All of us acquire knowledge.  But, do we all acquire wisdom [which is] the application of knowledge?  Wisdom is knowing what to do with all the information our brains absorb.  Unfortunately, our society is rather long on knowledge, but comes up short in the area of wisdom!  Wisdom doesn’t equal years of life.  Wisdom is what we have done with those years.

People ask, “Can I know God’s Will, and if so, how?”  People think the will of God is mysterious, nebulous, beyond our understanding!  We certainly don’t understand the complete will of God, but He has made it  abundantly clear in the most important areas of life.   By the way, it’s all there in the Bible!

It is God’s Will…

We Live Pure and Holy Lives!  (1 Thess 4:3-5)  The word “Holy” means to be set apart for God/for God’s purposes.  The life of holiness involves both a “crisis” {the commitment}and a “process” {life-long growing} We must rid our lives of sinful influences, and fill our minds with the things of God.  Our lifestyle reflects a relationship with God.  Do we always get it right?  No, but we don’t quit!  It is a worthy goal!

We Stay Active in Serving Him!  (1 Thess 5:14)  As long as we are able, God expects us in His service.  We may not be able to do what we once did, but we can still find ways to serve.  We are not to be spectators in the game of life, but rather active participants!  It’s not so much about how we start out as it is about how we finish!

We Love One Another!  (1 John 3:18)  Jesus said we are to love each other in the same way that He loved us.  Love isn’t a matter of convenience, or some “gushy” feeling.  It is a deliberate act of the will.

It isn’t always easy, but it’s the right thing to do.  Jesus gave us a pattern along with instructions for living in love.

Now abides faith, hope, love!  The greatest of these is love!

]]> http://londonfmc.com/2012/05/375/feed/ 0 http://londonfmc.com/2012/04/362/ http://londonfmc.com/2012/04/362/#comments Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:06:54 +0000 Pastor Terry Mowat http://londonfmc.com/?p=362 There’s  a prayer that says:  “So far today God, I’ve done alright.  I haven’t gossiped, I haven’t lost my temper.  I haven’t been grumpy or nasty or selfish.  I’m really glad of that.  But in a few minutes God, I’m going to get out of bed, and from then on, I think I’m going to need a lot of help!”       Do you know what?  We all need a lot of help…

• especially when it comes to the issue of worry

All of us would like to live worry-free lives!  But let’s face it, that’s not very realistic.  Okay, but…

• There are some things we can do to reduce the amount of worry in our lives!

If we’re going to talk about worry, let’s be honest: we’re all guilty!

• And while it’s easy enough to say we need to worry less, it’s another thing to actually worry less!

Worry can affect our relationship with God!  Doesn’t worry say to God, “I’m not sure I can trust you!”

Worry can affect our relationships with others!  It makes us irritable, miserable – even nasty sometimes.

Worry damages our health!  It can contribute to hypertension, high blood pressure and anxiety.

You already know that!  So what can we do..?

 Slow Down!  Do you think there’s a correlation between “hurry & worry?”  We need to take time to remember what really matters – that God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine – that in all things God is working for the good of those who love Him.

 Live One Day At A Time!  Worrying is experiencing a crisis before it happens.  We can’t live our lives thinking “What if” – not if we want any peace.

Remember God’s Faithfulness!  We need to realize that God will provide for our needs.  The Bible says, “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!’

Now that’s a promise worth hanging on to!

What do you think..?

 Picture One:  Jesus rides towards Jerusalem on a donkey, and as He approaches the city, the crowds cheer wildly, putting their clothing and palm branches in his path, all the while chanting, ‘Blessed is the King that comes in the name of the Lord!’  “Let’s celebrate!”

Picture Two: Jesus is looking over the city, literally crying out loud  because the people were ignorant of their time of visitation by God.  Their spiritual ignorance & blindness caused them to miss out on the blessings of God and instead, face judgment!

 That ancient Jewish society is not so much unlike our own!  People still

• waste their opportunities to enter into a relationship with God through His Son Jesus
• choose to follow their own path instead of God’s path for them
• look for meaning and fulfillment in life.  The problem is, most of them are looking in the wrong places..

 As then, there is still a lot of religious activity going on, but in western cultures, one might have cause to wonder just how much is actually being accomplished for the Kingdom!   Check out this important truth…

 People then & now had all they needed to recognize

the Kingdom of God had come to them!

                                                                     Think about it…

God is more interested in your holiness

than He is in your happiness!

Now don’t get me wrong! That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t want you to be happy or enjoy life, but…

• While there is no specific command in the Bible to be happy, there is to be holy!  (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16)

Sometimes we might say that we have difficulty knowing what God’s will is, or applying it to our lives.  But in certain parts of the Bible God doesn’t leave much room for ambiguity.  For example,  ‘It is God’s will that you should be holy! (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

As we live out our purpose in life, we come to realize that…

• Christian growth is a process!

We become Christians in an instant when we trust Christ as our Savior,

• But it takes a lifetime to live out our faith!  And…
• It’s more than just knowing about God, it’s also about growing in Him!

The Christian life is more than information!

It’s much more about transformation!  

