their feelings.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You that You have given me emotions through which I can experience the fullness of life. Please help me to express them all in a right way and not bury the uncomfortable ones. Amen.

Grief and Bereavement - Teaching CD

Who cares? - Teaching CD

Strangers in the World

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
1 Peter 1:1 & 17; 2:11, NIV
To God’s elect, strangers in the world … Live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear … As aliens and strangers in the world … abstain from sinful desires.

In my youth I did a lot of travelling and I always enjoyed going to out of the way places where people from different cultures lived their lives in a very different way from mine. Often when travelling on local public transport in those places I would receive some strange looks, especially from the children, as I looked, and probably behaved, very differently from them.

As citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), we as Christians should stand out from those around us and feel just as strange in the world as I did when travelling in places with a different culture, but often we seem to blend in all too easily with the worldly culture around us. Far from it being alien to us, we embrace the world’s standards and ways of doing things so that there is little difference evident between us and the people around us. But there should be! God chose us to be holy and blameless in His sight (Ephesians 1:4) and Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 1:18 that we have been redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to us from our forefathers. We should therefore feel and behave like strangers in the world, but often we are far too friendly with it. James goes as far as saying: “Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

What about you today? Are you choosing to be a friend of the world, or are you going to live your life as a stranger here, redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you and abstaining from the desires that came with it? The choice is yours!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am sorry that I have often lived my life as a friend of the world rather than as a stranger here. Help me to hate the things that you hate in the world. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

The way into the Lord’s Presence

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
2 Kings 3:15, GNB
As the musician played his harp, the power of the Lord came on Elisha.

King Joram of Israel wasn’t as bad as his father King Ahab because he did away with the idol to Baal but he did lead his country into sin. King Mesha took the death of King Ahab as an opportunity to rebel against paying his taxes to Israel. So King Joram sought help from his 2 allies, King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the King of Edom. They marched for 7 days and found themselves in a terrible predicament with no water supply. King Joram obviously had a guilty conscience before God for he assumed that God was punishing him. King Jehoshaphat wasn’t giving up that easily however, and asked for a prophet to come and help them. He wanted to take the problem to God and so the prophet Elisha was found. He was quite confrontational towards King Joram, his king, but he did respect King Jehoshaphat and so agreed to find out God’s will.

The interesting thing is what he did next. He asked for a musician. He must have known that was the way to come into God’s presence because as soon as the musician played his harp the power of the Lord came on Elisha. He spoke out what God was going to do to save them. God was going to miraculously provide water, but there was something for them to do. They had to dig ditches to receive the water.

How do we enter into the Lord’s presence? What focuses us on Him and rids us of distractions? When Campbell McAlpine wrote a book called ‘The Practice of Biblical Meditation’ he advised that we sit in a relaxed way with the Lord and either sing a worshipful song, or sit silently in His presence. We are not to let our mind go blank, but to think of Him. Then we are to hear Him speak to us through the Word. Another thing he suggested was that we could memorise Scripture by putting the words to our own music and singing it. Many of the Psalms particularly lend themselves to this.

The apostle Paul says ‘be filled with the spirit …speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18-19).

In today’s world an excellent way of focussing on the Lord for many of us can be to listen to the Christian digital radio station playing songs of praise and worship. Before you know it you find yourself lifted up into the Lord’s presence.

Prayer: Dear Father God, please help me to feed my spirit and spend time in Your presence. Let me hear You speaking to me either in that still small voice or through reading Your Word. I don’t want to get distracted by all the cares of this world from basking in Your presence and knowing Your love. Amen.

Explaining Biblical Meditation - Book by Campbell McAlpine

The curtain of the temple

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 27:51, NIV
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

‘At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom’. Matthew 27:51). The moment in question is found in the previous verse ‘Jesus…gave up his spirit’. The very moment Jesus died, the temple curtain, which separated the holy place from the most holy place, was torn completely in two. The priests in the temple must have witnessed this terrifying spectacle – by their testimony we know it was torn from top to bottom. To tear it at all would be almost impossible - the curtain was said to be 60 feet long, 30 feet wide, and as thick as the palm of a man's hand. We are told that this curtain was so heavy that 300 priests were needed to carry it, when it was taken down for washing. The way it was torn was an obvious act of God.

What was God saying through this – what does the earthly act signify in heaven? The earthly curtain, a symbol of the separation of God from man because of sin, was now obsolete. It was replaced by a heavenly one – the body of Jesus himself. In this body he overcame sin and the problems of separation from God. Through His body we have a new and living way of approaching God.

The first curtain offered very limited access to God, even while the Temple stood. It was only accessible in Jerusalem, only for the male Jew who was High Priest, and only one day a year, as part of a religious ritual. As Hebrews 9:8 says ‘The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed’ By contrast the new curtain is always open everywhere to anyone who believes that Jesus, the new High Priest, went ahead of us, presenting the sweet aroma of a totally surrendered life to the Father, and offering not the blood of an animal, but His own blood, not for His own sins, but ours. What is our response to this? ‘Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith’ Hebrews 10:22. A curtain is not an end in itself but a means of coming to the Father. We should not come empty handed, but bring an offering of thanks and praise for the amazing access we now enjoy. Do not waste time outside, draw near!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You that Your body is now our open, living access to God. We hear Your call to ‘draw near’ and enter the most holy place in full assurance of faith, bearing a sacrifice of praise.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

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Are You Lost?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
John 14:5-6, NIV
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.”

Sometimes life is a bit like an unknown jungle or a maze!

In the jungle, there are tall trees rising up out of heavy undergrowth, interspersed with many different tracks and pathways and, apparently, no signposts. I once watched a film, telling the story of what happened to a boy who was lost in the forests of the Pacific North West. Whichever way he looked, all the pathways through the forest looked the same – there was no indication whatsoever as to which was the way out. From ground level the jungle is an impossible barrier to escape from.

In many of our great houses, the gardeners built a maze of thick, high hedges, for the entertainment of the family and visitors. The more complicated the maze the harder it was to get to the seat where you could rest in the middle of the maze. But once in, there was only one way out and it’s easy to get trapped.

If you are high up, however, you can look down on the jungle or the maze, and see at a glance which is the right way to go to get out of the mess you’re in. And if you’re on the ground and have a mobile phone, the person who is high up, looking down on you, can easily direct your steps, so that you know exactly which direction to go at any moment of time.

Long before man invented the mobile phone God showed man how He could speak directly into the hearts of His children. He didn’t need a phone, but we did need to have our ears of the spirit open to listen in to the communication channel we call prayer. He is high and lifted up (Isaiah 6:1) and from His vantage point He can see everything that’s happening. No matter how thick the jungles of life may be or how complicated the maze seems to be, we don’t need to be lost.

Jesus expressed this wonderful truth so simply, but powerfully when He said to Thomas “I am the way!” It’s not a pathway we need to follow – it’s a Person – a Person who can see the way ahead and who longs to speak to His children and give them the benefit of His wisdom and direction. He has promised that He will show us His way for our lives. One of the songs we used to sing at our Church Youth Group was:

‘My Lord, knows the way through the wilderness,

All I have to do is follow!”

The words may be simple, but they are incredibly profound. Following Him requires us to humble ourselves, submit to His authority in our lives and walk in obedience – and we will find then our way out of the jungles or the mazes of life.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you have promised to show me the way. Help me to have my ears always open to listen to your voice so that I can know where to put my feet on my journey through life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Healing Through Deliverance - Book by Peter Horrobin

What is more important?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 6:25b, NIV
Is life not more important than food and the body more important then clothes?

It is very apparent that as we approach Christmas many people will be caught up with the excesses of our consumer society. We will be giving and receiving gifts which we don’t really need and trying to recycle the unwanted gifts from last year on to some unsuspecting relative this year. Certainly in the West we have more than our needs and yet our society cries out for more. We seem to have developed insatiable appetites and we crave for more of what we already have in abundance!

In John 10:10 Jesus says ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’ At this time of year, when we celebrate His coming to earth, isn’t it more important that we rejoice in the fact that we can have eternal life, rather than in the world’s standards of acquiring more for our stomachs and extra clothes for the wardrobe?

Jesus told us not to worry about these things but the world is telling us the opposite and many will be going into debt in order to meet the world’s standards and ‘keep up with the Joneses’. I remember many times seeing young children have more interest in the wrapping paper than the gift inside or seeing children discard an expensive toy even before they return to school. Our values need to be based on a good foundation otherwise we will be making choices that are going to be of little worth and not stand the test of time.

In these days when we see the increase of sin and terror in the world it’s good to remind ourselves that ‘where sin increased, grace increased all the more’ (Romans 5:20) and that ‘of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end’ (Isaiah 9:7). Therefore we needn’t revert to the world’s ways of comfort eating or buying things to satisfy our carnal natures, or those of others, but we should do what’s right in God’s sight.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your most precious gift of Your only Son. I thank You, Jesus, that You gave Your life for us and that You didn’t leave us alone but sent another the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter. I ask you to give me wisdom at this time of year that I may see what is worldly conduct and that I may recognise that which is Your plan and purpose for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Christmas Past to Christmas Future - Teaching CD

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

God-given understanding

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Luke 24:45, NIV
Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

As Jesus was explaining the Scriptures to the disciples, who were having difficulty in believing that He was really risen from the tomb, Jesus was doing exactly what the Holy Spirit is able to do for us.

Whilst reading the account in this chapter of Jesus appearing to the two on the road to Emmaus, and then those two again as they were with the eleven disciples who were together in Jerusalem, the above verse seemed to speak to me with a fresh significance.

Firstly, Jesus was showing what it would be like for His followers when the Holy Spirit was given to them. The Holy Spirit would be given as another One like Himself, one who would lead them in their understanding of truth and Scripture (see John 14 and 15).

As those disciples were trying to adjust to life without Jesus being with them as their leader, they needed someone with the same qualities and power that Jesus had to enable them to continue as Jesus’ witnesses. Jesus was demonstrating to those men what the third person of the Trinity would do when He was sent to them. As He opened their minds, and enabled them to understand the things written in their Scriptures, Jesus was demonstrating what the Holy Spirit would be for us who follow after them.

It is little wonder that within a short space of time, after Pentecost, some of these men were accused of ‘turning the world upside down’ (Acts 17:6 K J V). When the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, comes to give us understanding, He also comes to empower us to do the same kind of things Jesus did. And those same men were soon able to say and do many mighty works in Jesus’ name.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for opening the minds of the disciples and demonstrating what Your Holy Spirit would be for those who follow You. Please come to me and open my mind and understanding. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit, so that I may be empowered to serve You effectively, and bring something of You into the lives of other people I pray. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

God's Fire - Teaching CD

Genuine or Artificial?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Ephesians 1:1-2, NIV
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

My favourite restaurant in one of the places we lived was in a run-down area, with poor surroundings. However, on entering the door of the restaurant I was taken into another world. Flowers were everywhere – the reception area, the dining room, the cloakroom and they even lined the stairs. There were so many flowers, so fresh looking, that initially I thought they must be artificial. But they were fresh flowers – their fragrance proved they were genuine.

Occasionally something artificial may pass for the genuine article. True love, however, is known by its actions. The highest standard in the world has been set before believers – to be imitators of God – to imitate God’s love and God’s forgiveness.

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for each one of us was a demonstration of the love of God with the offer of forgiveness. The death of Jesus was pleasing to God. In the Old Testament it is described as a “Pleasing aroma.” Genuine love and a forgiving spirit cannot be separated. Without a forgiving spirit our love is not genuine however many words may be attached to it.

We are told to live a life of love just as Christ loved us. We are to express our love one to the other in the sacrificial way Jesus expressed His love for us. ‘Love must be sincere’ (Romans 12:9). The emphasis is completely sincere – no hypocrisy, play acting, ulterior motive or keeping a record of wrong. The depth of forgiveness to others is the bottom line of genuine love.

Of course, not one of us has within ourselves the capacity to imitate God’s love or His forgiveness. True love is a gift from God. It is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us (Romans 5:5). Thus our lives can become a reflection of genuine love and unconditional forgiveness.

Our love for others becomes genuine when our lives are lived out of the experience of the love we ourselves have received from God. I can only truly love out of my experience of being unconditionally loved by God and loving Him from a heart overflowing with gratitude.

Christmas Past to Christmas Future - Teaching CD

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Keeping Confidence

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Proverbs 11:13, NIV
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

What is a gossip? One person said, “Gossip is when you say something about someone else that you wouldn’t say in front of that person.” Another person said, “Gossip is also sharing someone else’s news that isn’t ours to share.” All through Scripture it is clear that we need to guard our tongues and not gossip. We are encouraged to use our mouths to nourish and build up, rather than tearing down.

This is a challenge to me, to make sure that I do not participate in gossip. I want to be a trustworthy person. I want to be someone that people can share their problems with so that I can pray with them, without them worrying that I will go and talk about them to others. If they are hearing me talking about other people, they will not want to trust me. If we are going to be the body of Christ, encouraging each other, then we need to make sure that we are not gossiping. We need to guard our conversations with others, and also have the boldness to speak out when others are engaging in gossip around us.

The good news is that we don’t have to do this in our own strength! We can pray the prayer that David prayed in Psalm 141:3 ‘Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.’ Let’s ask God to guard our mouths, so that we can be trustworthy people, building each other up in love.

Prayer: Lord, please set a guard on my mouth. Show me when I am tempted to enter into gossip and help me to be a trustworthy person who encourages others. Please give me wisdom to also speak out if others are gossiping around me, that our words be edifying, rather than tearing down.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

You are Mine

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 43:1, LB
The Lord who created you O Israel says, “Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you: I have called you by name; you are mine”

One of the most precious things in life is to ‘belong’. To be part of family, to know there is someone who cares for you, and to have a name and an identity. You can see it on the faces of some children. Their expression says – I know who I am. But on others they’re not really sure who they are or indeed where they belong.

Many people come to Ellel Centres seeking healing or searching for God but others come searching for who they really are. When they meet the Lord and find out who He created them to be in relationship to Him as the Father, it’s very much part of their healing. There’s amazing joy and relief in discovering that they’re an important part of God’s family.

So overflowing is His kindness towards us that He took away all our sins, through the blood of his Son, by whom we are all saved (Ephesians 1:7, NKJ).

The Lord wants you to know, as a child of His - ‘You are not alone, I am watching over your coming and going, over every valley and mountain and every hard place. I have engraved you upon the palms of my hands. You may feel insignificant, one who is never noticed and fails in life, but I am your Shepherd and you are more precious to Me than gold so take comfort in knowing that I am with you. You are in My family and you are Mine’.

I’m sure that Heaven must have wondered what the thief on the cross was doing in Paradise with Jesus, on that resurrection day. I’m sure Jesus would have said something like – ‘It’s alright, he’s with me, he’s mine’. And when I stand in the last day, will Jesus say the same about me – ‘I have redeemed you, you are mine’.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the Children of God (1 John 3:1).

Prayer: Lord, I praise You so much for redeeming my life and adopting me into Your family. Thank You for the Holy Spirit’s assurance that I belong to you, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Living by faith

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
2 Corinthians 5:9-10, GNB
More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there. For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him.

My sister and I have not been in touch for a long time and when I asked how she was she said even though her physical being was gradually decaying, yet her spiritual being was renewed day by day. She knew that was a verse in the Bible but couldn’t think where. Later I found it was 2 Corinthians 4:16. But there was a little bit before those words which intrigued me. It said ‘For this reason we never become discouraged.’ What a statement of faith!

Why did the apostle Paul never become discouraged? If we read what he said in his letter before that we find the most marvellous passage about how he knew God had given him work to do and had made the light shine in his heart, ‘the knowledge of God’s glory shining in the face of Christ’. Yet Paul was aware that he himself was like a common clay pot with spiritual treasure within. He went on to tell of the tremendous hardships and sufferings he was enduring but knew it was all worth it as more and more people were being reached by God’s grace. These people ‘will offer to the glory of God more prayers of thanksgiving’.

Paul’s life was a matter of faith, not of sight. He looked forward to his home in heaven with the Lord but said ‘More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there. For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him’.

I realise that God wants to show me how to live this way, pleasing Him and being aware that I must give an account of what I’ve done to Jesus. If I knew I only had a short time to live on this earth I would consider very carefully what to put my time and efforts into, not wanting to waste the time. Why don’t I live that way all the time? Some things would not be worth bothering about, although people put a high importance and value on those things. Other things would gain tremendous value and would gain eternal rewards in heaven.

Prayer: Please help me, Lord, to see what is valuable in Your sight and give me the strength and power to do those things. Help me not to be dragged down, discouraged or diverted by what other people say or want me to do. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and to live by faith not sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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A True Word

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Revelation 22:6, NIV
The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

If you know a word can be trusted because it is true, then you can stake your life on it. I once crossed the notorious Morecambe Bay sands on foot.

