Author: Life Focus Ministries

Who are we? Dr Robert McQuillan is recognised as an inspiring encourager, counsellor, mentor to ministries and Bible teacher ministering meaningfully on the prophetic edge. Robert and Maureen, a gifted communicator with an uncanny insight into knowing 'where people are at', delight to bless and encourage God's people and ministries... and touch the hearts of the unchurched in the marketplace. Contact: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com

ZONING IN ON ZEPHANIAH – Part 2

(June 03, 2024) Brian Bell encourages…

For this my second meditation from the Old Testament prophecy of Zephaniah, I am sharing several additional thoughts from chapter 3.

God’s Prerogative  
In my May article we shared how Zephaniah’s messages had brought a stern rebuke to a spiritually cold or backslidden people.

However we also saw how God in His grace gave Zephaniah a word of encouragement as he reminded the wayward people of the certainty of God’s presence telling them ‘… the Lord is still there in the city and He does no wrong’ (Zephaniah 3:5NLT).

As we come to look at verse 16 there is no rebuke, indeed quite the opposite as we read, ‘Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid.’

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GOD’S GRACE, GENEROSITY AND GLADNESS

(June 03, 2024) Norman and Margaret Moss share a precious valuable meditation…

There was a room in the Russian Catherine Palace called by some to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. It was known as the Amber Room. Looted by the Nazis in 1941, it has become a lost treasure that may never be found.

Amber is an interesting and valuable gemstone. Yet not quite a gemstone as it comes from a kind of resin found in ancient trees which became fossils. We get the name electricity from it because it has static electrical qualities.

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OCCUPYING AND SERVING MEANTIME!

(May 30, 2024) Dr Robert McQuillan shares …

Dear Dr Robert
There’s mountains of ‘passionate and well researched material’ supporting Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, and Post-Trib positions! I used to be of the ‘Pre-Trib’ persuasion on the rapture of the church but I see some NT scriptures being desecrated and, as I’ve done more study in the OT, I’m not so sure now.

I’ve decided that I won’t hold a ‘fixed position’ on this issue, just ‘occupy and serve’ until whatever time the Lord decides to collect me. That’s now my personal theological position! What do you think? Kelvin.

Hi Kelvin

You’ve got it! Congratulations on deciding to ‘occupy and serve.’ That’s an attitude that all Christians should have: open to doing whatever the Lord requires – whether a ministerial position, cleaning the church, or warmly greeting attenders… no matter what age we are (Did you see our Reachout post about an old evangelist who believes to be ministering until he’s 100? (92-year-old-evangelist-to-hold-ukraine-rally).

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92-YEAR OLD EVANGELIST TO HOLD UKRAINE RALLY

(May 30, 2024) Michael Ashcraft shares encouraging good news …

As David Hathaway stood in front of 1,400 inmates of a Siberian prison in subzero weather 30 years ago, the prison chief scoffed: ‘What can your God do to these men? I’m the only one that can deal with them. I beat them. I shoot them. How can your God change these men?’

God Changes Lives!
After worship, it was David’s turn to address to 200 mass murderers, 400 sex offenders, 800 criminals. ‘I spent a year in a prison like this,’ he said. ‘I know exactly what conditions are like. I know how they starve you, how they beat you. I know something you don’t: I know how to get out of a prison.’

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SEVEN ‘I AMs’ OF CHRIST

(May 28, 2024) Richard Winter shares…

When God told Moses that he was the one chosen to bring Israel out of their darkness in Egypt, the astounded and uncertain shepherd had said, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is His name?” Then what shall I tell them?’

God’s reply was ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you”’ (Exodus 3:9-10).

No doubt you can image Moses thinking ‘“I AM” has sent me? They’ll probably say, “And who’s this I AM?”’ But…  dear reader, do you know who the ‘I AM’ of scripture is?

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JESUS DEFINITELY CARES!

(May 26, 2024) Maureen McQuillan encourages trusting Jesus…

Sadly the past few months have seen further trouble around the world including our ‘Lucky Country’ here. Crime has escalated especially among youth, even those released on bail!

And we learn of friends and ministries who are tired or overworked, wanting to give it all away. Sickness has hit several unexpectedly, even my husband  Robert.

It’s all so sad. But I encouragingly say that Jesus cares… to quote a confident line from a beloved old hymn – ‘Does Jesus care? Oh yes, Jesus cares!’

