Our Need of Holiness

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled..."

Hebrews 12:14-15

The writer of Hebrews strongly asserts personal holiness is essential in the lives of Christians.  This is an exhortation to be Christlike and a warning against the negligence of examining ourselves according to God's Word.  Holiness is an established and constant quality of God's character, righteousness revealed in the Bible.  No man can be holy by the efforts of the flesh, but spiritual regeneration through faith in Jesus will lead to a life marked by holiness.  Ours is a faith that works.

To be holy is to be pure, and there is much in this world and in our own flesh which defiles.  It is always fashionable to the flesh to ignore sins as defined in scripture in ourselves and others.  We can use grace as a cloak for sin or otherwise the many warnings of Paul and others are without merit.  How we think and live matters, and every tree is known by its fruit.  The things we think about, what we do, and the desires of our hearts are clear indicators to the discerning if we are in Christ or not.  Since we are the ones God will hold accountable for our conduct and words in this life, it is wise for us to closely monitor ourselves in the light of His Word.

Our primary aim should always be to take our own sin personally when God reveals it:  to admit it, forsake, confess, and repent of it.  Then we ought to put into practice choices which honour God in obedience.  We live in an age of grace, and Hebrews suggests people fall short of it.  As Hebrews 12:16 continues Esau is provided as an example of a person poisoned by bitterness:  "...lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright."  As the firstborn Esau had the birthright, an inheritance, and a blessing his father delighted to give him.  But he was profane and a fornicator who missed out on everything.  His descendants (Edom) rejoiced to see the children of Israel in strife, plundered them, and delivered them to their enemies (Obadiah, Amos 1:11-12).  Hatred and bitterness toward Jacob began with Esau, and it burned for generations defiling many.

Holiness is completely foreign to human beings born in sin and steeped among sinners.  Holiness is not what seems good to a man but is defined according to God's unyielding righteousness and purity.  It is only through the Bible we know what holiness looks like (and like God it cannot change) and Jesus is the personification of holiness for us.  God's people were never to be like other people, and what is acceptable and promoted in the world will always be contrary to God.  The people who say they love Jesus but love the world do not know Jesus.  They cannot perceive the need for holiness.  God said to His people in Leviticus 20:7 as He did at many times and in many ways:  "Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God."  Because we have been born again through Jesus Christ our lives ought to be marked with God's holiness.

We are not made "holy" through keeping the 10 Commandments because they are incapable of changing us within.  Jesus came and fulfilled the Law so our sins could be washed in His blood shed on Calvary through faith in Him.  Having been born again, the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us.  Since we are recipients of the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead, all believers are called to lead holy lives because we walk in His grace.  The way we once lived and approved of sin is well contrasted with the character of the indwelling Spirit in Galatians 5:19-25:  "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Is your life marked with the works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit?  Without holiness not one of us will see the LORD (regardless of your theoretical theology), and therefore personal purity is of great importance.  I close with a quote from Alan Redpath:  "God does not wait for clever people; He wants clean people.  Are we clean enough for God to use?  Are we humble enough for God to entrust us with blessing, or would we take the glory to ourselves?  I know that we can be sanctified only by the God of peace.  Yet though holiness, in the positive sense, is nothing more and nothing less than the indwelling and infilling of the Holy Ghost, expressing the life of the Lord Jesus in me, on the negative side it is the putting away of all known sin.  Have we done that?  Are we clean enough for God to give us revival?  Are we broken enough and humble enough for God to use us, or are we to go through our lives on the wretched wilderness level of failure and see nothing happen?" (Redpath, Alan. “Victorious Christian Living: Studies in the Book of Joshua.” Redpath Family, 2013, pp. 44–45.)

Our Best Intentions

Over 20 years ago I cut this ad out of a magazine because I thought it was weird and hilarious.  I still do.  The punchline in small print at the bottom reads, "Not even the best intentions can guarantee finesse 'n' success."  If there was ever a photo worth more than a thousand words, this might be it.

As the picture illustrates, best intentions do not guarantee a good outcome.  A classic example of this from the Bible is seen in the life of David when he decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem.  His intentions were admirable, but the lack of preparation and negligence in the execution of the deed resulted in the sudden death of Uzza.  The party atmosphere was immediately hushed by death and the frustration of David's best intentions angered him.  He decided it was not the time to bring the Ark into Jerusalem.  Ultimately there was a good outcome, for during three months after the tragedy David sought guidance from the Bible which explained the proper order God had established.

David's best intentions could not atone for negligence and the disobedience which followed.  After reading the scripture he realised only Levites who had been sanctified were to transport the Ark by carrying it on their shoulders.  Their failure to follow God's due order - despite their "good" intentions - resulted in disaster.  David told the priests in 1 Chronicles 15:12-13, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. ¹³ For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order."  The Levites were sanctified, the singers organised, they were instructed about the song, and doorkeepers were prepared for security appropriate for the occasion.  Tears of sadness at the death of Uzza were turned to joy when the Ark was successfully brought in with rejoicing.

We can make the mistake of assuming our intentions are pure and honourable in our service for God.  Yet even if our intentions are honourable as David's were they do not guarantee we have sought God or if our actions are pleasing in His eyes.  In our day of grace we might casually excuse our negligence or sloppiness with, "God knows my heart" - as if we assume this releases us from guilt before God for sin.  Let us not forget in our flesh there dwells no good thing and our hearts are naturally deceptive and wicked, capable of sin which escapes our notice.  If my saving grace is the goodness of my heart, I am damned without hope!  I need Jesus to give me a new heart and to purify me by the power of the Gospel.  The Bible is of critical importance so I might know God and see myself in truth according to God's righteous judgments.

Our best intentions are not sufficient to glorify and please God, even as a dinner date and a "Laser" haircut do not eliminate the potential of awkward blunders.  Sharing a meal is one thing, but the worship and honour of God is of far greater importance.  If we will take pains to look our best before going out for a meal, how much more circumspect we ought to be as we walk on holy ground in the presence of God!

Make Known Your Requests (To God)

I remember the first prayer meeting I ever attended.  I was impacted to see men taking time to speak with God together when there were many other things we could have been doing that Saturday.  It was a men's breakfast hosted at our church, and based on the location I was 11 or 12 years old.  I was a follower of Jesus at the time, but it seemed odd to gather in a circle and pray as a group - for what seemed a very long time.  Time flies away when you are in the presence of the LORD, and having matured I have grown to relish it.  Gathering with fellow believers in one accord to seek God and to commune with Him is precious.

In reflecting upon times of prayer, the best times were those spent praying.  It is ironic praying can be the very thing neglected when Christians gather to pray.  Much of the time that could be spent praying is often taken up by personal sharing or discussing how we should pray.  Isn't it strange that we have access to the Almighty God and yet we can spend the majority of time telling each other what we think He should do?  There is a place for sharing your heart with caring believers or sending a message for others to pray, but let us take literally the admonition given in Philippians 4:6-7:  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Making our requests known to people should never take the place of letting our requests be made known to God.