They are notorious because when the tide comes in across the sands, it can travel at the speed of a galloping horse and many is the walker who has been caught out by the incoming tide, sometimes at the cost of his own life. A few years ago some Chinese cocklers were gathering the cockles from the sands at low tide and a number of them died because they had misjudged the speed with which the water was coming in.

But the sands are not just dangerous because of the incoming tides, Morecambe Bay has many areas of quicksands which will not hold the weight of a person, and it is very easy to be sucked down into the sands. Some have never been seen again!

So how did I get across the sands safely? Because I was being taken across by Cedric Robinson who knows the sands and their dangers so well that he has made a successful career of guiding walkers across the Bay. When Cedric says walk here, you know it’s safe – he’s crossed the Bay hundreds of times. His word is trustworthy.

When the angel spoke to John, and John wrote it down, you can know that the testimony is trustworthy because it’s true. Many people have tried to discredit the prophecies of Scripture, but as the centuries roll by, more and more events demonstrate the truth of the Word of God. We can trust what God says in His Word.

This world is coming to an end. There is still time for people to find their Saviour, but for how much longer? No-one knows, but one thing we do know, Jesus is offering the free gift of the water of life now to all who come to Him (Revelation 22:17). His word can be totally trusted and revelation tells us He is coming again. Hallelujah!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that Your word tells us the truth about your first coming and the truth that You are coming again. Help me, Lord, to so live that I will always be ready for when that moment comes. Amen

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Refined like gold

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
1 Peter 1:7, NIV
These (trials) have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

The process of the refining of gold means putting the gold dust in a crucible and heating it until it melts. It is then that impurities begin to come up to the surface as a dirty film. The refiner then takes a ladle to scoop off these impurities and discards them.

The refiner may repeat the process a number of times, ‘boiling’ the gold to bring up the impurities and removing them, until he is able to look onto the refined gold and can see the reflection of his face, as if he were looking into a mirror.

The Prophet Malachi, speaking of the priests of Israel said of God; ‘He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in the days gone by, as in former years (Malachi 3:3-4).

Those Levites, sadly, had gone away from the ways of God and drifted had into some of the ways of the surrounding nations for the sake of keeping the peace with the people they should have been leading in the discipline and ways of the LORD.

As Christians, we are called to be ‘A holy priesthood, …acceptable to God through Christ Jesus’ (1 Peter 2:5), yet we are aware that there may be times when we fail to live up to that calling, and drift into the ways of the world.

There may also be times during our Christian life when we feel that we are going through a rough time, as if we are in a ‘melting pot’ situation. I wonder if that could be when God might be refining us in order to bring the best out of us.

When God is taking us through such a time, it is not to make us feel hurt or worthless, but in order to bring out the real genuineness of our spirituality and that more of the likeness of Christ may be seen. It is helpful to think of the process of refining like this; when it is complete there will be no impurities lying underneath to spoil the quality of the gold.

Prayer: O Lord God, thank You that You have called me from what I was, to be a follower of Jesus. I pray that You will patiently refine me day by day so that more of the beauty and likeness of Jesus is seen in all I say and do. Amen.

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Light and Truth

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 43:3, KJV
O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me.

What is it that leads us? On what basis do we make our decisions?

Sometimes I make decisions based on my emotions; how I feel about something. Do I feel like it’s right or wrong? But if we haven’t given God control of our emotions, we could be overflowing with previous emotions which lead us to over-react to a situation. When we give God control of our emotions, bringing them to Him, then we can be led by His truth.

Many people in the world today are living in fear and that fear is leading them in their decision making. How much better if we can bring our fear to God, let Him shine His light on our path and make our decisions while listening to Him? Only through His light and truth will the lies of the enemy be exposed so that we can walk with assurance that God is directing our steps and will prepare the way before us. It has been said, “Where God guides, He provides,” and we have seen that many times in the ministry and in our family life.

Let’s be like the tree in Psalm 1:3 ‘planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.’ This is describing the man who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on His word. God’s truth is like the stream providing water and God’s light is like the sun, so that the tree grows and bears fruit by staying firmly planted.

Prayer: Lord, help me stay firmly planted in You, watered by Your truth and fed by Your light, that I may bear fruit for Your glory and not wither when fears in this world abound. Amen.

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Nice and Nasty Medicine

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Proverbs 3:11, NIV
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke.

Recently our son went down with a bad cold/flu virus. With a raging fever, runny nose, very sore throat and a loss of appetite we struggled with a day and night cycle of childhood medicines to try and control the fever. Designed especially for young children, Kyle had no problem taking the medicines; they tasted yummy!

After a week of it only getting worse a doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics since it was clear that there was something causing such a continuously high fever. That is when the medicine consumption took a turn – this medicine most definitely did not taste yummy. In fact it tasted nasty. No effort had been made to make this particular drug palatable to children.

And so a battle of wills ensued! Each time he even caught a glimpse of the medicine approaching him, he would run. Having eventually cornered and caught him, we would then lovingly but firmly have to restrain him enough to get the medicine in the mouth, but getting him to swallow the medicine was beyond our control.

As I sat frustrated, considering how to win this particular battle with my son, my mind started to wander about how I respond to God’s ‘medicine’. I am always willing to take the nice ones… the comfort, the care, the protection, and the provision, but when it comes to Him trying to give me a dose of discipline, correction, rebuke or conviction, I’m not always so willing to respond positively.

Without his medicine, Kyle would only have got sicker and it’s the same for us. We can enjoy the good medicines and they can help, often dealing with symptoms rather than the cause of the symptoms, but sometimes the only thing that can make us better is the ‘nasty’ ones. Sometimes it takes a rebuke, clear and unpalatable as it may be, to make us realise that there is a cause to our pain and repentance is the only way we will find healing.

Let’s take this Scripture to heart, for God only wants the best for us and sometimes that means taking a dose of the ‘not so nice’ medicine.

Prayer: Father God, help me not to despise Your discipline. Help me see that You only bring me discipline when I need it. Thank You for Your comfort, care, protection and provision, but Lord, I need to hear Your voice of rebuke when I am wrong. Amen.

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Blessed Assurance

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 6:34, NASU
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We have recently been engaged in the process of selling a house. As part of the conveyancing work that the solicitors were carrying out on behalf of the purchaser, they raised a question about planning permission. The outcome was that the purchaser’s mortgage lender required an indemnity (insurance) from us in case anything were to go wrong in the future. Our purchaser was not worried about it, we were confident there wouldn’t be a problem, but the solicitors were insistent. They were trying to prevent anything happening in the future which would be a problem for our purchaser’s financiers.

Whilst the motive was possibly good, I felt that there was a lot of fear involved on the part of the mortgage people and the solicitors. It just highlighted to me how much fear there is around in our world today. Financial institutions are fearful of anything ‘risky’, legal people are fearful of being found to have made a mistake, and the business world is afraid that things might get worse and they will lose everything. Even in everyday life there is apprehension rather than optimism about the future.

What a contrast with Jesus’ words to us: ‘Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes’ (Matthew 6:34, The Message.

There are always unknowns in life, but when we trust God we do not need to be anxious about them. Facing each day as it comes actually releases us from fear and brings peace. Of course we are to be responsible people in the way we conduct ourselves, but not fearful, living in the ‘what ifs’. Instead of needing insurance against possible difficulties, we have assurance in the name of Jesus that if we are part of his Kingdom, walking in righteousness, obedience and love, then God will be there for us in every circumstance of life.

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Be a Taxi Driver of the Word!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalms 119:105, NLT
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

If you were dropped into a major city of the world, chances are you’d have some idea of the major landmarks that you could visit. In Paris you’d know about the Eiffel Tower, in Sydney you’d head for the Opera House but the one person who really knows about a city is a local taxi driver. These guys are amazing! Not only are they normally highly entertaining in their story-telling and maybe a little over-confident in their ability to dodge pedestrians and cyclists – but they know every detail of the city. If traffic starts to build up or a set of traffic lights break down, they know exactly which detour to take so that you can reach the desired destination. They know the main routes but they also know every side road and short cut.

This is often how it can work for us and the Bible. We know the major landmarks – Psalms 23, John 3:16, the Sermon on the Mount but we don’t know all the amazing ‘side roads’ of the Word. These are the things that we need to navigate through the accidents and road works of life – the fullness of God’s Word. The reason a taxi driver knows all the details of his city is simply because he spends all of his time there. Every day he drives around its streets. He didn’t know it all when he started out but the more he drove around, the more he knew.

The Bible is effectively a ‘city’ with endless side streets - so let’s commit before God to be taxi drivers of this great ‘city’. To spend time in His Word so that we can navigate all that life brings our way and we can know the greatness of our God.

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Strength for the weary

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 40:29-31, GNB
He strengthens those who are weak; young men can fall exhausted. But those who trust in the LORD for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak.

Do you ever feel weary? I don’t mean tired. I mean weary of everything – the spiritual battle against forces of evil, the disappointment of relationships being difficult, the lack of progress in goals you want to reach. It’s tempting to give up.

Elijah was a tower of strength, combating the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and challenging the people of Israel about choosing God’s ways. Then the next day he lost all hope in the face of Queen Jezebel’s death threats and ran for his life. ‘Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he could die. “It’s too much, LORD”, he prayed. “Take away my life; I might as well be dead!” (1 Kings 19:4). Yet despite his feelings he was still in a close relationship with God, and God heard his cry and sent an angel to supply his needs. Later he told God how lonely it was to be the only one in the land serving the LORD. God gave him the names of three people who were to help him and revealed the fact that seven thousand people were still true worshippers.

The prophet Isaiah once spoke to the people of Israel saying ‘Israel, why then do you complain that the LORD doesn’t know your troubles or care if you suffer injustice’ (Isaiah 40:27)? Like Elijah, the people needed to know more about the nature of their God and his almighty power. Isaiah said God calls each star by name and created the entire universe. He cares about the weak and the tired and strengthens them. As they trust Him He renews their strength so they can rise up as if they have strong powerful wings, like an eagle. Then they can move forward in God’s purposes, running and walking. But those who trust in the LORD for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not grow weak (Isaiah 40:31).

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Has God Moved Your Heart?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Ezra 1:5, NIV
Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites – everyone whose heart God had moved – prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.

If you are gathering a group of people to share in a task together, what sort of people do you want on your team? Would you like to have people who didn’t want to be there, but who were helping you out of a sense of duty? How about people who didn’t really agree with what you were doing? How about those who were full of pride and were always wanting to do their own thing, instead of what was needed to be done?

How about those who would say ‘Yes’ to your face, but then go off and have a quiet sleep somewhere? And would you like to have people who talked about you behind your back, always trying to undermine your leadership? I’m sure you could think of a few other categories of folk that it would not be good to have on your team!

The job in hand was the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. God only wanted people on Ezra’s team who really wanted to be there – and not because Ezra had asked them to join the team, but because God had already spoken into their hearts, and they wanted to be there because this was their place of calling in Him.

I’d rather have a team of unskilled people who are willing to learn, but whose hearts are totally right towards God, than a team of experienced and skilled folk who didn’t want to be there. Isn’t it interesting that when Jesus was selecting the disciples, who would form the foundational team for the Church, he didn’t select anyone who had prior skills at teaching, leading prayer meetings or any of the other things that church leaders might do. He chose those whose hearts God had moved to respond to the call, ‘Come, follow me.’

If God has called you to something, and you really know it’s God, then go and do it with all your might. And if you are a leader always look for those whose hearts God has moved, to join you in the task – they are the ones who will faithfully give their all for the sake of the Kingdom.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the privilege of sharing with you in the work of the Kingdom of God. Help me always to do those things that you have called me to do, with all my heart and all my strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Living the Life - Book by Peter Horrobin

Mountain tops and valleys

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 17:14-15, NIV
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus, and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son...

Christian life is not primarily lived on the mountaintops, but in the valleys. The transfiguration mountain was not to be home to the apostles. They were not to enjoy an undisturbed fellowship with Jesus, Moses and Eljah, but were to mingle with suffering, disturbed and hopeless people, together with Jesus. The contrast between the mountaintop and the valley was enormous.

It’s human for us to desire the good days, but it’s not right to expect that to mean staying on the mountain for ever! The mountain is light, and the valley is darkness; the mountain is revelations and understanding, the valley is challenges and needs. But even so the very best days may be in the valley, because it’s there we see Jesus at work, and the demons must give way. It’s in the valley the needs of the many are being met, and the not-so-fortunate get their touch from Jesus.

The man didn’t bring his son up the mountain, Jesus had to go down to him. Had Peter started building shelters on the mountain, the boy wouldn't have received healing. The temptation to seek too much time in the shining light has a price, and that price may have to be paid by someone in the dark valley.

Followers of Jesus, where do you want to spend this day? Yes, this day may be a day on the mountain, but then, where do you want to spend tomorrow? And if you were on the mount with Jesus today, did you gain more understanding of what He can do in the valley?

Peter didn’t often speak about that day with Moses and Elijah. He didn’t talk about it to let others know that he had been chosen to be there at that historical moment. But the experience on the mount remained with him as a source of assurance that the word of God is true (2 Peter 1:17-18). And it motivated him to let others know who Jesus is. He had understood the message, and was no longer afraid to go into the valleys. The Pentecost in Jerusalem may have been another experience like the one on the mountain, but this time Peter didn’t express a desire to remain in the upper room. He was ready to take the message to the public places of Jerusalem.

The vision in Simon´s house in Joppa was extraordinary, but again, Peter was ready to go into the valley, represented by the gentile Cornelius´ house. It was the people in Cornelius´ house that needed Peter´s message about Jesus. And if it was in Simon`s house the revelation came, it was in Cornelius´ house the results were seen and God´s glory revealed.

Don’t fear the darkness of the valley! That’s the place where your light will be seen, and where lives will be transformed. Go there, in God`s time, without hesitation!

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Walking in Darkness

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 5:16, NIV
Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

One of the things about living in Scotland we have had to get used to is the short days of the winter time. Waking in the dark, going to work in the dark and the darkness settling in well before leaving work can leave you feeling down and wanting to hide away in the warmth, familiarity and light of your own home.

You only need to read a newspaper or watch a news bulletin on TV to know that the days of this world are darkening as the evil one gains momentum in his efforts to keep the human race away from God. What is our response to this? Is it to sit in the comfort and warmth of a safe life - church, ministry, family - and never venture into the darkness in the world around us?

In this verse Jesus is telling us to let our light shine before men; before those who live in darkness. For that we have to move out of our comfortable, familiar and safe environments. We need to be willing to walk in the darkness of the world, displaying the Light that is Jesus Christ.

So let’s not hide this eternal light in our churches, in our ministries or in our family units. Let us, with confidence, take our light into the place where it’s needed - the world of sinners, the world of strife, hatred and persecution; the world that Jesus came from heaven to and the world He died for.

Prayer: Father God, I‘m sorry I’ve hidden Your light away from those who need to see it the most. I pray You will help me let my light shine as I walk in the world I live in and that those who see it will turn their praises to You. For Your Name and Your Glory, Amen.

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Reading the Owner’s Manual

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Exodus 33:13, NASB
Let me know Your (path)ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight.

These days we can buy our automobiles with various optional extras: air-conditioning, CD players, special seats, GPS and more. We can choose just what we want and reject the rest. Not so with coming to God: He comes with a whole package! But somehow we’ve missed this idea. Perhaps we accepted Jesus just to get to Heaven, or for security, or because we needed a friend, or safety. Those are not wrong, but we got a whole lot more. Perhaps we need to read the ‘owner’s manual.’ If we want our car to operate properly and not break down, we need to see what the manual says about service and oil changes, so that our investment is preserved. But with God, it’s not like owning a car – in fact, He owns us, not the other way around! Maybe you missed that point and you’re angry that He hasn’t performed like you thought He should.

Often, we’re expecting our life to operate better, but it doesn’t and we wonder why. As we read the ‘owner’s manual’ it seems to promise great blessings, victory, success and peace. Could it be that we are missing something? If God is perfect and loving and will never forsake us, and we know that’s true, then why all the trouble and lack of fulfillment?

He claims that He will never forsake us, but is it possible that we could somehow be forsaking Him. It isn’t that He has left us, but that somehow we’ve got on another path: our path, not His. In Proverbs 8 He says, ‘I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, to endow those who love me with wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.’ So how can we know if we’re not on His path? Are your treasuries full? If not; perhaps it’s time to ask God to show us His pathway for your life.

Prayer: Let me know Your (path)ways that I may know You, so that I may find favour in Your sight. Amen.

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The Ancient Way

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Jeremiah 6:16, NIV
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From the beginning of man's existence, he has searched for pathways of belief and behaviour that might lead to health and well being in life.

We held a course at Ellel Glyndley Manor recently, on which we explored the spiritual safety of various ways of healing which are on offer these days. In fact, many alternative or complementary therapies have clear roots in an ancient Chinese philosophy called Taoism – they are not rooted in God at all, but in one of man’s substitutes for truth. The word ‘Tao’ actually means ‘the way’ and dates back to as early as the 7th century BC, when even then people were looking for practical and spiritual ways to conduct their lives in the hope of finding inner peace.

