Thursday, December 31, 2020
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Monday, December 7, 2020
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Friday, December 4, 2020
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
MORE FROM MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
Do You See Jesus in Your Clouds?
By Oswald Chambers
In
the Bible clouds are always associated with God. Clouds are the
sorrows, sufferings, or providential circumstances, within or without
our personal lives, which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of
God. Yet it is through these very clouds that the Spirit of God is
teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were never any clouds in our
lives, we would have no faith. “The clouds are the dust of His feet” (Nahum 1:3).
They are a sign that God is there. What a revelation it is to know that
sorrow, bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds that come
along with God! God cannot come near us without clouds— He does not come
in clear-shining brightness.
It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in using the cloud is to simplify our beliefs until our relationship with Him is exactly like that of a child— a relationship simply between God and our own souls, and where other people are but shadows. Until other people become shadows to us, clouds and darkness will be ours every once in a while. Is our relationship with God becoming more simple than it has ever been?
There is a connection between the strange providential circumstances allowed by God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Until we can come face to face with the deepest, darkest fact of life without damaging our view of God’s character, we do not yet know Him.
“…they were fearful as they entered the cloud” (Luke 9:34). Is there anyone except Jesus in your cloud? If so, it will only get darker until you get to the place where there is “no one anymore, but only Jesus …” (Mark 9:8; also see verses 2–7).
It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in using the cloud is to simplify our beliefs until our relationship with Him is exactly like that of a child— a relationship simply between God and our own souls, and where other people are but shadows. Until other people become shadows to us, clouds and darkness will be ours every once in a while. Is our relationship with God becoming more simple than it has ever been?
There is a connection between the strange providential circumstances allowed by God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Until we can come face to face with the deepest, darkest fact of life without damaging our view of God’s character, we do not yet know Him.
“…they were fearful as they entered the cloud” (Luke 9:34). Is there anyone except Jesus in your cloud? If so, it will only get darker until you get to the place where there is “no one anymore, but only Jesus …” (Mark 9:8; also see verses 2–7).
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Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
When
you are joyful, be joyful; when you are sad, be sad. If God has given
you a sweet cup, don’t make it bitter; and if He has given you a bitter
cup, don’t try and make it sweet; take things as they come. Shade of His Hand, 1226 L
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
The Rod of God by Major Ian Thomas
This last evening I had trouble sleeping so in the middle of the night as I am often want to do, I listened to this sermon by Major Ian Thomas from my tape collection.
The message hit home for me as a Christian because he homes in on the point of Christian living and how many things are we letting us get in the way of our relationship with God.
I thought about uploading the tape but someone had already done so so here it is on youtube. Audio only. This appears to be word for word for the tape I have.It was recorded in Australia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U28PyXZSp5A
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
More from My Utmost for His Highest
Beware of Criticizing Others
By Oswald Chambers
Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, “Don’t.”
The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known.
Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the
spiritual realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism
is the dividing up of the strengths of the one being criticized. The
Holy Spirit is the only one in the proper position to criticize, and He
alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is
impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical
mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and
leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea that you are somehow
superior to others. Jesus says that as His disciple you should cultivate
a temperament that is never critical. This will not happen quickly but
must be developed over a span of time. You must constantly beware of
anything that causes you to think of yourself as a superior person.
There is no escaping the penetrating search of my life by Jesus. If I see the little speck in your eye, it means that I have a plank of timber in my own (see Matthew 7:3-5). Every wrong thing that I see in you, God finds in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-24). Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person’s situation. The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us. I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.
There is no escaping the penetrating search of my life by Jesus. If I see the little speck in your eye, it means that I have a plank of timber in my own (see Matthew 7:3-5). Every wrong thing that I see in you, God finds in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-24). Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person’s situation. The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us. I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.
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Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
The Christian Church should not be a secret society of specialists, but a public manifestation of believers in Jesus. Facing Reality, 34 R
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
More from Oswald Chamberrs in My Utmost for His Highest.
The Habit of Keeping a Clear Conscience
By Oswald Chambers
God’s
commands to us are actually given to the life of His Son in us.
Consequently, to our human nature in which God’s Son has been formed
(see Galatians 4:19), His commands are difficult. But they become divinely easy once we obey.
Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23).
God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…” (Ephesians 4:30). He does not speak with a voice like thunder— His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is— drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.
Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God’s standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey? I have to make an effort to keep my conscience so sensitive that I can live without any offense toward anyone. I should be living in such perfect harmony with God’s Son that the spirit of my mind is being renewed through every circumstance of life, and that I may be able to quickly “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2 ; also see Ephesians 4:23).
