Monthly Archives: September 2023

THE BOUNTY OF GRACE

Christian Life, ,

THE BOUNTY OF GRACE


David’s much-loved song, Psalm 23, is a beautiful picture of our journey with Jesus, our Shepherd, through life from spiritual infancy to our eternal destination in glory.

Like the care a mother gives to her newborn baby, God cares for and nurtures us through the early days of our walk Him. “Green pastures” and “quiet waters” are what we need as young children when we are surrounded by a hostile world. We need both protection and nourishment to guide us through the season of our initiation into this new way.

Our old nature is ever present to lure us back into our old ways, but so is the new nature, powerfully working in us by the Holy Spirit to establish our hearts in union with Jesus. Our Shepherd is beside us, guiding and goading us into the ways of doing what pleases God.

“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:12-13 NLT

Then comes the season of discipline and testing. Halcyon days, when nothing seems to go wrong, turn into harassing days when nothing seems to go right. What has happened? Is God mad at me? Has He left me? What have I done to lose His presence and His peace? How can I get back to that smooth and unruffled life I had at the beginning?

No, God has not left me. He has not abandoned me to my own devices because I failed/sinned myself out of grace. A new season has begun. Like the maturing process of a teenager, when discipline and training are intensified, so a loving Father begins to hone His child into a true son.

“The valley of the shadow of death” is never a pleasant experience. It’s dark… like a tunnel that seems to have no end. It’s dangerous. The path is narrow and slippery, and I have only the Shepherd’s rod of correction and His crook of protection to keep me on the path lest I fall down the precipice of fear and unbelief.

Finally, after weeks… months… perhaps years of struggle and pain, falling and getting up, standing, only to fall again. the lessons of teenage inexperience… trial and error, stubborn resistance, and rebellion… and the Father’s inexhaustible patience, begin to pay off.

I emerge from the dark valley, accompanied by my Shepherd, into the bright sunlight of a tableland of unimaginable blessing. Ahead, a table groaning with the evidence of God’s favour and goodness beckons me. He invites me to sit down and enjoy the benefits of the salvation He paid so dearly to give, freely, to me.

“What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.”
Psalms 116:12-14 NIV

Fortified by this bounty, and daily drinking from the fountain of His goodness, my cup of blessing overflows without ceasing, into the lives of others.

I live in the assurance that my destination is God Himself. His house will be my eternal home if I remain on the path, Jesus… the Way, the Truth, and the Life… who takes me to the Father.

PRAYING AGAINST…

Apologetics, ,

PRAYING AGAINST…

Beloved fellow-believers, I am compelled to write to you about an ongoing issue that troubles me greatly.

I recently attended the reunion tea of a fellowship group that hasn’t met since Covid. During conversation, one of the ladies was enthusing about a “powerful prayer” that was being circulated by a “prayer warrior”. The prayer was apparently against a certain political figure who is currently making waves in South Africa.

The content of her enthusiasm disturbed me for many reasons. Let me, therefore, explain my objection to the motive of this prayer even if I have not received or read the prayer.

1. Nowhere in Scripture is there any example of “praying against” a person or situation in the history of Israel or the church, no matter how bad things became. Habukkuk is a fine example of someone who had such an opportunity, since God revealed to him what Babylon was going to do to his people. Instead, Habukkuk prayed a prayer of trust and confidence in God, no matter what happened.

“I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster strikes the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights….”
Habakkuk 3:16-19 NLT

Equally, in the New Testament, its writers encouraged God’s people to submit gladly to their hardships and suffering because God was working His character in them and supplying His grace to endure with joy. There was never any “praying against” the Emperor or the Roman government, regardless of severe persecution. Rather, believers were encouraged to submit to the governing authorities unless they were commanded to do what was contrary to God’s Word or will.

2. Scripture adamantly declares God’s rule over the nations, His power, wisdom, sovereignty, and will in all His dealings with people and nations. There are numerous references to His authority in all things. I can only quote a few.

Pharaoh…
“For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”
Romans 9:17 NLT

Nebuchadnezzar…
“But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’
Daniel 4:28-32 NLT

The rulers of the nations…
“Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
Psalms 2:1-6 NLT

The wicked…
“The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.”
Proverbs 16:4 NLT

“God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked. When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm….. “I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists! Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with such arrogance.’” For no one on earth—from east or west, or even from the wilderness— should raise a defiant fist. It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall. For the Lord holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs.
Psalms 75:2-8 NLT

God has appointed His own authority to rule over the nations.

