Hi all. 

Just reading Harry Ironsides Daily Meditations and I thought I would share some of his writing with you regarding his life in Jesus Christ and a reference to the Apostle Pauls life as written in Galatians 2:20:

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Now I will Glory in the Cross

For this I count the world but dross

There I with Christ was crucified

His death is mine: with Him I died

And while I live my song shall be

No longer I but Christ in me. - Harry Ironside

How good it is to know Jesus Christ. Not as the world knows Him but as One who is my Saviour and Lord.

One who gives me the peace of understanding about my eternal destination with Him.

I pray if you are reading this that you will take time to consider this Jesus who was given that all could be saved.

Peter Skillen (Pastor)

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

Hi all.

What a Joy we have in knowing that God's Mercy in forgiveness for our sin is available to all even:

• from the beginning of time (Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel)
•  to the present (Romans 10:17  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved) and beyond.

The Psalmist below gives clarity below of the immense forgiveness to all.

Praying this is a Blessing to all who read it. 

My Soul Waits for the Lord

Peter Skillen (Pastor)

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

 Psalms 130:1-8

(1)  A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

(2)  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

(3)  If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

(4)  But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

(5)  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

(6)  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

(7)  Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

(8)  And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Free thinking

 'What we think about when we are free to think about what we will - that is what we are or will soon become' - A W Tozer

God is our Refuge in times of Trouble

Hi All. 

Hope you are all well. 

In today's daily reading by J Sidlow Baxter there is profit in what he declares for us today in a dire situation. I won't write it all but consider these few points. 

He considers Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the Rock that is Higher that I.  David was fleeing the danger of Absalom his son and was well away from the usual security of Jordan. Baxter points out about this prayer of David that: 

1. Prayer is never invalidated by geographical position (where you are)  

2. Prayer is never in validated by extremity of circumstance (how bad your situation is)  

3. Prayer needs firm resolve ('I Wills' of David).  

David is overwhelmed as we are today with saddened hearts that we cannot worship as we should, together in His Name. But that of all times is the time to pray. Lead me to the Rock - most certainly that is Jehovah (The Great 'I AM' self existent and never changing) - is David's cry in the trouble he is in and that is or should be our cry. Lessons to learn are these: 

1. God in Christ is our immovable Rock of Refuge - our hiding place  

2. this Rock is Higher than we are and high above all storms.  

3. we need to be led there - that is the Holy Spirits power.  

David was the Lord's Anointed and as such you would think he should have no trouble. David's troubles of course where the result of his own ill doing and and so may ours often be. As Christians we are not exempt from harm in the physical but most certainly we are assured that nothing will change our redemption status in Eternity. 

God is Faithful in that our eternal future is secure in Jesus Christ and most certainly not in anything we try to do here on earth to conjure up that assurance. 

May our prayer be 'Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I' resting in the everlasting arms of our loving and merciful God  

Hope this helps someone  

God Bless 

 Peter Skillen (Pastor)

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

A Place where Love is

Hi all

I was just contemplating that I had neglected my blog for a long time.

Its not that I did not have anything to say but sometimes there is an overtaking of time and then comes neglect for the things we love.

I love God's Word and always look to impart it to whoever would listen.

I hope you have found the past blogs helpful and I look forward to writing some more in the coming weeks and months.

Below was a message spoken to those who are saved with the desire to help in the sense of the Church being a family were the Love of Christ is cherished and not neglected.

There are so many today who continue to neglect the authority of what God's Word instructs us to be 'in Christ' and then there is a wonder of why we are dissatisfied with life.

The search for peace always ends when we surrender to what God wants and not what we want in the flesh of our emotional mind.

Praying this helps someone 🙏

Peter Skillen (Pastor)

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

A Place where Love is

Luke 10:38-42

Two family supports that the believer has.

1. Physical Family
2. Spiritual Family

My home when growing up was:

A place of comfort
It was a place of Security
It was a place that had a great bed.
It was a place where I never went hungry. 



When you think about it there is no place like home.
It’s also a place where we are loved.
Well ? Most of the time.



In our reading we see that Jesus was a welcome guest in the home of Mary and Martha – He came there to have fellowship with them – and like all homes that anyone visits there was tea and food on the go.
That was a sign of welcome – that was a sign of acceptance.

