As a new Christian I was often perplexed over the following verses, thinking, this is quite a harsh and dramatic way in which to deal with our bodies. But as the years have progressed I have come to understand and appreciate these scriptures more and more.
Matthew 18:8-9 Reads
"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. 9"If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell."
When we look at these verses in context we suddenly realise Jesus is talking to a particular type of person, those who cause others to sin or put stumbling blocks in others paths. More aptly Jesus speaks a "woe" over those who causes "little ones" to sin. From scripture we know that Jesus was referring to children or at least those who are impressionable and unable to defend themselves when he spoke of these little ones.
This naturally brings to mind the intense responsibilities we have as leaders both within the church and the world generally to defend the weak and especially young impressionable minds. It also speaks of the consequences of those who cause others to sin.
As the church, not necessarily speaking from a denominational point of view, but rather as the body of Christ universal, the main question is how do we deal with people that place "stumbling blocks" in the paths of others?
As we consider the verses above we see Jesus using a language which I think should be familiar to those who understand the context of being the body of Christ. Jesus uses the metaphor of body parts to speak about how to deal with this kind of sin or person who causes others to sin, that is to cut them off. This kind of language automatically brings me to Paul's letter to the church in Corinth and in particular 1 Corinthians 12 where he refers to the church as one body made up of many different parts.
In the Old Testament the way to deal with those caught in certain sins, those sins consider more weighty such as adultery and the like, it was standard practice to stone those who were caught in the act. By doing so, they would stop the spread of this kind of behaviour. This is a very dramatic and brutal way of dealing with this kind of person and in the New Testament does not reflect God's new way of dealing with people but does give us the urgency of dealing with sin and the need to remove it from our lives and from within the body.
If we therefore see a person within the church as a member or part of the body, and for the sake of scripture call that person the eye or hand, then we can see how Jesus would command us to remove or cut off that person from our fellowship to ensure there behaviour does not continue to cause others to follow suit.
A similar example can be found in 1 Corinthians 5:5 where Paul commands those with immoral behaviour to be "handed over to the devil" so that they might repent an later have their souls saved. In doing so we separate ourselves from the potential influence of sin but even more importantly allow the rest of the body to live Holy and Godly lives as the Lord has commanded.
In closing I would like to bring a balance to these verses by adding another responsibility we have in restoring where possible those who have sinned to their relationship and communion both with the Lord and the body of Christ. Matthew 18:15-17 speaks of our need to yes expose the sin but for the purpose of seeing that person restored and only when the person refuses to listen, even unto the church, then he is to be treated as a "tax collector".
God Bless
Monday, 30 March 2015
Sunday, 22 March 2015
Vanuatu Help
Many of you would have hear of the recent cyclone that has devastated much of Vanuatu. The church with which I have been a pastor many years has more than 50 churches in Vanuatu and many of us were gravely concerned for there well being during the cyclone.
I am so pleased to say that no one, according to our knowledge, from the churches we are associated has been injured. This in itself is truly amazing and we naturally want to thank the Lord Jesus for protecting them. However there are a number of families around Vanuatu that are grieving for those who were killed and thousands who are without homes. It is these families that I am most concerned for today and have sent a proposal to the Foursquare Church in Australia to send aid as soon as possible.
Initially, I have proposed the establishment of soup kitchens to aid in the feeding of literally thousands of people across a number of Islands. Across our church family in Vanuatu it is hoped that we can reach those most hurting with some practical love by feeding and evening clothing those most vulnerable.
I am currently arranging for a container to be sent to Port Vila, the capital, with supplies of dry goods, clothing and roofing iron to help in the recovery. Not only is this what I call practical love but also an opportunity to reach the community and be the hands and feet of Jesus at a time they most need it.
I believe this help will be a seed of faith to those who get our help which they one day will respond by believing and following the Lord Jesus! For more information regarding this event, please feel free to contact me on rego.lolaus@yahoo.com.au
I am so pleased to say that no one, according to our knowledge, from the churches we are associated has been injured. This in itself is truly amazing and we naturally want to thank the Lord Jesus for protecting them. However there are a number of families around Vanuatu that are grieving for those who were killed and thousands who are without homes. It is these families that I am most concerned for today and have sent a proposal to the Foursquare Church in Australia to send aid as soon as possible.
Initially, I have proposed the establishment of soup kitchens to aid in the feeding of literally thousands of people across a number of Islands. Across our church family in Vanuatu it is hoped that we can reach those most hurting with some practical love by feeding and evening clothing those most vulnerable.
I am currently arranging for a container to be sent to Port Vila, the capital, with supplies of dry goods, clothing and roofing iron to help in the recovery. Not only is this what I call practical love but also an opportunity to reach the community and be the hands and feet of Jesus at a time they most need it.
