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| Left to right: Randall, myself, Gav, Liam, Cam, Keith, Trav, Paul, Donna (scorer), Kyle, Pete, Pat, and Stacy |
25 March 2012
Baseball Story continued...
A few months back I shared how God had blessed me with an opportunity to play baseball. After suffering a shoulder injury and not making the school team at 15 years old, I walked away from the game for good - so I thought. 21 years later, I had no idea that I would be called by God to be a pastor, move to Australia, or take up the game of baseball. My first season back in the game playing for the Rouse Hill Wildcats came to a wonderful conclusion Saturday as we beat the Castle Hill Knights in the Grand Final 15-5. We are the "premiers" of the Sydney Metro Baseball league, H-Grade. Much of our team had never played baseball before, much less play in a Grand Final. Here's a team picture, each of us with our engraved trophy mugs - complete with a handle!
I thank my teammates for a great season, and most of all I thank God for enabling me to be a part of a team in a sport I never thought I'd play again. Less than two years ago my throwing shoulder hurt so bad I could not even perform a single push-up, and to think I pitched for a complete-game win in a Grand Final is nothing short of miraculous! Thanks be to God for His healing touch and all glory, honour, and praise goes to Him. I would say it has been a magical season, but magic had nothing to do with it: it is all of God's grace.
22 March 2012
A Life Without Repentance
Repentance is a theme which has been running through my mind for the last month or so. This morning in prayer the LORD showed me PVC fittings and pipes for irrigation in my mind. I found this most bizarre. Why would I suddenly be thinking of irrigation? As I prayed for wisdom and understanding I thought back to when I laid the pipes to irrigate my front yard. After I dug trenches according to my set of drawings to the prescribed depth, I began to fit the pipes together without glue. When every length of pipe had been cut, after every coupling, elbow, riser, and sprinkler head was in place, I began to glue the pieces together.
The glue was a dark blue colour, suitable for wet or dry applications. In a very short time the glue set strong enough to handle the water pressure. But the way the glue is applied is key. Glue must be liberally applied to the inside of the coupling as well to the clean-cut end of the pipe. Quickly the pieces must be pressed fully into each other and turned a quarter turn. The glue will ooze from the new joint, fusing the plastic pieces together as one. If glue is applied incorrectly, or if the water is turned on before the connection is set, the pipe will leak. The leaking connection must be cut out and then the whole process starts over.
God showed me that a lack of repentance in a believer's life is similar to the pipes being laid without the glue. The job may look complete when no water is pressurising the system, but as soon as the water is turned on the system will be revealed as full of leaks and rendered useless. What is Christianity without complete, continual repentance? Since Christ is our strength, what strength could we possible have if we willfully pursue the desires of our flesh without repentance? Another way to cut corners is to dry-fit the pipes and glue the point of connection from the outside. This gives the appearance of being properly glued, but any amount of pressure and the connection will fail. We can appear repentant from the outside, but God knows the heart. Only a little bit of pressure from the world or the flesh will reveal to us how weak and sinful we really are. The only way for the system to work is to completely and properly glue every single joint.
Repentance is a funny thing. We can be fooled into thinking that once we have repented, we need not repent any more. But how many times did I have to repair leaks in sprinkler heads, valves, and unions! How many times did areas need to be dug up and re-addressed because the turf had built up around the heads or the pressure reducer shut off entirely! Just because the pipes were covered with dirt didn't mean that the system did not need to be carefully maintained. Our lives, in the same way, need to be maintained daily with repentance for our sins. Galatians 5:19-21 reads, "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." Is there anything on this list that is a current issue for you? If we practice such things without repentance - a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of direction/lifestyle - we will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So what is to be done? Only God by His grace can enable a man to repent in truth (Acts 11:18). Jesus says in Revelation 3:19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." We must be born again through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Then we must choose to put off the deeds of our old flesh nature, be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and put on the new man according to God's Word. I close with Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 4:20-32: "But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."
