Coming to terms with trials and temptation

This is the white board diagram Glenn and I drew when we tried to understand James' first verses about trials and temptations. To use a pat phrase, "It's complex!"

Complex because trials themselves are hard to understand; as is God's word regarding them. Yet, we want to begin 2010 with a serious look at these verses because, like it or not, trials and temptations of various shapes and sizes will come our way in 2010. They will be difficult to handle, throw us off balance, disturb and may even plunge us into crisis. What can make them even more difficult is the accompanying confusion about why they come our way.

Therefore, it's really important that we get a good handle on any clue the Bible gives us as the why we may suffer them.
Prepare yourself for the year ahead and take a close look at James 1:2 - 8 then together with us wrestle with what they mean and how they can help us remain strong and on track in 2010.

What became of 2009?

At the end of every year we often reflect on the most significant moments of the year just gone. This time, rather than think of moments, why not think about movement? What I mean is, what has been the overall direction and development of your life. How have your attitudes, character or lifestyle formed? What are the trends? Or to put it another way, don't think of what you've done, consider what you have become.
Everywhere, the word of God asks us to consider the direction in which our life is moving. Take Paul's words in Colossians.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col 3:12 - 18)Or, in summary, "...clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 13:14)
What movement do you see in your life? Has this year seen you trend toward a consistent life of faith and humble walk with God? Would you say you have are a person more and more showing love to others? Are you hopeful and enthusiastic about God's work? Or is the overall trend toward coldness, indifference, selfishness and worldliness? More importantly, what will you do with what you see? Your life is the culmination of many minor choices, habits and fundamental attitudes. There are some you need to affirm and in which you need to persist. There are certainly others that you need to challenge and change. You will not grow unless there are some changes. Take time to look seriously, critically, and purposefully at your life and prayerfully, in Christ, seek his direction as you life moves into 2010.

A Hard Year

When I reflect on 2009 I see it as a hard yeard for many in our community. There has been much pain, suffering and death in families in our community. On sunday we heard from two people - John & Ian who reflected on their tough years - But still they testify to good being good through those tough times.

I think we can often at the end of the year reflect on the 'good things' God has done and we look over the hard things we have had to endure. The Bible though is full of people reflections on God being good even through hard times. Have a read through some of David's Psalms - especially in the 50-60 where he has been annointed to be king but yet he has having year after year of being persued by Saul. Some of these psalms may have been David's reflection on his year - year after year after year.... persuit, suffering, pain

So as we wrap up one year and begin an other  - from hard places can you say like David did:
     Oh, my strength, I sing praise to you,
     you O God, are my fortress, my loving God

God promises to be with us in all situations - are we going to remain in Him? trust in Him? through the good times and the bad. It dosn't mean we will always feel happy or positive - but it will give us HOPE to endure.

The Spirit of Christmas

The vague notion of the spirit of Christmas must be replaced with the true Spirit of Christmas and with a new hunger for his work in our lives. His work was clearly seen in Simeon about whom we read that the Spirit was upon him, revealed to him, lead him and spoke through him." (Luke 2:25 - 35 And all before Pentecost!)
When the Spirit spoke a 400 year silence was replaced with His unmistakeable voice. His one purpose was to reveal the glory of Jesus.
His work today is still the same (see John 16:15.) and we know that unless the Spirit speaks people remain in the ignorance of unbelief.
Therefore this Christmas pray for the Spirit to reveal Jesus to your friends and family. Pray that he may reveal, move and speak through you.

Fair go this Christmas

The gift of God in Christ remembered at Christmas helps focus and direct our giving in three area.
1. Compassion. In our day, we are expected to give gifts to everyone and we end up spending mountains of money buying gifts for people who don't need them.
Rather we can focus Christ's love on the genuinely needy by giving to the poor. We could even ask people not to buy us presents, but instead to give to the needy.
Organisations like Fair Trade, Tear, WDR etc, give us amply opportunity.
2. Sacrificial. We love bargains, but realise that there are prices we are not willing to pay to have them, such as buying stolen goods. Some goods (especially chocolate and coffee) may come cheeply to us, but are produced through extortion, slavery and unjust wages to workers. We ought not be willing to buy them on account of their origin. However, it may mean that we will pay more if we buy them under fair trade conditions. But, in the likeness of Christ's sacrificial gift we ought to be willing to pay sacrificially in order to help the poor.
3. Wisdom. The practice of simple giving is important, especially in emergencies. Yet this approach is not always the wisest thing to do and can even do more harm than good. As is often quoted, "it is better to teach someone how to fish, than to give them fish." As Christians we ought to look for opportunities to support justice and structural change as wise strategies for the long term relief of poverty.
It is our view that fair trade can be an effective vehicle for Christian giving since it enables us to focus our giving in these ways. As a church and as church leadership we are supporting it and encourage others to prayerfully do the same. Full details of the fair trade organisation can be found at http://www.fairtrade.com.au.

