Author: Dr Sarah Tun

Dr Sarah Tun began her professional career as a teacher. Years later she became a performing artist and administrator to property development. She felt the Call to write full time in 2004. Dr Sarah has traveled extensively, and lived in New York City (for a year), London England (for a long time) and Hong Kong (briefly) before returning to her home in Ontario, Canada, then to Spain and finally now, has re-settled in her adoptive home of England. She graduated with degrees in Drama, Education and diplomas in Acting and Theology. Most recently she was awarded Honorary Doctor of Ministry and became ordained. Her favourite experience to date has been following her Creator and Lord. She doesn't think Life can get any better! Dr Sarah Tun is author, singer, preacher, writing coach and all-round enthusiast, celebrating and seeking to inspire all of us to quench our thirst for deeper intimacy with God through the Holy Spirit.

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Watchman on Alert BLOG

Hold On

Hold On

We must hold on: not to what we want but to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Hold on, not to what others have prophesied but to Jesus, the light of the world. Believers, there is mayhem. There is strife in this world. There is war and rumours of wars and — it seems to me — Matthew 24 is unfolding before our very eyes. But we must hold on to the promises of God, both those He has provided in His Word to all who follow, and those He has impressed upon us individually. We must walk on water.

Walking on water in times of trouble

When people in crisis approached Jesus, he didn’t react. He waited. On different occasions when health crises arose, Jesus didn’t run to the aid of a dying child or a dangerously sick friend. No. He took the time to be with those in his immediate presence, and he waited for each “right moment” for God’s timing to act. “ For in him, we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

That’s walking on water, friends. That’s having faith in Father God to watch over the crises, knowing that when the right time to respond arises, God will be with us to ensure His purposes are met. 

This also means of course that we must not fear. We know “that perfect love casts out fear” (1John 4:18). So, in trusting God and trusting Him with and in our lives, we are secure; when we love others as we love ourselves and as God loves us, therein lies His peace, His shalom; when we allow perfect love to invade and pervade, there is no fear.

Calamity or Christ

We have a choice. Where we focus our eyes is up to us. When onslaught of trials come upon us, we may shake for a time. But ultimately, we choose where our hope lies: will it be in our own intervention or in God?

Hope in God

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” (Psalm 42:5)

Where we can go astray

There is no shame in becoming overwhelmed in calamity. When Peter tried to walk on water, he did so at first, but then started to sink (Matthew 14:29). It’s okay to start to sink, because Jesus will reach out and help us.

When we take our eyes off God, and put our trust in man or in ourselves, we start to slip. When we want a particular outcome, we can get intense and dependent on what we see as matters unfold. But when we begin to doubt God’s promised outcome, we need to stop and allow Him to bring us back to Him. This is holding on.

In the world today

There is calamity and strife in the world. But I believe it’s time to let go of our predicted outcomes. Let go of what you expect God to do, and give Him carte blanche in your life, your ambitions, your relationships and your time.

In John 16:32-33 Jesus says, “… in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Do you believe him? If you do, then I’m saying it’s really time to trust him now. That is what holding on is.

Here is a very encouraging, uplifting music video of song “Hold On”

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Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ Reflections and Poetry

God’s Word, yes, but also His Presence

We need to be in God’s Word, yes, but also we need to be in His Presence.

Word and Holy Spirit together

2 Timothy 2:15 urges us to”Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

And Jesus before his accession to heaven told the disciples, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if depart, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)

How safe is the prophetic

It is easy to reject all prophecy and the prophetic because of some people who are in error or who seem to seek attention through a building of their ministry. BUT GOD. He sent His Holy Spirit, not just to intervene in the salvation process, activating our Spirit, but also to walk, live, breathe, share, comfort, convict and guide us daily. 

We must no longer live as empty vessels, occasionally to be filled with inspiration from God’s Word BUT ALSO we must allow the Holy Spirit to infill us and dwell with us, the aim being that we are filled constantly with God’s presence through His Spirit in us. We need the Word but that is not enough. We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit so that the understanding of His Word is complete.

