Envoy Matt Kean

Any suggestions...???

2010-02-10T19:33:00.004+11:00

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To all my readers, I want to sincerely thank you for following my blog. You have both challenged and encouraged me. This has been my first attempt at a blog and I have enjoyed it. However, I am beginning to think that my posts might be more interesting if the subject matter was not always my own preference. So, basically, I am asking if you guys have anything in particular you would like me to write on. What topics or scripture passages are you interested in that perhaps I have not tackled? Please let me know and maybe the dynamic of this whole blog might take a different direction. I look forward to seeing your suggestions.

Your friend,

Matt

The Cross Demands More!

2010-02-02T17:04:00.004+11:00

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. (Matt. 14:28-29)

Faith is something that Jesus insists on, and throughout the gospels Peter seems to display more of it than others. In this story from Matthew's gospel, all the disciples are in a boat and rough weather comes on. Suddenly they see a man walking on the water and they all become terribly afraid. They think their Saviour is a ghost. Of course, Jesus immediately clarifies that He is indeed not a ghost and there is no need for them to fear; the man they saw was their God. Here, it is worth noting that of all the disciples that were present in the boat, only one speaks up: Peter. “Lord", he says, "If it is really you, tell me to come to you and I will.” Jesus speaks to Him as sure as a trusted friend and says, "Come." At that Peter jumps out of the boat and he experiences a great miracle as a result.
Peter believed in Jesus. He might not have understood why he believed (maybe all the miracles Jesus performed convinced him), he might not have formed his own personal theology, but he knew without a doubt that he could trust Jesus. The man that stood in front of him was dependable! He was his friend, he cared for him, he respected him. Jesus was someone Peter had no problems trusting... but this is not discipleship!
In John 6:60-71, there’s another great picture of how Peter’s understanding of Jesus was different (perhaps more advanced) than his peers. Until this point, Jesus had about 70 'disciples' or followers, but he starts to teach some things that were hard to embrace. He begins to up the ante on the cost of being a believer. This is what he says: “If you do not eat my body and drink my blood, you will not have life in you.” Now, this was a difficult statement to hear and because it was so offensive, all except twelve people stopped following him. After they had left, Jesus turns to the twelve and says, “Will you also go away?” And Peter replies, “Lord, where else are we going to go? Only you have the words of eternal life.”
Peter not only trusted Jesus as a good friend, but he believed in Jesus’ divine power and authority. He actually had an understanding of God’s great purpose for Jesus. He wasn’t following Jesus blindly like some others because he offered a few wise words. He realized that somehow Jesus was his salvation, his connection to God, even his ETERNAL LIFE. Yet, even this is not real discipleship!
Remember, just before Jesus was crucified Peter denied Him thrice. He vowed that he would never do such a horrible thing, but exactly as Jesus foretold, Peter indeed broke his promise (Luke 22:61). All of a sudden, Peter wasn’t being asked if he was a friend of the great prophet, or a student of the great teacher, or a defender of the great king... now he was being accused of associating with the filthy criminal that was dragged by the hair of the head in shackles to be condemned. Jesus required that Peter be made the garbage of the earth, the mockery of all men, the lowest of the low... just as He was. After this point of brokenness, where he went out and wept bitterly for denying his Lord, Peter finally became a true disciple. He gladly carried the ridicule of his Saviour into death. To take the place of Christ when he is being regarded as filth... that is real discipleship!

Jesus, strengthen me to truly be your disciple.

No such thing as holy lies...

2010-01-20T22:21:00.005+11:00

"You should be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth." (Deut. 23:23)

When God gave Moses the laws and precepts by which He wanted the Israelites to live, He was very specific in His instruction. There were laws regarding eating, cleaning, dressing, marrying, hunting, buying, selling, trading, worshipping and so on. In giving the Law to His servant Moses, God was very meticulous and He insisted that the people receive it with the same attention to detail. When it came to the laws regarding honesty and integrity - covenants and vows - the LORD decided that a man's word could stand as his bond. Basically, if a person made a promise and committed themselves to a certain thing by speaking it aloud, then it was decreed in the realm of Heaven as well. When this is considered it is understandable as to why God would declare it a sin (see v. 21) when someone spoke something false... it's as if they had completely cheapened the power of their own word and degraded their character to the point of a liar (likened to the Prince of Lies). This law was different than those having to do with cleansing rites and community conduct. It was a stern reminder that the words of men were meant only to bring forth the truth [word] of God.
Within the Salvation Army there is certainly no decision and commitment that bears more weight than that of soldiership. It is a giving of oneself to every want and whim of the Almighty God. It is a voluntary surrender of the will to the Sovereignty of Christ the King and to the increase of His kingdom. Yet, having said this, there seems to be almost no issue of conscience amongst many who have deserted this very serious covenant with God. Even though Soldiership is a covenant and commitment that vows the whole heart to God to serve within the ranks of The Salvation Army, there are still so many who regard it as nothing when they recant.
Now, it is noteworthy that nearly every single person who has laid down their promise of soldiership has done so for a purpose - a few of these purposes even sound vaguely divine - but the scriptures seem to suggest that a broken promise proves only a heart that cannot be trusted. How much more severe is it if the promise is made literally to the LORD of Hosts?
In this verse from Deuteronomy there is no dispute that God has given great warning to anyone who would take their words lightly. You cannot simply remove yourself from a covenant with God! You cannot simply create new terms within a covenant with God! You cannot suddenly feel called to forfeit a vow that has been made! God does not call people to tell Him lies. The only way to get out of a promise without dying is to lie. Any other reason is nothing more than the pursuit of selfish gain. Guilty of breaking a promise... guilty of sin.

No Truth Please!

2010-01-08T20:30:00.007+11:00

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-5)

Paul's young apprentice, Timothy, was very gifted in knowledge and fervour for the gospel, and throughout his letters he often made reference to the youngster's faith and devotion. Without a doubt Paul was certain that the Spirit of God had bestowed upon Timothy much ability to carry the truth of Christ to the lost. Although his youth was most likely considered a handicap by many, Paul never once allowed it to remain a source of discouragement for his student.
Now one might think that because Timothy was a man of only a few years he would have wrestled with such demons as arrogance and pride, and this may very well have been the case, but here the advice offered by Paul was of a different matter. This epistle was for the purpose of steering the young evangelist in the path of sane and sound doctrine. Paul makes his warning as clear as crystal: Stick to the Truth you've learned from me and the scriptures! (2 Tim. 3:14-16).
But in these few verses (above) there is a great and disturbing prophecy given. The words seem to bear an accuracy that lingers still. Paul wanted Timothy to know that at every available moment the enemy would ever so subtly try to distort the truth of God that he believed, and the more tightly he gripped to the scriptures, the more resistance he would meet. Regardless, teach and preach the word of God, rebuke sin, cling to the truth and reveal it to others! Yet, even though Timothy was warned so sternly to shun compromise, he was also warned that many would prefer to hear lies and fables instead of the truth. In fact, some would swear that lies and fables were the truth!
It is a certainty that the word of God is indeed the absolute truth... even though so many who claim to believe God would deny this. In the 16th verse of 2 Timothy 3, Paul writes that all scripture is God-breathed, or more literally, breathed out by God. In his 2nd letter to the church, the apostle Peter writes that the written word of God is far more reliable as a witness to the truth of Christ than his own ears and eyes. (see 1 Peter 1:19). No wonder Paul was so intent on getting young Timothy to realise this point!
Perhaps now more than ever, the church has need of this reminder from the word of God. The church today is so ready to twist and distort the word where it offends and is abrasive. Our minds are regarded as a better judge of truth than the scriptures. The truth is so rarely wanted and the gospel is so frequently compromised. Truth is in the eye of the interpreter and it is as shifty as clay. In many cases Christianity is merely a collection of beliefs that are shaped by one's own preferences and sympathies. Fewer and fewer people actually BELIEVE in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and maybe even less believe that they only constitute the divine rule for Christian faith and practice. Too often, the opinion of God's word is "If it doesn't fit my idea of God's word, then it's not really God's word." I wonder sometimes if itching ears is actually much more of a present-day condition.

Backsliding.... How?

2010-01-03T19:19:00.005+11:00

How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of Grace? (Hebrews 10:29)

Throughout the holy scriptures there is an abundance of references to the love, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, and grace of our great and marvelous God. He constantly meets His people with an offering to know these attributes, and when they are most rebellious and criminal towards His love, He often pleads that they will fall upon His tenderness. There is no doubt whatsoever that God's graciousness and benevolence are extended to us before any other of His qualities. Evidence enough that this is so can be easily found in the coming of Christ Jesus to the earth for the purpose of bringing all humanity back into the arms of the Father. Remember the words of Romans 5:8... While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Again, proof that God shows his tenderness first.
Having said this, it also remains true that once a heart has met the tenderness and good-will of God, they are thereafter responsible to live differently because of it. They are no longer permitted to live as those who are ignorant of the charity of God, especially since the grace with which they've met came at such a tremendous price. It required the heart of God to be rent as He watched His own flesh die. To come to Christ's cross and dump off the burden of guilt and sin is liberating beyond the limit of words, but it must be understood that it is a decision which cannot ever be nullified. In other words, realising the sacrifice of God in Christ changes everything forever... like it or not.
With this being the case, I believe one of the most detrimental and foolhardy doctrines that has surfaced within the greater Christian church is the belief, once saved - always saved. The gift of salvation and the forgiveness of sins is so precious and priceless that it can be likened to nothing else. All that the world has to offer is excrement in comparison to the life and eternity that can be found in God's Son. How then, if a person has truly realised the worth of Christ Jesus, can they bring themselves to the point of voluntarily turning from Him for the pleasures of lesser things? It requires such a hardness of heart, such an ungrateful spirit, such an arrogant mind that it becomes a persistent insult to the grace of God.
It was to eradicate our sinful nature and clothe us in the righteousness and purity of the Most High that Jesus suffered and died. When a man or woman deliberately turns to the evils of sin and develops an affection for the world that surpasses their desire for Christ, it is nothing less than a slighting of the Spirit of Grace they once sought. It's as if to say, "God, I love what you took from me too much... I want it back!" Chapter 6:4-6 of the letter to the Hebrews passes a very harsh sentence for the apostate.
I have decided, at least within my own life and ministry, I will be much more intentional about teaching and preaching The Salvation Army's belief that a person can backslide. It is too important to put aside. Sin is so readily tolerated, even among Christians, but the harsh reality seems to be that turning to it is far worse for believers - because we essentially spit in the face of our Saviour after seeing the anguish of Calvary. Indeed, what will be deserved by one such as this?

The Fairest of Friends

2009-12-30T22:00:00.003+11:00

"But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up and saw the glory of God..."
(Acts 7:55)

There is a strange peace that is known by every believer that has truly given themselves to the will of God. Although they are not exempt from the cruelties of this world, they are altogether freed from their tyranny. The pains of life and the fear of death have absolutely no power over the one who wholeheartedly trusts in the saving grace of Christ Jesus. This peace is certain! There is no disputing it because it rests in the faithfulness of the Saviour - and He is the fairest of friends. He is dependable and no shadow of doubt can darken the light of His peace.
But, sadly, not every Christian is able to profess this great peace. Some faiths are not so firmly grounded in Christ. For some, perhaps too many, Jesus is not the sweetest friend. Sometimes He simply lingers in the background of life and might be beckoned when the boat begins to rock. It is not shameful if one confesses this kind of relationship with Christ, but it is indeed a shame if they see this truth and refuse to confess it.
In the story of Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 7:54-60), there is a beautiful picture painted of this deeper kind of Christianity. It is that kind of friendship with the Master that is worth far more than all else. It is a deep affection for the person of Jesus that manifests itself as nothing less than love-sick devotion. Oh, what a wonderful closeness and intimacy, a satisfaction and pleasure, that only a real friendship with God can bring! It is an indwelling joy, an unspeakable peace, a marvelous warmth that cannot be quenched even by the heaviest gloom. It is stronger than every other strength, and only thickens and breathes deeper from the breath of God when the darkness is most black.
Read through the 88th Psalm and you'll see this deep friendship with the LORD of Hosts. It is a song that tells of sadness and despair and it is being poured out of a defeated and lonely soul. Yet, somehow the author is able to begin his lament with words of intense faith... "Oh LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before You." Here, there is certainly no exemption from hardship and turmoil, but there remains a deep affection for the heart of God.
Christian, if you are bold enough to confess that you do not know Christ Jesus in this way - if you realise that The Fairest Friend is not that for you - then be assured, He desires to be so close even to you. I say with tears that nothing is sweeter, or richer, or deeper than to love Him with all your heart and mind and strength... but it is a matter of will. Please, throw all else aside and know the pleasure of truly having this Fairest of Friends.

