Let's face it: the world has never been keen on Jesus or His followers. But Jesus never painted a rosy picture of what it would look like following Him. He spoke of denying oneself, taking up your cross, and being crucified! Jesus bluntly told His disciples in John 15:18-20: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
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Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also." But this is not bad news, for God richly rewards those who walk in faith and obedience to Him. Jesus also said in Luke 6:22-23: "Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.
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Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets." When persecuted for being hated, excluded, reviled, and being called evil for Christ's sake we can rejoice. This does not provide a license to be unkind, harsh, or hateful towards others. If people avoid or hate us because we are self-righteous jerks, that is nothing to rejoice over.
Many Christians experience social and political pressure to keep their beliefs silent, as if stating a belief based upon the Bible would unfairly "impose" on others. The truth is, speaking the truth can lead to all sorts of trouble and persecution for Christians, even when spoken from a compassionate heart of love. It can lead to being passed over for promotions, being ostracised by family or friends, being singled out, bullied or verbally or physically attacked, and yes - even being crucified. But this should not cause us to bottle up the love for God, other people, and belief in His Word from public view. Christianity can never thrive in a test-tube of isolation, but spread like a life-giving antidote for the virus of sin through personal contact in communities, in the shops, the workplace, family gatherings, and even when visitors come to church. Church gatherings should not be seen as the primary place ministry is accomplished, but more like a relaxing lunch break during a hectic day at work.
Jesus did not caution His people to confine their faith or beliefs within their little group: He sent them out. He told them to go into all the world and spread the Gospel and make disciples everywhere, teaching and helping others to follow Jesus faithfully. If Christians retreat from the public sphere, how will people know the truth of the Gospel? We play the hypocrite to bow to political correctness instead of remaining obedient to Christ. If we are silent when God commands us speak, how can we be certain Jesus will speak for us? Jesus said in Luke 12:8-9, "Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.
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But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God." As followers of Christ, we are to acknowledge Jesus as LORD by our obedience to His word. Our silence and disobedience are ways we can deny Christ. Peter denied Christ three times, but his life later showed he truly loved and followed Christ to the death. If we only profess Christ before Christians because we fear crucifixion, we are not following Christ as we ought.
So you speak up in defense of scriptural truth and lose your job. So you are punished or persecuted for doing what is right. So you end up being crucified! Rejoice, for great is your reward. God's grace is yours today, and He will supply all your needs now and forever.
12 May 2015
11 May 2015
The Sign of the Resurrection
In our discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we discussed Matthew 16. Matthew 16:1 begins with Jewish religious groups who opposed one another united in tempting Jesus: "Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven." The Pharisees and Sadducees in unbelief came to Jesus and demanded a sign from heaven, ignoring the fact Jesus IS the sign from heaven promised in the Law and Prophets. Not only that, but Jesus provided clear evidence of His divine power, character, and wisdom which accompanied His daily walk. But as a dear sister said last night, "Miracles do not make believers." Jesus said of those who will not hear Moses and the prophets, even someone rising from the dead will not persuade them to believe.
Matthew 16:2-4 reveals the response of Christ. "He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; 3 and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed." Jesus called the Pharisees and Sadducees hypocrites because with confidence they predicted the weather based upon the colour of the sky, yet for all the signs He had provided them they did not affirm He was the Messiah sent by God. Jesus was born of a virgin, turned water into wine, fed 5,000 men plus women and children with 5 loaves and 2 small fish, cast out demons, opened the eyes of men born blind, cleaned lepers, healed the lame, and raised the dead. No amount of signs were enough to induce the unbelieving hypocrites to believe.
Jesus pointed to the prophet Jonah as a sign provided for that wicked, adulterous generation which has survived to this day. Jesus explained in greater detail what He meant in Matthew 12:40-41: "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here." Jesus predicted His death and after three days He would rise again. This was the sign He offered unbelievers, and it is a sign which has endured until this day. After Jesus drove the merchants from the Temple, people questioned the authority of Jesus. John 2:18-22 reads, "So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said." The words Jesus said agreed with the Scriptures already delivered through the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees searched the Scriptures, thinking that in them they would find eternal life - and those same Scriptures testified of Jesus (John 5:39). Psalm 16:10 had said, "For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption."
Jesus provides eternal life and light to all who believe. It is folly to demand a sign from heaven "to believe" when Jesus has already provided the sign of His resurrection. Jesus rose from the dead and proved once and for all He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God! He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as a suffering servant, but when He returns He will sit upon a war horse with eyes aflame. God holds all men accountable to His righteous standard, as it is written in Acts 17:30-31: "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." Jesus is the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, the Door, the True Vine, the Light of the World, the Judge of All the Earth, the Son of God, the Way, Truth, the Resurrection and Life, the great I AM.
Are you seeking a sign? Do not make the mistake of ignoring or discounting the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is not dead but alive! He was carried up alive into heaven before hundreds of eye witnesses. Consider the implications! The resurrection validated all the Word of Christ beyond any doubt. The prophets and spiritual sages many believe and follow are dead men, but Jesus proved Himself greater than them all. He is God of the living, not the dead! Men who follow prophets or idols end up dead like them, but those who trust in Christ will be raised to eternal life.
Matthew 16:2-4 reveals the response of Christ. "He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; 3 and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed." Jesus called the Pharisees and Sadducees hypocrites because with confidence they predicted the weather based upon the colour of the sky, yet for all the signs He had provided them they did not affirm He was the Messiah sent by God. Jesus was born of a virgin, turned water into wine, fed 5,000 men plus women and children with 5 loaves and 2 small fish, cast out demons, opened the eyes of men born blind, cleaned lepers, healed the lame, and raised the dead. No amount of signs were enough to induce the unbelieving hypocrites to believe.
Jesus pointed to the prophet Jonah as a sign provided for that wicked, adulterous generation which has survived to this day. Jesus explained in greater detail what He meant in Matthew 12:40-41: "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here." Jesus predicted His death and after three days He would rise again. This was the sign He offered unbelievers, and it is a sign which has endured until this day. After Jesus drove the merchants from the Temple, people questioned the authority of Jesus. John 2:18-22 reads, "So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said." The words Jesus said agreed with the Scriptures already delivered through the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees searched the Scriptures, thinking that in them they would find eternal life - and those same Scriptures testified of Jesus (John 5:39). Psalm 16:10 had said, "For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption."
Jesus provides eternal life and light to all who believe. It is folly to demand a sign from heaven "to believe" when Jesus has already provided the sign of His resurrection. Jesus rose from the dead and proved once and for all He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God! He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as a suffering servant, but when He returns He will sit upon a war horse with eyes aflame. God holds all men accountable to His righteous standard, as it is written in Acts 17:30-31: "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." Jesus is the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, the Door, the True Vine, the Light of the World, the Judge of All the Earth, the Son of God, the Way, Truth, the Resurrection and Life, the great I AM.
Are you seeking a sign? Do not make the mistake of ignoring or discounting the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is not dead but alive! He was carried up alive into heaven before hundreds of eye witnesses. Consider the implications! The resurrection validated all the Word of Christ beyond any doubt. The prophets and spiritual sages many believe and follow are dead men, but Jesus proved Himself greater than them all. He is God of the living, not the dead! Men who follow prophets or idols end up dead like them, but those who trust in Christ will be raised to eternal life.
09 May 2015
Battle For Your Mind
Ever eaten food you recognised as being exceptionally good? We can have the same experience spiritually. In our minds we understand all scripture is inspired by God, but sometimes a passage "hits the spot," so to speak. God's Word speaks to specific needs in a person, and when applied by the Holy Spirit the results are transformational.
This morning we read 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 at Calvary Chapel Sydney: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." I used to think "spiritual warfare" was something that occurred out in the world. The Bible reveals the "ground zero" for spiritual battles takes place in our minds. Paul was writing to Christians to beg they wage war upon their worldly ideas and sinful thought patterns. The regenerated Christian mind is filled with strongholds of satanic lies and deceptions only the Word of God can expose and the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ can pull down.
When we are born again and given a new nature, our physical brain stays the same. We continue to live in the world, exposed to all manner of sinful thoughts and ideas. We still live in a body which lives to please itself. Imagine for a moment your mind as a massive kingdom which for years was ruled by a ruthless, cruel tyrant who oppressed and enslaved the common people. Little did the people realise the tyrant was actually a usurper who assumed the throne by deceit. Fearful of overthrow, he sent spies and hired mercenaries throughout the kingdom to maintain his elaborate network of strategically-placed shelters with provisions, weapons, and armour. One day a man clothed in white appeared before the tyrant's throne. He unsheathed his sword, looked at him sternly and said, "I know who you are, fraud and father of lies! You have no right to sit upon this throne. Before God, I am the true King!"
Frightened by the man in white, the coward commander stood to his feet, surrounded by men loyal to him. "You may have won today, your Majesty," he said sneering, "but I will not give up my power so easily. I won't go down without a fight!" With that, he and his men stormed off to their strongholds. As you knelt before the rightful King, he turned to you and said, "You are now my loyal subject. I have commissioned you to seek out these strongholds of lies wherever they remain and wage war against them until they are utterly destroyed. For every stronghold you vanquish in my name, another may rise up to take its place. Be on guard against this. Be of good cheer, for I have overcome!" As he sat upon the throne, he gave a word of warning: "Be sober and vigilant. A stronghold pulled down can be rebuilt." And with that, the battle for your mind began.
