The Mirror Miracle

God is present in the everyday situations of life, and sometimes we are given insight to see Him at work that brings encouragement.  Looking back on God's faithfulness to people in the pages of scripture, through the testimonies of others and our own experiences, we can rest assured God will be faithful to us presently and in the future forever.  Though the future is uncertain, we can know without a doubt our good God knows us and will preserve us going forward.

Recently I reminisced over a challenging move that took place years ago.  Several fellows from church and I organised to help a family move house.  This move was a struggle because the family moving was not sufficiently prepared, it was on a weeknight, and we needed to travel a long distance--and we were all slated to work early the following day.  In our initial discussion, we were told to be extra careful with a bureau and a large matching mirror.  The furniture had been in the family for a long time and it carried a great deal of sentimental value.  "I don't really care if anything else breaks," he said.  "This is the one thing that cannot be broken."  We carefully communicated the importance of the furniture to the crew and carefully secured it in the truck.

After overcoming hiccups and obstacles, we finally arrived at the new residence.  It was nearly midnight as we began transferring items from the truck into the garage--and we were far from home and hours from sleeping in bed.  The unloading was much quicker than the loading had been.  And then the unthinkable happened:  as I raised the Tommy Gate to full height I watched in horror as the large mirror began to fall forward in slow motion.  We were too far away to catch the mirror as it quickly gathered speed and slammed to the deck.  I was in disbelief how this could have possibly happened with all the precautions we had taken.  In grim silence a fellow worker and I lifted the mirror that amazingly, miraculously had been preserved.  There was not a scratch or mark on the mirror that should have shattered into a million pieces after falling straight onto the truck bed.  Our sigh of relief was also praise to God who marvelously helped us.

If God saw fit to preserve a mirror that was special to someone, how much more will He preserve His beloved children He treasures though they fall?  He is there to lift us up again.  Jesus asked in Luke 12:6-7:  "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."  Sparrows were not precious, five of them purchased in exchange for two small coins, yet God took note of every one of these small, relatively insignificant birds.  God is not only concerned with a bird or a whole person but knows the number of all the hairs on our heads.  Jesus exhorted His hearers, "Do no fear:  you are of more value than many sparrows."  Glory to God for loving and valuing us as He does, and assured of His faithfulness we need not fear anything that befalls us.

Not Under the Law

"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!"

Romans 6:15

In the movie The Princess Bride, a hired swordsman named Inigo wondered if his boss knew what "inconceivable" meant because he repeated it over and over.  "You keep using that word," he said.  "I do not think it means what you think it means."  There is debate over whether the swordsman was showing his ignorance, that he ironically instructed his "genius" boss or accurately identified hyperbole.  The fact is, people can mean different things by saying the same word or phrase.  "Taking out the trash" may mean carrying rubbish from inside the house to outside or also include hauling the bins to the kerb for pickup.  Not understanding the full implications of a word or phrase can lead to misunderstanding or a job only half done.

Sometimes I feel a bit like Inigo when I hear people talk about not being "under the Law."  The biblical phrase is used with regularity in Christian circles, but I wonder if we comprehend the full force of it since we have never experienced life as a Jew under the Law of Moses.  To them it was a badge of honour and identify with God, not the drudgery we expect it must be.  The implication I pick up on from Christians is gratitude for not being under the Law is appreciation not to observe rules and regulations.  As we read the Law in the Torah we are blown away by the almost oppressive nature of it in every area of life:  the hundreds of commands and prohibitions, kinds of food to be eaten or refused, the composition of clothes to wear, ceremonial cleansings, sacrificing, appearing before the LORD in Jerusalem in observance of feasts and on.  Born-again Christians can be like happy children because time-consuming chores on their daily list have already been completed by an adult, and thus they can do as they please and embrace playtime.  If this is what not being "under the Law" means to you, some important realities are not being considered.

Not being "under the Law" does not mean we are free to do as we please, for having been born again we are led by the Holy Spirit in our thoughts, words and deeds to go beyond the letter of the Law of Moses.  Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount repeatedly made the point to His disciples "It has been written...but I say unto you..."  The definition of adultery was expanded beyond sleeping with a married woman to simply looking with lust; instead of hating enemies followers of Jesus were to love them, pray for them and do good unto them.  Because the Holy Spirit fills each Christian, we are provided guidance, wisdom and help to do God's will even as Jesus did the will of the Father--not according to the letter of the Law of Moses, but by the leading of the Spirit.  We are not to limit the good we do by the leading of the Spirit to the extra mile but to the ends of the earth for God's glory.  Being under grace does not mean our workload has decreased at all but increased from being under Law that could never save a soul.  Jesus has established a new standard for living by the Gospel, for He works within us to do the Father's will.

No longer being under the Law is cause for rejoicing because we have been freed from the condemnation and curse of the Law:  the letter of the Law kills, but the Spirit gives life by faith in Jesus.  The handwriting of ordinances that condemned us has been taken out of the way and nailed to the cross, and Christ's righteousness is freely imputed to us by faith in Him.  The Law had no power to save and could only condemn, and those who kept it as best as they could still had no promise of everlasting life.  Hebrews 8:6 speaks of what Jesus accomplished:  "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises."  The Jews searched the scriptures, thinking in them they had eternal life, but Jesus said they testified of Him.  The Law was like a schoolmaster that led the Jews by the hand to know and receive Jesus Christ the Saviour of sinners.

Rather than obeying the letter of the Law out of fear of punishment or retribution from God, we are under grace that leads us to humble ourselves before God in faithful service who has drawn us to Himself in goodness, love and mercy.  Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Instead of trying to work to measure up to an impossible standard that was incapable of saving us, Jesus has provided the gift of salvation for all who trust Him.   As His workmanship and new creations, we walk in obedience to God and joyfully do the good works He has prepared for us to do that go beyond the Law.  We repent of conviction for sins that are not plainly condemned in the Law because the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth.  Jesus did what the Law could never do by atoning for our sins and adopting whosoever will believe in Him as children of God, and He is worthy of all praise and rejoicing.  Better than rejoicing we are no longer "under Law" we ought to rejoice in our Saviour Jesus Who continually works in and through us under grace.

