Where is God when we are in the midst of tribulation? - He is right there with us, a very present help in our times of trouble. It is easy to feel God's presence when we are on the mountain top, celebrating His goodness; but the Scripture implies that whilst He is present in our good times, He is very present in our distress. Some years ago I was invited to speak at a conference. The theme was how we can know God, how we can come into His presence. I took as my Scripture Deuteronomy 4.29, 'If from where you are you shall seek the Lord Your God you shall find Him'. You will find God when you are in tribulation, when all the problems of life have come on you. God will use the very circumstances you are in to work a miracle in a demonstration of His Power.
The joy of answered of prayer
Oh the joy of answered prayer; the relief of burdens lifted and the excitement of new beginnings. We have a God of power, glory and miracles - He is a prayer-answering God. We can all have this relationship with Him. If you are sick, or crippled, in despair, alone, whoever you are, wherever you are - God will hear you, God will answer your prayer like He has answered mine! It is not about religion; it is not about ceremony - it is about finding a new reality, a new relationship with Jesus. I know God is alive and delights in answering our prayers.
Seeing beyond the impossible!
We need to have a clear vision of God's plan and purposes. Something tangible. The Bible instructs us to write it down and make it plain to read. All my life I've been working towards a goal; something I see in my spirit. As I look back over my life and ministry, I see what God has done, and because of this, I have an absolute confidence that God is going to continue to lead and direct my steps.
Fishers of men
Seek God’s direction and purpose for your life. In Luke 5, some of Jesus’ disciples had spent the night fishing on the Lake of Gennesaret but caught nothing. Jesus saw them from the shore and called out to them, ‘Let down your nets on the other side’. They did, and the nets broke! The moment you respond to the instruction of Jesus, you’ll pull in a tremendous harvest. All my life I’ve wanted to hear that voice behind me saying, “Do this, go there.” (Isaiah 30:21.) And after 70 years of ministry, I KNOW with certainty that His voice continues to give me direction and fruitfulness.
The Power of God revealed
This pandemic is an unprecedented crisis. So often I quote the Scripture from Romans 1:16, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God! Whatever nation we live in, politicians and scientists do not have the answer, but God does! He is revealing His Power now! Jesus was revealed to destroy the works of the enemy.
What is God's strategy?
God always has a clear plan and strategy in everything He does. From creation to salvation, nothing has happened in heaven or earth without the foreknowledge of God. An important part of the strategy which God has for today is that He wants to show that His power is not just in heaven, but also demonstrated very powerfully on earth. I have a vision of a God who is so much bigger than you or I can ever imagine! The God of the Bible, has so much more power, is so much bigger, more glorious, more exciting than anything you could dream about! So, start dreaming, but then for God’s sake stop dreaming and start to do something! Lessons from 70 years of ministry: 'For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance.' (Part 12)
The Lord our Deliverer
As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, I want to share my personal testimony of God’s faithfulness and deliverance at that time. I was a child through the War, 13 when my father took us to London to celebrate VE Day. God does preserve, and He will protect! God has sustained me through so many trials – and God will preserve us through this Coronavirus. He is the Lord our Deliverer. Yes, we will walk through many dark valleys, but He is the Good Shepherd, a present help in times of need.
Why does God allow crises?
If God exists why does he allow suffering? This question has been in people’s minds very much recently. God is not responsible for natural disasters; these have a natural explanation. But God has more than once used disasters as a warning, for example, as it was in the days of Noah, or the plagues in Egypt. Is God allowing something big enough to shake people out of their total apathy and indifference, and at least reawaken some moral conscience. Lessons from 70 years of ministry: 'For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance.' (Part 11)
The Bread of Life
Our life is in Christ, He is our source and provider: we live by the Words which proceed out of the mouth of God. In John 6:35, Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.” To have Christ is have all that we need for life.
The healing touch of Jesus
In Luke 8:45, a woman in great distress because of an incurable sickness came to Jesus. Jesus KNEW she had reached out to Him, because He felt virtue pass to her. Like her, you are not able to physically touch Jesus, but you can reach out to Him through prayer and worship. Whatever your problem: whether it is sickness, financial or other distress, come to Jesus. And like with that woman, He will turn around and say, “Child of Mine, go in peace, your faith has healed you.”