2 Tim 1v6: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
1 Peter 4v10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Eph 4v8: This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people."
If we belong to the body of Christ, Jesus has already gifted us with what He wants us to use for His Kingdom. The scriptures above show us that this is the case. So all that is needed is for us to fan into flame that gift or gifts. It is a sad fact that all of us have experienced times where we have put down those gifts, for whatever reason, and become unfruitful, either in the main of our lives, or in at least some area of our lives. Life hits hard and we either lose our focus, lose our interest in the Kingdom, or suffer in whatever way and start to live selfishly or lives that become characterised more by the flesh than by the Spirit. We make excuses and explain away even the very notion that God has given us these gifts for His Kingdom, and that the body of Christ needs those very things, that they are in fact 'necessary', like His Word says they are. In these times, not only do the people of God suffer because of our failure, but the work of God also suffers in a sense, lacking in the very area where God designed to sow and reap through us, through what He has gave us, and so also the glory of God is not seen in the way it should be, neither is glory to God given in the way it could have been. we also miss out, losing the chance to see God move, to see lives touched and changed for God, and to see His Kingdom advance. We also lose the chance to continue to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, and in one sense we alienate ourselves from the Lord, and knowing Him and His ways as we should. But this doesn't need to be the case.
Far from wanting to condemn us, the Lord is wanting to encourage us and excite us towards His work. For this very reason, the Apostle Paul once wrote, 'But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.' (Phil 3v13). The Lord wants us to forget yesterday, to forget whatever was won or lost, or whatever was or wasn't done in the past, and to press on toward the goal! Yesterday is covered by the blood of Jesus, and only His grace remains, and tomorrow new mercies and grace is stored up for His people! The power of God is with us all in order to accomplish what the Lord has set before us and laid upon our hearts, and He is calling us today to realise what that is, to hold it fast, and to carry out His will with boldness and with rejoicing. We should not be discouraged in any way. If we are God's people, He is already at work inside of us to will and to do for His good pleasure. The scripture says that He beforehand destined us to live where we live and predestined us for the works that are before us, so all that is left is to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us! Each day is an opportunity, and although we will always fall short of the glory of God while in this body, His grace is sufficient for us! For His strength is made perfect in our weakness!
Tomorrow we will go forth in both the power of the Spirit and the weakness of our body, and God will work true to His own holiness and power (He cannot forsake Himself the Bible says), and inspite of our sinfulness and weakness (when we are faithless, He is faithful the Bible says). Our insufficiency will never mean that God will not accomplish what He intends, for He knew beforehand our weakness, and chose such a setting for the greatness of His power. Today He has gifted us, and it is likely that if we have spent any time in the body of Christ and any time following Jesus, we will know exactly in what way we are called to support the body of Christ, reach the world for Jesus and to show the truth, love and grace that is in Christ. To shut ourselves away from our gifting is cowardly, selfish and fleshly and any wisdom that justifies such a thing is worldly and its fruit is the evidence of its worthlessness, vanity and evil. But if we have Christ, none of us will want such a thing while we have the Spirit's will actively at work within us. This calling we have is such a high calling, despite whatever appearances it may have while in this body, and the glory of it is seen in the fruit it produces.
We must fan into flame the gift of the Spirit and we must encourage each in this way. If we are so involved in the world that we do not have time for such a focus, then we are too involved in the world! If our love is not with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, our love is misplaced; and the heart of it is somewhere where it should not be. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word; if we don't believe the gifts should have prominence, we do not know the Word of God, neither do we understand its intent. As the disciples walked, talked and watched Jesus, they began to do what He did, and so will we, if we are doing the same thing. Jesus said that His Father had been working up until the very day He said those words, and then He said, 'and I too, am working' (John 5v17). The Father is always working, and so should we be! His word is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, but we must combine faith with works to see the work that He has in mind and that He is desiring to accomplish through us.
God is wanting us to fan into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit, for His ministers are supposed to be 'a fan of flame'. The flame of the Spirit has alighted on the people of God; it is over each one of us. The impartation of the same Spirit has been given to each one; so there are no excuses! The same gifts the disciples at one time didn't move in (pre-cross), the Apostles did move in, because of the cross and the outpouring of the Spirit; and that same day of grace has been given to us! There is no measure of the Spirit, only the measure of faith that we choose to operate in. Jesus watched His Father and did whatever His Father did (John 5v19). So will we watch our Lord and do what He did? Christians have made ministry and service complex when it should be simple; walk out what Jesus did, for Jesus said that we would do the works that He did:
John 14v12: 'Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.' And so will we walk as Jesus walked and do what He did, and so will we walk as the Apostles walk and do what they did, simply believing Jesus' words simply, and being bold enough to believe the Words of God, as those words that are living, active and true. Let us fan into flame the gift of God, and do what we are all called to do.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Monday, 13 January 2014