Isaac, the imperfect patriach of faith

The Bible is full of flawed characters who were graciously blessed by God. The Christmas list in Matthew's gospel is full of them and Isaac was one of them. The record of his life is without spectacular event or great achievement. He had some obvious flaws, yet his name is recorded among the fathers of our faith.
In Beersheba he "called on the name of the Lord" at the altar he built and remained in the land as God had commanded him.
The thing most notable, is God's blessing on him in the likeness of his blessing on Abraham. God was with him and would bless him and for that reason he should not fear (Gen.26:24 - 25).
He was chosen by grace and receive the promise by faith.
This too is our simple testimony. We are saved by grace through faith and in this we too are the children of Abraham (Gal 3:7).

Freedom - the truth will set you free!!

Jesus Said: "I am the way THE TRUTH, and the life"
      Believe it
      Hold on to it
      Know it

The test:
Are you being held by things:       Fear, Guilt, Pride   or anything else?

Are you holding onto things trying to find security / freedom in those things rather in Jesus Christ.

What do you need to let go of this week so that you can Hold on to Jesus with both hands?

True freedom and peace comes from knowing an assurance of Life Eternal with a loving God
        a God who says:
"Fear Not for I am with you - I have called you by name - child you are mine"

Let us be free from slavery to the things of this world and live in hope and assurance of our eternal security.

PERSPECTIVE

Are looking at the world through your Jesus glases this week??
Do you have your faith perspective -  
          Looking at problems different??
          Looking at sin different??
          Looking at the situation different??

Fix your eyes on Jesus - the author an perfector of your faith
- and live from faith perspective this week:
         It will blow your mind
         Its a world within a world
         Remember other people won't belive it's possible
                 WHY??
"so you won't grow weary and lose heart"

Prayer Changes the Situation

Well it does and it dosn't!
Sometimes the situation changes dramatically and quickly when we pray.
Other times the situation doesn't change - but we do.
Other times the situation changes slowly and gradually.
Does pray make any difference in this?
In a discussion with someone after the service on Sunday we really wrestled with this. Do christians just manipulate the discussion around prayer - Things that could have happened a really just coincidence. Any undeniable supernatural answers to prayer are few and far between and always happen to 'somone we know'
Where does a conversation like that end - I'm not sure. But what I am sure is there is a God who can change anything in the universe. I know that through Jesus I can talk to him and he listens to me. Ultimately I have to trust that He knows best when it comes to answering prayer - the answer could be Yes No or Wait.
When it comes to people dieing that really shouldn't - ie in freak accidents or at a young age. 
People who have prayed for protection or may have had may people praying for them - why didn't God stop it happening? Because God knows best! It may not make sense to us this side of heaven but I am sure it will from the other side.
When I pray - I trust in a God that knows best - He can change things so I will keep praying to Him.
Have a read of Luke 18:1-8  Our Father knows what is right!!

Prayer that will change you.

I've added some reflective exercises from Psalm 27 to help you pray a life changing prayer.
Use the inspired words of the Psalm as the foundation of your prayer.
Meditate on them and reflect the words used in the psalm back to God in prayer.
Let me know if it helps and how you get on.

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? (Praise God for these specific qualities. Thank him for all he is to you in Christ.)
When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident. (Tell God you trust him and long to do so even more)

One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple (ask God to reveal himself to you more.)
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD. (sing a song of praise to God)

Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me. (for what would you want God to be merciful to you?)

(address the following words to God in prayer)
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
Teach me your way, O LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.
(Reflect on how you have been living. Confess your sin and ask the Lord to lead you in his ways)

I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
(Spend some quiet time just waiting and meditating on what you have read and said)

Dont Stop Praying

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances"
"Let us contunually offer to God a sacrifice of praise"
"always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"
"Pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request"

"I used to read these passages in a fog of guilt, imagining saints that prayed throughout the night....I read them now not as a perpetual guilt trip but as a call to a Godward oreintation. Prayer means keeping company with God who is already present." Phillip Yancey

Prayer continues to be a mystery to me! But I have given up on trying to to figure out how it works and actually just keep practicing it - even with all its seeming contradictions and irrationality. I believe the creator of the universe - my father - knows how it works so I'll keep doing it.
I know it changes things - How?  ......well thats up to dad!!!!

Healing and the cross.