Now then… I know, I know… I wrote the following back in January, but in these times of desperation even among Christians, I feel to repeat what I wrote before about an incident that hit me out-of-the-blue–

Sadnesses
Yes, there are times in life when Christians may wonder if the Lord has heard our prayers, our cries regarding some serious matter, something that’s gone wrong. The reality is that we just have to keep trusting Him, believing that He has heard us, knows what’s amiss and that the answers we need will come our way, believing – knowing – in our hearts that He cares!

I’ll be honest here, being a Christian doesn’t mean we will always live an unchallenged, carefree life. Yes, we will have a good life, sins forgiven and an assurance that we’re heaven-bound.

But… presently we’re still here and things can go wrong, even to God’s spiritual children! Accidents, sicknesses, disappointments, marriage and family troubles, sudden loss of loved ones, even disasters.

But life is life, and has its ups and downs! Praise God for the good times we have, freedom from many things that go wrong with others, but… bad times could, may, can come our way and sadnesses can hit us. We’re human like everybody else.

Suffering
Take suffering for example. I praise the Lord that I’ve had good health, but an incident – a seeming disaster – hit me some years ago that was out-of-the-blue and really took me by surprise. In preparing for moving home I’d brought a little outdoor table inside to the tiled family room to pack it up, and happened to lean on it. It collapsed backwards and I went stumbling cracking my wrist on the metal. I almost screamed with the immediate fiercesome pain!

Robert, preparing a sermon in his study, heard the crash and rushed in to see what had happened. He was shocked to see a bone was bulging the flesh of my wrist outwards and a huge swelling occurring. Touching my painful wrist so gently, he instantly prayed for a miracle. The bone stopped pressing outwards but the pain was still there. Quickly my husband rushed me to the local hospital.

At triage, when the receptionist asked my doctor’s name and I weakly said that I didn’t have one, hadn’t needed one for many decades, she looked at me disbelievingly! Robert quickly phoned his doctor friend who graciously accepted me as a new patient (and so, after many years I now had a doctor, and a good one!).

To cut this story short, I was to go through some new experiences in trusting the Lord… and knowing yet again that He cares. Although I needed urgent surgery, due to other top priority cases I wasn’t operated on for three days! A painful time of having to rest… and take painkillers! And accept what was going on, knowing I was safe in the Lord’s hands!

The surgeon who operated on my wrist commented that I was in good health for someone who hadn’t needed a doctor for decades. Then he positioned a titanium plate and nine screws in my broken wrist bone to join fractures and to support it. Even today I must be careful not to knock it against something. But once again I knew that my Lord cares for me in troubled times and answers prayer!

Sharing
An interesting aside… a nearby patient continually gave nurses trouble. She was somewhat hysterical, and screamed at them, not doing what they asked, and refusing to eat. They were ready to have her removed.

Then came a moment when I was able to chat with her and with Jesus’ help calm her, giving her some assurances and sharing the Lord. She was at rest after that, a different person.

Not for one moment did I think that I had to have that painful accident to be hospitalised so I could calm that lady! No way! But the Lord had me in His arms and gave me the opportunity to reach out and help another needy soul.

God does care! He does hear our prayers… your prayers, and how He cares! I could share many other times how Jesus intervened in my life and helped me win through troubles, but I’ll centre attention on God and His word…

Scriptures
We must keep trusting God for we can bank on His love, provision, protection in that He will help us and bring us through whatever comes against us! Your prayers are heard by God (1John 5:14-15, 1Peter 3:12). 1Peter 5:7 is particularly precious: ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.’ That word cares (melō) infers that He is interested, concerned. And He surely is!

Even when we have to wait on an answer from God, Romans 8:25, encourages,  ‘But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.’ That word ‘patiently’ means, believe it or not, to cheerfully endure. Now we humans find waiting patiently hard! Hebrews 13:6 is comforting: ‘So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”’ And other scriptures also encourage us not to be fearful.

The Holy Spirit Himself is a great help here… patience being one aspect of His fruit (Galatians 5:22ESB). You have but to ask Him… He’s your greatest friend (John 14:16Mge).

Yes, sometimes we weep before the Lord… I’ve shed some too. But He does see our tears. I often recall Galatians 5:22ESB… she wept bitterly (1Samuel 1:10,17) and God heard her and in His timing answered her prayer. Know that He hears our prayers… your prayers!

