Philip and the Ethiopian! One.

Controversial Doctrine?

Both Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch are under estimated in the Christian experience, many believing today that this account in the scriptures was never really there?

But this is not true from the point that God was bringing the death and resurrection of Jesus to the Jews in the Horn of Africa! It also shows us the little talked about ministry of Philip who knew that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah of Israel.

The problem with the Ethiopian conversion is that it does not fit the historical reformation doctrines of how sinners are saved, believing in a certain process for that salvation which today has become a mantra in evangelical circles as sometimes the only way?

Faith is not based on a set or process of doctrines, but rather on the power of God to change our hearts, to no longer be hostile to Him. The other reason for the avoidance of dealing with this area is the old one of white racism to black people, and in some cases that not all black Christians are really born-again?

John 1:45, 3:3, 5, 15-21, 31-36, Acts 8:26-39 , Romans 3:22-23, 6:22-23.

Prostitution! Part-Two.

Tears of Faith?

It is interesting how Jesus deals with the sad woman of sexual exploitation and vulnerability, it is not the way that we humans might deal with the situation because of all the stigma that we carry?

Jesus say the love for Him in her tears and the cost of her gift to Him! This was not cheap or tatty, it was her appreciation that God really cared about her!

Much like that of Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples, we need to take a leaf from the Bible and start serving God, rather than enjoying ministry on tax freedoms and living in our panelled homes?

John 12:3, 13:12.

Unions?

Workers Rights!

Many Christians get upset about being in a Union, they claim it is not Christian because its based on atheism and Socialism? But these many probably own their own businesses and have never been poor or working class?

Today many jobs are open contracts, with open hours and people can loose their jobs as quickly as they got them! Hours are long and breaks few, the work is demanding and tedious and it is hard to believe writing this one could be talking about the social history of Britain in the 19th Century?

The Bible teaches us that we should be fare to our workers and care for them, instead of being greedy and bragging about what we have! God sees the plight of the oppressed and the poor and He will over rule the unjust!

This message is directed at well to do believers, who believe they can get away with their sins, perhaps they might consider some of the rich fools mentioned in the New Testament and take a leaf out of their book as a warning!

Job 20:19, Psalm 9:9, Luke 12:18, 16:22-23, 2 Corinthians 6:4, Ephesians 6:6, 1 Peter 2:16.

Identity!

‘Who am I?

Most people at some point in our lives stop to think this deep question, probably when we are going through a stressful period? It is a good question to both ask and ponder upon, because it makes us think that there must be much more to being alive and why are we here?

Creation, the universe and humanity are not complex flukes that science wants us to think, it was all by chance? The fallen nature of everything leads to an end or death, but the Holy Bible tells us a different version that is far more interesting than chance and flukes!

We were created by God before everything else was made that we see and understand! In some ways science has proved that we are made of materials that cannot be seen, such as atoms!

But our condition now is a fallen one, because of sin/failure entering in to spoil Gods order! This condition we have is a terminal illness, but healing can only be found by admitting our wrong, changing our attitudes and finding the forgiveness of God through the ‘Good works of Jesus death on the stake/tree and rising from the dead!

Deuteronomy 7:6-7, Psalm 90:2, John 17:24, 1 Corinthians 11:9, Ephesians 1:4, 2:10, 1 Peter 1:20.

Happy Easter?

Chocolates!

Nearly every holiday in the calendar is marked by chocolates of some description and Easter seems to be the height with the empty egg? It is no wonder that we have a diabetes crises with over weight and with many other inter related illnesses?

But the real message of this season has to do with the death of Jesus a perfect sinless man and His rising on the third day from the grave!

Why do we need Jesus in our lives and why do we need to be saved? Most people believe that they have some good in them and if they do the odd bit of kindness this is enough to make credit with God?

But it does not work like that and death is not the end, but rather the beginning of an Eternity in Hell with Satan or in Heaven with God! The decision has to be made here and now, we need to seek Him, confess and repent of our failures and find His forgiveness, believing by faith that He Jesus has taken our place on the cross and has risen or resurrected from the dead!

Luke 22:20, John 3:3, 14-21, Isaiah 1:18-19, 53:12, 1 Peter 3:18.

Issues?

Our lives!

Life is mostly about issues of all sorts and kinds, from the first moment we can understand our surroundings to the last moment before we enter Eternity our lives will be filled with the issues of choices to make or not?

We will find many causes, we will be upset and frustrated by many things! We will misunderstand others and misunderstood by the same and we will have influence because no matter who we are we all have a say in the society that we live or exist in?

Jesus knew all about human issues, with religion, with hypocrisy, with evil and with people who wanted to believe, but lacked the faith! But those who persisted and asked Him for help, were richly blessed!

Today, now is your opportunity to seek God, to knock and the door of your heart will be opened and changed forever?

Amos 5:4, Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9, 13:25, Revelation 3:20.