There was a time when it seems that both sisters sat at His feet (v39) and then Martha got distracted.
The honour of sitting at the feet of Jesus Word is something that we must be experienced in.
Gathering together in Prayer and Praise and reading His Word is something that we need to have a love for.

The desire for every Pastor or oversight should be one that promotes this and yet there is always a frustration when it doesn’t come to pass.
The Pastor cannot of course make anyone do anything – nor should he wish to.
The desire for Christ from the believer must come from within.
A love for Jesus as the head of the family and a love for each other as the children of that family.

Our true spiritual family is one that is unique and invisible to all but Christ.
No genuine repentant sinner who has come through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ can ever be expelled from that family.

Remember the attitude of Martha v40 Finally after much mumbling and grumbling she blurted it out.

Can you not see Lord that I am doing all the work and this lazy sister of mine is doing nothing?

We should be about family in this Church of Redeemed brethren.
This was a family that these three people in this house had a close relationship with Jesus Christ.
God loves families – that's why His Word has so much to say about the family.
That why He has to say so much about the Unity of His Family – as we are.

Let us be of one mind and one purpose and that is to present ourselves before Christ faithfully and honestly.
Supporting those in our family that need help both physically and spiritually.

God will bless the Church and you as an individual.

To God be the Glory


AMEN

Peter Skillen (Pastor)
braehillbaptist@gmail.com

God is All in All

Hi All

There are many moments of despair in life and there is a propensity to let them overcome us, dragging us down into the depths.
God of course is the only constant factor in the life of the Christian and it is to Him we must always look to and depend upon.
Reading this morning from a faithful man of God's Word, J Sidlow Baxter I have been pointed to the greatest of thoughts that combat the despair of life.
Baxter's reference verse is that of Zephaniah 3 verse 5:
(5)  The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.

It is the three little words contained in this verse that are an immense encouragement to the Church of Jesus Christ today:
'he faileth not'

To those who think the things of God are foolishness then you will never get the great compassion of these words.
To those who have come as the sinners they are and in Repentance have placed their Faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross then there is a Peace of understanding.

My prayer is one of selfishness as regards my thoughts toward God in that I want to be the recipient of God's strength everyday of my life.
Yet my prayer is also selflessness in that I have a desire for those who have rejected the very thought of God as their Creator and Saviour to come and see that although we have failed in life, He never does.

Hope this helps someone in need today or whenever it is read.

In Jesus Name

Pastor Peter Skillen
Braehill Baptist Church
Northern Ireland
braehillbaptist@gmail.com

Just a Thought

Hi All

For believers that maybe find they have failed God recently I give you this little thought:
'Its not my love for Christ that sustains me but Christ's Love for me'

Hope this helps someone

Pastor Peter Skillen

Braehill Baptist Church

Belfast, Northern Ireland

www.braehillbaptist.org

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

Is God only there in times of trouble?

Hi All

Have you ever noticed that while the issues of life are at a standstill and everything appears to be right in our lives then our fellowship with God takes a back seat.
I have noticed this in many families, including my own, that when life is good and without major issue then there seems to be apathy towards the fact that trouble may well be just around the corner.

You might well be saying that no one can live their lives always expecting the worse because that would make for a real dreary existence and you would be probably be right in that thinking.
What is the thought usually?
'Live for today, for tomorrow might never come'.
The Gospel writer Luke records Jesus telling of the rich man who sought to be richer in life:
Luke 12:19-20
(19)  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
(20)  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

The Apostle of Jesus Christ, James, has a thought on this matter when he through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit declares:
James 4:13-14
(13)  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
(14)  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

James is declaring to us that we can make many plans with those that we love, those that are our friends, those things that we love to do and yet nothing is certain in the planning.
Does that mean we then do not plan anything for fear it will never happen?
Most certainly not however any planning must be done in the knowledge that life is what it is - uncertain and transitory.

In my own planning I always have the thought that it is God in His Sovereignty who allows me to be what I am and go where I need to be according to His Will and Purpose.
When I do have trouble in life which can be little or much, I know that my continued fellowship with Him allows me always to have a unique access to someone who cares and loves me without apportioning a continued blame.
The Psalmist gets it right:
Psalm 46:1-3
(1)  To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(2)  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
(3)  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Psalm 121:1-2
(1)  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
(2)  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Of course that unique fellowship that I have with God came at a price that I could never have paid.
God gave of Himself through His Son Jesus Christ on Calvary's Cross to take my place, my condemnation and pay for my failure in sin.
To many that seems bizarre especially when it happened so long ago and yet when we consider our need for redemption (purchasing) from sin it matters not when it happened but that it did happen.
Jesus did come and to make atonement for my sin and that allows me to be justified (declared Righteous in Jesus Christ) and have access by God's Amazing Grace to heavens Throne.

