But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold

As far as I know, every biblical hero had to go through a period of intense suffering. I’m thinking of Joseph, Jeremiah, David etc., etc. And whether, as in this quote from Job 23:10 God gets the blame or not, what God always seems to be doing through suffering, is character polishing, facilitating His heroes to “come forth as gold.” In fact the supreme good that God promises to work in the lives of those who love Him, is that He is makes us more like Jesus both in character, and in fruitfulness (Romans 8:28, 29).

Job’s so-called “comforters” were not really comforters at all! They insisted that he deserved everything that had happened to him. Their warped theology maintained that suffering is always a sign of sin, and that it is God’s punishment on that sin (Job 2:7). But Job is blameless (Job 1:1), and in the end God vindicates him telling him that his three “friends” had not “spoken of Me what is right” (Job 42:7). In the end, what God thinks about us is far more important than what anyone else thinks about us. But being misunderstood, falsely accused, marginalized and dismissed in the midst of our trials, does nothing but add to our suffering! You might have a very good idea what I’m talking about!

Job’s suffering had another advantage, it moved him from knowing about God to knowing Him personally. He had “heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5). Jesus tells us, that the very essence of eternal life is “that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). When we truly know Him, and we know that we belong to Him, then we know who we are, and by his grace we are able to stand, and having done all to stand (Ephesians 6:13).

Father, it is so easy to loose perspective in the midst of our trials and temptations. And when we do, the solution is always to renew our perspective. Many times like Job, we need You to intervene to bring us back into that there. So as we go into this new year Father, give us eyes to see, and ears to hear what You are doing in this time, and to keep our eyes upon You, as Your eyes are upon us. And we give You praise and glory in Jesus Name Amen

To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life

They say there is no such thing as a free lunch, and one of the objections that people have who are skeptical of the gospel, is that it takes away all initiative and responsibility. But they misunderstand that what the gospel does is to set us free to serve without fear. So first of all I don’t need to worry if I will ever be good enough for heaven, because the moment I receive Him as Lord, He qualifies me to be an inheritor of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12 see also John 5:24 and 2 Corinthians 5:21). But that this does not take away initiative and responsibility is clear from the verse following this morning quote from Revelation 21:6. It says “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

So we build on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11), and the picture Paul gives us of what can be built is gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and straw (verse 12). So silver could be giving to the poor out of a pure heart to please God, and wood could be giving to the poor to be seen by men. The latter, we are told already have their reward (the praise of men Matthew 6:1,2). Paul continuing with the analogy tells us that what we build on the foundation will be tested by fire (verse 13). So clearly the wood hay and straw will be burned up. Note that wood looks solid, durable, but it is no match for the fire. We cannot fool God, He truly knows our hearts (Psalm 44:21).

The point is that those who build with gold, silver or precious stones will receive a reward (verse 14). So there is the initiative! But those who build with wood, hay or straw will "suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet as through fire" (verse 15). We are told on that Day that God will wipe away all tears (Revelations 21:4). Being saved "yet as by fire" sounds painful, and I sometimes wonder if some (but certainly not all) of the tears He will wipe away are tears we shed because, after all He has done for us, we will have done so little for Him!

Father, I truly want to inherit all things. But what I think I desire more, is to hear from You “Well done good and faithful servant enter in to the joy of your Lord (Matthew 25:21). As I have been saying over the last couple of days You desire relationship over rules, and I love You Lord, and I want to please You, and that from me is reward in and of itself. Thank You Lord for the firm foundation based on the finished work of your Son. Thank You that I am secure, that nothing can truly harm me, and I look forward to that day when we meet face-to-face. And I give You all the honour and glory again this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen

To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life

They say there is no such thing as a free lunch, and one of the objections that people have who are skeptical of the gospel, is that it takes away all initiative and responsibility. But they misunderstand that what the gospel does is to set us free to serve without fear. So first of all I don’t need to worry if I will ever be good enough for heaven, because the moment I receive Him as Lord, He qualifies me to be an inheritor of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12 see also John 5:24 and 2 Corinthians 5:21). But that this does not take away initiative and responsibility is clear from the verse following this morning quote from Revelation 21:6. It says “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

So we build on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11), and the picture Paul gives us of what can be built is gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and straw (verse 12). So silver could be giving to the poor out of a pure heart to please God, and wood could be giving to the poor to be seen by men. The latter, we are told already have their reward (the praise of men Matthew 6:1,2). Paul continuing with the analogy tells us that what we build on the foundation will be tested by fire (verse 13). So clearly the wood hay and straw will be burned up. Note that wood looks solid, durable, but it is no match for the fire. We cannot fool God, He truly knows our hearts (Psalm 44:21).

The point is that those who build with gold, silver or precious stones will receive a reward (verse 14). So there is the initiative! But those who build with wood, hay or straw will "suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet as through fire" (verse 15). We are told on that Day that God will wipe away all tears (Revelations 21:4). It sounds painful, and I sometimes wonder if some (but certainly not all) of the tears He will wipe away are tears we shed because, after all He has done for us, we will have done so little for Him!

Father, I truly want to inherit all things. But what I think I desire more, is to hear from You “Well done good and faithful servant enter in to the joy of your Lord (Matthew 25:21). As I have been saying over the last couple of days You desire relationship over rules, and I love You Lord, and I want to please You, and that from me is reward in and of itself. Thank You Lord for the firm foundation based on the finished work of your Son. Thank You that I am secure, that nothing can truly harm me, and I look forward to that day when we meet face-to-face. And I give You all the honour and glory again this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen

Part (II) The Law is our teacher to show us our need of Christ

To say what I was saying last day in a slightly different way, good rules are like fences on a cliff. They are there to stop us falling off. Bad choices have consequences, and so the Lord gives us laws, rules if you like which, if we obey them will protect us. David could write “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). He would also declare that because he meditates on God’s Laws and decrees, that he has more wisdom that his teachers (Psalm 119:99). So not only do His Laws protect us, they bring us into life in all its fullness.

But the Law is there for another reason too, and that is the main thing that this quote from Galatians 3:24 is saying. The Lord has always wanted relationship over rules. But when God was giving Moses the Law, and there was smoke and fire on the mountain, the Israelites were afraid. What they said to Moses was “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die” (Exodus 20:19). In other words, “We choose rules over relationship.” In many churches even today, it’s the same thing, trying to find favour with God by obeying rules! Good luck with that!

A large part of the Old Testament is the history of God’s people trying to obey His Laws, His rules, and utterly failing. The Scriptures tell us that all our own righteousness is like being clothed with filthy rags (Isaiah 64 6). So which do you want first, the good news or the bad news? Well the bad news is that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a), that is the just punishment for what we did is spiritual death, eternal separation from God. The bad news is that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The good news however is that “the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). The point is, that we cannot really understand the good news until we understand the bad. So essentially then the Law shows us the bad news, and it does it “in order that we might be justified by faith” (the last part of Galatians 3:24).

Father, when we come to you, you take our filthy rags, and clothe us with robes of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Our own righteousness will never be enough to fit us for heaven, but we have this hope Lord that “When we see Him (Jesus), we will be like Him” (1 John 3:2). I’m not there yet Lord, but I know that You who have begun a good work in me will keep right on working in me until that day, and I give You honour and glory and praise in Jesus Name Amen

The Law is our teacher to show us our need of Christ (I)

Suppose, in setting boundaries for your 5-year-old daughter, you tell her that if she so much as puts her foot over an indicated line, she will be grounded for a week. If she, looking defiantly at you, then stands on the right side of the line and deliberately puts just her foot over the line, what you will do? Perhaps you should not have made the punishment so severe, but you did, and now you tell yourself “It’s only a minor infraction, I’ll let it go.” Well, if you do this, what you are really doing is telling her that you don’t mean what you say!

In the 12 step program Al-Anon, spouses of alcoholics learn that they are often enablers. That is they facilitate the behaviour of the alcoholic by covering up for them perhaps with their boss, or by excusing the behaviour, hoping against hope that they will straighten up. It may seem loving, but what it does is it takes away the responsibility from the spouse, it shields them from the consequences of their actions, and actually they have no need to change. It was the consequences of my own poor choices (we reap what we sow Galatians 6:7), that helped me to see my need of Christ, my need to be rescued, my need of a saviour!