Now, in the 21st century, many people still recognise the need for both a physical and a spiritual pathway of healing and restoration. Of course, God has always known man's need and in today’s verse He encourages us to ask for the good way, the right way, the one that truly meets our needs. But we must be careful which direction we take, because the enemy has promoted many counterfeits as possible, but wrong, answers to the searchings of man.

Jesus, by whom all things were created, predates even the most ancient of man's philosophies. The Bible tells us that He is before all things and above all things. He declares that He alone is the Good Shepherd who leads us in the right direction, and He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Praise God that the search for the good path is complete, for those who follow Him.

Retargeting Our Lives

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 6:33, NASB
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and these things shall be added to you.

We are meant to step out of worry, by giving God our issues, concerns and the feelings we have about them. In Philippians 4: 6-8 we are given the commandment of God to be anxious for nothing, but through prayer, supplication and thanksgiving to make our request to God so that the peace that surpasses all our comprehension will come upon us. Neglecting God’s commandments keeps God from bathing us in His love and stops His disclosure of Himself to us. If we can’t hear Him, how will we know what to do in the face of our problems?

We are to seek first the kingdom of God. Perhaps this commandment is more difficult since it seems a more supernatural requirement. You may argue that God’s kingdom is invisible, elusive or only at the end of the age. So, how can we seek or target God’s kingdom? Or, what in God’s kingdom can we target?

The answer is quite simple. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are created for God’s good works which He prepared for us to walk through.

As God’s sons and daughters, following Jesus, we need to be doing what the Father is doing. Seeking the kingdom of God is something that we ask of the Father. We need to ask for Him to bring into our lives daily the supernatural intervention of His presence. We need for Him to open our eyes so that we can see what the Father is doing. Then when we see what He’s doing, we need to enter into these good works. He made us for good works. This is one of our purposes!

To be doing His good works is to be on His pathway. If we are on His pathway, operating in His ways and supernatural gifts, then we could expect to be or end up in His kingdom. His ways, pathways, always lead to Him.

The command is to seek first His kingdom. What is your priority in life? Is it that, if all your other needs are met, then you have time for God and His kingdom, or are you willing to step into His works, even before your own perceived needs are met? There is a difference in perception here. You see, He commands us to seek first His kingdom, and then promises that if we obey that He will take care of all our needs.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for neglecting Your commands. I now choose to seek first Your kingdom. Please break through from heaven into this world. Please do this in my presence in such a way that I may see it and enter into what You are doing. Lord, I am desperate to operate in Your love and power to reach those that You wish to touch: in my workplace, in the stores and shops, in church settings, on the street or wherever You wish. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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The Centurion Listens

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Acts 10:33, NIV
Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.

I was reading in the Bible about Cornelius, the centurion. Had I lived in the time of the early Church, I would have loved to meet this man. In Acts 10 we learn that he was a devout man, prayed regularly and gave generously to the people. We also read that all his household followed in his footsteps. Everyone agreed that he was a good man.

Most of all, Cornelius listened to God. An angel came to him with a message; he was to fetch Simon Peter, who would teach him the ways of the Lord. From that moment on Cornelius gave himself no rest, until Peter had come to his household. He practically dragged Peter into his house. Not only that, but he made sure that his family and friends were there to hear the message too. ‘Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.’ They were eager and reverent listeners!

Are we people who listen? Do we know how to come expectantly into the presence of God? Do we sense when God wants to talk to us? We all need to ask ourselves these questions. Cornelius’ story teaches us to pray, to be quick to obey when God gives a command and to be teachable – to be humble.

But the part that thrills me most in this story is, although we may do all we can to follow God, He is also involved in our lives and doesn’t leave us to struggle on by ourselves. Cornelius was following God with all his heart, but to move forward he needed God’s special word at this particular moment in his journey.

‘He (Peter) will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved’ (Acts 11:14). This message was a matter of life or death for Cornelius. He recognized it and God rewarded his obedience. ‘While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message’ (Acts 10:44).

Are you taking time to listen carefully to all that God wants to say to you?

Prayer: Father, I thank You that being a Christian means walking with You. It’s not just me trying to follow You, but You ‘follow’ my progress too. Lord, would You please help me to recognize Your presence and Your voice. Would You help me to pray and expect You to answer? I love You Father! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sarah - Inspiring NEW Book

Give Thanks – and Speak It Out!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 107:1-2, NIV
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.

I recently saw a most amazing piece of video, taken in one of the game parks of South Africa. A young buffalo was attacked by a pride of lions on the edge of a watering hole. The lions were about to drag the baby buffalo away for a good meal when suddenly, out of the water, sprung a huge crocodile, which grabbed the other end of the baby buffalo! At this point the traumatised baby was being pulled in two directions – by a lion that had it by the head and by a crocodile which had its rear end! It looked an impossible situation for the young buffalo. It was either going to be food for a crocodile or food for the lions.

But suddenly a whole herd of buffalo appeared on the edge of the watering hole. The emergency signal had gone out and the whole herd came at a gallop to rescue one of their own. To see a large lion being tossed into the air on the horns of a buffalo was an amazing sight. The crocodile lost its grip and slid back into the water and the young buffalo gave itself a shake and went off shielded on all sides by the herd. It was a totally extraordinary rescue act in what seemed an impossible situation!

As I watched that video I suddenly saw myself as that young buffalo, being targeted by all the powers of darkness who were wanting to pull me in all sorts of directions and rob me of my destiny, even my very life. Then over the horizon I saw my Redeemer, surrounded by the hosts of Heaven come to my rescue. He tossed the enemy (the roaring lion of 1 Peter 5:8) aside as if it was powerless, and all the powers of darkness fled before Him and I found myself being comforted by the angels as I walked away from the scene. I had been redeemed!

And I sure wanted to tell everyone what my Redeemer had done for me. I wanted to shout it out that the roaring lion had been defeated by the Lion of Judah and that ‘Leviathan, the gliding serpent, the monster of the sea (the crocodile)’ (Isaiah 27:1) had been defeated by my God. And that He had redeemed me out of the jaws of death. Yes, ‘let the redeemed of the Lord say so’ – let’s not be shy about celebrating the most amazing deliverance in the history of the world, when the Lord rose in triumph, victorious over death and all the powers of darkness.

Prayer: Thank You so much, Jesus, that You are my Redeemer - the one who rescued me from all the powers of darkness, from the roaring lions and from the leviathans that would want to attack me. I am SO grateful and want to tell the world what You have done for me. Amen.

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Not Optional but Invitational

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Jeremiah 33:3, NASB
Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

When we buy a new car we get an owner’s manual. The Bible has often been called an owner’s manual for life. We might think that if we follow the instructions in the owner’s manual we can get God to perform the way we wish. It is quite the other way around. God is our Father by adoption through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:5) and as Father, He has behavioural criteria for us. The Bible is a manual for how we should behave if we want our relationship with God to function well. If things aren’t as we like them to be in our life, perhaps we’ve been reading the Bible through a faulty belief system.

For example Jeremiah 33:3 says ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Do you see an “if” written before the word ‘call’? It’s not there! This is an imperative: a command. It’s not an optional extra in your faith walk. It doesn’t even say that you are to call out to Him with your problem or wishes. It just says, ‘Call to Me.’

Were you thinking that you must only call out to God when you’re beyond your abilities and your flesh can’t rescue you? How far this is from the truth! He has things that He wants to say to us but often we’re not ready to listen. We’re so full of the world, our own problems, goals and expectations about life and even about how God should be or how He should treat us. But He’s waiting for you to call to Him and say you’re ready to listen to Him. Do you love Him? Jesus says that those who love Him obey His commandments.

God wants to talk to you. He waits to share things that are beyond your reach - things that are beyond your intellect, experience, learning or even Scripture reading. There are things that you can’t unlock for yourself from the Bible. So, how can you neglect this command and say that you love Him? Do you think that this isn’t for you or that He’s only there in your time of need – and only if He’s not busy solving other problems? Take some time and call unto Him. He’s waiting just for you. He wants to talk to you and to bless you.

Prayer: Lord, I am calling upon You now. Show me the things You want me to know today. Expand my relationship with You. Forgive me for only calling upon You in times of trouble. I want to talk with You regularly about everything. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Sarah - Exciting NEW Book

Hidden Faults

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 51:6, NIV
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts...

When a Central Heating boiler breaks down it’s inconvenient at the best of times. When it breaks down in October in the North East of Scotland and there are a group of International leaders about to arrive and stay for a week, something has to be done fairly quickly! This was the situation at Blairmore House a few weeks ago.

An engineer came and quite quickly identified what he considered to be the problem. He was able to replace the two components which were ‘burnt out’ and had the boiler running again, much to our relief. Imagine our dismay when within twelve hours we were once again aware of an unwelcome chill around the building. Yes, the boiler had failed again and some of the guests had already started to arrive!

It was now the weekend and the engineer who answered our call on this occasion proceeded to do a thorough investigation of the origin of the problem. This involved accessing parts deep inside the internal workings of the boiler. Eventually he found that the small electrodes which produce the spark to ignite the fuel were broken and not able to produce the spark as and where it should be. Having found the problem he was soon able to rectify it and have the boiler up and running again. Thankfulness all around!

As with so much in the physical world around us, there are many every day parables for us to learn from if only we have ears and eyes open to what God wants to say to us through them.

In the case of this boiler, just replacing the peripheral components was not sufficient for a long term solution to the problem. The root of the problem was much deeper and had to be dealt with for the efficient operation of the boiler so that it could bring blessing in the form of heat and comfort to others.

We can be so much like that first engineer and only deal with the ‘surface issues’ instead of allowing the Holy Spirit, the heavenly engineer, to take us to the real source of the problem and help us put it right.

Prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Under A Rest

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Exodus 20:8, NASB
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

Have you been arrested by God, or are you still rushing about madly trying to get everything done? Some time ago God got my and my wife’s (Sharon) attention about taking one day in seven as a rest day – a Sabbath, Exodus 20: 8-11. As we adjusted our lives to less work time we discovered we could get more done. But then He brought dramatic confirmation to us.

One of our dear friends had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was scheduled for surgery in two days time when we heard about it. Sharon had just returned from the UK where she had attended a course on Keys to Cancer in which Peter Horrobin had emphasized obedience to the Ten Commandments.

We went to see our friend with the simple plan of praying through the commandments. When we got to the fourth one, taking a Sabbath rest, she struggled incredibly since she had an invalid child and needed to be on duty every day. Finally she succumbed to God, being willing to live differently. A mighty deliverance took place as she put this part of her life in order.

None of the other commandments we prayed through seemed to touch her life as that one had. That was Saturday. On Monday she went to the hospital for the operation that would have removed her breast. But, before the operation she asked the doctor to x-ray once more where the tumour had been. It was gone. Just to be sure, they operated and removed some lymph glands which were sent out for biopsy. There was no cancer. The disbelieving doctor sent the sample back a second time with the same results.

So, are you arguing with God about not having enough time? Is that the cancer eating up your life? Hopefully you won’t neglect this commandment that God will restore your life and protect your body. In Psalm 95:10-11 and in Numbers 15:32-39 there is a connection made between those who follow after their own hearts, not knowing God’s ways, disobedience, and not entering His rest (see also Hebrews 3:18, 4:11). God is real; His commandments are real. It can be a matter of life and death if followed.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me see where I have not entered into Your rest, by making flesh my strength. I have continued to use my time in “productive” ways when You said that one in seven days is for rest. Please forgive me for transgressing Your commandments. It has seemed that there is not enough week for all the things that I have to do. Help me to step back onto the pathway, your plan for my life. I will actively make changes to put my life in order. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Do Not Worry

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 6:25, NASB
For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life..

The cares of this world are many and we can easily find ourselves under their pressure, anxious, unhappy and unsatisfied. We begin to ask, “Where is God in all of this?” I thought God is love, but He doesn’t seem to be loving me. Why hasn’t He rescued me, after all, I am a Christian. I tithe, go to church, read the Bible, and pray.

But, have we obeyed God? That’s the question. Believing God is not enough! Jesus said, ‘He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him’ (John 14:21).

Are you anxious and worrying and not hearing from God about what you should be doing? Are you operating in your own understanding without direct guidance from God? It could be that you are missing obedience to some of His commandments. Here are two direct imperatives, commandments that aren’t optional extras: ‘Do not worry’; and ‘Seek first the kingdom of God.’ These commandments are both contained in the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25 -34. Jesus tells us that the Father knows we need food, drink and clothing and He will provide these things for us if we seek His kingdom and stop being anxious.

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Glorious Liberty

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Romans 8:19-21, LB
For all creation is waiting patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect his children. On that day thorns and thistles, sin, death and decay – the things that overcame the world against its will at God’s command – will disappear, and the world around us will share in the glorious freedom from sin which God’s children enjoy.

Sometimes it’s hard to live in a spiritual Kingdom at the same time as being a human being! Jesus was able to do this for He knew who He was in this world. He was ‘very God’ and ‘very Man’. He prayed for us for to be ‘in’ the world but not ‘of’ the world, but that we would be kept safe and set apart for himself (John 17).

The Lord is touched with the feelings of our weaknesses and has given us His Holy Spirit to bring us through the barriers of our humanity into the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s like an astronaut breaking out of earth’s gravity into the star-filled universe.

When we’re born again of the Spirit, Scripture says that we’ve been ‘translated from the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son’ (Colossians 1:13). When we have that relationship with our Maker it doesn’t make us any less human but gives abundant fulfilment of life, not only in the spirit, but in every way as a human being. This was God’s plan and order for our lives. There’s a wonderful freedom being in Christ Jesus.

A pastor wanted to occupy his little son, while he was busy in his office. He found a newspaper with a map of the world on it, and quickly cut it into pieces and gave them to his son to re-assemble, thinking that would occupy him for some time. Ten minutes later, he returned with it complete. His father asked how he’d finished it so quickly. The little boy said that he’d found a picture of a man on the back, and when he put the man back together, the world came together.

When God puts us back together, spirit, soul and body, we become the people that He created us to be.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the wonderful freedom that You’ve given us. May we choose to love and serve You in the place where we are to day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Shepherd Love - Book by Pam Smith

Take Time to Worship

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 95:6, NKJ
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

There are times when we seem to have no time left at all. There is so much to do, that has to be done, even in the Lord’s work. So many people seem to be relying on us and yet, in the midst of our earnest, physical activity, the Lord wants us to recognise that He’s so near to us.

When you are ‘in Christ’ there should be little difference between the spiritual and the secular. They should be as one. All of life can be God-related whatever we are doing - as is seen in much of the Hebrew culture. During the ‘Healing Through Creativity’ course, we encourage people to let their activity involve their spirits; even to let their hands pray as they are making something. Often healing comes through expressing outwardly, something that is going on inside of you. When you are creating something, you may be surprised to find the Lord enters into what you are doing, for He is the Creator, and we’re made in His image.

As we come to pray that’s the very time to worship. Let’s not come with a list of needs before we enter that moment of worship. For the Lord inhabits the praises of His people. Often the answer to our prayers is there, in His powerful presence. Let’s ask ourselves when was the last time we really connected with the Father’s heart and touched heaven?

The result of taking time to worship will be that His peace that passes understanding, His heavenly wisdom, and His unquenchable love will pour over you. So take time to look up and worship the Lord in your activity and time will stand still for you in that moment.

Prayer: Lord, I want to worship You with all that I am, that Your will, may be done in my life, on earth, as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Shepherd Love - Book by Pam Smith

Is it Time to Get Moving?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Deuteronomy 1:6 and 8, NIV
The Lord your God said to us at Horeb, You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites” ... See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession.’

I was once given some wise advice – stay where you are until the Lord moves you on. But when He pushes, get moving! The fact is, if we stay put when the Lord has said Move, we will always miss out on God’s best for us.

The time had come for Moses to move on in his extraordinary pilgrimage through the desert with two million Israelites – God had a purpose, great blessing and a destination for them. Sadly, they all missed the blessing by refusing to do what God had said. As a result they spent forty years wandering through the desert wilderness before they reached their destination.

I will never forget talking with an elderly man, who told me all the times that God had spoken to him about leaving his business job and responding to the call on his life to be a missionary. It was a very sad tale. For as he told me the story I was thinking about all the things he could have done for the Lord, had he been obedient - and all the eternal rewards he had missed out on, by staying put when God had said move. His ‘desert pilgrimage’ had also been forty years, and a bit more.

