GOD and the Internet!

Some people think that Online Church arrived because of covid19.  They are wrong!  I attended online church five years ago that was being broadcast by a church in Houston Texas.  It kept me going when I could not walk very well and could not get out to go to a church building.  Something inside of me clicked that I did not have to miss out on good teaching with my faith, nor did I have to feel alone in my walk with Jesus.  Many christians will use one scripture to accuse me or others like me of forsaking gathering together.  Here is the scripture, which I will put up in full:   

HEBREWS 10: 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) No problem there then.  I hold fast the profession of my faith without wavering - Jesus is Lord of my life and no man can pluck me from the hand of God. He is faithful who has promised all heavenly things to us.  24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  And let us consider (observe fully) one another, to provoke (incite or encourage) each other to love and to good works:  25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.   Not forsaking (deserting, leaving aside) the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, or as some have done:  - THIS is what I have had quoted me, just this part and not the whole scripture.  But 

Strong's Index: G3870

exhorting   παρακαλέω    [parakaleo]    {par-ak-al-eh’-o}

Strong's Definition

from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.

one another:  (be of good comfort to, call near, pray for) and do it much more as you see the day (the return of Jesus) approaching.  You see I wanted to give my explanation on why I attend Online Church as many people jump to conclusions, saying it is not real, telling me it’s a cop-out, turning away from me when all I am doing is being transformed by the renewing of my mind from teaching and fellowship from the online church of which I am an active member. I am happy to discuss what I do with anyone concerned for my spiritual condition!   

Online church has grown exponentially over the past couple of years and many denominations are now onboard, understanding the need, more recently since covid19 appeared.  It has been possible for me to have attended online funerals, memorials and with the same respect as physically attending, being able to pray for those bereaved. I meet with church members almost daily in one form or another, i.e. Facetime, Zoom, Messenger, WhatsApp and by phone. My home is open for fellowship albeit restricted because of covid19, but be assured I will welcome anyone who wants to worship with me, at home, when all these restrictions are removed.  God is not so small that he did not know we could use the internet to meet.  He knew before we did what would happen.  Do you think God was not involved in us inventing or revealing the internet to us?  He has provided everything we need to get the Gospel of Christ preached to every country in the world. Do not despise the small beginning of the Word Wide Web - in God’s hands it is a formidable tool.  He has given us many ways to preach the gospel and the internet is one of the ways to reach the physically unreachable. We are very able to put God into a ‘me sized’ box containing who we think he is or how he will behave in such and such context.  Well, for those not sure - God does not think like we do. Let me remind you what His Word tells us:  

ISAIAH 55:  6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:  Seek, follow, question the Lord while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.  Remind me where he is?  That’s right, his Holy Spirit lives within each one of us - that is how near he is: we are his temple and he lives inside each person who believes in him and in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Who are we to say, at this moment in history, what is church and what isn’t?  7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  Let the wicked, ungodly, condemned man forsake his way, and the unrighteous, false, vain, wicked man forsake his thoughts, and let him return to the LORD, and he (the LORD) will have mercy on him, and return to our God because he will abundantly pardon him.  Isn’t God good?  

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For my. (God’s)  thoughts are NOT your thoughts, NEITHER are your ways my ways, says the LORD.  So what is your issue about online church?  Do you not think God can work through us wherever we are?  Do you not think God is everywhere?  It is time to get yourself out of the box and let God do what he does best, his way for the glory of the Kingdom.  Some services I attend have hundreds of people in attendance, whilst others may have as little as 12 people in attendance, and each one of us have a part to play in ministry, prayer, counselling, building relationships, exhorting one another and receiving from God.  Until a few months ago I lived alone but was never lonely because I was having church from my sitting room.  Since Stuart and Elly have decided to stay with me we have fellowship every day - our little congregation of 3, we have communion every day, we are all part of on online church and are active in bringing about positive changes in people lives through the church.  I  have prayed personally for many people to accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour and that is a great privilege.  Now we disciple these people through the church in many places from all over the world.

