Delighted in God

I've enjoyed reading through a George Muller biography written by Roger Steer titled Delighted in God.  Both encouraging and challenging, it is refreshing to read of a man who was absolutely convinced of God's power and ability to provide for all his needs.  Not only were the needs of George abundantly supplied by the LORD through prayer, but also the needs of staff, thousands of orphans, building projects, supplies, and upkeep.  Here is a memorable snippet from the mouth of William Ready, a young man who spent time in Muller's orphanage:

'How vividly comes back to my mind that last meeting with the father of the fatherless before leaving his care.  He received me kindly when I went into his prayer room at No. 3 orphanage.  Ah!  What wonderful prayers had been offered there on behalf of the orphans and what remarkable answers he had there received!'

Muller put half a crown into his left hand and a Bible in his right. 'You can hold tighter with your right hand than with your left, can you not?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Well, my lad,' said Muller, 'hold to the teaching of that book and you will always have something for your left hand to hold.'

Muller then asked William to kneel, and putting his hand on his head, he committed him to God's keeping.  Helping him then to his feet Muller said, 'Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily shalt thou be fed.  Goodbye, my lad, goodbye!'  (Delighted in God, Steer, 1981, pg. 178)

What George Muller believed and lived I have also found to be true.  Those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.  What is written in Joshua 21:45 remains true today for God's people:  "Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass."  If God so clothes the grass of the field which is green today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will God feed and clothe us?

Jesus Comes Unexpectedly

One of the things I have been doing for exercise lately is playing golf.  Walking over uneven ground pushing a buggy has helped me with balance and endurance.  Though it is cold and often foggy early at 6:30am, I brave the chill during a weekday to squeeze in a round as early as possible.  It is a blessed time of quiet with the LORD as I take in the beautiful scenery.  Since I typically golf alone, I am often able to be completely finished by 9am and head off to work.

Because the course I typically play had a competition going this week, I played at another course in the area.  I called in a couple days in advance and was assured I could tee off by 7am.  As is my custom I arrived twenty minutes early, just in case I would be able to tee off earlier.  As I waited by the locked pro shop an elderly member pushed his buggy near mine.  "Still isn't here," the old man said.  "Usually he turns up early, but since the boss is out of town he's taking advantage of it."  We continued chatting for a few minutes.  Ten minutes after 7 he arrived and I headed out into the fog.

The man's words had me thinking.  How typical it is of human nature to take advantage of someone's absence to be slack concerning our responsibilities!  Jesus told several parables which warned against the folly of this approach to life.  Luke 12:42-46 states, "And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers."  By his wicked deeds the "servant" was proved no servant of Christ at all, but lived to please himself.  Thus exposed as a false believer, such a one faces eternity separate from God in Hell.  This is a warning all people who profess Christ do well to consider.

Many times in scripture we are told no man knows the day or the hour of Christ's return, but only the Father in heaven knows.  But in another sense, we can know for certain exactly when Jesus will come:  He will come for those unfaithful servants in the hour when they least expect it!  If I was the owner of the golf course and I wanted to see how things truly run in my absence, perhaps I would cut a holiday short and show up unannounced early in the morning when it would be least expected.  The employees who are faithful would be prepared for my arrival, but those who took the opportunity to sleep in and arrive late would face stern consequences.  Jesus is coming back, and His reward is with Him.  All Christians must give account of their stewardship to the One who has committed all things unto them.  Our faithfulness to Christ's call to obedience, our gifts, talents, and resources will all be judged by Jesus to see if we have measured up to His standard of faithfulness.

Let's keep looking to Jesus, knowing the time is short.  Blessed is that wise and faithful servant whom our Master discovers has been obedient to His will.  Jesus is coming at a time we do not expect!

There Remains A Rest

As I continue along the road of recovery from ACL reconstruction, the path stretches beyond me as far as I can see.  In addition to walking, weights, and cycling occasionally, I have begun to add jogging to the mix.  Running on the grass is good for strengthening stabilising muscles and taxes areas of my legs not addressed on the bike.  The knee is a bit sore when I first start running, and afterwards I definitely notice it when walking down stairs.

Jogging around the park yesterday was not for the fun of it, I assure you.  My whole body hated the experience.  I had set a goal for myself to run at a good pace around the park three times.  About halfway through each lap, I so wanted to stop and walk.  But you know what kept me going?  The promise of a break when it was all over.  Looking forward to the rest helped me to push through pain with determination.  The pain I was experiencing would soon be over, and I would carry the benefits of the strain with me long after I caught my breath.

