PsalmsOfJohn

Monday, August 13, 2018

Grateful

Filled With Gratitude

"Rejoice always;

pray without ceasing;

in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus”

(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Every day there comes a time when I'm filled with gratitude. Whatever sparks that moment I am reminded of this verse, and that makes me even more grateful because I'm also reminded of so many really cool things that our Abba Father and Jesus have done and are doing .. As a kid I knew an old lady who used to say: "count your blessings"! I do .. I count my blessings ..

AND I'm very grateful that I live under the New Covenant and not the Old.

As New Covenant people we have blessings in abundance. Paul said that we live in the time of the "ministry of the Spirit" and the “ministry of righteousness" and that these bring glory (2 Corinthians 3:8). I know that I get great glimpses of the glory of our God (Romans 1:20; Hebrews 1:3)!

Many of the blessings we so easily take for granted were totally beyond the reach of Old Covenant people, even for the heroes of our faith like Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, Daniel, Ruth and Esther. We can see a fullness like that which was present after the Creation, then lacking after the Fall.

I’m so very grateful to know that I am part of God’s Creation.

As we get to know more about who God is, we can deduce that His purpose will always be “good” (Genesis 1:12), indeed, "very good" (Genesis 1:31). His purpose brought about the Creation where matter and life first came to be. Time and history began. God created over six days then rested. Almost all the creation came into being when God said "Let there be".

Once a vast and beautiful environment had been established, people were brought into being with the words: "Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). Humans were to be in family relationship with God, and to be fruitful and to rule and have dominion over all the creation; their work was to care for it, to be its stewards. God considered this to be "very good".

"Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7 Amplified); here "living being" can be translated from the Hebrew as "speaking spirit"; we humans have language and can speak and we are spiritual.

Humankind are the ultimate created beings. We are not part of any other "kind", like monkeys, spiders or whales. Humans are unique in the universe because each of us is created in "the image and likeness" of God (Genesis 1:26). “God is spirit” (John 4:24). This tells us why, of all the creatures, we are the only spiritual beings.

(More than 80% of the world's 7.6 billion people believe that the spiritual world is real and that humans are spiritual beings).

Our spiritual life is the most important part of us. This explains why we are so creative and also so varied; we have free will just as God does, and, in part, we can see “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). We can visualise things and then make them:

music, art, books, sticky date pudding, aircraft, puffer jackets, bridges, football .. No other creatures do any of these things ..

The Creation centres on family. Family takes the shape of the God-head:

• Lord God, or Jehovah, or Adonai is Father.

• The Son, Jesus, is Son.

• Holy Spirit is the enabling power, the counselor and the helper in the Trinity (John 14:16).

They were and are eternally family, the original family. This is why family seems natural and desirable to us, and is the building block of every human culture in the whole world, and has been so throughout all of history.

We were designed to be in eternal, intimate and loving relationship with God; you just have to look at Adam and Eve, before the Fall, to see this. I can't figure out what they thought they would gain by eating that forbidden fruit!

I believe that this spiritual reality is little recognised, particularly in Western countries and in the Media. It seems that whenever we see Christians on TV panels, they, and those with them, talk entirely in physical or psychological terms, and never mention any spiritual truth .. Christianity is referred to as "a religion" which it is not! Jesus loves faith and strongly disapproves of religion; Jesus explained to the Pharisees of His day: "What goes into someone's mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them" (Matthew 15:11).

I’m so very grateful that Jesus brought the New Covenant.

Many generations after the Fall of Adam and Eve the world was in a terrible mess. Every human effort to overcome sin had failed. So God sent Jesus, as the only sinless human being. God had a plan, and through Jesus' perfect life, paid the price for all sin for all time. Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection redeemed humankind and defeated death and the power of sin (Romans 8:2).

With the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31, Luke 22:20) Jesus brought:

Light: "In him was life, and the life was the light of humankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4-5).

Redemption: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit" (1 Peter 3:18)

Salvation: "Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ .. by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:5)

Justification: "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God" (Romans 5:9)

Peace with God: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1)

Righteousness: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Relationship: Because we are spiritual beings we are able to be in intimate relationship with God, who is spirit (John 4:24). Indeed we are in Him and He is in each one of us; Jesus said: "In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you" (John 14:20, see also John 14:16-17, John 15:4, John 17:20-21, Colossians 3:3).

"I am so very grateful that Jesus made me spiritually alive".