God always instructs us down to the last detail. Is my ear sensitive enough to hear even the softest whisper of the Spirit, so that I know what I should do? “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…” (Ephesians 4:30). He does not speak with a voice like thunder— His voice is so gentle that it is easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You are on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is— drop it, and see that you keep your inner vision clear.
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Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
There
is no allowance whatever in the New Testament for the man who says he
is saved by grace but who does not produce the graceful goods. Jesus
Christ by His Redemption can make our actual life in keeping with our
religious profession.
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 17-18; John 3:19-38
Friday, May 8, 2020
Thursday, April 23, 2020
James Chapter 3. Practical Christian Living
This is the 3rd in a series of 5 readings from the Living Bible.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Pistol Pete Maravich. Christian Testimony.
Pistol Pete Maravich is arguably the best ever basketball player.Search
on youtube for some of the documented highlights.Amazingly he quit
basketball in his prime.He died when he was only 40.Not long before this
his Christian testimony was recorded.This is an incredibly earnest
presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.If you are not a Christian
listen to this compelling story.If you listen right through you will be
moved.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
James Chapter 2. More Practical Christianity. Faith without works?
Today I am reading James chapter 2. The 2nd of 5 readings in James.This will also be published on my main blog. In the web version of this blog you will find a link in the top righthand corner. Also remember to read any version of the Bible online go to the Bible Gateway.
Monday, April 20, 2020
The Book of James-Practical Christian Living
Readings from the book of James. This book in the New Testament is a
very practical guide on how we should live. There will be 5 separate
readings for 5 chapters. You can access all versions of the Bible
including the Living Bible from the Bible Gateway.
Thursday, April 16, 2020
The Third Habit-The discipline of obedience
This is the 3rd reading from the series on Abiding in Jesus in the booklet Offbeat Responses to the Bible by Frank Hunting
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Abiding in Jesus
Friday, April 10, 2020
Where does God come into the Picture?
Off beat responds to the Bible no.2. Where does God come into the picture? Readings from Frank Hunting's devotional booklet called "Off beat responses to the Bible."This can also be found on my youtube channel.
Offbeat Responses from the Bible -Introduction."Always"
Join with me as I share a new series of devotional readings that are also on my Youtube channel.
These are going to be a regular series taken from one of Frank Hunting's devotional books.
Something after the style of Oswald Chambers.
These are going to be a regular series taken from one of Frank Hunting's devotional books.
Something after the style of Oswald Chambers.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
More from My Utmost for His highest by Oswald Chambers
His Resurrection Destiny
By Oswald Chambers
Our
Lord’s Cross is the gateway into His life. His resurrection means that
He has the power to convey His life to me. When I was born again, I
received the very life of the risen Lord from Jesus Himself.
Christ’s resurrection destiny— His foreordained purpose— was to bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). The fulfilling of His destiny gives Him the right to make us sons and daughters of God. We never have exactly the same relationship to God that the Son of God has, but we are brought by the Son into the relation of sonship. When our Lord rose from the dead, He rose to an absolutely new life— a life He had never lived before He was God Incarnate. He rose to a life that had never been before. And what His resurrection means for us is that we are raised to His risen life, not to our old life. One day we will have a body like His glorious body, but we can know here and now the power and effectiveness of His resurrection and can “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Paul’s determined purpose was to “know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Philippians 3:10).
Jesus prayed, “…as You have given Him authority over all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him” (John 17:2). The term Holy Spirit is actually another name for the experience of eternal life working in human beings here and now. The Holy Spirit is the deity of God who continues to apply the power of the atonement by the Cross of Christ to our lives. Thank God for the glorious and majestic truth that His Spirit can work the very nature of Jesus into us, if we will only obey Him.
Christ’s resurrection destiny— His foreordained purpose— was to bring “many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10). The fulfilling of His destiny gives Him the right to make us sons and daughters of God. We never have exactly the same relationship to God that the Son of God has, but we are brought by the Son into the relation of sonship. When our Lord rose from the dead, He rose to an absolutely new life— a life He had never lived before He was God Incarnate. He rose to a life that had never been before. And what His resurrection means for us is that we are raised to His risen life, not to our old life. One day we will have a body like His glorious body, but we can know here and now the power and effectiveness of His resurrection and can “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Paul’s determined purpose was to “know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Philippians 3:10).
Jesus prayed, “…as You have given Him authority over all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him” (John 17:2). The term Holy Spirit is actually another name for the experience of eternal life working in human beings here and now. The Holy Spirit is the deity of God who continues to apply the power of the atonement by the Cross of Christ to our lives. Thank God for the glorious and majestic truth that His Spirit can work the very nature of Jesus into us, if we will only obey Him.
