Living it Up?

There is no shortage of worldly options which offer themselves as substitutes for the life God intends.  The flesh always prefers gratification over denial.  But Jesus said if we will be His disciples, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.  He always lived to please the Father, and as we learn to follow Him we find satisfaction for our souls.  Denial of the flesh becomes a great source of joy, for in obedience to God there is rest and freedom from the bondage of sin.

No man can serve two masters, Jesus said:  we cannot serve both God and money.  The pursuit of wealth and love of money causes men to be pierced through with many sorrows, though money promises what only God can deliver.  Trusting money instead of God places our feet on a foundation of slippery sand.  People look to money to supply security, material possessions, the freedom to acquire, and to open doors for travel and experiences.  But like all things men idolise, money is incapable of supplying what we seek.  People want to "Live it up!" but these empty pursuits only makes a man sink lower.  A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions, and all the money in the world cannot quench a man's unquenchable thirst for belonging, significance, purpose, and eternal life.

Alcohol is another worldly substitute for the Spirit-filled life.  Ephesians 5:17-18 says, "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit..."  There is a stark contrast between drinking to excess and being filled with the Spirit and are completely incompatible with one another.  Alcohol stimulates dopamine production in the "reward centre" of the brain, but only intensifies feelings of depression later.  Our bodies can become dependent on alcohol, and the permanent effects are deadly.  Instead of looking to strong drink to cope with pressures of life, we are called to rely upon the Holy Spirit and the strength only He can supply.  Drinking has put many in the poorhouse, but those filled with Spirit have wealth money cannot buy.  Drinking makes a man forgetful and brings regrets, yet those who are filled with the Spirit have sharpened perception without fear or shame.

The mother of Lemuel said to her son in Proverbs 31:4-5, "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; ⁵ lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted."  After warning her son not to give himself to ways which destroy kings, she reminded him that as a king he was always "on duty."  Should he give himself over to drunkenness he would be unfit to uphold God's justice.  His judgment would be clouded and be an influence for evil rather than good.  The same is true for a child of God, having been made kings and priests unto Him through the Gospel (Rev. 1:6).  No Christian is ever "off duty."  It is God's will that we be continually filled with the Holy Spirit so we might live above reproach, conscious of God's leading and being empowered by Him.  Even the risk of momentarily forgetting God and His righteous judgments should be enough cause for us to remain sober and vigilant.

What is the impact of a Holy Spirit-filled life?  The passage continued in Ephesians 5:18-21:  "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God."  Drunkenness is a characteristic of the unsaved, a life of fleshly excess.  Being filled with the Spirit brings God's Word to bear upon our lives, puts a new song in our hearts, causes us to overflow with thanksgiving, and enables us to maintain a humble perspective before men and God.  Happiness depends on what happens, and the euphoria supplied by alcohol is temporary.  The joy of the LORD is the strength of a Christian, and this fruit of the Spirit is available continually to all who trust in Christ - without the hangover.

Money, alcohol, fame, and earthly security are all pathetic, temporary substitutes for the genuine supplied only by God.  God provides the true riches and the Holy Spirit.  All who repent and trust in Jesus are known by God, and He gives eternal life to all who come to Him by faith.  The world sells knock-off goods at shockingly high prices:  they demand the death of your body and eternal soul.  If you love the things of this world, you are being ripped off and robbed blind.  Hear the words of a Saviour who actually loves you.  Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  In Christ we discover the "High Life" - a life worth living!

The Sacrifice of Obedience

Many times the impact of what Jesus said can be lost in our modern day.  The spiritual spin we apply to a verse by jumping to interpretation before we have carefully observed can remove the strength of emphasis which struck Christ's hearers.  For example, during the Sermon on the Mount Jesus employed a complete paradigm shift from what the Law said to what He said.  In doing so He claimed to be a greater authority than Moses, which was an unimaginable claim to the Jews!

Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-24, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' ²² But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. ²³ Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."  The Law said "Thou shalt not murder," but Jesus took it further.  He claimed the motives leading to murder to be as sinful as the physical act.  Cain's anger which led to murder was just as sinful as actually killing his brother Abel.  Even as a physical assault led to prosecution and judgment, so verbal attacks were equally sinful in God's sight and would not go unpunished.

Verse 23 emphasised the high value God places on reconciliation between men.  In the day of temple worship, men often traveled great distances to Jerusalem in obedience to the Law to present themselves before the LORD on days appointed and offer sacrifice.  Say a man traveled three weeks on foot to Jerusalem with his family and animals.  Jesus said if that man remembered even at the precise moment before offering a sacrifice to God someone had an unresolved quarrel with him, he should leave his offering at the altar "unoffered," and go all the way back home to earnestly seek reconciliation with his offended brother.  After doing his part to restore that relationship, he could return and offer his gift.  If a man did not love his offended brother enough to seek reconciliation with him, could he truly claim to love God?  1 John 4:20-21 says, "If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? ²¹ And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

Do you see the very high value God places on being reconciled to our fellow men - especially those of the household of faith?  We are called to love even our enemies, and God desires obedience over sacrifice.  God's love is sacrificial, and obedience always comes at a cost.  Can you imagine making the trek to Jerusalem, only to remember a conflict back home or in the synogogue?  I suppose I would easily justify sacrificing to God since I was already in Jerusalem and then seek reconciliation later - if I bothered to do so at all!  But Jesus stated plainly the importance of fostering unity with our brethren in our private lives over performing public acts of piety.  The sacrifices under the Law were holy and good, but the true words of Jesus cut to the heart.  If we love God, we will love our brother and seek reconciliation and restoration of relationship.  If we do not care to be reconciled to our brother, Jesus said not to bother with other unacceptable sacrifices.  Psalm 51:17 reads, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart-- these, O God, You will not despise."  God will not endure hypocrites, and it would be better to tie a millstone around our necks than to willingly offend one of God's little ones.  

The Lazarus Effect

God's ways are truly higher than ours.  Our vision is sorely limited and often focused on peripheral things, but God sees the whole picture at once.  This aspect of God is portrayed wonderfully in John 11 when Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus received word that Lazarus was sick, yet He waited for two days before going to visit him.  Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, hoped Jesus would quickly visit them at their request to heal their dying brother.  What seemed like an unnecessary delay set in motion a pivotal moment with eternal consequences.  Lazarus died, and many Jewish mourners gathered to comfort Martha and Mary (John 11:19).  Jesus knew of the death of Lazarus before they began their journey to Bethany, and said in John 11:14-15:  "Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him."

