The Book of Ruth - Our Spiritual Inheritance

Recently I read the book of Ruth and afterwards started to ponder what it was in this story that meant the most to me. Whilst everyone will have their own revelation, this is mine and therefore part of the journey I am on with the Lord.

At first glance we can see the book a little like the story of Job, who after losing everything cherished to him has everything restored in double and this famous quote "the latter part of Job's life was greater than the former". It is also true to say that Naomi lost everything or at least was willing to lose everything including the only two people that might sustain her in her latter days. Yet as we see, one of those whom she was willing to let go of became a great blessing by staying with her in her darkest hour.

As a result, the story quickly turns to Ruth and her faithfulness to Naomi in these difficult days. But both of these woman became a blessing to each other as they committed to one another. On one hand without Ruth's dedication to stay with her mother in law it would have been extremely difficult for Naomi to survive in a world were there was no "social security". And on the other hand Ruth as a foreigner would have found it exceptionally hard to be excepted and survive in this harsh climate.

But through their commitment to one another, they in turn became the blessing to each other and brought not only survival but what would appear a great ending to this story. Yet in my eyes this is only the beginning, as this book reveals a deeper truth for all to see.

The story I refer to is the story of the inheritance we have both as seen here in the natural and secondly in the spiritual. As a result of Naomi's natural inheritance, being an Israelite and having a place in which she truly belongs and where the rule of the land was to ensure the survival of widows and the names of their lost husbands. Because of this natural inheritance, Naomi knew it better for her to return to where she belonged and as a result of this longing to be with her fellow Israelites God's hand was at work.

In a similar way, when we find ourselves lost in a foreign place, irrespective of how it looks and how we came to be there, there is always the hope of our spiritual inheritance. Our home is in heaven, the ways of this world and the circumstances of it's ways and culture are all temporal and according to God's word will one day pass away like "chaff". But knowing of the inheritance we have in Christ and our heavenly destination we have the ability to call on "Abba Father" who leads us by His Spirit to our spiritual destination.

In addition, I see Naomi as a helper to Ruth, just as the Holy Spirit or paraclete is a "helper" to you and I as stated in John 14, to lead and guide us on this journey to our spiritual destination. Who is Boaz in this story, well he can only be symbolised by the "bridegroom" himself. Our Lord Jesus who not only prepares the room for us but makes the way possible becoming the very gate to this heavenly realm. Boaz made legal right to have Ruth his wife just as the Lord bought you and I with the price of His blood shed on the cross of Calvary.

As a result of His love for us, we now belong to Him and that he has and owns has becomes ours!

God Bless

Phillipians 3:13 - Press On

Sermon from January 2015 whilst speaking at Telopea Christian Centre near Sydney
Please follow the link....

http://www.telopea.org.au/media.php?pageID=45&

The Book of Judges - Weeds & Enemies

Recently I finished reading through the book of Joshua and how the Lord God gave the promised land into the hands of the Israelites. Yet as we come to the end of this amazing book and how God worked for the people, when arriving at Judges we still find the enemy scattered throughout the land and as we read on discover how Israel must continue to fight to secure their inheritance.

As we read the first few chapters of Judges, we discover that though it was the Israelites who neglected to rout out the enemy that it was fact God who allowed them to be there. And as we see in chapter two, the enemy was there as a reminder to the Israelites of what they needed to do and why they needed to do it.

Below is picture displaying Gideon & his 300 men who rout out the enemy!



Paul the apostles speaks about his "thorn in the flesh" as seen in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, yet God's response to Paul when asked to have this removed was "my grace is sufficient for you". I see in this scripture a parallel to Israel needing to continually fight to rout out the enemy. In this verse God is saying to Paul, my favour is enough for you meaning simply that despite what you are experiencing or feeling about your circumstances, what I have done for you and given you is fully enough so that you may overcome. The Lord also states that in Paul's weakness God is strong!

In the same way, the Israelites need to continually rout out their enemies caused them to remember their need to rely on God and not in their own strength or abilities. Paul's thorn in his flesh and therefore the enemies in the land of Israel reminds God's people to rely on him.

Paul's Thorn in the flesh?


A friend of my recently came by and told me of a book he had been reading about weeds and how important weeds are to the greater environment. When first hearing this I was a little shocked, as for two years after purchasing land in the Blue Mountains where we lived we had spent pulling and eradicating weeds. He explained how weeds keep the native trees and plants in check causing them to grow stronger to defeat the weeds.

See below the type of plant that I removed from our land, 10 tonne in total...considered to be a pest here in the Blue Mountains.


Weeds therefore can be seen as a blessing to the land as it keeps the native flora strong! In the same way, obstacles or hindrances can be a way in which we stay sharp in our faith and not complacent. Which I believe is what James 1:2 says Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

So our heavenly Father as scripture says "knows the beginning from the end" and even when it seems the heavens are as brass, God is at work producing the kind of faith and perseverance we need to be the overcomers he originally made us to be.