Precious Jesus, help me to surrender my all to you... to live not for myself, but to honour you. Let me know your peace, your joy, and your friendship - I want to be deeply in love with you. Please, make it so.

Are you sure of your salvation?

2009-12-24T01:03:00.002+11:00

"The one who loves God is known by God." (1 Cor. 8:3)

It is not uncommon for a Christian to wonder about the certainty and security of his or her faith. One may argue that true faith in Christ is unable to develop without there being difficult tests and trials faced. Throughout the life of the Church there have been many great saints who have found their way through the darkest fogs simply because they were able to deal with the heavy burden of doubt. Consider the struggles of such holy men as Saint John of the Cross, Thomas à Kempis, John Wesley, and Oswald Chambers and there is sure proof that the brightest torches for Christ are those that burn through the storms.
But perhaps it can be said that of all the questions to plague the heart and mind, of all the doubts that could permeate the soul, the darkest might very well be the one that mistrusts the Atonement of Christ. Many a good Christian have come to this place in their life of faith. It is a haunting skepticism that infiltrates the thoughts of many, and sadly, some will settle without certainty. "Am I really saved?" or "How do I know I am a true disciple of Jesus Christ?" This is a question to which every believer ought to come, but it is detrimental to never conquer it. Its answer has the power to increase and deepen faith or kill it completely.
In the 8th chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses an issue that had caused many feuds within the early church. There was a debate amongst Christians regarding the eating of food that was sacrificed to false gods: was it permitted or not. He builds his case well (as he does in several of his letters when arguing the pointlessness of ritual), but in verse 3 there can be found a very profound statement. It was an assurance to young disciples who did not feel the need to be chained to the old Jewish laws that their devotion to the Most High was their eternal security.
Yet, in this moment, for those who are wandering (or have already wandered) through the caves of confusion and doubt, how wonderfully perfect are these words!? "The one who loves God is known by God." Here, the word known (egnostai in Greek) is used specifically to convey a meaning of intimacy. In other words, if you love God - truly love Him - then you can rest assured that you are held in His tender arms and are well saved! In the worst times of haunting doubt, when questions around the eternal security of your soul arises, it is a comfort to fall on this great truth... I love my God, therefore I am His. What splendid certainty! What glorious joy! My love for my LORD and Saviour is evidence enough that I am wonderfully saved from sin and death. It is His guarantee put in my heart by His own love that Christ has done it all!
Christian, do you truly love your God? Then you are His for sure! Sinner, do you want to love your God? Open your heart to Him so He may know you, and show you His love. There is security in His love! Hallelujah!

Enemies within the camp!

2009-12-17T14:18:00.005+11:00

"But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed ears, then the weeds also appeared." (Matt. 13:25-26)

Within His great family God wants brotherly love and harmony to blossom and abound. As soon as one confesses faith in Christ and allows their heart to be filled with the life of the Holy Spirit they are immediately adopted as sons and daughters of the Almighty and the fellowship of true love is their's. It is indeed one of the fruit by which the disciples of Christ are known.
Having said this, it is also true that within this great family there will come many who are not the offspring of Holiness but in fact offspring of evil. These seeds have been sown within the kingdom for the purpose of only destruction. Although they may loudly profess allegiance to Jesus, their hearts actually refuse to warm to Him and their efforts are spent corroding the kindred of God from the inside. They are weeds! They choke out the life of the Word that strives to flourish in the hearts of faithful children.
Jesus warns of these imposters in His Sermon on the Mount and describes them as ferocious wolves dressed as gentle sheep (Matt. 7:15). Peter as well gave one of his longest dissertations addressing the evil rot that is false prophets within the church (2 Peter 2). The Church of God has been dealing with the strangling power of weeds since its conception. Every time the Spirit of God has burned hot within the hearts and souls of Christians there have been those who claim to be siblings working painfully to hinder His fire.
Weeds choke healthy wheat; in matters of faith there is absolutely no difference. They entangle the roots of the good plant and prevent it from feeding to its full potential. Their mandate is to keep the good plant in shallow soil and eventually suffocate it completely. And you can depend on the fact that these people will know all about God, but they do not actually know Him. One can be certain that where there is spiritual stagnance and lifelessness in faith, there is the work of weeds. Yet, as fierce as they are, weeds are unable to wither those plants whose roots are deepest.
So what are we Christians supposed to do about the presence of such destructive evil so close by? Well, the answer is perhaps a shocking one: NOTHING! Our faith must simply shine through the thorns and thistles and be ever contrasting. The pruning can only be done by the Great Gardener because only His eye is discerning enough to untangle the subtle words and works of weeds. Our duty is to grow deep and deeper still. We must reach into the darkest cracks of our Lord's heart and draw from His richness. Alongside wheat such as this, weeds are mere inconveniences... not threats at all. The Kingdom of God will increase dispite the efforts of these imposters and they will one day be pulled up, roots and all. Then, praise Jesus, the true siblings of Christ will stand tall and proud - forever and ever! But every Christian can be sure... weeds are everywhere. Beware of them!

Covenant proves true friendship.

2009-12-12T18:03:00.003+11:00

"When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking pot of brass with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces." (Gen. 15:17)

It is clear that God was a part of Abram’s life before a covenant was made between them, but the relationship was on Abram’s terms. He was able to keep God at a distance (so to speak), have the perks of being friendly with the Most High God, and reap the benefits of God’s blessings and gifts. Abram’s relationship with God up to this point was without consequences. If he got tired of God, he could easily throw Him aside. It was a relationship that was comfortable for Abram and his life was easier because he could call on God whenever he wanted something.
But as in every relationship with God, there comes a time when development and maturity are necessary in order to grow farther and deeper in faith. God allows His people to cruise along for a time, but He knows that if it were left up to them, His plan and purpose would never be accomplished. God Himself takes the reins in His friendship with Abram and sets the terms according to His Sovereignty and wisdom. There is absolutely no difference in how God moved His relationship with Abram forward and how He moves our relationship with Him forward. He sets His own conditions and establishes us as His people. In other words, a covenanted relationship with God is a deeper relationship with God.
You see, a covenant places both parties in a binding relationship that requires the faithfulness and devotion of each one. It “ups the ante” on the seriousness and commitment that is held between the two sides. Once a covenant is established within any friendship, then both parties are bound to each other by oath. It means very clearly, that if the covenant is broken, then the friendship is broken. Basically, both parties are on equal terms, bearing equal responsibility within the relationship.
Look at verse 17 of the 15th chapter of Genesis. Abram is still in his deep sleep and God is speaking to him in a dream. Abram had prepared animals for a sacrifice just as God had told him to do (v. 9). We read here that a smoking pot of fire and a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces of meat that Abram had prepared for a burnt offering to the LORD. This was God’s signal to Abram that no longer would there be any division within their relationship. They were now covenanted to one another and they would be committed equally to their promise. God used this scene to change the terms of His relationship with Abram. Quite clearly God was declaring to Abram, “You prepared the sacrifice and I will set it aflame.” No longer was God’s friendship with Abram simply one of convenience and comfort. Now it was one of love and devotion.
This is the profound difference between being an acquaintance of God and being covenanted to God. It professes that there are two halves to this friendship: God’s half and my half. It places requirements and responsibility on the person, not just on God. We are not just using God to make our lives easier or nicer, but we are committed to being used by Him for His purpose. This is the only way that a person can grow and mature in a relationship with God. Without a willingness to covenant oneself to God on His terms, there can be no development in faith and discipleship. Outside of a covenant with God, any relationship to God is an acquaintance that insists on the maintenance of selfish desire. Perhaps it is also worthy to mention that nowhere in all of scripture did God call a person out of covenant.

The Awful Reality of Hell

2009-12-03T23:28:00.004+11:00

Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 22:13)

The parable of The Wedding Banquet is perhaps one of the stories of Jesus that is a bit easier to decipher. Its structure draws an almost linear picture of God's plan of salvation for humanity. It begins with a King sending out invitations to the people of His kingdom to come to His great feast. The first invitation is declined by those on the guest-list, and the second is shrugged off similarly but with more disdain. The King grows intolerant of these refusals and He sends out a third invite to the lowest and poorest of the kingdom - the ones that were most undeserving.
The majority of theologians and scholars agree that this parable is referring to the epic struggle throughout the ages of God and His offering of salvation to the Jews, their ultimate rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, and the resulting extension of the eternal inheritance to the Gentiles. In other words, Jesus was telling the story of the gospel message that would continue long after He left the earth. However, the concluding verses of this parable (v. 11-14) seem to be much less clear than the beginning.
At the end of His story, Jesus adds a very gruesome twist: someone who claims they have accepted the King's invitation is found to be a fraud and his end is a terrible one to say the least. Regardless of why this person is discovered to be wearing the wrong clothing, the fact remains that there is a severe punishment for those who are discovered in this condition. Basically, those who are deemed unfit by the King to be present at the great wedding feast are thrown outside! First of all, Jesus describes that the fraud is bound hand and foot, revealing that there is no opportunity to escape this end. There is no dispute in the matter; he has already been judged as guilty and his freedom is lost. He cannot run away or argue his rights. He is bound to his fate.
Secondly, Jesus describes this consequence as a place and with much attention to detail. This place is "outer darkness" (also vividly described in 2 Peter 2 and Jude's letter) but is not by any means void of consciousness and feeling - hence the need to use verbs like weeping and gnashing, because they portray emotion. As severe as His words are here, this is not the only time Jesus uses this description of an eternity other than Heaven. Three of the four gospels use almost identical phrasing, and sometimes even harsher ones.
Here's my querry: If Jesus saw fit to warn His listeners (i.e. disciples, Pharisees, Saducees, and scribes - the church at the time) of a place of unfathomable terror that housed those with fraudulent faith, shouldn't we as Christian preachers and teachers at least acknowledge its reality? I wonder sometimes if we have forgotten that our loving, merciful Saviour never held back the truth even when it was hard to accept. One of the things about this story, as well as this description of hell, that startles me most is that it was spoken to the Church. How then can we be so comfortable subtracting it from our theologies?

On to what's important...

2009-11-28T17:08:00.007+11:00

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Today the Salvation Army marched as many uniformed soldiers as it could drag out of its pews into the middle of Federation Square in the city. Let me tell ya, it was a body of people who were proudly reflecting the message they believed. I was so moved by their willingness to raise the Army's flag and loudly declare the truth of Christ's love. The march was led by cheerful songs of the redeeming blood of Jesus, shouts of "Hallelujah to the LORD of Hosts", and of course waving flags. It was beautiful to see soldiers from many different corps witnessing to people of every race and nation, without prejudice, about the saving love of Jesus Christ.
As the day unfolded there was even more uncensored profession of Jesus as the world's Saviour! There was a brass band, draped in navy blue, and songsters lifting their praises to the Living God unashamedly. People stopped and talked about God, the Bible, love, forgiveness, even judgment. Complete strangers were asking to be prayed for and expressed earnest desire to know God's unfailing love personally. People were discussing their faith, or lack of faith, with the Salvation Army openly simply because we had made it so blatantly clear that we were concerned about it. I was proud to be a part of such a mass of uniformed Soldiers who were intentionally wanting to tell the world that they were Christians first and foremost.
There were Soldiers who were walking around speaking to people individually about the gospel of Christ and the loving compassion of God for this dying world. The Spirit of God prepared each heart so perfectly that within seconds of initiating the discussion people were kneeling in the street to pray for salvation. One Hindu gentleman even prayed with his own words, "Jesus Christ, I do not know you, but I would like you to show me who you are. Please come into my life and teach me to love the true God." How amazing is that?! In total, I believe by around 4pm, there were about 20 people who had submitted their lives to the Lordship of Christ, calling on Him to forgive of past sin, and many committed to attending discipleship classes. It was a wonderful day, and the Holy Spirit of God powerfully used the Salvation Army to preach the message of Christ's salvation to the lost! Hell lost its grip on a few more souls today, thanks to the grace of God.
Now, more than ever, I am convinced that we allow too many things to distract and dissuade us from this most important mandate within the Army. We often get caught up in arguing over foolish trivialities when we could be exercising our spirit for the glory of God. If we would allow the Lord to lead us into places and situations that make us feel uncomfortable, let Him make us vulnerable, and trust in His power, we would be encouraged by Him far more often. We are indeed His witnesses, and today I saw real proof that witnessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ is still able to drop people to their knees... even in the busiest streets. Hallelujah! We are saved to save! Let's do more of it!