We all need rules growing up in order to be safe. We need to hold daddy’s hands crossing the street. A child needs boundaries to be safe, and ultimately with a loving parent the child understands this, even though he or she may test the boundaries. But like a parent with his or her child, God ultimately wants relationship rather than rules. When I was a child I understood as a child, thought as a child, acted like a child (1 Corinthians 13:11). I need to grow up, and what I did not learn as a child, I had to I learn the hard way. But I did learn, I learned that when God says “no,” it is for our provision and for our protection. I learned that the rules, the Law is there to protect me until I could learn to choose the good, to choose Him.

Father, You always wanted our interaction with You to be about relationship rather than rules. But as in this morning’s quote from Galatians 3:24 we needed the Law as a guide to keep us out of trouble. But even after salvation we need to obey You. You told us Lord Jesus that we are Your friends if we do whatever You tell us (John 15:14). But You are not some celestial Scrooge wanting to take away our fun. No rather You know that in this kind of relationship with You we find fullfilment and hope and joy and peace and destiny. We find our purpose in the plans that You have for us. This, and only this, will lead us into fullness of life in Jesus Name Amen

Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain

It is a valid principle of interpretation to take things in the physical in the Old Testament, and apply them to their spiritual counterpart in the New. So in this quote from Zechariah 10:1, we can apply the picture of literal rain to the spiritual rain of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In addition “The Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7, but it is also a principle that things appear in the natural before they appear in the spiritual. And part, but only apart, of this is that this year has been a year of fire and flood in North America. In fact independently, and across various streams, the Lord has been showing His prophets that there is a wave coming that is greater than any previous wave of the spirit. So what we need to see here, is that we are in a "season of rain,"so what is our part?

Now the Lord is Sovereign, and He will do what He will do, we cannot thwart his plan, but we can hasten it (2 Peter 3:12). The Lord has a plan for a great end time harvest, but He has to do something first with his church. And we can hasten in this in this season, by "asking the Lord for rain." And there is an element of this, that works a little bit like what happens when we pray for our enemy. And that is that first and foremost our prayer for our enemy changes us. Likewise our corporate prayer for rain for that wider body of Christ changes our local corporate bodies.

At the end of his life, Paul talked about the crown of righteousness that the Lord will give to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 3:8). And part of loving His appearance is to hasten the day by choosing not to lose heart. We have need of perseverance, so we need to remind ourselves that the Lord is not slack concerning his promises, but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Since the king’s heart is in the Lord’s hand, and He is able to direct it wherever He chooses (Proverbs 21:1), we need to cooperate with Him in praying for our loved ones (the kings and queens) who do not know Him, that He will direct their hearts to be part of the coming harvest.

Father, we do so pray. Lord our heartfelt prayers are powerful, because we are righteous in You (James 5:16). While there is so much going on in this wicked and hurting world that is not of You, nevertheless our eyes are on You (Chronicles 20:12). Lord it is encouraging to know both that Your plans cannot be thwarted, but also that we can hasten them as we partner together with You. I pray this morning Lord that You will strengthen us and encourage us, and pour out Your rain on me, on all those reading this blog, on Your church, on the nation and on the world. And we will give You all the honour glory and praise. Let is rain Lord, in Jesus Name Amen

Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in

It’s not about Church, it’s not about correct theology, though I am not saying these things are not important, but if as I was saying yesterday, Christmas is all about me, all for my benefit, then a response is called for. Gift giving and receiving in a culture where we have very little physical needs can be a challenge. My youngest granddaughter gave me a tiny plastic shovel for Christmas, and her mother helpfully suggested that I could use it to shovel myself out of the car if I got snowed in. Bless her heart she so wanted Grandpa to be please with her gift. It is no fun to be excited about giving a gift, and it not being received well.

I know something of this in my own life. My grandfather was a troubled man, never having recovered from a traumatic childhood. I never understood this as a child, and I remember my disappointment at him not even bothering to open the Christmas presents I handed him. He would simply put my present aside as I sought to give it to him. All this to say that a gift may be offered, but not received. God gave us a gift at Christmas when He wrapped His Son in flesh and gave Him to us as the “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

The origin of Boxing Day is disputed, some say it was the day servants received Christmas Boxes (i.e. presents) from the master. Others say it had to do with the alms boxes. For us Christ Himself and the salvation He offers are an indescribable Christmas Box. But like the man on death row who is offered a Presidential pardon, it has to be received in order for the pardon to come into effect. And we need to see our need, the "meek soul" (a quote from the Christmas Carol 'O Little Town of Bethlehem') who acknowledges this and invites Him in, is then indeed received by the “dear Christ!” For “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

Father, thank You Lord for Your indescribable gift. Truly Your gift is the one that keeps on giving. Thank You Lord for all the benefits of Your passion, for the presence of Your Holy Spirit and for the principles and promises of Your Word. I want to pray again this morning Lord for all who find Christmas difficult, that we all together in spite of it all we may with Habakkuk choose to rejoice in the LORD, and be joyful in God our Saviour (Habakkuk 3:18) in Jesus Name Amen

Christmas: It’s all about me!

I snitched this morning’s title from Church on Sunday, but it’s likely not what you think! It is not a guilt trip about our self absorption, it is the message that God is seeking you and me as His treasure. Consider the situation where a man, at considerable risk to himself, jumps into a whirlpool where strong currents are pulling his child into its vortex. It’s not about the behaviour of the child, how good or how bad he is. It’s not about how successful or unsuccessful he is. It’s not about whether the child is worthy or not. It’s not about whether it was the child’s fault for getting too close to the whirlpool. No, it’s all about how valuable the child is to the father, it’s all about the need for the child to be rescued, it’s all about the child.

You probably see where I am going with this, but in any case, let’s suppose the current is so strong no one could possibly swim out. Let’s suppose further that we are all caught up in the powerful currents of the vortex. Nobody can rescue anyone, because we all need to be rescued. We need a superhero, one who is able to pluck us from inevitable destruction. And the fact of the matter is, that we are all in the cesspool of sin, and we all need to be rescued. It’s not about our self absorption, or our behaviour, about earning the right to be rescued, but it is all about us, and our need to be rescued. We need a super hero, one who is strong enough to get us out, and one who even if it is only possible at at considerable cost to himself is nevertheless willing to get us out, but can only do so if we trust Him!

Well by now you know for sure where I am going with this. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosever puts his or her trust in Him will not perish.” It would be hard to trust some alien landing out of the blue in a spaceship. We would need someone like us, someone who was tempted at all points as we are, yet unaffected by the pollution of sin, someone who demonstrated His love for us in such a way that we knew it was all about us, some superhero with whom we could identify, someone who understood our pain and suffering, someone like Jesus.

Father, all the world loves a baby, and at least for me, You coming as a helpless baby, and then going through all that You went through for me, gets under my radar in a significant way. Yes it is for the rest of the world too, but You want me to know know it is all about me, that I am Your favourite and if I had been the only one who chose to trust You, You would still have come. I don’t know Father, how it can be all about my brother or my sister who is reading this blog, and at the same time be all about me. But Lord I do know that each and every one of us is precious and loved with an everlasting love. And I thank You Father for sending Your Son, and I thank You Jesus for coming, and I worship You this morning Lord, in Your precious and lovely Name Amen

Under the radar Part 2

I was in the grocery store before eight this morning, trying to get ahead (under the radar) of the last-minute shopping frenzy. Last day I was talking about getting under the radar of the hopelessness that can so easily bog us down when we look at the state of the world. This morning I am thinking about getting under the radar of the tinsel, the commercialism, the out-of-control spending and partying. We Know in our heads that the real meaning of Christmas is not about these things, but it’s so easy to get caught up in them! So I wanted to spend time this morning meditating on the fact that there was no room in the inn (Luke 2:7). Neither was there room in the hearts of those to whom He first came (John 1:10, 11), and in fact, nor largely in the hearts of those in our culture!

And so I particularly wanted to make sure this morning, that I am making room for Him in my heart this Christmas. I was heartened recently, to learn that the friends of a close relative of mine who had rejected his Christianity in their youth, were now coming asking questions, as they were beginning to realize the meaningless of life without Him. And in spite of the tyranny of political correctness, the stores are still playing Christmas Carols. And the Christmas Carols speak the gospel, and though it may not be acknowledged at this point in time, the Lord is getting under the radar, sowing seeds. And we need to water them with prayer.

And I am also reminded that I am an ambassador and a soldier, and I am not to get entangled in the things of this world (2 Corinthians 5:20; 2 Timothy 2:4). This does not mean I need to be a party pooper, I can certainly enjoy the excitement of the children at this time, and time spent with friends or family! But I also very aware that Christmas is a very difficult time for many, and I need His help to remember to hold them up in prayer.

