Going on an ADVENTure

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.”

Luke 2:25 NIVUK

I have just started a new 25 day reading plan about preparing for Christmas, as an addition to my regular reading plans and it has got off to a great start... well for me it has.

After the reading and some devotional words, each day has sections that encourage you to spend some time that day doing things based on the reading. These sections are things like 'Exploration, Expression, Experience and so on.

Today, day 1' the Exploration section invited me to consider how my life, or our lives, can reflect the kind of anticipation that we see in Simeon and Anna in our reading from Luke.

They had both experienced and heard from the Father, they both knew what the nation needed and what God had promised and they were waiting for Him and preparing themselves for Him. They were way ahead of the rest of the people who really were 'singing from a different hymn sheet' 

Odd, is it not, that they had all read and been taught the same scriptures and they had all heard the same prophetic warnings, promises and encouragement. 

But then of course we need to layer onto this the agendas of those who did the teaching, the willingness of people to believe without exploring ( or sometimes even thinking) for themselves, the personal and cultural agendas that we are often blind to ourselves but which massage the message to suit our personality and desires and probably other stuff we are unaware of! Nonetheless, God showed, through Simeon and Anna, that none of this stuff need actually prevent the powerful, life changing 'truth that sets us free' from breaking through our self constructed or 'others imposed' barriers and filling us with Holy anticipation. 

Simeon and Anna not only knew what Gods word said, they knew what it meant, they knew what it meant for them, what it meant for the nation and what it meant for the world.

When they saw Jesus, even as a baby, they saw in Him the entire hope of the world - this is the One they had been anticipating and, on seeing Him, they knew that God was among them.

So, how on earth do or should or can we even begin to match anticipation like this?

Firstly, read Gods word and seek not only to know what it says, but to understand what it means. Then, viewing the world through the filter of Gods Word, expect to see Jesus in your circumstances and situations today.... not simply looking forward to tomorrow, but expect and anticipate that you, and through you, others, will come face to face with Jesus, today. Watch out for Him in your everyday - anticipate Him and be excited at the prospect.

Hope in Hard Times

I read this devotional today that contains a lot that is perhaps hard to accept but nonetheless seems to get to the heart of grace and faith......

I suppose there has never been a marriage between two honest, self-examining people that at some time has not reached a seemingly irredeemable low point. There have been moments in my own marriage when the wall between my wife and me seemed too high to hurdle, too thick to break. We found it hard to muster hope. It was not easy to be confident that somehow the barriers blocking our oneness could be removed. . . . Too many unhappy spouses claim promises that God never made as their foundation of hope. They trust that if they do all they can, God will change their spouses into the loving Christians they should be. But a reason to live never consists of a guarantee that “Things will get better” or that “God will save your husband and help him stop drinking.” The hope of the Christian is far deeper than a mere change in someone else. The hope of the Christian is inescapably bound up in the grace of God.

It would be easy to quote a few verses from Hebrews (especially 6:18–19), and speak glowingly about the sure hope in Christ that serves as an anchor for our souls. But if you are plagued by chronic despair that results in a “Why bother” attitude, then prayerfully consider the following.

The Lord has not promised to put your marriage together for you. The hope of the Christian is not that one’s spouse will change or that one’s health will improve or that one’s financial situation will become good. God does not promise or rearrange our worlds to suit our longings. He does promise to permit only those events that will further his purpose in our lives. Our responsibility is to respond to life’s events in a manner that pleases the Lord, not to change our spouses into what we want. Even if we respond biblically, we have no guarantee that our spouses will respond in kind. Though they file for divorce or continue to drink or nag all the more, there is reason for us to persevere in obedience.

Certainly if both partners build on the foundation of hope and strive earnestly to live biblically, even the worst marriage can be turned around. Either way, there is reason to hope. This reason is bound up in the grace of God.

In God’s presence, there is never cause for despair. Our spouses may not do what they should to restore our marriage to happy, fulfilling relationships. But if we remain faithful to God, pouring out our emotions before him, renewing our commitment to seek him, trusting him to guide us in our responses, then he will sustain us through our trials and provide rich fellowship with him. There is reason to go on. There is hope. God’s grace is sufficient.

—Dr. Larry Crabb

We had a dream!

God speaking through a dream




Dare to dream.....but be prepared for some unexpected outcomes.

Following the very powerful prophetic dream that was shared with us at WAVC yesterday I was, once again, challenged by the quality of our relationships within the church generally.

Matthew 5 is always a challenge :

“‘Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5:23-24 NIVUK
http://bible.com/113/mat.5.23-24.nivuk

But when we realise the extent to which a real sign of the quality of our relationship with Jesus is our attitude towards, and relationship with, others it opens up new and challenging areas for us.