Do not start only to look for God when trouble comes your way.
Is it not better to have Him at your side every moment of the day, having a peace in life that rejoices in the love of God for ever and not just when things are quiet.
Trouble in life is never far away whether you are saved or unsaved, a Christian or someone who is lost to God.
Proverbs 3:5-7
(5)  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
(6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
(7)  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

What is the only Way that we can have a unique relationship with God?
Jesus declared it to Thomas who doubted what the Way was:
John 14:6
(6)  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Pastor Peter Skillen
braehillbaptist@gmail.com

Our Love of God

Hi All
I was contemplating a 'Daily Reading' note from the eminent preacher and Theologian J Sidlow Baxter this morning and was touched by the teaching he sought to give.
(If you are ever looking for a Daily Reading programme then I recommend Baxters book 'Awake my Heart' (ISBN 978-0-8254-2175-4)).

The subject was Christ's interaction  with the disciple Peter and his restoration after the resurrection -
John 21.

For the Christian there is the Authority of God's Word in our lives and subsequently the obedience to its teaching by the Power of the Holy Spirit to bring about a blessed existence here on earth.
Yet if a believer has the thought of having to obey God rather than wanting to obey God then life becomes less bless.

To note what Jesus said to Peter makes this a bit clearer:
John 21:15-17
(15)  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
(16)  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(17)  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Note what comes first before we live our lives for the Glory of God:
'lovest thou me?'

For a believer to live their lives in the joyous privilege of being 'in Christ' He must be put first in everything because 'He first loved us':
1 John 4:19  
(19) We love him, because he first loved us.

May we all have the same desire of the Apostle Paul:
Philippians 1:21
(21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

The only way a Blood Bought, Blood Washed believer wants to live is with Jesus Christ as preeminent and not just prominent.

Praying for the Church in these days of Apostasy

Pastor Peter Skillen
braehillbaptist@gmail.com

The Joy in the Believers Faith

Hi All

I was just reading yesterday some of the Daily Devotional notes from J Sidlow Baxter (Commentator and Preacher now since 1999 basking in Heavens Glory with His Saviour) and was encouraged by his teaching on the Faith that I have as a believer on the finished sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
He states and I quote:
'Faith is the very life of man's spiritual nature'
In relation to this thought he goes on to say:
'until the mind can rest itself by faith in guaranteed certainties there is no real joy for us'

To doubt in the certainty of God's Love and Mercy to us as sinners is to be robbed of the certainty that Jesus Christ stood in the place of you and me in taking upon Himself the Wrath of God's judgement that was most certainly ours.
To think that we as mankind are free from failure in sin is to delude ourselves in a false security.
Often we hear that we as human beings are essentially good in our nature however even that promotes a sense of pride in ourselves that cannot be right.

God's Word on the matter tells us:
 Romans 3:23
(23)  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12
(12)  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

I am a sinner Saved by God's Amazing Grace and rejoice that I can rest on the certainty that Jesus died for me as that sinner:
Romans 5:6
(6)  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:8
(8)  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Praise God in His Love and Mercy that He has provided for us a certainty of sins forgiven and an assurance of Heavens Glory because of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.

The question needs to be asked as to what you are depending upon for the certainty of your Salvation.
I pray it is totally on Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Peter speaking of Jesus Christ declared:
Acts 4:12
(12)  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Thanks for reading.

Pastor Peter Skillen
braehillbaptist@gmail.com

Not accepting the lie of this world

Hi All.

Further from yesterdays post and the reference to Philippians 4:13:
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

I came across a quote from renown commentator and Bible Teacher A W Tozer:

"Anything God has ever done, He can do now.

Anything God has ever done anywhere, He can do here.

Anything God has ever done for anyone, He can do for you."

If you are reading this perhaps God is calling on you to consider the separated position that you are in with Him.

In a world that is insistent on developing more ways to move away from its Creator I urge you to consider swimming against the tide of deception and look at the Truth of God's Word on matters of life and Eternal separation from Him in death.