Perfect Love, not Fear

We are not to fear the things of God, but to discern. Yes there are false prophets, most of whom may well not know they are false. But not all prophets are false. And we need the Holy Spirit’s discernment to distinguish the false from the true. Most of all, we must follow Yeshua, our Lord Jesus to the Father. Following him is perfected only through time spent with him directly, not seeking the prophetic from others, but seeking the Lord for ourselves. Then, as we dwell intimately with Yehovah, God’s Word, and Yehovah God’s Spirit, we may well receive His prophetic word. All this is what Jesus left us for… and sent to us.

Expect the Holy Spirit

I am not writing a theological argument. Many may well argue over the matter of the Spirit within us. The Word and the Spirit go together. Jesus said he must leave in order for us all to have the Helper. I believe he meant it.

I believe and have experienced (“you shall know them by their fruits” Matthew 7:16)) that as I surrender to God, as I am still before Him, as I rest and wait for Him, He comes. He comes in Spirit and in truth. His presence is for all, today, and He expects us to receive. Is it all-or-nothing: full surrender or not? We each choose. Time is short, so I ask you directly: which will you choose?

How to find His Spirit

“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

So we shall wait… be still and wait… Ask and receive the fullness of the Spirit in your walk with the Lord, and expect Him to fill you with His presence (there is much more in scripture about this, and there is a discussion about baptism to be had also, but these are digressions from my point today… Depending on Jesus’ timing, there is fuel for Future blog posts).

We do not fear

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.” (Matthew 7:11)

I urge us all, that we take nothing for granted, knowing His love and His presence. Let us then be ready… for anything.

God bless.

Sarah Tun

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Politics and Society today Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ Watchman on Alert BLOG

Ah Ha! A revelation about Boris Johnson and short notices

Ah Ha! A revelation about Boris Johnson and Short Notices

Boris Johnson has a habit of giving short notice on the Covid Virus changes in law. But it occurs to me that it might be good training ground for followers of Jesus. Has that occurred to you? ….After all, aren’t we meant to be ready?

God is a God of short notice

As I was in conversation with a friend on the phone recently, chatting about the latest UK “turn-on-a-dime Covid-19” lockdown instruction (which was actually a permutation from a previous instruction given only hours before that), I suddenly had an insight into a connection between our walk with the LORD and our walk as citizens of the United Kingdom in 2020/2021.

Boris Johnson is a last minute decision-maker. Oh, it can be frustrating, especially hard for small businesses.

And yet before we too hastily write it off as simply annoying or disorganised or incompetent, let’s consider: maybe it’s good training and just what the LORD ordered… Remember Romans 13:1 tells us, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” So, isn’t what we are being subjected to, directly or indirectly, commanded by God?

Boris v Jesus

Just as Boris asks us today to change plans at short notice, Jesus has called us to be ready; like the five wise virgins in Matthew 25, our lamps should be filled with oil. For Jesus will come “as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2b) — expected but without warning. “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36).

Being nimble

We need to be aware, I think, that in God’s sovereignty everything is an opportunity to grow. With the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s last minute decisions requiring us to make quick adjustments, we have the opportunity to learn how to respond immediately. Are we being trained for Jesus “last minute” arrival? Certainly we need to be ready for the bridegroom: surrendered, resting in His presence, willing to listen and follow, any time, any where.

Take the Call

So, let’s accept our Call today, to be subject to the governing authority and aware that our experience here on earth really is training ground for what is to come. And let’s be ready to live, move, have our being as God would have us: ready, willing and able to move at a moment’s notice, to follow His lead, His will, His direction for our lives, so that others may gain access to Jesus through the revelation we might instigate by our behaviour.

At the very least our cooperation with government will be a beacon to others. At best, it will give glory to our Father as He ushers in the next Age.

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Consideration of Biblical Scripture Politics and Society today Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ

America has fallen: doom but not gloom

America has fallen. It’s doom… but it’s not gloom.

At last, the beautiful and wonderful and Godly beacon of light to so many other nations, for truth and liberty, prosperity and democracy, and “in God we trust” is busted.

It has been falling for a long time. Some Believers have been steadfast for Jesus, but many, many Americans and the nature of American society has been turning, over a time span of decades, from purity and holiness intended by the founding fathers, to degradation, greed, lust and so much more evil.  Last night, as Americans stormed the Capital in Washington DC, as Senators and Governors debated inside about the fraudulent election and what — if anything — to do about it, America landed in muck! And it is unlikely ever to get out of it…. it is more like quicksand than dung or mud or any other filthy substance we can wash from.