DO ALL? YET EARNESTLY DESIRE
1 Cor 12v27: Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts.
It is true that the body of Christ has many members and each member, like the members of our physical body, does its part and has its role- the writer, Paul, makes that very clear in this chapter. However, he also makes it very clear that we should earnestly desire the best gifts. Paul does not say, 'Because we each have our role, choose a gift and stick to only that gift.' He does not simply say, 'Be happy with the gift you have and settle with that.' No, quite the opposite. He says, 'earnestly desire the best gifts'! The King James version, for verse 31, says 'covet earnestly' which is given from the Greek word 'Zeloo', meaning 'to have warmth of feeling for', 'desire', 'move with envy', 'be jealous over', 'be zealously affected'. God wants His people to have this warmth of feeling and this zealousness for any of the gifts and the best gifts. And of course, the 'best gifts' are all the gifts, because Paul has already made it clear that each gift is indispensable and necessary. But he says, 'best gifts' in order for us to realise that the best gift is whatever is most helpful and most beneficial for the body of Christ at any point in time, and for any situation. If we desire that the Church be helped, strengthen, encouraged, equipped and made to know Christ more, we will desire the gifts of the Spirit, because this is how the Father has chosen to do these very things for His people. How incredible that we get to be part of this! How amazing that these gifts are available for us to receive and operate in!
Yes, it is true that we all have different roles to play, but we shouldn't let that discourage us from earnestly desiring the best gifts (because who knows what the Lord will have us do, and what our roles can be, until we seek for the gifts we desire to operate in?), otherwise Paul's words would've been contradictory. Who is to say that at some point we all, as the body of Christ, will have different roles to play and operate in different gifts according to the wisdom of the Spirit, according to what we ask the Lord for, and according to what God knows is most needed for His body at any time for any kind of situation? After all, we see that, at times, while Paul was an Apostle, he was also a worker of miracles. Furthermore, while he was a teacher at times, he was also an evangelist when it was needed. Act 6 shows us that Stephen waited on tables, but he also did great wonders and miracles amongst the people (v8) and he also operated in the role of a teacher, an evangelist and a prophet all at the same time when he was suddenly thrust into being brought before and talk to the council of elders and scribes. At some times some of us may operate in some gifts and not others; the ones we don't operate in, others will, and the ones we do operate in, others may not at that time. No doubt there are callings and giftings that are constant and never change, after all, Paul would always be an Apostle to the body of Christ, as would the other Apostles, and yet this didn't mean they were limited to only working in that one area. So it is with us, if we want the gifts of the Spirit, in order to benefit the body of Christ, and glorify the Lord.
The Lord strongly desires for His people to earnestly desire the best gifts, because He always wants His Church to be built up, encouraged, strengthened, equipped and to know Him more, in love and truth. He doesn't want us to earnestly desire the best gifts so that we'll make something of ourselves, or so that we'll be proud or so that we can use those things for ourselves (or so that we'll take advantage or fleece the flock in any way). Jesus came and died for us so that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who raised us (2 Cor 5v15). The reason we should desire the best gifts should be solely that we love the body of Christ and want what Jesus wants for His people (and obviously to glorify Him and to advance His work). That is why Paul goes on to say, after verse 31, 'and yet I show you a more excellent way.' Paul was not discounting the need for gifts here, he already established in this Chapter of scripture that each part of the body, and so each gifting is not only beneficial, but necessary (1 Cor 12v22). However, he was saying that the means by which these gifts must operate and what must motivate their operation, is love. Without love, any gift or its operation will be absolutely meaningless, and completely ineffectual. Love must be the starting and ending point of any operation of any gift. However, it is also true that Paul was saying that if there be love, that would cover 'all bases' so to speak; because if we love others, we will automatically want to benefit them in some way, all the time. The gifts are really just an extension and expression of the very love Jesus wants us to have for others. Via the gifts, the Lord has given different avenues for us to benefit and love others. So just as our goal should be to love others, so should it be to love others according to the gifts God has given us, and wants us to desire to have and operate in, for the sake of His people and for the sake of His own glory and work. If we are truly loving others and loving God as we should (in truth), this should be one of the ultimate aim of our lives.