Isaiah 55:6
(6)  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Pastor Peter Skillen

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

www.braehillbaptist.org

A Surety for all who Trust in Jesus Christ

Hi All

Two of my favourite verses as a believer who on many an occasion is anxious in self doubt as to my ability to be what God wants me to be are in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippian Church:
Philippians 4:6-7
(6)  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
(7)  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The word for careful is often explained as meaning 'anxious' however I remember it being explained by one faithful preacher as a term used in fishing 'to be caught up (hooked) over nothing'.

Most certainly we can get caught up in anxiety by what befalls us in our failed sinful life.

God allows for the Believer to come in the communion of Prayer with Him because of the mediation of His Son Jesus Christ.

That prayer in supplication means I can bring the details of those things of anxiety to God's Throne of Grace and be thankful that I have such a Father who hears me 'in Christ'.

Often the answer is not what I thought it would be but Hey who am I to question God's Sovereignty on all matters of life.

In verse seven we have the crux of why we bring all things to God in Prayer.

It is for God to give Peace to the petitioner and allow me to know that His Way is the 'Right Way'.

What a confidence that I can have in God answering prayer. Why?

Because God cannot lie:

Titus 1:2
(2)  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

If you are reading this and do not know what I am speaking of its probably because you are not saved and that's a tragedy.
The Love and Mercy of God is available to all who call upon the Name of Jesus Christ in Repentance and Faith in the fact that He standing in your place paid your debt of sin that realistically you could never pay.
1 Timothy 2:3-4
(3)  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(4)  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Because of my position in Jesus Christ as my sinless Redeemer and Lord I have access to God which before my Salvation was impossible:

John 9:31
(31)  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Come to Christ on God's terms and be saved through His merits and not what goodness you think you may have.

As a Blood Bought, Blood Washed sinner I now have a Hope that is secure in Jesus Christ and as Paul continues in Philippians:

Philippians 4:13

(13)  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Hope this helps someone today.

Pastor Peter Skillen

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

Assurance of Salvation in Jesus Christ

Hi All.
Just considering this blog has been neglected for various reasons and I hope to rectify this soon.
My thought today is one of Great assurance to my soul and if you are a Blood Bought Blood Washed Believer in Jesus Christ that it will give you the same.
In my failures on this earth I am considering this thought:
'Its not my love for Christ, but Christ's sacrificial Love that saves and sustains me'

Pastor Peter Skillen

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

The Strength we have in God

Hi All

I came across an old quote I had written down by A W Tozer and thought I would share it with you at this time:
Anything God has ever done, He can do now.
Anything God has ever done anywhere, He can do here.
Anything God has ever done for anyone, He can do for you.

A W Tozer was a man of scripture and would obviously base this thought on such.
The scripture that came to my mind was this:
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

The plan of God is a simple one. He wants all men and women to be saved from the eternal torment of Hell because of sin.
Sin  or what ever you want to designate it as - rebellion, deviance, violence, deceit, pride etc - is something that we all experience and have to differing degrees.

Some it appears sin more than others yet God declares:
Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

God's desire is that you would be saved:

1 Timothy 2:3-4

3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Why trust in this failing world and its sin that you are apart of when you can be cleansed and made free from its shackles.

You may be looking for some type of Utopia in life but God declares that peace can only be found in His Son Jesus Christ who died a slaves death so that you can live.

Your Choice and I hope you make the right one.

Rom 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Pastor Peter Skillen

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

Assurance through trial

Hi All

I want to share with you something that God has laid at the door of my life this morning in my 'Daily Reading'.
Isaiah 46:4 
And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

What a joy it is to know that God's promise to the believer is that He will always be there even as the years start to fly by.
You might think that this is just a verse for those who are in the twilight years of life however life in general is always in flux and is never age related. Its moving from one adventure, trial or episode to another.
One sensible person is quoted as saying 'problems in life are only opportunities'.
Certainly this is true for the one who puts their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. When difficulties in life come upon you no matter what age you are then see them as an opportunity to witness of the strength that only God gives the believer.

