Thursday 30 December 2010

Difficult vs Impossible

It occurred to me that when you say a particular task or goal is 'impossible', you effectively remove any obligation to try. I know I often think certain things are impossible when really they are just difficult. There's quite a distinction between the two.

One state of mind requires no effort what-so-ever, while the other you have to try, train, pray, problem-solve and persevere. I know I have to be really careful in mindlessly substituting the latter for the former. In one sense they're similar words, but the distance between them is incredible.

Giving – A Theory

One thought that occurred to me the other day: It's easier to trust God with everything you have when you've got nothing to lose. Generosity and giving may never be easier than when you have very little.

As you gradually earn more and acquire possessions, all of a sudden there's a comfort level you've become accustomed to. There's now a height from which you can fall. It's harder to let go and trust it all to God. In addition, all the more expensive comforts and charms start to come within reach... if only you didn't give quite so much. Foreign holidays, a nice car, an awesome TV, a bigger house – they could all be yours.

In some ways your expendable cash is like the fat stores on your body. It's good to have a little in reserve for lean times. Too much is dangerous. Generous giving, in a sense, is almost like burning off the fat on your life.

When Sex Leaves the Marriage

I read an interesting article by this title on the New York Times website, posted by Mark Driscoll on Facebook. It painted a picture of sex tending to fizzle out after marriage. One statistic stated "it's estimated that about 15 percent of married couples had not had sex with their spouse in the last six months to one year."

I noticed one random comment place on Facebook which I thought was very insightful:

"The devil does everything he can to get you to have sex before marriage, and everything he can to keep you from having sex after you're married."

Saturday 20 November 2010

Don't Die

Was listening to Matt Chandler again (I think it was 'The Good Fear', a sermon in the Hebrews series) and he made quite an interesting, almost throwaway comment on sanctification. It's on these lines:

It's written into the universe that when something stops growing it begins to die.

How unbelievably true. When we stop growing, stop learning, stop discovering on our walk with Christ we totally lose our momentum. Our faith begins to dry up, shrivel up. Like a great tree beginning to die, it can have all the outward appearance of strength but none of the inward life. It's only a matter of time before it reveals it's true form.

"...you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God."
Hebrews 5:11-12

Oh for a kick up the backside! How easy it is to become dull over the years and suffer a slow, subtle death. God's given us a big bible, there's a lot to discover. Best not think we know it all!


Fear

Last thursday at Life Group we watched the Francis Chan 'Basic Series' on the fear of the Lord. The week leading up to it I was chewing it all over, and it's been really good. I've done a few talks on the fear of the Lord before but this DVD has thrown some extra verses into the mix and shed further light. As it happens, the fear of God plays out in some quite unexpected ways.

One of the things that really strikes you from the DVD is how fearful of God we should really be. My gut reaction is this: I have a certain level of fear, but nowhere near enough.

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead"
Revelation 1:17a

Francis Chan relates to all these biblical characters that had an encounter with God and were absolutely terrified. Even when people see Angels in the bible they're nearly scared to death. All of this leaves certain questions spinning round your mind:

Should I have that terrifying level of fear?
Is it even possible?
Is it even appropriate for daily life?
Does it not conflict with all the hope and promise we have in Jesus Christ, that we are in fact reconciled to God, and can boldly approach his throne? (Hebrews 4:16)

On the one hand you would have to conclude that the appropriate level of fear would probably kill you. Like in Exodus 33:18-23, Moses isn't allowed to see God's face, only his back, because no one could survive that. Part of my speculation on the hiddenness of God is that it's not his plan to terrify us on a daily basis.

But on the other hand a certain level of fear is prescribed. Without it, you wouldn't even be a Christian.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Proverbs 1:7

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise."
Psalm 111:10

Some musings

These two verses highlight some really interesting points. Firstly, why is the fear of God the beginning of knowledge and wisdom? It must lay the foundation for everything else. If we don't understand that the universe and humanity was designed and created by an awesome God, all of our knowledge runs astray.

You can be really, really intelligent in the same way that you can run really fast in completely the wrong direction. All these scientific, social, biological, philosophical theories are constructed, but they miss vital ingredients and it changes everything.

Secondly, in the first verse, why does it say 'fools despise wisdom and discipline'? Surely it should say 'fools despise the LORD'. I would guess that wisdom and discipline both imply a change of lifestyle. It feels restrictive. Fools hate the idea.

But this has some personal implications. To what degrees, as Christians, are we fools? What areas do we despise wisdom and hate discipline? We've all got areas where we accommodate all sorts of sin and disobedience, lack of discipline, lack of fear. It's so easy to read about 'fools' in the bible and not think you're one of them.

Fear of God equals faith

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Matthew 10:28-31

This concept of fear is not just an Old Testament, Old Covenant thing. Here Jesus himself, in the New Testament, tells us to fear. But the theme develops.

He says “be afraid” and then “don’t be afraid”.

We have one type of fear that conquers all others.

And this seems to rather aptly answer the question 'what level of fear is appropriate?'. Our fear of God should quench all others. When we're on the same team as God, when eternity is secured, even death is now an upgrade. In the verse above, the threat of murder is completely annulled. Fear of God equals faith in God.

The fear of the LORD is the weight behind us

"What, then, shall we say in response to this?
If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31

It’s not just Christians who should fear God. It’s everyone. If we could really grasp how terrifyingly awesome our God is, we might understand the depth of our confidence in Him.

And finally...

The fear of the LORD equals life

"The fear of the LORD leads to life: then one rests content, untouched by trouble."
Proverbs 19:23

That sounds unbelievably good. Life, rest, contentment, peace – untouched by trouble even if surrounded by it.

Sunday 14 November 2010

A Thought on Fasting

I've always thought that fasting was purely to show God you're serious about some particular matter, and to free up time cooking and eating meals. I'm sure this is all true, but it also appears there are numerous health benefits –  basically a rest and a revamp for your digestive system, cleansing out the toxic substances stored in the body. It can reset your body clock, give your body extra energy for healing and restoring itself. Interestingly, it can also increase your mental clarity.

According to www.howtobefit.com "it's a great tactic for mental and spiritual rejuvenation because it forces focus on important thoughts and frees the mind from everyday clutter. When you are deprived of nutrients, your body – in survival mode – begins to focus on things of true importance."

So it could well be that some fasts (probably shorter ones) could give you a mental lift needed for prayer, making them sharper and more effective. It also reminds you that you're human, frail and temporary.

Pain, Suffering and Sanctification (Part 2)

Very apt and made me laugh:

"Sanctification is a dirt path that lasts until God kills you."

Matt Chandler, 'What Are We Doing Here?', preached 31/10/2010.

Pain, Suffering and Sanctification

Nothing exposes your heart like pain and suffering. When you hit it, your heart is totally exposed. All the things you never realised were there are suddenly revealed. It's a very scary and sobering thing. I would guess that one of the reasons God allows pain and suffering is sanctification. It also forces you in one of two directions: anger against God, or throwing yourself into His arms. I would also guess this is one of the ways he sorts the sheep from the goats, how he brings people to salvation or forces them away.

Pain and suffering are necessary. Nobody looks for a saviour if they don't believe they need saving. Nothing reminds you of your need for salvation like pain, suffering and the presence of evil.

In all of this it's good to remind ourselves that God is totally good, and it's Satan that is evil. Like in the book of Job, God permits suffering, but it's Satan that causes it. And he can only go as far as God allows.

The Everyday Things – Health and Fitness

"I wrestle solely for the strength and coordination of muscle tone that the body receives while working out, with the ultimate end that of presenting a more useful body as a living sacrifice. This God knows, and even though He chose to allow it to be strained, the motive was for His glory and the faith he honors. Simplicity of heart and freedom from anxiety He expects of us, and he gives us grace to have both."
Through Gates of Splendor, p7

Taking care of your body should be done with the motive of honouring God, and being a good steward of what He has given us. Being fit and healthy will enable us to be more effective in God's work throughout our lives. It can also release us from so many unnecessary health burdens such as obesity, depression and lethargy, which will no doubt hinder us in all we do. Jesus himself would never have survived the flogging he received before crucifixion if he wasn't so physically fit.

