The Reflections of Brian McMichan

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Brian McMichan

Reflections

Dec 2, 2023, Father is in control!

Very early yesterday morning, I was reading through some of my “Daily reminders” (I read through them most mornings – see attached – right mouse click, then select “open”), and I recalled Christ Jesus’ closing words at His crucifixion.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” (Luke 23:34) — it was the Jews (and many others who were supporting His crucifixion).

Then I wrote down that Christ Jesus knew that He was to die to the world (to show the world that a worldly life was not Father’s plan) as Father would raise Him to Spiritual life three days later to live forever with Father and all born again children of God … so, all born again children of God are to forgive all mankind for their evil ways (including the Jews)

Eph 6:18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose {and} perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
Eph 6:19 And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),

As we do this, many of mankind will be drawn to turn to the Light, be washed clean in baptism, and be spiritually born again as children of God. As Father’s vessels, we are equipped to do this ….

1 John 4:17 In this [union and communion with Him – branches grafted into the Vine by Father], love is brought to completion {and} attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

The worsening of events in the world (Israel/Gaza, violence, crime, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, fires, etc.) are “getting people’s attention” so that many will be drawn to look up in desperation and call out, “Help me!”…… time is running out fast.

We MUST forgive the greed and selfishness of so many.’

Matt 18:21 Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him {and} let it go? [As many as] up to seven times?
Matt 18:22 Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!

Father is in control!

Nov 1, 2023

As I sat at my computer this morning, my attention was drawn to a file I prepared quite some time ago, but it is very timely. Jesus announced His purpose of being sent to earth by Father ….

Amplified Bible – Reading time 3 min 43 sec

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah – (Light to show the way)] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],To proclaim the accepted {and} acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favours of God profusely abound].

Jesus’ closing words at His crucifixion were:

John 19:30 “It is finished!” and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
John 3:16 For God so greatly loved {and} dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. (Genuine belief and trust – God can never be deceived by untruth.)

God is love:

1 Cor 13:4-8 Love endures long {and} is patient and kind; love never is envious {nor} boils over with jealousy, is not boastful {or} vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) {and} does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights {or} its own way, {for} it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy {or} fretful {or} resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice {and} unrighteousness, but rejoices when right {and} truth prevail. Love bears up under anything {and} everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

John 3:17 -21 For God did not send His Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation {and} be made safe {and} sound through Him. He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation–he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in {and} trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.] The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than {and} more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light {but} shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed {and} reproved. But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are–wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence upon Him].

So, to be freed from the world’s darkness and burdens:

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (old self dead) (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water (full immersion baptism, as Jesus was, washing away the old self) and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, “You must all be born anew (from above).”

So you are able to:

Col 4:2 Be earnest {and} unwearied {and} steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert {and} intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.

Col 4:5 Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time {and} seizing (buying up) the opportunity.
Col 4:6 Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].

I believe the next few months are going to be amazing! ….. and the world will be led to join in.

ALL believers) need to be branches of the Vine, resting in Him, giving praise – as Father does all the caring, grafting of new branches, ….. again I say, “Rejoice!”

Brian V McMichan

“Do Not be Uninformed
About Those Who are Asleep”

I was having a rest yesterday and was prompted to catch up on my reading of Smith Wigglesworth’s Daily Devotional (which I have been reading for about 18 years), but I was four days behind the date order.

Part of the Scripture reading for 28th April was 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 …. So after I read it, I acknowledged Father, “Thank You, Father. You are always meeting our needs and guiding us!”

A Christian man from Tasmania (Australia) whom I met in April 2019 notified me that his wife of 48 years had died on Friday, plus a dear Christian man friend passed on three weeks ago. Both left family and friends behind.

I then went on the internet and prepared the following from the information I found at –(http://www.nurturingnuggets.net/2011/05/have-you-heard.html and https://www.gotquestions.org/dead-in-Christ.htm)

(I sent the Tasmanian man, plus the wife of my dear friend, a copy).

What I read and prepared refreshed my memory, and I thought, (this will help all who believe and are born again!) ….. God is so good!

We are so blessed, as well as those who previously have fallen asleep [in Him in death] prior to Lord Jesus’ return.

