Avoid Foolish Disputes

During the morning prayer meeting, these verses were read from 2 Timothy 2:23-26:  "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."  When we hold to a biblical position in this world, strife is something we Christians can count on.  Yet we are not called to lash out or squabble with people who do not agree with us.  They might mock or slander us, but we must exhibit self-control and remain gentle.  God has taught us the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God (James 1:20).

Men who are humble before God do not need to shout to be heard, for their meek conduct speaks volumes.  Jesus is the epitome of a man who was gentle, patiently taught, and corrected the errors of those who challenged Him.  When His shouting accusers sprayed lies before Pilate and Herod, He opened not His mouth.  It is nigh impossible for a man in the heat of betrayal and false accusation to remain silent, but Jesus had already committed His life into the hands of His Father in heaven.  He knew those who accused Him did not realise what they were doing.  They had been deceived by lies.  They had been taken captive by the devil to to his will.  Judas, one of Christ's disciples, had been filled with Satan himself!  Jesus remained compassionate towards His enemies even after being nailed to the cross and cried out, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

The thing which struck me from the passage in 2 Timothy is we can think as Christians because we are stewards of the truth of God it is up to us to bring people to their senses.  When we are met with opposition or our efforts do not seem to be achieving our desired effect we might increase our volume of speaking or intensity of argument.  Instead of patiently defending the truth we can start attacking others in an unloving manner.  If all who have chosen this course would honestly consider the results of this approach, all would agree it tends to generate much strife but very few - if any - transformed hearts.  Our role as Christians is to speak the truth in love from God's Word and to pray for people to come to their senses.  We aren't to look for fights or to insist on having the last word.  Beat people over the head with your Bible if you wish, but it will never manage to sow God's truth in a receptive heart.  There are two general responses to an attack:  fight or flight.  Either way the defenses are immediately up and we hinder Christ's cause to bring them to their senses and escape the snare of the devil.  It was not his loving father or self-righteous brother which caused the Prodigal Son to see the folly of his ways.  After being left alone with the pigs for awhile the man started listening to the sensible reasoning of his own conscience.  His awful situation brought him to his senses.

God has given every human being a conscience and they are in all sorts of conditions.  The Bible refers to a good conscience, a seared conscience, evil conscience, and a pure conscience.  Regardless of the state of a person's conscience, the Bible is the appropriate tool to cut to the heart of the matter.  The way we wield the Sword of the Spirit - God's Word - is very important.  Jesus told His followers to gird on their swords on the night He was betrayed.  When Jesus and His disciples were in the Garden of Gethsemane and saw men coming to arrest Jesus Luke 22:49-51 reads, "When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" ⁵⁰ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹ But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him."  Peter had the sword and felt threatened.  He asked a question of Jesus but never waited around for the answer!  He started swinging the sword and a man was horribly maimed from the attack.  When we handle the Word of God like this we can unnecessarily wound others.  Praise God Jesus is a healer of wounded souls, but let us not be guilty of generating strife through useless quarrels.

A New Thing

Sheep and human beings share the same trait of having a long memory concerning negative experiences.  Past experiences have a way of colouring the way we see the world and others.  Negative bias is easily confirmed due to this naturally skewed perspective, yet we remain self-assured we see clearly.  Our failures and past struggles hinder us from moving forward and burden us with a preoccupation with self and the assumption others judge us as severely as we currently judge them.  How can we even find the way forward in this state?  The cure for all these ills is found when a person fixes their eyes on Jesus Christ in faith, the One who promises to make all things new.  Before our risen LORD we must each confess our sins and repent saying, "Woe is me!  I am undone!"  He is the One who heals the broken hearted and sets captives free.  No longer need we be saddled with the weight or our inferiority or the expectations of others because we have been made new creations through faith in Jesus.

To a people who would experience war, destruction, and decades of captivity, God said through the prophet in Isaiah 43:18-21, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. ¹⁹ Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ²⁰ The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. ²¹ This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise."  How easy it is for us to immerse ourselves in thinking of the former things:  regret with what has happened, obsessing over our failures, fantasising if things had gone differently, and drowning in self-pity.  After the Exodus the children of Israel longed for the leeks and onions of Egypt rather than the milk and honey in the Land of Promise!  This is the natural tendency of all people, thinking the best is somehow behind us when the Spirit of God leads us on.

God said He would do a new thing, making a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  How many people have been lost in a wilderness and frantically searched for a trail, a path to lead them home!  Countless people have perished in the fierce heat of a desert, hallucinating over oasis after oasis which proved to be nothing more than cruel mirages!  God said the jackals and ostriches would honour God for His provision, and these are not animals known for their brilliance.  Sad, isn't it, that beasts without understanding could honour God more than people He has delivered from death ?  Yet God's grace is shown because He choose us sinners - though at times brute beasts acknowledge and trust Him more than His own redeemed.  God be praised that despite our weakness, that we are blind, miserable, poor, and naked, He opens our eyes to see Him, grants us heavenly riches, places clean apparel on us, and looses our tongues to declare His praise.

Will you take God's exhortation on board?  Do you believe the Word of God, that He will do a new thing and now it shall spring forth?  He is able to make roads through the wilderness and bring refreshing rivers in the desert.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  In every regenerated heart Jesus Christ is enthroned the heavenly reality proclaimed in Revelation 21:5 rings true:  "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  We are eyewitnesses of these things.  Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus and trust, not just try.  Will you declare God's praise?

Broken Vows

When God says something, He can be counted on to keep His word.  Man qualifies his promises with swearing and oaths, but not God.  His Word is true.  Because God is righteous His deeds, character, and word are always in perfect alignment.  Men will someday answer for their own words and will even be judged by them:  every idle word will be accounted for and brought under God's judgment (Matthew 12:26).  Numbers 30 is an entire chapter in the Law of Moses establishing the fact that every vow a man or woman makes is important before God.  If a man made a vow to the LORD, God will hold him responsible to do all he has said.

How many times as a Christian have we said we were going to do something, followed through best as we could, but ultimately fell short of what we said?  We don't have to "cross our heart or hope to die, stick a needle in our eye" to make words spoken in secret binding before God.  I was reminded of this yesterday when I read from J. Edwin Orr's book Full Surrender.  "A man's word is his bond" it has been said, and this rings true concerning the words which come from a man in God's hearing - and He hears all.  The chapter I read made me think:  how many times had I spoken something and not followed through?  Has my relationship with God been hindered because of ignored vows, promises which were proved empty over time, words I simply forgot?  Better to confess my sin and fall on the mercies of God now and be restored than to answer for idle words in the future with negative eternal consequences.

Consider the closing thoughts of Dr. Orr in the first chapter:

"Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?"  Not all prayer is acceptable.  If one regards iniquity in one's heart, the Lord will not hear him.  A broken vow is a sin of omission.  It is also the commission of an affront to God.  It must be confessed as sin before fellowship is completely restored. Otherwise, the discipline of God, the chastening of the Lord, begins to operate.  It is necessary for the Lord to bring our schemes to nought in order that we may not waste time and effort in building of wood, hay and stubble.  Our Friend becomes our opponent, not our enemy, and says "check" to each move until, checkmated, we begin again with Him.

What then are the vows that Christians customarily make to God in times of blessing and on special occasions?  More time in prayer, more intercession for others, more devotional reading, more study, more personal witness, tithing of talents and money, better example to others, patience with children, personal purity, self-denial - there are the vows that are made in watch-night services, prayer meetings, evangelistic campaigns, deeper life conventions, missionary meetings, and the like.  These vows go unfulfilled.  Part of the price is kept back.