Attending worship, reading the bible, prayers and other Christian paraphernalia become secondary if we are not striving for God honouring relationships and doing what is within our power to fix them when they are broken.

In our series on the Letters to the 7 Churches in Revelation Jesus spoke some very hard truths to His Church. Many of these were extremely hard to swallow. It would have been very easy in the face of these to throw your dummy out of the pram and go elsewhere, somewhere easier.

However, and this is where it gets harder, the only avenue Jesus presents to the people, on every occasion where He highlights a weakness, sin or failing is........ acceptance of His words and repentance!

After our worship service I was reminded by someone of words I had said in church ( and this person was reminded of them by their non Christian partner who happened to be there when I spoke) , " it's easy to love the loveable " so that is never the test of our obedience! I am always challenged by the words of Glen Kaiser ( former lead of Rez Band) - " the person we love the least is the full extent of our actual love for Jesus".

Like the dream that was shared at church, this quote does not give the option of hiding behind so called 'spiritual activities' whilst leaving broken or breaking relationships untended.

I am so thankful that, following extremely tough words from Jesus in the letters, there is always a way back to the experience and reality of His awesome grace - through the doors of:
1. Repentance
2. Sorting it out ( the fruit of repentance)

"Let them who have ears, hear what the spirit is saying to the church."


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The doing or being balancing act....

“After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.”
2 Chronicles 12:1 NIVUK

How accurately this statement reflects a weak tendency in us that has remained constant over the generations?

When we want or need something or feel weak or fearful we 'turn to God' but when we have what we want or feel content we begin to form an identity based not on intimacy with our Father but based on what we do ( yes, even what we do in the church) or we subtly shift our confidence away from God to 'things' or even to our own abilities.

How often do we hear ' she or he has 'never been closer to God' than when they have hit a crisis point? On one level that is great and God promises to meet us whenever we turn to him with integrity and in repentance or in genuine need. However we must let that experience beg questions of what was going on in our walk with Him before that point....

There will usually have been symptoms that were ignored, excused or brushed under the carpet. Things like less and less fellowship in house groups, less desire to pray together with fellow Christians, less reading of the bible and often, ironically more work for the church or God as we like to persuade ourselves...

When we do this then even our so called 'Christian work' becomes like 'filthy rags' because it tends towards idolatry. It begins to replace God in vital areas of our lives. The growing void created by the distance in our intimacy with Him is filled by fine sounding 'good works'

Do we spend more time or place a greater priority in DOING FOR God rather than BEING WITH Him?

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Form or substance? Or the third way.....

Unfortunately, some of our beliefs and practices can become “fossilized” over time. We think that we are relevant and full of truth - which we can be.......... WHEN the outer form flows from the inner substance. 

We can so easily drift into celebrating the form but forgetting the reality behind it. How we love our worship and our Christian music (nothing wrong with that) but how easily our lives or our character contradict that which we celebrate and enjoy. 

How often do we hear people, maybe even ourselves, when we have acted or spoken in ways that blatantly fly in the face of the bible, make excuses: "That's just the way I am..." , "If God hadn't wanted me to be like this He would have made me different" , "Yes, but that was written 2000 years ago .." These are all real examples I have heard recently......

Statements like these ( and there are many similar) are a signpost that we have stepped, or are about to step, over the line where the outer form is no longer linked to, or flows from, the inner substance.

In this scripture from Zechariah it has happened.

“‘Ask all the people of the land and the priests, “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?”

Zechariah 7:5-6 NIV

Their fasting appeared meaningful but had no inner substance. When this or something similar happens, a worship activity or Christian witness becomes an empty ritual or, even worse, a ritual with the wrong meaning attached to it. Often this can occur as a slow erosion of values, or a spirit of pride that, when the crunch comes favours self over substance. 

As is often the case, Jesus put it in such a way that it could not fail to have impact:

“‘ “These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

Matthew 15:8 NIV

I'd love to say I have never been there, but it would be a lie..... Lord help us to see the warning signs and step back from crossing that line.

Jesus wants us to have substance AND form - working together to His glory.

How are you going?

Jesus saw ten people, together, with Leprosy who asked Him to have pity on them.

“When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.”

Luke 17:14 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/luk.17.14.nivuk

With God it is so often in the 'as we are going' that stuff happens.

Although we may agree with this based on our knowledge of many examples from scripture there are implications for our own lives that may well keep this as theoretical knowledge rather than life changing encounters with Jesus.

In this story, these ten people all met Jesus and they heard Him - but that is not where there lives were changed. It is only as they obeyed and set off on the journey that they were healed.

