Supernatural Resource

The earth is abundant with natural resources.  The perfectly tuned atmosphere exists on earth which promotes health of plant, animal, and human life.  Fruits and vegetables are grown in abundance on farms, and living animals both in the sea and on land provide food to support life.  Beneath the surface of the earth, vast reserves of oil and coal are collected to supply fuel for heating, transportation, and manufacturing.  Precious metals and gems are mined throughout the world for both industrial and cosmetic use.  The more plentiful the natural resources, the more profitable the enterprise.  When rarity of a resource is coupled with high demand, the value of that resource skyrockets.

From a worldly perspective, limited resources means limited success.  The ultimate resource for business and people is money.  Unfortunately, many churches these days also perceive money to be either the catalyst or great limiter for "ministry."  I recently read a quote from an Australian pastor which I paraphrase:  "Little money, little chance for ministry.  Lots of money, enormous opportunity for ministry."  This sentiment could not be further from the actual truth.  Are money, manpower, and positive thinking the natural resources of the church?

Let us turn our attention upon Jesus Christ, the Founder and Head of the church of God.  He did not attract followers with programs or large amounts of money.  He did not have a worship team comprised of young, stylish people who were skilled musicians and singers.  Jesus did not build a modern church campus and market Himself on the TV or internet.  And think of all the real ministry He was able to do through the power of the Holy Spirit!  Think of all the souls saved under His teaching, the people delivered from demonic power, the forgiveness, hope, peace, and joy which has been perpetuated to this day!  What is the resource of the church?  It is none other than the supernatural resource of God's love.  Big buildings, cutting-edge media presentations, dynamic preaching personalities, and thousands of euphoric people singing uplifting songs in unison are absolutely impotent for ministry without the love of Jesus Christ.

This is clearly seen in scripture:  the question is, do we believe it is true today?  Is the love of Jesus Christ all we need to reach this dying, decadent, world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  1 Corinthians 13:1-2 reads, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."  I thank God He has abundantly supplied the needs of His people, both spiritually and physically.  Let us couple every resource God has provided with the supernatural resource of His love.  May our gaze be fixed upon our Saviour Jesus Christ, the model and source of such love! 

Does Life Matter?

The other day I picked up a biography on Heath Ledger, an Australian-born actor who made it big in Hollywood until his untimely demise at the age of 28.  My greatest interest in reading the book is learning about the man behind the masks.  As I read the book, however, I find that the author doesn't have insights into Mr. Ledger on a deep, personal level.  It is more of a chronology of events, a timeline sprinkled with quotes.  Heath's own words open a small window to his heart.

Heath had a unique perspective of the world and his place in it, as illustrated by this quote:  "I've always been very big on self-exploration and answering my own questions...I look up at the stars and go, 'There's no explanation for us to be here.'  When anything is blocking my head or there's worry in my life, I just - whoosh! - go sit on Mars or something and look back here at Earth.  All you see is this tiny speck; you don't see the fear, you don't see the pain, you don't see the movie industry, you don't see this interview, you don't see thought...It's just one solid speck.  Then nothing really matters, it just doesn't." (Heath Ledger, McShane, John Blake Publishing Ltd., 2008, pg. 67)

As I read that quote, the only word I can think to describe it is "tragic!"  It may be artistic from a worldly point of view, but the philosophy found within one's own heart is desperately lacking and often misleading.  When I look at the stars, I say just the opposite:  "There is a reason we are here."  It is impossible to maintain proper perspective in life apart from a relationship with the Creator and Giver of life:  Jesus Christ.  Jesus experienced first-hand the effects of sin man brought upon himself through rebellion against God.  He answered questions, shared the wisdom of God, cast out fear with perfect love, and experienced pain for us.  He knew what it was like to be hounded by the paparazzi of His day.  What God does matters, and the fact that He loves us makes all the difference.

I can't answer my own questions, but I'm thankful God answers..  I would have really loved to sit down with Heath and have a discussion about the development of his philosophy over the years.  I wouldn't speak to him in an attempt to prove him wrong or tell him the right way to live.  It would simply be to listen, to hear where he's coming from.  He believed there is no explanation behind why human beings walk this earth.  Yet for 28 years, Heath walked this earth and distinguished himself from others due to his skill in the art of acting.  He was very careful in choosing roles.  How can you say your roles or actions matter when in the big picture nothing matters?  My heart breaks for the guy.  The trip back and forth to Mars seems to have been tiring and unsatisfying.  Mars seemed more and more attractive as a permanent home over the camera flashes, money, fame, drugs, voyeurs, and realizing that his life was not his own:  he was a product that had an expiration date.  The man never came back from his last trip.  But Mars isn't where souls stay after their body dies.  I only know what the Bible says:  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Him.  He created Heath, knows Him, and I hope Heath knew Christ as LORD too.  Rest in peace, mate.

Life does matter.  We exist to glorify God, even as the stars which shine brightly in the heavens.  Psalm 19:1-3 reads, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. ² Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. ³ There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard."  Whether you are are a star which shines in space or a movie star in Hollywood, our existence is intended to shine for the glory of God.  Let all we do be to this end.  Isaiah 55:6-9 says, "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. ⁸ "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. ⁹ "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." We matter to God, and pleasing Him should matter to us.

God's Lovingkindness

"Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; ²⁴ but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD."

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Last night during our family devotions we read through this passage.  What a wonderful reminder it is of the loving, gracious, and holy character of God.  How easy it is for our ideas of God to be warped by the opinions of those who do not know Him or through our own prejudice!  People's ideas of God range from imaginary to real, a benevolent "Santa Claus" or Genie contrasted with the fire-breathing destroyer and hater of men.  To magnify a single aspect of God's character at the expense of ignoring another contorts our perception of God.

In the Jeremiah passage, God entreats the wise not to glory in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches.  Instead, whoever who glories should glory in the fact he understands and knows God.  This is a wonderful truth, that God has revealed Himself to man primarily through His Word and the person of Jesus Christ.  Man can understand and know His Creator in a personal way, even as a man knows a close friend.  The character of God is revealed through His righteous law, perfect justice, and gracious lovingkindness.  The automatic spell-checker does not believe that "lovingkindness" is a real word, and most people have no idea of the incredible lovingkindness of God.

For many of those who do believe and affirm there is a "God," He is a strictly impersonal, judgmental, passive, and potentially volatile god.  They would nod their heads if I described Him as just and righteous.  But does He exercise lovingkindness and actually delight in it?  The transliteration of this Hebrew word is "hesed," meaning "kindness, favour, mercy, pity."  God is a loving, gracious God.  He is loving to punish wickedness, and His lovingkindness is evident through His correction, grace, and mercy towards us.  Romans 5:8 reads, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

This morning I read two incredible messages by G. Campbell Morgan titled "The Sifting of Peter" and "The Turning Again of Peter" (The Westminster Pulpit, Vol. 1, Chapters 15 & 16).  He details how Peter denied Jesus after boasting he would not.  Instead of being angry or offended at Peter upon meeting with him again, Jesus was compassionate and filled with love.  Peter was deeply ashamed because of his failure and cried bitterly.  He was broken over the fact he had denied Christ on the night He was betrayed in public, and for the fact that Jesus knew it.  Jesus did not confront Peter as many of us would have if we had been betrayed.  Jesus did not say, "I told you so," glare at Peter, or make cynical comments aimed at belittling him in front of others.  He asked Peter a simple, direct question:  "Do you love me?"  The fact that Jesus loved Peter was undeniable.  Jesus had chosen, called, and taught Peter, and even saved him from drowning.  Jesus had washed Peter's feet, showed His undying love through the cross, and had risen from the dead.  At that moment Jesus had just fed Peter and the disciples breakfast.  He asked Peter, "Do you love me?"

Jesus asks you today:  "Do you love me?"  Instead of "keeping us in line" through threats of judgment or the risk of our sin being found out by others, it is Christ's lovingkindness which draws us to repentance.  Jeremiah 31:3 shows us clearly the heart of God towards all flesh:  "The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."  It should not be the threat of God's wrath that keeps us from sin, but the love of Christ.  When we struggle between right and wrong Jesus Himself stands with us, places His arm around our shoulders, looks us in the eyes (and we cannot hold that penetrating gaze of compassion, being ashamed of our sin and continual failure), and says with love:  "Do you love me?"  What a weighty question to which everyone must respond.  Our words carry little weight:  it is our life that will provide our answer.