 

God is Spirit, not human - Jesus became human for many reasons -  so that he could be the sacrifice for us -  he could know what it was like to be human - he would know what it was like for humans to suffer and be rejected - he sent us his Holy Spirit to live in us as a deposit for what is to come when we leave this earth - and much, much more. No man can compartmentalise a Spirit - especially God!  His ways are not our ways and nor are his thoughts our thoughts. We still have words of prophecy, personal prayer, words of knowledge and spontaneous worship.  Online Church is and has been a saving grace reaching out to those in isolation, to those unable to go out, to those who need and want fellowship and live in remote parts of the world.  We all worship in Spirit and truth and he does not treat us at Online Church any differently than he does when his church is in a building.It is the way forward in some countries for evangelism and mission, and will help to set up church at home. Do not despise a tool that God gave us to use to spread to word of God and minister to each other through.

Until next time, God bless and keep you xxx.

Meditation

 MEDITATION

In this conversation I would like to introduce you to meditating on the word of God.  Some people write down a scripture and look at it periodically to memorise it. That is good.  Some people read it over and over again - that is good.  Some people cannot seem to retain what it says and so lose their train of thought - that is not good.  There are many ways of meditating.  One way is through silence, one is to music and one is through a mixture of both alternating.  When I wanted to remember something significant in the bible I decided to put myself into the narrative as one of the characters. When you see the following sentence written in the word of God, it is not a suggestion that maybe you could do this. No - I believe if we do not meditate on the Word of God we will lose it and it will not go deep into our heart and spirit.  It will be void and of no use to us. 

DEUTERONOMY 11:  18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.  I know of churches who read the word continually, but if it is not to store it in the heart and spirit what good is it?  You can read newspapers, books etc but that does not change you. Meditating on God and his Word changes you forever. I wonder if we can use Psalm 23 as a simple meditation and put ourselves into it as one of the character.  I found this a good way to connect with the story.  I will give you the psalm in a couple of versions to get the full flavour and understanding of the passage I am looking at.

First of all I will give you at least two translations of the Psalm.

PSALM 23. KJV (King James Version)

 

1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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Psalm 23 The Message (MSG)

A David Psalm 

1-3 God, my shepherd!
    I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
    you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
    you let me catch my breath
    and send me in the right direction.

4 Even when the way goes through
    Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
    when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
    makes me feel secure.

5 You serve me a six-course dinner
    right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing.

6 Your beauty and love chase after me
    every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
    for the rest of my life.

When you read this psalm put yourself into the character in the first person.  What I mean is this:  As you read it and it says ‘The Lord is MY shepherd’ make the ‘MY’ be you.  So, be the sheep. Yes, I know this sounds silly but Jesus is the Good Shepherd and YOU are his sheep.  When you were saved you did not find Jesus, he found you.  People often say ‘I found religion, or I found God’. NO!! God has always been in existence, we were always lost, separated from him, born into this fallen world.  When Jesus came looking for his lost sheep he called and you answered - He found you. What happened when he found you?  He took you to safety.  You knew that as soon as you were found you would not lack in anything.  He led you to still waters and made you comfortable, lying down in the green pastures.   One of the things that happened to me whilst meditating on this psalm was that it led me to research still waters, which can be described as a cool resting place. 

We all need water, and as I went further into the word water it took me to REVELATION 22:   1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.  Then I read about how the tree of life was growing from either side of the water and its leaves were for the healing of the nation. Some people ask what mediation is, saying they think it is New Age or something like that.  Well, let me ask you a question.  Have you ever worried about something?  If you have ever been worried over a period of time you have been meditating on a problem and not the solution. You have been focusing on the negative.  Godly meditation is the opposite.  It is all about God and what he has done for you.

https://www.bible.com/app

Have you the Bible app, called YouVersion?  Please find it and put it on your device, then you can listen to the bible in different versions as well as read it.  The link is above for you to check out. It will mean you always have it with you. What I would like you to do if you can is to listen to the psalm 23 on the audio bible and meditate on each phrase, thinking about you being the one that He is looking after. You can stop it and start it after each phrase, and pray it through for you.  You can read it while it is being spoken to you.  There are many things on the app that will help you in your walk with Jesus, including daily devotions, written and audio, daily memory verses and much more. If you get the app why not search for a plan called The God I Never Knew - I think you will enjoy that daily devotion.  

Even if you consider yourself to be a christian today is a good day to deepen that relationship with God, to draw near to him, to hear him speak to you through his Word and through meditating on his Word.  In these days of covid19 there is no better time to get to know the Almighty Creator God, so please don’t say it can wait for another day - you may not have another day.  Some people did not wake up this morning. God is love and he wants to shower you with his blessings. 