When we are born again through the Gospel, Jesus Christ becomes the LORD and Saviour of our lives. We are freed from the power of Satan who oppressed and enslaved us. Though Christ is on the throne and we are justified from all sin, Satan engages in guerrilla tactics against our minds. He has established strongholds in our minds, lies we have believed as long as we can remember. He assaults us with arguments and temptations to idolatry. A spiritual battle requires spiritual weapons and armour. We have been given the fearsome sword held by Christ Himself. The Word of God illuminates the strongholds, and we have authority from Jesus to pull down those strongholds. These established, fortified, hidden strongholds are brought to light with God's Word, overthrown in prayer, and obedience to God in faith causes the enemy to surrender and flee. We must take captive all thoughts to the obedience of Christ, for worldly arguments and idols have a way of scampering off and fortifying themselves again.
There is a wonderful illustration of this spiritual battle for our minds found in the book of Joshua. When the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, the stronghold of Jericho loomed before them. Skirting the stronghold was not an option: it had to be utterly destroyed. Joshua 6:1-5 reads, "Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valour. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him." God granted his people victory over this great, ancient stronghold. It does not take a military genius to see the plan given the people was beyond orthodox - it looked completely ridiculous! But since God gave the command, faith in Him and obedience to His Word brought about the victory promised by God. What is true for Jericho is true for the deeply entrenched strongholds scattered throughout our minds: the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God to pull them down and utterly destroy every one!
After the service this morning, it dawned on me: Jericho did not stay vanquished forever. Joshua pronounced a curse over any man who would rebuild the city, but it did not stop it from being rebuilt. In the days of wicked Ahab, the land was rife with idolatry and wickedness. 1 Kings 16:33-34 says, "And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the LORD, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun." Strongholds in the minds of Christians can be rebuilt even as Jericho was. Every Christian must understand the primary location of the spiritual battle taking place they are called to engage is within their own minds. When we order our minds in obedience to Christ, and align our hearts and will with God's, we enter into the victory Jesus has provided!
This morning we read 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 at Calvary Chapel Sydney: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." I used to think "spiritual warfare" was something that occurred out in the world. The Bible reveals the "ground zero" for spiritual battles takes place in our minds. Paul was writing to Christians to beg they wage war upon their worldly ideas and sinful thought patterns. The regenerated Christian mind is filled with strongholds of satanic lies and deceptions only the Word of God can expose and the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ can pull down.
When we are born again and given a new nature, our physical brain stays the same. We continue to live in the world, exposed to all manner of sinful thoughts and ideas. We still live in a body which lives to please itself. Imagine for a moment your mind as a massive kingdom which for years was ruled by a ruthless, cruel tyrant who oppressed and enslaved the common people. Little did the people realise the tyrant was actually a usurper who assumed the throne by deceit. Fearful of overthrow, he sent spies and hired mercenaries throughout the kingdom to maintain his elaborate network of strategically-placed shelters with provisions, weapons, and armour. One day a man clothed in white appeared before the tyrant's throne. He unsheathed his sword, looked at him sternly and said, "I know who you are, fraud and father of lies! You have no right to sit upon this throne. Before God, I am the true King!"
Frightened by the man in white, the coward commander stood to his feet, surrounded by men loyal to him. "You may have won today, your Majesty," he said sneering, "but I will not give up my power so easily. I won't go down without a fight!" With that, he and his men stormed off to their strongholds. As you knelt before the rightful King, he turned to you and said, "You are now my loyal subject. I have commissioned you to seek out these strongholds of lies wherever they remain and wage war against them until they are utterly destroyed. For every stronghold you vanquish in my name, another may rise up to take its place. Be on guard against this. Be of good cheer, for I have overcome!" As he sat upon the throne, he gave a word of warning: "Be sober and vigilant. A stronghold pulled down can be rebuilt." And with that, the battle for your mind began.
When we are born again through the Gospel, Jesus Christ becomes the LORD and Saviour of our lives. We are freed from the power of Satan who oppressed and enslaved us. Though Christ is on the throne and we are justified from all sin, Satan engages in guerrilla tactics against our minds. He has established strongholds in our minds, lies we have believed as long as we can remember. He assaults us with arguments and temptations to idolatry. A spiritual battle requires spiritual weapons and armour. We have been given the fearsome sword held by Christ Himself. The Word of God illuminates the strongholds, and we have authority from Jesus to pull down those strongholds. These established, fortified, hidden strongholds are brought to light with God's Word, overthrown in prayer, and obedience to God in faith causes the enemy to surrender and flee. We must take captive all thoughts to the obedience of Christ, for worldly arguments and idols have a way of scampering off and fortifying themselves again.
There is a wonderful illustration of this spiritual battle for our minds found in the book of Joshua. When the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, the stronghold of Jericho loomed before them. Skirting the stronghold was not an option: it had to be utterly destroyed. Joshua 6:1-5 reads, "Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valour. 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him." God granted his people victory over this great, ancient stronghold. It does not take a military genius to see the plan given the people was beyond orthodox - it looked completely ridiculous! But since God gave the command, faith in Him and obedience to His Word brought about the victory promised by God. What is true for Jericho is true for the deeply entrenched strongholds scattered throughout our minds: the weapons of our warfare are mighty in God to pull them down and utterly destroy every one!
After the service this morning, it dawned on me: Jericho did not stay vanquished forever. Joshua pronounced a curse over any man who would rebuild the city, but it did not stop it from being rebuilt. In the days of wicked Ahab, the land was rife with idolatry and wickedness. 1 Kings 16:33-34 says, "And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the LORD, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun." Strongholds in the minds of Christians can be rebuilt even as Jericho was. Every Christian must understand the primary location of the spiritual battle taking place they are called to engage is within their own minds. When we order our minds in obedience to Christ, and align our hearts and will with God's, we enter into the victory Jesus has provided!
06 May 2015
The Light of Life
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
Psalm 27:1
Jesus is the Light of the World. In the beginning He said "Let there be light!" and there was light. It was not long before the light of the sun was shrouded by spiritual darkness due to sin. There remained light, but sin brought darkness and death. Even as the sun is critical for life on earth, Jesus Christ is vital for eternal life.
The sun, moon, and stars were created by God for a divine purpose: for signs, seasons, days, years and to provide light in the heavens and on the earth. (Genesis 1:14-15) As God said, so it was. On earth we are absolutely dependent on the sun, even with the widespread use of electric lights. In addition to providing the correct light to make plants grow and flourish, it also warms the earth. It dried the earth after the great flood and all the rains since, and keeps watch over every day.
Did you know a day will come with the sun will be unnecessary? This world, galaxy, and universe will pass away and God will make all things new. It is written in Isaiah 60:19-20, "The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. 20 Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended." During the earthly reign of Christ this will be true in a spiritual sense, and in the new heavens and new earth this will be the eternal reality for all God's redeemed. In speaking of the New Jerusalem, John confirmed in Revelation 21:22-25: "But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there)." Simply glorious.
Let us not think the glory of heaven only as a beautiful end to a life of woe and sorrow. Oh no, my friends. David wrote under the Old Covenant of the Law: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" God has given us a New Covenant through faith in Jesus Christ, a better covenant based on better promises. Jesus is the Light of the World who gives light and life to all who believe. The hearts of Christians are now the dwelling place of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19). Our lives can be perpetually filled with light, though we live in a world of darkness. When the plague of darkness was poured out in Egypt, the Jews had light in their dwellings. God's Word is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105).
The sun in the heavens is nothing compared to the Light of the World, Jesus Christ. God is our light and salvation, and we do not need to fear what crouches in the darkness. For the Christian, Jesus provides undimmed light and life for eternity despite any season in this world. We will suffer tribulation in this life, and all pass through valleys of the shadow of death. But we need not fear or despair, for the LORD is with us; His Spirit indwells and empowers us. For Christians, Christ's eternal light and light is already shining and we can bask in the warmth of His presence. When God shines His searching light into sin-darkened areas of our lives, it is for our good and growth to confess, repent, and be restored to righteous living.
The light of Christ is shining, and we must choose to walk in it. As it is written in 1 John 1:5-7, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." Walking in the Light keeps us from fear, despair, and darkness. No matter how dark the world becomes, the Light of Christ shines like the day in and through those who walk in it. Rejoice, for Jesus makes all things new!
05 May 2015
Be Ready!
I recently viewed a video of pastor Jay McCarl and it is a great explanation and exhortation from scripture. As Jay spoke of "this" generation I was reminded of Proverbs 30:12-14: "There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, yet is not washed from its filthiness.
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There is a generation--oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
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There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and whose fangs are like knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men." I believe this is a good description of a generation I have seen in my lifetime.
No one knows the day or the hour of Christ's coming, but we know for certain He is coming. He is coming at an hour when unbelievers will not expect it! 2 Peter 3:1-7 reminds all who have ears to hear, "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
Life continues as it always has until suddenly, unexpectedly, it stops. People who die in house fires, who are buried under debris by earthquakes, or perish in a car accident likely didn't wake up that morning with the knowledge they had less than 24 hours to live. No one knows the time of Christ's return, but we should be watchful. It is a wise man who knows the signs of the times, but a wiser man still who seeks reconciliation with God and being born again through the Gospel. Those who scoff and continue in unbelief without receiving salvation through repentance and trusting Jesus Christ face certain destruction and ultimate suffering in the lake of fire for eternity. Take it from Jesus: be ready!
