Devotional messages written by Peter for Seeds of the Kingdom from Ellel Ministries
“Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” The proposal pleased the whole group. They …
Acts 6:3-5, NIV
“Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” The proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and . . . .”
Faith is the ability to not just believe in the existence of God, but also be able to recognise the voice of the One in whom you have believed and to so trust in Him that when He shows you the way to go, you will take action and follow Him. Hebrews 11 lists out a veritable catalogue of men and women whose faith led them to do mighty acts for the Lord. They weren’t the sort of people who sat in their armchair ‘full of faith’ but actually did nothing!
A person full of faith is recognisably under the authority of their commanding officer (Jesus) and gladly obeys Him. Indeed, Hebrews 11:7 tells us that it was “in holy fear” that Noah exercised his faith and built the ark. He had no intention of failing in his obedience!
Stephen was a man like Noah! He was one of seven men who were chosen to act as administrators in the developing church fellowship. Even though his role was administrative, it was still essential to be full of the Spirit and holy determination – the primary requisite of anyone who is given permission to exercise responsibility over others in the church. Without the Spirit they would be operating in the flesh and doing what seemed to be good to them alone, and not good to the Holy Spirit also.
The Holy Spirit gave Stephen the necessary wisdom, and he exercised his faith with courage, not being afraid to use his gifting and power to do “great wonders and miraculous signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). When opposition arose, it was not surprising that Stephen was picked out for close attention by the religious authorities – including a young man called Saul! Stephen became the first Christian martyr, in spite of the fact that even the members of the Sanhedrin recognised that he was an exceptional man and “they saw that his face was like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:18). “Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him” (Acts 8:3).
Today we are hearing of more and more believers in the Middle East who are once again being made to walk the same walk that Stephen walked and become martyrs for their faith. For the Body of Christ worldwide, this is a time when we need to be putting our arms of love around all those who are suffering for the Gospel and lift them up to the throne of grace in prayer. When and where there are those who, because of their faith, pay the ultimate price, we need to minister in the best way we know how to those who are mourning and grieving. These are very challenging days.
Prayer: Thank You for the amazing example of faith that Stephen and all the martyrs of history have been. Help me, Lord, to always walk the path of faith, wherever it may lead. Help me to play my part and, through intercession, to stand with the families of all those who are called on to serve you through personal sacrifice. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”2 Corinthians 5:10, NIVWhen the athletes come forward at an awards ceremony to receive the…
2 Corinthians 5:10, NIV
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
When the athletes come forward at an awards ceremony to receive their medals, they are being rewarded for what they achieved. It is only the first, the second and the third athletes that receive medals – no-one else. But here Paul tells us that there will be a very different, and very unusual, awards ceremony in eternity, when we are no longer in our body, when everyone who has run in the race of life will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive their reward for everything they have done – whether good or bad – not just those who the world might think of as winners. There will be no exceptions – everyone will be there!
On New Year’s Day in the UK, the Queen announced a long list of people who are to be rewarded by the government for their services to the nation. This annual list can include famous people whose achievements are already well known through the media, or people who are largely unknown to the general public who have quietly got on with their work and selflessly served the nation in whatever has been their particular calling in life. This year, a long term friend of mine was awarded the MBE for his services. I was totally thrilled that he has been publicly recognised for all he has quietly and unassumingly done throughout his life. He will now be preparing himself for his investiture ceremony before the Queen, or another senior member of the Royal Family. It will be a very special occasion.
But in recent months there have been several people who have been given such awards, or higher awards such as knighthoods, who have subsequently been discovered, some posthumously, to have been involved in criminal activity such as sexual abuse. Steps are then taken to strip them of their national awards when the true nature of the individual’s life is revealed. It was only when the light of true knowledge was able to shine on the details of their lives that a more accurate assessment of that person’s life could be made. This prompts a very disturbing question – what is being hidden in all our lives, which no-one else knows about – both the good and the bad – for nothing will be able to be covered in the face of the light of Christ in eternity?
I recently had an x-ray on my knee. Superficially the knee looked fine. But the penetrative x-rays were able to reveal the consequences of a rugby injury from over fifty years ago! On that final day, when we are no longer able to hide anything, everything about us will appear on that spiritual x-ray for everyone to see. And, as Paul expresses so clearly in our Scripture for today, Jesus will reward everyone accordingly, for both the good and the bad. We will not be able to cover anything up by the clothing we choose to wear at our investiture before the King of Kings. The only covering for our sins, that will be adequate on that day, will be the robe of righteousness given to those who have chosen to follow and believe in Jesus and who are, therefore, in Him.
In another Scripture (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) Paul likens that judgement day to a testing of fire, and he says that if what we have built in our lives survives the fire, then we will receive our reward. How we live our lives now, within the confines of time, will have a profound effect on what happens at the only awards ceremony that matters and on our lives in eternity!
Prayer: Help me, Lord, to always be aware of eternity during all the days that You have allotted to me in time. I pray that You will show me the things that You consider precious and to spend my days doing those things that will bring joy to Your face on that precious eternal day. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
“So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own….
Joshua 1:10-11, NIV
“So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
Joshua was given a big job! He had to stand in the shoes of Moses as leader of the people and take them forward into the land that God had promised them so long ago. The time had now come to step forward in faith, notwithstanding his own misgivings. God had spoken and told him, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9). He was ready – even if apprehensive and nervous.