Satisfied no longer with Mediocrity?!!!

2009-11-23T22:57:00.003+11:00

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.
(Mark 10:51)

Blind Bartimaeus was a beggar who made his living from the few pennies he collected from passers by. He would sit outside the gate of the city, covered in the dust that the crowds kicked up as they busily walked past, waiting to be thrown a few morsels. On a good day, he might have experienced the joy of holding a small handful of coins; on a bad day he’d be lucky to have gotten a piece of dry bread. His life was hardly more than an existence. This is who he was, and we ought to realise that this is who he was with a knowledge of Jesus.
In verse 47 of chapter 10, we are told that when Bartimaeus heard that the crowd was following Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout to him... “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Bartimaeus tells us much about his knowledge of Jesus with these few words. He called to Jesus as the Son of David which suggests that he believed He was the Messiah, the salvation of Israel. In the 22nd chapter of Matthew’s gospel, Jesus asked a group of Pharisees, “Whose son is the Messiah?” (v.42). Of course they quickly responded, “He’s the son of David.” But then Jesus says, “Well, why then does David call the Messiah his Lord?”(see Psalm 110). You see, this simply could not make sense if the Messiah was David’s literal son.
The Pharisees didn’t know who Jesus was. They did not realise that the man standing before them was in fact the Messiah they were waiting for, but poor old blind Bartimaeus did! Yet, even with this beautiful, priceless knowledge he remained in the dust waiting for the blessing of a few measly pennies. Sometimes I wonder if God ever questions how His children can be so satisfied with the tiny morsels of ‘salvation’ when He has offered us so much more. There are many Christians who think that a relationship with Jesus Christ means safety and security from an eternity in hell. However, the scriptures clearly tell us that this is the smallest fraction of what it means to be rightly related to God. Spiritually speaking, I can’t help but think that the church of Jesus Christ is largely made up of Christian beggars! There are many who know who He is, but have never known anything other than the tiny tid-bits of ‘being saved’. In some cases the experience of salvation is hardly more than a memory of an event that once happened, and sadly, it has been a life of experiencing a memory since then.
Jesus said in John 10:10 “I have come so that you might have life, and that you might have it in all its fullness.” He was not talking about a life full of luxury and material possessions – that’s only foolishness and frivolity. He was talking about the fullness of His RESURRECTED LIFE! In Christ Jesus we become the heirs to all the riches and splendour of the Kingdom of God, and I believe it is an insult to the glory of God to sit in the dust and be satisfied with just being saved... especially when He has offered so much more! No Christian needs to be a beggar simply existing spiritually. No Christian needs to be satisfied with morsels. God has promised to us His joy, His peace, His glory, His Holiness right NOW!!! The question is, will you take it?

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Give me the joy of your life!

Other than Christ... there's no point!

2009-11-18T09:49:00.008+11:00

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." What does anyone gain from all their labours at which they toil under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3)

Solomon, in all the wisdom bestowed upon him by the grace of God, writes this short book of proverbs and poetry with a strange understanding of transcendant truth. There is no doubt that with all his experience as Israel's king, and having been anointed to peer into the heavier questions of existence, he developed a perspective that allowed him to see into things with much insight. So revered was his wisdom that kings and queens from afar came just to sit in the presence of his counsel (see 2 Chron. 9:1-2). Perhaps it's worth mentioning that although his wisdom became his legacy, it was indeed only the reward for his humility (1 Kings 3:7).
Regardless of how or why King Solomon was gifted with this great holy blessing, the most astounding matter is exactly what he concludes as a result of his enlightenment. The more he learned to look through the eyes of his God, and weigh all things in the Eternal Balance, the more he saw the frivolity in the things of this earth. According to Solomon, the truth of every matter was simple: other than the reality of God's will and glory, absolutely nothing held any value whatsoever! His commencing words of "Meaningless, utterly meaningless" are brought to a close with the very certain instruction at the book's end... "Here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of every being." In other words, all that consumes our time allotted in life, if it does nothing to glorify the LORD and increase His kingdom, is labour in vain. Strong words!
Think for a moment of the kinds of ambitions and goals that mesmerise most people today. Things like wealth, prosperity, success, status, and the like are the priority of almost every heart. In the western church particularly there is a very powerful desire to have, possess, and own material things. There seems to be a dominion that rules the priorities of the world which has done well to infiltrate the body of Christ.
Now more than ever, people strive to accumulate more and more things, and sadly it seems that the picture painted by popular Christianity is no different. I believe that the wise words of king Solomon need to be seriously considered. All our efforts invested in worldly things are at best vanity! 2 Peter 3:10 warns that all such things, along with the efforts that reap them, will be be destroyed by fire. They are worthless and without substance. The return of Christ will expose it to be as it truly is - utterly and completely futile.
Imagine if the church stood before the King of Kings at the end of ages and held up all it has worked for only to see it all melt away to nothing! "Oh Lord, just look at our wealth, our success, our massive congregations, our bank balance." The reply will be, "And how did it profit My kingdom?" You see, Solomon figured out something that I believe too many Christians have forgotten... Other than Christ, all is meaningless.

God's enemy is still subject to God's authority

2009-11-11T17:29:00.006+11:00

"Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." (Luke 22:31-32)

According to the words of scripture our enemy is like a savage lion that goes around seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He knows his end is certain for God's word has decreed it, but there is such a bitter hatred for the God who expelled him from Heaven's glory that his last sting against Him is to lead His children into death. The only way left for the devil to bleed the heart of God is to sabotage the eternities of His most prized creation. And, we can be absolutely sure that until his kingdom is completely eradicated at the return of Christ Jesus, Satan will not stop trying to hinder God's redemptive plan for humanity.
In this portion of Luke's gospel, Jesus is speaking to the disciple Simon Peter. Jesus would soon be handed over to the chief Jewish officials and eventually crucified. As He eats His last meal with the disciples, He tells them of how they ought always to reflect Him by being humble servants and warns them that their faith will soon be tested. But when I read this verse (above) I am startled by the truth it conveys.
Basically, in these words Jesus paints a very similar picture to the one portayed in the book of Job (see Job 1:6): Satan, or literally The Adversary, approaching the LORD Almighty and asking to tempt and test the faithful. As strange as this is, and even though my first reaction is to argue the possibility of it, the truth that seems to be exposed here is that the enemy of God actually serves a function! He is evil by nature because everything in him that was once good has been corrupted by pride (see Ezekiel 28:14-19), but the devil still seems to be subject to the authority of The Great I AM. He cannot do to men and women anything that violates his restrictions. In other words, the power of the Adversary is actually quite limited. The scriptures seem to suggest that the only reason he is able to devour anyone at all is because we give him the means. We buckle under his pressure, so to speak.
Jesus says that Satan asks to apply pressure - to tempt us into disobedience and doubt, and away from God - but all he is permitted to do is apply pressure... nothing else. In everything else he is bound to the decrees of God pronounced against him. This kind of scripture is a great challenge for me... I believe it, but I don't really want to. Sometimes I wish God would just stop Satan from tempting me, but then of course my faith would not grow stronger. It couldn't be groomed to last. The purest gold must go through the hottest fire, I guess. It's amazing really... that the enemy of God is still subject to His authority!

Jesus, I thank you that you are always interceding to keep us faithful.

And then the end will come...

2009-11-06T11:06:00.004+11:00

"At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." (Matthew 24:10-11)

The hard reality about the gospel of Christ is that every Christian is expected to persevere. Any faith that does not last is worthless. In fact, the truth is that a lifetime of service is negated the moment a heart recants. There is a haunting future being depicted here by the words of the Master: the church WILL lose faith and shrink to a remnant. It is inevitably the result of a belief that is founded on sand (see Matt. 7:26-27). It is also worthy to point out, at least according to Jesus, that those who turn away from their faith return to a depravity that comes natural to them. They will betray and hate even those they once called brothers and sisters. A Christian that rejects the Christ they once knew will regard those who endure as enemies. They must; their former siblings are a constant reminder of their broken covenant.
Jesus speaks of two different times in this 24th chapter of Matthew's gospel. In the first 2 verses He speaks of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (which happened around 70 A.D.) and in the following dissertation He speaks of the earth's last days. How alarming is it that when Christ returns for His church, true members of the church will be most few! This pronounces a stern warning to all Christians, doesn't it? Perhaps this suggests that the kind of faith Christ will look for upon His return is very different than the faith that fills today's churches. From these words in Matthew, it seems that Jesus will not return to a Bride of vast congregations, but to a certain few who are dotted among the crowds. Who are these certain few? Who are these faithful ones? They are those who remain in Christ's love... and those who remain in His love are those who keep His commands (John 15:10). Almost certainly, they are the disciples who stand alone.
There is indeed a popular Christianity that exists today that is easily seen in churches, on television, in magazines and newspapers and speaks well of itself. It might look like Christianity, but often it is built on nothing that lasts, and will be treated as nothing (Matt. 7:22-23)! I wonder how long after the going is good will it linger? Will it slip away as soon as any kind of tribulation comes? I wonder sometimes exactly how much actual faith is in today's Christianity. When Christ returns will He even find real faith on the earth (Luke 18:8)? Whatever the case, the reality remains that perseverence (or faith that lasts) will become less and less of a quality within Christianity, and as this quality continues to diminish, the return of King Jesus gets closer and closer. For me, this is quite a sobering thought.

Come, Lord Jesus... but cover the faithful by your grace until you do.

Run to Him!

2009-10-31T17:46:00.002+11:00

"The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness..." (Exodus 34:6)

It often brings me to tears when I think of how many times I have failed as a Christian. Whether it be out of selfish ambition or ignorance, stubbornness or sheer disobedience, it seems like every time I earn God's trust as His servant, I get distracted, take a step backwards, and I find myself being guided once more by the tender hand of Jesus back to the Heart of God. Over the years He has taught me to fail less, and His Spirit directs me to live more in His grace, but only because He is so very patient and kind as a teacher - not because I'm deserving.
There are so many things about God that continuously bewilder me. His wisdom is far beyond my deepest thought. His love is limitless. His power is unmatched. His holiness only affirms His transcendence. All that He is far surpasses any and every object-line I try to draw around Him. Yet, having said that, it also stands true that He is merciful beyond comprehension. This attribute of our Heaven Father beautifully reminds us that He loves to forgive.
In the verse above, God is speaking to Moses about Himself. This is not a description of God spoken from the mouth of a man, but they are the words chosen by God to describe Who He is. How encouraging is it to know that God introduces us to His personality by introducing us to His compassion and grace?! ... His Mercy!
Forgetting that our God is merciful and longs to forgive sin is detrimental to any soul and any church. Satan's kingdom grows stronger as long as people remain separated from God by their sin. There is no need to be at a distance from the heart of God! Although we are a people that may fail Him, and we might turn our eyes away from Him, it is the pinnacle of our faith that He forgives all who humbly come to Him. Bring your repentant heart to the cross of Christ, find yourself in His all-covering blood, and remember that He loves to forgive. Run to Him! Never away! Seeing a returning child approach Him with an earnest heart might very well be the greatest joy of our God.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for your longing to forgive your people.

Infidelity: Satan's Victory!