The same thing is true in the Christian life.  The mistake people make is looking to rest which cannot supply our deepest needs.  We look to the weekend to help ourselves through a trying week at work.  We look forward to sleeping in or lounging around, hoping to recharge.  We look with great longing on the holiday we have booked for ourselves, thinking that break will revive us.  The truth is, the cessation of activity or alteration of a busy schedule does not provide rest for our souls.  No weekend, holiday, or break can provide the rest found only in Jesus Christ.  Isn't it ironic Jesus said if we will take His yoke upon us - to do His work with Him - it is in that working posture we will find rest?  To be sustained, we must look to the eternal rest God has promised us when our life has been spent for God's glory.

Jesus promised in Matthew 11:28-30:  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Jesus is the Way spoken of by the prophets of old, for it is in Him we find rest for our souls (Jeremiah 6:16).  It is possible, the writer of Hebrews pointed out, that even those who have trusted in Christ may not enter into the rest provided freely through faith in Christ.  Hebrews 4:1 says, "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it."  If my efforts to please God become my focus over Christ Himself, I will not experience the rest He offers.  If I look to weekends or holidays when I should be looking to Jesus today I will find myself burning out, like a flame starved of oxygen.  I will come back from my holiday just as depleted as when I left.  When I find my rest in Jesus despite the circumstances of life, pain, or busyness, the Holy Spirit supplies all the fuel I need to shine bright in a world darkened with sin.

Let Christ be your motivation and your Way as you run the race God has set before you.  Are you at rest?  Have you learned in every situation to be content?  Consider again the words of Hebrews 4:8-12:  "For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. ⁹ There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. ¹¹ Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  There is a rest remaining for all who are in Christ.  It is a rest to be experienced now, and also a rest remaining for us in the heavens.  We are to labour hard while it is yet day, for night is coming when no one can work.  For some of us, our break from earthy labour lies just ahead.

Keep going!  The scripture lays out the divide between truth and error, and this truth must be applied to our lives.  Stick to the old path; keep on the good way.  Jesus will transform us as we take His yoke upon us and learn from Him.  He has much to reveal to us, and will teach us to enter into His rest!

As Little Children

When the disciples of Jesus asked Him honest questions, He provided wise answers.  Jesus often appealed to simple visual illustrations to provide deep spiritual truth.  We read of such an interaction when the disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 18, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Jesus answered their question in a profound way.  Matthew 18:2-4 reads, "Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

To answer their question, Jesus simply called a little child to himself.  We do not know who this child was or what he was doing.  It could have been a son or daughter of Christ's disciples, or it could have been a street urchin working his way through the crowd.  Who it was was not as important as what the child did:  at the call of Christ the child heard His voice, stopped what he or she was doing, and obediently came to Jesus.  The child likely was not highly educated, and certainly had no seminary training.  All the things the disciples measured themselves against one another melted away into insignificance.  "If you want to be great in the kingdom of God, you must be as this little child."  Huh.  This was likely not the answer the disciples were expecting or looking for!

Jesus said to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must be converted and become a little children.  The word "converted" in the Greek means, "to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse." (Strong's Concordance)  The child had been heading one direction, and upon hearing the call of Jesus turned around and obeyed Him instead.  There was implicit faith in the actions of the child to do so.  A humbling of self was involved, to put aside his own plans and heed the call of the Saviour.  The call of Christ is one of repentance, obedience, and to trust in Him.  There are no adults of heaven, only children of God.  The greatest in God's kingdom are those who come to Him as children, choosing to embrace humility and even suffering for His name's sake.

Are you willing to humble yourself before your Maker?  God does not value the things we tend to value:  knowledge, experience, the ability to speak eloquently, position in a church, or social status:  He is looking and calling for people to hear His voice and come to Him in humility, yielding themselves to His will in absolute surrender and trust.  We are living in the last days, and no man knows how short his remaining time of earth is.  Allow me to remind you of the words of Jesus in John 7:37-38, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  Jesus calls to all who thirst today.  Are you thirsty?  Repent and respond to the call of Jesus right now.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Only those who humble themselves as children before Him will enter into the kingdom of God!

Receive Instruction

Friday nights at Calvary Chapel Sydney we have been slowly working our way through the book of Proverbs.  Eternity will not provide enough time to plumb the depths of God's wisdom, but it has been fun diving in.  One passage which was especially useful for me this week was Proverbs 24:30-34:  "I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; ³¹ and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. ³² When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: ³³ a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; ³⁴ so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man."

Solomon looked upon the fruit of laziness with a keen eye.  He did not do as many of us would do, sneering or shaking our head at the state of the lazy man's neglected property.  The state of the vineyard spoke volumes.  Solomon did not waste time or energy judging the man at all.  He did not offer suggestions on what he would do to rectify the situation.  When Solomon saw the overgrown vineyard and broken down stone wall, he received instruction for himself.  This is profound.  He looked at the field and thought, "Poverty sneaks up on people unawares and overpowers them.  I too could be overwhelmed and unfruitful should I embrace a lazy approach to my responsibilities."  Instead of judging others or jumping to supply solutions for the apparent problems of others, it is wise to apply the truth to your own life.  It is one thing to know what to do, but another step entirely to put it into faithful practice.