The glue was a dark blue colour, suitable for wet or dry applications. In a very short time the glue set strong enough to handle the water pressure. But the way the glue is applied is key. Glue must be liberally applied to the inside of the coupling as well to the clean-cut end of the pipe. Quickly the pieces must be pressed fully into each other and turned a quarter turn. The glue will ooze from the new joint, fusing the plastic pieces together as one. If glue is applied incorrectly, or if the water is turned on before the connection is set, the pipe will leak. The leaking connection must be cut out and then the whole process starts over.
God showed me that a lack of repentance in a believer's life is similar to the pipes being laid without the glue. The job may look complete when no water is pressurising the system, but as soon as the water is turned on the system will be revealed as full of leaks and rendered useless. What is Christianity without complete, continual repentance? Since Christ is our strength, what strength could we possible have if we willfully pursue the desires of our flesh without repentance? Another way to cut corners is to dry-fit the pipes and glue the point of connection from the outside. This gives the appearance of being properly glued, but any amount of pressure and the connection will fail. We can appear repentant from the outside, but God knows the heart. Only a little bit of pressure from the world or the flesh will reveal to us how weak and sinful we really are. The only way for the system to work is to completely and properly glue every single joint.
Repentance is a funny thing. We can be fooled into thinking that once we have repented, we need not repent any more. But how many times did I have to repair leaks in sprinkler heads, valves, and unions! How many times did areas need to be dug up and re-addressed because the turf had built up around the heads or the pressure reducer shut off entirely! Just because the pipes were covered with dirt didn't mean that the system did not need to be carefully maintained. Our lives, in the same way, need to be maintained daily with repentance for our sins. Galatians 5:19-21 reads, "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." Is there anything on this list that is a current issue for you? If we practice such things without repentance - a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of direction/lifestyle - we will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So what is to be done? Only God by His grace can enable a man to repent in truth (Acts 11:18). Jesus says in Revelation 3:19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." We must be born again through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Then we must choose to put off the deeds of our old flesh nature, be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and put on the new man according to God's Word. I close with Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 4:20-32: "But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."
21 March 2012
Hearing God
As I was reading through the book of Numbers last night, I came to the portion where Moses commanded the people to keep the Passover at the appointed time: the 14th day of the first month. Men approached Moses with an important question. Certain men had been deemed unclean by the Law because they had come in contact with a dead body. However, they desired to keep the feast and offer the appropriate sacrifice to the LORD - but were unclean. Numbers 9:8 reads, "And Moses said unto them, "Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you." God spoke to Moses and told him that those deemed unclean under ceremonial Law could keep the Passover on the 14th day of the second month, as long as it was carried out in precisely the same way as it should have been done a month earlier.
What struck me about the passage were the words of Moses when faced with this dilemma. If I was in a situation like Moses, I would have said something like: "I'll ask God about that in prayer and see what He says." But Moses said, "Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you." Moses recognized that God already knew the situation. He didn't need to explain the whole background concerning these men before God. God was fully aware of their need for wisdom and guidance even before asking. Jesus says in Matthew 6:8, "...For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking we need to inform God of what is going on in our world, even as the disciples rushed to Jesus in the midst of the storm saying, "Don't you care that we are perishing?" Jesus knew. It was only in desperation they would cry out for His aid and then He could work miracles.
The second thing which captured my attention is the Hebrew word translated "hear" in this instance. It is "shama," which in the Strong's Concordance is described as: "to hear intelligently, often with implication of attention and obedience." This word is also translated in the KJV as: "hear," "hearken," "obey," "publish," and "understand." It carries the idea of carefully hearing with the purpose and intent to obey fully the directive given. Throughout our days we hear a lot of things. We don't believe, trust, or obey everything we hear because that would be foolish. We immediately sort out what directives we will heed and what we will ignore. It is a very dangerous place to be when we do the same with what God says. Only disaster will follow those who read God's Word and pick and choose what they will "hear."
How often do we not hear God speaking because we are not listening! We do not stand still to hear what God says, but rush about and walk according to the way which seems right to us at the time. The scripture says that there is a way which seems right to a man, but the end of it is death. We also read that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. How critical it is to stand still and hear God's voice with intent to fully obey. Let us say someone has asked you for advice. You offer them wise counsel which they decide to ignore completely. After this cycle is repeated over and over, at some point you will withhold your wisdom from such a fool who has no intention to act according to your word.