After meeting with Martha and Mary, both deeply grieved for their brother who had been dead four days by that time, Jesus asked to be shown where Lazarus had been laid.  John 11:31 again spoke of the Jewish comforters:  "Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there."  Jesus wept, and His response showed His love and compassion.  Then, to the surprise of everyone, Jesus commanded the stone to be rolled away from the mouth of the tomb.  In verse 39 Martha protested:  "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."  And that was the point.  Yes, Lazarus was dead, and the decomposition process was already advanced.  John 11:40 says, "Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"

When the stone was rolled away, a foul stench wafted from the tomb.  I imagine eyes watered and noses were quickly covered in disgust.  The four days Lazarus laid in the tomb is reminiscent of the four barrels Elijah commanded be filled with water three times and poured on the sacrifice and altar on Mount Carmel when he battled the prophets of Ba'al in 1 Kings 18.  Elijah did this to prove beyond any shadow of doubt there was no trickery.  To consume the waterlogged sacrifice with fire was only possible through the power of the one true God worthy of worship, the One who answered with fire from heaven at his request.  Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven in the midst of the smell of rotting flesh with the same desire, that the people would believe He indeed had been sent from God.  Jesus called out, "Lazarus, come forth!"  As quickly as the fire fell from heaven on the mount, the figure of Lazarus bound with grave clothes appeared at the door of the tomb.  He had been miraculously resurrected, a clear sign Jesus was sent from God and is the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

Something I never noticed before was what Jesus Christ accomplished through the miracle of the physical resurrection of Lazarus:  He provided eternal salvation to the comforters who saw and believed.  They came to comfort, but it was they who were comforted with eternal life and rejoiced in the consolation of seeing Lazarus alive and well.  Their souls had passed from death to life, even as the physical body of Lazarus.  The body of Lazarus was raised to life and would someday physically die again, but all who trusted in Christ would never taste death spiritually, for Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.  John 11:45 says, "Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him."  The miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus goes far beyond Lazarus, but the salvation of souls who recognised the glory of God by faith.  Isn't God amazing?  When all hope was lost, Jesus brought life and eternal hope to people who needed comfort only He could provide.  He still does this today!

Doing the Word

Many people sought Christ and heard Him gladly, but that was no guarantee they practiced what He preached.  Jesus was not the first who endured this treatment, and men continue in this pattern even in our day.  The books we read and recommend to others are not necessarily as life changing as they could be.  The views we cheer or espouse are not always reflected in our own lives.  The pastors we enjoy listening to often go unheeded by us.  Agreement or knowledge of right and wrong is not sufficient to transform our lives.

When God put words in the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, people were interested to hear what he had to say.  It was not because they necessarily agreed with or believed him, but they enjoyed discussing and dissecting his remarks.  God told the prophet the truth in Ezekiel 33:32, "Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them."  If you go to a symphony to hear skilled musicians in an orchestra play Bach or Mozart, it is not because you necessarily agree with the political or moral views of the lead violinist or cellist:  you have gone to listen to music you enjoy.  Indeed, the personal views of those in the orchestra may be completely contrary to your own!  But the music they make can still bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye.

The children of Israel were keen to listen to the "Word of the LORD" from prophets.  After hearing it, they would decide for themselves if it was worth heeding or not.  In Ezekiel's case, he spoke the truth but it was not believed.  He was like a famous musician people came from all over to listen to attentively.  They heard his voice, but they did not heed his words.  It would be like going to a concert with sound-cancelling headphones on.  Many people enjoyed the spectacle, the lights and atmosphere, but they did not heed God's word through the prophet.

Because this tendency is in all people, I realise the hearer who does not do God's Word could be me - and it also can be you.  James 1:21-25 provides a timely exhortation for all:  "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. ²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."  Most Christians have a preferred translation of the Bible:  are you being transformed by it?  We can have our favourite preachers or messages:  are you taking intentional steps to put into practice the changes they encourage?  Those books which you see fit to keep and read:  are they directly impacting your walk with Christ for good?

Let's not be like the children of Israel, prophet connoisseurs who enjoyed the show, were intrigued by new concepts and prophetic fulfillment, but weren't in any way changed by what they heard.  Let us put into practice the words we hear from God, for then we will be blessed in what we do.

Afraid of Heights?

The earliest version of the nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty" was written in 1797 by Samuel Arnold.  The first lines read, "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.  Humpty Dumpty had a great fall."  The higher the wall, the greater chance of significant injury from a fall.  Humpty Dumpty is commonly portrayed as an egg, and considering his fragile condition he may have been better suited for a downy nest.  Once Humpty fell, irreversible damage was done.  There was no putting him back together again.

The well-known nursery rhyme has been around for centuries, but catastrophic falls for people and nations is nothing new.  This morning I read from Ezekiel 31, a passage where God spoke of how He had elevated Assyria as a towering cedar of Lebanon, the envy of the trees of Eden.  God had provided a tall, strong trunk and an ample water source to nourish the tree and cause it to grow.  Ezekiel 31:10-11 reads, "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because you have increased in height, and it set its top among the thick boughs, and its heart was lifted up in its height, ¹¹ therefore I will deliver it into the hand of the mighty one of the nations, and he shall surely deal with it; I have driven it out for its wickedness." God would make the nations shake at the sound of Assyria's fall - not because they had become mighty and were envied by others - but because the heart of the nation had been lifted up with pride.

When God lifts up a nation or elevates your status, a constant test is presented:  will our hearts be lifted up with pride or will we choose humility?  Humpty Dumpty it seems wasn't afraid of heights, and the Assyrians delighted in being the envy of nations.  They were lifted up with pride, and God brought the nation crashing down for their wickedness of pride.  God is not threatened or envious by the height of nations, for it is He who lifts them up.  Jeremiah 18:5-10 says, "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁶ "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! ⁷ The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, ⁸ if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. ⁹ And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, ¹⁰ if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it."

God's power extends over all nations and over every soul which comprises them.  Though He was the Son of God, Jesus humbled Himself and took the role of a slave.  For this reason God exalted Jesus above all others (Phil. 2:5-11).  Pride for any reason leads to ruin, and the soul which vaunts itself God is able to abase.  The man who hears Christ's words and does them will be established and endure, but those who hear Christ's words and pay them no mind will have a great fall.  Pride always comes before a fall, but God will exalt the humble.

The Freedom of Chastity

"Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly--and indeed you do bear with me. ² For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

2 Corinthians 11:1-2

When a couple was betrothed in ancient Jewish society, the man and woman after a legal ceremony were viewed as a married couple - though they did not live together or consummate the marriage until their wedding.  This betrothal period could last a year or more, until the father of the groom gave the command.  The husband had been preparing a place for them to reside in, typically a room attached to his father's home.  The bride also prepared during that time, ensuring she had a dress for her wedding, as well as gathering clothing and items to take with her on the day of her wedding.  As the wedding drew near, her close female friends kept a watchful eye on her.  Both husband and wife were to remain sexually chaste, having entered into the covenant of marriage.

Paul laboured to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would listen.  Those Jews or Gentiles who believed the Gospel, repented, and trusted in Christ were born again and became part of the Body of Christ - the Church.  Jesus had ascended to heaven, but the church remained on the earth.  Like the betrothal period of an ancient marriage covenant, the New Covenant in Christ's blood involved a period of physical separation.  Jesus is in heaven, awaiting the day and the hour the Father bids Him to return for the church who is pictured as a bride.  Jesus has not left us alone, for the Holy Spirit has been sent to fill every believer.  Paul emphasised the necessity of purity and chastity of believers for Christ's sake, so when Jesus is united with His Church she would be as a chaste virgin presented to her husband.  He kept a watchful eye on his fellow Christians, ensuring they were not wooed away by illicit lovers, and bid them reserve their hearts for Christ alone.

The commitment of betrothal and marriage had a massive impact on how people lived.  The Jews traditionally were restrictive concerning interactions and physical contact between members of the opposite sex.  Being betrothed took this up a notch.  Instead of being a restriction, betrothal and marriage was an invitation to express love and desire in a way which would have been sin outside the confines of the marriage relationship.  Our modern western society in many ways sees marriage as being restrictive and confined, and in a worldly sense this is true to a point.  From a spiritual vantage point, however, those who give their bodies sexually outside of marriage place themselves in bondage to sin.  An exclusive relationship need not be restrictive, but is a safe place for love to flourish.  Only in the marriage relationship can sex be pure and the bed undefiled (Hebrews 13:4).