I’m sorry. I have good news but that comes at the end of the article.

Jeremiah 14-16

I have been reading Jeremiah, chapters 14-16. Some dear sisters in the LORD have pointed this to me today, and I’ve picked up on it. 

The verses in Jeremiah which jump out at me this day are, 

14:11-12: Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Bu tI will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”

To my view, this are a direct warning from God

14:21b: Remember, do not break Your covenant with us.

To my view, this a demonstration of the cries (or manipulations) of the Jewish prayers

15:19b: You shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them.

To my view, here is an example of the directness of Yehovah and Jeremiah in discussion

16:10b-11: Why has the LORD pronounces all this great disaster against us? Or what is our iniquity? Or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

My response: ‘Oh, the vanity of the Jewish response to God’s warning’

As you have a look at these three chapters in Jeremiah, I wonder if you’ll spot a pattern within these chapters which shows a bleak though relevant outcome in the Word. I did.

Back to America

America is in chaos. At this opportunity, I’m not going to preach sides. That’s not what this post is about. There was a president in office who was pro-life and pro-Israel. This gave huge encouragement to those in or supportive of those “camps” and tremendous consternation to those with opposing views. At the heart of the matter, many and most Christians thought of Donald Trump as a modern-day Cyrus, and one who certainly was beneficial to the causes of and perspective of Christians. It is primarily to you that I am writing…

How Trump “lost”

This doesn’t boil down to one issue. At best, it is complicated. And I even put “lost” in parenthesis to account for the debate over whether he won a huge majority and was cheated or he lost the vote. 

God is sovereign. Trump leaving office is not something God didn’t know about or expect; it isn’t something that the enemy slide by the Father. The loss also doesn’t mean that Trump was all the things the media and his opponents said he was: a liar, a cheat, disreputable, crooked. Nor does it mean Trump was not God’s choice in 2016. The loss also doesn’t mean that the American Constitution failed. If the result of the election is fraudulent, it isn’t something the Constitution couldn’t have handled. No, my thought is that Trump lost for one key reason…

Moses strikes the rock in anger

In Numbers 20:10-11 it states, And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock? Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.”

But the LORD was not pleased with Moses and Aaron. Verse 12 continues, Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe me, to hallow me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 21:12)

At the end of Deuteronomy, nearing the time of Moses’ death, the LORD leads Moses up Mount Nebo and shows him all the land and says, “…This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, “I will give it to your descendants.” I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” (Deuteronomy 34:4).

Moses died in Moab, without entering the Promised Land.


Hold this truth and draw it into what I shall say about the end of President Trump’s time in office.

Why Trump lost

You will know, those who follow what I write about or what makes me “tick”, that my hubby and I have been building a ministry called Sabbath Rest Ministries. Now before you wonder at the strange digression from Trump v Biden, and the United States and its democratic structure, read on. Sabbath is totally relevant to GOD. Anyone who follows Yehovah and His son Yeshua/Jesus will be familiar with the 10 Commandments and the fulfilment of those by Jesus. Do you also know what is the Sabbath which Jesus upheld?

God’s Sabbath is the seventh day of the week. The Hebrews knew when the Sabbath was and historically, so do we. It is what we in English call Saturday. Sunday became “the Lord’s Day” by papal decree some time after Constantine declared Christianity to be the state religion of Rome. The Sunday worship originated from the Roman Catholics.

If you study scripture (another time I might highlight certain scriptural references), you will learn that the Sabbath is of critical importance to our God. It is the seal which He places upon His children. It is the day of rest which He created and stipulated. It is made for man, not man for it. It is the most detailed commandment which the LORD defines in scripture.

Exodus 20:8-11 says, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your email servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that sin them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

God has never changed the Sabbath, though man changed the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday — thereby separating Christianity from Jewish tradition. As it was done by what is the Roman Catholic Church, it is, perhaps, the last reform we must make before we have completely returned to the roots of Jesus and the early church.

There are many reasons why the LORD might have allowed Trump to lose power

My most pronounced thought as to why the LORD allowed Trump to be trumped in the election is that Trump endorsed the Pope’s bid for Sunday to be the day of rest for man. 

