JUST AROUND THE CORNER

Change is the only constant in life. Good or bad times may just be around the corner. What should our attitude be?

When we are tempted to worry and fret, good times may just be around the corner. Deliverance may be so close at hand. What a pity to give up hope when we could have just waited a little longer.

Have we learnt the benefits of waiting? http://bit.ly/ICfkhS

                                                                           

When we are tempted to fret and worry, the psalmist exhorts us to be still before God and wait for the fulfillment of His promises to us (Psalm 37: 7-9). Have we learnt how to overcome worry? http://bit.ly/1dM42oI

Conversely, when everything seems to be going fine, we might become self-sufficient and complacent. We need to be reminded that the scenario might suddenly change. Misfortune may just be around the corner.

Are we aware of the dangers of complacency? http://bit.ly/MnmHer

Whatever our lot in life, Psalm 84 helps us to have the correct attitude and perspective:

• Help us Lord to stay focused on You and remain humble (Psalm 84:10).

• May we yearn to dwell in God’s presence whatever our circumstance in life (Psalm 84:2, 10).  *   

• May we always find our strength, comfort and succour in You (Psalm 84:5). 

• May we realise that You are a good God who will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly—even though the prevailing circumstances may tell us otherwise (Psalm 84:11)

As such, we will always praise and trust You as we are blessed (Psalm 84:4, 12).

Footnotes:

*   Those who love to dwell in God’s presence may find themselves passing through barren places (Valley of Weeping). But they must view adversity as an opportunity to experience God’s faithfulness and grow spiritually strong.

Valley of Baka = Valley of Weeping

                                                                                     

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PURPOSE IN PAIN
Why does God allow pain?
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FROM COMFORT TO COMPLACENCY

What are the dangers of complacency?

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STABILITY AMID UNCERTAINTY

When circumstances are precarious, when times are turbulent, we can look to God. He is our strength. He makes us as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

http://bit.ly/1cOnBqA

DWELLING IN HIS PRESENCE

King David had one consuming desire. He wanted to continually dwell in God’s presence and gaze upon God’s beauty.

http://bit.ly/1fNbwJg

PSALM 84: Our greatest joy is to be found when we dwell in God’s presence

¹ How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
² My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
³ Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.

⁵ Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
⁶ As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.

⁸ Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
⁹ Look on our shield, O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.

¹⁰ Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

¹² Lord Almighty,

    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

Why is preserving sound doctrine so important?

Sometimes we think that maturity means we must always be tolerant—even to the extent of condoning false teaching.

But that is not the stance adopted by apostles Paul, Peter and John. They made sure they took a strong stand against destructive heresies.

The following three instances in the New Testament underscore the need to stand up for the truth:

• Those who pervert grace incurred the censure of Jude

• Paul’s warning about vicious wolves (false teachers) in his farewell message to the church elders at Ephesus

• Paul’s charge to young Timothy to preserve sound doctrine amid “feel good” teaching that tickles itching ears

Jude found it necessary to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For ungodly people have wormed their way among believers and perverted the grace of our God into a license for immorality (Jude 1: 3-4).

Before he left the church elders at Ephesus to go to Jerusalem, Paul shared with them a poignant farewell message:
“So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.  I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following” (Acts 20: 28-30).

Paul’s last words to Timothy have a strikingly similar tone. The former, who was then holed up in a damp and chilly dungeon, charged the young disciple to preach sound doctrine and defend the truth amid false teaching.

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths" (2 Timothy 4:1-4).

Why the great need to preserve sound doctrine?

Sometimes we think that maturity means we must always be tolerant—even to the extent of condoning false teaching.

But that is not the stance adopted by apostles Paul, Peter and John. They made sure they took a strong stand against destructive heresies (2 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1).

Love alone without truth is compromise. http://bit.ly/1f0RuXH

"The early Christians condemned false doctrine in a way that sounds almost unchristian today." - Vance Havner

Truth is not just about morality—integrity in thought, word and action. The oft neglected aspect of truth is doctrine, to which we must hold fast.

                                                                       

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16).

"Faith is good only when it engages truth; when it is made to rest upon falsehood it can and often does lead to eternal tragedy."  – A. W. Tozer.    http://bit.ly/1qGIyye

Fighting the good fight of faith is not just about keeping our personal faith and finishing the race. http://bit.ly/1deSgkU

It is also about contending for the faith, keeping believers safe from enticing words of man’s wisdom that delude many and send them to destruction. http://bit.ly/1g2CpED

As such, it is imperative for leaders to confront false teaching during these perilous end times. If they can identify with Paul the seriousness of the task they have been entrusted with—to feed the flock with solid teaching from the whole Word of God (Acts 20:27) as well as to correct and rebuke heresy (2 Timothy 4:2)—then people will not be so easily led astray from the faith.

To recap, leaders need to uphold sound doctrine, identify heresy and rebuke it. They have to make sure that the truth is well communicated to the flock.

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