Making our requests known to God means praying specifically and concretely.  We are able to talk much but say little, and it is a good practice to examine our prayers to insure they have a definite request.  If we reflect upon our prayers but cannot do this, perhaps we have not even asked!  Because the Word of God is true and His promises sure, if you remain anxious after praying it is likely because you have not met God's conditions.  Abiding anxiousness reveals we have not been thankful, we have not made a specific request in faith, and we have made our requests to men and not God.  When we do meet God's conditions, however, we will experience the peace of God which passes all understanding which guards our hearts and minds through Jesus.  

I exhort your brothers and sisters, in your next gathering for prayer let you requests be made known to God.  Hold back nothing from Him, and do not be afraid.  He is the Almighty God whose understanding is infinite, and His ways are higher than ours.  Who are we to prescribe the course of action He ought to take?  Share your requests with others for prayer as God leads, but do not neglect the bringing of your requests before God.  It isn't the praying of others in which we place our hope, but we trust in the God who answers our prayers and supplies everlasting peace.

Stiff-Necked No Longer

"Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it. ¹⁵ The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. ¹⁶ Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer."

Deuteronomy 10:14-16

Many times in scripture God referred to the children of Israel as "stiff-necked."  God was gracious to choose the Jews as His inheritance, honouring the covenant He made with Abraham.  God did not choose them because they were the greatest, and they were not the most stubborn.  Like all people they inherited the sin nature of Adam which leads to sin and death, and all people today share this in common.

When we say we have a "stiff neck," it is typically a reference to tightness in our physical neck.  Being "stiff-necked" presented a picture to the Jews in ancient times we might not consider in modern western culture.  A calf would be called "stiff-necked" when it was unaccustomed to and resisted being in a yoke.  Calves must be broken before they are useful for work.  When male calves are young they will be castrated and halter-trained to respond to verbal commands.  The master gently trains the calf which will quickly grow to be a powerful ox.  After learning the basics, the ox is fitted with a training yoke.  At first the calf will strain and push against the yoke because it feels foreign to him.  In time he will become accustomed to wearing the yoke and with training can work in tandem with another ox.

God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and so birthed a nation whose God was the LORD.  He led them gently with His physical presence, provided for their needs, spoke kindly to them, and protected them from harm.  But they were stiff-necked, meaning they were not accustomed to His commands and refused His directives.  God gave His people the Law through Moses and bid them to hearken to all He said.  The generation God brought out of Egypt perished in the wilderness because they refused to hear and obey His commands.  The potential of being "stiff-necked" did not die with that generation but has continued naturally in all people to this day.

This picture of the well-trained ox is beautifully presented through Christ's invitation to all people in Matthew 11:28-30:  "Come to Me, all you who labour 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."  Satan and sin are cruel taskmasters before whom all people must yield and results in beatings and death, but Jesus Christ provides an alternative:  He offers us a yoke where we discover rest and life at His side.  His yoke is not a terrible burden but a joy for those redeemed through the Gospel.  Before we can be Christ's yoke-fellow we must first be broken for our sin, repent, and be born again.  As we are led by the still small voice of the Holy Spirit we are empowered to obey through Christ who strengthens us.  In choosing Christ's yoke we discover a depth of love, belonging, and purpose we could not experience elsewhere.

The Longing of God

"Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!"

Deuteronomy 5:29

This verse shows the heart of God longs to bless those He greatly loves.  He is not a cosmic killjoy intent on ruining the lives of people, nor does He deny fun out of selfishness or spite.  We do not argue the fact on earth what goes up must come down, that there exists natural laws which govern gravity our opinion cannot influence.  It is fine for a scientist to tell us why the force of gravity as it stands is important to sustaining life on earth, but this provides little comfort for the one who falls down.

The force of gravity is not the only law God has established on earth.  There are spiritual laws the wise consider in addition to physical ones.  Deuteronomy 5:29 shows there is a clear correlation between obedience to God and blessing which endures.  The source of the problem with God's people was in their heart.  Their hearts were filled with sinful desires and affections, and they often resisted the Spirit of God.  God said through the prophet in Micah 6:8, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"  God provided His law so people could begin to comprehend the lofty standards of God's righteousness and their inability to measure up.  God longed that people would fear and love Him, for such would obey Him.  For them it would be "well with them and with their children forever."

See what God also declared in Deuteronomy 7:9-11, "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; ¹⁰ and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. ¹¹ Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them."  People are hardly faithful or constant, but God is the faithful God who always keeps His Word for a thousand generations!  Since Jesus has come, the covenant of Law has been trumped with the new covenant established by the shed blood of Jesus.  This new covenant is personally appropriated by repentance for sin (having broken God's Law) and placing faith in Jesus Christ as LORD.  Jesus said in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."  Those who love Him will obey!

In every heart there is a hunger for God's love and there are many poor imitations of the real thing.  God loves people and longs for opportunities to reveal this love to those joyful to receive it.  The fear and love of God will bring blessing to you and future generations by God's grace.  God is not a means to blessing for He is the blessing Himself:  there is no other.  He receives those who receive Him, and those who refuse Him He will repay to their face, though His heart is always to bless.

God Of War

It may not be easy to read genealogies in the Bible, but the impact of them cannot be ignored.  Included in the Bible are reckonings of generations from Jesus all the way back to Adam the first man created.  Every name is a link in the chain which validates the creation of the world, man, and every living thing by God.  Though the names are hard to pronounce and may seem to have little significance to us personally, the fact genealogies exist and can be confirmed by secular sources is awesome.  For those who read them there are wondrous truths nestled in them, like coming across a tree loaded with ripe fruit when hungry.

Today I read of valiant men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh who went to war.  1 Chronicles 5:20-22 says, "And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. ²¹ Then they took away their livestock--fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys--also one hundred thousand of their men; ²² for many fell dead, because the war was God's. And they dwelt in their place until the captivity."  In the battle the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, and He helped them because they trusted Him.  These capable warriors did not trust their weapons, training, or strength to defeat their enemies but cried out to God in the battle.  This is a good lesson of what true valiance looks like.

The men of Israel prevailed "because the war was God's."  The KJV phrases this in a slightly different way, saying:  "For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God."  I suspect Christians are more familiar with the concept that the "battle is the LORD's" (1 Sam. 17:47) rather than any war could be "of God."  The spectre of war is truly gruesome and horrible, yet this passage shows us God not only heeds the cries of people who trust Him in battle but also shows some conflicts are ordained by God which accomplish His purposes.  War at times must precede peace, and war is also required to keep peace.  In Ecclesiastes 3:8 wise Solomon said there is a time for war and a time for peace, and the order is significant.  Exodus 15:3 says, "The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name."  There is no one mighty like God and at the same time He is no warmonger, for He can easily resolve conflicts without a shot being fired.  Victory is His sovereign domain.

God is with His people not only in global wars or in violent skirmishes but in every personal battle we face.  Jesus came not to wage war on sin by raising an army but defeated and overcame it by putting Himself in the line of fire.  He spoke words of life and peace, but those who opposed Him were for war and death.  Jesus has provided an example for us that the war we wage today as overcomers through Him is not a war fought primarily with sword or spear but through unwavering faith and obedience to Him.  It is written in 1 John 5:4, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."  Our battle is not against flesh and blood but is of a spiritual nature (Eph. 6).   Should our spiritual defences fail we will not be able to stand in any conflict.  But thanks be to God:  when we find ourselves in a battle, it is glorious to have God on our side.