In 2019, the Pope visited the White House and President Trump was pleased to endorse a move to mandate Sunday as the day for family and rest in Texas.

Many will find other reasons, likely all from man’s point of view. I can think of several, all from my own thinking. But I reckon actually, that it is the importance of God’s Sabbath to God as expressed by His Forth Commandment which He wants hallowed, which caused GOD to remove favour from the President.

Selah Blessings and Shalom as you ponder this “food for thought”.

Jesus’ Return – 2 stages: Doom and Light

The Doom 

With a change in party and leadership in the White House from relative conservatism to liberalism, significant change including a continuance of moral decay is likely. Abortion will rise, rather than fall as it did during the Trump presidency. If it is accurate to say that the election was fraudulent and it remains unchecked, then democracy in America is likely to be contaminated forever. And as it has been said many times, where America goes, the world goes. So, if America is lost, then so too is the world.

These statements are debatable but I only mention them as a consequence of the change toward social democracy (as the Democrats claim to be) or cultural communism (as the Republicans suggest their opponents to be). This is not my main two-fold point, which is that the endorsement of Sunday lost Trump his leadership… and that the loss of the Sabbath must be restored.

The Light

Finally, although there is doom, there is no gloom, not when you let go of the world and everything in it, as we who purport to follow Jesus must do. If the world falls far enough, the Lord Jesus will catch his children, and the earth will be transformed: lost yet found, by the Prince of Peace, the Light of the World.

For it is said in Revelations 21:1-2a Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem…

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Politics and Society today Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ Watchman on Alert BLOG

Boris Johnson: proven bastion for the elderly

I’d like to say something positive about Boris Johnson: he’s a proven bastion for the elderly.

Now before anyone attacks me, look at the evidence:

We live in a world where euthanasia is on the rise. Last autumn, an authority in Switzerland, with hospitals overrun by Covid cases, asked the elderly to put DNR (do not resuscitate) on their hospital instructions; the official who made that request has since regretted, apologised and recanted. But there are nations where euthanasia is legal and some in the UK flock there to end their lives (and others complain: “Why can’t we have that here!”) Well, think again: what do we suppose the UK would look like if we had that law today?

Instead, Boris — through a good or poor decision-mechanism — is prioritising the elderly. Instead of blaming him for the care system and all things related to Covid, let’s look at the horrible facts.

People are dying from Covid-19. Of course the stats are not as bad as publicised because the stats say “deaths with Covid-19” which is clearly not the same as “from”; but people are dying and the relative numbers are mostly amongst the elderly.

Elderly people matter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and his actions bear that out.

I’m not for lockdowns. I’m not particularly for the vaccine, though I do believe it’s up to every individual to make their own decision about taking it. But I can see the forest for the trees, and what I’m seeing amongst all Boris’ delays, changes (u-turns as the media calls it) and moral shortcomings (which is another subject entirely), is a man trying not to be frantic (though perhaps frantically) trying to prevent the elderly from getting Covid-19, because if they do, they have a poor chance of survival.

Recently, someone sent me a video of Katie Hopkins stating that only 633 people under 60 have died from Covid. Whatever her politics or point of view, she’s making a major statement about her attitude to business, mental health and poverty… I agree the fallout of lockdowns is horrendous. But she’s also prioritising the value of life. The older, relative to all society, are not worth the trouble. 

There’s a funny thing, this pandemic: Everybody has a fair point! Katie Hopkins, Boris Johnson and all. BUT there is only one Prime Minister of the UK right now.

I’m looking at the man’s heart, not his effectiveness. And in sincerity of heart, he is doing what he can to prevent the elderly from dying in droves. And that, in my opinion, is honouring society, the elderly and life itself. Whether you like him, whether you agree with him, whether or not he’s effective, remember Christians: God looks at the heart. What do you think He’s seeing in Boris Johnson today?

Exodus 20:12 reads, 

“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

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Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ Torah Portion Examined

What about Prophetic Dreams: sample the Torah Portion of Genesis 41

There has been a lot of dreaming and posting of dreams by current prophets. What about prophetic dreams? Can we rely upon them?

God reveals to Joseph, who in turn interprets dreams

This week’s Torah Portion includes Genesis 41: Pharaoh’s dreams and Joseph’s release from prison to interpret them.