I suppose I always struggle with niggling doubts about spending too much time at the gym. And the issue is time. Anything that eats away hours every day could be painfully distracting from your walk with Jesus. Which leads to this – a verse for the gym rat:

"Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
1 Timothy 4:10

A physically fit body does have value, and should be pursued, but godliness is eternal in nature. There's something of eternal significance with every minute spent in the bible, in prayer, in meditation. However dedicated you are to the gym, be a thousand times more dedicated to Jesus.

The Hiddenness of God (Part 4)

In some ways when we struggle with the hiddenness of God we are, at those moments, questioning whether Creation, Jesus and the Bible is enough. If we conclude that they aren't enough proof, they're not enough to cement our belief, that's a very big statement. We're passing judgment not only over God's work in history, but Jesus Christ himself. It's personal.

Expendable (Part 2)

Following on from a previous note on being expendable for Christ (link) often, it's not our physical life that is required (i.e. martyrdom), but various little portions of our daily life. Finances, work, comfort, hobbies, fitness, luxuries, time... all of these need to be labeled 'expendable'. We give them up as and when required for the cause of Christ.

Saturday 7 August 2010

Without Divisions

"Father Abraham," cried Whitefield. "Whom have you in Heaven? Any Episcopalians?"
"No!"
"Any Presbyterians?"
"No!"
"Any Independents or Seceders, New Sides or Old Sides, any Methodists?"
"No! No! No!"
"Whom do you have there, then, Father Abraham?"
"We don't know those names here! All who are here are Christians–believers in Christ, men who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony."
"Oh is this the case?" Then God help me, God help us all, to forget having names and to become Christians in deed and in truth."

George Whitefield and the Great Awakening, John Pollock, p118

The Importance of Joy and a Cheerful Soul

On George Whitefield...

"At Basingstoke, as in Georgia, friends were astonished at his cheerfulness when sick and vomiting. He explained: 'The comforts I enjoy within are inexpressible. They have a great effect upon my outward man and make me of a cheerful countenance, which,' he added, spitting some remaining gall out of his mouth, 'recommends my Master's service very much. Oh, free grace in Christ Jesus!' He lay back exhausted on the pillows."

George Whitefield and the Great Awakening, John Pollock, p79

Monday 2 August 2010

Evangelism – Chain Connections


I've been musing over the nature of evangelism, and how one life inevitably rubs up against another. We have some sort of an effect on everyone we meet, for better or for worse. It's said that through the people we know, we're only six connections away from every person on earth.

If we are used instrumentally by God to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and these new believers are used likewise, there's a massive chain reaction that eventually unfolds. We could eventually influence thousands of lives for Christ. It may be hard to underestimate the impact our lives can have. Whether we like it or not, we're either pointing people to Christ or diverting them away on a scale that's both large and out of sight.

Sunday 1 August 2010

Attainment

"There is no such thing as attainment in this life; as soon as one arrives at a long-coveted position he only jacks up his desire another notch or so and looks for higher achievement – a process which is ultimately suspended by the intervention of death. Life is truly likened to a rising vapor, coiling, evanescent, shifting. May the Lord teach us what it means to live in terms of the end."
Jim Elliot, Through Gates Of Splendor, p8

Friday 23 July 2010

The Hiddenness of God (Part 3)

I watched 'The Finger of God' DVD by Darren Wilson yesterday and showed it at Life Group. Absolutely amazing. It's a film documenting the physical works of God around the world. From people mysteriously receiving gold teeth in church services, to street evangelism and healings, to the dead being raised (some dead as long as four days).

It seems God is prepared to revealed himself in quite remarkable ways. In many of these places – Mozambique, California, China – healing miracles are performed to show people God is real, and then the gospel is preached. Often it seems the whole purpose of the healings is to open people up to the gospel message and pave the way for salvation.

What really strikes you when you watch this is that God doesn't seem hidden at all. He provides real, tangible proof of his existence when asked, and is more than happy to demonstrate his power to a people that have no knowledge of him.

It makes you think – perhaps healings and miracles are inextricably linked to evangelism and the gospel message. Maybe they're not just meant for church on a Sunday, but out on the streets, in everyday life.

Another interesting point was that these healings, miracles, signs and wonders seem just as available to the church in the West as to the poorer, persecuted Christians around the world.

As an old 'No Fear' poster once read, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take". Maybe we just need to actually pray for some people.

Tuesday 20 July 2010

The Existence Of God (Part 2)

Sometimes I think that the presence of evil in the world is absolute and undeniable evidence that Satan and demons exist, and therefore God exists. The fact that we even have a concept of evil shows there is a moral law, and a God who wrote that law. We know the world is broken and we demand that it should be better.

As Matt Chandler humorously states, no one gets angry at unicorns, elves or the Tooth Fairy. No one really believes God is fictitious.

Monday 19 July 2010

The Hiddenness of God (Part 2)

It seems many Christians struggle with doubts, even doubting God's existence at times. Many will confess to thoughts such as "Am I making this up? Am I crazy?". We all want God to be really visibly obvious so that there's no room for doubt whatsoever.

It occurred to me today that, even when you can't see someone, if you can hear their voice you would never doubt their existence. A voice on the phone – you know there's a real person on the other end.

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
John 10:27

Surely the same is true with God. When you regularly hear His voice you don't find yourself doubting His existence. When we apply ourselves to reading His Word, it speaks to us. It penetrates our soul and spirit the way no human words can.

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
James 4:8

There doesn't need to be a haze, a fog, or a great distance between us and God. You simply are as close to God as you want to be.


The Hiddenness of God

"Moses said, "Please show me your glory." ... "But," he said [the LORD], "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live1."
Exodus 33:18-20

"Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him2, because we shall see him as he is."
1 John 3:2

1 There seems to be a real need for God to speak to us indirectly. Occasionally people hear the audible voice of God, yet it's very rare. But no-one's ever seen God the Father and lived to tell the tale. If he was to just turn up and show himself, like many people wish he would do, we would all die instantly.

2 We would also be transformed into perfection with utter purity and holiness, just as Jesus Christ. So in short, we would cease to be of any earthly use.

It seems that God filters down His voice to a level that we can cope with. We have the Bible, and the whisper of the Holy Spirit to our soul. We are ministered to by angles, often without realising it. All very quiet, subtle ways. Some had even entertained angels and had no clue (Hebrews 13:2). But when people do see angels in the bible, they are usually terrified. And these are just created beings like us.

I would guess it's not God's plan to terrify us to on a daily basis.

But if we accept that we can't see God, we might at least question why He doesn't provide undeniable proof of His existence? Apparently, He already has...

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
Romans 1:20

"He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Luke 16:31

If we can't see Him from creation, if we don't believe the very words of God, written, in the bible, we will never believe no matter what.

Sunday 18 July 2010

Self-Pity

"I want to be free of self-pity. It is a tool of Satan to rot away a life."

Barbara Youderian, Through Gates Of Splendor, p206

Expendable


I've just finished reading this book – Through Gates of Splendor – about five missionaries who set out to reach the savage Auca tribe in Ecuador. These guys gave themselves to a specific task, spent years in preparation, and then got massacred on pretty much their first point of contact with the tribe on the ground.

As far as the book details, no Auca ever became a Christian, or even had the gospel presented to them in an intelligible, meaningful way*. But thousands of Christians were struck by their sacrifice, commitment, and all out abandonment for Christ. Lives were changed and redirected through their testimony. And the story was big news in the secular press at the time (1950s).

So all in all, as far as it is visible to us at the present time, their life and mission bore much fruit. Just not in the way they had planned or envisioned.