Giving advice is easy:  receiving instruction is difficult.  It is only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we can understand, receive, and walk in the wisdom of God.  Praise the LORD He supplies both the will and power to do according to God's good pleasure!

"You're Going to Hell!"

There are few tings more devastating to a Christian's witness than condemnation from the judgmental hypocrite.  I sadly confess as I young child I once told a neighbour he was going to hell for some petty issue.  When the accusing words flew out of my mouth, it was a fleshly response to conflict without a hint of compassion or love.  My mother was wise to quickly discipline me for such folly in my youth, for I learned early the error of such hurtful and divisive censure.
 
"But people are going to hell," some might protest.  "Isn't it the loving thing to do to tell them where they will spend eternity if they remain in sin?"  Ah, but there is a loving way to communicate biblical truth.  Jesus met many people heading to eternal destruction in hell, but He never raised His voice to utter the phrase, "You're going to hell!"  If Jesus, who intimately and perfectly knew the hearts of men never spoke to sinners in that fashion, we are foolish to think we know better than Christ.  Jesus talked about hell - a lot.  Again and again He spoke of the terrors of hell and everlasting torment which awaited those who died in their sins (Mark 9:43-48).  But there was no hint of accusation in His tone, no overweening self-righteousness present which so often accompanies the aforementioned phrase.

Because we are not God, we cannot know perfectly the hearts of men.  It would be presumptuous for us - on our authority or according to our limited understanding - to condemn souls of men to eternity in hellfire and outer darkness.  What we can do is meekly bring the Law to bear upon one who sins against God and places himself under His wrath.  We can say with Christ's authority what is proclaimed in Romans 6:23:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Without fear we can hold forth the truth of God's Word in Revelation 21:7-8:  "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."  Even as light reveals dust, so the light of God's Law reveals sin.  The same scriptures also bluntly hold forth the penalty for sin:  the soul that sins will surely die, and the second death is forever.

All people are born on earth are heading to hell because of our own sin, but God made a way for justice to be satisfied through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  Lay the heavy weight of the Law upon proud, self-righteous sinners so they might see their need for salvation and repent.  Give grace to the humble, showing the way of salvation through faith in Jesus.  But for your own sake and your listeners (who may not listen long and be further hardened against the message because of your harshness), take care you do not do great harm with hateful speech and condescending tones.  If we are severe in judging others, we will be severely judged on the Day of Judgment (Matthew 7:1-5).  Instead of threatening, take time to lead little lambs to the Saviour who loves them and does not desire their destruction (2 Peter 3:9).  Be compassionate towards those who are perishing, and trust God will grant them repentance leading to salvation.

See Jesus Only

"Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? ² For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."

Isaiah 66:1-2

God has revealed His eyes go to and fro throughout the whole earth, seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chron. 16:9).  Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave a snapshot of such a person:  one who is humble of heart, with a contrite spirit, who trembles at His Word.  Does God's Word have such an effect on you?  In the New Testament, there is a lovely fulfillment of this passage when Jesus was transfigured before His disciples.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray.  The disciples, bless their hearts, were overcome with sleep.  They awoke in a shock to see Jesus tranfigured in radiance, speaking with Elijah and Moses appeared with Him.  They spoke of His decease and future glory.  Peter, not knowing what to say in such a rare moment, suggested they build tabernacles for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses.  Suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and Matthew 17:5-8:  "While he [Peter] was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." ⁸ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only."

When the Father spoke from heaven, the disciples heard His words and fell on their faces in great fear.  Jesus came near His disciples, touched them, and spoke words of comfort to them:  "Arise, and do not be afraid."  When they mustered the courage to look up, hearing Christ's command, they saw no one but Jesus only.  I love this!  No longer was their gaze upon bright lights and shining clouds. They were not busy thinking and talking about potential future building projects!  They were not in awe of seeing men of faith they respected:  they only saw Jesus.  May we who have been humbled before God and tremble at His Word turn our eyes upon Jesus only, for God has looked upon our low, powerless, and fruitless condition.  We have been sleeping when we could have been praying, but God looks upon the heart.  He has many things to tell us if we will listen.  When we are weary and frightened Jesus will come to us, touch, and speak comfort.

Bow before your Maker, man!  Tremble before His Word!  Humble yourself before your LORD and Saviour, and He will lift you up.

Up to the Task?