We have all been that fool with God. God does not offer advice: He offers divine wisdom and knowledge from His infinite stores. God holds forth righteous judgments and commands according to His character. He plainly says what is the right and wrong way for a man to live in relation to God and others. Jesus has become wisdom for all who believe, as it says in 1 Corinthians 1:30. Jesus says of the Holy Spirit whom has now been sent 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." We should not take the written Word of God nor the promptings of the Holy Spirit "with a grain of salt," but see them in truth as the words of life: words which must be obeyed.
Romans 11:33 says, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. It is time for us to seek the LORD, stand still, and hear what He says with intent to obey. It is in this place where we discover His perfect will.
What struck me about the passage were the words of Moses when faced with this dilemma. If I was in a situation like Moses, I would have said something like: "I'll ask God about that in prayer and see what He says." But Moses said, "Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you." Moses recognized that God already knew the situation. He didn't need to explain the whole background concerning these men before God. God was fully aware of their need for wisdom and guidance even before asking. Jesus says in Matthew 6:8, "...For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." Sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking we need to inform God of what is going on in our world, even as the disciples rushed to Jesus in the midst of the storm saying, "Don't you care that we are perishing?" Jesus knew. It was only in desperation they would cry out for His aid and then He could work miracles.
The second thing which captured my attention is the Hebrew word translated "hear" in this instance. It is "shama," which in the Strong's Concordance is described as: "to hear intelligently, often with implication of attention and obedience." This word is also translated in the KJV as: "hear," "hearken," "obey," "publish," and "understand." It carries the idea of carefully hearing with the purpose and intent to obey fully the directive given. Throughout our days we hear a lot of things. We don't believe, trust, or obey everything we hear because that would be foolish. We immediately sort out what directives we will heed and what we will ignore. It is a very dangerous place to be when we do the same with what God says. Only disaster will follow those who read God's Word and pick and choose what they will "hear."
How often do we not hear God speaking because we are not listening! We do not stand still to hear what God says, but rush about and walk according to the way which seems right to us at the time. The scripture says that there is a way which seems right to a man, but the end of it is death. We also read that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. How critical it is to stand still and hear God's voice with intent to fully obey. Let us say someone has asked you for advice. You offer them wise counsel which they decide to ignore completely. After this cycle is repeated over and over, at some point you will withhold your wisdom from such a fool who has no intention to act according to your word.
We have all been that fool with God. God does not offer advice: He offers divine wisdom and knowledge from His infinite stores. God holds forth righteous judgments and commands according to His character. He plainly says what is the right and wrong way for a man to live in relation to God and others. Jesus has become wisdom for all who believe, as it says in 1 Corinthians 1:30. Jesus says of the Holy Spirit whom has now been sent 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." We should not take the written Word of God nor the promptings of the Holy Spirit "with a grain of salt," but see them in truth as the words of life: words which must be obeyed.
Romans 11:33 says, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. It is time for us to seek the LORD, stand still, and hear what He says with intent to obey. It is in this place where we discover His perfect will.
19 March 2012
Who's Your Master?
When people think about slavery, a variety of thoughts and feelings are invoked. In the United States, the fight over slavery is one that affected the whole nation. Quoting history.com, "In 1865, the U.S. House of Representatives passes the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery in America. The amendment read, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." It is not uncommon to meet people to this day whose ancestors were either slaves or slave owners. Some people are shocked that slavery still exists in many forms in the world today. The truth is, slavery is as prevalent, oppressive, and destructive as it has ever been in the world's history.
Consider these excerpts from Webster's Dictionary (1828 edition) concerning the the noun "slave:" 1) A person who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who has no will of his own, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another; 2) One who has lost the power of resistance; or one who surrenders himself to any power whatever; as a slave to passion, to lust, to ambition." We often think of slavery as when a person is either sold, acquired, or forced to work against their will for nothing to show for it but their life. Slaves are not paid and are denied rights and freedoms others enjoy. There is a slavery more sinister than being sold like an ox at an auction and working for a cruel master: the slavery of sin. Satan and sin are cruel masters which lead to eternal death.