It is not by might, nor by power, but by God's Spirit a mountain can become a plain.  Only God can bring the victory to the valiant.  We can rejoice in God regardless if our victory involved plundering enemies or crucifixion because God has overcome and we are in Him.  Take to heart the victory Christ has already accomplished as 1 John 4:4 says, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

The Whole Bible

When it comes to things of God, the natural man is unable to comprehend (1 Cor. 2:14).  Misconceptions and errors abound in the haphazard approach unbelievers and even Christians can take to the Bible.  Because it is compiled of sixty-six individual books written by different people inspired by the Holy Spirit there is perfect unity.  Perhaps due to being organised in Old and New Testaments people can view the Old as outdated and the New as more relevant.  No scripture can be wrenched from the context of a chapter without reconciling it with the book and the overarching truth and themes of scripture.

Context is key to understanding or interpreting anything, and it is amazing how easily this practice is ignored in the quoting of scripture.  People quote scriptures to support their position or oppose others without even knowing when, why, or to whom it was spoken in the first place.  Sceptics produce countless of these tired chestnuts to accuse, and sadly many believers who respect the Word of God use it as a cloak to shield themselves from the very truth they profess to believe.  God has given us the whole Bible so we might know, worship, and serve God in truth.  The Bible is not a treasury of anecdotes or stories for our amusement but the Word of God for our salvation.

Alan Redpath wrote these simple and profound words concerning the Bible in the preface to his book, Victorious Christian Living:  "Once we regard the Bible as a whole it begins to take on a new meaning.  The Old Testament is preparatory to the New.  The New cannot be understood apart from the Old, nor can the Old be appreciated apart from the New...It has been my profound conviction for some years now that the greatest need of the Christian Church is a revival of the New Testament standard of Christian living.  There seems to be a very wide gulf between what we believe and how we live, a marked contrast between our position in Christ and our actual experience.  Too often do we claim to believe our Bibles from cover to cover, but fail to live out its truths in daily conduct.  Before we can ever see a real movement of the Spirit of God in blessing to the world in our day, surely the church must face afresh the New Testament pattern, the whole revelation of the Word of God, in its claims on holiness of life and ethical conduct." (Redpath, Alan. “Victorious Christian Living: Studies in the Book of Joshua.” Redpath Family, 2013, pp. 13–14.)

Here Redpath touches on a key point:  it is one thing to explain historical context or expound upon the scripture, but it is all meant to be practised.  If we believe the Bible is the Word of God, it will impact our conduct, choices, relationships, words, and deeds.  If we will not practise it, what is the point of reading or even quoting it?  If it has merit - and nothing ever written is more true or profitable for men - then it ought to be responded to with praise and obedience.  The Jews wrongly used the Law to approve themselves of righteousness before God when it only condemned them, and Christians can do the same with knowledge.  Knowledge is not righteousness, but the more a man knows makes him more accountable to God for what he knows and does not do.  Choosing ignorance is not safe either, for what man who heartily approves of God's truth hides from it?  Only a man who knows better.

Is it time to start reading the Bible from the beginning and continue all the way cover to cover?  You would never read only the last third of a novel over and over without starting at the beginning.  Instead of reading favourite or known portions over and over, how about reading all God has written?  There is great blessing to graze over familiar and comforting passages, but God knows we need more than that.  I encourage you also to pray over and put into practice the truth of God's Word as led by the Holy Spirit.  God will never lead you astray!  We need the whole Bible to understand and become all God would have us be.

The Days of Peleg

"To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan."

1 Chronicles 1:19

This is an intriguing verse because in a few words it says something which both agrees and contradicts modern scientific thought.  It is commonly taught the continents today were once connected to one another but over time they split and drifted apart.  This is believed to have taken an incredibly long time according to the current rate of movement.  Scripture affirms the division of continents and islands happened, but it took very little time at all.

Eber had two sons and one he named "Peleg" which means "earthquake."  He was named this because "in his days the earth was divided."  At the time of Peleg's birth the seismic activity was so pronounced Eber named his son Peleg.  It was in the days of Peleg - during his lifetime - the earth was divided.  Perhaps the movement of the continents had not fully shifted to their current position, but there was a distinct beginning and end to this remarkable process which occurred in Peleg's days.

Can you imagine living in the days when the earth was divided?  It would be an unimaginable thing to see land fleeing from your view to be replaced with an ocean!  After an earth-shaking event such as this I imagine people were terrified of even small tremors.  Neighbours and perhaps family were separated by a seemingly infinite sea of water.  To access regions which were previously landlocked would require large ships engineered to handle the high seas.  I imagine after the dust settled this dividing of the earth led to far greater development of seafaring for travel, exploration, and trade.

I can't imagine the feeling of despair people felt in those days where the earth was divided, cities were split in the middle, and families happened to be on other sides of the crack which expanded to be the Pacific Ocean.  All communication would be cut off; there would be no way to know where to go or what to do.  This reminds me in a spiritual sense of how sin separates us from God.  Because of man's sin we are cut off from communion with God:  there is no relationship possible because we cannot communicate.  By the grace of God Jesus came to save us from sin and make first contact with us, demonstrating His love through His sacrifice on Calvary.  We who were far off have been brought near through the Gospel.

We have all kinds of ways to communicate using technology people in Peleg's days did not have.  Vast oceans can be crossed in a matter of hours with aeroplanes, and using satellites and GPS we are able to track the location of a mobile phone within a few feet.  Despite all our advances in technology, aviation, and travel, we remain as sinful and helpless spiritually as man ever was.  Thank the LORD for His goodness to us, for we who were separated from God have been made one by Jesus Christ.  This is earth-shaking truth for all time!

Through the Fire

"Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to the battle, "This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses: ²² only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, ²³ everything that can endure fire, you shall put through the fire, and it shall be clean; and it shall be purified with the water of purification. But all that cannot endure fire you shall put through water."

Numbers 31:21-23

When the children of Israel took spoils of war from their defeated enemies, purification was required under the Law.  The principle was anything which could survive the fire which was taken needed to be put through fire so it could be purified.  The water of purification would also be sprinkled upon it, the water which had the ashes of the red heifer in it (explained in detail in Numbers 19).  This water was required to be cleansed after touching a dead body.  If a person was not cleansed according to the Law he would be cut off from the congregation as a consequence.

This passage lends insight for what is written to Christians cleansed with the blood of Jesus in 1 Peter 4:12-13:  "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."  Every person saved through the Gospel has been plundered from Satan's grasp and control.  To God who loves us we are of infinitely greater value than gold, silver, or bronze.  Because we can endure the fiery trials God allows us to face them.  Peter urged his readers not to think it strange they would be tried or tested by difficult trials.  Our souls are purified by faith in Jesus, but God uses fiery trials to refine our character and strengthen our faith.

In fiery trials for Christ's sake we are able to rejoice as partakers of His sufferings.  There is a depth of fellowship experienced with Jesus only realised through suffering.  No one wants to suffer, but the Bible makes it clear every Christian will certainly experience suffering in this life.  Praise God for all suffering He allows He also provides abundant consolation.  As it is written in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 by a Christian intimately acquainted with suffering for Christ's sake, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ."  In this world we will experience tribulation, but in all tribulation God has provided comfort received when we wait on the LORD in faith.