God Bless

Joshua Chapter 7&8 & The Israelites

Been reading from Joshua and how the Lord God gave him Jericho and all the cities. Time and time again we read how the Israelites were defeated when they fled or had their backs to the enemy. This is an interesting point that all should take note of.

When we read Joshua, the main reason for Israel to flee from their enemies and hence have their backs to them was due to sin or disobedience to the Lord. Due to Aichan’s sin Israel lost the battle of Ai as they had undealt with sin in their midst. As a result of their sin they were not obedient to the Lord's voice. This not only affected those with the sin but the whole camp or Israel. Metaphorically speaking, sin not only affects us but all those who are connected to us, whether it be our families at home, church or even at work.

 

Ephesians 6 speaks of the armour of God, the helmet of salvation, shield of faith, belt of truth, breast plate of righteousness and of cause the sword of the Spirit. All of these items, though truly effective and powerful in either protecting a person or attacking the enemy are only used at the front of a person. This was also a tactic used by the Roman's with their own soldiers, all soldiers were equipped for defence when moving forward but had none to the rear, as a result, their shields could be locked into place forming a wall of shields which assuming all held their positions was very successful in protecting the group as a whole. coincidently that had nothing to defend the rear. There is not defence to the rear and as we read from scripture it appears in God there is no retreat. Retreat ultimately comes when either one we have been defeated or two due to our lack of faith and trust that God is with us.

The Roman armies in formation with all their armour

It must be this feeling of lack of faith that we have when sin is in the camp causing us to have a defeated mentality. God's attitude to defeating the enemy is as the writer of Hebrews 2:14-15 says indicates is a defeated foe and “if God is for me, then who can be against me”. If therefore we know the enemy of our souls, that is the devil or Egypt still remains in our lives, then it is also expected that we will confidently advance knowing that God has already won the victory on the cross.

As Paul quotes in 1Cor 15:55 regarding Christ, “death where is your sting”, we who are in Christ can confidently proclaim the victory of whatever might come against us. this does not mean we can go on sinning either. Every believer remains confident in what God has done for him or her when he has a clear conscience and mind. As Revelation time and time again says, “they washed their robes” indicating we have a responsibility as believers to lay on the altar our flesh and sinful desires daily and as James says “confessing our sins one to another” so that we might be the “Holy” people God is looking for us to be in our walk with him.

Called to be a blessing - Jeremiah 29

This morning I had the honour to speak to the listeners of FM107 Vanuatu, Vanuatu's first privately owned radio station that extends to all the Islands of this beautiful nation. After speaking on the power and authority of the church I finished by praying the nation of Vanuatu and the people. As I prayed I proclaimed blessing upon the people and the Lord reminded me how he had instructed Israel that not only would He (God) bless them, but that they in turn would be a blessing to the nations around them.

Often today we hear a lot of talk about being blessed by the Lord, and rightly so, as we read in Jeremiah 29 the Lord loves to bless His people and as God's children and the children of our natural fathers we can expect to be blessed. But just as our heavenly Father commanded Israel to be a blessing, so too are we commanded to be a blessing and not keep it for ourselves.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:5 that no one lights a candle and then puts it under a bushel, but sets in on a candle stand where it can give light to the whole household. In the same way, when we find a treasure we want to share that with those around us. Recently I read a survey that said people who have won the lottery, around 90 percent of them after only fives years have squandered all their money and are basically back where they started financially. This sounds like bad financial handling, but the reality is, often people who win money have a desire to share it with those they love.

Jesus in John 17 said that it was our love for one another that would cause others to want to know Him. It is through the giving of ourselves and the laying down of our lives for others that I believe Christ shines the brightest in our world. I invite you today to give thanks for what the Father has done for your life but also challenge you to ask the Father how you might be used to bless those around you.

Vanuatu Update - Romans 12:2

I am presently in Vanuatu, assisting the Church here with the re-building of church buildings destroyed in the recent cyclone. Vanuatu a number of years ago was voted the happiest people in the world and it's not hard to see why as you travel around this beautiful nation. The people here, though exceptionally poor and often seen as second class citizens by the many foreigners who have bought into this island nation, are continually smiling and enjoying the simple life they have. In fact the only grumpy or unhappy people I have ever met in Vanuatu in the 6 trips I have made here are the foreigners who have invested here.

This started to get me thinking about who we are as believers and the perception we leave on people though the bible also sees us as foreigners in the world. Jesus said in John 17:16 that we are not of this world just as He was not of this world. And yet Paul encourages the Corinthian church that they are all "ambassadors" and that they and therefore you and I represent another kingdom, the Kingdom of our God.

As therefore foreigners in this world and ambassadors for Christ I wonder how much of God's Kingdom we portray in our everyday life. Though living in the world are we displaying all that His Kingdom is or are we being conformed as Romans says to the world around us.

The Ni-Vans, or natives to Vanuatu are living happy and joyful lives despite their poverty and environment, do we do the same???