Lord, Your ways are truly not our ways. Though you are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, yet You came under the radar, as a tiny helpless babe. You work in ways we cannot see, and as we pray, You are working under the radar in the hearts and lives of those we love. You are also working to comfort those for whom Christmas is difficult. But Lord just as Christmas is just the beginning, so we contend in the spirit for the great end time revival and for Your coming again. So Lord in this season I pray that we will not get caught up in the tinsel, but rather that we would enthrone You in our hearts and our lives. And I give You all the honour and glory and praise again this morning in Jesus Name Amen

Under the radar

Christmas: For some reason I was remembering this morning a piece on the radio years ago. It was ostensibly a news man reading bad news, news of wars, news of famine, news of man’s inhumanity to man. And playing softly in the background was the Christmas Carol “Silent Night!” It's hard to reconcile all the bad news with the Christmas message “Good tidings of great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10). Related to this, I came across a piece of mail asking for a contribution towards the eradication of trachoma. Trachoma is a totally preventable infection of the eyes that is extremely painful, and leads to blindness if not treated. It is widespread in some developing countries.

Knowing I was wrong, but also knowing that I needed to be real with God, I pounded on His breast with both fists in my mind’s eye, accusing Him “Why don’t you do something?” He always has His arms around me in this scenario, and as I say I know I am wrong even as I’m doing it. He showed me on the outside of the envelope “We have the medicine, you can help us get it to them in time.” The point is that so much of the suffering in the world is totally preventable. I know I can’t do everything, but I can do something, and I can set an example. The alpha story of a boy on the beach taking individual starfish and putting them back into the water comes to mind. There were thousands and thousands of them washed up on the beach. An adult was laughing at the boy. “That’s not going to make any difference.” The boy answers “It makes a difference to this one” as he popped it back into the water.

Concurrently with these thoughts, I’m also seeing in my minds eye otherwise sophisticated adults coochy - cooing and playing peekaboo with newborn infants. For most of us, a newborn baby gets right under the radar of our defences, and our self absorption. And it struck me that the Christmas story is intended to get under our radar. And it will if we let it! And I am reminded again this morning the incredible lengths the Lord went to, and goes to, to not only get our attention, but also to give us the solution to it all.

Father, I am so aware that Christmas is such a difficult time for many, people in prison, people struggling with life-threatening illnesses, people in alcohol or drug infested homes. It is my prayer this morning Lord for myself, and all for whom Christmas is a difficult time, that we would allow you to get under the radar, and to believe that there is coming a time when You will right every wrong, and wipe away every tear. In the meantime Father I ask for Your grace and Your peace and Your hope to guard our hearts in spite of it all. I thank You in advance, and I give You all the honour and glory and praise in Jesus Name Amen

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth

I am told that one of the golden rules of a carpenter is measure twice, cut once. And I was thinking this morning, that “Think twice, speak once” would be a good rule for my mouth! James tells us that if anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man (James 3:2). It’s a bit of a problem, since as Jesus tells us “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). As I thought about these things, it struck me that the verse at the head of this post is Old Testament where the emphasis is primarily about rules and behaviour (Psalm 142:3). The New Testament however points out that rules are never enough, we have to go deeper, we have to go to the heart of the matter (pun intended)!

For the longest time after I became a Christian, I was operating in Old Testament mode, trying valiantly to change my behaviour and beating myself up when I failed. What needed to change was my heart. But how can I do that? The Lord speaking through Jeremiah asks “Can the leopard change its spots?” It goes on to say “Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil” (Jeremiah 13:23). But it’s not hopeless, because speaking of the New Covenant, the Lord tells us ”I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws (Ezekiel 36:26, 27).

Some have understood the New Covenant as a more exacting law to be obeyed (Galatians 3:1ff). But if it is impossible to keep Old Testament law, how can we keep the more exacting standards where lust is equated with adultery, and hate with murder (Matthew 5:21, 27)? We cannot do this without Him, it is His spirit that moves us to follow His degrees. It is He who is at work us, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. We do have a part to play of course, and our part is to present our minds and souls and bodies as a living sacrifice. It is then that we will be transformed but the renewing of our hearts and minds (Philippians 2:12, 13; Romans 12:1, 2).

Father, I want to thank You for Your Word that tells me that the lions share my transformation is Your work. My part is to trust, to believe, and to present all that I am, and all that I have to You. But I need You even for this Lord. I know that I am not there yet Lord, and if I think I am, then I need to be careful lest I fall (1 Corinthians 10:12). But what do I know Lord, is that You who began a good work in me, will bring it to fullness in Your time (Philippians 1:6). And I thank You for these things again this morning Lord, in Jesus Name Amen.

Marriage: a primary tool to make us like Christ

Most people who have been married for any length of time will tell you, that the marriage relationship is not easy. In fact Paul tells us “Those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this” (1 Corinthians 7:28). So perhaps the marriage relationship is the most difficult of relationships, but it is also potentially the most rewarding. In any case it seems to me, judging from what happened to Paul (2 Corinthians 11:24), that if it’s not the marriage relationship, God will use something else to refine us. After all “All those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22). The analogy of these qualities being fruit, speaks of the need to be consistently and vitally connected to the root. A tree planted by the water continued to bear fruit even in the dry seasons (Jeremiah 17:8). But to mix the metaphors, we learn to really sail in a gale, not on calm seas! Now joy is part of the fruit, but we have a part to play to stay rooted and grounded, and to choose to count it all joy in the midst of the multi varied trials and temptations (James 1:2).

The verse comes to me again and again, which says that we need to look to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). As a pioneer, He goes before us to show us the way. And He is the perfecter of our faith as we choose to endure, to push through the pain, to cooperate in endurance and long-suffering, knowing that the testing of our faith produces the fruit He desires we exhibit to show the way to freedom and healing to this wicked and hurting world. Godly marriages may not be the norm, but those who have allowed the Lord to refine them, are truly beautiful! I also see something beautiful in those who, though they have failed, nevertheless have truly overcome the temptation to bitterness, and have allowed Him to use it all as a refining fire.

Father, while there is hypocrisy in saying “Do as I say, not as I do,” there is no hypocrisy in saying “Please don’t do as I did, but rather learn from my mistakes!” For those of us who have utterly failed concerning marriage, You can still you still have things for us to learn from our failure. In particular we need Your love, joy, peace and long-suffering etc., etc. We need to receive Your grace to forgive (Hebrews 12:15). It takes two to tango, and even when there are glaring faults on the part of our partner, our response to the wrong done needs to display all the fruit of the Spirit. I don’t get tired of saying this Lord. we need Your help in all of these things. And I asked for it again this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen

Conflict avoidance (II): Iron sharpening iron and conflict (III)

In talking to and reading about those who initiate divorce, I have observed that the testimony often goes along the lines of “I woke up one day to realize…” It may be a midlife crisis, it may I have been a last straw in the relationship that broke the camels back. It may just have been a sudden awareness that what they had, was not what they signed up for. And it is at this point, that we need to take a long hard look at the covenant that we signed in marriage. I remember reading something by M. Scott Peck to the effect that if one of the parties is in recovery and the other not, then divorce is inevitable. I don’t believe that, because with God all things are possible, but I’m not saying that it’s easy!

They say that if you put a frog in a kettle of cold water and then bring it to the boil, it will stay there until it boils to death. But if you it into boiling water, it will immediately jump out. Whether this is a true biological fact or not, it makes the point that the death of love, or the slide to dysfunction, or one of the parties coming into a radical disrespect of the other, these things can be a slow fade. Unlike the frog however, there is often a sudden realization of the type mentioned above. For the Christian the death of love, or the arrival of “for worse” should not be the end of the matter. For a start, we are commanded to love even when it has died, after all our God is a God of resurrection. There is a vow that I believe should be part of every marriage covenant. Couples should promise that if either of them ever came to the place where they seriously thought marriage counselling was necessary, then the other would agree to go.