Perhaps your dad related to you by fear, an imposing figure of terror or violence.  Maybe you have suffered much through men who abused their authority or position.  You could be deeply wounded by a pastor or a priest who claimed to be a man of God!  But I implore you in the name of Jesus, never allow the sins of men to poison your perceptions of God.  Go to scripture and read of this God, the Creator of All Things, the One who delights in exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness.  Instead of trying to balance your beliefs through the opinions of others or negative experiences, seek the truth from the Source.  Forget all your bias, admit your ignorance, and seek God with your whole heart.  You will see that He created and knows you, and He desires to be understood and known by you.

I close with the words of Psalm 103:1-18.  Read and believe, if you dare!  "Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! ² Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: ³ who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, ⁴ who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, ⁵ who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. ⁶ The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. ⁷ He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. ⁸ The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. ⁹ He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. ¹³ As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. ¹⁴ For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. ¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. ¹⁶ For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. ¹⁷ But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children, ¹⁸ to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them."

Trust God's Healing Hands

Yesterday marked the first day of baseball season for the Grisez boys, and it was nostalgic for me to be back on the field as a third base coach.  Both boys had two hits and scored a run, so it was a great boost to their confidence.  One thing that is different about playing baseball in Australia is the absence of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Little League Pledge.  Near the scoreboard of Little League fields all over America, the American flag flies.  After stating the Pledge of Allegiance, the players recite:  "I trust in God, I love my country, and will respect its laws.  I will play fair, and strive to win, but win or lose, I will always do my best."  Play ball!

I am happy to say the Pledge is still around, even after all these years - just like God!  For me, saying that pledge is still a statement of fact.  I do trust in God, I do love my country (currently Australia).  I will play fair and do my best to win.  When two teams show up to play no matter the sport, either team can win.  One team could be better in every statistical category, have the best talent and equipment, and still lose.  That is why the game is played and what makes it exciting:  you never know exactly how things will play out.  That's one of the amazing things about God.  He does not operate in the way we would expect.  He doesn't often tell us what He's planning to do.  But if we trust Him, it will always be for the best.

An illustration to confirm this is still a vivid memory for me.  A young man I knew dislocated his knee and experienced incredible pain.  After he was given medication, he was taken by ambulance to the hospital.  Upon seeing him, the doctor nonchalantly began to examine the leg and - snap!  He quickly manipulated the leg back into place, causing excruciating pain for an instant.  When the young man asked the doctor why he didn't warn him, the doctor explained that if he had told him what he planned to do, he would have resisted him.  He used the tactic of surprise to quickly put the limb back into place safely so the healing could begin.

This is what God so often does with us.  We experience pain and wonder, what is God thinking!  How could he allow me to have such deep, excruciating, gut-wrenching pain?  Trust the Good Shepherd, little lamb.  He knows what parts of your life must be manipulated so the healing can begin.  He will bring the relief and healing you desire.  If the doctor did not adjust the leg, the young man would have remained a cripple.  It was love and desire for restoration that motivated the doctor to cause a little pain.  The young man now serves in the armed forces and the injury is only a distant memory.

No matter what you're going through, no matter how deep the searing pain, trust God.  He never changes, and His thoughts are good towards us, to give us a future and a hope.

A milestone...and still miles to go!

Blogs are interesting animals.  I suppose the motivation for regularly maintaining blogs are endless.  For some it might be strictly cathartic, for others it might be the opportunity for self-revelation.  Though an avid reader, I spend virtually no time reading blogs.  Some are chronological family reports, while others are dedicated to political rant.  I have the feeling that some blogs scream, "Look at me!" in a frantic attempt for significance in the vast yet cluttered cyberspace.

I am convinced people write blogs so people will read them.  I write because I believe it is what God wants me to do.  With the amount of writing I do in study and sermon preparation, it seems unnecessary for me to write more.  This blog is a medium which allows me to share the truth He teaches me with others who care to hear it.  Today this blog has notched over 10,000 page views from all over the world, and to me that is a significant milestone.  Tack on another zero and that will be another milestone.  If you are curious, the most views have come from these countries:  United States, Australia, Malaysia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.  As great as it is to see people browsing the blog, my prayer (and yes, I pray that God uses this thing) is that through reading people would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and be encouraged in their faith.  One page-view God uses to this end is worth a billion views to me.  In the end, I can take no credit because I have only done (and sometimes left undone) what is my joyful duty to do.

Thank you for taking the time to read.  Just because someone puts in effort to write does not mean it is worth reading.  I am humbled and blessed to have a LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ who gives us gifts which we can give back to Him for His glory.  What gifts has God given you?  How can you use them to bring honor and glory to His name?  Whatever God has gifted you to do, do that thing.  Do it well, seek to improve, and keep doing it.  In a parable Jesus told, He illustrated the benefits of simple faithfulness.  Matthew 25:21 says, "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"  You don't need to wait until heaven to hear well done.  You don't need to physically die before you enter into the joy of the LORD.  If you are obedient and faithful, you do well to enter into the joy of the LORD today!

Independence through Dependence?

I am about halfway through reading the memoirs of A.E. Wilder-Smith called Fulfilled Journey.  He concisely describes his observations as to the cause of the "disintegration" of the modern education system.  A couple of sentences stood out to me:  "School is too often no more than a means for the manipulation of opinions and the leveling of society for ideological reasons.  It is no longer for training in independent thought and the formation of one's own opinions based on facts and data.  In such a school system the development of an independent personality is neither possible nor desired." (Fulfilled Journey, Wilder-Smith, pg. 202)  I heartily endorse and agree with this observation as being true to my experience.  In my university days it seemed the focus was more on freedom of speech and expression rather than freedom of thought.

I appreciate A.E. Wilder-Smith's perspective because he is a scholar, scientist, an intellectual, and also a Christian.  A common misconception in the world today is this breed cannot possibly exist.  If someone confesses belief in God and that the Bible is the inspired Word of God in some people's minds is the equivalent of a complete lobotomy.  But history shows that the exact opposite is true:  some of the most independent and intelligent minds believed in the existence of God and the veracity of scripture.  Jesus is the prime example of independent thinking.  Have you read the Sermon on the Mount?  Jesus Christ, the man who claimed to be God-made-flesh, trumped the Law based upon His own authority, and rightly so.  He dashed the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees with supernatural wisdom.  He did not come from their schools of theology, but Jesus crushed them over and over until they were afraid even to question Him.  When Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead, and ascended into heavenly glory, even then the light of truth did not pierce the darkness of their hearts and minds.

The idea that schools once were "for training in independent thought and the formation of one's own opinions based on facts and data" was almost a startling revelation.  When I attended university, it was elementary for me to deduce between what was taught and what was believed.  It was not long before philosophy teachers no longer taught philosophy, but proudly displayed their own philosophy as the standard.  Biology and geology presented a similar experience:  we were never taught how to think scientifically or do the work of a scientist, but to accept as fact only what actual scientists had already discovered.  To pass the course, one only needed to regurgitate information.  Ironically, every year or so the books were reprinted as new editions with changes and adjustments to accommodate recent scientific discoveries which rendered old facts obsolete.  Our knowledge was limited to textbooks written according to the consensus of scientists much smarter than us or even our professors.  Are professors allowed to teach independently of material they believe inaccurate based on facts - the same facts which will be rendered obsolete in mere months?  Not if they want to keep their jobs.

Should we desire to develop an "independent personality?"  The answer will differ based upon your worldview.  If you believe that God has created all human beings in His own image individually with unique talents, gifts, and insights, the cultivation of an independent personality should be expected.  But if you believe that we exist based on the random activity of chemicals, energy, from data that somehow appeared and assembled itself over time, an independent personality does nothing to aid evolutionary progress.  I am convinced that the most independent people are those most dependent on God.  They do not need to fear the consequences of being fired for their insolence to oppose the status quo, for these people do not even fear death!  Christians are those who historically have joyfully faced the prospects of deprivation, loss of all things, even loss of life, for the excellency of the knowledge of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Paul states in Philippians 3:8-9, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith..."