Until broken vows are mended, it is difficult to make progress along the way of consecration.  Before seeking blessing from God, one should carefully consider in retrospect one's previous dealings with Deity.  It is not enough that no offence was meant.  It is not enough that no deceit was planned in advance.  The sin against God arises from the most serious transgression of any commandment, that of nursing a coldness of heart towards God Himself. (Orr, J. Edwin. "Broken Vows." Full Surrender. London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1951. 18-19. Print.)

Cut to the Heart

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

God's Word is alive and more sharp than a laser, uncovering the truth often concealed in the hearts of men.  Men often do not perceive their own hypocrisy until it is pointed out to them, and those who fear God and love His Word have the benefit of hearing that still, small voice which corrects often.  I don't know a man alive who enjoys being corrected by others, but wise men see great value in learning to walk in the way which fully pleases God.  The same word which is loved by one is hated by another.  Proverbs 9:8 says, "Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."  In the book of Acts there are two contrasting examples provided.

After Stephen was brought before the High Priest and Jewish rulers, he gave a stirring historical overview in Acts 7,  He spoke of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses.  He explained how Moses knew he had been called by God to deliver the people from bondage yet was pushed away when he tried to bring peace to fighting Hebrews.  After 40 years, God appeared to Moses and sent him back to Egypt.  God brought forth His people with a mighty hand, and Moses led the people out.  Yet it was not long until the people's hearts longed to go back to Egypt and refused to obey Moses.  Stephen said in Acts 7:37, "This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear."  The covenant of Law came through Moses, but the covenant of faith came through Jesus.

Stephen connected the rejection of Moses by the people to his hearer's rejection and murder of Jesus Christ.  The comparison cut them to the heart and infuriated them.  Stephen said in Acts 7:51-58, "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, ⁵³ who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it." ⁵⁴ When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" ⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ⁵⁸ and they cast him out of the city and stoned him..."  Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the truth, yet these men refused to hear.  They literally stopped up their ears, violently cast Stephen out of the city and savagely stoned him to death - proving again their resistance to the Holy Spirit.

Earlier in Acts, there is one other mention of people being "cut to the heart."  On the Day of Pentecost at 9am, Peter and the disciples who gathered together in one accord received the "promise of the Father," the baptism with the Holy Spirit.  As people gathered around in amazement hearing them speak the wonderful works of God in languages foreign to the speakers, Peter addressed the multitude.  Peter told his curious listeners they were seeing a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy of the Holy Spirit being poured out.  Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus was indeed the Christ, the One promised by God.  He had been rejected and crucified by wicked men.  He said in Acts 2:32-38, "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. ³³ Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, ³⁵ Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." ' ³⁶ "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

The response of Peter's hearers provides a stark contrast from those Stephen addressed.  When these people were cut to the heart, they did not shout, stop up their ears, lay hands on Peter, and stone him.  The asked an honest question, acknowledging the truth of what Peter said:  "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"  They did not only ask a question, but they heeded the words of Peter.  Acts 2:41 reveals the miraculous effect of the ministry of the Holy Spirit through Peter:  "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them."  Jesus was preached on two occasions where people were "cut to the heart."  The truth of God's Word had skewered these people with opposite results.  The same good word led to the salvation of 3,000 glad souls and also preceded the martyrdom of Steven by an enraged mob.  How could the reactions be so different?

Hebrews 4:12 quoted above is following on from a previous statement, as it starts with the word "For."  The writer of Hebrews used the children of Israel who came out of Egypt as a example and warning.  They had the Word and Law of God and the presence of God with them, yet they were unable to enter into the land because of unbelief.  It is one thing to be brought out of bondage, but we must also enter into the rest God has prepared for us through faith.  Hebrews 4:1-2 says, "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."  For the Word of God to have God's desired effect upon our hearts, it must be mixed with faith in God.  That is the difference.  There are many people who have been cut to the heart with God's Word and they react violently to it, lashing out with anger and hatred.  Others who are cut to the heart mourn over their sin and repent, the Word being mixed with faith in Jesus Christ.

When we are cut to the heart, faith in God enables us to humble ourselves.  A violent reaction or humble response to God's Word reveals if we are walking in the flesh or by faith in the Living God.  How do you respond when the Word cuts deep?  Do you close the Bible, shut your ears, and lash out?  Or do you ask God "What shall I do?" as you commit to obey His answer?

Evergreen Leaves

"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Psalm 1:3

When Jesus was approached by Nicodemus at night, He compared the movement of the Holy Spirit to wind.  No man can control the wind or the Holy Spirit, but the effect of wind and the presence of the Holy Spirit are easily seen.  Trees do not move by themselves on a still day, yet strong wind causes leaves to shake and limbs to bend and creak.  The Holy Spirit is the One who regenerates a soul that repents and trusts in Jesus, bringing transformation to the life of that person by His grace.

There are no formulas to manipulate the Holy Spirit of God to act according to your will.  Born-again Christians are like trees which ought to bend to His will.  A sailboat by virtue of sitting in the water cannot cause the breeze to blow, but sailors adjust the sails to catch the wind to move the boat towards their destination.  When I was a kid, we used to climb a large Chinaberry tree in our front yard.  I used to climb into the canopy and shake the branches, later collecting bunches of berries which fell to the ground.  I could make branches of the tree shake like the wind was whipping past, but I had no control over the wind.  Through the effort of the flesh people can imitate a move of the Holy Spirit, but it ought not be mistaken for the real thing.

The Psalmist compared the man who delights in God and His law to be like a flourishing tree in a well-watered location.  This tree brings forth fruit in due season and its leaves shall not wither.  Chinaberry trees are deciduous and drop their leaves in autumn, but the Christian is not compared to a deciduous tree:  our leaves shall not wither.  They should be evergreen, soft, and flexible.  Strong winds may move branches and twigs, but how much more sensitive are green leaves to the subtle, passing currents of air!  When a Christian is walking with Jesus in a lifestyle of repentance, obedience, and walking in Christ's love, such a one will grow and flourish.  A Christian filled with the living water of the Holy Spirit will bear spiritual fruit and be increasingly sensitive to His leading.

If we sin by ceasing to walk in love, it is as if leaves begin to dry and drop.  Our hearts become cold as winter, hard as frozen stone.  We begin to lose sensitivity to the leading of the Spirit.  Personal conviction and sorrow for our sin seems a thing of the distant past.  We may still be able to operate in our spiritual gifting, but the fruit of the Spirit falls before it is ripe.  Blessed is the man whom God corrects, who mourns over his own sin and dryness instead of being focused on the faults of others!  Only when we confess our sin and repent can we be sensitive to the still small voice of the Spirit.  Consider your life:  how much of your everyday decisions and life is guided and governed by the Holy Spirit?  When was the last time you heard Him speak?  What did He say?

Jesus supplies Living Water and provides rest for our souls.  We cannot make the Holy Spirit to move, but when He moves we are quick to respond in humble obedience.  My desire is for my life and those in the church to fulfill the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 3:14-21:  "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰ 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."

Open the Dam!

We had a lovely time of prayer at Calvary Chapel Sydney last Saturday evening.  Many people gathered to seek the LORD and pray for one another, and it is always special when God's people unite in prayer.  Leading up the evening I felt I needed to "get out of the way" and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and move according to His will.  Instead of spending a great deal of time sharing requests with one another, I felt God directing us to "let our requests be made known unto God" as we gathered as one (Phil. 4:6).  As believers we must be cautious not to approach God with our own agendas, even though they often seem good and reasonable to us.  There is no formula to conjure a move of God's Spirit, though many things often accompany His move.  Jesus compared the movement to the Spirit as the wind blowing through the trees, and no amount of shaking trees will cause Him to blow.  We are to be like the trees with flexible boughs and leaves sensitive to the most subtle current of the Holy Spirit's presence so we might respond in obedience as He leads.