Donald Miller (2003. "Blue Like Jazz": Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson).

Donald Miller is of my children’s generation. He sees things clearly and is able to explain them. I borrowed this book so many times that I bought my own copy: He explains the faith position of Christians:

“For me, the beginning of sharing my faith with people began by throwing out Christianity and embracing Christian spirituality, a non-political mysterious system that can be experienced but not explained”.

And: "Christianity is a relationship with a living God who, as a man as well as God, can be experienced – this experiential life is modelled on marriage (or marriage on this heavenly relationship?) It is not an intellectual assent to a set of ideas; it is not propositional".

The Bible says we are "spirit, soul and body" (1 Thessalonians 5:23), with:

§ our spirit first, that is the part most intimately interfacing with Father, Son and Holy Spirit;

§ then our soul, which is our personality, our will and emotions, our consciousness, our "self";

§ then, least of all, our body, our physical being.

These three parts of us are inter-dependent:

§ we know that "the joy of the Lord" (spiritual) can be "our strength" (physical) (Nehemiah 8:10);

§ and that laughter (from our soul) can be a great medicine (physical);

§ my testimony is that Jesus (spiritual) took away fear from me (from my soul, my emotions).

§ And as a Christian I know that I am free from the curse of sin and alive with Christ: "even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God (spiritual)] made us alive together with Christ .. by grace you have been saved (all of our person)" (Ephesians 2:5).

§ And I am free: "For freedom Christ (spiritual) has set us free; stand firm (our soul) therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (physical)" (Galatians 5:1).

These are spiritual truths .. take away the spiritual element of humanity and what have you got?

Fear, want, depression, anxiety, loss of identity .. all epidemic in our society, and all are fueled by the media relentlessly bombarding us with "politically correct" propaganda. Political correctness is just another name for untruths, lies. Scripture calls these lies “strongholds” and tells us that Jesus can set us free from all strongholds.

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine [spiritual] power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV).

I’m grateful for all that happens when Jesus comes into our life.

At the time of our salvation several almost unbelievable things happen. Because you have repented of your sins and believed on the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. They are now so far removed that God can no longer see them. You are now redeemed, you have been bought back; someone else paid the price for all your wrongdoing!

Jesus immediately brings you to His Father God and says something like: "Abba Father, here is John, will you please adopt him into our family and make him a son, just as I am?" Father God always says "Yes". I've heard a great many testimonies from Christians; everyone remembers the moment that these glorious changes took place.

We are "born again", born into the Kingdom of God: "for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God" (1 Peter 1:23).

We become a "new creation": "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We are brought into Jesus' family and are one with Him "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27).

We are made alive in our spirit: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit" (1 Peter 3:18).

We will have “rivers of living water flowing from our belly” (John 7:37-39, Psalm 46:4).

We become witnesses and ambassadors of Jesus and His gospel: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

We become a temple housing God Himself: "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19).

We are able to pray in partnership with God: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27).

I’m so grateful that I know the grace which pours forth from Jesus.

"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:16-17).

We get to "stand in the grace" which flows from Jesus (Romans 5:1-2)

The Bible talks about grace as though it has physical properties; I found this to be a strange notion until I began to see how Jesus' grace has a real impact on my life and our family life. I see it in other Christians too.

We can stand in this grace, just as we can stand in the flow of a river, it is a constant stream:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in [certain] hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1-2).

I’m so grateful to have received spiritual gifts.

Paul prays that we may be transformed in our very selves:

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know

[1] the hope to which he has called you,

[2] the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and

[3] his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:20).

I went to Scripture Union Masterclass which was great. It was intended for senior High School kids. Some of my readers are young people so I was able to attend. The MC spoke of his theology teacher who said that:

God is very big; so big that we can never know Him fully, probably not even very well .. but we can know Him truly !! How very profound .. our God is personal!!

We see movies where the hero (or heroine) gets special powers and is able to perform amazing supernatural feats. Of course, this is all imaginary and nobody takes it seriously .. right ??

Well, we can take it seriously because Paul's prayer is answered when we are "baptised in the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 3:11)

We receive spiritual gifts of extraordinary and supernatural power.

Here is a summary of Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4:

§ "There are different kinds of gifts, of service, of working, but it is the same Spirit in all of them, and in everyone, it is the same God at work, and for the common good.

§ There are gifts of wisdom, of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, helps, leadership, evangelism, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues and ministry and teaching.