Man manipulates, but God convinces.  He does not shout from the heavens, "Believe me or else!"  In Isaiah 1:18 He says through the prophet, "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  Jesus came to earth and allowed the best and brightest of the world to take their shots:  He overcame every one.  God does not force, but He draws us by His lovingkindness.  He does not burden us with rules or ideology (though man is only too happy to oblige!) so we might stay in His favour, and will not crush us if we have questions or struggle to understand.  John 8:31-36 says, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." ³³ They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" ³⁴ Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."  Praise God for allowing us to be free:  free to think and speak, free to act, and free to live for His glory.  You will never know freedom until you are freed by Christ.

Somebody to Love?

Love is the ultimate pop-culture icon.  The word and associated baggage are tramped around on a global stage, saturating music, movies, and all media.  In the English language, "love" is a word so generic that the meaning has been diluted and virtually lost.  "Love" has been reduced to the vague description of a feeling or a sexual act, a complete abandonment of the biblical description.  Forget God, sing musicians:  love is all you need.  But what is love without God?  What is our basis of love?  Is it really nothing more than a casual excitement of glands?  How does the world's idea of love differ from God's?

The Yardbirds sang long ago, "For your love I would give the stars above...For your love I would give you all I could."  It is hard for us to detach love from sex, something which stunts our concept of love greatly.  On one hand the Yardbirds were vying for physical intimacy, while at the same time petitioning for the affection and loyalty.  Is it honorable to offer a bribe for love, even as money is offered to a prostitute for services rendered?  How different from Christ is this offer!  Jesus did not offer things He could not give (though He owns the stars and calls them all by name!).  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Love sacrifices without guarantee.  Love is not contractual.  Real love is not, "You give me your love, and I will then give you diamond rings and things brought to your door."  Love is free and of grace.

Justin Bieber's hit "Somebody to Love" runs in a similar vein.  He pleads over and over again, "I just need somebody to love."  Playing on the natural desire on doting fans to BE loved, he tantalizingly portrays himself as one who longs to love - but hasn't found someone to lavish his love upon.  "I need somebody...I don't need nothing else, I promise girl, I swear, I just need somebody to love."  What rings hollow about this love is that it is an impersonal, false counterfeit.  Justin is looking for "somebody" - not you and definitely not me!  But will anyone do?  We are left uncertain.  Real love doesn't hold back for approval.  God's love is unlimited and infinite, not solely for "someone," but offered freely to all!  John 3:16 reads, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  Justin sings about needing somebody to love:  I wonder if he needs someone to love him?  Do you need someone to love you?

Queen's song sums up the feelings of many people, but misses the forest for the trees.  The first verse goes, "Can anybody find me somebody to love? Each morning I get up I die a little, can barely stand on my feet. Take a look in the mirror and cry, Lord what you're doing to me! I have spent all my years in believing you. But I just can't get no relief, Lord!  Somebody, somebody!  Can anybody find me somebody to love?" (punctuation mine)  The longing to love and be loved go hand in hand.  While Queen's focus is on the physical aspects of love, there is a clear ignorance of God's love!  Jesus is somebody to love who loves us with an everlasting love, and through lovingkindness has drawn us to Himself (Jer. 31:3)!  Man does not need more love than God can give.  God's love satisfies completely, surpassing the love of men and women.  All God has done is lavish His love upon unworthy, sinful, ignorant men like myself.  "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

God is not waiting to prove His love to us:  Jesus did that on the cross.  God is not waiting for us to accept His love before He offers it to us:  it has been offered already to all.  We cannot earn His favor, nor gain the worthiness to receive it through the bribes of "good works," because God's love is a gift to be received.  We can only reciprocate.  How does the Bible describe this active, sacrificial love?  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."  Love never fails.  Unless you know Jesus Christ personally, you cannot comprehend this love.  You have never experienced it, and you cannot give it.  But you may have it!  If you will submit to receiving the love of God through repentance and faith in Christ, your life will then be marked by this transforming love.

Are you looking for somebody to love?  More importantly, are you willing to receive God's love through faith in Jesus Christ?  It is only through the power of God that we can love how we were designed and intended to.  1 John 3:16 states, "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."  Instead of giving you stars, flowers, diamonds, God saw fit to shed His own blood for you (Acts 20:28).  That's real love, and it's really awesome!  Receive His love today!

Give All to God

When driving yesterday I saw a bumper sticker which read, "Yes, this is my truck. No, I will not help you move."  Everyone who has owned a truck or ute knows well the high demand of friends and acquaintances to use it!  I once had a friend who was so tired of people asking to borrow his truck to help them move that he bought a fiberglass cover for the bed!  The usefulness and practicality of moving greatly reduced, he rarely had to deal with requests.  When he wanted to move something, it was no trouble for the top to be removed again!  Most people don't buy a truck hoping every weekend someone will borrow and load it with sand, bricks, or furniture.  The bumper sticker emphasizes the perspective that my things are for me, not for you.

This is the common philosophy of the world:  my things are mine.  In the Russian fable of the Little Red Hen, she planted, watered, tended, harvested, threshed, milled, and used the wheat to make flour into bread that only she ate because only she had worked on it.  My grain, my bread.  But the Christian perspective is to be completely different.  We are called to recognize that all things we have - even our own lives - are not our own but a gift from God to be willingly, joyfully, given back to Him.  Did the little red hen create the earth, provide the sun, and engineer the water to cause her wheat to grow?  Did she give herself life?  Did the ability to work originate in herself?  Was she instrumental in the creation of the wheat to cause it to bear seed so it might produce more wheat?  All along God provided and created the means for bread to be baked to satisfy her hunger.  Your life is a gift from God not to be used for yourself, but for the glory of God.

When God gives you a gift or talent, it is not primarily for you.  God did not gift me to write and teach so I could become a famous millionaire:  He has gifted me so others will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to the glory of God.  We Christians are to make God's name famous!  He has given me life and a certain amount of time on this earth not for me, but for Him to work in and through me for His glory.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reads, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."  Our ability to see, hear, speak, think, work, and do is intended by God to be used with Him and others in mind.

Has God granted you spiritual gifts?  See that you use them faithfully for the glorification of God and the edification of the Body of Christ, the church.  Has God committed time, finances, talents, and abilities to your trust?  These were never intended to bolster your self-esteem or give you confidence in yourself, but that you might commit them completely to the use of your Heavenly Father.  Instead of using your talents to draw attention to yourself, all talents are to be invested to bring glory to God.  If God has given you a truck, be open to helping people move.  If God has given you skill in fixing computers, baking, cleaning, writing, singing, running, tutoring, being a good listener or anything else, commit what you have into the hands of Jesus for Him to use.  It may cost you a little petrol or a scratch here or there, but using what you have to glorify God is better than hiding it in a garage and only gathering dust!  What good will a shiny ute be on the Day of Judgment?

Can you imagine if Jesus had the philosophy of the Little Red Hen?  "I planted the seed, I cut the corn, I took it to the mill to be made into flour, and I made the bread, all by myself. I shall now eat the loaf all by myself."  The pig, the duck and the cat all stood and watched as the little red hen ate the loaf all by herself. It was delicious and she enjoyed it, right to the very last crumb."  Jesus is the Bread of Life.  He could have kept Himself all to Himself.  He could have denied us because of our sin, faithlessness, and open rebellion against God.  Instead, Jesus operated in love and grace.  He is not willing that any should perish, and takes no pleasure in those who are starving in soul and heading for eternal destruction because of sin.  Jesus did nothing of Himself (John 8:28), but acted and spoke according to the will of the Father.  If Jesus should so willingly give His life for us sinners, shouldn't we freely give ourselves for His use?

Commit your life to God today.  God has given you all that you have, and has made you all that you are.  It may seem as insignificant as five loaves and two fish, but think of how many thousands were fed when that little bit was committed to the hands of Jesus!  The results are not your responsibility.  He will do the work.  Be open and allow God to use all He has given you for His glory.