Their story also stands out in direct contrast to that of Hudson-Taylor, John Wesley, and all the guys that spent long, fruitful, gifted lives working incredibly hard for the cause of Christ. It stands in contrast because they were very ordinary people, they were young and their story was so utterly short. And yet they were prayerfully led by God throughout it.

It seems this was His will, His way. Their sacrifice, their story, was one He permitted and intended.

It just makes you think – anything that we could accomplish or do with our lives is all in the hands of God. It's His story, not ours. He writes the script, and we're utterly expendable.

––––––

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."
Jim Elliot, p11

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Jim Elliot, p173

"During the last war we were taught to recognize that, in order to obtain our objective, we had to be willing to be expendable ... This very afternoon thousands of soldiers are known by their serial numbers as men who are expendable ... We know there is only one answer to our country's demand that we share in the price of freedom. Yet, when the Lord Jesus asks us to pay the price for world evangelization, we often answer without a word. We cannot go. We say it costs too much."
Nate Saint, p53

"A call is nothing more nor less than obedience to the will of God, as God presses it home to the soul by whatever means He chooses."
Pete Fleming, p13

"The old life of chasing things that are of a temporal nature seemed absolutely insane."
Nate Saint, p62

––––––

* 7th August 2011: I've just read in Randy Alcorn's book Heaven that some Auca's (or at least one) did become Christians:

"Mincaye, the Auca Indian who speared Nate Saint, is now a follower of Jesus. When Mincaye was asked what he's going to do when he meets Nate Saint in Heaven, he replied, "I'm going to run and throw my arms around Nate Saint and thank him for bringing Jesus Christ to me and my people." He added that Nate Saint would welcome him home."

Heaven, Randy Alcorn, page 336

Sunday 11 July 2010

Single-Mindedness

I've been thinking about the nature of single-mindedness this week, which I've never really thought about before. And interestingly it also popped up in Andrew Wilson's sermon today at church. As a topic, it's quite rare to hear in a sermon, or just in life. So I think God may be speaking.

Single-mindedness is when you set your sights on a goal and you walk straight and fast. It's very different from narrow-mindedness, although the two appear to have much in common. The single-minded man may have very good vision: he's aware of everything around him and what's up ahead. He knows where he wants to go. He plots a path, and he sticks to it.

The narrow-minded man, on the other hand, appears to have very limited vision. Perhaps even tunnel vision. He may walk straight, and stick to one trajectory, but he has no idea what's around him. He's easily lost and run over.

On the surface you can easily mistake one for the other. If a man is single-minded, he will reject many opportunities, paths and routes in favour of his chosen course. He may even upset and offend others who would unwittingly divert him. An outsider, or even a friend, may see this as narrow-minded as such action is typical of those with limited vision. But should we really be worried about that?

As such, it's got to be very important to be single-minded in the things that God's called us to. We have to know the course and know what's around us. We have to see the diversions, obstacles and difficulties for what they are – things to be overcome along the way.

Hope set slightly off

I was on a preaching course back in February with the founding pastor of my church, and he's an absolutely awesome guy. At one point he was talking about hope, and his musings on why a lot of people become grumpy in old age. His theory is this: you're hope must be in Jesus Christ alone. But it's easy set it very slightly off. You can add something else into the equation, like being a preacher, an evangelist or a church leader. The older you get, the more it dawns on you that those things may never happen. And a despair sets in.

That totally hits the nail on the head. It's good to be ambitious for Christ, but we have to tread very carefully not to let those things creep in as a source of assurance and right-standing before God. We come empty handed, not by works.

    The king is not saved by his great army;
       a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
    The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
       and by its great might it cannot rescue.

    Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
       on those who hope in his steadfast love,
    that he may deliver their soul from death
       and keep them alive in famine.

    Our soul waits for the LORD;
       he is our help and our shield.
    For our heart is glad in him,
       because we trust in his holy name.
    Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
       even as we hope in you.

    Psalm 33:16-22

Saturday 3 July 2010

The Spiritual Disciplines

Andrew Wilson delivered some brilliant teaching on the Spiritual Disciplines last Sunday. The point was that, like an athlete in training, they are methods and techniques for developing the fruit of the Spirit.

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
Galatians 5:22-4

And thus... we become more like Christ, which is kind of the whole point. I think what was brilliant about it was that I had never heard / thought of some of them. I had also never thought in terms of abstinence and engagement. I have, to this point, subconsciously pursued all the disciplines of engagement while forgetting, neglecting, or not even realising the value of abstinence. Here's the list according to Wilson:

    Disciplines of Abstinence
    Secrecy
    Solitude
    Fasting
    Silence
    Simplicity (Frugality)
    Chastity
    Sacrifice

    Disciplines of Engagement
    Study, Memorisation, Meditation
    Celebration
    Service
    Prayer
    Fellowship
    Submission
    Confession

I feel like a whole new set of tools have been place in my hands. This is good.

Creed - by Steve Turner

I came across this poem in a Ravi Zacharias podcast. It makes some pretty amusing comments regarding the naturalistic worldviews that are so common in our secular culture:

    Creed
    by Steve Turner

    We believe in Marx, Freud and Darwin
    We believe everything is OK
    as long as you don't hurt anyone
    to the best of your definition of hurt,
    and to the best of your knowledge.

    We believe in sex before, during, and after marriage.
    We believe in the therapy of sin.
    We believe that adultery is fun.
    We believe that sodomy’s OK.
    We believe that taboos are taboo.

    We believe that everything's getting better
    despite evidence to the contrary.
    The evidence must be investigated
    And you can prove anything with evidence.

    We believe there's something in horoscopes
    UFO's and bent spoons.
    Jesus was a good man just like Buddha,
    Mohammed, and ourselves.
    He was a good moral teacher though we think
    His good morals were bad.

    We believe that all religions are basically the same -
    at least the one that we read was.
    They all believe in love and goodness.
    They only differ on matters of creation,
    sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation.

    We believe that after death comes the Nothing
    Because when you ask the dead what happens 
    they say nothing.
    If death is not the end, if the dead have lied, then it's
    compulsory heaven for all
    excepting perhaps
    Hitler, Stalin, and Genghis Kahn

    We believe in Masters and Johnson
    What's selected is average.
    What's average is normal.
    What's normal is good.

    We believe in total disarmament.
    We believe there are direct links between warfare and bloodshed.
    Americans should beat their guns into tractors.
    And the Russians would be sure to follow.

    We believe that man is essentially good.
    It's only his behavior that lets him down.
    This is the fault of society.
    Society is the fault of conditions.
    Conditions are the fault of society.

    We believe that each man must find the truth that
    is right for him.
    Reality will adapt accordingly.
    The universe will readjust.
    History will alter.
    We believe that there is no absolute truth
    excepting the truth
    that there is no absolute truth.

    We believe in the rejection of creeds,
    And the flowering of individual thought.

    If chance be
    the Father of all flesh,
    disaster is his rainbow in the sky
    and when you hear:

    State of Emergency!
    Sniper Kills Ten!
    Troops on Rampage!
    Whites go Looting!
    Bomb Blasts School! 

    It is but the sound of man worshipping his maker.

Sunday 6 June 2010

Overcoming Mediocrity

The threat of a mediocre Christian life is one of my greatest fears. There's a sleepiness and a lethargy that is so easy to slip into. You get consumed with day-to-day life and the simple matters of provision. It's a toil and it's wearisome. You spend little time walking with God, seeking out His plan and His purpose. And the years roll by. We may spend our whole lives in that state, die, and stand before the judgement seat of Christ.

"I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you."
Revelation 3:1-3

It seems this lethargic, lukewarm Christian life comes about when we take our eyes off Jesus and fix them on our day-to-day needs. We don't trust God to provide. Just like Peter when he steps out of the boat and onto the water. He starts in faith, but sees the wind and becomes afraid. He immediately starts sinking (Matthew 14:22-33).