The verse in Isaiah 46:4 above gives us a great picture and surety of God's love and mercy for His children:

1. God is always there - I am he
2. God will always carry you as you progress in life - I carry you
3. God is the one who has created us - I have made
4. God will see His creation through to the end - and I will bear
5. God will carry us and deliver us from the wrath that is to come - will deliver you

These promises were made to the Nation of Israel and are from the same Name which is above every Name and are therefore applicable to us as Christians today. God never changes as we do:

Hebrews 13:8 

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Jesus Christ is 'The Word' and always will be:

John 1:1-5 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

(2)  The same was in the beginning with God. 

(3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

(4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 

(5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Christian if you are in despair at this time then put your faith and trust in God who never changes. Do not cling to the traditions of men as they will not help you.

Only Jesus is the giver of peace in a troubled life.

We are told in the book of Philippians (Phil 4:6-7) that we are not to be anxious (careful) for anything in this world if we are His children but to use the means of access that Christ has accomplished at Calvary's Cross in tearing apart the veil of separation from God:

Christ is now the veil and 'in Him we have the access to the Throne of God that brings the believer peace:

Rom 5:1-2  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 

(2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Hope this helps some believer who is going through trials at this present time.

Also if you don't know Christ as your own and personal Saviour then I urge you to come out of the uncertainty of life and trust in Him:

Hebrews 6:19 

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Pastor Peter Skillen

pastor@brahillbaptist.org

www.braehillbaptist.org

Confessing Jesus Christ through our walk with Him.

Hi All

Just a short thought:
Colossians 2:6  
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 

We often tend to go to God when we have immense difficulties in life and yet when He blesses us with resolution we walk away until the next time we are in trouble.
If we have trusted Christ as our Saviour surely then He must have a constant say in how we live our lives.

Our life in Christ is a walk that must be God honouring in separation from the things of this world:
2 Corinthians 6:17 
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

May those who proclaim Salvation in Jesus Christ honour God in all our ways as we seek His Glory in all things of our lives.

Pastor Peter Skillen
braehillbaptist@gmail.com

Through failure comes the strength of God

Often the born again Christian is hammered by his or her own failures in general life which causes them to withdraw from such an active role in witnessing of their Salvation in Christ.
In recent days I have found that the attack of the world, the flesh and the Devil against my witness has been immense and yet coming out the other side of it I see the hand of God still in control.

I ultimately see and know an appreciation of God's longsuffering patience with me a worthless sinner who needs God's strength every moment of the day.
Knowing that it is through my confidence in God and my confession to Him that the only means by which I can survive the taunts of the world, the flesh and the Devil is through prayer:
1 John 1:9 -  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
John is speaking here to the Christian who in repentance of sin has come to the knowledge of sins forgiven but realises that even though he/she is saved from the curse of sin there still is the effects of sin while we continue on this earth.
John wanted the Christian to see that their is a fullness of joy to be had in the close relationship with God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit:
1 John 1:4 - And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Joy for the Christian requires a self examination of how our relationship with God is strengthened.
The Apostle Paul having gone to God in prayer over some 'thorn in the flesh' was given the joy of peace in knowing that God's Grace was so ever powerful to keep him even in days of adversity:
2 Corinthians 12:9 - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Praise God that He sees my weaknesses as something to work with or else I would remain in the depths of despair.

Maybe you as a Christian today have the thought of despair as you fail Him or are not as you should be in your relationship with Him.
Don't despair you are not on your own in this experience.
Allow today to be a starting point of refreshment in His love and care and pray that He will use your weaknesses as light on the Glory trail of some other needy soul.
Remember my last blog was a verse which is so applicable to this thought and underline it for future reference:

2 Timothy 1 verse 7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Pastor Peter Skillen 

www.braehillbaptist.org

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

The True believers power over fear

2 Timothy 1 verse 7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Pastor Peter Skillen 

www.braehillbaptist.org

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

The Gifts of God

The title to this blog may be a bit misleading because really I want to give a personal thought to what God has given to my family of late.

Over the past four years Anne and I have been the benefactors of four beautiful grandchildren.  They have lit up our lives in ways that are incredible.

I have to praise God for His wondrous dealings that Anne and I have in our own children who in turn have also been the benefactors of God's Grace in these beautiful offspring of their God ordained marriage union:

Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 

Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 

What a treasure we have when God blesses this union with Children.

Children that because of the sin curse may well have defects which God never intended from the beginning of Creation however they still are our children and are loved dearly.

If you have been blessed with children of your own remember whatever the condition that they find themselves in they are still yours, given of God for your blessing.