Many are duped into thinking if God has called them to something, they will feel confident or up to the task.  This is not the case.  In our service of God He always makes an allowance for faith in Him.  If we felt confidence in ourselves to accomplish anything for God, we will ultimately fail because without Him we can do nothing.  The truth is, feelings of inadequacy and helplessness facing what we believe God has called us to do puts us in great company.  We are not sufficient, but we can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us.

This came to mind when reading Jeremiah 1:4-7:  "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." ⁶ Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." ⁷ But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak."  God formed the prophet Jeremiah for a specific role and calling, yet Jeremiah did not feel up to the task.  "I cannot speak," Jeremiah said.  "I'm too young!"  God gently rebuked Jeremiah, reminding him in God's power he was the man for the job.  Jeremiah trusted in God and His Word, and faced unspeakable trials and difficulties in answering God's call.  Bless the LORD, for He caused Jeremiah to endure faithfully.

How about Moses?  When God called out to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus 3, he had many reservations.  Exodus 4:1 says, "Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.' "  Moses was around 80 years old, but he was concerned about what other people would think.  He doubted anyone would listen to him.  God provided three miraculous signs Moses could do to prove he indeed spoke on the authority of the Most High.  One might think the ability to perform miracles would provide a level of confidence, but that was not enough.  Exodus 4:10 reads, "Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."  Moses cited his perceived poor speaking ability as a reason why he was not the man to deliver Israel, why he should not answer God's call.  Yet God persisted, and Moses ended up serving God in a unique and powerful way.

Gideon was a man called as a judge and deliverer of Israel who denied he was fit to lead.  Judges 6:14-16 says, "Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" ¹⁵ So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." ¹⁶ And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."  Gideon could not see how God would use him.  He pointed to the weakness of his family and that he was not respected even in his own house.  Yet God saw Gideon as a mighty man of valour because He had sent Him and would be with him.  Step by step Gideon followed God's commands in faith, and God used Gideon to bring deliverance and salvation.

Have you asked God what He has formed and sanctified you to do?  Has He put words in your mouth to tell others you fear will not listen?  Do you see yourself as pathetic and unable to do what God has commanded you to do?  Praise the LORD, for He has ordained and sanctified you for a role in the Body of Christ to bring Him glory and honour.  Instead of waiting endlessly for feelings of self-confidence (that will not come, or if they do will be powerless to accomplish anything for God's glory), choose instead to trust and obey God's Word.  Take one step of faith and trust He will be with you.  He will lead and guide you every step of the way.  We can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us!

The Way God Speaks

The Bible is God's Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit.  It is a primary means God uses to speak to His people.  Certainly God is not limited in His ability to communicate to those who have ears to hear, and He employs others means to speak as well.  He can speak to us through dreams and visions.  Circumstances of our lives can be open doors which beckon us to take another step of faith.  God also uses others to confirm what we believe God has said to us.

Have you ever had an impression you were unsure of whether it was merely a thought in your mind or God was speaking to you with His small, still voice?  I remember when God impressed upon me during prayer He had called me to be a pastor.  Since I had no desire to be a pastor, nor was it a calling I ever imagined for myself, I knew this idea was not a product of my own thoughts.  This idea from outside almost intruded upon my thinking, and it surprised me.  I was not immediately convinced these thoughts were from God.  God was gracious not to leave me wondering and seeking for long.  A day or two later after prayer, a fellow believer came up to me and said with a grin, "God told me something about you recently."  "Oh, yeah?" I asked.  "And what would that be?"  "He told me you are going to be a pastor."  "That's funny," I answered, "because God recently told me the exact thing."  This is what I call when God is "talking in stereo."  God has ways of confirming an impression on your heart through the reading of His Word or by someone else speaking on that exact subject.

Don't think this is something I came up with myself.  The principle comes straight out of the Bible.  Check out Jeremiah 32:6-8:  "And Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ⁷ 'Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, "Buy my field which is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it." ' ⁸ Then Hanamel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said to me, 'Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption yours; buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD."  Jeremiah was a prophet of God who was experiencing great hardship.  The land was in turmoil facing defeat at the hands of the Babylonians.  Let's just say it was not a great time to be buying land which would soon be enemy territory.  Yet Jeremiah believed God told him to buy a field from Hanamel who would come to him.  We aren't told how long he had to wait, but Hanamel came to Jermiah and asked him to buy his field.  Look at the last part of verse 8:  "Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD."

How cool is that?  God spoke to Jeremiah, and then confirmed His word.  Jeremiah knew for certain it was the LORD's will he buy the field, and stepped out in faith according to God's command - though it was a dumb business decision according to man's wisdom.  What God says, He will certainly bring to pass.  That's another way you can know if God was speaking to you or just a thought in your own mind:  the passage of time will make it clear.  In the scriptures, repetition is used to strongly emphasise truth.  When you start hearing God in stereo, listen and believe God.  Even if it doesn't make "cents," the only sensible thing is to trust God and obey.  Whatever Jesus says to you, do it!