I believe this help will be a seed of faith to those who get our help which they one day will respond by believing and following the Lord Jesus! For more information regarding this event, please feel free to contact me on rego.lolaus@yahoo.com.au
Psalm 133
We all know the famous verses in Psalm 133 which speaks of the blessing that comes from unity. Unity it would appear to be one of the greatest keys to seeing and releasing the blessing of God over His people and even over the earth.
In fact, from the Tower of Babel, The Lord sounds concerned by what man is able to do when they come together in unity. In this particular example The Lord was forced to separate man by language to slow down the potential that comes from working together.
In Australia at the time when the pioneers began exploring this vast land, bullocks were used to transport most goods around the land. It is a known fact that one bullock is capable of pulling approximately 400kg with ease. It would therefore be assumed that two bullock can pull twice that. Yet those in the know tell us that two bullock are able to pull approximately 1200kg which equates to a 50% increase.
Jeremiah tells us that three strands of cord is not easily broken and when we were married we had this very scripture as the basis of our vows to one another. That is not only to be bound to one another but also to the Lord, inter woven into His will and purpose for our lives. This has throughout our twenty four years of marriage been our desire and I believe been very much the case.
It would therefore appear that as we are able to open ourselves up to others, even denying our potential abilities to go it alone, that the Lord bestows upon us a blessing. But not just any kind of blessing as the scriptures go on to indicate "It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing-- life forever." This blessing covers not just the head but every part of the body and robes which speaks of the church and it's function on earth. In addition the blessing extends to the heavenly realms, Mt Zion, and into eternity.
What an incredible scripture when we realise the potential of coming together in unity. As I have mentioned prior, the word for agreement comes from the Greek word "sumphonio" which is where we get our English word symphony. This word actually means to "make the same sound, tone or to speak the same language" bringing into light the Tower of Babel. According to Matthew, when we are in agreement (or at least two of us) we can ask the Father of anything and it will be done. What an amazing promise.
Last Thursday some believers from the Blue Mountains and Penrith came together to pray for those persecuted around the world and in particular those whom IS have recently taken captive. I would encourage all believers reading this blog to agree with us that the enemies plans would come to nothing and those held in captivity would be released, not just in the natural but also in the spiritual.
Lets all stand in unity and agreement against the works of the enemy and see the Lord's hand of blessing come upon His body!
In fact, from the Tower of Babel, The Lord sounds concerned by what man is able to do when they come together in unity. In this particular example The Lord was forced to separate man by language to slow down the potential that comes from working together.
In Australia at the time when the pioneers began exploring this vast land, bullocks were used to transport most goods around the land. It is a known fact that one bullock is capable of pulling approximately 400kg with ease. It would therefore be assumed that two bullock can pull twice that. Yet those in the know tell us that two bullock are able to pull approximately 1200kg which equates to a 50% increase.
Jeremiah tells us that three strands of cord is not easily broken and when we were married we had this very scripture as the basis of our vows to one another. That is not only to be bound to one another but also to the Lord, inter woven into His will and purpose for our lives. This has throughout our twenty four years of marriage been our desire and I believe been very much the case.
It would therefore appear that as we are able to open ourselves up to others, even denying our potential abilities to go it alone, that the Lord bestows upon us a blessing. But not just any kind of blessing as the scriptures go on to indicate "It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing-- life forever." This blessing covers not just the head but every part of the body and robes which speaks of the church and it's function on earth. In addition the blessing extends to the heavenly realms, Mt Zion, and into eternity.
What an incredible scripture when we realise the potential of coming together in unity. As I have mentioned prior, the word for agreement comes from the Greek word "sumphonio" which is where we get our English word symphony. This word actually means to "make the same sound, tone or to speak the same language" bringing into light the Tower of Babel. According to Matthew, when we are in agreement (or at least two of us) we can ask the Father of anything and it will be done. What an amazing promise.
Last Thursday some believers from the Blue Mountains and Penrith came together to pray for those persecuted around the world and in particular those whom IS have recently taken captive. I would encourage all believers reading this blog to agree with us that the enemies plans would come to nothing and those held in captivity would be released, not just in the natural but also in the spiritual.
Lets all stand in unity and agreement against the works of the enemy and see the Lord's hand of blessing come upon His body!
Sunday, 15 March 2015
Prayer Gathering for Persecuted Christians
Please see below an invitation to join us in prayer this coming Thursday as we pray for those around the world being persecuted, especially by IS.
Thursday, 12 March 2015
Relational Christianity
As we study God's word, the bible, we soon realise there is one common thread that passes through every book and indeed word written. That is the desire for God, The Creator of All things in heaven and under heaven desperately wants to be in relationship with His creation.