It is true that the body of Christ has many members and each member, like the members of our physical body, does its part and has its role- the writer, Paul, makes that very clear in this chapter. However, he also makes it very clear that we should earnestly desire the best gifts. Paul does not say, 'Because we each have our role, choose a gift and stick to only that gift.' He does not simply say, 'Be happy with the gift you have and settle with that.' No, quite the opposite. He says, 'earnestly desire the best gifts'! The King James version, for verse 31, says 'covet earnestly' which is given from the Greek word 'Zeloo', meaning 'to have warmth of feeling for', 'desire', 'move with envy', 'be jealous over', 'be zealously affected'. God wants His people to have this warmth of feeling and this zealousness for any of the gifts and the best gifts. And of course, the 'best gifts' are all the gifts, because Paul has already made it clear that each gift is indispensable and necessary. But he says, 'best gifts' in order for us to realise that the best gift is whatever is most helpful and most beneficial for the body of Christ at any point in time, and for any situation. If we desire that the Church be helped, strengthen, encouraged, equipped and made to know Christ more, we will desire the gifts of the Spirit, because this is how the Father has chosen to do these very things for His people. How incredible that we get to be part of this! How amazing that these gifts are available for us to receive and operate in!
Yes, it is true that we all have different roles to play, but we shouldn't let that discourage us from earnestly desiring the best gifts (because who knows what the Lord will have us do, and what our roles can be, until we seek for the gifts we desire to operate in?), otherwise Paul's words would've been contradictory. Who is to say that at some point we all, as the body of Christ, will have different roles to play and operate in different gifts according to the wisdom of the Spirit, according to what we ask the Lord for, and according to what God knows is most needed for His body at any time for any kind of situation? After all, we see that, at times, while Paul was an Apostle, he was also a worker of miracles. Furthermore, while he was a teacher at times, he was also an evangelist when it was needed. Act 6 shows us that Stephen waited on tables, but he also did great wonders and miracles amongst the people (v8) and he also operated in the role of a teacher, an evangelist and a prophet all at the same time when he was suddenly thrust into being brought before and talk to the council of elders and scribes. At some times some of us may operate in some gifts and not others; the ones we don't operate in, others will, and the ones we do operate in, others may not at that time. No doubt there are callings and giftings that are constant and never change, after all, Paul would always be an Apostle to the body of Christ, as would the other Apostles, and yet this didn't mean they were limited to only working in that one area. So it is with us, if we want the gifts of the Spirit, in order to benefit the body of Christ, and glorify the Lord.
The Lord strongly desires for His people to earnestly desire the best gifts, because He always wants His Church to be built up, encouraged, strengthened, equipped and to know Him more, in love and truth. He doesn't want us to earnestly desire the best gifts so that we'll make something of ourselves, or so that we'll be proud or so that we can use those things for ourselves (or so that we'll take advantage or fleece the flock in any way). Jesus came and died for us so that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who raised us (2 Cor 5v15). The reason we should desire the best gifts should be solely that we love the body of Christ and want what Jesus wants for His people (and obviously to glorify Him and to advance His work). That is why Paul goes on to say, after verse 31, 'and yet I show you a more excellent way.' Paul was not discounting the need for gifts here, he already established in this Chapter of scripture that each part of the body, and so each gifting is not only beneficial, but necessary (1 Cor 12v22). However, he was saying that the means by which these gifts must operate and what must motivate their operation, is love. Without love, any gift or its operation will be absolutely meaningless, and completely ineffectual. Love must be the starting and ending point of any operation of any gift. However, it is also true that Paul was saying that if there be love, that would cover 'all bases' so to speak; because if we love others, we will automatically want to benefit them in some way, all the time. The gifts are really just an extension and expression of the very love Jesus wants us to have for others. Via the gifts, the Lord has given different avenues for us to benefit and love others. So just as our goal should be to love others, so should it be to love others according to the gifts God has given us, and wants us to desire to have and operate in, for the sake of His people and for the sake of His own glory and work. If we are truly loving others and loving God as we should (in truth), this should be one of the ultimate aim of our lives.
Sunday, 12 January 2014
OUR GREAT CALLING
In life, we all have a calling. This calling is singular in its nature, yet can have multiple facets to it. It's singularity is seen very simply and very clearly in the following scripture:
Colossians 3v23: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3v17: And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.
These two scriptures makes it very clear that whatever we say or do, we do as unto the Lord. Whatever we say, do or work at, we do because we are working for Jesus and serving Him. This is the most important calling we have because it encompasses anything and everything that might come from it, and encompasses any form that that 'work' (or service) and that 'saying or doing' may take. This is extremely important to understand because it is incredibly encouraging. Whether we are a garbage man or woman, janitor, lawyer, teacher, Pastor, missionary or anything else, the Lord sees the service from each as being equally important, and equally worthy, by His grace, of being rewarded, equally. The Lord and His grace do not measure the reward each will get according to how valuable man thinks each job or work is (or service), but only according to whether the person did it earnestly as unto the Lord.