This message now had to be relayed to the people so that that they could get ready to move. The officers went through the camp telling them to be ready, for in three days time they were going to cross the River Jordan and enter the land that God was giving them as their own. There must have been a huge sense of anticipation, excitement and, yes, fear, as they wondered what would happen next, when God’s forty year old promises began to be fulfilled.
But God wasn’t going to do it for them. They had to put their own feet down on the ground, one step at a time, and move! God didn’t send a chariot of fire to lift them off the ground and drop them by angelic parachute into the land of promise! They had to move their own feet forward in faith before God would do the miraculous on their behalf. When they came to the river it was only as the priests put their feet in the waters of the river, which was in flood, that God worked the miracle. God didn’t stop the river’s flow and then say “It’s now OK to go.” He required the people to move forward in faith, and as they did so they realised that God was clearing the way for them.
I have met a number of people over the years whom God had called to serve Him. But they were waiting for God to do the miraculous and lift them supernaturally out of their present situation and land them in the place of promise. But sadly, many years later they were still waiting for their miracle – and it never came. When God shows us His plan for our lives he expects us to get ready and start moving forward in faith, preparing ourselves for whatever He has asked us to do. God can then direct our steps as we go. Just as a car has to be moving before the steering wheel can be turned, we have to start moving forward in faith, so that God can then direct our steps.
So, on this first day of a New Year, may I encourage you to look at the land of your life that lies before you and get yourself ready to start moving! Just as Joshua gave the people three days to prepare themselves, why not spend the first three days of 2015 reviewing all that God has already spoken into your life and look to Him for His leading for the days ahead as you step into His plans and purposes? May you know the Lord’s richest blessing throughout the New Year.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for Your hand on my life at this present time. Help me to step forward in faith into all that you have planned for me in the year ahead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”Psalm 77:11-12, NIVThese past few weeks I have been writing up the story of how God establishe…
Psalm 77:11-12, NIV
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”
These past few weeks I have been writing up the story of how God established the work of Ellel Ministries at Ellel Grange. I have been thinking of so many things that God did in those early days. As we stepped forward in faith, praying for those who came through the doors, looking to God for help, time and time again God intervened to bless and heal those in need, in spite of our lack of knowledge or experience. We saw first-hand the miraculous power of God transforming people’s lives.
Looking back with thankfulness to what God did then has served to strengthen and renew my faith now for the days that lie ahead. We are living in increasingly tough times and we will need to have landmarks of blessing to look back on with gratitude, from which we can draw strength and inspiration. I’ve realised afresh how meditating on what God has done in the past is such a wonderful source of encouragement for the future – especially when going through hard times.
For this reason I regularly read the biographies of the saints of God – those inspiring stories of what God did through individuals who were willing to risk all in order to be obedient to what God was speaking into their lives. I’ve learnt so much in this way through the experiences of others – just as we learn so much from the biblical accounts of the men and women of faith who fill the pages of our Bible.
On this last day of 2014 I’d like to encourage you to take time out before the day ends to look back on your own life and write down all the things you can think of which God has done for you. Then meditate on each one of them, giving thanks to Him for the ways He has directed your steps. It’s also a great time to look at those things that have not gone so well because of your own wrong choices or disobedience. What better way could there be to end the old year than to say sorry to God for those things and ask His forgiveness, knowing that His Word says He will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It’s God’s way of helping you to prepare a clean foundation for all that lies ahead.
People with thankful hearts are a joy to be with – may I also encourage you to share some of the things that God has done with others so you can share the joy around!
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the amazing way in which you love to lead and direct our steps. I’m so grateful, Lord, for all you’ve done for me. Forgive me, Lord, for the mistakes I’ve made and help me to prepare a new and restored foundation for all that lies ahead. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
1 Corinthian 13:4-7, NIV
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
So what is love? Patience comes first. If you love someone there’s going to be a time when they’re going to upset you by pressing your ‘hot’ buttons. We can feel really upset at them. But the mark of true love is to be really patient with the person who irritates you the most. Love covers over a multitude of ‘irritations and annoyances’.
The mark of true love is long suffering. Godly love doesn’t just sit back and suffer. It does something about it. Godly love reaches out to the person who’s hurting us and says. “I care for you. This does not change my love”. This is how God loves us. He shows us kindness and forgiveness. This kind of love transforms people’s lives.
Love also rejoices in the truth. When we love the way we should, we have to think about how we say things, in case we crush and hurt the other person. God tells us the truth and loves us too much to let us remain in darkness. We need to love our fellow Christians the same way.
Love is humble. Humility is an important part of our love relationship with God and others. Pride is a big issue for many of us. It often brings about misunderstandings and arguments. Pride prevents intimacy, as it conceals the true self in fear of being ‘uncovered’ for who we truly are. 1 John 1:7 says ‘If we walk in the light, He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another’. Light always reveals and uncovers.
When we find ourselves in an argument, what should we do? To prevent a deadlock – God is asking us to be humble and say sorry for our part. Therefore God is calling us to initiate reconciliation and restore unity.
Let’s be quick to say “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me. I love you”.
1 John 4:10 says ‘This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins’. Before we can truly love others we must be filled with the love of God first. Our love tank must be filled up by God first. As we enter the New Year, may we truly know the love of God shed abroad in our hearts.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You’re love. Thank You that You desire us, as sons and daughters, to know You deeper and to be loved and cherished by You. Fill us with Your love in our hearts as we enter into a new year with You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
“To fear the Lord is to hate evil.”Proverbs 8:13, NIVI’ve recently been casting my mind back over the years of Ellel Ministries and thinking of all the stories I would want to put in a book about what God has done since the work began back in 1986. As …