How often, when we ask Jesus something and His reply asks something of us or require us to set off doing something new or going somewhere, do we hang around waiting for further 'confirmation'? 

The confirmation, and consequent blessing, so often comes in the doing or the going, not in the hanging around waiting for Him to confirm what He has already made clear. When we do this it may genuinely be a caution on our part or it may be a way of spiritualising our reluctance or fear of 'doing what Jesus says'

There is also a twist in this particular tale. 

Of the 10 , all of whom were 'cleansed' only one returned to give thanks to Jesus.

The cleansing they received was a physical healing that enabled them to return to normal life , in community, after the priests had pronounced them 'clean' - that's pretty amazing in itself. However, when one of them returned to acknowledge Gods activity in his life and give thanks he received far more than 'just' physical healing. He was made whole - given a deep new experience of God and life - this did not just change his physical condition it changed his whole relationship with God. He exercised faith and he acknowledged God in thanksgiving. These two elements brought physical healing AND wholeness.  

“Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”

Luke 17:19 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/luk.17.19.nivuk

How are you going?

Jesus saw ten people, together, with Leprosy who asked Him to have pity on them.

“When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.”

Luke 17:14 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/luk.17.14.nivuk

With God it is so often in the 'as we are going' that stuff happens.

Although we may agree with this based on our knowledge of many examples from scripture there are implications for our own lives that may well keep this as theoretical knowledge rather than life changing encounters with Jesus.

In this story, these ten people all met Jesus and they heard Him - but that is not where there lives were changed. It is only as they obeyed and set off on the journey that they were healed.

How often, when we ask Jesus something and His reply asks something of us or require us to set off doing something new or going somewhere, do we hang around waiting for further 'confirmation'? 

The confirmation, and consequent blessing, so often comes in the doing or the going, not in the hanging around waiting for Him to confirm what He has already made clear. When we do this it may genuinely be a caution on our part or it may be a way of spiritualising our reluctance or fear of 'doing what Jesus says'

There is also a twist in this particular tale. 

Of the 10 , all of whom were 'cleansed' only one returned to give thanks to Jesus.

The cleansing they received was a physical healing that enabled them to return to normal life , in community, after the priests had pronounced them 'clean' - that's pretty amazing in itself. However, when one of them returned to acknowledge Gods activity in his life and give thanks he received far more than 'just' physical healing. He was made whole - given a deep new experience of God and life - this did not just change his physical condition it changed his whole relationship with God. He exercised faith and he acknowledged God in thanksgiving. These two elements brought physical healing AND wholeness.  

“Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”

Luke 17:19 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/luk.17.19.nivuk

How are you going?

Jesus saw ten people, together, with Leprosy who asked Him to have pity on them.

“When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed.”

Luke 17:14 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/luk.17.14.nivuk

With God it is so often in the 'as we are going' that stuff happens.

Although we may agree with this based on our knowledge of many examples from scripture there are implications for our own lives that may well keep this as theoretical knowledge rather than life changing encounters with Jesus.

In this story, these ten people all met Jesus and they heard Him - but that is not where there lives were changed. It is only as they obeyed and set off on the journey that they were healed.

How often, when we ask Jesus something and His reply asks something of us or require us to set off doing something new or going somewhere, do we hang around waiting for further 'confirmation'? 

The confirmation, and consequent blessing, so often comes in the doing or the going, not in the hanging around waiting for Him to confirm what He has already made clear. When we do this it may genuinely be a caution on our part or it may be a way of spiritualising our reluctance or fear of 'doing what Jesus says'

There is also a twist in this particular tale. 

Of the 10 , all of whom were 'cleansed' only one returned to give thanks to Jesus.

The cleansing they received was a physical healing that enabled them to return to normal life , in community, after the priests had pronounced them 'clean' - that's pretty amazing in itself. However, when one of them returned to acknowledge Gods activity in his life and give thanks he received far more than 'just' physical healing. He was made whole - given a deep new experience of God and life - this did not just change his physical condition it changed his whole relationship with God. He exercised faith and he acknowledged God in thanksgiving. These two elements brought physical healing AND wholeness.  

“Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’”

Luke 17:19 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/luk.17.19.nivuk

Where do we focus?

“‘Come,’ Jesus said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”

Matthew 14:29-30 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/mat.14.29-30.nivuk

I think Peter is often very hard done to in the way many people remember this story and the conclusions they come to.

For many of us the focus so easily becomes about Peter sinking through fear and lack of faith. Maybe that's a peculiarly British thing  - spotting the negative straight away!

Yes Jesus said to Peter "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

That was not judgemental or negative , it was a fact and a lesson. A lesson about what could be achieved with simple obedient faith even in the face of the seemingly impossible. 