Similarly, 'work' and 'service' doesn't just have to be the job we have, or the role the Church may recognise us as having, but the Bible tells us that a simple cup of water in Jesus' name won't lose it's reward in heaven! (Matt 10v42). The smallest and most meagre thing done in love and truth, whether done in a job, a role in a Church, or in a simple act of kindness or in the role of a friend (or anything else according to truth) is our 'work' and our 'service' for Him. What is said or done, if done in His name, is done for the Lord, and the Lord sees that life as a living sacrifice. And that is both the greatness and the great singularity of our calling. The life that is laid down for Jesus, and lived for Him in whatever way, is our greatest calling because it encompasses the whole scope of our life and whatever we say or do, and thus whatever form our service and work for Him will take at any point of our lives. This therefore means that no matter what form our work, service or sacrifice for Him may take, it is equally valuable and will be rewarded equally according to His grace.
Colossians 3v23: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3v17: And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.
These two scriptures makes it very clear that whatever we say or do, we do as unto the Lord. Whatever we say, do or work at, we do because we are working for Jesus and serving Him. This is the most important calling we have because it encompasses anything and everything that might come from it, and encompasses any form that that 'work' (or service) and that 'saying or doing' may take. This is extremely important to understand because it is incredibly encouraging. Whether we are a garbage man or woman, janitor, lawyer, teacher, Pastor, missionary or anything else, the Lord sees the service from each as being equally important, and equally worthy, by His grace, of being rewarded, equally. The Lord and His grace do not measure the reward each will get according to how valuable man thinks each job or work is (or service), but only according to whether the person did it earnestly as unto the Lord.
Similarly, 'work' and 'service' doesn't just have to be the job we have, or the role the Church may recognise us as having, but the Bible tells us that a simple cup of water in Jesus' name won't lose it's reward in heaven! (Matt 10v42). The smallest and most meagre thing done in love and truth, whether done in a job, a role in a Church, or in a simple act of kindness or in the role of a friend (or anything else according to truth) is our 'work' and our 'service' for Him. What is said or done, if done in His name, is done for the Lord, and the Lord sees that life as a living sacrifice. And that is both the greatness and the great singularity of our calling. The life that is laid down for Jesus, and lived for Him in whatever way, is our greatest calling because it encompasses the whole scope of our life and whatever we say or do, and thus whatever form our service and work for Him will take at any point of our lives. This therefore means that no matter what form our work, service or sacrifice for Him may take, it is equally valuable and will be rewarded equally according to His grace.
EQUALLY VALUABLE, EQUALLY NECESSARY
1 Cor 12v4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ...
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
At times, in the body of Christ, there has been a false notion that only some are gifted in order to benefit other members of the Church. This has often bread lax, lazy and selfish attitudes, jealousies, discouragement, and the glorification and idolisation of men, as the Church has often thought that some in the body of Christ are better or more important and valuable than others. The Church often recognises the members of the body of Christ that take the form of Pastor, Teacher and even at times, Prophet, and those that work miracles and healings, but the scriptures below outline that there are many more giftings and manifestations of the Spirit, and also that no one is left out of being given a role of service. Verse 7 says; 'But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.' This clearly shows us that the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each and every member of the body of Christ, so that each member may spiritually benefit and build up their brothers and sisters in Christ in some way, shape or form. Those forms are outlined in the scriptures below. There are no members of the body that have been left out of this! Therefore, there are none that should be needlessly discouraged, thinking that they don't have a role to play and that their lives don't hold the importance that others' lives do. Each should feel, by His grace and love, as special in the body as the other. Conversely, there are none that should feel that they have the right to sit and watch on the sidelines when it comes to the areas mentioned above v4-6; giftings, ministries and activities. Make no mistake about it, the Word is clear that everyone in the body of Christ has been given a manifestation of the Spirit, and so in some manner, you will operate in a gift and therefore have a ministry that is made up of a kind of activity to go along with it (the practical outworking of that gift). This is a glorious thing; we have been gifted in order to benefit our brothers and sisters in Christ in some way shape or form, and this should excite us to use what we have been given: 2 Tim 1v6 'For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.' Christ has laid His hands on us, and given us His Spirit, and so we have been gifted with what He intended us to have, as the Spirit willed it. We all have a purpose to fulfil! We all have a role to play!
