"But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding."
Job 32:8

Sunday, May 26, 2013

The Seventh Day

With having recently finished high school and suddenly having a bucket load of time on my hands, I've been thinking, which is always a good sign, about the past several years and times that the system drove me mad and yet how, with God's guidance and strength, I learnt to overcome.

And as I've sort of entered into this period of physical and mental rest, it also feels as sort of a spiritual rest where God is needing me to calm down and re-evaluate my faith and in the midst of thinking this through, I felt God leading me to share on the topic.

It seems that as time progresses and we find faster and faster means of doing things, society somehow places this pressure on our lives that, because we have this extra time, we must fill this time with something else to do, and, consequently, we never really slow down.

And when this thought is pondered upon, oneself finds their thoughts being drawn to the very beginning of Scripture... well I hope your thoughts are drawn to Scripture. : /

Why? Because this God we serve is the very author of what it means to rest, to chill out, to look back on His work and say "It is good." And yet, it seems that we have grown this mentality that says "If you're not constantly involved in ministry, you're not doing enough." And its almost as if we get legalistic about it, and we, in our own small way, end up creating a works-based salvation.

Let us draw, for a moment, to Genesis 2.

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done." Genesis 2:2-3 NIV

I guess its easy to forget that this concept of 'rest' is actually a holy concept. That it is sanctified and perfected by Majesty. And before we go any further, we do need to draw a line because Scripture also speaks out against laziness.

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'" 2 Thessalonians 3:10 NIV

And its good that Scripture makes this distinction so as not to thwart and mistake the holiness of what it truly means to rest as opposed to being a potato couch... which I am... sometimes. 

But on a spiritual level, what does this mean to us? In an effort to avoid this works-based mindset on salvation, what does it means to really... rest?

I recently spoke with a sister in Christ on the topic of working in faith and what this means to us and she brought to light a verse of Scripture that I've probably brushed past countless times yet appears so profound.

When Christ was being asked about doing the works God requires, this is His response:

"Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6:29 NIV

Isn't that awesome? When you look at this verse in John 6 and relate it to Jesus' final words "It is finished" it resonates the saying,

"Religion says 'do'. Jesus says 'done.'"

While we get so wound up sometimes in trying to do things for God, He's whispering, "Chill, it's already done." And we're simply reminded all over again that we can do nothing to earn this salvation He offers because He has already done what is needed. 

And this basis of faith, of belief in God, what He has done and even obedience to His commands and its relation to finding rest for our souls resonates throughout Scripture. 

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rests for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16a NIV

The good path leads to rest, not from it because God, more often than we realise, simply wants us to abide in Him. To wait upon Him and listen to what He has to say in our lives. To be restored by Him, to be refreshed so we don't burn ourselves out spiritually. This is His desire for us. 

Today, at church, several families shared what they were doing once they would move on in the summer and one couple talked about God's calling in their lives to rest and I recall them commenting that they didn't fully understand what it meant to rest and that they didn't have all the answers but they were going to step down from the ministries that they were involved in and simply abide in God. 

"for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his." Hebrews 4:10 NIV

Isn't it amusing when people go on vacations and yet there's often one family member who has brought all of their work with them? This isn't what God wants for His children. He knows that in order to rest, we simply need to let go for a while. 

And, sometimes, the idea of 'letting go' scares us, and we begin to think that we aren't doing enough for God.  But this rest that God offers is the fruit of obedience, and as Paul points out, is worthy of making every effort to enter into. 

"Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their [Irsael's] example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:11 NIV

Some people love to work and work and work, but when it comes to serving God, that isn't what God desires. He knows we need this spiritual rest more than we know ourselves, and He's waiting for us to accept it. 

So, chill out, and allow God to minister to you as you rest in Him knowing that His work remains finished upon the cross. 

God bless you all.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV


Monday, May 20, 2013

Don't waste your time

I'm not sure why I do it, but perhaps I'm insane as I once heard insanity defined as the repetition of doing something while hoping for different results. Each time I go onto YouTube, or rarely on Yahoo! Answers, and I end up in the religion section, you are guaranteed to almost always find a religious debate going on in the comments.