2009-10-24T17:06:00.004+11:00

And you ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. (Malachi 2:14)

These words in the verse above came as a result of God's anger against the Priests of Israel and Judah. "You flood the LORD's altar with tears, and weep and wail because He no longer pays attention to your offerings." Basically, the priests of God were living as hypocrites. Several things are held against them, including robbing God of tithes (see chap. 3), but without a doubt the most severe words spoken by God are written in this portion of the 2nd chapter. God addresses the fact that the priests were divorcing their wives and engaging in marital relations with other women. It so disgusted the LORD that He refused to listen to their prayers and petitions. As far as God was concerned, unfaithfulness in their covenant to their wives resulted in unfaithfulness to their covenant to Him.
Within today's Christian church, infidelity is widely accepted. Statistics on divorce in the church are staggering. It is not uncommon to find senior leaders, teachers, and mentors who are on their second or third marriage. Of course, each one requiring new "vows" that are binding under the watch of the Almighty. How is this so? Within a church that is supposed to represent the holiness of God, the purity of Christ, and His faithfulness, how have we come to a point where one of the few things our God hates is so acceptable?
Throughout each denomination of the church there is an increase in marital breakdown and divorce (Roman Catholics may be excluded). I wonder how many of these denominations are struggling with church membership and growth? We fast and pray, give our tithes and time, but yet something just seems to be hindering our progress. The world sees almost as much discord and mistrust in the church as it does on television! Jesus said very clearly in 3 of the 4 gospels that marriage unites two people forever under God -- both partners being covenanted to sexual fidelity -- and what God binds together no man has the right to sever. Ministers of the gospel of Christ, representatives of truth, proclaimers of God's redemptive plan for a fallen race, claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit and yet cannot love their spouse enough to remain married.
Personally, I honestly believe this is the single greatest inconsistency within the Christian faith. It is a corrosion and rot that has impregnated the purity of the Bride of Christ. We talk to those still lost in sin about allowing Jesus to change their lives from the inside out, but our pulpits and offices are stained with adultery and broken covenants. It seems to me that we have become so tolerant of our own blasphemies that we have forgotten that God promises they have dire consequences. Only a few things draw hatred out of the heart of God... Infidelity is one of them. "I hate divorce!" says the LORD God (v. 16). Why, then, is it so condoned by Christians? Satan proves himself again to be a clever foe.

Oh Lord God, in your mercy, please forgive us for our broken covenants with each other and with you.

Be brave or go home!

2009-10-19T21:16:00.000+11:00

Then the officers shall add, "Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that the others will not become disheartened too." (Deuteronomy 20:8)

In time of war there is dire need for hearts of iron. In other words, the person who cowers at the thought of fierce combat has volunteered themselves for the wrong vocation. No soldier can successfully stand against an adversary with a fearful heart. They become the weakness of the lot. Fear and timidity is as dangerous as the enemy simply because it paralizes, as well as disarms, the soldier... and it's not long before disarmed soldiers create a disarmed army.
When God gave instructions to the Israelites in regards to them engaging in warfare, His instructions begin with "Do not be fainthearted or afraid" (v. 3). This was not simply a suggestion, but an insistance that the nation of Israel ought to trust in His faithfulness. After all, their God was YHWH - the Great I AM, the All-Consuming Fire, the Almighty! He had proven Himself so many times before and His power and glory were unmatched. There was simply no need to fear or become weak at heart... victory was certain because the God of Israel was certain. Interestingly, although His instructions begin sternly with telling the soldiers not to fear, He also gives clear instruction to not allow anyone who is overcome with fear to fight (v. 8). The reason is explained: A soldier that is afraid or disheartened before war is a detriment to the whole army. Now, at first glance, this seems a little unfair. What soldier is comfortable with war? But, in light of the first order, "Do not be fainthearted or afraid", allowing a soldier to enter the ferocities of battle with a timid heart would be blatant disobedience. Basically, it didn't just convey fear, but also a complete lack of trust in the faithfulness of God... and the order was given for "Any soldier that does not trust ME should go home!" They could be of no good use to an army of the faithful.
As a soldier of the gospel of Christ, I take very seriously the fact that I am in the middle of a massive war against sin and evil. Jesus went so far as to describe our enemy as a strong man who is fully armed, but assuring as well that He is indeed much stronger and able to disarm the enemy (see Luke 11:21-22). Without a doubt, as Christians we are in times of war and, like the Israelites, our only assurance is the certainty of our God. But surely the same instructions remain unchanged for us! Any soldier that attempts to fight against an adversary as sinister and vicious as ours with a faint or fearful heart is only able to weaken the rest of the army. Too often, people who call themsleves soldiers - men and women who are supposed to be brave and true - come to the field with a faint heart and it cracks the morale of the faithful. Christians who will not open their mouths and be a witness for their Saviour, but yet assume they are a benefit to the army, should go home! The war is too great! Souls are too precious and they continue to die in darkness! Unless we are an army made up of ones who will boldly carry The Light we are useless in this war. Please... forget your fear, cast off your faint heart, trust the faithfulness of our God, and fight... or go home!

True remorse can be seen!

2009-10-15T23:35:00.000+11:00

"But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his chest and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'" (Luke 18:13)

Salvation of the lost ought to be the absolute priority of every person who claims to be devoted to Christ Jesus. After all, by His own admission Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10), and it seems only logical that all who sincerely profess discipleship would long to see those outside God's family returned just as Jesus did. Certainly this is the mark of the true Church of God - those whose hearts yearn for the perishing to be redeemed by the cleansing blood of Christ - they are indeed the true bride.
But as ministers of the Gospel, sometimes I believe Christians are too easily appeased by 'confessions' of faith. Personally, I am guilty of being satisfied because a person has nodded their head in agreeance to a few doctrines. I've seen many cases where someone's eternity with Christ was simply assumed because they grew up in church or because they knew the Bible well. The church has staggered into great error if it has stopped seeing people filled with true, heavy remorse when they claim repentance. Surely the realisation of sin must bring about deep agony within the heart when one approaches a holy God. Too often we are contented with hearing a 'believer' speak of the blessings of God in their life, or the way God has so beautifully revealed Himself through family and friends when times were rough, and yet may have never expressed any kind of remorse for their sin. We say things like, "Oh they are good Christians" or "They have been faithful soldiers", but all the while it could be very possible that no repentance has actually taken place within that person's heart.
When I read this parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector closely, I stumbled onto something I hadn't seen before: The man who goes away justified was the man who was anguished by his sinful state before God. He showed his true remorse by his actions. Too seldom when I speak to people who profess faith do I see this kind of sorrow for sin. Honestly, I don't understand how one can come to the cross of Christ, realise that He hung there for them, be convicted with the Holy Spirit's power, cry out to the mercy of a loving God, and believe that all is forgiven without showing it in their countenance and demeanor. It seems to me, in light of Scripture, that many times the faith we are assuming hasn't actually begun. No true faith can come to be without first there being true repentance, and no true repentance can occur without true remorse... and true remorse can be seen.

The Compulsion of the Call!

2009-10-02T14:34:00.000+10:00

"For when I preach, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1 Corinth. 9:16)

It is truly staggering when one realises the call of God to carry His gospel to the world. For some it may come with the brightness and intensity of blazing fire, for others it may come as an unavoidable nagging that simply lingers, but it is certain that when a heart finds itself overshadowed to the point of no escape by the persistence of Christ Jesus, that is the call of Abandonment. At this place, there is no other alternative for the Christian other than absolute surrender to Divine purpose. The call to be the Spokesman of God is a haunting one! Obedience to it requires reckless devotion, and disobedience in light of it results in misery. It is perhaps one of the strongest urges produced within the heart of the Christian and it rarely relinquishes its grip.
Paul knew very well what kind of heaviness came with this kind of call. There was no choice in the matter for him. If he refused to preach the gospel that had so engraved its mark upon his heart he would live his Christian life enslaved to his failure. Regardless of what it required of him, he understood that the Spirit of Christ Jesus within him refused to stay silent! His mouth had to speak for the glory of God because it was being birthed in the depths of his heart (see Luke 6:45). The call of God had found him and it drove him to be all things to all men so that he might save some (1 Cor. 9:22).
I sometimes wonder if this kind of compulsion is the reason for so many of our sermons, our meetings, even our missions efforts. Do we really know this real sense of burden to speak up and witness for the name and gospel of Jesus? I've heard many times how we need to be reaching out to the poor, or building relationships with others, or giving more effort to discipling our youth (all these are valid and worthy), but I speculate whether or not these are actually dulling our call to preach the gospel. Are we allowing ourselves to be distracted from the nagging of the Holy Spirit within us to declare the redemptive power of Christ to those who are dying eternally? If the Salvation Army, as well as the rest of the Christian Church, are simply trying our hardest to rectify our failure to obey this very persistent call of God, then all our efforts outside this end will continue to result in our misery. I'm convinced of this. Could it be that the reason so few take up this banner - the reason so few live for the vocal proclamation of the gospel - is because they are more prone to be regarded as fools and outcasts?
Our aim is to win the world for Jesus, is it not? Maybe it's time we seriously reflected on Paul's warning... "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"

The Greatest Teacher of All!

2009-09-28T12:57:00.000+10:00

"I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts."
(Psalm 119:99-100)

Sometimes I forget that the word of God is wise far beyond human wisdom. It has the strange ability to teach even the dullest mind (provided they are willing to submit to it) and propel them farther along the path of truth than all the ramblings of earthly thought. There is a transcendence that comes with the wisdom of Scripture. Although it is able reach into the darkest regions of the vilest heart, it is also able to speak to the simplicity of innocent of children. There is a captivating pleasure that comes from the satisfaction of feeding on the richness within its pages. It intrigues me to no end that regardless of what I experience, whether burden or frustration, fear or calm, God's word can find its way into the deepest chambers of my heart and leave the impression of His gentle hand. This truly astounds me!
But even beyond this, the author of this Psalm (presumably King David) makes an even bolder declaration. All the people of this world, regardless of learning, are not able to speak one truth that cannot be found in the words of the Almighty. Basically, scholarship that is not led by the Scriptures amounts to far less than worthy. It is dross. "I have more insight than my teachers because I meditate on your statutes." Because the word of God bears the thoughts of God, and within them lies the superior intellect and wisdom of Omniscience, then any time spent absorbing them results in divine enlightenment.
It baffles me, especially within Christian faith, when human rationale takes presidence over the word of God! We try to dictate what about the scriptures we should deem trustworthy and what we should dismiss. We seem to pick and choose what is absolutely true or wise, and what is just the banter of men. I often wonder which is more foolish: Accepting the Scriptures as having complete wisdom and authority, or making our own minds the Judge of wisdom and authority. There seems to be a tendency within today's academic church to assume that those who do not doubt the word of God are fools, although often they are the strongest in faith.
Dr. A. W. Tozer once said to a group of Seminary students... "Christians, let me tell you that you do not have to apologise for Christ Jesus. He is the Word of God. You do not have to worry because His doctrines do not fit with what you've been taught at school. All you've learned at school is just one fallen head teaching another fallen head." All the wisdom that any person has ever desired to know, that every heart has ever wanted to be satisfied by, has been poured out into the pages of Scripture. Why then do we so often look anywhere else for truth? Could it be that this why the church has grown so very weak? Could it be that this why the world has been able to leave its impression on us more than we leave our impression on it? I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. (v. 104).

Simple Instructions - Glorious Results!