§ All these are the work of one and the same Holy Spirit, and He distributes them to each [Christian], just as He determines".

These gifts can be seen in the Christian church today. I have been involved in hundreds of workings of spiritual gifts and witnessed many hundreds more.

Trish and I went to a school of the prophetic and learned to hear what God is saying and see what He is doing .. and how to share these things .. what a great blessing this has been. We have also attended schools on healing and prayer with some outstanding results .. we see miracles!

This is supernatural power from God. The New Covenant has transformed how humanity may live on this beautiful planet.

God is love.

We know that God is love (1 John 4:16). How much is He demonstrating His love for us in His care and anointing towards us? And we also know that: "[we can be] confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6)

I thank Jesus for including me in His life and work in these days.

Yes, I have so very much to be grateful for .. Thank you Jesus ..

Amen.

Note:
CNBC says that "Studies show that taking the time to be thankful and appreciative for things you have received, tangible or intangible, makes you feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improves your health, helps you deal with adversity and builds strong relationships".

Praise Jesus.

Permalink

https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2018/08/grateful.html

Amen.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Purpose

This Purpose Was A Mystery

It is good to know that God has a purpose and that we live in a time when that purpose has been made known to humankind. Until Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2) this purpose was a mystery (1 Corinthians 2:6-7, Ephesians 1:9-10, Ephesians 3:6, Ephesians 5:31-33, Colossians 1:27, Colossians 2:2-3). But now we know that God's purpose in the Creation was three-fold. It is all to do with Jesus and bringing glory to our heavenly Father.

Firstly, our Father, the Father of the original family, wanted to give a bride to His eternal and beloved Son Jesus. We are that bride, we the Church, the "ecclesia", the gathered ones (Revelation 19:7).

We are adopted as children of Father God when we are saved and become Christian (Romans 8:16), we are part of the "new Jerusalem" (Revelation 21:2). God's purpose is that we Christians shall be Jesus' bride, His wife for eternity, and to share in His life and His work here on Earth.

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son" (Matthew 22:2).

Secondly, our lovely Lord Jesus wanted to give His Father many children, to bring them into the glory of God. Often in Scripture the word "son" or "sons" says that the person has all rights and is fully in the family's inheritance. When used like this in the New Testament the word includes daughters, not just the boys, everybody equally (Galatians 3:28), in Christ.

"For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering" (Hebrews 2:10).

Thirdly, glory: "To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Philippians 4:20). Yes. Everything is to be for our Father's glory! Hallelujah!

I was at a prayer meeting and my (long ago) theology teacher was there, I asked him if I was on track with my understanding of God's purpose .. he grinned broadly, (clearly happy with his student), and said: "Yes .. Yes .. And it is all for the Father's glory". Paul's letter to the Ephesians tells us of God's purpose, as we read, say Ephesians 1:3-12, we can catch something of Paul's excitement at being able to share the good news. (These verses are in the Favourites at the end of this post).

God's purpose flows from His character and nature. Amongst God's many attributes we know that:

• God is love (Ephesians 1:4-5, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16)

• God is spirit (John 4:24); God is the Spirit of truth (John 1:17, 16:13, 1 John 4:6)

• God is relational; God is One (Deuteronomy 6:4) yet at the same time Father, Son and Spirit.

• God is personal; although infinite and omnipotent, God deals with each one of us in a personal way (Isaiah 49:15, John 10:28). I know that I am God's child and that Jesus is my brother!

• God is holy (Psalm 99:9); "sacred, consecrated, hallowed, sanctified, divine, blessed, dedicated".

• God is omniscient; of infinite understanding (Psalm 147:4-5).

• God is immutable; He does not change in His essence - He is eternally the same - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 1:12,13:8).

As we get to know more about who God is, we can deduce that His purpose will always be good (Psalm 145:9), indeed, "very good". His purpose brought about the Creation where matter and physical life first became extant; time and history began. God created over six days then rested. Almost all the creation came into being when God said "Let there be"; and God declared it all to be "good".

Then when a vast and beautiful environment had been established, people were brought into being with the words: "Let us make humankind in our image, in our likeness .." (Genesis 1:26). Humans were to be fruitful and to rule and have dominion over all the creation; to be stewards and care for it. God considered this to be "very good" (Genesis 1:31).

"Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7 AMP); here "living being" can be translated from the Hebrew as "speaking spirit"; we humans have language and can speak.