Stir Up the Gift of God

Because Timothy was a man who had genuine faith in Jesus, Paul urged him in 2 Timothy 1:6-7:  "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  Paul had been instrumental in Timothy receiving the gift of God, the filling with the Holy Spirit Jesus promised to give to all who trust in Hm.  In addition to producing the fruit of the Spirit in the life of a born-again believer, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to each one according to the will of God.  Paul reminded Timothy to "stir up the gift of God" that was in him without fear, the the Spirit He has given is of power, of love and of a sound mind.

Timothy was exhorted to stir up the gift of the Spirit as one fans coals that began to smolder back into flame.  The Holy Spirit provides the fuel to let the light of the Gospel shine before men through us, and it seems Timothy had neglected this or there was more he could do to that end.  When I think of stirring up things, one reason we do is to agitate and better incorporate every ingredient in a drink or dish.  Perhaps there were many ways Timothy could better incorporate the gift of God into his daily labour and activities.  Another way we commonly say something is "stirred up" is like when a crocodile goes from laying still and silent and suddenly goes into a death roll.  Crocodiles are masters of camouflage, lying still as a log until they violently stir up the water as they feed.  It may have been Timothy was fine for the gift of God to fly under the radar, camouflaged from the view of others out of fear they would not approve or understand.

The divine Holy Spirit God has given us is not a spirit of fear, but in stark contrast a Spirit of power and of love and sound mind.  The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be God's faithful, bold witnesses wherever He leads us and gives us supernatural ability we do not naturally possess.  God gives His people power to humble ourselves and to love others as Jesus loves us actively and sacrificially.  God's love is described in detail in 1 Corinthians 13 and demonstrated by Jesus in the manner of His life as He selflessly served others and by His death for lost sinners.  The Holy Spirit also gives us a sound mind, understanding and discernment of spiritual things we could not otherwise know.  God provides a circumspect perspective and sober-mindedness, the ability to identify and put off the works of the flesh while walking according to the leading of the Holy Spirit in holiness.

Christians have been given the Spirit of God that rested upon Jesus Christ as it was prophesied in Isaiah 11:1-2:  "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. ² The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."  The fear of God frees us from the oppressive fear of man that would allow the gift of the Spirit to die down like a fire in the rain.  By fanning the flames of the Spirit of God by faith and obedience to Christ, we are led by God as it is written in Romans 8:14-15:  "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."  Having been born again we are adopted as sons of God, and thus we need reminding to stir up the gift of God to walk worthily of our glorious Saviour.

Strengthen Yourself in God

Though people of faith in God mentioned in Scripture had experiences different to ours, they are relatable because we trust the same God.  Many times the situations people faced were far more extreme than our current struggles and troubles, and this ought to inspire great confidence that God is able to help us in all He allows.  In my youth I was foolishly distracted by flaws or inconsistencies in God's people in scripture rather than emulating steps of faith they took and the LORD who helped them overcome all.  One such person is David, a man after God's own heart.  He was not a perfect man, but who among us is?  His steadfast faith could put the most stalwart among God's people to shame.

While on the run from King Saul, David and his men spent over a year in Philistine territory.  After their return from the field of battle, they were shocked to find their city Ziklag a burnt ruin, all their wives and children taken captive along with their possessions.  The Bible tells us the men lifted up their voices and wept until they lacked strength to weep any more.  1 Samuel 30:6 says, "Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."  David grieved over his two wives being taken captive, and was greatly distressed when the men spoke of stoning him in a rage over their loss.  Instead of making excuses, trying to deflect blame, threatening or challenging the men, David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Faith in God enabled David to look beyond the furious, tear-streamed faces and hands that clutched stones and see the LORD who ruled over all, the sovereign and living God Who anointed him king, protected and led him every step.  In God David discovered strength he did not possess, for when he did not even have the strength to weep God had abundant strength to guide, deliver and save.  The child of God finds strength to endure and overcome in the LORD our God.  In response to Paul's repeated requests to remove a messenger of Satan from his life 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us, "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  Instead of removing Paul's thorn in the flesh, God allowed it to remain so he might experience the sufficiency of Gods' strength provided by grace to all those who are in Christ by faith.

The experiences of David and Paul provide wonderful applications for us even when we have never had a kidnapped spouse or a demonic messenger pester us.  When we feel greatly distressed, when bad things happen to us that are out of our control, or we are too weak even to weep, by faith in Jesus we can strengthen ourselves in the LORD our God.  In doing so we consider the greatness of our God, His faithfulness to us, His good promises and all He has done.  Because our God is the LORD over all, nothing can undermine or overthrow His power to deliver and save.  By faith in God David recovered all without loss and Paul embraced his infirmities that the power of Christ would rest on him.  Following their example in the overwhelming circumstances of our lives is most wise, for God's grace is sufficient.

The Satanic Suggestion

Satan walks the earth like a lion seeking whom he may devour, yet he can take the form of an angel of light.  Like the Pharisees who were clean on the outside yet spiritually were like unclean tombs within, the devil and those who follow him can seem to have our best interest in mind while working to ruin us.  Peter believed he spoke as a man inspired by the Holy Spirit when he rebuked Jesus for saying He would be killed, yet it was as if Satan were speaking.  Jesus then rebuked Peter for such a suggestion in Matthew 16:23:  "But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

Satan foolishly sought to be like the Most High, and his pride led him to a great fall.  The father of lies is the master of telling them, and it is only by being grounded in the word of God we can recognise and avoid falling prey to His deceptions.  Satan was able to deceive Eve by first questioning then denying what God had plainly said.  For those who can read God's word and have the Holy Spirit within them, blatant lies are not as effective as partial truths--which are still a complete lie.  As long as we reside in these bodies of flesh, there is potential we can be swayed by attractive appeals to our flesh.