We naturally all know the verse from John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only Son...". Without sounding too cliché it is so easy as Christian to miss the mark of what being a Christ follower is all about. Being in Relationship with the Creator.
This has to take pre-eminence over everything else we do as Christians, yet as a person who has known the Lord now for just over thirty years, it seems we in the church are exchanging relationship for program. Let me explain! Almost everywhere I visit, that is churches and church gatherings, there is a lack of God's manifest presence in the meetings. Immediately, I know many will have alarm bells ringing and say "He is just looking for the obvious miracles in the meetings". But this is not true, whilst I understand the Lord is able to speak and touch people in ways that we cannot see or demonstrate at times, I believe also that when the Lord is present and move upon people there has to be a response or reaction. Perhaps it is the response that is lacking rather than the presence? But I don't think so.
When we try to fit God into our box, that is our timeframe for worship or study or prayer etc, then we are not in relationship but in a program. And whilst we must have structure in our gatherings it is also true to say that the structure should serve the objective of giving people an expression of service unto the Lord and the Lord an opportunity to speak and transform us.
Many churches have exchanged the presence of God for a program, often a program that they have seen work successfully elsewhere or they know can produce results. Once again this model of imitating someone else's success is a result of the pastor or leader not willing to spend the time in building relationship with Holy Spirit to gain God's own vision and desires for their life. All over the world today we see church programs being copied because of their success elsewhere but where is the relationship part of "copy and paste" of this kind?
As Christian believers today, we must take the time and put the effort into our relationship with the Lord, so that He can develop and build the man and woman of God that He wants to rule and reign with Him. Let's take time for God's Spirit to transform us and mould us, let's stopping simply doing and take the time to BE His creation, His children, His heirs that He so longs us to be.
God Bless
We naturally all know the verse from John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only Son...". Without sounding too cliché it is so easy as Christian to miss the mark of what being a Christ follower is all about. Being in Relationship with the Creator.
This has to take pre-eminence over everything else we do as Christians, yet as a person who has known the Lord now for just over thirty years, it seems we in the church are exchanging relationship for program. Let me explain! Almost everywhere I visit, that is churches and church gatherings, there is a lack of God's manifest presence in the meetings. Immediately, I know many will have alarm bells ringing and say "He is just looking for the obvious miracles in the meetings". But this is not true, whilst I understand the Lord is able to speak and touch people in ways that we cannot see or demonstrate at times, I believe also that when the Lord is present and move upon people there has to be a response or reaction. Perhaps it is the response that is lacking rather than the presence? But I don't think so.
When we try to fit God into our box, that is our timeframe for worship or study or prayer etc, then we are not in relationship but in a program. And whilst we must have structure in our gatherings it is also true to say that the structure should serve the objective of giving people an expression of service unto the Lord and the Lord an opportunity to speak and transform us.
Many churches have exchanged the presence of God for a program, often a program that they have seen work successfully elsewhere or they know can produce results. Once again this model of imitating someone else's success is a result of the pastor or leader not willing to spend the time in building relationship with Holy Spirit to gain God's own vision and desires for their life. All over the world today we see church programs being copied because of their success elsewhere but where is the relationship part of "copy and paste" of this kind?
As Christian believers today, we must take the time and put the effort into our relationship with the Lord, so that He can develop and build the man and woman of God that He wants to rule and reign with Him. Let's take time for God's Spirit to transform us and mould us, let's stopping simply doing and take the time to BE His creation, His children, His heirs that He so longs us to be.
God Bless
Monday, 9 March 2015
Blood Covenants in Marriage
It has been some time now since I first heard teaching on what we call Blood Covenants. Put simply these covenants in question are based on Jewish tradition but have really been in affect from the beginning of time.
Without trying to explain the depth and importance of these covenants, can I recommend you do your own research, but I will give a simplified explanation.
Blood covenants as they imply involve the shedding of blood in confirming a covenant or agreement between two people. Traditionally the two parties involved would slaughter an animal, which is decided by the importance of the agreement, and both parties would walk through the animal which had been cut through the middle and separated to allow the parties to walk between it.
Genesis 15:9-11 give us a reference to the covenant that God made with Abram when God promised the Land now known as Israel to him. But this type of covenant, many experts say, was really first established in the garden of Eden when the Lord God slaughtered animals to provide coverings or skins for Adam & Eve.
Blood covenants are actuated when two people enter into Holy Matrimony or marriage. Whilst those who have been married and therefore had intercourse with their spouse will fully understand, most people will understand that in intercourse blood is shed and a division or separation is established by the male to his female spouse.