I often think about that man and I pray now, that as you read this short devotional today, you will take the opportunity to make sure you are in the place of God’s calling and appointing, or whether this might be a time when God is saying to you ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain . . .’ It’s great to stay put if God has said this is your place. It’s just as great to move on when he says "move". If God is encouraging you to move, pray for the wisdom of God so that you will be sure to end up at the right destination – in God’s timing and not yours.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that you love me enough to give me a push when I need to move on. Help me to always be listening for your gentle voice so that I can know from you what it is you want me to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Healing Through Deliverance - Book by Peter Horrobin

Disturbing the Peace

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 26:3, 4, NLT
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

We have a 10 month old Golden Retriever puppy called Sadie. Sadie is the sweetest tempered dog you could ever meet, but for amateur naive dog owners, like Andy and I, she continues to present us with her challenges.

With the help of our trusty ‘Golden Retrievers for Dummies’ book we have weathered most challenges (the chewing of Isaac's limbs, and digging excavations; to name just a few). However! There is one trait that is proving slightly tedious to us and, quite probably, to all neighbours within a few mile radius of our previously peaceful, countryside community. Sadie's backyard barking!

Whenever Sadie is let loose in our fenced back yard she turns from the pleasant, sweet tempered pup that we all love, into what sounds like a rottweiler from hell. The poor goat that lives in our neighbours’ garden gets the worst affront of Sadie's barking, but she isn't too picky who or what she barks at - the neighbours' children, squirrels, passing trains, school buses! The only thing that will stop Sadie from barking is when Andy or I walk outside and shout ‘SADIE STOP BARKING! BE QUIET!’ She will stop straight away, look incredibly sheepish and plod about her business of trying to destroy every planted shrub we possess.

Isn't this similar to the peace-disturbing barks we hear from the enemy in our hearts? How often are you simply trying to go about your day, walking with the Lord, and there the enemy is barking some accusation or insecurity into your heart. His barks are so familiar, always full of accusation, negativity and fear. Reminding us of our failings and weaknesses, scaring us with the unknowns, replaying hurtful words and wounds in our lives (that we thought were dealt with ). Bark... Bark... Bark... until it is all we can hear, niggling relentless around our hearts. Robbing us of the peace and security we have in the One who holds our lives securely in His hands.

Whatever tactic he uses, Satan's plan is always to take our eyes off Jesus. When we listen, and entertain his lies, not only do we temporarily lose the peace and safety God has available for us, but we find our eyes so fixed on ourselves that we fail to walk in the paths our Heavenly Father has laid out for us.

So, next time the enemy is barking his accusations , negativity and fear into your heart, I would encourage you to recognise it for what it is, and tell him to STOP! Use Scripture to remind him of the truth of who you are in Christ and just who your Heavenly Father is. Fix your thoughts firmly on Him and put a stop to anything disturbing your precious perfect peace.

Prayer:

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Our Great Inheritance

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV
In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.

My mother died recently, but before she went she told each of us about the things she wanted us to have from her belongings. These things were earmarked for us, and her hope was that we would use them and enjoy the inheritance she had left for us.

These verses in Peter’s letter tell us that in a similar way, once we are adopted into His family, God promises each of us an inheritance. Unlike earthly goods, this inheritance can never perish, spoil or fade. It’s not vulnerable to fire, theft or fluctuating financial markets! But just as I had to claim and collect the items left to me by my mother, we each need to come to God to receive what He has promised us, and we need to use and enjoy the benefits of each aspect.

Our inheritance in Him includes eternal life, forgiveness of sin, abundant life now, health, healing, provision, security, unconditional love and acceptance, and so much more, but most of us are not living in the benefit of all that has been promised.

Romans 8:17 tells us that as God’s children we are “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” The fullness of our inheritance may not be manifest until we go to be with the Lord, but as heirs of the King of Kings we should be living extra-ordinary lives now in the knowledge of who our Father is and what He has promised us! Are we? Why not come to Him today and start to live in more of the benefits of your inheritance now?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that as Your child You have promised me an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. Forgive me for ignoring aspects of my inheritance. Please help me to live in the benefit of all that You have promised me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Living in the Promises - Teaching CD

The glory of the LORD

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
2 Chronicles 7:3, NKJV
When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshipped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”

King Solomon spent seven years having a temple built for the purpose of worshipping God. It was to be the place where God was pleased to dwell amongst His people, although Solomon was perfectly well aware that God is so vast and mighty that He would not be confined to any one space such as a building made with human hands. It was a grand and magnificent day when the ark of the covenant of the LORD was brought from the city of David, with all its holy furnishings, to be put in the Most Holy Place within the new temple. Would God really come in a tangible way in this new temple?

King Solomon chose the right time of the year. It was Succot, the festival of tabernacles or shelters. This was the annual time for the Israelites to remember how God was with them throughout the time they were in the desert for 40 years.

King Solomon knew what his responsibility as a leader was. He made sure everyone could see him up on a platform and then he knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven and prayed. We have all the details of his prayer. He prayed on behalf of all the people. When he finished praying fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple (2 Chronicles 7:1). Everyone fell to the floor in worship. There were no sceptics or unbelievers in the meeting that day.

This was what the temple was for. No wonder Jesus was angry that the temple could be defiled and become a place of trading and not a house of prayer. God comes with His manifest presence when He is welcomed and invited on His terms. It was His idea to come and dwell with His people in the first place. He initiated it.

How much do we long for the manifest presence of God? Are we prepared to find out what God requires of us in preparation?

Prayer: Lord, we pray that we will be hungry and thirsty for Your presence in our gatherings. We pray that You will show us how to invite You and make You welcome. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Christmas Past to Christmas Future - Teaching CD by Peter Horrobin

Favour with God, Favour with Men

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Luke 2:52, NIV
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.

Jesus’ aim in life was to please God, and to do His will was His main objective. He once said 'my food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish His work’ (John 4:34).Though there was every chance for Him to be recognized and become famous, He humbled Himself. But in every way He also had favour with men, not because He pleased them but because he was doing God’s will and God gave Him favour and authority to confront evil.

In the world today there is a big appetite for wealth and fame. The TV programmes are mostly focused on fame and money. The world is becoming a field of competition and now many people’s focus is how to get in the media and be famous. There’s a great chance of us being deceived by what’s happening in the world and by having an envy of the world’s ways.

The only way that God wants us to live is to live to please Him, and not men, and in turn we will find favour with men. Then we can have authority and be able to stand against the evil things that are happening in our society .

Many people sought to please God and God gave them favour. Daniel refused to heed the command to cease to pray, and through this the entire nation was changed. Other examples are Esther who went before the king and Nehemiah.

Seek to please God in all you do then He will grant you favour with men and His blessing will be upon you like it was with these servants of God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I have desired to please men instead of pleasing You. Help me to live to please You in all I do. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

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God’s Secret Garden

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Song of Solomon 4:12, LB
A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse. A spring shut up. A fountain sealed.

A secret garden is so exciting, where there is a hidden spring ready to be uncovered or a beautiful fountain ready to be revealed and wonderful fruit to be gathered.

Our Beloved Saviour longs to be invited into the garden of our hearts – His secret garden.

He loves the fruit He’s nurtured in our hearts and wants to enjoy the good things He’s grown in our lives. Just like those of you who are experienced gardeners, He likes to look for the blossoms and the buds of the new fruit He’s pruned and tended. He likes to enjoy the things He’s restored in us, walking and talking with us, as He did with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Sometimes the Lord says, ‘Open to Me, My Beloved sister – brother. I want to drink from the well of your love that I have filled. I want to taste the fruit I’ve grown in you. I want to experience the fragrance of your worship. I want to enjoy your presence and share a meal with you’.

Jesus was always sharing a meal with people. It was when He was sharing supper, in the breaking of the bread, with the two disciples He met on the road to Emmaus that they recognised He was the risen Lord. It was while He was preparing breakfast on the sea shore for Peter that Jesus restored the failure in Peter’s life. Jesus knocks on the door of His Church asking to be invited in to share a meal (Revelation 3:20). Many of us want to know what Jesus can do for us, not realising that Jesus wants to enjoy spending time with us!

My life must be Christ’s broken bread, my love his outpoured wine, a cup o’er-filled, a table spread beneath His name and sign, that other souls, refreshed and fed, may taste His life through mine.

Albert Osborne

Prayer: Yes, Lord, I open myself to You. I want to share in a meal with You and to recognise Your wonderful presence in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Stronger Than Ever

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
1 Peter 5:10, LB
He personally will come and pick you up, and set you firmly in place and make you stronger than ever.

Have you ever failed in something and felt like rubbish in your own eyes? I really want to encourage you to think again. God does not see you as a failure. He wants to use whatever has happened to make you a stronger person.

When a child who is learning to walk falls down, his mum will come and pick him up, steady him in his place, and start him off again on his walk in a safe direction. Each time he falls he gets stronger in his determination and, with her encouragement, he carries on. His mum doesn’t see him as a failure but delights in him.

‘The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. If they fall it isn’t fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand’ (Psalm 37:23, LB). So I want to encourage you. The Lord is holding you and delights in you as you take that next step with Him. He’s willing to forgive you when you fall and steady you. His mercy is new every morning and you can start this new day with Him.

When we fail, we tend to look back and remember all the times we’ve let God down. But God, in His grace, chooses not to remember the past but to give us a new start - a clean page. ‘There is, therefore, now, no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus’. Read the wonderful context in which this was written in Romans Chapter 8.

Even if you feel you have let someone down, God can put even the most badly broken of things back together again. He can restore our failures as He did with Peter, after Peter had denied Him. He can restore relationships in ways that we would never have thought possible. He can make you stronger than ever before, and even enable you to help someone else who’s struggling. So let Him do it. Let Him make you smile again.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy and forgiveness. Thank You that I can always start afresh with You and You can make all things new in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Broken but Loved

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 34:18, NIV
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I once knew a man who always had eyes for those who were hurting. He would look out for people who were the ‘underdogs’ of life. People who had little going for them in life and who had few natural advantages. He would come alongside them and make friends.

God had shown him that his mission in life was to be a friend to the people who had no friends, especially young people with their lives before them. The Lord showed him how to be generous to those who had very little of their own resources and to understand that these young people were just as precious to the Lord as the high achievers, who had got it all together and knew where they were going.

Many of those young people were rescued from a life of rejection and inner pain, by a man who believed in them and simply loved them into life. Where did he get such love from?

There is only one possible source – the God who inspired the Psalmist to write the words of our text, was also at the centre of this man’s life. Jesus may not at this time be walking this Earth physically, but He is, in and through the lives of those who truly love Him. For if we really do love the Lord, then we will also really love those who, for whatever reason, are disadvantaged. Annie Flint’s poem sums this up so well:

Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today

He has no feet but our feet to lead men in the way

He has no tongue but our tongue to tell men how He died

He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.

So when you read in the Word of God passages like this, about God being close to the brokenhearted, you can certainly rejoice, but don’t forget that God may be asking you to be God with flesh on and show the world what God is really like!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You care about every single human being, and that all are equally precious to You. Forgive me for not being ‘God with skin on’ for some of the people I’ve met. Open my eyes to see people with your eyes and Your understanding and respond to them with Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Called, and responding

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
1 Peter 2:9, NIV
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

During a recent reading of God’s call to Jonah, and how he chose to go in the opposite direction (Jonah 1:1-3), I was reminded of the time when an evangelist asked if I would take up his role and release him to retirement.

During the summer vacation there would be a week spent helping with beach and village mission work. But the evangelist felt he was getting too old for that kind of work, and recognised the need for a younger person to take his place. His question came so unexpectedly that my immediate response was to question, "Is this man, or is it God calling me?"

After declining the invitation, there followed many years of heart searching. "Has God’s call been rejected? Have I been disobedient and grieved the Holy Spirit" etc? So I prayed, "Lord, if I was wrong, please forgive me. Show me clearly and I will go wherever You send me and do whatever You tell me to do". Later events showed me that this was God’s way of waking me up to the fact that He was preparing me to hear His call into a new dimension of service for Him.

When, eventually, God did call, there was the immediate thought, "surely, He’s got the wrong person". It took twelve church elders to confirm and assure me that it really was God calling. Then, on becoming obedient to that call, it was the beginning of a far deeper experience of the power of God at work than had even been considered possible.

How many times could it be said that we are like Jonah when God calls us? Where, for a variety of reasons we are unwilling to trust and obey Him. In the process of our disobedience we miss the experience of seeing Him do amazing things in grace as He reaches out to touch others in some special way.

We know how, in grace, God saved Jonah from drowning in order that he might fulfil the call on his life to speak to the people of Nineveh to save them from God’s judgment. How many people might God be longing to speak His grace to, if only they are willing to respond to His call and put aside their personal preferences?

Reflect on the words of the verse above, and consider what God might be calling you to do for Him.

Prayer: O Lord God, forgive me for the times I may have heard you calling without recognising that it was You. Please sharpen my hearing and help me to recognise Your voice as different from other voices so that I may be obedient to what You are saying, I pray. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Carried in loving arms

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 43:1b – 3a, NIV
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour"

In situations beyond our control, and when all else seems to be failing and there is little hope of coming through, this is where God’s faithfulness to His promises can really become our experience.

After being discharged from hospital following an operation, things began to go seriously wrong. Within a few days, and having been re-admitted to hospital, doctors and nurses were unable to discover the problem causing me to sink so low.

On the day the nurses were expecting me to die, my wife read these words to me and prayed for me. She gave me to the LORD who had the power to heal and the authority to take me to Himself. When she left me, she expected there would be an emergency operation to ascertain what was wrong. That did not happen, but after examining me a few times, the surgeons recognised something was happening which they could not explain. They postponed the operation to the next day. Two and a half-hours after my wife had prayed for me, I walked to the telephone to tell my family that "visiting time is back to normal".

The following morning, and reading those same verses, I was struck by what follows in verse 4; "Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you". The impact of those words brought tears of joy and absolute wonder. God had been there all the time, carrying me through that difficult experience. Hallelujah!

When we go through difficult situations beyond our control, and are unaware of His presence, God IS there to support us and carry us through.

Prayer: Thank You Lord, that in difficult situations, I can experience the fulfilment of the promises of Your Word. Please forgive me for the times I worry about situations beyond my control, and help me to rest in peace knowing that You are faithful to Your promises because You love me so much. Amen.

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Anger

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Ephesians 4: 26 Amp
When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperations, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.

I was putting food out for the birds this morning, when there was suddenly an angry chorus of twittering in the hedge – sparrows again! They are social birds, liking to nest close to one another, but they often seem to have furious arguments which are then over as quickly as they begin.

It would be good if we could settle our differences as quickly as the sparrows! We are often told that “Christians shouldn’t be angry”, but we all feel angry sometimes, and even Jesus expressed anger on occasions when He saw injustices occurring (Matthew 23: 22 – 27, John 2: 14 - 16).

It’s not wrong to feel angry, but how should we behave? One man, who had been in business for many years, said that he and his colleagues sometimes differed sharply on certain matters and they had an argument which was then quickly settled – like the sparrows – but that sometimes in Christian gatherings, the differences had been just as sharp, but because people felt their anger shouldn’t be expressed, it was all bottled up and seethed away for months, causing resentment and broken relationships.

We need to learn how to deal with our anger – by forgiving those who hurt us, or with whom we disagree, and then letting the matter rest with Jesus. Easy to say, difficult to do, but we need to take a lesson from the sparrows and not allow our anger to fester.

Prayer: Dear Father God, please forgive me that I get angry sometimes, not always justifiably. I pray that You will encourage me to deal with the anger as quickly as possible and release the after effects to Jesus. In His precious Name I ask it, Amen.

Anger, How Do you Handle It - Book by Paul and Liz Griffin

Troubled Hearts

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
John 14:1, NIV
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

I was visiting a certain country recently, to encourage a pastor friend, and teach some of the truths which are foundational to Ellel Ministries. In the course of my conversations, the pastor expressed concerns about the future, due to financial pressures now requiring him to pay a substantial rent for the buildings his church meets in. At the end of our talks, he said that the only way ahead was to trust God to provide the impossible amount of money needed.

The following day I was travelling with a group from the church in a minibus at what to me seemed lethal speeds. Sitting in the front seat and seeing the oncoming traffic heading straight for you at a speed of 170 kilometres per hour when you are also travelling at that speed tends to generate a bit of stress! There was nothing I could do, especially as the driver didn’t speak English and my grasp of his language was not extensive. After a while I remembered my pastor friend’s comments about trusting God, and amazingly found myself able to relax and enjoy the journey – most of the time.

There are often experiences in life which are beyond our control and can cause us anxiety. The courses we run on stress and anxiety are always well-attended because this problem is a common problem for Christians, just as much as it is for the rest of the human population. However, we would do well to start with remembering that Jesus advised his disciples not to be troubled but to trust.

The more we get to know God, the more we shall be able to trust Him in our times of anxiety. There may be issues which make trust a problem for us, and these can be addressed in prayer ministry, but instead of getting anxious it is better to use our energies on praying for God’s safe-keeping. I would rather trust God than the skill of ungodly drivers anyday!