We see this appeal to fleshly desire in David's men when King Saul pursued David to kill him.  While in the wilderness of En-gedi, Saul ventured into the same cave David and his men sheltered in.  They urged David to take full advantage of the situation in 1 Samuel 24:4:  "Then the men of David said to him, "This is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.' " And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe."  There were many times in scripture God promised to deliver the enemies of His people into their hand, and it is not clear if God said this in particular to David.  But the second part of their statement reeks of sulfur, for they appealed to his flesh.  Instead of doing to Saul as seems good according to God's will, they used God's name to encourage David to do his own will.  Instead of lopping off Saul's head, he chose to cut off the corner of his king's robe.

So tender was the heart of David that he felt remorse over what he did as it says in 1 Samuel 24:5-6, "Now it happened afterward that David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe. ⁶ And he said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD."  David confessed his sin before the men, for in doing as seemed good to him it wholly missed the mark of God's righteousness.  David was anointed of God to be king, but since God had not yet removed Saul from the kingdom David was to presently submit to God in faith.  Falling for the devil's lies gives us insight into the evil in our own hearts, and the wise learn from error coupled with repentance.  As much as David loved and trusted his men, the truth of their words could be discerned by knowledge of God and His word.  Appeals to the flesh and encouragement to "do as what seems good to you" ought to be a red flag every time.

The Promise of His Coming

Upon my return to San Diego, I was surprised to hear of a hurricane Hilary moving straight towards "America's Favorite City."  I grew up and spent a great deal of my adult life in San Diego, and I never heard of such a thing--or had seen such an almost hysterical response to an incoming storm.  Television programs were rescheduled to provide extra coverage of the "hurricane", and long before it entered the United States it had been downgraded to a tropical storm.  An insurance company made automated calls to encourage their customers to take every possible precaution for this potential disaster.  The hype was so intense school was cancelled for many students today.

Because the buildup was so intense, when it finally started drizzling and raining yesterday the storm was quite underwhelming.  Before the storm everyone was talking about the forecast, and many after the storm had a chuckle over how much a non-event it was.  If this storm was a test of San Diego's emergency broadcast network, based upon my experience I would say it passed with high marks.  It is better to be safe than sorry.  When there are warnings that do not correlate with reality, however, it would be no surprise for people to tune out if future alarms prove false.  Like in the fable of the boy who cried wolf, people grow weary of being mislead--even if others have their best in mind.

Hurricane Hilary has come and gone, and life goes on without a hitch.  Peter warned believers not to forget the warning Jesus gave about coming judgment people made a mockery of in 2 Peter 3:1-4:  "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."  In these last days some people scoff at the idea of coming judgment for sin or their own mortality, but God's people ought to be aware and mindful of both.  We should not scorn God's warnings in His word, by His prophets or Son with the manner of our lives.  The sun rises and sets every day without fail, and winter makes way for spring.  But one day, all that will change for us.

Peter used the flood in the days of Noah as an example in 2 Peter 3:5-7:  "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."  God who destroyed the earth with a flood of water is actively preserving them until He brings judgment with fire upon the ungodly.  The world that existed before the flood perished, and the world that exists now will someday perish:  of this we can be certain.  But praise the LORD God has sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  Meteorologists can get it wrong, but God is never wrong.  With a high degree of accuracy it was predicted when the storm would arrive in southern California, yet only God knows the time when our lives will be required of us and we will face judgment.

How we live today matters as Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, "For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."  Let us not mistake His patience and longsuffering for carelessness or forgetfulness.  God has promised, and He will be faithful to complete the work He has begun.  What God says He will do He will do without fail.  The question is, will we sit in the seat of the scornful or make our LORD Jesus  the delight of our souls to hear and obey?

Godly Edification in Faith

"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia--remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, ⁴ nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith."

1 Timothy 1:3-4

Paul urged Timothy to remain in Ephesus for the purpose of directing some to teach no other doctrine than those that result in godly edification in faith.  In his introduction Paul mentioned Jesus Christ our hope along with with grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Jesus our Saviour.  These are fundamental Gospel truths that adorn all sound doctrine in scripture.  Previously in Corinth Paul kept Christ central in his preaching, for he determined not to anything among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

As in modern times, there were some in Ephesus who taught, emphasised and discussed topics or doctrines that promoted controversy.  It is possible for genuine believers to be swept up in and become preoccupied with topics, conflicts, problems or conspiracies that mar our discussions and teaching.  Paul said Timothy and others were not to teach or even give heed to fables or endless genealogies which led to disputes and arguments.  A fable can be defined as a short, fictitious story--and Jewish history has no shortage of extra-biblical stories about people we read about in the Bible.  Tall tales about Abraham, Moses, Solomon and others were abundant and widely repeated.  They were to preach the word of God, not to give these fables heed or parrot them to others.

They were also not to give heed to endless genealogies.  We might see the genealogies in the Bible fairly exhaustive, but there were many extra-biblical genealogies people dug through and referenced--not to affirm the truth of scripture but as fodder for speculation.  They went deep down rabbit holes that provoked questions, arguments and divisions rather than using the scriptures God has supplied to edify and encourage us in faith.  Instead of revealing truth, these supposed breakthrough revelations obscured the truth and distracted people from feeding on the milk and meat of God's word.

Godly edification which is in faith in Jesus is the result of sound doctrine well-applied, even as it is written in 1 Timothy 1:5:  "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith..."  Our teaching and discussion ought to be to edify people in their love of God and one another, to nurture a good conscience based upon all Jesus is and has done for us by genuine faith in Him.  We need not fear deceptions or the wrath of God when we are grounded in Jesus who is the Truth, having been forgiven and justified by God's grace.  We are to build our lives upon the foundation of Jesus Christ by hearing His words and putting them into practice, and let us encourage our brethren to do the same.

God and Faith that Saves

The Bible is full of heroes of faith in God who are not mentioned in Hebrews 11.  In some cases we are not even given their names, yet they remain worthy of our admiration and emulation.  The living God does wondrous things through people who trust and fear Him, and blessed are those who put their lives in His hands.