Lies and the Bible

I am so grateful for the wisdom of God in His Word.  It exposes the incorrect and foolish views we have been convinced of.  God speaks the truth, though it may hurt.  Receiving God's truth and aligning our hearts with it is a key step in spiritual maturity.  If you are wondering what truths I possibly could be speaking of, here are three examples of lies we tell ourselves exposed by God's Word.

"When I sin, it is out of character."  I recently read a news article about a man who was caught after he installed cameras in public toilets.  He claimed he wasn't a bad man, but he just did a bad thing.  Quoting the man convicted in the article, "While he understood nothing would make up for what he did to up to 90 women and children recorded by his devices, he hoped it helped that he had never done anything similar and never would again. "It was out of character," he said. "I am a human and have made many mistakes."  The Bibles says no one is good before God.  Our character apart from God is completely sinful.  Psalm 14:2-3 says, "The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. ³ they have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, No, not one."  Man does not sin in a "moment of weakness."  The reality is, when we are at our worst we witness the real you and me bubbling to the surface.  That ugly monster is not an anomaly:  it is the wretch who hides within us only Jesus can redeem.

"Ah, it's just a little thing.  I can step it up when it counts most."  What people see as little things are as big things in God's estimation.  Man doesn't see a problem with "white lies" or occasionally arriving late to work without reporting it, but such deeds do not escape God's notice.  God reveals the way we handle the little things is the exact same way we handle big things.  Jesus said in Luke 16:10, "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much."  Notice the objective words Jesus chose to use.  The man who is dishonest over a dollar cannot be trusted with thousands.  Argue all you want, but God says it like it is.  If we lie to children over a trivial matters to save face, we will lie in court after placing our hand on the Bible to save our skin.

"I am strong, not weak."  Weakness is a characteristic present in all people.  Measuring ourselves against others we perceive as weaker gives us the illusion of strength.  But what strength can man claim which has not first been given Him by God?  All are born helpless babies, completely dependent upon others for survival.  Proverbs 24:10 says, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."  We make the mistake of gauging our strength when we are at our best, not when we fail.  If a disobedient child or physical pain is enough to make us lose our temper, how strong are we really?  Being relatively strong in one area does not dispel the reality of our weakness in another.  Compared to the God who spoke the universe into existence, we are small and feeble indeed.  God is strong, and it only through Him man can discover true strength.

These are just a few of the countless truths held forth in scripture which correct man's faulty views.  Can you think of others?  What scriptures has God used to reveal lies you once believed?  The world believes and perpetuates all manner of lies, but the Bible is the source of all truth.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  And that, my friends, is the truth!

The Denial of Silence

Let's face it:  the world has never been keen on Jesus or His followers.  But Jesus never painted a rosy picture of what it would look like following Him.  He spoke of denying oneself, taking up your cross, and being crucified!  Jesus bluntly told His disciples in John 15:18-20:  "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also."  But this is not bad news, for God richly rewards those who walk in faith and obedience to Him.  Jesus also said in Luke 6:22-23:  "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. ²³ Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets."  When persecuted for being hated, excluded, reviled, and being called evil for Christ's sake we can rejoice.  This does not provide a license to be unkind, harsh, or hateful towards others.  If people avoid or hate us because we are self-righteous jerks, that is nothing to rejoice over.

Many Christians experience social and political pressure to keep their beliefs silent, as if stating a belief based upon the Bible would unfairly "impose" on others.  The truth is, speaking the truth can lead to all sorts of trouble and persecution for Christians, even when spoken from a compassionate heart of love.  It can lead to being passed over for promotions, being ostracised by family or friends, being singled out, bullied or verbally or physically attacked, and yes - even being crucified.  But this should not cause us to bottle up the love for God, other people, and belief in His Word from public view.  Christianity can never thrive in a test-tube of isolation, but spread like a life-giving antidote for the virus of sin through personal contact in communities, in the shops, the workplace, family gatherings, and even when visitors come to church.  Church gatherings should not be seen as the primary place ministry is accomplished, but more like a relaxing lunch break during a hectic day at work.

Jesus did not caution His people to confine their faith or beliefs within their little group:  He sent them out.  He told them to go into all the world and spread the Gospel and make disciples everywhere, teaching and helping others to follow Jesus faithfully.  If Christians retreat from the public sphere, how will people know the truth of the Gospel?  We play the hypocrite to bow to political correctness instead of remaining obedient to Christ.  If we are silent when God commands us speak, how can we be certain Jesus will speak for us?  Jesus said in Luke 12:8-9, "Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. ⁹ But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God."  As followers of Christ, we are to acknowledge Jesus as LORD by our obedience to His word.  Our silence and disobedience are ways we can deny Christ.  Peter denied Christ three times, but his life later showed he truly loved and followed Christ to the death.  If we only profess Christ before Christians because we fear crucifixion, we are not following Christ as we ought.