During our meeting, I was reminded of the Waikato river which collects above the Aratiatia rapids in Rotorua, New Zealand.  These rapids only flow a few times each day when the dam of the Waikato river is released to generate hydroelectric power.  As I was praying in silence in my mind I could see the water surging and building around the dam, creating great pressure.  Below the dam there stretched a valley which was dry.  The water swirled around violently, but it could not pass through the dam to water the valley.  I felt like the water was a picture of the Holy Spirit, and our group was the dry valley.  There was a strong dam in between.  How we needed His Living Water, His power, His refreshment!

"Break the dam," I prayed.  "Break it down."  The impression I had from the LORD was immediate:  "You do not break dams:  you open them."  Instantly I understood.  I wanted God to do something only we could do by His grace.  God's presence was among us as we worshiped and prayed, for He inhabits the praises of His people.  Where two or three gather in Christ's name, there He is in the midst.  Yet if we remained unwilling to pour out our hearts in worship, to open up to one another with honesty, and give space to the Holy Spirit to move in full surrender, we restricted the movement of the Holy Spirit.  We can deny ourselves the Living Water God has provided, having sent Him to comfort, teach, and guide into all truth.  I believe many experienced the presence and move of the Holy Spirit.  He spoke to other hearts as well as mine.  Yet I am convinced there is more for us when we all open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit without confining Him to our expectations or previous experiences - or perceived lack thereof.

The dam which creates the Aratiatia rapids is only opened a few times each day, and many spectators wait around for scheduled opening times.  How sad it would be for this to be a reflection of our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit!  It would be tragic for God to only have the freedom to move in and through the lives of His people on Sundays or during prayer meetings.  God forbid there would be spectators at prayer meetings!  We should continuously cultivate the presence of the Holy Spirit, for this Living Water is without limit.  The more we open the gates of what dams our praise, worship, and humbly pouring our complaints before God, the more this Living Water will flow.  And though we may position ourselves properly to catch the wind in our sails, God's grace does not depend on us.  This is a wonderful truth.  We are called to believe, seek, ask, obey, and present ourselves living sacrifices before God, yet no one can make Him move.  As C.S. Lewis famously repeated in his books concerning Aslan who is a picture of Christ, "He is not a tame lion."  We cannot make Him move, but when the Spirit moves let us be sensitive and obedient to His leading.

The Blessing of Jesus Christ

"To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

Acts 3:26

Peter said this to men of Israel who gathered at the temple in Jerusalem, amazed at the miraculous healing performed on a lame man in the name of Jesus.  As I consider what Peter said, what strikes me is how Jesus has been sent to bless people.  People ask for God to bless them, yet I wonder if people know what they are asking for.  Blessing from God is not health, wealth, and comforts - though those are blessings indeed.  The blessing provided by Jesus Peter referenced was very specific:  "in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

Have you ever thought God's blessing is to turn you from your sins?  The thing about our sin is it is always personal.  I used to have an idea that sin is always terrible, awful, and disgusting.  It is all this and more.  But the truth is, our sin (especially at the beginning) does not seem bad to us.  In fact, it may seem strangely exciting, even liberating.  Sin always appeals to our flesh.  It has a strong upside which allows us to justify our behaviour.  And because our flesh is by nature sinful, the roots reach down into our very soul - almost tangled up in our personality.  To deny our sin is to deny a part of us - a part we have grown very fond of and helps to define us as a person.  God wants to bless us, and Jesus was sent to turn us from our sin.  This is indeed a blessing for which we ought to be thankful and rejoice in.

In the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the "Ring of Power" provides a great example of sin in the life of a person.  The Ring came to Frodo, having ensnared and corrupted all who held it previously.  All previous ring-bearers held and stroked the bright ring with wide eyes, yet it was actually the Ring which gripped them.  The three Lord of the Rings films chronicle the epic tale of Frodo's trek to Mount Doom to destroy the Ring.  Heavier and heavier it became as Frodo carried it along.  When he finally held the Ring over the river of lava which would destroy it, a wicked gleam came into his eyes.  He was unable to drop the Ring, nor did he want to.  "The ring is mine!" said Frodo as he slipped it onto his finger.  Frodo found himself just as far from destroying the Ring in Mount Doom as he was in Rivendell or the Shire.  Frodo, nor anyone who had been taken by the Ring would be capable of destroying it, and the same can be said of sin.  Once it has you, it will never let go.

Praise be to God, for He has blessed us by sending Jesus in turning away all of us from our sins.  He grants faith and makes repentance possible.  So the next time you pray for God to bless you, realise as a Christian He has blessed you and wants to continue blessing you:  He desires that we would turn from all sins which easily ensnare us.  The blood of Jesus is able to cleanse us from all sin.  In turning away from sin, let us turn to Jesus.  Only He can lead us to walk in righteousness and enable us to experience the peace and joy He supplies.

The Rejoicing Father

I woke up this morning with rain pattering down and a series of thoughts flooding my mind concerning the Parable of the Prodigal Jesus told in Luke 15.  A young man demanded his share of inheritance before his father's passing, and his father actually agreed to give it to him.  He promptly left home and wasted all his money partying with prostitutes and drinking.  There was a famine in the land and the man found himself in want.  He was reduced to a job of feeding pigs to survive.  When the pig-food began to appeal to his grumbling stomach, he finally came to his senses.  In his poverty and brokenness he hatched a plan in desperation to return home to his father and plead for a job as a servant.  This man knew he had done wrong and had treated his father terribly.  He had wasted his father's money and lived in scandalous rebellion.  It flew in the face of propriety to think he could slink back as a son:  no, he would beg to be a servant.  Perhaps then his father would show pity on him and allow him to stay.

When the destitute young man was even a long way from home, the chain of events which followed showed the son grossly misjudged his father and the depth of his love and forgiveness.  The father saw his son afar off and ran to him.  While the son was stammering out a rehearsed request for the position of a servant to earn acceptance, the father threw his arms around him and kissed him.  He called for his servants to provide rich clothing for his once wayward son, placed a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet.  There were no sharp words of rebuke, no angry stares or silence, no distance:  love, acceptance, and forgiveness spanned the rift.  The son had hoped for food marginally better than what the pigs ate, but the father commanded the fatted calf be slaughtered for the joyous occasion:  his son who was as good as dead had returned! (See Luke 15:18-24)  The son who saw himself as possibly a servant was gladly welcomed by the father as a son.  The illustrates the fact when recognise our unworthiness because of our sin and humble ourselves in returning to God we will be accepted by Him with great rejoicing.

Jesus told this parable to illustrate His previous statement in Luke 15:7, "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."  We have much to learn from the father's response to the change of heart and repentance of his son.  Our natural response when people make mistakes is to take pains to ensure they realise how greatly they have screwed up.  Because we are insecure we might arrange a series of hoops for people to jump through to prove their worthiness for us to accept them again.  We would not imagine putting a ring of value on a son who had spent half our money.  We would not place shoes on the feet which had been so quick to run to evil.  Our natural response to being hurt is to make sure they know how much we have suffered and they should appreciate the great sacrifice it is for us to even consider uniting with them in fellowship, friendship, and as family again.  We see none of this rubbish with the father in the parable, nor our Heavenly Father.  In the pigpen the son realised he had sinned against heaven and against his father.  It took desperation to return to the one he had wronged.  Some do not deem humble repentance enough for the restoration of relationship and celebration.  But God does.

