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How to Beat Anxiety, Christian Mindfulness Lesson 1 The Truth Test, Philippians 4, Dr JS Gillespie 

 

Anxiety and depression affect us all. The Bible contains key lessons on beating anxiety, fear and worry in Philippians chapter 4. Christian Mindfulness draws from our deep resources in an all powerful and all knowing Jesus, tapping into that powerhouse of peace by prayer. Lesson 1 in Christian Mindfulness is the Truth Test. Dr J Stewart Gillespie.

Being Certain When You're only Just Sure - JS Gillespie 

Being Certain when you are only just sure, a devotional message from the book of Revelation chapter 13 verse 11, from the observation deck of the Academy of Sciences building in Riga, Latvia. Views of Riga and the cathedral of St Peter and St Paul. A message shared by Dr J Stewart Gillespie on the lamb and the beast.

Part of the TruthTrek series of devotional thoughts, a message from graceinchrist.org.

How Jesus Turned Religion on Its Head  

 

In the window period between birth and death our life's experience tells us that generally we get what we strive after. Life teaches us that there is no gain without pain, that respect has to be earned and wages must be worked for. Life also teaches us however that some goals will always be out with our reach. Ladders will take you so high but don't try and build one to the moon. Saving hard and working hard may fund the cost of a car or even a home but for almost all us Buckingham Palace will be well beyond our reach! Strangely a common religious philosophy pins it's hope on attaining the eternal and infinite by self effort! If some of earths material wealth is out with our reach how hard would we have to strive to gain eternal life and access to heaven? The religious logic here just doesn't add up! Jesus turns these philosophical ideas of religion upside down. It was Jesus who:

  1. Raised the standard we aim for, "God only is good" the Lord Jesus told the young man striving to impress God! Goodness and perfection are scarce commodities when assessed by the eye of God.
  2. Jesus forgive sins! Earning a right to heaven is hardly compatible with a need for forgiveness!
  3. Jesus did not get what he deserved, He died the just and perfect for us the sinner. The assumption that we get what we deserve from God is unwarranted, His Son broke the rule here. 

The apostle Paul, brings these ideas together here in Romans chapter 6 verse 23. Sin has wages, earned and gained. Sin brings us to death. It is infinitely easier to bring a man from life to death than it is to bring a man from death to life! Such a movement in the opposite and unnatural direction depends on the grace of God. It is the "gift of God" that is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

A video recorded on the banks of Loch Ken by Dr J Stewart Gillespie

The Dark side of the Moon - JS Gillespie 

The other side of the throne of God is seen in Revelation chapter 6. We must chose how it is we want to know and experience God. As the righteous ruler? As the sacrifice for our sin? As one who understands and sympathises as man? As one who is able and willing to lift us up to the heights of Glory? Would we wish to reject God in all of His Grace and Glory and in His place chose tyranny and dictatorship? Chose slaughter and suffering? Chose the demonic that will drag us to the depths of hell? In reality every day is a decision and those decisions change our destiny. Let us be wise in the choice that we make. "Choose you this day whom you will serve." Let us choose Christ and choose life.

Dr J Stewart Gillespie @ graceinchrist.org

Will there be any Tears in Heaven? - J Stewart Gillespie 

Will there be any tears in heaven? It is John in the book of Revelation who assures us that heaven will be a place without tears; that God will wipe away all tears from their eyes (Revelation 21:4), and yet this great unfolding of God's purpose for the world and humanity is introduced with the very tears which John assures us will one day be absent (Revelation 5:4). John's tears are caused by the painful possibility which occurs to John that this tearless heaven of no more sorrow and suffering may never actually come to reality if no one is found worthy to open the book in the hand of God. It is this book which acts as a detonator for all subsequent events in Revelation. Without this book being opened there is no Revelation, there is no plan and no purpose and there is no heaven without sorrow. John discovers that for every season there is a time, even in the timelessness of heaven! Heaven must wait upon the opening of the book by the one found worth; the lion and the lamb. It is only the one who, in His own time completed thee work of redemption who was worthy to open the book. Once calvary and the saving work of the cross was complete then and only then could this book be opened by the vicarious lamb and victorious lion. Sometimes we wonder why does God not intervene now? Right now? Surely this event or these people ought to prompt an immediate reaction from God? God's actions are not arbitrary. The reason for this is profound. If God were willing to intervene at any and every point in human history or in my life that would mean that those experiences, that pain and that suffering had in reality no absolute meaning or purpose. If God were to intervene arbitrarily then life, suffering, pain and disaster would of themselves have but an arbitrary meaning. It is the fact that life with all of it's dimensions and trials has meaning, significance and purpose in God's plans and providence means that God waits until those purposes have reached their fulfilment before His hand intervenes. The greatest tears we could ever shed would not be tears of grief and loss but tears of hopelessness, meaninglessness and despair that all of that sorrow had no ultimate purpose nor meaning.

Yours by Grace in Christ

Dr J Stewart Gillespie