Adding zeroes or trusting a theocratic God?

The money crisis continues around the world and even many Christians are unsure where they stand financially. Tithing and donating to churches and genuine Christian ministries continue to be on a downturn unfortunately due a lack of trust in the dollar, governments and, sadly, the word of God.

We remember a couple of years back when the crisis burst on the world scene so many people were so unsure about their tomorrows.

We’re meant to trust the Lord!
Wherever we ministered, we would say: ‘Yes, things may seem bad here and in other nations. But the real truth for Christians is that we are not under our nation’s economy, nor the world’s economy... we’re under God’s economy. Let’s trust him and keep honouring his church and others with our finance and generosity, and he will look after us. Be generous to your church and other Christians and God, who is so generous himself, will look after us and bless us.’

We’ve operated this godly, biblical principle ourselves and we have never felt disadvantaged personally. Nor have others who did – and still do – what we recommended from the word!

Then, this month, another ‘big scare’ hit the world scene. We’ve just been shocked at the big American almost 15 trillion dollar one that is still having adverse effects. TV news talks of ‘further dipping’, ‘expanding downturn’, ‘return of the 30’s depression’ and ‘Is China going to become the new America, dollar power-wise?’ and so on.

Scary piles of $100 dollars bills images!
(See YouTube http://usdebt.kleptocracy.us/)


$1 million dollars ($1,000,000 of $100 dollar bills)

$1 trillion! ($1,000,000,000,000 of $100 dollar bills)




But the image below of $100 bills is really scary! It's said to represent the incredible figure that arose from America's August 'refinancing answer.'  Almost a staggering 15 trillion dollars! ($15,000,000,000,000)!

Someone has quipped, ‘Even the Statue of Liberty looks so worried at America’s incredible, unpayable debt.’



The proverbial ostrich in action?
Evidently if the American government doesn’t really fix its budget, then by Christmas this year the US national debt (credit card bill) will topple 15 trillion, passing 20% of the entire world’s combined GPD!

So what was America’s answer to its crisis? Extend its current loan! A sort of ostrich tactic of burying one’s head in the sand.

It was no wonder that as Maureen shared at a church recently on the August scare and how it is still affecting the whole world, she jokingly said, ‘Following America’s response, I have the answer to every debt owed. Simply add some more zeroes to any existing amount and forget about it for it’ll go away! Well...that is until in just a little while the crisis will become an even bigger one!’ She was applauded.

But, aware of not only people’s financial concerns, but also about terrorism, the recent London troubles, lack of trust in governments, people, certain church leaders, earthquakes and the big ‘Where is God? ‘question, Maureen went on to share from Habakkuk.

Where is out trust – really?
A prophet for our day, Habakkuk understood that God’s own people can’t see that he is still in charge in the midst of every world ‘apparent’ disaster! In an oracle (supernatural word) God says that he knows what his own people, never mind secular individuals, are thinking: ‘How long do I have to cry out for help before you listen?’ (Hab. 1:2). In other words, people love to blame God, not themselves.

An imminent and highly intelligent economist, a professor, recently said the financial trouble countries are in didn’t happen overnight. That it’s the result of ‘40 years of careless personal management!’

Maureen went on to say that God always knows what’s going down. That through Habakkuk he gives an unexpected answer to our questions when he proclaims: ‘Look at the nations and watch – be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told’ (Hab.1: 5).

And we surely live in such frightening days when people are wondering ‘What’s next? What about this nation and that one? Who or what can I trust? How long before the next big money crash?’

Habakkuk’s writings spell out that God has allowed things to go wrong (wrong in our eyes) so that he gets our attention. That today God is challenging Christians regarding where our trust really is – dubious financial gain, governments, so-called prophecies or in a theocratic God (government by God) and the promises of his word?

Today God is encouraging us to really do what we’re meant to...’Live by faith’ (Hab. 2:4). The Message Bible puts it this way: ‘The person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive.’ Verse 5 lays it on the line regarding trusting false worldly financial security: ‘Note well: Money deceives.’

Habakkuk’s answer to troubled times
The prophet lived in a day of complaints, bewilderment, aggression and God being accused of everything that was ‘going wrong.’ But he refused to stay there. He waited, listened and prayed. And he was convinced that believing in God, and trusting him fully, is the only way to being at rest to enjoy a world under God’s sovereignty. That no matter what is going wrong; every detail of our life is worked into something good for us by the God because he loves us so much.

No wonder Habakkuk could wrap his book up by powerfully declaring: ‘Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen, though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields are stunted, though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns are empty, I’m singing joyful praise to God. I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Saviour God. Counting on God’s rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength’ (3:17-19).

The link with the Hebrews’ message of God’s rest
Maureen wrapped up her encouraging message this way...’But of course we have to want to enter into such a worriless, anxiety-free life of rest, such as the writer of Hebrews talks about (Heb. 4:9-10). Verse 16 urges us to “Approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”’

A timely word indeed for all Christians, in right standing before God through Christ’s Calvary sacrifice, and who wish to be at rest today under God’s loving theocratic government!

The BIG golden 50...Creating a Living Fairytale!

July 7 was an important day for us! Why? We celebrated the big golden one - our 50^th wedding anniversary - and are  still receiving numerous congratulations around the world via email, phone, SMS, face-to-face, Skype and Facebook.