The two things that tower in this story for me - and give me great encouragement and inspiration are:

1. The immense faith of Peter who heard an invitation from Jesus that, in human terms, was asking the  impossible, and to 'just do it' without hesitation. That is great faith and rock solid obedience. Give me more of that Lord...

2. OK, so he saw the the wind and waves and for a moment thought 'what on earth am I doing'. He faltered slightly and nature took its course - but Jesus was with Him. He reached out and took hold of Peter. There is a lesson that Peter needed to learn to encourage him in future heroic steps of faith.

Did Peter fall and fail again ? Yes, no doubt more times than we know.

Did Peter take awesome steps of faith again ? Yes, probably more times than we know!

Was Jesus with Him at every step of the way - in the failures and the triumphs?

Absolutely yes.

Was Peter a person just like us? Yes.

Was Peter heroic? Yes!

So what do you focus on in the story?

You do it......

“As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’”

Matthew 14:15-16 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/mat.14.15-16.nivuk

There is a really interesting dynamic at work here that many of us Christians either have not yet grasped or have not really 'dared' to act upon.

The disciples had seen the obvious need, they had understood there was an issue that would need some sort of action. 

They were in a remote place with a lot of people and 'the people will need something to eat' The disciples pragmatic solution was that Jesus should send the people away to buy food locally. 

There was nothing wrong or unworkable about their proposed solution....except that Jesus had a different idea. Jesus said :

                          ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’

OK guys well done for spotting the need, but I have a different solution - You do it!

Up pops the very understandable pragmatism - 'but we don't have enough food, in fact, we barely have enough to feed ourselves!'

Then, one of the most important things Jesus ever said ( in terms of how we 'do' ministry ) - 

He said: 'just bring me what you have got' after which the expectation was that the disciples would simply trust Him no matter how crazy or impossible things looked or sounded.

Jesus took what they had ( blessed it) gave them back what appeared to be EXACTLY what they had just given Him - ie totally insufficient resources for the task, then said - 'Now you go and feed them all'

And they went and did it and everybody ate and was satisfied.

So, the principle was:

1. Spot the need

2. Take your meagre resources to Jesus

3. Then, when He gives you back exactly the same as you have just given Him...!!

4. Go and minister to the need

5. See God work

SIMPLES.......

Too simple to be satisfying?

Matthew 13 contains a number of pretty well known parables, starting with the parable of the sower. 

We probably think of parables as (generally) pretty simple little stories that are not too complicated.....  This is probably true for the most part BUT it would seem that there is far far more to them than meets they eye. We would do well to dwell on them for longer than it takes us to merely gain a superficial understanding of what they are saying.

Why do I say this?

The final verse of Matt 13 gives us the clue:

“Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.’”

Matthew 13:34-35 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/mat.13.34-35.nivuk

This is dynamite!

These 'simple little stories' contain truths ".....hidden since the creation of the world.’!

Surely this qualifies them for a prayerful re-read? 

Most of them are parables about the Kingdom which means we are reading truth that give us Kingdom insight that no one before Jesus had even begun to grasp. The pursuit, practice and application of these truths in our lives and the life of our communities has life and community changing capability.

But, let's not assume such power lies buried in complicated layers of hidden meaning that requires human scholarship and immense brain power to figure out. Quite the opposite in fact. This is how religious leaders have hidden Gods word from ordinary people for generations - robbing them of life challenging & life changing Kingdom encounters. 

No, Jesus told simple stories to ordinary people and 'hid the meaning in plain sight'. These Kingdom truths had remained hidden not because they were too hard to find or understand but because they were so everyday and simple that people almost thought 'that can't be right, it's too easy, there should be more to it than that'! 

Their eyes, ears and hearts missed the obvious that was right in front of them and went off searching for something that was 'a more satisfying understanding'. 

It's a bit like the king in the old testament story who was told that his leprosy would be cured if he would simply dip himself in the Jordan river. He was incensed and nearly missed out on life changing healing because the method was too simple for him, not to his liking - he had expected something more 'elaborate'.  (2 Kings 5:1-19)

Fortunately (for him) he had wise and simple counsel who said 'just go and do it'

Let's re-read the parables and ask the Holy Spirit to show us the simple truths that are there in plain sight and to enable us to apply them and make them part of our personal and community Kingdom experience. 

Seeing,hearing or drifting?

Reflecting on my own journey I have a number of observations that I know to be, but wish were not, true.

There are times when I just seem incapable of seeing or hearing God's self evident truth. This is usually for one of two reasons which always ultimately lead back to sin and/or unbelief. 

In either of these cases there are usually one of two root causes at work. 

