This past weekend at Calvary Chapel Sydney we hosted a conference on the Holy Spirit-filled life. We were blessed to have two pastors share with us currently ministering in New Zealand, Mark Walsh and Scott Clifford. All who attended were no doubt encouraged, challenged, and strengthened in our walks with Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a great opportunity for the fellowship to gather together, open the Word of God, and enter into the presence of the LORD. I have no doubt that it was fruitful and will continue to be so as we appropriate all God has for us by His grace.
I would say Christians are quite at ease with the idea of God revealed in the person of the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ. But the same people can be uneasy with the operations of the Holy Spirit. The reservations people have about the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives can be infinite. If we were to do a word association with "baptism with the Holy Spirit," I wouldn't be surprised if words like "weird" or "wrong" were suggested. But there is nothing weird about the Holy Spirit taking up residence in you through faith in Christ for salvation, and it is no more strange that this same Spirit of God who empowered Christ to do signs and wonders empowers Christians for service and ministry today. It would be wrong for a Christian to try to do God's work without the power of God working within and through them. Our God is supernaturally natural. One of the primary hindrances of stepping out in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit is it requires faith. When people are willing to take the initial step of surrender and obedience to God's leading in faith, that alone clears a huge amount of mental hurdles out of the way.
One point made at the conference which really stuck with me was the hindrance of unbelief in relation to walking in the Spirit. During a Q & A session, the pastors discussed how many people think it is the volume of faith we have which makes the difference. They attempt to muster up faith to a degree that it will tip the balance of the scales away from unbelief and then healing or answer to a prayer will come. This is not the case. It is the presence of unbelief which stays God's hand. Jesus said that if a man has faith the size of a mustard seed, he can command a mountain to be moved into the ocean and it would obey. A mustard seed was one of the smallest reference points of Christ's day. In our day we might say "a molecule of faith" or "an atom of faith." The smallest amount of genuine faith without doubt and unbelief frees God to do His wonders.
Another point of emphasis was how the Holy Spirit is the Conductor of the symphony in the Body of Christ (the church), which is not comprised of gifted soloists who work independently of each other. As musicians tune their instruments with one another, so Christians are instruments in God's hands tuned through the Holy Spirit with one another in concert. God has given each Christian gifts for the glory of God and the edification of the church and Christ as He wills. Quoting pastor Scott, "When you overplay your strength it becomes your weakness." It is good for a believer to receive gifts from God and walk in them. If your gift is evangelism, the temptation might be to be dissatisfied with the lack of evangelistic activities in your church,stir up dissension or leave. God has made you an evangelist, but it doesn't mean everyone has that gift! Your role then is to further cultivate that gift and appreciate the other gifts God has given. Instead of magnifying your gift or office, do all for the glory of God and serve one another in love.
One pastor emphasized that in all things we are the weak link. Is God's hand shortened that He cannot save? Are His ears and eyes closed to the requests and needs of His people? Certainly not! A dangerous tendency is to filter scripture through our experience and adapt it accordingly. Let us say a man has never seen a person miraculously healed. He then assumes that the gift of healing and miracles must no longer be in operation today because he has never observed it. Is this scriptural? No! Mark 16:17-20 says, "And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen." The Bible says this healing is a sign which will follow those who believe. We must always take God at His Word, even as we believe we have assurance of salvation through the Gospel. Unless I believe the gifts of the Spirit are for today, I will never desire them, ask for them specifically, or exercise them. Of course I will not see divine healing! Jesus says in John 14:12-14, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." Jesus is right and true, I can be wrong and deceived. I am the weak link, not Jesus!
When I reflect upon the weekend, I see it all as a huge answered prayer. The fact that many people came was a testimony of God's faithfulness and goodness. It was awesome how God drew people to unite and worship in His name. We did very little in the way of advertising except occasional announcements and reminder emails, but people came! I asked the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment and He did so. As we worshiped together, prophetic words of encouragement were shared with the group. There were prayers for healing and restoration. A tongue and an interpretation was given. All was done decently and in biblical order, and I came away from each meeting knowing I had been in the presence of God.
Thanks to all those who prayed for the event, attended, served, and shared. May our faith continue to grow as we seek to walk in the Spirit continually. Heavenly Father, grant us the strength and ability to take the next step of faith as you entreat us. Not to us, but to you be the glory both now and forever!
14 August 2011
08 August 2011
Work Hard!