Our relationship with Christ is not a sexual one, but the intimate relationship between as husband and wife is a picture of the close relationship God desires to cultivate with us.  Instead of loving the world or the things of the world, we are to place our affections on Christ first and foremost.  We are to trust Him rather than lean on our own understanding.  We are to love what God loves and hate what He hates.   We must guard our hearts, put off the old man, be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and put on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:20-27)  In Christ we discover the freedom and divine power to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus.  By His grace we can make a positive impact on others and remain unspotted from the world (James 1:27).  Our eyes must be fixed on Jesus alone, for it is He who gives rest to our souls.  Sin brings bondage and death, but Jesus gives life and freedom forevermore.  When we reserve ourselves for Jesus, He reveals more of Himself to us.

Do you suffer from a wandering heart which leads to wandering thoughts and eyes?  If you are a Christian, you have been spoken for; you have already been taken.  In fact, we have been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, having entered into Christ's Covenant by grace through faith.  God has washed and purified us, and He will someday present us before the Father with exceeding joy.  Let us be circumspect and wise, knowing we have a responsibility to refuse all potential suitors who beg us to run off with them.  May we say with the Shulamite in Song of Songs 7:10, "I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me."  In light of Christ's eternal, infinite love, all other worldly loves fade away.  Jesus is coming soon, and may we be found chaste and loyal to Him when He calls us home.

The Answer Who Comforts

Nothing is too hard for God.  What is impossible with men is possible with God.  Psalm 135:6 says, "Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places."  God has absolute power, and His power is always governed by justice, righteousness, mercy, grace, and love.  Such power would corrupt any mere man, but God is more than a man.  He is altogether not like us - finite beings conceived in sin - yet He created man is His own image.

God's ways are past finding out, and His decisions and motives are righteous without question.  Daniel 4:35 records the observations of Nebuchadnezzar, a man whose eyes were opened to God and His glorious ways:  "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"  We have as much right to question God as our ability to stop Him!  We cannot rightly ask, but we still do!  Familiarity and ignorance can breed contempt.  Romans 9:20-24 says, "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" ²¹ Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? ²² What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³ and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, ²⁴ even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"

Today I was asked by a child, "How could God allow that three-year-old on the beach to die?"  I do not know.  I do know sin has come into the world and death by sin, but I do not have a sure answer to the specific question - especially to those who are grieving a terrible loss.  Even if I knew all things and could explain God's plan in full, it would be unsatisfactory to those blinded by pain or unbelief.  I can only turn my eyes to the revealed character of God who allowed His own Son Jesus Christ to die as a revelation of His divine love.  As Jesus placed Himself willingly in His Father's hands to lay down His life for sinners, I know I can do the same.  Answers in themselves do not bring comfort:  only God comforts.  Time does not heal all wounds.  But the God of the impossible is a healer, a restorer of souls, a giver of life.

We do not need to defend God, nor did He make man responsible to explain why He does what He does.  But as His child I am called to trust Him, draw near to Him in faith, and thank Him.  I ought to testify of the good, gracious, and just character of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.  We should not be cavalier with the pain of others, and we should walk softly around wounded hearts.  I am convinced God is able to heal my hurts as I cast my cares upon Him.  I have tasted, I have seen, I have experienced God's comfort.  No matter the struggle or pain, I want to echo the immortal words of Job in Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Satanic Suggestion

For a discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we have been reading through an out-of-print edition of Spiritual Leadership.  It is lamentable how the more recent versions have been stripped of original force and power, but thankfully there are plenty of copies for purchase available online.

I was struck with the perceptive wisdom of Sanders concerning the tactics the devil uses to stunt the growth, sap the power, and reduce the fruitfulness of Christians.  Paul was not ignorant of Satan's devices, and neither should any follower of Jesus Christ be.  Satan shamelessly appeals to the opinions of others and our flesh, and works tirelessly to distract and confuse.  Causing us to yield in our pursuit of Christ for even a moment lends him our ears and access to our hearts.  Sanders wrote this in his Christian classic:

The epic contest of Moses with Pharaoh affords a classic example of the progressive temptation to compromise.  When Pharaoh discerned Moses' inflexible purpose to take Israel out of Egypt to worship the Lord, he used all his wiles to frustrate him.  "Worship God if you will," was the first suggestion, "but there is no need to leave Egypt to do it.  Worship God where you are."  The modern counterpart would be "Don't neglect religion. But there is no need to be narrow and make a complete break with the world."

When that approach failed, Pharaoh's suggestion was:  "If you must go out of Egypt to worship, there is no need to go very far away.  Just go outside the borders."  "Religion is good and necessary, but you are not called on to be fanatical about it.  Stay as near to the world as you can."

His next proposal played upon natural affection.  "Let the men go and worship, but there is no need for the woman and children to accompany them."  "Break with the world yourself, if you must, but don't be so extreme as to interfere with the worldly advancement of your family by making them conform to your Victorian standards."

His final attempt was an appeal to their covetousness and love of material things:  "Go if you must, but let your flocks and herds remain in Egypt while you go to worship."  "Don't allow your legitimate religious convictions to conflict with your business interests and activities." (Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership. Rev. ed. Chicago: Moody, 1980. 159-160. Print.)

These all seem like reasonable requests from the world's perspective, but for a follower of Jesus none of them are acceptable.  Satan suggests, but God commands!  Moses was resolved not to leave a hoof behind in obeying God, and we should follow his resolute example!

Ten Fingers, Ten Commandments

Our lives have the potential to make a huge positive influence on others.  For those in church ministry, it may feel like you aren't making much of a difference.  As I think about those who invested time in me as a kid, I remember and appreciate their sacrifice of time and faithfulness to God and His Word.  God is able to use straight-laced folks and complete characters to impact others for His glory.

Ricardo Medina was a man I will not forget.  He was called by his friends the "crazy Cuban," and would wear a cowboy hat, boots and trench coat to church every week.  I heard stories about him going to local churches and being asked to leave because of his wardrobe.  All I know is the man loved the LORD, and he had the heart of a servant.  What I remember the most was the time he stood in as youth leader on a Sunday evening at church.  I was in grade 7 or 8, and though decades have passed I have always remembered the lesson: Ricardo taught us the 10 Commandments using our fingers.  His lesson I have taught to my own children, and many others besides.

I do not know if Ricardo still walks the earth today - seeing as that was about 30 years ago - but if he does I would thank him and tell him I appreciate the lesson he shared in that cramped, panelled trailer  of a classroom.  A man other churches refused entry God used to administer the practical truth of God's perfect Law.  Psalm 19:7-11 reads, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; ⁸ the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; ⁹ the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. ¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. ¹¹ Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward."  God's Law reveals our sinfulness and desperate need for a Saviour and forgiveness.  We must see our filth before we seek cleansing, and we must recognise our grave illness before we desire a cure.

The 10 Commandments are listed in Exodus 20:1-17.  If you are interested in how to learn the 10 Commandments in order in less than 5 minutes and remember for a lifetime, here you go - compliments of Ricardo Medina!  Place your hands in front of you, palms facing up.  Starting from right thumb to left thumb:

1.  Picture a red "no smoking" type sign on your right thumb.  "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."
2. See how your pointer finger has three segments like a totem pole?  That is an idol.  "Thou shalt not make for yourself any graven image."
3. Keeping your pointer extended, hold out your middle finger to make a "V."  This reminds us, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD your God in vain."
4. Imagine your finger is full of holes, like Swiss cheese.  "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
5. Your right pinky is a small finger, and a locket is very small.  In your locket is a tiny picture of your dad and mum.  "Honour your father and your mother."
6. Make a fist and extend the pinky on your left hand.  It could stab like a knife!  "Thou shalt not murder."
7. The next finger is your "ring" finger, which reminds us of God's covenant of marriage.  "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
8. The middle finger is your longest finger, like a "steel" pipe.  "Thou shalt not steal."
9. This second finger is called the pointing finger, and we sin by false accusation.  "Thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)."
10. When you rub your forefinger and thumb together, it is a sign for money.  To lust after wealth is to covet!  "Thou shalt not covet."