Prayer: Help me, Lord, when I’m in situations that I can’t control, to trust you to be in control of my life. Thank you that my destiny is in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Jealousy

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Galatians 5:26, NIV
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

I would rather admit to being angry than jealous, would you? It's quite easy to feel jealous, but hard to admit it, because it can feel like an embarrassing fault to have. Perhaps it’s easier to call it resentment.

What’s at the root of jealousy? I think the basic root is lack. Suppose you are jealous of someone who has a bigger house than you, or a better job or car. You come to Jesus with that pain inside you, confess the jealousy which you feel and ask Him “why do I feel like this?” Perhaps He might show you that you have a deep need to feel that you are someone of value. That’s a genuine need, which God Himself longs to meet.

In the same way, perhaps He might show you that your feelings of jealousy over someone else's loving family or happy wedding is rooted in a deep need to feel secure and loved and chosen. We need to acknowledge these longings inside, and that we can’t fix them for ourselves. All we can do is come to our loving Father with all our neediness and say “help”.

The other root of jealousy can be conceit, as our verse says. If I think that I am better than you, then I may envy you and become harsh in my thoughts or words about you, when I see you being honoured above me. This is sinful and like all sin, we just have to bring it to the cross for forgiveness and cleansing, which is given freely. Then look for the lack which led to that sin developing. Perhaps it comes from a deep need to find significance, to be somebody. God will show you.

The ultimate truth is this- God Himself loves you. What more can be said about your significance? Or your security and value? Think about it. It says it all, doesn't it?

Prayer: Father, I acknowledge that I do feel resentful sometimes, and maybe I should admit that it’s jealousy. I'm sorry. Please show me the place of need or emptiness which is at the root of what I'm feeling. I would like to know the depth of love You have for me. Heal me with Your loving acceptance as I open these deep places for Your eyes to see. Through Jesus my Saviour. Amen.

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Persevere in Service

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Luke 8:15, NIV
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

I recently tore my calf muscle whilst playing squash, and although the natural healing of my body had kicked in, getting out of bed in the morning and hobbling around all day at work had suddenly become a very painful and slow process.

I was feeling a little sorry for myself one morning and the thought of staying at home for a week or two, taking it easy, and just waiting for the injury to right itself seemed very attractive to me. But, as I read the familiar words of the parable of the sower, I was suddenly struck by this verse ‘But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.’

Sometimes we need to persevere in our service of Christ, even through difficult and painful circumstances, such as the loss of a loved one or a major disappointment. For me walking around, or even standing on my leg, had become a painful activity. Later that day the doctor confirmed that I needed to persevere in using my leg, and, although painful, this would aid the healing process. Not a welcome message, but it did confirm what God had said to me!

Maybe you, like me, are facing something that is causing you physical or emotional pain and you need God’s help to cope with it. Then let me encourage you that He will never leave you or forsake you. He understands what you’re going through and He will walk each step of the way with you, if you’re willing to invite Him to. Indeed, as this verse says, by persevering in our service of Christ, we will please Him and produce a good crop.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank You that You understand all the circumstances of my life, my sorrow and pain as well as my joy. I invite You to take my hand and walk with me each day. Please bring Your comfort and healing and help me to serve you faithfully all the days of my life. Amen.

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The Blessing of a Godly Rebuke

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Proverbs 15:31-32, NIV
He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

Some of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned came through making mistakes. I had parents who loved me enough to rebuke and correct me when I got things wrong – especially when I had done something deliberately, knowing it was wrong! I never felt as though I was being punished unfairly when I was ‘told off’ in love. While I didn’t like the experience, I knew it was just and fair and for my own good.

Once, however, at school, I was punished for something I hadn’t done and I felt the deep pain of injustice on the inside. There was nothing I could do to prove my innocence and I had to take my punishment – a compulsory cross-country run, followed by a prefect on a bicycle! But even today, although the person who punished me unfairly has long been forgiven, I can still sense the feelings of injustice I had at the time.

Correct and fair discipline is good for us. We can learn so much through the experience of being rightly corrected. I fear that in our very liberal society, we are growing a generation of children who will not have the privilege of becoming wise through loving rebuke. We are sowing a wind, and in time we will reap a whirlwind of consequence.

God is the very best of fathers. He knows when we need encouragement and also when we need the rebuke of love. He doesn’t want us to miss out on learning the vital lessons of life – and even when He rebukes us, it is a form of encouragement! There may be times when He uses the events of life to bring His discipline into our circumstances. When that happens, let’s not rebel against His love, but thank Him that He really cares for us and carefully note the lesson He has been teaching us, so that the discipline will contribute to our growing in maturity.

Prayer: Thank you Father God, that You love me enough to bring correction into my life when I need it. Help me always to remember the lessons You teach me in love, so that I may grow up into the maturity of really knowing and serving You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Arise and Build - Teaching DVD by Peter Horrobin

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Reputation or Character

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Romans 5:3-5, NIV
Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

I have recently been reading through the book of Proverbs. I realised how, over the years, I have taken many of the proverbs as promises. However, the proverbs are not promises. They are words of wisdom. Many of them are truths about human behaviour and clearly show the principle of sowing and reaping. In essence the proverbs are instructions as to how we should live, given in the form of commands.

Many of the proverbs speak of the importance of character that is esteemed far above reputation. On our daily news we hear of prominent people who, through corrupt behaviour or slanderous statements about them, have lost their reputation. In the eyes of others they have fallen from grace and not lived up to their reputation.

We all have a reputation – it’s what other people think of us – what we appear to be to them. Some people work hard to defend their reputation and often create a false image of what they really are.

God’s not concerned with our reputation. He’s deeply concerned about our character. Character is what God knows us to be. Character doesn’t just happen. It develops out of daily choices as to how we live our lives - godly choices, that become a way of life, whether good or bad.

God sometimes chooses suffering to develop our character. The hard times prove what we really are on the inside. They develop perseverance as our eyes are on Jesus and not the circumstances engulfing us. Character can’t be divorced from endurance. It grows from a daily walk with God.

When we recognise that we’re accountable to God it shapes the decisions we make – character- forming decisions, relying on His faithfulness and the conscious daily knowledge that He’s always with us. Whether we feel it or we don’t feel it, His presence never leaves us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me to trust You today and every day. Whatever others may think of me, You know me as I am. Help me to make daily choices that honour You so that pleasing and honouring You becomes my way of life. Thank You for Your promise that You will never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Strangers no more

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Ephesians 2:19, NKJV
Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

Have you ever walked into a crowded room full of people who were total strangers to you? For some people this is a pleasant challenge. They think ‘Here’s an opportunity to make some new friends!’ But for many of us, it’s a situation of total fear and insecurity, and we feel completely alone even in such a crowd.

How wonderful it is then if we see a familiar face, someone who knows us, greets us and then starts to introduce us to all these other people. Suddenly we feel accepted and at ease. They’re no longer strangers to us, and we no longer feel like strangers among them.

God created us to have relationships - first of all with Him, and then with

other people. He said ‘It is not good for man to be alone’. This is why it’s so good to be in fellowship with other believers. God is not only the ’friend who introduces us’, He’s the Father who delights in seeing His family getting together and having a good time with Him and with each other.

But God is the Creator and Father of the whole human race, not just of Christian believers, and He can introduce us to all of His other children too. Satan tells us ‘these people are strangers’. But God, living in us by His Holy Spirit, takes away our fear and makes us a channel for His love and acceptance. Jean-Paul Sartre said that ‘hell is other people’ but God says that ‘our struggle is not against flesh and blood because other people are not the enemy. They too are our brothers and sisters, God knows and loves them all, and if we let Him, He will introduce them to us. He’s our ‘friend in the crowded room’ for the whole world.

Prayer: Loving Father, please forgive me for believing Satan's lies and for rejecting those who are strangers to me. They are my fellow human beings, made and loved by You. Please introduce us so that we can enjoy Your love together. I ask this in the name of Jesus who brought me back close to You .In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Doing things my way or God’s way

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 86:11, NIV
Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.

The ark, which symbolised the presence of God, was in the process of being moved to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 13). The oxen pulling the cart stumbled and Uzzah, one of David’s men, put his hand on the ark to steady it. As a result of his action he died, and the journey of the ark to Jerusalem was delayed. Why did such a terrible thing happen when Uzzah seemed to act out of instinct and unselfish motives? Why was God displeased?

Firstly, God had clearly said that not one of the holy things had to be touched (Numbers 4:15). However good Uzzah’s action seemed, and whatever his intention, he acted in disobedience. In times of crisis we too can be tempted to act on instinct and do what seems best to save the situation. However, our instinct and even our unselfish motives, may not be God’s way of saving the situation, and will not bring God’s ultimate blessing.

Secondly, did Uzzah think God needed a helping hand and that He could not protect Himself? Did Uzzah believe he had to keep his God from harm? It would have been a tragedy if the ark had fallen from the cart. To lose the ark would signify the loss of the presence of God to the Israelites. However, they forgot the greatness of their God. And so do we! How many times do we try to give God a helping hand to get things done our way? How often do we think that if we don’t feel the presence of God He’s not there? God shares His purposes with us, but He doesn’t need our help. His presence is always with His children. We don’t need to keep asking that we feel it. Rather we need to live day by day in the joy of His presence.

Thirdly, in the moving of the ark, God’s will had not been sought. Looking back on the event David knew the reason for the disaster, “We did not enquire of Him (the Lord our God) about how to do it in the prescribed way” (1 Chronicles 15:13). The ark did arrive safely in Jerusalem, but the second half of the journey was done God’s way. God’s way is always the best. We need to seek it. This pre-supposes the willingness to obey. Obeying God is freedom. It delivers us from the slavery of relying on assumptions, good instincts and good works even in crisis situations.

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How Firm is Your Anchor?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Hebrews 6:19, NIV
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Recently my husband and I spent a few days in Devon where we were able to enjoy some wonderful coastal walks. We passed many little bays and river estuaries where yachts and small fishing boats were moored in the water. Each boat was secured to its mooring which in turn was firmly anchored in the sea bed. As the tide turned or the wind changed direction, the boats would turn to face into whatever was coming at them, and they would bob up and down on the surface of the waves, no matter how rough the sea became.

Seeing them made me think of the anchor that we have in Jesus Christ. When our lives are firmly anchored in Him, we can turn to face head on any storms that come our way, and we can also hold firm against every tide of opinion. No matter how rough the circumstances of our lives become, we will be able to ride waves of difficulty and adversity and not be overcome by them. Hope in Jesus Christ is an anchor that will never fail or disappoint us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), and He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

However, although Jesus has promised never to leave us, sometimes we stray from Him. We do this when we sin, or when we forget about Him and go our own way. Why not make sure that there is nothing that has caused you to wander away from Jesus today? Then you can be sure that you have an anchor that will hold you firm and secure whatever happens.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that hope in You is like having an anchor, firm and secure. Forgive me for the times I have wandered away from You and have not been anchored in You. Help me to hold firmly to You at all times. Amen.

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Chosen to bear fruit

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
John 15:16, NIV
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.

We have a young apple tree in our garden. During this month of October it’s an unusual sight. It has a crop of delicious eating apples and it’s also in blossom. I have asked one or two ‘experts’ if they know the reason for this. The best they can come up with is ‘climate change,’ but they’re not sure. None of them have heard of this phenomenon.

In July, I asked my husband if he would consider taking the tree out because it was growing bigger than we had anticipated when we planted it. To me it was a bit of a nuisance and was in the way. Instead of digging it up, he pruned, quite severely, the over-hanging branches that bore no fruit. The out-of-season blossom is growing at the points where the branches were pruned. I’m glad now the tree wasn’t dug up!

The tree is a picture of a human life. Some people have been treated as though they are a bit of a nuisance, in the way, and are fit for discarding. Consequently, they don’t feel their lives are very fruitful despite the fact that God sees them quite differently. He sees the true potential in every life. Every one of us is chosen to be fruitful.

The Bible says quite a bit about bearing fruit. Without exception we’re chosen to bear fruit. Bible pictures are often lessons on which we can base our lives. John chapter 15 is one such passage of Scripture. To become more fruitful, our lives have to be pruned. This means cutting away the things that hinder fruit bearing - the useless things that take up time and energy, as well as the sinful behavioural patterns that hinder our walk with the Lord Jesus. Pruning can be painful, but without it we will remain immature Christians, bearing little fruit. Some of the painful things we experience are often God’s way of pruning and cleansing us so that we can be more fruitful.

Fruitfulness results from remaining in Jesus. No branch can bear fruit unless it remains attached to the tree. We cannot bear fruit unless we stay attached to Jesus. By spending time with Jesus, we grow to be like Him. He desires daily dependence upon Him. He desires a daily commitment to following and obeying Him whatever the consequences. This inner fruitfulness precedes outward fruitfulness and leads to greater fruitfulness as we grow in love and faithfulness to Jesus our Lord.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that I have been chosen by You and my life has a purpose. I choose to remain in Jesus, and live my life for Him. Please show me if there are things that hinder me from being fruitful for You and give me the grace to be open and honest before You. I ask You to put the desire in my heart to grow in greater fruitfulness. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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From Obscurity to Glory

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
2 Sam 9:3, NIV
Now David said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?”

Life could have been so different for Mephibosheth, King Saul’s grandson, if only Saul had been obedient to God. As it was, Mephibosheth’s young life did not begin well, being hit by the triple tragedy of the death of his father Jonathan, and his grandfather Saul and being dropped by his nurse during their escape to safety, as a result of which Mephibosheth became lame in both feet.

Consequently, the young prince spent many years of his life being totally dependant on the help of others in less than princely circumstances. He could do nothing for himself. But, just when all seemed lost and Mephibosheth had all but given up hope…God intervened and rescued him.

The new King, David, remembered the covenant he had made with Jonathan to show the kindness to Jonathan’s descendants. Suddenly the king’s call came for Mephibosheth, and like a shaft of brilliant light, pierced his darkness. He was plucked from obscurity and hopelessness and seated in the king’s house where he ate at the king’s table for the rest of his life. What a transformation! The call of the king had made all the difference.

The great news is that the call of the King of Kings has done the same for you and me.

Mephibosheth had the choice – he could have politely refused King David’s invitation and allowed pride to keep him in poverty and obscurity – but he wasn’t about to miss the best offer he’d ever had in life!

Know today who you belong to! The King of Kings has prepared the best for you. No matter how bad your start in life, or whatever your circumstances are now, God is calling you by name, Jesus is the lifter of your head and through his sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary, and resurrection power, Jesus has made it possible for you to enjoy ALL the blessings he has in store for you. He loves you with an everlasting love and DELIGHTS in you!

Prayer: Dear Lord thank you for calling me by name and coming to my rescue. Thank you for your favour, love, life and hope. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Acceptance and Belonging 1 - Teaching CD

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Small in Size, Big in Influence!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
James 3:3-4, NIV
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

James is using these two powerful illustrations about a horse and a ship, as a parable to speak to us about how potentially dangerous a very small member of the body – the tongue – can actually be. On the rare occasions that I have ridden a horse, I found that I could, indeed, direct the horse with just a gentle pull on the reins. And on the even rarer occasions when I’ve visited the bridge of a ship, I have been amazed at just how easily someone could turn the wheel, which controlled the rudder, and which then changed the direction of a huge vessel.

James tells us that the tongue has the potential to be like a spark starting a forest fire, or to corrupt the way of life of a person so badly, that it is like hell fire, or full of deadly poison. What a reputation the tongue had in James’ estimation. I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of saying the wrong things on occasions and wishing we could take back the words we have said. But that’s one thing we can never do.

Was James over-reacting? For surely the tongue can be a source of great blessing as well? Of course it can and if I were to stop and think for a moment I could remember many wonderful moments when people spoke things into my life or teachings that I had heard, or words of encouragement and love, such as from my Mum or my Dad. But I can also think of times when people said very cruel and uncalled for things and caused much damage and pain.

But let’s not blame the tongue for what the mouth speaks. In reality the tongue is a neutral, physical part of the body! All the tongue does is express the thoughts that we have in our mind. The mouth speaks what the heart is full. So it’s what’s in the heart that really matters – if we guard the mind from thinking evil thoughts, then the tongue won’t speak evil things.

Perhaps we would all do well to speak less and listen more – so that, when we do speak, the tongue will not be in danger of letting us down by saying ungodly or untruthful or unkind things. Perhaps, also, we should consciously be praying that the Holy Spirit will fill our mouth with good things so that the words we speak will always be a blessing and an encouragement to others. We do not want to be guilty of starting fires with wrong words or of steering the ship of our lives onto ‘the rocks’, so that our vessel will be wrecked.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the power of speech and for the wonderful way you gave us to be able to communicate with each other. But Lord, I want to confess, there are times when I’ve said wrong things and hurt people. Please forgive me and freshly anoint me with your Holy Spirit that my tongue will always be a blessing and never be a curse on anyone else’s life or cause damage to my own. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living the Life - Book by Peter Horrobin

How to Shrink your Problems

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 18:2-3, NLT
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies

A few years ago our family went on a day trip to a range of hills about 20 miles outside of Melbourne, Australia. From the top of the hill there was an amazing view across a very flat plain, to the distant city of Melbourne. From our position we could just about make out the shapes of the largest skyscrapers but we couldn’t really get any idea of its size from where we were – it looked more like a model.

