I have always empathised with that great and godly saint of God, the prophet Jeremiah. I have never read him without being moved, and I am so thankful to God for opening to me the historical background which illumines all his words. I especially thank him for his patent humanity, his mood swings with their depths and heights. Like an ordinary seaman looks to Lord Nelson – as a mole hill looks to a mountain – I look to Jeremiah and admire! He bares his soul when praying in the stocks-pouring out his feelings; humiliated, hurt, used, and all for speaking the word God had given him to say, then his praising God, then his cursing the day he was born. Vowing he would from then on keep his mouth shut, and never preach again – it was all too painful, the rejection and ridicule of the entire nation. Then the moment he was set free, speaking with great authority with God’s fire still burning in his aching bones. Well, I had a wretched couple of days. Two people in a tiny church I was trying to help forward took exception, chiefly to two words I had used, and not understanding me, nor the use of words, took action. They resigned their membership and the office which one of them held. Thus in one single hour, completely broke off all relationships with their church: talk about a sledge hammer to crack a nut. It was like dropping a nuclear bomb on a city, because its buses ran late. The action was too drastic and sudden and punishing. I was hurt. So in one of many tiny ways I identify with Jeremiah. He had so little encouragement in all his suffering and persecution, and was so dedicated to his calling that in his private moments felt so insecure and was open to the temptation of self pity, but, in his case, not for long.
Today if you feel hurt and wounded, misunderstood and rejected, then identify with one greater than Jeremiah who truly was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, who bore our sins in Himself on the cross. This is Jeremiah 20:1-2, 7-9
O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name”, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
A Prayer: Whatever my condition Lord, this day, deliver me from self-pity and play- acting, from moaning and groaning – for Jesus sake.
Now read Philippians Chapter 3

I know you would never say it – but millions do. ‘Thank God it’s Friday’. If you have had a frantic week, been rushed off your feet and not had time to do the things you wanted to do, it’s very tempting to get towards the weekend and thank God. You will have, at least, a break from stress for a few hours. So it’s a sentiment I’m not knocking, although ministers only work one day week don’t they? So, I guess the ecclesiastic version of the saying is: ‘Thank God it’s Monday’
Well, years a go, in a little Baptist chapel up in the Pennine hills, there was a minister who, year in, year out, faithfully cared for his little flock of people and also had got into the habit of beginning every single Sunday service by calling his people to pray, and leading them with: ‘Father we thank you …’. Every service, every week, every year ‘Father we thank you. One Sunday after Christmas the wind was blue cold, the snow was thick on the fields the roads like glass; the pipes were frozen, there was no heat in the chapel (”Keep your coats on”), the swept pavements were ice rinks – most sensible people stayed at home in bed or near the fire. Among the handful of faithful who attended church were two children who knew about the preacher’s lifetime habit of starting the service with a prayer of thanksgiving. One whispered to the other, as the minister rose to begin, “I wonder what he’ll find to be thankful for today”. They both giggled. Then he said: “Let us pray: Father we thank you that not every day is as bad as this one …” and so he continued.
There is always something to be thankful for, I guess. Even a dog whose lost his tail can wag his stump!
The greatest hymn, prayer and worship book ever written contains these words: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. Psalm 107:1-6
That’s only the beginning of this Psalm of praise, which is all about being thankful for the deliverances of God.
A Prayer suggestion: Pray today, giving thanks for such health as you have, such family and friends who care about you, such peace as you receive in rest and quietness -Thank God for food and drink, the changing seasons, the labours of men and women in field and factory, in transport and marketing – for those who uphold justice, health and law in our communities: and if you’re having a wretched day, well give thanks that not all days are this bad!
Now read all of Psalm 107