You see, belief is supposed to translate into action!  Faith that doesn’t  impact our behaviour isn’t really faith…is it?

 Okay, spiritual growth is a process, but God still expects us to grow!  God’s plan for us in this life is that we become like His Son Jesus!  

• I suppose we ought to be asking ourselves…“How are we doing?”

 Are you disciplined in the areas of your faith?    Remember, we don’t become like Jesus by our own efforts…

• It is only as we submit to God’s power in our lives that we are “transformed” into what/who He wants us to be!
• That doesn’t happen in a “superficial” relationship!

 The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to give us the strength we need to face the challenges of life and represent our Lord!

                                                                                                                         Think about it…

Wouldn’t you think he would be shouting, “Liar!  Fraud!

On the contrary, this demon, and the one like him (Matthew knew that they were in the presence of God – and they acknowledge Him because there’s nothing else they can do!

The day is coming when, ‘At the name of Jesus every knew shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father’ (Isaiah 45:23, Phil 2:10)

There are plenty of people who do not believe in a personal devil or the existence of demons, in fact they make fun of such nonsense!  It’s no laughing matter!

• The Bible doesn’t offer much explanation for, or defend the reality of an evil kingdom in this world.
• Rather, it states it as fact, and takes it seriously!

Even some Christians don’t seem to realize that we are involved in spiritual warfare – that there is a struggle between good & evil going on within us that began with Adam & Eve. 

• Being a Christian is more than being a “nice” person
• We need to drop our “fascination” with sin and see it for what it is – a path that leads to hell! (eternal separation from God!)

Why is there so much violence & corruption & injustice in the world?  Why is war such a part of humanity?  Is this all just a freak of human nature, or inherent in it..?  Is it possible there is personal evil in this world, which if not dealt with could destroy it?  The Bible affirms it!

God didn’t create evil, but He did create the possibility for it when He granted the angels and then humans – the power of choice! And there is a force in this world constantly trying to influence us toward evil!

 We tend to think our point of view is the most valid!  Do you think it possible that we might get along better with other people {friends, spouses, co-workers, employers etc} if we tried to see things from their point of view – you know, sort of put ourselves in their place..?

 Jesus equipped his followers and sent them out into the world to make a difference in the lives of people.  [How are you doing with that?]  I wonder if we wouldn’t do better if we were more willing to try to see life from their perspective?  For example, if you knew there was a mother & child asleep in a burning building what would you do?  [a] try to rescue them? [b] call 911? [c] walk by thinking, this is none of my business!  Many of us would risk our own safety for a stranger – to warn them of the danger surrounding them – because we know what could happen if they don’t get out of that building!  One of the reasons Jesus came into this world, and established his church was to…

• Make people aware of the danger that surrounds them on a spiritual level.

 Have you ever gone to a mall or a park and just watched the people?  The Bible says as Jesus traveled around and saw the crowds of people, he had compassion on them [it broke his heart] because they were confused, & worried & helpless, like sheep without a shepherd

• He didn’t see people who had it all together!  He saw people who were harassed & hassled, weighed down by life!
• That may not necessarily be a bad thing! God uses the hassles of life to help us recognize our need of him!

So what did Jesus do..? [a] He went to where the people were! [b]  He listened to them & got their perspective on life! [c] He showed them unconditional love. He didn’t judge them or put them down. [d] He invited them to be part of God’s Kingdom.  He didn’t tell them to clean up their act – He invited them to come, just as they were!

Hey wait a minute!  We can do that…can’t we..?

Adult Card Making Class
March 24 – 2 to 4pm
$5 per person

- London Free Methodist Church, 402 Commissioners Road West (near Wonderland)
- advance registration required
- phone the church at  519-657-3079 or Cathy at 519-641-8526

Everyone welcome – hope you can come!

• ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want!’

Really..?   Don’t you want…

• a better car, a bigger home, a better job, more stuff!
• something nicer, faster – or just different..?

Isn’t it interesting…even when we get what we want, we want more!   Because even when we get what we want, we find it doesn’t satisfy us for very long!  Do you ever wonder why that is..?  The Bible says, ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain!’ (1 Tim 6:6)

What we have shouldn’t define us!  Who we are should!   The fact that we want isn’t necessarily wrong!  It’s what we want that can be troubling.  I suggest to you there is only one thing in this world that has any eternal value – that is…a relationship with God!

 The Psalmist had a relationship with God.  In it he found all that he needed [I shall not want!] including “divine guidance”  ‘He leads me in paths of righteousness!’  Paths of righteousness ultimately lead to…           

God’s Great Heavenly Celebration!

Do you like parties?  Are you planning to attend this one?  Of course you realize only citizens of heaven will be welcome!  That’s because God is righteous, and He invites us to seek His righteousness  (Matthew 6:33) and leads us in paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3) that lead to heaven.

 Most of us probably won’t be at Sunday’s “SuperBowl” because we don’t have a ticket, and even if we had the opportunity we couldn’t come up with the $3500-$4500 average ticket price.  But there’s good news.  You don’t have to miss this grand celebration in heaven.  Even though the cost is out of this world, and…

• no one is rich enough to afford it
• no one is good enough to earn it

It’s a gift to all who will receive it!