In a previous post I suggested that the verse, "by his stripes we are healed." should not be used to guarantee present day healing through faith in Christ. Further to that C. Samuel Storms has some very insightful things to say about the role of the cross in healing. He writes.

"May we conclude that there is healing in the atonement. Of course!.. The redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ at Calvary is the foundation and source of every blessing, whether spiritual or physical... Everything we Christians receive from God finds its ultimate source in what Christ did for us on the cross. Therefore, the question is not whether our bodies receive healing because of the atonement, but when. We are forgiven of our sins now because of Christ's atoning death, but we await the consummation of our deliverance from the presence of sin when Christ returns. We experience fellowship with God now because of Christ's atoning death, but we await the consummation of that blessed relationship when Christ returns.... In other words it is a serious mistake for us to think that every blessing Christ secured through his redemptive suffering will be ours now in its consummate form.
Life for the believer in this present age is a life of tension between the "already" and the "not yet." ... Paul tells us in Romans 8:18 - 25 that the consummation of our adoption as God's children, which he defines as the redemption of our bodies, is something we eagerly and anxiously await; it is a future experience for which we in the present groan.

Talking to dad

How is you conversation going with your father this week?

"if you though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him"

Through Jesus we have the ear of the creator and sustainer of the universe? What are you going to ask him today?  Some things for those in need? some things for those hurting? some things for your self?
Remember God is no Father Christmas - his a loving father that opperates out of a loving gracious relationship established through the death of his son. We don't do good to earn favour with our father - we do good because we have the favour of our God.

Spend time with your dad this week!!!

Reformation

Sunday is Reformation Sunday. There is no better way to remember it than to hear the great doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ from the lips of Martin Luther in his commentary to the Galatians.

Faith... embraces and wraps in itself Christ the Son of God, delivered to death for us, as Paul here teaches, who being apprehended by faith, gives unto us righteousness and life. And here he sets out most lively the priesthood and offices of Christ: which are, to pacify God, to make intercession for sinners, to offer himself a sacrifice for their sins, to redeem, to instruct, and to comfort them. Let us learn to give true definition to Christ... that he is the Son of God, who, not for our desert or any righteousness of ours, but of his own free mercy, offered up himself a sacrifice for us sinners, that he might sanctify us forever.

Batton Passing

Is God No 1 in your Family?
How can you make him that  -  what are the false Gods that may be taking his place - TV, $, work, freinds
Do you beilive the promises?  That God rewards obediance - have a read through Duet 6 again!!
Are you doing you faith 24/7?  is your faith story lived out in every part of your family life - when you stand up, sit down, walk, mow the lawn, put the bins out play sport.........
Is our good life distracting you? -  are you forgetting Him - letting family time with Him slip, forgetting personal time with him, busy busy busy with so much good stuff -  BUT what about the God stuff??

Remember don't do this alone?  Don't be driven by guilt - Repent and believe that Jesus has restored you and your family!!  Remember and believe you have been given the Holy Spirit - the power that raised Christ from the dead is in you.  BE STRONG & COURAGEOUS - in his strength.

Pass on the Batton   -  Whole Heartedly keep Him No 1.

When the harvest is big.

As a church we have never had more reason to pray. We have more and more opportunities to serve, but find it hard to get people. Tight finances are also putting stress on our ability to do all we want to. It's times like this that I call you to pray.

Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:2

A vital part to the solution for a problem like ours is prayer.
We need you to join us this Sunday night 6:00pm to seek the Lord of the harvest to provide all we need and more.

Hooking Up - Connecting Up

Meal times can be a great way to share life together.  A great place to share God together

Who are you going to share some food and drink with this week??

Maybe its just your family - we are going to sit down and have dinner together - No TV  - no rush  - 
Maybe you can have a meal with your neighbours?
Maybe you can catch up with some one for coffee?
Why not have breaky with your Grow Group?
Why not have dinner as a SG?

There are lots of ways we can 'fellowship' together.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — HEBREWS 10:25

Healing and Rick Warren

Here's a powerful perspective by Rick Warren. author of 'Purpose Driven Life ' and pastor of Saddleback Church in California. His wife has cancer.
In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren , Rick said,

"People ask me, What is the purpose of life?
And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense. Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.
The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness...
This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay , getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.
You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems: If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.
We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her- It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people. You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life."

Undertaking good work

If only Nehemiah had this when he needed it!
The task of rebuilding the wall was Herculean, resources minimal, opposition great and chance of success slim. Yet he didn't undertake it looking at all the problems. He had three things that compelled him forward. It was God's plan ('what my God had put in my heart to do' 2:12). It would bless God's people and was the right thing to do ('we will no longer be in disgrace' 2:17). God was providing the means ('the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me' 2:18).