Instead of lamenting the loss of money or the sinful rebellion of the son the father rejoiced when his beloved son returned.  The father did not rejoice because his son was responsible but because he freely chose to return.  The son did not need to prove he was trustworthy but was accepted because his father loved him regardless.  Like the son, we Christians have come to God without demands, realising we have sinned against heaven and others.  Before the Father we have knelt without any rights or claims.  We knew we were not responsible, trustworthy, good, or worthy even to approach the Almighty God in our filthy state.  Yet He has bestowed such love upon us by His grace to celebrate us!  Since God lavishes such love upon us, isn't it fitting we do the same for others?

In the Clefts of the Rock

When I visited Israel in 2015, I enjoyed seeing and teaching the Bible at many historical sites.  Yet of the entire trip, the most memorable incident was when God spoke to my heart from His Word.  One morning our group had just passed through the security checkpoint to gain access to the Western Wall.  I took this picture of the Western wall as we waited for the entire group to assemble.

The picture shows the women's area to the south (right side) and the men's area to pray on the north.  There are nothing particular picturesque about this shot.  I have seen finer pictures than this one, and several I have taken myself!  But what you likely did not notice was the little white dove that flew into a depression in the stone over the women's side.  As I was pulling my camera out, it alighted in the wall.  It is in the far right of the photo.

At the time I had been teaching through Song of Solomon at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  Instantly the words of the Beloved came to mind found in Song of Songs 2:14:  "O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely."  I was blown away.  At a place designated for prayer to the Almighty God, this dove was a sign of God's invitation to me to take refuge in Him through prayer.  In Jesus Christ God's people find refuge.  God is more desirous to hear our voice and see us seek Him in prayer more than we are willing to pray.  How beautiful to God are the praying voices of His people!

Pastor Drew Macintyre said during that trip to Israel, "Many people say the Bible comes alive in Israel - I say people come alive to the Bible in Israel."  I heartily agree.  In the Song of Solomon, the Beloved affirmed his love to his self-conscious future bride, the Shulamite.  Her Beloved came to her, calling her name, because he desired to spend time with her.  God's love has been demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice on the cross and He says to us:  "Rise up, my fair one, and come away!"  To God His chaste children are as white doves with sweet voices and lovely faces.  He has washed and purified us; He has forgiven and redeemed us.  For all who take refuge in the cleft of the rock - in our Rock of Salvation Jesus Christ through faith - He looks upon us with love, and His ears are open to our cry.  We want God to answer our prayers, but shouldn't we first respond to His gracious invitation with humble thanks?  How God delights in us, that He would allow us into His throne room of grace through prayer "...obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

There were many clefts in the rocks of the Western Wall, yet only one dove sought refuge there.  In Christ there is safety and rest for all who come to Him in faith, yet many do not take the time to seek Him in prayer.  Do you cultivate a secret time of prayer in the presence of God?  Do you have a particular time or spot when you will come away from the cares of this world and speak to Him?  He bids you come without delay, "for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely."

"If It Pleases The King"

Nehemiah is a man I greatly admire in scripture.  He exuded great faith in God, was a man of prayer, and found favour in his role as cupbearer before king Artaxerxes.  When he inquired and heard of the hardships faced by people who had returned to Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity, he grieved deeply.  He sought the LORD in prayer about the correct course of action for him to take.

When the king noticed Nehemiah being out of sorts, he asked Nehemiah if he was ill.  Some people would not admit the true source of their sadness, but Nehemiah was honest about he source of his despondency.  He told his king he mourned over the sad state of Jerusalem.  Nehemiah 2:4-5 reads, "Then the king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. ⁵ And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it."  Chapter 1 of Nehemiah is mostly a prayer to the God of heaven, and when King Artaxerxes asked for his request he continued to pray.  He was a cupbearer by trade but Nehemiah was willing to ask the king to send him to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem.  That is faith and boldness in action.

Twice in chapter 2 Nehemiah prefaced his request to Artaxerxes with, "If it pleases the king..."  Here was a man whose true KING was God, yet he carried himself with an attitude of humility before Artaxerxes.  He did not demand; he would not force.  He had orders and guidance from the Most High God, yet he made his petition before the king with grace, patience, and respect.  He did find favour in the sight of the king, and the king was happy to send him for a set time so the walls and gates of the city could be rebuilt.

It struck me:  how important it is for us to have such an attitude of humility before God!  Because Nehemiah said "If it pleases the king..." it follows he desired his king would be pleased!  Since Nehemiah showed such respect and humility before his king, isn't it critical that Christians would desire that God be pleased?  Shouldn't we ask ourselves concerning our behaviour or choices, "Does this please my King?"  The LORD has used this line of thinking to convict me of sin.  If Jesus is my King, then pleasing Him ought to be important to me.  I am reminded of Paul's prayer in Colossians 1:9-12:  "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."  We walk worthy of our Saviour when we fully please Him for He is the One who ordains cupbearers to build walls and qualifies Christians to be fruitful in all seasons of life.

Are your requests, attitudes, and choices fully pleasing to King Jesus?  If we will be fruitful and have our prayers answered, we must not only pray according to God's will but live in the way that pleases Him.  Nehemiah ended up returning to Jerusalem and in less than two months the monumental task of building the walls and gates - which had been destroyed about 140 years before - was completely finished.  When people from all walks of life gather as one in obedience, seeking to please the LORD in His service, God does marvelous things.  Let us seek to please our King, for this pleases Him.

Building With God's Blessing

Ezra was a scribe and learned teacher of God's Law in Babylon who prepared his heart to seek the LORD (Ezra 7:6-10)  Cyrus the king of Persia was directed by God to rebuilt His temple in Jerusalem.  He exhorted all men of Judah to rise up and help with the building project.  Those who chose not to go back to Jerusalem or were unable the king commanded for them to supply the necessary materials and animals for sacrifice.  This was a fulfillment of the word spoken by the prophet Jeremiah that at the end of 70 years of captivity God would cause the children of Israel to return to the land of Judah (Jer. 29:10; 2 Chron. 36:22-23).  These were joyous times for the faithful among God's people who longed to return to their inheritance.

Though God and the king of Persia commanded the rebuilding of the temple, not everyone was pleased with this development.  People returned to the land, built the altar, offered sacrifices, and kept the feasts as prescribed in the Law seemingly without opposition.  There is no mention of any enemies or adversaries until the foundation of the temple of God was laid.  This is very significant.  The enemy of our souls is not opposed to gatherings, sacrifice, or ceremonial feasts.  But he despises God and fears His holy presence.  The laying of the foundation of the temple caused the enemies of God's people to mobilise.  Since Christians are now the temple of the Holy Spirit not made with hands, it is no surprise when spiritual attacks gain strength and frequency.  Praise the LORD He gives us wisdom, strength, and discernment to endure and walk in victory.

The first tactic of the enemy was to covertly hinder the work through infiltration.  They feigned friendship and allegiance to God to cover their insincerity.  Ezra 4:1-2 says, "Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel, ² they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers' houses, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."  These adversaries were judged by their own mouths and proven frauds.  They came with the promise of help, but their intention was only to hinder.  They claimed to have sacrificed to God since the days of the king of Assyria, but this was impossible after the destruction of the temple.  Zerubbabel and other devout men saw through their deception.  Ezra 4:3 reads, "But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers' houses of Israel said to them, "You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us."

I admire the courage of these men as they looked to God to accomplish through them the work He called them to do:  "You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God."  When it comes to God's work, it is not "the more the merrier."  Though "many hands make light work," we must not defer to others when God has given us a clear command.  These men of Judah took their task personally and seriously.  Their adversaries came to them with smiles and offers of aid, but Zerubbabel rejected their offer without apology.  This passage teaches us the importance of uniting with people to labour for the LORD who are truly on God's side in word and deed.  Gladys Aylward wisely learned early in her ministry unto the LORD she should never ask anyone to do anything she believed God asked her to do.  Zerubbabel knew this as well and would not be denied the opportunity to work for God and complete the task set before him.