Jonathan and his young armour-bearer are a fine example of men who banded together in the fear of God.  They did not consider the "odds" of winning or defeat in battle; they were not buoyed by aspirations of fame nor hesitated at the potential personal cost.  1 Samuel 14:6-7 reads, "Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few." ⁷ So his armorbearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart."  Jonathan aimed to be more than a disruption to the encamped Philistines who oppressed Israel, for his aim was for God to save them and all Israel.  Nothing restrained God from saving by many or few, and the passage shows even two who trust Him is more than enough.

From a military standpoint, the Philistines had every advantage.  The Philistines were many, well-armed, had lookouts stationed, and held an elevated, fortified position.  Jonathan and the young man who held his armour were two men, and one had his hands full!  Jonathan looked at the situation, not with the eyes of a seasoned military veteran, but with the expectation God would save and with willingness to do his part.  The armour-bearer was pleased to follow Jonathan wherever he went, even if it meant clambering up a mountain and walking into an enemy encampment.  Instead of questioning or opposing Jonathan, the armour-bearer encouraged him to go for it--and he was all in with whatever Jonathan chose to do.

God won a notable victory that day by the hand of Jonathan and his young armour-bearer because they believed God was able to save, sought the LORD for the go-ahead, and boldly took action according to faith in Him.  They did not imagine themselves stronger, better equipped, or more skilled warriors than the Philistines who mocked them but believed their God would do a work to save.  The first half of 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him..."  By God's grace these men were enabled to do what their king and army was unable to do.  These men weren't looking to be heroes, but were willing to be nameless and shameless in their faith in their God who is unrestrained to save.  May each of God's people be numbered among those who believe nothing restrains God by saving by many or few and do all that He puts in our hearts.

God's Appointments

"But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

There are many kinds of appointments we have daily, and some of these are arranged and kept by us and others by God.  Yesterday I accompanied my parents to a doctor's appointment, the kind of appointment one would rather not have.  It would be wonderful if we never were sick and doctor's appointments were unnecessary, but having an appointment with a skilled physician is a blessing when you have cancer and want to be rid of it.

I was encouraged by this passage in 1 Thessalonians 5 that tells us that God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our LORD Jesus Christ.  We may forget we have an appointment and miss it, but God never forgets.  As children of God saved through the Gospel, we are not appointed to wrath.  The suffering and pains of this life are not retribution for our sins, for Jesus has provided atonement on the cross, forgiven us and imputed the righteousness of God to us.  In this world, however, we will suffer many trials and tribulations.  We can be sure every one of them is devoid of God's wrath that consumes and destroys, for He utilises trials to refine His beloved children to make us more like Him.

As certain as children of God are not appointed to wrath, He has appointed us to obtain salvation and to live together with Him.  He will not fail to keep these appointments!  Jesus died for us so we can always live with Him in fellowship as companions.  Whether we live in these bodies or after our mortal frame is laid to rest, Jesus has appointed us to life with Him.  Paul exhorted believers to comfort and edify one another with these words, for God has appointed comfort for those who mourn.  The one who mourns over their sin and repents is the one who will be forgiven and comforted, and this knowledge of God's divine appointments and plans for us strengthens us today.

By faith in Jesus we put on the breastplate of faith and love, and we don the helmet of the hope of salvation.  These, my brothers and sisters, will never disappoint.  When we are disappointed with situations in our lives, our hearts and minds are well-protected by faith and the love of God and hope of salvation.  No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper, for God has appointed us to live with Him now and forever.  Jesus is our life, and blessed is the one who is comforted and edified in Him.

Holding To God's Word

It is the revelation of God in His word that teaches us of His ways and thoughts that are higher than ours.  Great error is inevitable when we depart from the scripture and rely upon personal experience to determine what is doctrinally true.  Drifting into the fallacy of personal experience can be subtle, and even people who hold to the Bible being the word of God are not exempt from the resulting bias.  Better than limiting the way God can or will do something by our experience, we are wise to hold to God's word as truth and guidance for life.

Recently I read a book by an author I respect who holds the Bible in high esteem.  While there were times he referenced scripture to explain doctrines, his positions were greatly weakened by straw man arguments and the fallacy of personal experience.  Because he had not seen someone who could heal "on command," he dismissed the possibility anyone could be given gifts of healing today.  I am not convinced anyone gifted by God to heal did so "on command" of anyone other than God, for that would reduce this divine act to a party trick.  Just because we are given spiritual gifts according to the will of the Holy Spirit, there is an appropriate time and occasion to use them as led by Him.  Initially when Jesus was approached by a woman who begged Him to cast a demon out of her daughter, Jesus did not do so.  In response to her persistence and faith He ultimately did as she asked, and her daughter was made whole that very hour.

The author went on to say if the gifts of healing were truly in operation today, the hospitals would be empty because those who could heal would empty them.  Again, there is no scriptural precedent in the Gospels or the book of Acts (or anywhere else in the Bible) to support such a claim.  In John 5 Jesus went to the pool of Bethsaida where there were many sick and infirm people, and we read of Him choosing to heal one man.  He may have healed more than one person on the day, but the scripture remains silent on this.  What I love about that passage is Jesus went the man and knew He had suffered his condition for a long time.  The man hoped his healing would occur by his entering the pool first after it had been stirred, and Jesus chose to heal the man by grace--for he did not even ask.

The author went into detail about the trickery and fakery in some evangelical circles where charlatans deceive people to believe divine healing has taken place.  Does the existence of liars and deceivers prevent God from continuing to divinely heal people according to His will?  Those phonies are not gifted by God to heal, but it does not follow that no one today has been given gifts to heal by God's grace.  What is much more likely is that people doubt God's will to heal, do not really believe God can or will heal them.  The words of Jesus when He described how prophets were not accepted in their own country can serve as a rebuke to people in the church who doubt God heals people today in Luke 4:27:  "And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."  Naaman came from Syria to be healed by Elisha the prophet of God and went home whole, yet there were many lepers in Israel when the prophet Elisha was given power from God to heal.