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
John 14:12

So how do we overcome this sluggish mediocre Christian life? How do we break through this sleepiness? Our whole lives should be caught up imitating Christ and continuing His work. Jesus sets the bar high in John 14:12. I have a few practical thoughts which I'm seeking to apply to my own life:

– We place our relationship with God above all other things. We walk with Him every day, side-by-side, in constant, continual fellowship. If we're too busy, we systematically delete the less important things from our lives to make room. It's far better to be materially poor and spiritually rich.

– We stand on Matthew 6:25-34 for our provision. If our chief goal is to glorify Jesus Christ, to spread the message of salvation and extend His kingdom, we have assurance from God that He will meet our basic needs. (Note to self: this may not include a 40" flat-screen TV with Sky+ subscription, gym membership, a holiday to the Carribean; all of which probably compromise our walk with God anyway!)

– We pursue holiness and the continual filling of the Holy Spirit.

– We learn to love the reproach of God and let Him drive our sanctification. This is the hallmark of a true believer.

– We seek excellence in all the things God has set before us at this present time. Be an excellent husband, an excellent father, an excellent life group leader, a great youth worker. Be excellent at handling your finances. Be excellent in your giving. Everything.

Saturday 29 May 2010

Being Filled With The Spirit

Below is a story regarding the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the life of a young missionary (name unknown) in the China interior in the 1890s. I've been studying bible verses and listening to loads of sermons on the baptism of the Spirit in preparation for a Holy Spirit evening at Life Group. This account is absolute spot on with my present understanding that 1, the Spirit is a person to be personally welcomed and accepted into one's life (we don't need to plead, but simply ask and believe); 2, the purpose of being filled is to be clothed with power to continue the work of Jesus Christ; 3, the evidence of being filled is a supernatural effectiveness in ministry and witness; 4, the filling is not a condition of salvation, but a gift; and 5, manifestations may well occur at the point of receiving, but this is not always the case and is neither the main goal, purpose or evidence of being filled.

Here's the excerpt... it's quite long but very good!

    Four years in China had taught her something of the joy and blessing to be found in the deeper fellowship with the Master, but something also of the deadening influences of heathenism, the power of evil within as well as around her, and the blank despair of seeking to help others when her own soul was out of living touch with Christ. How she longed for 'the exchanged life', the life she saw in others, but knew not how to attain. Praying in an anguish no one suspected for light and for help, it was the last Sunday before Christmas when a word was spoken that, under God, brought the deliverance and made all things new. After the evangelistic service in the C.I.M. hall, an entire stranger – a Christian seaman – came up to her and said earnestly:

    'Are you filled with the Holy Ghost?'

    Filled with the Holy Ghost? She remembered no more of the conversation, but that question burned deeper and deeper into her heart. This, then, was the explanation of all the inward failure, the sorrow that seemed unavailing, the purposes that came to nothing. God had made a provision, given a Gift that she had never definitely accepted. She knew that the Holy Spirit must be in her life in a certain sense, for 'if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his'. And yet, just as certainly, she knew that she was not 'filled with the Spirit', and was experiencing little of His power.

    But how afraid she was of being misled, of running into error and mistaking emotion for reality! The Word of God was full, now she came to study the subject, of the personality and power of the Holy Spirit. The Acts of the Apostles - what was it but the acts of the Holy Ghost, transforming and quickening lives just as she knew she needed to be quicken and transformed? O yes, why had she never seen it? It was indeed the Holy Spirit, to make unseen things real to her and impossible things possible. And there stood out in Gal. 3. 13, 14 the words:

    'Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us ... that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.'

    What was she doing with the infinite Gift purchased at such a cost? She saw that just as Christ is ours by the gift of God, and yet we have each one personally to receive Him, so with the Holy Spirit. She saw that He too was a Person, just as real as the Lord Jesus, and to be just as truly welcomed by faith into the heart that cannot do without Him as a living link with the risen, glorious Lord. All the rest that can be told is that she took the step, though with fear and trembling - scarce knowing what it meant - and trusted the Holy Spirit to come in and possess her fully, just as she had trusted the Lord Jesus to be her Saviour. Feeling nothing, realising nothing, she just took God at His word, and then and there asked that the promise might be fulfilled, 'When he is come (to you) he will reprove (or convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment'. Her chief sorrow for many months had been that she seemed to have little power for soul-winning, and hardly knew of any who had been brought to Christ through her instrumentality. It was Christmas week, and believing that a real, a definite transaction had taken place alone in that quiet room, she asked in faith that God would give her to see the proof of it in actual conversations every day that week, in connection with meetings that were being held.

    And every day that week the prayer was answered. More than twenty people, young and old, sailors, visitors, and residents in Shanghai, it was given her to help a definite decision for Christ, while the joy and liberty of her own heart were so manifest that others could not but long for and seek the same blessing.

Biography of James Hudson Taylor, 1973 edition, p456-8

"if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."
Romans 8:9

"He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
Galatians 3:14

Sunday 23 May 2010

Hudson Taylor and the Holy Spirit

Hudson Taylor had an interesting perspective about the possibility of a gradual filling of the Holy Spirit. It's the first time I've come across that perspective and I'm not yet sure how fully I agree. I'm still working it out.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit is mentioned frequently in the book of Acts, and the terms does suggest a sudden, total and full immersion. Jesus specifically tells his disciples to "stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49), which again suggests a sudden and complete equipping of the saints for tasks to come.

In any case, here's the excerpt. I guess God is by no means constrained in the method he chooses to fill us with the Spirit. We may all experience it differently.

"Now the heart can no more be filled with two things at the same time than a tumbler can be filled with both air and water at the same time. If you want a tumbler full of water to be filled with air, it has first to be emptied of the water. This shows us why prayer to be filled with the Spirit is often gradually answered. We have to be shown our sins, our faults, our pre-possessions, and to be delivered from them. Faith is the channel be which all grace and blessing are received; and that which is accepted by faith, God bestows in fact. Being filled does not always lead to exalted feeling or uniform manifestation, but God always keeps his word. We have to look to His promises or rest in them, expecting their literal fulfillment. Some put asking in the place of accepting; some wish it were so, instead of believing that it is so. We have never to wait for God's giving, for God has already 'blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ'. We may reverently say, He has nothing more to give; for He has given His all. Yet, just as the room is full of air, but none can get into the tumbler save as far as the water is emptied out, so we may be unable to receive all He has given, if the self-life is filling to some extent our hearts and lives."
Biography of James Hudson Taylor, 1973 edition, p349

Weak Enough for God to Use

"All God's giants have been weak men, who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them."
Biography of James Hudson Taylor, 1973 edition, p349

It seems, rather than being strong enough for God to use, we need to become weak enough. A person fully aware of their weakness and fully aware of God's strength is one who relies totally on Him. They are less likely to push in their own strength, but rather cry out to God continually, knowing that they are destined to fail by themselves.

I do often wondered if God deliberately chooses people who aren't the obvious choice for this very reason. And I wonder if He may pick me for some task which I feel totally ill-equipped to complete in my natural self. My faith better be real enough!

Another quote from the biography of Hudson Taylor on this point:

"I myself, for instance, am not specially gifted, and am shy by nature, but my gracious and merciful God and Father inclined Himself to me, and I who was weak in faith He strengthened while I was still young. He taught me in my helplessness to rest on Him, and to pray even about little things in which another might have felt able to help himself."
p487

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.""
1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Saturday 22 May 2010

Notes on Proverbs 3

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
   and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
   and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
   fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh
   and refreshment to your bones.

Honor the LORD with your wealth
   and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
   then your barns will be filled with plenty,
   and your vats will be bursting with wine.

My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
   or be weary of his reproof,
   for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
   as a father the son in whom he delights."
Proverbs 3: 5-12

Absolutely packed full of goodness! So much there. Here are my own thoughts on this passage of Scripure:

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."

It says to trust with you heart. Interesting that it says 'heart' and not 'head'. If we trusted with our head, our trust would be based on knowledge, rationality and understanding. But we are denied all three. Instead, we are commanded not to lean on our own understanding, which is another way of saying we may have no clue what's going on.