And part of the reason I say this, is because the sudden realization of the dysfunction often comes because one or the other of the party has been engaging in conflict avoidance. And it’s easy to see how this could happen. I mean each individual issue, as it comes up, may seem hardly worth fighting for. I mean fifty years from now it’s not likely to matter! But these things can be cumulative. Disrespect, for example, can creep up as the other party is perceived to have no backbone. Or the one with no backbone can certainly obtain backbone, with a realizations of the type I was talking about above. Such a realization almost always necessitates a re- negotiation of the relationship. But often the partner of the one who comes to the realization often has absolutely no idea that anything is wrong. They tell themselves “My partner is suddenly being totally unreasonable, he or she is the one with the problem. I don’t have problem. He is the one with the problem, I don’t need to change, there is nothing in me that needs to change!”

Father, our culture has embraced “no-fault” divorce. I think though that a more accurate description is “both fault.” In fact the Scriptures tell us that we all have many faults ( James 3:2). Most of the time at some level we are blind to them, and it is only the iron sharpening iron process that will reveal it! They say it takes a village to raise a child, and likely it also takes a village to preserve a marriage. A marriage in trouble needs a lot of help, even to hear each other! Your Word tells us that You make us one spirit in order that we might produce godly children. It is the children who suffer the most in a divorce. Research shows that most children of divorce suffer life long trauma. No wonder You hate it (Malachi 2:15, 16). We really do need your help Father, and so I ask for it again this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen (Malachi 2:15, 16). We really do need your help Father, and so I ask for it again this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen

Conflict avoidance: Iron sharpening iron and conflict (II)

There is open hostility, and then there is passive aggression. Open hostility is easy to spot, passive aggressive behaviour not so much. It can manifest itself in dragging your heels, the silent treatment, being overly picky, or interpreting remarks in the worst possible way. It is my observation that passive aggressive behaviour is common among Christians. There are many subtle ways to “voice” disapproval without saying a word, a withering look, a judgemental attitude, a punishing silence. I tend to get loud when I am upset, and I have been told more than once that this is because I am immature. Well perhaps I am, but as a general principle disapproving of any and all disagreement, is actually conflict avoidance!

Conflict avoidance has a show of maturity, but actually it is detrimental (or worse) to the fostering of deep, personal and intimate relationships. If we can’t deal with conflict period, our relationships are in trouble. Not dealing with the things that needed to be dealt with, chips away at our love, and is a breeding ground for resentment or disrespect. In any long-term relationship, there are always things that need to be dealt with, the enemy of our souls makes sure of that. In fact his agenda is to kill, steel and to destroy (John 10:10a), and on top of that he is a liar (John 8:44 ). He provokes us and sows discord among us. So it is important to distinguish his voice from our own thoughts when he whispers into our ear!

In court, we swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. In a recent conversation, I asked my friend why it was important to tell the whole truth. His reply is revealing “An expression of… truth with omissions can really distort the full truth, to the point where it starts to not even resemble the truth at all.” The reason I am bringing this up here, is that in disagreement neither of us knows the whole truth. A Christian Psychologist I know has come to the conclusion that in a marital dispute, both sides know only about 10% of the truth. So there is 80% that is unknown, and yet far too often both sides are 100% sure they are right. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt!

Father, coming to terms with the fact that I had used anger to get my own way was a big part of what You used to bring me to Yourself. What I had not realized though, is that in the woundedness that came out of that way of operating, I had become a conflict avoider, peace at any price! It’s difficult Lord, because when we do see the need to change, we can, like I did, go from one extreme to the other. We may need professional help to come to the place we can even start hear each other! We certainly need Your help. As you know Lord, I allowed myself to be provoked to the other day. And I thank You for my brother’s gentle ways and his ability to forgive as I apologized for responding before I had fully dealt with the offence. Yes Lord we really do need Your help, and I’m asking for it again this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen

Iron sharpening iron and conflict (I)

It is quite common for international students, when they first arrive in Canada, to try and negotiate the price of accommodation with their perspective landlords. But this is not a bartering culture. Our whole culture is a “Take it or leave it culture.” But my ten months in Uganda helped me to appreciate the value of a bartering culture. At first it bugged me to have have to negotiate, and I did not initially do it well, even becoming hostile at times! But when it is done properly and respectfully, it actually builds relationships, and has other advantages. Here in Canada, if you can’t afford it, you don’t buy it (at least you should not)! But in a bartering culture there is always the possibility you can get him or her down to price you can afford. You see if the merchant is having a bad month he may be willing to let it go for less than he normally would!

In a bartering culture you learn early on to negotiate, and to do it in a respectful way, giving dignity to the one with whom you are negotiating. My initial hostile mode of operation got me nowhere! Negotiating well is a learned skill! And part of this is to look for win - win solutions, solutions where both parties (at least in theory) would go away satisfied. In fact negotiating in any other way is condemned in Scripture (Proverbs 20:14). In a “take it or leave it culture,” there is no natural place to lean how to deal respectfully with situations where we disagree. In effect the normal mode of operation too easily becomes “my way or the highway!” You have to wonder how many of those pesky “irreconcilable differences” would become reconcilable if we would only learn to negotiate respectfully and look for win win solutions.

Perhaps overly simplistically, the world is divided into two. Those who are willing to be aggressive in order to get their own way, and then there are conflict avoiders. Both ways are destructive of relationships. The aggressive one may get his or her own way, but will likely stunt the love of the other. The conflict avoider will likely stunt his or her own love, and be in grave danger of being resentful, and/or passive aggressive. What needs to happen in valuable relationships, is that we need to come together at the foot of the cross where in humility, we see that there is no difference, since all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And we need to ask God for help.

Father, I see offence taking place everywhere both inside and outside the church. So I ask You this morning Lord to help us to lay aside offence and be eager and willing to live at peace. Not peace and any price, but a negotiated peace where we learn, to engage in the iron sharpening iron process (Proverbs 27:17) not only in respect and honour, but also to choose our “battles.” Not every issue is worth going to the wall about. So Father, please give us the wisdom to know which “battles” to negotiate, the serenity to leave those You tell us to leave with You, and the courage to respectfully and humbly engage when it is appropriate. Please help us also to know when to take a break, and when to come back. In Jesus Name Amen

Part 2 Is the church the best hope for the world?

I was talking yesterday, about the difference between the institutional church, and the true church which consists of all true believers. This has been described as the invisible church, but is it really invisible, is it intended to be invisible? Well, it won’t be surprised you to learn that I think of myself as a true believer, and I am not invisible! “No kidding you say!” I count myself as a true believer, one whose sins are forgiven and are covered by the sacrificial death of the Lord. I am not perfect, but I am forgiven. I am a mixture of truth and error, righteousness and unrighteousness, sinner in saint, and I am visible!

What I am saying, is that the so-called invisible church is meant to be seen! I said yesterday that it is Christ and His transforming power that is the hope of the World. But that needs to look like something, and what it needs to look like, is ongoing transformation. We need to be seen to be, being changed. It is a process, we are urged to be to present our bodies as living sacrifices, and to be in ongoing transformation (the force of the Greek tenses in Romans 12:1, 2). So when Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like leaven (Matthew 13:33), and that the kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21), then the leaven needs to be seen to be working first on us, on you and me. The Lord has showed me a number of different times that I need to show those I am praying for, those I love, the way to freedom. And I cannot show them the way to freedom, if I am not in ongoing transformation mode!

So then the picture of the leaven starts with the individual. It is intended to move from there to that person’s circle of influence, then from that circle of influence to the community, the city, the nation and then the World (the whole lump Matthew 13:33). Does the task seem daunting, impossible? The Scripture admonishes us to not be weary in well doing? In the end I am the only one who, with God’s help, I can change. I am the only one who can commit myself to ongoing transformation. God is at work when I fully surrender (Philippians 2:12,13). I need to do my part and then leave the results to Him. But I do need to be faithful.

Father, in this life we will never be perfect, in fact Your Word tells us that in many things we all fail (James 3:2). But I believe our ongoing transformation will eventually becomes visible to those in our circle of influence. We can’t expect this to be instantaneous, since those in our circle of influence know us very well, and we have likely blown it over and over. “A brother offended is hard to be won than a high tower" (Proverbs 18:19), but even high towers can be won. Please continue Your work in me father, and in all those reading these posts in Jesus Name Amen

Is the church the best hope for the world? Part 1

Well yes and no! It is Christ and His transforming power that is the hope of the world, but He has left the church as His chosen vessel to be salt and light and leaven in the World, and as the visible representation of His body, his persona (Matthew 5:13,14; 13:33). I would not have done that, but then I am not God. You probably knew that! When the World sees the church they are supposed to see Christ. And yes we do need to distinguish between the visible church, and the invisible church which is made up of all who truly believe. But still there are many ways that the true Church has lost its saltiness, and hidden its light under a basket. Still if He is to be believed, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden ((Matthew 5:13,14).