2009-09-20T22:45:00.000+10:00

"Follow God's example, therefore,as dearly loved children and walk in the way of Love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2)

How often do we truly consider that we ought to follow God's example as we live? It's common among Christians to assume that we should be reflections of Jesus, but sometimes I wonder if we really understand what it means to follow God's example. "Walk in the way of love" is often an instruction that is not honestly weighed in the balance. Personally, there are times when I flippantly recite passages such as "Love you neighbour as yourself" or "Love your enemies" and my understanding of following the example of God is summed up by my ability to quote these verses. But when I search the depths of my heart, the depths that God's eyes are able to see, I soon discover that obedience to these simple instructions can't always be found.
Think about it for a moment: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but would be given eternal life (John 3:16). How is it that God could ask me to follow this kind of example? How can I possibly walk in this kind of love? This must far exceed my small efforts to carry an elderly woman's grocery bags, or buy a homeless man a bowl of soup, or lead a bible study on the Atonement! This kind of love can only stem from the heart of God! If Christ Jesus would walk helplessly to Calvary and suffer as one who was despised by God, and did it all because His heart was wrenched for lost humanity, then it is only with that same heart that a Christian can exemplify that love.
To follow this example - the example of a heart that is torn open for those separated from the Father - I am required to possess His heart. That Great Heart bleeds for those who are rebellious against Righteousness. That Great Heart hurts for those who are oppressed. That Great Heart yearns for those who will not turn from their sin. That Great Heart longs to see the broken healed. Is it right for God to expect me to have such a heart? Absolutely! If I am serious about following Him, then I must be serious about being as deeply in love with those he loves. Our Everlasting Father spoke through the Priest Ezekiel, "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but My will is that they would turn to Me and I would redeem them." (see Ezek. 33:11). This verse struck me quite abruptly just recently. When I meet someone who does not know the love, compassion, grace, and forgiveness of God, it is not that they are outside His family that should move me to love them, but because God's heart is broken over the fact that they are separated from Him. And, if I possess the heart of God, then sensibly my heart is also broken. This Great Heart allows me to follow His example and walk in the way of Love.

Oh Lord, continue to let me feel how much you long to hold the lost.

A Cold, Hard Truth!

2009-09-10T11:13:00.000+10:00

“There is no one righteous, not even one.”
(Romans 3:10)

Just recently I heard an interesting interpretation of the doctrine of Original Sin. It presented quite cleverly the possibility that humanity is ‘infected’ with a horrible disease that has been a hereditary plague upon our species since our first parents. Sin is this disease, and we are desperately in need of the cure that only Christ can offer. Basically, the conclusion was drawn that humanity was created in the perfect image of our Heavenly Father and therefore at the deepest part of our core, even though we are sick to death with this terribly corrosive disease called sin, we still have a small spark of goodness within us that can be salvaged.
However, this did not sit well with me. As much as it appears to emphasize the horrible nature of sin, I was troubled by how this idea seemed to diminish the horrible state of the human heart. It seems to suggest that we are victims who were unknowingly exposed to the enemy of God without really having any responsibility for our fall from grace. “We caught a disease that has been killing us ever since.” In much of Paul’s language (in this case an amalgamation of excerpts from the Psalms and Ecclesiastes) it can be easily concluded that we are not victims at all. In fact, the opposite is true: Humanity is a race of rebels and criminals against the rule of a Holy God. Sin found a comfortable dwelling within our hearts only because we invited it there! Every single one of us, young and old, rich and poor, male and female, are corrupt and vile because we chose (and continue to choose) sin instead of Righteousness.
We are told in Genesis 3:5-6 that our first sin was not disobedience, but in fact wanting to be like God without God. This is exactly why Lucifer was thrown out of the Holy of Holies! (see Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14). Consider as well the condition of the human heart before the great flood... “Every inclination of the heart was only evil all the time (Gen. 6:5). It seems to me that humanity in not sick with sin – it loves it! Now, if this is the case, how much more potent is the grace and forgiveness of Christ Jesus! Imagine! He is able to make saints out of such a vile lot!

Broken or Crushed?

2009-08-31T18:26:00.000+10:00

"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but anyone on whom it falls will be crushed." (Luke 20:18)

There is no neutrality offered in Jesus. He does not come to us asking to be a part of our lives, but He instead comes insisting that He become our life. All that we are must be broken to pieces in order to make way for all that He is! Throughout the gospel of Luke, there are several references where Jesus presents His message of redemption as a severe and serious call to uncompromised discipleship (see Luke 9:23-26, 14:25-35, 17:7-10), and this verse from chapter 20 is no exception. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were constantly attempting to justify themselves by exalting their devotion to the Abrahamic covenant, but Jesus ruthlessly squashed every hope that was not found in Him. In the verses prior to this one, Jesus tells the parable of the Tenants. It was a summary of the Jewish saga with God and how they were guilty of refusing God's salvation. It was also an intentional jab at the listening leaders and rabbis who remained unwilling to submit to His gospel of truth. The gest of the story is that all who reject the Son end up rejected!
But Jesus pushes even farther still: Not only does He point out the seriousness of rejecting His Lordship, but He also emphasizes the seriousness of accepting His Lordship. There is no middle ground, He says. "My salvation demands that you come with a submitted heart to WHO I AM", not to who you want me to be. How very different is this gospel to much of today's popular Christianity? I wonder if we have really allowed Jesus to 'break us to pieces'. Personally, I find this portion of scripture quite sobering. I constantly wrestle within my own heart to make sure that I am not forcing Jesus to fit my molds when I should be fitting His. My terms, my conditions, and my rights are null and void when I approach Christ. The only right I have in the flesh is the right to die! (Rom. 5:12). Words such as these (above) have opened my eyes to a Christianity that is hardly what Christ spoke of at all... a very worldly christianity (small 'c' intended). The church and The Salvation Army seems to be riddled with a gospel that coddles every one of our whims and wants. Oh, how I pray that Christians everywhere would fall helplessly upon the great Stone that is our Saviour and allow themselves to be broken into tiny little pieces. Only then will we be able to turn and see the evil nature of who we are destroyed by the crushing weight of His sin-loathing LOVE. To the world, to the church, and to The Salvation Army, Jesus has presented this question... Broken or Crushed? You decide.

Spiritual Authority

2009-08-18T10:20:00.000+10:00

"Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to His command." (Leviticus 10:1)

As a result of this act God consumed them both with fire and they died! For some reason, this was not a small offence. God was completely intolerant of what these two priests had done. There was no room for this kind of insubordination in the priestly line that God had ordained. It is a fact that Nadab and Abihu were allotted the positions of priests, but their mistake was assuming they had Spiritual authority because of their positions. God had instructed Moses to anoint Aaron as the High Priest (see Lev. 8:7-12), the only man who could approach God with the sins of the people, and his sons were chosen simply to be his helpers. Yet, these two helpers attempted to assume their father's authority because they had seen him exercise it so many times before. According to scripture they offered "unauthorized fire". Some versions use the word "strange" instead of unauthorized, but the point still remains the same: God had not given them the authority to perform such a rite. As a result, they lost their lives - and their positions!
In the case of Aaron's sons, they had certainly been employed to fill a functional role, and there fulfillment of that role was absolutely vital, but their authority only went so far because God had not permitted them to have any more. The authority they assumed was their's could only be given by God's anointing, but He did not give it to them. Their authority was limited to, and equal to, their position.
Often within today's church there is a severe confusion between one's positional authority and one's Spiritual authority. Sometimes as leaders we equate a positon with an anointing. The two are as different as night and day! We try to assert power where we have none. Sadly, sometimes people end up fooled into following a powerless position instead of following one who has the favour of God. Even though it may look convincing - Aaron's sons dressed like him and even acted like him - the proof is in the way God responds to such claims. We ought to be very careful what authority we try to assume, especially if we claim the choosing of God. Few things are as insulting to God, and as detrimental to His church, than a person who assumes they have Spiritual authority when in fact they have little more than dellusions of grandeur. I believe there's a very good lesson for the Christian church in this passage of Leviticus... Spiritual Authority has nothing to do with position, but has everything to do with God's approval.

Oh, what Love!

2009-08-13T11:44:00.000+10:00

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is Love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." (1 John 4:16)

I am continuously amazed by the depths of God's love. He has shown me the inner-workings of His heart on several occasions and each time I am more astounded by His yearning for His people. We are so very precious to Him, and everything He desires for us is benevolent and never without purpose. He only ever sees our potential and truly wants us to meet His far better standard for our lives. There is no failure in His line-of-sight when He looks at His people, just higher ambition. It really is a wonderfully bewildering thought to realise God's heart for us.
Oh, how easily this can be forgotten! Sometimes we misunderstand the heart of God. We sometimes only see our failures and our short-comings, and instead of simply handing them over to the depths of His love, we distort God to the point where we believe He sees us through our eyes. We lock ourselves in a view of God that is false. In this place, it is not long before our relationship with Him becomes a state of reacting to our misunderstanding Him. It is good to pull to the side for a while, look again intently at the heart of God - at His love! Consider how much He loves His children! Consider the great value He has deposited within each one of us. If only we would stop for a moment and look into His heart, see through HIS eyes, and re-discover the yearning He has for us to know His affection., we would then see who we are with renewed clarity.
In this short verse from John's first letter, there is a beautiful simplicity: "Dwell in the love of God, and you will forever dwell in God." In the great shadow of God's love, everything in our lives just disappears. It's all just so miniscule. That He would clothe Himself in flesh, take on the sin that disgusts Him so much, and carry it into the agonies of Death, is an extremely sobering truth... Stop for a moment, and consider the Love of God!

Lord Jesus,
I can only shout your praises because you love me so much. Thank you.

'Nuff Said!

2009-08-04T14:49:00.000+10:00

"You study the scriptures diligently because you think that in them you possess eternal life. These are the very scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have Life."
(John 5:39-40)

A head blocked with knowledge is certainly not a heart near to God.

Christ Supreme!

2009-07-30T16:43:00.000+10:00

“Yet I have this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” (Revelation 2:4)

The Ephesian church was well known among the believers throughout Asia. It was one of Paul’s most successful plants. It was made up of a healthy mix of both Jews and Gentiles (although some of the same issues around ceremonial observances still surfaced from time to time) and as far as their activity as evangelists and financial supporters of the greater church, they were well regarded. There was much growth happening within their community, no doubt as a result of their willingness to heed Paul’s advice in matters of spiritual maturity and brotherly love. They were considered to be quite sound and grounded in doctrine, having a ruthless intolerance for heresies in teaching. Yet, for all that had been their profit, over the years this group of Christians began to somehow lose focus. They started to drift away from what was really important and valuable and instead found their purpose in secondary things.
These words of the Master in John’s vision at Patmos have continually astounded me. He gives His servant seven specific messages for seven of His churches, but the words He speaks are words of warning. This is a strong point for me personally. Also, whether it is intentional or not (I think it is), it is worth noting that his warnings start with this one to the Ephesians. “Consider how far you’ve fallen!” (v.5) He exclaims. It is sobering to think that even though the church was doing so many good things, and believing so many right things, Jesus scolds them so sternly. “You have forgotten Me!” “Everything you are doing is to no avail because your first priority is no longer Me.”
Sometimes it is easy for Christians to get distracted by the things that come with religion. Churches often prioritize their maintenance or their growth. Believers get caught up in foolish quarrels and disagreements. Sometimes we put the ‘doing’ of mission above the One who owns the mission. But, here the Saviour brings much clarity to how severe of an error this is. It is important that we, as present members of the Church, do not forget that these words are also for us. If anything comes before our Lord, or we somehow take our eyes off Him, then our light will most certainly die out. He must be our priority. Our love for Him must utterly supersede all else because “He is before all things, and in Him all things are held together. He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy.” (Col. 1:17-18). Let us heed this warning, and invest all our efforts in keeping our Lord as our first and foremost.

The Consecrated Life

2009-07-25T08:52:00.000+10:00

"... I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and not witheld your son, your only son from me, I will surely bless you..." (Genesis 22:16-17a)

Throughout the Christian life there are many mysteries. Sometimes we try to figure out the things of God according to our preferences for Him. We exhaust our minds in an attempt to fit our limitless God comfortably within our human limits. Quite often, when we find ourselves at our wits' end, completely confused and smothered by depth, the clarity of God's grace pierces our heart and we begin to find peace in the mystery. For me personally, one such mystery has been the doctrine of Holiness. It goes by many terms (i.e. Entire Sanctification, Full Salvation, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, A Pure Heart, etc.), but the prayer of Jesus in the 17th chapter of John's gospel presents it best. He prays, "For them I sanctify myself, that they might truly be sanctified." (v.19). What a tremendous thought! The notion that a flawed man such as myself, the chief of sinners, corrupt by nature, can have within him a heart that is pure and clean as the Master's is mind-boggling. Yet, it is certainly the case. Jesus hangs the possibilty for the Christian's sanctification with his own. In other words, because He is holy we are able to be made holy. There is far more to Christianity than forgiveness of sin... the offering to be consciously pure from the inside out has been laid on the table. But, as with our salvation, our sanctification comes at a cost! This blessing of holiness, this cleansed heart, this complete indwelling of the Spirit of God, comes only with entire consecration. Any part of the clay that is not given over to the Great Potter cannot be molded. The Consecrated Life in the hands of God becomes the Sanctified Life! It is the voluntary sacrifice of all we are to the will and glory of our God. I like the verse above from Genesis because it explains so simply and powerfully what a pleasure the consecrated life is to our Father. It's as if God says, "Give me every last drop of you, and I will give you every last drop of Me." I think the reason personal holiness is so difficult to grasp is because it demands the death of our 'self'. It demands we say, "Here's my life, Lord. Crucify it utterly and live your life through me." Our desire to keep ourselves hinders our sanctification. But, praise the Lord, God has made it possible to live in the consecrated life. Any other life is inferior.