Are you experiencing a fiery trial today?  Take heart believer:  if you are being put through the fire God will without fail bring you safely through it.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego experienced the presence of God in the midst of the fiery furnace which killed their oppressors and were divinely enabled to emerge safely without a hair being singed.  Even if the flames are permitted to consume our flesh, God will keep our souls safe and present us before His presence with exceeding joy for eternity!

God Knows!

Humans have a way of bringing God down to our level.  Because we have brains which reason and think we figure it is sensible for other people to see things the way we do.  We also do this with God.  Though we have been created by God in His image, God is not comparable to us.  His wisdom, strength, justice, and love are infinite.  We are ever learning but He is the unchanging truth.  Every new scientific or medical discovery no one on the planet had previously known God already knew and designed it to be so.  We learn by trial and error but God does not make mistakes.

God spoke through the prophet in Isaiah 40:25-26, "To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One. ²⁶ Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing."  God spread out the heavens as easily as we pull back a curtain or pitch a tent.  He knows the number of planets and stars in the universe and calls them all be name.  Most people know we have 9 planets in our solar system, but did you realise there is estimated to be 100 billion planets in our galaxy alone?  It is estimated there are 150 to 250 billion stars in just our galaxy as well!  There are about 5,000 stars observable with the naked eye, but God knew about those billions of stars and planets people in Isaiah's day had no idea about - and I have no knowledge of!  The knowledge of God is beyond compare.

In light of God's power, wisdom, and knowledge, He asked in Isaiah 40:27, "Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel: "My way is hidden from the LORD, and my just claim is passed over by my God"?  If God knows so much about the heavens, doesn't He have complete knowledge of your current situation?  God's people figured He had forgotten about them or was in the dark concerning their suffering and present needs, but God doesn't need reminding.  He is only light and in Him is no darkness.  God did not go to school to learn law for He established all the natural laws which govern the universe discovered through physics, biology, mathematics, astronomy, and all other sciences.  Nothing which happens to us escapes God, and His love for us never wavers.  Praise the LORD He does not need reminders but we are invited to come into His throne room of grace at any time to find help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

If we believe God knows and loves us, we will boldly approach him in prayer at our time of need.  At times we have not because we ask not.  Choosing to pray instead of exercising other options shows we do trust God and provides opportunity for Him to help us in ways no one else can.  When you look up at the stars, it is likely you know very little about them.  They are far away from us, but God is near all who cry out to Him.  There may be billions of people on the earth today but the nations are as a drop in the bucket compared to what God knows.  Praise God that every person on this planet is deeply loved by God, and He is able to redeem and save those who trust in Him.

Are You A Keeper?

I was impacted by an interaction recorded in the book Same Kind of Different As Me to illustrate friendship.  A man named Denver made the observation how some fishermen practice "catch and release."  They are into fishing for sport.  After catching, weighing, or taking a photo, the fish is released.  Denver had no interest in catching a fish only to release it.  Catching a whopper brought the town together to celebrate the catch and share a delicious meal.  The point driven home to me is friendship is for keeps.  If you genuinely love someone, you won't let them go.  You will always hold a friend close in your heart even if time or distance separates.

Matt Redman wrote a song titled "You Never Let Go" which enforces how God treats us all like "keepers" though we have never measured up.  As sinners we have fallen dreadfully short of His righteous standards, yet out of His love for us God embraces and adopts us as His own through the Gospel.  This divine acceptance is all of grace, and it is received when we repent and place our faith in Jesus Christ as LORD.  Jesus called His disciples friends, and all who will be His friends will keep His commands.

The chorus of Redman's song says, "Oh no, You never let go through the calm and through the storm...in every high and every low. Oh no, You never let go Lord. You never let go of me."  Our grip on God grows weak and weary as we are beset by anxieties and cares.  No matter the trial or trouble God keeps us close, and no one is able to snatch us out of God's hand.  I am in wonder of the grace of God that when we were in complete rebellion against God He pursued us and bid us draw near to Him in faith.  It is one thing to gather your little own ones in your arms, but another thing to reach out to stubborn rebels.  Push Him away, try to silence Him if you want, but as long as we live on this earth He will not stop seeking us out and calling our names.  We cannot drown out the voice of truth or comfortably numb our conscience from the Saviour who will have us for His eternal inheritance.

Fall on your face in worship, man!  David's musings echo in my soul of the excellence of the LORD in Psalm 8:3-4:  "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, ⁴ what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?"  Dust we are and to dust we will return, yet the love and life given through Christ endures forever.  1 Peter 1:3-5 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."  All who will submit to being caught by the Gospel God deems a keeper.

God doesn't do "catch and release" when we fail.  He's a God who keeps His redeemed by His power through faith for eternal salvation.  Repentance leads to restoration of fellowship with God by His grace.  God loves and never lets go.  Should you choose to go your own way, don't be surprised when He hunts you down and speaks kindly to you.  What grace!

Identifying with Christ

Jesus came to save sinners.  Once we are freed from the power and penalty of sin, the Holy Spirit provides all we need to know and do God's will.  Living in these bodies of flesh makes it a real challenge to walk uprightly.  I am a sinner and need a Saviour, and if I have truly repented I ought not consciously sin any more.  Paul asked rhetorical questions which have obvious answers in Romans 6:1-2:  "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?"

When we are born again through faith in Jesus Christ, we are made new.  Our bodies stay the same, but our eternal souls have been raised to new life.  We ought to make a clean break between who we were and who we are by God's grace because we now know God and find our identity in Him.  1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

God is able to take a thief and transform him into a man whose honesty is a reflection of His own.  He takes a fornicator burning with lust and gives him power and discipline to walk in purity.  God takes sexually immoral people and cleanses them, causing their hearts to desire to please God over self.  Drunks and extortioners and liars need not be resigned to the chains which bound them to sin and ruled their lives, for now Jesus has become their LORD and Saviour.  Having been washed of the stains of sin, our previous way of living is to be relegated to a previous life which was drowning in perdition and sinking towards eternal destruction.

Praise the LORD He is able to change us completely so we can be as God intended us to be.  The world tries many means to squish us into its mould, but no worldly mould is suitable for a child of God.  Let us reckon the old man dead and sin also dead to us.  We will not entertain or make room for it any more because now we know it leads to death.  We will not justify sin in denial of God's Word and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  Sin slyly dolls itself up like Jezebel with her tiered head and painted face to look attractive, but let's not be fooled.  To sleep with her is to court death.  Since we love our Saviour Jesus, we will obey Him at any cost.  Jesus has paid the price for our atonement and salvation, and He also empowers us to pay the price He is worthy of daily.

God Supplies Needs

I like the occasion in scripture when Elisha provided for a widow in a miraculous (and memorable!) way.  She was unable to pay off a loan and the creditor demanded her two sons as bondslaves.  In desperation she contacted Elisha the prophet.  He said, "What do you have in the house?"  The poor woman said, "Nothing, except a pot of oil."

2 Kings 4:3-4 says, "Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbours--empty vessels; do not gather just a few. ⁴ And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones."  This is a strange directive, isn't it?  How could one pot of oil fill so many?  The woman wisely did not question the man of God but obeyed.  It says in verse 5, "So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out."  And pour it out she did.  As long as there was another pot to pour into, the oil continued to flow.  According to her obedience she received oil she sold and paid off the debt, delivering her sons from slavery.