Now “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened” (Matthew 13:33). So it starts small, it starts with you and me living for the Lord with integrity, and love and grace. This is what it means to be salt. I am told that salt is a biological necessity for the body to exist. And in order for there to be life in the earth of the type of which Jesus speaks (John 10:10b), there has to be the salt of the church. In fact it seems to me that hell is best pictured as the world with all things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue and anything praiseworthy removed (Philippians 4:8).

And we are the light of the world. Not only must we live lives of integrity, but we must “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). I need His help here. Part of my being salt is that when I give a defence, I need to do it with meekness and fear and I have not always “spoken the truth in love” in this way. We need to live and speak in such a way that the World will come and ask “What is it that you have that I don’t?” The words of the song comes to mind “Ruler of the nations the world has yet to see, the full release of your promise,
the church in victory.” We need His help, we really do! In other words if the church is the hope of the World, then Heaven help us - literally please Lord!

Father, You Word tells us that the righteous are barely saved, that is we who through faith are righteous even we are only just barely saved (1 Peter 4:18; Ephesians 2:8,9). It is only by Your incredible mercy that any are saved at all. Lord we so need the coming revival that has been prophesied over and over. We need it Lord, so that Your Church will be the salt, light and leaven You intend us to be. Only in this way Lord will Your Church bring hope to this lost and wicked and hurting World. And so I pray this morning “Even so come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20), and I pray this in Your Holy and precious and lovely Name Amen

Ezekiel’s river (Ezekiel 47:1-12)

The river described in Ezekiel is clearly symbolic, it flows from the sanctuary (the very presence of God verse 1), goes down the the barren areas of the Dead Sea valley, into the Dead sea itself (verse 8). However “it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live” (verse 9). Indeed when it reaches the Dead sea, even its waters are healed and “There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes” (verse 10). It is because these very same things are happening in the “Catch the Fire” movement that comes out of Toronto (life, healing and incredible fruitfulness), that those of us in the movement talk about being in the river. Water of course is symbolic of cleaning, and the Holy Spirit.

As I said this passage is clearly symbolic, it is not like a normal river. We see this because at thousand cubits it is only ankle deep, but at a thousand cubits it is knee deep, in another thousand cubits it is waist deep and then finally so deep and wide it cannot be crossed (verses 3-5). This word picture is something of a parable of my own journey, and the journey of many others, of immersion into the river. We read about immersion in water elsewhere, John the Baptist tells that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). John’s baptism was full immersion, not ankle deep, not knee deep, not even waist deep, but full immersion, so surly Jesus baptizing in Holy spirit would also be full immersion. What I find interesting about Ezekiel’s river, is that it seems to say that we can be into the river at various depths, I mean that it allows for this to be a journey of going ever deeper into ever fuller immersion in Holy Spirit.

Someone I respect deeply, talks about his being a charismatic with a seatbelt. Is he waist deep or knee deep? I don’t know. What is the seatbelt about? In fact it is prudent to be cautious, especially in the light of the many excesses of some who call themselves charismatic, especially those who are not willing to evaluate their walk by the Scriptures (see December 10 and 11 posts). My own journey started in a fellowship that at the very lease devalued the river, and that was me too. So for years I was not even ankle deep. However, slowly at times, but not so slowly at others, the Lord showed me that unless I give Him complete control (was willing to go out of my depth), then fullness of life and healings and the fruitfulness would be somewhat stunted! I am guessing that the slow times were because I needed to be sure it was Him, and in particular, that it was consistent with His Word.

Lord, thank You that You understand the need to be cautious. Thank You too for the many ways that You brought me from were I was to where I am today. There is no sense though Father in which I feel that I have arrived, in fact I feel that I have hardly begun. I need You to keep me feeling this way Lord, please help me to say low and teachable. Thank You Father that there is always more, in fact there is always a great deal more. Thank You for the adventure, for the healing and for the fruit not only in my own life, but in the lives of those with whom I am sharing this journey in Jesus Name Amen

Bizarre manifestations and offence Part (III)

You might want to ask (many seem to want to) why God would do things that seem to offend so many of his followers, or even if He would. How for example, could out of control laughter be of God (Google Toronto again)? I know many were and are offended, I mean it seems so undignified. But laughter is known to be heart medicine physically, emotionally and spiritually (Proverbs 17:22). And as to the Lord doing things He knows will offend, we read that many of his disciples were offend and followed Him no more when He told them “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53, 61, 66). On the other side of the cross of course, they would have no clue what He was talking about “This is a hard saying” (verse 60).

Again, not saying that every manifestation is of the Lord, but that we should not be too quick to judge or dismiss the bizarre manifestations which historically have so often accompanied revival. The Lord always has reasons for why He does things. I have become convinced that one of the reasons for manifestations, is that they provoke both the spirit of control and the religious spirit, that at some level resides in each one of us. Such provocation is a crossroads! You either ask the Lord to show You what is of Him, and allow the genuine to take you deeper, or it provides you with a rational to go back and follow Him no more. Reading between the lines in Peter’s response, when Jesus asks in the above passage from John if they too will turn back, he essentially says “We have no clue what You are talking about, but what we know is that when You speak, Your words bring life” (verses 66, 68, 69).

I have often heard “You would not catch me dead doing that!” I have know periods in my own life when, being publicly shamed, the resulting loss of dignity felt like I was naked in public, and so I understand this response well! But if I am understanding the Lord correctly, He is inviting us into a relationship of abandonment. As in the honeymoon stage in earthly relationships, the only appropriate response is total abandonment on both sides. Well Jesus has already done this for you and me by allowing Himself to be crucified naked and in public. Pictures of Him on the cross wearing a loincloth, are a lie! And as Paul put it so eloquently in the NJKV total abandonment is the only reasonable (logical in the Greek) response to the tender mercies of our God (Romans 12:1).

Father, David’s response to being despised by his total abandonment to You in worship was “ I will become even more undignified than this” (2 Samuel 6:14, 20, 22). Let this be my response too Lord, let my dignity never be more important to me that my relationship with You. Lord Jesus You have told us that if we are ashamed of You in this World, then You will be ashamed of us when You come again (Luke 9:26). Father shame comes in many forms and disguises, so please Lord break any shame off me and off any reading this blog who are praying this prayer, in Jesus Name Amen

Part (II) Bizarre manifestations and offence

In the context of manifestations, I often hear “Where’s that in the Bible,” or “Why would God do that?” In terms of the second question, it’s important to say that we really should not make understanding a test of truth, or of whether something is of God or not. Some things are hidden to intrigue us, to cause us pursue Him “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter it is the glory of kings to search them out (Proverbs 25:2). And searching things out is surly part of loving the Lord with all our mind (Mark 12:30). On the other hand “Who can know the mind of God” (Romans 11:34). If I knew God’s mind, then I would be God, and I’m not! To insist that I understand everything, is to make understanding an idol, and it is to throw out the concept of mystery. Remember that we only know in part (1 Corinthians 13:9).

Concerning “Where’s that in the Bible,” it is important not to be naïve. I hear some Christians say that their church does everything Biblically. Really? “Does your church have a carpet, does your church have a constitution, where do you find these things in the Bible?” We need to see three categories, things that are truly biblical, things that are neutral Biblically, and things that are un-Biblical. There are for example Biblical qualifications for leadership (i.e. 1 Timothy 3:2-7). Carpets and constitutions, in and of themselves, are neither Biblical nor un-Biblical. Of course the contents of a constitution can be un-Biblical, and no doubt some are. I leave it to the reader to supply his or her own examples of things in the third category!

So part of what I’m saying here, is that just because something cannot be found explicitly in the Bible, does not mean it’s not of the Lord. Of course it might not be! There was one manifestation that I have to admit really caused me to wonder. It is that the amalgam in some people’s teeth was miraculously changed into gold (Google ‘Gold teeth Catch the Fire Toronto’). You don’t have to agree with me, but I came to the conclusion that this was indeed of the Lord. This happened when I asked a lady I knew, who had received gold fillings, how this made her feel. Her response was “loved.” Being a miracle, it was either from the Lord or from the Devil ( 2 Thessalonians 2:9), and I couldn’t see why the Devil would want to make her feel loved and special. And there’s a way that it is Biblical anyway, the Bible talks about “signs and wonders.” And certainly, many of these thing caused, and continue to cause, me to wonder! But certainly not everything is genuine!