No one knows the day or the hour of Christ's coming, but we know for certain He is coming. He is coming at an hour when unbelievers will not expect it! 2 Peter 3:1-7 reminds all who have ears to hear, "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
Life continues as it always has until suddenly, unexpectedly, it stops. People who die in house fires, who are buried under debris by earthquakes, or perish in a car accident likely didn't wake up that morning with the knowledge they had less than 24 hours to live. No one knows the time of Christ's return, but we should be watchful. It is a wise man who knows the signs of the times, but a wiser man still who seeks reconciliation with God and being born again through the Gospel. Those who scoff and continue in unbelief without receiving salvation through repentance and trusting Jesus Christ face certain destruction and ultimate suffering in the lake of fire for eternity. Take it from Jesus: be ready!
04 May 2015
Glory in the LORD
I have been reading through Gene Edwards Tale of Three Kings, and it is among my favourite Christian books. Relevant, instructive, and profound, I find particularly useful the portrayal of David. He was a man after God's own heart, chosen by God to be king of His people. The fact David was anointed did not make life easy on David, and in him we see a shadow of Jesus Christ. He was the chosen Messiah - the Anointed One - yet He faced rejection and willingly laid down His life on the cross for sinners.
After numerous attempts on his life, David fled. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 reads, "David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him." David left all alone, yet people came to him in the cave. His family sought David and came to him, but also everyone who was distressed, in debt, and discontented. To David came the dregs of society, those weary of a miserable existence, people who had nothing to contribute but needs, debts, and hungry mouths to feed. They seemed a liability, but David became their captain. He gave them no promises of wealth or success, but he was a man after God's own heart in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt. From this description it is hard to imagine, but out of this rabble were forged mighty men of renown, brave-hearted warriors, loyal servants, men who were willing to sacrifice all, and faithfully followed David everywhere He went. They were willing to risk their lives for the chance to please and bless David. With this humble group, the beginnings of David's kingdom was established.
In His wisdom, God has seen fit to fill His Church - the Body of Christ - with such men and women. Not many mighty, wise, or noble are called. The Church is comprised of people who are distressed about the state of their souls, people who owe a debt of sin no man could ever pay, and have become discontented with all the lies, deceitfulness of riches, and the cares of this world. David didn't cherry-pick his men based upon what they could offer him, and Jesus receives all who humbly approach Him in faith. What can a man offer God? We can only offer ourselves, wretched though we are: full of fears, faults, burdened under guilt and an everlasting weight of sin. We come to Jesus in weakness and desperation, having exhausted all hope in ourselves for salvation. The Bible never mentions the debts of David's men again, and when we are born again through repentance and faith in Christ our sin God remembers no more.
David's mighty men would never have been mighty without him, and the only way we can become all God created us to be is through faith in Jesus Christ. All my life I have desired to be the "real deal" when it comes to following Jesus, but I have learned Jesus Christ is the only "Real Deal." I'm nothing of myself. I am a liability and am unworthy. I'm just a man who has discovered in Christ peace that passes understanding, my debt of sin has been paid, and I am learning to be content in any and every situation. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 concludes, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
After numerous attempts on his life, David fled. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 reads, "David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him." David left all alone, yet people came to him in the cave. His family sought David and came to him, but also everyone who was distressed, in debt, and discontented. To David came the dregs of society, those weary of a miserable existence, people who had nothing to contribute but needs, debts, and hungry mouths to feed. They seemed a liability, but David became their captain. He gave them no promises of wealth or success, but he was a man after God's own heart in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt. From this description it is hard to imagine, but out of this rabble were forged mighty men of renown, brave-hearted warriors, loyal servants, men who were willing to sacrifice all, and faithfully followed David everywhere He went. They were willing to risk their lives for the chance to please and bless David. With this humble group, the beginnings of David's kingdom was established.
In His wisdom, God has seen fit to fill His Church - the Body of Christ - with such men and women. Not many mighty, wise, or noble are called. The Church is comprised of people who are distressed about the state of their souls, people who owe a debt of sin no man could ever pay, and have become discontented with all the lies, deceitfulness of riches, and the cares of this world. David didn't cherry-pick his men based upon what they could offer him, and Jesus receives all who humbly approach Him in faith. What can a man offer God? We can only offer ourselves, wretched though we are: full of fears, faults, burdened under guilt and an everlasting weight of sin. We come to Jesus in weakness and desperation, having exhausted all hope in ourselves for salvation. The Bible never mentions the debts of David's men again, and when we are born again through repentance and faith in Christ our sin God remembers no more.
David's mighty men would never have been mighty without him, and the only way we can become all God created us to be is through faith in Jesus Christ. All my life I have desired to be the "real deal" when it comes to following Jesus, but I have learned Jesus Christ is the only "Real Deal." I'm nothing of myself. I am a liability and am unworthy. I'm just a man who has discovered in Christ peace that passes understanding, my debt of sin has been paid, and I am learning to be content in any and every situation. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 concludes, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
30 April 2015
God Says What He Means
'Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!'
Deuteronomy 27:17
After delivering the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, God delivered His Law to His people. God was faithful to provide and guide His people through years in the wilderness, and brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey according to His promise. By lot each tribe and family (save the tribe of Levi) were given land as an inheritance. The boundaries of the land were ordained and established by God. It was against the Law to re-locate boundary markers, for they had been laid down by God Himself. To move a landmark constituted theft and was rebellion against God which brought a curse.
The principle of God establishing boundaries extends beyond the borders of land. Even as God made a division between water and land when He formed the earth, God has clearly set apart right from wrong. He held forth an absolute righteous standard in His Law, and God does not change. Seismic cultural shifts, persistent waves of unbelief, satanic sabotage under the cover of darkness, and the folly of men have shifted around many of the markers God established from the beginning. This subjective shift has not only taken place in the public sphere, but also concerning doctrines in the church. The departure from a literal view of scriptural truth has been a catalyst for great error. As generations flood by, some markers have been lost and others have been moved so far from the original place God hammered them down they might as well not exist.
This reality is nothing new. The first thing Satan is recorded as doing in Genesis was questioning, contradicting, and lying about God's words. It is through deceiving God's people where Satan has enjoyed consistent success. The church's gravest adversary operates best from within. Paul exhorted and warned Timothy concerning what was occurring in the early church in 2 Timothy 4:1-4: "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." Fables like macro evolution are heralded as fact by many Christians, and the existence of Adam and Eve as actual people has been turned to a fable. Some believe the entire book of the Revelation is allegorical! It's time for people of the Book to be people who believe what the Book says and live like it.
You've likely seen land surveyors at work near roads or job sites with their precise equipment, carefully, meticulously measuring and marking property boundaries. Their job is essential in building and development, establishing the legal boundaries of fences, motorways, and buildings. Imagine a skilled land surveyor mapped out a set of drawings on a flat dirt lot intended to be a carpark. His careful measurements were taken and the elevation marked with stakes. Let's say during the night rain joyriding hoons tore through the lot, plowed through the mud, and scattered all the stakes. The surveyor returned the next day shocked to find the site a mess. Do you think he would be able to replace the perfectly accurate arrangement of stakes to the correct height by memory alone? No way! It would be ludicrous to think placing stakes at random spots would result in a carpark which matched the design perfectly. He would need to refer back to the drawings and use his specialised equipment to find the precise location for each marked stake.
The point of the story is to illustrate the importance of the absolute truth the church has been given by God in the Bible. Even as a land surveyor requires precise instruments to perform his job, we need the power of the Holy Spirit to discern spiritual truth and apply it faithfully to our lives. This shifting of the boundaries has occurred again and again based upon man's wisdom - not God's. Many men intentionally shifted markers to suit their sins or accommodate an unbelieving culture. The departure from belief in the naked Word has been shifted to mesh with scholarly interpretations, worldly speculation, and spiritualisation of texts to shift further from God's established landmarks. God said through the prophet in Isaiah 57:20-21: "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." Satan has used many tactics to muddy the waters of God's pristine truth, and under the guise of higher learning has undermined the faith of many. It is only through faith in God and His Word we can know with certainty truth from error.
The exhortation given by C.H. Spurgeon to his students I take to heart and share today: "The Bible is not a compilation of clever allegories or instructive poetical traditions; it teaches literal facts and reveals tremendous realities: let your full persuasion of this truth be manifest to all who attend your ministry. It will be an ill day for the church if the pulpit should even appear to endorse the skeptical hypothesis that Holy Scripture is but the record of a refined mythology, in which globules of truth are dissolved in seas of poetic and imaginary detail." (Lectures to My Students, pg. 102) God says what He means and means what He says, regardless of what so called experts say. How wrong were the scribes and experts of the Law in the day of Jesus! If my views and the clear teachings of the Bible are at odds, it is I who need to change. Otherwise I run the risk of bringing myself under a curse for moving the boundaries God has set and lead others to do the same. I thank God for the Bible, for it will endure unchanged forever. Only Jesus Christ can open our understanding to comprehend the scriptures, and blessed is the man who rightly divides the Word of Truth!
29 April 2015
Remember and Proclaim
I recently enjoyed an interactive Bible study where the life of Joseph was paralleled with Jesus. Their lives are not mirror images, yet there are striking, compelling similarities which provide deep wells of understanding and wisdom to drink from. Joseph was loved by his father, betrayed and sold by his brothers, and later became a saviour to the people of Egypt and all who came during the famine. Jesus too was loved by His heavenly Father, betrayed by His own disciple for silver, rejected by the Jewish nation He came to save, and died on the cross as a sacrifice for sin so all who repent can be saved. Joseph was saviour for a season, but Jesus is the Saviour for eternity.