If we don't know what impartation of the Spirit you have been given, we need to find out. We may already be using what He has given us, and that is great, but it is still important to know what it is and how He intended it to be used, to be even more effectual in what we've been given. We need to ask the Lord about it and seek Him in His Word. I did this when I was younger, and the Lord made it clear to me, via His written Word and the highlighting of it by His Spirit, exactly what He had given me in order to serve Him and His people. And so He is faithful to do this with all that ask this of Him. However, it may already be apparent to you what you have been gifted with, or even others may have known it for a long time, and told you already. You may already be walking in it, so keep walking in it! You may have put your gifting down for a while, so pick it up again and use it to help the family of God! Whether in the seemingly greatest or smallest of ways, use what you have been given for His body and thus for Him. To bury your gifting and not use it is an incredibly serious matter and the Lord will hold us accountable if we do that (Matt 25). To not use our talents is to not allow the Lord to work through us in this manner, and that is a serious denial of His Lordship of our lives (Phil 2v13). If we have never had such a desire to serve Him, we should even examine whether we even have the Lord Jesus inside us (for there would be that working inside of us of His will and to do His good pleasure if He truly is inside of us- Phil 2v13). But if we are truly His, although we are weak and none of us perfect in the area of service, we won't let our talents be idle for long; the Spirit will stir us up to use them for Him and His glory!
It is crucial that we find out how the Lord has gifted us, and what He wants us to do for Him with those things. 1 Corinthians 12 clearly shows us Christians are all part of one body and that the Lord's will for us is that we support each other in one of the capacities outlined below. The writer of Corinthians, the Apostle Paul, said that each gifting is NECESSARY: 1 Cor 12v22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.' Even those gifts which seem the least essential are in fact as essential as any other gift. If we didn't have hands, it wouldn't really matter if we had a very intellectual head, because we'd have nothing to carry out what we thought we should do. Even so, every gift is needed to support the other gift, and we can achieve so much more as a complete body. We all need each other in some way, and one of those ways are outlined in Chapter 12. For one member to think they are exempt from this, and therefore exempt from supporting the part of the body of Christ they have been placed with, weakens that body and actually makes it lame in some way shape or form (just as if we were to be made lame if we were to lose an eye or arm (v 20-22). Yes, it is true that all of our lives should be lived for God, but there should still be a specific aspect of our lives lived for God that encompasses the service that is outlined in this chapter of scripture (1 Cor 12), as the writer makes quite clear. And we should make every effort to make sure we are contributing what God intended for us to contribute.
None of us as part of the body of Christ are dispensable, each of us are crucial to its healthy existence, and each of us have an opportunity this year to make use of the talent the Lord has given us. Jesus has a specific will for the working which He has planned to do through us: Phil 2v13- 'For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.' This is the highest of callings, and we have already been gifted to fulfil such a calling. And there is even the possibility that we may do more for Him than we ever have before (but that is for another post). By the grace of God, you are crucial to the health of His body and for its good function! What an amazing thought! What an incredible truth!
(this carries on from verse 3 in the passage of scripture above) 1 Cor 12v4: There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same[b] Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
HE WILL FULFIL THAT WHICH CONCERNS ME
There are times in our lives when all the odds seem in the enemy's favour and in fact the enemy creates such destruction and damage that he either appears as though he will win in the future, or that he already has won in whatever he is attempting to do. In these times, the work of the enemy is seen particularly clearly and it is obvious that he is 'going for the spiritual jugular' and even appears as though he is attempting to destroy us practically and physically. In these times it seems as though the presence and power of God is small (i.e the baby Jesus), or mostly ineffective and inconsequential (2 Cor 4v8, Luke 22v53, Matt 11v12).
When Jesus was born, the enemy put forth all his anger, malice and power in his attempt to destroy Him and frustrate the plans of God in this fashion, and from an earthly viewpoint it seems as though he nearly did. An evil king Herod is in power when Jesus is born, and his strategy was a clever one; send three wise men under the cover of a welcome, to in fact find out where the Saviour was being born in order to be able to murder Him (the Saviour's rule in our lives is always a threat to the temporary rule that the enemy has been given (Matt 4v9) over the earth and the one he is attempting to gain over the lives of Christians (he even tried to gain it over Jesus Himself! Matt 4v9). Upon this strategy failing, the enemy uses Herod to destroy all the firstborn in the land, in order to destroy Jesus and the main work of God itself. It takes a few dreams, a couple of angels and a whole lot of moving around and even waiting for Joseph and Mary in order for God to keep them safe, and even then, the results of the enemy's wrath are clearly seen and are extremely destructive; many people die and incredible sorrow ensues. From a worldly standpoint it would have seemed as if the Kingdom of God, God Himself and His people were weak and their lives and calling, useless.