G. Campbell Morgan Quote

Reading is something I do every day.  I am always in the middle of several books in addition to the Bible.  Over the years I have either purchased or acquired books that I have yet to read.  There are some books I read every couple years of so, like Charles Spurgeon's Lectures to My Students, Foxes Book of Martyrs, and a 1st edition copy of J. Oswald Sander's book Spiritual Leadership.  I also have some large sets which were purchased as an investment because of the incredible price I am still working through.  One of these is a 10-volume set titled The Westminster Pulpit which feature the preaching of G. Campbell Morgan.  Slowly and surely I intend to read through the thousands of pages still unread in my library.

I read a passage this morning I thought was very beneficial.  G. Campbell Morgan was preaching on the conversation of Jesus Christ with two distraught, disillusioned disciples on the road to Emmaus.  It is my pleasure to share a portion of this illuminating message with you.

What were the things that He said?  Nothing new.  I am increasingly impressed with this.  He did not bring to them any new message.  It was the old, so said as they had never heard it said before.  "Beginning at Moses and all the prophets He interpreted to them in the scriptures the things concerning Himself..."

...Then when He took their prophets one by one, how wonderful to hear Him explain, and how marvelous the rapture of their heart as they heard Him tell how all the prophets led up to the Messiah Who died just as they had seen that Man die, of Whom they had been speaking so kindly.  As they listened to Him they would find out that he was David's King, "fairer than the children of men"; and in the days of Solomon's well-doing He it was that was "altogether lovely."  He was Isaiah's child-king, with a shoulder strong enough to bear the government, and a name Emmanuel gathering within itself all excellencies.  He was Jeremiah's "Branch of Righteousness, executing judgment and righteousness in the land"; Ezekiel's "Plant of renoun," giving shade and shedding fragrance; Daniel's stone cut without hands, smiting the image, becoming a mountain, and filling the whole earth; the ideal Israel of Hosea "growing as the lily," "casting out his roots as Lebanon; to Joel "the hope of His people and the strength of the children of Israel"; the usherer in of the great vision of Amos of "the plowman overtaking the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed"; and of Obadiah the "deliverance upon Mount Zion and holiness"; the fulfillment of that of which Jonah was but a sign; the "turning again" of God of which Micah spoke; the One Whom Nahum saw upon the mountains publishing peace; the Anointed of Whom Habakkuk sang as "going forth for salvation"; He Who brought to the people the pure language of Zephaniah's message, the true Zerubbabel of Haggai's word rebuilding forever the house and the city of God; Himself the dawn of the day when "holiness unto the Lord shall be upon the bells of the horses" as Zechariah foretold; He the "refiner's fire," "the fuller's soap," "The Sun of righteousness" of Malachi's vision.  All these things passed in rapid survey as He talked.  He was taking their own prophets and unlocking them, flinging back the shutters and letting the light stream in.  He talked of them, and they were silent; and there broke upon them a new vision of the truth, a new understanding of things which they were perfectly familiar, and in this new vision they found new understanding of all the things which they long had known.

Their burning heart, what was it?  The thrill of a new discovery of their Lord and the shame of the past failure to appreciate Him, and the passion of a new endeavor which should set their feet in the pathway which led to ultimate victory. (The Westminster Pulpit, G. Campbell Morgan, Vol. 1, pg. 92-94)

What treasures lay dusty in your library?  What truth lies hidden in your Bible yet to be discovered!  What an amazing, life-giving resource we have available in God's Word when illuminated through the Holy Spirit!  Read on, read on - but not alone:  invite Jesus to walk with you as you read.  No longer will it be dry dull passages, but words bursting with life and meaning!  It is Christ who will sustain our souls!  It is Jesus who makes all things new!

Be Like Baruch

"After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest."

Nehemiah 3:20

As I read the Bible this morning, this verse stood out from all the others.  Thirty-one times in chapter 3 of Nehemiah (KJV), children of Israel are named as ones who laboured to "repair" Jerusalem.  The wall had been broken down, the gates were burnt with fire, and the city had been desolate for a long time.  What grabbed my attention is that Baruch was the only one with a descriptive word included to show how he repaired:  "earnestly."  The NKJV translates the word "carefully," but it is not as close a translation as the KJV in this instance.

I wondered, what did Baruch do that distinguished him from all the rest?  Many repaired the city, but Baruch repaired earnestly.  The transliteration of the original Hebrew is "hara," and this is the only time in scripture this particular word is translated as "earnestly."  Most of the time it is translated "kindled" (44 times), "wroth" (13 times), "hot" (10 times), and "angry" (9 times).  Copying the definition from the Strong's concordance in the Word Search Bible program, it means: "to glow or grow warm; figurative (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy :- be angry, burn, be displeased, × earnestly, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, × very, be wroth."  In my own words, I would say Baruch was fired up!  He literally attacked this building and repairing project with such fervor and violence that it seemed like he was angry.  Baruch had an attitude of great intensity and a singular ferocity which made an impression as he worked.

I would love to meet Baruch, the violent builder that he was!  He funneled all his aggression to labour for God's glory by rebuilding the city in which God had placed His name.  Baruch had a limited role, but the bit committed to him he did with all his might.  Without knowing it, Baruch was heeding the exhortation Paul gave in Colossians 3:22-24:  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  Whatever we do should be done for the glory of God, and we are told to do it heartily.  Christians are called to love God and serve him heartily, vehemently, with all our heart, mind, and soul.

Jesus says in Revelation 3:15-16 to the church in Laodicea, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."  Baruch was not lukewarm, but boiling hot.  God would rather us be boiling hot than cold or lukewarm.  Jesus also worked earnestly.  He knew time was short and He needed to expend His energy fully in glorifying God.  Jesus says in John 9:4-5:  "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ⁵ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."  Work was not an option:  it was an imperative.  Whatever Jesus did, He did it heartily.  Jesus did what needed to be done.

Let us be like Baruch, a man wholly on fire to do the job set before Him.  May the same divine power and intensity which marked Jesus Christ mark all Christians as we are baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire!

Ministry and Word of Reconciliation

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

How compelling is the love of Christ!  During our mid-week Bible study at church, we spent time discussing them together.  The overwhelming theme of scripture is Jesus Christ and how man can only be reconciled to God through faith in Him.  The Bible teaches us of our perfect Creator and God, how man has been estranged and alienated from God through our rebellion and sin, and that God has made a way for man to be reconciled to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  When we repent and trust in Christ, receiving His love and forgiveness, we are born again through the indwelling power of the the Holy Spirit.

Consider the overwhelming theme of reconciliation in the above passage.  God does not need to be reconciled to man, but man has a great need to be reconciled to God.  What amazing love and grace we see in God, that the Almighty would desire to have reconciled to Him such sinners as we!  In scripture and in the person of Jesus Christ, God made flesh, we see a divine revelation of love so pure, merciful, and good.  It is a love which never grows old, a love confirmed again and again through our Risen LORD and Saviour.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, old things have passed away and all things have become new.  One thing I have been considering of late is the fact that God has committed two things to all Christians:  the ministry of reconciliation and the word of reconciliation.  God has commissioned all believers as His ambassadors to all people alienated from God through sin, doubt, unbelief, and rebellion so they too might be reconciled to God.  This is the truth:  God the Father made Jesus who never sinned to become sin for all, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Amazing, incredible truth!

How do we effectively labour in the ministry of reconciliation?  Warren Wiersbe puts it this way:  "Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God." (On Being a Servant of God, pg. 3)  The most basic of all human needs is to be reconciled to God.  Human bodies have physical needs, and we are to meet physical needs with love to address the deepest spiritual need of forgiveness and salvation most remain ignorant of.  The ministry of reconciliation should never be divorced from the word of reconciliation.  Jesus is the Word made flesh, and God has given us the Bible, the Word of God.  Food will enter the mouth and be eliminated, but the Word of God will endure forever.  The words of Jesus are the words of life.

