Living for Others.

"I have brought Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I lived before them." Rom 15:18(b)

The longer I have been a Christian, I realise more and more the importance of not living this life of faith purely for myself. We are called to be light and the only way we do this is to live our faith on the behalf of others. We are an example of a different choice of lifestyle in the world today.

Jesus summed up all the commandments into two specific ones – simply love God, love others. We certainly need the first one to fulfil the second one. Love is the more excellent way and living our lives as a Godly example to glorify God and to bring others to salvation is walking in love and not self.

The Apostle Paul was focused on living for others, becoming all things to all, so that he could have the chance to win some to Christ. There is so much at a stake. We are in a spiritual war for the souls of men and the "prince of the air" is certainly on overtime, appealing to the world through the emotions of lust and love for oneself. The only way to combat that is to show to people a love that is pure, a love that doesn't put self first, a love that is not condemning (even though we may not condone the lifestyle of today's modern living), but a love that will reach out to others in their pain.

The Apostle Paul addresses some of the issues of his day in Romans 14 & 15 regarding foods and different days of worship. How it is that we can so tend to get caught up on the little things, majoring over the minor?

"May God who give this patience and encouragement help you live in complete harmony with each other – each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other." (Rom 15:5)

Christ's attitude towards others is a very hard yet outstanding way to follow. The religious leaders were affronted at the company he kept but as He said, he came to heal the sinners not those who already thought of themselves as well. Even though Jesus hung out with this crowd, He too showed another way and in the process many came to believe on Him and follow in His footsteps. He loved them to their destiny (a quote I heard the other day) which is so true. God knows exactly where we are today and knows exactly how, by receiving His love, we can changed to be more like Jesus. What an incredible Holy God, not scared to pull us out of the muck and mire of sin.

May God enable us to love others and not be so self-centred and may we have the attitude as we go through each day to watch our behaviour for His glory, knowing that others are watching us. As Joyce Meyer says, it is no good for us to have all the different versions of the bible to read, along with all Christian books and literature and maybe even a "fish" sticker on the back of our car, yet not work the biblical principles out in our lives. This Christian walk is to be lived out in front of others to show the glory of God and His power at work in our lives. Exactly why Jesus said He is THE WAY! We too can be the way for others to follow.

Christ in us the hope of glory.

How big is Christ in you? How big is He in me? I wonder sometimes. We hear of all the most amazing miracles that still happen today, mostly in third world countries, where simple people who have remarkable faith in God believe that He will heal and therefore blind eyes are opened, the deaf hear and even the dead are raised. Yet in our "civilised" world, we don't see the same amount of people moving in the realm of healings and miracles and our vision of God is seemingly smaller. I wonder why? Is it that they, in the third world, have no other to turn to but God where as we have all our modern "miracles" in our medical world. And we have certainly gone leaps and bounds into modern medicine and research, but still some things cannot be cured.

I so long to see the days of the "Acts" of the Holy Spirit, where He powerfully moved through the apostles with all signs and wonders and diverse miracles. What happened to us? Where is the power today? And there is some school of thought that says that miracles were only for that day. I for one don't believe that, as I have been a witness to miracles, and have especially seen the miracle of salvation where a person life is turned around 180 degrees, marriages are healed, peace is given and prayers are answered.

During His powerful ministry on earth, Jesus went back to minister in His hometown and Matthew records, "Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." (Mat 13:58) I find this incredible. His fame had spread far and wide yet He was not accepted in His hometown because they had seen Him grow up and knew His folks and siblings. They only saw Him in His humanity and not in His Deity. Jesus was small in their minds, relegated to the finite realm, when He was much, much more. Scripture teaches us He was "in the beginning" and the creator of all. Is it no wonder that He could do no mighty miracle among them? I guess the same is for us. Do we relegate God to the realm of our finite minds? Or is God indeed for us, All Mighty?

Beloved, mediate on this scripture:-

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph 3:20-21

This scripture clearly says that God is ABLE, and able to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL. And how does God do this? Don't miss it – according to the power that works IN US. God works through his people. The power that is in us is the power of the Holy Spirit; that same power that rose Christ from the dead! That same power that created when the Word spoke!