Can this also be true concerning people in the church today?  The man on the street may be more receptive to divine healing than the genuine Christian in church who believes gifts of healing are no more!  In both the Old and New Testament we see the power of God on display to heal, save, make whole and bring peace to the hearts and lives of people, and we need Him as much today as ever.  Since God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), let us believe He will continue to do His miraculous wonders in the time and way He sees fit.

Appreciating the Church

It is easy to take things for granted because we become quickly accustomed to life as things are.  For this reason we likely do not appreciate all God has provided for us by His grace.  Take the church, for instance.  We can appreciate and value the church as a gathering of God's people to worship Him, study His word and serve one another.  But we may not realise God has joined us together as one in His own Body of which He is our Head.  We might focus on what we can contribute to the fellowship of the saints, but we are also blessed by how all contribute to our good as well.

This dynamic played out in the early church when Timothy was sent to establish and comfort the church in Thessalonica as the people were going through tribulation and affliction.  Paul was concerned the people might have fallen prey to lies of Satan and abandon their faith because of their troubling circumstances.  Paul shared in 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8:  "But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you--⁷ therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord."  When Paul and the brethren received a good report of the people's faith, love and fond memory of them, they were comforted.  The ones seeking to instruct were informed; those who sought to encourage fellow believers were themselves encouraged and comforted.

It is amazing how God connects and unites individual believers in one body, the church.  Isn't it true that when we prepare to teach we are the ones taught?  And even after the message in discussion with other Christians there is much spiritual truth to glean and gladly receive we had not laboured for.  The one who seeks to help others are greatly helped according to God's grace.  Paul and his fellow Christians who were in affliction and distress were comforted by the faith of those in Thessalonica--ironically people they desired to establish and comfort in faith.  Sometimes the very thing we wish to supply to others is also what we need ourselves, though we do not always recognise it.  The minister may not realise how much he needs ministry--not as an outlet to use God's gifts to edify others--but to be edified and encouraged by the gifts of others.  We are blessed with capacity to grow in our appreciation of God for His grace and goodness towards us by simply being in Christ in faith and following Him obediently.

Seeing the Unseen

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

A worldview founded by faith in God and His word provides a lens that enables us to see beneath and beyond the surface of what is seen.  Everything we see, read and experience can become opportunities for God to teach us more of Himself, how we ought to live and illustrate the truth of His word.  The one focused on their own present pain and suffering can often think of little else, yet the child of God who suffers can know he does so according to the will of God who is good and causes all things to work together for good.  Thus praise, gratitude and thanksgiving illuminate our hearts and fill our mouths rather than self-pity or frustration.

Paul realised in light of all God has provided for us--forgiveness, atonement, salvation, fellowship, righteousness, purpose and on--even the most severe afflictions are light by comparison.  Not only that, but he understood they fulfilled a practical function in working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  It is only by eyes of faith fixed upon Jesus Christ we can see spiritual and enduring realities our physical eyes cannot see that make present pains of small consequence.  Knowing what Jesus accomplished when He suffered for our redemption means our suffering God allows is never in vain.  Everything we can see is temporary, for this world is passing away.  The things which are not seen with our physical eyes (yet with eyes of faith are seen, comprehended and received) are eternal.

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe."  Paul was thankful the Thessalonians received the word of God from him and other believers as the word of God:  the authoritative, accurate, divine revelation of God His people ought to heed and obey.  The word of God effectively works in those who believe in Jesus Christ, and one of these ways is how God gives awareness and insight to apply God's wisdom to ordinary activities.  In his book The Bible and the Newspaper, C.H. Spurgeon demonstrated how we can find emblems, parallels, parables and analogies all around us that illustrate the truth of scripture.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, God's word works in a child of God to provide ability to see the unseen, the eternal realities God has made known to us by his grace.

Spurgeon quoted John Newton as saying, "I read the newspaper that I may see how my heavenly Father governs the world."  This insight into God and His ways could only be obtained by John Newton after first being born again by faith in Jesus and being well-versed in God's word.  The things we see are not our primary focus because they are passing away, for we look to our LORD Jesus and consider Him who suffered for our sakes.  We can rejoice with exceeding joy because the light affliction we suffer is working for us and His word is effectively working in us presently for eternal good and His glory. 

Parent Up!

"The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."

Proverbs 29:15

On the cusp of battle against Israel, the Philistines were afraid.  They had heard of the miraculous wonders and deliverance by the power of God and knew they were no match.  But they were determined to fight Israel to prevent being made servants over those they had long oppressed.  They rallied themselves in 1 Samuel 4:9:  "Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!"  In modern vernacular, they urged one another to "Man up!" and fight like their lives, freedom and prosperity depended on it.  The Philistines won the battle, and God in time used it as an occasion to prove His supremacy over their god Dagon, plagued their cities for months, and Israel came to understand their need to rely on Him alone.  God was faithful to redeem the situation start to finish.

When it comes to parenting children, there is a need for parents to show at a minimum the same grit and resolve the Philistines had and "Parent up!"  We have strength beyond ourselves in our heavenly Father Who loves us and in Jesus Who is wisdom for us.  A father and mother best embrace their roles as parents by loving God and one another, together trusting and seeking God who allows conception and brings to the birth.  Parents are wise to fear God and provide a constant example of Christlikeness in submission to Him and one another in love, embracing their God-given task of raising a little one with the knowledge of God, providing for physical needs, nurturing, caring through consistent and well-weighted discipline, education and training.  Spending time with children and learning to communicate effectively is so important to convey your love, establish boundaries and expectations, and to encourage little ones as they grow.