So you speak up in defense of scriptural truth and lose your job.  So you are punished or persecuted for doing what is right.  So you end up being crucified!  Rejoice, for great is your reward.  God's grace is yours today, and He will supply all your needs now and forever.

The Sign of the Resurrection

In our discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we discussed Matthew 16.  Matthew 16:1 begins with Jewish religious groups who opposed one another united in tempting Jesus:  "Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven."  The Pharisees and Sadducees in unbelief came to Jesus and demanded a sign from heaven, ignoring the fact Jesus IS the sign from heaven promised in the Law and Prophets.  Not only that, but Jesus provided clear evidence of His divine power, character, and wisdom which accompanied His daily walk.  But as a dear sister said last night, "Miracles do not make believers."  Jesus said of those who will not hear Moses and the prophets, even someone rising from the dead will not persuade them to believe.

Matthew 16:2-4 reveals the response of Christ.  "He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; ³ and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. ⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed."  Jesus called the Pharisees and Sadducees hypocrites because with confidence they predicted the weather based upon the colour of the sky, yet for all the signs He had provided them they did not affirm He was the Messiah sent by God.  Jesus was born of a virgin, turned water into wine, fed 5,000 men plus women and children with 5 loaves and 2 small fish, cast out demons, opened the eyes of men born blind, cleaned lepers, healed the lame, and raised the dead.  No amount of signs were enough to induce the unbelieving hypocrites to believe.

Jesus pointed to the prophet Jonah as a sign provided for that wicked, adulterous generation which has survived to this day.  Jesus explained in greater detail what He meant in Matthew 12:40-41:  "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here."  Jesus predicted His death and after three days He would rise again.  This was the sign He offered unbelievers, and it is a sign which has endured until this day.  After Jesus drove the merchants from the Temple, people questioned the authority of Jesus.  John 2:18-22 reads, "So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" ¹⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." ²⁰ Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" ²¹ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. ²² Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said."  The words Jesus said agreed with the Scriptures already delivered through the Holy Spirit.  The Pharisees searched the Scriptures, thinking that in them they would find eternal life - and those same Scriptures testified of Jesus (John 5:39).  Psalm 16:10 had said, "For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption."

Jesus provides eternal life and light to all who believe.  It is folly to demand a sign from heaven "to believe" when Jesus has already provided the sign of His resurrection.  Jesus rose from the dead and proved once and for all He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God!  He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as a suffering servant, but when He returns He will sit upon a war horse with eyes aflame.  God holds all men accountable to His righteous standard, as it is written in Acts 17:30-31:  "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹ because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."  Jesus is the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  He is the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, the Door, the True Vine, the Light of the World, the Judge of All the Earth, the Son of God, the Way, Truth, the Resurrection and Life, the great I AM.

Are you seeking a sign?  Do not make the mistake of ignoring or discounting the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He is not dead but alive!  He was carried up alive into heaven before hundreds of eye witnesses.  Consider the implications!  The resurrection validated all the Word of Christ beyond any doubt.  The prophets and spiritual sages many believe and follow are dead men, but Jesus proved Himself greater than them all.  He is God of the living, not the dead!  Men who follow prophets or idols end up dead like them, but those who trust in Christ will be raised to eternal life.

Battle For Your Mind

Ever eaten food you recognised as being exceptionally good?  We can have the same experience spiritually.  In our minds we understand all scripture is inspired by God, but sometimes a passage "hits the spot," so to speak.  God's Word speaks to specific needs in a person, and when applied by the Holy Spirit the results are transformational.

This morning we read 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 at Calvary Chapel Sydney:  "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."  I used to think "spiritual warfare" was something that occurred out in the world.  The Bible reveals the "ground zero" for spiritual battles takes place in our minds.  Paul was writing to Christians to beg they wage war upon their worldly ideas and sinful thought patterns.  The regenerated Christian mind is filled with strongholds of satanic lies and deceptions only the Word of God can expose and the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ can pull down.

When we are born again and given a new nature, our physical brain stays the same.  We continue to live in the world, exposed to all manner of sinful thoughts and ideas.  We still live in a body which lives to please itself.  Imagine for a moment your mind as a massive kingdom which for years was ruled by a ruthless, cruel tyrant who oppressed and enslaved the common people.  Little did the people realise the tyrant was actually a usurper who assumed the throne by deceit.  Fearful of overthrow, he sent spies and hired mercenaries throughout the kingdom to maintain his elaborate network of strategically-placed shelters with provisions, weapons, and armour.  One day a man clothed in white appeared before the tyrant's throne.  He unsheathed his sword, looked at him sternly and said, "I know who you are, fraud and father of lies!  You have no right to sit upon this throne.  Before God, I am the true King!"