We talked about twenty similarities between the lives of Joseph and Jesus, and the brother leading the study said there were no less than 60! As the study was concluding, it came to mind Joseph was mentioned in the Hall of Faith. I turned there, wondering if there was a correlation to be found in the New Testament as well. Hebrews 11:22 reads, "By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones." Joseph and Jesus were both men of faith. When Joseph was dying, he commanded his bones be carried out of Egypt and buried in his father's tomb. It struck me Jesus also had made a command concerning remembering His body! The bones of Jesus did not remain in a tomb, for after three days He was raised alive and incorruptible. So what is the connection?
During the Last Supper, Luke 22:19-20 says of Jesus Christ: "And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." Jesus commanded we remember His sacrifice through what is commonly called "The LORD's Supper" or "Communion." When believers gather together in Christ's name, we are to make time to remember the price Jesus paid. We eat the bread to remember how the body of Jesus has been broken for us, and drink of the cup because His blood has been shed for us. Receiving the elements of Communion into our bodies is a picture of how we, by faith, have received Jesus Christ as Saviour and His salvation through the Gospel. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:26, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." Our obedience to remember Christ's sacrifice is also a proclamation of His return.
The Bible is filled with rich pictures, shadows, and types which are so deep all eternity will not be immense enough to exhaust them. One instructive example is seen when Jesus fed 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves of bread and two fish. Matthew 14:19-20 reads, "Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained." When Jesus broke the bread, it pointed to what He would accomplish in His death and resurrection. Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 48), who was blessed by the Father, broken in death, and the Gospel in the New Covenant in His blood has been committed to His followers to distribute among all who hunger for salvation. All who partake of the Bread of Life by faith will be satisfied with salvation.
The application for us? Let us heed the command Jesus gave to remember His sacrifice and proclaim His return by receiving Communion together with fellow believers. Having received the Gospel from the hand of our LORD and Saviour by faith, let us be faithful to lovingly distribute the words of life and share the Gospel with all who will humble themselves to receive. Praise God for His wondrous works, and such grace and gifts given to men!
We talked about twenty similarities between the lives of Joseph and Jesus, and the brother leading the study said there were no less than 60! As the study was concluding, it came to mind Joseph was mentioned in the Hall of Faith. I turned there, wondering if there was a correlation to be found in the New Testament as well. Hebrews 11:22 reads, "By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones." Joseph and Jesus were both men of faith. When Joseph was dying, he commanded his bones be carried out of Egypt and buried in his father's tomb. It struck me Jesus also had made a command concerning remembering His body! The bones of Jesus did not remain in a tomb, for after three days He was raised alive and incorruptible. So what is the connection?
During the Last Supper, Luke 22:19-20 says of Jesus Christ: "And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." Jesus commanded we remember His sacrifice through what is commonly called "The LORD's Supper" or "Communion." When believers gather together in Christ's name, we are to make time to remember the price Jesus paid. We eat the bread to remember how the body of Jesus has been broken for us, and drink of the cup because His blood has been shed for us. Receiving the elements of Communion into our bodies is a picture of how we, by faith, have received Jesus Christ as Saviour and His salvation through the Gospel. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:26, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." Our obedience to remember Christ's sacrifice is also a proclamation of His return.
The Bible is filled with rich pictures, shadows, and types which are so deep all eternity will not be immense enough to exhaust them. One instructive example is seen when Jesus fed 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves of bread and two fish. Matthew 14:19-20 reads, "Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained." When Jesus broke the bread, it pointed to what He would accomplish in His death and resurrection. Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 48), who was blessed by the Father, broken in death, and the Gospel in the New Covenant in His blood has been committed to His followers to distribute among all who hunger for salvation. All who partake of the Bread of Life by faith will be satisfied with salvation.
The application for us? Let us heed the command Jesus gave to remember His sacrifice and proclaim His return by receiving Communion together with fellow believers. Having received the Gospel from the hand of our LORD and Saviour by faith, let us be faithful to lovingly distribute the words of life and share the Gospel with all who will humble themselves to receive. Praise God for His wondrous works, and such grace and gifts given to men!
28 April 2015
Abort Hypocrisy
News.com.au reported early this morning Australians Chan and Sukumaran were among eight men executed for drug crimes in Indonesia. Their families, fellow Australians, and the Australian government grimly hoped for an eleventh-hour reprieve, but it was not to be. Whilst the Indonesian government spared the lone accused woman from the firing squad, the remaining eight men were executed. Quoting Prime Minister Tony Abbott from the article, “Whatever people think of the death penalty... the fact is that these two families have suffered an appalling tragedy. And I’m sure that ever Australians thoughts and prayers will be with those families.” I agree, and certainly have been praying. In a land where no crime is punished by death, seeing two young men executed for any drug-related offense committed ten years ago is nigh impossible for many Australians to process.
I grew up in the State of California, a place which has maintained the legal right to impose the death penalty for extreme crimes - though seldom used. Even in that liberal State, capital punishment seems to have always been a source of controversy. I remember well the news reports of candlelight vigils, hearing arguments for and against the death penalty, graphic testimony from witnesses, and the last words of the condemned. It all came flooding back to me as the impending executions of Chan and Sukumaran drew nigh. Around the clock on television, radio, and websites, multiple reports were broadcasted daily. Concerned people at church wanted to discuss what was happening. Facebook pages and comments by Australians even revealed anger, rage, and frustration. Callers voiced their opinions on radio programs. Though eight lives were brought to a premature end, the conversations will continue.
The death penalty for crime remains controversial, but it points to the ultimate fact: everyone dies. Whether our lives end suddenly in a car accident, in old age, or by a firing squad, our lives on earth are temporary. The Bible explains the reason for this is due to sin. God created man without sin, yet man willfully rebelled against God's command. Adam was frankly warned by God beforehand if he ate from the tree in the midst of the garden, he would surely die. And that is exactly what happened. Adam ate from the tree, and his body began to die. Adam's sin had far-reaching consequences which passed sin and death to all. We have all sinned, and thus we will surely die. God has said, "The soul that sins will surely die." (Eze. 18:20) As sure as the law of gravity on earth causes a ball to fall to the ground when released from the hand, so a single sin brings death every time.
As I was praying about this yesterday, a thought pressed into my mind. I have heard a lot of talk about the injustice of the death penalty of late, but I have not once in all my years in Australia heard a single person speak negatively about the abortion of unborn children. Like in my home state California, abortion is legal in every state and territory in Australia. If we count Indonesia as guilty for killing criminals, how guilty are we before God for slaughtering the innocent! If our government seeks to take action against Indonesia by withdrawing our foreign ambassador for executing our citizens, what should a righteous, just God do concerning us for our crimes against His little ones? According to Victoria's Betterhealth website, "Abortion is one of the safest and most commonly performed surgical procedures in Australia." The most commonly performed surgical procedure? Surgery - meant to saves lives - is now being used primarily to end them? After reading this I just cried and cried. Safe for potential mothers maybe, but clearly the most devastating procedure for the child involved! Stories of the "Bali Nine" and the two condemned Australians have been aired with regularity in prime time, but did you know only South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory even provide statistics concerning Medicare funded abortions? The most populous states are silent. How can such a double-standard exist? It is outrageous to plead for clemency for criminals in another country when daily, legally, and quietly destroy Australian babies God knits together in the wombs of mothers who should love them.
I will be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. I cry out for those tiny beating hearts, "Mercy! For God's sake, have mercy!" I pray you can hear the love in my voice. I don't want to be harsh, and my intent is not to hurt any who have already walked the lonely path of abortion. We are all mortal, and the only hope for all of us who await the death of the body is Jesus Christ. Every man is born condemned by his own sin. God's the only One who can redeem execution for good, for God did so with His own precious Son. God's the only One who can atone, forgive, and cleanse us from all sin and guilt. God is able and willing to forgive repentant murderers. I am glad of this because God sees hatred as murder, and I am guilty. God knows how we suffer. Jesus is a Saviour of souls. He knows what we fear. He knows the depth of our anger and bitterness. He knows. He still loves us and allowed Jesus to suffer and die so we could live. Only God can turn our mourning to gladness, and in this I rejoice.
I grew up in the State of California, a place which has maintained the legal right to impose the death penalty for extreme crimes - though seldom used. Even in that liberal State, capital punishment seems to have always been a source of controversy. I remember well the news reports of candlelight vigils, hearing arguments for and against the death penalty, graphic testimony from witnesses, and the last words of the condemned. It all came flooding back to me as the impending executions of Chan and Sukumaran drew nigh. Around the clock on television, radio, and websites, multiple reports were broadcasted daily. Concerned people at church wanted to discuss what was happening. Facebook pages and comments by Australians even revealed anger, rage, and frustration. Callers voiced their opinions on radio programs. Though eight lives were brought to a premature end, the conversations will continue.
The death penalty for crime remains controversial, but it points to the ultimate fact: everyone dies. Whether our lives end suddenly in a car accident, in old age, or by a firing squad, our lives on earth are temporary. The Bible explains the reason for this is due to sin. God created man without sin, yet man willfully rebelled against God's command. Adam was frankly warned by God beforehand if he ate from the tree in the midst of the garden, he would surely die. And that is exactly what happened. Adam ate from the tree, and his body began to die. Adam's sin had far-reaching consequences which passed sin and death to all. We have all sinned, and thus we will surely die. God has said, "The soul that sins will surely die." (Eze. 18:20) As sure as the law of gravity on earth causes a ball to fall to the ground when released from the hand, so a single sin brings death every time.
