A Creator behind Creation

A book requires an author – like a program requires a programmer – like a poem requires a poet – like a design requires a designer – like an invention requires an inventor – like creation requires a Creator. When we see an artwork, do we believe that the artwork created itself or is it self evident that an artist created it?

Animals are programmed for survival (zoologists call it instinct). Who is the programmer?

Science acknowledges that all scientific laws are constant and governed. If this is so, who is the governor?

Science also acknowledges a design to all of creation. Who is the designer?

There is much talk of the Laws of Nature. Who is the one upholding these Laws?

One could argue, it would be easier for the most intricate micro-chip to intelligently form itself from raw matter, than a DNA molecule (the most efficient information storage system in the known universe) to do the same. Did creation really create itself?

There is the option of believing in Darwin’s clever ‘Evolution’ which if given enough time can theoretically create (from nothing) all intricately designed creatures and then program them with a moral sense and instinct. Or, we can believe that behind all things in creation is an incredible Creator.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His Handiwork. Psalms 19:1

I’m reaching out to the Church

I am reaching out to the church, the family of God, for documented and verifiable testimonies of the supernatural providential care of the Lord.

There are so many of our fellow believers who have such testimonies that should be shared with the church to encourage hope, faith and trust in the Lord for their own circumstances, many of which are dire and in need of a miracle. Personally I know of many.

I myself was healed in 1996 from rheumatoid arthritis at a summer camp in Moy having been diagnosed through my local doctor Ed Lees in 1990 following a fall from a tractor trailer in 1989 in Israel.

My consultant rheumatologist in our local Dundonald Hospital was a Mr Kane, who I believe still practices to this day or until quite recently.

I also received traction treatments in the Ards Hospital and privately seen a chiropractor in Bangor called Andrew Noble.

My medical records show the numerous medications and treatments I received between 1990 and 1996 and then nothing.

The circumstances around my healing was that I attended a Christian Summer outreach camp at the River of Life Fellowship Church in Moy.

I think it must have been the last night of the week-long afternoon and evening meetings. There had been several invited preachers who shared the good news of the Kingdom of God and salvation in Jesus Christ. One of them was an elderly man called Arthur Mann from England who had an incredible story of his own to share about his time in the Korean war.

Arthur had previously shared through the week and because myself and others were staying on site in rudimentary dormitories we usually talked to the wee small hours we had gotten to know eachother a bit.

The Friday evening, the last of the camp had Arthur sharing and I took the opportunity to go up for prayer at the end of the meeting, desirous of God’s intervention in my deteriorating health.

I was scheduled to meet Mr Kane the following week to discuss further treatment because my condition was worsening. So I was feeling a bit desperate.

Before long Arthur came to me and asked what I was seeking from the Lord. I told him of my situation and responded with a simple question. “Do you believe that Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross for not just your sins but also for your healing?”

I said I did and Arthur simply prayed that as I had confessed my belief my healing being part of Jesus’s redemptive work on the cross that the Lord would deliver me from the rheumatoid arthritis.

Within moments all of the pain that I had been carrying for six years left me.

Hallelujah I was free of it. As you can imagine I was very happy and shared my joy with my friends and fellow attendees.

A strange thing happened though as I walked up the path leading from the tent to our dormitory. I felt the pain begin to come back again. I stopped in my tracks and said “devil I refuse to take it back again!” and the pain disappeared again.

When I got back home the following Saturday I rang my Pastor and told him what had happened and that I wanted to encourage the church members with what had happened to me. To my surprise he said he thought it wise that I went to my planned rheumatology consultation with Mr Kane and get confirmation from him.

Initially I took his advise as a bit unbelieving but soon seen the wisdom in it.

The following Wednesday I went along for my appointment at the Ulster Hospital with Mr Kane where he did the usual physical examination to start things off.

As he felt around my joints that were usually swollen and painful to the touch he hummed a few times, asked me to get myself dressed and join him in his office.

Sitting at his desk he proceeded to tell me that he was a bit bemused as to how my joints appeared to be normal and pain free. This was my qué to tell him what had happened at the camp.

As I started to tell him I could quite literally see a dullness come over his eyes.

He was polite but found my story incredulous and asked if I wasn’t in a hurry to leave would I mind staying for a number of test to be done. I was happy to do that and had various fluid samples taken and an x-ray if I’m not wrong and told the results should be with my GP the following week.

