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Giftedness and Guileness


Recently a friend was talking about his ministry in the worship team. A professional highly skilled musician, he delights to please God when playing at church services. 
He’s aware that his music knowledge, flowing with the team and his beautiful playing will bless church attendees and set the platform for speakers at each service. But his priority is that his musical skill and anointed God-given giftedness will firstly honour and please his Lord. His greatest desire is that God alone gets the glory.
Very quietly, and meaningfully, he shared this: ‘God spoke to my heart and reminded me how precious this gift is. That ownership is his, not mine, that I must never abuse it in any way. I’m aware my playing touches peoples’ hearts and souls but I would never exploit this God-given ministry gift.’
Our hearts were touched by his insight and wisdom in accepting God’s direction. It was obvious he knew that what is from God, is God’s alone and should be dedicated to him.
God is a giver
God is the giver of good gifts to his children (Matt. 7:11). Salvation through Christ’s finished Calvary work is, of course, the greatest gift anyone can accept. 
But God also delights to generously give us many gifts to enjoy as we journey through life. A good local church is one such gift, where we can be encouraged, cared for, prayed for, and blessed.
And if led to serve in that local church and allow a ministry to develop, God desires to provide giftedness equal to that ministry. Many have natural gifts from birth that develop in growing into adulthood. Then there are other skills we pick up as time goes by.
But no matter how our talent comes about, if we want to ensure God is honoured in our ministry, we’ll desire the Holy Spirit’s rich anointing on whatever gift we have. Then their usage will bless others and please God. We will also guard that giftedness and use it primarily for his glory. 
If it so happens we receive some blessing in the process, financial or a gift, such as a ministerial stipend or ministry support gift, this is acceptable. But an incident of finance-over-giftedness shared with me recently is unsettling. A little background…
Gullible Christians
It’s an oft-quoted comment that Christians without balanced Bible knowledge, who don’t understand scripture and don’t look to sound leadership, are gullible. They fall for new scams and wrong doctrines that come along. 
Even this year certain ‘so-called Bible teachers’ and ‘big name prophets’ predicted with seeming absolute certainty that Australia will soon be finished, that the world would end earlier this year. The latest ‘prophecy’ is that Jesus will return in 2017!

Erroneous date-quoting about the end of the world and Christ’s return we can handle when we recall Jesus himself said that no one knows, only the Father (Mark 13:32. See also our January blog The Real The End?)
It’s other deceitful things creeping into churches and befuddling Christians who don’t know their Bibles, getting them spiritually conned, that concern me. