You don’t understand, I’m the victim here

I have heard people say that the Old Testament law "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" (Exodus 21:24), is barbaric. I mean didn't Jesus tell us to love our enemies? But when confronted with a gunman in full on rage,   would Jesus command be the first thing that you would think of to tell him? What I am saying here, is that in the revenge filled atmosphere of Bible times, the rule was more about preventing two teeth for one tooth, and two eyes for one eye. In other words understanding the times,  the Lord was teaching justice rather than revenge. And in some ways, since our current culture has largely thrown out Biblical wisdom, our culture is in grave danger of reverting to revenge mode,  rather than justice mode.

And part of this, coming to the title of this post, is that our culture is very much encouraging the victim mentality. In fact it goes so far at times, as to suggest that the victim is the only one who has the right to speak. But this does not take into account our propensity to get things out of all proportion. So when a man is hurt by a woman, he might self-righteously declare “all women are evil.” Attributing white privilege to all who are white, is another example. I mean do we really think that no white person has ever been abused or victimized? Please do not misunderstand me, I am very well aware that grave injustices have been done to certain groups. In terms of the woman’s issue,  for example, it’s not that long ago that that that a woman could not even vote.  But our tendency to massively over-respond at times, is in fact the very reason the eye for an eye law was commanded in the first place.

In other words more often than not, we are not so much interested in justice, as we are in revenge! As Christians, especially among each other, there are times when we just need to let things go, and let God deal with the injustice. For example, Paul suggests that it is better to be cheated, than for believers to go to court against each other in front of unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:7). What I am saying here this morning, is that in order for there to be peace, the victim has to be the better person. I’m not suggesting that we should be doormats, but when Jesus instructs us to go the second mile (Matthew 5:41), at the very least He is suggesting that we should not be preoccupied with demanding our rights. Indeed we are commanded to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger ….” and “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:31, 32).

Father, it is not easy to live in this world and respond to life in a way that pleases You. Your Word does tell us however, that we should learn not to live for ourselves but for Him who loved us and gave Himself for us (2 Corinthians 5:15). In many things we all fail Lord, but thank God for Your forgiveness and cleansing, and for the Grace You pour out on us to enable us  to live for You. And we give You praise and thanks again this morning Lord,  in Jesus Name Amen

The parable of marriage (II) Husbands love, wives respect

The passage under consideration (Ephesians 5:22-33) is, in our culture, one of the more controversial. But we must not avoid it for that. The stumbling block for many is the statement in verse 22 telling wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. What is not often noticed,  is that in effect the husband is told to submit to the wife in the previous verse. I say in effect, because the instruction is that we are to submit one to another. And of course that includes, as I have said, the husband submitting to the wife.  And actually, you know the instructions to the husband are  the more difficult, since he is instructed to love the wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her. And if we just let that sink in for a minute, I mean the extent to which He endured suffering, then I think you might agree.

But in a further attempt to defuse the situation I want to say that Paul ends the passage with a summary of what he is teaching. And in this summary he says “Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (verse 33). When we try to make general statements about men and women,  they are likely always too simplistic. Nevertheless I am going to try. Let me start by saying that what I think, is that first and foremost the husband's deepest need is to be respected by the wife. Likewise first and foremost the wife needs to know she is unconditionally loved. This is not to say that the wife does not need to be respected, nor that the husband does not need to be loved. What I think Paul is saying, is that if he had to choose just one thing to say what each one needs, then he would choose respect for the husband and love for the wife. As a man I know that I feel undermined when I am not respected.

What Paul is not doing here, is giving the husband permission to browbeat the wife into giving respect. Nor is he suggesting the wife demand love from the husband. The instruction to love the wife is given to the husband, likewise the instruction to respect the husband is given to the wife. He is not saying either that the husband needs to earn the respect of the wife, nor that the wife needs to earn the love of the husband. The whole thing is centred around Christ’s self-giving. In fact He “loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:25- 27). And it is in this spirit of self giving that we are to meet each other’s deepest needs. In line with what I was saying last day, He has given the World permission to know that we are His,  by the love we have for each other (John 13:35).

Father, You took such a risk by leaving the church (the invisible church) as essentially Your only witness to the gospel here on earth. And in many ways we have failed. Forgive us Lord and equip us to truly live for You in a way that honours You, honours each other and brings glory to yourself, in Jesus Name Amen

The parable of marriage (I)

The meaning of some of the parables are far from obvious. But as the Scriptures say “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, the glory of man to search it out” (Proverbs 25:2). And as His kings and queens,  He intends that we do just that. As the One through whom all things were created (John 1:3)), it seems to me that He actually designed creation to be parables, in and of themselves. What I want to do this morning, is to look at marriage as a parable. In Ephesians 5:32 in the midst of giving instructions on marriage Paul  says “This is a great mystery I speak concerning Christ and the church” What I believe we are being told here, is that it is God’s intention that when the world looks at the beauty of Christian marriages, it is intended to see the love that Christ has for His church. A love that caused Him,  at incredible cost , to give up His life for her.

Now it should be obvious, especially in the West, that we have utterly failed. In fact I myself have utterly failed being twice divorced. As I said t before, I believe marriage is a primary tool of God to make us more like Christ. And He intends this to happen even when we have failed. However, when a marriage fails, it seems that that one of two things tend to happen. Either a great deal is learnt as the person tries to figure his or her part in it all and then makes real and significant changes. Or not much is learnt at all, and the same unaddressed issues are taken into the next relationship. This last, is not what the Lord wants. Someone I respect deeply once told me “I never realized how selfish I am, until I got married.” There is much hope for a relationship like that, especially since I know they both feel that way.

What is happening in that marriage is that the couple is engaging in “as iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens man” (Proverbs 27:17). They are seeing, as we are all intended to see, that disagreements, conflicts and arguments among those with whom we are in significant relationships are crossroads. On the one hand,  we can cooperate with this iron sharpening iron process by coming in humility to the foot of the cross,  confessing our faults one to another and praying for one another (James 5:16 once again). This is healing. On the other hand,  if we do not confess to one another, we inevitably confess the other persons faults. It’s called the blame game,  it is not so healing, and it short-circuits our being transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Father, I cannot see that our relationships can be beautiful and attract the World like You intend, if we remain in denial about our issues, or do nothing about them. It’s not about being perfect Lord, if it were, none of us would make it. It is about being changed from our starting point. The “from glory to glory” can start in the gutter. It is progress not perfection that pleases You. Only Jesus was perfect. What I understand You expect of us is that we present our bodies as living sacrifices and cooperate with You in the transformation process. And when we do, we get to enter fullness of life and to glorify You. Thank You Lord for all that You are and do in Jesus Name Amen

The heart of the matter, is the heart (VII) Know my anxieties

If I was want to be anxious, there is no shortage of things about which I could be anxious!  And the command to not be anxious (Philippians 4:6) is often easier said than done.  But the  part of the prayer (Psalm 139:23, 24)  that we are discussing this morning,  is essentially inviting the Lord into those things that cause us anxiety.  And  I am reminded again  that fretting only causes harm (Psalm 37:6). When my heart is overwhelmed  I cry out to the Lord,  and I pour it all our to Him  (Psalm 142: 3, 1,2). In order to stop being anxious, we need to replace it with prayer, supplication and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6 again).  In this regard, the gift of tongues this can be very helpful, especially if you do not know what or how to pray. Tongues bypasses the mind,  and frees up the Spirit to make intersession for us with groanings  which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).

One of the strengths of twelve-step programs, is the fellowship of those in recovery. When we know that we are all the same, and come together to the foot of the cross, then  it is so much easier to be open and vulnerable and confess our faults (James 5:16). But there is no doubt about it, recovery is messy. This is especially true for those coming out of deep addictions and/or trauma, where the anxiety level can be high. In such cases in the early stages there is a tendency to lurch from one crisis to another. This can be infectious, and there is a danger of some in the fellowship being dragged into other people’s crises.  This is where those who have been on the journey longer can take them aside. and be a stabilizing influence.

But no matter how mature you are,  this danger is still present.  We all  need to be growing in the skill of dealing Biblically with anxiety. As I say, anxiety is infectious, but if I allow myself to be dragged down in the other person's  pit,  then it will take all my energy and recovery skills to get up myself! In such a state I will be essentially useless to help the other person.  When this happens,  and it certainly has happened to me in the past, I am likely taking on too much responsibility. In such cases I will need (I needed) to resign as the caretaker of the universe!  And I may need to gently detach.  When we need to do this, it is good to pray with the person saying “I am going to need to go in a minute, but let  me pray for you and lift this up to the Lord together." We may then need to be firm "I really do need to go, we can talk later!"  What I am saying, is that I need to know my limits and have good boundaries. I have not always done this well!

Father, the World is full of hurting people Lord, and many times you call us to help. But in the illustration of the oxygen masks coming down on the plane, I need to put my mask on first.  And Lord I need to know my limits, and so I pray a  serenity type prayer again this morning. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage and the wisdom to help when I can, and to know myself well enough to know when to gently detach and when to stay in Jesus Name Amen"

The heart of the matter, is the heart (VI) A contrite or hardened heart

I can’t leave this subject of the heart  without at least touching on an aspect of it that comes over and over in the Scriptures,  namely hardness of heart. After hanging out with Jesus for some considerable time, the disciples were still in grave danger of having hard hearts (Mark 8:17. Hardness of heart ranges from what happens when we deliberately and consciously disobey a direct command of the Lord, to being slow to understand, and to believe what the Lord is saying  (Exodus 8:32; Luke 24:25).  It is part of the fallen human conditions,  and in its strongest form can perhaps best be thought of as an attitude of disobedience and of self-will,  a stance of stubbornness towards the things of God. And as with the disciples, we can be largely unaware of it. In fact, we can be subconsciously choosing not to believe or understand, because if we do, we might just have to do something about it!

David had hardened his heart in the Bathsheba incident. When pregnancy had resulted from his adultery, rather than repenting, he deliberately tried to cover his sin which essentially resulted in the murder of Bathsheba’s husband (2 Samuel 11). The Scripture tells us that he who seeks to cover his sin shall not prosper (Proverbs 28:13). The Lord sends Nathan the prophet to get under David’s radar by speaking of an injustice that was close to David’s heart. “That man shall die” declares David. “You are that man” replies Nathan, and David is cut to the quick. In an instant David’s hardened heart is turned to a broken and contrite heart (2 Samuel 11; Psalm 51:8, 17). Now the Scripture speaks of David, as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22)! But how can that be after all that David had done?

And the fact of the matter is, that our merciful and gracious God is a God of second,   third,  and forth chances. etc., etc. In fact when we turn to Him with a broken and contrite heart,  He takes our sins and throws them into the depth of the  sea, and chooses to remember them no more (Micah 7:19; Isaiah 43:25).   But the point I want to make this morning, is that  the  fact that heroes of the faith could be so blind to the hardness of their own heart,  points to the need for us to pray the prayer we have been talking about the last few days  (Psalm  139:23, 24). We are talking about asking God to search our hearts and to know us through and through. I am saying, that if we want to be  lead in “the way everlasting” (verse 24), then perhaps we should pray this prayer on  regular basis. I am not sure there is any other way to keep our hearts soft and open to his guidance, leading and direction, nor to experience the  fullness of life that He intends for us to have (John 10:10b).

Father, I ask you to take away any fear  I,  or anyone reading this post might have,  about laying our hearts bear before You. You have promised Father,  that You will not allow us to be tried,  tested or tempted above our ability with Your help to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). In fact Lord You are infinitely patient with us and kind. You know our  frame you know we are but dust (Psalm 103:14). Thank You Lord for Your unconditional love and regard. Show us Lord any wicked way in which we might need to repent in Jesus Name Amen

The heart of the matter, is the heart (V) test me

After asking the Lord to search him and to know his heart, the Psalmist next asks the Lord to test him. The meaning of the word translated here as “test” includes examine, scrutinize, try, and prove. The same word is used by Job when he says “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). And being brought forth as gold can only happen as we come through the fire of testing. It was during the wilderness wandering that the Lord tested Israel “to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not” (Deuteronomy 8:2). Here,  the Psalmist asks the Lord to test him to “see if there is any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:24).

Israel was tested whether they wanted to be tested or not, the Psalmist is actually asking the Lord to test him. And part of what motivates him, is that he knows that this testing is necessary in order to be lead into “the way everlasting,” ar as Jesus puts it “life in all it’s fullness” (verse 24 again; John 10:10b). If voluntarily submitting to pain seems strange, know that it is the way of the cross. Indeed “If anyone would be my disciple, he must take up his cross daily and follow me” )Matthew 16L24).  If Jesus had to be made perfect by the things that He suffered (Hebrews 5:8,9) why should we expect anything else? There is a real sense in which what the Psalmist is doing here, is voluntarily entering into the type of recovery we are discussing in these posts. We cannot avoid suffering (1 Peter 4:12), but know that to suffer redemptively is well pleasing to God (1 Peter 2:20).

With regard to this, I am more and more impressed with the genius of twelve-step programs which in fact facilitates, and can accelerate the process. The steps of course are thoroughly Biblical, and were put together by Christians. As I keep saying, the steps particularly powerful when Christ is embraces as the “higher power.” The fourth step is “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” Since the original idea was to include those who could not yet acknowledge Christ, the step had to be written this way. But the full power of it comes when we do it the Psalmist’s way asking God to help in the process.  I found it helpful to start with making a list of all people who had hurt me, and then asking God to show me either my part in it all, or how I had responded in a way that displeased Him. There is much more in this step of course, but like most of us the initial default response is blame, and I needed to get past it!

Father, Your ways are best, even if they are difficult. Lord I want to come through as gold,and I want my heart to be pure. The words of a song come to mind “And if I have to suffer, I know that You've been there, and I know that You're here now.” We need Your grace Lord, we cannot do it without You, but Lord in and through the suffering You are making us more like Jesus, and bringing fruit for Kingdom (Romans 8:29). And for this, and many other things,  I give You praise and Glory Lord in Jesus Name Amen

The heart of the matter, is the heart (IV) Search me and know my heart

While the Lord is extremely patient (I know this from experience 2 Peter 3:15), He nevertheless is committed to our deliverance from the power and pollution of sin. And He will, if necessary, by what he allows or by what He sends, do the spiritual equivalent of hitting us over the head with a 2 x 4 (Hebrews 12:6). But He much prefers that we come to Him. And actually I prefer to come to Him too, because I know that when I do, He can be all the more gentle with me. The psalmist leads the way in his prayer “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23, 24). We will be looking at these verses more closely over the next few days. This morning we will be looking at the phrase “Search me, O God, and know my heart.”

If that giant of the faith, the apostle Paul, could say “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent” (1 Corinthians 4:4), then perhaps we should not be too quick to assume our complete innocence either. I sense that one of the reasons why it is difficult to confess our faults one to another (James 5:16 again), is that many times it’s not safe. But God is safe,  for there is no condemnation to those of us who are in Christ (Romans 8:1).  God is for us, not against us (Romans 8:31), and He always has our best interest at heart. But for some reason, it can be difficult for us even to trust God. And coming to the place where we fully trust Him with our heart can be a process, rather than an instant fix.

When we pray “know my heart,” what we are doing is giving the Lord permission to lay our heart bear to Him, to be an open book to Him,  to allow Him to search out the things that we have hidden even from, and perhaps especially from, ourselves. Paul was acknowledging this in the above quote. We looked  earlier at the statement in Isaiah 30:18 that the Lord waits to be gracious to us. And part of trusting Him when we pray this prayer, is to understand that he has a timing for everything, and will not allow us to be tried or tested beyond our ability, but with His help enable us to push through and to overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13). But I can tell you from my own experience, that there is nothing more freeing or peace giving, than to know that the air is clear between me and Him.

Father, “your gentleness has made me great” (Psalm 18:35). But I am aware this morning Father,  that there are likely those reading this, who have not yet learned  or experienced this principle. So I pray for them and myself this morning Lord,  that You would continue to woo us with Your gentleness. Bring us to the place Lord where we can say  with the Psalmist “You have searched me and known my ways … You know me altogether … such knowledge is too wonderful for me (Psalm 139). Indeed Lord You are out exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1), and I praise you again this morning in Your precious and Holy and Lovely Name Amen

The heart of the matter, is the heart (III) The opposite spirit

“Don’t get mad,” the World tells us, “get even.” But do you know what? While you are looking for that opportunity to get even,  that person is occupying space in your head rent free!  I mean every time you see them, or are reminded of them in some way, you experience the same emotions as you did with the original offence. With me it was not so much revenge that used to occupy my thoughts, but rather it was obsessing on the injustice of it all.  But in any case, whether we admit it or not, when we respond in these ways we are allowing who they are, or what they have done,  to rob us of peace and the abundant life.  And again,  whether we want to admit it or not, we are in fact becoming like them,  because we are responding in the very same spirit as the perpetrator.

But just trying not to think or dwell in these things does not work.  The Lord gives us the antidote which can,  I think,  be expressed as coming against the offence and/or the offender in the opposite spirit. Jesus puts it this way “I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).  This might not make too much sense if this World is all there is, but first of all it is not. In the context of this verse Jesus is speaking about the rewards we get in heaven for following Him in these ways (verses 46; 6:1, 19, 20). Secondly, it is part of what we need to do in order to have peace,  and enter the abundant life in the here and now.

It can also work for the Kingdom turning enemies into friends. In two separate but very similar incidents I was owed certain sums of money. On both occasions I was offered half of what was rightfully mine. Also on both occasions I gently refused to take the half, telling them to either give me the whole thing,  or nothing.  In the first case it took months,  but I eventually got the whole thing and gained  a friend. I don’t know the end of the story, but I prayed for him this morning, as I remembered him,  to come to know the Lord if he has not already done so.  I might not have been quite so gentle in the second case, but what is interesting to me, is that the second man was a Christian. And it remains true that I have been hurt more by Christians than those who do not know Him. But that is perhaps because I expect more! In both cases however,  I was  free of resentment and bitterness and seeking to guard my heart in this way gave me peace.

Lord Jesus, You were certainly hurt most (at lease spiritually) by religious people. And perhaps You are the only one who ever practiced what You preached.  You certainly loved your enemies Lord when, as the drove cruel spikes through Your hands and feet, You prayed  “Father forgive them for they know not what they do!” I am not there yet Lord but I love and admire You so much. You are truly my hero and I worship You this morning, in Your precious and lovely Name Amen

The heart of the matter, is the heart (II) Guarding it diligently

I have had Christians tell me that Jeremiah 17:9 (the heart is deceitful …) is Old Testament, and that Christians cannot be deceived. But if that were true,  why would the New Testament warn us not to be deceived (Galatians 6:7)? Part of the reason we need to know how deceptive the heart is,  is because “out of it is the wellspring of life.” For this very reason we are told to guard it with all diligence, and to do it “Above all else” (Proverbs 4:23). The World tells us “The heart wants what the heart wants,” and acts as if the only way to act, is to follow it. The Christian however,  is not to be conformed to the World (Romans 12:2).

 As I have said before, modern  research has shown  that our thoughts and emotions are inseparable. And so  I find it helpful to think of the heart as our combined thoughts and emotions. Now while we might not have direct control over our emotions, we do have control over our thoughts. Indeed we are admonished to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).  And since our thoughts and emotions are inseparable this does give us (and the Lord Philippians 2:13) indirect  control over our emotions. So if we take every thought captive,  the emotions will eventually fall into line.  It takes discipline of course, and if we have spent a lifetime with undisciplined thoughts, then a stronghold will likely have formed. In such cases, it will take a long obedience in the same direction.

With Christ as our higher power however,  strongholds can be pulled down. In fact,  the Lord has given us weapons to do just that. Now these weapons are not the World’s weapons, but they are mighty weapons,  well able to pull down  strongholds.  In the words of AA blurb however “half measures profited us nothing.” We need to present out bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), and to work out our sanctification (our deliverance from the power and pollution of sin)  with fear and trembling because “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him” (Philippians 2:12,13 NLT).  In other words we are not helpless in the face of our emotions, and though he who sins is the slave of sin, nevertheless if the Son shall set you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:34,36).

Father, we will not be delivered from either apathy or deep sin, neither will we enter into the abundant life without the radical obedience to which You call us.  It might seem impossible at times Lord, but You never call us without also equipping us, giving us the wherewithal to do Your will. When our strength is small, Your strength is made perfect in our weakness. However, You will not do for us what we can do for ourselves. But when we do our part,  You make up for what we cannot do, even if by this time we aught to be able to do it. Truly Lord You are an amazing,  merciful and loving Father. And I want to thank You,  that when we  guard our hearts diligently in these ways, then you give us the desire and the power to do what pleases You,  and what at the same time, bring us life. In Jesus Name Amen

Flawed, but accepted and treasured

Which do you want first, the good news or the bad? The bad news is that we are fatally flawed, our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked, and  all have  sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23).  How on earth are we to come to terms with this without going into a hopeless depression. But the good news is that we are accepted in the beloved, accepted  and loved and treasured.  And when we come to Him in repentance,  we are redeemed and given a get out of jail free card,  to get into heaven. But yes, receiving the bad news is  still difficult, and it’s a kind of catch 22. If I don’t know the good news,  I don’t know there is a cure. On the other hand if I am still in denial about the bad news, the good news makes no sense. I mean what is it I need to be rescued from?

I hear stories about people who, thinking they may have cancer, refuse to go to the doctor. But I also know of people who see how foolish is that denial, but who still refuse to go to doctor Jesus to be healed from sin sickness. And this can  be about something they have done, or about something done to them. Most Christians I know can admit in general terms to having sinned, but to admit to a specific sin is another story. It’s easy to see it in others, in ourselves,  not so much. But if we don't see it,  perhaps we need to ask ourselves what is the probability that I alone have escaped the disease of sin! The bottom line is that we need to become like little children in a loving family. In such a family they  are able to receive truth and correction, but not be devastated by it. They can do this  because they know they are loved, accepted and secure.

I was reminded this morning that nobody can do recovery 24/7, it’s just too hard! We may need to take time out and read a book or binge on Netflix. It is important though not to isolate or binge in an unhealthy way. It only makes it worse, and we have to stop bingeing eventually. I am also reminded of the saying that we will not change until the pain of being stuck becomes greater than the pain and fear of change. "Are we there yet mummy?" But there is no trial or temptation or difficulty that, with His help,  we cannot endure and escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). He has taught me, like He did Jesus, to push through the pain to joy (Hebrews 5:8; 12:2). Not saying it is easy, but with Him all things are possible (Philippians 4:13).

Father, please remind each and everyone reading this blog, that we are totally accepted (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV), and how very much You love and treasure us (John 3:16). You dance over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17), and as brother and sisters of Jesus,  You speak into us that we are Your beloved sons and daughters (Mark 1:11). Our value is in what was paid for us, and what was paid,  was the spilled blood of the precious Son of God. So each and every one of us is precious and of infinite value. Help us to treasure You Lord, as You treasure us, in Jesus Name Amen

Heart of the matter is the heart (I) Denial

Denial is not a river in Egypt (de Nile), but it is a real and rampant phenomenon. Denial is about refusing, or being unable, to see what is likely obvious to everyone else. Perhaps the only exception is when we are in a community of denial. A recovering saying warns “Show me your friends, and will show you your future!” In such a community if I come out of denial, then the others are likely to turn on me as a form of self defence, defending their own denial. The phenomenon of denial in those caught up in substance abuse is well known. What is perhaps less well-known, is that at some level we are all in denial about something. I mean have you never rationalized something which later realized was wrong? Somebody once said that to rationalize means to tell rational lies, it's called denial!

I have gotten into trouble with some Christian by quoting Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all and desperately wicked, who can know it?” I have shared before that at the time of my conversion almost a half-century ago, that the Lord had shown me how wicked my heart was. I had come to the Lord through a broken marriage in which initially I had blamed her 100% for what had gone wrong. So convinced was I, that I had murder in my heart, and I am not sure I would not follow through and I thought I could have gotten away with it! There is a saying, that if a man wants to do something he will find a thousand reasons to do it. If that same man does not want to do the very same thing, he will find a thousand reasons not to do it.  When we tell ourselves lies we are in denial!

So what so what I am saying, is that many Christians have no idea how deceitful their hearts are. But if it’s true, and the word of God says that it but I don’t know it,  then I am indeed deceived, and likely in denial about all sorts of things. And if that’s you, the devil is likely very happy with you, because if you don’t think you have any issues, then you don’t need to deal with them. And if we don’t deal with our issues, there is no way we will be being transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). And this transformation is the testimony of Jesus, and it is what that makes others want what we have. And how widespread this phenomena of denial in the church, is evidenced by the fact of how ineffectual we are. In fact sadly, the church has, to a greater or lesser extent, been squeezed into the World's mold, but is in deep denial about it. Let he who thinks he stands take care lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Please pray with me “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm139:23, 24).” Father, it’s not about where I am in my journey, about how mature I am. No, it’s about having my heart transformed as gaze upon Jesus. Your Word tells us Father,  that man looks on the outer appearance, but You look on the heart. Truly Lord the heart of the matter is the heart.  In Jesus Name Amen

Did Cinderella live happily ever after?

Yes I know it’s a fairytale, but in this era dominated by Hollywood, there are a lot of things that we likely subconsciously accept as reality, but which in reality are also fairytales. In action movies which conclude with the rescue of the “damsel in distress,” we go away happy, knowing that “all’s well,  that ends well!” But is it?  The one rescued would  likely be suffering from PTSD?  And even if Cinderella was not suffering from PTSD, is it not likely that she would have abandonment and rejection issues? Perhaps she would be glad for the rescue by her handsome prince, but would there not be aftereffects from a lifetime of being bullied, controlled and taken advantage of by the sister uglies?

As a young man I used to pooh-pooh the idea of anyone needing psychological help. I would ask "Whey don't then just to suck it up?"  Indeed  many try to,  but finish up medicating their pain in a thousand different ways. It’s not just substance abuse, it’s obsessive thinking, workaholism. We put up walls of protection that seriously damage our ability to have intimacy. we hide our guilt and shame behind and apparently happy exterior (Proverbs 14:13). One of the things I pooh-poohed was the idea of a midlife crisis,  that is until I had one. I have never done things by halves, and if I was going to have a midlife crisis, I  was determined to have one with bells,  whistles and signs following! It was a dilly, but at least I knew that something needed to be done. I no longer pooh-poohed it all.

I think it’s safe to say that most of us will eventually come to a bump in the road, a crisis of some sort. And these things are crossroads. Cinderella would likely wake up one day to realize her “happily ever after” was not happening. And of course it was all his fault! What I’m saying,  is that the default is the blame game,  to feel like a victim and act out  demanding our rights. I have observed that people who come through broken marriages come in two types, those who learn a great deal from the experience looking inwardly, and those who learned nothing,  and go on to make the same mistakes over and over. I think it was Socrates who said “the unexamined life is not worth living.” The biblical way  is to pray “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm139:23, 24).

Father, if we pray this prayer, we had better mean it.  We need to be willing to allow You to do heart surgery. Grant Mullen describes this as deep pit mining on the heart! And  more and more I am coming to realize that if we are to find release from the power and pollution of sin, then we need to cooperate with You in our  heart healing and freedom gaining sanctification.  Recovery is hard Lord it’s not for the faint of heart. And so I asked this morning for myself Lord,  and all those reading these posts, that You will give us the grace,  the courage and the wherewithal to cooperate with You in the necessary heart surgery. I know you have our best interest at heart Lord, and I choose to trust You.  And I give You thanks and praise in Jesus Name Amen

The vessel was marred in the hand of the potter, so he….

She wanted to know if she had totally messed up God’s will for her life, and I pointed her to this passage from Jeremiah 18:1ff. Over and over Israel had caused itself to stumble in its ways, from His ancient paths (verse 15). The Lord had sent Jeremiah down to the potter’s house to see him at work on his wheel. And the vessel he was making was marred (spoiled) in the potter’s hand, so he “made it into another vessel, as it seemed good to him” (verse 4). The Lord then speaks to Israel through Jeremiah asking rhetorically “Can I not do with you as this potter?” In terms of application, He can do that with us too, since He is the potter, and we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8).

There are consequences to our rebellion of course. We reap painful fruit from our poor choices (Galatians 6:7). But in application of the principle in verse 8, if we turn from our wicked ways He will relent. In particular “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). He does not however take away the consequences. If a young girl fools around, gets pregnant and then turns to the Lord, she is forgiven, but she is still pregnant! And that pregnancy may mess up God’s original plan for her life. It was God’s plan that His servant Israel be a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6). When that vessel was marred, He made Israel the vessel that would bring forth the suffering servant the Messiah, to be the light to the nations (John 8:12).

So has our hypothetical pregnant girl completely blown it? Not at all, and this is where the “so He” comes in. When we mess up big time He will change the plan. It will not be the same plan, but it will be a good plan, a plan to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Sometimes things get messed up from no fault of our own. Sexual abuse is never God’s plan. Yes He allows it, and we may have to wrestle, and wrestle greatly with why He allows that. But God has a way of turning things round if we let Him, if we choose to trust Him in spite if all (Romans 8:28 again). There is a recovery saying that God never wastes a hurt. He came to heal broken hearts and to set the prisoners free (Luke 4:18). And He wants to use our healing and freedom to show others the way! Becoming whole is Kingdom work in and of itself!

Father, part of what messes things up is when (as we all do at time) we get out of the centre of Your will. The clay being off centre makes the potter’s job very hard if not impossible.To mix metaphors for a moment, we come as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), but then mess up bi-times by crawling off the alter. Father I ask You to strengthen us this morning so that we may give to You a long obedience in the same direction. And we will give You the Glory in Jesus Name Amen

But David strengthened himself in the Lord

After everything that David had gone through, this could have been the last straw, the final blow that pushed him over the edge. King Saul had “rewarded” David’s faithfulness to him by turning on him, and year after year sought to kill him faithfully (1 Samuel chapter 16ff). David had had the chance to kill Saul on two different occasions, but had refused to lay a hand on Lord’s anointed. And after all that David and his supporters returned one day to their temporary home Ziklag, only to find that the Amalekites had invaded it, burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and the children and carried them away. Not only this, but in their distress David’s supporters spoke of stoning him. Both David and his men were distraught, they “lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep” (1 Samuel 30:1,2, 6).

“But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (verse 6). I have come to realize that every negative thing that happens to us, is a crossroads. We can take offence in our grief ike David’s men did, and turn on those we love. And make no mistake about it, if we embrace offence, those we love will suffer (see Hebrews 12:15). On the other hand we can choose like David did, to strengthen ourselves in the Lord. Now the Lord has provided resources to enable us to do this. His Grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9), but we do need to tap into it. In my own struggles (and we all struggle at times) His Word plays an important role. In particular “Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11).

Part of what I have hidden (as in memorize) are His promises. Even when I don’t have a clue how He is going to do it, I choose to believe that He is working even in the evil for my good (Romans 8:28). By faith I embrace hope believing I will see the goodness of the Lord even in the here and now (Psalm 27:13). And as I grow in Him and learn to please Him, I claim that He will make even my enemies to be at peace with me. He has already done this, and more than once, and so I feed on His faithfulness (Proverbs 16:7; Psalm 37:3). Now perhaps none of this mean all that much to you, but whether this is the case or not, there are principles and promises that He wants to make personal for you. Of course you do have to hide His Word in your heart to make this happen. And you can do that (memorize His Word), you can, you really can (Philippians 4:13)!

Father, I was remembering again this morning that Your Word is the only offensive weapon in our arsenal, and that with it we are able to quench all the fiery darts of the Evil One. Father I ask for myself and all reading these posts that You will help us not to fail to obtain Your Grace in which we stand and so, having done all, stand. In Jesus Name Amen

I do only what I see the Father doing (III) Our dreams

God’ s will for our lives, our destiny, is not as mysterious as it might sometimes appear. I remember reading of a conversation where someone was asking his mentor what he thought God wanted him to do in terms of career. The mentor asked “Well what do you want to do, what is your passion?” I always wanted to be a teacher, and I pursued the necessary training. Perhaps it’s not as clear to you, but there are a number of checks we can make. First and foremost we need to ask if it is consistent with Scripture. He would not want you to be a prostitute! Of course I did not expect to find a verse saying “Phil you are to be a teacher,” but there was nothing Biblically inconsistent with my being a teacher, and I had a strong desire. As we were saying last day when we delight in Him, we can expect Him to give us the desire of our hearts.

And so perhaps the first thing to do is to examine our hearts. Why do we want to do this or that? I have seen too many people pursing jobs because they pay well. There is nothing wrong with having a well paying job, but if your passion is for fame or fortune, you could easily miss His best for you. The Scripture tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33). And being a missionary or a pastor are not the only professions in which I can bring glory to God. Now you can’t steer a parked car! What I am saying, is that many times we just need to start out in the direction that we think He might be leading. At the time of my graduation from my first degree a friend, out of the blue asked me “Why don’t you do graduate work?” I had not even considered it, and that question changed my life, I became a University Professor!

There is a verse that says “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). It is essentially saying that He will guide you as you move. He did that with me, and I was not even a Christain at the time! We need to have confidence that He is far more interested in guiding us that we are to receive His guidance. But sometime, for various reasons, our dreams die. The walk of faith inevitably involves risk and we may be afraid or lack confidence. Someone said faith is spelt R-I-S-K! Or the way may seem too long, the road too hard, and we may give up. But whatever the reason, if God suddenly awakens and resurrects the dream, then this becomes a way of “seeing what the Father is doing.” And if He does not, then we will need to keep seeking and knocking (Matthew 7:7).

Father, may times our dreams seem so impossible and, like the heroes of old, we have the sense that we could never do that (i.e. Moses Exodus 4:13). There were certainly times when I felt that way Lord! But if we can do it without You, it probably is not big enough to be of You. Help us Lord not to dismiss our dreams because we don’t feel competent. With You Lord, all things are possible. Thank You Father that You have plans for us, and they are good plans, plans to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). And thank You Lord for the promise that if we we keep on seeking and knocking, we will find in Jesus Name Amen

I do only what I see the Father doing (II) Delighting

In Psalm 37:4 we read “Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Giving us the desires of our heart is not a blank check, it requires we “delight ourselves also in the Lord.” Actually when our desires are wrong because we forget His ways and then our desires flow out of our lusts, He may still “give us our requests, but bring leanness to our souls” (Psalm 105:13 - 15 NKJV). You don’t want to go down that road! On the other hand there is both provision and protection when we “delight ourselves also" in Him. It is not just that when we do this, our desires are right, although this is certainly true. But it is also that when we do these things (see below), we are tapping into His heart, we start to see what are His desires, and His desires becomes our desires. In this way in the intimacy of His embrace we, like Jesus, naturally start doing what He is doing too!

The “also” in this verse reminds us that we need to ask ourselves what else do we need to do in order to fulfill the conditions of this promise. In the end it boils down to following Him who is the way the Truth and the life (John 14:6). The conditions then include not fretting (verses 1, 7,8); trusting in the Lord, doing good and feeding on His faithfulness (verse 3); committing our way unto the Lord - as in not being double minded, giving it all to Him and then taking it back. The Hebrew gives the sense of casting all your cares and burdens upon Him (verse 5). It also includes resting in the Lord and waiting patiently for Him (verse 7), and finally ceasing from anger and forsaking wrath (verse 8). No problem right?

I am reminded of something from the introduction to twelve step programs, namely that “half measures profited us nothing.” We are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). I have come to realize that there has to be no-one more miserable as a half committed Christian. You have neither the joy nor the peace that comes with intimacy with God, and you can’t even enjoy your sin (been there!). On the other hand, there is nothing more fulfilling than partnering with the Living God in the bringing in of the Kingdom, and seeing His and your heart desires coming to fruition.

Father, I want to come against the lie we have so often believed, that if we give You our all we will somehow miss out. So help us this morning Father to practice delighting ourselves in You in all of the above ways, so that our desires might be right, and so that we may progressively come to see what You are doing, and to do it with You in Jesus Name Amen

I do only what I see the Father doing (I) Hearing

Being the God-man, the persona of Jesus teaches, at least two things. Firstly it teaches us what God is like (If you have seen me you have seen the Father - John 14:9), secondly it teaches us what God intends man to be (I am the way the truth and the life John14:6). And if we are to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1), then we are to be imitators of the man Jesus Christ in His humanity. The challenge then (or rather one of them) is to do only what we see the Father doing (see John 5:19). This "seeing" is of course speaking about spiritual sight. I know people who literally see on the screen of their mind, but we “see” what the Father is doing in many ways including spiritual hearing. This hearing is not only possible, it is expected (My sheep know my voice - John10:27,16,4), and it needs to be cultivated.

The clearest way we hear His voice is through His word. We experience this most often as the “still small voice of God” (1 Kings 19:12,13) illuminating the verse or passage in some way. This might come as a particularly meaningful promise (i.e. Romans 8:28 one of my favourites). At times of fear or anxiety He might illuminate “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). When we read His Word regularly, especially when we memorize a verse or passage, we hear His voice by His bringing it to mind at a particular relevant time.

We also hear His voice through prophecy that has the same “feel” that we get when a verse stands out to us. I had a prophetic word like that a couple of years ago. It was that God has a thirty year plan for my life. It resonated with me, and I received it (receiving it is just one of the things we need to do with a prophetic word). I understood it as thirty years from that time. So the Lord brought this to mind again (as a memory) over the last couple of days, when it became clear that i still need to wait for the fulfillment of a long awaited promise. Through this, He is also reminding me that He is not in a hurry, that His timetable is perfect, that He is never early, and He is never late. What just came to mind as I write, is that Moses was 80 before he even started his ministry. He is also reminding me of His instruction to me from the very beginning of my Christian walk, and that I need to wait patiently for Him (Psalm 40:1).

Father thank You for the many resources You have raised up to help us to learn to hear Your voice. In particular I want to thank You for Mark Virkler though whom, and his YouTube videos, I have learnt a great deal. Father, most of us have a long way to go in learning this skill. And like everything else about You, there is always more to lean. Help us Lord to be diligent in the study and application of You and Your Word as workmen who need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15) in Jesus Name Amen

Identity, Authority, Power (III) Power

Jesus told us that the agenda of the enemy is to kill steal and destroy (John 10:10a). But the verse we used last day Luke 10:19 not only tells us that the Lord has given us authority, but it specifically tells us that our authority is over all the power of the enemy. Peter tells us that he is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). The interesting thing about the lion’s roar, is that its primary purpose is the frighten its pray into running, and so to reveal itself. But because of what we have been given (authority over all his power) we can in effect render him as a toothless lion! The problem, as with much of the Christian life, is in appropriating and tapping into our authority and the power.

The last part of the verse we keep quoting about the healing that comes as we confess our faults one to another is “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b NIV). The Greek lexicon Theyer says of the word translated ‘power’ here, that it means “to have a power evinced in extraordinary deeds.” Some Christians would disqualify themselves here saying in effect “Well that counts me out, because I am far from righteous.” Indeed all our self righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). But this is where our identity comes in. God calls us saints, which literally means “holy ones.” The point is that our standing before the bar of God is as just ones - those who have been justified (Romans 5:1). Paul tells us that he had cast aside his own righteousness in order that he might be “found in Him, not having my own righteousness ... but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:7-9).

What I am saying is that when we know who we are in Christ, and we know the authority we have been given we can take the last part of James 5:16 and make he following declaration:- “My righteousness is in Christ, therefore my prayers are not only powerful, they are effective.” And we need to practice this, we need to say it until we believe it and then we need to say it because we believe it.” More to come!

Father in Heaven, we lift up and hallow and praise Your Holy name this morning. Help us Lord to fully know, experience and intuit deep within our spirits who we are in You, so that we may more and more fully operate in the authority and the power of Your Spirit as we declare Kingdom of God come, will of God be done on earth in the practical and tangible situations in which we find ourselves in Jesus Name Amen

Identity, Authority, Power (II) Authority

In Luke 10:19 we read “Behold, I give you the authority …” Jesus was speaking to the seventy He had sent out to heal the sick (verses 9). Elsewhere He had commanded the twelve to “cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons” (Matthew 10:5,8). Some would say that that was then, and that it was for them, not for us today. This teaching has a name, it is called cessasioncaism. But this is not what the Scripture teaches. In Matthew 28, as His parting instructions, Jesus gives the eleven His authority, and commands them go, and to make disciples teaching them to obey “all that I have commanded you” (verses 18-20). The word “disciple” literally means learner, so Jesus is telling the eleven to go and make learners, and to teach them to teach others to teach others (and hence us) to obey all that He commanded the eleven.

Of course the things He commanded the eleven includes the things mentioned above in Luke 10:9 and Matthew 10:8. In fact there are many more things that He commanded including the things in Luke 10:19 which we will be looking at next time. What I want to stress this morning though, is that the believer has been given authority, and if you are a believer, that means that you have been given authority. You may not have learned yet how to appropriate it, but is is available, it has been given (see also 2 Peter 1:3). The main problem is believing it, and this is especially difficult if we have not seen evidence of it. In many ways we come by this honestly. I mean even the early disciples, after seeing many miracles frustrated Jesus by their slowness to believe (Matthew 17:17). In this same verse He speaks there of it being a “unbelieving and perverse generation.” Welcome to the twenty first century!

I have to confess to being slow to believe myself, and this after seeing miracle after miracle. But as with the disciples when we take the above admonition from Jesus to heart, it eventually starts to stick. I have had significant healings in my own body. Not that long ago I had great difficulty going down steps. Now, after a girl in the fellowship prayed for me, I can run up and down stairs. Not bad for a 75 year old! Just this morning I received news of the safe arrival of a baby which at one stage looked like it was going to be lost. My prayer partner and I took aughority over the situation and declared “life and not death.” Praise the Lord! I have to admit though there have been many times when I have prayed “I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). And of course “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Father, it is a battle to believe, and no wonder, we are in a war to the death with the enemy of our souls, and instilling doubt and unbelief is a major tactic his. There are certainly still times Lord, when I still need to pray "I believe help my unbelief.” Help us all this morning Lord, and every morning to press in, to take authority and to not be content with anything less than all You purchased on Calvary. In Jesus Name Amen

Identity, Authority, Power (I) What is your true identity?

It is interesting to me that we ask children “What do you want to be when you grow up” rather than “What do you want to do when you grow up?” We are not what we do, we are human being, not human doings. For the first twenty or so years of my Christian life I saw myself as “Phil Heath super Christain.” I now see this as Christain workaholism with my trying desperately to find my self worth from what I did for the Lord. Unfortunately this cannot happen without, at least at some level, neglect of family responsibilities. But there are so many ways to get our identity and our sense of self worth, wrong. I am not my circumstances, I am not my mistakes, I am not my failures. I am not my addictions, I am not what I needed to do to survive!

Last night I attended the first session of a program called “Hope mental health.” It is a faith based ministry dealing with guess what, mental health. This very first session is entitled “Your true identity.” And it’s right on the money, knowing our identity is foundational, because no matter how well or how ill we are, we operate out of who we think we are. If I think I am a looser, I will act like a looser. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy! I am not talking here about the power of positive thinking, although there is some truth in it. The danger there, is operating out of overconfidence, believing we are something we are not. Believing a lie and/or building our lives on one, is always at some level dysfunctional.

We are neither our success, nor our success. Perhaps the world values us for our success, for what we do, but we are not valued by God for what we do, we are valued by God solely because we are His beloved children (1 John 3:1). In a loving, functional home children are valued, but are they valued for what they can do for the parents? Clearly not! The problem is that we live in a fallen world, and the world far too often beats up on us, or only values us for what it can get our of us. And for far too many of us, we are our own worst enemy beating up on ourselves. Actually we need to make war on the lies we have believed, and on the negative self talk and putdowns. You and I are God’s beloved children, this is our true identity, and we need to start believing it.

Father, the song by Godfrey Birtill comes to mind this morning “Do you believe what I believe about you?” It is Your love song to us Father, and as the song says, You think we are amazing. Help us Lord to believe what You believe about us, and at least to start to care more about what You think about us, than what the World thinks about us. You believe in us Lord, even if nobody else does. So Father help us to believe in ourselves, so that we may operate out of our true identity in Jesus Name Amen

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You

I woke up this morning full of anxiety and doubt. The Lord is calling me to do something in these days which, to say the least, is stretching me. But it is exactly in these times that we grow (or not). The Lord has brought this morning’s verse from Isaiah 26:3 to my attention several times in the last few days (bless His Holy Name). He is always there when I need Him, and of course when He brings a verse like this to my attention, He is showing me what to do. The root of the Hebrew verb translated here as “stayed” means to lean on, rest in, be supported and upheld by. The last stanza of the verse reads “Because he trusts in You.” And at this point in the game for me, trusting, resting and leaning on Him is very much a moment by moment choice. My history with Him helps, He has never failed me yet. Not saying He always did what I wanted, but I know He always has my best interest at heart (see the ‘we know” part of Romans 8:28).

Knowing His Word is also invaluable, especially those parts I have learned by heart. Hiding His Word in my heart keeps me from sin and unbelief, and sheds light unto my way. And I was brought again to the conditions of the promise in Philippians 4:4-7 (that His peace will guard my heart and mind). So I am choosing to rejoice in the Lord, and I am replacing my anxiety with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. I am listening to worship music even as I blog and meditating on doing what He is showing me to do. I am choosing to take one moment at a time, and every time I start to feel anxiety rise, I am refocusing and “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of my faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

And now I am starting to mediated on the promised “perfect peace." The Hebrew word is Shalom, it means peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility. And this peace is not something I can drum up, it is something that is given as we take His yoke upon us and learn of Him. It is God giving us His peace, and it passes all understanding. And it passes all understanding because it is God’s peace not mine, and it is given not as the World gives (often taking it back), and it is independent of the circumstances or trials I may be going through (John 14:27; Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 4:7).

Father, I do not know how I would deal with life without You, or Your Word, or Your presence and Your peace. I don’t know how those who do not know you survive Lord. But I also suspect that what they do is mere survive, rather than prosper in the place where it matters most, in our hearts. Thank You Lord for all that You do for me day by day. There are so many Lord that I know and love who are so, so stuck in mere survival. Thank You Lord that Your Word brings faith and dispels doubt. And thank You for all those praying for me this morning. It is my prayer Lord that my and their lives, peace and words will lead many to see and fear and put their trust in You in Jesus Name Amen

"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord

I was talking last day about dealing with the irritations of life, interactions that come out of the “games” we have learned to play from our families of origin. I also hinted at difficulties I had had with obsessive thinking. You know what I am talking about, thoughts that go round and round, “stinking thinking” that is part and parcel of depression. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying all depression is about this. Rather I am saying that whether this is part of cause and effect or not, it is nevertheless a strong component of depression. But in any case, in the issue I am raising this morning is a big part of what needs to happen to be free of such thinking. In the context of this quote from Romans 12:19 we are told not to repay evil with evil (verse 17). When the damage is severe, I don’t know how anyone can obey this admonition with out a strong relationship with the Lord. I say this because the default of fallen man is to do exactly that.

It's not too bad if you are only dealing with the sort of irritation I was talking about yesterday. I am not saying that that is necessarily easy, especially if you are exposed to it day in day out. But when we have been let down badly, betrayed, abused, dismissed, rejected and marginalized over and over, it is taken to a whole new level. I recall the saying that “in order to heal, the victim has to be the better person.” If we do not find (with His help), the inner resources to “make room for God to do the revenge” (verse 19), then feuds can result. Without saying who is right or wrong, look at what has happened to the descendants of the two sons of Abraham. I am not just talking about the Israel Palestinian conflict, it is far far wider.

I am not a pacifist, but I can see how this passage can be interpreted as an admonition to be one. In particular, verse 18 says “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live at peace with all men.” Clearly is it not always possible. It takes two to be at peace. Biblical peace is not just the absence of hostility, it is fullness of reconciliation, and it may need to be a process. It works best when we are doing it with the verse I keep bringing back to us again and again “Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another that you may be healed” (James 5:16). There are times however when “one who is overtaken in a fault” needs to be restored “in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). Since it “you who are spiritual” who are admonished to do this, you and I may need to wait until we have dealt with your anger, bitterness, blame and any trace of judgement.

Lord, since You are actively working in everything that happens for good for Your followers (Romans 8:28), then we need to temper each and every one of our responses from the perspective of heaven. Thank You Father for those You allow in our lives to to train us in these things. Help us Lord to know Lord when we have dealt with things sufficiently in our lives to approach those with whom we are still not living at peace. And help us Lord to know when we have truly done all in terms of “as much as it depends” on us. In Jesus Name Amen

Pray for your enemies

In connection with this command from Matthew 5:44), I was thinking this morning about a time not that long ago when I had been seeking to see if a brother and I were cool after a mix up. In the exchange, not only was I being blamed for something he had missed, but he was taking advantage of my vulnerability to try and control me into doing something for which I had already told him I was not available. There are two things that help me in this kind of scenario. The first is to remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). In other words the person in front of me is not the enemy. The enemy is unseen, but is using the person’s hurts, habits and hangups to get to me, and to distract me from my mission to live for Jesus. If I heard God correctly He was telling me this was learned behaviour. It’s called control.

In thinking about it afterwards, I was feeling that I had received what I consider to be a word of knowledge. It was that as a child when he would come to his difficult to please mother to apologize, she would use his vulnerability to manipulate him into doing something he had resisted doing. I consider it likely that she in turn received the same from her parents (Exodus 20:5 NKJV). It seems to me obvious that much of our behaviour, the way we respond to life, is learned from our parents, the good, the bad and the ugly. I think that this is what it means to say that the Lord “visits the sins of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation” (Exodus 20:5 NKJV). Some translations have "punish" rather than "visit." But Ezekiel 18:20 explicitly says that God does not punish the children for the father's sins, so the above is a valid alternative translation of the Hebrew, and is preferred.

The second thing that helps me, is to understand, as modern brain research has revealed, that our thoughts are always tied to our emotions. Not only this, but repeating a thought amplifies the emotions (as in they get stronger). This is why we need to learn to take every thought captive unto the obedience of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). And one of the primary and I suspect long neglected things we need to bring to obedience, is to pray for our enemies (and for those that frustrate us). When we do this sincerely, and we might have to ask the Lord to help us in this, then we are coming against it in the opposite spirit. And when we practices doing this, our positive thoughts will (eventually) produce positive, emotions. I found journaling helpful in getting things out of my head. At one stage in my journey I was journaling sixty plus typed pages a month. That was before I discovered it works best if we are “pouring out our complaints to the Lord” (Psalm 142:2), rather than writing letters we in all likelihood we should not send!

Father, we need (I need) help in bringing every thought captive unto obedience. Thank You Lord that the weapons of our warfare are mighty for pulling down the strongholds that our negative thinking and obsessing thinking produced (2 Corinthians 10:4). You have told us to love our enemies, and we choose to receive grace to do this, this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen

Jesus came to heal your broken heart, and to set you free

Either we have believed cunningly devised fables (2 Peter 1:16), or there is so very much more that we have yet to experience! And yes I am talking about the here and now. Why else would the Lord tell us to pray “Kingdom of God come on earth as it is in Heaven?” In relation to this, Peter could speak about “Joy unspeakable and full of glory” in the here and now (1 Peter 1:8). In my observation however, that most of us (even in the Church) seem to have settled for quiet, or perhaps not so quiet desperation. Wherever you or I are at in our journey, it is settling for it, that is the problem. And in one of the may paradoxes of the Kingdom, is we are to contend for heaven on earth from a position of rest (Hebrews 4:11). Since “the kingdom is within you” (Luke 17:21) what we are praying for might not look like what we expect. And certainly we should not let the Word define freedom for us. I mean I know of people in prison who are free!

This morning’s title is a short summery of what Jesus told us was His mission (Luke 4:18). The expanded version comes in Isaiah 61:1ff, from which Jesus is quoting. Valid New Testament application of the eternal truths and promises in the Old Testament tend to be spiritual, rather than physical. In particular when we read the promise, concerning the devastation in Jerusalem “And they shall rebuild the old ruins ….. the desolations of many generations” (verse 4a 4d), we can claim this promise as applying to the current breakdown of the structures of marriage and the family, and of governmental justice and righteousness. Now “Kingdom come on earth” needs to start with the individual, with you and me, then with the church. It is intended to extend to the spiritual transformation of our cities, provinces (Canada) and ultimately the nation. We are seeing first fruits of all of this, even as I write this morning.

But if, as I say, it needs to start with the individual, what does rebuilding our our individual foundations look like? Drawing on the analogy of the physical, the very first job is to deal with the rubble (Isaiah 61:4). As I said earlier, the Lord is raising up many resources to help here. One such resource, through which I personally have received substantial healing from a broken heart, is called “Restoring the foundations” (Google it). It is an integrated approach to inner healing dealing with the sins of the fathers and resulting curses (Exodus 20:5), ungodly beliefs (lies we have believed John 8:44), soul/spirit hurts (broken hearts) and demonic oppression (Acts 10:38). There is a great deal to say.

Father, I come against the lie that many of us have believed, even if we have not verbalized it, that what we have now is all there is, and we just have to suck it up. Father, many of us are afraid to deal with the baggage, and likely for good reason, it is hard and it is painful. But again Lord, as I keep saying, You are seeking us through the pain and wanting to bring us into joy unspeakable. It is no coincidence Lord that Peter in the context of this phrase is talking about out being testing of our faith by fire (verse 7). Help us this morning Lord not to be content with anything less than all You have for us in Jesus Name Amen

Bear one another’s burden, each should bear his own load

These two admonitions, that come together in close proximity in Galatians 6:2,5, may at first seem to be either contradictory or confusing. I mean what is a burden, and what is a load? The first admonition (in verse 2) comes immediately after the command for the spiritually mature to gently come alongside those who are overtaken in a fault. The fault in question may have come as a wrong response to a burden that was just too heavy for that person to bear. If someone has stolen to feed their family, it is no good to simply tell them not to do it again (see James 2:14-16). We can be crushed by many things in life, and we were never intended to be alone (Genesis 2:18). The first admonition is to help bear the burdens of those being crushed by them.

The second is about taking appropriate responsibility. It would be inappropriate to expect the child to run before it could walk. On the other extreme (in most case) it would be inappropriate to be still tying the child’s shoelaces for him, when he was ten. The principle seems to be that, within reason, we should not do for others what they can do for themselves. And what that is, is likely a function of maturity. And maturity can have very little to do with age. The Scripture tells us that comparing ourselves with ourselves we are unwise (2 Corinthians 10:12), we may also be lacking compassion. Expecting someone who was abused as a child to be as mature as one who grew up in a stable loving home is comparing apples to oranges.

And what I want to say this morning, is that unless we are engaged in that aspect of sanctification that deals with our issues, then the above types of inappropriate comparisons are inevitable. But what are we to do with sixty year olds whose maturity was stunted because they medicated their pain year, after year, after year. In the words of a famous Bishop who seeing the drunk in the gutter was reported to say “There, but for the grace of God go I.” But it is not just about understanding, it is about this morning’s topic, and it's messy. And we need incredible wisdom to know what is burden and what is load (James 1:5). And we also need a lot of grace, and we likely need to learn good boundaries. Thankfully the Lord is raising up, and has raised up, many resources in these areas.

Father, it is messy. If we are finally coming out of denial about our addiction, we may still be in denial about the habits we formed trying to get our fix. We may be resentful that we are no longer able to manipulate others to take our share of our load. So Lord I am asking You to continue to help us this morning. Help us Lord to come out of the different aspects of our denial, to bear one another’s burdens (and so fulfill the law of Christ), and to recognize and carry our own loads. Yes it is messy, but it is Kingdom work in Jesus Name Amen

A smoking wick he will not quench

There have been times in my life when I felt I could take on the world. But there have also been times when a more apt description was “the good or want to do I don’t do, and the evil I don’t want to do that’s the very thing I do in” (Romans 7:19). In this morning’s partial quote from Isaiah 43:3, the Lord is really assuring us (me), that we are still His even our weakest moments. When it’s doing its job, the wick would be in full flame. When the flame is quenched, there is no light. And there are times when, in the battle against good and evil, the enemy seems to be winning, and our light feels like nothing more than a smoking wick, but a smoking wick can still be fanned into flame!