“Don’t confuse me with facts. My mind is already made up”. That’s a marvellously apposite motto for our modern world when it comes to the really big question of life. For example, the huge question, on which everyone must make up his or her mind is: Who is Jesus? Most educated, rational people say things like ‘He was the world’s greatest teacher’, or ‘the greatest psychologist’, or ‘He was a good man’ – even a superstar amongst men.The facts contradict this.The claims of Jesus of Nazareth are frankly outrageous!
He made himself equal with God (that’s why the devout crucified him!).
He said things only God has the right to say.
He did things only God has the power to do.
He claimed to be something which no good man would ever claim.
If someone said to me ‘I am Napoleon’, or ‘I am the Virgin Mary’, I’d ring for an ambulance and men with white coats.They would need help. But Jesus’s claims were so outrageous that no good, wise man could possibly have made them. C.S.Lewis wrote something like this:
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the devil wearing make-up. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse … and let’s not come up with any patronising nonsense about him being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
There you have it! Who is Jesus? a madman? a badman? or …..what if He were telling the whole staggering truth?
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father.For which of these do you stone me?”
“We are not stoning you for any of these”, replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10: 31-33
A prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Son of God, the Messiah, the very image of the Father creator. You are my Lord.
Now read all of John Chapter 10.

In the last couple of days we’ve been looking at that simple sentence which tells us when the disciples of Jesus first got the nickname of ‘Christians’. It was at Antioch. We noted that one reason was their Christ-like generosity. They were a giving community, not a greedy, grasping one. Well it was much more than money that they gave. Something far more valuable than cash. At Antioch they gave people! Their very best people. Most churches I know would be thrilled to have the two greatest preachers in the world as their resident teachers.And they were at Antioch, but they did not say ‘Heavens, we’d better pay these men more or we might lose them’. No. They discussed things, prayed about them, and then paid for these two great preachers to leave them to go and preach to the world which did not know Jesus, nor his good news. They were the first missionary sending church in history. That means that they provided the means for their missionary party to travel by land and sea, with the good news which sets people free, and brings joy and faith to the pagan world of poverty and despair. No wonder they called them Christians at Antioch.They gave away their best to a needy world. In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
A prayer; Write in our hearts Lord your will that when we keep the best for ourselves we lose it. When we share it, we are enriched beyond measure.
Now read all of Acts Chapter 13
A thought: When Christians give lavishly the world says: ‘What a waste!’ Do Christians ever echo this blasphemy?

For the first time in history it was at the City of Antioch that the followers of Jesus were called ‘Christians’. It was probably a nickname ‘Messiah man’ – ‘Jesus people – and intended as a put down, but they wore it like a crown: ‘Yes we are Christian men and women’. They were a born again fellowship, a true community, and it was so open that it welcomed people who were not Jewish. This was a step so revolutionary that the cautious Jewish church at Jerusalem sent out one of their best men to see what was going on (I mean you can’t be too careful, can you?). Well, great-hearted Barnabas was sent to Antioch, and he was so delighted at what met him that he soon went off to Tarsus to find Saul, and brought him there to share in the exploding revival in which new Christians needed teaching and systematic Christian training. For a whole year Barnabas and Paul were the resident preachers and teachers at Antioch. Imagine having the two best preachers in the world occupying your pulpit every week. It was a growing fellowship – alive with Jesus. Everyone was welcomed, and wonderful things were happening- A real living family of God’s people. No wonder they first called them Christians at Antioch.
They were also a giving fellowship. One of the Christian prophets predicted a severe famine in days to come.What did they do? They gave according to what they could give, and not by what they could keep for themselves.They collected it so that when the predicted famine struck, they were ready to send help at once. No wonder they called them Christians.
During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world . (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. Acts 11: 27-30
A Prayer: Thank you Lord that your true church does not beg for money from a needy world but gives cheerfully, sacrificially, and systematically, to meet the needs of the world.
Now read Philippians Chapter 4

