As I walked back home from dropping off the kids at the bus stop, I sang the words to the familiar song by Chris Tomlin: "We bow our hearts, we bend our knees, oh Spirit come make us humble. We turn our eyes from evil things, oh Lord we cast down our idols. Give us clean hands and give us pure hearts; let us not lift our souls to another..." I thought carefully about the lyrics of this song I enjoy singing to God. My mind focused on the phrase, "Give us clean hands and give us pure hearts."
Immediately my mind went to James 4:8: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." When I compared the song to the verse, I saw a subtle but profound difference. Now don't get me wrong - I am not trashing the song by any means. When singing the song, I asked God to give me clean hands and a pure heart. When I read the passage in James, these are things I have the responsibility to appropriate. The song takes a more passive feel where the scripture dumps the reponsibility upon me.
The truth is we cannot clean our hands or purify our hearts through our best efforts. This cleansing only comes through repentance and faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. God gives us clean hands and pure hearts, but only when we meet His conditions: humility, confession, repentance, and faith. As I mused upon this fact, it occurred to me that we as Christians often request God to give us things He has already given. The disconnect is we have not fulfilled our responsibility to trust and walk in faith. God is not to be blamed for the fact we have dirty hands and impure hearts. He has made the way through Jesus: He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He has given us the Holy Spirit who teaches, leads, and empowers us.
Years ago I attended a ECYWA meeting (just a little shout-out to my youth workers in East County!) during which prayer requests were shared with one another. There was one youth worker who asked for prayer because he was struggling to get out of bed and was often late for work - which began at 10am! It seemed he was asking God to do something for him he was unwilling to do for himself. I wish I could have seen my shocked expression. Billions of people every day get up and arrive to work on time without seeking the help of God. God does not exist for us to justify our laziness. God has given you breath and life: you can go to bed earlier and set an alarm clock! The old adage "God helps those who help themselves" is not scriptural but still makes a valid point: though God works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure, by God we are held responsible to fulfill the duties He places before us in obedience.
Let us seek to lay hold of the promises of God by faith. Instead of asking for what God has already given, may we simply walk by faith in the truth. We are to cleanse our own hands, and purify our own hearts through faith in the shed blood of Christ. Prayer is no substitute for work: prayer IS work! God won't do for me what I am unwilling to do myself. We do not labour for our own glory, but the glory of God!
17 August 2011
16 August 2011
Don't Mistake Methods for Means
The Bible is an amazing book because it is the living Word of God. It is also amazing how many books have been spawned through biblical wisdom. Though thousands of commentaries and millions of books (and blogs such as this!) have been penned inspired by the Bible, not one of them excels the divine inspiration of the original. Books written by godly men and women can be beneficial and influential in sparking ideas and bringing clarity to our minds. Though valuable resources, they should never replace the Bible.
It seems like today people are interested in methods. People want to know what "works" or has been found successful and seek to emulate the process to achieve a desirable result. They read book after book in a quest to discover a machine where raw materials can be combined in a prescribed order to receive what we want: three elders, laying on of hands, 10 mils of oil applied just right - and divine miraculous healing is the result! This misses the point. When it comes to things of God, the Means is always more important than the methods. The Holy Spirit is the Means, and we are to obey His methods. He is our source of life and power.
We can know we have salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ through faith. It is God's Word which provides us this assurance, not anything we have done. Titus 3:5 reads, "...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..." In the same way we are to appropriate all the promises of scripture: faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. God's Word was written so we might believe it and walk accordingly. Make sure that you never neglect the study of the Bible itself. It is not enough to read books by well-known preachers. Listening to sermons and pod-casts can never replace the necessity of breaking apart the actual Word taught and applied to you personally by the Holy Spirit Himself.
Have you listened to the Holy Spirit today? Jesus says in John 16:13, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." He is the Means by which we can hear from Christ and glorify God. How cool is that?
It seems like today people are interested in methods. People want to know what "works" or has been found successful and seek to emulate the process to achieve a desirable result. They read book after book in a quest to discover a machine where raw materials can be combined in a prescribed order to receive what we want: three elders, laying on of hands, 10 mils of oil applied just right - and divine miraculous healing is the result! This misses the point. When it comes to things of God, the Means is always more important than the methods. The Holy Spirit is the Means, and we are to obey His methods. He is our source of life and power.
We can know we have salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ through faith. It is God's Word which provides us this assurance, not anything we have done. Titus 3:5 reads, "...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..." In the same way we are to appropriate all the promises of scripture: faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. God's Word was written so we might believe it and walk accordingly. Make sure that you never neglect the study of the Bible itself. It is not enough to read books by well-known preachers. Listening to sermons and pod-casts can never replace the necessity of breaking apart the actual Word taught and applied to you personally by the Holy Spirit Himself.
Have you listened to the Holy Spirit today? Jesus says in John 16:13, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." He is the Means by which we can hear from Christ and glorify God. How cool is that?
14 August 2011
Spirit-Filled Life Conference
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!
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!
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!
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