I wanted to post a link for some excellent teaching I have been listening to of late, namely that of Ps Jimmy Evans and the ministry of Marriage Today. There teaching for married couples is some of the best I have heard and highly recommend them.
You can find them on marriagetoday.com
Saturday, 29 October 2016
King David - A heart after God's own heart
1Samuel 13:14 would have to be the most compelling proof that God was looking for a king that not only did his will but had a heart after God.
Yet when we examine the life of King David, that is some of the terrible things he did whilst in service as a king, it is difficult to see how his actions reflected that of a heart after God. Many people today argue a similar thing about the church. How can the church which throughout the ages has imposed such cruelty upon both members and non members alike can be a true representation of the body of Christ. And yet that is what it is and always will be!
To understand this heart of King David we need to look at King David's reaction to some of these things he did. The most obvious that springs to mind is King David's action flowing him seeing a beautiful woman, namely Bathsheba, bathing on a rooftop at a time when Kings normally go to war.
The account can be found in 2Samuel 11 and without going into detail, King David has an affair with this women who we later find is pregnant with the King's son. To cover up his sin, King David then arranges to have Bathsheba's husband returned from the very battle that the King himself should have been fighting so that he might sleep with his with and thereby have an explanation for the pregnancy. All this however goes horribly wrong as Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, refuses to sleep with his wife knowing that his comrades are on the battlefield. All of which are the attitudes and morals that King David himself should have displayed.
To add misery to his shame, King David arranges to have Uriah killed in battle. A death that really King David himself should have met with. Yet the story does not end here, as Nathan the prophet representing the voice of God or the Holy Spirit speaks to King David revealing his wickedness. It is King David's response to this which gives him the title of one with a heart after God. King David did not deny or run again from the truth, but embraced the opportunity to bring him again in right standing with God. He repents and ask God to forgive him and from this attitude writes the amazing Psalm 51.
What made King David a great King was not the many battles he fought or the lands that he acquired by them, nor was it is victory over his enemies but it was his desire in all things to please and seek first the Kingdom and will of his heavenly Father. King David was a man that was interested in making his heart and thereby his life right with God.
Scripture tells us that a man speaks what is in his heart, it is therefore fair to say that the things we speak of are a reflection of what it in our hearts. And though only God knows what is in our hearts, it is also fair to say that what we speak reveal the true integrity of our hearts. And whilst many of us, including myself, need heart transplants. That is to have our hearts renewed by God's love and the blood of Christ Jesus, it is also fair to say that we must guard our hearts from what we expose them to.
Paul in the book of Romans tells us to renew our minds, a scripture that most believers are familiar with. This renewing is not a one off solution but a daily walk ensuring that the things we think about are holy and seasoned with grace. It is the thoughts of our minds which ultimately determine the attitudes of the heart. As proverbs says "As a man thinks, so is he". If you too want a heart after God, what then are you filling your mind with?
Yet when we examine the life of King David, that is some of the terrible things he did whilst in service as a king, it is difficult to see how his actions reflected that of a heart after God. Many people today argue a similar thing about the church. How can the church which throughout the ages has imposed such cruelty upon both members and non members alike can be a true representation of the body of Christ. And yet that is what it is and always will be!
To understand this heart of King David we need to look at King David's reaction to some of these things he did. The most obvious that springs to mind is King David's action flowing him seeing a beautiful woman, namely Bathsheba, bathing on a rooftop at a time when Kings normally go to war.
The account can be found in 2Samuel 11 and without going into detail, King David has an affair with this women who we later find is pregnant with the King's son. To cover up his sin, King David then arranges to have Bathsheba's husband returned from the very battle that the King himself should have been fighting so that he might sleep with his with and thereby have an explanation for the pregnancy. All this however goes horribly wrong as Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, refuses to sleep with his wife knowing that his comrades are on the battlefield. All of which are the attitudes and morals that King David himself should have displayed.
To add misery to his shame, King David arranges to have Uriah killed in battle. A death that really King David himself should have met with. Yet the story does not end here, as Nathan the prophet representing the voice of God or the Holy Spirit speaks to King David revealing his wickedness. It is King David's response to this which gives him the title of one with a heart after God. King David did not deny or run again from the truth, but embraced the opportunity to bring him again in right standing with God. He repents and ask God to forgive him and from this attitude writes the amazing Psalm 51.