He does not give up on us, for “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he has established justice in the earth” (verse 4). The line from an ancient hymn comes to mind “and though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.” In fact the Scripture tells us that there is coming a day when God will ride in on a white horse to bring justice and make war on all His enemies (Revelation 19:11). But in the meantime, He calls us into significance through partnership to with Him in bringing the Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.

In the process of a little child learning to walk, the muscles in the legs first need to be strengthened, and this is accomplished bit by bit, by the child first of all pulling himself up on a piece of furniture, and still holding on, simply stand. The role of the parent is to encourage the child. Then as the child lets go of the furniture, wobbles and falls down, the parent encourages the child to try again. Eventually the first step is attempted, the child will fall, and again the parental role is to encourage, to applaud, to tell the child good job! And this is what the Lord does with us too in our stumbling progress. When we fall He tells us He will never leave us, nor forsake us. And He encourages us in and through His Word, by his Holy Spirit and the fellowship of the saints. And bit by bit as we cooperate with Him, He strengthens and equips us until we are strong in Him, and can do great exploits (Daniel 11:32).

Father, looking back on at least some of those times I felt I could take on the World and then shortly afterwards falling unceremoniously on my rear end, I quickly realized I was operating in my own strength. It is through our weakness Lord that we see our need of You. And then when we learn to operate in Your strength, we can say with Paul “When I am weak then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Thank You Lord that through Your Grace, Your strength is made perfect in us through weakness (verse 9). In Jesus Name Amen

Unless the Lord ….. (IV) Children, spiritual and natural

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3), “Sing, O barren ….. for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married says the Lord” (Isaiah 54:1). The assumption in both of these verses, is that the Lord is very much involved in the lives of the (spiritual and natural) parents. And it matters not whether you came to Lord early in parenthood, or late. In particular, the promise of fruitfulness is to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28,29). Now whether for good or evil, the spiritual “DNA” of the parents is visited (as in deeply influences) the DNA of the Children.

We will need to revisit this spiritual principle from Exodus 20:5,6), but for this morning I want to say that the “Unless the Lord” of Psalm 127:1 makes all the difference. In particular when at any stage, we turn to the Lord in repentance to love and obey Him, then we are in essence standing in the gap for our (spiritual and natural) children (Exodus 20:5,6 again). And the difference is that in this scenario we can claim the promise that “He will restore the years that the locus have eaten” (Joel 2:25). There were four different kinds of locusts bringing ever increasing devastation. About this, we read in Joel 1:4 that “What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.” But God …, “unless the Lord ….”

Though none of us is perfect (James 3:2), nevertheless most parents do the very, very best we can with “the hand” we were dealt. When we see our children ill for example, most of us would gladly take their place if it were possible. In addition, we do our best to raise up our children in the way we think they should go. And again when we turn to the Lord, be it early or late, we can claim “when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Many times, in the meantime we see the very opposite. But it strikes me again this morning, that whether our current influence be great or small, the promise still stands of His steadfast love to them, and to the generations that follow (Exodus 20:6). And it also strikes me this morning, that it was knowing how we feel about our children, knowing it would motive us to make the necessary changes that the Lord initiated this reality.

Father, it seems to be very common, that we either take too much responsibility or too little. Some of us need to speak more, and some of us need to speak less. Also Lord for those of us who have the gift of the gab the latter scenario is hard, so please help us. But in any case Father, I pray again the prayer I have often prayed that I may speak every word that You want me to speak, neither one word more, nor one word less. And when we do speak Lord, let it be full of grace and seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6) in Jesus Name Amen

Unless the Lord …… (III) Security and provision

The Lord brought me back this morning, to a memory of being in the States years ago, and loosing my passport the day before I was due to fly out to Australia. In the rushed process of trying to obtain a new passport and necessary visa, I was to say the least, somewhat stressed. But when I had done all that I could do, I was able to relax and to absorb what my friend was telling me about a new publication he had been reading while making my rounds. My calm immediately after the stress surprised him. But my philosophy of life at the time, which at some level was working, was that you do what you can in situations like that, and then you leave it to the Lord. What I had yet to learn was not to stress while doing everything reasonable that can be done. It all worked out by the way, my passport had been found on the bus and turned in.

In this third post on Psalm 127 we are looking first at “Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (verse 1b). The Psalmist is not suggesting that the watchman should not be posted, but rather that when we do our part the Lord will do His. The next part is brought out well in the Message translation “It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone” (verse 2a), fretting about never having enough. The same principle applies. He is not suggesting we don’t do our fair share of work. Rather, as Jesus put it “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met” (Matthew 6:33 Message).

When I am starting to feel anxious as, for some inexplicable reason, I am this morning, I start by acknowledging my anxiety, and talking to the Lord about it. I think that is why He reminded me of the above incident. The festivals of Israel served much the same purpose in that they were reminders of His faithfulness. He is also reminding me how foolish, destructive and unnecessary is our (my) fretting (Psalm 37:8). But also that I have a choice to dwell on my thoughts and anxieties, or to replace fretting with joy, praise, and with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. We may need to practice, practice, practice this, but He has promised will give us peace and rest and sleep (Philippians 4:4-8; Psalm 127:3). And I suspect that He allows these things, because if we do things His way, they will draw us deeper into His embrace.

Father, I am needing to cling to you this morning, but with Your help I will fear neither irrational night terrors nor the noisome pestilence etc., etc. Thank You Lord that You have promised that when we choose to dwell in the secret place and to make You our refuge, then no plague will come near our dwelling (Psalm 91). Thank You Lord that You give Your beloved sleep and rest, and I receive this now, in Jesus Name Amen

Unless the Lord build ……(II) The Church

In an overheard conversation one man remarked that he thought we should bring the church into the 20th Century. The reply came “Don’t you mean the 21st Century?” Quickly recovering the reply came back (a little unkindly) “One century at a time!” It is easy to criticize the church, especially that part to which I don’t belong. And yes the invisible church (consisting of all true believers) and the visible institution are not the same thing, but Jesus loves the World (and so the visible church) and I need to love it too! And when a particular church or denomination is moving away from Biblical truth, I have learned not to judge those who feel called to stay seeking to reform it, nor those who simply need to leave. “It is before his own master that he stands or falls” (Romans 14:4).

Having said this, it is clear to me (discerning without condemnation) that much of what the visible Church has built, has been built in vain (Psalm 127:1). As with interpersonal relationships, it is so much easier to see the faults in others rather than in ourselves. Thinking “I am right and everybody else is wrong,” has a long history. The Pharisees certainly thought this way, and the danger of this morphing into an obnoxious attitude of superior orthodoxy, is great. But what are we supposed to do when we see errors? The tendency has been to immediately form a new Church or denomination, and I am not saying that this is necessarily wrong. What I am saying is that unless the Lord is in it, all that will happen, is that we become one more reason for the world to shake it’s head and say “These guys talk about truth, but they cannot even agree among themselves what it it is!”

It would be very easy for me to think the Church is all about the inner healing ministry which is a passion of mine, and to form a new church around it. What could easily happen then, is that the truths behind this point of view become isolated from the very people who need it the most. Someone has wisely said that rather than asking the Lord to bless what we are doing (or want to do), we should ask what the Lord is blessing. And when we discern what He is blessing, He may in fact call us to build centres of excellence “wineskins,” structures, around what He is doing with a particular lost eternal truth. I see several areas He is blessing that have been lost to the church through atrophy or abuse. I am thinking of the houses of prayer movement, of prophetic cultures, of centres of the miraculous etc., etc. And perhaps our discipleship programs should incorporate some, all, or more of these elements.

Father, thank You for reminding me this morning of the verse “if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:2). When I stray from this, please bring me back to the understanding that I am but a little boy paddling in the vast and infinite ocean of Your eternal truths. And Lord remind me and all these reading these posts to periodically ask You to search our hearts to see if there be any wicked way within us. Thank You Lord that You have promised, in spite of it all, that You will build Your church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. For this and many other things we praise and bless You Lord, in Jesus Name Amen