One lesson we can glean from this passage is God will supply all the needs of His people, and He will do it however and whenever He wants.  We feel comfortable with money in the bank, with "liquid assets" we can utilise at our convenience so we don't have to trust God.  Having a surplus provides a sense of security the flesh craves, but often God provides strength as we need it.  We are called to trust God whether we have millions in our account or live paycheck to paycheck - even when there is no paycheck!  We make a mistake to limit God by our perceived lack because God has promised to supply our needs.  Paul affirmed in Philippians 4:19, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

When we have God, we have all we need.  We are able to experience the fullness of His grace when we trust and obey Him.  Praise the LORD how He can take these empty vessels and fill us with His Spirit!

Bookmarks and Commitment

Diligence is a good virtue to cultivate.  It is easy with the busyness of life to procrastinate or neglect important duties.  We start tasks with good intentions but for some reason completing them can elude us for weeks, months, and years.  We are exhorted in whatever we do in Colossians 3:23 to do it heartily as unto the LORD.  God requires stewards to be faithful, and in His strength we can do all He asks of us.

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."  Because we are limited by time, ability, and resources, we prioritise tasks.  The completion of tasks large or small requires commitment with focused labour to that end.  It helps when we prioritise unfinished tasks (in most cases) before we embark on new ones.  Progressing and completing even a small task moves us in a positive direction.

Whenever I have a new book to read (I have a bit of a pile at the moment!), for me placing a bookmark within the pages is a commitment to finish that book.  Not all books which we begin reading are worthy of being completed, but for me the bookmark is a helpful - even a necessary reminder to finish what I have started.  Finishing a book is a little thing in the scope of life, but the words of Jesus remind me how important faithfulness and diligence are.  What we say we should do, and even a little scrap of paper sends a message I have made a commitment and should follow through.

Are there any commitments or tasks you have begun but for whatever reason have remained undone?  At the culmination of a life lived for the LORD He will commend His faithful servants.  Life is comprised of countless little jobs, and at the end of every little task done unto the LORD we can take to heart His words:  "Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joy of the LORD."  My commitment can be weak and faulty, but our God is faithful to supply our every need.  Praise the LORD He is fully committed to us and will never leave or forsake us!

Cull Those Complaints!

All people naturally have sinful tendencies and habits.  Even after we are spiritually born again life goes on in the confines of our body of flesh.  There are plenty of things we realise are sinful and displeasing to God, but there are other things which fly under our moral radar.  We are not even aware of how often we sin until God opens our eyes to see!

One thing I want to cull from my life is the tendency to complain.  Complaints may be exceedingly common and seemingly innocent, but the basis of complaining is a focus on self, a lack of acknowledgement of God's power and sovereignty, and vocal displeasure for all to hear.  It is one thing to pour out our complaints before God, but it is another thing to complain to others about our circumstances God has allowed.  Complaining is often a parade of selfishness.

Just last night I read of an occasion after God delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt in Numbers 11:1-3: "Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. ² Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the LORD, the fire was quenched. ³ So he called the name of the place Taberah, because the fire of the LORD had burned among them."  If there was ever a passage in scripture which vividly portrays God's displeasure and swift judgment for complaining, this is it.  God's people complained about all sorts of things:  lack of water, the food God supplied, that Moses took too much responsibility upon himself, that God led them through the wilderness, the threat of enemies, and on.

This passage does not tell us exactly what the people complained about, but it does say God was displeased when He heard their complaints.  Did you know complaining displeases God?  His anger burned against them and fire consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.  Moses interceded on behalf of the people when they cried out to him, and the fire was quenched.  The place was named "Taberah" or burning because God's fire had burned among them.  The lesson for me?  When I murmur against God or complain to others, God hears and it is displeasing to Him.  To this day by the grace of God I have not been consumed in flames because I am certainly guilty!  It is hard to complain without saying something, and therefore how wise it is for us to guard our hearts, minds, and mouths.  I imagine complaining is a habit in varying degrees for everyone, but it is one we ought to spare no effort to break.  Complaining is evidence something is very wrong in the heart.

David wrote in Psalm 142:1-2 how he directed his complaints not to men but to God:  "I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. ² I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble."  It is a good question to ask:  am I complaining to someone who can do anything about my problem?  Because God cares for us He invites us to cast our cares upon Him.  Pouring our complaints or venting our frustrations upon other people suggests we have not taken the matter sufficiently before God.  Once we have cast our cares upon Him, complaints will be replaced with praise for the One who loves and cares for us.

Like the Great Mountains

"Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD, You preserve man and beast."

Psalm 36:6

It is insightful to meditate upon and consider similes in the Bible.  In this instance, the righteousness of God is compared to the "great mountains."  Mountains in the physical realm can open our understanding of the spiritual nature of God's righteousness.  Though righteousness and mountains are not the same thing, this verse teaches us there are similarities between them.  To better grasp the reality of God's righteousness, how could we describe great mountains?

• Mountains are immovable and endure.  Mountains are established, solid, and trying to shift them is out of the question.  While the earth is subject to erosion over time, the mountain remains.  Tunnels have been cut through them, roads have been carved into them and even diverted around them.  God's righteousness is established like a mountain and is not subject to erosion or change.  The winds of time and the erosion of morality cannot affect God's righteousness.
• Mountains are massive and lofty.  Mountains viewed at a distance do not look imposing, but the closer one approaches the higher they appear.  The summits of the earth's tallest mountains cannot be fully seen from their base.  In a similar way the righteousness of God is past finding out.  It is greater beyond estimation and infinitely exceeds our own (so-called) righteousness.  Try to build a mountain if you like, but whatever man builds nature in time wears and breaks down.  God's righteousness is great and beyond compare.
• Mountains can be inaccessible and impassable.  Whilst great mountains can be climbed at the risk of avalanches, falling rocks, altitude sickness, whiteouts, or falls, no man can begin to scale the heights of God's righteousness.  There is no way an ordinary man can rightly claim he has attained even a fraction of righteousness by his own efforts.  No one climbs a great mountain and says "That was easy!" but attaining the glorious heights of God's righteousness is absolutely impossible for us.  One might as well try to fly to the moon by flapping his wings and having arrived survive wearing only shorts and a t-shirt.
• Mountains are picturesque and recognisable.  Notable mountains are named and their images are found in puzzles, postcards, and movies.  God's righteousness is distinct from what passes as righteousness in men, being totally perfect without a single flaw.  The righteousness of God has been revealed in His law and by the life of Jesus Christ.  The goodness and righteousness of Jesus is beyond compare in this world.  Next to Jesus the best efforts of men to live righteously resemble a hollow pit.

What else can mountains teach us about the righteousness of God?  I am glad God's righteousness endures and is granted to all sinners who repent and trust in Jesus Christ.  We can lay no claim to righteousness by our efforts, but by grace God's righteousness is imputed to all who believe - apart from the law.  Without righteousness no man can see the kingdom of God.  How great is our God and His righteousness!

Being Changed

There are times when we recognise a personal need to change, but this knowledge does not provide the ability to change.  On the strength of our resolve anyone can adapt their behaviour to various degrees, yet on the inside we remain the same people we always were.  This is one thing God can and will do in the lives of Christians:  He changes us from the inside.