It prompts me to consider the wealth of prophetic dreams that have been posted in recent months and weeks surrounding the November election in the United States.

When Joseph interpreted dreams, it yielded immediate fruit. It seemed the dreams came from GOD and GOD gave deliverance through the interpretation of them.

What about the prophecies today?

Are they of GOD? Do they bear godly fruit?

There has been such an abundance of the prophetic that I have deliberately not kept up. I gather there were numerous prophecies claiming victory for President Trump. These have been dampened by the facts. And now we wait, because nothing is yet concluded, irrespective of what the mainstream Trump-hating media might like to proclaim. Although they claim Trump’s claims of election fraud are baseless, so equally it can be said that the media’s proclamations of a Biden victory are premature at least, baseless they may prove to be, ironically.

So what do we make of the contemporary prophets? Is it too soon to tell? Are they false prophets? Have they been misguided? Are they cheats?

I would not wish to judge or assume these men and women are false. They may be in error, or time will reveal they are correct. Or perhaps GOD has allowed them to see the election outcome wrongly; remember Ahab listened to his 400 prophets who had been deliberately deceived rather than listen to Micah (2Kings 22).

So, what shall we do about the prophetic voice today?

Listen, take stalk, wait, and do not be disheartened. It is not the prophet we must follow and rely upon but GOD alone. So, each of us must ask our Father to share with us personally: What are you saying, LORD? What are you doing, LORD?

And then each of us listen to the still, small voice for himself.

In the meantime, Psalm 46 is a huge encouragement… “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble…” As we meditate on this Psalm, Yehovah Father GOD will reveal more of Himself to us.

(Thanks to Kelly Johnson for sourcing today’s image: My Sheep Hear My Voice)

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Politics and Society today Watchman on Alert BLOG

Messiah’s Return: How deep are we into the End Times?

I wonder: How deep are we into the End Times?

When is Messiah Jesus going to return?

Three things have overwhelmed me in the last 24 hours.

  1. A friend sent a link to a George Soros interview declaring further plans for One World Order and to involve China: https://newspunch.com/george-soros-china-new-world-order/
  2. A family member sent me a link highlighting the near-confirmation of the Oxford Vaccine. When it’s ready, football stadiums will be hired out to expedite the inoculation of hundreds of thousands of people: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/oxford-vaccine-approve-christmas-covid-b1776481.html
  3. Lockdown continues and is tightened yet again; I’m feeling bored, concerned for my child being contained, and a sense of claustrophobia about the whole Covid matter, really for the first time.

I think

I must be a whole lot stronger for the battle ahead. If this is a battle, the end is surely going to be soon, for Jesus said, “In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of GOD’s chosen ones.” (Matthew 24:22 NLT)

Image of Horror

The image of rows and rows of people filling the pitch of a football stadium, awaiting a jab made in part of aborted foetus rests, in my mind, as the equivalent of zombies standing in adoration of The Beast. I don’t consider whether there is a “666” involved or not as a major consideration. All I know is that the news makes me want to vomit, and in my spirit, I am horrified by what the lockdown has produced: compliant, soulless automatons across the globe awaiting their quick remedy so life can return to will fulfilment.

I am sick at heart.

Father, forgive my complacency and teach me to pray

I am desperate. Teach me to pray, I implore you, LORD. For my focus is minimal and my stamina even less.


Messiah, intercede for us, and help us to stand in the gap for others — fine people, many Christians, who caught unawares will take this vaccine. Will it harm them? Will it condemn them? I do not know it will. But I also do not think it won’t.

Spirit, lead me to pray.

Call to prayer

Brothers and Sisters who are reading this, pray for your loved ones, pray for those who know Jesus, pray for those who don’t that they might yearn for Truth, Life and Peace that only comes through Jesus.

“Protect, prevent, shield Your children first, both Jew and Gentile, and protect others whom you would call, and bring them into the full knowledge of the Truth of Jesus: the sacrificial lamb, the scapegoat, the Saviour who reconciles anyone to GOD who wishes to be reconciled. Intervene LORD before actions are taken that are irrevocable.

In Yeshua’s name.

Amen.”