We particularly liked what our Chinese friend Winston Lee so graciously emailed: ‘Wow! In a day of troubled ‘contemporary’ marriages, you have created a living fairytale!’ Loved that!

Marriage, like life, has often been called a journey. It certainly is...one of adventure, discovery, romance, excitement, challenges, dangers, decisions and great joy. All these things – and more – can only be encountered and worked through by a couple who are not only in love but remain committed to each other no matter what darkness comes their way.


Commitment ... that’s a word involving obligation, liability, duty, responsibility and ‘giving one’s trust to.’ Unfortunately it’s a major that’s been missing in ministry, businesses, relationships as well as church life and marriages for many years now.

The ‘old’ traditional wedding vow strongly emphasised a commitment based on a not-meant-to-be-broken pledge given willingly by each of the couple, along the lines of...                                                                                                                                                                ‘I take you to have and to hold from this day forward; to share my life and make my home with you for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. Before God and these witnesses, I pledge you my honour and faithfulness.’     

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 There was no thought of ‘Oh, let’s give this a try for a few months or even a few years. If it doesn’t work out, we can get a    divorce. And, anyway, we can always play around while we’re giving marriage a go.’ No, it was, and is, a long-term agreement.

Fairytales are regarded as only great little stories for kids to believe in and relax with, not real, just tales of imaginary people, ‘beings’ and happenings and highly improbable accounts.

Can ‘fairytale’ marriages become real, strong, vital and lasting? Yes! How? Without going into a marriage session, let’s just say by embracing these      21 Commitment Principles!                                                                                                                       Always...

1. Honour the Lord and his business and each other.         
2. Draw on the Spirit’s wisdom and guidance.         
3. Acknowledge God in everything, both large and small.    
4. Place Christ in charge of the marriage and each other lives.      
5. Pray together and commit each new day to God.     
6. Hand every good project as well as difficulty over to God. 
7. Work through sickness and financial distress with trust in God.       
8. Make valley decisions together, not alone.                
9. Share all things openly, quietly and patiently talking matters through.   
10. Priortise each other first, before personal ambitions.                 
11. Rush to forgive and forget, no matter what’s gone wrong.              
12. Promptly say ‘Thanks’ when something nice has been done.               
13. Understand, comfort and love meaningfully when trouble hits. 
14. Refuse to criticise and pull down. 
15. Uplift, support and encourage regularly!  
16. Meet each other’s deepest need, willingly and readily. 
17. Dream boldly in God for all the tomorrows.  
18. Allow generosity to control the pocketbook.  
19. Exercise selfless love, respect, admiration, and honour!  
20. Build a mind and heart appeal relationship, not just sexual. 
21. Remain romantic and only have eyes for each other.        

Satan, our enemy, is out to destroy marriages, especially where he sees a couple on-fire in ministry for God. He’ll cunningly move to break such marriages (and has done so in recent years). And, unfortunately, some couples, never mind the devil and life itself, seem to be their own worst enemies and they themselves ruin their marriage!   

                         

Married couples have a responsibility to each other to look out for lurking dangers and to uncover hidden snares. To pray together, trust each other and above all trust God in everything. To believe that God has a great plan for their life together no matter what comes against them. To love deeply. And to know that they can overcome all of life’s cruel curves and satanic attacks, deceptions and tricks.

Okay, we keep hearing marriage jokes from guys. Such as zany Groucho Marx who quipped, ‘I was married by a judge but I should have asked for the jury’s verdict!’

But what about the ladies? One placed an ad which ran: ‘Wanted: Husband.’  She got thousands of replies each reading: ’You can have mine!’

And the classic wrong view of marriage: ‘Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbours listen!’


It’s no wonder that when we run our fun Marriage Encounter Evenings we call them Marriage – the real CSI!


Yes, sometimes some sorting out and adjusting has to be done for the journey to continue. But, seriously, a God-centred marriage can work and endure if it’s built on an understanding the Hebrew of the Genesis 2:24 ‘leaving and cleaving.’ Love is a verb and these two verbs carry the meaning of committing ... forsaking all others and personal desires and tightly adhering to each other as if by using some powerful superglue.

Yes, we’re 50 years married. It hasn’t always been easy – even fairytales have their stresses, adversities, giant enemies and bad moments. But we have a great God and have faith in him and each other. We’re moving ahead on our journey!

Gold is symbolic of a 50 year anniversary. It also speaks of God, his deity, our faith in him, his divine nature and glory (Acts 17:29; Rev. 3:18; 1 Pet.1:7). Any successful marriage will always allow a golden God to be its golden centre.

Fifty is symbolic of Pentecost, freedom, jubilee (Exo. 26:5, 8: Lev. 23: 25: 25: 10-11; Num. 8:25; 1 Kgs. 18:4, 13: 2 Kgs. 2:7; Acts 2:1-4). Also the result of perfect consummation, or fulfilment, of time. We are jubilant that we reached 50 years in this special freedom called marriage.   But it’s only the beginning. We’re moving ahead!

By making God the head of the marriage, a couple are preciously united for life’s time span. Loneliness is no more; goals can be set together and worked toward in freedom. Committed couples can really discover each other, help one another and achieve many new things together. They can learn to love more deeply, be open, build each other up, forgive and forget when all upsets occur, and, most importantly, grow together caring deeply. 