Solomon provides insight to prospective or current parents that wisdom is given to children by the rod and rebuke that complement one another.  A common error exasperated parents make is they have neglected one or the other:  they have taken action to discipline without effective communication, or they habitually use words without consistent, corresponding action.  Whatever action employed for constructive discipline ought to be agreed upon by the parents according to God's word.  Threats, complaints, shouting, and pleading by themselves are impotent means of conveying wisdom.  Willful disobedience ought not to be laughed off or treated lightly.  Children learn to read their parents long before they can read words on a page or speak in complete sentences.  They quickly learn to masterfully exploit and manipulate doting parents who do not realise they are in a pitched battle of the will they retreat from and can surrender to.  The groundwork parents lay in a child's infancy will either be a bridge to learning and walking in God's wisdom or work to undermine all efforts to that end.  As Proverbs 29:17 says, "Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul."  Corrective action and words must be used together.

Solomon observed this in the training of household servants in Proverbs 29:19:  "A servant will not be corrected by mere words; for though he understands, he will not respond."  When it comes to correction, words are often not enough to illicit genuine change.  A stubborn child can shrug off words easily as he exerts his own will.  Such a one needs to be looked in the eye, spoken to in a caring manner so there is understanding, and physically restrained or moved.  The object must be put down; little hands should not be allowed to strike a parent.  Children are just as tireless as teens and adults to have their way, and the sooner they learn they are not in charge the better it is for everyone.  Solomon also gave a warning in Proverbs 29:21:  "He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him as a son in the end."  The idea is a coddled servant will never grow to be a fit servant and become a dependent and liability.

There is no perfect parent or child on this planet, but praise the LORD God is our Father in heaven who always knows what to do, what to say, and what He is doing.  When parenting feels all too much we are reminded God is not overwhelmed with our situation and can redeem even our fails for His good purposes.  As He has been gracious, merciful and good to us, we can exhibit His love with the rod and reproof to give wisdom.  Whether our children choose to receive God's wisdom is their responsibility, but as much as depends upon us let us always be faithful to pray for them, encourage, listen, be patient, correct when needed, confess our faults when we have sinned, and exhibit grace and forgiveness to build them up in our LORD.  Let us not leave our children to their own devices or to go their own way without correction, for that is the sure way to disgrace.

Guided By God

 "Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me.”

Quote from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen

In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus compared the reality and operation of the Holy Spirit to that of wind:  one can feel and easily observe the effect of the wind, but the wind itself is not visible to our eyes.  When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit Who regenerates and guides us into all truth.  As a sailor adjusts the sails of a ship to best catch the wind, so we are propelled in ministry by the power of God as we yield to the Holy Spirit.  God's word could be compared to the rudder captained by Christ Who guides us in the correct direction of how to conduct our lives, examine our hearts, love one another and walk in obedience to God.  Unlike a rowboat that depends upon our limited strength and coordination or a motorboat where the occupants passively rely on a machine powered by petrol, we are to look to the LORD to guide us in His strength.

I was reminded of the lyrics of the popular Queen song "Bohemian Rhapsody" when I considered Ephesians 2:1-3:  "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."  In this letter to believers in Ephesus, Paul described their life before coming to faith in Jesus Christ--a life by going wherever the wind blows.  Such a life is an aimless and likely nihilistic existence that, as the song suggests, ends in death without even caring.  It is no wonder Satan is called the "prince of the power of the air," a wicked, deceitful being who blows people towards ruin and eternal destruction by their lusts, flesh and minds.

Matthew Henry described the conduct of the life of Christians before they had faith in Jesus like this:  "Wicked men as slaves to Satan.  The course and tenor of their lives are according to his suggestions; they are subject to him, and are held captive by him at his will, whereupon he is called the god of this world, and the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." (Church, Leslie F. Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry Genesis to Revelation. Zondervan, 1974. page 1850)  Satan is a liar, thief and murderer from the beginning, and this deceiver and enemy of the souls of men easily convinces them they alone are the masters of their destiny, to live like a god before whom all others must bow.  In reality this one is enslaved mind and body to Satan, their own passions and lusts, is blind to the chains that bind them, and senseless of the wrath of God they face.  Led by everywhere the wind blows, whatever feels good, or in pursuit of fulfilling desires, the unbeliever is like a coin dropped into a donation funnel:  though the coin circles time and time again, ultimately gravity pulls it beyond our sight and it is plunged into darkness.  Unlike donation boxes that can fill up, the grave stays hungry.

Rather than resisting and grieving the Holy Spirit by disobedience, we are to submit to God as His beloved children and do what pleases Him.  The Holy Spirit always empowers and guides us righteously as we read in passages like Ephesians 4:29-32:  "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."  We are saved by faith in Jesus, and we are to live by faith in Him, looking to Jesus to guide us as the Holy Spirit moves us.  By God's grace we can know truth from error, repent of our sin, and walk righteously.

Fellowship With God and Others

Wherever truth is found, we can be certain there will be many errors.  Jesus identified Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the world has opposed His claim at every turn.  We have all heard the suggestion there are many ways to come to God, that truth is relative or subjective to our views, and our life consists in what we have.  All of these statements are exposed as false by the revelation of God in scripture, divine truth and wisdom for life which has endured and triumphed over all manner of attack.

The truth is often not complicated, but our struggle can be to distinguish it from all the lies that spring up everywhere.  It is familiarity with the truth of scripture that aids believers to disregard falsehoods that have swept others to ruin.  There are people who will not consider entering a church building or read a Bible because they have the idea they need to "get right" with God first.  This suggests several dangerous misconceptions.  The first is the assumption we can get right or stay right with God by what we do.  It is not getting right but being made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ as the first step to being born again, receiving forgiveness, reconciliation and enjoying fellowship with God.  Going to church is in no way a claim of perfection before God or man, for every Christian and seeker are sinners in need of God's grace.  Reading the Bible is not reserved for priests and preachers, for it is God's word all people need for life.