What made King David a great King was not the many battles he fought or the lands that he acquired by them, nor was it is victory over his enemies but it was his desire in all things to please and seek first the Kingdom and will of his heavenly Father. King David was a man that was interested in making his heart and thereby his life right with God.
Scripture tells us that a man speaks what is in his heart, it is therefore fair to say that the things we speak of are a reflection of what it in our hearts. And though only God knows what is in our hearts, it is also fair to say that what we speak reveal the true integrity of our hearts. And whilst many of us, including myself, need heart transplants. That is to have our hearts renewed by God's love and the blood of Christ Jesus, it is also fair to say that we must guard our hearts from what we expose them to.
Paul in the book of Romans tells us to renew our minds, a scripture that most believers are familiar with. This renewing is not a one off solution but a daily walk ensuring that the things we think about are holy and seasoned with grace. It is the thoughts of our minds which ultimately determine the attitudes of the heart. As proverbs says "As a man thinks, so is he". If you too want a heart after God, what then are you filling your mind with?
Tuesday, 18 October 2016
Giving for Justice and Equality
According to Paul the apostles writing to the Corinthian Church, their reason for laying aside a sum of money for the purpose of giving was for equality and justice. That is, out of the overflow of the Corinthian churches they would set aside money to give to those who were in need and who lacked. Equality lay at the heart of giving in the New Testament. Not to say that it was wrong to have an abundance, but where there was need amongst other believers it was an expectation that they should share what they had with others.
Another reason for giving appears to be injustice, that is those who were shown justice from others would indeed give to those who had been shown injustice. Such as when a person had something taken from them, whether it was through personal or public persecution by others, then those who had received justice would reach out to those who had been unjustly done by.
Today in our world there is much injustice. Almost everywhere we look whether it be on TV or otherwise we hear of how others are wrongly done by others. It is these people whom Paul seems should be recipients of our love and care in society. Equally there is also much poverty, not so much in our own nation with the kind of social systems we have in place but certainly it still exists.
Over and over again we find in scripture two kinds of people who it was expected in Jewish culture that should be recipients of mercy. Namely, widows and orphans who in Jewish culture had no real means of income. Once a women was widowed she had little chances of receiving an income. Most often she would remarry, beg or if possible be taken in by another family member if she had any chance of survival. Additional, orphans too if they had no benefactors would often succumb to their peril.
The question I have, in our giving through the western church, is how much of what we do really benefits those who are genuinely needy. In a nation of plenty where there is truly no lack, how do we care for those around us both us a nation and individually to our neighbours and those we interact. Is our giving today up to the biblical test or is it simply a justification of our own conscience to appease our own worldliness. What I mean is, are we truly aware of why we give and if so do we really know what happens to the gifts we give. Or do we simply give to make ourselves think we are doing good when our giving is really wasted.
Does our giving truly appease injustice and bring equality, does it truly reach the widows and orphans of todays society. Or is it a feel good operation which simply justifies our useless programs and positions of authority that we have created throughout the years. some may argue that it is better to do something rather than nothing. I am not sure of this, "obedience is better than sacrifice".
I wonder and pray?
Another reason for giving appears to be injustice, that is those who were shown justice from others would indeed give to those who had been shown injustice. Such as when a person had something taken from them, whether it was through personal or public persecution by others, then those who had received justice would reach out to those who had been unjustly done by.
Today in our world there is much injustice. Almost everywhere we look whether it be on TV or otherwise we hear of how others are wrongly done by others. It is these people whom Paul seems should be recipients of our love and care in society. Equally there is also much poverty, not so much in our own nation with the kind of social systems we have in place but certainly it still exists.
Over and over again we find in scripture two kinds of people who it was expected in Jewish culture that should be recipients of mercy. Namely, widows and orphans who in Jewish culture had no real means of income. Once a women was widowed she had little chances of receiving an income. Most often she would remarry, beg or if possible be taken in by another family member if she had any chance of survival. Additional, orphans too if they had no benefactors would often succumb to their peril.
