Contending for the faith (Part 3): Promises and prophecies

God had promised Abram a son (Genesis 12:7), but it had been over 10 years. So Abram and Sarai decided to try and make it happen with plan B (Genesis 16). The results were disastrous! In fact, the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael, Abram’s two sons are still fighting today. God still makes promises, in fact there are many exceedingly great and precious promises in the Word (2 Peter 1:4). And whether they be in the Word or individual promises, we like Abram can mess things up either by trying to make then happen, or by simply giving up.

There is a tendency to think that if God has made a promise or prophecy, then is going to happen independently of what we do, or do not do. But as with Abraham, our actions or lack thereof, can mess up things up. We will not thwart God’s ultimate purposes, but we can lose out on God’s first choice and best for us (but see Jeremiah 18:1ff). So I have come to regard prophecies and promises, as what God will do, when we fully cooperate with Him. In particular we need contend for them. So for example if we feel that God is calling us to be a pastor, then we should start to do the necessary preparation for such an office.

For Abram and Sarai, the main job in contending for the faith, was to continue to believe through the fire and testing of a long delay. I can identify! I have been waiting a long time for a promised reconciliation. sometime ago I was complaining to friend about how long it was taking. She told me “The trouble with God, is that He has no sense of time!” I have been tempted with plan B a number of times, but God has always done something to help me to wait. One time, it was hearing Patricia King say “I would rather get to heaven and ask God why His promise had not happened, than to get there and for Him to ask me why I had given up.” Never give up, never (Galatians 6:9)!

Father, waiting is certainly a fire, a refining fire. I mean did I hear correctly, or was it simply wishful thinking? Sometimes is it a battle to continue to believe! Thank You that when I came to You with these questions, You gave me confirmation after confirmation. Thank You for prompting me to write down all the different verses You have used to do this, and thank You for sending me back to some of them again this morning to remind me to continue to press in. Thank You that You are not a man You should lie, and that I can trust that You will do what You say You will do. Thank You for Your grace as I continue to wait in home in Jesus Name Amen

Contending for the faith (Part 2)

If God is sovereign (and He is), then why are we instructed to pray “Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10)? Part of this is encapsulated in the saying “Without God man cannot, without man God will not!” So for example “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). On the other hand, Philippians 2:12, 13 makes it very clear that we have a strong part to play before God will change our desires and give us the wherewithal to do what He calls us to do. The above saying is not completely true however, since God can certainly do what he likes! But as the prayer makes clear, God is inviting, even commanding, our partnership with Him in contending for the Kingdom.

And God has been drawing my attention to the need to pray this prayer. I am thinking about the epidemic of drug use and pornography both inside and outside the church. I am thinking about the inroads ungodly philosophies are making into our culture. I am thinking about the need for the Lord to bring our land back to its Judeo-Christian roots. I am thinking about the need for us, the people of God, to do our part in the premise of the promise that God will heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

First and foremost we in the Church need to wake up, we need to humble ourselves and pray. Ancient Israel is our example, as over and over when they got into deep trouble, they cried out to the Lord, He heard them in their distress (Psalm 107:6, 13, 19 etc.). We need to humble ourselves, climb down from the high horse of thinking that we, and we only, have it right! We need to turn from our wicked ways as so much of the world has infiltrated the church, we need rend our hearts (Joel 2:13), we need to repent of our lac of love for those who are different. We need to call a solemn assembly and weep and travail before the Lord (Joel 2:15). We need to answer a resounding "Yes as for me and my house," to His question of will He find faith on the earth when He comes (Luke 18:8).

Father, I want to thank You for stirring my heart this morning, I am however, feeling very small as I hear what You are saying to me and to those reading these posts. And once again I have much sympathy for those who fear that if they commit to You, they will not be able to live up to that commitment. Lord this morning, and every morning, I come to You and I say here I am, use me. But Lord I desperately need Your help to do my part faithfully and consistently. Thank You for Your mercy and grace when (not if) I fail. Thank You for Your love, and the assurance that I am accepted in the beloved in spite of my weaknesses (Ephesians 1:6). Father, let Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven in Jesus Name Amen

Contending for the faith (Jude 3, Part 1)

There are many battles in the Christian life, and these battles will not be won, if we are passive in our resistance. There are three things that I am contending for that I want to talk about this morning. The first is the battle to refuse to be discouraged. I have often described the prison ministry as exciting and frustrating. It’s exciting because I love the opportunity to share the Words of life. It’s frustrating, because while over and over I see them in responding positively, far too often when they get out, they go back to their “friends.” And before you know it they are back inside. But as I come to Him morning by morning, He encourages me not to be weary in well doing, because He promises that I will reap in due time, if I do not faint (Galatians 6:9).

The second battle I am facing in these days, is the battle of offence. At this point in time, it’s not so much that I am offended by what is happening to me, but rather I am being tempted to take up the offensive of what is happening to others I love. But if I take up their offence, then I am of no use to them, or myself, or anyone else! And I am learning to turn the grief I feel at these things, into prayer.

The third battle, has to do with contending for joy. In the midst of trials, temptations and difficulties, it’s far too easy to lose my joy. And one of the things that I need to be reminded of over and over, is to count it all joy in the midst of multifaceted trials and temptations (James 1:2), and to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). I can’t do this without Him, and I can’t do this unless I come to Him morning by morning to receive anew His encouragement, to turn over any potential offence to Him, and to embrace His joy in the midst of it all.

I want to thank You again this morning Lord, for Your partnership in the gospel. The trials, problems and difficulties are huge, but You my God are greater, You are stronger, and You will prevail. So all I need to do this morning is to stay close to You, and to believe that You will do it. Thank you Lord for the fresh bread that I received from You morning by morning. Thank You, thank You, thank You, in Jesus Name Amen

The thief comes to kill steel and to destroy

Being a man, I have less skill at understanding my feelings than do most of the female of the species. But when I’m confused, I can ask the Lord who is ready willing and able to explain. And in asking myself and Him this morning what it is about others not dealing with the issues that causes me to feel the way I feel (see last day), I am sensing that at least part of this is grief. In particular, I grieve for those who are stuck in their pain, when if they were willing they could, with His help, push through to Joy (Hebrews 12:2). And I grieve over the pain of the dysfunction that surrounds the lives of those who do not deal with their issues.

The pain and the dysfunction are huge, and it is all part of what this morning’s quote (John 10:10a) is talking about. There are so many different ways that the thief, the Evil one, robs us of the abundant life (John 10:10b). And not dealing with our issues is one of them. But I have also been there deep enough, and long enough to know that sometimes the pain is so great, that even though we know that medicating it will in the long run prolong the pain, nevertheless the desire for the momentary relief can be just too enticing! Addictions of course are not the only issues we are talking about here. I am thinking of victim hood, co-dependency etc.

Redemption is a free gift, sanctification, getting free will cost you everything you are and have. But what is the alternative? At the very least, the alternative prolongs the pain. It’s a little bit like refusing to go to the dentist because you have a toothache! Sure it could be painful, very painful, but the pain of the cure does not last forever, and the relief is well worth it. It’s the same when it comes to dealing or not dealing with the issues. And I am learning, when I am in emotional or spiritual pain, that I need to turn to the Lord for help. Sometimes that help is simply His comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), but sometimes He is allowing the pain in order to bring my attention to something that He wants me to deal with.

Father, You are a good, good Father. And you always, always have our best interests at heart. And I am learning to trust that when You put your finger on something You want me to deal with, that You want to turn it to my good (Romans 8:28). And this is true this morning Lord even of the grief I am feeling at this time. And part of it is that you are making me more like Jesus. Another part is that it is drawing me closer to You the God of all comfort. So I thank and worship You this morning Lord, and once again I give You all the honour, all the glory and all the praise in Jesus Name Amen

What is your pet peeve?

In a recent round of introductions we were asked, as an icebreaker, to say what was our pet peeve. When it came to me, I explained my pet peeve was that people do not seem to be willing to deal with their issues. I am talking about the baggage that life has handed us, and to which we ourselves have contributed. I realize this could sound self righteous, but there’s no self-righteousness in me here, at least I hope not! The fact of the matter is that for the first twenty plus years of my Christian life, I didn’t even know that I hand baggage, let alone that I needed to deal with it. But then the Lord opened my eyes to the way that issues I did not even know I had, were negatively affecting my then present and future.

So then the reason this is my pet peeve is because I’m starting to see others through God’s eyes, starting to see the enormous potential that is not realized because of life issues not dealt with. And part of my problem, and it is my problem, is my impatience. And it’s really quite silly, because the picture that I believe the Lord is giving me of this, is of an impatient farmer. He goes out and he sows the seed, and then becomes exasperated because the crop is not ready the very next day. And I realize again, that I am the only one I can change, and once again I resign my self appointed role as keeper of the universe!