As I was praying about this yesterday, a thought pressed into my mind. I have heard a lot of talk about the injustice of the death penalty of late, but I have not once in all my years in Australia heard a single person speak negatively about the abortion of unborn children. Like in my home state California, abortion is legal in every state and territory in Australia. If we count Indonesia as guilty for killing criminals, how guilty are we before God for slaughtering the innocent! If our government seeks to take action against Indonesia by withdrawing our foreign ambassador for executing our citizens, what should a righteous, just God do concerning us for our crimes against His little ones? According to Victoria's Betterhealth website, "Abortion is one of the safest and most commonly performed surgical procedures in Australia." The most commonly performed surgical procedure? Surgery - meant to saves lives - is now being used primarily to end them? After reading this I just cried and cried. Safe for potential mothers maybe, but clearly the most devastating procedure for the child involved! Stories of the "Bali Nine" and the two condemned Australians have been aired with regularity in prime time, but did you know only South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory even provide statistics concerning Medicare funded abortions? The most populous states are silent. How can such a double-standard exist? It is outrageous to plead for clemency for criminals in another country when daily, legally, and quietly destroy Australian babies God knits together in the wombs of mothers who should love them.
I will be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. I cry out for those tiny beating hearts, "Mercy! For God's sake, have mercy!" I pray you can hear the love in my voice. I don't want to be harsh, and my intent is not to hurt any who have already walked the lonely path of abortion. We are all mortal, and the only hope for all of us who await the death of the body is Jesus Christ. Every man is born condemned by his own sin. God's the only One who can redeem execution for good, for God did so with His own precious Son. God's the only One who can atone, forgive, and cleanse us from all sin and guilt. God is able and willing to forgive repentant murderers. I am glad of this because God sees hatred as murder, and I am guilty. God knows how we suffer. Jesus is a Saviour of souls. He knows what we fear. He knows the depth of our anger and bitterness. He knows. He still loves us and allowed Jesus to suffer and die so we could live. Only God can turn our mourning to gladness, and in this I rejoice.
27 April 2015
The Truth About Climate Change
During my lifetime there has been much debate and discussion over "climate change." This is not a reference to the changes in weather throughout a day, but a observable pattern which points to global warming. It seems to be a consensus these days the world is warming up, and have the science to affirm their position. Anyone who thinks otherwise is viewed as a the proverbial ostrich with his head in the sand, despite any evidence they interpret to counter the prevailing view.
To be honest, I do not see a need to hold tightly any particular view concerning the ever-morphing science of any side. Since the experts cannot agree, I don't know that even a careful examination of the science behind it can convince me to hold to a rigid view. Can my opinions outweigh peer-reviewed papers, politicians, or even the man on the street? Science is a business, and let us not be naive to think the motives of researchers are not without bias or agenda. Man can prove any point he wants through cherry-picked statistics, so it becomes belief in one expert's interpretation over another just as qualified. On a unseasonably hot day confirmation bias kicks in: it must be true. The reality is, people do what they want, and they believe what they want when it suits them. Nothing has changed from the beginning.
I am no expert on global climate change, but I can say with absolute certainty climate change is a reality. Whether we are experiencing climate change now I do not know, but the Bible tells us the entire world will experience a global catastrophe of unprecedented proportion. No amount of scientific study, monetary investment, energy conservation, or "going green" will stop the inevitable advance of scriptural fulfillment. What God has said will surely come to pass. Some will mock this, believing humans through science will provide a lasting solution. Please. Science nor medicine has the capacity to stop the advance of death in this world due to sin. Doctors can prolong lives, but they cannot defeat death. Only Jesus can do that. No united group of human beings is capable of stopping the eventual end of the age, the ultimate destruction of the earth, and the creation of new heavens and earth where only righteousness dwells.
With the tragic events unfolding in Nepal following the devastating earthquake, it brings to mind the words of Jesus who predicted earthquakes in various places. Quoting Jesus in Matthew 24:6-8, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows." Some shrug off earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, disease, and famine as merely circumstantial because they are nothing new. For those who believe the words of Jesus, these tragedies point to the reality of the end of this earth - even as labour pangs precede the birth of a child. Consider what Peter says in 2 Peter 3:1-8: "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." We are in the last days, and this world is not going to last forever.
During a future period called in scripture the "Great Tribulation," many instances are cited of massive changes of climate. Being divinely ordained, there will be no scientific answer or hope to counter them. Revelation 8:7 says, "The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up." A bit later we read in Revelation 16:8-9: "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory." The term "global warming" puts it too lightly! While humans do impact the earth through good or poor management, God remains in control. The end of the chapter says in Revelation 16:18-21: "And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great." God is going to shake this universe, and no one will escape.
From a biblical perspective, if global climate change isn't happening, it most certainly will. This world which had a beginning will most certainly have an end. It was birthed out of water, and it will be consumed in fire. God has ordained men to be the caretakers of this earth, and we ought to be good stewards of all God has given us. Worse than contaminated seas from radiation is the sin which has doomed this world to destruction. The only reason why the earth has continued this long is the grace and goodness of God towards people He loves. He is gracious to give generations ample time to repent from sin and trust in Him. Continuing with the 2 Peter 3:8-13, "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." This world will pass away and everything in it, but those who repent and trust in Jesus are granted eternal life.
Looking at the state of the world, there is cause for concern. But even if every single person on the globe dedicated themselves to saving the planet, convinced of global climate change, it will not stop the grim events predicted in biblical prophecy. Purify the oceans, replace the ice pack, and plug that dastardly hole in the ozone for good measure, but that will not avert the end. Man's only hope for salvation is not found in himself, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Christians do not need to fret over the state of the world without hope, for our confidence and security is found in God alone. All who fear the LORD can echo the words of the psalmist in Psalm 46:1-3: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah." Scorching sun? Rising oceans? Earthquakes which rip the earth into pieces? We will not fear, for God is our refuge and strength.
To be honest, I do not see a need to hold tightly any particular view concerning the ever-morphing science of any side. Since the experts cannot agree, I don't know that even a careful examination of the science behind it can convince me to hold to a rigid view. Can my opinions outweigh peer-reviewed papers, politicians, or even the man on the street? Science is a business, and let us not be naive to think the motives of researchers are not without bias or agenda. Man can prove any point he wants through cherry-picked statistics, so it becomes belief in one expert's interpretation over another just as qualified. On a unseasonably hot day confirmation bias kicks in: it must be true. The reality is, people do what they want, and they believe what they want when it suits them. Nothing has changed from the beginning.
I am no expert on global climate change, but I can say with absolute certainty climate change is a reality. Whether we are experiencing climate change now I do not know, but the Bible tells us the entire world will experience a global catastrophe of unprecedented proportion. No amount of scientific study, monetary investment, energy conservation, or "going green" will stop the inevitable advance of scriptural fulfillment. What God has said will surely come to pass. Some will mock this, believing humans through science will provide a lasting solution. Please. Science nor medicine has the capacity to stop the advance of death in this world due to sin. Doctors can prolong lives, but they cannot defeat death. Only Jesus can do that. No united group of human beings is capable of stopping the eventual end of the age, the ultimate destruction of the earth, and the creation of new heavens and earth where only righteousness dwells.
With the tragic events unfolding in Nepal following the devastating earthquake, it brings to mind the words of Jesus who predicted earthquakes in various places. Quoting Jesus in Matthew 24:6-8, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows." Some shrug off earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, disease, and famine as merely circumstantial because they are nothing new. For those who believe the words of Jesus, these tragedies point to the reality of the end of this earth - even as labour pangs precede the birth of a child. Consider what Peter says in 2 Peter 3:1-8: "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." We are in the last days, and this world is not going to last forever.
During a future period called in scripture the "Great Tribulation," many instances are cited of massive changes of climate. Being divinely ordained, there will be no scientific answer or hope to counter them. Revelation 8:7 says, "The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up." A bit later we read in Revelation 16:8-9: "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory." The term "global warming" puts it too lightly! While humans do impact the earth through good or poor management, God remains in control. The end of the chapter says in Revelation 16:18-21: "And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great." God is going to shake this universe, and no one will escape.
From a biblical perspective, if global climate change isn't happening, it most certainly will. This world which had a beginning will most certainly have an end. It was birthed out of water, and it will be consumed in fire. God has ordained men to be the caretakers of this earth, and we ought to be good stewards of all God has given us. Worse than contaminated seas from radiation is the sin which has doomed this world to destruction. The only reason why the earth has continued this long is the grace and goodness of God towards people He loves. He is gracious to give generations ample time to repent from sin and trust in Him. Continuing with the 2 Peter 3:8-13, "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." This world will pass away and everything in it, but those who repent and trust in Jesus are granted eternal life.
Looking at the state of the world, there is cause for concern. But even if every single person on the globe dedicated themselves to saving the planet, convinced of global climate change, it will not stop the grim events predicted in biblical prophecy. Purify the oceans, replace the ice pack, and plug that dastardly hole in the ozone for good measure, but that will not avert the end. Man's only hope for salvation is not found in himself, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Christians do not need to fret over the state of the world without hope, for our confidence and security is found in God alone. All who fear the LORD can echo the words of the psalmist in Psalm 46:1-3: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah." Scorching sun? Rising oceans? Earthquakes which rip the earth into pieces? We will not fear, for God is our refuge and strength.
26 April 2015
Clean Vessels
"Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the LORD."