Our prayer is that every married couple will enjoy their life together as they respect each other, follow Jesus and keep falling in love over and over again.

Let the journey be a rich one! 

Pentecost Fire - Steps to Success

Recently we saw a clip of Dennis Balcombe’s Revival Chinese Ministries International’s missionary success in Earth’s largest nation.

China       
Decades ago committed pioneers such as Hudson Taylor took Holy Spirit-led faith steps to live there under extreme difficulties, sacrificing much to share the gospel of Christ.


Christianity has grown strong there with hundreds of thousands of conversions. Despite communism, persecution, slayings, ungodly opposition, pogroms and forced government institutionalised churches, thousands of Christians have remained loyal to their faith, meeting in house and underground churches.


In 1978, when China opened its doors to the outside world, Dennis Balcombe took his step of inspired faith there. Fully persuaded that the Holy Spirit works incredible miracles, Pastor Balcombe refused to preach in English, studied hard and waited until he could fluently do so in Chinese. Then God used him to pioneer RCMI’s Spirit-filled teaching and worship ministry among China’s remote peasant churches. The result was renewal and revival among the house churches, thousands accepting Christ and many astounding miracles.  


Totally committed to God, he insists that churches need to be Spirit-filled; that speaking in tongues is a distinct sign of a Christian being Spirit-filled, an experience that comes after one accepts Jesus. He has seen first-hand the Holy Spirit work incredible miracles as he refuses to compromise on this specific message. 


Dennis Balcombe has always encouraged Christians to thirst after the Spirit and follow God with steps of boldness. Today in China many on-fire Christians arise at four in the morning to pray, worship God and seek redemption to sweep China. Tears flow freely as these Spirit-filled believers cry out to a merciful God. It’s no wonder that miracles happen and thousands are still coming to Jesus. Since the 70s Pastor Balcombe has been sending through many amazing stories of God moving in incredible ways for Christians, even those imprisoned. (Check http://rcmi.wordpress.com/)


Contrast  
This is a nation where countless Christians don’t have a Bible and when they can have a speaker teach from his or hers, they humbly but readily hunger for that preacher to teach for hours on end, even from 7am to 7pm for several days! On top of this, only a limited number have a comfortable meeting place with the latest techno gadgetry like we westerners are used to.


What a vast contrast to so many western Christians today! They have Bibles but how many bring them to church (where they also arrive late!), relying instead on the preacher to feed a weekly dose of spiritual medicine, often a poorly constructed 20 minute uninspiring sermon. Such complain about precious worship music, won’t stay for fellowship unless there’s coffee going, and moan about contributing finance to support the church’s ministry.


In 1945, when the communists took over, there were a reported 100,000 Christians in China (some sources state more). Today various statistics quote differing numbers in that nation.  But a while back an encouraging heading from The Times boldly stated: ‘Christianity in China is booming. With 100 million believers, far more than the 74 million-member communist party, Jesus is a force to be reckoned with in the People’s Republic. We talk to the new faithful who love China – but love God more.’


The bottom line is that the Holy Spirit has been at work in China responding to faithful, praying, believing Christians. Thousands are still coming to Christ right across China, in both major cities and country areas.


Dennis Balcombe is not alone in his mission. There are others who have likewise responded to the Spirit’s call to be on-fire for Christ. They too have dared to take faith steps to join those who are the ‘goers’ of Matthew 28:19, ‘Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.’


Oh, many are not in the limelight as is Dennis Balcombe, but their endeavours are noted by the heavenly scribe and their reward will be great!


Cenacle 
Last month we said that today we need on-fire Christians in on-fire churches. Such Christians are those who will take faith steps to do whatever the Spirit challenges. Just like those first missio Dei disciples, immediately leaving the upper room and hitting the streets to evangelise, locally and abroad.


Visiting Jerusalem often includes a guide to the cenacle – supposedly the actual large upper room where the 120 disciples met, praying in expectation and the Spirit first fell. It has un-railed steps to a higher level. A few years back, one of our travel party fell from the top, crashing heavily to the hard floor with an ominous crack.


We had been talking about the Holy Spirit’s activities 2000 years ago in the upper room, that he was the same powerhouse today. Rushing to assist our fellow traveller, concerned that she had seriously hurt her head, we called on that same supernatural friend. He responded! Our friend arose unhurt. In fact, she spoke of being elated, warmly touched by an unseen hand.


We left the cenacle challenged anew to take every opportunity the Spirit would give us anywhere on earth to share Jesus.


Challenge  
Now you don’t have to visit Jerusalem to be powerfully touched by the Holy Spirit (Although if you do go you’ll gain unforgettable experiences). Nor do you have to go to China – although if you do from a clear call from God, you’ll be so blessed. You can find the Holy Spirit anywhere, and you can evangelise anywhere.


We should value our local church, pray and believe for it to be Holy Spirit on-fire. We should look around our western country and see countless God-given opportunities to reach people from other nations who ‘live around the corner.’


This Sunday, June 12, is Pentecost Sunday. As the anointing – the power and presence of the Holy Spirit – always makes the difference in the believer’s and a church’s life, hopefully your church has something special planned, open to the Spirit falling afresh. Empowered anew we can take our steps of faith to success for Jesus and go ‘out there’ to fulfil the great commission.

Needed today: On-fire, missio Dei churches!