Help us, Dear Jesus, to surrender our all to your sanctifying power.

Because He Lives!

2009-07-20T08:35:00.000+10:00

“If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Cor. 15:14)

This morning while I read my Bible, the Lord reminded me of this glorious truth! It is a fact that our Christ of Burning, Cleansing Flame is indeed ALIVE, but personally I sometimes forget it. I mean I forget that my Saviour and King is not just some entity that exists somewhere out there in the heavens. He’s not just a higher consciousness that keeps the cosmos in order, but He is actually my Living King who breathes and speaks. He feels and thinks. There are times when I neglect this immense chasm that separates Christianity from the other faiths... my God is ALIVE! He satisfies the deepest longings of my soul. He walks with me, talks with me, disciplines me, corrects me, carries me, loves me! This is why people who are close to God can have real, deep affections for Him. This is why men and women have expressed being sick with love for their Lord. He Lives!
In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul writes to address a false teaching that had found its way into the hearts and minds of some believers. Some teachers were claiming that there was no resurrection of the dead, and that Christianity was simply the pinnacle of this earthly life. This argument had stemmed from a very old dispute between the Pharisees (of which came Paul) and the Sadducees. This severe clash in Jewish theology had infiltrated the doctrines of Christianity and it was causing division and strife. Paul builds his case around the fact that God`s plan of redeeming humanity was based on the resurrection of One Man. If the dead cannot be raised, then neither can Christ be raised, and if Christ is not alive then there is no redemption for man. If there is no rising of the dead, then our faith is a dead religion. In response to the argument that fulfillment and worth in this life alone is the glory of our faith, Paul writes verse 19... “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others.”
To know with certainty that Jesus is alive and well is the backbone of a vibrant, joyous faith. There will surely be times of hardship and turmoil, perhaps even orchestrated by the grace and sovereignty of God, but it is necessary to remind ourselves that our Living God walks next to us as we go through such things. We have power to overcome because God has promised that we can live in His life! The reason that Christianity is able to offer something different is because we worship and serve a living God. It’s not simply because Jesus is merciful, or loving, or patient, or just, but because He is ALIVE! Christians, let me encourage you to dwell in this beautiful contrast between your relationship with Christ and religion. Religion is dead! Christ is alive! Hallelujah! Is He alive in you?

Declaring It Boldly!

2009-07-03T07:17:00.000+10:00

"The LORD will save me..." (Isaiah 38:20)

This is most certainly a statement of contented assurance.
There is no doubt that king Hezekiah knew of the reliability of his God, so much so, that he hesitated not before making his pronouncement. "The Lord will save me." There was no reason for weeping, no reason for fear. There was no unsure wavering in his words, nor did he cower behind his robe.
No, these were words of declaration! They were words of intent. They were destined for the ears and hearts of all who would listen. They were meant to go forth into the ferocities of battle; conquering, triumphant screams of bold faith!
Oh, what a pleasure it must have been to the ears of the Lord to hear such echoes of faith being spoken from the heart of His servant. If only we could know what joy this was to God, we would be nothing less than overwhelmed with emotions of glory!
After all, this was a man. This was not an angel, not a god or mythological being, nor was it any supernatural entity at all. This was nothing more than a mere creation. Yet, such authority was his to wield because of his simple faith and trust in the Truth of his God; "The Lord will Save me."
How many of us can boast the same? How many can boast such an absolute reliance on the power of God that your profession can be heard atop the mountains? Will we stand and live our salvation when our faith is threatened, or will we be that soldier that stays quiet in the trench, while brothers bleed? In what, or Who, is our faith?
If our next utterances were to be a prayer, let us pray this: that our faith in Christ would be our drive, our goal, our declaration, our victorious scream. That we would stop doubting and simply BELIEVE those God pleasing words... The Lord will Save me!

"Glory in the Cross"

2009-06-22T08:38:00.000+10:00

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive what is due them for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

When those of us take their stand
Who hold the sword of Truth in hand,
When saints of every tongue and land
Find Glory in the Cross

The enemy frozen fearful,
The righteous eyes still tearful
And every heart beats waiting for the call.

In paralyzing silence
The angels sound trumpets violent
And the clouds roll back like a sheet.
Nothing is left a secret
Those hidden things not seen yet
Are suddenly laid down at all men’s feet.

Whose shame is never ending,
Who’s there to act defending,
Who will take the credit for their fall?

Much is opened up
The outpour of wrathful cup
And now ears are hearing, hoping for the call.

But those of us still stand
With sword of Truth in hand,
And saints of every tongue and land
Have Glory in His Cross.

Going back to the beginning.

2009-05-19T11:23:00.000+10:00

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:18)

How often have you heard pastors and preachers say without even batting an eye that every person is created in the image of God? It seems to be a common belief within the Christian church, and perhaps even within the general public (at least in the West), that 'we are created in the perfect likeness of our Creator'. We often refer to the first chapter of Genesis to fortify this belief: "God created human beings in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." (see Gen. 1:27) Of course, it is true that the first man and woman were created in the likeness of God, but it must be undrstood that after the Genesis account this Divine likeness is never again ascribed to the race of man.
The reason for this is because of the fall from grace that soon occurred after our first parents sinned against God. In chapter 3 of Genesis, when Eve gave in to the serpent's tempting and desired to aqcqiure godliness without God, these two perfectly created people lost their perfection. Ever since then, according to the scriptures' account of humanity, our Godly image has been corrupted and corroding. Sin has stolen our innocence, and therefore has stripped us of the likeness of God.
But this verse from Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthian church reminds us of our original purity in a way that has perhaps gone unnoticed. Paul says that in Christ we are able to return to the glory of His image! Basically, it seems clear to Paul that until a person submits themselves to the Lordship of Christ and lives in the life of His Spirit, they remain a corrupted and corroding image of God. It is only in The Resurrection of Jesus that a human being can truly say they are the image of God. The reason for this is simple: Only in Christ is the corrupting factor of sin destroyed. Is every person created in the image of God? Well, it seems that the scriptures strongly suggest that we were once created in the image of God, but only if we die to our nature and live in His life, are we now able to reclaim that image. But, as Paul proclaims at the end of Romans 7, "Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" In Him I am again made in the image of God.

Mercy is not to be mistaken for weakness!

2009-05-13T17:54:00.000+10:00

"The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished." (Nahum 1:3)

Sometimes it is good to be reminded of God's patience toward us. We are His children - absolutely! - but we are also heirs of His Great Salvation, and therefore we are expected to be responsible. God is indeed slow to anger, for it is not His will that any person should suffer His wrath, but instead to live in His love and grace. Sometimes as Christians we prefer to veer away from the attributes of the Old Testament God. We want to accent the wonders of His kindness and gentleness towards us as His chosen people, but we like to assume these traits supersede those that are more disciplining.
In my own experience I have noticed that the 'harsher' qualities of God are more difficult to accept because they hold me accountable to my responsibility as His servant. They remind me that I am not simply a son that God intends to spoil rotten simply because I carry His royal Name. I have a duty to reflect who He is because I am His.
It is necessary for my God to be a patient, merciful and forgiving Father. I make so many mistakes and fail Him on so many occasions that it is good for my soul that He is indeed slow to anger. Yet, He will certainly not have His mercy mocked by my continued insolence. I am His son... we are His children... and our Heavenly Father requires that we obey Him.
The verse above is taken from the words of the prophet Nahum and it is a reminder to the people of Nineveh that although His grace and mercy abounds, God will not tolerate for too long the blatant insubordination of sinful behaviour. Almost 2700 years later, these words still powerfully apply to us. It's as though God wants His church to remember: "I will certainly hold my people accountable for the way they live their lives." He is patient, kind, gentle, long-suffering, loving, tender, forgiving, and merciful, but He will not let the guilty go unpunished. He cannot because it would contradict His righteous character. It would be good for us as Christians to remember that our adoption into the family of God in no way gives us freedom to break His laws. Within the family of God holiness is never suggested, it is expected.

Be sure of your children...

2009-05-01T21:39:00.000+10:00

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (3 John 1:4)

There is nothing more serious and severe in the whole of our existence than God's offer of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Everything else is simply frivolous and without value in comparison to being sure of our salvation. Very few parents would admit to not loving their children. It's one of the things that comes naturally (at least in most normal circumstances) to a human being. It seems to be woven into our instincts. In fact, most good parents would say they love their children more than themselves. However, in too many families within the church these two ends never meet. The tender love of the parents for the children often never venture into matters of eternity. Astounding! It baffles me sometimes when I meet parents who do not seem to have much concern for the spiritual well-being of their children. I hear frequently of concerns and hopes for a good job, or protection during a long trip, or even good grades in school, but for some reason there remains a mooring to the carnal.
In the passage above, John writes a letter to one of his young churches and this short verse brings to light the need to be certain of our children's fate. Now, he refers to all the believers as his children, but it would be good for us to consider his words and apply them literally. His words are beautifully rejoicing that the youngsters of the church are living in the truth of Christ. In fact he says, "I HAVE NO GREATER JOY..." I wonder how many parents could be so certain of the road their own children walk. You see, it was a matter of urgent importance for John that the gospel be understood by those who were young, less mature, still forming. They have no less to lose eternally than anyone else!
How is it that we are not insisting constantly the seriousness of knowing Jesus Christ personally to our children? Why have we allowed ourselves to assume they will figure these things out by themselves? I don't understand how parents can call themselves Christian, claim they love God, claim they love their children, and not be constantly bringing the reality of eternity before their young hearts.
If John is compelled to say he has no greater joy because he knows that his children are right with God, then I wonder what misery he would have expressed if his children were eternally lost. Parents, look at the sweet faces of your lovely children... be absolutely certain that you will look upon them forever!

Oh Lord Jesus, give us a burden to know that our children are yours.

That Joy that is your Song!

2009-04-22T23:47:00.000+10:00

“Singing…” Revelation 7:12 (NRSV)

There are many grim truths contained within the secrets of this vision at Patmos. Often times we find it may be the meeting place for much dispute and quarrel. Among the fellowship of Believers it is certainly not uncommon to find many discussing the great prophecy baffled and scratching their heads. The only thing of which a Christian can be absolutely sure is that it is the triumphant word of our Lord.
So, for a moment, let us forget that which brings confusion and discomfort, and let us consider the peaceful beauty of this very short word here: “Singing”. What a tremendous thought wrapped up perfectly in so few letters!
To know that the very thing that fills our hearts with lovely joy here on Earth does the same for the angels causes my soul to marvel. Even the glorious light of Heaven will not be able to muzzle my heart’s song. Oh, what a smile comes to my yearning spirit. This is proof, full assurance that never will I tire of singing my Christ’s praises. When I see His majestic face and wrap my eager arms around Him like a child would his father, my delight will still sound better sung.
Oh Christian, never let your song for Jesus grow silent. If it has, remember it and blare it from the rooftops. It is your song to your Saviour! Don’t allow it to be drowned out by the woes of trivialness. Be encouraged in the knowledge that in Heaven, we will all meet in chorus.

God's Unpredictibility!