The question I have, in our giving through the western church, is how much of what we do really benefits those who are genuinely needy. In a nation of plenty where there is truly no lack, how do we care for those around us both us a nation and individually to our neighbours and those we interact. Is our giving today up to the biblical test or is it simply a justification of our own conscience to appease our own worldliness. What I mean is, are we truly aware of why we give and if so do we really know what happens to the gifts we give. Or do we simply give to make ourselves think we are doing good when our giving is really wasted.
Does our giving truly appease injustice and bring equality, does it truly reach the widows and orphans of todays society. Or is it a feel good operation which simply justifies our useless programs and positions of authority that we have created throughout the years. some may argue that it is better to do something rather than nothing. I am not sure of this, "obedience is better than sacrifice".
I wonder and pray?
Monday, 17 October 2016
Marriage a picture of the Church
As a Christian, I have always valued the institution of marriage. Yet coming from a broken home of nine years of age when my parents divorced, I was often fearful of my childhood being outworked in my adulthood. That it, though I new marriage was a part of God's plan, never quite understood the symbolism and the power that marriage is to society as a whole and the church specifically.
Marriage is a picture of the relationship God has with His church, which He affectionately calls His bride. Revelation 19:7-9 culminates this expression of God's love for His bride in these versus. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
God's plan of salvation was never just to save us from hell, but to establish a covenant relationship of love with the redeemed of God for eternity. It is in marriage we have a picture of this relationship and one of the reasons why marriage must remain pure to its intentions. Marriage was always between a bride and a groom. that is the female which was made in the image of the male coming together to be the one flesh. This same picture we have in the relationship that Adam must have had with his creator. He who came from God, that is made in the image of, would be in perfect relationship with his creator.
Marriage is also a covenant relationship, which also symbolises the covenant that God has with his bride the church. Just as God saw Israel as one who was naked and abandoned, He made a covenant promise to take her in and make her his own. Covenants are important as they are not like contracts that can be merely torn up or broken based on a set of rules or regulations. But true covenant relationship is life long. Once again a symbol of God's life long (eternal) promise to us who love him. This is even demonstrated as said in Romans that "Whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".
As we know from 1Corinthians 13, marriage is based on love. The kind of love that is not merely feelings or emotions, but the kind of love that is enduring and sacrificial. When we say our vows at the altar, that is before God and our family, we promise to love and cherish in sickness and in health, for richer and poorer till death do us part. This kind of love is at the core of God's relationship with his church. Almost every commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples, of which we are their fruit and offspring, was based on this kind of love.
When we erode away the importance and values of marriage, we ultimately do the same to the true values of the church and God's plan with His church on this earth. Marriage was established well before the church was and for a good reason. Marriage is a true picture and symbol of the kind of relationship that God desires with his bride the church and therefore the reason why we must fight to retain it as established by God.
Marriage is a picture of the relationship God has with His church, which He affectionately calls His bride. Revelation 19:7-9 culminates this expression of God's love for His bride in these versus. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
God's plan of salvation was never just to save us from hell, but to establish a covenant relationship of love with the redeemed of God for eternity. It is in marriage we have a picture of this relationship and one of the reasons why marriage must remain pure to its intentions. Marriage was always between a bride and a groom. that is the female which was made in the image of the male coming together to be the one flesh. This same picture we have in the relationship that Adam must have had with his creator. He who came from God, that is made in the image of, would be in perfect relationship with his creator.
Marriage is also a covenant relationship, which also symbolises the covenant that God has with his bride the church. Just as God saw Israel as one who was naked and abandoned, He made a covenant promise to take her in and make her his own. Covenants are important as they are not like contracts that can be merely torn up or broken based on a set of rules or regulations. But true covenant relationship is life long. Once again a symbol of God's life long (eternal) promise to us who love him. This is even demonstrated as said in Romans that "Whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".
As we know from 1Corinthians 13, marriage is based on love. The kind of love that is not merely feelings or emotions, but the kind of love that is enduring and sacrificial. When we say our vows at the altar, that is before God and our family, we promise to love and cherish in sickness and in health, for richer and poorer till death do us part. This kind of love is at the core of God's relationship with his church. Almost every commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples, of which we are their fruit and offspring, was based on this kind of love.
When we erode away the importance and values of marriage, we ultimately do the same to the true values of the church and God's plan with His church on this earth. Marriage was established well before the church was and for a good reason. Marriage is a true picture and symbol of the kind of relationship that God desires with his bride the church and therefore the reason why we must fight to retain it as established by God.