Some teach that the church was born when Jesus mysteriously entered a room where his disciples were hiding and breathed on them (See John 20:19-22).

Easier-to-grasp is that the church was born on Pentecost Sunday, that amazing morning when the Holy Spirit fell at 9am with supernatural power, filling and anointing 120 patiently waiting faithful disciples.

Immediately they willingly moved out from that room of blessing into the marketplace to witness for Jesus. There, renewed and rejuvenated, a transformed Peter gave his first big sermon and a public altar call.

The incredible result was around three thousand convinced people accepted Christ as Saviour, received forgiveness of sin and gained godly confidence to live each day joyfully in their troubled world.

Now that makes more sense! Twelve people meeting in a room, no matter how blessed they may get by a heavenly visit, do not constitute a church! They’re really just a home group. A church is a vibrant Spirit-filled body of people active in reaching out to a needy society.

In Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8 Jesus had promised his disciples something exciting was about to happen, that they’d receive miraculous ability to become confident witnesses for him all over the earth.

A gobsmacking morning

And on that year’s religious feast day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came in such an unexpected but powerful manner at nine in the morning!

As the British would exclaim, they were gobsmacked! Bewildered, amazed and probably baffled! But they knew that something unusual and incredible had happened in a few seconds. The Holy Spirit - the Father’s promise, indeed as promised by both God and Jesus - came with fire and power and enabling!

Acts 2 paints the dramatic picture. A violent wind sound, the Spirit blowing on those faithful first disciples; fire falling from heaven touching their lips. They began to praise God in new languages granted by the Spirit.

Their immediate desire was to meet regularly without fail, to fellowship, pray together and be taught from scripture, share meals and communion, meet needs, worship Jesus and grow in him (Acts 2: 42-47).

But more importantly, they rushed out into the streets to witness for Jesus Christ and be involved in seeing the new church of Christ expand locally and worldwide.

It was the beginning…persecution began immediately, yet grow they did! They grew personally as friends and followers and studiers of the Word and pastoral teaching meeting in genuine fellowship. And they grew numerically as they witnessed for Jesus and what he meant to them personally and as they prayed for and believed for more new souls into the kingdom.

A committed and supernatural church was expanding the kingdom nationwide and on a world scale.

What has happened?

This was a dynamic, exciting, powerful church of followers living by the Bible and the apostles’ doctrine. A church with Holy Spirit anointing and empowerment, healings, miracles and answers to prayers. A church that Jesus vowed Satan and every ‘gate of hell’ would not overcome (Mat. 16:18). It was an on-fire group of people committed to seeing lives transformed by the power of forgiveness, the indwelling Christ and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.

Over the centuries Satan, governments, cults, false religions, evil people, even some wrongly thinking Christians have opposed and tried to hinder its growth – but as Jesus promised haven’t succeeded.

Yet today many churches are not the powerhouses they’re supposed to be, many Christians are not on fire with the Spirit as they’re supposed to be. And many don’t know how to dream in God, trust him and, relying on the Spirit, serve Jesus in a fuller, deeper way.

What’s holding us back from being a powerhouse church? From being on fire for Jesus, witnessing, growing, trusting God, really giving ‘the 3 ts’ (time, treasure and talent) to his kingdom and ‘turning the world upside down ‘as did the early church?

Maybe we really need to rethink what church should be... the outworking of the doctrine of God - missio Dei - the sending of God! That is...a missions-mind God who so loves the world that he sends on-fire churches to evangelise it both locally and overseas.

So often we think in the easy terms of ‘Oh, yes, our church has a mission.’ But more correct, determined thinking would be ‘The mission has our church!’

Pentecost Sunday should be a time of renewal

In one sense it doesn’t matter when the church was born. The fact is that it was and we must do whatever it takes to strengthen Christ’s church today, ensuring it is the powerhouse it’s supposed to be.

In these continuing uncertain days, still rampant with dangers, including false doomsday prophecies as proclaimed this month by California’s Harold Camping (89), it is time to act. To be as the early Christians - determined to move ahead in the power, anointing and enabling of the Spirit!

This year June 12 is slated as the church’s Pentecost Sunday. Churches everywhere never forget to celebrate Christmas and Easter each year but few highlight this important celebration.

If we choose to remember what Pentecost Sunday is really all about and look forward in anticipation to something exciting happening to us - and our church as a whole - then in a few week’s time we could easily be greatly refreshed, renewed and re-powered by the Spirit.

The world offers many deceiving distractions, as well as pulling down negatives. Let’s recall afresh the Paul’s encouraging ‘Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit’ (Eph. 5:18).   The word ’filled’ is pleroo, meaning ‘filled full.’

Now that’s the pentecostal kind of wine that doesn’t ruin us but empowers us to witness for Christ, see our churches become havens of healing and comfort for all, and the kingdom expand.

What time does your church gather Sunday mornings? Nine o’clock, ten, eleven? It doesn’t matter; come along every Sunday morning, just not Pentecost Sunday, expecting Holy Spirit visitations.

More importantly, may every church have a desire to become an on-fire, mission- Dei one for Jesus!

The power of Jesus' blood - the real Easter message

The church’s most important calendar season is Easter, more than Christmas celebrations, or even Pentecost Sunday (a misunderstood, often ignored event by many, including some Pentecostal churches).

