Ernest Forbes - It Is Time To Go Deeper

IT IS TIME TO GO DEEPER

Are you a threat to the kingdom of darkness?

Christian Inspired Poetry

Ernest Forbes

Copyright © 2014 Ernest Forbes

Scripture references taken from the New King James Version®.

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author.

ISBN 978 1783063 567

eISBN 978-1-909908-35-2

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Cover design by More Visual Ltd in consultation with Ernest Forbes

Typeset in 11pt Aldine401 BT Roman by Troubador Publishing Ltd, Leicester, UK

I dedicate this book to my, father, James Forbes, and to the memory of my late mother Euvelda, for their early guidance in life, prayers and direction.

To all those who desire to have a deeper relationship with God.

I firstly want to acknowledge my God and Father for life and for giving me the inspiration and strength to complete this task.

To my lovely wife Dorothy for her patience, prayers and encouragement. Thank you for your support and generally standing by me in all my ministry endeavours.

It would be wrong to keep using a car year after year without having a proper check-up or the service it needs, because sooner or later something will go wrong. It won’t function correctly and won’t be fit for the purpose that it was designed for.

As Christian soldiers, we also need a check-up, a spiritual self-examination so that we can effectively do whatever God has called us to do. As Christian soldiers, we get wounded and knocked down, but should we stay down or get up and move on? Some of us have gifts and talents that are dormant – we get lazy and complacent.

This book is a collection of some of the poems the Holy Spirit has inspired me to write, covering different aspects of Christian living. They are Bible-based poems that will teach, instruct and encourage you. They can spiritually change your life for ever.

Who can benefit from these poems? See if any of these questions apply to you…

Have you ever felt like giving up?

Have you ever felt like you have backslidden?

Are you finding it hard to deal with temptations?

Has your prayer life decreased?

Do you want a closer relationship with God?

Is the devil really giving you a hard time?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then this book of poetry is for you. Get ready to receive a life-changing experience.

1. You Cannot Have a Crown Without a Cross You Cannot Have a Crown Without a Cross As we live from day to day, There are many obstacles that come in our way, Time and time again we are faced with a storm, Sufferings of many kinds, shape or form. The devil who realises his time is short; he just won’t leave us alone, He even tries to fool us with sicknesses, but remember our God is still on His throne. You cannot have a crown without a cross. If any man comes after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me, Living a life of self-denial that is honest and free. As we journey along the devil also tries his best to make our roads rough, But be faithful always, and in spirit be mighty and tough. At times we get very careless with our cross, and just put it down, Not really caring where we have left it, it becomes nowhere to be found. We think we can make it alone, leaving the cross behind, And sometimes the sufferings Jesus went through seem to have left our minds. But you cannot have a crown without a cross. Take up your cross and follow where He leads, If we persevere under trial, God will be pleased. So to you who obey the word of the Lord and believe, A crown of life that God has promised will be yours to receive. So always carry it with you, and keep a hold on it that your soul may not be lost, This is what God wants you to know; you cannot have a crown without a cross.

2. Where Are We Going? Where Are We Going? The Church was started by a divine plan, A unique birth, devised by God, not by man. In the sixties homes became powerhouses of praise and of prayer, The gospel was taken to the streets by those who weren’t afraid to share. The church spread from city to city, as believers were multiplied; School halls became places of worship where the name of Jesus was glorified. Called out and chosen men and women, labouring not for their own gain, Our duty is to continue the work so that their labour may not be in vain. With all the sacrifices that have been made, We should build on the foundation that was laid, So there is no time to dry up, stagnate or fall asleep, Our heritage is God’s Church, a treasure to cherish and keep. We are getting so contented and cosy sitting within our churches, unaware of the sinners outside, Failing to ask God for a passion for the lost, with a deep conviction on the inside. If we refuse to evangelise we simply disobey God’s Word, We’ve become so selfish with the gospel; people will say they’ve never heard. Now is the time to evangelise, it wasn’t just a thing of the past, For our earthly days will soon be over because time is moving fast. As the years have gone by the church has continually heard from the Lord, Again and again our hearts have been challenged and have been restored, But our hearts sometimes harden to the truth we don’t want to accept, So we fail to act, because the Word is never kept. But first we must establish our goal, which is our destination, Moving forward continuously, aiming in the right direction, Holding on to that set pathway, pressing on without deviation, Growing to maturity towards God’s required perfection. For our God wants willing and dedicated workers, labouring with an allout commitment, Bearing in mind that in our church, there’s always room for improvement. There’s no time for formalities, complacency or fancy dress, We’ve been called for a purpose; we are not here only to be blessed. The church is not the building, it’s me and it’s you, And together we’ll march on to victory, knowing that God will see us through.

3. Our God is in Control!

4. Take Possession of What’s Yours

5. There is Something on the Inside

6. The Word of God

7. Are You a Threat to the Kingdom of Darkness?

8. Trouble will not Last for Ever

9. Don’t be a Friend of Sin

10. A Change Will Come

11. Come to Church

12. What Kind of ‘Born-Again’ Christians are We?

13. What is Love?

14. If God Went on Strike

15. Don’t Take Chances

16. Time

17. It’s Time to Come Back Home

18. Speak to Me Again, Lord

19. I’ll Keep Running

20. Why Do I Do the Things I Don’t Want to Do?

21. Praise Him

22. It Ought Not to be Like That, Get Married God’s Way

23. Wordy Christians

24. Lord, Whatever You Ask of Me

25. What Has Gone Wrong?

26. Oh Lord, Give Us Direction

27. Back to Biblical Basics – It’s the Life That You Live (Part 1)

28. Back to Biblical Basics – It’s the Life That You Live (Part 2)

29. The Devil is a Liar

30. Don’t Worry

31. Keep Your Fire Burning

32. There’s Got to Be a Difference

33. Gospel Concerts, or Are They?