When the attempt to infiltrate failed, their adversaries tried other means to stop progress, and their methods were successful for a time.  They weakened the hands of the people and troubled them in building, hired cousellors to frustrate them, and ultimately wrote a slanderous letter to cease the work through political means.  This temporarily halted the work, yet the story has a encouraging ending.  Zerubbabel and other faithful men and prophets continued to build.  They knew they worked according to the command of king Cyrus and most importantly in the authority of the Almighty God.  When their labours were challenged, they wrote a letter to king Darius to confirm what king Cyrus had decreed years before.  A search of the archives confirmed the right of the Jews to build and exponentially strengthened them in building.  The king commanded those who questioned and opposed the building to supply all the materials needed for building and sacrifice daily upon pain of death (Ezra 6:7-12)!

Let us read the triumph of our God who turns the devices of His enemies against them in Ezra 6:14-15:  "So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. ¹⁵ Now the temple was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius."  Unless the LORD builds the house they labour in vain who build it, but if God builds the house none can withstand Him.  Our role as followers of Jesus Christ is to trust and seek Him, walking in obedience to what He has called us to do, and to do it with all our might.  No matter the tactics of our adversaries, we have an Advocate in Christ and a Comforter in the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.  What God begins He is faithful to complete.  Praise the LORD!

Well-Driven Nails

"The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright--words of truth. ¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd."

Ecclesiastes 12:10-11

God created human beings with the capacity of critical thought and the ability to communicate through spoken and written language.  Speaking and writing are both learned behaviours and are useful to convey ideas, feelings, and instructions.  There are perhaps an infinite amount of motivations, purposes, or desired ends for speaking, but the overarching purpose is communication.  Solomon was a wise man and sought out to convey upright words of truth to others.  God had given him great wisdom and understanding and he compared true words as "well-driven nails."

The first eight-hour day I remember working was when I was about 11 years old.  My dad was renovating our home by extending the garage and adding a large room upstairs.  He snapped chalk lines across sheets of plywood and my job was to nail the sheets down.  With my 16-ounce hammer I tapped 8-penny nails into the ply.  I say tapped because I didn't have the skill or strength to do what my dad could with a hammer.  In three quick hits he could set and drive a 16-penny nail flush perfectly every time.  Trying to copy him sent nails shooting off everywhere!  I kept a nail-puller (cat's paw) on hand because I had the ordinary knack of bending nails.  Hey, cheap labour.  What can I say?

Solomon compared words to nails, and upright words of truth are well-driven ones.  Good words spoken from a pure heart are like straight, shiny nails ready to be driven home.  Words spoken out of envy, spite, and hatred are like rusty nails which have been pulled a couple of times already.  Here are some observations of how God's Word and our delivery of them can make them well-driven and effective:

• Using the right nail for the job is important.  There are many different kinds of nails for different jobs and applications.  Using the right words is also important for maximum effectiveness and a clean finish.
• Every nail has a point.  In the same way, the words we speak should have a good point.
• Nails have different lengths.  When we communicate God's truth with little ones we need to use short words they can understand.  Terms should be defined and explained patiently.
• The placement of a nail is critical.  It is fine to bang nails into a piece of wood, but they are only effective to hold sheeting when they catch a joist or stud.  Our words should be carefully placed and aim at the heart of the matter.
• Nails are used in construction to fasten material in building.  Our words ought to have a constructive purpose and edify and not be used to deceive, wound, or humiliate others.
• Sometimes a skilled carpenter will blunt a good nail so the wood will not split.  We should never deviate from the truth, but we should use tact in speaking so as not to break sensitive hearts when we want to encourage them.
• Well-driven nails hold two separate pieces of wood together.  Words can be used to unite, encourage, connect us with others, and set our feet on the sound foundation provided by Jesus.
• Nails can be used as a hook for hanging objects.  If every nail was driven flush they would not be effective for this purpose.  In the same way, we do not need to fancy ourselves as the Holy Spirit.  We do not need to say all that is in our minds but limit our words to what God has impressed upon us to say.

How else might upright words of truth be compared to well-driven nails?  Praise the LORD God has provided great wisdom well-driven by the Holy Spirit into our hearts and lives.  God is faithful to build His church, and let us follow His example in love and edifying others.

Lighting the Way

We had our regular fire inspection at the church building today.  During the test of the emergency lights I propped the door open for the technicians and dropped off my car across the street for a pink slip inspection.  When I returned, the technicians were finalising their report.  "By the way," one of them remarked, "it seems a miner (an Australian Noisy Miner) is stuck in the back room."  Now this wouldn't be the first time a bird has ventured into the building.  The facility sits against a beautiful backdrop of bush, and sometimes the wildlife comes in for a visit.

After the technicians left, I went into the back room to find the poor bird fluttering around like a bat.  He seemed unable to find the doorway to leave.  So I walked back through the hall, shutting every door so he wouldn't take a wrong turn.  I opened the front door to make sure the exit was as clear as possible.  I went back to the room with a cracker and dropped a few pieces to make a trail.  Yet the bird continued to move back and forth through the room, unwilling to drop to the ground.  Hmmm.  I was running out of ideas and time.  So I googled tips on how to help a bird find their way out of a room.  The article I turned to suggested the best thing to do is turn the lights out in the room and the external light source will help the bird find the door.  Sounded like a good plan.

I turned out the lights and waited.  It wasn't too long before the miner hopped through the door, feasting on the bits of cracker I left behind.  After about a minute of snacking - looking no worse for wear - he flew down the hall and out the front door to freedom.  It was that simple:  the open door perfectly lit the way.  In this interaction I saw the wisdom of God, the One who spoke light into darkness, the One who created birds and men.  With all the lights on the bird could not locate the door to freedom.  In a similar way, the world dazzles men with the bright lights of fame, wealth, entertainment, sport, sex, and achievements.  There is much to see and experience, and like that bird we can flutter from activity to activity, relationship to relationship, weekend to weekend - and perhaps not notice we are trapped in a cycle which ultimately leads to death.  It was only when I turned out the lights the bird was able to find the exit, and God is wise to allow darkness so Jesus can shine as the Way.  He is the only Door through whom we find abundant life.

I was very glad and relieved to see the bird finally emerge from his open prison.  Many people are imprisoned today in addictions, habits, and distorted ways of thinking, yet as the Light of the World Jesus has opened the door and bids them come forth.  It is in the place of desperation and darkness the light shines brightest, and praise God He has caused His light to shine in this dark world.  From the bright lights of big cities to the illuminated screens of devices, there are many distractions and lights which cause us to lose sight of the eternal peril we face because of our sins.  It is in the darkness a glimmer of truth begins to emerge for the soul tired of fluttering to and fro looking for rest and finding none.  It is only in Jesus, the Light of the Word, where we find freedom and rest for our souls.

Men Write-Off: God Redeems

When I was rear-ended in a car accident a few years ago, I didn't need an insurance agent to tell me it was a complete write-off.  Being an older car, I could see the damage sustained from boot to bonnet would have cost triple the value of the vehicle to fix.  After the insurance company paid out on the car, it probably ended up in some junkyard for spare parts or was used for scrap.  Once a car is written-off, it is a concession the damage is too great or costly to fix.  One could say Humpty Dumpty after his fall was a write-off, for all the king's horses and men were unable to put him back together again.  There is a point where well-meaning people do their best to fix problems, but there comes a time where man reaches or exceeds his limit.  He throws up his hands in frustration or grief, gives up, and tries to cut his losses.