But I am also learning again this morning in the process of writing this blog, that I need to be patient not only with others, but also with myself. In particular, the fact that I am describing this as my pet peeve, is also showing me, if I have eyes to see, that the Lord is wanting me to deal with my issue of impatience. And I see once again that it is so much easier to see the faults of others (in this case others not dealing with issues) than it is to see it in myself. And once again I’m humbled by way that at the right time, He gently shows me the next step I need to take in my growth, in sanctification.

Father, I want to thank You this morning for Your patience with me, and thank You that with the growth You are provoking in me, comes healing. Indeed there is such healing in Your wings! Thank You Father for Your ongoing assurance, that You who began a good work in me, will keep right on helping me to grow until the day that we meet face-to-face. And on that day, in the twinkling of an eye, You will complete the transformation, and I will be like You Hallelujah! In Jesus Name Amen

I complained to your boss

It took me a moment or two to catch on, but then he added “About the weather.” It must be the worst June so far since, I don’t know, Adam? I mean it was snowing the other day! The boss he was talking about is of course, the Lord. But here is a man who makes no profession of believing, but he knows that I’m a Christian. He was joking of course, complaining about the weather is an occupation in Newfoundland!

As I’m sure you know, there is much hostility in our culture towards Christians and the gospel. And there is much pressure not to talk about your faith. Given what I know and believe, there are times there that really bothers me. But sometimes the best way to preach the gospel, is to live the gospel. I’m not saying I do this perfectly, but my colleagues do know whose I am. And once they know then I need to live what I believe. That's probably why I never did put Christian bumper stickers on my car!

And when they are in trouble, they know who to come to. I remember a colleague coming after he had been diagnosed with cancer. And one thing I have found, is that even if people don’t believe, they are often very open to being prayed for, even there and then. And I have found too, that the Lord often touches them when I pray this way! So this relates to what I was blogging last day about comfort, since it is His intention that we pass on the comfort we receive to others (2 Corinthians 1:4). So this too is a way to preach the gospel!

Father, it’s very clear to me that people are watching, and that can be scary too, since I’m far from perfect. But what I think is more important than being perfect, is that I’m growing, that I’m willing to admit it when I’m wrong, and to apologize when I need to. And there are certainly times Lord that I need to speak. Please give me boldness at such times and help me not to miss the opportunities that You open up. And please open up many more of them In Jesus Name Amen

A sower went out to sow

Being a fan of Winnie the Pooh, the phrase that comes immediately to mind is “That’s what tiggers do best.” I mean that’s what sowers do, they sow! And in the various word pictures the Scripture gives us of Kingdom increase, we see that the sower and the reaper are not necessarily the same person. Paul tells us for example that he had planted, Apollos had watered, but that it is God who gave the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).

In these blog posts I am asking the Lord morning by morning, to give me something that is relevant to my life. At this point in time, this blogging is an important part of my quiet time. And As I look back over the last few posts, trying to get an overview of what the Lord is saying to me, the verbs that stand out have to do with perseverance, endurance, overcoming, steadfastness, sticktoitiveness and the like. But I’m not feeling that this is simply a bunch of admonitions, I am also feeling that behind these admonitions He is cheering me on, telling me that I can do it!

These instructions are so relevant and necessary. I suppose we all get discouraged at times, and over these last few days in particular, I have been struggling with discouragement as apparently, in spite of what I have been blogging, I have been looking more at circumstances, more at the lack of, or perhaps the slowness of the fruit, rather than keeping my eyes on Him! And the Holy Spirit brought the verse to mind that I had hidden in my heart “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

Father, thank You for Your day by day encouragement. How well you know us, how well You know me! I cannot do this without You Lord. Thank You for Your involvement in my life, thank You that You know what we need even before we ask. Thank You for the relevance of Your Word, and how Your Spirit brings the exact verse that is needed at the exact time that it is needed. And I have needed it this morning Lord. In fact I’ve needed the step-by-step encouragement You have been giving me. And my prayer Lord is that others will receive the same encouragement that You are giving to me, as they read these blogs. And I give You all the honour, all the glory and all the praise in Jesus Name Amen