A difficult thing for Christians to balance is the necessity of hard work. I have heard it preached (myself included!) that spiritual growth is a natural product of abiding in Christ. The life of a Christian will produce spiritual fruit due to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This is completely true. At the same time, we have been called and empowered by God to labour for Him. These are not a conflicting statements, but are intended to compliment one another. We have a responsibility to choose to follow Christ, submit to the leading of the Spirit, and work hard motivated by the love of Jesus Christ.
In our modern society, we seem to grasp at anything to make life easier or find ways to eliminate work or effort to obtain the results we want. Some body-builders and athletes resort to supplements to achieve faster results from workouts. We buy all sorts of kitchen appliances and gizmos to make meal preparation and household chores easier. We want the results now! Even Hollywood enforces the desire to skip over hard work. The famous "Rocky" movies starring Sylvester Stallone all chronicle a fighter's rise from a nobody to a world champion. Every movie I've seen includes a short training montage of about three minutes in length with inspirational music and slow motion. We see Rocky jogging, doing push-ups, punching sides of beef, running on the beach, or working on the speed bag. Months and months of hard work and total commitment are condensed into a short scene. Tons of movies do this exact same thing: the hard work, determination, sweat, pain, and persistence are glossed over so we can quickly get to the part where the underdog wins again.
The Christian walk is hard work. We can fall into the trap of emphasizing God's part to a degree that we ignore completely our responsibility to labour for God's glory. Recently I started working out with a barbell and kettlebell because my overall fitness has suffered from five years of office work. It would be ridiculous for me to suppose my muscles will automatically grow stronger and my fitness level will naturally increase through sedentary habits. If I desire stronger, toned muscles, I must work to obtain that result through lifting weights, riding a bike, jogging, eating good food, and not eating too much! Spiritually speaking, our sanctification works in similar fashion. By working I cannot be any more justified than I am before God by His grace. Yet I am called to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling! There are things I must work to cultivate in my life: prayer, fellowship with God, reading of the Word, and feeding on God's faithfulness. There are also area I must show discernment and restraint: what I watch on TV and the internet, my attitudes, habits, and thoughts.
Galatians 2:20-21 reads, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." My salvation is God's finished work, as is my sanctification. It is God who works in me both to will and do of His good pleasure. Though this is true, it does not permit me to live life as a sedentary Christian, duped to think that God will do a work within me despite unconfessed disobedience, selfishness, and pride. God has designed an amazing partnership with His people, that it is no longer we who live but Christ in us. The work I must commit myself to is to allow God to do whatever work He desires through me: it is a work of repentance, humility, and submission - a work only He can accomplish!
Jesus says in John 5:17, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." May we follow Christ example in labouring for the glory of God! It would be foolish for us to substitute methods when God has provided the means through the Holy Spirit. There is no set spiritual workout for Christians to do, no pill or tablet to take to quicken the process of sanctification, no book to read outside of the Bible which will unlock the path to spiritual growth. The Bible teaches we must be led by the Spirit and empowered by Him to embrace a life of hard toil for God's glory. A runner does not start with marathons, nor does a man begin his workout routine by squatting 300 kilos. Start small, but start working! Don't give up! There are no shortcuts in the race God has set before you. Look unto Jesus and be strong in the LORD and power of His might. We are all in this together, and God has provided Himself as the means of strength and victory.
I close with Philippians 1:3-6: "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..." Our triumph is not in ourselves, but in Jesus Christ who has overcome and put all under His feet. As He works in us, may we work for Him!
In our modern society, we seem to grasp at anything to make life easier or find ways to eliminate work or effort to obtain the results we want. Some body-builders and athletes resort to supplements to achieve faster results from workouts. We buy all sorts of kitchen appliances and gizmos to make meal preparation and household chores easier. We want the results now! Even Hollywood enforces the desire to skip over hard work. The famous "Rocky" movies starring Sylvester Stallone all chronicle a fighter's rise from a nobody to a world champion. Every movie I've seen includes a short training montage of about three minutes in length with inspirational music and slow motion. We see Rocky jogging, doing push-ups, punching sides of beef, running on the beach, or working on the speed bag. Months and months of hard work and total commitment are condensed into a short scene. Tons of movies do this exact same thing: the hard work, determination, sweat, pain, and persistence are glossed over so we can quickly get to the part where the underdog wins again.