In these three ways we can consider what God is calling us to do in his kingdom. If you were to think of them in your life how would they translate to what you are doing?

Risky Faith Living

Have you been reflecting on the story of Esther this week?
I keep thinking about her risky faith living?  She was willing to obey - to put her life on the line?
I have to keep asking myself, where am I willing to die to myself for the sake of God and others?
Am I willing to say sorry? Ask for forgiveness? serve?
Am I willing to say something about Jesus? Ask for others opinions on faith? Witness?
Am I willing to help someone in need? Even when I don't want to? or I'm too busy?

I remember that God has prepared in advance the good works He wants us to do - Now he asks for us to step up with some Risky Faith Living and Trust Him 

He did not give us a Spirit of timidity -  but of Power, Love & Self Discipline 2Tim 1:7

I like the last one on the list - the Holy Spirit even helps us to be self disciplined!!  I need to partner with him to make sure this risky living is part of my priorites in life, and even have some plan to do it!!!   
mmmmm   food for thought!!!

Esther - A good looking, orphan Jew - placed by God for such a time as this!!!

The story of Esther is quite remarakable - the saving of a Jewish remanant by an orphan, teenager who was willing to put her life on the line for her God and her people. It is a story of victory over enemies, it is the story of faith, it is the story of salvation. Why not give it a read this weekend !!

The bible is full of stories of  ordinary people from all walks of life, in all sorts of situations being used by God for his plan to to save his people.

Where has he placed you as part of this plan? 
Who around you is God wanting to save either physically, emotionally or spiritually?

Esther was an ordinary person of probably ordinary faith - remember it only takes a mustard seed of faith to do impossible things.

Stand up in faith and see what God will do!!

Healing 3. Healing and the cross

At this point we are considering the Biblical and theological issues around healing. It may seem cold logic to those who are sick, but it's essential to think correctly and to have expectations that are Biblical. If we do not think Biblically we can be thrown into additional confusion and turmoil when confronted with the already difficult struggle of suffering and sickness.

Much has been made of the passage in Isaiah 53:5 "by his wounds we are healed." We are told that the cross guarantees healing . As one person put it, "Jesus bore our sickness and carried your diseases at the same time and in the same manner that he bore your sins. You are just as free from sickness and disease as you are free from sin" (Gloria Copeland.)

Is 53:5 goes like this.
... he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

The passage is a poem that uses a poetic devise called 'synonymous parallelism.' Simply, the expression of the first line is repeated by the second, but in different words. 'Transgressions' is the same as 'iniquities;' 'Peace' is repeated by 'healing.' In other words, Isaiah's theme is restoration from sin; healing is the peace of sins removed. As one person put it, "we were sick unto death because of our sins; but he... became the source of our healing" (Delitzsch.) (See also Is.1:4 - 6 and Jer. 30:12-17 where sickness is used metaphorically to describe sin and healing is a picture of restoration.)

Some point to the fact that the word peace (shalom) can mean complete restoration, including physical healing and health. True. Mostly, though, it has some particular dimension of peace in mind, for example, peace between waring parties. The context determines what the meaning and focus is. Peter clearly understood the meaning here as freedom from sin and spiritual restoration of God's people, for he quotes Isaiah saying,

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1Pet. 2:24

The healing Isaiah speaks of is not physical healing but the removal of sin, reconciliation with God and the freedom to live a life unto God.

There are other reasons why it seems wrong to suggest that we receive physical healing equally, in the same manner and to the same degree that we receive forgiveness of sin through faith in the cross of Christ. To begin with, people are not healed completely the minute they believe in Christ, even though they have faith in the cross. Then, christians still get sick, even though we say forgiveness is complete and full (we are justified though faith.) Even more seriously and dangerously, if the two are so connected, should we now say that a lack of healing, ipso facto, indicates a lack of forgiveness, since one is as much guaranteed by the cross as the other? There are few willing to suggest such a thing. Wisely so. But we would not say this because we do not believe the two are so related. However, the danger is that if we connect them too strongly, the lack of healing can subtly become a crisis of faith regarding my salvation. I believe some have suffered from such unnecessary soul searching as a result of faulty teaching regarding healing through the atonement.

What then is the connection between the cross and healing? We'll look at that next time.

Deborah is a strange story.