Good Friday, Resurrection Sunday - the weekend the church calls Easter - recalls the major event in Jesus’ life. It demands recalling and highlighting yearly. And no individual, council, government, religion or organisation should ever be allowed to remove, demerit or make light of it. Easter is more than a mere holiday.

Easter is a time to rejoice in the fact that our Saviour, Jesus Christ, overcame for us what Billy Graham, and the Bible, of course, calls humankind’s biggest problem – sin. This victory included Jesus, through his Calvary self-sacrifice, dealing with the power of sin and sin’s result…unresolvable eternal separation from God.

Today, as scripture makes clear, through the death and resurrection of Jesus - and his shed blood - we can know God’s forgiveness of sin, be saturated in his love and friendship and be guaranteed eternal life.

The power of Jesus scarifice - eternal life
Reconciliation with Father God and full salvation does not come about just because a person’s parents are Christians or he or she joins some church. Nor because a person is faithful in exercising the important ‘big church five’...attending church, praying, studying the Bible, tithing and doing good things!

No, it’s only by accepting Jesus as Saviour and asking forgiveness for our sins that one becomes born again and a spiritual child of God with a guarantee of sins cleansed and eternal salvation (John. 3:16). Jesus alone paid the penalty of sin on our behalf. He was wrongly tried, tortured and crucified for us. He died for us, was buried and was raised again to life by the Holy Spirit (Romans. 8:11)! Because he lives, we too will live eternally.

The real heart of Easter is not cute little bunny rabbit chocolate eggs. It’s the reality that because of the shed blood of the crucified Christ we can ask for and receive God’s free gift of forgiveness of every sin (What’s sin? Independence from God, not obeying his laws and wrongdoing by thought, word and action). We can be born again and receive eternal salvation. That’s the real good news of Easter!

The power of Jesus’ blood – cleansing and forgiveness
Robert’s ‘blood experience’ …
‘One time I developed a very sore neck and, as neck vessels carry blood to the brain, required a colour doppler – a computer ultrasound check. As the ultrasound started I was suddenly jolted from my relaxed state by the thundering in my small cubicle. Amazingly it was the computer loudly sounding out “live” the noise of my blood in action – a totally incredible sound! Pulsating, really pounding, eerie, like a mighty rushing wind or huge ocean waves crashing against rocks!

‘Completely intrigued with the roar I could not help but think of the power of Jesus’ blood. If this was how the force of my human blood roared in action, how much more powerfully the blood of Christ? The doppler check became a graphic reminder of how much more meaningful and stronger beyond human blood is the sin-cleansing, life-bringing blood of our Saviour, Jesus.

‘I thought again about the great truth of the atonement – the substitutable death of Jesus on Calvary’s cross and the flowing of his blood to pay the penalty of our sins. That Father God who is holy and righteous, and who alone can grant an assurance of eternity, could never accept us - had not Jesus willingly given his life for us. In simple terms, at Easter 2000 plus years ago Jesus died that we might live! He has done it all – we cannot add to it by our own works or efforts.’

We owe Jesus – and the power of his blood – so much! At every communion service we should be humbly grateful for our salvation but even more so at Easter. L E Jones got it right with his unsurpassed and well-loved hymn, Power in the Blood, probably best known for its famous lively line, ‘There’s wonderful power in the blood.’

The power of Jesus’ gift - the Holy Spirit
Whenever negatives, from people or Satan, or through adverse circumstances try to rob us of our future hope and trust in God, let the Holy Spirit remind us of an irrevocable biblical truth. As Christians we are covered by the blood of Jesus; we don’t have a condemning past, only a great future!

The Holy Spirit will ensure that future as we trust him and continually develop our relationship with him. God sent Jesus to become our Saviour through the shedding of his blood. On his return to heaven, as promised Jesus sent his Spirit – the third person in the godhead – to be our friend and guide throughout life (See John 14:16-17TM). He too will never leave us or forsake us. When sickness, temptations, trouble and challenges come along, we’ll come through victoriously as we trust the Holy Spirit and the power of Christ's blood.

Life has a habit of throwing unexpected curves. You’ve probably noticed that! But when it happens we don’t have to let our faith fall low, we don’t have to go digging into the past, as some would teach condemningly, and looking for faults to blame ourselves with. No! If you’ve accepted Jesus as your friend, Saviour and Lord you’re covered by his blood and have his Spirit within. Whatever the current problem, hand it over to the Lord in prayer. Things will change.

The really amazing thing is that this is not just the good news of Easter alone but an all-year round guarantee for every Christian! In Jesus we always have a future and a hope (Jeremiah.29: 11). Because of Jesus’ Easter victory, the past has no hold over us…unless we bring up rubbish or allow people to do so or worse still Satan, the defeated enemy, to regain control.

God’s Word says we’re free (John 8:35) so let’s live in that truth and other truths found in scriptures such as Ephesians 1:7. The blood of Jesus has accomplished so much!

Yeah, yeah! Enjoy a dark (the best) choc Easter egg – we will – but on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday rejoice with all heaven over Jesus’ Calvary victory!

Digging Deep!

As news agencies continue to report, we live in frightening days! This year has seen Australia's Queensland flood disaster, followed by New Zealand’s Christchurch devastation and horrendous Japan tragedies.


People are asking ‘What’s going on? Why is the world’s southern region under attack?’ The bigger picture is that disasters, including earthquakes and famines, are happening in other world regions too!