Simple!
No matter what is going down, we should simply pray believingly (not necessarily long prayers, just talking to God as His children). What we have to do then is trust Him, which is simply leaving it all with Him. But remember trusting may mean waiting! The answer doesn’t always come immediately, but comes in a perfect way in God’s good time.

I know – I’ve had my own challenges, but when the answer came – His answer, His timing, His way – I could praise my God! Actually I’ve learned to praise Him even in the asking.

Words from that old Frank Ellsworth Graeff song come to mind…
‘Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth and song?
When the burdens press
And the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

‘Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares
His heart is touched with my grief
When the days are weary
The long night dreary
I know my Saviour cares.’

Got a problem?

If Jesus is your Lord, have you prayed? If so, Jesus cares and has heard… the answer is on the way. We may be living in troubled times but the Lord will protect us, take care of us… and may even return sooner that anyone thinks. Keep believing in our Lord Jesus – and trust Him.

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Pr Maureen McQuillan’s links: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com
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FILLED WITH THE JOY OF THE LORD!

(May 22, 2024) Carol Round shares from her heart and encourages us to be filled with God’s joy and peace…

My other article this month was An Encounter With the Living God. Here I tell another precious encounter…

A Difficult Day
I was having difficulty locating the product I wanted while shopping at a local home improvement store. The item was on sale and the sale ended that day. As I sought help from a store associate, I became frustrated. The big box store was closing in an hour. All I wanted was to find the item, check out, and feeling so  tired, I just wanted to go home.
 
I’d had a long day. I wasn’t in a good mood. Three trips to the courtesy desk to seek help didn’t help my mood because the associate in charge of the section I was shopping in couldn’t be located. Finally, I approached an employee in a different section of the store. He was gracious and helpful.
 
After he located the item for me, I thanked him. Then, I noticed the cross hanging around his neck. When I commented on his cross, the young man replied,  ‘I just accepted Jesus as my Saviour and Lord two months ago. I give Him all the glory because He saved my life.’

Giving God the Glory
As the young man and I talked, he shared an experience.

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THE CHURCH THAT KICKED OFF AT PENTECOST

(May 19, 2024) Robert and Maureen McQuillan encouragingly share…

Today is Pentecostal Sunday, a day when many churches will celebrate the day that Jesus’ promise of power to enable us to spread the gospel with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Dr Jim McClure mentions in his article this month – The Power of Pentecost – that ‘Pentecost has often been described as the “Birthday of the Church.”  Why? Because Pentecost was the day when the mission of the church was born.’

Question: Have you ever wondered what that early church’s gatherings were like? As time went by they were dangerous places to attend! You could be picked up and carted off to the local jail awaiting stuffing inside a lion’s carcass!

Oh, despite the current troubles here, the bad news we’re seeing some much about on TV, we have it so easy in this country. Christians here haven’t seen what that first church would face! They really had to stand up for their faith back then!

As that first church developed. it proved to be one that greatly loved, lived and loosened Jesus –

Loved Jesus Greatly
In his classic book Darkness to Dawn, Dean Farrar tells of a young Roman boy who was drawn to the faith. Taking a chance, some Christians took him to a meeting in a granary. Had you gone too, like that teenager you would have observed at least five particular things –

1. The unity of the people
Of one mind and purpose. They were so obviously in love with Jesus and had a great desire to share Him with others through witnessing.
2. The preaching of the word
It was clear, expository, enlightening, and life-changing. Those gathered had an obvious hunger for the taught word. They so obviously wanted to be taught what God’s word really said. And to know more about Jesus.
3. The worship of Christ
Reverberating, glossological, rapturous.  It was evident that Jesus was Lord (the king, boss), not Caesar nor any of the leaders.
4. The response of God
Readily shared testimonies confirmed that confident prayers were magnificently and amazingly answered.
5. The ministry of the Spirit 
Supernatural, revealing, releasing. The 1Corinthians 12 nine gifts of the Spirit operated orderly and the touch of God was evident with various blessings.

In effect that first church was a growing church, one filled with expectancy, where anything in God’s supernatural could happen – and did!  It was a people fulfilling their destiny in Christ.

Lived Jesus Greatly
It wasn’t about buildings and programs – the early church would meet in homes, underground, wherever. It was about people maturing in Christ and letting go of worldly thinking and contamination, and living life to the full by the power of the Spirit.