‘God has shown us a different way to heaven, not by being good enough.  Now God says He will accept and acquit us, declare us “not guilty” if we trust Christ to take away our sins.  We all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ no matter who we are or what we have been like!’ (Romans 3:21)  

Now that’s something to celebrate!

Let me extend to you a very blessed and happy New Year!

Consider some of the implications of the 23^rd Psalm!

• ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want!’

Really..?   Don’t you want…

• a better car, a bigger home, a better job, more stuff!
• something nicer, faster – or just different..?

Isn’t it interesting…even when we get what we want, we want more!

Because even when we get what we want, we find it doesn’t satisfy us for very long!  Do you ever wonder why that is..?  The Bible says, ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain!’ (1 Tim 6:6)

What we have shouldn’t define us!  Who we are should!   The fact that we want isn’t necessarily wrong!  It’s what we want that can be troubling.  I suggest to you there is only one thing in this world that has any eternal value – that is…a relationship with God!

The Psalmist had a relationship with God.  In it he found all that he needed [I shall not want!] including “divine guidance”  ‘He leads me in paths of righteousness!’  Paths of righteousness ultimately lead to…           God’s Great Heavenly Celebration!

Do you like parties?  Are you planning to attend this one?  Of course you realize only citizens of heaven will be welcome!  That’s because God is righteous, and He invites us to seek His righteousness  (Matthew 6:33) and leads us in paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3) that lead to heaven.

Most of us probably won’t be at Sunday’s “SuperBowl” because we don’t have a ticket, and even if we had the opportunity we couldn’t come up with the $3500-$4500 average ticket price.  But there’s good news.  You don’t have to miss this grand celebration in heaven.  Even though the cost is out of this world, and…

• no one is rich enough to afford it
• no one is good enough to earn it

It’s a gift to all who will receive it!

‘God has shown us a different way to heaven, not by being good enough.  Now God says He will accept and acquit us, declare us “not guilty” if we trust Christ to take away our sins.  We all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ no matter who we are or what we have been like!’ (Romans 3:21)   Now that’s something to celebrate!

 Christmas really is about gifts, specifically about God’s greatest gift – His Son, Jesus Christ! ‘For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life!’ (John 3:16)  In other words, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season!”  Check out some of the most incredible life-changing gifts that you won’t find under any Christmas tree!

 The Gift of Pardon ‘Therefore since we have been justified through faith!’ (Romans 5:1)  God pronounces unrighteous sinners to be righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.  God declares the guilty to be not guilty. A gift of grace received by faith! (Eph 2:8)

 The Gift of Peace With God  ‘Since we have been justified through faith we have peace with God!’ (Romans 5:1) The barrier of sin between us &  God has been removed and we are now reconciled to God!   Billy Graham said every person on earth is searching for peace with God.  That search is fulfilled in a relationship with Jesus Christ, who said, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you!’ (John 14:27)

 The Gift of God’s Spirit  Before leaving earth Jesus said to his disciples, “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor (the Holy Spirit) to be with you forever.  He is the Spirit of Truth and will teach you all things and remind you of my word!”  Today truth is relative – it can be whatever people want it to be.  Jesus said, ‘I am the Way to God, the Truth of God and the Life of God!’  God’s Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth!

 The Gift of Freedom from Judgment   Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. (Romans 5:9)  That anger is the judgment of God that will be poured out on a Christ-rejecting world!  The Bible says, There is no judgment hanging over the heads of those who belong to Christ Jesus!                                                                            Think about it…

 What do you think of when you think of death?  Some people seem kind of scared when they consider the reality of death and going into the presence of God! 

• The truth is, most people should be!

 Others aren’t worried at all because they believe death is the end of everything, or that they’ve lived good enough lives to get into heaven, and there is no such place as hell!

• Oh…do they have a surprise coming!

 In the 6^th chapter of the Book of Isaiah, the prophet has a magnificent vision of a glorious God seated on a throne.  He is humbled by  the guilt of his  sin and realizes his unworthiness to be in the presence of God. God however, removes his guilt and forgives his sins!

 One thing I know when it comes to meeting God…we don’t have to worry about it if we’re part of His family.  Jesus said, “Don’t worry, trust me!  In my Father’s house are many rooms and I am going to prepare a place for you and when everything is ready I will come back for you and you will always be with me!” (John 14)

 Something else I know…death comes to all!  No one escapes their date with destiny. 

• The issue isn’t “will I die?”  The issue is “when will I die?”

What if our time on earth is shorter than we think?   

• “Are you ready to die?”
• If you haven’t prepared for the inevitable, why not?

  Here’s one more thing I know: There is a heaven and there’s only one way to get there!  Living a [good] life ain’t it!  Doing more good things than bad things in this life won’t get you there!  So how do we make it?  

• There’s only one way to heaven!

Jesus said, ‘I Am The Way, The Truth and The Life.  No one comes to the Father {enters heaven} except through me!’ (John 14:6)  Check it out for yourself. (John 3:3) (Romans 6:23) (Ephesians 2:8,9)