The Christian walk is hard work. We can fall into the trap of emphasizing God's part to a degree that we ignore completely our responsibility to labour for God's glory. Recently I started working out with a barbell and kettlebell because my overall fitness has suffered from five years of office work. It would be ridiculous for me to suppose my muscles will automatically grow stronger and my fitness level will naturally increase through sedentary habits. If I desire stronger, toned muscles, I must work to obtain that result through lifting weights, riding a bike, jogging, eating good food, and not eating too much! Spiritually speaking, our sanctification works in similar fashion. By working I cannot be any more justified than I am before God by His grace. Yet I am called to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling! There are things I must work to cultivate in my life: prayer, fellowship with God, reading of the Word, and feeding on God's faithfulness. There are also area I must show discernment and restraint: what I watch on TV and the internet, my attitudes, habits, and thoughts.
Galatians 2:20-21 reads, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." My salvation is God's finished work, as is my sanctification. It is God who works in me both to will and do of His good pleasure. Though this is true, it does not permit me to live life as a sedentary Christian, duped to think that God will do a work within me despite unconfessed disobedience, selfishness, and pride. God has designed an amazing partnership with His people, that it is no longer we who live but Christ in us. The work I must commit myself to is to allow God to do whatever work He desires through me: it is a work of repentance, humility, and submission - a work only He can accomplish!
Jesus says in John 5:17, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." May we follow Christ example in labouring for the glory of God! It would be foolish for us to substitute methods when God has provided the means through the Holy Spirit. There is no set spiritual workout for Christians to do, no pill or tablet to take to quicken the process of sanctification, no book to read outside of the Bible which will unlock the path to spiritual growth. The Bible teaches we must be led by the Spirit and empowered by Him to embrace a life of hard toil for God's glory. A runner does not start with marathons, nor does a man begin his workout routine by squatting 300 kilos. Start small, but start working! Don't give up! There are no shortcuts in the race God has set before you. Look unto Jesus and be strong in the LORD and power of His might. We are all in this together, and God has provided Himself as the means of strength and victory.
I close with Philippians 1:3-6: "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..." Our triumph is not in ourselves, but in Jesus Christ who has overcome and put all under His feet. As He works in us, may we work for Him!
07 August 2011
Good Habits
After our family eats breakfast every day, we read a daily devotional called "Keys for Kids." Today's story was about a group of boys who made the habit of cutting the corner of a block by walking across a lawn. At first there was no evidence of their path on the turf, but toward the end of summer there was a clear trail of damaged grass. This brought to mind my own lawn. Mail carriers in Australia are called "posties," and instead of delivering mail on foot they ride small motorbikes. Because there is no fence around my lawn, the postie has made a habit of cutting the corner of our property. As I mow the lawn I cannot help but notice the deep ruts his tires have cut when he traverses the lawn in wet weather. The more he cuts the corner the deeper the track goes.
Our habits, whether good or bad, have repercussions. If a man habitually uses tobacco, his body inside and out will present evidence of that fact. In the same way, if someone is a weight-lifting enthusiast his muscle tone and strength will not be easily hidden. When I think about the postie cutting through my lawn, I am struck by the fact his habits affects me and my ability to have a nice lawn. It is a wise thing to consider that the habits we form and perpetuate can have long-lasting affects not just on ourselves, but on our spouses, children, and friends. Our habits can encourage and inspire or weaken and tear down.
Instead of looking at "habits" as being generally bad, we ought to work to cultivate and maintain good habits. Scripture affirms this with the exhortation found in 1 Corinthians 15:33: "Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." Habits can be good, and we must be mindful that our good habits are not corrupted. The word "corrupts" here means "to wither or shrivel." The slow process of atrophy hides the reality from our casual glance. We can be deceived to think that our associations and choices will not affect our good habits. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough, and a little compromise can endanger the survival of good habits!
Titus 3:8 reads, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." May we take this to heart and choose our habits carefully!
Our habits, whether good or bad, have repercussions. If a man habitually uses tobacco, his body inside and out will present evidence of that fact. In the same way, if someone is a weight-lifting enthusiast his muscle tone and strength will not be easily hidden. When I think about the postie cutting through my lawn, I am struck by the fact his habits affects me and my ability to have a nice lawn. It is a wise thing to consider that the habits we form and perpetuate can have long-lasting affects not just on ourselves, but on our spouses, children, and friends. Our habits can encourage and inspire or weaken and tear down.