Sunday, 16 October 2016
Losing weight and the Kingdom of God - Body, Soul & Spirit
When Jesus performed his earthly ministry of reconciliation, that is to bring the gospel through the giving and laying down his life for us, he never once allowed his flesh to lead or distract him from the task given to him by the Father.
Over and over again, whilst others slept or fulfilled their fleshly appetites, our Lord denied himself to pursue the pleasure of His Father and the plans He had for Him. John 4 is a classical example of this, just when Christ was tired, hungry and thirsty from the journey, He took time to bring the gospel to the Samaritan women by the well and in doing so saw a great harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God.
From scripture, it is easy to understand that we, man, have three parts. Just as the trinity is made of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit so too have we a body, soul and spirit. Paul in 1 Thessalonians prays that your whole body, soul and spirit might prosper. In Genesis 1:26 we find that we too are made in the likeness of God and therefore have these three aspects of the trinity operational within our own lives. It is common thought amongst even the most hedonistic cultures that man at the very least has soul/spirit and a body which is evident to all.
Paul teaches us that the flesh must be made subjected to the spirit. The spirit being the area of our lives which is hearing the voice of our creator God and able to discern His still voice. The flesh representing the ways of the world and carnal nature which denies God and is interest in only self. Paul in Romans 12 tells us that when we come to God that we must renew our minds, that is our thought patterns, ideologies and concepts. Knowing from scripture that God's ways are higher than our ways and God's thoughts higher than our thoughts.
Often however, when we are battling a certain area of the flesh we do it not with our souls and spirits but with our flesh. A classical example of this is with weight loss. In Australia alone, the diet and fitness industry is a billion dollar business. Just in the area that I work, most people are members of a gym or are signed up to some diet formulae which is meant to help them lose weight. Not to mention that obesity is at epidemic levels in this nation.
Yet fighting our flesh by the flesh is not really dealing with the issues of the mind that caused the obesity in the first place and many of these people when they cease their diets or gym activities quickly regain weight. This is because they have not allowed their spirit to lead over their flesh and they continue to have stinking or wrong thinking.
To truly regain victory over the flesh we must build up our spirits through prayer and confession of God's word. In some way we need to redo the circuitry of our minds by bypassing what the flesh desires and as Paul says setting our minds on things above rather than on things below. Coming back to John 4 and the Samaritan women, she initially was so wired to focus on the physical she missed what our Lord was saying about living waters and not thirsting again. She thought it was all about not having a bucket or the physical means in which to draw water.
By denying the flesh is not enough if all we do is build up another area of the flesh, such as body building, we must also build our spirits, the area of our lives which is receiving from God and allow our lives to be led by our Spirits which in turn are led by the Holy Spirit.
What is the Holy Spirit wanting to achieve in your life and what thinking needs to be changed to achieve it?
God Bless
Over and over again, whilst others slept or fulfilled their fleshly appetites, our Lord denied himself to pursue the pleasure of His Father and the plans He had for Him. John 4 is a classical example of this, just when Christ was tired, hungry and thirsty from the journey, He took time to bring the gospel to the Samaritan women by the well and in doing so saw a great harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God.
From scripture, it is easy to understand that we, man, have three parts. Just as the trinity is made of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit so too have we a body, soul and spirit. Paul in 1 Thessalonians prays that your whole body, soul and spirit might prosper. In Genesis 1:26 we find that we too are made in the likeness of God and therefore have these three aspects of the trinity operational within our own lives. It is common thought amongst even the most hedonistic cultures that man at the very least has soul/spirit and a body which is evident to all.
Paul teaches us that the flesh must be made subjected to the spirit. The spirit being the area of our lives which is hearing the voice of our creator God and able to discern His still voice. The flesh representing the ways of the world and carnal nature which denies God and is interest in only self. Paul in Romans 12 tells us that when we come to God that we must renew our minds, that is our thought patterns, ideologies and concepts. Knowing from scripture that God's ways are higher than our ways and God's thoughts higher than our thoughts.
Often however, when we are battling a certain area of the flesh we do it not with our souls and spirits but with our flesh. A classical example of this is with weight loss. In Australia alone, the diet and fitness industry is a billion dollar business. Just in the area that I work, most people are members of a gym or are signed up to some diet formulae which is meant to help them lose weight. Not to mention that obesity is at epidemic levels in this nation.