Father, the slightly misquoted Shakespearean verse comes to mind this morning “There are more things under heaven and earth, than you have dreamed of in your theology Horatio.” Your Word tells us Father that great is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16), and we throw out mystery at our peril! Father You promise that Your Spirit will lead us into all truth (John 16:13). And since Your Word is Spirit breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) He will not contradict Your Word. So I chose to believe this morning Lord, that Your ability to guide and lead me is far, far greater than the Evil one’s ability to deceive me when I fully submit myself and everything to You (Romans 12:1; Proverbs 3:5,6). And I trust in this, this morning Lord, in Jesus Name Amen

Bizarre manifestations and offence (I)

Historically, revivals have often been accompanied by rather strange, even bizarre manifestations, things that have been described as physical responses to being touched by the Spirit. We don’t hear too much of this history, because the church has suppressed it (is embarrassed by it?)! Last day I mentioned the phenomenon of “falling under the power of the Spirit,” but in many ways, this is one of the less bizarre manifestations! In a number of conversations I have had about these things, it is clear that the way that some people determine if something is not of God, is if it makes them uncomfortable or if it is bizarre. I even had one leader in the city tell me that he didn’t believe that something I was manifesting was of God, because it was not within his experience! In other words his experience of the Spirit was the yardstick he used to determine if something was of God or not!

But are such yardsticks the correct tools to determine if something is of God or not? Well talking to unbelievers about the Lord, or gently and humbly bringing someone’s fault to his or her attention (Galatians 6:1), may make us uncomfortable. But does this mean we should not do it? We need to acknowledge, that no matter how long we have been a Christian our knowledge is still very much in part (1 Corinthians 13:12). And there are some things in Scripture which are truly bizarre, things which make me uncomfortable, and which are outside my experience. In particular, the Lord told Isaiah to walk naked and barefoot for three years as a sign against Egypt and Ethiopia that it would happen to them (Isaiah 20:2-4). Let me hasten to add, there are strong reasons to believe that He would not do that today (Hint: it would too easily be identified as part of the shameless exhibitionism of our culture)!

When we come across manifestations which are bizarre, which make us uncomfortable and which are outside our experience, rather than simply dismissing them, we need to take them to the Lord and ask “Can this possibly be of You? If so please show me?" John Arnott tells of having these feelings when he encountered a worship leader who, in the middle of her song, would suddenly start to crow like a rooster. Being almost sure this was not of the Lord he asked her “Do you know what this means?” ‘Oh yes’ she replied, ‘the Lord is telling the church to wake up!’ When it is explained, when it is interpreted, it is a message you would not soon forget! It does of course, need to be explained!

Father, I need Your help to hear when You are trying to speak to me in ways that are outside my box. I also need discernment Lord, because not everything is of You. We also need to know how to pastor this Father, and even as this prayer is unfolding, the parable of the wheat and the weeds come to mind (Matthew 13:24-30). In particular I sense You saying that there are times we should not be quick to exercise control. And I know that we are likely to be criticized for this. So we also need Your peace and love and grace and mercy and hope and joy. Lord I welcome You this morning in whatever way You want to manifest Yourself. And I will give You the honour and the glory and praise in Jesus Name Amen

Rightly dividing the word of Truth (V) The Word and Spirit (II)

I said last day that I embraced the things of the Spirit in spite of the church that nurtured me, not because of it. This church was and still is very skeptical especially of the experiences and manifestations that are often part of the meetings of Charismatic or Pentecostal churches. Now I for one do not want to claim that every experience, or everything that happens is of the Lord. But what is surly true is that wherever the Lord is at work so is the fellow with the pitchfork (the Devil likes that ridiculous characterization of himself, because we can then more easily dismiss him)! It has been suggested that as much as 2/3 of what goes on is fake, but even if this is the case, then we have 1/3 genuine, and that is a lot of genuine!

I certainly shared at least some of the skepticism of the church that nurtured me. The so called being “slain in the Spirit,” where people would fall to the floor “under the power of the Spirit,” seemed ridiculous to me. But I remember praying “Lord if You have something for me that will help me in my Christain walk, then I want it.” Then while visiting some rather radical friends, I found myself on the floor after being prayed for. And there on the floor I was saying “Lord You know I don’t believe in this, because I do not see it in Your Word.” But then He showed me, for example “The priests were not able to stand … because of the glory of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 5:14 - see also Revelation 1:17; Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel 8:17-18, 10:7-9).

In fact, I took the last set of Scriptural references from an article on line, claiming this phenomenon is not Biblical! Part of the refutation is that in some of these references people fell on their faces, whereas in may of the meetings people fall backwards. To me this is just picky, but in any case several of the reference does not specify how they fell! The same (negative) article says “It is unfortunate that people look to such bizarre counterfeits that produce no spiritual fruit.” Again not claiming it is all genuine, but the case of Heidi Baker comes to mind. Heidi came to Catch the Fire Toronto a worn out, seriously ill missionary. She fell to the floor while being prophesied over by Randy Clark. When she eventually got up, she was healed and returned to Mozambique where under her and her husband’s leadership, the Lord birthed over 10,000 new churches! And that is just the tip of the iceberg (Google Iris Global). No Spiritual fruit? Really?

Father, it is too easy to let pride or fear or whatever rob us of the gifts and the help that we so desperately need, in order to live the Christian life. Help me Lord not to settle for anything less than all that You have for me, even if many of Your people do not understand. Please Lord give each one of us the gift of discernment to know what is truly of You and what is not, then to embrace the good and reject the bad. And we will give You all the honour and all the Glory in Jesus Name Amen

Rightly dividing the word of Truth (IV) Balance (III) Word and Spirit (I)

When it comes to talking about balance, it seems to me that very few of us if any, I get the balance between the Word and the Spirit absolutely correct. What I do know, it is that there is no issue that is more acrimonious than this. On the one side, there are those who clearly and loudly proclaim that anyone of the charismatic persuasion is not a Christian. But accusations fly both ways, with accusations of rigid legalism and unloving applications of truth. Certainly there are abuses on both sides of this issue.

I embraced the things of the Spirit (I don’t like to use labels) in spite of the church that nurtured me, not because of it. I am, however very grateful to that church for implanting in me a strong appreciation for the Word. And I can see very clearly, many of the abuses that take place when the things of the Spirit are not tied closely to the Word. But I also know that things that are genuinely of God are also dismissed. It’s the old swing of the pendulum again. There is useful saying, that the Word without the Spirit you dry up, the Spirit without the Word you blow up (as in out-of-control), but the Spirit and the Word together you grow up.

Scripture itself gives us this balance. In the words of Jesus “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The Words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63 NIV). Paul tells the Thessalonians “My gospel did not come to you in Word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit …..” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). In other words in Word, power and Holy Spirit! And the fact of the matter is, that much of the church has “a form of religion but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). On the other hand, the time has already come of which Paul speaks when he says “They will not endure sound doctrine, but …. will turn their ears away from the Truth” (2 Timothy 4:3, 4). The Truth of course is the Bible (“Thy Word is Truth” John 17:17)!

Father, as you have been leading me to think and to blog on these things, I am seeing again the power of the balance of the objective Word of God tied to the subjective guidance and leading of your Holy Spirit. This generation needs Your Truth Lord, Your Word, but it also needs the demonstrations of the power of Your Holy Spirit. I thank You this morning Lord for the many prophecies of the coming revival, and I pray “even so come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20), and I ask this in Your precious and Holy and lovely Name Amen

Rightly dividing the word of Truth (III) Balance (II) Pendulum swings

There are times in history when a change of government hardly means a change in policy at all, but there are also times when a change of government can best be described as the swing of the pendulum. You know what I mean, the policies, goals and aspirations of one government are diametrically opposed to what went before, and the incoming government tries to overturn every “gain” of the previous one. But it’s not just in secular politics where this takes place, it also takes place in the church. What tends to happen in church however, at least in the past, is that there is a resulting church split. The dissenting church then often takes as its name, the doctrine or practice that that was rejected in the parent church.

The leaders of a certain hypothetical church were frustrated that a group of young Christians in a Bible study, that they felt were being led astray an older teen. This young man had the gift of the gab, and as the saying goes he could talk the rear end of the horse! In trying to decide what to do about it the leaders came across the verse “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him” (Proverbs 26:4). The rebellious teen was then ejected form the Bible study for fear that the young Christians would becoming like the “fool.” The father of the teen had a different view, he felt rightly or wrongly that his son was misunderstood, and then he got hold of the verse “Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 26:5). Long story short, there was a church split with the father gathering others around him to form “The church of the answering fool!”