God is not like a man that He should give up.  There is no limit to His power or resources.  When men have long since given up all hope of restoration, God continues in His loving way.  While man looks to cut his losses by salvaging tyres and rims to sell on Ebay from a vehicle that has been written-off, God seeks to redeem and restore to a point before sin.  Think of all the lives of people who were once written-off by others as lost causes headed for hell that God redeemed and saved through faith in Jesus Christ!  How many broken relationships have been restored, bodies miraculously healed, and broken minds renewed by His goodness and grace!  If a man will admit he is ruined and desperate for God's help no matter the cost, God will do a supernatural work in that person.  Instead of a life headed for the scrap heap, God restores that life with parts better than the original.  In place of a heart of stone He provides a heart of flesh.  We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory, but when we repent and trust in Jesus we are born again and made new.

Eyes of people are opened to the sickly state of the planet, government, society, and relationships, but that doesn't mean we can fix the problem ourselves.  Even when all the king's best men put their heads together, there was no fixing Humpty.  The truth is, only God is able to redeem and restore.  Only God is able to make new.  He has a plan of redemption laid out in the Bible, the price paid with the shed blood of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  It is written in Revelation 21:5, "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  God is true and faithful, and we don't need to settle for a refurbished earth or a life pieced together like a car with a salvage title:  God redeems and makes new.  Don't write off what God can make new!

Removing Graveclothes

"Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" ⁴⁴ And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."

John 11:43-44

Shortly before His death on Calvary, Jesus performed a notable miracle in Bethany by raising a man name Lazarus from the dead.  Four days before Jesus arrived at the town Lazarus died, was wrapped in graveclothes, and buried in a tomb.  Being dead four days for humans is a permanent, irreversable condition.  The body would have been stiff from rigor mortis and bloated from the decomposition process.  Much to the surprise of the family because of the degraded condition of the body, Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away from the mouth of the tomb.  After uttering a short prayer, Jesus called out for Lazarus to come forth.  To the shock of all but Jesus, there Lazarus stood!

It was customary among the Jews to wrap the body of the deceased in linen and lay it in a tomb.  Limestone was a common choice for a tomb in Palestine because the stone was common, it was easily chiseled, and the mineral composition sped the decomposition process.  At the command of Christ Lazarus hobbled to the tomb opening, still bound in graveclothes.  What I find interesting is Lazarus was not given strength like Samson who ripped through layers of bonds as if they were threads.  Jesus told those who witnessed the scene to aid Lazarus in removing the graveclothes.  Only Jesus could provide resurrection and new life, but He provided a role for others in freeing Lazarus from the linen wrapped around his hands and feet.  Lazarus did not protest saying, "I've got this, Jesus!" but stood still while others worked to unravel the linen which held him fast.

It occurred to me that even as Jesus is the only one who gives life, salvation, and deliverance, often He has a role for us in helping others to walk in freedom and newness of life.  People are born and live their lives on earth dead in sins, and it is only by faith in Christ we can be born again.  Life only comes through Jesus and at His command Christians are called, according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, to practically help others to be free from bondage.  This could take the form of a word of wisdom, rebuke, or exhortation.  It could be faithfully supporting and praying for people who are struggling.  God might lead you to share a scripture, to spend time listening and perhaps speaking as prompted by the LORD, and to exhort one another.  It may even be to help throw out stuff or substances to which other are enslaved.  As we follow Jesus and heed His voice, He will lead us into all truth.

We are told in Galatians 6:1-5:  "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ² Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load."  This passage reveals how the lives of Christians are to be intertwined and interdependent as we follow Jesus.  Our natural bent is towards independence from others or dependence on others.  The healthy and vibrant spiritual path is realised when we are dependent on Jesus and bear one another's burdens, whilst still obediently shouldering our personal responsibilities God has given us.  Stripping a corpse of graveclothes cannot bring life, but when Jesus brings new life He often calls believers around the person to assist others to walk in freedom.  Only Jesus could supply life for Lazarus, but Jesus commanded others to aid him to walk freely.  God can do everything Himself, but He extends the privilege of assisting His work to us.  Amazing.

Get Thee Hence!

"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

Matthew 4:10

When Satan tempted Jesus three times in the wilderness, Jesus appealed to the authority of God's Word to reject his evil suggestions.  Jesus was unwilling to entertain his suggestions or enter into a debate over doctrine.  The Bible provides all a Christian needs to discern the truth and the Holy Spirit provides the strength for us to walk in it.  Whenever Satan or something in our lives opposes God's Word we can say without apology or hesitation, "Get thee hence!"  It is the birthright of every Christian to walk in holiness and righteousness, and we never again need to be enslaved by sin.

God promised His people in the Old Testament a day was coming when He would give them spiritual discernment.  Their eyes would finally perceive the worthless idols they had always prized as the sinful filth they truly were.  Isaiah 30:22 says, "Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence."  People rightly find used hygiene products as disgusting and fit only for the bin, not something to be valued or treasured.  This is what spiritual blindness does.  When blinded by the deceitfulness of sin, something the equivalent of a used tampon seems precious.

Growing up in San Diego, we had a large Chinaberry tree in our front yard.  We were always cautioned by my parents against eating the berries because they are poisonous.  One day our neighbour caught her child eating the toxic berries.  As she frantically spoke to him, trying to pull the berries out of his mouth, guess what he did?  He swallowed them!  So off they went to the doctor, and again we were reminded about the dangers of eating Chinaberries.  I don't know exactly what was going through the little child's mind but apparently the berries in his mouth tasted good enough to swallow them - contrary to his mother's demand he spit them out.  Sweetness in his mouth to him translated into nourishment for his body, but this was not the case.  Idols made of gold and silver look valuable, but they are poison for our souls.

I don't believe God is interested to pry our sticky fingers from the idols we cling to.  He wants to open our eyes with the light of His Word so we will cast them from us as a worthless thing which can only defile.  It is for us to decide if we will follow Jesus at the first, and when God brings them to light we must also decide and follow through with casting aside every weight and the sin which easily besets us.  The Bible gives us the wisdom to discern wealth from what is worthless and say to temptation or sin, "Get thee hence!"

The Pineapple of Reputation

During the discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney I recently read The Pineapple Story, a short and humorous tale of how God used pineapple to teach a missionary to give everything to God.  In fighting for his rights over his pineapple garden the missionary became extremely angry.  It was only after he gave the garden to God that he was delivered from anger.  We can be angry, fight for our rights, and scheme with all our might for control.  Anger can be a useful trigger to show us all the things we have yet to commit to God.  Ultimately the story is much bigger than pineapples.  God desires we would hand over every part of our lives to Him in obedience, trusting and rejoicing in Him.  That is the place of true joy and contentment.

One pineapple in my garden as a young apprentice was that of reputation.  When I entered the mechanical insulation trade, I prayed God would make me as Daniel who stood out as excellent among his peers.  God answered my prayer and gave me skill to understand, memorise, and the physical talent to perform the work at a high level.  I was nominated as apprentice of the year and was a standout in the class and in the field.  But one day in class during my second year, I was pulled aside by the apprenticeship coordinator.  One of the foremen I worked for - a man who had signed for me as a new apprentice - had called the union hall and threatened to press charges for insubordination.  I was stunned.  I was told I might need to miss a day of work and make the 1.5 hour drive to the hall to explain my actions.

In addition to being shocked, I was furious.  This was a man for whom I worked hard.  When he showed up late, I covered for him.  When he was away, I continued to work faithfully.  I did quality work and job after job made money for the company.  And now he was threatening to press charges for insubordination?  What had I done besides make him look like a managing superstar?  I had been told from the beginning of my career in the trade, "The reputation you make as an apprentice you will carry for ten years or more."  What was I to do?  How I wrestled with the situation!  I was being unfairly targeted for some reason, and I obsessed over what I might have done or what I could do to exonerate myself.  Even talking face to face with my boss only seemed to escalate the problem.  This was no prank:  the consequences of this situation threatened my career.  Anger and worry became my daily companions, stuffed away inside.  In the darkness the bad feelings multiplied like yeast through flour.