Yet fighting our flesh by the flesh is not really dealing with the issues of the mind that caused the obesity in the first place and many of these people when they cease their diets or gym activities quickly regain weight. This is because they have not allowed their spirit to lead over their flesh and they continue to have stinking or wrong thinking.
To truly regain victory over the flesh we must build up our spirits through prayer and confession of God's word. In some way we need to redo the circuitry of our minds by bypassing what the flesh desires and as Paul says setting our minds on things above rather than on things below. Coming back to John 4 and the Samaritan women, she initially was so wired to focus on the physical she missed what our Lord was saying about living waters and not thirsting again. She thought it was all about not having a bucket or the physical means in which to draw water.
By denying the flesh is not enough if all we do is build up another area of the flesh, such as body building, we must also build our spirits, the area of our lives which is receiving from God and allow our lives to be led by our Spirits which in turn are led by the Holy Spirit.
What is the Holy Spirit wanting to achieve in your life and what thinking needs to be changed to achieve it?
God Bless
Sunday, 9 October 2016
Discipleship & Love for Christ
Jesus in Matthew 28 gives the disciples, including the apostles, prior to his ascension what we call the great commission. And whilst many would agree the great commission to make disciples of all nations is just as vital today as when Christ spoke these words, the question remains, how do we make disciples today?
With what seems to be endless bad media of church leaders and pastors who have betrayed the trust of our youths and led them on a path of deception through both sexual, physical and emotional assault. One can wonder if discipleship of believers into the kingdom of God will ever be the same. And certainly if we take into account of the thousands of young people who have been dismayed and scared for life through these ungodly acts its fair to say it can never be the same.
Yet if we examine scripture, we know that though times and people change, God's desire to reach the lost and begin this glorious relationship with all creation remains as strong as ever. In Jesus' time, there was a greater cultural understanding of discipleship then we in the western world have ever truly understood. In fact it was considered a normal and natural transition from childhood into adulthood that a young person would seek out another mature and wise leader to give guidance and to train them in the ways and attitudes of our God.
Most young boys, usually from the age of 12 or 13 years would seek out a Rabbi, that is a teacher, who could train them not only in the scriptures (Torah) but also in the heart of God towards his creation. The boys would spend several years both living with and away from the Rabbi at times until the written and the spoken word was inscribed on the heart of the young man.
In the same way, young girls were taken into the home by the mother to learn not just basic house skills, but also the attitudes and motivations of a godly mother and wife. Woman in Jesus' time not only took care of basic household needs such as cooking and cleaning but were responsible for every aspect of the home and decisions surrounding it.
After both boys and girls had reached maturity they would return to their homes to help the father with his farmer duties or the mother with hers until they inturn would begin married lives and repeat the whole process with their own children. During this time with their parents they were once again grounded in the roles of the father or the mother of the household.
When we examine this culture of discipleship, it is very hard to imagine a similar practice in our western world and especially not in our 21st century. How then should we make disciples? Scientist tell us that our days and predominantly broken up into 3 periods of time, that is time to sleep, time to work/learn and finally time to rest/play. Whilst these periods may vary somewhat depending on your circumstances it is fair to say that most of us spend our waking hours either at work or school and at rest or play. For most primary and high school children this time at school will vary from 6 to 9 hours depending on your commuting needs. Those working spend anywhere from 8 to 15 hours per day depending on commuting needs, it is therefore no wonder that most people by the end of their day have little or no interest in being discipled let alone making disciples for themselves.
What then is the answer? Some have argued that discipleship needs to take place during our rest times whilst visiting our local churches or youth groups. And for many years I would agree that this is a natural and normal way of viewing things. Yet when we consider the average youth or adult church services run for a period of 2 hours or less it is unlikely nor possible for one youth leader or pastor to achieve this by himself. Nor do I believe the great commission was given to a select few but to the whole body of Christ. Discipleship must therefore take place by all at times and places that are practical and possible for all involved.
There are however a number of professions which I believe have a golden opportunity in which to make disciples. First and fore mostly are those who are employed to teach or train. Teachers have at their disposal hours each day to share their lives with those young students around them. And though once again, the average class of students can be up to 30 students in public schools, these teachers will see their students multiple times throughout the week. A great deal more than any pastor or youth leader may do.