The following Scripture deals with the question of what will happen at the return of the Lord Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, Amp:

“Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep [in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave].
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [in death].
For this, we declare to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] {or} have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death].
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.
Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
Therefore comfort {and} encourage one another with these words.”

Paul’s readers were concerned that when Christ returns, those who have died prior to then would somehow miss out. The primary purpose of this passage is to comfort those believers who have lost believing loved ones.

The message of this passage is a message of hope. Christians have hope that unbelievers do not have when they lose loved ones. There is hope beyond the grave for Christians, and part of that hope is that, at the return of Christ, those who have already died “will rise first.”

After that, Christians who are still alive will be transformed. Both groups will be “caught up” and will meet the Lord in the air. Paul closes this section with an admonition to encourage others with this hope.

In this passage, Paul uses the common euphemism of sleep to refer to those who have died in Christ, i.e., believers. Paul wants to comfort his readers that those Christians who have died prior to the return of Christ will not miss out on anything.

That is why he opened this section by saying, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (v. 13).

“Sleep”, as used here, is symbolic; it is not meant to convey actual sleep. In fact, the experience of the believer after death and before the end of the age when Christ returns is conscious, blissful communion with the Lord. Believers experience, in a provisional sense, the rewards that await them in heaven.

Oh, what joy when we all meet in heaven with Father and Lord Jesus!

Love,

Brian V McMichan: Australia

Email: [email protected]

And Where is Heaven?

I just thought about “How many galaxies are there?”

2 trillion galaxies

One such estimate says there are between 100 and 200 billion galaxies in the observable universe.

Other astronomers have tried to estimate the number of ‘missed’ galaxies in previous studies and come up with a total number of 2 trillion galaxies in the universe.10 Feb 2023

One trillion equals a thousand billion, or million million. 1 trillion consists of 1 followed by 12 zeros, that is,
1, 000, 000,000, 000

… and our complex, troubled earth is a very tiny speck amongst all those galaxies!

AND Where is heaven? ……Oh! The power and wonder of God!

So, we don’t have to wonder about all the galaxies – heaven is VERY close (even a ladder can reach it).

As we learn from Gen 28:12, “And he (Jacob) dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it”!

The Power of Forgiveness

In March 1992, I was taught the power of forgiveness when a woman on a bus gave me a leaflet “Forgiveness is the power that heals!”

The author, Dick Innes, is an Australian who has had a ministry in the US (?California) for 30+ years – he has a link to Acts International and some websites, books, etc.).

At home, I read it and then sat and asked God to remind me of anyone I had not forgiven (I thought I had forgiven everyone). He gave me a long list of names starting at my early childhood (including myself a few times).

I had a pad and pen ready and He gave me about 30 names (myself included a few times) and circumstances dating back to my early childhood, of those I needed to forgive.

Over the next 2 hours or so I forgave each of the people on my list. One by one, I forgave them and asked Lord Jesus, Who was beside me, to forgive them as well…. I then made forgiveness a policy of my life

The result … I have not had even a headache or a cold since (over 30 years), nor do I need to wear spectacles – nor have I had any COVID vaccinations.

It is No Longer I but Christ

October 26, 2022

I awoke this morning with a prompting … “guide me, direct me, provide for me, protect me, Father, by Your Spirit, as it is no longer I who live but Christ Jesus Who lives in me”.

“as a branch grafted into the Vine, as He is, so am I in this world!” (1 John 4:17).

The bulk of the world’s population is seeking to cope with the world’s troubles with self-effort … and Father is sending lots of “attention getters”…. Hopefully, many will call out “, Help me!” He is always listening and will respond quickly.

Not by Might nor by Power

As soon as you are “born again”… your “old spiritual self” washed away by your step of faith in baptism, it is NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST JESUS WHO LIVES IN ME …..

So, “The success of your life, as a child of God, is in direct proportion to the consciousness of the living Christ, and the almighty power of God, that is in your heart.” F J Heugel

As branches of the Vine” (John 15), we have been grafted spiritually into Lord Jesus by Father, (so …1 John 4:17 …. As He, Lord Jesus is, so are we I in this world!) …

So, simply rest in Him every moment knowing that, MOMENT BY MOMENT, you are receiving all your needs to bear abundant fruit (read Gal 5:22).

For Father’s glory.… Christ Jesus in you … the hope of glory! … and Father, as the Vinedresser, is ALWAYS caring for and watching over the Vine and all the branches.

