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I can but excuse myself for sending out yet another article today by quoting Jeremiah!

“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay,” Jeremiah 20:9.

Most sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

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CRUMBLING BRITAIN!!

It is almost impossible to keep up with the visible evidences of the withdrawal of God’s kindness and mercy toward our nation, occasioned by the continuing and stubborn defiance of the Lord by the nation’s leadership, political and ecclesiastical, and its general population.

Blindness and ignorance of God’s truth has engendered the notion that we can ‘thumb our nose’ at the Lord and His truth, without any ramifications. That is most certainly not so!

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting,” Galatians 6:7-8. This warning was written some 2000 years ago but is imperatively true still today!

Of late there has arisen, suddenly and without warning as far as the general public are concerned but that which must have been known by various agencies of government for quite some time, a great alarm about the innumerable buildings which were constructed by using a ‘a cheap version of concrete, and which are now in danger of collapse.

As a result, belatedly, schools have been forced to close on the very eve of a new school year. (more…)

“Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them,” Ezekiel 3:1-4.

On August 29th, I began reading the book of Ezekiel as part of my daily reading. On Thursday, the last day of August, I read the above verses at the beginning of the chapter in Ezekiel for that day.

I was immediately struck by what it was the Lord said to Ezekiel and saw the character and features of a true servant of God set out in the verses. I would like to share the thoughts that arose in my heart at that time.

While there is much in this book which, on the surface, appears ‘hard to understand’ (2 Peter 3:16), that difficulty arises from the dulness of our minds regarding the things of God and is not to be made an excuse to avoid reading and studying this wonderful book.

The verses which head this article are not difficult to ‘decipher’! The Lord here speaks plainly though employing metaphorical language at times.

I. THE FIRST THING I NOTICE ABOUT A TRUE MAN OF GOD IS HIS CALL BY GOD TO BE HIS SERVANT.

“Moreover he said unto me, Son of man . . . .”

I recall that early in my Christian walk, I heard Dr Paisley quote a saying by the great C H Spurgeon. The honoured Baptist preacher was in conversation with a young man who was enquiring about the requirements of being a preacher of God’s Word. CHS questioned the young man on his desire to be a preacher and told him that if there was anything else in life that he COULD DO, then he was to do it! Preachers are men who can do NONE OTHER than preach. They are driven men.

It is true, many of God’s great servants were most reluctant to respond to God’s call. Moses was one such. He put up many objections. This was the final one. “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue,” Exodus 4:10. The Lord answered this objection also. “And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say,” Exodus 4:11-13. (more…)