Naturally, there are many other professions which have a great impact and potential to make disciples and I do not wish to take from any of them. This example simply serves as a purpose to help us think out of our church minded boxes we live in and see the potential of utilising the roles more than what we first thought.
Making disciples however will come to no effect if we have not love as Paul the apostles so blatantly pointed out to the church in Corinth. Quoting that there works would be as a clanging cymbal or resounding gong if we have not love. Paul goes on to say in 2 Corinthians "the love of God compels us". Hence we can have the greatest opportunity or even programs for making disciples that ever existed, but if we have not love they are a waste of time. Why then is love so important?
When we think of this kind of love we are not referring to the love of a friend which we call Phileo love, nor is it the kind of love that family members have for one another known as Storge love. It is naturally not the lust driven kind of love we see in Eros but it is the kind of love that God demonstrates for us even whilst we were yet sinners. That is His Agape love which is sacrificial. Luke tells us it is this agape love which daily denies itself, takes up it's cross and follows Christ. Just as Christ denied himself to serve to the needs of others, so too are we called to follow in Christ's example to lay down our lives for others.
Not only in the making of disciples, but all good works we do in Christ's name are called to be done out of a heart of love for Christ and others. When love for others is our motivation, then whatever we do will result in good fruit and even fruit that remains. There is one remaining aspect that we must take into account. The Holy Spirit was sent as the helper to ensure that all we decide to do with our time and efforts results in bearing not just fruit but spiritual fruit that remains. Be led by the Holy Spirit, let love be your motivation and let your works exemplify Christ offering for all of mankind.
God Bless
With what seems to be endless bad media of church leaders and pastors who have betrayed the trust of our youths and led them on a path of deception through both sexual, physical and emotional assault. One can wonder if discipleship of believers into the kingdom of God will ever be the same. And certainly if we take into account of the thousands of young people who have been dismayed and scared for life through these ungodly acts its fair to say it can never be the same.
Yet if we examine scripture, we know that though times and people change, God's desire to reach the lost and begin this glorious relationship with all creation remains as strong as ever. In Jesus' time, there was a greater cultural understanding of discipleship then we in the western world have ever truly understood. In fact it was considered a normal and natural transition from childhood into adulthood that a young person would seek out another mature and wise leader to give guidance and to train them in the ways and attitudes of our God.
Most young boys, usually from the age of 12 or 13 years would seek out a Rabbi, that is a teacher, who could train them not only in the scriptures (Torah) but also in the heart of God towards his creation. The boys would spend several years both living with and away from the Rabbi at times until the written and the spoken word was inscribed on the heart of the young man.
In the same way, young girls were taken into the home by the mother to learn not just basic house skills, but also the attitudes and motivations of a godly mother and wife. Woman in Jesus' time not only took care of basic household needs such as cooking and cleaning but were responsible for every aspect of the home and decisions surrounding it.
After both boys and girls had reached maturity they would return to their homes to help the father with his farmer duties or the mother with hers until they inturn would begin married lives and repeat the whole process with their own children. During this time with their parents they were once again grounded in the roles of the father or the mother of the household.
When we examine this culture of discipleship, it is very hard to imagine a similar practice in our western world and especially not in our 21st century. How then should we make disciples? Scientist tell us that our days and predominantly broken up into 3 periods of time, that is time to sleep, time to work/learn and finally time to rest/play. Whilst these periods may vary somewhat depending on your circumstances it is fair to say that most of us spend our waking hours either at work or school and at rest or play. For most primary and high school children this time at school will vary from 6 to 9 hours depending on your commuting needs. Those working spend anywhere from 8 to 15 hours per day depending on commuting needs, it is therefore no wonder that most people by the end of their day have little or no interest in being discipled let alone making disciples for themselves.
What then is the answer? Some have argued that discipleship needs to take place during our rest times whilst visiting our local churches or youth groups. And for many years I would agree that this is a natural and normal way of viewing things. Yet when we consider the average youth or adult church services run for a period of 2 hours or less it is unlikely nor possible for one youth leader or pastor to achieve this by himself. Nor do I believe the great commission was given to a select few but to the whole body of Christ. Discipleship must therefore take place by all at times and places that are practical and possible for all involved.