In this world, Jesus said, 'Ye shall have tribulation.' It is a fact that we will encounter times where the enemy seems to win in the world and in our lives, just as it must've seemed to the Mary and Joseph when it seemed as though all their lives had been reduced to was fleeing, waiting and fearing the worst (after all, how scary it must've seemed to them to be two against Herod and all the power at his command!). Similarly, how must it have been for the disciples when they thought that their Saviour, and thus their hope, had been killed and therefore taken from them forever? They must've felt forsaken, lonely and desperate; where and what now for their lives? What would guide and be guided by in their lives? What would be the point of their existence now? The enemy had killed the joy and meaning of their lives and the one they loved the most; they had been robbed it seemed, and their almighty God had seemed completely inefficient and ineffective to defend Himself and fulfil the call that they assumed He had come for (setting up the Kingdom on the earth). There are times when the plans of God seem to fail, and His sovereignty appears less powerful and less impressive than it once did, or less than the moral perfection we once thought it to be (according to our reasoning) precisely because of the work and power of the enemy. While the enemy seems to win his own victories when the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence Matt 11v…12, and when we see the effects of what He does on those in the world itself, the most important victory and the one upon which our very spiritual life hinges, will always remain intact; even if only in seed, or baby form (i.e the baby Jesus). God has deemed that in this life, His greatest strength and His mightiest power will be seen in that which appears and may be, of itself, the weakest and most unimpressive thing. We are sinners and we are clay and we, His people, often quite unimpressive to the world (and often even to ourselves), but God has made this so, so that His power and glory will be revealed in the best way, both now, and most perfectly in the time to come.
The enemy is allowed to win to a point, but only within the parameters of the sovereignty of the Lord, according to His own wisdom and character. God will not allow the single most important design of His will to be changed in any way. God planned that His Son die for the sins of the world, to provide an everlasting salvation, and it was so. Similarly, with us, God has planned for our lives to fulfil a specific purpose, and by His grace, that purpose will be fulfilled. The enemy may try all he wants, but that single purpose of God's, the most important one, the one upon which all other purposes that He has for our lives hinge, will be fulfilled: Phil 1v 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
-Psalm 138v8
When Jesus was born, the enemy put forth all his anger, malice and power in his attempt to destroy Him and frustrate the plans of God in this fashion, and from an earthly viewpoint it seems as though he nearly did. An evil king Herod is in power when Jesus is born, and his strategy was a clever one; send three wise men under the cover of a welcome, to in fact find out where the Saviour was being born in order to be able to murder Him (the Saviour's rule in our lives is always a threat to the temporary rule that the enemy has been given (Matt 4v9) over the earth and the one he is attempting to gain over the lives of Christians (he even tried to gain it over Jesus Himself! Matt 4v9). Upon this strategy failing, the enemy uses Herod to destroy all the firstborn in the land, in order to destroy Jesus and the main work of God itself. It takes a few dreams, a couple of angels and a whole lot of moving around and even waiting for Joseph and Mary in order for God to keep them safe, and even then, the results of the enemy's wrath are clearly seen and are extremely destructive; many people die and incredible sorrow ensues. From a worldly standpoint it would have seemed as if the Kingdom of God, God Himself and His people were weak and their lives and calling, useless.
In this world, Jesus said, 'Ye shall have tribulation.' It is a fact that we will encounter times where the enemy seems to win in the world and in our lives, just as it must've seemed to the Mary and Joseph when it seemed as though all their lives had been reduced to was fleeing, waiting and fearing the worst (after all, how scary it must've seemed to them to be two against Herod and all the power at his command!). Similarly, how must it have been for the disciples when they thought that their Saviour, and thus their hope, had been killed and therefore taken from them forever? They must've felt forsaken, lonely and desperate; where and what now for their lives? What would guide and be guided by in their lives? What would be the point of their existence now? The enemy had killed the joy and meaning of their lives and the one they loved the most; they had been robbed it seemed, and their almighty God had seemed completely inefficient and ineffective to defend Himself and fulfil the call that they assumed He had come for (setting up the Kingdom on the earth). There are times when the plans of God seem to fail, and His sovereignty appears less powerful and less impressive than it once did, or less than the moral perfection we once thought it to be (according to our reasoning) precisely because of the work and power of the enemy. While the enemy seems to win his own victories when the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence Matt 11v…12, and when we see the effects of what He does on those in the world itself, the most important victory and the one upon which our very spiritual life hinges, will always remain intact; even if only in seed, or baby form (i.e the baby Jesus). God has deemed that in this life, His greatest strength and His mightiest power will be seen in that which appears and may be, of itself, the weakest and most unimpressive thing. We are sinners and we are clay and we, His people, often quite unimpressive to the world (and often even to ourselves), but God has made this so, so that His power and glory will be revealed in the best way, both now, and most perfectly in the time to come.