We also hear of Christians mistreated for their faith, even killed; of pastors mishandled in Asia. The list of worldwide troubles - church and commercial - goes on and on!

End times?
Some Christians are saying it’s a sign of the times. That God is bringing nations and the church itself to repentance. That Jesus is obviously coming back soon!

Maybe! But understand something biblical! No matter how convincing any world renowned prophet’s orations predict about end times, with an attached decades-old ‘Jesus could come back tonight’ - know what scripture really teaches about these disturbing times and what we should be really focusing on.

What did Jesus himself say about end times? Jesus clearly stated in Matthew 24: ‘The exact day and hour? No one knows...not even the Son. Only the Father knows’ (V36). He warned: ‘Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders ... will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumoured wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end...Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming’ (v5-8).

Worldwide events may be unsettling but Jesus said they are only routine history! In verse 14 he tells us what is really meant to be happening in every nation during these end times of crisis: ‘All during this time, the good news ... will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.’

So much still to do!
Of course Jesus could come back at any moment. But the truth is that he isn’t because there is still so much to do around the world beginning in our own suburbs! The gospel hasn’t been really staked out everywhere.


Jesus clearly said that he won’t return until every nation - ‘every Gentile’ - had been heralded with the gospel. We need to realise that globally there are still 6,782 currently unreached people groups representing 2.8 billion people. That’s 41% of the world! That includes lots of westerners!


An unreached people group is one that no one has physically gone to, doesn’t have translations of either outreach or Bible portions in its native language and doesn’t have an adequate number of indigenous believers to be a viable witness.


For years we’ve been saying that despite all our hi-tech gear almost half the world still hasn’t had an adequate gospel presentation! And that could include our own neighbourhood or suburb! There’s still much work to be done by every church and every Christian. Despite our technical gizmos we haven’t achieved what the early church did in only 24 months!

Yes, let’s deal with any sin in our lives and churches. But let’s also be  taking every opportunity to witness for Jesus and share our faith! Let’s trust God to care for us and get on with what Jesus wants us to be doing in these troubled times...Matthew 24:14, staking out our witnessing! And that includes staking out locally!

That great Australian missionary statesman, Dr George Forbes, has commented: 'I am convinced that "the end will come" when we "finish" the job of making disciples of all nations.'  

The real question today
It's not ‘Is Jesus coming back?’ but ‘Am I staking the gospel in my city, my suburb, my very church for that matter?’


Staking has several meanings, including taking a risk. When used as a transitive verb it means to secure, to mark out with stakes as in the old gold rush or oil well claiming days.


Apply this to following Jesus and doing what he wants in these days of ‘What’s going to happen next?’ and we realise that it’s time for action in our locale!


But perhaps we’re feeling inadequate or hemmed in by circumstances, enemies, opposition and Satan’s cunning. We may be thinking, ‘Hey, the troubles around me are heavy and I need a breakthrough.’ It’s okay to feel this way, but we should trust God to change the circumstances and renew us with a sense of purpose.

Our letterbox was broken, the upper portion having been damaged in a storm. A new box was purchased but before it could be staked the ‘heavy duty’ concrete that had surrounded the old one needed digging out. Our son applied a heavy plybar to that ‘enemy’, that opposition. It was tough going but he successfully dug deep.

Churches, as Acts 2 teaches, are meant to be all about fellowship. That includes members engaging in helping one another towards a common cause. Our 'church family' is there to help one another fulfil the great commission that is the heart fo God.

And God himself - the God of blessing - will help us in troubled, uncertain times as we trust him. Take Isaac for example...


Planting in famine time
Abraham’s mightily blessed son Isaac had to do some digging deep too. Isaac found himself in troubled times among the Philistines, perpetual enemies of God’s people. There was a great famine and he was tempted to move away.


Then he heard from God and obeyed in order to receive more blessings for himself and family. God told him: ‘Stay here in this land and I'll be with you and bless you’ (Gen. 26:1-3).


Isaac trusted his God and verses 13-14 reports he did something strange that achieved incredible results: ‘Isaac planted crops in that land and took in a huge harvest (A hundredfold) God blessed him. The man got richer and richer by the day until he was very wealthy.’


What was the strange thing  Isaac did as he trusted God? The Valley of Gerar (‘Subject to flooding’), where he stayed, had never produced great yields, usually only 25%. Isaac trusted God and, strangely, planted there in a time of famine. One of God’s blessings is that we too can prosper in a time of famine. This is not a time to move churches or stop tithing and generous giving!


But Isaac had also to dig deep
Satan gets jealous when God blesses us. He uses people and circumstances to upset us! Repeatedly envious Philistines clogged his wells with dirt and debris. At other times they disputed over ownership. Wells of life-giving water for Isaac’s family, servants and flocks were blocked!


But again Isaac heard from the God he trusted and envisened success. God's encouraged him this way: ‘Don’t fear a thing because I’m with you, I’ll bless you’ (v24) and Isaac had his servants successfully dig yet again, discovering a well of fresh water that caused no further troubles.


The lesson?
When God speaks to us, keep digging deep! This is a really time to trust God, to sow in a time of famine to reap a hundredfold, to dig new deeper wells and be refreshed. And if there is some rubbish, dirt and debris we need to dig out, let’s do it.