Because we have been painting the bathroom, bottles of shampoo are not in their usual place.  The other day when I picked on up a bottle, I rapped my head on the fixed soap holder in the shower.  I instinctively said, "Ouch!" but I instantly discerned something was different inside me.  Years ago when I would hit my head or injured myself there would often be a flash of temper, an inner rage that surged energy into my limbs and widened my eyes.  During my life I have typically been able to "control" my temper, but it was a conscious act of the will.  When I hit my head and did not feel the familiar stirring of the flesh, and despite the discomfort of my head I rejoiced.  God opened my eyes to recognise this clear evidence He is indeed changing me.

These inner changes are a marvellous way God works in those who are born again through faith in Jesus.  The One who provides the awareness of our sinful flesh and the power of self-control also can change the way we think and feel.  He is able to transform us so we can rejoice despite pain because He has continued to shape the way we respond to problems.  He puts a love in our hearts for people years ago we would have avoided.  He opens our eyes to see our need for Him in more areas of our lives still, keeping us from pride and arrogance.  Our tendencies become more aligned with His righteous character.  Instead of reacting the way we always have or fighting to subdue the flesh, the power of the Spirit shines through with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Religion is something many people work at, but a relationship with the Almighty God through faith in Jesus means He begins to work inside us to make us new.  Jesus is able to heal, deliver, restore, save, strengthen, and help us because He is the living God.  There is no heart too hard or mind too stubborn He cannot change.  The God who brings all sin to light is able to overcome and stamp out the most habitual sins and transform us into His image.  God used a little thing like bumping my head to provide insight into the miraculous work He is doing in my life, and He also wants to work in your life in ways you cannot imagine for good.  Seeing this has caused me to pray for more changes, and I know in His time these prayers will be answered according to His Word because He is trustworthy.

Praise the LORD who changes us for good!

Restricted by Affections

"O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. ¹² You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections."

2 Corinthians 6:11-12

The apostle Paul had been instrumental in preaching the Gospel and instructing the church in Corinth.  He chose to support his own pastoral ministry by making tents so no one could accuse him of using the Gospel to enrich himself financially.  At times the choice to support himself backfired in one sense, for some viewed this tradesman as being without proper credentials to teach.  But Paul had authority from God and spoke the truth in love, even when it stung.  There were some in the Corinthian church who aligned themselves with other teachers to oppose Paul and claimed his attempts to deal with sin and promote unity was an overreach.  Like a teenage son or daughter eager to throw off the authority of parents they feel are too controlling, they resented Paul's involvement.

Paul responded to these murmurings and false accusations wisely.  He held forth a principle which is widely applicable to people in the church today.  He said, "You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections."  It is very easy to find fault with others, to blame others for our lack of satisfaction or status.  There are many people who desire to have a particular role in ministry - to be a pastor, worship, or study leader - and when this opportunity is not given they believe they are being held back from something they are called to and capable of.  Paul's leadership was solid and biblical, but some saw his involvement as meddlesome and controlling.  Paul asserted he was not restricting anyone, but the people were restricted by their own affections.

It is likely far easier to give Paul the benefit of the doubt than people we know personally.  It is possible to sin by scheming to manipulate or control others, but Paul's statement is instructive for all who feel they are being unfairly "restricted" by others:  to a degree we are being restricted by our own affections.  Consider this example:  a boy feels unfairly treated because his parents will not allow him to go to a party where there will be underage drinking.  He wants to be with his friends; he desires acceptance and seeks fun.  His parents have his good in mind, but he cannot see it because he is being kept from what he craves.  If he loved his parents and trusted them, he would be thankful they were looking out for his well-being instead of being resentful.  "You never let me have any fun!" he shouts.  His affections blind him to his parent's love and therefore remains restricted to his narrow, short-sighted view.  He is locked in a cage of bitterness for his trouble, and even when he physically leaves home he cannot escape it.

Godliness with contentment is great gain, and this is something as followers of Jesus we all must practically learn.  The purpose of this post is not to cast judgment on your feelings or situation, but to hold forth the everlasting truth of God's Word:  do you believe verse 12 has been or can be relevant to your life personally?  Is it possible you have not been restricted by God or others but instead have been restricted by your own affections?  No one likes to feel cramped and hemmed in, and it is natural for us to want to throw off restrictions and do as we like.  Yet at the same time the Bible is clear in whatever state we are to be content - whether married, unmarried, as a member of a "dysfunctional" family or church, regardless if the government is democratic or communistic, or if you have the role in church you desire.  Those Jesus has made free are free indeed, for where the Spirit of the LORD is there is freedom.  When we invite God to govern our affections and humble ourselves under His rule we discover true liberty.

God Will

At the dawn of a new year, many people seize the opportunity to make resolutions.  Whether or not they tend to stick is beside the point!  It is not just a new year which can motivate a person to promise or pledge to do things differently.  For some it may be ill-fitting pants which lead to more regular exercise.  It could be a close call behind the wheel which prompts someone to stop drink-driving.  A decision to change doesn't always end with the desired change, but few positive changes in life occur without acknowledging we need to change.  The human will is incredibly strong, but it doesn't mean we always do what we say we will.

A couple things I love about God is He is good and He does not change.  When He says He will do something, He will.  It may not look like anything is happening, and it may seem like an eternity before progress is made.  God will always be true to His Word, and when we meet His conditions we can place our complete confidence in Him.  This morning I read a wonderful thing for us to say we will do (and actually follow through) in Psalm 91:2:  "I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust."  Upon legal tender used in the United States it is written, "In God We Trust."  Have you discovered trusting God is not something to say but to do?  The amazing thing is when we place our faith in God He will follow through without fail to render to us specific blessings out of His grace.

Later in Psalm 91 the voice of the passage changes.  Instead of speaking about God from the third person, it shifts to the first person voice.  God has resolved in Psalm 91:14-16, "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. ¹⁶  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."  See all the things God has promised to do for all who trust in Him?  I will deliver him; I will set him on high; I will answer his prayers; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver and honour him; I will satisfy him with long life; I will show him My salvation.  Will you speak of the LORD and trust in Him?  Blessings beyond count and compare are given by God to all who do so!  Let us be ever resolute in faith as we depend upon God's strength, and praise God all He says He will do.

Enabled to Stand

It all started like a regular day at church:  there was prayer, fellowship, and giving.  Things changed after a large financial gift was presented to the church leadership.  Instead of commendation, blessing, and acknowledgement, there was rebuke.  It was divinely revealed the man had only given a portion of what he claimed, and suddenly he fell down dead.  This was a day at church no one would ever forget, and three hours later it became even more crazy when the wife of the man also fell down dead in the congregation for lying to God.  This is a true story, and you can read about the demise of Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts chapter 5.

The Bible says great fear came upon all those who heard these things, and the wise today still take notice.  After teaching this portion of scripture at church this weekend, I put myself in the place of a congregant in the church in Jerusalem.  How would I felt to see these sudden deaths for lying to the Holy Spirit?  Then I started thinking, what if something like this happened in church today?  What would be your response if this happened in your church on Sunday?  What would you tell your children who were eye-witnesses?  Would you keep going to that church, would you look for other church options, or would you quit going to church altogether?  Though the early church met from house to house, there was only one "Christian" church option in Jerusalem.  How might have this display of power affected you or your worship?