So cherish them as did the Lord Jesus Christ when He called them to Him:

Mark 10:14 - But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 

The desire of Anne and I is and has always been for the Glory of God through the Salvation of our kids (and ultimately their own kids as well) through giving by God of His only begotten Son.

God gave His Son that my sons and daughters could be saved from the penalty of Sin

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

The debt that we owe to God is immense and we are not worthy of such Love yet in His Love we find Salvation:

1 John 4:10 - Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Pastor Peter Skillen

Braehill Baptist Church

Belfast

www.braehillbaptist.org

braehillbaptist@gmail.com

The Believer and Sin - past, present and future.

Hi all

Just a few thoughts on our relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

More and more we as faithful believers are shackled by the thought of our sins before God continuing to be a problem in our relationship with Him.

The very thought of considering what offends God in our lives is a good thing. As we consider God's Word in our Bible we see that it is through our desire and application of its authority that we are progressively sanctified in our lives.

Never on this earth will we be perfectly sanctified. That is reserved for Glory. That time when we reach the heavenly shore when called in physical death or raptured by our Saviour.

John tells us that our acknowledgement of our sin in our lives is essential to bring Joy to the believer.

Consider 1 John 1:4 & 9  

The wonderful thought that God is always who He says He is as 'faithful and just' must bring joy to any faithful believer who is walking in fellowship with Him.

Continuing in the Truth of God's Word brings liberty to those who were once in the darkness of their sin:

John 8:31 - Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 

John 8:32 - And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

God doesn't stop loving the believer who fails Him.  The disciple and Apostle James says:

James 1:2 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 

James 1:3 - Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 

When God allows temptations into our lives He rejoices to see the growth that comes as the believer overcomes them through His power. Also as we fail He remains the same so that we may be lifted up again to Him as we come in repentance and confession.

In a daily reading by the writer and commentator F B Meyer I rejoiced in this thought - that no matter how much I personally fail God He is always there to love me and  hold me without applying blame.

Jesus Christ took my blame at Calvary's Cross. Praise God.

See below the full transcript of what I read and I hope it gives you a blessing as it did for me.

THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S LOVE

"We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. We love Him, because He first loved us."-- 1 John 4:16-19.

GOD IS Love. Jesus Christ first brought to men the conception that man loves God only because God has first loved him. In vain we search for such an idea in the philosophies of Greece and Rome. The men who fixed this thought in the literature of mankind were followers of Jesus Christ. Might and majesty were the dominating ideas of B.C., but since A.D., we think of Love enthroned in the Divine Nature.

His Love passeth knowledge. We may apply to it the masterly arraignment of Psalm 139. It winnows our rays. It besets us behind and before. It lays on us its gentle restraining hand. It is high, we cannot attain to it. If we ascend into heaven, it is there; if we make our bed in the grave, it is there to lift us to His heart; if we take the wings of the morning, it shines as sunrise; if we pass into the darkness, it makes the midnight shine as the day. It covered us in our birth, it will tend us in old age. How precious it is, and how multitudinous in its expression, no mortal lips can tell.

Even our sin will not lessen that Love. That Peter sinned deeply, who can doubt, but did it put a screen between him and Christ? Nay, for when Christ arose, He sent specially for him. In the garden He restored him, and at the lakeside He taught him that His love would be as acceptable as ever (Mark 16:7; John 21:15).

His Love will not spare. Jesus looked on the young man and loved him! But He read him through and through, and mercifully gave the unwelcome verdict: "Go, sell all that thou hast... and follow Me." He went away sad, and Christ went away sad! But He loves us too well to spare us! God's love is consistent with stern dealings at those things which may cause us to fail of the best.

We believe in God's Love when it seems not so. "We have known," says the Apostle, that "God is Love," unutterable and changeless! But there are times when we have to believe in it, i.e. in the perplexity of life's problems. We are often facing incidents and providences that strike us as inconsistent with God's Love. Then we must believe that the same Love is there. God Is Love, and nothing can reach us save through His Love.

One final reference from me:

2 Cor 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 

2 Cor 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 

 Past, present and future we as believers are delivered from our sin.

Does that mean we can sin as we want? God forbid.

Let us continue in the Word and bring Glory to God in all things.

Pastor Peter Skillen

Braehill Baptist Church

Belfast

www.braehillbaptist.org

pastor@braehillbaptist.org