We are the ultimate created beings; humankind. We are not part of any other "kind", like monkeys, spiders or whales. Humans are unique in the universe because each of us is created in "the image and likeness" of God. This tells us why, of all the creatures, we are spiritual beings, God is spirit (John 4:24); our spiritual life is the most important part of us. (More than 80% of the world's 7.6 billion people believe that the spiritual world is real and that humans are spiritual beings; that is, more than four out of every five people believe this). It also explains why we are so creative and also so varied; we have free will just as God does, and, in part, we can see the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). We can visualise things and then make them: art, music, books, sticky date pudding, aircraft, puffer jackets, bridges, football .. No other creatures do any of these things ..

The Creation centres on family. Family takes the shape of the God-head:

• Lord God, or Jehovah, or Adonai is Father.

• The Son, Jesus, is Son.

• Holy Spirit is the enabling power, the counselor and the helper in the Trinity (John 14:16).

They were family and are family, the original family. This is why family seems natural and desirable to us, and is the building block of every human culture in the whole world, and has been so throughout all of history.

We can get a sense of the wonder of the original Creation, and the purpose behind it, when we look at Adam and Eve before the Fall. Often when people talk about these first two humans it is to talk about the Fall and sin.

But before that terrible day they were living the life we've all been designed to live. They were in loving and intimate relationship with God and would walk and talk with Him in the garden at the end of each day. They had been given authority to rule over all the creatures, to raise a big family with lots of babies. They were to subdue the earth and look after it, "using all its vast resources in the service of God and man" (Genesis 1:28 Amplified), this would have been their work and would have been part of the "very good", (John 5:17), advancing the Kingdom of God and keeping their minds and bodies active. They were free to eat (almost) everything which grew in the beautiful garden.

They would have been so very satisfied: spiritually, emotionally and physically. They didn't even need or desire clothes. They would not have had any wants, or need to strive for anything. Just as God rested on the seventh day, Adam and Eve would have lived their lives from a place of rest (Genesis 1:26-2:3, 2:8-15).

When Adam and Eve believed Satan's deceitful (John 8:44) promise, that they could be independent of God, trouble came to the world (Isaiah 41:10): the glory and majesty of their life was taken away; work became toil, they even had to work for food; having children became painful; they became ashamed of their bodies; death came into the world; they lost a son in awful circumstances. Worst of all they lost their intimate relationship with God. Yet they continued to fulfill God's purpose, they persevered and continued in their life together, having more children and stewarding their environment. They found that love is a doing word and relationships often need conscious effort to hold together.

Now, as Christians, we see glimpses of life as it was before the Fall (Matthew 5:3-12,1 Corinthians 13:12). We are blessed as being children of God, we are included in Jesus' inheritance, we have been given great spiritual authority (Luke 10:19), and are participants in the earthly work of our lovely Abba Father God, our Saviour Jesus and our counselor and helper Holy Spirit. Each Christian, and every Christian. We are included in the inner circle.

The world may be in a mess (Acts 2:40), but we are moving forward to the glorious day when Jesus will return and dry all our tears (Revelation 21:4). We await this day in faith. Hebrews 11 shows us how to wait with joy; this chapter reminds us of many heroes who lived great and godly lives as they looked forward to "the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). They "were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth" (Hebrews 11:13).

We can emulate them, and many, many others who have gone before us; missionaries, evangelists, and teachers, pastors and youth leaders, and simple, loving, helpful Christian people who have been a unique blessing to us.

The Purpose Of Jesus' Incarnation

For many years I did not understand how Jesus fitted into God's plans and purposes. I now see that God's purpose in bringing Jesus to the Earth was two-fold and very simple:

"You know that [Jesus] appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin" (1 John 3:5).

"Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).

The Bible says "He appeared" because Jesus is God and has always been .. He called Himself "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). Forever our God had been three Persons in one God, (Elohim is a Hebrew word for God and is used throughout the Creation narrative, it is a plural word, yet does not mean "gods", this name helps us understand the Trinity): Father God, Abba, loving, generous, just, logical; and His Son, Jesus, who Scripture tells us is the great Creator (Colossians 1:15-16, Psalm 8:3), and Servant (John 5:19); and Holy Spirit who makes all things possible (John 14:16).

So, unlike us, Jesus did not begin his existence in His mother's womb at conception, (like us (Ecclesiastes 11:5 ESV)); this is all part of the miracle of His becoming human, incarnate, (in the image and likeness of Elohim). So "He appeared".