There it is!  Now you too can remember and share the truth of God with others, a legacy which - like God's Word - will endure forever!

The Value of Suffering

Suffering is an intrinsic part of life on earth.  Paul wrote all of creation is currently in the bondage of corruption brought by man's sin.  Romans 8:22 explains the scope and the effects of this corruption that brings death:  "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."  It is not all bad news, for as certain as suffering and pain is present on earth, so redemption and freedom for eternity is assured for those who repent and trust in Jesus Christ.  Birth pangs are unbelievably painful, but necessary for the living miracle to be born.

Jesus suffered pain on the cross and drank of the bitter cup of judgment man deserved so those who trust in Him could be delivered from sin and death.  Though Jesus has taken our punishment, pain and suffering is a necessary part of life for we all who are alive and remain - especially for those who take a stand for Jesus Christ and godliness.  Jesus promised tribulation for those who willingly followed Him.  It is also written in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."  Even the desire to live for Christ comes at a cost.  If following Jesus brings an increase of persecution or suffering in this life, why bother?  Because it has been revealed life on earth is not all there is.  Like Abraham, with eyes of faith we look to an everlasting city in the heavens where Christ is.  We do not live for ourselves anymore, having been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, but for the God who loves us and gave Himself for us.

There are more reasons held forth in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ."  Because our God is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, we receive abundant consolation in our sufferings.  No matter what trouble we experience, God's comfort and grace is super abundant.  God's comfort does not eliminate our pain and anguish, but these intense feelings and drive us closer to God in desperation for relief.  Once we have received and choose to walk in God's comfort, we are granted the ability to help others to experience God's comfort as well.  Wouldn't you love to be able to comfort those who are in any trouble?  We do not need to have suffered the exact thing someone else has to lead them to the God who can comfort them too (though it sometimes helps).  The more we suffer, the more comfort is available to us by God, and the better we are able to help others.

If the lives of Christians were always easy and prosperous in a worldly sense, people would not be struck with the supernatural peace, joy, and contentment which is a stark contrast to others in the world in the midst of trials.  Even worse, people would see Christ as a means of financial gain and selfishly seek Him.  Paul had learned in whatever state he was to be content, and he rejoiced more in prison suffering for Christ than wealthy rulers who lived in palaces without Christ.  Suffering for a Christian has a redemptive aspect the world cannot know or experience.  Praise God for His abundant consolation in our sufferings, for we ourselves are comforted by the God of all comfort.  God can use suffering in our lives to receive His comfort and to lead others to take refuge in Him.  We all desire to be fruitful and used by God, and suffering refines and equips us through the Holy Spirit to accomplish His will.  Everyone suffers, but God wants all to be comforted.  And He wants to use you to do just that.

Praise God's Word

"In God (I will praise His word), in the LORD (I will praise His word), ¹¹ in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Psalm 56:10-11

Jesus is the name of above all names, having been exalted over all others by His heavenly Father.  Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, and revealed God's love through sacrificial death and mighty power through the resurrection.  It is the scripture, the Word of God, by which we learn of the true nature of God in trinity:  one God revealed in the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We ought to place a high value on the Bible in study and practice, and Jesus displayed total mastery of the holy scriptures.  The Pharisees thought the study of the scriptures would give life, but the scriptures spoke of Christ who alone has the words of life.  The life is in Jesus, and by faith we can know Jesus through the written Word.

One thing consistent in the book of Acts is the teaching of the Word - the Old Testament with a view to Christ as the fulfillment (Acts 8:4, 25; Acts 13:5; Acts 14:25, just a few examples).  Since then there has been many diversions in preaching emphasis, and some frown on those who cling to the scriptures in literal belief as a guide for practical living.  In a sermon titled "The Word a Sword" preached on 17 May, 1887, C.H. Spurgeon said, "Holy Scripture is full of power and energy. Oh, the majesty of the Word of God! They charge us with Bibliolatry. It is a crime of their own inventing, of which few are guilty. If there are such things as venial sins, surely an undue reverence of Holy Scripture is one of them. To me the Bible is not God, but it is God’s voice—and I do not hear it without awe. What an honor to have as one’s calling to study, to expound and to publish this sacred Word! I cannot help feeling that the man who preaches the Word of God is standing, not upon a mere platform, but upon a throne."

It is not idolatrous to honour the Word God has placed above His name, as David inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote in Psalm 138:2, "I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name."  David praised God and His Word, for the accepted canon of scripture has been God-breathed and inspired with divine unction.  God is truth, and every word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5).  The Bible is not the Godhead, but it will endure as long as God Himself.  1 Peter 1:22-25 reads, "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, ²⁴ because "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, ²⁵ but the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."

God does not change, and His Word also changes not.  It is sure foundation to build our lives upon, and wise are those who hear and obey it.  Jesus said in Luke 21:33:  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  For all of eternity the Word of God will remain true, and the assurance of the promises contained therein is complete for those who heed them.  The fear of God and a love of His Word are indispensable requirements for all who will live righteously and spend eternity in the presence of the Father with exceeding joy.  May our lives praise His Word, for in God we have placed our trust.

Keep Going Deeper!

Years ago a mate of mine led my wife Laura and me on a trek through the National Pass at Wentworth Falls.  This morning I decided I would rise early and have a special morning with Jesus, worshiping and reading the Bible (with a Thermos of coffee!) at the base of the falls.  It was a moving experience.  With the access available to Christians by faith in Christ through the Holy Spirit to the Father, we do not need to rise from our beds to gave the presence of God with and in us.  But it is a profitable and glorious practice to set aside time to sit still before God when it costs something.  Jesus went away for solitary times with the Father, and we do well to follow His example.

At the top of the falls, I was delighted by the crisp air and beautiful scenery.  The volume of water was not as much as I have seen before, but the water happily rushed along.  It was in my mind to head straight for the bottom of the valley, down the "Slacker Stairs."  I do not know the history of the title in context, for it is not for the faint of heart or for those with feeble knees!  Down, down, down I went, waiting for the breathtaking moment when the lower pool of the falls came into view.  I was not disappointed.  It was gorgeous, and the time spent singing, reading, and praying with the LORD was more precious still.

As I trudged back up the steep incline, I passed several groups of tourists.  It was not so long ago I was a tourist in a foreign land, but now I am a citizen!  If I could speak the language of the travelers I would say, "Don't stop at the top - make sure you go all the way to the bottom.  You are in for a real treat!"  People smiled and gasped in amazement at the top of the falls, and others seemed a bit underwhelmed from the lookout points near the carpark with cameras in hand.  Imagine traveling from a faraway country, I thought, and staying in the carpark.  Imagine being content with pictures at the top of the falls because you are unwilling to climb down because of the climb back up.  Some people don't have the time built into their tour schedule to go down to the bottom, and for some it would be unsafe due to physical limitations.  But if you could go deeper into the canyon, the views would blow you away.

