Chatsworth Baptist Church

James 1 : 22
” But don’t just listen to Gods word. You must do what it says. Otherwise you are only fooling yourselves “

Along our journey of faith we would have come across todays scripture at regular intervals but do we really understand its essence.
Too often we use scripture as a feel good tool, we remember cause they sound good or that we may seem intellectual but the truth is scripture is here to guide our lives forward. We are told that we should not just listen to Gods word but to also implement it in our lives as well as the lives of those around us – the interesting point is that by us not doing that we actually make ourselves a fool.

You see the enemy is actually looking at us and laughing for we are making his job so much easier – he knows the power in Gods word but he also recognises our lack of trust / ability in engaging with it. Would you ever buy a new vehicle to park it off all the time or a new home to leave it empty and rent elsewhere instead – it just does not make sense.

Similarly we are placed in the same situation when it concerns our faith and daily living. Why should we be tempted to complain and be discouraged when we have all of the answers / solutions in our Bible. The truth is we may never understand God, His word or our purpose unless we get involved – so let us make today a moment that marks the beginning of our growth in God and His word.
This is our life, it is time we made the most of all that we have been given and allow for Gods word to dwell within. Let us not forget that Gods presence comes alive in us through His word, so let the power of His Spirit reign in and through us.

Heavenly Father we thank you for this day and for the light that dawns upon us with your presence. Lord God we thank you for the encouragement you bring and we bless your Holy Name for your precious word. Even though we may face struggles and trials we rest upon your word which is a lamp unto our feet. Let your power manifest in and through us and may we give all glory, praise and honour to you through what Jesus Christ achieved on the Cross at Calvary. We bless your Holy Name Father God. Amen.
JESUS LOVES YOU

Psalm 55 : 10
” Cast your cares upon the Lord, He will sustain you “

Are you proud of who you are in the Lord and for the progress you have made or do you turn a blind eye to everything around you.
How do you feel when life is placed at your forefront and equally what are you doing about it. The dynamics which remain is that those who attempt and pursue success, actually attain it. It is never about having the qualities or attributes but rather about the desire / determination present within.
You see with drive comes vision which leads to victory and if we just look at Jesus Christ and the Cross we see it. Many may encounter obstacles which bring us down and leave us feeling demotivated and less confident and the truth is that is how the enemy wants to see us – the actual point which weighs us down is the cares of this world and all that surrounds us.
The monthly bills, the difficult teenage kids and the list could go on but are we just allowing that to dictate our lives or are we doing something about it. Maybe we feel we are at a dead end, we could have tried everything and failed to overcome the enemy buthave we really tried Jesus Christ, in all of His fullness. Have you ever wondered why at certain intervals life seems so busy and chaotic that you may feel that you are moving in reverse – we believe that God is actually keeping us occupied to prevent us from engaging in the wrong side of life.
You see sometimes in our life things can be adjusted to give us that extra space and others are beyond our control – it is at that time that we hand the things we find difficult to God and handle the things we can well – we are achievers in the Lord, let no man / situation tell us otherwise.

Father God thank you for giving us life in all of its fullness. Lord we come before you knowing that by your spirit we are safely tucked under your wings. Let your river of blessings flow into our lives, that we may freely share with those around us. Your word says that you have a plan for our lives, that your grace is sufficient for us and in the Name of Jesus Christ we have been given everything in advance. Be with us as we go into this day, let us encounter your Spirit in a deeper way and may we give all praise back to Heaven, back to Jesus Christ our tower of strength. Amen.

Acts 2: 1-4

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

A MESSAGE TO THE GLOBAL CHURCH

Facing death, Jesus prayed not only for Himself, but also for His disciples and for us. His most urgent request on our behalf was:”That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:21).

As people who live by the Word, we need to remember that right words sound hollow to the world unless we, being one in Christ, are glorifying God with one mind and one voice. The world needs to see the “church” as one.

“By this may all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” We can change the world, and the world will have no reason to suffer any longer under the weight and bondage of:

• selfishness and hoarding
• bitterness and hatred
• war and power
• emptiness and loneliness
• fear and anguish
• inadequate supply and hunger
• killing and maiming
• insecurity and low self-esteem
• guilt and shame
• ignorance and the unknown

Prayer: Father, help the church to operate as one and be obedient to live according to the scriptures found in the Holy Bible. We ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit every time we get together as a band of believers to pray, no matter the distance or the location, because we believe in your omnipresence. We also ask that you use the church to make the world aware of your second coming. We ask all this in the Wonderful Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Psalms 1: 1-2
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and on his law doth he meditate day and night.”

It is very easy to be caught up with the happenings and excitement of the world. We wait on the world for solutions to our problems. They don’t have it! We look to the world for comfort. They don’t have it! The world is in darkness, but we are in the light. We need to take this light that we have(Jesus Christ) into the world, so that darkness can be overcome.

My friends. God’s Word declares that the man who delights in the “Law of the Lord” (The Holy Bible), and meditates on it day and night is a BLESSED MAN.

So let us not be under the counsel of the ungodly, nor be in fellowship with unrighteous persons, nor be in the company of persons who show contempt, or else we will be sad, unhappy, or to put it bluntly – cursed.