Isaiah 52:11
The prophet emphatically reminded those tasked with carrying the sanctified vessels of the LORD's house of their privileged role. Men born to the tribe of Levi had roles as priests and ministers unto a holy God. They were God's inheritance, and He was theirs. Their identity was to be found in the righteous God who had chosen, called, and sanctified them. They served a holy God who spoke to His people: "Be ye holy, for I am holy." For this reason the priests and Levites were to be consecrated and set apart for the service of the LORD, ensuring they lived a life free of defilement.
Under the Law, guidelines were given to ceremonially cleanse and sanctify priests and Levites. They were to offer sacrifice, wash with clean water, and wear the approved clothing. Much effort was employed to maintain external purity. But under the New Covenant in Christ's blood, there are none who "bear" the vessels of the LORD in the same way today. When the curtain was rent in the Temple during Christ's crucifixion, worship under the Law in a Temple made with hands was wound up. Jesus had once for all become a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The Bible tells us that Christians are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within the heart of every believer. Our bodies are the vessels God has seen fit to place His glory within. The focus of Christ during His ministry on earth was not the keeping of outward tradition - carefully washing the outside of the vessel whilst ignoring defilement within - but the cleansing of the inner man of sin through faith in Jesus. Spiritual regeneration gives a man a new heart and renewed mind through the washing of the water of the Word. Once our hearts are cleansed of sin, our lives should reflect that transformation.
One of the consequences of focusing on our need for a purified heart and mind can be a neglect of intentional practice to be pure from sinful practices. Because Jesus remained pure and holy in a world filled with sin, perhaps we think we can entertain unclean thoughts or bring sinful deeds into our lives without negative consequences. The fact God has forgiven and cleansed us from sin does not provide license for us to dabble in it. The practice of "toeing the line" leads to stumbling and falls. The inner man can be affected by the things we do and dwell upon in our thinking. Our vessels can be polluted and disqualified for service. A Levite was a Levite, whether or not he was sanctified to perform his God-given duty and calling. We too can be genuine Christians by faith and spiritual rebirth, but be unfit for service unto our God because we have not kept our minds and hearts pure.
Only God can cleanse minds and hearts of men, but we are told to take action ourselves in obedience to God. Hosea 10:12 lays forth our personal responsibilities: "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you." God has said when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. Jesus came to earth as a man to demonstrate God's love for sinners, and Hebrews 10:22 exhorts us to respond: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Instead of nurturing affections for this world, Colossians 3:2 says to "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." James 1:27 puts it this way: "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
Christians are in this world, but we are not of this world. We have been sanctified, set apart for God and His service. Through God's power we are also commanded to sanctify ourselves, separating ourselves from unholy influences and defilement for the LORD's use. Let us not be tricked to think Christianity is just an inner work. Because of our new spiritual birth and heritage given by a Holy God as His adopted children, we are to take seriously this command to bring our inner and outer man into alignment with our Father in heaven. I have heard it said "the part of your life God cares most about is the part no one else sees," but He also cares about what other people and we see. He cares about the things we set before our eyes and allow into our lives, minds, and homes. The God who cleanses the inside of the cup thinks the outside should match. Being clean on the inside but remaining filthy on the outside is hypocrisy too, right?
23 April 2015
Master Or Messiah?
During last night's discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we had an interesting conversation about the contrast between the rich young rulers and blind Bartimaeus in Mark chapter 10. The only similarities between the two is they were both men, and Jesus made an impression on them. What that impression was and how they responded to Jesus were completely opposite.
As Jesus walked, a rich man ran up to Jesus and said, "Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, who is God." This was a veiled claim to deity: Jesus is either good and God, or He is not good. Jesus said, "You know the commandments." He then proceeded to list five commands which the man claimed to have kept. Despite having riches and keeping commands, the man still recognised his lack. Mark 10:21-22 reads, "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." Wealth was the god of this young rich man, and he proved unwilling to part with his idol - even with eternal life at stake.
On the way to Jericho, James and John approached Jesus. Mark 10:35-37 describes the interaction: "Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." 36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." The disciples pulled no punches with Jesus. They shamelessly told Jesus to His face they wanted Him to do for them whatever they asked. Isn't this a common thread of many who come to Jesus? Jesus, graciously and patiently, offered His ear to these ambitious followers. The rich man wanted to know what he needed to do to gain, and these disciples wanted Jesus to do whatever they wanted for them.
As they came to Jericho, a blind man named Bartimaeus heard it was Jesus who passed by. He cried out loudly, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" In saying this, Bartimaeus displayed his belief Jesus was the promised Messiah. When told by others to quiet down, Bartimaeus only screamed louder: "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and asked the man to come before him. Mark 10:50-52 says, "And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road." Bartimaeus begged for mercy, and Jesus asked Bartimaeus: "What do you want Me to do for you?" He asked to received his sight. Jesus acknowledged the man's faith, and suddenly he could see! We do not read of Bartimaeus even going back for his garment, but followed Jesus on the way.
The rich man called Jesus Master, but Bartimaeus called Jesus Messiah. The rich man asked "What must I do?" and Bartimaeus begged for mercy. Only after Jesus asked the blind man did he venture to ask for healing. The rich man went away sorrowful, but the once blind man who now could see followed Jesus rejoicing. Our eternal destiny depends on faith in Jesus Christ. When we cling to the wealth of this world, we embrace sorrow now and forever. Only when Jesus becomes our way can we be healed and obtain eternal life!
As Jesus walked, a rich man ran up to Jesus and said, "Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus answered, "Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, who is God." This was a veiled claim to deity: Jesus is either good and God, or He is not good. Jesus said, "You know the commandments." He then proceeded to list five commands which the man claimed to have kept. Despite having riches and keeping commands, the man still recognised his lack. Mark 10:21-22 reads, "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." Wealth was the god of this young rich man, and he proved unwilling to part with his idol - even with eternal life at stake.
On the way to Jericho, James and John approached Jesus. Mark 10:35-37 describes the interaction: "Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." 36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." The disciples pulled no punches with Jesus. They shamelessly told Jesus to His face they wanted Him to do for them whatever they asked. Isn't this a common thread of many who come to Jesus? Jesus, graciously and patiently, offered His ear to these ambitious followers. The rich man wanted to know what he needed to do to gain, and these disciples wanted Jesus to do whatever they wanted for them.
As they came to Jericho, a blind man named Bartimaeus heard it was Jesus who passed by. He cried out loudly, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" In saying this, Bartimaeus displayed his belief Jesus was the promised Messiah. When told by others to quiet down, Bartimaeus only screamed louder: "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and asked the man to come before him. Mark 10:50-52 says, "And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road." Bartimaeus begged for mercy, and Jesus asked Bartimaeus: "What do you want Me to do for you?" He asked to received his sight. Jesus acknowledged the man's faith, and suddenly he could see! We do not read of Bartimaeus even going back for his garment, but followed Jesus on the way.
The rich man called Jesus Master, but Bartimaeus called Jesus Messiah. The rich man asked "What must I do?" and Bartimaeus begged for mercy. Only after Jesus asked the blind man did he venture to ask for healing. The rich man went away sorrowful, but the once blind man who now could see followed Jesus rejoicing. Our eternal destiny depends on faith in Jesus Christ. When we cling to the wealth of this world, we embrace sorrow now and forever. Only when Jesus becomes our way can we be healed and obtain eternal life!
21 April 2015
The Power of Parables
"All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,
35
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."
Matthew 13:34-35
When Jesus spoke in parables it was to reveal, not conceal. To the unbelieving and careless the words of Jesus were little more than stories, but to those who trusted in Jesus His parables revealed deep spiritual truths unknown from the beginning. They have continued to remain an unceasing sources of truths both old and new to this day. The same thing can be said of the Bible. Unbelievers without spiritual discernment mock and scorn as they pick it apart, but those who rely upon God find sustenance and balm for their souls.
It's amazing how God opens the eyes of believers to discover deep truth in simple things. As I prepared for teaching scripture yesterday, I used a couple of strange household items to teach about faith: an eraser (rubber) and a tube of anti-fungal cream. Now what spiritual truth could possibly be seen in those things? The LORD helped me with those items to illustrate the object of our faith matters. All people demonstrate faith based upon their beliefs: atheists, agnostics, cults, and Christians alike. Much of the faith exercised in the world is misplaced in all sorts of false guides and supports. It is not if you have faith but where your faith is placed that matters.
If I placed my faith in a rubber to remove fungus from the skin between my toes, it would be misplaced faith. I could rub my skin until it bleeds, but it will do nothing to solve my problem. I could carry that eraser around in my pocket as a talisman or believe with all my heart it can help me, but it remains powerless to supply the cure I desire. Yet if I believe the anti-fungal cream will alleviate my condition and follow the directions, I place my faith in something designed to deal with my problem. Putting my faith in the cream leads to action on my part which in time will lead to restoration of clear skin. The spiritual connection is we can place our faith in things powerless to help us, where faith in Jesus is the only Way to forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. You can fight against the example if you want, but those with open ears and willing hearts understand the truth I have spoken. The Holy Spirit will apply this truth to softened hearts individually and personally.