Categories
Consideration of Biblical Scripture Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ

Sabbath Rest and the 23rd Psalm

The concept of the Sabbath Rest and the 23rd Psalm have a lot in common. The following phrases refer to both:

Abide in Him.

He shall enter My rest.

On the seventh day He rested.

Sabbath is made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

These are Biblical phrases we are familiar with. But all together, what do they mean?

Today I examined the 23rd Psalm and my recent considerations about the Sabbath jumped out at me as I read it…

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake….”

We lack nothing when we abide with the Father: we shall not want.

We rest — in green pastures. In the resting, we are restored to full capacity.

All this leads us to the righteous path, and that is for the sake of His name (not ours).

Ah rest. When we abide, when we receive, when we STOP, we are in the rest for which He created us. For He created us for fellowship with Him (and for each other), so that we would be together in rest.

The curse of work came after the Fall and labour came as a result of sin. (Genesis 3) GOD created the world in six days, but not even that was work. Creativity is not work. Work interrupted rest, and continues to do so. But that was not GOD’s original intent. 

The Sabbath rest was made for man to escape from labour, from work. 

The Father blesses the Sabbath and those who receive it are blessed. 

The consequence of disobedience or walking our own way is to miss the rest GOD offers.

On the seventh day, He rested. He offers the Sabbath for man to rest likewise, because otherwise man’s labour would continue and he would miss the fullness of life which is offered to him by GOD.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; 

For You are with me, Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me…”

Even though we may face tough challenges, disappointments, tragedy and even physical death, we remain in rest when we remain in Him. He is our shield and our guide; in times of trouble He is our protector.

Sabbath rest is not just a day of the week to rest (though it is that). And it is not just the seventh day which GOD ordained. It is a state of mind and a state of being — in the company of and abiding with Father GOD.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

The LORD provides. While we must carry out our labours, for ‘he who does not work, does not eat’, and sound work is good for a sound mind, He does provide for those in need, and for those whom He has called according to His purposes.

As we rest in Him, we can know that He holds us in the palm of His hand. He cares for us, nurtures us, comforts us and keeps us in His perfect peace when our eyes are fixed on Him. (Isaiah 26:3)

And so, let us abide in His word, abide in His rest, and abide in the hope set before us. 

To be in fellowship with Him — that is the reason for our being. And He promises that, through the rest He provides, when we come unto Him, He indeed is present for us, as our shepherd, our protector and our provider.

Amen and Amen, thank you LORD.

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Preparing the Bride of Jesus Christ Reflections and Poetry

Conviction vs Condemnation: part 2 Becoming Strong to Become Useful to GOD

Becoming Strong to become useful to GOD.

Conviction vs Condemnation: Becoming strong to be useful to GOD

We must face our personal weaknesses if we are going to be useful in these End Times.

Times ahead are only going to get more challenging (if you believe as I do that we are in the End Times as Jesus describes in Matthew 24).

Whether you realise it of yourself or not, all of us are frail. Knowing this on a personal level will allow GOD to move in each of our lives, and enable us to withstand trials that are sure to come.

We are like waves in an ocean

Waves ebb and flow naturally. So to do our emotional lives. However spiritually led we might be, our emotions do play a part, ebbing and flowing like the sea, sometimes making life richer, and sometimes causing us pain.

Time is short

Even some of the elect may lose their Way. 

We must be emotionally and spiritually strong to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. Let us be wholly humble and exposed to GOD, made fully aware of ourselves (our own conscience), in order to overcome our individual human struggle.

Recently, I realised just how emotionally frail, weak, and vulnerable I am. My self concept was marred until circumstances and my reaction to them forced me to face the reality that I am not as strong as I thought I was. Only by facing reality of my weakness was I able to overcome the pain of it. Now I see more clearly how my own pride and fear got in the way of my character, my relationships, and the ultimate victory the LORD has for me.

I am fully aware that spiritual growth is the key to life, that dwelling in emotion is pure flesh. But that doesn’t prevent me from getting sucked in by fear when my emotions become overwhelmed. It happens to us all. It even happened to Elijah (1Kings 19).

The solution to overcoming painful emotion 

We must rely on GOD.

Abide in GOD (John 15).

We are not to ignore emotion, because that is part of humanity. But in the emotion we are to embrace GOD. When we abide in Him, our emotion is deeper, wider, more meaningful, and comes from a place of love rather than fear.