Instead of looking at "habits" as being generally bad, we ought to work to cultivate and maintain good habits. Scripture affirms this with the exhortation found in 1 Corinthians 15:33: "Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." Habits can be good, and we must be mindful that our good habits are not corrupted. The word "corrupts" here means "to wither or shrivel." The slow process of atrophy hides the reality from our casual glance. We can be deceived to think that our associations and choices will not affect our good habits. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough, and a little compromise can endanger the survival of good habits!
Titus 3:8 reads, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." May we take this to heart and choose our habits carefully!
The LORD is Able
It's wonderful to witness the power and provision of God at work in another person. It's even more incredible when you have firsthand experience yourself of God speaking through His simple yet miraculous ways. Sometimes a simple impression on my heart through reading the Word or a coordination of events undeniably confirms just what I've been thinking or feeling. This week I had a lovely reminder of how God will provide for me and my family.
It began with God challenging me to trust Him in the area of finances. We all know that God "owns the cattle on a thousand hills" in our brains, but we can falter when it means giving by faith. As I sought the LORD's direction through prayer concerning giving, I came across an appropriate passage in 2 Chronicles 25. King Amaziah had hired men from the tribe of Ephraim as mercenaries and paid them 100 talents of gold, a kingly sum. A prophet of God visited Amaziah and told him not to allow the men of Ephraim to fight alongside the warriors of Judah, because God was not with them. 2 Chronicles 25:9 reads, "Then Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this." Amaziah asks the prophet, "But what about my money? What about the loss of my investment?" The prophet shot back, "God can give you much more than this."
Upon reading this passage, in my heart it was confirmed what I must do in the area of giving. I took confidence in God and His Word and made a decision to follow through. Money will come and go, but the Word of the LORD will endure forever. I would have been happy with only this passage, but God gave me two more reminders of His faithfulness to provide. Later in the day I opened my bank account and saw that we had received a financial gift from friends. The words used to describe the transaction which grabbed my attention in all caps: "GIFT FROM GOD." How cool is that? Immediately after logging onto the site, I called my bank and spoke to one of the representatives. At the very end of the conversation in a very offhand way she said, "Oh, I see your savings account is at 4.75% How about I raise that for you to 5.75% for three months?" I hadn't asked for gifts, I hadn't asked for a better interest rate. But in His natural, supernatural way, to me God said this: "See? I haven't forgotten about you, and I will provide for your needs. Trust me!"
How awesome is our God! He doesn't promise us earthly riches, for all of this worldly system will someday pass away. But God uses it to show us how much more we need to trust and rely upon Him to supply those needs. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven, and we ought to spend the remainder of our days on earth obeying and glorifying Him. Our God is one who lives, sees, provides, and speaks. Our God is able! I close with the benediction of Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
It began with God challenging me to trust Him in the area of finances. We all know that God "owns the cattle on a thousand hills" in our brains, but we can falter when it means giving by faith. As I sought the LORD's direction through prayer concerning giving, I came across an appropriate passage in 2 Chronicles 25. King Amaziah had hired men from the tribe of Ephraim as mercenaries and paid them 100 talents of gold, a kingly sum. A prophet of God visited Amaziah and told him not to allow the men of Ephraim to fight alongside the warriors of Judah, because God was not with them. 2 Chronicles 25:9 reads, "Then Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The LORD is able to give you much more than this." Amaziah asks the prophet, "But what about my money? What about the loss of my investment?" The prophet shot back, "God can give you much more than this."
Upon reading this passage, in my heart it was confirmed what I must do in the area of giving. I took confidence in God and His Word and made a decision to follow through. Money will come and go, but the Word of the LORD will endure forever. I would have been happy with only this passage, but God gave me two more reminders of His faithfulness to provide. Later in the day I opened my bank account and saw that we had received a financial gift from friends. The words used to describe the transaction which grabbed my attention in all caps: "GIFT FROM GOD." How cool is that? Immediately after logging onto the site, I called my bank and spoke to one of the representatives. At the very end of the conversation in a very offhand way she said, "Oh, I see your savings account is at 4.75% How about I raise that for you to 5.75% for three months?" I hadn't asked for gifts, I hadn't asked for a better interest rate. But in His natural, supernatural way, to me God said this: "See? I haven't forgotten about you, and I will provide for your needs. Trust me!"
How awesome is our God! He doesn't promise us earthly riches, for all of this worldly system will someday pass away. But God uses it to show us how much more we need to trust and rely upon Him to supply those needs. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven, and we ought to spend the remainder of our days on earth obeying and glorifying Him. Our God is one who lives, sees, provides, and speaks. Our God is able! I close with the benediction of Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)