Christmas Celebration

Whosoever will call on the Name of the Lord will be saved. Wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever your condition, this Jesus, who we celebrate at Christmas, He is the One, He is Messiah. Jesus is the Son of God, He is alive. And He has power to work miracles in your life today. Jesus will forgive every sin and heal every sickness, but first, we must repent. What is repentance? It is not a religious ceremony or ritual; repentance is simply changing our behaviour.

My encouragement to you this Christmas is 'Emmanuel, God with us'. Jesus is not distant, He is with you: regardless of where you are or what you've done, Jesus is there, He loves you. He has promised never to leave or forsake you.

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The Words of Jesus

If only we could hear the words of Jesus. In your life, in your problems today, just where you are, Jesus wants to say, "Don't be afraid, only believe." In your biggest crisis, in the time when you feel that your life is at an end, call upon His Name and He will answer. If only you would believe in Jesus, you would see the biggest miracle of your life. With Jesus there is no crying, no sorrow, no weeping. The very Name of Jesus brings hope: His Name means salvation. At the mention of His Name demons have to flee. At the Name of Jesus death is turned into life.

Do you have a promise that has not been fulfilled? Has every glimmer of hope been extinguished, are you weak and shaken by the absolute impossibility of what you see? - Don't let go, it's not a problem to God! If it 'can't happen', that just makes you a candidate for a miracle! God's Word works! Everything needed to fulfil your promise was contained within that promise the very first time the Lord made it known to you. The Word of God is not 'like' a seed - it IS a seed. Contained within every seed in nature is the life-giving DNA, written by God - the entire plan for the future of that seed!

If God has spoken to you, given you the seed of His Word, receive it, keep it, don't let it go! When the angel spoke to Mary, she believed it, received it, 'Let it be to me according to Your Word' (Luke 1:38). And Elizabeth recorded of her, 'Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.' - God will do it!

Is it hard for you to hold on? Don't abort the Word of God. Be like Mary, hold on to what God has said, keep it in your heart. God's promises are not worked out in the ordinary way, but according to His plan, His timing, His order. It may be impossible to you. But remember, the Angel said to Mary, 'With God nothing is impossible' (Luke 1:37). There is power in the Words of Jesus.

Listen to today's podcast: THE WORDS OF JESUS

Only Believe

In most healing testimonies in the Gospels, it is reported  that many, and sometimes all, were healed. But it is also recorded that in some places even Jesus could do no mighty works because of their unbelief - Matthew 13:58. The New Testament records of the disciples that, though they put their faith in Jesus, first in one need or crisis, then in another, their faith was punctuated by unbelief. Even at the Last Supper, Jesus said to them, "Do you now believe?"

Every one of us who considers himself to be the Lord's disciple must recognise the unbelief and hardness that assails our heart in each new situation, each new difficulty, and must ask God for a renewing and growth of our faith. Our circumstances CAN be changed; the Word of God CANNOT fail! The Bible says we live by faith. Paul wrote: 'The life I live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me' (Galatians 2:20). When you find yourself in situations where you doubt your faith, remember the simple cry found in Mark 9:24, 'Lord I believe, help my unbelief.'

Listen to this week's podcast: ONLY BELIEVE

Thank God for the crisis!

Things go wrong; problems come into our lives. Events happen which are beyond our control. In Mark 5 Jairus knew that Jesus could solve his problem, he believed in miracles, but what Jairus didn't know is how big a miracle he would need. Jesus knew the delay caused  by healing other people meant this girl would die, but He also knew there was going to be a resurrection. Jesus said to Jairus, and He says to you, 'Don't be afraid, only believe'.

Although none of us like having problems, I have come to realise that it is a privilege when God places us in extreme circumstances. In the natural, without pressure and resistance, our muscles start to fade away; the only way to develop them is to put them under increasing strain on a regular basis. It is the same in our walk with God. He has not abandoned you when you are under pressure, rather He is using it to develop your faith just as a personal trainer uses weights to build muscles on an athlete. At times it seems that my life goes from crisis to crisis, until I even say to God, "Isn't it time You made my life a little bit easier?" But He has a simple answer, "Without the crisis you will stop learning!" So thank God for the crisis in your life!

Listen to this week's podcast: GOD WORKS MIRACLES!

When Heaven is shut

'And there appeared an angel unto Jesus from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.' (Luke 22:43-44, KJV)

All of us go through difficult times, circumstances that are hard to bear; often we have prayed and prayed, yet there seems to be no apparent improvement. The Apostle Paul faced similar feelings. In 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Paul repeatedly prayed that God would remove his 'thorn in the flesh', yet all God would say is, 'My grace is sufficient for thee'. In those hard times all you need to do is walk with Him one day at a time. It is for good reason that Jesus said, 'Take no thought for tomorrow' (Matthew 6:34, KJV). Don't worry about tomorrow's difficulties; His grace and mercy will carry you through today - and the good news is, there will be new mercies available to you tomorrow. Each day's mercies are tailored to that day's troubles.