The story of Deborah and the other Judges are often filled with bewildering detail, strange characters and even stranger events. We are often left wondering if the example set is one we should follow or one to avoid. Then again, we usually find it hard to identify with the situation they were in and couldn't duplicate it, even if we wanted to!
It says to me, that these were real people who, true to life, had flawed characters and who lived in messy times of often extreme and desperate circumstances. What are we to make of it all then? Through the judges we are primarily to see God persistently at work to bring about his purposes being described as it happened in all the cut and thrust, ups and downs, surprise and uncertainty of life as it often is. As someone said, "God's destination is the same and certain, the path God takes to get there, is always interesting and varied." The path ended with Jesus as the ultimate 'judge' and leader of his people who ensures God's plan is fulfilled.
That plan is the one in which he has included us.

AS Paul says, "... to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:14.)"

The work of all the judges was to bring this about and all their efforts and antics were aimed at this one goal.
In this way, I believe it continues to be our job too, in whatever way it falls to us to do it, in all the strange and difficult circumstances we may find ourselves, to make disciples who know and serve God.

So my challenge from Deborah is still the same,

Who are you leading, influencing, impacting for the kingdom?

How might you bring them closer to God
?
When will you do this?

How can you handle the challenges you are facing?
In humility?
With determination?

What prayer will you offer to God?

Don't grow 60/30 weary

How's the 60/30ing been going?  Are you getting a bit tired of it all? It's becoming a bit too much?
Finding your self back in bad habits - ignoring God - allowing the noise of the world to block out the voice of God??
Just remember this is not about 60/30 in its self - it's about maintaining a constant connection with our God.
Rom 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Phillipians 3:14 Press on toward the goal....
How will you pick up the challenge today, tomorrow and the next day!!

Healing 2

Healing and the will of God.Healing depends on God's will. We cannot heal ourselves. The leper in Matt 8:2 understood it perfectly when he said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” However, when it comes to God's will to heal there are some who would say that the leper was wrong in the way he asked Jesus. Colin Urquhart said, "when you come tentatively with an 'if,' the first thing He [God] wants to do is to remove the 'if' from your thinking." The proper attitude for a Christian is not "if God wills to heal me" but "since God wants to heal me" In other words, some say God's will is always to heal. They point to Jesus readiness to heal all who came to him. Jesus we are assured, "is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb. 13:8.) Further, in Isaiah 53:5 we read, "by his wounds we are healed." We are told that the cross of Jesus unconditionally ensures healing for all who believe, in the same way it unconditionally secures forgiveness.
In response we need to say a number of things. The Bible give us many wonderful encouragements to seek healing from God. Nevertheless, as Colin Brown states,

"We need to recognise that there are distinctions between what God has covenanted to do and what he has not covenanted to do, between what God may do and what he has promised to do. God is the healer (Ex.15:26) and the one who is behind all healing. But in the Old Testament health and healing were not all automatically guaranteed by membership in the covenant. The new covenant does not promise healing for all now. It promises forgiveness of sins (Matt 26:28.) There is no specific unqualified promise of health and healing in the New Testament for those who have faith."

It seems to me that this is a very important point. God may grant healing at his discretion, according to his Sovereign will but it seems to me that he has no where unconditionally promised to do so, whereas the other blessings of the covenant are promised unconditionally as part of his covenant. For example, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Rom.10:13).

For this reason the lepers prayer was completely appropriate. Jesus did not consider his hesitation unbelief and he graciously answered him (a great encouragement to our prayers for healing!) On the other hand, prayers and requests for forgiveness ought to begin with the complete assurance in the unconditional covenant promises of God.
We'll look at other aspects of this later.

Who is Deborah?

Ever heard of Deborah?

You can read about her in Judges 4 and 5.
She was an amazing woman full of wisdom, authority and humility in very difficult times.
On Sunday we will examine her character and contribution as we reflect on Biblical Characters and what we learn from them.

Prepare yourself by asking these questions.

1. Do you have a strong, clear and settled conviction about God's grace to you and can you say with Paul, "by the grace of God, I am what I am?"
2. Given who God has made you, with your strengths and weaknesses, in what role would God have you serve him?
3. Am you determined, by God's grace, to do whatever it takes to do his will?

Thoughts on healing 1.

In the same way that suffering is a mystery, the why's and wherefore's of miraculous healing remain a puzzle. Some claim to know the 'secret' to healing. We are told that God wants everyone to be healed. Some even suggest that sickness is an illusion and that we simply need to 'claim our healing' in order to receive it. Yet the number of people who remain unhealed by even the most confident, inevitably leaves us scratching our heads. As a friend of mine commented when I asked if he wanted me to pray for his sick friend, "They have already had every possible prayer, anointing, exorcism and 'word' spoken over them." Yet they were not healed.