I believe many people know and love God, but they are fine with the vistas from the lookout near the carpark and to hear the waterfall in the distance.  Others are content to expend a bit of energy and see the falls from the top, even cooling their tired feet in the clean streams.  But then there are others who have discovered the beauty and grandeur of going deeper still.  Forty years of my life has passed, and I have been happy with a level of commitment of faith and sacrifice unto God which could be much deeper.  It took a friend who cared enough to drive me to Wentworth Falls and took me on the National Pass, but now I have gone beyond where we went before.  The same is true of discipleship and following Jesus.  We need people in the church willing to invest their lives in others, demonstrating a life of faith and love in Christ, so others can learn and go deeper on their own.

Keep going no matter the cost, follower of Jesus Christ!  You are in for a real treat in this life if you press on, and eternity will be even more glorious still.

Literal Unbelief

God says what He means, and means what He says.  There is no "fine print" with God, hidden caveats and conditions from which He benefits through the ignorance of men.  The truth is, most people do not believe what God says - even when He speaks literally with clarity.

Take the children of Israel, for example.  God put words into the mouth of Ezekiel the prophet, warning His people of certain destruction at the hands of the Babylonians.  In Ezekiel chapter 20, God laid forth the facts concerning their rebellion and disobedience.  He went through the history of the people, how they carried with them idols from the land of Egypt and continued to blaspheme His holy name.  God spoke of the future, how they would know He was the LORD when He brought them back from captivity.  Despite the clarity of God's words, Ezekiel lamented by the response of the people in Ezekiel 20:49:  "Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! They say of me, 'Does he not speak parables?'"  What Ezekiel said didn't fit with the people's understanding of God, so they thought he must be speaking figuratively.

It is tragic when God speaks and His own people assume He is speaking in parables or riddles.  Would you believe this happens today?  There are some who think the first dozen chapters of the Bible are little more than symbolic language.  Because some view science and scripture at odds, they lay aside the literal account of the creation of the earth by God as figurative.  They claim to believe God and love God, but they assume He must be speaking in parables because they cannot see "days" fitting when some scientists affirm millions and billions of years must have passed.  God has spoken, but men find reasons not to believe.  This reminds me of John 12:42-43 which reads, "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  People who believe the Bible is the literal word of God are afraid to admit it, because it could ostracise them from people they admire.  To risk a career, advancement, or a reputation over a proclamation of belief doesn't seem worth it.  And God's verdict?  Such love the praise of men more than the praise of God, and that should be most troubling to a rational mind which remembers the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:32-33, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

The crazy thing about unbelief is when God speaks the truth men assume He speaks in parables, and when Jesus spoke figuratively they were offended because they took His words literally!  Jesus said in John 6:47-55, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. ⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." ⁵² The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?" ⁵³ Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."  After hearing this saying, many who followed Jesus departed and followed Him no longer.  Many followed Jesus for a season and were interested in filling their bellies with bread, but they were offended at the suggestion to eat Christ's body and drinking His blood - not kosher!  Having established the Law Jesus was not an advocate for cannibalism, but spoke figuratively of partaking of Christ's body and blood by faith, symbolism maintained in Communion.

Both literal and figurative speech are stumbling blocks to those who refuse to trust in Jesus Christ and receive Him as LORD and Saviour.  Jesus Himself is a stone rejected by the builders who has become the Chief Cornerstone.  After people left Jesus, He turned to His disciples and asked, "Are you going to leave too?"  He would not have stopped them.  He desires fellowship only with those who freely choose to remain faithful to Him, unmoved by the protests of the world.  John 6:68-69 says, "But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Do you believe the word of God?  Or do you assume the Bible must be speaking figuratively because it opposes your current belief?  The Bible ought to always be taken literally unless the scripture itself suggests otherwise.  Using scripture to interpret scripture whilst deferring to literal language is good and right, for God will not contradict Himself.  Interpreting scripture by any other means strips the life right out of it, and fabricates a monstrosity out of the wickedness and hypocrisy found in our own hearts.  Our lives depend on the literal Word of God, Christians, so hold it fast and boldly proclaim it.  All other footing is sinking sand which leads to destruction.

Jesus and Outcasts

John 9 tells of a man born blind who was healed by Jesus.  Jesus saw the man's blind condition, spat on the ground, made mud with His saliva, and rubbed it on the man's eyes.  He instructed the man to go and wash in the Pool Siloam.  The man obedient went and washed and came away seeing - without having laid eyes on the Man who healed him!

Amazingly, the story grows even more interesting.  The religious leaders debated and argued that the man supposedly healed was a doppelganger, and it was not until they had talked with the parents of the man before they admitted it was the same man they knew previously who was born blind.  Despite the affirmation of the miracle, they still hated and refused to believe Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Jewish Messiah.  They grilled the man and his parents, having decided they would throw anyone out of Synagogue who claimed Jesus was the Christ - a cultural and spiritual death sentence in their culture.  Again and again they asked the man:  "What did He do to you?  How did He cause you to see?"  They could not argue with the simplicity of the man's testimony:  "I don't know if He is is sinner or not, but one thing I know:  I was blind, and now I see."  The rulers were quickly fed up with this ignorant man's insolence and threw him out.

In one day the man born blind had mud and spit rubbed on his eyes by a stranger, washed and could see, then went to Synagogue and was thrown out.  Talk about rags to riches to rags again!  He could now see what he was missing, and was no doubt saddened by this turn of events.  He was now excommunicated, shunned, and isolated from his community he treasured, even from his own parents.  But he was not left in this quandary for long.  John 9:35-38 says, "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" ³⁶ He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" ³⁷ And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." ³⁸ Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him."

Jesus heard the man had been cast out, and sought him until he was found.  Jesus delights to reveal Himself to outcasts so they might believe in Him.  He is worthy to be worshiped in and outside the Synagogue, for He is the promised Messiah sent by God to seek and save the lost.  Jesus opened the eyes of the blind, healed the lame, raised the dead, and forgave people of sins.  The self-righteous Pharisees affirmed only God can do this (Mark 2:1-12)!  What love and grace, that Jesus would seek out the one who was cast out and likely downcast.  Those on the "outside looking in" can have a clear view of Jesus Christ and fellowship with Him.  Sometimes when Jesus opens our eyes it leads to us being outcasts.  But we do not need to fear or despair, for Jesus will not leave or forsake us.  Men may reject us, but take to heart the promise Jesus made in John 6:37:  "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."  Even when it is impossible for us to recognise Jesus, He will reveal Himself when we ask Him in faith.

Looking For the Mercy of Jesus

There was a song I remember from childhood which began with the exhortation found in 1 John 3:1:  "Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the sons of God."  Being adopted by God as His own child is special because it means He has chosen us.  My son Abel is being graded for cricket this weekend, and will be placed upon a team.  His technique, skills, and overall fitness will decide whether he is on the upper or lower end of the selection.  It's amazing to think that God chose us while we were yet sinners and are only a helpless liability - the kind of ones who aren't picked as much as hang around until the end.  Yet God has set His love upon us sinners, and demonstrated it by sending His own Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die so we might live through faith in Him.

When I played Little League way back when, it was almost a guarantee the son of the coach would play a vast majority of the innings in the field, have plenty of "at bats," and have opportunities to play the "best" positions.  By virtue of being a coach, it is likely (from my experience) his  child had been coached and supplied with knowledge, equipment, and years of practice to fill coveted roles suitably.  Put it this way:  either the son of the coach was an upper echelon player, or he was treated as one!  While there are no doubt exceptions to my experience, I share this as a point of contrast concerning how God accepts all who come to Him in faith.  God sought us out when we were lost, dead in sins, and facing God's justice for crimes committed against Him.  He paid the price so we could be forgiven and set free, and then invites us to be part of His family and live with Him forever in heaven!  How great and good is God!