Whilst sexual relations between two people is not taken seriously by most standards in our day and age, the implications of those actions and covenants still remain.
Blood covenants, whether they are made between a husband or wife or any two people, have a binding effect upon both parties. This therefore brings into question the severity of immoral behaviour which is rampart in society today and even those who claim to be Christian. Over and over again in the word of God we have a resounding call to all those who proclaim to be followers of Christ that is "be holy for I am holy" (1Pet1:176). This needs to be the prayer cry of the church today, to understand that Christ has called each of us into covenant relationship with Him.
What does this mean to be in covenant relationship with Christ? It means to live as "Living sacrifice, holy and pleasing"(Rom12:1) for our bridegroom. BE HOLY!
Without trying to explain the depth and importance of these covenants, can I recommend you do your own research, but I will give a simplified explanation.
Blood covenants as they imply involve the shedding of blood in confirming a covenant or agreement between two people. Traditionally the two parties involved would slaughter an animal, which is decided by the importance of the agreement, and both parties would walk through the animal which had been cut through the middle and separated to allow the parties to walk between it.
Genesis 15:9-11 give us a reference to the covenant that God made with Abram when God promised the Land now known as Israel to him. But this type of covenant, many experts say, was really first established in the garden of Eden when the Lord God slaughtered animals to provide coverings or skins for Adam & Eve.
Blood covenants are actuated when two people enter into Holy Matrimony or marriage. Whilst those who have been married and therefore had intercourse with their spouse will fully understand, most people will understand that in intercourse blood is shed and a division or separation is established by the male to his female spouse.
Whilst sexual relations between two people is not taken seriously by most standards in our day and age, the implications of those actions and covenants still remain.
Blood covenants, whether they are made between a husband or wife or any two people, have a binding effect upon both parties. This therefore brings into question the severity of immoral behaviour which is rampart in society today and even those who claim to be Christian. Over and over again in the word of God we have a resounding call to all those who proclaim to be followers of Christ that is "be holy for I am holy" (1Pet1:176). This needs to be the prayer cry of the church today, to understand that Christ has called each of us into covenant relationship with Him.
What does this mean to be in covenant relationship with Christ? It means to live as "Living sacrifice, holy and pleasing"(Rom12:1) for our bridegroom. BE HOLY!
Saturday, 7 March 2015
3DM Workshop Coming to Sydney
Please see below, the workshop that a friend of mine is organising. I highly recommend this to all, God Bless - James
Sunday, 1 March 2015
The Wind of the Spirit
As I sat and worshipped and prayed in the Spirit yesterday at a regular prayer meeting we attend in Warrimoo, I saw a single flower which appeared to be a daisy with yellow petals and a green stem. As I watched this flower, I watched and saw how it began to sway back and forth by the wind which was blower over it.
As I continued to watch this small single flower I saw how it began to vibrate under the power of the wind. At this point I felt the Holy Spirit begin speaking to me about you and I and how we are effected by the wind of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit said to me, you are just like that little flower as the wind of my Spirit washes and blows over you. You will sway and move according to my presence over you. At this point the Holy Spirit reminded me of John 3:8 when Jesus explains to Nicodemus that "the wind blows where it wishes".
When we are being touched by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit moves us according to the power of God that is at work in us. And though we might have the ability to resist his presence and these movements, if we allow it, then the Spirit will move us as He wills.
Scientists now tells us that every living being and even that any object of matter has a vibration. I thought of this as I watch this small single flower sway and vibrate with the movement of the wind. If this is true as the scientist tell us, then the vibration we give off are simply a result of God washing over us by His Spirit.
I therefore pray that I and you may continue to vibrate and sway according to the power of God and His Holy Spirit at work in us.
God Bless
As I continued to watch this small single flower I saw how it began to vibrate under the power of the wind. At this point I felt the Holy Spirit begin speaking to me about you and I and how we are effected by the wind of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit said to me, you are just like that little flower as the wind of my Spirit washes and blows over you. You will sway and move according to my presence over you. At this point the Holy Spirit reminded me of John 3:8 when Jesus explains to Nicodemus that "the wind blows where it wishes".
When we are being touched by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit moves us according to the power of God that is at work in us. And though we might have the ability to resist his presence and these movements, if we allow it, then the Spirit will move us as He wills.
Scientists now tells us that every living being and even that any object of matter has a vibration. I thought of this as I watch this small single flower sway and vibrate with the movement of the wind. If this is true as the scientist tell us, then the vibration we give off are simply a result of God washing over us by His Spirit.
I therefore pray that I and you may continue to vibrate and sway according to the power of God and His Holy Spirit at work in us.
God Bless
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