I don't presume to have the answers. Yet I offer the following 'random thoughts' about what I consider key issues. I hope they will send us back to the Bible, some earnest prayer and greater trust in the God, "who heals all my diseases" (Ps.103.3)

Firstly, it seems to me that sickness evokes such strong feelings in us that it can easily push bodily healing to become the single all consuming priority and sole thing we want from God. In that sense 'health' may assume a priority in our thinking greater than it warrants. Rather, we need to keep bodily health in perspective. Contrary to worldly thinking, it's not the most important thing. To say, "So long as you have your health," is not the Christian view of life. As someone once said even about death, "It's not the worst thing that can happen to a Christian." We do not pursue life at all costs. For example, we are prepared to suffer bodily for the sake of the gospel. Sickness is bodily dissolution of another sort and equally, is subsumed under our life in Christ.

We must discover ways to keep our life in Christ and our future in him front and centre whatever we believe about sickness and healing. As Paul says, "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Rom. 14:8.) If in the end we say that Christians suffer sickness and for some reason God may not heal, and that we may die from a disease, it does not mean that everything is lost.

It's important that we clearly set our hearts on Christ in this life and so in this way we may, in some small way prepare ourselves for whatever may come our way. If we begin with a faulty view of this, we may make sickness even harder if we or a loved one become ill. Even the highest expectation of healing must be subsumed under the knowledge that whatever comes our way, we belong to Christ and we are safe in him.

Barnabas

Generous
An Encourager
A People Person
A Jesus Person

"he was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and faith"
"a brother who was praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.

A generous freind who gave his all for the gospel and the church - Just like his Lord and Savior.

Why not ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to be generous, encouraging, a people person and a Jesus person this week. 
It wasn't anything that Barnabas did that made him a great man of God -  The Holy Spirit did it through him.  He was a man of faith - why not also ask God to increase your faith this week that you may act on the good works he has planned in advance for you to do.

Who will be saying of you this week  "I follow ................ because they follow Jesus" ???

First Fruits

The Idea of a First Fruits offering stems from early days of Israel's history.  Have a read of Deuteronomy 26 and see how it all worked back then.
As the Bible progresses the First Fruits idea remains quiet prevalent with 3 main ideas around it:
1. Thanks for God's provision, both physically and spiritually.
         Duet 26 - Is thanks for the promise land and what it produces food wise
                    but it is als thanks for our salvation from our suffering in Egypt
2. As an act of obedinace - this is the way the Levites and the needy were looked after
         The Isralites were required to bring this offering annualy as part of the way the community
                    kept running
3. As a deposit of a promise
         There is also a sense bringing the first fruit was an act of faith. It was brought at the
                    begining of the season - before the blessings had been fully recieved.
    The New Testement takes this idea even further:
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" 1Cor15:20
"but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" Rom 8:23

And here is an interesting one:

"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created" James1:18
Our whole lives become a firstfruits offering:    

ARE YOU:        Giving Thanks       Living Obediantly       Hope for Others

This Sunday come prepared to bring your first fruits offering :-  Praise, Financial, Faith

60/30ing Goes On.

Are you maintaining a continued contact with God hour by hour?
Are there beeps - or other reminders prompting to Remain In Him?
Are you connecting  - Talking?  Listening? Acting?

Here one of my 60/30 experiances from the weekend:
(this is a biggy - but I had lots of little ones as well - why not share your stories as well)

I was preaching at another church on the weekend - I had my sermon prepared and all ready to go. The services starts with the person leading reading John 15 - 'remain in me' -  then the childrens talk is done about the vine and the braches and reamining connected with Jesus!!  I'm thinking did I give them the wrong text and theme that I was going to preach on?? As this is was happening I start to get the promt - to get rid of the sermon I had prepared - "I want you to encourage them by preaching the "remain in me" sermon and share the 60/30 challenge with them."  I had no notes on that sermon!!  "this is a big time ask God!!"

In the end I go with it - it was amazing how it all came flooding back to me as I began preaching it. It really seemed to connect with the small little congregation. Many shared with me later that it really spoke to them.   And here is the icing on the cake - as we sing the last song  - my phone goes of in church - it shouldn;t have because I switched the alarms of before I went into church - must have done something wrong!!!  or right!!   I start tearing up as I madly reach to switch the phone of  and had this over whelming sense of  God saying:  "see - thats what I wanted them to hear!!!  thanks for being faithful!!"

        Remain in me & Fruit Happens!!!

What's God prompting you to do today??

Sunday Night: Who we are!

This Sunday evening we investigate the gifts of healing and miraculous signs and wonders.

Are these gifts still available today?
What are the signs and wonders?
How does the gift of healing work in the church today?
How do we know if we have the gift of healing?
Sunday evening at 6:00pm.

60/30 Challenge is under way!!