It is not only the lost or uninitiated who can give place to falsehoods, for Christians can unwittingly suffer from lies we believe.  I remember once our pastor exhorted us from 1 Corinthians 11 not to receive Communion in an unworthy manner.  I knew I was struggling (and in reality dominated) by a particular sin so I decided not to receive Communion because I did not want to run the risk of chastening or judgment:  in other words, I played the hypocrite by not receiving Communion rather than confessing my sin and repenting right then!  Jesus came this earth and went to the cross to atone for my sin, yet in my self-righteousness and fear of punishment I chose to hold onto my sin as a Christian.  I unrespectfully declined to partake of the broken bread that symbolised the body of Jesus broken for me; I refused the cup that symbolised the blood of Jesus shed for my sins and atonement because of sin He died to save me from.  I foolishly thought I did the right thing to not eat and drink, as if only the "worthy" could earn the right to partake through sinless perfection.  In a vain attempt to avoid hypocrisy I blindly embraced it.

1 John 1:5-7 reads, "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 is different than walking according to the light.  Walking in the light does not mean sinless perfection, but when the Light of the world and the illumination of God's word reveals sin in me, I am to remain in the light by acknowledging my sin, confess and repent of it without excuses, and go on walking in obedience to Jesus.  If we have forsaken the gathering of ourselves together with fellow Christians, walking in the light means we humbly admit we have been slack and go to church.  Backsliding ought not to be our identity, for Jesus has made us to be strong in the LORD and stand in the power of His might, feed shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.  Jesus Christ has given us the opportunity to have fellowship with Him and other believers, and if they judge us harshly for our faults God will address their error in due time--even as He has chastened and corrected us.

Godliness and Contentment

When my eldest son was learning to pray out loud to God, he said something that makes me smile to this day.  Shortly after our kitchen had been remodelled, before a meal he rattled off a series of things he was thankful for.  As he made a sweeping gesture with his arm he said happily, "And thank God for the countertops!"  We never had new countertops before, and we were all pleased to have them.  His exuberance over our remodeled kitchen was unexpected and fun to see.

At Calvary Chapel Sydney we are studying through the book of Ecclesiastes, and Solomon was no stranger to new or nice things.  One thing he discovered, however, was no matter how many nice things he had they would not remain his forever:  new things quickly grow old, and things in themselves cannot provide meaning or satisfaction.  We only had our new countertops for a short time before they took damage from an exercise ball that inadvertently knocked a chisel into the bench surface near the sink.  It was a test for me:  would I become angry and frustrated over the damage?  Would I justify bitterness or resentment because of what happened?  How could we take precautions to prevent this from happening again?  Was I praising the LORD with gratitude the chisel had not landed on a little foot or hand?

In contrast to those who believed gain was godliness, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6-7:  "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."  Whether Paul had money in abundance or was on a tight budget, he discovered contentment in God that did not depend on his present circumstances.  Paul was content to walk the streets of Jerusalem as a free man or be incarcerated in Rome.  He maintained the eternal perspective knowing he came into the world with nothing and would leave the same way.  While quality countertops are useful, we cannot take them with us.  Those who realise in God all our needs are met can be genuinely thankful and grateful for all we have and not be addled with covetousness over what we do not have--which leads us not to appreciate all God has provided.

Should it become apparent our outlook is marred with greed, covetousness or discontent, many people "try" to be content--as if that is the problem in itself.  The reality is, our lack of contentment is evidence of lack of godliness.  Children of God can fight a continual losing battle to be content in the LORD when we have not first acknowledged and repented of our greed and covetousness and thanking God for all He has given.  Confessing and repenting of our sin is a critical step to walk in godliness with contentment.  Our good God will see to it we will remain troubled should we remain unrepentant in sin.  Contentment is not carelessness or rejection of material possessions but gratitude, thankfulness and joy in the LORD who has given us all that pertains to life and godliness.  We can be thankful and praise God for all He provides for us--even when a chisel gouges the counter.  In our God is only gain, and by faith in Him we can be content by His grace.

Our Sure Help

"For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? ¹⁰ Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope."

1 Corinthians 9:9-10

In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul demonstrated the relevance of precepts from the Law of Moses for present personal application.  While Christians were not "under the Law" or obliged to keep the letter of the Law, even a passage that prohibited the muzzling of an ox that treads out the grain provided guidance in the financial compensation of Christian ministers who laboured in the word.  This insight provides precedent by the leading of the Holy Spirit to open up enlightening and refreshing applications tucked away in the Old Testament modern-day believers ought to consider and heed.  Paul's point was God included the law that forbade muzzling oxen at work--not just to prevent animal cruelty--but for the sake of guiding and exhorting Christians to contribute towards the temporal or financial needs of Christian workers.

Understanding the timeless relevance of God's righteousness in Law, wonderful insights are provided for the hungry seeker.  I was greatly encouraged by another passage that happened to involve animals in Deuteronomy 22:4:  "You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fall down along the road, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him lift them up again."  Children of Israel who saw their brother's ox or donkey fall over and struggle to rise were not to pretend they did not notice the animal in distress.  Even if the brothers or neighbours were not on the best terms, people were legally obligated to help their fellow Jew to lift up their donkey or ox--a tiring, time-consuming task.  As Paul mentioned, though this passage in the Old Testament is about a donkey or ox falling down, this is written for our sakes.  If we see our brother in Christ stumble or fall into sin, we should not hide ourselves from helping support and strengthen him, desiring him to be restored to fellowship with God and the church (Gal. 6:1).

Carrying this further, we know by the scripture God never commanded people to do things He did not always do Himself.  If God should command brothers to help one another lift up a fallen beast of burden, we can know the God Who sees all does not act oblivious when one of His own precious children stumbles and falls.  God knows very well when we are cast down and unable to lift ourselves.  The Good Shepherd will leave 99 sheep to search and rescue one, and thus we know He will not hide Himself from us even when we are to blame for wandering from His side and into trouble.  God said to His people, "You shall surely help him lift them up again" and we can have confidence God will not hide Himself from us in our distress:  He will surely help lift us up again.  He is the lifter of our head and more still.  When Ezekiel was confronted with the glory of God and fell on his face, Ezekiel 2:1-2 reads:  "And He said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you." ² Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me."  Ezekiel stood and heard, yet it was all God's doing.

