DIG for Saturday the 28th of November…..do you also believe in Jesus…..John 14 v 1

This afternoon I was led to John 14 looking for some Scriptures to use as I was preparing for a funeral.

The start of John 14 is a passage of great comfort to the believer; it is also a call to live a life of peace in the assurances we have from the Lord.

We can choose to let our heart not be troubled.

We can do this if we believe in God and also believe in Jesus.

This is an important point, as believing in God is not the same as believing in Jesus.

Many people say the most important question in life is, “Do you believe in God?”

To be honest that is not the most important, far more important is, “Do you believe in Jesus?”

The Word tells us that even the demons believe in God, that kind of “faith” will not save you.

Salvation and an eternity with God will come through faith in and trust in Jesus (Romans 19 v 9).

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and He is the only way to the Father (John 14 v 6).

Whether you believe in the existence of God is not important in an eternal context.

The important point with regards to eternity is what you believe about Jesus.

So the next time you are talking about the existence or not of God with someone, make sure you get the conversation around to Jesus.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the finished work of Jesus Christ and thank you that He is the way to a secure eternity”.

John 14 v 1…..Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me

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DIG for Friday the 27th of November…..are you one of the faithful…..Colossians 1 v 2

If you study the Word of God you may find the introductions to Paul’s letters as very interesting.

For example in the epistle to the Colossians he seems to differentiate between two types of people receiving the letter.

In verse 2 he talks to the saints and to the faithful brethren, making a point that not all saints are faithful (Colossians 1 v 2).

I suppose you could argue that he is saying all believers are saints and faithful brethren, but I don’t think so, given what we see from many brothers and sisters in the church.

Faithful in this context means doing things properly, being faithful and being fully persuaded in what God has done.

That just does not seem to be the case a lot of the time, so I think Paul is saying there are two types of believers.

You can be a saint (born again) and not be faithful; not faithful to a fellowship, not faithful to other brothers and sisters in Christ, not faithful to leaders.

Faithfulness is a characteristic that should be displayed in a saint, but obviously it is not always seen given what Paul writes.

Are you faithful?

Faithfulness is like integrity; I believe God would rather see faithfulness and integrity in us rather than skills and expertise.

Without faithfulness and integrity we are not useable in the Kingdom.

As a pastor I would rather see faithfulness than skills, without faithfulness I cannot use people in the church.

Faithfulness, faithfulness, faithfulness, that is what is required in the Kingdom.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that Jesus was the ultimate example of faithfulness, help me to see this as the way to live my life”.

Colossians 1 v 2…..To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

DIG for Thursday the 26th of November…..are you mad…..Galatians 3 v 1

I have been preparing for the message on Sunday today and have been really struck (once again) at how strong the message is from Paul warning the Galatian church about legalism.

In this verse he says to the Galatians, “Are you nuts?’”

Well, that is my paraphrase of this statement (Galatians 3 v 1).

In my translation they are accused of foolishness, in another version he asks, “Are you people of Galatia mad?”

Paul has given them the true gospel, the message of grace, the doctrine of the sufficiency of Christ, and he is amazed that they are being drawn away to something else.

Something else in addition to Jesus is not the gospel, it is not even a gospel, it is something completely different (Galatians 1 v 6 and 7).

When people try and add to what Jesus has done they are mad.

When people try to become more righteous through works of self-effort and religious performance they are mad.

These might sound like strong words (and they are) but they are not mine; they are what Paul was saying to the Galatians in the Word of God and therefore what God, through Paul, is saying to us today.

Putting trust in anything other than faith in Jesus is not only unbiblical and doctrinally wrong; it is just plain stupidity!

Don’t be stupid tonight, put your trust fully in Jesus and nothing else, no works or deeds or religious performance is required to be righteous, accepted and blessed by God.

You started on this Christian walk through faith so continue in the same way (Colossians 2 v 6).

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the finished work of Jesus Christ and thank you that His work, as a gift of grace through faith, is enough”.

Galatians 3 v 1…..O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

DIG for Wednesday the 25th of November…..this is the end of religion…..John 2 v 6

There is yet another picture that we can see from the miracle of water into wine and I’ve saved this one for last, as it is my favourite.

When Jesus turned the water into wine He used the special waterpots that the Jews used for their ritual cleansing.