We were there with my brother-in-law and his family who had visited Melbourne many times. They could have described the city in great detail to us and told us all about its size but for us, we could only imagine what the city was like from our current perspective. The only way for us to really find out about the city would be to visit it personally. On approaching the city, we would become increasingly aware of its size. The skyscrapers which looked so small before would now look enormous and we could stand at the bottom and look up – amazed at the towering structure above us.

Sometimes in life we are faced with situations where we just feel that God is far away or is too small to be able to help. We look at Him and wonder if He really is able to do anything. Other people might share with us about their experiences of how God helped them in their lives but we are unsure whether that would apply to us.

In times like this, God beckons us to draw near to Him. He longs for us to begin to put our trust in Him and, as we draw nearer, we will discover that He is much bigger than we ever imagined. We will lift our eyes and be in awe at His size and strength. It is at this moment that the situations of life will shrink in comparison to God and His ability to help.

So, are there things in your life today that are towering above you? Does God seem distant or too small to be able to help? Why not begin to move towards Him today and discover just how big your Heavenly Father really is!

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to draw near to you and not be afraid. I don’t want to just have a distant relationship with you. I need to know the encouragement of your presence and to be overwhelmed by your love. Thank you that you really care for me. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Follow the Radical Jesus - Teaching CD

A Different Message

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Colossians 2: 8, NIV
See to it that no-one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

In this letter Paul is telling us that the Christian is complete in Christ rather than lacking anything or having deficiencies, as the Gnostics of the day were teaching. We are complete in Christ Jesus and we would be better to consider ourselves as ‘no longer sinners but as saints who have the potential to sin!’ This completeness we have in Jesus includes the putting off the sinful nature, resurrection from spiritual death, forgiveness of sin, and deliverance from legalism and evil spirits (Colossians 2:11-15).

What I have noticed recently is that so many people are taking on the world’s standards and they seem to be totally unaware of the fact. The challenge to us as Christians is ‘Can we be identified as different from the rest of the world? Or are we just trying to conform like everyone else?’ The spies who came back with their reports explained what they had seen. The difference was that they were ‘men of a different spirit’. Shouldn’t we stand out from the crowd? Or are our fears and inhibitions holding us back from being the people God created us to be?

God calls us to be a holy people. But the world is seeking happiness! Are we seeking a life of ease and pleasure or are we seeking to move into our God-given destiny, work and calling? Many Christians have taken on the current eating fads and are following diets to control their weight. Lisa Bevere explains in her book ‘You are not What you Weigh’ that dieting is the devil’s counterfeit to fasting! How many seek position and status rather than a servant heart? God has not called us to success, but faithfulness, fuelled by compassion.

The world is gripped by fear but, as believers, we can know freedom and what it means to be loved by a Father who is a Covenant keeping God. We are loved and accepted. And that means we don’t need to live in the fear of being rejected by anyone, because our security is in Him.

We’re constantly bombarded in the media with the realms of unreality. Films, TV programmes and Soaps, all lead away from the truth and reality of our lives. But it’s only as we encounter the truth with ‘the Truth’ that our lives are going to be transformed. Pushing away or dissociating from reality won’t resolve our problems. It just leaves them to come up another day!

Jesus came to set the captives free, heal the broken hearted, and take all our pain on the tree. The world we live in today would tell us that we have to live with our sicknesses and manage our pain. But didn’t Jesus say that He’d come that we might have life, and have it more abundantly?

We do have a different message to bring to the world, not just a theory or theology but a life transforming experience in Jesus. Let’s lay hold of all that He’s won for us on the cross and experience ‘the finished work of the cross’ .We sell the cross short and make God less than He really is if we don’t keep Him as our Covenant keeping God who has made every provision for us in Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, that in You I can be made complete. Help me to come into a deeper and closer relationship with our Father and to experience all the blessing that You have won for me on the Cross. I choose to put away old habits of behaviour and choose to face the reality of my life knowing that You can bring about the changes that are going to glorify your name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Your Kingdom Come - The Church in the Market Place - Teaching CD

Obedience

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 21:28-31, NIV
What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard.” “I will not,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said he same thing. He answered, “I will, sir,” but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?

In the Parable of the two sons, Jesus asks two very important questions. You get the feeling both sons had a rebellious streak. The first brother retorted with a definite ‘no’ to his fathers request to work in the vineyard, his conscience however got the better of him and he eventually obeyed. The second brother seemed quite obliging to his father’s request but didn’t comply. Maybe procrastination got the better of him?

We often come across people whose yes is not yes or their no is not no, when Father God asks them to do something. Maybe it’s an area of our lives we need to look at to see if we are as obedient to God as we would like to be. It’s good if we respond without a delay, saying a clear yes or no. Then if our conscience pricks us afterwards and we recognise that our response wasn’t good, we can say sorry and do what God has asked us to do. But to procrastinate or not to act on God’s call could be the beginning of losing out of the biggest blessing God may have in mind for us.

If I can encourage you, be enthusiastic to whatever God is prompting you to do. It’s always for good purpose when God asks you to do something and great blessing when you do it with a good heart.

Prayer: Father, please help me to respond to Your call to do something with a definite ‘Yes’ and even if it’s out of my comfort zone to enthusiastically respond obediently to Your call. I ask this, Father God, in Jesus Name.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Life According to the Book - Teaching CD

Sabbath Rest

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Exodus 20: 8-9 NIV
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

An amusing, true story reached us from the United States via email recently: a beautiful golden retriever arrived in a lady’s garden, wagging his tail. He made his way into the house, found somewhere comfortable, curled up and went to sleep. After an hour or so, he got up, stretched and left the house, but he returned again the next day and on a number of days after that. Eventually curiosity got the better of the house owner and she attached a note to the dog’s collar – “I’m curious about the owner of this delightful dog who comes to take an hour’s rest in my house so regularly.” The next day the dog arrived with a reply was attached to his collar: “He lives in a house with 6 children, 2 of them under 3 years old. Tomorrow I’m coming with him!”

That dog knew the wisdom of taking a break from life’s hectic whirl. When God created the universe He, too, rested after six days, and recently He has been impressing on me how important it is to take a proper break on a regular basis. This is particularly so for those in full time Christian work, who may think that they are somehow exempt because they are involved in the Lord’s work.

I do not believe it is honouring to the Lord to work non-stop. Every one of us needs to take regular time out to recharge our batteries and to refocus, and a day’s rest each week enables us to go back to work again refreshed and re-invigorated.

Prayer: Father, please forgive me that I have not always honoured Your holy Sabbath. Please help me to reorganise my life so that I take proper rest and refreshment in You, each week. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Godliness and Power

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
2 Timothy 3:5, NIV
‘Having a form of godliness but denying its power’

Having been brought up in a Christian home, and attending a local church where there was great emphasis on scriptural teaching, I questioned why we didn’t hear anything about prayer for healing and deliverance. It always puzzled me. If anyone was sick, the prayer would be, ‘Lord, if it’s Your will, heal’.

In the Bible we read about the miracles of Jesus and how He went about healing the sick and delivering people from demonic influences, but these things weren’t taught about or applied to our lives and service for the Lord.

Great emphasis on the preaching of salvation through faith in Jesus brought many into the Kingdom, but there was nothing of how to deal with the baggage of the past that the new converts brought with them.

I struggled with the question, ‘Why don’t we see today the kind of miracles of healing that Jesus sent the disciples to do in His Name?’ It was only when the Lord called me to become a pastor myself that the reason became clear.

I was called to preach the Word, and shepherd the flock. But to do that God had to move me out of my original comfort zone, into a place where I was willing for Him to do those things today that Jesus and His disciples were doing. I soon witnessed both deliverance and healing in a wonderful way.

When we’re in a place where the situations that are beyond our control are handed over to God, and his Holy Spirit is able to direct us, then we see God do His work in a different and powerful way.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for Your patience and guidance when we don’t understand where we are, other than in Your Kingdom. Thank You that You call us and lead us into the pathway of learning more of Your power over the powers of sickness and evil. Lead me into greater experiences of Your power to bless hurting and damaged people, for Your glory I pray, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

God's Power for the Body of Christ Part 1 - Teaching CD

Waves of Life

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 93:4 , NIV
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty.

We were blessed to spend our holiday this year staying very close to a beach. Every morning we would make the short walk down to the beach to see what the sea had done overnight. We would see if it had washed clean yesterday’s footprints, dug a deeper trench for the river to flow along, or brought up any more shells or drift-wood? Each morning the overall landscape looked the same, but always there were some subtle differences.

At the beginning of our stay, the beach was pretty predictable, with a gentle washing in and out of the tide. However, towards the end of our holiday, the wind had picked dramatically and the tide was at a high point.

The morning after the start of these dramatic tides we took our usual walk to the beach and were amazed at the vastness of the change to the landscape. The small gulley we once walked through to go to the next beach was now a long series of barely passable high rocks – hardly any sand to be seen in it. The river almost looked like part of the sea and there was an amazing amount of debris against the rocky headland, washed up by the ferocious tides.

It led me to thinking of this Scripture. Many of us long for God to come in power and perform a mighty and dramatic work in our lives. Yet, the daily washing goes unnoticed. It’s worth noting that the sand formation, the rock formation, the river formation… all that makes the beach what it is, is achieved through persistent and frequent tidal forces. The mighty tides that come in power and force merely unearth what has been forged through years of gentle and persistent movement.

Waiting only for the times when God moves powerfully in our lives doesn’t change the overall landscape of our lives. It’s the gentle, almost imperceptible, daily living of normal life that forges the landscape of our lives. It’s our choice how we live that life – with God at the centre or not.

We need to greet each day with a knowledge that God’s daily presence in our lives will transform us one day at a time, just as the tide transforms the landscape of a beach. Praise God that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and that our lives are being forged into something more beautiful each and every day.

Prayer: Thank You, God, that You continue to transform me into what You want me to become. Help me not to disregard Your gentle but powerful forging of my life as I walk with You, one day at a time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Frida - Book by Frida Gashumba

The Greatest Gain on Earth!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
1 Timothy 6:6-7, NIV
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

“I made £29,000 from £400 in four months!” So screamed the bright red letters on an envelope which came in the mail this week. Inside were details of a great new betting programme which was ‘guaranteed’ to make money for the enthusiastic gambler! I didn’t waste much time reading it, but it did make me think about the vast number of people there are in this world whose contentment is only measured in how much money they are making and how they’re making it.

The love of money, says Paul, is the root of all evil - not money itself, but the love of it (1 Timothy 6:10). For the love of money is the beginning of idolatry. And idols will always demand their allegiance – and they never bring contentment. If you make money your goal, it will become your god, and you will never be satisfied with what you’ve got (when and if you get it), as it’s the process of making money that is the real idol. So, once you’ve got what you wanted, you have to try and get more to satisfy that inner addiction to your false identity as a money-maker.

On the other hand, godliness is something we cannot achieve by our efforts, it is only achieved through submission of our wills to the will of God and allowing Him to change us from the inside out. You will never see a mailing advertising £10,000 worth of godliness at a bargain price! It cannot be bought.

To be content with godliness is an extraordinary blessing, for therein lies the key not only to life on earth, but life in Heaven. For as our Scripture reminds us, no matter how much money we have we cannot take it with us – any of it! But godliness goes with us. It is the currency of Heaven and we can’t leave it behind. So a godly person has every reason to be content. They have treasure in Heaven that the gamblers on earth could never gain – even if they broke the bank of Monte Carlo a thousand times over!

Let’s fix our eyes on gaining treasure in Heaven and be content with whatever material goods we have here on Earth.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that godliness is the real treasure of life. Help me not to focus on things I cannot take with me when I die, and be content with your provision for my needs here on Earth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Healing Through Deliverance - Book by Peter Horrobin

Follow Me

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 4: 19, Amp.
And He said to them, “Come after Me as disciples, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Pastors frequently say how difficult it is to encourage members of their congregation to move on in their walk with the Lord. Perhaps many people are happy to come Sunday by Sunday and sit in the pews – just so long as they don’t have to do anything. Maybe they regard the church as a kind of social club.

Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, and following someone implies movement. If Simon, James and John had stayed in their fishing boats they would have learned nothing and Jesus would have had to look for others willing to walk with Him.

Are many of us still in the same place, spiritually, as we were when we first became Christians? Are we still wanting ‘milk’ from our pastors, or have we reached the stage of being able to take the ‘strong meat’ of spiritual challenges? How much have we grown and matured as disciples?

Jesus waits patiently for us to hear His call – but then He expects us to follow.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You’re patient and loving with me, but please help me not to become complacent. I want to be obedient to follow You wherever You lead me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

No Compromise - Teaching CD

Learning from Dad!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
John 5:19, NASB
Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner’.

These words remind me of a little boy named Tim. My mum often hired his dad to fix things at home and little Tim would come along to ‘assist’ his dad. Wherever dad went, Tim went too. He carefully watched what his father did, as if his life depended on it and peppered him with questions. Far from being annoyed, dad entrusted him with important jobs. He’d say ‘Hand me the hammer Tim!’ and ‘How many screws do we have left?’ For both, this was a precious time of bonding as the adult showing the little man how to live life!

Just as Tim did what his father asked him to do, Jesus tells us in our Scripture, that He only does what He sees the Father doing! So when we see Jesus healing the sick, for example, we know that the vision for healing began with Father God.

Now this raises a question. If Jesus watched His Father and imitated His every word or move, then why don’t we? After all, ‘a student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master’ (Matthew 10:24). Like a child, we might need to consider spending more time with our heavenly Father, learning from Him about what He’s doing and what we can do for Him.

Some of us may not understand that we can have a heavenly Father, for no dad has ever spent time with us. We might even feel like we’ve been robbed of something vital, which we’ll never get back. Well, God is the Father we can always run to and ask Him to show us how to live. It was His plan that parents would teach their children how to live, but the reality can often be far from that nowadays. But God Himself hasn’t changed one bit!

So whether or not you’ve known a good father in your life, why don’t you just run to your heavenly Father today. Tug His sleeve and ask Him to show you something! He’ll love it.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You’ve adopted me. Thank You, because it gives me the right to call You just that, ‘Father - Father - Father!’ Today, I want to be with You, even as I go about my everyday tasks. Would You show me the things You do, so I can do them too. Thank You Dad! Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living as Children of the Father - Teaching CD

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 139 7-9, NIV
Where can I go from your spirit, where can I go from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there, if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me.

In the Bible, we read in Hebrews 13:5 that God will never leave us nor forsake us.

I used to struggle with this verse because I had an image in my mind of a person who was with me all the time. I couldn’t see or understand any more than that. But then one day God gave me a powerful life changing experience of His omnipresence. God revealed Himself to me very clearly and then I knew that He was everywhere, all the time. Our main scripture above is so true. It’s actually real. Wherever I go, God will always be there.

But there’s more to it than that. This experience was just the beginning for me. I realized that when I became a Christian I was born into God’s kingdom. I was brought into Jesus Christ and His love for me. Jesus prayed that we will be in Him just as He is in God (John 15:4 and John 17:21). So when God says He will never leave me nor forsake me, it’s because I’m with Him, always in His presence. This covenant relationship can’t be broken - never. It’s impossible. He can never leave me. He’s always with me and I’m always with Him. It’s not something we can imagine in our finite minds.

Colossians 1:17 says ‘He is before all things and in Him all things hold together’. God’s the creator of all things and being everywhere all the time means He’s in all things. He literally fills the earth, the sky and the entire universe. Or, put another way, we are all in Him. Everything about us, everything we have ever known or experienced is in Him. How vast He is, and we will always be with Him! What a safe place to be for all eternity.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that there’s nowhere I can go that’s outside Your presence! Thank you for the encouragement that wherever I am and whatever circumstances I’m in that You are there. Help me, Lord, always to walk in Your ways as I trust You more and more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

In Rebel Hands - New Book

Red and White Balls

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalms 119:105, NIV
Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.

On a bright sunny day a few young people and I went out to the Lake District to have some fun. I had no idea that it was the day I would face one of my worst phobias!

We went down to the lake in Windermere, but I was frightened by the idea of going on a boat trip for a whole hour and being away from the safe shores of the lake. I had to face my fear of drowning. With some persuasion from the others I was able to get into the boat, with a flotation jacket of course! I was able to remain calm and I actually enjoyed the whole trip.

I was fascinated by all the safety precautions - wearing the safety jacket, and keeping away from the red and white balls. The red balls were placed near the shores or places where the waters were shallow and the white balls were placed next to the parked boats. We had to avoid them both.