The enemy is allowed to win to a point, but only within the parameters of the sovereignty of the Lord, according to His own wisdom and character. God will not allow the single most important design of His will to be changed in any way. God planned that His Son die for the sins of the world, to provide an everlasting salvation, and it was so. Similarly, with us, God has planned for our lives to fulfil a specific purpose, and by His grace, that purpose will be fulfilled. The enemy may try all he wants, but that single purpose of God's, the most important one, the one upon which all other purposes that He has for our lives hinge, will be fulfilled: Phil 1v 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
-Psalm 138v8
Saturday, 28 December 2013
BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND
There are times in life when things simply do not add up. Logic and reasoning, either by ourselves or anyone else completely fails to comfort us, or to make head or tail of what we are going through. Rationalising everything also doesn't help, neither do the sometimes strange and humanistic reasonings or solutions that well-meaning Christians try to offer us. Neither for that matter does a worldly view of things which even though may sound pleasant, is either shallow, unfruitful or plain immoral. It is these times that the words of Hebrews, taken in their intended form, provide the most comfort for those that are downcast, sad and confused: 'By faith we understand...' The world will tell you that by logic, sense and experience we will rightly understand the world and our lives, but the Word says the opposite.
The Word encourages us as Christians to understand not only the history of the earth and its creation by faith, but our own lives (Heb 11). When we live our lives in this manner, we'll see the fruit of it too, which will confirm the value and strength (and existence) of the faith that has been given to us as a gift. Yes, we as humans doubt, fail and still sin in this regard, not believing as we should, as the flesh and the world still screams at us to doubt and to leave the Lord for what it offers, but ultimately the gift Jesus has given us is not based on any strength we possess, and His Holy Spirit never runs out of power that is needed to believe. He and the gift of faith remains in us even in our weakest of times, and supports us and offers support to us. It is not by anything in us that we must understand our lives and our trials other than by faith.
We have a great encouragement of lives lived in faith in the Word, the fruit of that faith and the sure hope and promise of the Kingdom and final fruit of redemption to come because of that gift of faith. It is hard to believe and it is a fight, one that is beyond all of us, but we don't need to despair, Christ was found worthy and so chose to impart to us what we couldn't to ourselves. By faith we understand everything that is going on in our lives, and every trial and every experience. Lord, we believe, help our unbelief! (Mark 9v29)
THE TIMES WHEN WE DON'T GET WHAT WE WANT
Heb: 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,[c] embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
There are times in our lives when we will not receive what we desire and hope for. Of course at times we will receive what we ask for, but even those gifts will not fully fulfil the perfection that our spirit desires, as we have been made eternal beings, and so the eternity in us will always cry out for more:
Ecc 3v11: 'He has also set eternity in the human heart...' and 2 Cor 5v2 'For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.'
Mortality brings with it sin and death, not in a fatal sense, due to salvation, but in the sense that we will all still face the sorrow that a measure of these things bring while in this world (Jesus: 'in this life you will have tribulation'). We all long for these things to leave us, and in desiring certain things we show that, to some degree at least, we believe that such sorrow will be lessened by the joy that we long via good desires. To some extent this is true, and yet we obviously cannot avoid life, and we cannot avoid the work that Christ wants to do in and through us in this life. For this reason, and others that are not known to us (Paul: 'perplexed, but not in despair') there are times when He will not give us what we desire. Instead, He reminds us of our eternal hope; a home with Him, and a perfection that does not depend on our definition of what we want or need, but upon the total life that is in, and will be given by, Christ when we go to heaven.
Many Churches and preachers get popular because they say that Jesus will give us everything we want. Unfortunately, in a earthly sense of looking at things, this is not true. Even a brief look at Hebrews 11, and any part of the Bible itself show that this isn't the case, whether we look at the lives of the Apostles, who lost much (even though they welcomed such loss for the sake of Christ), Israel in the Old Testament, who weren't fed with what they desired in the wilderness or any of the other countless stories in the Word. Fortunately the earthly sense is completely wrong and sinful, so we can rest assured that even in losing, we will gain in the way God intended. Hebrews 11 shows us that, one of the primary reasons God doesn't give us what we want at times is because He is concerned with us gaining a good testimony for the sake of His grace, power, wisdom, life and glory; all those things that He is and that He dispenses. God shows that, through both the triumphs and failings of His people, His will is worked out (not that sin is ok, but that God is gracious to us, seen in the example of Sarah and Abraham, and how God chose to characterise their testimony in a positive way- Heb 11v11+12- despite their not always obeying His will in the process but doing what they wanted), and a good testimony to His faithfulness, mercy, grace and power is displayed in our lives: Heb 11v2: 'For by it the elders obtained a good testimony'.
Amazingly, Hebrews 11 also reveals that even those who did attain some type of promise in fact 'did not receive the promise or the promises' (v13+v39). Read Heb 1v4-11, then note verse 13. There are times when we will receives things we didn't expect, and there are times when we won't receive anything at all that we desired, but we will obtain a good testimony. God has and will forgive our sins, just like He forgave the sin of Abraham and Sarah, and will turn our lives into a monument of His grace, and give a good report about us, soley because of the righteousness of Jesus that He imputed and does impute to us (when God looks at us, He sees us through the lense of Jesus Christ, because of the blood of Christ).