This morning in prayer, Jude 1:20-21 was brought to mind:  "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."  Such a display of love through Christ Jesus ought to build our faith in Him.  Those who love and trust Him will pray to God, abiding in the love of God.  Our eyes can daily seek out instances of "the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ."  Hasn't God been merciful, showing us loving-kindness when we deserved hell?  I still deserve hell, but God loves me still.  Micah 6:8 says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"  This is no drudgery or restrictive duty, but a joyous privilege:  to do what pleases God, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our Saviour.

There is no "riding the pine" with our Saviour (that means being on the bench, out of the game).  God has chosen us, set His love upon us, and given us His mercy so we can be "in the game" through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We can all be all God intended us to be when He created us in our mother's wombs and prepared good works beforehand for us to enter into (Eph. 2:8-10).  We need not fall short of our potential Satan would love to rob us of, for God works in us both to will and do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).  Hasn't God been merciful to you?  Remember to thank Him today and share your joy with others so He will be praised and exalted.

A Good Fire Watch

"Scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath."

Proverbs 29:8

During my stint as a mechanical insulation contractor at NASSCO, "fire watches" were a requirement for any "hot work."  When steel was welded or cut out of decks or bulkheads, a worker armed with a radio and a fire extinguisher inspected the work from the opposite side.  The job of a fire watch is to ensure there is no combustible materials adjacent to the hot work, and ensure the molten steel does not contact an ignition source.  The worker cutting or welding cannot safely monitor the other side of the steel, and the fire watch ensures all is safe and up to standard.

Small sparks and slag are capable of starting fires which can rage out of control.  Solomon says scoffers can set a city aflame, and one tongue can start the equivalent of an inferno.  James 3:5-6 says, "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell."  Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and our words can do great damage.  Once fire has taken to bush it is likely to spread, and scornful words do not stay contained:  they spread and do damage as they go!  The confined spaces of ships are especially dangerous.  As the fire consumes oxygen black smoke billows, burning eyes and lungs, impeding the way of escape.

If is important for us to set a guard over our hearts and mouths, giving no place to scorn, mockery, or lies.  We can also perform the duty of a fire watch as well.  By God's grace and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit - who Jesus compared to Living Water - we can quench the burn of harsh words, allowing them to stop with us.  A welder drops hot metal into a bucket of water for safety, and no matter how thick the sparks fly we can extinguish them with God's love, grace, and mercy.  Proverbs 26:20, "Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases."  A sleepy fire watch places himself and others in danger, and we must be vigilant to turn away the wrath of scoffers - especially the scoffer who lurks within each one of us.

Today is the Day!

Today is the day of fulfilled promises, the consummation of unbelievable dreams.  God-willing, tonight my family and I will become Australian citizens.  What is impossible with men is possible with God.  When God spoke to me in 2002, "You will preach, and you will be sent," I had no idea where or when that would take place.  In 2005, after resigning from my decade-long career in mechanical insulation, on my 30th birthday I was blessed to take on a full-time role as youth pastor.  As if that was not enough of a life-altering step, the same year God impressed upon my heart the east side of Australia.  I didn't know a soul in Australia, and was frankly ignorant about how life is "down under."  I continued to plug away where God had me, believing in His time and in His way He would accomplish all.

There were times of doubt and thoughts like, "Am I going crazy?"  Looking back I can see how God was preparing me for tasks long before they came into my heart.  I went to university for two years to hone my English and writing skills, even though I planned to enter a trade.  Little did I know God would redeem that schooling for writing sermons and contributing to this blog.  I spent 10 years in a construction trade, which provided training and discipline to approach church ministry in a workman fashion.  He placed me in a church with a rigorous schedule with the perfect pastor to teach and inspire me to faithfulness no matter the difficulty.  When the door opened to be a pastor at Calvary Chapel Sydney, He had prepared me, established my family and me, provided for us, and sustained us.  It is nine days short of a full decade between quitting my career and starting work at Calvary as a youth pastor to being a pastor in Sydney and becoming a citizen of my new country.  Only God could have known or accomplished such things!

To all who have shared this journey with my family and me, thank you for your prayers and support.  People in the States and Australia (and hopefully in other places too) are rejoicing along with us today, seeing God's hand at work.  I believe God has us here for His divine purposes, and He has been preparing us for the next decade of service and on - should He tarry.  It has been the most exciting, satisfying ride of my life, and I am so grateful to God and all He has used to help and encourage us along the way.

I received this scripture from my mum today, and it is most fitting to convey the overwhelming joy and almost surreal qualities of dual-citizenship coming to pass.  Psalm 100:1-5 reads, "Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! ² Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. ³ Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. ⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. ⁵ For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."  Praise the LORD, for He is good.  Not one word has failed of His good promise, and He alone is faithful and wise.  He is holy, and His ways are past finding out.  Rejoice in His presence and shout for joy, redeemed of the LORD!

Untempered Mortar

In building, it is not difficult to conceal shoddy workmanship temporarily.  But in the long run, cut corners have a way of broadcasting themselves.  A new house can look immaculate until the rains come and show the waterproofing was not done correctly.  That retaining wall may appear straight and true, but before long the plaster can chip off to reveal massive cracks.  A unit may appear clean on inside and out, but a broken sewer main underneath will foul the air as waste ponds.  The lights may work fine, yet a quick peek above the ceiling might reveal a wiring nightmare and deathtrap.

God chose the Jews as His special people and gave them His Laws.  They were pleased to have His guidance, provision, and for Him to fight their battles.  Over the passage of time, however, the Bible describes an erosion towards idol worship and disobedience.  The morality of God's people looked much like the heathen which surrounded them.  They maintained the outer appearance of piety through traditions and sacrifices, but they had heaped false gods to themselves and did evil in God's sight.  The cracks in the walls of their society built upon the foundation of faith in God were evident and clear.  God sent Ezekiel to warn the people of impending judgment for their sins.  He spoke the truth among many competing voices - false prophets who told the people what they wanted to hear.

God was against the false prophets who spoke lies in His name.  They promised "peace" where there was no peace.  They were like the townspeople who complimented the naked emperor for his fine clothes and urged others to agree with them.  The word of the LORD was spoken through the prophet in Ezekiel 13:10-16:  "Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace--and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar--¹¹ say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. ¹² Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, 'Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?'" ¹³ Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it. ¹⁴ So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. ¹⁵ Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar; and I will say to you, 'The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it, ¹⁶ that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,' " says the Lord GOD."  Every word came to pass, and God's truth will endure forever.

We live in a similar day, when people speak led by their own hearts concerning morality.  The world is keen to be politically correct, but cares nothing for righteousness according to God's standard.  There are false prophets all over the world who build walls to suit themselves, daubed with untempered mortar - sand without enough cement.  Only a fool would render a cracked slab of concrete or structural wall with massive cracks, thinking a slather of mortar will fix the gaps.  No!  A superficial "fix" is no fix at all.  Rebar, epoxy, and concrete engineered specifically for the job are required to restore structural integrity, applied skillfully by trained craftsman.  God would see to it that the lies would be washed away as well as those who spread them.  The lying prophets would be utterly destroyed.

Satan is a liar and thief from the beginning, and he is the author of the social, moral, philosophical, political, and spiritual erosion we see in the world today as people depart from the precepts of God's Word.  He has many mouths spouting lies in every arena, spreading untempered mortar of subjectivity over moral deficiencies.  The structure is dangerously close to falling, yet the untempered mortar is daubed on.  God has been denied, His word scoffed, His people despised and blamed for all the problems in the world.  "A little more mortar and she'll be right," say the liars - unaware their souls and those who trust in them are in mortal danger.