Quite liberating in a way, because we're not then limited by our own IQ, but rather God's, which is infinite.

I would describe the heart as your innermost convictions, beliefs and desires that underpins your entire person. In this your heart is much deeper that your head. It's the 'wellspring of life' (Prov 4:23). If this heart is set trusting in the Lord, you are anchored well.

"In all your ways acknowledge him" - it's a deliberate act. It takes a decison. We can acknowledge him in some of our ways, that's easy. We give the easiest things over to Christ's headship. Things we don't really mind, that we don't feel the cost of handing over control. But the more precious things, these we can hold onto in a fashion that's "off-limits" for Jesus.

"and he will make straight your paths." - what an awesome promise. The Lord will draw a line in front of you and show you the way. We will know where we're going. Our path will be a simple one. But simple doesn't mean easy. We could have many battles along the way. Perhaps our biggest battle is faith in God when it really counts.

"Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil."

Three specific commands that will safeguard our soul through life. All three require a conscious effort, and the reason they're listed must be because we have a natural inclination to do the opposite. Holiness will not happen on it's own, our flesh will not take care of itself. We have to walk humbly and make war on sin.

In the next verse we are given a serious incentive:

"It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones"

Love it! Who wouldn't want that? Having your bones refreshed - who else can give you that level of refreshment? Only Jesus!

"Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce"

Giving to God is honour to God. It's so easy to forget! We can fall into thinking that it's just something we're supposed to do. But no! It's personal, a display of love and service to our illustrious Master. Honouring God extends to the whole of our wealth, it's not just our giving. It's all of our expenditure executed as an act of worship.

"Firstfruits" - give to God before anything else. Slip the giving in there before the rent, the electricity bill, the weekly food shop. In this God is the number one priority. Other things can fall by the wayside. And this is one of the ways we acknowledge him.

A brilliant guide to giving is found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

We are under no law as to what we give, but simply to decide in our heart. We should be lead by the Spirit and prayerfully submit it to God. We can give as much or as little as we want, in the knowledge that we will reap what we sow. Generosity is the issue, rather than a hardline legalistic percentage of your income.

Our giving should be a joy to us. Your heart, your desires and your passions need to be aligned with the Kingdom of God. Faith needs to override fear when money's tight. If giving is painful and a chore, we should get time to check our hearts, our faith in God, our true desires.

"then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine."

We see the same promises in the Old and New Testaments. And they're pretty amazing. It's the whole idea that you can't out-give God.

"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."

The beginning of Proverbs is like a father instructing a son. It's done in love. We all need discipline and correction from time to time. The question is, are we prepared to walk in humble repentance?

Proverbs 9:8-9 says

"Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
   reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
   teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning."

It's not easy to be a wise man. Sometimes a rebuke is like a slap in the face. Your gut feeling is to strike back, especially if they've touched on an area that's very sensitive. It takes a lot of self-control and humility to simply take the hit, and then thank the person.

The conviction of the Holy Spirit is similar. It pin-points the sore spots, like a surgeon with a scalpel. It's very sharp and is delivered with pin-point accuracy. Our natural reaction can be to wince, curl up in a ball and sulk.

Anxiety Sparks Prayer

"Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you"
1 Peter 5:7

No matter how big or trivial, there's no distinction. It simply says 'all'. Feeling anxiety levels rise is a call to prayer. If we struggle in prayer, but are natural born worriers, we should have plenty of material to keep us going. In this, many, many things will be committed to the Lord in prayer. God always hears and God always responds.

This action of 'casting' also implies that we will no longer carry the weight of our anxieties. To throw something off we may need some strength. It suggests a perseverance in prayer. It suggests that we pray until we feel the burden lifted. A five second one-line prayer isn't always enough. Let's get on our knees.

Sown Amongst Thorns

"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."
2 Peter 2: 20-22

This description of the person that once believed but becomes entangled again by the defilements of the world runs parallel to the parable of the sower. It echoes perfectly the seed sown amongst thorns: life that springs up for a short time and is then choked away. It perfectly describes so many people I've known over the years - so gutting, but so fitting.

There must be a number of reasons why they are in a worst state, and better if they had never known the gospel message. Here are my thoughts:

1. It totally dishonours the name of Christ. It discredits the gospel message, weakening it's power in the lives of those around them who are themselves in need of salvation, and have witnessed their falling away. For this they stand accountable to God, and thus carry extra weight on their shoulders.

2. They themselves may be much less likely to consider the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ again in the future, having played about with it once already, concluding that it "didn't work". Hebrews 6 remarks that it's like crucifying Jesus twice. They may feel that there's nothing left for them.

3. They have had knowledge, insight and blessings that many people have never experienced. They are not blind like the rest of the world. They do not have the same the same excuse. Their knowledge holds them accountable, which cannot go well on the day of judgement.

Monday 3 May 2010

C.T. Studd on Evangelism

"Remember than mere soul-saving is comparatively easy work and is not nearly so important as manufacturing the saved ones into Saints, Soldiers and Saviors."
C.T. Studd, Cricketer and Pioneer, p70

John Stam on The Great Commission

Excerpt from a speech delivered to the Moody Bible Institute graduating class in 1932 by John Stam:

"Let us remind ourselves that the Great Commission was never qualified by clauses calling for advance only if funds were plentiful and no hardship or self-denial involved. On the contrary, we are told to expect tribulation and even persecution, but with it victory in Christ, and in personal communion with Him, a joyful unspeakable and full of glory that cannot be affected by outside circumstances."

Illusions and Giving

Randy Alcorn, in that little book, The Treasure Principle, says, "I’m convinced that the greatest deterrent to giving is this: the illusion that earth is our home" (p44).

Wrestling with Hebrews 6

"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned."
Hebrews 6: 4-8

A brutal and sobering passge of scripture. It seems to be saying that it's impossible for us to bring certain people back to repentance. And if repentance is impossible, you are in a place that is beyond salvation. People who were once amongst God's people, tasted the goodness of Christ and the Holy Spirit, and then fell away. There are two points that come to mind:

1. Were these people genuine Christians?
2. This word "impossible" is, in either case, very scary.

It makes reference to people who have previously repented. People who were enlightened, and even shared in the Holy Spirit. Does this mean they were genuine Christians? One thing's for sure: they outwardly appeared to be so, had partaken in the Christian life, and shared a degree of enlightenment. Having had all this they then decided that the world was better than Christ and returned to their previous way. In this they openly and publically shame Christ, bringing disgrace to His name, wounding the gospel and it's effectiveness in those around them.

In Jesus' parable of the sower there is seed which takes root and quickly springs up but is in shallow soil and dies; and also seed which is choked by thorns and thistles. In both cases there is a response to the gospel, and there is new life which springs out, but then dies away. This to me makes the most sense in interpreting Hebrews 6. I think faith often comes by degrees. A tree when it first grows is nothing but a tiny plant. Step on it and you squash it. But gradually, when protected, it grows and grows, over time it becomes established and forms an immovable living entity. A massive oak tree is hard to push around.

It almost seems like there's this transitionary period that's critical in a new believer. It's like becoming a Christian isn't merely flicking a switch, but a gradual process of roots going down and life springing up. There's a testing of faith over time, and some faith doesn't survive. So are these people true Christians? Hebrews 3:14 says "For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end." The test of truly authentic faith is that it perseveres to our last day on Earth. A person can therefore have many spiritual experiences and blessings, claim to be a Christian in all the right ways, and yet fail this long test of faith.

The most difficult word in all of this is the word "impossible". It's incredibly scary, but it's right there, in the Bible. It says some people can't be bought back to a place of repentance. Being in a place where you are unable to repent puts you beyond salvation. Very, very sobering should any of us fall into this pit, showing utter distain for the cross of Christ, and proving we were never of Him.