One way I meditate on Jesus is to produce an image of the cross in my mind and just concentrate on that.  My mind then reminds me of what he went through for me. If you cannot cannot picture in your mind then draw a cross on a piece of paper, or look at one if you have on in the home.  However you do it remember that you are not idolising a cross but you are remembering and going through what Jesus did for you.  I know of someone who did this and they had a vision of themselves inside of Jesus - crucified.  This vision released that person from the hold his past life had over him and now he is a well know pastor. When you see the cross and know that it was real, that Jesus was unrecognisable when crucified because of the lashings, whips, beatings etc that he went through, then you begin to appreciate the gift of your born again life.It is all about Jesus and what he did for you - it is nothing to do with what we can do for God. It deepens my love for him when I realise what Jesus did for me.  It makes me notice the changes in my life that no-one can see physically, but I know have happened, like a change in attitude towards people.  I have become more compassionate and understanding. When you see me, you see a human being, but you don’t know that I am silently praying in my heavenly language straight to the throne of God - you cannot see that, only God sees that and hears my prayers.  Meditating on Jesus will also make us more thankful for everything.  

As a mother and grandmother I know what having children is all about, so sometimes I think about Mary and how she kept all things in her heart whilst watching her son grow up knowing he was the Son of God.  LUKE 2 VERSE 19 says: 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.   She considered all that the angel told her about Jesus.  She kept it to herself.  She did not even tell Joseph - the angel came to Joseph and told him about Mary having this baby, even though she had not had sex with a man.  The one and only virgin birth. Perhaps Mary and Joseph talked about it, but that was not recorded in the bible.  She had all of Jesus’s lifetime to ponder and meditate on the son of man who was also the Son of God - whole she gave birth to.  If you are able to put yourself into her situation - as a very young girl you may find that she was indeed pure, she was indeed strong in her faith - such an example to us all, male and female.  Mankind venerated Mary, she was humble and obedient to God.  Don’t raise her up above Jesus who died for you.  Be grateful for her obedience and praise the Lord with the Magnificat - the song that Mary spoke out when she met with her cousin Elizabeth:  LUKE 1 VERSES 46 - 55: 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.  48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.  50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.  53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;  55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.  When we have an attitude of gratitude - gratefulness for everything, even when going through a bad time or a rough time in our lives God always hears us and answers us. Mary trusted, and had faith like no-one I know today. She never wavered in her task - but it shows that she knew her scriptures and had meditated on them all her life.  We do not thank him for the rough time, but we thank him for walking through those times with us. Meditation can also be done to music.  Some people can focus on God through music and that is also good.  Everyone has their own way to worship, because God has made everyone unique right down to our finger-prints. So don’t get bogged down about meditation.  Some people are artists and can paint or sculpt as part of their meditation.  I write and sometimes I become so focused on God that it spills out into what I am writing.  I believe God gives me the words to write in my daily posts on Facebook and here in Blogger, as well as at online church.  It is not compulsory to meditate, but it will help you grow enormously in your faith.  Do you know that if you worry that is a kind of meditation?  You are focusing on the worry - meditating on it.  Meditation is all about focusing and fixing your mind on something.  

Your walk with God has nothing to do with anyone else.  It is strictly between God and you.  When you meet with other believers you will be different from each other, because that is how God made you.  There is no right or wrong way to walk our your faith - we all have to take one step at a time in faith, believing that God is leading us towards him and helping us stay on the path of righteousness.  Our righteousness is from Jesus, it is not our own - if it were it would be self-righteousness and that is never a good thing.  Trusting in our own self-righteousness will lead us into all sorts of troubles.  We are the righteousness of God in Christ.  In ROMANS 3 VERSES 21 - 26 it says: 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;   22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;   26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.  I have given you these verses to meditate on too. There are 6 verses so take your time and meditate on each one taking days for each one if you want to.  Write each verse down and learn how you have been justified, set free, given the righteousness of God in Jesus - it is all Good News.  Meditation is a very personal thing, and I have attended organised retreats for meditations and I have held retreats on meditation for others. I may write about this more at a later date, but hopefully I have given you some food for thought. Your life is precious to God - so precious that he sacrificed his Son so that you may live for ever with Jesus starting now. Give yourself some time to meditate and grow in his presence, learning to be more like Jesus every day.

Until next time, God bless and keep you xxx.