This afternoon I returned from a four-day Calvary Chapel "Envision" conference in Manly hosted at St. Matthew's Anglican Church. It was wonderful to meet with pastors and friends from all over the world, hailing from Australia, United States, the UK, South Africa, Scotland, the Philippines, France, and no doubt other places. As we worshiped God through songs of praise, the teaching of His Word, the fellowship of the saints, and serving one another, it was a spectacle of God's grace and love. How good it is to see brethren dwelling together in unity!
As we sang together, it occurred to me how wonderful it would be if we could stay together in Manly, day after day, night after night, praising God and ministering to all the people who wandered in. When we lifted praise to Jesus people stopped, stared, and walked through the doors asking, "What's going on in here?" There is no shortage of people who need Jesus Christ who walk past the open doors of St. Matt's sanctuary every day. But as much as I have a heart to see salvation come to the people in Australia through faith in Christ, I caught myself. It is good to gather together in one accord to seek God with all our hearts. Yet it is God's design that His people would go out into all the world, preaching the Gospel and making disciples of all people! God's power is revealed tangibly through His people in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. If all the Christians at the conference stayed in Manly, God would do great things. But how much greater a work will He do through us when we walk with Christ out of the sanctuary and take Him into our homes, families, workplaces, cities, and nations, with the express purpose to introduce others to Jesus as LORD and Saviour!
The time spent at the conference was sweet, but sweeter days are yet to come. God has a global vision for evangelism, salvation, and discipleship that would blow us away if we were to catch even a small glimpse of it. There are times for joining hands in prayer and voices in song, and there are times to depart riding trains and planes. All these seasons exist for the glory of God, so Jesus Christ may be lifted up and draw all people to Himself. It's not the size of your church that matters. One person walking in step with Christ is more effective in ministry than a thousand who lift their hands in unison and sing a song. Whatever you do, do it with all your might for the glory of God.
02 December 2011
29 November 2011
God in Your Thoughts?
If we read the Bible honestly, it will confront and shock us. God uses the truth of scripture to correct our incorrect understanding or assumptions. Today I experienced such a moment as I opened the Word for my morning reading of a few Psalms. David begins Psalm 10 by a vivid description of the attitudes, acts, and even the thoughts of the wicked. There was one verse in particular which God used to correct my understanding of what wickedness looks like. The Holy Spirit brought conviction of sin, shedding light where there was once darkness in my conscience.
In the KJV Psalm 10:4 reads, "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." When I think of wickedness, I tend to think of deeds. The works of the flesh are evident and obvious sin. The Bible teaches that sin perverts and pollutes a man from within, and evil deeds are the result. God is righteous, and those who are in Christ through faith receive His righteousness. This verse illustrates the importance of our thoughts. A wicked man does not seek after God. In fact, the fact that God is not in all his thoughts is wickedness. This is a strong statement. We would all agree it would be good if God was in all our thoughts. It would be right for all our thoughts to dwell upon God.
A sampling of other translations show us other facets of the importance of our thoughts in relation to God. Psalm 10:4 in the NKJV states, "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts." The NIV rendering of Psalm 10:4 is as follows: "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." The wicked is marked by three variants of the same theme concerning thoughts: God is not in all his thoughts, God is in none of his thoughts, and in all his thoughts there is no room for God. How important then is our necessity to meditate upon God, His flawless attributes and character, His commands, goodness, love, mercy, and grace! There is a reason why God commanded fathers to instruct their children concerning God from when they rose in the morning until the time they lay down again at night. The thoughts of a righteous man could be described in this way: God is in all his thoughts.
Though the translations of the same verse are different, they are all true. Common denominators of the wicked include pride, the fact he does not seek after God, and that God is not in all his thoughts. What a different picture of wickedness this reveals from what we might have thought! I resolve to make room for God in my thoughts, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. By God's grace, may we humble ourselves and seek Him. God desires to be found by us. Praise Him for that!
In the KJV Psalm 10:4 reads, "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." When I think of wickedness, I tend to think of deeds. The works of the flesh are evident and obvious sin. The Bible teaches that sin perverts and pollutes a man from within, and evil deeds are the result. God is righteous, and those who are in Christ through faith receive His righteousness. This verse illustrates the importance of our thoughts. A wicked man does not seek after God. In fact, the fact that God is not in all his thoughts is wickedness. This is a strong statement. We would all agree it would be good if God was in all our thoughts. It would be right for all our thoughts to dwell upon God.
A sampling of other translations show us other facets of the importance of our thoughts in relation to God. Psalm 10:4 in the NKJV states, "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts." The NIV rendering of Psalm 10:4 is as follows: "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." The wicked is marked by three variants of the same theme concerning thoughts: God is not in all his thoughts, God is in none of his thoughts, and in all his thoughts there is no room for God. How important then is our necessity to meditate upon God, His flawless attributes and character, His commands, goodness, love, mercy, and grace! There is a reason why God commanded fathers to instruct their children concerning God from when they rose in the morning until the time they lay down again at night. The thoughts of a righteous man could be described in this way: God is in all his thoughts.
Though the translations of the same verse are different, they are all true. Common denominators of the wicked include pride, the fact he does not seek after God, and that God is not in all his thoughts. What a different picture of wickedness this reveals from what we might have thought! I resolve to make room for God in my thoughts, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. By God's grace, may we humble ourselves and seek Him. God desires to be found by us. Praise Him for that!
27 November 2011
Does Your Saviour Support You?
