A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

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A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

Just sharing a few thoughts from my notes (rather indecipherable)…

as inspired by a sermon from Bobby Schuller on the Hour of Power

Sunday 13 Feb

enjoy and be inspired

c

moon on the water at Tolaga Bay

Jesus came into the world to show us what God is like. Jesus reveals what God, The Father is like… and YOU can (and choose to) reveal (in society’s eyes) what Jesus is like. That’s His expectation. You represent Jesus…today.

Jesus had a uniquely close and intimate relationship with God, the Father

(“I am what God is like”)

see Matthew 11: 25-30 *

*  a defining verse in Jesus’ ministry (together with John 3:16,17)

You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
– Matthew 5: 14-16 (NKJV)

HOW do you do that?

In other words, how to live your life by following the example of Jesus Christ?
* help others
* help heal and comfort the wounded of society and our own wounds will be healed
* be hospitable and kind
* make people feel included and that they belong somewhere

* listen to peoples concerns and worries – really care

* remember, it’s not your achievements that count, but the difference you make in people’s lives

* learn and grow (continually) along life’s journey
“Giant strides start with small steps”

Just do what is right and (like a moth) be drawn to that light
“Love guides us into holiness.”

 

 

You can be a light shining in the darkness of the world.

Shine your own bright light on humanity!

 

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“A writer’s dreams
To God, be the Honour and Glory.

“Christianity is simply God reaching out (to mankind) and seeking us.”

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“Christianity is simply God reaching out (to mankind)  and seeking us.”

 

“Jesus makes God real to me.”

The Direct and Indirect Claims of Jesus

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Introduction:

C is currently writing a new book on Jesus (and what He means to him, “the writer”) and in his research on the claims of Jesus (an “Issue” so controversial between other faiths and something he often ponders on and contemplates) came across this “info” on the www and thought he’d share (“enlighten” – himself and perhaps others)???

anyway enjoy

 

“We share what we know, so that we all may grow.”

“Whilst we can (and should) celebrate our differences (unique), let not our varying beliefs divide us, but let the Spirit of our shared humanity be what defines and unites us all as common citizens of our planet.”

from http://www.craigsquotes.wordpress.com and http://www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com and https://buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com/

(all verses NIV, courtesy of Bible Gateway)

Verses where Jesus directly claims to be the Son of God

John 5:25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

John 10:36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, `I am God’s Son’?

John 11:4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”

Mark 14:61-62 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Verses where Jesus indirectly claims to be the Son of God (or God)

Matthew 11:27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

John 8:58-59 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Verses where Jesus allows other to call him the Son of God (or God)

Luke 3:21-22 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Matthew 4:3-7 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “`He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”

John 1:49-50 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.”

Matthew 16:15-17 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”

John 11:25-27 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

John 20:28 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Verses where the narrator of a gospel calls Jesus the Son of God (or God)

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(‘The Word’ is Jesus, as is obvious from verse 14: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us’.)

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

John 3:16-18 (These in fact may be the words of Jesus – the original Greek had no quote marks so it’s not always clear). For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

(all verses NIV, courtesy of Bible Gateway)

 

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11. Jesus Forgave Sins

Another indirect testimony to Jesus being God is His forgiving sins. In the presence of the religious leaders, Jesus told a sinful woman:

Your sins are forgiven (Luke 7:48).

On another occasion he said to a paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven you” (Mark 2:5).

The religious rulers on both occasions were indignant. They demanded an explanation asking the question, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like this?” (Mark 2:7).

No doubt the rulers were remembering when God said:

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake (Isaiah 43:25).

If only God has the ability to forgive sins, and Jesus claimed the ability to forgive sins, then Jesus is claiming to be God. Humans may temporarily forgive sins committed against other humans, but only God can eternally forgive sins. By claiming to forgive sins Jesus demonstrated His Deity.

12. Jesus Will Judge The World

Judgment of the world is something that only God can do.

Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. For he is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples with his truth (Psalm 96:12,13).

Jesus claimed that He would judge the world.

For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the son (John 5:22).

The Apostle Paul said.

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:31).

The Bible says that only God has the right to judge the world but it also says that Jesus claimed that He would be that judge. This is more indirect evidence that Jesus is God. #

“Whilst we can (and should) celebrate our differences (unique), let not our varying beliefs divide us, but let the Spirit of our shared humanity be what defines and unites us all as common citizens of our planet.”

from http://www.craigsquotes.wordpress.com and http://www.breakdownwalls.wordpress.com and https://buildbridgesofunderstanding.wordpress.com/

PPS

# For me, Jesus is the human face of God.

That’s what I choose to believe!