“For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”
Psalms 2:6-9 NLT

Paul assures us that God is in charge.

“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…”
Ephesians 1:11 NIV

These are only a few of the verses that assure us that God’s power, wisdom, sovereignty, and will are unassailable.

2. To “pray against” people or situations that happen to offend us is unbiblical, and a denial of the Lordship and sovereignty, wisdom, and power of Jesus. He earned the right to rule over all things through His obedience to the Father’s will. God has exalted Him to the highest place, far above all principalities and powers.

“… 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, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”
Ephesians 1:19-23 NIV

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1 Corinthians 15:22-25 NIV

God works in all things for the good of His people. His church is His focus not the world. He uses the world to hone our faith and character so that we will resemble His Son.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
Romans 8:28-29 NLT

3. There is no such office or authority in the church as a “prayer warrior” in Scripture. This is a man-made office and an imposition upon the Word which is unauthorised and unacceptable to God. No one has the right to add, practise, or teach what is not in Scripture. There are severe warnings for those who do this.

“Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.”
Deuteronomy 4:2 NLT

“And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.”
Revelation 22:18-19 NLT

On the contrary, the Bible teaches us that…
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16 NIV

Since our righteousness is a gift from God, all who believe in Jesus are righteous in Him. Therefore, every true believer’s prayers are powerful and effective if they are according to God’s will.

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”
1 John 5:14-15 NLT

We have a Helper…

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”
Romans 8:26-27 NLT

Let no one deceive us into believing that one person’s prayers are more powerful and effective than another’s.

There may be other reasons for us not to participate in these unbiblical practices. I have highlighted only three which should be enough to help us not to be guided by our emotions or by the deception of false teachers. Jesus warned us to be on guard constantly because the deceivers can be very convincing. We have the Scriptures to guard and guide us. Let us be faithful to God’s word.

ONE THING

Christian Life, ,

ONE THING


“One thing” What is the one thing that drives your life?

For many of us, there are things that push us from behind, for example, the past – being stuck in the disadvantages and disabilities of our past which paralyse us and rob us of any progress towards our goal – or pull us from the front – the future with its unfulfilled hopes and dreams.

For others, the driving force is, for example, money, fame, education, success, achievements, or even family, etc. We work hard to fulfil our desires. We sometimes neglect the best to achieve what we think will satisfy us. Sadly, although these “many things” may satisfy us for a while, they are all temporal and transient, destined to vanish when we leave this earth.

Three people in the Bible abandoned the “many things” for “one thing”, giving their attention to their eternal future.

David’s passion was to enjoy the Lord’s presence and to gaze at His glory.

“The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.”
Psalms 27:4 NLT

Is not this “gazing”, contemplating the Lord’s glory the very thing we are to give ourselves to that transforms our lives into that same glory?

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV

Mary disregarded the protocol that disallowed her presence among men when Jesus was teaching His disciples in her home. She sat at His feet, mesmerised by His words, even ignoring her place in the kitchen where Martha was preparing the meal.

Instead of rebuking her for unacceptable behaviour, Jesus commended her for “one thing”.

“Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:39-42 NLT

Mary chose the “one thing” that would change her life forever. She listened to Jesus.

“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
John 14:21 NLT

Paul, in prison once again for preaching Jesus in a hostile world, affirmed his commitment to “one thing”. Having once been at the pinnacle of his religious career as a Pharisees, he abandoned everything he had achieved… birth, upbringing, training, and religious fervour, for the ultimate prize that beckoned him heavenward.

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
Philippians 3:12-14 NLT

What was the prize that tantalised and honed all Paul’s ambitions into “one thing”?

… “that perfection for which Christ first possessed me”.

When we contemplate the one thing that these three people had in common, it becomes clear that they…

1. Answered the divine call.

“My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
Psalms 27:8 NLT

“Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught…. There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:39, 42 NLT

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
Philippians 3:14 NLT

2. Longed for perfection

David, by gazing…
Mary, by listening…
Paul, by persevering…

3. Chose the “one thing”

They made the deliberate choice to pursue one thing above everything else in life, regardless of the many things that took their attention. In the “all things”, they focused on one thing and made everything they did serve that “one thing”.