At Reverb on sunday we have issued the 60/30 challenge as away of getting us to Remain in Jesus. (John 15)
How does it work?
For the next month (30 days) we have issued WCCC and anyone else who wants to join in,  the challenge of connecting with God every 60 minutes.

We have asked people to set watches, phones, computers ect to beep every hour (except when you're asleep). Or write down 60/30 challenge reminders in your diary, stick them in your car, shower, workspace....

Then when the beep goes off or you see a riminder connect with God.

On sunday we said that the way we stay connected with somone is to Talk with them, to listen to them and you just keep doing that. So when the beeper goes of - Talk with God - Listen to God  -  and here is the big challenge - Do what he asks!!!

Things to do when the reminder is there:
     thank God for the last Hour,  Ask him to guide you in the next hour, 
     Ask Him what he want's you to do?
     ask your self - is this where I should be?  What do I need to stop?
     pray for somone, call somone, read the bible, send somone a verse,
     enjoy God in exactly what you are doing at that moment, take a time out and walk with God....
              why not share some other suggestions.......

In John 14 & 16 Jesus tells his disciples if they remain in him the Holy Spirit will come and tell them things, remind them of things, convict them of things & give them insight.
This next 30 days as you remain in him - listen for the spirits promptings - and act on them!!
    As we remain in Him  FRUIT HAPPENS!!!

Feel free to share your stories here - or if you are a facebooker become a fan of wccc60/30 challenge and share your stories.

3 Questions to keep you humble

1. Have you measured yourself by grace today?
"For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 1Cor. 4:7

Thank God for his wonderful gift of grace, and explore it's full implications.

2. Are you thinking highly of others? What good do you see? How are you dealing with our natural tendency to criticise and pick out the worst?

3. What have you done to serve another person according to their needs? Pray for them? Send them an encouraging note? Help them financially. Call them to cheer them up? Make them a cuppa?

Recall God's wonderful promises to give grace, raise up and care for the humble. No one else may notice, but God always does.

Humble quotes

Humility does not cause us to think less of ourselves; it allows us to think of ourselves less. (Ward Williams)

Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame. (Alexander Pope)

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.Matt. 18:3-4

I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty... But I am too busy thinking about myself.
(Edith Sitwell)

If I only had a little humility, I'd be perfect.
(Ted Turner)

Blessed are the poor in spirit
For their's is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt.5:3

Humility: a strange thing. The minute you think you've got it,
you've lost it. (anonymous)

Do you have any quotes or thoughts about humility? Share them with everyone.

Humility, leadership and the real world

Humility is considered a Christian virtue, but is often considered irrelevant to the corporate world. "You can be humble in church, but the real world calls for a more aggressive attitude."

Yet the wisdom of humility in leadership has been highlighted and reinforced by some recent thinkers.

The following is from an article titled, "Humility: The Most Beautiful Word in the English Language." It's written by Bruna Martinuzzi

"These leaders (of top companies as described in Colin's bestseller"Good to Great") are a complex, paradoxical mix of intense professional will and extreme personal humility. They will create superb results but shun public adulation, and are never boastful. They are described as modest....

We often confuse humility with timidity. Humility is not clothing ourselves in an attitude of self-abasement or self-denigration. Humility is all about maintaining our pride about who we are, about our achievements, about our worth - but without arrogance - it is the antithesis of hubris, that excessive, arrogant pride which often leads to the derailment of some corporate heroes, as it does with the downfall of the tragic hero in Greek drama. It's about a quiet confidence without the need for a meretricious selling of our wares. It's about being content to let others discover the layers of our talents without having to boast about them. It's a lack of arrogance, not a lack of aggressiveness in the pursuit of achievement....

Humility is also a meta-virtue. It crosses into an array of principles. For example, we can safely declare that there cannot be authenticity without humility. Why? Because, there is always a time in a leader's journey when one will be in a situation of not having all the answers. Admitting this and seeking others' input requires some humility.

Another mark of a leader who practices humility is his or her treatment of others. Such leaders treat everyone with respect regardless of position. Years ago, I came across this reference: the sign of a gentleman is how he treats those who can be of absolutely no use to him.

Something interesting happens, too, when we approach situations from a perspective of humility: it opens us up to possibilities, as we choose open-mindedness and curiosity over protecting our point of view. We spend more time in that wonderful space of the beginner's mind, willing to learn from what others have to offer. We move away from pushing into allowing, from insecure to secure, from seeking approval to seeking enlightenment. We forget about being perfect and we enjoy being in the moment."

All this reminds me of Luke 1:52, "He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble."