There is a very short, but historic, sentence in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 11, which spells out a gigantic leap forward in mankind’s history. At the end of verse 26 it simply states that “the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch”.
‘Christians’ – a term used, and abused ,a billion times a day; sometimes scornfully meaning hypocrites, ‘Christians’. Sometimes racially and, appallingly, as when we hear that the Muslims and Christians somewhere who are at each other’s throats ….True Christians and true Muslims do not solve their problems with bombs and bullets. So why did they call them Christians for the first time in history at Antioch? There are a number of reasons – here a couple for now. They were a fellowship, a community. The word ‘christians’ is plural: it’s always plural in the Bible, that is the word for God’s people. A community which had been formed and reborn and shaped by their faith in Jesus. It was good news – great news In Jesus, God had provided an amnesty for sinners, a fresh start, a new relationship and they accepted in joyful gratitude: Christians! People who belong to Christ.
They were an open fellowship. Until then Gentiles (non-Jews) were regarded as total outsiders. Outside of God’s family, outside the covenant, outside His care: no-hopers. But at Antioch they preached the Good News of Christ to everyone and to masses of non-Jews (Hellenists or Greeks) who turned to the Lord and were born again. There are more reasons than this, but that’s all we’ve space for today (more tomorrow).
Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. Acts 11: 19-21
A Prayer: Lord Jesus, you came to restore all men to the life for which they were made: deliver us from trusting secretly but never telling others openly about you.
Now read Acts Ch.26

I read an article by John Arnott, the leader of The Vinyard associated church in Canada, where the phenomena called the “Toronto Blessing” all began. It was an article about God’s anointing, i.e. the effects of God’s holiness touching a church and transforming it. He reminds all Christians – what all Christians should know – that the anointing of the Holy Spirit is given to glorify Jesus and to provide power to live in the Kingdom under the rule of God. He points out that the more Christians seek God’s anointing, the more room they must make for Him. To be more teachable we must be more reachable. To be usable we must be accountable to God and God’s people. It is a killing sin to try and use the anointing of the Spirit to gain credit for ourselves.In fact, his opening words were the advice given him by his minister when he first talked of training to become a minister: “Watch out for three things which can destroy you – women, money and the power which controls.” In short, the GIRLS, the GOLD, and the GLORY!
If you are serious as a Christian, and you seek God’s further anointing on your life, then you must watch out for the snares which so easily destroy the high-minded with very lowest sins. Don’t come to God for more of God, without making room for God. That’s playing Russian roulette with your soul.
In Acts of Apostles Chapter 8 we read of a marvellous spiritual anointing in Samaria, but one man, a conjuror called Simon, didn’t know about the snares of the girls, the gold and the glory. (Acts 8: 18-22) When Simon saw the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord.
A Prayer: Yours, O Lord, are the power and the glory – deliver us from the sins of trying to use you – especially when you are gracious enough to want to use us.
Now read Jeremiah Chapter 45

There is one bit in Paul’s letters which always causes me a sharp intake of breath. It’s in his letter to Titus. You know, that very small letter which, with 1 & 2 Timothy, forms that group of New Testament epistles called “the Pastorals”. I suppose that’s because they are personal letters (not written to churches that is)from a senior to junior pastors who were also his dear friends and trusted companions.
Titus is unusual in that his name is not mentioned once in St. Luke’s entire history of the early church, which we call Acts of the Apostles – although he is referred to 13 times in the letters of Paul. Paul was explaining why he had asked Titus to lead the church in the Greek Island of Crete, and to sort out the structure and leadership there. It was intended for him to be there for a limited period before being replaced and joining Paul, who was to spend the winter on the borders of Albania (or Dalmatia as the Romans called it). Titus was one of Paul’s most trusted friends and followers.He was a Greek, whom Paul had led to faith in Christ. We know that because Paul refers to him as ‘my true son’ which was Paul’s way of expressing his relationship as Titus’s spiritual father.
Titus was put in charge of the turbulent infant church in Crete in order to put the church structure on a proper footing by appointing leaders who could be trusted to practice what Jesus preached and not merely to believe it. Not an easy task. In short, Titus was Paul’s trouble shooter, and in this letter Paul reminds him that there is no such thing as unpractising Christians. Christian faith is not only to be believed, but lived out into Christian character, and community.
Well now – what’s that bit which causes the sharp intake of breath? Their own prophets from Crete had said “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons … and that’s the truth” (Titus 1:12)
That’s where I take a sharp intake of breath and want to say “Don’t hold back Paul, say what you think, be direct if you like!” Of course he was incensed by people who made a career out of being corrupt and could talk about religion all day but still live like the devil. Amazingly Paul didn’t tell Titus to avoid them, but to preach Christ to them. He saw them as people ripe for Christian conversion, in fact he even reminds Titus of the miraculous Good News which transforms men:
A prayer: Thank you Lord that no one is too bad to be reached and changed by Jesus our Saviour, and no one too good to need it not. Amen.
Now read Titus Chapter 3.