There are however a number of professions which I believe have a golden opportunity in which to make disciples. First and fore mostly are those who are employed to teach or train. Teachers have at their disposal hours each day to share their lives with those young students around them. And though once again, the average class of students can be up to 30 students in public schools, these teachers will see their students multiple times throughout the week. A great deal more than any pastor or youth leader may do.
Naturally, there are many other professions which have a great impact and potential to make disciples and I do not wish to take from any of them. This example simply serves as a purpose to help us think out of our church minded boxes we live in and see the potential of utilising the roles more than what we first thought.
Making disciples however will come to no effect if we have not love as Paul the apostles so blatantly pointed out to the church in Corinth. Quoting that there works would be as a clanging cymbal or resounding gong if we have not love. Paul goes on to say in 2 Corinthians "the love of God compels us". Hence we can have the greatest opportunity or even programs for making disciples that ever existed, but if we have not love they are a waste of time. Why then is love so important?
When we think of this kind of love we are not referring to the love of a friend which we call Phileo love, nor is it the kind of love that family members have for one another known as Storge love. It is naturally not the lust driven kind of love we see in Eros but it is the kind of love that God demonstrates for us even whilst we were yet sinners. That is His Agape love which is sacrificial. Luke tells us it is this agape love which daily denies itself, takes up it's cross and follows Christ. Just as Christ denied himself to serve to the needs of others, so too are we called to follow in Christ's example to lay down our lives for others.
Not only in the making of disciples, but all good works we do in Christ's name are called to be done out of a heart of love for Christ and others. When love for others is our motivation, then whatever we do will result in good fruit and even fruit that remains. There is one remaining aspect that we must take into account. The Holy Spirit was sent as the helper to ensure that all we decide to do with our time and efforts results in bearing not just fruit but spiritual fruit that remains. Be led by the Holy Spirit, let love be your motivation and let your works exemplify Christ offering for all of mankind.
God Bless
Friday, 7 October 2016
Roman 5-6 Slaves to Sin or Righteousness
When we read Paul's accounts in Romans chapter 5 and chapter 6, we soon realise that there are three things that should be at work in our lives. Paul speaks distinctly of being slaves to sin, slave to righteousness but later in chapter 6 and again in chapter 8 we realise there is another aspect at work in our lives. That third element is the Holy Spirit.
Paul speaks about the law and its effects on our lives, ultimately lending us over to sin and how having the laws of sin at work in our lives. This is ultimately a metaphor for those who follow the flesh and are subjected to the flesh.
Paul also however speaks of subjecting ourselves rather to sin but to righteousness. This aspect examines the workings of our minds. Yet Paul hear emphasises that our mind is in continual battle. This I believe is because of our thoughts and the influences upon them from the world in which we live. Some time ago I did a study and found that primary school children received over 3000 messages through media, television, internet etc every day. This study is now over 10 years old and the effects and influences from these elements would be far greater now than ever. In fact they estimate the web grows by at least 750,000 pages per day. Therefore the influences from the web would have a greater effect than ever on the minds of everyone who use it as a reference source.
The final element that Paul puts to us in the metaphor of the heart. Hence body, soul and finally spirit are all examined in these chapters of Romans. In this last aspect, Paul says it is those who are led by the Spirit which are the sons of God. So whilst we know we cannot be slaves to sin (the body), that our thoughts are in constant battle by external forces (the mind), what we can rely on to lead us to righteousness is the leading and working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
It is this which calls us sons of God, when we each day are led not by the flesh or even our own intellect and thoughts by Gods Spirit.
Paul speaks about the law and its effects on our lives, ultimately lending us over to sin and how having the laws of sin at work in our lives. This is ultimately a metaphor for those who follow the flesh and are subjected to the flesh.
Paul also however speaks of subjecting ourselves rather to sin but to righteousness. This aspect examines the workings of our minds. Yet Paul hear emphasises that our mind is in continual battle. This I believe is because of our thoughts and the influences upon them from the world in which we live. Some time ago I did a study and found that primary school children received over 3000 messages through media, television, internet etc every day. This study is now over 10 years old and the effects and influences from these elements would be far greater now than ever. In fact they estimate the web grows by at least 750,000 pages per day. Therefore the influences from the web would have a greater effect than ever on the minds of everyone who use it as a reference source.