Now will we believe as Jesus taught us:-

And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mar 16:17:20

I find this absolutely wonderful that God wants to work through us, that His glory would be revealed through broken vessels.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2Co 4:7

Imagine, if we could just lay hold of this principle and believe, what we could accomplish on earth in bringing great glory to God when we have learnt to release the power of the Holy Spirit by faith into situations and bring healing and release. But may ALL the glory be given to Him and may no human take it, for the power is NOT OF US but ALL OF HIM.

Those who believe will enter the rest of God.

This certainly is an interesting scripture and brings a sense that God is always calling, always wooing, always speaking and it is up to us to "will" whether or not we listen to Him, receive what He has to say or harden our hearts.

This scripture was first addressed to those in the wilderness, after God through Moses, delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, with a display of His mighty hand. Yet, even though God wanted to draw near to His people, they wanted Moses to be the one to speak to God and relate to them what He had to say. God wanted them to enter into His rest, not to be worried about anything, but to trust in Him as He led them to the Promised Land. But the people complained and even ended up worshipping the golden calf (a by product of idol gods of Egypt). Their trust in God, flew out the tent door, in their wandering through the wilderness. A trip that took 11 days ended up 40 years later with a new generation of young people who were willing to believe that what God had spoken to them, God would bring to pass.

In whom do you trust? Yourself or God! Are you trusting in your own effort and are left without peace and rest. As the psalmist declared:-

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Psa 20:7

God's promises to us are useless unless we mix them with our faith and also declare with confidence:-

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psa 18:2

As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. Psa 18:30

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." Psa 31:14

God is proven. His faithfulness is and has been demonstrated in the lives of countless millions throughout the decades, through those who take God's Word as accurate reality and are obedient to what they hear. They do enter His rest and live in peace.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds throughChrist Jesus." (Php 4:7)

When we can give all over to God, fully trusting Him, and not strive, strive and strive, God will work things out for our good. It is so wonderful to live in His rest.

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Psa 37:5

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psa 9:10

Who is Jesus, really?

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Joh 1:29

There seems to be such confusion over what truth is in this hour and I think that this is a result of the whirlpool mix of various religions, humanistic and atheistic world views. People seem to relegate Jesus as a good teacher along with Buddha or Muhammad. Was Jesus just a "good" teacher, or was He more than this? As Christians, we know that Jesus was more than a "good" teacher. We know that He is fully God and fully man.

One of the biggest lies we hear is that everyone will go to heaven because man is basically good. How I wish this were so, but Jesus emphatically stressed:

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Joh 14:6

The truth of this statement, in our "scared to bring any offence" world, stands out in stark severity especially when coupled with the only alternative outcome after death. Heaven or hell?

I have one question to pose. If Jesus died for us, why would He lie to us?

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ........ "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." Joh 10:14-15,17-18

With His love compelling Him, Jesus willingly left heaven to come, the Creator as the created, to identify with humanity and offer His life on that cross for the forgiveness of our sins. He needed to do this for us, because the standard of righteousness in our Holy Father is too high for any of us to attain and gain entry into heaven. We will even be judged on our thought life and the attitudes of the heart. Jesus warned that the "road to destruction is broad, but the road that leads to life is narrow." (Matt 7:13) The gift of the cross brought us redemption, and there is nothing we can do for salvation, it is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord, so no man can boast. (Eph 2:8) What we could not do for ourselves, God did for us and all we have to do is accept this gift of eternal life.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: Joh 1:12

Yes, the alternative, eternal judgement is too horrible to contemplate but Christ has done everything in His power, laying down His life for us, that we can chose to believe in His substitutory sacrifice and be given the power to be called children of God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Rom 8:14

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26

Let us behold Him. He is the key to eternal life. The door into heaven. He is Jesus, Saviour, Lord and the lover of our souls. He is the Word of truth. Behold the Lamb of God.

The Secret Place

'THESE PEOPLE DRAW NEAR TO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. AND IN VAIN THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.' " Mat 15:8-9

We have a precious promise in scripture that if we draw near to God He will draw near to us. Jesus warned that the religious leaders in His day, drew near with their mouth and honoured with their lips but their hearts were far from Him. He went on to say that their worship was in vain. God calls us to worship Him and we certainly don't want to do it in vain, but we want to come and worship in the secret place.

It is the place where we come and meet with God. It is a secret place because it speaks of the intimacy between God and you. A place where no one else can come because it is a personal meeting place alone with God. A Yours-and-His time! Your heart entwines with His and His desires are transferred to you. It's the place where you surrender your will in His presence and sacrifice your "Isaac" before His throne. Everyone can have a secret place with God, that is, if you make the time to meet with Him.

