christianity

Eagles circling Part Three

/ cnongpluh / Leave a comment

_20170602_232400

Eagles normally fly alone, but in my vision they were circling together, all in the same direction and all in sync.we may find it hard to work with others but God is saying we need unity. Psalm 133:1, “oh how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.” God loves it when His children are united. One eagle can cover a vast territory – so how much more territory can lots of eagles cover. We need each other, especially in these last days.

There will be no denominations in Heaven – only believers.

Eagles circling Part Two

/ cnongpluh / Leave a comment

I usually use my own photos in my blog, but I felt it was important to put a picture so please see the picture below:-

_20170602_232400

Since I saw that vision of eagles circling together over a valley God showed me many other things.

Eagles soar without flapping their wings. In order to do this, they have to wait for the wind thermals to come up on them. It does not take any natural effort or strength to fly in the wind thermals. The eagles rely on the wind thermals to carry them.

This is like us as believers. The Holy Spirit is often depicted as the wind: Acts 2:2 (ESV), “And suddenly there came from Heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting ” This was the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:3,4 says, “Then there appeared to them divided tongues of fire, and one sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

In these last days we cannot do anything in our own strength – we must rely on the Holy Spirit’s strength to take us through.

If we do things in our own strength we will wear ourselves out. We need God’s strength.

Just like the eagle has to learn how to fly on the wind thermals – we, as born again Christians, have to learn how to fly on the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

More to follow later.

Eagles circling – Vantage point

/ cnongpluh / Leave a comment

I preached this message on Saturday 27th May at the Aglow meeting in Manchester, 5 days after the bombing at the MEN Arena. I may have to post in instalments due to time constraints.

One month previously, on 22nd April 2017,I attended a prayer meeting. Whilst we were worshipping God, I saw a very clear picture in my mind of powerful eagles circling together over a valley and I heard the words, “Vantage point”

When I prayed and enquired about this God really spoke to me.

A vantage point, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is a place, especially a high place, that provides a good, clear view of an area.

An example of this in a sentence is: “From our lofty vantage point, we could see the city spread out below us.”

During the worship I looked out of the window and I saw two policemen and a bus went past with the sign, “Vantage” on it.

As Christians, God has given us a vantage point over this nation – that we can see clearly what is taking place, and indeed can see things before they happen and can intercede.

DSC_0017

Resurrection!

/ cnongpluh / Leave a comment

 

_20170416_133704

Did you know that at that moment when Jesus died on the cross and the veil of the temple was torn in two that graves opened and other saints who had already passed away came alive and went into the town?

It tells us about this in Matthew 27

_20170416_133537

This is amazing! Can you imagine your relative – Aunt or Grandfather, brother or sister who you have mourned and buried suddenly turning up on your doorstep? This is what happened!

You see, when Jesus made that ultimate sacrifice, something significant was put in motion. Resurrection power!

Even at the time of Jesus’ death on the cross a hardened criminal died and went to Heaven and people were resurrected from their graves. Grace, mercy and the miraculous was released over the Earth.

The fact that other people experienced resurrection shows us that this victory over death is also for us. If you are a Christian and have accepted Jesus into your life the power that raised Jesus from the dead abides in you. We have victory over death because of what Jesus did. We can say to death, “Where is your victory? Where is your sting?”

Furthermore, Jesus Himself rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to Mary, the disciples and around 500 people.

Praise be to God and thank you Jesus for this indescribable gift!

Sunday’s coming!

/ cnongpluh / Leave a comment

IMG_20170125_234245_255

It was a very sombre time after that Good Friday. Jesus’ mother and friends were mourning; hopes of the Messiah liberating Israel were dashed; things had not turned out as hoped or expected; Jesus’ body was laid in a tomb tightly sealed with a stone and guarded by a soldier. There was no hope left.

Jesus’ disciples, who had given up their livelihood to follow Jesus, were devastated. They lost their faith. (see Mark 16:11)

Just as Jesus had felt forsaken by God whilst He was on the cross, so did His followers.

What none of them knew at that time was that Sunday was coming! The day between Jesus being crucified and resurrected was a day of transition. From their earthly perspective the disciples’ situation looked grim. They could not imagine the sort of victory that was being wrought. Resurrection from the dead. Victory over sin and death.

My friend, if things look bleak for you at the moment, just wait a while. Sunday is coming! Your victory is on the way! God will not leave you in the midst of despair – you might pass by there for a season, but you won’t stay there. There are brighter days ahead. Trust God and stay at peace.

Good Friday

/ cnongpluh / Leave a comment

DSC_0005.JPG

Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Traditionally the punishment of dying on a cross was reserved for the worst of criminals.

Yet Jesus willingly gave Himself up for this cruel death because of His love of mankind and His desire for their reconciliation with God.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

In Isaiah 53 it says that, “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. ”

Because of Jesus’ wounds and His death on the cross we can be forgiven, healed, reconciled to God and have peace in our lives. Thanks be to God!

