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