Faithful Writing

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, Lord, only make me dwell in safety. My dear brothers and sisters, let us reflect on the power of praising God and casting down devils, even in our sleep. The Bible invites us to meditate on God's word day and night (Joshua 1:8), suggesting that our praises and spiritual warfare do not end when our eyes close to sleep. God watches over us in our slumber, and our spirits remain engaged in an unseen battle against darkness.   Psalm 42:8 proclaims, "By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me — a prayer to the God of my life ." Here we see an image of a believer whose heart is so filled with love for God that their spirit continues to sing praises even in the quiet hours of the night.   When we wrap up our day, it is essential to end in worship, thanking God for His blessings and seeking refuge in His love. Praising God as we drift off to sleep sets the tone for our subconscious thought...

Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”   I warmly welcome you, my cherished family in the faith. Today, I feel compelled to share a message about the insidious nature of secular strife. The prevailing worldly dynamic can often lure us into adopting a binary mentality on worldly issues of the flesh, a snare which can lead to unnecessary division and discord – even with other believers.   The Apostle Paul, in his writing in 1 Corinthians 1:10 states: “ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ” This text explains the heart we should adopt from our discussion today, particularly as we strive to navigate through a world often driven by rancour and division.   Secular dichotomies present incessant challenges for our Christian walk. As...

Isaiah 65:17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Let us consider an unconventional topic, something that seems more suited for science fiction than Christian devotionals. Yet, in our rapidly changing world, it is a subject that demands our attention – the role of Artificial Intelligence and technology in furthering the Kingdom's work and ministry.   The scriptures teach us, " Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert ." (Isaiah 43:19)   Indeed, God is doing a new thing, using every medium, technology and tool to spread the Gospel, and we need to be perceptive to His movement. Let us not be like the children of Israel who failed to understand God's active presence in their lives.   Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, is a revolutionary technology that has already starte...

Joel 2:25 (SKJV) "I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm. My great army that I sent among you."   Today, I am moved to speak with you about the significance of time and the precious opportunity God has blessed us all with to redeem it. Time, brethren, is a gift that the Almighty Creator has given upon us, equitably and impartially. Every tick of the clock is a blessing, an opportunity, and a responsibility to make our lives resonate with the rhythm of God's purpose for us. It is important for us to realise, however, that this gift of time is transient, an ever-moving river that, once passed, never returns.   Yet, in His infinite wisdom, our loving God has given us the means to "redeem the time". To redeem time is not to turn back the hands of the clock, but to imbue each moment with the essence of purpose, significance, and intentionality driven by our love and commitment to Go...

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed, and in truth.   Today let us consider an important theme our faith journey, 'Feeding God's Sheep.' This message hails from John 21:15-17, where Jesus, after his resurrection, asked Peter, " Do you love me? " When Peter affirmed his love for Jesus, Jesus did not merely accept his words but instructed him, " Feed my sheep. "   These words hold profound implications for us today, for it is through them that Christ calls us to care for one another actively. He encourages each one of us to nourish, sustain, and uplift each other, just as He does for us.   Feeding God’s sheep is not merely about physical sustenance. It is about spiritual and emotional nourishment. It is about tending to the soul as much as the body. By feeding God's sheep, we echo Christ's love, compassion, and understanding. We emulate His selflessness, His kindness, and His caring n...

Isaiah 43:2 (SKJV) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; nor shall the flame kindle on you.   In every corner of the world, in every life, there comes a time of storm and struggle. It is then we need encouragement, seeking solace in the hope of better days. Yet, the world can often seem more adept at instilling discouragement than faith. But fear not, for we must remember we are dwelling in the palm of God's hand, guided by His love, and protected by His promise.   In these trying times, we are reminded of the words in Isaiah 41:10: " So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand ." What a powerful promise God has given us! It is His eternal assurance to us, His beloved children, that we are never alone. In times of despair or di...

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and do not lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He shall direct your path.”   In the divine tapestry of life, each of us has a thread to contribute, symbolising the unique path that God has designed for each one of us. The expanse of the universe carries the indelible mark of our Creator, and in His infinite wisdom, He has created each one of us with a distinct purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us, “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ”   Yet, in our earthly journey, we often yearn for more, or sometimes feeling disillusioned with the course of our lives. How often do we look upon the lives of others and wish for their blessings, their talents, their calling? This, dear brethren, is a detour from the path of contentment and gratitude, a dark alley that leads us away from recognisi...

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it Today I wish to speak on a topic of deep significance – one that rests at the core of our day-to-day lives. It is love; specifically, the love we show towards our spouse and our family. The Bible speaks profoundly about love. It tells us that " Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins " (1 Peter 4:8).   The Bible commands us to love unceasingly, unconditionally, and unfailingly, just as our Heavenly Father loves us. Not least of all our enemies, so how much more our own house! Yet, in the humdrum of our daily lives, sometimes we may lose sight of what this love truly entails, especially within our immediate homes – the sacred spaces of marriage and family.   The cornerstone of a healthy marriage and family life is love – not the lustful love that is often glamourised in movies and novels, but the love as described in 1 Corinthians 1...

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Every man's work shall be made manifest…because fire shall reveal it; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.   If any man's work endures, he shall receive a reward.   If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss   Every individual, irrespective of status or condition, leaves a legacy behind. We often equate legacy with tangible assets – homes, bank balances, items of sentimental value. However, a legacy is not solely about material possessions. It extends beyond the physical realm into the spiritual. Today, I would like to talk to you about an exceptionally significant aspect of our lives: Leaving an Eternal Spiritual Legacy.   Our lives are but fleeting moments in the grand scheme of the universe, a brief whisper in the winds of time. It is incumbent upon each one of us to use these ephemeral moments to make a lasting impact, to leave an indelible mark - a spiritual footprint. That footprint should echo o...

Romans 2:1 Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are, who judges: for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge do the same things.   My dear brothers and sisters, today, we seek to explore the scripture and the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ to guide us on the important matter of avoiding double standards and hypocrisy. This is an admittedly complex topic, but our faith can provide illuminating insights. We turn to the Holy Word of God in Matthew 23:27-28 where Jesus admonished the Pharisees: " Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "   The first step in tackling hypocrisy is acknowledging its existence. As humans, we are not per...

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.   Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we will delve into a captivating topic that has both historical and spiritual implications. Our discussion will centre around the evolution of English language and how it has impacted the way we understand and interpret the Holy Scriptures.   Language, like all things temporal, is subject to change. English, as we know it today, is not the English of yesteryears. The meanings of many words have evolved, some subtly, others profoundly, since the time of the earliest recorded English translations of the Bible. To give you an example of this, two such words that have seen substantial semantic shifts are "gay" and "let."   In older English usage, found in the King James Version of the Bible among other texts, the word "gay" signified 'joyous', 'carefree', or 'bright and showy.' But in...