Have a consciousness, as Paul did …. It is no longer I who (spiritually) live, but Christ Jesus Who lives in me (Galatians 2:20)

REST IN HIM …. WAIT ON GOD … IT IS NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, says the Lord (Zech 4:6).

Thank You, Father, for loving me!

The love of Father and Lord Jesus in me overcomes ALL things.

Waiting on God

I just watched a TV report on the horrific suffering and death in the US at present from Coronavirus. It reminded me that a few weeks ago, as I was looking in my bookshelves, I “found” a small book that I could not recall seeing before …. “Waiting on God” by Andrew Murray.

It was written in approx.. 1895, and is a great “attention-getter.” Suggestion: review the many aspects of your own life and ask yourself, “Am I waiting on God for …….?”……… so, so often we are trusting in our own “flesh” (abilities, thoughts, etc.)

A free download is available on the web, just (Key in …” Waiting on God – Andrew Murray.”) Plus, the book can likely be purchased in many book shops. I used the first site that came up and sent a copy to a few friends.

God IS love and wants ALL people to wait on Him (put their trust and expectation in Him) ….. I believe that this current pandemic is an “attention getter” for people to call out, “Help me!” and this book is a great guide and reminder to put their trust in Him simply.

For far too long, Satan has been deceiving many, many people to trust “man” and themselves (2 Thess 2:3-4) ….. Father is waiting to help when people CHOOSE to turn to Him!

1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks,
Brian V McMichan

Our Father is Love

In this “worldly” world … even among so-called believers, it is rare to be able to be “Children of God spiritually.” Often when I am looked at, you know that the person doesn’t know what I am sharing.

I believe that with all the “troubles” people are experiencing, all that is required is a genuine plea to Father, “Help me!;” Knowing that He is always listening and waiting for our call, and already has the answer for our deliverance.

We are His children, but too many believers think they are “all grown up” and try to do it themselves.

Sadly, many many people have NOT had good relationships with their earthly father.

But our Father is love:

Love endures long and is patient and kind.
Love is never envious.
Love never boils over with jealousy.
Love is never boastful or vainglorious or displays itself haughtily.
Love is not conceited, arrogant, and inflated with pride.
Love is not rude or unmannerly.
Love does not act unbecomingly (unsuitable, not socially acceptable).
Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking, or expecting to have needs met by others.
Love is not touchy or fretful or resentful.
Love does not take account of the evil done to it – it pays no attention to a suffered wrong.
Love does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes.
Love is ever ready to believe the best of every person.
Love has hope that is fadeless under all circumstances.
Love endures everything.

Love: (God) never fails – never fades or becomes obsolete or comes to an end – because God is love (and God is in you).

As God is love, so any step away from love is a step away from God… separation from God. God loves you and wants you to receive His love and share it with others. ……and He will meet all our needs.

Overcoming Satans Influence

Mankind initially sought to overcome the effects of Satan’s influence by “self-effort” (rituals, man’s rules, etc.), which is ineffective. So Father God sent His Son to earth to spiritually free mankind and gave spiritual sight! (Luke 4:18-19 (Christ Jesus said) The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the (spiritual) captives and recovery of sight to the (spiritually) blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], To proclaim the accepted {and} acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favours of God profusely abound].).

Christ Jesus’ closing words on the cross were “It is finished!” (John 19:30) … He had achieved what He had come to earth for by the sacrifice of His sinless body in full payment of all man’s sin. Immediately, all human spirits were made new, ready to be imparted into any person as soon as they take the step of faith and be born again spiritually.

This freedom, this victory over the troubles of this world, was made available to all human spirits by Christ Jesus on the cross. He bought everyone’s spirit with His life, and He made them new and set them free … when any person turns to the Light (Christ Jesus), they will see what He has made available for them! … free, renewed spirits to enter their “earth suits”. (see 1 John 2:2 And He [that same Jesus Himself] is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for [the sins of] the whole world.)