2009-04-20T10:32:00.000+10:00

"The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant..." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Here, it’s almost as if God reveals the ‘ace up his sleeve’! The Israelites had been taught a certain way their whole lives. They had been instructed to live by certain rules and laws; they assumed that they were the sole inheritors of Divine grace because of these rules and laws. There were many times that it seemed they were always getting in trouble because they failed to obey these rules and laws. Their covenant with God was in this system of rules and laws!
However, all of a sudden, God exposes his real plan. “I will make a new covenant.” He says. This old system of rules and laws suddenly becomes outdated and God decrees another law will come to order. How can this be? How is it that for thousands of years, generation after generation were trying to live up to their end of a bargain (although quite poorly in most cases) that was just going to be one day obsolete? How could God do this to His own chosen people? How could He do this to His own chosen law? Well, it’s simple really. The answer comes once again from the pages of scripture: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (see Isaiah 46:10).
For some reason, it seems that we often forget who is really in charge. We tend to degrade God’s covenant with humanity to that certain place where we are simply obligated to obey. Now some might say that such a relationship is rigid and without satisfaction, and I would agree, but it is nonetheless how people prefer to be related to God. In other words, we think “As long as I obey these rules and fall in line, then God will leave me alone and stop interfering with my life.” Think about it for a moment. How many Christians just attend church or pray every so often just to fulfill their minimal Christian duty? The church is full of this kind of follower: religiously comfortable with an ‘old’ Christian covenant.
But, our God is beautifully unpredictable! Just as he said to Jeremiah, he so very often says to us: “I will make a NEW covenant with you!” No longer will I allow you to think you are satisfying me with your petty obligatory religion. NO! I will require something different of you, something more! This is the character of God that the deeper Christian falls in love with. There comes a realization, a true understanding, that we are not our own for we were bought at a tremendous price (1 Cor. 6:19). Regardless of what I think about our relationship, it is He who sets the terms for it. And, what’s even more is that if He decides suddenly to change its conditions, I will gladly accept because He is the great Potter and I am the clay.
I believe now more than ever, Christians need to come to this understanding of the reality of God, and of ourselves. Within this relationship, this New covenant, we are His servants and He is our all-knowing, all-powerful, all-seeing God. He has sworn by Himself to love us in His mercy even when we don’t always understand or agree with how He chooses to do so. Even though he is certainly an unpredictable God, we must completely trust that He is a life-sustaining Saviour. It is a glorious freedom indeed when the Christian can fling themselves upon the unpredictability of God’s faithfulness.

Our faith must be in His faith!

2009-03-17T15:57:00.000+11:00

“…and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18)

The part of this verse on which I want to concentrate is the latter: “…sanctified by faith that is in me.” This says as much about Christianity as many pages of theology or doctrine, but to realize its depth it might need some unpacking.
Christianity is not a religion. It is not a routine of ritual or traditional liturgy. In other words, going to church, attending all the prayer groups, being a faithful steward, or even studying the Bible will never make any person a Christian! (see John 5:39) True faith is nothing less than unconditional dependence on Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ is absolute criterion to being a true disciple of God.
Let me farther explain: Believing that a man named Jesus died on a cross does not make you a Christian. Serving in the church, working for the poor, or preaching a sermon does not make you a Christian. These are not what makes us His. What makes us real followers of Christ is knowing with certainty that we cannot do, nor have we done, anything that can save us from sin because the precious shed blood of Jesus is the reason we are saved. It is the blood of Christ that deems us right with God. Nothing else! It is faith in that atonement that appropriates salvation. Too often we seem to think that we are the ones being loyal to God in this relationship, but in fact it is Christ who is the loyal one. Our faithfulness is not at all trustworthy! It is His faith that saves us. Perhaps this is difficult to grasp, but nonetheless the scriptures point to its truth.
“Faith that is in me”, says the Lord. "Faith in my faithfulness!" This is how you have life everlasting. Nothing other than a complete and utter confidence in Him pleases the Father.
Dependence on Jesus Christ means this: I have no hope except Jesus. I have no choice except Jesus. I have no prayer except Jesus. I have no life except Jesus. I have no religion except Jesus. I have nothing except Jesus! It is only when my faith is Jesus Christ that I can without waver claim, “I am well saved!”

Because He will not fail, I am saved.

Some blessings are hard to see

2009-02-26T14:49:00.000+11:00

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him.” (Phil. 1:29)

There are times when God blesses His children with so much of Himself that they are almost completely overwhelmed, and they certainly would be if He did not carry them by His grace. These are the seasons where God sees fit to bless His own with an abundance of mercy, peace, rest, power, joyous love, and perhaps even material resources. It is not so rare for Christians to find themselves seemingly favoured with the windfalls of God, and in these times we can only offer praise and thanksgiving to Him who does all that is good, for such pleasantries are undeserved.
But, you can be sure, if you are rightly related to God in Christ these times of blessing and contentment will not be an endless plateau. There will indeed come valleys and storms to offset the ecstasy. The less mature Christian immediately blames the low places on the darkness prompted by the enemy’s attacks, but the disciple who knows deeply the attributes of God is well aware that by His divine providence fires of trial will come. We would be wise to remember that the peaks and swamps of the Christian life are never by accident. God does not let His will accidentally find His servants. On the contrary, we are bound to His will because we are His servants. Our right relationship to Jesus Christ anchors us firmly in the will of God.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful qualities of our Lord is His unpredictability, however it is often the most difficult part of His character to love. It presents Him as sweet in the heights of blessing, but it is a characteristic that tastes of bitterness in times of test. What is the mark of the true Christian? Certainly it is not to be able to lift voice and hands in praise when all is well. That is simply the mark of a person content. No, the mark of the true saint is the strange ability to identify the signature of God in every moment of uncertainty, in every moment of trial and suffering. It is in such moments, these more rugged and unpolished paths, that those who are closest to God will sing the chorus of their Saviour.
Too often within today’s church, there is allowance for a kind of faith that shies away from trial. Or, if it is faced, it is done so with contempt and disdain. For some reason many are unable to realise that these sufferings for the Christian are as much blessings from the Father as the mountain peaks, for His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul says to the Philippian church, “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ to suffer for Him.” In other words, it is God’s favour smiling upon you that has blessed you with trial. Here is the paramount test of my love for my King, is it not?
If only we would see our turmoils as the precious opportunities they are: splendid assignments of God’s will for His own to see His grace more vividly. Each one is an occasion to honour and glorify the God who forever showers us with His mercies. These stormy lows are simply ways in which He disguises His power to save, but if we look with a keen eye of faith, we are able to see through the clouds and catch a reflection of our crown.

Oh Lord, thank you for the blessing of suffering.

Christ removes the veil

2009-02-23T21:38:00.000+11:00

“Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”
2 Cor. 3:16

Jesus Christ is the clarity of all God is. He is the Truth. He is the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). Nothing is left unclear or uncovered when He is presented. The reason any person becomes side-tracked in their Christian walk is simply because something has veiled the Saviour.
Whatever the situation, the clearest and most straight-forward answer can always be found in the face of Jesus Christ. He is the Sovereign God and only because of His council do we find ourselves in every circumstance. The Calvinist would say your circumstances are allotted, whereas the Armenian would say they are permitted, but whatever the case, the fact that cannot be disputed is that all authority and governance over them is Christ. Also, we would do well to remember that He is the saving grace in each one.
When religion blurs the reason for our relationship with God, then it can quickly be assumed that Christ is no longer the center. Liturgy and service can be wonderful aids in a friendship with God, but they should never become depended upon to initiate intimacy. Intimacy with our Lord should be foundational; it should always remain stationary. Our faith gets tricky when things become veils that do nothing except separate us from the realness of Jesus Christ.
Life throws all kinds of detours and road-blocks into the journey of closeness to God, and too often the greatest of these is the heavy yoke of religion. You can be certain that hardship, suffering, and even failure will come to a person of faith, but when they do come, it is then that a religious person will stand apart from a Christian. Religion under trial inevitably becomes exhausted; relationship carries through trial.
Sometimes when we are unable to hear the voice of God for too long, or the answers to prayers we were expecting don't turn up, we make the mistake of trading our intimacy with Christ for the hard edges of religion that can be seen and touched. Such an exchange is often unintended, but almost always made out of selfishness. "I am not seeing God perform like I think He should, so I will fit Him into a mold that makes Him easier to see." Never let religion conceal the redemptive power of your Lord. Any focus other than the saving grace displayed on His cross will give you a skewed portrayal of God and your relationship to Him. If ever the cross becomes veiled, all you have is a lifeless religion... hardly a relationship at all. It is only in Christ Jesus that the mysteries of God's will can be made known (see Eph. 1:8-9).
Never let anything come between you and the glory of God that is Jesus Christ. Be very aware of the clever deception that religiosity can be. Turn and return everything to Him, present yourself with a yearning, humble heart, and He will remain clear and as your focus... completely unveiled.

WILLINGNESS...

2009-02-10T18:36:00.000+11:00

“When the young man heard this, he went away sad...” Matt.19:22

Usually, when we think of Jesus we think of a loving, embracing Saviour. It would be heresy to suggest that this was not true. The selflessness and sacrifice that Christ displays throughout the gospels is a beautiful depiction of the salvation of our God. Indeed He was, and still is, the embodiment of pure, unconditional love.
However, when we read this story of the rich, young ruler we see Jesus conduct himself in a way that seems almost unfair. Here’s a man who is truly seeking the way of salvation and his questions were sincere, but when he presents himself before the Master to inquire of eternal matters the result is different than one might expect. The gospel that we like to insist is one of acceptance and inclusion, yet in this instance Jesus shows himself to be quite abrupt and exclusive. For some, this may be one of those places in scripture where it’s extremely difficult to agree with God.
Why would Jesus present his saving gospel under such rigid, uncompromising terms? He certainly could have been more graceful and understanding with His words. If He had just shown a little more gentleness, or perhaps another fruit of the Spirit, this lost sheep might have returned home. Instead, Jesus very sternly presents a standard that completely deflates the man. I must admit, I sometimes think that in this instance Jesus failed as an evangelist. After all, the young man’s question was simply “How do I have eternal life?” Generally, the Christian church teaches that the right answer is, “If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord you will be saved (Rom. 10:9 paraphrased).”
But the wisdom of Christ’s gospel transcends any formula. The reason Jesus didn’t present this wealthy young man with the simplest steps of a saving faith is because He saw the inner workings of his heart. Jesus saw the priorities of the young man’s will and knew that his material wealth meant more to him than salvation. It was his own unwillingness to submit to Christ that turned him away, not the words of Christ. His wealth had become his lord, and God will not settle for Second-In-Command. He must be Lord of all... not Lord of some things, or Lord of most things, but Lord of ALL!
The power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is in its ability to pierce a person’s will. It offers the conditions of a Holy God and there is no room for negotiation. Basically Jesus says, “You come to me on my terms or not at all.” When a person approaches God, he or she must come with a willingness to yield to a King, not barter with a salesman. We must forfeit our self before His authority and Lordship. It is pointless to approach His glorious throne of abundant mercy, unconditional love, inexpressible joy, and bountiful grace without this kind of willingness. Regardless of what he suggests, requests, or requires... are you willing?

Made Nothing for Him to be Everything!

2009-02-05T21:09:00.000+11:00

John 3:30 – “He must increase; I must decrease.”

Here, John the Baptist professes his joy over the fact that people were going to Jesus rather than him. John had been preaching a gospel of repentance and he was baptising many in order to prepare them for the coming of God. Until now his ministry had looked to be very successful. Yet, when his disciples came to him and announced the news that Jesus was attracting more people than he was, John rejoices! There was no grieving because his position had become redundant, nor was there any animosity to be found in him. He was genuinely content that Jesus had ended his ministry. John must have known immediately that Jesus, his own cousin, had fulfilled his purpose.
Too often within the ranks of leadership and ministry, our own agendas and ambitions quietly compete with the goal of Christ. We intentionally set up plans and strategies to help grow our ministry, our church, our people, and even ourselves (whether spiritual or not) for the profit of the Kingdom, but sooner than later these things try to push Jesus aside. They try to take precedence. Sometimes the people of God seem to get so caught up in their own agendas that, as far as the gospel of Christ is concerned, we become counter-productive!
John the Baptist summed it up best in these few short words: He must increase; I must decrease. When Jesus Christ clearly interferes or interjects in the plans of a Christian, you can be certain it is so that He will get all the credit. Not once has Christ ever shared His throne with anyone, and He surely will not start because your ambitions seem good to you. His purpose is to draw all men unto Himself… it is not to do what you think works best. The second we elevate any idea or strategy, plan or purpose, to a place where Jesus is under it, it must be absolutely destroyed. Anything that takes attention from Him is a hindrance to Him.
How many of us would gladly step aside and be made redundant if Christ could be exalted as a result? There is within most Christians a quick willingness to profess the benefits of salvation; justification, redemption, forgiveness, purpose… why wouldn’t we? Many will even jump at the opportunity to lead a ministry or preach a sermon, but this doctrine of Death to the Self that John the Baptist so readily lived has always been unpopular. It’s a bit more reasonable to be something for Christ, but it’s just ridiculous to expect me to be nothing! Search the scriptures and I’m convinced you’ll soon discover that the demands of the Master are often to simply decrease, decrease, and decrease even more.