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Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
It
is in the middle that human choices are made; the beginning and the end
remain with God. The decrees of God are birth and death, and in between
those limits man makes his own distress or joy. Shade of His Hand, 1223 L
Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 10-12; Luke 9:37-62
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Camp Farthest Out- Somewhere to go while Isolated
Years ago when I became a Christian both of my Ministers at times talked about attending Christian Camps conducted by an organisation called Camp Farthest Out.
Below is a statement of their faith.
I believe the organisation is till operating in Australia.
I have some tapes in my cassette collection by some of their well known speakers.
You can actually listen to many of their speakers at their Classic Library website.
See the link below.
https://www.cfoclassicslibrary.org/
There maybe recorded messages here that although many recorded long ago can help you through and strengthen your faith.
The speakers involved were from many different Christian denominations.
I am currently listening to one of my tapes by Norman Renshaw, recorded at Nunyara Belair in January 1977.
He was a British Baptist minister.
It is my intention to digitise it and put it on my youtube channel.
Below is a statement of their faith.
Excerpted from
Our Bond of Faith
Given by Glenn Clark to the Camps Farthest Out
We take as our Source and Center the leadership of Jesus Christ.
We accept as our law of conduct and the source of
our energy the two Great Commandments that
He gave us upon which rest all the law and the prophets.
Our Constitution of Conduct shall be woven out of The Sermon on the Mount.
We recognize that this Way of Life can be learned
as a Science and practiced as an Art, but not until it is experienced in the form of Spiritual Rebirth can its full Power be released upon earth.
EVERYTHING about our union together and our basis for working together shall be as fluid as the
sea and as free as the air. Christ and all He represents is central; everything else is marginal.
With this bond of faith to unite us, one in impact but not in compact, with union in Christ and freedom in action, moving as an organism and not as an organization, we hope to unify and strengthen the deeper spiritual forces of the nation and the world that are working to save mankind in this age of crisis.
Note that Glenn Clarke mentions "this age of crisis"
The world is always in crisis in my opinion but seemingly more so at present with the Pandemic in full swing.
Our Bond of Faith
Given by Glenn Clark to the Camps Farthest Out
We take as our Source and Center the leadership of Jesus Christ.
We accept as our law of conduct and the source of
our energy the two Great Commandments that
He gave us upon which rest all the law and the prophets.
Our Constitution of Conduct shall be woven out of The Sermon on the Mount.
We recognize that this Way of Life can be learned
as a Science and practiced as an Art, but not until it is experienced in the form of Spiritual Rebirth can its full Power be released upon earth.
EVERYTHING about our union together and our basis for working together shall be as fluid as the
sea and as free as the air. Christ and all He represents is central; everything else is marginal.
With this bond of faith to unite us, one in impact but not in compact, with union in Christ and freedom in action, moving as an organism and not as an organization, we hope to unify and strengthen the deeper spiritual forces of the nation and the world that are working to save mankind in this age of crisis.
Note that Glenn Clarke mentions "this age of crisis"
The world is always in crisis in my opinion but seemingly more so at present with the Pandemic in full swing.
I have some tapes in my cassette collection by some of their well known speakers.
You can actually listen to many of their speakers at their Classic Library website.
See the link below.
https://www.cfoclassicslibrary.org/
There maybe recorded messages here that although many recorded long ago can help you through and strengthen your faith.
The speakers involved were from many different Christian denominations.
I am currently listening to one of my tapes by Norman Renshaw, recorded at Nunyara Belair in January 1977.
He was a British Baptist minister.
It is my intention to digitise it and put it on my youtube channel.
Monday, March 30, 2020
More from My Utmost for His highest
Heedfulness or Hypocrisy in Ourselves?
By Oswald Chambers
If
we are not heedful and pay no attention to the way the Spirit of God
works in us, we will become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other
people are failing, and then we take our discernment and turn it into
comments of ridicule and criticism, instead of turning it into
intercession on their behalf. God reveals this truth about others to us
not through the sharpness of our minds but through the direct
penetration of His Spirit. If we are not attentive, we will be
completely unaware of the source of the discernment God has given us,
becoming critical of others and forgetting that God says, “…he will ask,
and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to
death.” Be careful that you don’t become a hypocrite by spending all
your time trying to get others right with God before you worship Him
yourself.
One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning others. He gives us discernment so that we may accept the responsibility for those souls before Him and form the mind of Christ about them (see Philippians 2:5). We should intercede in accordance with what God says He will give us, namely, “life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” It is not that we are able to bring God into contact with our minds, but that we awaken ourselves to the point where God is able to convey His mind to us regarding the people for whom we intercede.