The old church became rigid and overprotective not allowing discussion of any sort, while the dissenting church failed to obey the command to not allow quarreling about words, since it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen (2 Timothy 2:14). The result was that both churches became unhealthy! This perhaps, hopefully, amusing hypothetical example illustrates what tends to happen when one side gets a hold of something that is out of balance, emphasizing one set of scriptures to the detriment of another. In the two “contradictory” verses from Proverbs, what is really needed is wisdom from the Lord to know when to apply the one, and when to apply the other! Many times the solution is not one or the other, but rather "both and."

Father, I have not always got this right, not by a long shot! Too often these issues get tied up with intense emotional feelings. There have been times when I have wanted to blow the other person out of the water! But to do this though it may win the battle, is likely to lose the war, in particular to lose the relationship. So Father I pray this morning for myself and all those reading this blog that you would give us love and grace and patience and humility to obey the command “as much as is possible with the new live at peace with all” (Romans 12:18). Help us not quarrel but be gentle to all. Lord please grant repentance where it’s needed (2 Timothy 2:24) in Jesus Name Amen

Rightly dividing the word of Truth (II) Balance (I) Love and Truth

There is a sense in which it is right to be balanced, and a sense in which it is not. How do you bring balance to “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength?” The church at Laodicea was rebuked for being lukewarm, and they were commanded to be zealous and to repent (Revelation 3:19). Zeal of course does have to be according to knowledge (Romans 10:2), it should not be fanatical. But coming to the place where we need balance, there are many truths Biblical truths, that have to be held in tension, in balance. And this morning I want to discuss love and truth in this context. God is love (1 John 4:8), but God is Truth too. The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, is one of the non-negotiable essentials I was discussing the other day. And the proof that God is Truth comes in John 14:6 where Jesus says “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” And we need to hold love and truth in balance!

So how do we get this out of balance? Well the truth without love is harsh, condemnatory, judgemental and of course unloving. And we see this both inside and outside the church? I remember a conversation with a colleague who was harshly judging the whole of the evangelical church. I told him “The horse you ride, is every hand as high as those you are judging.” It is certainly true that there are those in the church who are harsh, condemning, judgemental and unloving, and this is wrong. But it is also wrong to tar everybody with the same brush! I know many in the Church who are very loving. And however loving we are, we can always improve by allowing God’s love to flow through us!

But we can get it wrong the other way too. Love without truth can lead to lawlessness. God is love, not love is god, that is idolatry! And when we get this out of balance, it can be very destructive. I want to use a perhaps unrealistic example to make the point. I work in recovery circles with alcoholics and others, and I have struggled myself. So I certainly have compassion on the struggles of an alcoholic. Perhaps his father before him, and his father before him, were alcoholics. I also understand that they may be biological components to his difficulties. I understand that there is a real a sense in which he may be unable to help himself. I mean Paul could claim “The things I don’t want to do, these are the very things I do, and the things I want to do, I don’t do them either” (Romans 7:19). But should I therefore affirm the alcoholic in his alcoholism, or cover for him in his destructive behaviour? I think not, we call this enabling, it gets love and truth out of balance!

Father, we need to talk about tough love. Love that may even appear to not be love, but nevertheless love that involves actions that have the best interest of the person at heart. In fact affirming him in his addiction, it is the very opposite of love! The Scripture put is this way "He who does not discipline his child, hates the child” (Proverbs 13:24). It is of course hyperbole. Father, I suspect that we are all out of balance at some level, either having too much of the wrong kind of love, or too much of the wrong kind of truth. Help us Lord, help me this morning. Thank you that when we fully surrender to You, You have promised to lead us into all truth and to love in Jesus Name Amen

Rightly dividing the word of Truth (I)

In this quote from 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul is telling Timothy to be diligent to make sure he is "accurately handling and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth (AMP). So clearly there is a right way and a wrong way to handle the Scriptures. This morning I want to talk about exegesis and eisegesis. Exegesis is the process of drawing out the meaning from a text in accordance with the context in order to discover what the author is saying. Eisegesis, on the other hand, is reading into the text our own ideas or interpretation. When we go to the Bible to try and prove what we already believe, we are likely to engage in Eisegesis. There’s a lot of it going on! It’s difficult, because we all come to the text with baggage, with our own traditions and preconceived notions. Too often we read what we want to see in the text, rather than what is actually there.

An example of eisegesis in the Bible can be found in 2 Corinthians 3:14, 15. Paul speaks of a veil that is over the spiritual eyes of unbelieving Jews when they read the Old Testament. Speaking personally, I remember well an incident years ago when a certain church in the city told some people we had led to the Lord to “come out from among them” (2 Corinthians 6:17). This church identified "us" as the the “them!" A closer examination of the context however shows this to be nonsense. In particular, Paul is expounding on what it means to “not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (verse 14), and so clearly the “them” are unbelievers. This begs the question of what it means to be unequally yoked, but we will not go into that here.

The interpretation of “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1) as “let there be no disagreement period,” is another example of eisegesis. If we are to do an exegesis of this verse, then we need to know exactly what Jesus means here. I mean is Paul contradicting Jesus when he says “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (1 Corinthians 14:29). What is happening here is that the word “judge,” has two different meanings. In the last quote, the idea is to discern between what is of God and what is not. In other words judging here is discerning. In the context of the Matthew passage Jesus says “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged…. it will be measured back to you.” In other words if you judge harshly as in self righteous condemnation (rather that discerning that something is wrong), you can expect to be judged harshly too.

Father, we who are spiritual cannot go to one who is overtaken in a sin to gently restore him, if we are not allowed to discern (judge) that he is overtaken in a sin (Galatians 6:1)! You do not condemn us Lord (Romans 8:1), so neither should we condemn. But neither can we be salt and light if we are not allowed to address issues. We need to speak the truth in love Lord (Ephesians 4:15), and it’s far too easy to get these things out of balance. We need your help Lord, in Jesus Name Amen

“Can’t you make the Bible say anything you want?” The “reality” I live in…Part 8

When I talk about the Bible being objective Truth, I often hear the response given in the title of this post. So let me answer “Yes, but that 'make' is the operative word. I mean, in order to do this you have to force it. And actually, using the same type of “rules,” you can make the dictionary say the very same thing!” In other words you have to violate the rules of sound interpretation! It happens a lot. I was recently grieved by a facebook post from an old friend, who has turned a Biblical “no” into a “yes!” Some of this mental gymnastics is quite skillful. I don’t say this with admiration, but rather with concern! Peter warns that those twist Scripture do so to their own destruction, and lead the ignorant and unstable down the same path (2 Peter 3:16; Matthew 18:6).

Peter also informs us that no prophecy of the Scripture is of private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). Paul councils Timothy of the need of the diligent study in order to accurately handle and skillfully teach the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Hermeneutics, the theory and methodology of correct interpretation, is a vast subject, and we need help to correctly interpret the Scriptures. We need help to even know exactly what are the original texts. There are however only minor variations, and no Orthodox teaching is threatened by any of such variation. We also need help to know which parts to take literally (i.e Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery) and which parts not (i.e. “If you don’t hate you father … you cannot be my disciple” - Luke 14:26 - it’s called hyperbole- look it up). Of course, non of this absolves us of our responsibility to test all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We need to listen, really listen to both sides of an argument, and we need to feel the weight of an opposing argument.

Some things, the foundational things are very clear to the unbiased mind, and the Bible is its own best interpreter. The writer to the Hebrews gives us a list of elementary foundational principles. He tells us “let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1, 2). On the other hand, Peter in the context of his warning about Scripture twisting, also tells us that there are some things that are hard to understand. James tells us that we should not be many teachers, since in many things we all fail, and that ours is the greater condemnation (James 3:1,2). We need to take these warnings seriously.