Everything that Jesus did as a man on earth was to serve His “one thing”, the cross, that the cross would achieve the Father’s purpose.

“In bringing many sons… to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.”
Hebrews 2:10 NIV

What is the one thing that commands my attention above all else? Is it an earthly and material consideration or is it that heavenly perfection which Jesus paid for with His life to achieve?

God’s passion and purpose is a forever family of “sons” who are mirror images of Jesus. To achieve His purpose, He sets us the task of cooperating with Him, through the Holy Spirit, to reach His goal.

“… Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:12-13 NLT

“… Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.”
Philippians 2:12-13 NIV

Everything else in life falls into place when we set our sights on this “one thing”.


NO LONGER AN ORPHAN

Christian Life, ,

NO LONGER AN ORPHAN


The world is an orphanage!  That’s true.

Have you ever considered the impact of Jesus’ words…

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you… No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
John 14:15-16, 18 NLT

When the Holy Spirit left Adam on the day that he chose to go his way, he became an orphan and so did every person born into the world since Adam. What a tragedy!

There are biological fathers aplenty. In today’s promiscuous world, men breed children by the thousands and leave them to grow up fatherless with no name, no identity, no security, and no heritage to pass on to their offspring.

In this climate of anchorless people, Jesus’ promise must have a powerful meaning in our lives. Only those, whether they have or had human fathers in their lives or not, have a perfect Father when they become children of God through faith in Jesus.

Jesus promised a permanent place in His family. He gave us a permanent, indwelling representative of Himself and the Father, His Spirit, to affirm and assure us of His love and to guide, protect, and provide for us throughout life’s journey.

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.”
Romans 8:15-16 NLT

Get hold of that! If you believe in Jesus, you are no longer an orphan. You have a Father who loves you passionately, knows you intimately, cares for you tenderly, and protects your fiercely. What more do you need?

“Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.”
Psalms 37:18-19 NLT

PRAYER
Thank you, Father God, for the reassurance that you are the only and true father that I need.

I know that my own father failed to be perfect because he is part of fallen humans. I forgive him for all his shortcomings, however they affected me. I release him from the debt he owes me.

I acknowledge that my debt to you is far greater. Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your great gift of salvation, and for the grace you supply to help me in all my weakness.

Thank you for Jesus who came to reveal to the world and to me what a great Father you are.

Please help me, Father, my Abba, to live every day in the knowledge that you are my real father, and that you are Yahweh, everything you say you are. I am not an orphan! I am your beloved child.

MOLLY AND ME – NEVER APART AGAIN

Christian Life, ,

MOLLY AND ME – NEVER APART AGAIN

I’ve recently returned from a five-day visit to my family in Johannesburg. Just as much as it was a blessing to be with them and to meet my six-week-old great granddaughter, it was severely traumatic for Molly.

I told her many times that I would be away for five days. Unfortunately, our level of understanding didn’t accommodate such intricate information. Instead, as when my friend and I make our short trip to buy our Sunday roast, she expected my return within an hour.

For five days, I was missing. She did not know where I was, and she could not find me. She lived through those days, tenderly cared for by a loving substitute mother, in the company of her best furry friends but, at the same time, so alone.

Then the moment came when she heard my voice…

Molly hailed my return with ecstatic joy. Her wriggling dachshund body and violently-wagging tail told me that she was delighted to have me home. She could not have told me more visibly that she was pleased to see me.

I assured my little dog that I would never leave again!

Before His departure via the cross, Jesus told His disciples that He was going away. Unlike Molly, they understood the ominous words He spoke but, at the same time, they had no idea what He meant by “going away” or where He was going.

“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?… And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
John 14:2, 4-5 NLT

We are also, like Molly waiting for our Beloved’s return. We sometimes feel lonely and abandoned. We are busy with His work but feel the pain of His absence and, yet…

Unlike my absence from Molly, Jesus is with us always and even more. By His Spirit, He is in us. We cannot feel or hear Him, but He speaks in ways we can understand. His love and peace steady us in life’s storms. His Word guides in the darkness. His presence surrounds and protects us in a dangerous world.

Molly needed to see me and hear me to know I was here. We know the presence of Jesus by faith in His promises. He said He was going away but, He also promised us a representative exactly like Himself to be with us forever.

Do you know His presence? Take heart. He is Yahweh Shamma… The God who is there!

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20 NLT