For anyone living in the 'real world' it's a challenge to maintain humility. Especially when it seems as though the arrogant advance and get their own way. Yet God's wisdom stands firm and true humility is worth living out in spite of what others may do.  

Rescued to serve!!

It's a humbling thing to be rescued. Knowing we can't save ourselves!! 
The humbling truth of the gift of the gospel should keep us grounded.
Considering our own position we should be very wary then how we look at others.

Are you willing to do for others what Jesus did for you?    Die to self.
Deny self and pick up a cross daily??
How are you going to put God first, others next and your self last this week?

The daily dieing to self is an almost minute by minute discipline.
The 'killing off' of self is near impossible.
Then we recall the power that we have within us Ephs 1:19 'the power that raised christ from the dead" is in you.  This is the power we need to access when humble ourselvs before God and others.

Ask that the power of God would be evident in your life this week - as you humbly serve.

Head's up: Sunday is coming

This Sunday Glenn will bring us God’s word and he will focus on two verses Matt 18: “whoever humbles themself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven & John 9: 23 If anyone would come after me they must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” – We will consider being real with who we are and who God is.
              
We will also be farewelling and praying a blessing over the Van Niekerk and Van der Ree families – they will be continuing to serve God in another part of the body – which si something we can celebrate together.

Please be in PRAYER for Glenn and for the Holy Spirit to empower him to speak the Word in Spirit and in Truth. Please also pray for Andrew Hoffman who will lead us as the elder on Sunday, and for Johann and our music ministry team as the lead us in worship to our Great God – Praise God! Please also remember Joel who will be looking after our media projection and for our sound team. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful servants of God being willing to be used by Him in His service.

The God who humbly hears prayer

Our attitude even in coming to God is so often faulty. But the humility of God is so great that he doesn't seem to mind.

Richard Wurmbrand records his first prayer to God as follows.

"I said something like this: 'God, I know that You do not exist. But if perchance You exist, which I deny - it is for You to reveal yourself to me; it is not my duty to seek You.'"

He was a proud young atheist playboy and called his prayer, "the prayer of an atheist."

The strange thing is that the god so addressed appeared not to take offence but to answer and Richard Wurmbrand became perhaps the best known Christian leader of his country of the 20th century.

God is humbly prepared to meet us 'where we are.'

The God who stoops.

You are love; You are wisdom; You are humility

- Saint Francis of Assisi, The Praises of God

What an encouragement to faith to know that God is humble and willing to stoop. As the psalmist says,

Who is like the LORD our God,

the One who sits enthroned on high,

who stoops down to look

on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust....Psa. 113:5 - 6

How low is God prepared to go? Low enough to become a man. Low enough to serve. Low enough to suffer the shame of crucifixion. Low enough to save his enemies. Low enough to hear even a prayer full mostly of doubt ("I believe, help my unbelief.")

God is graciously ready to meet you right where you are. Take advantage of his grace today.

Praying through pain

Jesus Gethsemane prayer experience is a great example of praying through pain.
Read Matthew 26:36ff
There is this refrain in his prayer - "Not my will but yours be done"
Prayer often does not change the situation but it definitely changes us and the way we tackle it.

BUT...

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and every day have sorrow in my heart?

.....

But I trust in your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,

for he has been good to me.

Psa. 13:0 - 6

The Bible - No laughing matter!!!

How has God spoken to you from his word this week?

Do you believe it?

Here is something I read in Genesis 17:18 "Abraham fell face down, he laughed and said to himself "will a son be born to a man 100 years old?"

Now I always thought it was Sarah who did the laughing - but here it is Abraham laughed first!! why don't we pick him out as the doubter???

Abraham was a real bloke like me - he might of had a bit more faith than me - BUT - He still laughed at God's promises.

Any way I got to thinking - when do I laugh at God? Where do I doubt him at his word?? This week I am going to change my attitudes to the promises of God - I am going to try and believe them.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "never will I leave you, never will I forsake you!!"

Do you believe it???

The Bible - Gods Word Believe it or not?

"The mere fact that the Bible claims to be the Word of God does not prove that it is such, for there are other books that make the same claim. The difference is that the scriptures contain indisputable evidence as being the Word of God." Josh McDowell

Jesus made the claim for the Bible saying "scripture cannot be broken: John 10:35 and promising that "not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law" Matt 5:18

In other words Jesus fully believed that the Bible was God inspired.

If he believed it then surely we can to....

Faith Hope Love

Faithful Works

Loving Labor

Hopeful Endurance

How will these characterise your church life this week?

Will the things we do this week be characterised by these:

Prayer and Creativity

Building up and not tearing down

Joyful optimism

They will be if we keep Jesus at the centre!!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God Hebrews 12:2