Will it ever Stop?

My last few posts have dealt with my firm belief  that a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ can heal people from addictions, deliver from the bondage of sin, and lift people out of that curse, depression.

New Zealand, where I write from, is among the worst nations in the world statistically for suicide, particularly among teens. To visit N.Z. one wouldn’t think anyone could be depressed in this most beautiful of countries. Reasonably affluent, multi-racial with little racial animosity, educational opportunities for most everyone, and a social security system that supports those who fall through the cracks, along with any number of sporting and social past-times and associated activities to keep one physically occupied and mentally challenged, the statistics are difficult to comprehend.

Except for one thing. N.Z. is also one of the most secular countries in the world. All the above institutions, activities and past-times are limited in their effectiveness  if devoid of that one attribute that comes only from God. Love.

My daughter, who is in her late twenties, visited her neighbour just last night to discover to her horror that he had taken his own life. How utterly sad. Another statistic, but more than that. Another  precious life wasted.

So again my friends, I cannot emphasise enough, Jesus does love you. With a passion! And He is waiting, knocking at the door of your heart, desperate for you to let Him in and start His work of healing, loving, and giving you His power to live secure, peaceful, joyous, productive purposeful lives. Invite Him in today.

May God bless you all.

So what’s so Good about the Good News?

Good news is always welcome in a world that is awash with the depressing , the sad, the shocking, the catastrophic. Many news channels leave special items that can be classified as ‘good news’ for the final segment of the broadcast, just after the weather. Having been bombarded with the gloomy reports earlier, it is always something of a relief to see something lighter, refreshing, or amusing. Such a scenario is a telling indictment on the state of the world. The world we live in today is not a happy place, and the media, whether it be television, radio, or the press, is a constant testimony and reminder that we are surrounded on every side by unrelenting horror stories bringing disease, death, and destruction to both the innocent and not so innocent alike. It is a fact that we have seen so much bad news that we have become so inured by it that it takes major disasters to genuinely move most people to any semblance of emotional empathy with the suffering and dying.  ‘Lesser’ forms of bad news are now so common that we have become quite blasé; the story of the Good Samaritan may have made the final segment, but the violent assault on the wayfarer would have barely rated a mention.

Which brings me to a particularly notable story that deserves to have its own segment on every news broadcast every day.

Godly Patience

Biblical patience is far far deeper and more profound than the modern understanding of the concept. Yes, there is of course , as Strongs would indicate, the idea of waiting constantly and quietly without complaint. But look at the following scriptures. 

Hebrews 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Paul was writing here to the Hebrews; how much they were indeed following the path previously trod by their Saviour!!! Think of how so much of the above could have been written of Jesus Himself.

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Romans 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

2 Cor 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Re 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

As can be seen from the above verses, patience is nearly in all cases when it is mentioned at all, to be associated with affliction, anguish, trial and persecution. It is almost synonymous with suffering.

The Ten Commandments: too tough?

Inherent in the Ten Commandments is the gospel. The first commandment has been edited by most but if we read the entire passage of scripture, we can readily see that God is not commanding us to do the impossible. The Ten Commandments begin:
Exodus 20:2 ” I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.You shall have no other gods before Me.”

In this small portion of the scripture is found the key to understanding our relationship to God’s laws, and how to find the power to obey them. Here is the gospel.
You may be thinking, “Hey, that first part isn’t a part of the law, because it doesn’t tell us something we must do or not do! Instead, it tells us of something God has done!!!”
Yes, exactly! And that’s the point. The entire Ten Commandments start with something God has done, and not with something we must do.

Harmony of the Trinitarian God

Isn’t there such a wonderful harmony in the way God portrays Himself to us, and what He expects of us.
Jesus came to bear witness of the Father.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

God’s glory is the divine light that surrounds Him, but that light’s source is God’s character. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God revealed to Moses His character, and declared to Moses His name. “The Lord God, gracious and merciful, longsuffering, and full of goodness and truth….” (Exodus 34:6) Jesus came to declare that glory to man.

John 12:44 ¶  Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45  And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me...

...49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
John 17:6 ¶ I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Jesus came to glorify the Father. He did that by doing the works of the Father. The Father’s character was perfectly expressed through His Son. Jesus came to reveal God’s character to a race that had lost any true idea of what God was like, and Who He was. Lost in a maze of idolatry and pagan superstition, the world by and large placed upon their gods the attributes of men and women, and more importantly, fallen sinful wicked men and women. And the  immoral violent selfish pleasure loving gods were mere reflections of the characters of their creators. And even the Caesars who demanded the worship and fidelity of their subjects were no better. Man had no-one to look up to, no-one  who they could aspire to or emulate that could lift them above the sin-sick rotten culture that permeated the world of the Roman Empire. Until Jesus. Jesus came to correct the deceptions and lies that Satan had beguiled the world with and expose him for the fraud and murderer he was. Jesus came to proclaim that God is love. Jesus came to proclaim that God is not the wrathful vengeful god that the Romans had painted of their myriad false idols, nor was God the immoral profligate hedonist that the Greeks had drawn. The God of the Jews was holy. He was just. But most of all, He was love. Jesus declared that love, He showed that love, and He demonstrated that love everywhere to everyone. Jesus whole delight was to do His Father’s will, to keep His commandments, and to reveal to the world His Father’s true nature. To reveal how God really felt toward man, even in his fallen condition. Jesus demonstrated His own selflessness  and His own love for us and the Father by refusing even to death, to promote Himself in any way, to act in any way that glorified or exalted Himself. His whole mission and life call was to glorify the Father.

