Daily Light Reading (morning)
Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. Away with you Satan. For it is written you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve. Then the devil left Him and behold angels came and ministered to Him.
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. And have no fellowship with the unftruitful 
works of darkness but rather expose them. Lest Satan should take advantage of us for we are not ignorant of his devises. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.
Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

THREE MEN
Who are they? Noah, Lot, Balaam. The type of person we usually find in any church.
NOAH: In Genesis 6:8-10 we read that Noah found Grace in the eyes of God, that is Noah found favour before God.
He was a just man and walked with God. He was perfect in his generation, a generation that was corrupt, destined to perish by the Flood.
In 1 Peter 3:20, we read that God sent Noah, a 'Preacher of righteousness' to preach repentance to his generation. He did this while the Ark was being prepared for 100 years, in the midst of ridicule and abuse. A man of faith and devotion to God. Noah was a man separated in the midst of a corrupt and wicked people. He did not compromise his Faith
Though we may be surrounded by evil and wickedness God can keep us. We are preparing for the day of Redemption. God expects us to be Faithful and be 'Preachers of Righteousness' in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom we shine......'. Noah and his family of 8 persons were saved by Grace. The Ark speaks of the Church and Faith of those members who faithfully serve God and walk in His light.

LOT: In Peter 2:4-8, we are told that Lot was a righteous man, a believer of a kind, however we find him living in Sodom- a vile place, Genesis 19.
He separated from Abraham over a dispute about grazing grounds and went his way choosing the best place for himself. What made him and his family live in Sodom? His wife and family were probably acquired in Sodom but they show no sign of spirituality, judging by the events that followed. What happened to his flocks, tents, etc.? Contrast Abraham living in  tents and moving about as God led him. We see no blessing for Lot while in Sodom and certainly no fellowship with God. Lot speaks of many believers in the Church, having a name but no life that they really belong to Christ.  Though Lot was a believer we see no separation in him from the ungodly.
The events concerning God's judgement on Sodom and Lot's escape speak of those who compromise their Faith and witness. Holiness is not an option.
The Apostle Peter, in 2 Pet.1:10 urges believers to make every effort to live a life worthy of God's Salvation.

BALAAM: In 2 Peter 215-16, we read about this Prophet who loved the wages of sin.
He should have known better than have double standards and love for money. Balaam represents what is false in the Church. The Lord Jesus in the Parable of the wheat and tares showed that it is difficult to uproot what is false in the Church. However there will come a day when God will cleanse His Church by the Fire of Judgement.
In Numbers 22:23-24 we find Balaam's activity and his prophetic utterances, a perverse Prophet. God had to speak to him through a donkey. God will use any means to chasten us and correct us if we refuse to amend our ways. We find Balaam's end in Numbers 31:8.
The Holy Spirit calls us to discern what is right and what is wrong and always hold on to what is good and right.

Daily Light reading (morning)
'The Lord has said to you, You shall not return that way again'
Truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. Bot now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country. By faith Moses (chose) rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the pleasures of Egypt.
The just shall live by Faith, but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of soul- No
one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.
God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch the unclean, and I will receive you.
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Parable of the Marriage of the King's Son, Matt.22:1-14.

Message:Many are called but few are chosen.

An important wedding, it speaks of the wedding in Heaven between Christ and the Church, following

the Rapture of the Church.

In the story the guests showed disrespect and indifference. They were too busy with their own lives to care for the wedding. The result was the King's anger towards those guests. In the same way, God will bring His judgement upon those who reject Christ, those who scorn God's Salvation, John 3:16-18.

However, the King was determined to see the wedding through. God will not cancel His Salvation plans, no matter what man does.

The rejection of God's Salvation plan by the Jews opened the way for the Gentiles to enter the Kingdom of God-Rom.11:11-12.

The King sent His Servants to seek the lost. It is the goodness of God that leads to Salvation-Rom.2:4.

Not all the guests showed respect or obeyed the rules for the wedding. We do not enter the Kingdom of God on our own terms.

The vital condition to enter the wedding was the garment. The man in the Parable tried to enter the

wedding without the specified garment and he was rejected. We cannot enter God's Kingdom without the Garment of Salvation, the only way to enter the Kingdom. 

Church going, good works, moral living do not entitle us to eternal life in Christ,we have to keep that garment spotless for Heaven's wedding.

The marriage supper of the Lamb-Rev.19:6-9.

Parable of the Pearl of Great Price  Matt.13:45-46.

Message: How much do we value our Salvation.How precious Is Christ to us?

This will determine our walk with God. Christ is the Pearl of Great Price.