This cleansing was part of their “rules and regulations” or part of their religion.

In performing this miracle Jesus actually desecrated the waterpots making them unusable for the religious ceremonies that the Jews were required to do.

In a sense Jesus was saying, “You will not need these waterpots any more, you will not need this religion any more, I am here”.

Jesus came to deal with all sin and He indeed paid for all sin on the cross (1 John 2 v 2).

Under the old covenant people had to cleanse themselves through rituals and regulations of the law, under the new covenant we have already been cleansed through the shed blood of Jesus.

Because of the finished work of Jesus Christ man no longer needs religion; that is what He is saying here by desecrating the waterpots.

Jesus is enough.

Religion and religious performance with all the rituals and regulations are no longer required.

Jesus did not come to start a new religion as many think; He came to destroy religion.

True Christianity is a relationship not a religion.

True Christianity as all about Jesus and Jesus is enough.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the finished work of Jesus Christ and thank you that I now live under the new covenant and grace”.

John 2 v 6…..And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying in the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece

DIG for Tuesday the 24th of November…..the second was so much better than the first…..John 2 v 10

In the DIG yesterday I used the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine as a picture of His wonderful and bountiful provision.

This same miracle is also a picture of something else, of the ushering in of the next covenant.

Jesus came to bring in the new covenant, a replacement for the old covenant, the second coming to replace the first.

The wine that Jesus used was of much better quality than that which had just been finished.

He replaced an inferior product for a better one when talking about wine.

He did the same with covenants, He ushered in a new one to replace the old (Hebrews 8 v 13).

The old covenant could never make a man perfect, it could never bring us into perfect relationship with God (Hebrews 10 v 1).

Jesus could do this, His finished work, ushering in the new covenant, brought forgiveness and reconciliation.

Moses gave the old covenant but the new covenant came in the form of Jesus (John 1 v 17).

The new covenant is “better” in that through the finished work of Jesus we can be saved and made righteous and brought into perfect relationship with God.

The second was so much better than the first, for the wine in Jesus’ first miracle and also in covenants.

We now live under the new covenant of grace and are not under the law or the old covenant; it has waxed away as far as we are concerned.

Speak this out today….”Thank you Lord for the finished work of Jesus and thank you that I now live under the new covenant”.

John 2 v 10…..And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now

DIG for Monday the 23rd of November…..a picture of His abundance…..John 2 v 10

One of my favourite miracles of Jesus is His first one in the gospel of John, where He turns the water into wine.

Don’t let people tell you that He made unfermented grape juice, He made wine (and lots of it) and he made good wine (John 2 v 10).

This miracle is a picture of His bountiful and abundant provision.

Jesus did not turn a few litres of water into wine, He made about six hundred litres.

Jesus did not make any old wine, He made really good wine, and in fact He made the best.

Jesus provided more wine for that wedding than was required and of a better quality than was needed, He over provided in a sense.

And it is like that with what He has provided for us.

We already have all we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him (2 Peter 1 v 3).

He came to bring us life (God’s wonderful kind of life) and brought us this in abundance (John 10 v 10).

He wants us all to live in health and prosperity and has made a way for us to receive this (3 John 2).

Jesus lost His life to provide a life of health and prosperity for us.

Grab what Jesus has provided for you this evening and enjoy it like someone would enjoy a fine wine.

Jesus wants you to have the best and He has provided the best for you.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Jesus for your bountiful provision, and thank you that you made a way for me to life in health and abundance”.

John 2 v 10…..And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now

DIG for Sunday the 22nd of November…..praise Him and thank Him, for He is worthy…..Psalm 117

Praise changes things; this is what I have learnt over a number of years.

If things are getting me down, if I am anxious or worried about something, if I am feeling low I can change things by getting into an attitude of praise.

The Psalmist tells us that we should all praise the Lord, all the nations and all the people.

He also tells us why we should praise Him; He is full of mercy and kindness and He is the Truth.

The Hebrew word praise is “haw-lal” and means to make a show, to boast, to rave or celebrate.

Many of us use music to help us praise and that is generally my method although there are others.

When I sing to the Lord things change in my sphere of influence.

My thoughts change and my focus moves from self to Him, and that can only be a good thing!