Remember, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear… he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (1John 4).

Hallelujah! 

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GOD’s Commitment to Israel (Torah Portion Hosea 13)

GOD’s Commitment to Israel: Torah Portion Hosea 13

God’s commitment to Israel is everlasting, even though he has extended that commitment beyond the Jewish people.

This week, the Torah Portion Hosea 13 in particular, has stuck with me.
The LORD says to the Jews, “Yet I am the LORD your GOD.” (Hosea 13:4)

Hosea 13:1-11

“When Ephraim spoke, trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended through Baal worship, he died. Now they sin more and more, and have made for themselves moulded images, idols of their silver, according to their skill; all of it is the work of craftsmen.

They say of them, “Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!”

Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud and like the early dew that passes away, like chaff blown off from a threshing floor and like smoke from a chimney.

“Yet I am the LORD your GOD ever since the land of Egypt, and you shall know no GOD but Me; for there is no saviour besides Me. I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. 

“When they had pasture, they were filled; they were filled and their heart was exalted; therefore they forgot Me.

“So I will be to them like a lion; like a leopard by the road I will lurk; I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage and devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.

“O Israel, you are destroyed, but your help is Me. I will be your King, where is any other, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges to whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’?
“I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath….” 

Perhaps these verses grabbed my attention because I’ve been pondering lately GOD’s identity relative to other gods. Do you remember Paul spoke to the Athenians about their altar To The Unknown God and explained their unknown god was the Creator of the Universe, one not made by human hands? (Acts 17:23) Just this week I heard some new ideas about the Nephelim (giants – half angel half man; see Genesis 6:4) being behind much of the confusion, destruction and perversion arising across society in these days. I am aware that some people believe these Nephelim, who are the offspring of fallen angels called “sons of GOD” and the daughters of man, long ago were manifested as gods and given names in Greek such as Zeus, Apollo, Hermes and so on. There was nothing of this in the recent teaching, but rather sometimes, by association, GOD brings one idea (Yehovah GOD as the God of the Hebrews) to our minds in order for us to make connection with another idea (existence of other gods). So, I’ve been thinking about our Yehovah GOD in relation to other gods which man has idolised throughout history.

Any case, back to Hosea: 

In the context of Yehovah GOD declaring to the Hebrews that He is their GOD and they’d have none other (Hosea 13:4), and upon reflection of the Athenians and the fallen angels and Nephelim, I realise that whether a god has any power or not, different cultures have different gods. That the GOD of the Hebrews happened to be the actual GOD of the universe: all powerful, eternal, creator, is pretty awesome for them.

It really hits home to me, as a Gentile:

So, in Hosea 13, Yehovah GOD says the the Jews, “I AM” and He says it exclusively to them and they are to be exclusively His. 

Jesus (called Yeshua in Hebrew) tells his disciples not to go out to the Gentiles but only to those of the House of Israel (Matthew 11) and reiterates this to a Gentile woman who sought his help for her demon-possessed daughter when he says as recorded later in Matthew, “It is not good to take the children’s bread [ref to Jews] and throw it to little dogs [ref Gentiles]. And she said, “Yes, Lord, even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.” And then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith. Let it be as you desire.” (Matthew 15:26-28). 

After his resurrection, Yeshua Jesus commissions his disciples to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Yes, the Gentiles have been grafted in (Romans 11), adopted, welcomed into the Kingdom of GOD by faith. How heinous this must have seemed to the Jewish people of the time who had been brought up on their exclusive access to GOD; and yet those Jewish people who followed Jesus’ Way gave way to him, in faith. 

It is my heart’s desire to share Yeshua Messiah with those Jewish people who  have found the truth in Jesus. And of those still seeking more truth, yes, they need to know the Gentile Jesus is their Jewish Messiah. The Gentiles were accepted by him and have been grafted in, not to replace the Jews, but because GOD loves Jew and Gentile and his son. GOD has not excluded, replaced or abandoned His chosen children. He is still their GOD. He is simply now also GOD for the Gentiles as well, for those who will accept Him. Yeshua is Messiah to the Jews and Saviour to rest of the World,

“… It is too small a thing that you should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

Hallelujah and Amen.