As Paul (formerly Saul) said, (Gal 2:20) “I (my spirit) have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Jesus Who lives in me”… you, or anyone, can say that all it takes is “whosoever believes” and takes the step of faith to be (spiritually) born again (see *** below) … the benefits being…

Rom 8:1 Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, {who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.}

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

Rom 8:3 For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],

### As Christ Jesus provides any person total freedom, we are told …. John 6:44 No one is able to come to Me (Christ Jesus) unless the Father Who sent Me attracts {and} draws him {and} gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

Jesus showed the world how a Godly Spirit can be received … He came to John the Baptist and was fully immersed in the River Jordan, and as he came up, He left “the old man” (the carpenter) spiritually behind in the water and was anointed with Father’s Holy Spirit.

*** This step of faith is available for anyone when they believe …. be it in a river, a pond, a lake … or even under a shower. God knows their faith and sees them taking the step of faith! (The Greek word for baptism is “baptidzo” literally means to “dip” or to “immerse”.) ….. but much of mankind has been deceived by Satan into believing that “sprinkling” of a baby or young child (too young to make a choice) in “baptism” is “good enough”.

When a person chooses to be baptised, and they understand that as soon as the “old spiritual man” is washed away (following Jesus’ example in baptism), this allows the Holy Spirit to come to them. They become a new “spiritual” creation … a child of God cared for by Him. For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world (and all evil influences in the world.) – even our faith, (1 John 5:4).

God is love …and love overcomes all things. God is Spirit – to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Note: It is “whatever”.. not whoever … it is a renewed spirit)

1 John 5:5, Who is it that is victorious over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?

So, all that is required is to turn from the darkness of the world to Jesus Christ, the Light, so that they can realise that their spirits have been set free. Today on earth, there are over 7 billion people, and most are still looking into darkness …. through the deception of Satan.

As a person believes and gives thanks, the Holy Spirit covers, protects, guides and supplies all needs … the person who takes that step of faith, is spiritually engrafted into Christ Jesus by Father … the same as a twig is engrafted into a grape vine … 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any person is [in-grafted in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh {and} new has come!

Christ, Jesus explained it with this analogy .. John 15:1, I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.

John 15:2 ….He cleanses {and} repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more {and} richer {and} more excellent fruit. …. (and 1 John 1:9 .. as we confess our sins, He will forgive us and cleanse us.)

John 15:4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

John 15:5 ….. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me], you can do nothing.

1 John 4:17 In this [union and communion with Him – one with Christ] love is brought to completion {and} attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.… branches grafted into Him, the True Vine, moment by moment receiving all that He is and has (Christ in … Christian), including the seeds of the fruit … cleansing, purifying, strengthening, equipping us, so that we can bear much fruit for Father’s glory and use (John 15). The fruit being .. Gal 5:22 -24 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things, there is no law [that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites {and} desires.

Col 1:16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created {and} exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in {and} for Him. Col 1:17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him, all things consist (cohere, are held together). – so everything that is needed will come from Him … not by our effort! …. So simply rest in Him and wait expectantly.

Joined to Lord Jesus, all can say and know …I am as He is – born again – part of the Body of Christ (He is the head … thus we have the mind of Christ), anointed with the Holy Spirit. Apart from Him, I can do nothing! The Body of Christ – He and all branches are the True Church on earth …. because as Lord Jesus is, (the Word of God), so are we in this world (1 John 4:17)

1 Cor 3:16 Do you not discern {and} understand that you [the whole church] are God’s temple (His sanctuary) and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?

We have two temples at the side of our head. When a person is born again (guided by the Holy Spirit, not our flesh), our mind (the mind of Christ) is between/in the temple … we are the True Church … not the structures that man calls church, which is so often influenced by man/fleshly input and Satan’s deceptions.

NOTE: Father doesn’t want people to strive and put in a big effort to be Christians. All that is needed is to rest in the Vine .. to have a consciousness of being spiritually grafted into Him by Father … look around you at the trees, shrubs, vines … moment by moment, they are receiving all that is needed to grow and produce.

He is love….. He is in constant union with all born again believers … what the world needs now is love

There is a promise given to all of mankind …. John 15:7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you {and} continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. So, simply wait on God …. With your trust and expectation in Him!

Father provides us with His protection when a person is born again. He wants us to intercede (pray for help) for all people who have yet to call out, “Help me!” and drawn by Father. As mentioned above, today on earth, there are over 7 billion people, and most are still looking into the darkness and do not realise freedom is available

So, have a consciousness of this ….