We are told to keep our thoughts on good things of the Lord (Philippians 4 v 8) and this is a great way to do that.

Praise is a strong weapon that we have to alter what we are thinking and feeling and should be used continually through the day.

Praise is one the best ways to get your focus onto the things of the Lord, especially if you are singing the Word of God.

God is worthy of all our praise, He is kind and merciful and His truth will never end.

Praise Him today and see things change around you.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you are a kind and merciful God, and worthy of all our praise”.

Psalm 117…..O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great towards us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord

DIG for Saturday the 21st of November…..you have made me brave…..Philippians 4 v 13

I was feeling anxious and stressed this morning about a couple of situations that I am in at the moment.

Then I remembered I was supposed to be downloading some worship music for Nunsy, so I did that and listened to it at the same time.

And what a difference one of the songs made to me!

“You make me brave, You make me brave, You call me out beyond the shore into the waves.

You make me brave, You make me brave, No fear can hinder now the Love that made the way”.

These were the lyrics that I have now been singing all afternoon.

The Word says that we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4 v 13).

The Word says that perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4 v 18).

Fear of man and what they could say or do should no longer be an issue for us as born again believers.

If we truly understand the love that God has toward us we will see fear flee from our lives and we will be able to do what we want to do.

Sometimes the hardest thing to say is no, and sometimes we need to be really brave to do this.

If we are in fear over what men may think if we do or do not do something then we do not truly understand the love of God in some way or another.

Perfect love, and that is only the love of God, casts out all fear; not some fear, not most fear, but all fear.

Are you in fear of something this evening?

Focus on the love that God has for you, meditate upon His love and what he has done for you because of His love; fear cannot stay long if you do that!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for Your love toward me, and thank you that this love is freely available to me at all times”.

Philippians 4 v 18…..I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me

DIG for Friday the 20th of November…..He is saying the same today…..John 1 v 43

I love reading about Jesus and really appreciate the simple way that He spoke.

He did not use big theological terms and did not complicate things, and He spoke in a simple way using easy to understand pictures and analogies.

The words He used to invite men to become His disciples are amongst the simplest.

“Come and see” and “Follow me” were His words (John 1 v 39 and 43).

And these are words that He still uses today.

He wants men to come to Him (He wants all men to come to Him) and see Who He is and what He has done.

He then wants men to follow Him.

The miracles and wonders performed by Jesus are written in the Word to point men towards Jesus, and in turn to make men believe (John 20 v 31).

Men today can still look to Jesus through His Word (and of course through His followers) and then start to follow Him themselves.

To follow in this context means to accompany, to travel together as it were.

Once you trust and believe in Jesus He is always with you and will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13 v 5).

He will always be with you and you will always accompany or follow Him.

“Come and see what I can do and then be with Him” is the request that He gave to those He had chosen as His disciples and it is the same request He gives to every man today.

Our role in this “process” is to show people Jesus, to give them the chance to choose Him for themselves.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for Jesus and thank you for His wonderful works that we see In Scripture”.

John 1 v 43…..The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me

DIG for Thursday the 19th of November…..so why do you go to church…..Hebrews 10 v 25

I have just listened to a wonderful message around why we go to church (by Pastor Jacob Sheriff).

The key verses were of course Hebrews 10 v 23 to 25, however there are many other verses that tell us why we should meet as a body of believers (or go to church).

Many of these verses use two key words and these are “one another”.

Church is all about people, how we can bless them and how they can bless us.

Church is all about being with people, giving help and being helped.

Church is about caring for one another (1 Corinthians 12 v 25).

Church is about loving one another (John 13 v 34).

Church is about forgiving one another (Ephesians 4 v 32).

Church is about stirring one another in order move into love and good works (Hebrews 10 v 24).

In other words church is for you, meeting with other believers for mutual blessing and encouragement is for every single Christian and is essential.

If you do not go to church you are missing out and so is the church; you can bless others and you are missing out on the blessings from them.

Christianity has never been a solo occupation and it never will be, if you think this you are being selfish!

Selfish as you think you can walk without other believers and selfish as you don’t want to bless others.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the institution of the church, the vehicle you put in place for encouragement and edification of believers”.

Hebrews 10 v 25…..Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another: and so much more, as ye see the day approaching