Illustrations have unique power to illuminate, like glass windows allow light into a room. Whilst object lessons are useful, it is good to recognise their limits. My point in using this example was to show how it is possible and even foolish to place our faith in things which have no power to help or save us. The scriptures have been provided to reveal God to man He created in His own image. The Bible is God-breathed, having been inspired by the Holy Spirit, and is compared to a light which illuminates our steps so we will not veer from the course of God's highway of holiness. People in the shadows can laugh and mock all they want, but we Christians know where we are going and how we are going to arrive safely to our final destination in heaven. Have you placed your faith in what is able to forgive, deliver, and save you? He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
20 April 2015
Go Your Own Way
God gives every person the freedom to go their own way. It's not just a refrain from a catchy Fleetwood Mac song, but a gift of God provided for every person who lives on this planet. The way we live our lives has a clear correlation with where we are headed for eternity: heaven or hell. Sorrow, pain, sickness, and death are all products of sin's presence in the world. Adam's rebellion caused separation from God, and every human being save Jesus Christ who has walked in this world has contributed to the miserable consequences of it. God is the only one who can set things right again, and this was clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ.
As Jesus left Jericho, there was a blind man named Bartimaeus who sat by the way, begging. When he heard it was Jesus who passed by that way, he cried out with a loud voice "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" The more people "shushed" him the louder he screamed for mercy from the Son of God, the Messiah promised by God to save His people from their sins. Having heard his cries and knowing his heart, Jesus stopped and commanded blind Bartimaeus to be called. Mark 10:50 says he cast away his garment, which is very significant. Even as a busker opens his guitar case to collect donations, his garment was laid across his lap to collect alms he received. Hearing Christ had called him, Bartimaeus immediately cast aside his covering, money, and comfort in exchange to respond to the call of Christ.
Mark 10:51-52 says, "So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road." Because Baritimaeus had placed his faith in Christ, Jesus healed the man. Jesus simply said, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." I imagine Bartimaeus had fanticised for years over what it would be like to see. Having received his sight, Bartimaeus was free to do as he pleased and Jesus released him from any obligation. But do you see where Bartimaues went? He followed Jesus. The way Jesus went became Bartimaeus' way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and having received his sight Bartimaeus only cared to follow after His LORD and Saviour.
We don't read Bartimaeus ever went back for his coat or his alms: in Christ he had discovered all he needed. Despite his physical blindness, with eyes of faith he recognised Jesus as the Son of David, the promised Messiah. Once his eyes were opened, he fixed them upon Jesus and followed Him wherever He went. This is a beautiful picture for all those who have responded to the call of Christ through the Gospel. We were blind beggars steeped in sin, yet Jesus has opened our eyes to see Him as the Light of the World. We are free to go our own way. Which way will you choose? Many people were healed by Jesus, but not all of them were saved. Faith in Jesus made Bartimaeus whole. True faith in Christ results in a life where Christ's way becomes our way. Christ's way is an exclusive way all who will be saved must choose for themselves: the way of the cross, humility, dying to self, obedience to God, and serving others. It is the way which leads to victory, power, and heavenly glory for eternity. All other ways lead to death and eternal destruction in Hell.
Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:1-7: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
As Jesus left Jericho, there was a blind man named Bartimaeus who sat by the way, begging. When he heard it was Jesus who passed by that way, he cried out with a loud voice "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" The more people "shushed" him the louder he screamed for mercy from the Son of God, the Messiah promised by God to save His people from their sins. Having heard his cries and knowing his heart, Jesus stopped and commanded blind Bartimaeus to be called. Mark 10:50 says he cast away his garment, which is very significant. Even as a busker opens his guitar case to collect donations, his garment was laid across his lap to collect alms he received. Hearing Christ had called him, Bartimaeus immediately cast aside his covering, money, and comfort in exchange to respond to the call of Christ.
Mark 10:51-52 says, "So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road." Because Baritimaeus had placed his faith in Christ, Jesus healed the man. Jesus simply said, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." I imagine Bartimaeus had fanticised for years over what it would be like to see. Having received his sight, Bartimaeus was free to do as he pleased and Jesus released him from any obligation. But do you see where Bartimaues went? He followed Jesus. The way Jesus went became Bartimaeus' way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and having received his sight Bartimaeus only cared to follow after His LORD and Saviour.
We don't read Bartimaeus ever went back for his coat or his alms: in Christ he had discovered all he needed. Despite his physical blindness, with eyes of faith he recognised Jesus as the Son of David, the promised Messiah. Once his eyes were opened, he fixed them upon Jesus and followed Him wherever He went. This is a beautiful picture for all those who have responded to the call of Christ through the Gospel. We were blind beggars steeped in sin, yet Jesus has opened our eyes to see Him as the Light of the World. We are free to go our own way. Which way will you choose? Many people were healed by Jesus, but not all of them were saved. Faith in Jesus made Bartimaeus whole. True faith in Christ results in a life where Christ's way becomes our way. Christ's way is an exclusive way all who will be saved must choose for themselves: the way of the cross, humility, dying to self, obedience to God, and serving others. It is the way which leads to victory, power, and heavenly glory for eternity. All other ways lead to death and eternal destruction in Hell.
Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:1-7: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
19 April 2015
The Grace of Giving
"So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
7
But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.
8
I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
2 Corinthians 8:6-9
At Calvary Chapel Sydney we are studying through 2 Corinthians on Sunday mornings. Paul reminded the Corinthians of their initial desire and interest to give to others in need. Despite their willingness to give, their good intentions for a year had not been acted upon. Paul commended them for their great faith, speech, knowledge, all diligence, and love, yet they stopped short of excelling in the grace of giving. Following through in giving according to their good intentions was a test of the sincerity of their love. Jesus was cited as the standard for giving, One who chose to become poor to make others rich.
God continually supplies new tests for His people to take. Each exam is designed by God to challenge us individually. God has a way of combining familiar material with bits completely foreign to us. There are often portions we have been exposed to before, yet it doesn't mean we will always perform well. God is wise to include bits we are unprepared for to draw us closer to Him in repentance, to remind us we do not know everything, and as an impetus for us to humbly seek Him for the answers on future exams. I don't enjoy being tested, but God uses tests to show His love and care for us, to affirm we are His, to give us an opportunity to grow, and to do well where we have always failed before.
Like sitting an exam at school, completing it is an exercise of the will. No one can make you sit a test. No one can force you to read the questions, pick up the pencil, and fill in the correct answers. God will not force you to sit an exam He provides. Sometimes passing a test is required before we can move on to another test! But it is folly to avoid a test God supplies, because not sitting an exam is the surest way to fail. We do better to score poorly on a test than to refuse to try! Our poor scores reveal our need to learn and grow. If we refuse to sit God's tests we will never know through experience where our weaknesses are. God's tests are not completed in classrooms, but in our interactions with Him and others through our words, attitudes, thoughts, and actions. I have never scored perfectly on a test God supplied for me because I am not perfect. God gives us encouragement through small improvements, and should our "success" go to our heads He will give us the most basic test again so we might fail miserably and recognise our need for complete dependance on Him.
How fitting it is for us to seek to excel in the grace of giving, even as our Saviour gave Himself freely as a sacrifice for sin. Jon Courson wrote in his Bible Application Commentary: "Born in a borrowed cradle, Jesus preached from a borrowed boat, rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey, ate His Last Supper in a borrowed room, and was buried in a borrowed grave. He who made everything laid it all down and entered into total poverty that I might be rich...To the person not in love with Jesus, giving is a difficult, painful, arduous, burdensome task. He who loves Jesus, on the other hand, welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate his love." (pg. 1132) Are you willing to take the "sincerity of love by giving" test? Whatever test God sets before you this week, see that you do all in your power to pass by the riches of His grace.
18 April 2015
Jephthah and His Daughter
Our introduction to
Jephthah in scripture is he was a mighty man of valour, but this fact is
largely overlooked. He was a son of a
harlot, and for a season was cast out of his family but later asked to return. Like the elders of his hometown, it is high
time for the church to receive Jephthah back again as the man of faith he was. It seems most references to him in sermons are
negative, and he is touted as the poster boy of rashness, a power-hungry or even
ignorant man whose folly outweighs any virtue.
It is ironic God does not say one negative thing about Jephthah in the
Bible. In fact, the exact opposite is
true. After discussing the faith of
Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab, the writer of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews
11:32-34: “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail
me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
33 who through faith subdued
kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant
in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”
Of all the righteous men and women who could have been listed in what is often called the “Hall of Faith,” Jephthah was one selected by the Holy Spirit. We human beings tend to focus on outward faults, but God looks upon the heart of faith in God which is accounted by Him as righteousness. There is much to be learned from the mistakes of others, but to relegate Jephthah to a byword when God provides him as a prime example of faith is a massive error. Through Jephthah and especially his daughter we are blessed with a foreshadowing of Jesus which greatly challenges and enriches us, all for the glory of God.
Jephthah was a man of Gilead called by men to be their captain. He came to terms with the elders who sought his leadership and Judges 11:11 reads, “Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.” Whatever Jephthah said, he spoke in the hearing of the LORD. Regardless of what men may contrive of Jephthah’s motives – for who among us knows fully his own heart and it is not written – the Spirit of God came upon Jephthah (Judges 11:29). Judges 11:30-31 says, “And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." The verse begins with a connecting word which continues the thought. The Spirit came upon Jephthah, and he made a vow. There was a clear connection between the two. It was common for people to keep their prized animals in their homes, so this was not as strange as you might think.
Was Jephthah rash to make such a vow? I don’t know. But what happened after God did grant Jephthah the victory is the part everyone remembers. After he returned from the slaughter of the enemy, his one and only child – his precious daughter - came out to greet him celebrating and dancing with her tambourine. When he saw her, he immediately tore his clothes and cried out in anguish: “Alas my daughter! I have given God my word and I cannot go back on it!” The daughter of Jephthah (her name is not provided us in scripture) did not scold Jephthah or charge him with wrong. Judges 11:36-38 says, “So she said to him, "My father, if you have given your word to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon." 37 Then she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity, my friends and I." 38 So he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.”