At this unsettling time in 2011 let’s pray for troubled countries, but for the gospel's sake let our major focus be on staking out all unreached territory for Jesus. (c) 2011

The 'ah's, 'um's, 'er's and 'Know what I mean's of Jesus

Can you imagine Jesus Christ hyphenating every sentence with a string of the above?

Take for example his astounding John 3:16 good news declaration. It’s probably the most famous, well known and oft-repeated Bible scripture. It blew its first recipient away!

But what if Jesus had rambled off those dramatic words as... ‘Ah, er, God, um, so, ah, loved the ah, world that ah, he, ah, know what I mean, gave, er, his only, ah, Son that, er, whoever, ah, know what I mean, ah, believes in him, um, should not, er, perish, know what I mean, but have, ah, eternal life, know what I mean.’

The real depth of those amazing precious words would have been totally meaningless and wasted on their hearer, Nicodemus, an educated ‘doctor’ (meaning a highly important teacher and ruler in Israel).

Jesus was a decidedly respected, deeply regarded plain-talking speaker among his people, educated or otherwise. He never repeatedly ‘umed’ or ‘ahed’ - as so many speakers do today, even on TV, interrupting themselves and disconcerting listeners.

Nor did he repeatedly throw in a plethora of unanswerable, unintelligent ‘Know what I mean?-isms’ when he spoke - even in times of questioning, challenges to his character, teachings and ministry, danger or when on trial for his life.

Jesus Christ always spoke so clearly that both the learned and the religiously untrained ‘ordinary’ folk were astounded at his speech (Matthew 7:28; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:32). Even the temple police, having failed to arrest him, returned remarking, ‘Have you heard the way he talks? We’ve never heard anyone speak like this man’ (John 7:46).

Okay, novice preachers can be forgiven in their nervousness for sometimes slipping in too many an ‘Ah’, ‘Er’, ‘Um’ and ‘Know what I mean?’ (Something, incidentally, that hearers never get a chance to respond to with a ‘No, not until you tell me!’).

But experienced speakers who, like Jesus, desire to speak clearly and directly to their hearers, making every word and sentence flow and count, purposefully steer away from such off-putting mannerisms.

Now this is not a having a go at certain speakers who should know better. Come on! But a reminder that we live in days when so many people living – even drowning – in problems are looking for clear flowing words of blessing, direction and help that they can understand and follow .

The media continues to report distress across the world... floods, earthquakes and incidents labelled ‘rebellion’ in major cities in Arab countries. The latter are in places where Muslim people live, believing that their faith is the way to be blessed. Yet there is much heartache there too.

Conversely, western, ‘Christian’ nations, believing they have a better lifestyle, also have many problems. Each day seems to bring further bad news from all over. People everywhere – without a personal secure knowledge of faith and trust in Jesus Christ – are longing for reality. And every Christian can discover opportunities to share God’s love and grace in a clear way that will help the hearer.

Here’s a simple example: The other day a neighbour with a problem called. Neighbour, by the way, according to Jesus, is plesion - someone nearby who needs help - and should be loved at personal cost just as we would love ourselves (Luke 10:27-37).

Yes, our neighbour interrupted what we were doing but that didn’t matter. Yes, being without a car his need to be driven into the city meant adjusting a few things in our busy schedule but that did not matter. He’s a neighbour!

And as we drove off with him sitting in the front he began opening up on a different problem, a sinister issue that was troubling him, his wife and had even crept into their very home. It became church in a car!

‘You’re ministers’ he began. ‘I’m sure you’ll understand this...’ He went on to share about some weird events that were so obviously from Satan’s dark side. That had arisen through certain people speaking seemingly good but subtle, dangerous words. A short time later strange things had started going on in their house.

Listening as good neighbours without butting in, we then cut to the chase and spoke clearly without um-ing, ah-ing, er-ring and ‘Know what I mean’-ing. We didn’t have some massive Bible or 10,000 tracts with us and travel time was short but quickly and clearly we spoke in simple terms assuring him we understood and knew what was really going on.

Speaking confidently but not in a heavy religious tone, we said that God is real and brings light, peace and no heartache. That Satan, also very real, subtly drops darkness, trouble, uncertainty and heartache. That God can be trusted and his word forbids such things as card/ palm readings and praying to the dead. That praying to him in Jesus’ name brings release and answers.

As we dropped our neighbour off, he smiled relaxedly, greatly relieved. He had clearly heard genuine good news, without any distracting ‘hyphenating’ or references to something he could not respond to with a ‘Yeah, know what you mean.’ Later, he shared his thanks for our prayers and help. He now knew things would improve.

The reality of life is that whoever we are, whatever our nation or city across the world, we live in a dark night of pain, trouble, corruption, sickness, danger and satanic deceit. Everyone needs the assurance and security that only a personal relationship with Jesus Christ brings.

People – even churchgoers – everywhere in this troubled, indeed squalid world, need to clearly hear great biblical truths about God’s power, love and grace and receive meaningful answers that will bring them peace.

Paul, in Philippians 2, firstly talks about the awesomeness and greatness of Jesus Christ, what he did and achieved. Then in verse 15 he really lays his charge to us on the line: ‘Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night.’

There’s an old saying that life and death are in the power of words, our speech. James, in his chapter three, warns about controlling what we say. We’re exhorted to speak words of life...uplifting, not down putting.