In our lives God has placed boundaries to make sure we’re safe and able to enjoy the journey we’re in. Some of these boundaries may seem unnecessary because we think we can do it our own way. When you’re on a boat you can’t see the depth of the water unless it’s clear water, so to keep safe we had to avoid those red balls. Though we couldn’t see the rocks or shallowness, God can. He sees what’s beyond our eyesight and places the boundaries for us to keep us safe. The moment we step out of those boundaries we’re risking our lives. We’re out of His safe covering.

The boundaries for us are made clear in the Word of God. God instructs us in His Word and we must stay within His purposes and plans for our lives by being obedient to His will.

Prayer: Lord, I know You put boundaries in my life for my own safety but I sometimes want to do it my own way instead of Yours. I know I’m not safe when I’m out of Your covering. Please help me to be able to obey Your word and instructions, keep me safe in Your cover. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Quiver - Young People's Events

Limits of Protection

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 91:14, NLT
The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.’

Our son, Kyle, has reached a new level of freedom in his life. This freedom comes in the form of bright green, frog look-a-like, rubber wellie boots. Previously, in his new shoes, there was a forbidden territory – puddles. Now, with his protective wellies he can just walk right through them; or (as the case often is) he can stop and splash in them.

However, he soon found the limits to his protection. If he sat down (either accidentally or on purpose) he would get a wet bottom. If he wandered into deeper water than the height of his wellies, he would get wet feet. If he took his wellies off, he would get very wet and cold. He had some lessons to learn.

When we consider the protection of God, we must understand that it comes with a limit on it. But this limitation isn’t God – it’s us. This verse says, ‘I will protect those who trust in my name.’ I’m sure we all trust God to a certain point, but can we honestly say we trust Him wholeheartedly – without reservation or hesitation? We don’t automatically trust God implicitly just because we’re saved. Trust grows as we develop our relationship with Him, just as trust in human relationships grows, over a period of time.

Equally, if we choose to move away from God’s protection through disobedience or venturing into areas that are dangerously ‘deep waters’, then we can find ourselves in trouble and feeling the ill effects of going beyond our protection. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we will find that we can rest in His protection more and more each day. We can enter battles with the enemy in a deeper knowledge and understanding of God and our position in Him, keeping us safe from the enemy’s attacks and allowing us to take enemy ground.

Each time Kyle fell down in the cold, wet, muddy puddles, my husband and I rushed to pick him up and comfort him. At the end of the walk we were wet and muddy where we had held our child close to give him comfort - marks of love, despite his falling down. Our Father in Heaven longs to keep us safe. Yet He also knows we need to grow and develop. Whenever we go beyond our limits, the marks are evident on the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, our Saviour who died for each one of us.

Prayer: Father God, thank You for being my protection. Thank You that, no matter how often I fall, Jesus bears the marks of my moving away from Your protection and that You can bring me healing and comfort for those times. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Creativity and Healing - NEW Teaching CD

Access, Protection and Safety

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
John 10:9, KJV
I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

A door is for access, protection and safety. Jesus speaks of Himself as ‘the door’. This verse conveys each of these aspects to all that have entered God’s Kingdom through Him. For each of us who are ‘believers’, we have found Jesus to be the door through which we have entered into God’s holy presence and have received His wonderful eternal salvation.

There is the open door of welcome where Jesus invites us to ‘Come to me’ (Matthew 11:28). Whenever we are burdened and weary, and aware of our need of His help, the door of access is always open and we’re invited to come in whenever we need His help. The open door also speaks of reception and welcome into fellowship with our Lord and with others who’ve come to God through Him, in the same way that we’ve come. God wants us to help others to find and enter that door and experience His welcome and reception.

Through Jesus ‘the door’, He also provides safety and protection, and when the door’s closed it’s to keep out the undesirable intruder. When the enemy would seek to attack us, and we’re safe behind that closed door, is when we discover that God is our refuge (Deuteronomy 33:27).

We too have a door that we need to open. Jesus says, ‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me’ (Revelation 3:20). For us to enter the door Jesus spoke of, we must respond as He knocks and seeks admission to our lives. God never intrudes on our personal space, He only comes in at our invitation, yet when we invite Him in, He opens to us the door of His heavenly kingdom and brings us in to enjoy all the riches of that kingdom. Hallelujah!

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for knocking at my door and making me aware of Your presence. Thank You for bringing me into the knowledge and blessing of all that You’ve provided for me - access, safety and fellowship, as I respond to You. Help me to make the most of all You’ve given me to enjoy in knowing You as my Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

In Rebel Hands - New Book

An Undefendable City

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Proverbs 25:28, NIV
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

Not long ago my wife and I visited Hadrian’s Wall – that huge stone wall which crosses from the west to the east of northern England. It was built by the Romans to protect this furthermost border of the Roman Empire from the wild and dangerous Scots, who lived in the hill country beyond the wall! As I looked at this amazing structure, much of which still stands strong and wide today, after nearly two thousand years, I imagined how difficult it would be for invaders to cross the wall in the face of the constant patrols of Roman soldiers, who paraded up and down the wall, twenty four hours a day.

There are many ancient cities in the world also, which are surrounded by high strong walls as a defence against invading armies. It was news of the broken down walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:3) which moved Nehemiah’s heart, as he prayed for his home city and his people. The news that the walls were still broken down and the gates burnt brought him to grief. He knew God was calling him to do something about it. Nehemiah’s book covers the whole story from beginning to end, of how God used him to take on and complete the task and thus restore the safety of the city. Without complete walls, the city was defenceless.

Our Scripture today likens the broken down walls of a city to the broken down walls of a person’s life. Control of our conduct and behaviour is a vital protection against the invasion of the enemy into our lives. Paul explained very carefully in Galatians 6:7-8 how there are consequences for not living a life which is self-controlled and in godly order. The fact is, that a city with broken down walls is undefendable – and equally, a person’s life which is out of control, is also undefendable.

Without the Holy Spirit none of us will have the strength to resist the attacks of the enemy – we all need that spirit of self-control that the Lord will give us if we ask Him. The problem is that many people enjoy too much the things that come in through the gap in our defences, and the Lord can’t help us win a battle which we actually want to lose! Let’s first pray that God will give us the desire for all the gaps in our defences to be filled in and then ask Him to show us how to do it. Then our lives will be strong and effective for Him – and what’s more, we will be more blessed than we ever dreamed possible!

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to identify those areas of my life where there are gaps in the defences of my soul. I choose now to want to have defendable walls, so that the enemy will no longer have access to the centre of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living the Life - Book by Peter Horrobin

He has Clothed me

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 61:10, NKJ
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness…

The other day I saw a pretty T-shirt in a shop. As I looked closer, I saw it had ‘sinner’ written across the top in silver beading. I didn’t buy it!

When I came before the Lord, in prayer later, I thought of this T-shirt. No matter how good we’ve been, or what great things we achieve, when we come into the place of His presence our true hearts are wide open before the Lord. He sees my motives and exactly what I’m really like. He sees my fallen nature in its entirety. Yet I can just be honest and come empty handed, praising Him with a heart of a sinner saved by grace.

For although He knows my heart, He’s bought for me a robe of righteousness that covers all my sin, and when He looks on me, He sees that I’m covered with the blood of Jesus that was shed on Calvary. Now I can do the good works that He’s planned for me, not to gain any right standing or credit for myself, but because of a grateful heart of love.

Jesus ministered healing, forgiveness and restoration to many and their way of life was completely changed. Jesus still ministers in the same way today and people are finding a new freedom in Christ and wearing ‘their new robes’. Many of those who’ve been healed, restored and forgiven by Jesus now spend their lives serving Him and others out of grateful, overflowing hearts. If ever I bought the T-shirt I would have to add these words to it ‘saved by grace’.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; For out of his infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth and giveth again. (Annie Johnson Flint).

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that Your Grace is great enough to cover all our sins when we repent, whatever those sins might be. Thank You in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Shepherd Love - Book by Pam Smith

Grow where You’re Planted

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’

These well-known verses are often quoted to encourage people to look to a better future and to seek God for the ‘special mission’ He has for them. Over the years I have come to believe that God does indeed have a special plan for us, but it might not be the great adventure on the mission field, or planting a new ministry - it could be living just where we are!

Having trained as an actress there was one thing I never wanted to do – teach drama, and guess what I ended up doing – teaching drama! I saw it as terrible failure at the time, though it wasn’t as if my acting career was reaching the high spots – not easy anyway, living in the remote north-west of England! I was very unhappy to begin with, but the chaplain at the school where I was teaching gave me some of the wisest advice I have ever had: ‘Grow where you’re planted.’

God did indeed have a plan for me and I believe I’m now fulfilling that plan, teaching and ministering to those in need, but I had to wait for fifteen years, learning how to teach, and, in the meantime, ‘growing where I was planted’. At the right time God gave me a gentle nudge and opened the door for me.

We can spend a lifetime waiting for that ‘special call’ from God and miss the opportunities that He offers us day by day in our homes, churches and communities.

Prayer: Dearest Father, Thank You that You have planted me where I am. Please open my eyes to the opportunites You offer me day by day to be light and salt to those around me. In Jesus’ precious Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living as Children of the Father - Teaching CD

Rainbow in the Cloud

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Genesis 9:16, NKJ
The rainbow shall be in the cloud and I shall look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.

God’s promise was for all the generations to come. God promised there would never again be a flood to destroy the earth. This covenant of grace shows God’s commitment to redeem His creation and gives a sign for all to see. Here’s a window for us to look into His heart. He doesn’t wish to destroy what He’s created. He wants to redeem, restore and sustain all that He’s made.

In Revelation 4:3 we read that there is a rainbow around the Lord’s throne in heaven. You can only see a rainbow where there’s light and 1 John 1:5 says ‘God is light’. The rainbow has the whole spectrum of colour and displays the beauty of our God. It has seven main colours and the number seven speaks of perfection, so it’s a truly wonderful sign for the whole world to see.

The rainbow should remind us to be thankful to the One who gives the rain and the sun to sustain life.

The Lord personally provides for every need of His children. In 1 Peter 4:10 we learn we are to minister the gift we’ve received as good stewards of the ‘manifold’ grace of God. One meaning of the word ‘manifold’ is ‘many coloured’. I was meditating on the grace of God being made up of many colours. I think there must be a particular kind of grace which is especially designed for each kind of trial that we go through.

God is a covenant keeping God and when He promises to help us, He doesn’t change His mind, but is utterly dependable. We can trust Him completely.

Prayer: (from George Matheson’s hymn).

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to Thee:

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.

Thank you, Lord, for your faithful promises! Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Shepherd Love - Book by Pam Smith

Training for Battle

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Judges 3:1 and 4, NIV
These are the nations the Lord left . . . They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their forefathers through Moses.

I’ve been learning how to throw a pot on a potter’s wheel at a local community centre. After 6 hours of practice I can successful centre my clay on the wheel. How easy it looked, but with my inexperienced hands I found the clay constantly going off centre. It wasn’t until I concentrated all my strength on steadying my hand, and leaning into the clay, that I could centre it. It required both mental determination and physical strength. Throwing a pot is a skill that must be learned and with it ‘new muscles’ are built.

The Israelites weren’t in any shape to put their hands to battle. God needed to know that His people could stand against their opponents and not shrink back in fear. So He hand-picked Israel’s opponents to train them for war and test them, to see if their hearts would remain obedient when the heat was on.

We see these testing times in our own lives, but aren’t too excited when they come. It can be frightening if we don’t know God’s heart’s intention for us. It’s not to see us squirm, or even to remind us that He’s more powerful than us. It’s to equip us with the tools we need to succeed!

He allows us to go through trials and shaky times to produce His strength in us. Jesus completed His life-purpose on earth by going through many trials and each time passing the test. We’re to follow His lead and walk into and through the fires of our lives, believing that He’s producing new muscles in us. God’s a Master Potter who moulds the clay into His exact design.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for continually moulding me into Your masterful design for my life. Show my heart that Your tests are not to crush me, but to train me to endure in this world. I give You permission to train my hands for the spiritual battles I must go through and I rely on Your strength to bring about the victory. I choose to trust in Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Slaying Goliaths - Teaching CD

Preferring One Another

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
1 Samuel 20v42, NKJ
Jonathan said to David, “Go in Peace…The Lord be between you and me….for ever”

Jonathan was the kind of son any parent (and particularly King Saul) would have been proud of. Yet, he held the difficult position of balancing his respect and honour for his father, who was also King, on the one hand, and his friendship and loyalty to David whom he knew was the Lord’s “anointed”, whilst knowing of his father’s intention to kill David!

What is commendable about Jonathan was his complete selflessness. He was the King’s son and rightful heir to the Throne of Israel, and he could have tried to hold on to what was naturally and rightfully his. Instead, having recognised that God was with David, he bowed to God’s sovereignty and, in humility, stepped aside in favour of David. A lesser man would have felt usurped and would probably have been jealous, angry or even bitter that someone else – in this case his best friend – was about to acquire his royal inheritance.

There was no sign of greed or avarice in this young man Jonathan. He was not greedy for wealth or gain and he did not pursue the fame, pomp and ceremony that came with the trappings of royalty. In fact there is no sign of a wrong heart attitude at all.

He honoured his father, Saul, and wasn’t angry/bitter with his father for getting it wrong, though Saul’s disobedience to God cost Jonathan the Throne of Israel. Indeed, Jonathan died fighting shoulder to shoulder with Saul, honouring his father until the day of his death.

Although he never became king, Jonathan’s integrity and his fear of the Lord and loyalty to God’s anointed, secured his own son’s inheritance (Mephibosheth) and that of future generations of his family, through this very same friendship with David.

We often aspire to being like David, “men and women after God’s own heart”, but we can also aspire to be like Jonathan, the noble son of King Saul. Today, we can prefer and honour one another recognising the anointing of God on our brothers and sisters in the Lord, knowing that Christ died and shed his precious blood for each one of them.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help us to prefer and honour one another like Jonathan did, and like our Lord Jesus who gave His precious life for us. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Blowing the cobwebs out of God's Church - NEW teaching CD

Out of the garden!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Genesis 3:23, NKJV
… therefore Jehovah God sent him out from the garden of Eden…

Recently, at Glyndley Manor, we’ve been allowing the four resident chickens out of the safety of their ark and giving them the run of the grounds. At first all went well. They loved the freedom. They wandered around as a little gang, scratching and pecking far and wide over the distant reaches of the lakeside and the shrubbery. But alas it all went wrong. Finally they discovered the flower beds in the formal garden with their oh-so-delicious looking begonias, and they fell into temptation. They looked so good to eat that the gardens were soon unrecognizable. So the chickens have been banished from the garden!

I couldn’t help but think of this verse from Genesis as they were unceremoniously caught and moved out of the garden and into the outer field - a field completely surrounded with a good fence so they couldn’t get back into the garden to do more harm. However there is one very significant difference between my chicken story and the Genesis account. Motive!

Our motive was clear – we banished them for our good. We wanted the garden to stay the way we had designed it to be so they had to go…and not come back. However the Bible tells us that God’s motive for sending mankind out of the Garden of Eden was not for His benefit, or because of revenge, but for the benefit of those He had created and loved – mankind. Genesis 3:22 says ‘And now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever…’

The tree of life had been freely available to us but now it was a danger. His reason for banishing us was to keep us from taking, for ourselves, the fruit of eternal life. This would have meant a life locked for ever in our fallen state and therefore eternally cut off from Him.

It’s very clear in my Bible that this is an unfinished sentence. It’s as if the rest of the Scripture is God’s answer to this dire situation that mankind has got himself into. God grieves for our loss. He Himself desires to feed us with the fruit of eternal life, but we need to be released from the grip of sin and death.

In our fallen state we now live outside the perfect safety of God’s garden. Jesus said ‘in this world you will have trouble’ (John 16:33) and we will all have to die physically. But for those who have accepted God’s gracious gift of His Son, our Lord Jesus, as their Saviour, death will be the great release into the fullness of spiritual, eternal life. We will be with God in His ‘garden’ paradise in heaven and eternally with Him.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that after mankind sinned You didn’t give up on us, but made a way for us to regain what we had lost. Forgive us if we have misunderstood Your ways and misread Your motives for putting mankind out of the Garden of Eden. Thank You for the wonderful truth that, because of the death of Jesus our Saviour, we can be fed by You with the fruit of the tree of life, and live for ever in Your heavenly ‘garden’ home. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Healing & the love of God - Teaching CD

How’s Your Soul Getting Along?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
3 John 1 and 2, NIV
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

I’ve just been to watch a football match. My home town team, Blackburn Rovers, were playing Aston Villa in the Premier League. They were not expected to win, but, amazingly, our team came out on top, over a team that are much higher up the league than they are. It was a great win. Before the game, I’d seen the jubilant Aston Villa supporters almost dancing towards the Rovers ground at Ewood Park. They were expecting to win and at that time were feeling great.