Frightened by the man in white, the coward commander stood to his feet, surrounded by men loyal to him.  "You may have won today, your Majesty," he said sneering, "but I will not give up my power so easily.  I won't go down without a fight!"  With that, he and his men stormed off to their strongholds.  As you knelt before the rightful King, he turned to you and said, "You are now my loyal subject.  I have commissioned you to seek out these strongholds of lies wherever they remain and wage war against them until they are utterly destroyed.  For every stronghold you vanquish in my name, another may rise up to take its place.  Be on guard against this.  Be of good cheer, for I have overcome!"  As he sat upon the throne, he gave a word of warning:  "Be sober and vigilant.  A stronghold pulled down can be rebuilt."  And with that, the battle for your mind began.

When we are born again through the Gospel, Jesus Christ becomes the LORD and Saviour of our lives.  We are freed from the power of Satan who oppressed and enslaved us.  Though Christ is on the throne and we are justified from all sin, Satan engages in guerrilla tactics against our minds.  He has established strongholds in our minds, lies we have believed as long as we can remember.  He assaults us with arguments and temptations to idolatry.  A spiritual battle requires spiritual weapons and armour.  We have been given the fearsome sword held by Christ Himself.  The Word of God illuminates the strongholds, and we have authority from Jesus to pull down those strongholds.  These established, fortified, hidden strongholds are brought to light with God's Word, overthrown in prayer, and obedience to God in faith causes the enemy to surrender and flee.  We must take captive all thoughts to the obedience of Christ, for worldly arguments and idols have a way of scampering off and fortifying themselves again.

There is a wonderful illustration of this spiritual battle for our minds found in the book of Joshua.  When the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, the stronghold of Jericho loomed before them.  Skirting the stronghold was not an option:  it had to be utterly destroyed.  Joshua 6:1-5 reads, "Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. ² And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valour. ³ You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. ⁴ And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. ⁵ It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him."  God granted his people victory over this great, ancient stronghold.  It does not take a military genius to see the plan given the people was beyond orthodox - it looked completely ridiculous!  But since God gave the command, faith in Him and obedience to His Word brought about the victory promised by God.  What is true for Jericho is true for the deeply entrenched strongholds scattered throughout our minds:  the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God to pull them down and utterly destroy every one!

After the service this morning, it dawned on me:  Jericho did not stay vanquished forever.  Joshua pronounced a curse over any man who would rebuild the city, but it did not stop it from being rebuilt.  In the days of wicked Ahab, the land was rife with idolatry and wickedness.  1 Kings 16:33-34 says, "And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. ³⁴ In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the LORD, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun."  Strongholds in the minds of Christians can be rebuilt even as Jericho was.  Every Christian must understand the primary location of the spiritual battle taking place they are called to engage is within their own minds.  When we order our minds in obedience to Christ, and align our hearts and will with God's, we enter into the victory Jesus has provided!

The Light of Life

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1

Jesus is the Light of the World.  In the beginning He said "Let there be light!" and there was light.  It was not long before the light of the sun was shrouded by spiritual darkness due to sin.  There remained light, but sin brought darkness and death.  Even as the sun is critical for life on earth, Jesus Christ is vital for eternal life.

The sun, moon, and stars were created by God for a divine purpose:  for signs, seasons, days, years and to provide light in the heavens and on the earth. (Genesis 1:14-15)  As God said, so it was.  On earth we are absolutely dependent on the sun, even with the widespread use of electric lights.  In addition to providing the correct light to make plants grow and flourish, it also warms the earth.  It dried the earth after the great flood and all the rains since, and keeps watch over every day.

Did you know a day will come with the sun will be unnecessary?  This world, galaxy, and universe will pass away and God will make all things new.  It is written in Isaiah 60:19-20, "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. ²⁰ Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended."  During the earthly reign of Christ this will be true in a spiritual sense, and in the new heavens and new earth this will be the eternal reality for all God's redeemed.  In speaking of the New Jerusalem, John confirmed in Revelation 21:22-25:  "But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. ²⁴ And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. ²⁵ Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there)."  Simply glorious.

Let us not think the glory of heaven only as a beautiful end to a life of woe and sorrow.  Oh no, my friends.  David wrote under the Old Covenant of the Law:  "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"  God has given us a New Covenant through faith in Jesus Christ, a better covenant based on better promises.  Jesus is the Light of the World who gives light and life to all who believe.  The hearts of Christians are now the dwelling place of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19).  Our lives can be perpetually filled with light, though we live in a world of darkness.  When the plague of darkness was poured out in Egypt, the Jews had light in their dwellings.  God's Word is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105).