When thinking about The Pineapple Story all those years ago it struck me:  I had never given my reputation to God!  I was angry about my precious reputation being slandered.  God's gentle rebuke came:  "Your reputation?  I thought you said I was in charge of that."  You see, all my thoughts were focused on me looking good, me being a standout. that I would be recognised as a Daniel - not for God, but for me.  This attack exposed my selfish pride.  I was convicted I had not been trusting God to handle this impossible problem.  I realised I had vented my frustration to God but I never sought Him specifically for guidance. I was angry at seeing my reputation damaged and sought to regain control.  But I never had control over my reputation in the first place!  I had asked God to establish and help me, and the fact I was angered by this attack revealed I had idolised my reputation.  Pride in my success had crept into my heart and to see my reputation being spoiled angered me.  After God spoke to my heart I repented of my sinful anger and gave my reputation into His hands.  I stopped trying to pull strings.  I found rest in resigning myself to God's will in continuing - as much as depended on me - to live peaceably with everyone.

My story had a happy ending.  The anger which was consuming me absolutely disappeared seemingly without a trace.  Instead of worry and bitterness joy filled my heart.  The man who threatened to charge me with insubordination suddenly lost interest, and I was told I did not need to appear before the union committee.  The war of bitterness and anger in my heart had been won by Jesus Christ, and I found myself basking in the peace of God.  I was light as a feather, free and untouchable in the protection of God!  I can say with absolute confidence that even if I had been brought up on charges, even if I had to miss a day of work and appear at the union hall, even if I had been fired from my job, the peace and joy of the LORD would have continued to be my strength.  The battle which was tearing me apart from the inside had been won by my Saviour.  Committing my reputation and future into God's hand was an important step to free me from sin so I could walk in Christ's victory.

Giving specific areas of our lives of conflict humbly to God is a way of denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily, and following Jesus.  Jesus did not begrudgingly set His face to Calvary because of the pain He would endure, but because of the joy which set before Him (Hebrews 12:1-2).  In fighting for self and our rights as children of God we fight a battle already lost.  The sinful anger which burns within us and fuels our rage does more damage to our souls than anything another person can do to us.  Anger will consume your life, lead to bitterness and resentment, and defile others.  When we fight for our rights we will always lose - even if we seem to win for the moment.  It is infinitely better to chose the path of giving ourselves and the protection of our rights to God, for He is in control and we are not.  He alone is able to accomplish what concerns you and me today.

Blind For A Season

"So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?"

Exodus 4:11

The God who created man possesses far greater power and abilities than those of men.  He who created the mouth is able to speak light into darkness, and the One who created the eye is able to see all.  God knows exactly what He is doing, even if men believe they can do better.  God made eyes to see as well as eyes which are incapable of sight.  Throughout scripture there are instances where God used seasons or a lifetime of blindness to accomplish His purposes.  One might think only seeing eyes have value, but when ordained by the hand of God even blindness is most profitable.

John 9:1-3 reads, "Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ² And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" ³ Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."  When Jesus saw a man who had been permanently blind from birth, He explained it was not due to sin in him or his parents.  He was born blind so the "works of God should be revealed in him."  A lifetime was merely a prolonged season Jesus would bring to an end by His grace and power.  Jesus would perform a miracle in opening the man's eyes - not only to the light of day and the beauty of creation - but to recognise His God and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Our physical eyes grow dim over time, but through eyes of faith we are able to see clearly for eternity.

God is able to use and redeem something as debilitating as blindness for His good purposes.  The wicked men of Sodom were temporarily blinded and unable to find the door to assault Lot's angelic visitors (Genesis 19:11).  Elisha asked God to strike the Syrian army with blindness.  He led them to Samaria, and God used the kindness and hospitality of the king to end an ongoing conflict (2 Kings 6:18-23).  Saul (who later was called Paul) was struck blind for three days when the risen Jesus Christ appeared to him on the road, leading to his conversion (Acts 9:8-18)  When a sorcerer tried to turn Sergius Paulus from hearing and responding to the Gospel, Paul pronounced blindness upon him which led to the proconul believing in Acts 13:11-12:  "And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord."  I'm sure the sorcerer was impacted by the event as well!  God is able to redeem blindness of one person for the good of others.

Through spiritual blindness of the Jewish people which prevented them from recognising Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah, salvation by grace through faith has come to all people.  Paul explained in Romans 11:7-11:  "What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. ⁸ Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day." ⁹ And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. ¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always." ¹¹ I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles."  The ability to see is not obtained through physical effort, knowledge, or human wisdom but by the sovereign power of God.

When Jesus opens our eyes, we can perceive people stumbling in the dark.  My natural response is to think I can help them to see because I can see.  But this isn't the case in the physical or spiritual realm!  I cannot open someone's understanding to the Gospel any more than I can open a man's eyes which have been blind from birth.  My role is to introduce others to Jesus and to the truth of the Bible which is able to make men wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).  Jesus is the Saviour who has come to open the eyes of the blind, set the captives free, and raise the dead to life.  God is able to redeem blindness which has been lifelong or even for a season to accomplish His glorious purposes.  The God who sees and knows all will guide us into all truth.  With our eyes fixed upon Him in faith, we can remain strong and not faint (Hebrews 12:1-3) even when the blindness of others grieves our hearts.  We can praise God even for blind eyes, for through them the works of God can be revealed to all.

On God's Side

Jesus said we display our love for Him by keeping His commandments.  If we call Him LORD and Master, than we need to do what He says.  The world does all it can to allure us and gives us false hope through empty promises.  For those who remain unswayed this world and the enemy of our souls is happy to load us down with sins and weights, tries to intimidate or frighten with threats, fears, and cares, and finally kills those who refuse to yield.  As followers of Christ we must not obey or even entertain voices which earnestly cry out advice from all sides allegedly for our benefit, but heed the voice of our Saviour Jesus who has demonstrated His love by dying for us.

If we will follow Christ, then intentional actions must be taken on our part.  It is our actions - not only our verbal profession or mental theoretical agreement - which show we are committed to honouring God with our obedience.  A great picture of this is seen in 2 Kings after Jehu was anointed king over Israel.  He was ordained and commanded by God to execute judgment on the wicked house of Ahab.  After Jehu killed Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah, he rode on the same day to Jezreel to execute Joram's wicked mother, Jezebel.  She was notoriously evil, practiced sorcery, shed much innocent blood, and embraced idolatry.  When she heard of her son's death and that Jehu rode to her, she painted her face and arrayed herself with a royal tiara.  She was the queen, and she would remain dignified to the end.  Jehu rode into the city, and the queen looked down upon him with disdain to accuse him of treason from a window.

2 Kings 9:31-33 reads, "Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?" ³² And he looked up at the window, and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. ³³ Then he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot."  God had anointed Jehu as king.  As king and servant of the most high God Jehu was answerable to no man or woman - even the daughter of a king.  Jehu ignored her effort to put guilt upon him and asked, "Who is on my side?  Who?"  He commanded her attendants to her to throw her down, which they did without hesitation.  Like dirty dish water or the contents of a bedpan (2 Kings 9:37), Jezebel was thrown down from the window and died in the street.  Jehu unceremoniously trampled her with his horses and ran her over with his chariot.  Whilst Jehu ate his lunch, wild dogs tore the carcass apart:  a fitting end for a woman who killed righteous men, prophets, and children for sport.