Our God of Justice

/ cnongpluh / Leave a comment

Isaiah 30:18 says, ” Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. ”

The definition of justice , according to the Oxford online dictionary, is, ” to do, treat or represent  someone or something with due fairness or appreciation.”

God is a just God. He is impartial and fair.

There are many times in the world where justice does not appear to have been done in earthly courts. People may be wrongly convicted and many years later, they are set free. Sometimes a person is guilty but no charge can be brought due to a lack of evidence. This NEVER happens with God. God sees the full picture. He knows the truth about each person, and sooner or later that person will have to give account of what they have done.

2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Sometimes on this earth someone may do us wrong, but God tells us not to take revenge.

Romans 12:19 says, ” Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” The Bible says we should not repay people evil for evil but let God avenge us. If we decide to avenge ourselves God may leave us to it. But God knows the wrongs done to us. When we leave things in His hands He will move on our behalf.

The other half of this verse says, ” Blessed are all those who wait for Him.” If we learn to trust God with our troubles we will be blessed. God knows how to look after us.

Psalm 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” If you trust in God, you’ll be blessed and happy. Let Him sort out your problems with injustice.

 

Blow the cobwebs away!

/ cnongpluh / Leave a comment

DSC_0236

To blow the cobwebs away is an idiomatic expression in English, which means “to do something which makes you feel less tired or bored.” it usually involves fresh air or exercise. Cobwebs are made by spiders and are usually found in rooms or places that no one uses very much.

Today at Church I felt like God was saying He wants to blow away the cobwebs in people’s lives.

In other words, people have been given spiritual gifts but in some cases they have not been used very much. Or, people used to move in the spiritual gifts, but for some reason they no longer do. Maybe their zeal for God has waned.

Now is the time to stir up those gifts. 2 Timothy 1:6 says, “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

I feel like there’s someone who used to pray for people in his youth and he saw them healed. Now he is not using that gift. But it’s still there. God is calling you to pick it up again and start praying for people again. People’s lives are hanging in the balance – they need you to be operating in your gift.

Your sphere of influence

/ cnongpluh / 6 Comments

2 Corinthians 10:12, 13 says, “For we dare not class ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves , and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us – a sphere which especially includes you.”

We often talk about having a sphere of influence or activity. I believe God is saying that we each have our own sphere of influence in the world. We have relationships and people around us who form part of our sphere of influence. We coexist with them . They see how we react to situations and they listen to our words.

Paul was saying in this letter that the Corinthian believers were included in his sphere of influence. They were part of his spiritual responsibility. We are not responsible directly for everyone in the world, but those people who God has put in our path are our responsibility.

I am a supply teacher at the moment and I go into many schools taking classes when the permanent teacher is absent. Recently, I had a dream that I was standing on a stage in front of hundreds and thousands of young people. I have never actually stood on a stage in front of that many young people, however from day to day I meet hundreds of different young people from all backgrounds and all corners of the globe – England, Pakistan, the Ukraine, Hungary, Yemen, for example. At the moment, this is my sphere of influence and although I don’t spend a lot of my time in classrooms preaching (that would be unprofessional) I do pray in my own time for pupils God has laid on my heart and I bring the Presence of God within me into every classroom I am in. St. Francis of Assisi famously said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” At the moment, this is my ministry. It is hard work at times. But I cannot look around and compare what I am doing with someone else’s ministry. I have to be content with what God has appointed me to do at this moment in time.

Each person in the Church is a part of the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the futility of the foot saying because it’s not a hand, that it’s not part of the Body. The Bible says there are many members but one Body. The eye can’t say to the hand, “I have no need of you” Similarly if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body” is it not still part of the Body? God needs every part of His Body (the Church) playing their part. A Body made up of only ears would be a monstrosity. Each part needs to play their own part so that the whole Body works properly. We need diversity in the Body of Christ.

So, brothers and sisters in Christ – don’t look around and compare yourself with others. Pray and ask God to show you what your sphere of influence is and what your purpose is. It may not be the same as those you are looking at. But be prepared to be the best you can be in the place where God has put you. You may be the only Christian your friends will meet.

What is that to you? You follow Me

/ cnongpluh / Leave a comment

JOHN 21:20-23

Jesus restored Peter after he’d denied Jesus three times and told him to feed His sheep. Then He told Peter what sort of death he would have to glorify God. (According to Christian tradition Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero Augustus Caesar)

In verse 20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following and He said, “But Lord, what about this man?”

Here’s the first mistake Peter made here. We can often make the same mistake. He turned around and looked at another follower of Jesus.

As Christians it can be tempting to look at others and compare our destinies to theirs. Others’ destinies may seem easier and more glamorous, and our own may seem lacking. But Jesus put Peter straight by saying, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Jesus was essentially saying,” Never mind what I’ve called other people to do. That’s not your concern. You follow Me. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. I have a unique purpose and calling for you and for the people you’re comparing yourself to”