And well, you get where I am going with this. That's exactly what happened and I ended up responding to someone who was trying to call Christians out on not obeying the Old Testament laws.

Man, I ask myself why I even bothered to provide some answers in the first place.

And so I ask myself questions like whether it was really worth it, whether I could have said something different, did I even plant any godly seeds or was it only a means of Satan to get me wound up?

It's very inspiring to hear Christian apologists debate the hard-line opposition, and while God is fully capable of using those situations for His glory, as I believe He does and gifts such Christians with the ability to engage in such debates, I believe Scripture teaches us not only to be careful with how we preach the Gospel, but also with whom.

Here is where it seems the Holy Spirit calls us to discernment because while some of us are gifted in debating, some of us aren't and we only find ourselves wound up in frustration with not only the opposition, but with our own willingness to engage in foolish quarrels that keep us from teaching Christ.

And by ending up in silly quarrels that lead no where, we miss the whole point of Christianity.

Now Scripture is clear:

1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV says, "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."

And we recollect Christ's words to the apostles in teaching how, as the world hated Him, so it will hate us. So it is no surprise when the world mocks us.

But.

Matthew 7:6 NIV reads, "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."


You see, while we know the state of the world and we know the cost of preaching the Gospel... Christ also taught to be careful of what we give to the world. 

"Do not give to dogs what is sacred."

And Scripture is filled with guidelines, warnings, teachings on such matters as discernment and teaching.

Titus 3:9 NIV reads, "But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Just as we have foolish controversies that go round and round in circles, so too did the apostles and churches of the early NT. This dilemma is no stranger to God's children. 

This is why Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 2 appear to be so profound when he says, 

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power" (1 Corinthians 1:4 NIV) 

We, in our fallible ways, can so easily be lured into foolish arguments that have the appearance of wisdom. Arguments that centre on logic and trivial issues while the whole time we miss "Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 1:2

And based on His own words, it would seem Christ knew this very well as He faced such opposition Himself. And yet what was His conclusion? 

Matthew 10:14 NIV reads, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet."

We have pearls of wisdom, the joy of the Gospel, the Giver of life indwelt... yet what do we profit if the very people we preach to devour the pearls we offer? 

Now, just as I find myself, some may wonder, "Well, what about the Great Commission and the giving of the Gospel to all nations?"

And, in response, I say, as I often like to say, "Don't get me wrong here", I believe everyone should hear the truth of God.

But. He works on His timing, not ours and we work by His discernment, not our own. 

"My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." Psalm 51:17 NIV

God desires a contrite heart, and many voices that mock are clearly not contrite. And sometimes, instead of offering the beauty, sufficiency, supremacy and salvation of Christ in its purest form, we simply need to say "God bless you", shake the dust off our feet and wait.

Wait, because, there will come a time when God's timing is perfect and those pearls of truth, where they were once bitterness, can become life to a stubborn-turned-contrite heart. And while we all have the choice to other reject His truth or accept it, God, in His perfect timing and infinite wisdom, knows the right time for the right words. 

And God hasn't left us hanging on this discernment. 


1 Corinthians 2:15-16 NIV reads, "The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
    so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ."


He has given us His mind. His heart, His Word. And with all that He has given, we have the assurance that He will give the words that need to be spoken so that we may avoid the foolish quarrels that so often prevail, and can instead teach the truth of Christ in all its glory. 


Use your time wisely and never be afraid to brush the dust off of your feet when you need to. 


For anyone who would like a similar perspective in different words, here is a GotQuestions article. 


God bless you all.


"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 NIV

Monday, May 13, 2013

The Season of Waiting

As one pastor once said "I would make my sermons shorter, but once I start I'm too lazy to stop." Well, today I want to give the second half of the message that I gave last week because in my original message on social prejudices, I had included two other biblical figures, but once I got writing, I realised there was no way I would be able to add in what I wanted to say without skimming over the important stuff but still keeping the message short. And even now, as I proofread this, I realise that trying to add in both intended biblical characters would have either made the message too shallow or too long. Hence, we continue, except with a slightly different focus.