"Whoever comes to me I will never cast out."
John 6:37

This last point is an important one. God will never reject anyone who repents. Should a backslider return to Christ in humble repentance, they are guaranteed acceptance. The question is whether or not they themselves can repent.

Notes on John 10: Apostasy?

"So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
John 10: 24-30

It says that none can be snatched out of the Father's hand. The question is whether one can choose to step out of God's hand, committing apostasy? It's an interesting point which I've been chewing over, and I'm definitely veering towards the answer "no". The verse above not only states "no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand" but "they will never perish". That seems quite an all-encompassing statement. It doesn't say "most will never perish". It says "they". It's all inclusive.

In any case, I just can't fathom how anyone, truly experienced in God's grace, knowledgeable of eternal Hell, with the fear of God instilled, can ever step out of the promise of infinite paradise for the momentary pleasures of this world. Something has to have gone pretty badly wrong. I guess you can argue that's pretty much what Satan did when he rebelled against God. Insane. The origins of Sin via Satan is one of the most mysterious things. How did it originate in a perfect, sinless being?

Wednesday 28 April 2010

Hudson Taylor on work and prayer

"You can work without praying, but it is a bad plan. But you cannot pray in earnest without working."

Biography of James Hudson Taylor, 1973 edition, p416

Satan's Creed

"Satan, too, has his creed: Doubt God's faithfulness. 'Hath God really said? Are you not mistaken as to His commands? He could not really mean just that. You take an extreme view, give too literal a meaning to the words.' How constantly, and alas, how successfully are such arguments used to prevent whole-hearted trust in God, whole-hearted consecration to God! How many estimate difficulties in the light of their own resources, and thus attempt little and often fail in the little they attempt! All God's giants have been weak men, who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them."

Biography of James Hudson Taylor, 1973 edition, p349

Hudson Taylor: Jesus is Lord of all

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
Mark 16:15 (King James Version)

"You are not your own; you were bought at a price."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?"
Luke 6:46

Hudson Taylor on Jesus as Lord of all:

"How are we going to treat the Lord Jesus Christ with reference to this command? Shall we definitely drop the title Lord as applied to Him, and take the ground that we are quite willing to recognise Him as our Saviour, so far as the penalty of sin is concerned, but are not prepared to own ourselves 'bought with a price', or Him as having any claim to our unquestioning obedience? Shall we say that we are our own masters, willing to yield something as His due, who bought us with His blood, provided He does not ask too much? Our lives, our loved ones, our possessions are our own, not His: we will give Him what we think fit, and obey any of His requirements that do not demand too great a sacrifice? To be taken to Heaven by Jesus Christ we are more than willing, but we will not have this Man to reign over us?

The heart of every Christian will undoubtedly reject the proposition, so formulated; but have not countless lives in each generation been lived as though it were proper ground to take? How few of the Lord's people have practically recognised the truth that Christ is either Lord of all, or is not Lord at all! If we can judge God's Word as much or as little as we like, then we are lords and He is the indebted one, to be grateful for our dole and obliged by our compliance with His wishes. If, on the other hand, He is Lord, let us treat Him as such. 'Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?'"

Biography of James Hudson Taylor, 1973 edition, p439-40

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Faith is better than sight

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1 (King James Version)

Hudson Taylor on faith:

"Faith, I now see, is the substance of things hoped for', and not mere shadow. It is not less than sight, but more. Sight only shows the outward forms of things; faith gives the substance. You can rest on substance, feed on substance."

Biography of James Hudson Taylor, 1973 edition, p309

The root of sin

Hudson Taylor on the nature of sin:

"Sins committed appeared but as trifles compared with the sin of unbelief which was their cause, which could not or would not take God at His word, but rather made Him a liar! Unbelief was, I felt, the damning sin of the world – yet I indulged in it."

Biography of James Hudson Taylor, 1973 edition, p306-7

Nothing small, nothing great

Hudson Taylor on prayer:

"Speaking of the privilege of bringing everything to God in prayer, Dr. Barrie said that he was sometimes hindered by the feeling that many things were too small, really, to pray about. Taylor's answer was that he did not know anything about it –  about such a distinction, probably. Then he added:

There is nothing small, and there is nothing great: only God is great, and we should trust Him fully."

Biography of James Hudson Taylor, p508-9

Sunday 25 April 2010

Designs are temporary

Graphic design goes through so many fads, it's a total fashion victim. What was hot a year ago isn't quite so hot today. When you're designing, you're designing for a moment in time. It's a product, or tool, for a very definite period. When it's life has expired it fades into the background.

It's so important to stay fresh and inspired, especially in web design as it's so technology driven. It's constantly evolving. What worked really well yesterday may hinder today. One example – the use of Flash.

The ultimate goal for design is that it is used for God's purposes. You're both providing an act of service for your clients, which should be done to the best of your abilities, and you're crafting a tool for communication. A website, if done well, can preach to the world.

Designs are temporary but God's kingdom is eternal. If the temporary can build the eternal, then our work is very, very good.

Trials build strength

Hudson Taylor on young converts and the importance of trials:

"In their spiritual infancy they should be left to grow naturally in the circumstances in which God had placed them, strengthened by the very trials with which they found themselves surrounded."
Biography of James Hudson Taylor, p211

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
James 1:2-4

If life was easy, free from struggles and frustrations, we would remain weak and our faith never tested. We would never have the opportunity to trust God and wholly rely on Him. We would never grow or mature. As it is, we can count it as joy. That's hard. But that wording 'count it all joy' seems to suggest that it's not necessarily our immediate experience. It's a conscious decision. We step back and realise 'even though it's hard, this is a good thing'.

God Repays

From 'Faith's Checkbook' by Charles Spurgeon:

    "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will He pay him again"
    Proverbs 19:17

    We are to give to the poor out of pity. Not to be seen and applauded, much less to get influence over them; but out of pure sympathy and compassion we must give them help.
    We must not expect to get anything back from the poor, not even gratitude; but we should regard what we have done as a loan to the LORD. He undertakes the obligation, and, if we look to Him in the matter, we must not look to the second party. What an honor the LORD bestows upon us when He condescends to borrow of us! That merchant is greatly favored who has the LORD on his books. It would seem a pity to have such a name down for a paltry pittance; let us make it a heavy amount. The next needy man that comes this way, let us help him.

    As for repayment, we can hardly think of it, and yet here is the LORD's note of hand. Blessed be His name, His promise to pay is better than gold and silver. Are we running a little short through the depression of the times? We may venture humbly to present this bill at the bank of faith. Has any one of our readers [oppressed] the poor? Poor soul. May the LORD forgive him.

Too shy, too awkward

Joel Virgo, CCK Preaching Course:

"Awkwardness may have more to do with a fear of man than a fear of God."

Ouch! Standing up in front of people and speaking is always a struggle for me. Maybe I'm just too self-aware, too conscious of the thoughts of others when really my fear of God should be much greater. It should drown everything else out.

Fear of God should result in confidence before man. God is awesome. If He's called us to a task, He will equip. And His resources are infinite.

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
Matthew 10:28-31

Personality hang-ups

We all have hang-ups about our personality traits – "I'm too shy, too quiet, not particularly articulate". I love this paragraph from Joel Virgo's CCK Preaching Course about finding your voice as a preacher, recognising that God has made you a certain way for a reason:

"We probably don't like our voice much. Now this is not because we have a poor self-image or a hurting inner-child – it is because our pride is so scandalously blatant that we dare say to God why did you make me like this? I would have done a better job. I would have made me to be just like _________ [your favourite preacher's name here]. I cannot trust you God. I will not be me...' So don't get all self-help paperback on me... It's plain old-fashioned sin to want to be someone else all the time. Put it to death."

Awesome! I love it.

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Motto of the C.I.M.

Motto of the China Inland Mission (p206, Biography of James Hudson Taylor):

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.
The Lord will provide."

Awesome words!