But when the match was over the Villa supporters were stunned into silence. Their physical behaviour reflected how they were feeling about their surprise defeat. The Rovers supporters were, of course, jubilant. They were on top of the world. Their team had won and they were going home happy. And so was I. But the Aston Villa supporters were as sick as the proverbial parrot!

This was only a football match, but as I looked at the demeanour of the two groups of supporters I was reminded that how we feel physically, is often directly related to the condition of our soul – to how we are feeling about other things. John totally understood this truth when he wrote to his friend Gaius. He was concerned for Gaius’ health, and so he prayed that Gaius’ body would be as healthy as his soul.

I’ve often had to pray for people who have been ill for a long time. Sometimes with conditions which don’t seem to be responding to any form of medical treatment. At times like this I remember John’s comment about Gaius and start asking a few leading questions about the condition of their soul. Time and again I have quickly discovered that the person has been very unhappy for a whole variety of reasons. Sometimes because of rejection, at other times abuse, occasionally because of betrayal or some form of damaging relationship breakdown. Often there has been bitterness and unforgiveness in the heart against other people. Truth exposed opens the door of healing for the heart.

It never ceases to surprise me how often people get physically healed, when the inner conditions of the soul are brought to the light and have been properly dealt with before the Lord, according to the ways of the Lord revealed in His word. If only our souls could always be kept in good health, I suspect that many of the conditions that people struggle with might also get healed!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for showing us that there is sometimes a relationship between how I am feeling on the inside and my physical health. Help me to always be sensitive to the inner voice of your Spirit so that I may not allow situations to develop in my soul, that might make me ill. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living the Life - Book by Peter Horrobin

God’s Timing

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Isaiah 60:22, The Message.
I am God. At the right time I’ll make it happen.

In this instantaneous age we have come to expect almost everything to happen at the touch of a button. We don’t appear to be able to wait for anything anymore. Patience seems to be disappearing from our words and our thinking.

As Christians we need to be careful not to be sucked into the mindset of the world where only the quickest is considered the best. Even our God, who is outside of time, took an extended period to create the world, whereas no doubt He could have created it all instantaneously!

God demonstrates such patience as He waits for each of us His children to turn and make our way back to Him. But do we then expect Him to respond instantly to our desires and prayers? It seems we continually have to be reminded that God’s timing and His ways are so different from ours, but they are so right.

I recall some years ago we took matters into our own hands, due to our impatience in waiting for the Lord to show us the next step. (It was similar to the Abraham and Ishmael incident). We had sold our house and we went and bought another one only to find within weeks that the Lord was actually moving us on and out of that area. If only we had waited to hear from Him. We moved to a house that we were only in for three months. It was a costly lesson, but one we have never forgotten!

Recently I was reminded of Elijah. When he was praying for rain, he sent his servant many times to look for a sign of rain (1 Kings 18:42-44). It was only on the seventh occasion that the servant returned with a positive report. What patience and perseverance they both had! May we all learn to use the time we save by using instantaneous devices, to wait on the Lord for His timing in the things of life that really matter!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive us for always being in such a hurry and expecting You to act according to our timetable and schedule. Help us to use our time wisely and wait on You. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Why Pray for Israel? - Book by Ken Burnett

The Sword of the Spirit

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Ephesians 6:17, NIV
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

A friend recently commented that she was prone to stabbing herself with the sword of the Spirit, rather than making an impact on the enemy! Part of our armour, or protection, which is described in Ephesians Chapter 6, is the sword, which is like a very large knife, sharp on both sides. It cuts into any enemy argument, lie or attack. But of course we must learn how to handle it correctly, just as we are careful with viciously sharp knives in our home.

It made me smile when my friend said she stabbed herself with the sword of the Spirit. What she meant was this: she had been repeating the Word of God but in her heart she wasn't sure she really meant it. She believed she had to be positive and only speak positive words, so instead of bringing to the Lord Jesus her fears, doubts and discouragements, she tried to ignore them and she ended up quoting Scripture like wishful thinking. Unfortunately it was only her own heart which was being cut. She felt she was hurting herself by denying the reality of what her experience really was.

God doesn't want us to pretend. The belt of truth tells us that (another part of the armour in Ephesians 6). The Word of God is called the sword of the Spirit because we need the Holy Spirit to help us. And remember that he is the Spirit of truth. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth (John 16:13). From that place of reality, when we are being real with God about how we feel, the Holy Spirit will then show us which part of the Word of God to hold on to (which part is the handle of the sword for you today).

God's Word is sharper than any sword and it divides between soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). And it is given to us to stop the enemy from hurting us in any way. The Holy Spirit will teach you how to hold it and use it to defeat everything that comes against you. Everything that makes you feel afraid, low, defeated or distressed. Why not ask him today to show you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your powerful Word. Praise Your name for the blessing I hold in my hands when I read it. Please help me to be real with You in my prayers, and please send Your Holy Spirit to help me as I read and apply Your Word. I would like to learn from You every day. Thank You so much. Amen.

Living the Life - Book by Peter Horrobin

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Are We Hard of Hearing?

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Hebrews 5:11, NKJV
(Christ)...of whom we have much to say, and hard to be explained since you are dull of hearing.

I suppose subconsciously I realised there might be a problem or I wouldn’t have gone to have the test. True, my children had made odd comments about the television volume but it still shocked me when the hearing test proved beyond doubt that there were some ranges of sounds I just couldn’t hear. Evidently there was damage that had led to a sort of hearing ‘blind-spot’.

I couldn’t help wonder if spiritual ears, the ears of the human spirit, could be damaged in the same way and that’s why some are ‘dull of hearing’ as this verse implies. The hearing specialist told me the physical damage was because of excessive noise in the past and that they caused damage because they weren’t what ears were intended for. So what would be the equivalent for the spiritual ears, I wondered?

Jesus says ‘my sheep hear my voice’. He expects us to listen with spiritual ears that are made to listen to the truthful, loving and gentle voice of Jesus. So, if spiritual ears have been subject to spiritual sounds not intended for them, then this may result in ‘hearing’ damage. So what are these damaging spiritual noises? Perhaps these might include being constantly subjected to a barrage of the enemy’s lies or entering into false worship or perhaps harbouring attitudes of hate, judgment or pride. These are the ‘sounds’ of the enemy’s voice, damaging to spiritual ears intended for words of truth and love.

If we have spiritual hearing loss we could be missing something of what Jesus is saying today. We may be thinking we are hearing OK but actually we’re missing bits of the message!

Perhaps we should invite the Holy Spirit to come and test our spiritual hearing today and if necessary restore and heal the ears of our hearts so we can hear the full message.

Prayer: Jesus we desire to hear Your voice clearly and fully. Help us to be aware of the possibility that we’re suffering from ‘dullness of hearing’ and allow You to cleanse and restore the ears of our hearts. Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Living in the Promises - Teaching CD

Dealing with the Broccoli!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Ephesians 4: 1-2, NLT
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other's faults because of your love.

My little Isaac is 5 years old. For a child with two older brothers he’s remarkably easy going, but poor Isaac has one recurring problem that faces him each day at around 6pm, which causes him enormous distress. You're probably thinking homework, early bedtime, bath time... but no, none of those quite reasonable 5 year old hurdles are his real problem. Isaac's real obstacle comes in the green, yellow or orange pile of nutrition on his dinner plate. His problem? Vegetables.

Vegetables are the bane of Isaac's life. What is normally a great day of fun at school or with friends can be transformed into a moment of sheer torture and anguish by the glimpse of a pan of boiling water on the stove. I think if you asked him, Isaac would declare all vegetables disgusting and to be avoided at all costs, but high (if not highest) on this list of untouchables would be the vilest offender - broccoli!

With this in mind, imagine my surprise a few weeks back when halfway through our evening family meal, I realised that we were no longer enduring the same pleas for negotiations or mercy. Not only were there no protests but there were also no longer any bright green little ‘trees’ on Isaac's plate. When I very calmly asked Isaac where the broccoli had gone, he simply showed me how he’d discovered a secret way to disguise the ‘horrible taste’. The answer for my little guy came in the huge pile of Heinz Tomato Ketchup that sat on his plate. He’d quite merrily covered his broccoli in tomato ketchup to such an extent that when he put it in his mouth all he could taste was yummy, salty, tomatoes!

As adults we may be able to rationalise how and why we have to eat our vegetables. But I wonder what you do in this sort of situation? You have to cope with a person who brings a reaction in you, similar to that which Isaac has with broccoli? I’d be surprised, if we don't all have people in our lives that we struggle with, for one reason or another. They’ve hurt us by rejecting us or offending us in some way. Perhaps they remind us of someone who caused us pain in the past. Maybe they just press buttons in our hearts and we struggle to stay in godly, healthy relationship with them. Whether they’re wrong in the way they’ve treated us, or we struggle to cope with their particular personality - the reality is, as human beings, relationships can be tough sometimes.

We try to cope. We try to figure out ways around the problem. It’s like pushing the person around our plates. We struggle with our emotions and assign blame to others or ourselves. All this seems justified, but it just prolongs the agony. But how about choosing a higher way instead of trying to fix it in our own strength? We could make a choice to forgive them, if that’s appropriate. We could quit looking at their faults and weaknesses and choose to view them through God's eyes. Our heavenly Father loves them as much as He loves us. We could ask Him to pour into our hearts His acceptance, His love and His abundant grace!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your amazing grace in my life. Your never ending love and acceptance of me goes far beyond anything that I deserve. Lord will You give me Your heart for all the people in my life. Will You help me to see them through Your eyes, and will You give me the love and grace I lack in my own strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Right Relationships - Book by Tom Marshall

Trust or worry – you can choose!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Matthew 6:21 NLT
Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and your thoughts will also be.

What kind of relationship do you have with your wallet? Do you look at it as your provider or as an instrument of blessing in the hand of God?

Lately, God had confronted me in this area. I tend to pinch, literally, every penny, looking for ways to save as much money as I can! I was anxious if I thought I didn’t have enough for the month.

But God confronted me: “Do you think that I’m unable to provide? Just let me into you wallet and watch what I will do – even for you!”

Ultimately God wants our whole, undivided heart. If he finds that money is taking some or all of it he will ask us to lay it down for our own good. Anxiety and fear attaches itself to our heart if we trust in what we have and what we can earn and don’t trust in God to provide.

God is calling us to give Him our whole heart - and our money, or the lack of it, cannot be the one thing hindering this. He wants to give us a much better life and it comes by delighting in Him instead of worrying, then we will have a real peace and joy in our hearts.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, please forgive me for trusting in what I can see and what I can have - instead of You. I give my whole heart to You now. Please be Lord over my wallet and I give my fears and my anxieties to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

In Rebel Hands - New Book

Jehu is King!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Romans 13:1-2, NLT
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

I was recently impacted by a story I read in 2 Kings 9. Elisha sent a young prophet to anoint a man named Jehu as King of Israel, so that he could destroy the entire family of Ahab. The name of this young prophet remains a mystery and both Jehu and his fellow army officers thought of him as a crazy man who babbled on (2 Kings 9:11)! However, this young prophet did what he was instructed to do by Elisha, and anointed Jehu as king by pouring a vial of olive oil over his head. He then promptly ran out of the house and that’s the last we read of him.

When Jehu later came out of the house, his fellow officers asked what had happened. They were suspicious of what this ‘crazy’ man had said. However, when Jehu told them, they didn’t laugh - they immediately spread their cloaks on the floor, blew a trumpet and shouted, ‘Jehu is King!’ You see, in Old Testament times, when a prophet anointed someone with oil in this way, it was the equivalent of a coronation. God had spoken and it was done - the person was now king. There was huge respect for this. It didn’t mean that the person was perfect or even godly - they were just simply king because God decided it should be that way.

This respect for God-appointed kingship is found throughout the Scriptures. An amazing example is found in 1 Samuel 24 where David decides not to take his opportunity to deal with the injustice of King Saul but rather describes him as the Lord’s anointed one!

As we look at today’s society, however, we can see that this respect for authority has been lost completely. We live in a time where people only respect authority when it agrees with their position on things. How far this is from the culture of the Kingdom of God. Look again at our scripture for today. It reminds us in very simple language, that no-one has a place of authority without God having placed them there.

I don’t know about you, but I find this challenging because we live in a world where there are many ungodly people in positions of authority - but what is our response? Do we rebel, complain and speak curse on them or do we pray for them that they would have the wisdom of the Lord in their decisions. The Lord doesn’t expect us to walk into behaviour that is against His Word if those in authority ask us to. But He does expect us to honour our leaders and to pray for them. We might relate this to our national leaders but it also applies to our boss at work or our church or small group leader. Why not ask the Lord today, to help you see them as He sees them and to honour their position of authority.

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to both respect and pray for those who are in authority over me and to exercise loving wisdom and care in my relationships with those, over whom you have given me authority. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Understanding Leadership - Book by Tom Marshall

Canalside Drama!

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 40:1-3, NIV
‘I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in God.

This morning I watched as a drama unfolded before my very eyes! I was out walking our dog, Harris, when I noticed a cow stuck in the mud on the other side of the canal. It was deeply embedded in the mire, totally unable to move. Immediately, I set off to tell the farmer, but my desire to help was like a prayer to God when he says, ‘Before they call I will answer’ (Isaiah 65:24). For I then saw that the farmer was already on his way!

A tractor was coming across the field, headed straight for the stranded cow. No human effort alone could have got this large and heavy cow out of the mess she was in. So the farmer put a strong rope round the cow’s neck and attached the other end to the front of his tractor. Then, reversing gently away, he pulled the cow out of the mire and dragged her to safe ground. It was rough treatment, but for the cow it was salvation! The cow was very muddy and obviously exhausted, but could now recover from her ordeal in safety.

As I watched the scene unfold, I was reminded of our scripture for today. The whole of the human race was sinking deep in the mire of sin. No human effort could lift humanity out of the mess. Because of the weight of its own sin, mankind was sinking deeper and deeper into the mire. It needed a Farmer with a ‘divine tractor’ to come and take charge.

But instead of the Farmer putting the rope round our necks, it was Jesus who endured the ‘rough treatment’ for us, so that our feet may once again be placed on a rock of certainty. When He rescued us the mud of the world covered us. The cleansing flow of the blood of Jesus is all we need to be cleaned up and released into living a new life with and for Him.

As I watched, the rescued cow struggled to its feet again, to carry on grazing in the field. I realised that the muddy hole was still there and the cow would now have to be careful not to fall back in. The enemy of souls hates it when God’s children are rescued and, like the cow, we must constantly be on our guard not to fall back into the enemy’s mud. Let’s resolve now to stay on the rock and build our lives on the security of His love. And may there be many who will be amazed at what God has done in our lives and as a result choose to put their trust in Him.

Prayer: Thank you for the lessons you show us from our experiences in life. Thank you for rescuing me from the miry clay and for putting my feet on the rock. Help me to stay there, anchored by the security of Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Arise and Build - Teaching DVD by Peter Horrobin

Ellel 365 - Online Training School

Your Word is a Lamp

info@seedsofthekingdom.com — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100
Psalm 119:105, NIV
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

During a recent holiday in the Swiss Alps, we walked a great deal; through forests, by rivers, up hills, into valleys and across fields. Along the route there were regular sign posts pointing out the different directions with indications of how long the journey would take. In some places there were also markers showing the degree of difficulty of the walk.

As I walked I set to thinking about life and the numerous crossroads we face. On first reflection I wished our life’s path had signposts with indications of direction, time and degree of difficulty. So often life seems anything but clear and the options appear confusing rather than exciting choices. This is especially so when we rely for our choices on our own understanding, knowledge and ‘worldy’ wisdom.

As I reflected further, however, I realised our life’s path really is well signposted after all! God’s Word gives us plenty of guidance and direction. In the Ten Commandments alone, there are several signposts. We’re instructed not to steal, commit adultery, murder (this can be taken to apply to abortion and euthanasia in our modern society) or worship idols (this could be understood in the wider sense of worshipping money, power, success, or our bodies and our minds).

It’s possible to breach all the commandments of God if we rely on our own human understanding, rather than finding out what is acceptable in God’s eyes by studying His Word. As a result we fall into crevasses and over cliffs. They may not be physical crevasses or cliffs, but they certainly are mental, emotional and spiritual ones. At Ellel Ministries we regularly have the privilege of ministering to people who have fallen along the way because they didn’t heed the signposts, sometimes deliberately and sometimes through ignorance. Whatever the cause, they were injured and often badly so.

Through the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross, they have a way out of the crevasse and up the cliff, but it’s frequently a painful and slow climb back. Those we minister to often tell us that they wished they had heeded the signposts in the first place. God’s Word is full of guidance to us for our own well being and protection. It is indeed a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Prayer: Father I want to turn to Your Word as a signpost for my life, rather than rely on my own judgment and understanding. Please help me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Follow the Radical Jesus - Teaching CD

Ellel 365 - Online Training School