The sun in the heavens is nothing compared to the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.  God is our light and salvation, and we do not need to fear what crouches in the darkness.  For the Christian, Jesus provides undimmed light and life for eternity despite any season in this world.  We will suffer tribulation in this life, and all pass through valleys of the shadow of death.  But we need not fear or despair, for the LORD is with us; His Spirit indwells and empowers us.  For Christians, Christ's eternal light and light is already shining and we can bask in the warmth of His presence.  When God shines His searching light into sin-darkened areas of our lives, it is for our good and growth to confess, repent, and be restored to righteous living.

The light of Christ is shining, and we must choose to walk in it.  As it is written in 1 John 1:5-7, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."  Walking in the Light keeps us from fear, despair, and darkness.  No matter how dark the world becomes, the Light of Christ shines like the day in and through those who walk in it.  Rejoice, for Jesus makes all things new!

Be Ready!

I recently viewed a video of pastor Jay McCarl and it is a great explanation and exhortation from scripture.  As Jay spoke of "this" generation I was reminded of Proverbs 30:12-14:  "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness. ¹³ There is a generation--oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. ¹⁴ There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men."  I believe this is a good description of a generation I have seen in my lifetime.

No one knows the day or the hour of Christ's coming, but we know for certain He is coming.  He is coming at an hour when unbelievers will not expect it!  2 Peter 3:1-7 reminds all who have ears to hear, "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

Life continues as it always has until suddenly, unexpectedly, it stops.  People who die in house fires, who are buried under debris by earthquakes, or perish in a car accident likely didn't wake up that morning with the knowledge they had less than 24 hours to live.  No one knows the time of Christ's return, but we should be watchful.  It is a wise man who knows the signs of the times, but a wiser man still who seeks reconciliation with God and being born again through the Gospel.  Those who scoff and continue in unbelief without receiving salvation through repentance and trusting Jesus Christ face certain destruction and ultimate suffering in the lake of fire for eternity.  Take it from Jesus:  be ready!

Glory in the LORD

I have been reading through Gene Edwards Tale of Three Kings, and it is among my favourite Christian books.  Relevant, instructive, and profound, I find particularly useful the portrayal of David.  He was a man after God's own heart, chosen by God to be king of His people.  The fact David was anointed did not make life easy on David, and in him we see a shadow of Jesus Christ.  He was the chosen Messiah - the Anointed One - yet He faced rejection and willingly laid down His life on the cross for sinners.

After numerous attempts on his life, David fled.  1 Samuel 22:1-2 reads, "David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. ² And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him."  David left all alone, yet people came to him in the cave.  His family sought David and came to him, but also everyone who was distressed, in debt, and discontented.  To David came the dregs of society, those weary of a miserable existence, people who had nothing to contribute but needs, debts, and hungry mouths to feed.  They seemed a liability, but David became their captain.  He gave them no promises of wealth or success, but he was a man after God's own heart in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt.  From this description it is hard to imagine, but out of this rabble were forged mighty men of renown, brave-hearted warriors, loyal servants, men who were willing to sacrifice all, and faithfully followed David everywhere He went.  They were willing to risk their lives for the chance to please and bless David.  With this humble group, the beginnings of David's kingdom was established.

In His wisdom, God has seen fit to fill His Church - the Body of Christ - with such men and women.  Not many mighty, wise, or noble are called.  The Church is comprised of people who are distressed about the state of their souls, people who owe a debt of sin no man could ever pay, and have become discontented with all the lies, deceitfulness of riches, and the cares of this world.  David didn't cherry-pick his men based upon what they could offer him, and Jesus receives all who humbly approach Him in faith.  What can a man offer God?  We can only offer ourselves, wretched though we are:  full of fears, faults, burdened under guilt and an everlasting weight of sin.  We come to Jesus in weakness and desperation, having exhausted all hope in ourselves for salvation.  The Bible never mentions the debts of David's men again, and when we are born again through repentance and faith in Christ our sin God remembers no more.

David's mighty men would never have been mighty without him, and the only way we can become all God created us to be is through faith in Jesus Christ.  All my life I have desired to be the "real deal" when it comes to following Jesus, but I have learned Jesus Christ is the only "Real Deal."  I'm nothing of myself.  I am a liability and am unworthy.  I'm just a man who has discovered in Christ peace that passes understanding, my debt of sin has been paid, and I am learning to be content in any and every situation.  1 Corinthians 1:26-31 concludes, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- ³¹ that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."