When I was imprisoned for Bible smuggling I prayed each day that God would get me out. I imagined the various scenarios that God could use; I would tell God my latest idea; I would even 'plan' out the details. Yet that was not God's plan for me. After a few months of 'planning' I became disillusioned. We were always woken brutally, but this one morning, the appalling nature of what was happening finally hit me. The heavens were like brass. I had been praying for food parcels, but they were never allowed; I prayed for a visit from my wife, but there was none. I was praying to get out, but I was never released; in actual fact, I had been warned that the communist authorities were preparing a further case against me. I was in a depressed state. I was sitting on my stool, crying out to God: I can't pray! I said: If You don't answer me, what is the point in asking?!

I had done everything I could to get God's attention. I was in utter despair. The answer I got in my spirit was there came a time when the disciples had to turn to Jesus because of frustration over prayer. They said: Lord, teach us how to pray. Jesus replied: Say Our Father... As I remembered this, I began to argue: How can I say 'Our'?! Its me alone in here! It's 'my' Father! Suddenly I realised what I was saying: My Father! He is not just God, He is mine; the revelation of that relationship flooded my soul. For the first time I understood the reality of God's love; He loved His Son so dearly, yet He wanted to express His love for me. He sent His only Son to to go through what I was going through. The cross was Jesus identifying with me. In my utter despair, I realised I was loved. 

Suppose God had organised things 'extremely well' and got me out of prison on my timetable, I would not have the ministry I have today. The longer I stayed in prison, the bigger the miracle became. In the end it was the British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, who came to Czechoslovakia just to get me out! The whole miracle took one year to prepare. I didn't let go of God, even in the darkest days of despair, I knew, I believed, but it hurt and it was hard; the frustration of waiting for my answer even caused me to have a heart attack. 

Hold on. Don't let go of God! God WILL do it, even if it takes three months or three years. But in the waiting period don't become bitter and sour. Faith trusts God even when life doesn't make sense. The Bible says, 'The secret things belong to God' (Deuteronomy 29:29); not everything can be understood. The good news is, all things will be resolved and become apparent at the return of Christ. - At the moment we see through a glass darkly; but a day will come when we see in full (1 Corinthians 13:12). 

Be encouraged as you listen to this week's podcast: VICTORY

Fulfillment of Prophecy

When we see what is happening in the world today, the fulfilment of so many Bible prophecies, most significantly the rebirth of Israel as a nation in May 1948, and how close we are to the return of Christ, we need to act fast. Remember the Great Commission of Christ: 'Go into all the world and preach the Gospel!' - Mark 16:15. Remember also that the Bible says: 'For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.' - 1 John 3:8. In order for us to participate in these things and to see the fulfilment of all that God, rather than the devil, wants to do in these last days, we need God's vision. As the Bible says: 'Where there is no vision the people perish' - Proverbs 29:18 - they don't know where to go, what to do.

This is why I write about the European Union - and the beast which will soon toss her aside; world powers and world government; terrorism... I show you these things to challenge you to question what is happening, to pray - and to ACT!

If I am correct in my understanding of world events, then we are challenged to evangelise and win the world with great urgency. If I am wrong, we have more time, but at least the sense of urgency will stir us up to seek the outpouring of God's Spirit and we will evangelise now - and we will achieve more. If I am right, then those who are asleep, wrapped up in the cares of this world, or merely interested in prophecy for its own sake, will be left behind. The parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins is a terrible warning.

The Day of Judgment is coming. In this world there is a tremendous battle between good and evil. Sometimes we are tempted to think that evil is winning. But I want to tell you on the authority of God's Word that He will get the victory! Jesus says in John 12:31, 'Now is the judgment of the world, and the prince of the world, that is the evil one, will be cast out'. Thank God for the words of the Bible. There is a day coming when the good that is God will overcome the evil which is the devil. Even if we do not see the judgment on ungodly men, the Bible is very clear, there is a day of judgment. Death is not the end, it does not mean oblivion and no future. The Bible says after death comes judgment, and we need to be prepared for this

Listen to today's Podcast: Day of Judgment



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The bitter becomes sweet

'The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those who are crushed in spirit' (Psalm 34).

Whatever your problem, pray your way through! Whoever you are, Jesus will always hear your cry! Jesus gave His life to break the curse and bring healing. Call upon Him in your day of trouble - and He will deliver you!

You may be in a difficult situation right now, but God will answer. In Exodus 15, the Israelites had travelled three days without water, finally they came upon some, but it was bitter. Moses cried out to the Lord for help - and He answered! God showed Moses a branch which he took and threw into the water - this made the water sweet to drink.

My time in a communist prison was a 'bitter' experience. I tried to pray, so many times, but there was no answer. I prayed for food, and there was none; for help, and there there was none; when I prayed for deliverance, no one came. But yet God turned that 'bitter' time in to a sweet answer to prayer. He will do the same for you - the bitter will become sweet.