You see, while we looked at God's lack of concern for social prejudices last week, my original focus had been on the 'age' aspect of that and how people are judged based on age. This explains my initial focus on Elihu. However, I still felt led to broaden it because Scripture is not just about how God goes beyond age but how He goes beyond physical limitation, social class and gender.

And so, bear with me if this message seems too youth-centred at the beginning (which it should be or else the blog's purpose is void).

So today, I want to look at a figure from Scripture who, though God had big plans in store for him, it wasn't until he was around 30 before the anointing of his youth took effect.

So who am I talking about? David, of course.

In 1 Samuel 16, we have Samuel who has come to anoint the new king of Israel who would succeed Saul.

1 Samuel 16:12b-13a it reads, "Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David."

So David had this anointing. He was told he would become king with his family as his wtiness. But remember, this anointing took place when David was a youth. And yet, think about it, when he finally became king as recorded in 2 Samuel 2, what had happened?

David remained a shepherd until called into Saul's service. 
David had killed Goliath - 1 Samuel 17
David got married - 1 Samuel 18
Saul attempted to kill David out of jealousy - 1 Samuel 19
Saul's men chase David throughout Israel - 1 Samuel 21-23

And the list goes on...

Seriously, David did a bucket load of things, things that we don't usually get around to doing in our late teens and early twenties (I don't see any Goliaths around here... just saying). And even then, before he went out to kill Goliath, what was he doing? He was shepherding the sheep, while killing bears and lions as was his duty as a shepherd. 

If I had that sort of anointing and had to wait that long to receive it, I would have become mighty impatient. And then, added onto that, just imagine being on the verge of death numerous times as the very king you have been prophesied to succeed is the very one who is trying to kill you out of jealousy and fear. 

Now, though not in 1 or 2 Samuel, we have the sentiments David felt during these different times in his life. Listen to David's conclusion in his plea to God found in Psalm 27.

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV reads, "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

This very man who was being persecuted, and crying out to God to be rescued from the hands of his oppressors, reached the simple conclusion of: be strong, take heart and wait. 

Why? Because regardless of the circumstances, His plan is good. And now the coming verse becomes painstakingly obvious. 

 In Jeremiah 29:11-14, we find God speaking to the exiled Israelites where God declares His promise that His plan is known and that His plan is good and for those who cry out to Him, He will be found.

And so in Jeremiah 29:11, we have, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)

This was a promise given to the exiled people of God. And if His plan for His people is good, does that not also mean that His plan for David was also good? Would it not explain the conclusion he found in Psalm 27? 

That regardless of whatever the circumstances, God would provide and fulfill His good and glorious plan. 

And in Scripture, we read about how God has provided His children with gifts, about the Great Commission that He commands His children to take part in, that whatever is done in His Spirit will not fail and so many other promises and commands He has laid before us as His bride. 

And so we know and believe that God has a plan and a mission He wants each and everyone of His children to fulfill. 

But like David, sometimes God will place us in seasons of waiting. Whether we be young or old, or whatever the circumstances, sometimes God simply commands us to wait. 

And we know, we just know that He has a plan and we're anxious for it to be fulfilled, but God, in His abundant wisdom, knows that we need it. Whether He is refining us as Christians, or He is waiting for His pefect timing, He knows we need it and we can be certain He will use it for His glory. 

So be strong, take heart and wait in the LORD. 

God bless you all.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 NIV

Monday, May 6, 2013

The social prejudices that God doesn't care for

Today I want to share with you all a message that I brought to youth group several weeks ago and one that I've been wanting to share for some time ever since I finished reading the book of Job. But before I get into that, I want us to think for a moment because for some of us, this may simply be a message I'm preaching to the choir, but for a lot of us, I believe, we hold these reservations without us noticing them.