The first is because I have made choices that are consciously and intentionally about what I want rather than what God wants. 

Second,and in some ways more serious, my heart, which so often struggles under the burden of self deceit, has persuaded me that I am in the right and that what I am doing or why I am doing it has Gods blessing or enjoys Gods favour.

 Paul, in Corinthians, urges disciples to have times during which they 'test themselves' with regard to ACTUALLY being in the faith rather than just thinking or saying we are. This requires a depth of honesty and openness that can be difficult and may require us to seek counsel from mature Christians.

If this goes according to Gods plan for us, rather than our own, it will often result in the 'Godly sorrow ' about which Paul also talks to the Corinthians.

There are two simple biblical principles to begin to understand where we are 'in the faith':

1. How is our relationship with God (really)? Do we regularly set aside and spend regular quality time with Him - reading His word, being in His presence and listening to Him? This is NOT about doing things FOR HIM it is about the thing that is so close to His heart for us - being with Him in intimacy.

2. How is our relationship with His church (God's people) - Hebrews reminds that we 'should not give up meeting together as some of you are doing. This is the worship and fellowship test. What are our relationships like - do we include ourselves or have we become self excluded?

This is an important part of our 'spiritual audit' and Jesus warned of the dangers of not being honest with, and about, ourselves. 

One of those warnings is:

“In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘ “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.””

Matthew 13:14-15 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/mat.13.14-15.nivuk

I spent a number of years in the spiritual wasteland that results from not heeding such warnings. Years when I spent so much energy going through the motions, trying to persuade myself that things were OK when it was so obvious to those around me that I was not... It's not worth it - 

Do the test, turn and be healed.

So,

Hard or healed - which are we?

Bitterness or blessing - which flows from us?

Godly sorrow or earthly sorrow - which do we practice?

Godly determination or self imposed drifting - which best describes where we are?

So where's the evidence?

It is interesting that when John was in prison and he heard about 'the Messiah' he sent some of his followers to ask Jesus 'Are you the one or should we expect someone else?' 

Was this not the same John who baptized Jesus, who saw the Spirit descend, who heard the voice of Father say 'this is my son, listen to Him' and who said himself 'Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' - Yes, we are talking about that John! 

Now here he was, in prison, probably at a 'low ebb' was he doubting ? needing reassurance? Maybe prison had never featured in his 'personal life plan' and he just needed to know it was about something real? He would, no doubt, have been aware of the many other people (around 400 we believe)  who were claiming to be 'the Messiah' . To be honest, we don't really know why he had reached a place where he felt that he needed to ask the 'are you for real' question about Jesus.

However, what is important is Jesus attitude and answer. There was no hint that Jesus was in any way affronted, upset, surprised or disappointed that his cousin, John, had expressed what, to many people, sounded very much like doubts. 

Jesus simply pointed out that what was promised was actually happening. Jesus had indicated right at the beginning of His ministry that His sole purpose was to let people into 'the good news of the Kingdom' He was in 'the Kingdom advancing business' and that this 'good news' would include, among other things, the work of the enemy being destroyed. Some of the very tangible indications of this were healing and releasing people from oppression and the power of the devil. 

When faced with John's question Jesus, without hesitation, points to the demonstrations  of Gods Kingdom bringing life and freedom to ordinary people. Here was the evidence - the promise of the advancing Kingdom being worked out and fulfilled day by day.

“Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

Matthew 11:4-5 NIVUK

http://bible.com/113/mat.11.4-5.nivuk

We know that there are other tangible demonstrations of the advancing Kingdom that Jesus also pointed to . Firstly the depth and quality of love that begins to be lived out in the lives of those who follow him and the ultimate 'work of the enemy' death and the fear of death, being defeated on the cross.

If we are in a place where we have questions that may sound like doubts or like disillusionment or disappointment or dissatisfaction with God - ask them and He will meet us in them. He will not judge but will reveal to us what we need to move on and join Him in the 'Kingdom advancing business' 

And there is more- remember Matt 10? Jesus gave authority & power to those who follow Him to be able to demonstrate the answer to those in our communities who have the same honest and understandable questions as John.

Give it away....

Following previous blog about what Jesus has given us, we continue in that same brilliant chapter,  Matthew 10, and read:

“Freely you have received; freely give.”

Matthew 10:8 NIV

http://bible.com/111/mat.10.8.niv

Basically Jesus says

'Here's how it works: I give you authority and power, you totally give away the benefits of all you have received to others - and don't hold anything back!, now off you go and be "me" to the world'

What?

'Demonstrating and declaring the Kingdom of God' 

Why?

'To bring light and life to people and communities'

He gave them......

“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority ......

It is well worth stopping mid sentence here... For our purpose it is almost irrelevant what the second part is about. 