The Holy Spirit in turn comes to glorify and testify of Jesus.

John 16:7 ¶  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9  Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10  Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

As Jesus spoke the words of the Father, the Holy Spirit reminds us of the words of Jesus.

John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father‘s commandments, and abide in his love.

It was by keeping God’s commandments that Jesus glorified the Father. His love for man gave glory to God.

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

We glorify God also through our character. It is the image of Jesus being shown in us through the fruit of the Spirit that the Father is glorified. It is by our obedience to the commandments of God, by our love for Him and each other, that God is glorified.

So Jesus’ selfless expression of love glorified the Father.
The Holy Spirit’s selfless expression of love continues to glorify the Father, through Jesus.
Our selfless expression of love through the power of the Holy Spirit glorifies all three. There is absolutely no selfishness in God, and His Spirit and power in us transforms us into the same image from glory to glory. (2 Cor. 3:18) This is the essence and foundation of God’s government in the universe. And Jesus died for the sole purpose of restoring selfish and sinful mankind back to the place where he once was. Free from the dominion of sin, free to once again worship selflessly and love as He loved, free to glorify God. In Revelation 14:6 we can read the final message of the gospel to be preached immediately prior to the second coming. “Fear God and give glory to Him…” And in verse 12, we see that the people who preach this message are noted for keeping the commandments. Just like Jesus. They bear His image, the Holy Spirit has so sanctified them, that even their faith is the same faith as Jesus. In a nutshell, that is the purpose of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. To lead us to Jesus that He may give to us freely of His divine nature and become joint-heirs to the kingdom of God as adopted children with equal rights and privileges as the only Son. What grace! What love!!!

Taking up our Cross

Matthew 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

What does Jesus mean by this, that we are to take up our own crosses, and follow Him? What did it mean for Jesus to take up His cross ? What was the motivating power behind Jesus life and death?

Love. What is the essential and intrinsic nature and characteristic of love? The world today is immensely confused over the meaning of love. That half the marriages celebrated today (including within the church) end up in divorce bears testimony to this confusion. The fact that an institution supposedly based on love has a 50% chance of ending up in acrimony, bitterness and estrangement shows clearly that the ‘love’ for a great many of those marrying couples was temporary, conditional, and limited in it’s enduring quality and considering the glittering career today of marriage counselors I would suggest the quality of marriage leaves much to be desired also.

The Nature of Love.

There was a story told me long ago, which I have no reason to believe false, of twins, who shared a room in San Francisco in the early 1900’s. They had emigrated from China, and were making their way in the new world. One evening, one of the brothers was returning home and got involved in a fight. Knives were drawn and the ensuing battle ended with the brother running from the scene, soaked in blood, and leaving behind the body of his assailant lying in the street. Panic stricken, and knowing that the law would soon be in pursuit, he dashed home, cleaned himself up, stashed the bloody clothes in the corner of the closet and fled town.
Later,  his twin came home from work and after his evening supper, went to bed. It was not long however before a loud knock on the door disturbed him. Opening the door to the police he innocently ushered them inside, and after a quick search of the room and finding the incriminating evidence in the closet, the police had no hesitation in making an arrest.

If you can’t see His hand…..

…and we don’t know His plan, trust His heart.”
These are the some of the words from one of my favourite songs. My brothers and sisters in Christ, if only we knew how much God loves us. If only we understood how deeply committed God is to our well being. If only we appreciated the pain that God endured when He gave His only Son to the human race that we might live. The pain and anguish God suffered when Jesus cried those mournful words “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” A pain never before experienced by the heart of God, and yet felt every time when just one member of His beloved creation turns away from Him. A pain and anguish He feels when He knows that His offer of mercy and grace has been spurned for the last time, and He reluctantly withdraws His Holy Spirit from that one’s life. Yet conversely, the total joy and excitement in heaven by the Father, His Son, and all the angels at the acceptance of Jesus by just one repentant sinner. If we understood just a fraction of the depth and extent of God’s love, we would not doubt His guiding hand, we would not fear tomorrow, we would trust His love and surrender to Him utterly.
We can do that my friends. Though we cannot see what tomorrow may bring, especially in these last days, though we do not know the end from the beginning, we can be assured that God does. He sees all the pitfalls and swamps and mountains ahead of us, and will guide us accordingly. He has already made provision for every contingency. Nothing takes Him by surprise, there is not one thing that can happen to us for which He is not prepared. He loves us. He loves us! He loves us! God loves us!!! With a passion !!!! He is head over heels in love with you!!! Trust in that love. Hope in that love. Believe in that love. Rest in that love.
Though you may not understand everything that God does, though you may not understand anything else regarding the nature of God, if you can know His love, then you know Him. “And this is life eternal, if ye know God, and Jesus Christ Whom He has sent”. God is love. Immerse yourself in His love. Immerse yourself in Him. He is to be trusted with your life. Surrender all to Him, and know the joy and peace He brings.
And if anyone has difficulty in their present circumstance grasping the depth of the love of God, look to the cross. Look to the life and death of Jesus. God’s love personified, exemplified and magnified by His Son. Like Father like Son. Jesus did not die to convince the Father to love you. Jesus died because the Father loves you.
“If you cant see His hand, and you don’t know His plan, trust His heart…. “