Today is the day for boldness in righteousness, O Christian!  Let us not be those who flee when we are called to the fight.  We serve an everlasting God whose Word endures forever, a Rock of Salvation Who cannot be moved.  Not one who trusts in Him will be ashamed.  David wrote in Psalm 11:1-7, "In the LORD I put my trust; how can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"? ² For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. ³ If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? ⁴ The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. ⁵ The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. ⁶ Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. ⁷ For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright."

Let us be as Ezekiel who spoke the Word of the LORD, not moved by the desires of his own heart.  The enemy of our souls will continue to smear his falsehoods, but they will not avail him on the Day of Judgment.  It is time to value righteousness over "political correctness," for love is willing to resolutely speak the truth - even willing to die - so others might have life in Jesus.

Commitment and Redemption

Jesus is truly extraordinary.  He is a man of authority, power, and divine wisdom.  At His word the blind were made to see, lepers cleansed, and the lame walked.  Jesus knew who He was, why He had been sent by the Father, and what awaited Him on Calvary.  Yet He set his face like a flint and faced struggles and pain, for the joy that was set before Him.  While every other person would have been blinded by their own pain, Jesus saw clearly the eternal victory of not only His resurrection, but the salvation of all who trust in Him. 

I was struck with a statement Jesus made from the cross in Luke 23:46:  "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last."  The heartbeat of the Son of God stopped on that darkest of days.  It seemed death had conquered the One sent to destroy the works of the devil.  The disfigured body of Jesus might have been buried in tomb hewn out of rock, His body wrapped in linen.  But the story was not over.  The Pharisees and Sadducees may have been giving high-fives to each other like the penguins in the Madagascar movies, but their celebrations were cut short with Jesus rising from the dead.  David the sweet psalmist, king, and prophet, wrote something centuries before which Jesus alluded to in His last words.  Christ's crucifixion had been finished, but Jesus was not finished!

Consider the words of Psalm 31:1-5:  "In You, O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness. ² Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me. ³ For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me. ⁴ Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. ⁵ Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth."  Death for people on earth is a period at the end of a sentence.  Death in the physical realm is as we say in Australia, a "full stop."  But did you notice in verse five the statement Christ quoted from the cross ended with a semicolon?  There was no full stop between committing His spirit to the Father and Christ's redemption.  The price for sin had been paid, for atonement had been made for all who repent and trust Him.  As a lamb without blemish, Jesus was an acceptable sacrifice for sin.  Jesus had been delivered from His body, and would rise again in a glorified body days later in everlasting, immortal glory.

For a Christian, death of the body is not a "full stop."  Our bodies will cease to function, but those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God will be raised up even as He was.  We will someday ascend to where He is, even at the right hand of the Father.  When Jesus fed the 5,000, He instructed His disciples to gather up all the fragments of bread and fish "that nothing be lost" (John 6:12).  Jesus cares for men more than bread, and implores we who are alive and remain to seek to gather those who are lost and perishing.  Bread has a limited shelf-life, and we only have a short while remaining on earth.  Let's follow the example of Jesus and keep our hand to the plow, for night is coming when none can work.

Levi Lusko: Through the Eyes of a Lion

This morning I finished Levi Lusko's book, Through the Eyes of a Lion.  It was a powerful testimony of God's faithfulness and wisdom gleaned through the unexpected death of his beloved daughter.  It is real, inspirational, and profound.  He wrote, "On the night she went to heaven, I did for Lenya what a daddy should never have to do.  I reached out and closed my little girl's eyes.  What I never expected was that God would use her to open mine." (Lusko, Levi. Through the Eyes of a Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power. T, 2015. 182. Print)  This book is one of those practical, useful keepers I guarantee you will find hard keeping.  Buy two or three copies, and don't be surprised when they are all out on loan.

One particularly poignant moment came when Levi and Jennie received a call from the hospital and was faced with the excruciating request to donate her corneas and heart valves.  It must have been unthinkable.  It reminded me of my cousin Jimmy Thomas who suddenly died from a bee sting.  Death is always a tragedy, and him being a donor to help others became a redemptive aspect of his life - despite unspeakable pain and loss.  In Levi writing this book, in a sense he allows everyone to see his pain and suffering through eyes moistened with tears.  It is an encouragement to take heart in Christ despite the pain and difficulties you have and are going through, and how God is faithful to provide opportunities for you to bless others for their eternal benefit.

C.S. Lewis wrote in The Problem of Pain, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Lusko echoed the words of Lewis and wrote "pain is a microphone" in recognision of the platform and voice God has provided all who have suffered and found light and life in Jesus.  When the time comes for each of us, may we be those brave and courageous souls in our Saviour Jesus Christ who fully give ourselves to Him and others.  Thanks Levi for the book which was over too soon, and to Jesus Christ our inspiration, Saviour, and Redeemer who has defeated death:  the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

Fellowship and Communion

"I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"

1 Corinthians 10:15-16

Every word of God is pure, and all have deep significance.  Recently God has been teaching me the meaning of the Greek word often translated "communion" and "fellowship" in the Bible:  koinonia.  According to the Strong's Concordance, the word "koinonia" is translated into English King James Version as:  "fellowship" twelve times, "communion" four times, and "communication," "distribution," and "contribution" once each.  Whereas "fellowship" and "communion" can seem subjective and vague, the last three words effectively paint the picture of koinonia in practice.

"Fellowship" is a word often loosely connected in church circles with gathering with other Christians for worship, or to share a meal or activity.  Koinonia does not occur by virtue of people being in the same building at the same time or doing similar things:  it only happens when we communicate concerning things which glorify God, distribute to one another of what God has provided for us, and contribute to the benefit of others according to the gifting and resources God has freely given.  When the church was first established, Acts 2:42 describes the culture:  "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers."  The apostles contributed through the ministry of the Word and prayer, and the people communed with them.  Koinonia is not fostered through receiving, but primarily through giving of what you have received from God.  This is practically seen when disciples sold their properties and laid all their proceeds at the feet of the disciples to disperse to those who had need (Acts 4:32-35).  That is koinonia.

People commonly refer to the Lord's Supper as "taking" or "receiving communion."  Gathering in one accord and eating of the bread which symbolises the broken body of Jesus and drinking of the grape juice (fermented or not) that symbolises the shed blood of Christ is in obedience to Christ's command, that we remember and proclaim His death until He returns.  But "communion" is not a ritual, nor is it simply something to be received.  If we truly desire communion with Jesus Christ, we must communicate, distribute, and contribute.  We are called to offer more than our presence, open mouths, and bellies:  communicating to God through prayer, offering up ourselves sacrificially, freely giving to God all of our lives.  Gladys Aylward calls this, "our completed tithe."  God does not ask for one hand or a finger, for the blood of Christ has purchased our total life, mind, body, and soul for eternity.  Koinonia is giving to God what is rightfully His by practical contribution for the edification of the Body for God's glory.

Koinonia is not what you can receive from God, but what you can give back to Him compelled by His love.  Fellowship and communion at your church is not about rituals, programs, or joint activities, but the giving of yourself, your time, gifts, and abilities to edify others for the glory of God.  The next time you gather around the LORD's table to remember the price He paid for you, will you remember to contribute yourself?  Jesus has given all:  what have you given Him?