One of the most horrific sins blazingly discussed by the prophets of Israel was that of some Kings of Israel of offering their children to the god Moloch.
Moloch was a god of fire and more than one head of state became so desperate for deliverance of one sort or another that they caused their children to be offered as sacrifices to stem the wrath of Moloch and make the threats of danger go away. The prophets utterly condemned this horror, not only because of its unspeakable cruelty, but also because of its idolatry, believing that such appalling beings existed as gods in the lord God’s good earth, and that these demons could be appeased by a supreme sacrifice of a child. The shrine of this God Moloch was in the Valley of Himmon on the south side of ancient Jerusalem, and in that valley the city tipped its garbage. It was called “Gehennah”, and that is the very Greek word used in the New Testament for HELL. It was a loathsome rubbish heap where men, ceremonially unclean, kept the fires incinerating the garbage day and night and near the top, the smouldering pile was full of maggots and worms. Not a very pleasant thought for the day, but even more unpleasant is the modern sin of sacrificing our children to the idols we serve and worship. ‘But’, you say ‘we don’t cast our children in the fiery arms of Moloch’. No, but I’ve known of so many children who have been sacrificed on the altars of their parents’ greed, ambition and selfishness, whether it be father’s worship of mammon, the god of money, or mother’s obeisance to the god of success, and their combined idolatry of the goddess of pleasure. In turn the fearful effects go on from one generation to another. As their children are sacrificed to their idols.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
How do you teach values to your children?-by living them
How do you teach love to your children?-by loving them
How do you teach relationships to your children? -by cherishing all committed relationships and by ensuring their security
A Prayer: Lord forbid that I hinder any child from coming to you.
Now read Matthew 18: 1-14

How do you feel about the subject of angels? For most people brought up in this 20th century world, angels are thought of as belonging to the same realms as the tooth fairy and Father Christmas. Anyway, if God is all powerful and ever present, why does he need them?
Well the Bible has a lot to say about angels, from Lot to Revelation.They are God’s messengers. God chooses to use his creatures, even sinful humans, to work his will, and angels are described in Hebrews Chapter 1 v.14 as ministering spirits sent to serve God’s people. C.H. Spurgeon said about angels …. “We cannot tell whether they repel demons, counteract spiritual plots even ward off physical forces … perhaps we shall one day be amazed at the multiple services which unseen hands have rendered us. I’m uneasy at my life being lived out under the gaze of heaven’s hosts, but I am immensely encouraged by the thought that God’s personnel are guarding God’s people.”
No: angels are not to be worshipped, feared, nor addressed in prayer. They are not gods, but God’s servants. But imagine this today. Those that be with us are greater than those that be against us;
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Luke 1: 26-31
Today remember that creatures unseen, who can stand in the light of God’s blazing holiness without being shrivelled, who are nourished by God’s glory, are commanded to watch over you, because God loves you. Pray in wonder and awe at God’s love for you.
Now read Revelation Ch.5