“The full flower that is the hope of all mankind may be found in the figure and life of Jesus.”

21

“Rise and shine, sunshine”

Photos (great) by my good friend, Jenny, whose photographic talents I definitely do NOT possess!
Shared by “the world’s absolutely worst photographer”

 

God of Justice

from http://www.mup.org.nz/podcast/

Hope it’s not too “heavy, heavy religious” for you

“Those whio stand up for justice will be always be on the right side of history.”

– Dr Martin Luther-King

from http://www.drmartinlutherking.wordpress,com

Truth and love will always prevail over lies and hate.”

– Vaclev Havel , former President of Chezoslovakia and playright

from http://www.wemustnothate.wordpress.com

PPS

Make yourself available to God

Use me to make a difference, Lord!

Lord

let me be a channel for Your peace,  for Your Infinite Love and Light to flow through to everyone

“God’s strategy is people…”

imagesQMFHPVWC
picture above (anon “ordinary normal-looking person” chosen at random from my collection of “pics”)
“God’s strategy is people – working in and through we ’ordinary’ people, like you and I. It’s working with God to making a difference in the world: through
His plans
His agenda
and
His energy”
– Charles Price
from

Together, one mind, one heart, one life, one small step at a time, let’s link hands and march into a new tomorrow, a better and brighter future. TOGETHER we can do it”

– c 

TOGETHER, one mind, one heart, one soul, one small step at a time, we can make some difference towards a better world, a brighter tomorrow

“SHARE, ENCOURAGE and SPREAD, HOPE, LOVE and LIGHT”

“A writer’s dream”picture (great by my friend Jenny) from http://www.jennysphotographicjourney.wordpress.com  and http://www.awritersdreams.wordpress.com

The Lord’s Prayer

WRITTEN BY A 15 yr. OLD SCHOOL KID

Who got an A+ for this entry!

The Lord’s Prayer

Is not allowed in most

Public schools in America anymore

Because the word ‘God’ is mentioned…..

A kid in WINNIPEG wrote the attached

NEW School prayer:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class r ecites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene..

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all..

In silence alone we must meditate,

God’s name is prohibited by the United States.

We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks…

Guns are allowed, but Not the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the ‘unwed daddy,’ our Senior King.

It’s ‘inappropriate’ to teach right from wrong,

We’re taught that such ‘judgments’ do not belong..

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles…

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, 

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It’s scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school’s a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen

Jenny 2

from http://www.beyondthezonespirit and http://www.jesusvideos.wordpress.com

Thoughts of my good friend, Lindsay, the “Prayer-warrior and the Prophet”) who sadly died the other day

Thoughts of my good friend, Lindsay, "the prophet and the prayer-warrior"

picture from

https://theprophetandprayerwarrior.wordpress.com/

Song from Lindsay’s funeral : Gisborne, New Zealand 17th Jan 2015

Lindsay McIlraith (“The Prayer-warrior and The Prophet”): A highly colourful and likeable person… and good friend of many.

Here are some of his “timeless wisdoms”…

“The Gospel is a simple message for simple people… for their own good.”

“I want to be a nobody for Jesus” (though my friend was one of the “ultimate names-droppers”)

As my good friend Lindsay, ‘the prophet and prayer-warrior says: “When a person goes to church, you take God TO church with you.

“The Spirit that made the world is in you, but first it has to be activated.”

“Get yourself right with Jesus, that’s the issue, man…and everything else in your life then fits into place”

“Get your next ‘fix’ from Jesus. It costs you nothing…except for his life!”

“Don’t tell people so much about Jesus, show them His Spirit living in and through you.”

Another quote : Springbok rugby tour to New Zealand (1981)
“Are you for the tour or against it?”
“I’m for Jesus, man!”

“Don’t talk shop, just show love.”

“You don’t go to church to be with God, you take God to church with you.”

And his classic, my favourite…

“I get up to pray at 3.30 every morning, to beat Satan. He’s a lazy ‘bugger’, who likes to sleep in!”

– thoughts of my good friend, Lindsay (‘The Prayer-warrior and The Prophet’)

RIP, Lindsay

Your generous and loving spirit lives on

“Lord,
fill me with a ‘triple helping’ of Your Infinite Spirit today”

– Lindsay McIlraith, Gisborne, New Zealand

PPS

For video of Lindsay at Tolaga Bay see 

and

Lindsay on right with his good friend, Steve
and  some thoughts of our good friend, “the Prayer-warrior and  the Prophet”
Click on 

Don’t worry about the world ending today…
as it’s already tomorrow in scenic and tranquil ‘little’ New Zealand

a-gizzy-beauty