A transaction happened between Jesus and His disciples... He gave them something that they previously did not have and it revolutionised their understanding and practice of what it meant to be a Jesus follower.

He gave them AUTHORITY (to ........)

What is the nature of what He gave them?

Why did He give it to them?

What are the implications for us ( modern day disciples?

He gave them authority ( exousia is the Greek word) which means He gave them the power that is normally associated only with a person in a particular role. In other words the centurion has a power over a group of men that was not available to any Tom,Dick or Harry. A police man or women possesses certain powers that go along with that position of authority, and so does an earthly King. People who have the RIGHT to, and PRIVILEGE of, exercising  power. More than this, they also have a responsibility to actually exercise it - it is not just theoretical power. If things are going to operate as intended for the good of other people the power not only must be used, it must be used correctly and for the right purposes.

Here we have the King of Kings (who possesses ALL power and authority) giving the right and privilege of using some of this power specifically for the good of others (and the demonstration and advancing of His Kingdom part of which is the destroying of the works of the devil)

This is big stuff!

This transaction happened so that they could DO things that they could not previously do and that nobody can do in their own strength. 

Interesting, exciting and challenging that followers of Jesus were expected, yes expected, to do things as a matter of course that are ordinarily impossible for human beings! This totally requires a relationship with the King and a willingness to accept what He gives ( impossible as that is to comprehend). Then to step out beyond the boundaries or our own limited experience, faith and comfort zones into the privilege and right of exercising the power He gives for the benefit of others.

In this case it was.......to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”

Matthew 10:1 )

So what about us?

There is nothing in scripture subsequent to this that even hints that such authority is not given to those who are His disciples. In fact everything that follows, particularly following His death and resurrection and Pentecost, screams out that the giving of such power to His followers and so much more are the 'Kingdom norm'. 

Nothing demonstrates this better than the history of the birth and growth of the church in Acts and the teaching in Romans, Corinthians and Ephesians regarding the gifts of the Spirit (the tools of the trade for Christians).

The simple message is :

Keep close to Jesus (disciples have committed to follow Him)

Receive what He gives (by faith)

Step out and begin to use what He has given (by choice, in faith)

Demonstrate the Kingdom - give light and life to people and communities.

Where the paths cross

“Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;”

Proverbs 8:1-2 NIV

http://bible.com/111/pro.8.1-2.niv

Every day, many times over, we will reach points where the paths meet. These are places where a decision is required from us: go left, go right, say this, say that, do this, do the other. 

At each of these points the decisions we make can be informed by wisdom or folly. We never have any excuse for choosing folly because the bible tells us that wisdom is always found where the paths meet. 

We also read in the bible that Christ is our wisdom and that folly represents our own best attempts or worse, decisions influenced by the enemy. The thing with folly is that it all too easily masquerades as right, plays to our weaknesses and feeds our self delusions.  It always seeks disruption or harm for us or those close to us. 

There is a way which seems right to us, but in the end it leads to death. So, stand at those places where the paths meet and choose wisdom and life.

Wesley on marks of the new birth

I am re-reading 'The Holy Spirit and Power' (Wesley) and it is very challenging......... In the chapter dealing with marks of the new birth he lists a number of points with scripture references and they are certainly worth reading in a devotional sense, asking the Holy Spirit to lead us through them and be aware of areas where He still needs to bring (closer) to completion the work He has begun in us.

It's not as easy read, but probably worth it.........

MARK #1: TRUE FAITH

The true, living Christian faith is that which works in those who are born of God. The necessary faith is not only an assent through understanding, but a disposition which God brings about to give the believer a confidence in God. It is a conviction arising from that confidence that our sins are forgiven through the merits of Jesus. We know that we are now reconciled to God. This implies first that a person lost in sin must renounce himself in order to be found in Christ. To be accepted through Him, he must totally reject all confidence he has in himself and his own works. He has nothing to pay, and has no trust in his own works or righteousness of any kind. He comes to God as a lost, miserable, self-destroyed, self-condemned, undone, and helpless sinner. At last his mouth is utterly closed. He knows he is altogether guilty before God. Such a sense of sin is commonly called despair by those who criticize the faith they do not understand. This sense of sin must be coupled with a full conviction that no words can express. It is the conviction that our salvation comes only through Jesus. There is also an awareness that a real desire for salvation must precede a living, trusting faith in Jesus. His life and His death were the fulfillment of the law for all of us. 

MARK #2: CONFIDENT AND FRUITFUL FAITH

Faith then, by which we are born of God, is not simply a belief in all of the articles of our faith. It is more than that. It is a true confidence in the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is an immediate and constant fruit of this faith, whereby we are born of God. It is a fruit that cannot be separated from it at any time. This fruit is power over sin. It is power over outward sin of every kind. It is power over every evil word and work. It is power through the blood of Christ when applied. 