" .. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10b).

Favourite Scriptures

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment - to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:3-12).

"If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you" (John 14:15-20).

"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come'. And let the one who hears say, 'Come'. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost" (Revelation 22:17).

Amen.

Permalink

https://www.psalmsofjohn.com/2018/04/purpose.html

Amen.

Monday, March 12, 2018

Hope

Hope Is A Gift

Praise Jesus that He gives us hope! "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

After I finished high school I came to believe that I was in the most blessed generation in all of history. We were war-time and post-war babies. We had everything in front of us. The terrible devastations of World War I (1914-1918), the Great Depression (which began in 1929), and World War II (1939-1945) were past.

The powerful influences which had made the Western democracies such great places to live were being reinforced:

• Freedom of speech

• Freedom of conscience

• Freedom of association

• Freedom of religion

• Freedom to own property and businesses

• The precious value of every person

• The equality of every person, and

• The certainty that the people should always have more power and influence than governments and their officials, "the State" ..

These principles were regarded as cornerstones of our cultures, our national identities, and of our lives.

At the same time economies were coming to life after years of focus on war. New and recent inventions promised unprecedented increases in productivity and standards of living. We saw full employment. Every school leaver could choose his or her occupation and was free to pursue that field. I was able to support myself full-time at university with just my savings from working summer breaks in factories or harvest gangs. There appeared to be no limits.

We knew that there would never be another Holocaust; the lessons of recent history could never be forgotten.

But the record shows that the kinds of cruelty which were needed for the WWII Holocaust were already present before that war, and are with us still, somewhere in the world. Right through the Twentieth Century leaders of nations were ordering the killing of their own people; more that 100,000,000 died in this way. It seems that history continues to repeat itself.

And now we see reverses against our Christianity, our freedoms and our culture. 2000 years ago Jesus warned His disciples: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Despite the loveliness and power of Christian life, the spirit of the world is vigorously at work in the world as it once was in each of us: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:1-2, also see John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).

Today we see many results of the "work of the sons of disobedience" particularly in the Western democracies and the Middle East. But always we can hope when we remember that " .. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8b).

Hope Overcomes Difficulties

And we remember that "God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). Doing work with Jesus gives us testimony which helps to sustain and encourage us and build us up; we see miracles, we see people change and grow as we pray for them as we follow Jesus. "Now may the God of peace .. equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21).

I believe that I hope because I can. To me, hope is a kind of manifestation of Jesus in the world. I look up with my eyes of hope and see Jesus' hands on people and on events. Almost all the people I know are Christian; we share a Christian worldview; we look at the world through Holy Spirit filled eyes. We see love and kindness, indeed all the fruits of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22).

But Christians are now a minority in many countries where previously they shaped the laws and the culture. We are becoming a remnant; persecution is increasing. Thankfully we have clear Scripture telling us how to live, even if we are attacked or jailed. Paul's letters are so compelling because he writes with clear testimony; he does not mince words. The ministry Jesus gave to him was costly. We may talk about being an overcomer, implying that this will lead to victories and "success", but Paul seems to have overcome one great hardship just in time to be faced with the next one!

"Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this). I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?" (2 Corinthians 11:23-29).

As we read Paul's letters it becomes clear that he never lost hope, hope was an essential part of him. I'm beginning to believe that life for active, truth-speaking Christians may soon become like his ..

Bright Future

We may live as a remnant in a lost world, but, like Paul, we know where we are going, and we know who will accompany us on our journey: Jesus says "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

We are eternally safe with Jesus who saved us from death and sin; He paid the full price and justified us: "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies .. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (Romans 8:33,35).

I believe that faith, hope and love are becoming more important than food. Our identifying with Jesus is vital .. as we read accounts of persecuted Christians we see that this is true: it is those who are able to really hold fast to Jesus who will endure to the end and know the peace of the Lord:

" .. Barnabas arrived in Antioch and saw what grace (favour) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with resolute and steadfast purpose of heart" (Acts 11:22-23 Amplified).

"These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14).

"And they have conquered [the accuser, Satan], by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death" (Revelation 12:11).

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

As I approach the end of my days I am so grateful for the hope Jesus gives me. The thought of some day living with Him thrills me and keeps me vital .. I'm able to persevere and to press on because I know by faith that there is something breathtakingly wonderful up ahead. And beyond all of this; Jesus has work on the Earth for me, for each of His people, He has plans for us to share in His work among all humankind ..

