17/06/2024

Angus Buchan

17/06/2024

New Lifestyle

June 17, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Matthew 3:8

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Monday morning, the 17th of June, 2024 and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go to the Gospel of Mathew 3:8:

”Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,…”

When we come to Christ, there has got to be a change in our lives. We cannot tell people we have become Christians, and yet we continue to live in our former lifestyle. We have to demonstrate new behaviour that proves a change of heart and a conscious decision to turn away from sin. People we know well should come up to us and ask us the question, ”What has happened to you?”

And you look at yourself and you say, ”Why? I’m still wearing the same clothes.”

“No, there’s something different happened to you. We see a peace in your heart. We see a joy. We see a love in your heart. You never had that before.”

That’s when you can tell them you have had a change of lifestyle, and I want to tell you the people who will notice it first will be your very own family. When the men who have been at a Mighty Men Conference for a full weekend go back home and some of them get on their knees in front of their families and ask forgiveness for their lifestyles, and say, ”Things are going to change. I have been arrogant. I have been self-centred, and it’s going to change. I am going to start to live for my family.”

We get letters sometimes, that makes you want to cry, from a little 10-year-old child, with that big handwriting saying, “Thank you for giving me a new daddy.” Now, we haven’t given that child anything; God has, but the child has seen the change in daddy’s life and we get a beautiful letter from a wife who says, “Thank you for what has happened to my husband over this weekend. The man that I fell in love with 20 years ago has come back home again this weekend.” That is what a truly repentant life must look like. It’s like the Government. We’ve just had elections in South Africa. The Government promised us many, many things. Now, they must deliver if there is true change to take place.

Don’t just tell people that you love them, show them that you love them by your lifestyle. Prove it by living a changed life - no more swearing, no more drunkenness, no more self-centredness, but starting to live for Christ, and the fruit of that changed lifestyle will just come out of us, we don’t have to try and do it, it’s natural.

Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day.

Goodbye.

26/06/2024

June 26, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Psalm 34:19, Romans 5:3–4

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 26th of June, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Psalms 34:19: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Then we go straight to the Book of Romans 5:3-4: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Are you going through a rough time at the moment? Are you feeling like, “Lord, I just can’t go on anymore.” Well then, this message is for you. I want to tell you about three people who have impacted my life more than most, and I have had the privilege of meeting some very, very well-known people, famous people. I am talking about kings, yes, I am talking about presidents, oh yes, and I want to tell you these three people have impacted my life more than any famous sportsman, etc. The first is an old lady who has gone to be with Jesus. Her name was Aunty Peggy. Aunty Peggy had diabetes and she had one of her legs amputated just below the knee. She struggled with blood pressure, and you know, she lived with us for many, many years in a little cottage on the farm. I want to tell you, whenever I needed some compassion and a good listening ear, I didn’t go to some specialist or to some supernatural theologian, I went to Aunty Peggy. I sat down and we had a cup of tea together and she listened to my problems, my fears, my inadequacies, the pressure I was under, and she just smiled, and she just oozed with compassion. By the time I had had a cup of tea with Aunty Peggy, I walked out of that cottage and I felt I could take on the whole world. The second person is a gentleman who lives in England. He went to Africa and took care of disabled children. He poured himself out on behalf of those who could not pay him a cent. He contracted malaria, he lost his sight, but I will tell you what, I have yet to meet a man who has more insight than David. He is a gentleman and a giant of the faith. The third person is a man who has been extremely successful in business. I told him the other day, “Martin, you need to write your story.” The man said, “What story?” I said, “Martin, you have a story to tell.” Probably one of the most humble men I have ever met, I trust that he will write his story before he goes home to meet with Jesus. Today, do not be scared, do not be afraid of being pruned hard. When you get pruned, you produce quality fruit. Jesus bless you and goodbye.

25/06/2024

June 25, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Matthew 5:13

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 25th of June, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Matthew 5:13: "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Have you ever tried to eat a plate of food without salt? Have you ever tried to eat a plate of porridge with no salt! Oh folks! Coming from a Scottish background, where porridge is our staple diet, aah - it is terrible. It is bland, tasteless, it is extremely hard to swallow. It is like listening to a preacher bringing the word of God to a congregation, who is just so very boring, no passion, no conviction. I remember once preaching to a group of farmers down in the Eastern Cape and at half time, it was an all-day affair, I was in the bathroom, and an old farmer walked in and he said to me, "Son, when you preach, you don't have to sweat so much." I said him, "Sir, you haven't seen anything yet. Wait for the second half!" We need to be committed to our walk with Jesus Christ. Some people don't even believe in what they are preaching. There is no emotion, no tears. Charles Finney was a great revivalist from America. He said, "Where there are no tears and no "amens" there is no revival." No conviction, no love, no desperation - you and I have been called to be watchmen, we have been called to warn the people of the evil one. We need to prepare people's hearts for home time. We mustn't preach to the head, we must preach to the heart, always preaching for a response, expecting results. We want a verdict. It's like a defence lawyer. Have you ever seen him pleading for the life of his client who has been condemned to death? He is not playing the fool, he is desperate. He only has one opportunity. You and I are exactly in the same position. There must be an urgency for your loved ones to be saved. People must have an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Now, maybe you are listening to this message for the first time and maybe you say, "I don't know what you are talking about, being born again. What does that mean?" It means you need to stop your life of total disregard for God, and you need to start living for Jesus Christ. Pray this prayer after me: Dear Lord Jesus, I repent of my sin today. I am sick and tired of doing things my own way. From today onwards, I choose to follow You and only You. In Jesus' name, amen. God bless you. Now, go out and tell the first three people what you have just prayed. Goodbye.

24/06/2024

June 24, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Jeremiah 17:7–8, Hebrews 13:6, Job 13:15, 2 Corinthians 5:7

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Monday morning, the 24th of June, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Jeremiah 17:7-8: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Then Hebrews 13:6: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” We need to trust the Lord unconditionally. If we have done everything we can in our own strength, then after that, it is totally in God’s hands. I remember the drought we had on this farm. Folks, I want to tell you, there is nothing worse, there is nothing that puts a man down more than driving around a crop that he has planted by faith, and watching it start to shrivel up and die because there is no rain. That is the time when you and I have to trust the Lord unconditionally. Job 13:15, remember Job was a farmer, he said: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” You see, God can do something with a man like that who unconditionally trusts the Lord. Yes, you have got to do your homework, work hard, and make sure that you are walking according to God’s precepts, and then allow Him to change a drought into an abundant crop. Now folks, if you can’t believe in miracles, then you can’t be a Christian, because the word of God is one miracle from beginning to end. I want to tell you, I have seen too many miracles in my life not to believe that our God is alive, He is well and He is on the side of those who put their trust in Him. I have seen years where it looks as though the crop is done and then at the eleventh hour, the rain comes. The roots are deep into the ground, they are drinking the water and there is an incredible reward. Don’t walk by sight, walk by faith in God - 2 Corinthians 5:7, and He will see you through. Whatever that thing is that you are struggling with today, give it to the Lord, do your best and then start to praise Him and watch what He will do for you. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day, Goodbye.