Even when you do receive a promise from God, realise that it will not bring us the ultimate perfection our sole cries out for. It is good for our sole to cry out for perfection, for it cries out for that very thing God has designed us for: 2 Cor 5v5 'Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God...' But we must realise the testimony that God is concerned with creating out of us, and also that the perfection we desire can only be found in Christ, the homeland (Heb 11v14) He has prepared for us and in the final bringing together of the family of God, in perfect union (Heb 11v40).
God wants us to hope for the future, and He wants us to be expectant, for this is how we, like Enoch, are drawn to come close to God, and are drawn to follow Him and His will, despite not knowing so much about why sometimes. God desires that we seek Him and find him, all other things being secondly, and He wants us to be able to sacrifice other things we may want. Easier said than done, but He keeps us through our weakness and our failings. Those He chose He predestined, so He knows how He'll keep us (Rom 8v29).
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them,[c] embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
There are times in our lives when we will not receive what we desire and hope for. Of course at times we will receive what we ask for, but even those gifts will not fully fulfil the perfection that our spirit desires, as we have been made eternal beings, and so the eternity in us will always cry out for more:
Ecc 3v11: 'He has also set eternity in the human heart...' and 2 Cor 5v2 'For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.'
Mortality brings with it sin and death, not in a fatal sense, due to salvation, but in the sense that we will all still face the sorrow that a measure of these things bring while in this world (Jesus: 'in this life you will have tribulation'). We all long for these things to leave us, and in desiring certain things we show that, to some degree at least, we believe that such sorrow will be lessened by the joy that we long via good desires. To some extent this is true, and yet we obviously cannot avoid life, and we cannot avoid the work that Christ wants to do in and through us in this life. For this reason, and others that are not known to us (Paul: 'perplexed, but not in despair') there are times when He will not give us what we desire. Instead, He reminds us of our eternal hope; a home with Him, and a perfection that does not depend on our definition of what we want or need, but upon the total life that is in, and will be given by, Christ when we go to heaven.
Many Churches and preachers get popular because they say that Jesus will give us everything we want. Unfortunately, in a earthly sense of looking at things, this is not true. Even a brief look at Hebrews 11, and any part of the Bible itself show that this isn't the case, whether we look at the lives of the Apostles, who lost much (even though they welcomed such loss for the sake of Christ), Israel in the Old Testament, who weren't fed with what they desired in the wilderness or any of the other countless stories in the Word. Fortunately the earthly sense is completely wrong and sinful, so we can rest assured that even in losing, we will gain in the way God intended. Hebrews 11 shows us that, one of the primary reasons God doesn't give us what we want at times is because He is concerned with us gaining a good testimony for the sake of His grace, power, wisdom, life and glory; all those things that He is and that He dispenses. God shows that, through both the triumphs and failings of His people, His will is worked out (not that sin is ok, but that God is gracious to us, seen in the example of Sarah and Abraham, and how God chose to characterise their testimony in a positive way- Heb 11v11+12- despite their not always obeying His will in the process but doing what they wanted), and a good testimony to His faithfulness, mercy, grace and power is displayed in our lives: Heb 11v2: 'For by it the elders obtained a good testimony'.
Amazingly, Hebrews 11 also reveals that even those who did attain some type of promise in fact 'did not receive the promise or the promises' (v13+v39). Read Heb 1v4-11, then note verse 13. There are times when we will receives things we didn't expect, and there are times when we won't receive anything at all that we desired, but we will obtain a good testimony. God has and will forgive our sins, just like He forgave the sin of Abraham and Sarah, and will turn our lives into a monument of His grace, and give a good report about us, soley because of the righteousness of Jesus that He imputed and does impute to us (when God looks at us, He sees us through the lense of Jesus Christ, because of the blood of Christ).
Even when you do receive a promise from God, realise that it will not bring us the ultimate perfection our sole cries out for. It is good for our sole to cry out for perfection, for it cries out for that very thing God has designed us for: 2 Cor 5v5 'Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God...' But we must realise the testimony that God is concerned with creating out of us, and also that the perfection we desire can only be found in Christ, the homeland (Heb 11v14) He has prepared for us and in the final bringing together of the family of God, in perfect union (Heb 11v40).
God wants us to hope for the future, and He wants us to be expectant, for this is how we, like Enoch, are drawn to come close to God, and are drawn to follow Him and His will, despite not knowing so much about why sometimes. God desires that we seek Him and find him, all other things being secondly, and He wants us to be able to sacrifice other things we may want. Easier said than done, but He keeps us through our weakness and our failings. Those He chose He predestined, so He knows how He'll keep us (Rom 8v29).
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