Simon the Pedlar

I have been reading through The Sword and the Trowel, a compliation of articles edited by C.H. Spurgeon.  I came across a stirring story written of a common man who refused to pay homage before passing idols.  He was willing to pay with his life for his principles.  The article was titled "Simon the Pedlar" and begins as follows:

"About the year 1553, at Bergen op Zoom, in Brabant, there was a pedlar named Simon, standing in the market selling his wares.  The priests with their idol passing by, the said Simon dared not show the counterfeit god any divine honour; but following the testimony of God in the holy Scripture, he worshiped the Lord his God only, and him alone served.  he was therefore seized by the advocates of the Romish Antichrist, and examined as to his faith.  This he boldly confessed.  He rejected infant baptism as a mere human invention, with all the commandments of men, holding fast the testimony of the word of God; he was therefore condemned to death by the enemies of the truth.  They led him outside the town, and for the testimony of Jesus committed him to the flames.  The astonishment of the bystanders was greatly excited when they saw the remarkable boldness and steadfastness of this pious witness of God, who, through grace, thus obtained the crown of everlasting life.

 Spurgeon continued:

 It is well to review the memory of the brave days of old that we may be inspired with the like uncompromising spirit.  Not a nod of the head or a bend of the knee will the solitary champion concede to the idol before which others prostrate themselves.  His life must answer for his daring, but no entreaties or threats can move him; he can burn but he cannot turn; he can yield his body to the tormenters, but not his soul to the tempter.  Things invisible have nerved his heart against all visible terrors, and the fear of the most holy God has banished from him all fear of men.  He sought not the conflict, but he dared not shun it, and now that the hour is come for witness-bearing, pedlar though he be, he bears himself in a right princely manner, and prove himself one of the nobility of heaven...Short and sharp was the action of the persecutor, swift and sure was the transformation of the pedlar into one of the white-robed throng before the throne.  That calm face was lit up for a few moments with the lurid glare of the blazing faggots, and anon that upright frame fell to ashes about the stake.  Think not that he threw himself away for the Lord, and was lost the Church by his decision; far from it; his death was more useful than his life; for through the page of history speaking from the stake he is to this day right eloquent, and being dead yet speaketh.

 This was written many years ago, yet Spurgeon remains a prophet for our day when he concluded:

In many shapes, in our own land, we are tempted to yield up the completeness of our faith, or withhold our testimony against error; but in any form and from any quarter, this temptation is always to be resisted as we would resist Satan himself.  We have no more right to give up truth than to give away our master's property.  Trimming and temporising, amiable silence, and unfaithful compromises are treason to God, and are devices of the devil to obtain space and place for the propagation of falsehood, of which he is the father; but decision for truth sees through the enemy's craft, and disdains to yield him so much as a single inch of vantage ground.  Charity is a virtue, and also is decision; and the one must never override the other, or it ceases to be true charity.  When believers are steadfast in the truth they impress their age with a respect for their faith, but when they vacillate and yield up their principles the world neither respects them nor their religion.  Men look at weathercocks, but never steer by them.  To the sinful pleasure of the world the believer must not yield; to its carnal customs he must not bow, and into its spirit he must not drink, or it will be all over with the power, and probably with the very existence of his testimony." (Spurgeon, C. H. C.H. Spurgeon's Works as Published in His Monthly Magazine The Sword and the Trowel. Vol. Volume 1. Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, 1975. 154-157. Print.)

Attacks upon the truth of God's Word and faithful followers of Christ is nothing new.  The temptation to bow to the views of others instead of standing resolute on the scriptures is very real.  To stand today still comes at a cost, though burning at a physical stake has fallen out of favour.  If one person who professes to follow Christ could be compared to a weathercock - turning wherever the winds of change blow, fearing to take a stand lest he offend others - it is one too many.  We are to continually point to Jesus regardless of the pressing winds.  Let us be steadfast in faith without vacillation, and thus hold fast to the example of our Saviour and His faithful followers like Simon the Pedlar.

Why Do You Follow?

"Birds of a feather flock together," the cliche goes, and this saying has a ring of truth to it.  The birds in the trees, people with common interests, and even users of social media support this sentiment.  People using social media typically "follow" people they know, respect, or admire.  If someone begins to share or post views with which others do not agree or strongly oppose, they can "unfollow" or even "unfriend" that person.  Social media provides the illusion of friendship, and it is frankly difficult ground to navigate.  It can consume time with meaningless activity, yet when used properly can be a beneficial tool.  It can be an addictive obsession or a voyeurs delight, but also a means to connect lives of loved ones.  Knowing why we do something is often more insightful than what or how we do it.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am aware my beliefs, lifestyle, and stance on issues are contrary to the majority.  Should my "likes" of Bible verses or praise to God show up on the feeds of others, I am sure there are some who have "unfollowed" me.  I have "unfollowed" pages or others at times, having become weary of my news feed being spammed by those who enjoy one word status updates by the minute, vulgarities, those who chastise their children publicly, or those who resort to using Facebook as free advertising for business, seeing their "friends" as potential business targets - something I personally find distasteful.  Depending on what function Facebook or social media serves in your case, it will impact your decisions on who or why you follow others.

I recognise many people we connect with on social media are not as interested in our personal beliefs as they are in who we are to them and how we are doing.  Having moved internationally Facebook keeps me connected with family and friends all over the world.  Based upon the articles, memes, and thoughts shared or posted by others, a small window of insight is opened into how others think or feel.  Even this is not a clear view, for what we see is obscured by the fact we only are shown what they want us to see!  When someone has a view or belief which conflicts with your own, a view that you oppose strongly, what do you do?  Do you "unfollow" the person while remaining their friend?  Should we make a practice of this, we segregate our friends and followers into a little clique we are comfortable with.  Instead of challenging us, we can order everything to affirm our confirmation bias and we will not learn, grow, or progress as we could.  If someone says something we don't like and persists in their belief, we might be tempted to cut them off - and effectively cut ourselves off from redemptive opportunities to connect with them.  Granted, email or Facebook is not an ideal way to have a heart to heart conversation or iron out differences.  But staying connected demonstrates you care, and that gives your words a chance to minister to others.

It is challenging to keep loving those who hate you, and it is difficult to be bombarded with views contrary to scripture.  Remember, Jesus was hated before Christians were!  Jesus did not avoid those who disagreed with Him.  He went out into the world!  He didn't only reserve time or energy for people who agreed perfectly with Him.  Jesus stood His ground and spoke the truth, and it was the decision of others if they would follow Him or not.  For those who continue to only follow Jesus in our lives and beliefs, we can be led by the Spirit when it is good for us to be silent or to speak.  I am not saying to beat people with the Bible, write or post unkind and insensitive things, or try to start quarrels.  For me it is good for me to be challenged with unbelief, vitriol, scriptural ignorance, and emotionally-fueled hatred of people who do not know God so I might seek God's answer and pray for them.  I have learned a lot from people I do not agree with, and so can you.  If someone's divergent beliefs begins to sour our view of them, let me gently say we are not loving them as we should.  Love does not grow bitter, impatient, or frustrated with others, and keeps no record of wrongs.  Love rejoices in the truth, and is bold to speak the truth at the right time in the right way for the right reasons.

Who do you follow, and why do you follow them?  As you follow Jesus, are you following others for yourself or the glory of God?  1 Peter 2:17-24 reads, "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. ¹⁸ Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. ¹⁹ For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed."  If we speak the truth in love or do good and suffer, we are following in Christ's steps when we remain faithful.  Despite pitfalls and snares, the internet has opened up a world of opportunity God can redeem, a digital mission field where hearts can be won for Jesus Christ by His grace and power.  As we follow Jesus, let's introduce Him to others.