They lived and grew in Jesus! They knew that living Jesus greatly would enable Christians to live the life they were meant to have!  And in professing Jesus they were desperately hungry for the touch of God, and for the word of God. And they were ready and willing to die for their faith in Jesus. He was Lord, nothing else mattered, only Jesus, God’s word and His commands and purpose for their lives.

Their security was in soundly in Christ. They feared no authority and were of the mind to share their testimony with the lost, whatever the cost. They did so boldly, in the power of the Holy Spirit whom they allowed to direct their lives and everyday experiences.

Everything that was not of God – habits, wrong attitudes, gossip, criticism, anger, unwholesome language and thoughts, selfishness and such had to go from mind, heart, and mouth.

Only Jesus, their love relationship with Him and with each other, and their eager desire for the whole world to know Jesus and the saving power of His shed blood counted. And, although constantly in danger, they were consistent in living lives worthy of Christ’s horrible Calvary sacrifice for them.

Loosened Jesus Greatly
That is they determined to share the gospel message of Jesus as Saviour with neighbours and strangers just as Jesus had commanded in Matthew 22:37–39Mge, ““Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.” This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: “Love others as well as you love yourself.”’

This ‘loosening’ Jesus to those around soon spread everywhere as the church grew. It was the honouring  of the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20. In time it would reach across the world, even today, touching many causing them to be thankful for God’s love and Jesus’ sacrificial death on Calvary.          

As a Thai gentleman we met years ago who told us, ‘When I realised what Jesus had done for me on Calvary, what else could I do but give my life fully to Him in gratitude?’

That’s like the great English cricketer, CT Stud who allowed himself to be disinherited from his rich family inheritance to follow Jesus, said: ‘If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for to make for Him.’

The early church’s driving force was to –

  • Be aware of the times.
  • Have an all-consuming love for Jesus and His teachings.
  • Serve the Lord of all with a burning desire.
  • See Satan defeated in the lives of others
  • Carry the good news go to the entire world.
  • Live in the victory Jesus had gained for them on Calvary.
  • Fulfil their destiny!
  • Hear Jesus’ ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ on judgment day.

That first church was a people who are not afraid to move in faith. They would rather attempt something big in God and risk failing than do nothing because it was safer! May we, 2024’s Christians, follow their example and be directed by that same driving force!

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:3-4, ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.’

And as someone from the Jesus Film Project (www.jesusfilm.org) wrote some years ago: ‘If you love the Lord, you want to please Him. It just comes with the territory. Thankfully, we know the kind of things that please the Lord.

On that first Pentecost Sunday, those Holy Spirit filled Christians hit the streets with the gospel! Let us follow their example – let’s love and live for Jesus! And ‘loose’ around His good news message of love and salvation.

The refrain of a happy little hymn by Sydney Carter comes to mind – ‘It’s from the old to the new I travel: keep me traveling along with you.’

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Dr Robert and Pastor Maureen McQuillan’s links are OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook  Link: Wayne Swift’s Powerful Pre-Pentecost Prayer
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ZONING IN ON ZEPHANIAH

(May 18, 2024) Brian Bell challenges…

I am sharing some thoughts here from the Old Testament prophecy of Zephaniah, a book of only three short chapters.

But firstly… who was Zephaniah?

Rebuking Prophet
Zephaniah was a prophet in Judah in the years before the city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians. At the time of Zephaniah’s prophecy Josiah was king of Judah.

Zephaniah’s messages bring a stern rebuke to what we would describe as a spiritually cold or backslidden people. Sadly, at that time, while the people of Judah were materially prosperous, they were spiritually slack, having forsaken their obedience to the Lord for the worship of many ‘gods.’

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THE POWER OF PENTECOST

(May 17, 2024) Dr Jim McClure shares …

Pentecost has often been described as the ‘Birthday of the Church.’  Why? Because Pentecost was the day when the mission of the church was born.

The first Christian Pentecost was a hugely dramatic occasion. ‘Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance’ (Acts 2:2-4).

Pentecost was not just a random, revival-type experience for those first Christians – it was a fulfilling of Christ’s promise to His disciples, ‘When the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of me’ (John 15:26 NJKV). The Greek word translated here as ‘Helper’ literally means ‘one called alongside.’  The Holy Spirit walks alongside us in our journey through life.

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