When we struggle to rise and it seems God is far from us, know He is aware of our need for help.  He does not hide Himself from us to "teach us a lesson" but draws near to help lift us up so we might again walk in the light.  God is not to be blamed or at fault for our falls:  it is we who are weak, stray, stumble and fall and ironically are reluctant to seek or cry out to God in our distress.  He draws near to all who draw near to Him in faith, and should God be hidden from our sight most likely it is because we have not actually sought Him.  We have hoped in ourselves or looked for something or someone other than God to do what only He can.  Psalm 43:5 wisely says:  "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."  By hope in God those who despair are made to praise Him with joy and gladness.

The Unchanging, Good God

Understanding context is very important.  Many times we have come into a conversation at the "wrong time" and were left confused or perhaps offended by what we heard because we didn't understand what was said before we arrived.  This can be applied to situations as well.  Imagine walking into a room and to your shock see masked people in white coats removing organs from a living human being.  To people ignorant of surgery, this would seem the most inexcusable, barbaric butchery.  What could seem cruel and horrific was a procedure done by trained, experienced professionals to promote the health of a consenting patient.

I believe this illustration of the one who unwittingly stumbles into an operating theatre is fitting for many people who read the Bible and are appalled by God's judgments and actions.  Even Christians can be confused and almost embarrassed God would judge people and nations that result in death.  Perhaps they had only been exposed to a view of God that emphasises His love, mercy and grace without comprehension of His righteousness, justice and wrath which complement one another.  They have come into a conversation without knowing God's revelation of Himself in truth; they have wandered into passages they cannot understand because they are not mixed with faith that God is good, His ways perfect, and He is our Peace.

No Christian needs to defend or apologise for anything God has done, for His righteous, loving and just ways are higher than ours.  When God chose to use the Canaanites, Philistines or Babylonians to judge His people by oppressing them or killing them in battle, He was wise in doing so.  There were also times God used the children of Israel as His instrument to judge other nations long in sin.  Know that this was never without warnings and opportunities to repent and submit to God.  The Law commanded the Hebrews give a proclamation of peace before attacking if their enemies would willingly surrender (Deut. 20:10).  Some might be aghast God would kill the firstborn of man and beast in Egypt with what would surely happen if they would not let His people go.  God said to Moses in Exodus 4:22-23, "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: "Israel is My son, My firstborn. ²³ So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn."

Even as faith in God was required for Pharaoh to hear and heed the word of the LORD, so it is for those who read the Bible to obtain understanding and wisdom from it.  Those who are not convinced God is good, gracious, just and merciful will balk to receive the truth of scripture.  Refusal to submit to God's ways as right and our own perceptions and judgments as infinitely inferior will prevent us from walking in the fear of God.  As long as we stand in judgment of God as unnecessarily harsh and brutal, we blind ourselves from God's goodness to show the wickedness of sin.  It is not the licensed, skilled surgeon who has blood on his hands that is in the wrong, but those who call him a butcher because they--in their ignorance--do not agree with his methods.  God was willing to come to earth and shed His blood (Acts 20:28) so we could be forgiven, redeemed and saved, and He is the merciful and just God of the Old Testament as well.

The Shield of Faith

"Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. ¹⁷ No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD."

Isaiah 54:16-17

In Australia, there are homes that are "heritage-listed," which means they are old homes of cultural and historical interest.  These houses often have unique features from modern dwellings like vaulted ceilings, ornate moulding and carvings, or even quarried stone.  These homes can be expensive to renovate because of the rules and regulations established to ensure the character and appearance of the house is preserved and compliments the original.  "Heritage" in a basic sense suggests it has been inherited--like the ownership of a house is passed down through generations.

A lot of people are still waiting for the benefits of an inheritance given by others.  The inheritance God spoke about through the prophet Isaiah would be received and enjoyed by the Jews during the future millennial reign of their Messiah.  Spiritually speaking, however, this heritage for all who trust in Jesus Christ as LORD is to be received and enjoyed today by all believers.  God promised no weapon formed against His people would prosper, and no accusation brought against them would stick.  Even as God created the blacksmith with his tools and fire to bring forth metal instruments, so God is able to harness and direct Satan to accomplish God's will and redemptive purposes.  We see this in the crucifixion of Jesus.  Had the powers of darkness known how God would use Christ's atoning sacrifice to deliver souls from death to eternal life and spiritual fruitfulness, Satan would never have worked to that end.

In the New Testament, Paul utilised an analogy of a warrior's armour to explain the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.  A Christian is able to "be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might," not by what we try to accomplish in the strength of our flesh, but by Who Jesus is and all He has created us to be in Him.  Paul wrote of an especially vital part of armour provided by the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 6:16, "...above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."  Notice the shield of faith is able to quench "all the fiery darts" of the wicked one:  no weapon formed against us shall prosper.  There is no flaming arrow Satan can fire at us that can shatter the shield of faith in Jesus that extinguishes them.  Our strength is not our own; our righteousness is not our own.  In Christ by faith in Him we are given strength for the day and righteousness forever by His grace.

Above all we are to take the shield of faith with which we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of Satan.  Just because the shield is impenetrable and we are able does not guarantee a flaming arrow will not at times find the mark.  People with genuine, saving faith are not guaranteed to always walk by faith in Jesus.  Like Samson, a man greatly used by the LORD, we can think to ourselves in folly, "I will arise as at other times," thinking we are sufficient in ourselves to deliver ourselves!  Those who are in Christ ought to live by faith in Christ, and when we take steps of faith in obedience to Christ we are perfectly protected from all spiritual attacks and evil intent.  Job was greatly afflicted by Satan through loss and severe illness; Jesus was crucified and died on Calvary.  Yet Job was brought through the trial like gold refined seven times and doubly blessed, and Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into eternal glory.  I am convinced the greater our faith becomes the shield of faith is lighter and more effectively wielded, for the Holy Spirit helps us in our infirmities.