I cannot speak for you, but seeing Ananias and Sapphira fall down dead would not have put me off following Jesus or gathering to worship in Jerusalem.  The word of knowledge through Peter, the discernment provided by the Holy Spirit, and the power over life and death proved the presence of God was there.  As a lover of God, where else would you go?  Wonders, healings, and deliverance from evil spirits continued in the name of Jesus Christ by the apostles and believers, and people were added to the church continually.  Why?  Jesus alone has the words of life and only through faith in Jesus is forgiveness and salvation.  The God who kills can also make alive, and all who have been born again through the Gospel can rely upon the goodness, mercy, and grace of God forever.

It would not be long before persecution scattered the true church in Jerusalem across the globe.  New churches united in the name of Jesus sprang up in every place, having been grafted into the body of Christ.  Today we have the benefit of various expressions of faith and fellowship in Jesus Christ, and like nomads many believers drift from fellowship to fellowship looking for something.  If the words of life - the teaching of the Word of God - are absent, it should be no surprise if the power and presence of God is quiet.  Praise the LORD Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to fill every Christian, and even in a church gathering some might classify as "dead" there is new life ready to spring forth.  Let us be as those in the early church, brave pioneers who were glad to continue meeting even when people fell beside them.  Followers of Jesus can say with assurance, "A thousand may fall at my side but it will not come near me." (from Ps. 91:7)  As God enables us to stand, may we do so in purity, holiness, righteousness, and power.

The God Who Is

God is not like a person who conveys, "Do as I say but not as I do."  He is not like a parent who needs to apologise after doing or saying something they forbid of their children.  He is utterly consistent in His righteousness and purity.  His holiness reaches infinitely beyond our ability to ascertain, and He says truly of Himself:  "I am the LORD; I change not."

Romans 1:31 sums up the condition of a sinner worthy of death with five words which are the antithesis of the of character of God:  "undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful."  Having established His throne on righteousness, God is the source and sustainer of all life.  God is discerning, knowing all things.  He is absolutely trustworthy for He cannot tell a lie.  God is loving, demonstrating this reality by sending Jesus Christ to save sinners.  He is forgiving, a quality not found in men who nurse grudges and remember wrongs done against them.  He also delights to show mercy because He is merciful.  This is the God who was, is, and is to come.  He is our Creator and divine sovereign who is worthy to be worshipped and praised.

Though we have all been undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, and unmerciful, we sinners can be born again and sanctified by the grace of God.  The wickedness which marked our lives we cannot undo, yet God can make us new with a clean slate.  Because of the Holy Spirit who indwells us, our thoughts, motives, and ability to perceive spiritual truth begins to align more with His.  Naturally in us there is no good thing (Romans 7:18), and thus any attribute deemed good has been gifted by God to us.  How we need Him, and may we do more than appreciate Him:  let us praise Him, exalt Him, and honour Him now and forever.

Eyes Open to See

"And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."

2 Kings 6:17

It seemed like a hopeless situation:  the Syrian army surrounded the city of Dothan to bring Elisha to the king.  When the servant of Elisha saw they were surrounded by this great force he was overwhelmed.  He said, "Alas my master!  How shall we do?"  "Alas" is a word used to express pity, grief, or concern.  The servant of Elisha realised he and the inhabitants of the city were out of their depth given the tenuous situation, and given the circumstances it is likely most people would have panicked.

The perspective of Elisha was quite different than his servant.  Elisha didn't ask what they should do because he knew something his servant did not:  they were not alone or forsaken.  God was with them and had the situation completely in hand.  He said in 2 Kings 6:16, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant, and then he was divinely enabled to see the Syrian army was completely surrounded by horses and chariots of fire.  God could have laid waste to His enemies in a moment, yet He would have them live.  When the Syrians came to arrest Elisha they were struck blind and he led them to Samaria.  After feeding them he sent them on their way.

I wonder how many times we are lamenting an overwhelming situation like Elisha's servant when Jesus our Master has everything in hand?  How often have we been afraid because our eyes have been closed to God's promises and presence in our lives?  Walking by sight things seem impossible, yet with God all things are possible.  He has all knowledge and power at His disposal, and He is gracious to deliver and save.  This passage shows even those who rise up against God and His people benefit from His grace.  May God open our eyes to see we are never alone and can have complete confidence in the God who sees and knows all.

It is a little thing for Christians to perceive potential danger or opposition rising against us.  It is obvious we live in a world where there is great animosity against God and His people.  Those who know God and whose eyes have been opened to see remember those who are with us are more than those who are with them.  Elisha and his servant were two among countless foes, yet because God was with them they were the far stronger side.  Praise the LORD for this!

A Presence Regarded

Have you ever received a call you declined to take because it was a "private" number?  In the old days people would "screen" their calls by listening to the caller speak on their answering machine in real time:  if they wanted to take the call, they could.  But if it was a caller they would rather not talk to at the moment (or ever!), the machine ran interference.

This morning I read a passage which showed similar to how we screen calls, God in a sense screens prayers.  Those who do not fear or regard Him do not have the access and immediate response He gladly gives to those who trust and obey Him.  The situation is described in 2 Kings 3 when the king of Moab rebelled against Jehoram king of Israel.  Jehoram enlisted the aid of king Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom.  Of the three only Jehoshaphat feared the LORD.  When Jehoram blamed God for dooming their mission, Jehoshaphat suggested they inquire of the LORD and Elisha the prophet was summoned.

2 Kings 3:13-14 reads, "Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother." But the king of Israel said to him, "No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab." ¹⁴ And Elisha said, "As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you."  Elisha the prophet was a man who spoke for God, and idolatrous Jehoram nor the king of Edom were deemed worthy of an audience.  The presence of Jehoshaphat, on the other hand, was regarded by God.  Access to the glorious presence of the LORD cannot be earned but is happily granted by God to all who trust in Him.  The cries of the humble will be heard and answered by the Almighty God of Israel.

God was gracious to respond to the inquiry of Jehoshaphat in spite of the kings who he sat beside.  God's grace is even greater magnified by God's answer and action which would benefit them all by giving their cattle water and smiting the Moabites before them.  The requests of unbelievers went straight into the spam folder, but God honoured the presence of Jehoshaphat as a son in whom He was well pleased.  Who would you rather be:  to be one whose presence God regards or to be one He will not look at or see?  Do you want your prayers to be screened and silenced or to be likened to a call God immediately takes at any hour of day or night?  Those who regard God's presence will be gladly regarded by Him.

God, A Consuming Fire

Placing our faith in God ought to change our perspective.  If we believe God created all things seen and unseen, if everything has been made by Him which has been made, then He has authority and control over it all.  Things which appear impossible to us are possible with God, and insurmountable obstacles for us are no hindrance at all to our great God.  Every man and woman of God can be assured of God's protection, help, and power in every situation of life.

I was reminded today of when king Ahaziah sent a captain and his 50 to arrest Elijah and bring him before the king.  The backstory is the injured king had sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub (god of Ekron) if he would recover.  God took exception to this and sent a message by Elijah to condemn the king's act and inform him he would not recover but die.  The king was not pleased with God or Elijah speaking to him in this manner.  2 Kings 1:9-10 says, "Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. So he went up to him; and there he was, sitting on the top of a hill. And he spoke to him: "Man of God, the king has said, 'Come down!' " ¹⁰ So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty."