God has committed the word of reconciliation to us:  how committed are you to practice and proclaim the Word of God?  Scripture does not exist for us to debate and argue, to prove how we are right and others are wrong, for us to grow in spiritual knowledge and pride, to beat people up and tear them down:  God has given us the Bible so we and others might be reconciled to Him.  That is why Jesus came to earth, faced the cross, and rose from the dead!  The word reconcile basically means "to change, restore."  God wants to change us and make us new creations through His grace.  He desires to restore us to a close personal relationship with Him because He loves us.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Let us be students of the Word and use the scriptures for their intended purpose, all to the end that sinful man would be reconciled to His loving Creator.  John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Scatter Good Seed!

Today I planted some seeds in our small garden in the back yard.  I planted some chili peppers and tomatoes in pursuit of some delicious fresh salsa.  As I poured the seeds into my palm from the tiny packet, I looked from the tiny seeds to the picture of a huge tomato on the envelope.  The pale, dry seeds were extremely tiny, yet the package said to plant them almost a full meter apart!  It is phenomenal that one miniscule seed in the proper environment will certainly sprout into a large bush and bear much fruit.  Amazing!

Planting the seeds was very simple.  I felt no pressure whatsoever, because the growth of the plant and its fruitfulness does not depend on my ability.  They will either grow or they won't.  If there is not growth I will plant more!  I carefully dropped seeds into a slight depression, covered it with soil, and pressed it firmly.  In mere minutes I had sown, watered, and now the waiting begins!  I was reminded of a passage of scripture, Psalm 126:6: "He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."  This is a great verse which illustrates well the heart of evangelism.  For the love of God and His everlasting glory, we are to humbly, meekly, and obediently sow seed in the hearts of any who will receive.  In the Parable of the Sower, the seed is the Word of God (the Bible) and the condition of the soil represents the hearts of the hearers.  Not all seed that is sown will grow, but some will.  God's Word is the seed of finest quality and we can trust it will be fruitful according to God's promises.

I think many people put pressure on themselves when it comes to evangelism.  Instead of holding fast to the spiritual perspective that sometimes we sow, water, or harvest in complete reliance upon God, we can make an activity to personally measure our faith and holiness.  When the Word is rejected we take it personally.  When seeds are sown and nothing seems to have changed, we can become disillusioned and lose heart.  As I planted those seeds in boxes filled with clean topsoil, all my confidence was in the seed and the Designer who engineered it:  God.  It should be exactly the same when I share scripture and my faith with others.  Instead of placing my confidence in my words, experience, training, or a tract, I ought to place my faith in God's Word, the blood of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit to regenerate and save.

When the use of God's Word is divorced from evangelism, we should not be surprised when our effort is wasted.  It is like turning the earth with a spade but never planting anything!  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. ⁷ So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour."  If we are faithful to share the Word of God as led by the Holy Spirit, God will give the increase.  God's Word will always accomplish the purpose for which it is sent, and will never return void.  Scatter it liberally!  If much fruit can come from a tiny dry seed which satisfies the mouth and stomach temporarily, how much greater is an eternal harvest of souls for the glory of God?

Beware of Thieves!

I spent a couple hours this morning digging in the backyard.  With spring rapidly approaching (and today it felt like it had arrived full-force!), it was time to start preparing the plot for a small vegetable garden.  We aim to plant different varieties of chiles, beetroot, tomatoes, and lettuce to start.  As I cleared an area overgrown with grass and weeds by the fence, I found myself having to contend with roots from our neighbor's trees.  Several of his trees near the fence apparently have found an abundance of water in my yard.  Whenever I found one, I dug up as much as I could and cut it off.

I don't know why, but God often teaches me things as I work in the yard.  Lately the lessons have a common thread:  the proper use of my time.  I consider the roots of my neighbors trees as thieves, intruders on my property.  They rob the plants I am trying to cultivate of water and nutrients.  They choke out my plants and impede my ability to properly turn the soil and irrigate.  They destroy the fence and lift up brick pavers.  Under the surface, they deftly grow strong and deep.  I have declared war on those thieving roots, and I am not sympathetic to a single one.

Imagine your life as a Christian like a fenced yard.  Inside your life, within the boundaries of your relationship with God, the Holy Spirit is cultivating spiritual fruit to bring glory to God.  Your thoughts and actions are to be wholly governed by God.  But there influences outside the walls of your heart:  hobbies, cares, and concerns which vie for our attention.  It could be a preoccupation about watching a football game, who was eliminated last night on Survivor, browsing on Facebook, or playing Angry Birds.  It could be absolutely anything, and likely nothing in itself that is sin.  But these roots are a real threat to our relationship with God.  Notice I did not say "can be" a threat.  Every one of those roots ARE threats to take our mind off of Christ and onto things of this world.

In my backyard, I have no sympathy for those thieving roots.  But God is showing me that in my spiritual life I harbour sympathy for particular time thieves.   For example, time at the movies, playing games, and watching sport can rob God of time He desires to spend with me and I should spend with Him.  But wait just a moment, you might say.  Am I saying there is something wrong with hobbies and recreational activities?  Not in themselves.  The problem is within us because we are always unbalanced.  God and the world are not to be weighed on scales with the false balance of cultural Christianity.  I doubt anyone would dispute we give too much thought and time to things we shouldn't.  Next to life in Christ, time is one of the great gifts God has given us.  Time is easier wasted on the world than invested in godly things.

I am slowly, ever so slowly, coming to grips with how hardcore the lifestyle of a Christian is intended to be.  It is evident what I have seen and experienced of Christianity has been more influenced by western culture than it should be.  How much time did Jesus spend extolling the virtues of hobbies and recreational activities?  How often did He justify anything done solely for personal gratification?  I can't think of a single instance!  Jesus always went straight for the heart of the matter, the purpose and motivation behind what we do and why we do it.  Two men can play rugby:  one can play it motivated by pride, because he wants to crush people and win, while the other plays so he might have an opportunity to glorify Jesus Christ through his example.  Same activity, different motivation and outcome.

Christ is supposed to be my all in all, but I sorrow to think He has been reduced to some.  That is just not good enough.  He deserves better.  I encourage you to consider this question:  what do you spend a lot of your time thinking about?  What commands your attention apart from Christ?  That is the thing which has roots creeping under the fence, threatening to sap you of spiritual strength and power.  One by one as those roots come to your attention, do battle on them.  Everything has its place, but we should not be sympathetic towards anything which robs God of time with us and us with Him.  Your spiritual walk will be better and stronger for it.

Use Time Wisely

I read an interesting article about the lack of team chemistry in sports these days due to modern technology.  This claim has been substantiated by many coaches at the professional level.  It used to be that when the team rode the bus, traveled on planes, or sat around in the dressing rooms, they would be talking with one another.  Camaraderie grew between the players as they ate food, told stories, cracked jokes, made fun of each other, or shared in ridiculous antics.  A good team became better because players were not just teammates but friends.  There was a large overlap between personal life and the playing field.

Where there used to be conversations, now there is silence between people.  Everyone has their headphones on or their ear buds in.  A little world is created where the programming, playlist, and activities are all controlled by the user.  It is all about me.  People play mindless games on their mobiles to fill the time, or surf the net on their tablets.  Silence means distance, even when you share a seat.  Quoting Adrian Dater, the writer for SI.com:  "The rise of smartphones, with all their instant-communication and entertainment options, have created insular worlds into which distracted players too often retreat instead of bonding with teammates."  The ironic thing is that people are still bored stiff!

It isn't only team sports which have suffered from this unbridled advance of technology:  families all over the world face this all too common disaster.  Mobile phones used to be used only in case of emergency.  But now they operate as a phone, video camera, personal computer, mp3 player, movie theater, television, and gaming system in one.  Parents and kids are easily sucked into an alternate reality that literally drains half of your productive waking hours away.  Instead of playing board games, everyone sits on the lounge playing their own game, sending text messages, or chatting with friends who are sitting on a lounge somewhere else.  Without restraints, life flows in the direction of least resistance.  Technology can be very helpful, but without strict limits and guidelines it is dangerous and destructive.