"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing .." (John 14:12).

" .. the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:25-27).

In this biblical context "hope" is about a future certainty; it is not just wishful thinking. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not yet seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

How do I hope? I have faith. Abba Father, and Jesus, and Holy Spirit have all revealed themselves to me time and time again. Over these past decades they have given me hundreds, perhaps thousands of testimonies of the glorious Creation and their life and work in the Universe. Their Word says "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).

I believe that faith, hope and love belong together. Out of the mess that was my life before I was saved, Jesus has grown these qualities in me, slowly but inexorably. I now have a strong faith; for a long time it was Jesus' faith in me that kept me going. Now all those years of His patient effort are bearing much fruit. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6 NASB).

Hope Builds Heroes

Last year Trish and I were praying for Robert, the husband of one of Trish's teaching colleagues, Grace. Robert was still quite young and led a very healthy lifestyle. I began to pray when I learned that he was rapidly deteriorating from motor neuron disease, a nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function, and for which medicine has no cure.

Throughout his illness Robert and Grace prayed, they were filled with faith and the belief that Jesus heals, even today, and that He would heal Robert. They studied the Bible as it discusses healing, and attended Christian healing seminars and meetings. But his body continued to decline and he died.

Robert started to keep a diary and Grace published excerpts from it and gave them out at his funeral. Robert's diary is beautiful; it shows a man who knows his God and fully trusts Him. He was constantly seeking ways to grow in Christ, and to love more .. Here is a man filled with Jesus' hope. Robert has become one of my Christian heroes; his undying hope adds even more certainty to my own hope!

We cannot live without hope, knowing Jesus leads to hope, and hope sustains: "And what is faith? Faith gives substance to our hopes, and makes us certain of realities we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1 NEB).

Praise Jesus .. Amen.

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Great blessings.

Monday, November 27, 2017

Wildflowers

"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land" (Song of Solomon 2:12).

In late Spring Trish, my wife, and I spent a week travelling in our State's mid-west. For me this was a bucket list trip. It was the peak wildflower time ..

I've always loved the outdoors; there is a popular expression: "the great Australian outdoor way of life", and this is me, and Trish, and our children and now, their young and growing families ..

You can see why we are world famous for wild flowers here, such glory. So reflective of our generous creator God.

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As soon as the soil type changed, or even the way the land slopes towards the sun, or is able to retain the rain's moisture, the varieties change .. a constant parade of never-seen-before delicacy and beauty.

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"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" (Psalm 19:1).

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Late Winter and Spring were unusually rainy this year. This meant that those parts of our vast State where wildflowers bloom late were especially well blessed. They flourished and we rejoiced in the beauty. We stayed in Moora, Canamah, Jurien, Coomalo.

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"Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever" (Isaiah 55:13).

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Trish can only get away in school holidays so we had to wait until very late September and early October for our adventure. Where we went, this was the best time to visit this year. Such amazing variety, such awesome beauty.

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"As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes" (Psalm 103:15).

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The hundreds of species were scattered so randomly, casting seed, their babies growing together, even sharing root-space sometimes, stunning ..

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We would stop the car to check out a flower and be delighted to find ten or fifteen different kinds within a few steps. Each uniquely different. So beautiful, planted by God Himself for His own joy. Probably no-one else stopped just there all year long!

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"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands" (Isaiah 55:12).

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We had planned a driving holiday and stayed in four places. But if you knew the best spot for the time of your trip, you could easily spend a whole week in one place, just wandering around. So awesomely variable, such explosive growth.

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"Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy" (Psalm 96:12).

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These meadows and roadsides are not lush or luxuriant like rainforests. I was always aware that these millions of plants are really tough. This is low rainfall country and these lovely, and often delicate looking, plants and shrubs have to fight to establish themselves and to endure. I was just so aware that I was looking at pictures of Christian life .. Beautiful, not always easy, having to push through, to hang on, and to persevere .. But, nevertheless, a glory to Jesus!

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"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these" (Luke 12:27).

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They were scattered so randomly, casting seed, their babies growing together, even sharing root-space sometimes, stunning ..

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"My beloved is to me a cluster of henna flowers in the vineyards of En-gedi, famed for its fragrant shrubs" (Song of Solomon 1:14).

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Some were so very delicate while others seemed to be tough to survive in our sunburnt country, robust, even spiky like desert plants ..

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"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind" (John 1:1-4).

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