That was a long week and as the deadline came and went for the results I approached Dr Lees and asked if would agree to taking more bloods to test which thankfully he did. About four or five days later both sets of results were back with him and showed no evidence of rheumatoid arthritis in my body.

I was overjoyed as you can imagine and took little time in reporting back to my Pastor and subsequently to my church members.

I hope that my story gives you the reader hope and faith for your own circumstances and will have a story to share yourself.

The Lord bless you.

Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Please use the link in the menu to share your testimony.

5fish

Download the 5fish app by using the following link: https://5fi.sh/install

A Gospel Message to the People of Israel in Crisis

Avoid Taking Communion in an “Unworthy Manner”

by Paul Tautges | November 14, 2015 12:13 pm

One of the soberest warnings in the New Testament concerns the manner in which we approach and participate in the Lord’s Supper. Following the apostle’s repetition of Jesus’ command to regularly “do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), he exhorts:

²⁷Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. ³⁰For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. ³¹But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. ³²But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

This warning to take God’s judgment seriously was prompted by the reality of the Corinthian’s self-exaltation, which was manifested by sinful living, pride, divisions, self-satisfaction, and contempt for others (read 11:17-22). In fact, things were so bad that God’s judgment had already begun, and some were experiencing illness and even death. Therefore, in response to the warning of God’s judgment upon those who eat of the bread and drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, what should we do? How should we prepare for a Communion service?

EXAMINE YOURSELF

Communion is a time to examine your own heart, not primarily the hearts of others. I say primarily since the leaders of a local church and its members do have the biblical responsibility to discipline its members who are living in unrepentant sin. This discipline includes–when necessary–exclusion from participation at the Lord’s Table. So, there is a time to examine others, in a proper, biblical manner. When this is the case, the public discipline of a member is a firm reminder to all of us to practice repentance as a lifestyle.

Foremost in our minds, however, when preparing for the Lord’s Supper, should always be the state of our own relationship with God. Is there personal sin that you are cherishing in your heart (Psalm 66:18), of which you must repent? Spend time in personal confession of sins to the Lord and then rest in the promise of His forgiveness (1 John 1:8-9).

STRIVE TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS

Scripture places the irrevocable duty upon believers to make every human effort to resolve the conflicts[1] they have with others, primarily with other professing believers, and before attending public worship (Matthew 5:24). Conflict was certainly one of the issues the apostle confronted in his letter to the Corinthians, some of whom were even going as far as suing each other in the secular court (1 Corinthians 6:1-8). When anger is left to turn into resentment then ground is given to the devil for his destructive work, and bitterness defiles many people (Ephesians 4:26; Hebrews 12:15). Biblically speaking, there simply is no acceptable, justifiable “out” for the person who claims to know Christ but also refuses to be reconciled.

But what do you do if a person who professes to know Christ refuses to be reconciled to you? What then? What do you do? Must you abstain from taking communion until that person is willing to resolve the conflict biblically? Must you put your own Christian life “on hold” while they remain unwilling to heed God’s command? Scripture answers, No. If you have made multiple attempts to resolve a conflict, but the other person refuses, you must pray for your enemy (Matthew 5:44) and rest in the truth of Romans 12:18-19,

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

If you have tried everything to be at peace with that person, as far as it depends upon you, then you need to rest in the fact that God knows the steps you have taken, He knows your heart’s desire to be reconciled, and you must let God be God by leaving room for Him to carry out His work.

PREPARE YOUR MIND AND HEART

Here are a few practical suggestions:

Read one or more Gospel accounts of the crucifixion in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.
Read Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53, meditating on the prophecies concerning the Messiah’s suffering.
Sing a cross-centered hymn or worship song, thinking deeply about the truths conveyed in the lyrics. Here are few suggestions: And Can It Be?, Hallelujah! What a Savior, In Christ Alone, I Will Glory in My Redeemer, The Power of the Cross, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, and many more.
Spend time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart to worship the Lord in a worthy manner.
Spend time in prayer for tomorrow’s Communion service. Pray for all who come to partake, the musicians, choir, Scripture readers, and preacher. Pray the Spirit leads all to exalt Christ.

Tomorrow, as you join with other believers who love the Lord Jesus Christ, make the necessary preparations.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON: How To Take Communion[2]

*If you were blessed by this article, please consider subscribing to the blog by entering your email in the box in the right margin.

Endnotes: