(by pastor Norman)

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebr 4:12, NLT). God’s word has the power to analyze and judge our very thoughts. It can help us to put off the old life and put on the new (Rom 12:2, Eph 5:26); cleanse us, make us more like Christ (2 Cor 3:18, Eph 5:1), set us apart for the abundant life He has for us (John 10:10) and cause us to be His effective ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). This all requires faith and the Bible tells us that, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17; NKJV). We need God’s word to grow our faith! We are taught that we should make every word of our Bible a priority, meditate on it day and night and abide or stay in God’s word (Matt 4:4, Josh 1:8, John 8:31-32). However, many people read God’s word but their lives are not affected or changed. The apostle Paul wrote that the natural mind or the mind of non-Christians cannot receive the things of God (1 Cor 2:14), they are a mystery to them (1 Cor 2:7). When we asked Jesus into our lives to be our Lord and Saviour (Rom 10:9,10) our inner man or spirit was made new (John 3:3,6-7) and the Holy Spirit came to live in us (Gal 4:6). As we prayerfully study God’s word, the Holy Spirit reveals that word to our spirits (John 14:26) allowing the power and glory of the word to fill, grow and change us! Now that’s exciting!

(by pastor Jean)

“We have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” (John 1:14; NLT). The word used for “glory” is “doxa” which means here, the excellence of Christ, the good reputation of someone, splendour, radiance and majesty. Later in John’s gospel when Jesus is praying, He says He brought glory to God by doing what He was told to do (John 17:4). The miracles Jesus performed also displayed His glory (John 2:11). Hebrews 1:3 teaches that Jesus not only radiates the glory of God but also reflects His character. In the Old Testament we read about God’s glory every time His presence was revealed, for example, in the tent of meeting and the temple, (Ex 40:34 is one of many such occasions). Moses asked God to show him His glory (Ex 33:18). The Psalms tell us that we see God’s glory every time we appreciate the beauty of His creation (Ps 72:19, 19:1). Psalm 8:5 and Hebrews 2:7 say that even mere men have been crowned with glory by God. This is confirmed in Isaiah 60:1, The glory of the Lord rises to shine on you” (NLT). We give glory to God for who He is but 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that we are being transformed into His image, “from glory to glory” Wow! Not only that but when we have finished our time on this earth, we cannot even conceive what the future glory will be like (Rom 8:18, Col 3:4). In the New Jerusalem there will be no need for sun or moon because the glory of God will illuminate it! Glory to God!

(by pastor Norman)

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God” (Ps 147; NKJV). Throughout the book of Psalms, we are exhorted to praise God. In Psalm 145 we are given many reasons to praise Him; His power, glory, goodness and mighty acts, to mention just a few. I am a country boy and can’t help but praise God when I am out in His creation (Rom 1:20). Everything that breathes is called to praise God (Ps 150:6), not only in the good times but continually, at all times (Ps 34:1). We are to see our praise as a sacrifice to God (Heb 13:15). King David said, “I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth” (Ps 1.9:30; NKJV). “Greatly” here means, with passion, loudly and with strong feeling. We can praise with lifted hands (Ps 134:2), clapping (Ps 47:1) and with dancing, as King David did, dancing with all his might, whirling and twirling, when he brought the ark to Jerusalem (2 Sa, 6:13-16). We can praise God with all kinds of musical instruments (Ps 150) and the word for praise here means with rapture, howl and wild celebration. However, in all of this let us remember that our praise must come from our hearts (Ps 9:1). In Psalm 100:4, we see that as we praise God we can enter into a real closeness and intimacy with Him. Similarly, in Psalm 22:3 we read, “But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel” (NKJV). God invades our presence as we praise Him allowing His glory and power to manifest. We should all desire that. Even this reserved English boy has learned to truly praise God!

(by pastor Jean)

“And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19; AMP). God is an “over and above” God, He doesn’t just meet our needs, He “liberally supplies” them. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, the apostle Pual shows us that God will make favour and blessing come on us in abundance, so much so that we can give to others in abundance (see also 2 Cor 9:10,11). John 10:10 is a familiar verse to many, Jesus tells us He came to give us an abundant life. The word for abundant is “perissos” which actually means exceedingly abundant, over and above, more than is necessary! Wow! In John 1:16 we read that “For out of His fullness (the superabundance of His grace and truth) we have all received grace upon grace (spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift” (AMP). Eph 3:20 tells us that God is able to do, “superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think (infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes or dreams” (AMP). It doesn’t get much better than that! In the Old Testament we are told that if we tithe, God will pour out so much blessing on us that it will be too much to contain! (Mal 3:10). God is a generous God and He is our example in giving; one way we can show our love and appreciation for God is by being givers ourselves, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt 10:8).

(by pastor Norman)

God says we are blessed if we meditate on His word and delight in it (Ps 1:1-2). To delight in something is to find pleasure in it, to find it desirable and attractive. The prophet Jeremiah said, “When I discovered your words, I devoured them, they are my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jer 15:16; NLT). The writer of Psalm 119 filled the whole Psalm with emphasis on God’s truths, His word. The psalmist delighted in God’s commandments and law (verses 35, 47, 48, 92, 127). He delighted in God’s statutes (v 16), precepts (v 189) and testimonies (v 24). Statutes are written laws or rules that define boundaries; precepts are commandments given by God. God’s word is truth and life (John 17:17; 6:63) and sets us free from all of the results of sin in our lives (John 8:32). God’s word is sweeter than honey (Ps 119:103) and “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver” (Ps 119:11; Jer 15:16). Joshua in the Old Testament said, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success” (Josh 1:8; NKJV). What a promise; surely if we embrace and believe that verse, we can’t help but delight in God’s word and make it a real priority in our lives.