Lord Jesus, help me to decrease so that you may increase.

The Bane of Man

2009-01-27T23:01:00.000+11:00

1 Peter 5:5 - “God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.”

Humility is a quality that should very well be a jewel in every Christian’s crown. Search hard within the pages of scripture and you will find that to be humble is to be like the Savior. God not only tells us to possess this meek attribute, but He also tells us to continually strive towards it (John 13:12-17).
No man of God can ever truly reach the reality of the character of Jesus Christ if this simple beatitude is refused. God the Father is glorified in our humility and He is nothing less than angered by our pride. There can never be a truce between the two. They are as opposite as night and day.
If there is distance between you and the throne of Grace, then it is almost certainly due to the interference of pride. Pride is resisted by the very nature of God and it quite simply causes a chasm between a heart and God’s forgiveness. Realize that you are unworthy in the sight of perfect righteousness and pride, arrogance, and ego will cower. Bring your undeserving self to the Humility that once hung selflessly on a cross in your stead.
Sometimes the word of God is kind enough to remind us of our place: It was for you that Jesus became a lowly man. It was for you that he bled his blameless blood. It was for you that the thorns were pressed into his Royal brow. It was for you that he wore his stripes. And, it was for you that his precious side was pierced… Now, Guilty One, where is your pride?
Am I proud of these? Are these not my shames? It is my duty to never permit myself to forget the awful truth of what I was. Remembering what horror Christ has saved me from (i.e. my nature) is a beautiful reminder of the supremacy of Christ. Pride is no right of a Christian! The only thing in which we can take pride is the cross of our Lord where grace was presented in the most magnificent form of humility. Pride insults God because it brazenly looks at Him and says, “I am worth your death.”

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for showing me the nature of my pride. Bring me before your cross and be glorified as I am abased.

Able to Save... absolutely! Able to keep... still not sure.

2009-01-22T11:31:00.000+11:00

"...because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to keep that which I have entrusted to Him until that final day." (2 Tim. 1:12)

Christian faith is not simply a belief that the blood of Jesus saves us from eternal hell. This is the tiniest portion of the gospel story. Faith in Christ Jesus far surpasses this fact of deliverance from an infinity without God; this is perhaps the first step made in spiritual infancy. Our Saviour has committed himself to us for much more than this. Our calling is to be blameless! Not simply coverted, but spotless and without blemish in the sight of God.
The temptation often presented to Christians is to lean upon the weakness of our humanity. We try to be good people and live morally, but when we run out of our own steam, sin jumps us immediately and we hear ourselves say, "Well, I'm only human." Our humanity seems to be our most frequent excuse. Yet, the scriptures tell us clearly that in Christ Jesus there is no need to depend on the excuse of the flesh. We are new creations... the old has gone! (2 Cor. 5:17). No more are we bound to the weakness of our unholy nature because that nature is no longer ours. In Christ Jesus, the Christian is gloriously born of God and His divine nature is imputed to us. Few would argue that Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, took on our sin in order to save us from its corrosive power. But we must also remember that when He took on our sin, we also took on His righteousness and our nature, along with our character, became God's. Think of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul lists in Gal. 5:22-23. These are the characteristics of the Living God! The reference from 2 Timothy (above) is a declaration of stubborn, simple faith. Paul says quite clearly that he is certain his Saviour will hold him tightly in His care until the day when he is presented before God as blameless and pure. But Paul says that Christ is faithful to keep all that he has entrusted into his care. Some versions use the word committed here instead of entrusted. Basically, Paul was absolutely sure that because he had submitted all of his life to his Master, then his Master would absolutely be faithful in preserving him until judgment.
Holiness, Sanctification, Purity, Perfection, Righteousness... all these terms are terms of FAITH, not of effort. God had no intention of stapling His only Son to a cross, to suffer the worst of abuse and mockery, and die alone as a criminal just to wash us only a little bit clean. His intention was to completely eradicate our rebellious and criminal nature. We must believe that if we walk in light, as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Christians! We must commit and entrust our whole lives to walking in the light - His Light! Let's not lean on our weakness as an excuse for not believing that He is faithful. If we commit our all to Him, He is able to keep that which we've committed until that final day. Blameless!

Never Without Power, Never Without Purpose!

2009-01-18T21:47:00.000+11:00

"... so it is with every word that goes out from My mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish all that I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

The gospel of John opens with a bold declaration. It states emphatically that in the beginning - long before there was anything - there was God's Word. John immediately pairs the Word of God with God instantly equating the two: "The Word was with God and the Word was God." Read as far as the 14th verse of the first chapter and we see that this Divine Word became flesh (i.e. a living, breathing, eating, sleeping human being), adding only more persuasive power to the profession that Christ Jesus was in fact the Great I AM, the very same Almighty God that commanded Moses to remove his shoes while he stood on holy ground. The vast majority of Christians will agree to the divine power and divine purpose of their Saviour without even batting an eye. It is generally accepted that Jesus holds all the authority of the Creator, but sometimes it seems we forget that the same authority held by the Word of God is also held by the word of God.
The scriptures are the written word of our LORD and within them are contained all the secrets of Heaven. Nothing that could ever be revealed to us is not already revealed in the pages of the Bible. This religion, rather, this relationship we call Christianity is not possible without the element of faith. Without faith we cannot be rescued from sin and death even though it is a fact that Christ Jesus suffered and died and rose again. In the same way, faith is as necessary in order to accept the divinty within the pages of the scriptures. We must believe that the written word cannot be separated from the living Word.
In the verse above, God describes the purpose and power with which His word is applied. "It will not return to me empty." It has the same power to create and destroy as the Father and the Son simply because they are never separate. Too often Christians, including pastors, teachers, and ministers hold back, dull or mute the word of God. Whether it be because it might seem too offensive or difficult to swallow, perhaps too complicated for a weaker mind, or maybe just not trusted, we have somehow forgotten what God so clearly establishes. "Let My word do what I want it to do. It will NOT fail." Churches in the last quarter century have been holding services that have been almost completely void of scripture. Perhaps we have found ways of presenting the truth to the lost more efficiently! Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword. It is able to penetrate to the core of the soul and judge all the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. How is it that we have somehow forgotten this power? Christians everywhere! Listen! Present the word of God boldly and unashamedly. Trust its power to convey the truth in the same way you trust Christ to save your soul. The two should never be separate. The Bible is a roaring lion... let it loose!

When I faint, He will carry.

2009-01-07T21:11:00.000+11:00

Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit of God intercedes for us even through wordless groans.” (NIV)

During the most trying times in this Christian journey – those times when our weaknesses seem too grand to conquer and our faith so very small – it is then that God takes the reins. It is true that we, the disciples of God, are expected to hold a certain office, but the responsibility is in no way left solely to our humanness. The Kingdom of Christ would be in constant chaos if this was to be the case.
God is quite aware of the limits of man. He knows very well the cross you carry, and He knows exactly when its weight will become too much. That is why He has promised to never allow us to be in absolute control. We would never be able to handle it; the pressure or the power. God has said that the choice to live a life devoted to Him will result in hardship, loneliness, heartache, and even suffering (Acts 14:22). There will even be moments so despairing that it will seem like God has abandoned His own.
But, do not lose faith! It is when you are at your whit’s end that God will carry on for you. He says, when you can pray no longer, I will press on. The thought of God being so faithful and trustworthy is staggering! How could I ever stop serving and loving such a wonderful God? By His Grace, never!
If you are at a place where your load of burden is crushing your very spirit, remember the words of Christ. "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28)". Kneel, and lean the cross under which you buckle upon the strength of your Saviour. Before long you will find that only then are you able to once more take it up.

Oh Lord, thank you for carrying on when I can’t possibly.

Mercy

2009-01-05T23:53:00.000+11:00

James 2: 12-13 "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

Any man that applies a harsh sentence to others will most certainly reap the same of God. I believe this might be a point which James is trying to stress. Christians are very expected to attend to others in the same manner they would to their Lord. God searches our hearts, our minds, and perhaps more profound, our motives. In fact, because we live in the knowledge of Christ Jesus and His sacrifice, we have been placed at a rank where we are responsible for the lives and even the fate of others (Ezekiel 33:1-9). We have been entrusted a holy role.
No man of God can escape his duty. It is a load that is inevitably carried by our inheritance. Every time I kneel to pray and petition the throne of God, I recommit myself to the covenant that my life will bear the mark of Christ. We ought to remember this: every prayer is a recommitment to our covenant with Christ the King. As a disciple my aim is for my will to be tuned with that of the Father. This being the case, it is only reasonable that God hold accountable His own sons and daughters. We are His representatives; witnesses of His love, His justice, and especially His mercy.
Mercy conveys an understanding of righteousness that is far beyond mere words. It is the quality of God that was poured out simultaneously with His wrath when the dying Savior hung at Calvary. The mercy was poured out on you and me. The cup of wrath was drinked only by the Christ. The sweet taste of pardon was offered freely to the guilty, and because of that glorious truth, all who have tasted of that chalice are bound by debt and privilege to share it.
If you are ever in a place where you are comfortable to forget compassion, prompt yourself to remember the price that was paid for you. Mercy was your rescuer from the nature of your heart that bound you to death. The Christian is obligated to be merciful. We have no reason to expect it in return, but we have every reason to give it. We are saved from judgment because mercy has been granted to us. Always remember that another might very well be a sibling in the Kingdom if he or she was only shown a small glimpse of the mercy that God showed you. Your next act of kindness or soft word might be the introduction to the cross that God had planned for a lost soul. The opposite is also true: your last harsh word or cold shoulder might have been the door that was closed.

Oh Lord, forgive me for those times when I acted without mercy.

For the sake of the people...

2009-01-04T16:06:00.000+11:00

Deut. 4: 21 “Furthermore the Lord was angry with me for your sakes.”

It was to the advantage of all Israel that God was angry with Moses. Moses disobeyed the Lord when he struck the rock for water instead of speaking to it (Num. 20:8). But God’s rage was kindled against sin, not against Moses. It was the foolish ignorance and lack of faith of the people that Moses became indignant with, not God’s order. Nonetheless, disobedience occurred and now sin had manifested itself in the great leader and prophet… and it had to be purged.
But God knew the heart and will of His friend and deemed him righteous. It was God’s favor for Moses and His mercy for Israel that chose him to take the blunt for the people’s sin. “The Lord was angry with me for your sakes.” It was because God knew His love for Moses would prevail over His wrath against sin that allowed the people to go unpunished. It was God’s love and loyalty to the love and loyalty of Moses that held back His divine wrath. In dealing out His anger with Moses, mercy was the result for the Hebrews.
God chooses leaders. He makes a man into one that can be a ‘pin cushion’ for His people. Pastors, teachers, preachers, prophets and the like are placed in their roles to serve and to be offered. They are servants as well as sacrifices. The greatness of a man of God can always be seen in his ability to be abased. It is in those times when God says, “Someone must be held accountable here”, that the great leader will step forward, with head hung low, and say, “Deal with me, Oh Lord”.
Leaders like this are spirit-filled, strong in Christ, led by the Word, and rare. Few stand and are willing to be shaped for such a call, but those who do walk heart to heart with God. Let us pray God will send us more of these prophets… for the sake of the people.