This power purges the conscience from dead works and from inward sin. The power over inward sin purifies the heart from every unholy desire and temper. Paul describes this fruit of faith in the sixth chapter of his letter to the Romans. There he wrote, “How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

Our old personality is crucified with Christ, so that the body of the sin in us might be destroyed. Now we no longer have to serve sin. We are now dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Sin no longer reigns in the mortal body. We yield ourselves to God as those who are now alive from the dead. Sin has no dominion over us, thanks be to God. Once we were servants of sin, but now we have been made free through the work of Jesus. 

Plainly, we simply thank God. We were in the past servants of sin. Now we are free from sin and have become servants of righteousness. This same priceless privilege of the sons of God was also confirmed by the Apostle John. He was particularly sure of the power over outward sin. He wrote, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.... Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

MARK #3: THE NEW BIRTH PRODUCES SINLESS LIVING

Then John wrote, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”[6] Being unable to understand this, some men will say, True, whoever is born of God does not commit sin, habitually. The conditioning of the Scripture with the word “habitually” would allow occasional sin. This is a deception which alters God’s promise given by John. Adding this condition brings the promise of God to no effect. Beware that you do not add the word “habitually” to condition this Scripture in your mind, if not in your words. John interprets his own words: “You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.”[7] From this comes the inference in the following verse: “No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.”[8] John knew that men would try to persuade Christians that they could commit sin and still be the children of God. The Apostle John cautions us: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does light is righteous, as he is righteous. He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.... No one born of God commits sin, for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil.”[9]  

By this plain mark of committing or not committing sins, men are distinguished one from the other. The same meaning is in the fifth chapter. “We know that anyone born of God does not sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one does not touch him.”[10]”

MARK #4: PEACE WITH GOD

Another fruit of the living faith is peace. In being saved by faith, we have all our sins blotted out. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”[11] This is what Jesus himself promised all His followers the night before His death. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let them be afraid.[12] And again He said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.”[13] This is that peace of God which passes all understanding. It is a peace of God which passes all understanding. It is a peace which is impossible for even the spiritual man to describe. It is a peace which all of the powers of the earth and hell are unable to shake. Waves and storms can beat upon living faith but they cannot shake it, for it is founded upon a rock. It keeps the hearts and minds of the children of God at all times and in all places. Whether they are in comfort or in pain, in sickness or health, in abundance or need, they are happy in God. In every state they have learned to be content and to give thanks to God through Jesus Christ. They are completely assured that whatever is best for them will happen to them. The result is that through all the hardships of life, they stand fast in peace, believing in the Lord. 

MARK #5: LIVING HOPE

Another scriptural mark of those who are born of God is hope. Peter wrote about this. He said, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope.[14] Peter described this hope as a living hope, because there is a dead hope just as there is a dead faith. There is a hope which is not from God, but from Satan. Dead hope is evidenced by its fruits. Dead hope is the offspring of pride and is the parent of every evil word and work. Everyone with living hope is holy, as God who called him to be holy. Every man who can truly say, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God ... for we shall see him as he is,” has a living hope. He believes that he can be purified even as God himself is pure. This is his hope.

This hope implies the testimony of our own spirit or conscience, that we walk in simplicity and godly sincerity. It also implies that we receive the testimony of the Spirit of God bearing witness to our spirit that we are His children. In knowing that we are His children, we know that we are heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. God himself teaches us about this great privilege of His children. Who is it that is said to bear the witness? Not our spirit only, but the Spirit of God. God himself is He who bears witness to our spirit. What is it to which He gives witness? That we are His children. That we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” It is in all of the children of God that the Spirit of God bears this witness. So Paul can say in the preceding verses, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

Additionally, he expresses this hope as, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’ it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.”[15] You have received the spirit of adoption whereby you can cry, “Abba, Father!” Who is it that received this spirit of adoption? You, as many as are the sons of God, have, in virtue of your sonship, received that spirit of adoption. Now you can cry out, “Abba, Father.”

You are now ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. You have one Lord, so you have one Spirit. You have one faith, so you have one hope, also. You are sealed with one spirit of promise. The proof of your inheritance is that same Holy Spirit bearing witness with your own spirit that you are the children of God. Through this, the great beatitude is fulfilled: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”[16] It is easy to see that some sorrow may precede this witness of God’s Spirit with our spirit. In fact, some sorrow must precede it, because we suffer from fear while in separation from God. In that separation we have a sense of the judgment of God abiding on us. As soon as this fruit of hope, through the gift of the Holy Spirit comes upon us, our sorrow and fear is turned to joy. Anguish is no more, because joy belongs to those born of God. It may be many of you now have sorrow because you are aliens from this great promise.