The captain addressed Elijah as "Man of God," and given the situation this is most ironic.  If Elijah truly was a man of God, then there was indeed a God in Israel.  And if there is a God in Israel, why didn't the King inquire of Him - the One who was revealed to Amaziah's father Ahab and all Israel through Elijah calling fire down from heaven to consume the sacrifice on Mount Carmel?  God's wisdom and insight was displayed in knowing when, where, and why Amaziah sent messengers.  Why didn't Amaziah honour God?  It seems Amaziah had forgotten that at the request of Elijah rain did not fall in Israel for three and a half years, and at his request God caused the rain to fall in torrents.  Since the king nor his men feared God, God gave the king an awesome display of His power by consuming his captain and fifty men in fire.

Undeterred, Amaziah sent a second captain with his 50 to Elijah, demanding he go with them.  Can you guess what happened?  They too were consumed with fire from heaven as the previous group.  Amaziah stubbornly sent a third group to fetch Elijah, but the demeanour of the captain was different than the previous two.  2 Kings 1:13-15 reads, "Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: "Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. ¹⁴ Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight." ¹⁵ And the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So he arose and went down with him to the king."  The third captain went in obedience to his master, but he came humbly before Elijah and his God.  He begged for his life, acknowledging what God had done to the previous captains and their fifties.  God responded graciously by sparing the captain and his 50 and guided Elijah to go with the men without fear.

How fitting it is for us to acknowledge all God has done and humble ourselves before Him!  God already knew why the third captain had come and the orders he had been given by Amaziah.  The God who can withhold rain and cause fire to fall from heaven is worthy of honour and greatly to be feared.  Imagine a man demanding anything of God!  Are we in any position to make demands of God or to think we must inform Him of what is going on as if He didn't know?  What do we know?  As men and women of God we ought not to think it is our place to call fire down from heaven upon others, even upon those who hate or oppose God.  When the disciples James and John suggested they do this upon Samaritans who did not receive Jesus Luke 9:55-56 states, "But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. ⁵⁶ For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." And they went to another village."

It is not for man to avenge himself or even to try to avenge God's honour, as if God needed any assistance from man to do so.  God has said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay."  He is King and will execute justice and judgment in the earth.  God's heart of love is seen in Christ who came to save lives, not destroy them.  He does not kill first but allows opportunity for men to humble themselves and repent.  Our God is love and also a consuming fire.  Those who humble themselves and acknowledge His sovereignty will experience His love and grace, but those who vaunt themselves against Him and proudly make demands will have another experience entirely - and those flames will never be quenched.

A Real Enemy

An enemy can be defined as one who is opposed to and hostile against another.  When King Saul realised the people cheered David, he was envious of the praise and saw him as a threat.  He became David's enemy and sought opportunity to kill him.  Murder lurked in the heart of the king who was lifted up with pride.  This unchecked pride led to other sins, such as consulting a medium for guidance when he had been tasked by God to rid the nation of such abominations.  Samuel's chilling response to Saul's inquiry include those found in 1 Samuel 28:16:  "Why then do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy?"

Because Saul opposed the righteous judgments of God and sought to murder the one chosen and anointed by God to replace him, God also became Saul's enemy.  Most who have basic Bible knowledge realise the devil, Satan, is an adversary and enemy with whom Christians must contend.  What we may not understand is the principle when we make ourselves enemies of God, He will oppose us as an enemy.  He will discipline us, even as a father the son whom he loves.  Many times God delivered His beloved people into the hands of their enemies and placed them under oppression because of their unrepentant sin against Him.  The Almighty God who is our refuge can also be as a real enemy against us when we are lifted up with pride and oppose Him.

Still not convinced?  Consider the words of Isaiah 63:7-10 concerning His dealings with His people:  "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD  and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses. ⁸ For He said, "Surely they are My people, children who will not lie." So He became their Savior. ⁹ In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old. ¹⁰ But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them."  God is loving to oppose His people when they work for their own ruin, and His opposition may actually be our salvation.

King Ahab reigned over the northern kingdom of Israel and did great evil in the sight of God.  For three and a half years God withheld rain so people would know He was the true God over all.  When King Ahab went to take possession of Naboth's vineyard after his wife Jezebel arranged his murder, the prophet of God Elijah was sent by God to speak with him.  1 Kings 21:20 says, "So Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD..."  Ahab viewed Elijah, a man of God, as his enemy when in fact it was Ahab who was an enemy of God!  He fought against God and therefore God opposed Him.  How foolish this proved to be, for who can fight against God and win?

Paul was right to ask the rhetorical question in Romans 8:31:  "If God be for us, who can be against us?"  God is able to deliver us from all evil and trample our enemies under His feet.  Yet it is not by virtue of our new birth or faith in Christ that God is for us:  God is for everyone who believes Him and walks in righteousness.  If we live in sin we are presumptuous to think He will support or deliver us.  When we chose to oppose God and His righteousness, the one who works against us is God Himself.  The devil is not to blame for all that "goes wrong" in our lives, for God is able to graciously work for our redemption through them.  The question is not if God be for us, but are we living against Him?  Only a fool is fine to remain an enemy of God.

Speak the Word

"However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand."

Acts 4:4

A farmer who desires a harvest must first sow seed, and if we will see people converted to Jesus Christ we must preach the Word of God.  In the Parable of the Sower Jesus told, the seed represented the scripture sown into the hearts of listeners.  Some hearts were compared to a dusty footpath whilst others were prepared hearts where the Word of God produced much fruit.  After Peter healed a man in the name of Jesus Christ, he preached the Word to the people.  Many of them believed and became part of the Body of Christ, the church.

There is a quote commonly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (though there is no factual evidence I know to support this claim) which is, "Preach the Gospel by all means. If necessary, use words.”  Though this quote is not authentic, it is a quote commonly quoted because many people like it.  I believe many Christians support the idea that our actions are significant and words alone are not sufficient to convey the Gospel.  The concern I have with people latching onto the quote is it can be a cop-out of the responsibility we have as Christians to boldly speak forth the Word of God.  The Gospel cannot be conveyed without words, and God's Word in particular.

How will people hear if God's Word is never spoken?  I have been convicted lately how I have not been as vocal concerning the Gospel as I should be.  I run the risk of being known as a "decent bloke" without anyone knowing it is only through Christ living in me anyone could possibly arrive at this conclusion.  It does very little for the sake of God's kingdom to be loving, kind, generous, or compassionate unless there is a clear correlation between doing good, proclaiming Jesus, and being loyal to Him.  I seriously doubt someone who does not believe in God after observing kindness in another person would muse to themselves, "Maybe I am a sinner.  I need to repent and trust in Jesus to be saved."

Peter's deeds and words worked together to bring many people to salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.  We too must be filled with the Holy Spirit to be God's witnesses wherever we go, speaking boldly the truth of God's Word when we have a willing audience.  Let us not hide behind quotes (false ones at that) to justify our reluctance to speak forth God's Word.  If we will see people converted to faith in Jesus Christ, they must hear the Word of God.  How can they hear if no one will speak the Word?