You see, how often do we neglect someone's advice or wisdom because of a social prejudice we may hold? Whether it be with respect to their age, gender, ethnicity or class, do we ever ignore them, if even for a moment because we think that since they are younger, different or come from a different country, that what they may have to say isn't worth our time?

Keep that in mind as we just briefly look at two people from Scripture, the first one coming from the book of Job.

Now, in the book of Job we have Job (duh) who lost just about everything material-wise and family-wise in his life, so a group of his friends came to mourn with him and after mourning, they begin a discussion. Now, when I read Job, I like to imagine its one epic argument... but that's besides the point. But we find the friends discussing what Job could have possibly done to deserve all that had happened. And it isn't until Job 32 that we hear from the person that I want to bring to the forefront today.

Job 32:1-5 NIV says, "So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himselfrather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused."

Here we have a youth of his time in society who was troubled by the words he was hearing to the point of being compelled to speak out, not for his own personal gain, but for the sake of the truth.

Godly focus. That's what Elihu had. And not only that but respect. He respected the others because they were older than himself. And so he waited.

And then, in Job 32:6-8 NIV, he begins to speak, "

"So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, 'I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding."

He was fearful, he had respect. The kind of respect for his elders that it seems a lot of grown ups today complain that society is lacking. But here was a sincere youth who, despite everything that was being said, waited patiently until he could speak. 

But after realising the folly and all that was being said, what was his final conclusion? That it is God and God alone who gives understanding. 

But before we expand on this, I want to take it further, beyond just talking about age.

Let's take a moment, and jump ahead to the time of Christ and look briefly at the man who prepared the way for Christ before His ministry began. 

Of course, we're talking about John the Baptist who was prophesied about in Isaiah 40:3 NIV,

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”


And when we think about John, what do we imagine? Someone whom many people had come to in order to be baptised, the very man that God chose to prepare the way for His Son. We have all these images in our head about John and the influential figure he was at his time.

But at face value, what was he? A poor guy with barely the clothes on his back. 

If we look at Matthew 3:4 NIV, what do we see? 

"John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey."

Whether it was a lifestyle John chose or a result of his circumstances, this was the life John lived. And yet in Matthew 3:5-6 NIV, we see,

"People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River."

All I can imagine issomeone, considered to be at the bottom of society, having such a godly influence that people traveled across Judea to come be baptised by him. 

And when we thought that God had shown all there needed to be demonstrated that He is neither limited nor cares about the social prejudices we place on people, He decided to take the lowliest position, making Himself a vulnerable infant born in a manger. 

And, sometimes. Sometimes, because of these prejudices we hold, we can be tempted to fall into the trap that Elihu speaks of,

"For God does speak - now one way, now another - though man may not perceive it." (Job 33:14 NIV)

What if, the very people that we ignore in our lives because of the prejudices we may hold in our hearts are the very ones God wants to use to  speak to us? That is what we must always be careful because God works in some amazingly mysterious ways sometimes and the last thing Satan wants is for us to realise and listen to what God is saying. 

Now, before we finish, there are a few words of encouragement that need to be shared.

Because God does not care for the limits that society tries to place on His children whatever those limits may be, we have a duty to uphold as Christians regardless of who we are in society, and I believe Paul says it beautifully in the first book of Timothy, "

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV) 

Whatever limit people try to place on you, remind yourself that regardless, God calls you to set an example for all believers. a

And because of His sufficiency and grace, we lack nothing. 

"For Christ conquered death with only a tree, and if you have more than that, how much more will He want to see, you see, you have all that you need." David Bowden from "No Excuse

God has given each of us exactly what we need in order to fulfill the mission He has set out before us.

And now He waits with an outstretched hand and a message to share: that the limits society places on us are the very constraints He will use to make His Name known and to fulfill His perfect and pleasing will.

So now the choice rests with us. Do we hold onto our prejudices that place both ourselves and those around us in shackles or will we trust God with what He has given us?

God bless you all.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 NIV