Sorrow comes from an awareness within ourselves that we do not have the Holy Spirit. Sorrow is the fruit of those who are without hope and without God in this world. It is only when the Holy Spirit comes that your heart can rejoice. Then your joy will be full.[17] Then you will understand and be able to say, “We join God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” We will be able to agree with Paul on this state of grace, of reconciliation with God, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”[18] You have been born again to a lively hope and are kept there by the power of God. You can greatly rejoice in your salvation, even though there may be heaviness through many temptations in this world. There is always praise, honor, and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ even in hours of trial.

MARK #6: INEXPRESSIBLE JOY

Through the rebirth and its hope we rejoice with inexpressible joy, being filled with the glory of Jesus Christ even though we do not see him.[19] How inexpressible His glory is! Man cannot find words to describe this joy in the Holy Spirit. It is the hidden bread of life which no man can know until he receives it from God. But this we do know, this joy remains in all things and overflows in the very depths of afflictions. Large consolations come from God for His children after all earthly comforts fail. When sufferings most abound, the consolation of His Holy Spirit abounds even more. With this grace, the sons of God can laugh at destruction when it comes. In need, pain, hell, and the grave, they know He has overcome. He has the keys to death and hell. He has ended both for His children. Now the great Holy Spirit comes as though out of heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.”[20] 

MARK #7: THE GREATEST MARK OF ALL—LOVE

Love is the next scriptural mark of those who are born of God. It is the greatest of all the marks of the new birth. “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.”[21] This is because we are sons of God and God has sent forth His Holy Spirit into our hearts so that we can now cry out, “Abba, Father!”[22]  

Loving God. 

By the Holy Spirit, we continually look to God as our forgiving and loving Father. We call to Him for our daily bread, for all things needed, for both our souls or bodies. We continually pour out our hearts before Him, knowing that He hears our petitions and will give us our requests.[23] Our delight is in Him. He is the joy of our heart. He is our shield and our exceeding great reward.

“The desire of our soul is for God. Our whole purpose is to do His will. We are satisfied with whatever He gives, and we speak our praises to Him. In this same sense we not only love God but we love His Son, Jesus Christ.[24] We rejoice in our Savior. We love the Lord Jesus Christ with sincerity. We are also joined to the Lord in one spirit, the Holy Spirit.

Loving Others. 

Love of our neighbor necessarily flows out of our love of God. We love every soul that God has made, even our enemies. Now we can love every man as we love ourselves, as we love our own souls. Jesus commanded this, teaching us to love one another even as He loves us. The result is that this commandment is written on the hearts of all of those who love God. Now we understand this to be the love of God which He expressed for us. He laid down His life that we might be saved. We must then be willing to lay down our lives for our brethren. When we know that we are ready to do this we truly love our neighbor. By this mark of love, we know that we have passed from death into life.[27] By this we know that we are born of God and that we dwell in Him, and He in us. We know this because He has given us His loving Spirit. Love is of God. Everyone who loves in this manner is born of God and knows God.[28]

The Apostle John also says, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.”[29] His commandment is that we love our neighbor in the same way that we love God. This is the sign or proof of the love of God. It is the keeping of the first and great commandment. True love, once poured into our hearts, will cause us to do so. Whoever loves God with all of his heart will serve Him with all of his strength in all of His commandments.

Who did what now?

“You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.”

2 Samuel 12:9 NIV

http://bible.com/111/2sa.12.9

This is the episode after David had arranged to have Uriah killed - and Nathan, who was first and foremost  a real friend of God but also a true friend of David, told David what he did not want to hear, but what he had to accept if he was ever going to fully step into the calling of God on His life. 

How David responded to the 'prophetic' truth telling would define his whole future and the future of a nation ......

We then come to the other truth - we do not have to do the deed to be guilty of doing the deed! 

( 2 Sam 12:9 )

David did not personally kill Uriah - but he was the murderer. "YOU KILLED HIM - even though it was the sword of another that actually ended his life.

Some sobering points to reflect on:

1. How to we respond to truths that we may not want to hear or perhaps that we are hiding from or in denial about? These will be moments that define us and our relationship with God our future character and fruitfulness.

2. Do we have people who are sufficiently close to God and true enough friends to us to speak 'prophetic' truth?

3. Are we such people?

4. Are there things in our lives that although we did not personally or actually 'do the deed' we are nonetheless guilty of before God?

“Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” 

2 Samuel 12:13 NIV

http://bible.com/111/2sa.12.13