Calvinism vs Arminianism... meh! (Part 2)

"Only recently the Mission had accepted a number of highly educated and well-gifted young men who were members of the State Church. How, then, were they able to work together with Methodists and Baptists, etc? Mr. Taylor replied that, in our chief aims, we are all one in Christ ... The great work of the mission field, which is a call to us all, overrides theological differences, and our motto remains, "All one in Christ.""
Biography of James Hudson Taylor, p487

Recently attending our early morning prayer meetings at Kings, seeking God for revival, one of the highlights for me was that people from churches all over Eastbourne came and prayed with us. They are our brothers and sisters, and the unity was awesome.

In one sense there's so many theological differences. But in another, it's actually quite remarkable how we almost entirely agree on all the major issues.

Hudson Taylor on debt

It's so unbelievably easy to buy some immediate want or apparent need with a credit card or an overdraft. But in doing this we fail to realise the opportunity of prayer laid before us, an opportunity to listen to our Father and wait for His answer. We forget that all our money is His. And we deny Him headship over our finances, even in the small purchases. Slowly but surely you creep into the oppression of debt and find yourself in a place your Father never intended.

Perhaps many of our 'needs' are really 'wants'. A little bit of discipline and self-denial is good for the soul.

From the Biography of James Hudson Taylor:

"To me it seemed that the teaching of God's Word was unmistakably clear, 'Owe no man anything'. To borrow money implied, to my mind, a contradiction of Scripture –  a confession that God had withheld some good thing, and a determination to get for ourselves what He had not given. I could not think that God was poor, that He was short of resources, or unwilling to supply any want of whatever work was really His. It seemed to me that if there were lack of funds to carry on work, then to that degree, in that special development, or at that time, it could not be the work of God."
p198

    "They who trust Him wholly
     Find Him wholly true,
but also that when we fail to trust fully He still remains unchangingly faithful. He is wholly true whether we trust or not.'If we believe not, he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself'. But oh, how we dishonour our Lord whenever we fail to trust Him, and what peace, blessing and triumph we lose in thus sinning against the Faithful One. May we never again presume in anything to doubt Him."
p199

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."
Romans 13:8

"If we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself."
2 Timothy 2:13

Monday 12 April 2010

What Is Sustaining Grace?

Here's a really excellent poem by John Piper titled "What Is Sustaining Grace?":

"Not grace to bar what is not bliss,
Nor flight from all distress, but this:
The grace that orders our trouble and pain,
And then, in the darkness, is there to sustain."

I think the hardest line in the poem is "The grace that orders our trouble and pain". It would be easy to think that God is the source of that pain and trouble. But if you read the manuscript for Piper's message (found here) he states that God is actually permitting and measuring out the pain in an exact amount, which is not beyond what we can cope with. He then sustains us through this dark period. His reason for doing so? He works all things for good (Romans 8:28) and we can trust He is working out a greater end and purpose than we can see.

Sunday 11 April 2010

The disadvantage of wealth

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 19:23-24

"Wealth is heavily concentrated in North America, Europe, and high income Asia-Pacific countries. People in these countries collectively hold almost 90% of total world wealth."
The World Distribution of Household Wealth

It seems that simply living in one of these rich countries automatically puts you at a massive disadvantage as far as the gospel is concerned. We are the rich people Jesus is talking about. We have insurance for everything and spend most of our lives accumulating various possessions, all of which comfort us in one way or another. It totally suffocates our need for God.

The New Testament is really big on considering the poor. I wonder if this is because on one hand, these people are in need, more open to the gospel, and a real opportunity is afforded to demonstrate the love of Jesus in action. And on the other, generosity strips us of all the things we trust in place of God, who wants to train us in His faithfulness.

I read a very interesting article from The New York Times website titled 'The Sandra Bullock Trade' (click here to read). One of the observations made from research is that once our basic material needs are met, very little additional happiness is gained by an increase in income. Food, water, shelter and a hospital when you get sick. That's what you need. Everything else pursued above this level is noise, and will never satisfy.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."
1 Timothy 6:6-8

Here's a selection of verses from the New Testament relating to the poor:

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Luke 12:33-34

"The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
Luke 3:11

"Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
Matthew 5:42

"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort."
Luke 6:24

"But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?"
1 John 3:17

––––––

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 25:31-46

Saturday 10 April 2010

Under the control of evil

Reading the latter part of the gospels, it's interesting to note the way in which Judas Iscariot immediately felt a massive sense of remorse after his betrayal, and hanged himself. And this was even before Jesus was sentenced to death by Pilate. He didn't even witness the full consequence of his actions. His guilt and shame was very strong, real and immediate.

It makes you think – why did he suddenly feel this now and not earlier? If his remorse was so immediate and strong, you would think there was enough sense in him not to do it in the first place.

But in Luke 22 Satan himself enters Judas. Satan used him, and it seems he simply discarded Judas when finished, who then returns to a more natural state of mind.

Through the sin that Judas accommodated in his life he came under the control of evil. Sin itself is partnering with Satan, participating in his work, giving a foothold of control to our number one enemy. We should loath and despise this on every level.

Judas of course kills himself, refusing to face and live through the guilt. This seems like yet another act of defiance. I wonder – if he was repentant, faced his sin, faced his guilt, would he have lived to see Jesus rise from death?

Charles Spurgeon on the poor

A short devotional by Spurgeon, taken from my 'Faith's Checkbook' iPhone app:

    "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble"
    Psalm 41:1

    To think about the poor and let them lie on our hearts is a Christian man's duty; for Jesus put them with us and near us when He said, "The poor ye have always with you."

    Many give their money to the poor in a hurry, without thought; and many more give nothing at all. This precious promise belongs to those who "consider" the poor, look into their case, devise plans for their benefit, and considerately carry them out. We can do more by care than by cash, and most with two together. To those who consider the poor, the LORD promises His own consideration in times of distress. He will bring us out of trouble if we help others when they are in trouble. We shall receive very singular providential help if the LORD sees that we try to provide for others. We shall have a time of trouble, however generous we may be; but if we are charitable, we may put in a claim for peculiar deliverance, and the LORD will not deny His own word and bond. Miserly curmudgeons may help themselves, but considerate and generous believers the LORD will help. As you have done unto others, so will the LORD do unto you. Empty your pockets.

Intricately connected to Christ

"I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison ... About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?'"
Acts 22: 4-7 (edited)

I've always had thoughts float around in the back of my mind when I've read this passage, that Jesus's words are a little strange. And then I've always immediately dismissed them as unholy and irreverent thoughts! Saul is persecuting Christians, and yet Jesus says "why do you persecute me". Which can make you think "hang on Jesus, your taking this too literally. It's your followers who are being persecuted."

But if you linger on this thought instead of immediately dismissing it, it reveals something quite fascinating: everything you feel Jesus feels. It's like we're actually part of the same physical body. When we're persecuted he is persecuted. When we suffer, he suffers. When we sin, he felt it on the cross. When he was raised from the dead, we were given new life. And he was tempted in every way, just as we are.

When we become a disciple of Jesus Christ, we become very intricately connected to him.

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
1 Corinthians 12:27

Stumbling in the dark

It occurred to me recently that on the days you choose not read, or forget to read God's word, it's like turning off all the lights at night and stumbling around in the dark. You can't see where you're going. At best, you can get a feel of those things immediately around you. But even these things look very different in the dark. The light reveals things as they truly are.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
Psalm 119:105

If the devil is the father of lies (John 8:44), and the whole world is under his power, then life in this world, without God's light in our daily life, is one of delusion, distortion and blindness.

"We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."
1 John 5:19

Sunday 28 March 2010

On William Burns...

Below are a few quotes describing William Burns, an awesome man of God and an early companion and mentor to Hudson Taylor:

"He did not consider that he had a warrant to proceed in any sacred duty without a consciousness of that Divine presence. Without it, he could not speak even to a handful of little children in a Sunday School; with it he could stand unabashed before the mightiest and wisest in the land."

"Prayer was a natural to him as breathing, and the word of God as necessary as daily food."