Father, Your word tells us “If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). But You also tell us “On this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My Word” (Isaiah 66:2). So I ask You morning Father, to keep me close to You. Help me to be diligent to study and to accurately handle Your Word. Keep me low this morning Lord, in Jesus Name Amen

Which denominations (II) The “reality” I live in… Part 7

I have argued (Sunday December 1), that we cannot live without absolutes. We may not see that or want to admit it, but our actions betray us. In particular many show by intense and hostile criticism directed towards those who disagree, that for all practical purposes they regard their own ideas, values and “truths” as absolute. We discussed (Sunday again), that it is foolish to trust in our own heart and mind, in our own subjective opinions. The Christain World view, on the other hand, is based on the objective Word of God. As always, there is much to say here! But to start,let me say that my testimony, and the testimony of millions and millions down through the ages, is that faith in Christ, in His death and resurrection, and in His Word, this faith is a sure foundation, and an anchor for the soul (Hebrews 6:19).

But how can they and we, be so sure when there are so many different churches and denominations, often saying very different things? The first thing to say, is that among the denominations that hold a very high view of Scripture, the places where we agree far outweigh the places where we differ. As in all disagreements it is far too easy to major on minors! And expanding on what I claimed last day, through the hard work of interdenominational dialogue, Parachurch organizations have substantially identified the necessary nonnegotiable essentials for unity. The Parachurch organizations InterVarsity and Operation Mobilization (for example) agree on “The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness, and authority of the Bible” (the InterVarsity version). Their respective statements can be Googled to verify this agreement.

As to the the Bible being objective truth, my first claim is that it is self verifying. We saw earlier examples of Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the New (see 30 November’s post). In fact there are well over a hundred such prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. But there is much more to this self verification. J.B. Phillips speaks of the Bible’s “ring of truth.” The Bible itself, puts it this way “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). All this can be tested, the Bereans did! They were “more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). This example of the Bereans should challenge us to make the foundation of our faith secure. It is important to know that we have not believed cunningly devised fables (2 Peter 1:16). It is important to know not only what we believe, but why we believe what we do. This is part of what it means to love the Lord with our mind!

Father, there is no such thing as a perfect church or denomination. But there are a number of things we need to be sure of before we commit ourselves to any particular congregation. And first and foremost is to make sure that the Word of God is held in very high regard. When this is not the case, we are likely to pick and choose what we believe. Many do! And when we do this, then inevitably we are adrift on a sea of relativity, where we can be sure of nothing. We need an anchor Father for our soul, thank You Lord for the assurance, for the peace, for getting ever closer to You, and to life in all its fullness when we trust in You and Your Word in Jesus Name Amen

He who speaks first seems to be right .. The “reality” I live in… Part 6

“The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him” (Proverbs 18:17). It is of course, the language of the law courts, where the pros and cons, the pluses and minuses of the case are brought out, so that an intelligent verdict can be arrived at. In our culture however, especially in the court of public opinion, there is more and more pressure to disallow the examination of ideas! And as I have been implying in these posts, when our “truth” is left unexamined, then it feels right, even when it’s a lie!

On top of this, I have observed that we tend to gather ourselves together with those who agree with us. And within these gatherings there is more often than not, a tremendous pressure to conform to the majority view. And again unfortunately, this is true both inside and outside of the church. Part of this pressure comes in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, and those with different views are often ostracized. The result inevitably, is they either conform, or leave or sit silently seething. Since we should be eager to preserve unity (Ephesians 4:3), this pressure ought not to be, especially in the church! Uniformity is not the same as unity! And it seems to me, that these things are part of the reason we have so many different denominations.

It is comforting to be among people with whom we agree, but I have to say that there have been times when I have learnt more from people with whom I disagree, than from those with whom I agree. The verse “as iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens man” (Proverbs 27:17) is relevant here. Of course, one of the implications of the analogy, is that there has to be some friction. In particular, we will likely be taken out of our comfort zone. For this reason, when we speak the truth, it needs to be spoken and received in love and humility (Ephesians 4:15; Galatians 6:1). There is a reason we need to be commanded to to bear with one another and to forgive one another in love (Colossians 3:13).

Father, some of the conversations I have needed to have, have not only taken me out of my comfort zone, they have been quite painful. But we will not be set free, if we refuse to listen to, or resist the truth (John 8:32). We need Your help to listen to one another Lord, to really listen, and not just be waiting for the other person to stop speaking so we can tell him or her “the truth.” This is especially true when we are at loggerheads with one another. So I am praying for myself and those reading this blog this morning Lord, that our speech may be “full of grace seasoned with salt, and that we may know how to answer one another” (Colossians 4:6) in Jesus Name Amen

Which denominations (I)? The “reality” I live in… Part 5

Ask many Christians which is the right denomination, you will often hear “Mine!” And since this claim is widespread, and there are between 30,000 and 40,000 registered Christian denominations, it is no no wonder the World is skeptical! But it is no solution to become anti-denominational as some have, quoting Paul’s condemnation of those who say “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas” … (1 Corinthians 1:12). In fact, I know of those who have gathered under this banner saying “We will not take any name.” And in doing they are in grave danger of becoming a “no-name” denomination, in the same way we have “no name” products in the supermarket! I mean “no name” products are still products!

So let’s say it up front, there is no such thing as a perfect church or denomination. If you find one come and tell me, we will join, and it will no longer be perfect because you and I are there! There are no perfect churches, because there are no perfect people. As in Corinth it is inevitable that we will relate better to some leaders, or to this or that denomination. But what Paul is condemning in this passage, and this is what the “no -name” denominations seem to be missing, is the pride that allows these things to bring division (verse 10). We are to be eager to preserve the unity and the reconciliation that Christ purchased for us on the Cross (Ephesians 4:3; 2:14-16). But how can we preserve the unity with those who are wrong?

Well let me say first, that it is important to acknowledge that not everything that calls itself Christian is Christian. I have even heard of Church leaders who do not believe in God! So there has to be some basis for unity, after all “What fellowship has light with darkness” (2 Corinthians 6:14)? I have found that Parachurch organizations (Christian faith-based organizations that work outside and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism) useful in this regard. Necessarily the needed statements of faith that come out of such organizations have been forged within the furnace of interdenominational dialogue. Consequently they have sorted out a set of nonnegotiable essentials from denominational distinctives and/or preferences. The remarkable agreement among the the statements of faith of these organizations InterVarsity and Operation Mobilization for example, gives testimony to the success of this endeavour.

Father, thank You that You have already broken down every dividing wall (Ephesians 2:14-16). It is sobering Lord that You have given the World permission to judge that we are Christians by our love for one another, and this has to be across denominational lines as well as within local fellowships. We need Your help Lord and Your mercy and forgiveness. Thank You that You have promised to build Your Church, and that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:8) in Jesus Name Amen

It is foolish to trust in our own heart and mind. The “reality” I live in… Part 4

If there were no God, or if the Bible correctly interpreted (2 Timothy 2:15) could not be trusted, I would have to agree that all truth is relative. But no one can live this way, and nobody does! If a cashier, trying to cheat you, tells you that he is working with a different kind of arithmetic, would you accept it? Is two plus two four or not? I am not trying to say here that everything is absolute! But if in the end there were no absolutes, then we would all be adrift on a sea of relativity. It would be like living with spatial disorientation. This is something pilots learn about in ground school, where they teach you how easy it is for the body to fool the mind into thinking that it is right side up, when you could be anywhere!

This morning’s quote from Proverbs 28:26, is in effect telling us that it is foolish to try and live without absolutes, without the confidence that there are things that are truly true. This of course begs the question of what they are. But let me say that if you don’t believe Jesus’ claim that the Bible is Truth (John 17:17), then I would invite you to investigate it with your adult mind. It’s part of loving the Lord with all your mind (Luke 10:27). In particular, it is easy to dismiss Sunday school versions of Biblical truth. I am aware this morning, that books have been written, and were needed to be written, about just about every statement I am making in these recent posts. But I am feeling lead to challenge those of you who are not yet there, to investigate them!

The Bible’s principles and promises, together with the power of the Holy Spirit to live its truths, are intended to be an anchor to the soul (Hebrews 6:19). And the lie that all truth is relative, has left this generation adrift on the sea of subjectivity. It’s like trying to build a building without a square, or a plumb line. It has resulted in some calling call evil good, and good evil. The Bible warns against such, those who are wise in their own eyes((Isaiah 5:20,21). In the end there will be no excuse, because every rationalization and denial will be exposed for what it is (Luke 8:17).

Father, Your Word tells us that judgement is only delayed, and that the delay is designed to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). I confess this morning Father that we, Your church, have not always enhanced the gospel. Many times we have come across as arrogant, know it all and unloving. I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5). Your Word tells us Father that the time is right for judgement to begin with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). I welcome its refining fire Lord, as I come to You this morning with a humble and contrite heart in Jesus Name Amen