I was a youth when I first saw the comedy starring James Garner called "Support Your Local Sheriff." Garner becomes the sheriff in a rowdy western boom town and employs some unorthodox tactics to maintain order. It wasn't long before he arrested a lawbreaker. He had a major problem though: the new jail still did not yet have bars or doors installed in the cells. The quick-thinking sheriff painted a black line on the ground to delineate the boundary of the cell, and dripped a copious amount of red paint on the outside of the line. The sheriff convinced the ruffian that if he valued his life, he'd stay in that cell without bars or a door - or he'd be like the fictitious previous prisoner who tried to cross the line and was shot for his trouble.
When the family of the ruffian came to break him out, they were surprised to see the effectiveness of the cell without doors and bars. It wasn't too long before the bars and doors arrived and were installed - with the help of the willing prisoner. This is a good object lesson to illustrate a spiritual truth. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. People can be taken captive by the devil to do his will. Both Christians and unbelievers face this risk. The main difference is that when a Christian is taken captive, those bars and doors are not yet installed. He has the power to walk out through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. But people can be tricked to think there is no escape possible for them. A unbeliever is destined for eternal damnation because of sin.
But no matter the fortifications of the prison of sin man or Satan builds, the power of Jesus Christ is able to completely overcome by God's grace. Ephesians 2:13-15 reads, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace..." We don't have the strength, courage, or willpower to overcome sin. But the blood of Jesus is able to do for all what no one is able to do himself. Even if we were to stop sinning, we could not cleanse ourselves of our guilt. We also are incapable of making ourselves righteous. That is what makes the Gospel so wonderful: when we repent and trust in Jesus Christ we receive forgiveness, are made pure, are born again through the Holy Spirit, and are reconciled to God through the righteousness of Christ. That's Good News indeed!
When the family of the ruffian came to break him out, they were surprised to see the effectiveness of the cell without doors and bars. It wasn't too long before the bars and doors arrived and were installed - with the help of the willing prisoner. This is a good object lesson to illustrate a spiritual truth. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. People can be taken captive by the devil to do his will. Both Christians and unbelievers face this risk. The main difference is that when a Christian is taken captive, those bars and doors are not yet installed. He has the power to walk out through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. But people can be tricked to think there is no escape possible for them. A unbeliever is destined for eternal damnation because of sin.
But no matter the fortifications of the prison of sin man or Satan builds, the power of Jesus Christ is able to completely overcome by God's grace. Ephesians 2:13-15 reads, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace..." We don't have the strength, courage, or willpower to overcome sin. But the blood of Jesus is able to do for all what no one is able to do himself. Even if we were to stop sinning, we could not cleanse ourselves of our guilt. We also are incapable of making ourselves righteous. That is what makes the Gospel so wonderful: when we repent and trust in Jesus Christ we receive forgiveness, are made pure, are born again through the Holy Spirit, and are reconciled to God through the righteousness of Christ. That's Good News indeed!
24 November 2011
Sleep In Peace
We have enjoyed uncharacteristically wet weather in Sydney for the past several days. Sydney has been shrouded with thick grey clouds and a steady, light drizzle, a complete shift from the last weeks of warm temperatures and rising humidity. The seasons seem a little confused.
When I opened the Word this morning, I read Psalm 4:8: "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." In the United States, Thanksgiving is being celebrated across the country. How many things do we take for granted God has given us, even something like peaceful sleep! Did you ever thank God for a restful night of sleep? It is God who enables us to sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.
There have been well-documented cases of celebrities whose deaths have been linked to desperate attempts to simply sleep in peace. Marylin Monroe, Heath Ledger, and Michael Jackson are tragic cases numbered among them. I suppose there are an infinite amount of reasons people struggle to sleep. But good sleep, like all other wholesome things we need and enjoy, is a gift from God. Psalm 127:1-2 reads, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep."
Sleep in humans is an interesting study. From articles I've read over the years, even experts can't explain why we need to sleep. The brain can be more active during sleep than when we are awake! But it is no secret that human function is greatly impaired when the body is deprived of sleep. Just like everyone needs sleep, we all need the love of God. God gives us love, grace, and sleep - not to mention everything that pertains to life and godliness. Sometimes we fall asleep unwittingly, but God's love must be consciously received. When we repent and trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are born again and ushered into God's beloved.
You don't need to be a Christian to enjoy a wonderful night's rest, but Christians ought to recognize that even the gift of sleep is received by the grace and goodness of God. He allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. He gives all benefits and blessings that people might recognize His goodness and trust in Him (Rom. 2:4). Thank God for the rest He graciously gives!
When I opened the Word this morning, I read Psalm 4:8: "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." In the United States, Thanksgiving is being celebrated across the country. How many things do we take for granted God has given us, even something like peaceful sleep! Did you ever thank God for a restful night of sleep? It is God who enables us to sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.
There have been well-documented cases of celebrities whose deaths have been linked to desperate attempts to simply sleep in peace. Marylin Monroe, Heath Ledger, and Michael Jackson are tragic cases numbered among them. I suppose there are an infinite amount of reasons people struggle to sleep. But good sleep, like all other wholesome things we need and enjoy, is a gift from God. Psalm 127:1-2 reads, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep."
Sleep in humans is an interesting study. From articles I've read over the years, even experts can't explain why we need to sleep. The brain can be more active during sleep than when we are awake! But it is no secret that human function is greatly impaired when the body is deprived of sleep. Just like everyone needs sleep, we all need the love of God. God gives us love, grace, and sleep - not to mention everything that pertains to life and godliness. Sometimes we fall asleep unwittingly, but God's love must be consciously received. When we repent and trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are born again and ushered into God's beloved.
You don't need to be a Christian to enjoy a wonderful night's rest, but Christians ought to recognize that even the gift of sleep is received by the grace and goodness of God. He allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. He gives all benefits and blessings that people might recognize His goodness and trust in Him (Rom. 2:4). Thank God for the rest He graciously gives!
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