"He enjoyed quietness and the luxury of having few things to take care of, and thought the happiest state on earth for a Christian was that he should have few wants."

"'If a man have Christ in his heart' he used to say, 'Heaven before his eyes, and only as much of temporal blessing as is just needful to carry him safely through life, then pain and sorrow have little to shoot at'."

Biography of James Hudson Taylor, p160.

We'll soon be there

"The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth. Hush, hush, my doubts! Death is but a narrow stream, and thou shalt soon have forded it. Time, how short – eternity, how long! Death, how brief – immortality, how endless! ... The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there"

Charles H. Spurgeon

Complete In Him

"You have no right to heaven in yourself; your right lies in Christ. If you are pardoned; it is through his blood; if you are justified; it is through his righteousness; if you are sanctified; it is because he is made of God unto you sanctification; if you shall be kept from falling, it will be because you are preserved in Christ Jesus; and if you are perfected at the last; it will be because you are complete in him."

Charles H. Spurgeon

Perpetual Communication

"The first thing for our soul's health, the first thing for His glory, and the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual communication with the Lord Jesus, and to see that the vital spirituality of our religion is maintained over and above everything else in the world."

Charles H. Spurgeon

Hard Cultivation

"The more spiritual the exercise, the sooner we tire in it. The choicest fruits are the hardest to rear: the most heavenly graces are the most difficult to cultivate. Beloved, while we do not neglect external things, which are good enough in themselves, we ought also to see to it that we enjoy living, personal fellowship with Jesus."

Charles H. Spurgeon

Footsteps of the Saviour

"Remember this, Christian, and let it comfort thee. However difficult and painful thy road, it is marked by the footsteps of thy Saviour; and even when thou reaches the dark valley of the shadow of death, and the deep waters of the swelling Jordan, thou wilt find his footprints there. In all places whithersoever we go, he has been our forerunner; each burden we have to carry, has once been laid on the shoulders of Immanuel."

Charles H. Spurgeon

You're Beautiful

"We we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is a memory and tears are no more..."
You're Beautiful by Jamie Rodwell, Not Ashamed

I absolutely love this song, I think because it captures eternity and the presence of God so well. In particular this line paints a picture of that first moment we enter in – our first experience on the other side of death. That moment is going to be mind-blowing. We finally finish the race, our life's work complete, and we stand before the Great Designer, the greatest and most holy being in existence.

"What we will be has not yet appeared"
1 John 3:2

Death is a certainty and our day is coming. In a little while we'll be there.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Hudson Taylor on sickness and suffering

"It was not until many years later, when Taylor could look back over all the way in which the Lord had led him, that he was impressed with the fact that every important advance in the development of the Mission had sprung from or been directly connected with times of sickness or suffering which had cast him in a special way upon God."

Biography of James Hudson Taylor, p337

Suffering with the Saints

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea."
Psalm 46:1-2

At Life Group last week I downloaded and played the biography clips from The Rebel's Guide to Joy series taught by Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill Church, Seattle. We then discussed all the most interesting points that struck out at us from the subject's life, and discussed particular bible verses that related to pain and suffering. It was a surprisingly inspired evening.

This verse, above, really resonated with me for a number of reasons. Firstly it states that God is our help and is 'very present'. Two magnificent statements: that you could have the creator of the universe, the greatest and most holy being that ever existed, present and helping in your time of trouble. But what it doesn't state is that God is our solution to the problem at hand. We assume he could be, as he's sovereign, but he chooses not to. Interesting...

The second thing you notice is that even though he's present and helping, the earth is still removed and the mountains are still thrown into the sea. He may not stop massive devastation from happening in our lives, but he does help us through it.

One of the real interesting points that came up in this Life Group evening was that many of the people studied experienced suffering that didn't seem to be linked with the gospel in any way. They couldn't say they had the honour of suffering for Christ. It was just generalised pain, sickness and death that anyone might experience. That must have felt so purposeless at the time.

But yet it wasn't. They fought, didn't give in, and their lives comfort us and testify to God's grace.

"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Wednesday 10 March 2010

Adversity, a less severe trial

An awesome Spurgeon quote:

"The Christian far oftener disgraces his profession in prosperity than in adversity. It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the refining pot of prosperity."

Sunday 7 March 2010

Is God outside of time? (Part 3)

"This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time."
2 Timothy 1:9

This is a very interesting verse when you really think about it. 'Before the beginning of time' – before God had created anything, he knew us personally. He also knew the exact unfolding of Genesis 3, that man would sin and fall. He knew that we would need grace and that Jesus Christ would have to die on the cross. Yet he decided to created everything and everyone anyway. Incredible.

Thinking back to my previous posts on time, and the notion that God is not bound by it in any way, it leads to some very personal applications to Jesus' atonement of sin.

Could it be that he didn't die for our sin in a vague and general sense, but he was punished in a precise and exact amount? Did God see, in advance, every day of your life and the sum total of all your sin?

When we say "Jesus died for you" perhaps he really, really did.

Finite Time

"You never get it back... waisted time"

This is a line from the film Benjamin Button which really jumped out at me. It echoes Psalm 144:4

"Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow."

We have a very small and finite amount of time in which we can live on this earth and serve God's purposes. We only get so many opportunities to walk in his plans, trusting and living by faith. Soon our days will be over and all those opportunities will be taken from us. The adventure that might have been slips by. Our life's work ended and recorded as we stand before the judgement seat of God.

We should dread the thought of waisted time – years spent asleep, drifting and spinning our wheels. How many of us have spent 5, 10, 20 years in this condition?

"For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,

"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God."

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God."

Romans 14:10-12

Saturday 6 March 2010

Faith, Difficulties, and Hudson Taylor

Hudson Taylor seemed to treat every difficulty as an opportunity to test his faith and see what God would do. Like going for a two mile walk when only just recovering from a fever that nearly killed him. Most people would use their common sense and stay at home. Instead, like in this example and many others, "his weakness only provided another occasion to prove the efficacy of prayer" (p72). Insane. But awesome faith! Here are a few other quotes relating to faith and difficulties from the Biography of James Hudson Taylor. There's quite a lot here, but well worth reading:

"He knew that faith was the one power that could remove mountains, conquer every difficulty and accomplish the impossible ... He realised that the faith he longed for was a 'gift of God', and that it might 'grow exceedingly'. But for growth, exercise was needed, and exercise of faith was obviously impossible apart from trial. Then welcome trial, welcome anything that would increase and strengthen this precious gift, proving to his own heart at any rate that he had faith of the sort that would really stand and grow."
p48-9

"If we are faithful to God in little things, we shall gain experience and strength that will be helpful to us in the more serious trails of life."
p53

"Last autumn I was fretting and stewing, reckoning and puzzling about how to manage this and that –  like a person in water who cannot swim, or a fish out of it. But it all came to nothing. Now, when the Lord opens the way, though everything seems adverse, He first removes one difficulty and then another, plainly saying 'Be still and know that I am God"
p62

"So difficulties were permitted to gather about him, especially at first when every impression was vivid and lasting, difficulties attended by many a deliverance to encourage him".
p114

"But the way of faith was clearer, and he had learned to leave the future in the hands of God. One who knew the end from the beginning was guiding and would guide"
p166

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. The Lord will provide."
p206

"Than the greatness of the need, one thing is only greater –  the fact of God: His resources, purposes, faithfulness, His commands and promises ... That is enough; that alone could be enough."
p247

"God owns all the gold and silver in the world, and the cattle on a thousand hills. We need not be vegetarians."
p248

"We can afford to have as little as the Lord chooses to give, but we cannot afford to have unconsecrated money, or to have money placed in the wrong position. Far better have no money at all, even to buy food with; for there are plenty of ravens in China, and the Lord could send them again with bread and flesh."
p248

"Let us see that we keep God before our eyes; that we walk in His ways and seek to please and glorify Him in everything, great and small. Depend upon it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies."
p249