As a pastor my concern is not only with individuals and families, but the state of people's relationship with God.  If sports teams are feeling the pinch, if families are becoming virtual strangers in their own homes, how much is addiction to technology robbing God of the close relationships He desires and deserves!  Here is a strange thing to consider:  instead of a son confiding in his parents, he shares his struggles with a grown man on another continent he has never seen; instead of a daughter spending time with God in prayer, she plays games for hours; instead of spending time with her husband, a wife night after night chats late with people she doesn't even care about or will ever meet.  And why don't we spend time studying the scripture, praying, and having close family time?  Because we don't have the time.  Yeah right.  We all have the same amount of time:  we must choose to use our time productively doing things which really matter by investing in family and eternity.

I offer this challenge:  place limits on how, when, and how often you and your children spend time utilizing technology for personal gratification.  You may find it hard to abide by your own rules!  If this is the case, consider that you might have a problem that will not go away on its own.  Give up things that draw you away from God.  Seek the LORD and allow Him to order your day and the use of your time.  As parents, let me remind you that you are completely responsible for the actions of your children.  Take the reins and hold them firmly.  If you child or teen responds with tears and tantrums, you are doing the right thing!  Stand fast and stay strong!  As John Wesley says, "Never, on any account, give a child anything that it cries for."  Take control of your personal lives and your families, for the devil would like nothing more than for us to twiddle our thumbs all the way to our graves.

In and Upon

Early this morning I walked into my son's shared room to see Abel lying on his back, shivering in bed.  The air was chilly and the room dark.  Though Abel had thick blankets available for him to use, one had fallen off the bed and the other was at his feet in a ball.  His arms clung tightly to the thin flannel sheet as he slept.

My initial reaction was a cross between amusement, annoyance, and compassion.  It struck me funny that Abel clung to the thing which offered him least protection against the cold.  But if the bed had been completely made with the blanket tucked it could not have slid onto the floor!  The boy was cold and needed warmth.  The steps which precipitated the shivering was not as important as the cure:  lifting the blankets back onto the bed, smoothing out the blanket pile, and Abel laying underneath them.

In Australia, a thick bedspread is often called a "doona."  In the States where I was born, a common term is a "comforter."  The LORD impressed upon my heart that Abel's condition is not unlike many in the body of Christ in a spiritual sense.  The Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Comforter" who will guide us into all truth.  His role is to glorify Jesus Christ, teach us of the things of God, and lead us according to God's will.  There are many Christians who are shuddering in the cold because they have not embraced the Person of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit provides gifts to be used for the edification of the Body and the glorification of God.  In his sleep, Abel was blind and insensible.  He was cold when he could have been warm.

Christ baptized the disciples with the Holy Spirit and fire on the Day of Pentecost, and He baptizes people in like fashion today.  Many have kicked the idea of baptism with the Holy Spirit to the side of their Christian experience.  Satan has done much to warp perception of this baptism through excess, abuse, and confusion.  But the biblical precedent is clear and simple:  we receive this baptism through faith in Christ with the asking, even as a child receives a peeled egg from the hand of his father.  Eggs are to be ingested, and blankets are to be snuggled under.  Praise God for His compassion upon us, that He has not left us in the dark or in the cold!  Our heavenly Father has given us the Holy Spirit through Christ's intercession as Jesus says in John 14:16-17:  "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

Jesus affirms in Luke 11:13: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  Let us not be cold or settle for lukewarm, but fanned into a burning flame through the power of the Holy Spirit.  He is like oil ignited:  when mixed with the Living Water which flows from our hearts the flame is not extinguished but spreads with great intensity!  The Holy Spirit is in all who repent and trust in Christ:  may He be upon us as well.

Done Your Duty?

Definition of "duty" (first of seven) in Webster's Dictionary of the English Language, First Edition, 1828

DUTY, n. [from due, Fr. du.] - That which a person owes to another; that which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation, to pay, do or perform.  Obedience to princes, magistrates and the laws is the duty of every citizen and subject; obedience, respect and kindness to parents are duties of children; fidelity to friends is a duty; reverence, obedience and prayer to God are indispensable duties; the government and religious instruction of children are duties of parents which they cannot neglect without guilt.

Definition of "duty" (first of seven) in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, 1992

DUTY, n. - An act or a course of action that is required of one by position, social custom, law, or religion.

A lot of things transpired during the 164 years between the printing of these definitions.  Not all changes have been for the better.  The Webster definition hails from a biblical worldview, while the American Heritage definition is left ambiguous and theoretical.  No doubt many today would bristle at the suggestion that God does exist, created man, and therefore man owes God.

Time does not change truth.  IF God does exist and created all things, man does owe Him.  IF the Bible is truly God-breathed, man has a responsibility to heed and obey it.  IF God has revealed His perfect Law through scripture, then man's duty is to keep it.  IF we have broken a single law of God, the Bible says the wages of sin is death.  IF Jesus Christ came to the world, died on the cross for the sins of the world, and rose again to prove His victory over sin and death, we have a duty to give Christ the reward of His suffering through repentance and trust in Him.  The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.  If God has given a gift, it is our duty to receive.

John 3:14-16 reads, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  It is man's duty to trust in Christ and fully live to please Him.  We fulfill this duty best when we do it for God's sake, not for our own.  We are the benefactors of God's love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and grace.  Gratitude and love for God compel us to see this duty done!

Leisure or Rest?

While reading a book yesterday on the importance of ordering the inner life, I began to reflect upon the differences between leisure and rest.  From a worldly perspective, they could almost appear to be synonyms.  As I compared and contrasted the two, I was amazed at the vast differences between them.  Jesus promises in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  Rest is not the absence of work, even as peace is not the absence of war.  Jesus bids us to take His yoke upon ourselves.  A yoke is attached to a plow and allows the ox to do work he could not naturally perform.  The strength of an ox when yoked to a plow can aid a farmer to sow and reap much grain.

When we are fatigued physically or spiritually we often seek rest through the ceasing of effort or activities.  Yet if we do not seek rest in the person of Jesus, it will not satisfy the need we have for rest.  Rest is simply the inner man seeking to enter the presence of the Living God and abiding there.  Leisure, while perfectly fine in itself, is no substitute for the rest Christ has given.  If we seek rest through the leisure of long weekends, holidays, the neglect of chores or spiritual duties, we find ourselves duped by a cruel substitute:  we remain weary and things remain undone.

Leisure activities can be very costly in terms of money, time, and mental activity.  Yet even the most expensive and exciting hobbies and pastimes become boring and dull.  The most appealing diversions don't satisfy us the way we thought or hoped they would.  Leisure is focused on the external realm, the relaxation of the body or the checking-out of the mind.  You can try to escape in movies or fiction novels, therapeutic massages and spa treatments and still be completely wound inside - because you know at some point the game will be over, the weekend will end, and Monday morning starts early.  The excitement of the senses is a big part of leisure.  But the senses are never satisfied:  eyes never grow tired of seeing, ears never grow weary of hearing, and stomachs are always looking to be filled.

Contrast leisure with rest found in Christ.  It is not without cost, but those who have experienced the presence of God know it is priceless.  Instead of being discovered though external means, true rest is found when we intentionally focus on seeking God and listening for Him.  We find in Christ a satisfaction and refreshment for the soul not found in worldly pursuits or endeavors.  It is exciting to seek God's will and to receive direction from Him.  God never ceases to amaze!  Rest is not found through the emptying of our minds, but in purposely cultivating a relationship with God with heart, mind, and soul.  Whether we work long hours or are unemployed, we can be at rest.  When the storms of life hit with full-force, we can rest in Christ and the comfort He provides.  We know He will never leave or forsake us.  Making Christ our chief pursuit allows us to rest in His rest.

There is great value in a Sabbath rest.  When we are willing to put down our hammers and saws, God will built us up.  If we are only about advancing our careers, following the dictates of our hearts, or substituting leisure for rest, burnout is not far away.  The Pharisees made keeping the Sabbath all about externals, but God had another plan altogether:  He desires that our souls will purposefully enter into His rest through Jesus Christ.  Jesus promises in Matthew 11:29, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  It is this labour of love which brings rest to our souls.