Before the LORD Jephthah promised to offer up the first thing which came out of his house as a burnt offering to the LORD, never expecting it to be his only child whom I suspect was in her teen years. She said, “If you have given your word to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth.” God had fulfilled His part in the matter, and she urged her father to do to her according to his promise. There are tears in my eyes as I consider the faith and love of this young woman. It is one thing to say such a thing, but the revelations in the next verse blows me away. Judges 11:39-40 says, “And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man. And it became a custom in Israel 40 that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.”
Jephthah’s daughter came back. Let that sink into your soul. She could have run, knowing what awaited her. Even as Isaac was bound by Abraham on the altar on Mt. Moriah, and Abraham took up the killing knife, her father would do to her. But this time there would be no voice from heaven, no ram caught in the thicket. Two months earlier she said, “Do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth.” Did you see the difference in verse 39? After she returned, “he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed.” Dear friends, they did it together. He did not do anything “to” her; Jephthah kept his vow before the LORD “with” her. I wept many tears when I understood this. I see the man sobbing, weeping at his loss as she waited bound. Perhaps as his resolve faltered at the prospect of offering his only daughter as a sacrifice, she with gleaming eyes guided the knife to the spot. He had given his word to God, and it must be finished. God had not commanded human sacrifice, and the death of any human being is not God’s will. But this picture has been included for a divine purpose. Such a display of reverence and faith is not easily swept aside, for it points directly to Jesus Christ.
Even as Jephthah’s daughter returned with the knowledge she would be offered as a sacrifice, so Jesus Christ came as the Lamb of God to be a sacrifice for sin. Jephthah’s virgin daughter bewailed her virginity two months with her friends, and Jesus wept knowing what awaited Him on Calvary. Hebrews 5:7-9 says of Jesus, “…who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…” Jesus was God the Father’s only begotten Son, the One in whom He was well pleased. God had promised a Saviour, a Messiah, and kept His word. Jephthah’s daughter was remembered four days in Israel every year, and we remember the death of Jesus Christ when we obey Him in celebrating Communion together.
We do not fault Abraham for binding Isaac to the altar and picking up a knife with the intent to slay his only son in obedience to God: should we fault the faithful Jephthah for doing the same? God doesn’t. The context makes it clear Jephthah followed the leading of the Holy Spirit upon him in this very singular event in history which points to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. I cannot fault Jephthah with wrong before his God before Whom he spoke and stands to this day. It appears the people at the time did not fault this man who willing to pay such a high price to keep his word to the LORD, for he remained a judge until his death. Jephthah was a valiant man, a man of faith. When I read of his precious daughter I see a picture of my willing Saviour, and I feel unworthy to read the words – because I am. We all are. Who among us would demonstrate the faith of Jephthah, his daughter, or my Saviour?
Of all the righteous men and women who could have been listed in what is often called the “Hall of Faith,” Jephthah was one selected by the Holy Spirit. We human beings tend to focus on outward faults, but God looks upon the heart of faith in God which is accounted by Him as righteousness. There is much to be learned from the mistakes of others, but to relegate Jephthah to a byword when God provides him as a prime example of faith is a massive error. Through Jephthah and especially his daughter we are blessed with a foreshadowing of Jesus which greatly challenges and enriches us, all for the glory of God.
Jephthah was a man of Gilead called by men to be their captain. He came to terms with the elders who sought his leadership and Judges 11:11 reads, “Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.” Whatever Jephthah said, he spoke in the hearing of the LORD. Regardless of what men may contrive of Jephthah’s motives – for who among us knows fully his own heart and it is not written – the Spirit of God came upon Jephthah (Judges 11:29). Judges 11:30-31 says, “And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." The verse begins with a connecting word which continues the thought. The Spirit came upon Jephthah, and he made a vow. There was a clear connection between the two. It was common for people to keep their prized animals in their homes, so this was not as strange as you might think.
Was Jephthah rash to make such a vow? I don’t know. But what happened after God did grant Jephthah the victory is the part everyone remembers. After he returned from the slaughter of the enemy, his one and only child – his precious daughter - came out to greet him celebrating and dancing with her tambourine. When he saw her, he immediately tore his clothes and cried out in anguish: “Alas my daughter! I have given God my word and I cannot go back on it!” The daughter of Jephthah (her name is not provided us in scripture) did not scold Jephthah or charge him with wrong. Judges 11:36-38 says, “So she said to him, "My father, if you have given your word to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon." 37 Then she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity, my friends and I." 38 So he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.”
Before the LORD Jephthah promised to offer up the first thing which came out of his house as a burnt offering to the LORD, never expecting it to be his only child whom I suspect was in her teen years. She said, “If you have given your word to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth.” God had fulfilled His part in the matter, and she urged her father to do to her according to his promise. There are tears in my eyes as I consider the faith and love of this young woman. It is one thing to say such a thing, but the revelations in the next verse blows me away. Judges 11:39-40 says, “And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man. And it became a custom in Israel 40 that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.”
Jephthah’s daughter came back. Let that sink into your soul. She could have run, knowing what awaited her. Even as Isaac was bound by Abraham on the altar on Mt. Moriah, and Abraham took up the killing knife, her father would do to her. But this time there would be no voice from heaven, no ram caught in the thicket. Two months earlier she said, “Do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth.” Did you see the difference in verse 39? After she returned, “he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed.” Dear friends, they did it together. He did not do anything “to” her; Jephthah kept his vow before the LORD “with” her. I wept many tears when I understood this. I see the man sobbing, weeping at his loss as she waited bound. Perhaps as his resolve faltered at the prospect of offering his only daughter as a sacrifice, she with gleaming eyes guided the knife to the spot. He had given his word to God, and it must be finished. God had not commanded human sacrifice, and the death of any human being is not God’s will. But this picture has been included for a divine purpose. Such a display of reverence and faith is not easily swept aside, for it points directly to Jesus Christ.
Even as Jephthah’s daughter returned with the knowledge she would be offered as a sacrifice, so Jesus Christ came as the Lamb of God to be a sacrifice for sin. Jephthah’s virgin daughter bewailed her virginity two months with her friends, and Jesus wept knowing what awaited Him on Calvary. Hebrews 5:7-9 says of Jesus, “…who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…” Jesus was God the Father’s only begotten Son, the One in whom He was well pleased. God had promised a Saviour, a Messiah, and kept His word. Jephthah’s daughter was remembered four days in Israel every year, and we remember the death of Jesus Christ when we obey Him in celebrating Communion together.
We do not fault Abraham for binding Isaac to the altar and picking up a knife with the intent to slay his only son in obedience to God: should we fault the faithful Jephthah for doing the same? God doesn’t. The context makes it clear Jephthah followed the leading of the Holy Spirit upon him in this very singular event in history which points to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. I cannot fault Jephthah with wrong before his God before Whom he spoke and stands to this day. It appears the people at the time did not fault this man who willing to pay such a high price to keep his word to the LORD, for he remained a judge until his death. Jephthah was a valiant man, a man of faith. When I read of his precious daughter I see a picture of my willing Saviour, and I feel unworthy to read the words – because I am. We all are. Who among us would demonstrate the faith of Jephthah, his daughter, or my Saviour?
12 April 2015
You Belong to Jesus
This week at Camp Kedron
we will be exploring our own identity with the question: “Who am I?”
Ultimately the only way people can know themselves in truth is by first
knowing the God who created them. I am
more than a name, a body, a mass of cells without meaning, but an eternal soul
breathed into a body God knit together in the womb. Since God created man He alone supplies the
wisdom and power to be the man He created me to be. God said to His chosen people in Jeremiah
29:11: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,
says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a
hope.”
Knowing we belong to God is
fundamental in understanding our identity as Christians. The reality is, however, we can try to find a
sense of belonging in far less than God Himself. We can substitute our accomplishments, goals,
relationships, our job, or even being a member of a church. I recently came across a Scripture Union
handout of being a disciple of Jesus based on the Sermon on the Mount. It was broken into six separate studies in
the following order: belonging,
witnessing, God’s Word, relationships, prayer, and possessions. Admittedly that first one is the concept
rarely discussed these days. In our
highly individualistic and increasingly independent society, most people
overlook the simple fact we belong to God.
Man expends great effort to try to belong instead of realising in Christ
he already finds acceptance and belongs.
All created things belong to God,
but most are not aware of this fact. Our
understanding of our identity has direct results in our decisions and
desires. As I heard pastor Steve Mays
say, we do not fight for victory, but we fight from victory. Lack of knowledge leads to us working and
praying futilely for what is already ours, and therefore we never progress into
practically experiencing what God has already freely provided. We can try our best to fit in with a
particular group, not understanding we have been made in God’s image and we
have been accepted into the beloved through Christ by faith.
We will never experience the future God desires
for us until we seek and trust God. When
our eyes are opened to see God we see ourselves in truth. After being exposed to the wisdom and power of God,
Job saw himself as vile and Peter asked Jesus to depart from him because Peter
recognised his own sinfulness. “The best
men,” Spurgeon quipped, “see themselves in the worst light.” It is the Light of the World Jesus Christ and
the scriptures which illuminate the darkness of our hearts clearly, and lead us
to God who awaits us with open arms and joy unspeakable. How good it is to know we belong to God and
live accordingly!
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