We’ve had the joy of sharing good news with people from many different backgrounds, stations and faiths. Clearly, and without religious or rambling meaningless clutter, we’ve spoken life, not death, into their minds and hearts.

Let’s all – leaders and congregants – follow Jesus’ lead and clearly share the Bible’s good news in 2011.

2011 - THE YEAR OF THE BREAKTHROUGH?

The Year of the Breakthrough! We’ve heard that’s what some leaders are calling 2011, now popularly termed ‘twenty-eleven.’

Breakthrough! Sounds good, charismatic, encouraging and just what many a church needs to take on board. Interestingly, over a number of years we’ve heard numerous churches use this catchphrase for a new year, especially if they’ve had a bad previous year. And, admittedly, with good planning, strong prayer, meaningful preaching and God’s blessings, the vision came about. Is 2011 going to be a breakthrough time?

What do we think God is trying to say to leaders and churches? As well as hearing the above we hear others say, as they consider the incredible flood damage in Australia, Chile, Pakistan, other natural disasters and bombings around the world, that God is seriously challenging nations to repent, and especially within his church as many Christians have lost direction. Yes, we too feel that God wants breakthroughs and repentance but also - to those who will hear - he’s especially saying: ‘This is a year of risk-taking!’

Now of course we must always believe for breakthroughs in both church life and our own life experience, and yes, pastors must regularly warn their congregations against that almost forgotten work of Satan, the world and the flesh – sin. Just recently we heard a pastor wisely remind his church that we must always keep our eyes on Jesus because Christianity is not a religion of convenience but of commitment. We believe that such commitment means moving on from last year, whether it was a disaster or a great success, and taking new and higher ground in 2011. But to achieve this we must be prepared to take what some people, shaky or uncertain in their faith, would call risks.

The truth is that we never take what the world calls risks. Rather the risks that Christians - especially leaders - are meant to take are in reality steps of faith! For decades, especially when teaching on ministering in the Spirit’s supernatural gifts such as prophecy and words of knowledge when one has to speak out in faith, we’ve asked, ‘How do you spell faith?’ Naturally we get the expected response: ‘F-A-I-T-H.’ Then we really jolt listeners with ‘No! You spell faith...R-I-S-K!’

Faith is that Greek word pistis which means to be persuaded, convinced. It is an act! Hebrews 11 is the great chapter of examples of heroes of the faith who acted when prompted or led by God and took what seemed to be risks. Verse 2 makes it clear that action was always required: ‘The act of faith is what distinguished (them), set them above the crowd.’

In 2011, don’t you also want to be distinguished, set above the crowd? Oh not from any self-centred ‘Look at me, see who I am’ attitude but rather as a Jesus style example to others as to what can be accomplished by taking God-organised ‘risks’ that take us out of the comfort zone and produce great results both in our ministry and in our lives in general.

That Hebrews scripture reminds us of some who took risks in God as they heard his voice, received his direction, or simply knew in their heart what to do... Abel, making a better sacrifice (What a key in verse 4... ‘It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed...’). Enoch, skipping death completely because he dared to walk on with God. Noah, building a ship (unheard-of!) in the middle of dry land! And what about Abraham, who boldly offered his only son as a sacrifice, Hannah, returning her cherished firstborn to the Lord for temple service, Esther, daring to approach her husband king interceding for her people. Moses, taking on the might of Pharaoh and Egypt, Joshua, David, Elijah and many other ‘risk takers’ who trusted their God and his word.

But the greatest of all risk takers was Jesus Christ! He left the glorious safe surroundings of heaven and became a man subject to human ways and conditions, ridicule, misunderstanding, suffering and death. What’s called the kenosis of Christ. As 2 Corinthians 8:9 Message puts it... ‘out of his generosity, in one stroke, he gave it all away, becoming poor that we could become rich.’

Think about that! To follow God’s command, Jesus risked everything...he, the eternal God, would now also become fully human as well. As such he would experience human limitations, anxiety, Satan’s tempting, disappointment, weeping, thirst, hunger and tiredness. Worse, he would know mockery, betrayal and disloyalty. He would suffer physical and mental pain and have to succumb to a cruel trial, torment and a shocking, painful death on a cross.

Php 2:6-8 Message puts Jesus’ risk-taking as: ‘He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death - and the worst kind of death at that - a crucifixion.’

And what was the result of Jesus’ response-to-God risk-taking? Php 2:9 names it, ‘Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honoured him far beyond anyone or anything, ever...’ Add to that his great gift of grace to us - our incredible salvation and new relationship with God.

But note! Jesus relied completely on the Holy Spirit for enabling power to break through in his newfound demanding lifestyle. We can too in 2011 if we fearlessly accept God’s challenges for us this year in life matters, church and ministry. Life matters may include choosing a new car, home, location or job. Church and ministry will always mean taking on something new.

However, in taking so-called risks – those godly steps of faith –we can accomplish much and discover that we’re not really taking risks, but rather declaring that our faith and trust in God is strong and secure. In doing so we’ll have breakthroughs and find God so pleased with us that we’ll be honoured too – whatever way that works out here on earth let alone in eternity.

Yes every nation needs to repent in order to receive God’s blessings and protection. And all Christians need to keep clean slates repenting of any unrighteousness that has crept in. But we also need to move ahead in 2011 in trusting God. We must hear what he is saying to our hearts and respond with steps of faith. Let’s all have an adventurous year with Jesus!