We enter into this rest not through working to do so, but through belief.  Consider Hebrews 3:18-4:2:  "And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? ¹⁹ So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. ¹ Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."  Jesus has given us rest, and we are called to enter in by faith.  Leisure and ease provides rest for our bodies, but not for our souls.  Let us enter into the rest God provides by coming to Christ and abiding in Him through faith.  In Him we find rest for our souls.

No Pleasure in Death

"Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'"

Ezekiel 33:11

Before I finally went to bed last night I flipped back and forth between a couple of movies.  I wanted to see the end of both "The World's Fastest Indian" and "The Count of Monte Cristo," movies I had seen previously.  I wanted to see Burt Munro finally open up the throttle on the salt flats.  Then I couldn't remember the exact ending of Monte Cristo, as Dantes took his revenge upon the wretched traitor Mondego.  He is a most unlikable villain who even makes Nurse Ratched seem genuine and caring.

As I saw the final battle scene of the movie that ends with Dantes' sword skewering Mondego's heart, I sensed a difference in myself.  The satisfaction I expected from seeing the fitting end of the snake Mondego never came.  Instead, all I heard were the words repeated over and over in my mind:  "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked."  It was a revelation to me, though I was already familiar with the passage in Ezekiel.  But it made me think about God and the misconceptions I have had concerning Him over the years.

There is a tendency for us to think God must think like us. Movies with the theme of revenge are common in both the theater and on the screen.  A happy ending is the right people live and die:  a bad ending is when the "wrong" people live.  Therefore we have this idea that God is pleased when "bad people" die because we are.  In the cases of the ends of the movies I caught last night, both were happy endings:  Munro finally fulfilled his dream of racing in Bonneville, and Dantes killed Mondego, was wealthy, and had a bright future with the woman who loved him.  Mondego acts the part of villain so well I'm sure most viewers really want to see him dead!  After scheming, murdering, lying, and deceiving all the way through the movie, it wouldn't feel like a good ending if Mondego lived, right?  In God's eyes, a good ending would have Mondego repent and live.  And if justice demanded the death of Mondego, God would take no pleasure even in that.

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked!  Ezekiel 18:20 states, "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself."  Death has come into the world because of sin.  The wages of a single sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.  Even when people commit sin and deserve death and eternal condemnation under the law, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.  Why will people die when Jesus has died so they might live?  There is no divine satisfaction when serial rapists and murderers are executed for their crimes.  God has no satisfaction to see people die and their souls perish in hell. 

Contrast this with Psalm 116:15: "Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints."  The wicked depart into eternal torment, while those righteous through faith in Christ will spend eternity with Him.  What gives God pleasure is for people to turn from their sins and be forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus.  He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but in the salvation and redemption of lost souls.  John 11:25-26 contains a wonderful promise to those who trust in Christ.  "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  Even a man being strapped into the electric chair is not beyond salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus.

Do you take pleasure in the death of the wicked?  God doesn't.

The Authority of Christ

How important it is for Christians to comprehend their identity concerning their authority in Christ!  Jesus has all authority in heaven and in earth and has granted that same authority to all who repent, trust in Him, and are regenerated through the Holy Spirit.  We have been fully equipped and enabled by God to operate according to the power which raised Jesus from the dead for God's glory.  I think it would be safe to say that this power has not been realized in the day-to-day living of many Christians.  But we must be convinced that it is God's will that our lives be a demonstration of the Holy Spirit in power before we can ever do it.  I do not need to convince you:  I trust the Bible and the Holy Spirit to do that!

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ 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."  This passage reeks of spiritual authority granted by God to the believer to be used for the glory of God.  The source of the authority of a Christian comes from Christ and is to exercised in humility and meekness.  The problem is many associate meekness with timidity and weakness.  Paul was not a timid man, but was bold as a lion.  He shook a viper which latched on his hand into the fire without injury, cast out demons, pronounced blindness on a government official, healed the sick, spoke with boldness when faced with torture, imprisonment, and death, wrote strongly worded letters, and even rebuked Peter to the face when necessary.  Paul exercised authority both within and outside the church while remaining under the authority of Jesus Christ.

Now consider for a moment examples of Christ's power and authority.  Even the wind and the waves obeyed Him!  No condition, disease, demon, or Satan himself could withstand His commands.  With a word demons were cast out even over great distances, and when tempted by the devil Jesus said as He stood upon the authority of scripture in Matthew 4:10:  "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve."  Before His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension Jesus said in John 14:12:  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."  Even though Jesus emphatically (the verse begins "verily, verily" in the KJV) stresses the truth of this statement, I confess for a long time I didn't live like I thought this was true.  Even now it can be a struggle.  Then He continues in John 14:13-14:  "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."  Whoa.  Do we believe these words of Jesus?  Really?

There is a verse I was discussing with a friend the other day which some have used as a stumbling block in exercising the biblical spiritual authority of a child of God as revealed in scripture.  Jude 1:9 states, "Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"  I have heard people say things like, "If the powerful archangel Michael when contending with the devil refused to speak harshly against him, what right do we have to do so?"  In this letter, Jude is dealing with apostasy.  It was not written with the intention of restricting us from exercising the authority we see manifested in Jesus Christ.  I will break it down like this:  the devil is a contentious, accuser of the brethren.  Christians are never called to revile or accuse anyone, much less Satan.  That would be returning evil for evil and answering a fool according to his folly.  Michael the archangel knew his role, knowing full well the authority and power of God to deliver.  There is no need to argue or resort to accusations when God can end it instantly through divine power.

Here is a point that may blow your mind:  as a child of God in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, you have more authority and spiritual power at your disposal than Michael the archangel!  Surprise you?  Angels have not been purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ, but every Christian has.  Jesus has made a New Covenant with men by shedding His own blood.  There is no scripture which states that Michael has the Holy Spirit dwelling in or coming upon him in fullness.  But this is true for the believer who has been filled with the Spirit!  Believers have been adopted into the kingdom of God as His children and are co-heirs with Christ.  We read nowhere in scripture that Michael has received a commission from God accompanied with all the power of Jesus Christ:  Matthew 28:18-20 reads, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."

Satan would love for us to fall short of appropriating the authority God has given His people through prayer, walking in the Spirit, and obedience.  Isaiah 54:17 says, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD."  I share this not so Christians will start strutting around like peacocks, looking for the devil so they can try to beat him up or bully him around.  Not at all!  Such a one would fare no better than the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13-17)!  There is nothing more humbling than recognizing that all our identity and all we possess is by the grace of God, and all our righteousness, power, and strength comes from God alone.  It is not our ability but God's.  Jesus did not speak on His own authority, and neither should we (John 12:49).  The Spirit is the One who leads and guides us in what we should say (Luke 12:11-12).  Jesus never backed down from satanic confrontation, and neither should I when the Holy Spirit resides within me.

Believer, flee from temptation.  But you walk in sin if you flee from the devil!  You need not fear, for God has empowered you through the Holy Spirit for such conflict.  Ephesians 6:10-18 reads, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."  I gladly run the risk of being called a fanatic to the end that people will embrace the authority and heritage Christ has granted them through His shed blood.  I am no fanatic to believe the words of Jesus Christ.  I am a Christian, and Jesus is my LORD and Saviour.  What He says I believe, and as the Spirit leads so I will say.

Have you walked in the authority of Jesus Christ and the empowerment of the Spirit today?  That is what abiding in the Vine and walking in the Spirit is all about.  God, grant me the strength, wisdom, and discernment to keep putting one foot in front of the other, trusting in you to supply my every need.  Thank you for saving my soul and protecting me from evil.  May you be glorified in my life as I seek your face and trust you to guide my every step.  "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵ to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1:24-25)

Clean Hands and Pure Hearts

As I walked back home from dropping off the kids at the bus stop, I sang the words to the familiar song by Chris Tomlin:  "We bow our hearts, we bend our knees, oh Spirit come make us humble.  We turn our eyes from evil things, oh Lord we cast down our idols.  Give us clean hands and give us pure hearts; let us not lift our souls to another..."  I thought carefully about the lyrics of this song I enjoy singing to God.  My mind focused on the phrase, "Give us clean hands and give us pure hearts."