The final element that Paul puts to us in the metaphor of the heart. Hence body, soul and finally spirit are all examined in these chapters of Romans. In this last aspect, Paul says it is those who are led by the Spirit which are the sons of God. So whilst we know we cannot be slaves to sin (the body), that our thoughts are in constant battle by external forces (the mind), what we can rely on to lead us to righteousness is the leading and working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
It is this which calls us sons of God, when we each day are led not by the flesh or even our own intellect and thoughts by Gods Spirit.
Thursday, 6 October 2016
Risk Mitigation & The Kingdom of God
Within in any business there is what we refer to as risk mitigation. This is simply controls, restrictions and checks that are put in place to ensure the investment made is protected from potential risks. Yet risk mitigation is much more widely used even in society and our lives than what we realise.
Even within the framework of our jails and correctional institutions do we have these processes in place to ensure the safety of detainees and workers alike. A risk management plan is often drawn up which limits the activities of detainees to ensure the safety of themselves and others. Throughout society we see these processes in place, whether it be for the unruly student within our school systems or separation of patients in specialised wards to ensure certain diseases are not spread.
Though this may sound like a harsh way in which to treat other people, it is necessary to remember that the purpose of these controls are for the good of the person on which they have been imposed and for the safety of those around them. Even within the kingdom of our God do we have such controls in place. Obviously God restricts access to his presence to those who have been washed in the blood of Jesus but also through life's experience proven their love and faithfulness through a variety of trials.
At times throughout our lives, I believe are placed upon us controls to curb behaviour and attitudes which are contrary to the kingdom of God and the very heart of our Lord Jesus. Though we often don't equate these controls to God but to those people around us who we believe have imposed them, it is obvious that it is God who places them upon us to bring us back to the path and direction to which we have been called. Paul the apostle wrote to the Philippian church that he "presses on towards the high calling which is in Christ". The Psalmist tells us that "He leads us in the path of righteousness".
Once again we can think that we should simply have the freedom and the liberties to do as we want. Yet simply doing as we please does not always lead us to the Kingdom of God. In fact the first verse of the Satanic Bible says "do as though wilt". Yet Isaiah 55 says that God's ways are higher than our...
When we find ourselves with restrictions, whether it be from society, church, work or even from our own families, it is important to ask the questions "what is God trying to save me from and to where is He leading me right now in my life. What is God saying to you and what are you doing about it? Perhaps it is those very restrictions that are saving your marriage or even your very soul. Scripture tells us that God corrects those he loves, just how loved are you right now!
Even within the framework of our jails and correctional institutions do we have these processes in place to ensure the safety of detainees and workers alike. A risk management plan is often drawn up which limits the activities of detainees to ensure the safety of themselves and others. Throughout society we see these processes in place, whether it be for the unruly student within our school systems or separation of patients in specialised wards to ensure certain diseases are not spread.
Though this may sound like a harsh way in which to treat other people, it is necessary to remember that the purpose of these controls are for the good of the person on which they have been imposed and for the safety of those around them. Even within the kingdom of our God do we have such controls in place. Obviously God restricts access to his presence to those who have been washed in the blood of Jesus but also through life's experience proven their love and faithfulness through a variety of trials.
At times throughout our lives, I believe are placed upon us controls to curb behaviour and attitudes which are contrary to the kingdom of God and the very heart of our Lord Jesus. Though we often don't equate these controls to God but to those people around us who we believe have imposed them, it is obvious that it is God who places them upon us to bring us back to the path and direction to which we have been called. Paul the apostle wrote to the Philippian church that he "presses on towards the high calling which is in Christ". The Psalmist tells us that "He leads us in the path of righteousness".
Once again we can think that we should simply have the freedom and the liberties to do as we want. Yet simply doing as we please does not always lead us to the Kingdom of God. In fact the first verse of the Satanic Bible says "do as though wilt". Yet Isaiah 55 says that God's ways are higher than our...
When we find ourselves with restrictions, whether it be from society, church, work or even from our own families, it is important to ask the questions "what is God trying to save me from and to where is He leading me right now in my life. What is God saying to you and what are you doing about it? Perhaps it is those very restrictions that are saving your marriage or even your very soul. Scripture tells us that God corrects those he loves, just how loved are you right now!
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