In this story I see myself and all people as those eunuchs who were commanded to make a choice in an instant:  they had to choose if they would remain loyal to queen Jezebel (and likely die with her), or to choose Jehu's side by obeying him as king. As Christians, Jesus is the King who has chosen us, and we have also chosen Him as our King.  Whatever He says to us we must do it.  In following Jesus there is not only one defining moment of choosing to obey Him as those eunuchs obeyed Jehu on that day:  there must be many!  If we will follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.  We must be willing to throw aside all sins, idols, and things which master our flesh at His command - not so we can prove to Jesus we are faithful followers - but so we can be.  If those eunuchs valued the life of Jezebel as precious on that day they would have forfeited their own.  We are saved by grace through faith, and real faith works.  We are called to daily work out our own salvation, for in so doing God will work in and through us.  As it is written in Philippians 2:12-13, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

God asks all today:  "Who is on my side?  Who?"  It is obedience to His commands which provides our clear answer.

Whose Side Are You On?

One interesting aspect of Australian culture, especially when it comes to sports enthusiasts, is liking one sport means you don't like another.  This applies to similar sports or different forms of the same sport.  If someone is a massive AFL (Australian rules football) supporter, I have not found a person as equally enthralled with NRL (Rugby league).  People who are gridiron (NFL, American football) supporters look at Australian Rules Football with confused smirks, and rugby purists hate how slow gridiron is:  "The game that always stops."  It is the same with cricket.  In Australia there are three common forms of cricket, and those old-school sorts don't consider anything other than "Test Cricket" real cricket at all.  Then there are those who like T-20 cricket and despise the boring pace, unable to see anything thrilling or remotely interesting in those drawn-out tests.

This mentality is not limited to sports, politics, or religion.  It spills into pop culture with the ever-rising current of modern superhero films.  It is the age-old question among youth and old comic collectors:  DC or Marvel?  A DC film which pits Superman against Batman has fans debating without end about who would win in a "real fight."  Yesterday I saw a shirt worn by a young man which placed comic superheros against popular Anime characters which read, "Which side are you on?"  This same slogan has been used extensively in promoting the recent popular Marvel release, "Civil War."  The statement infers one cannot remain neutral but must choose a side.  And what would be the motive for choosing one side over the other?  Perhaps the side which stands for doing what is right.  More likely it is the side which is seen as stronger and will win.

In the ancient world, the mythological "gods" were similar to modern superheros, in that they had a backstory and a particular area of power or expertise.  Zeus as lord of the sky and rain would fire his thunderbolts, Aphrodite was the goddess of love and fertility, Dionysus was the god of the harvest and wine, and Hades was the god of the underworld.  Those these mythical beings were gods, there was a limit to their power and varied versions were adopted by different cultures.  In cultures rife with idolatry, the more gods the better.  The gods through sacrifice or ritual worship could be placated or their power sought for personal gain.  But like Superman or Spiderman, for the most part they had strengths, weaknesses, and at least one nemesis.  Every Superman has his kryptonite and nemesis Lex Luthor.  Without a genuine weakness the human connection is lost.  Immortality makes the fight pointless.

The interesting thing is the Almighty God of the Jews is different than any mythological figure.  He is not like a man with weaknesses or a limit to His power:  He is supreme in authority and power, over and above all.  He has no nemesis, no one who can muster any real challenge to His rule.  All the mythological ancient Gods and all the heroes in the DC, Marvel, and Anime universes cannot mount the smallest attack upon Him.  After God spoke the universe, stars, and our planet into existence, He created man and caused all manner of life to flourish and grow upon the earth.  How would the almighty I AM reveal Himself to men upon the earth?  As a giant of a man, armoured or wearing a flowing cape, slowly descending to the earth and demanding worship?  No:  God came to earth as was supposed the son of a humble carpenter and seemed ordinary in every way.  He retained all power, but instead of using force He preached of the kingdom of God, healed the sick, stilled storms, opened the eyes of the blind, and raised the dead.  When people sought to kill Him he passed through the midst, untouchable and unruffled.  Yet when His time came, He laid down His life on Calvary as an innocent sacrifice for sin.  Jesus became weak and went to the grave so He might rise again the third day in everlasting glory, proving He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

The question "Whose side are you on?" is a fitting one when speaking of God.  Every other god, deity, hero, and common man stands opposite and below Him.  If you will be on the side of the Almighty God, then He will be on your side.  If you place your trust or allegiance in anyone else but Him, you take the side against Him.  Debating the hypothetical strength or powers of superheroes is one thing, but God is interested in your allegiance to Him actually affecting the desires and affections of your heart.  It is a decision only you can make, and the life you live will display your decision.  Joshua urged the people of Israel in Joshua 24:14-15, "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! ¹⁵ And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  The strongest demons and forces of the universe are like empty mythological tales compared to the actual power and love of God.  He kills and makes alive.  As for me, He is my God.  He is immortal, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and has absolute control over all.  Rack you brains how to defeat Him if you like, but the fantasy will never be satisfied logically or practically.  The only way to find satisfaction is to choose to deny self and your own ideas and to follow Jesus Christ, loving Him, and obeying Him.  In Him is truth, righteousness, and victory.

Jesus and the Truth

"Somebody told me there was no such thing as truth. I said, "If that's the case then why should I believe you?"

Lecrae in his song "Gravity"

From famed intellectuals to the common man on the street, the concept that truth cannot be known seemingly gains ground in our current age of exponentially increasing subjectivity.  Truth remains fixed, but men conveniently choose to ignore it.  If truth cannot be known, this reality could not be known either.  The absolute statement "Truth cannot be known" contradicts and immediately collapses upon itself.  It begs the question:  "How can you know this assertion is true?"  Many in the world are convinced truth cannot be known, but Jesus held the exact opposite view.

The life of Jesus revealed in the Bible shows His belief in the existence of God and upheld His Law as absolutely true without question.  His authority and absolute claims transcended the scribes and Pharisees, parrots of rabbis they preferred.  He could not be described as a deep thinker or philosopher delving into metaphysics, nor was He trained by masters to be an orator.  Jesus Christ emerged in the Jewish religious scene and overturned it without having sat under a single teacher or rabbi.  He did not develop His speaking and teaching by degrees:  He was perceptive, polished, and utterly perfect from the beginning of His public ministry.  Jesus was also much more than talk.  He performed countless miracles and signs to confirm the truth of His words.  From the beginning of the world and since no such thing has every happened - that an unknown, untrained, undeveloped, and untaught man could rise as the mightiest, wisest, most influential man in a matter of months on the most religious monotheistic world stage.  How was this possible?

Jesus believed truth could be known, for He said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Consider this objective statement.  There is a God and Jesus is the only way, truth, and life.  He is the only way to God and eternal life.  Many times in the Gospels Jesus claimed to be one with the Father (simple translation:  "I am God").  This is confirmed by the accusation of the chief priests who accused Jesus of blasphemy before Pontius Pilate in John 19:7, "The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."  These men who claimed to stand up for truth refused to believe it though He stood before them arrayed in royal robes and a crown of thorns.  Even after Jesus was crucified as He prophesied, after He rose again the third day, after He was seen by over 500 people at one time, and ascended to heaven in public view, they refused to believe Him.  They are easily numbered among those spoken of by Paul in Romans 1:22 who professing to be wise became fools because they rejected the truth.

The wisdom of God appears to intellectual doubters, proud agnostics, or staunch atheists to be foolishness.  1 Corinthians 1:20-24 says, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."  Truth can be known and is ascertained by factual evidence.  God gave men minds able to consider, but only those who humble themselves in faith can know Him.  In light of the evidence provided by the words and life of Jesus Christ, denying the existence of truth leaves men in the dark.  A man sitting in the dark claiming light does not exist could see the light if he willing to open his eyes and behold the Light of the World Jesus Christ - the way, truth, and life.