Eph 6:10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

Eph 6:11 Put on God’s whole armour [the armour of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies] that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies {and} the deceits of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

Eph 6:13 Therefore put on God’s complete armour, that you may be able to resist {and} stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

Eph 6:14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity {and} of moral rectitude {and} right standing with God,

Eph 6:15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

Eph 6:16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

THEN …Eph 6:18 Pray, at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose {and} perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people)

……Father wants all people to be with Him for Eternity! …. John 3:16 For God so greatly loved {and} dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever[by choice] believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

Note (the highlighted words) – we are simply to stand in the protective armour with the shield of faith that Father supplies; He will do it all for us. The Holy Spirit wields the sword ….. we are simply to be vessels on earth for Father to work through …. As stated in 1 John 4:17 above …. In this [union and communion with Him – one with Christ] love is brought to completion {and} attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

Father tells us an absolute essential …. Matt 6:14 For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matt 6:15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.

So, get a pen and pad and ask Father to advise you of everyone (including yourself) that you have NOT forgiven … then, one by one, recall the people (and maybe the incident) AND forgive them all … then pass them all over to Lord Jesus. (A reminder …. Col 3:17 And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus {and} in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.) ….. so, so often in churches today, we hear “In Jesus’ name!”

1 John 5:4 For whatever (a born again spirit) is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith.

Brian McMichan …. Queensland, Australia.

Troubles are Attention Getters

The world has always experienced much trouble and suffering, and with the current Covis-19 pandemic, this has resulted in much death, fear, stress, and hardship.

People are given advice on how to cope plus governments introduce rules and regulations to help and the usual response by man is to look to the world for guidance and help from fellow man, medicines, material things, money, assets, etc. So often, this brings partial or temporary relief but ultimately leads to more troubles, disappointments, dependence, and suffering.

What is the cause of all this? The Bible tells us! At 2 Thess 2:3 -4, we are told…. Let no one deceive {or} beguile you in any way, for that day (the Lord Jesus’ return) will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition), who opposes and exalts himself so proudly {and} insolently against {and} over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.

Who is this man of lawlessness (sin), who is the son of doom? It is Satan (the Devil, Lucifer) the evil spirit force who deceives man to believe that our fleshly efforts are the best way to do things.

Satan was sent to earth by God at the time of creation (He is depicted as a serpent who deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden to eat fruit off a tree that God said it was not to be eaten.) (Gen 3:5) Satan said, “in the day you eat that fruit your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God”,

Eve used her eyes to see that the fruit was good, and she believed the lies of Satan and ate some of the fruit. BUT, if she had talked to God and sought His guidance, she would have been warned of the consequences of believing Satan’s lies.

That was the beginning of troubles for mankind ….. and mankind, most times, does what Eve did and relies on their own reasoning, abilities, and experience plus is every ready to listen to others (which as we see in the verse above) is influenced by Satan most of the time.

Why did God send Satan to earth to cause so much trouble and suffering to mankind?

God is love, and He wants to give man good all the time … so he imparts choice to man … He lets man choose to seek His help or rely on his flesh. He doesn’t simply impose His will on man. This is highlighted in John 3:16 For God so greatly loved {and} dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever [by choice] believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

So, in our troubled world, where most are experiencing suffering, God is waiting for any man to seek His guidance and help …… as mentioned above, He gives ALL mankind the choice to call out to Him.

This usually happens when a person reaches that “point” in life when they realise that “self-effort and trusting the world” is not bringing good results. This “attention-getting” is ongoing for everyone, and the “point” is different for everyone. Our response may be a simple plea …” Help me!”…. (see below ###)

As God is ALWAYS waiting to hear our call, when we finally call, He may reply, “Ah! At last, I have your attention!”

He always knows what is best for us, and as you continue to trust Him to answer your call for help, He will always help you. Acts 26:18 To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness {and} release from their sins and a place {and} portion among those who are consecrated {and} purified by faith in Me.

Because Satan is always looking for opportunities to deceive, he will seek to lure us back to relying on our self and the world. …. To guard against that happening, Christ Jesus told us the solution … John 3:7 … You must all be born anew (from above). …..this means that you must receive a cleaned spirit from Him and Father (to replace the contaminated/deceived spirit caused by Satan’s influence). (Amplified Bible used)

Brian McMichan