Before Christ, only the High Priest could come into the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwelt, to minister to the Lord. But since Christ's death, when the curtain blocking the approach to the Holy of Holies was torn, the way was opened for us to come to present ourselves to God, to worship, listen and speak to God about all the things we have in our heart.

It is a place where there is transparency and where those things that don't please God can come to the light in a safe environment where there is no condemnation. A place of illumination, where we see our sins in the light of His Glory and where we receive His full grace, mercy and forgiveness. A place where it feels as though we have touched heaven as we sense and feel the majesty of God as He draws near to us.

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Mat 6:6

We find so many promises for those who enter and dwell in the secret place. Protection, promotion, answers to troubling questions but best of all, His presence and a taste of His Glory.

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. Psa 27:5

You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues. Psa 31:20

You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; Psa 81:7

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psa 91:1

Have you found the secret place with God? God is calling us to enter in and sit before His feet and respond to His Love. Let our heart song be the same as David when he wrote:-

One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. Psa 27:4

Grace, and grace upon grace

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. Psa 103:10

How our praise should rise to God in thankfulness and gratitude forHe does not count our sins against us. If He did how could we stand? God is so merciful to us and so gracious a Father that we are not consumed by His anger.

I shudder sometimes when I think how I can take the grace of God for granted. We somehow seem to think that once we have been saved and walked with God for a long while we're doing okay. How often do we stop to think about the things we actually think? The other day, I was walking along the beach and some thoughts arose about the way a fairly large person was dressed, and I was about to retort to Sam, when the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit began to convict me.

When I think about the unkind thoughts I've had, mostly about strangers in a critical way, and the words I've spoken, the attitudes of my heart, drawing away from those who don't come up to my expectation, impatience, not helping others when I've had the ability to and a host of myriad things, I realise that I need to come up higher in my love-walk. I need to be aware of what I think and what I say for this will surely show me what is in my heart.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. Psa 103:11 -13

God is Holy. Holy and yet He pours out His grace upon us, forgiving us for all our wrong doing all because of what Jesus Christ has done for us.

For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Rom 5:17

Wow what grace! Wow what LOVE! The cross of Christ was the greatest swap made on our behalf, and our biggest plus all because of grace, truth and love.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2Co 5:21) and, for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (2Co 8:9)

What a swap. His righteousness for our unrighteousness, His riches for our poverty "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." (Joh 1:16)

Yes, grace upon grace, God pours down on us, praise to His Holy name. Powerful Redemption through Christ gives us all the reasons and more to make our hearts dance and our mouths sing with joy to the glorious Father and His Son, our Saviour. Thank you Father for the grace you pour out upon us. Help us never to take it for granted and help us extend it in your Son's name Jesus we pray.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psa 84:11)

Dressed for best.

Getting ready for church this morning, a question arose in my heart that we dress to go to church but do we dress our hearts before we come before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

What should we "put on" before we come to church? What are we carrying in our hearts? Do we come with an attitude of quite surrender to God, a gentle humility toward our brothers and sisters in the faith? Do we come to receive the Word of God with all meekness? Do we come with the attitude to minister to our God or are we coming for what He and others can give to us? Are we bringing the "attitude of gratitude" to the One who gave His all for us, or are we coming with a critical spirit for the things we lack in life?

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:12-16

I love going to church and always go with the expectation that I am going to meet with Father and He

always touches me and I often leave feeling refreshed, lightened and challenged. Do I always leave

with a dressed heart though? I wish I could tell you I do, after being in the presence of my Lord, but it is

amazing how often some small annoyance seems to come along (generally arising out of relationship

with someone close) and a sharp retort can come spewing out and the truth flies out of my heart. I am

learning to wise-up though and "put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to

fulfill its lusts." (Rom 13:14)

The Word tells us that we should "put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph 4:24) Definitely a challenge but if God commands us to do it, then He has made the provision for us to attempt to do so and part of that is to renew our minds with the water and the washing of the Word. His Word is a mirror that will reflect back to us the wrong attitudes in our heart so that we can repent and ask for His help in time of need. We need to learn to walk in the newness of life through the power of the Holy Spirit, in all humility, leaning on Him to help us. Amen?