Can Jesus Christ see the agony of His soul in us? He can’t unless we are so closely identified with Him that we have His view concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors.
One of the most subtle and illusive burdens God ever places on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerning others. He gives us discernment so that we may accept the responsibility for those souls before Him and form the mind of Christ about them (see Philippians 2:5). We should intercede in accordance with what God says He will give us, namely, “life for those who commit sin not leading to death.” It is not that we are able to bring God into contact with our minds, but that we awaken ourselves to the point where God is able to convey His mind to us regarding the people for whom we intercede.
Can Jesus Christ see the agony of His soul in us? He can’t unless we are so closely identified with Him that we have His view concerning the people for whom we pray. May we learn to intercede so wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ will be completely and overwhelmingly satisfied with us as intercessors.
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Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
When we no longer seek God for His blessings, we have time to seek Him for Himself. The Moral Foundations of Life, 728 L
Bible in a Year: Judges 11-12; Luke 6:1-26
Friday, March 27, 2020
Honesty about our Homes by Frank Hunting
This is a link to an audio file on this important subject.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg6ZdnfxbiQ&t=1529s
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Spiritual Vision Through Personal Purity from My Utmost for His highest
Spiritual Vision Through Personal Purity
By Oswald Chambers
Purity
is not innocence— it is much more than that. Purity is the result of
continued spiritual harmony with God. We have to grow in purity. Our
life with God may be right and our inner purity unblemished, yet
occasionally our outer life may become spotted and stained. God
intentionally does not protect us from this possibility, because this is
the way we recognize the necessity of maintaining our spiritual vision
through personal purity. If the outer level of our spiritual life with
God is impaired to the slightest degree, we must put everything else
aside until we make it right. Remember that spiritual vision depends on
our character— it is “the pure in heart” who “see God.”
God makes us pure by an act of His sovereign grace, but we still have something that we must carefully watch. It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. Not only must our “inner sanctuary” be kept right with God, but also the “outer courts” must be brought into perfect harmony with the purity God gives us through His grace. Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our “outer court” is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us.
A practical help in keeping your personal purity unblemished in your relations with other people is to begin to see them as God does. Say to yourself, “That man or that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend or that relative is perfect in Christ Jesus!”
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God makes us pure by an act of His sovereign grace, but we still have something that we must carefully watch. It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. Not only must our “inner sanctuary” be kept right with God, but also the “outer courts” must be brought into perfect harmony with the purity God gives us through His grace. Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our “outer court” is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us.
A practical help in keeping your personal purity unblemished in your relations with other people is to begin to see them as God does. Say to yourself, “That man or that woman is perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend or that relative is perfect in Christ Jesus!”
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Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
We can understand the attributes of God in other ways, but we can only understand the Father’s heart in the Cross of Christ. The Highest Good—Thy Great Redemption, 558 L
Bible in a Year: Joshua 22-24; Luke 3
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
More from Oswald Chambers from "My Utmost for His highest."
Prayerful Inner-Searching
By Oswald Chambers
“Your whole spirit….” The great, mysterious work of the Holy
Spirit is in the deep recesses of our being which we cannot reach. Read Psalm 139.
The psalmist implies— “O Lord, You are the God of the early mornings,
the God of the late nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God
of the sea. But, my God, my soul has horizons further away than those of
early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks
than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature. You who
are the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach to the heights or to
the depths; there are motives I cannot discover, dreams I cannot
realize. My God, search me.”
Do we believe that God can fortify and protect our thought processes far beyond where we can go? “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If this verse means cleansing only on our conscious level, may God have mercy on us. The man who has been dulled by sin will say that he is not even conscious of it. But the cleansing from sin we experience will reach to the heights and depths of our spirit if we will “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). The same Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirit. It is only when we are protected by God with the miraculous sacredness of the Holy Spirit that our spirit, soul, and body can be preserved in pure uprightness until the coming of Jesus-no longer condemned in God’s sight.
We should more frequently allow our minds to meditate on these great, massive truths of God.
Do we believe that God can fortify and protect our thought processes far beyond where we can go? “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). If this verse means cleansing only on our conscious level, may God have mercy on us. The man who has been dulled by sin will say that he is not even conscious of it. But the cleansing from sin we experience will reach to the heights and depths of our spirit if we will “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). The same Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirit. It is only when we are protected by God with the miraculous sacredness of the Holy Spirit that our spirit, soul, and body can be preserved in pure uprightness until the coming of Jesus-no longer condemned in God’s sight.
We should more frequently allow our minds to meditate on these great, massive truths of God.
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