The man in the story realized the value of the pearl and he gave up everything to posses it, He wanted it wholeheartedly

Paul, the Apostle, in  Phil,3:7-10, speaks of his desire to have Christ at all costs. The man in the Parable got his priorities right and went for the costly jewel. You cannot have what is valuable and at the same time cling to your low value possessions. How much is our Salvation worth to us anyway?
It cost God a lot to save us; but for us it is free- 1 Pet.2:18-19. This should fill our hearts with great gratitude to God.
What did the man do with that costly Jewel? He did not hide it in an obscure corner, but made every effort to show it to all. We cannot hide God's Salvation in a dark corner of our beings either. Jesus
said in Matt.5:6 'Let your Light shine.....'. We cannot claim to have Christ living in us and walk in the
ways of the world. Paul the Apostle tells the believers in Col.2:6-7, to make every effort to live the life of Christ, not pathetic followers, but committed believers.

Parable of the Unmerciful Servant Matt. 18 :23-35.
Message: Forgive as God has forgiven you.
Unforgiveness afflicts most of the people of God. It is believed it afflicts 80 per cent of believers. Forgiveness is a difficult lesson to learn in the Christian life; but one that we must learn. Unforgiveness is a deadly poison in the life of the believer, one that not only affects our spiritual lives but also our physical ones.
The servant in the Parable had an enormous debt to pay but could not. We likewise had an enormous debt of sin to pay but God forgave it all unconditionally, Col. 2:13-14.
Covering up sin and being nice to one another will not bring forgiveness,
In the Parable, the Master rightly administered justice for the debt. God is the Judge, not us, Rom.12:19. It is a great temptation to hit back or  retaliate but God says, 'Vengeance belongs
to Me......'. On the other hand we may not have retaliated but we can harbour resentment and bitterness against the wrongdoing.
The servant was delivered to the tormentors for his bad  behaviour. The unforgiving spirit will be delivered to thoughts of guilt and bitterness, if from our heart we do not forgive. We cannot afford to be in such state in our lives, we become servants of the person we have a grudge against.
Forgive and let go of any grudge against anybody, however difficult it maybe. Do not let any roots of bitterness defile you, Heb.12:14-15.

DO NOT LOOK BACK- GEN.19:15-26. 
A new year Resolution?
God's Judgement upon Sodom and Gomorrah, the places of Sin and degradation.
Lot, a kind of believer with mixed loyalties and family. God never led him to live in Sodom- Gen. 13:10-18.
Two angels came to Lot but God stayed behind with Abraham, Lot's Fellowship and witness with God had broken down. The Angels urged them to get out of Sodom but they lingered on. Finally they took refuge in a remote cave.
God's command was clear, 'Do not look back', but the wife disobeyed, Why? Their hearts were in Sodom. She had family in Sodom, perhaps a nice house, all the comforts of modern life, a nice SUV?
When Christ comes for us in the air will we be ready to disengage from this world?
The result of that disobedience was a disaster for that wife, God's judgement never fails. Love not the
world....' 1 John 2:15-17.
Today the Sodomites are pressing on our doors wanting respectability and acceptance. There is no room for compromise.
The stay in Sodom must have had an adverse affect upon Lot and his family. Their minds were polluted by the vileness of that place. What is God's advice? 'Come out and be separate....'
Though we live in a dark and evil world, God promises to keep us till the very end. Paul the Apostle
has the final word in Phil. 3:13-14, not to look back but unto Jesus.
There are moments when we need to look back and consider past failings so that we amend our ways, but to look back in longing for past experiences and lusts is definitely out. It is not a sign of a
healthy christian life.

CHRISTMAS, MT.2;1-12.
The familiar story of Christmas. What else do we need to know, apart from Mangers,
Christmas trees, gifts, gluttony, etc. etc.
The story unfolds with some wise men who set off from their home in a far country, east of 
Judea, to find the New born King, in order to worship Him.
What is the situation? We have the Jews who knew everything about their Messiah but when He came they missed the event. A wicked king who will not stop at genocide in order to keep His throne,
the town of Bethlehem where business is good because of Caesar's decree, but has no room for the
Messiah. 
The story is familiar to us today, it begins with the sudden appearance of a star in the sky. Only a trained eye could observe this happening. Only a trained ear could observe God's message to our hearts today: Christ is coming again.
The wise men, led by the star arrived at their destination but they knocked on the wrong door but God
was in control. Do not knock on wrong doors if the Holy Spirit is leading you.The Psalmist says in Ps.119:105, 'Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path'.
Imagine the amazement of the wise men when the star led them to a stable, not a palace and they found a mere baby in a manger; but they were not put off. 
How did they recognize the New born King? Was there a sign outside the stable or a halo over the baby? How do we recognise our Saviour and God?
They came to find the new born King and to worship Him. They were not holidaymakers. They came, they saw and they worshiped Him. They offered their gifts Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh,
ingredients for true worship. No empty signs, no hype nor a lot of noise.
Having fulfilled their purpose they departed by the way God led them.
This story of the First Christmas still speaks to the hearts of true worshipers of the King of Kings.