Immediately my mind went to James 4:8:  "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."  When I compared the song to the verse, I saw a subtle but profound difference.  Now don't get me wrong - I am not trashing the song by any means.  When singing the song, I asked God to give me clean hands and a pure heart.  When I read the passage in James, these are things I have the responsibility to appropriate.  The song takes a more passive feel where the scripture dumps the reponsibility upon me.

The truth is we cannot clean our hands or purify our hearts through our best efforts.  This cleansing only comes through repentance and faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  God gives us clean hands and pure hearts, but only when we meet His conditions:  humility, confession, repentance, and faith.  As I mused upon this fact, it occurred to me that we as Christians often request God to give us things He has already given.  The disconnect is we have not fulfilled our responsibility to trust and walk in faith.  God is not to be blamed for the fact we have dirty hands and impure hearts.  He has made the way through Jesus:  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He has given us the Holy Spirit who teaches, leads, and empowers us.

Years ago I attended a ECYWA meeting (just a little shout-out to my youth workers in East County!) during which prayer requests were shared with one another.  There was one youth worker who asked for prayer because he was struggling to get out of bed and was often late for work - which began at 10am!  It seemed he was asking God to do something for him he was unwilling to do for himself.  I wish I could have seen my shocked expression.  Billions of people every day get up and arrive to work on time without seeking the help of God.  God does not exist for us to justify our laziness.  God has given you breath and life:  you can go to bed earlier and set an alarm clock!  The old adage "God helps those who help themselves" is not scriptural but still makes a valid point:  though God works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure, by God we are held responsible to fulfill the duties He places before us in obedience.

Let us seek to lay hold of the promises of God by faith.  Instead of asking for what God has already given, may we simply walk by faith in the truth.  We are to cleanse our own hands, and purify our own hearts through faith in the shed blood of Christ.  Prayer is no substitute for work:  prayer IS work!  God won't do for me what I am unwilling to do myself.  We do not labour for our own glory, but the glory of God!

Don't Mistake Methods for Means

The Bible is an amazing book because it is the living Word of God.  It is also amazing how many books have been spawned through biblical wisdom.  Though thousands of commentaries and millions of books (and blogs such as this!) have been penned inspired by the Bible, not one of them excels the divine inspiration of the original.  Books written by godly men and women can be beneficial and influential in sparking ideas and bringing clarity to our minds.  Though valuable resources, they should never replace the Bible.

It seems like today people are interested in methods.  People want to know what "works" or has been found successful and seek to emulate the process to achieve a desirable result.  They read book after book in a quest to discover a machine where raw materials can be combined in a prescribed order to receive what we want:  three elders, laying on of hands, 10 mils of oil applied just right - and divine miraculous healing is the result!  This misses the point.  When it comes to things of God, the Means is always more important than the methods.  The Holy Spirit is the Means, and we are to obey His methods.  He is our source of life and power.

We can know we have salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ through faith.  It is God's Word which provides us this assurance, not anything we have done.  Titus 3:5 reads, "...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit..."  In the same way we are to appropriate all the promises of scripture:  faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.  God's Word was written so we might believe it and walk accordingly.  Make sure that you never neglect the study of the Bible itself.  It is not enough to read books by well-known preachers.  Listening to sermons and pod-casts can never replace the necessity of breaking apart the actual Word taught and applied to you personally by the Holy Spirit Himself.

Have you listened to the Holy Spirit today?  Jesus says in John 16:13, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."  He is the Means by which we can hear from Christ and glorify God.  How cool is that?

Spirit-Filled Life Conference

This past weekend at Calvary Chapel Sydney we hosted a conference on the Holy Spirit-filled life.  We were blessed to have two pastors share with us currently ministering in New Zealand, Mark Walsh and Scott Clifford.  All who attended were no doubt encouraged, challenged, and strengthened in our walks with Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.  It was a great opportunity for the fellowship to gather together, open the Word of God, and enter into the presence of the LORD.  I have no doubt that it was fruitful and will continue to be so as we appropriate all God has for us by His grace.

I would say Christians are quite at ease with the idea of God revealed in the person of the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ.  But the same people can be uneasy with the operations of the Holy Spirit.  The reservations people have about the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives can be infinite.  If we were to do a word association with "baptism with the Holy Spirit," I wouldn't be surprised if words like "weird" or "wrong" were suggested.  But there is nothing weird about the Holy Spirit taking up residence in you through faith in Christ for salvation, and it is no more strange that this same Spirit of God who empowered Christ to do signs and wonders empowers Christians for service and ministry today.  It would be wrong for a Christian to try to do God's work without the power of God working within and through them.  Our God is supernaturally natural.  One of the primary hindrances of stepping out in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit is it requires faith.  When people are willing to take the initial step of surrender and obedience to God's leading in faith, that alone clears a huge amount of mental hurdles out of the way.

One point made at the conference which really stuck with me was the hindrance of unbelief in relation to walking in the Spirit.  During a Q & A session, the pastors discussed how many people think it is the volume of faith we have which makes the difference.  They attempt to muster up faith to a degree that it will tip the balance of the scales away from unbelief and then healing or answer to a prayer will come.  This is not the case.  It is the presence of unbelief which stays God's hand.  Jesus said that if a man has faith the size of a mustard seed, he can command a mountain to be moved into the ocean and it would obey.  A mustard seed was one of the smallest reference points of Christ's day.  In our day we might say "a molecule of faith" or "an atom of faith."  The smallest amount of genuine faith without doubt and unbelief frees God to do His wonders.

Another point of emphasis was how the Holy Spirit is the Conductor of the symphony in the Body of Christ (the church), which is not comprised of gifted soloists who work independently of each other.  As musicians tune their instruments with one another, so Christians are instruments in God's hands tuned through the Holy Spirit with one another in concert.  God has given each Christian gifts for the glory of God and the edification of the church and Christ as He wills.  Quoting pastor Scott, "When you overplay your strength it becomes your weakness."  It is good for a believer to receive gifts from God and walk in them.  If your gift is evangelism, the temptation might be to be dissatisfied with the lack of evangelistic activities in your church,stir up dissension or leave.  God has made you an evangelist, but it doesn't mean everyone has that gift!  Your role then is to further cultivate that gift and appreciate the other gifts God has given.  Instead of magnifying your gift or office, do all for the glory of God and serve one another in love.

One pastor emphasized that in all things we are the weak link.  Is God's hand shortened that He cannot save?  Are His ears and eyes closed to the requests and needs of His people?  Certainly not!  A dangerous tendency is to filter scripture through our experience and adapt it accordingly.  Let us say a man has never seen a person miraculously healed.  He then assumes that the gift of healing and miracles must no longer be in operation today because he has never observed it.  Is this scriptural?  No!  Mark 16:17-20 says, "And these signs will follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." ¹⁹ So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen."  The Bible says this healing is a sign which will follow those who believe.  We must always take God at His Word, even as we believe we have assurance of salvation through the Gospel.  Unless I believe the gifts of the Spirit are for today, I will never desire them, ask for them specifically, or exercise them.  Of course I will not see divine healing!  Jesus says in John 14:12-14, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."  Jesus is right and true, I can be wrong and deceived.  I am the weak link, not Jesus!

When I reflect upon the weekend, I see it all as a huge answered prayer.  The fact that many people came was a testimony of God's faithfulness and goodness.  It was awesome how God drew people to unite and worship in His name.  We did very little in the way of advertising except occasional announcements and reminder emails, but people came!  I asked the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment and He did so.  As we worshiped together, prophetic words of encouragement were shared with the group.  There were prayers for healing and restoration.  A tongue and an interpretation was given.  All was done decently and in biblical order, and I came away from each meeting knowing I had been in the presence of God.

Thanks to all those who prayed for the event, attended, served, and shared.  May our faith continue to grow as we seek to walk in the Spirit continually.  Heavenly Father, grant us the strength and ability to take the next step of faith as you entreat us.  Not to us, but to you be the glory both now and forever!