In our natural state every man is sinful, "sold under sin." Even as wicked Haman had condemned the Jews to die, so sin has doomed every person who draws breath. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are either slaves of God or Satan. You might say, "Wait a second! I don't even believe in Satan! How can I be serving him?" "Warlock" Jack Malebranche, a member of the Church of Satan in an interview shown during "Way of the Master" episode 19 explained, "On a certain level, Satan is a part of ourselves that we tap into. When we say, "Hail Satan!" to a certain extent, I'm saying, "Hail me!" Jesus says in John 8:34, "...Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin." If you have sinned, than you are therefore a slave to sin. If I live for myself, I sow to the flesh and will of the flesh reap corruption. The wages of sin is death, eternal separation from God in the torments of hell.
But God in His mercy, made a way for slaves to be set free - even under the Old Covenant! In Leviticus 25, we read how a kinsman could redeem a slave from slavery. Leviticus 25:48-49 reads, "...After he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49 or his uncle or his uncle's son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself." No one is able to redeem himself from the power of sin and death. In His love, the Father sent the Son as a Redeemer, not only for His Jewish countrymen, but to be the sacrifice for sin for all who believe throughout the world! John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood so all who repent, place their faith in Him, and become His disciples shall be given eternal life through Him.
Everyone in this world is a slave. We may not have been bought or sold with money, but we are either slaves of sin or righteousness. Romans 6:16 states, "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" Who is your master? This question cannot be answered with words: only your thoughts, actions, and life will provide an adequate answer. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Today is the day of decision. Choose to serve God, for He is a worthy LORD and Master who rules with love.
Consider these excerpts from Webster's Dictionary (1828 edition) concerning the the noun "slave:" 1) A person who is wholly subject to the will of another; one who has no will of his own, but whose person and services are wholly under the control of another; 2) One who has lost the power of resistance; or one who surrenders himself to any power whatever; as a slave to passion, to lust, to ambition." We often think of slavery as when a person is either sold, acquired, or forced to work against their will for nothing to show for it but their life. Slaves are not paid and are denied rights and freedoms others enjoy. There is a slavery more sinister than being sold like an ox at an auction and working for a cruel master: the slavery of sin. Satan and sin are cruel masters which lead to eternal death.
In our natural state every man is sinful, "sold under sin." Even as wicked Haman had condemned the Jews to die, so sin has doomed every person who draws breath. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are either slaves of God or Satan. You might say, "Wait a second! I don't even believe in Satan! How can I be serving him?" "Warlock" Jack Malebranche, a member of the Church of Satan in an interview shown during "Way of the Master" episode 19 explained, "On a certain level, Satan is a part of ourselves that we tap into. When we say, "Hail Satan!" to a certain extent, I'm saying, "Hail me!" Jesus says in John 8:34, "...Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin." If you have sinned, than you are therefore a slave to sin. If I live for myself, I sow to the flesh and will of the flesh reap corruption. The wages of sin is death, eternal separation from God in the torments of hell.
But God in His mercy, made a way for slaves to be set free - even under the Old Covenant! In Leviticus 25, we read how a kinsman could redeem a slave from slavery. Leviticus 25:48-49 reads, "...After he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49 or his uncle or his uncle's son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself." No one is able to redeem himself from the power of sin and death. In His love, the Father sent the Son as a Redeemer, not only for His Jewish countrymen, but to be the sacrifice for sin for all who believe throughout the world! John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jesus instituted the New Covenant in His blood so all who repent, place their faith in Him, and become His disciples shall be given eternal life through Him.
Everyone in this world is a slave. We may not have been bought or sold with money, but we are either slaves of sin or righteousness. Romans 6:16 states, "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" Who is your master? This question cannot be answered with words: only your thoughts, actions, and life will provide an adequate answer. Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Today is the day of decision. Choose to serve God, for He is a worthy LORD and Master who rules with love.
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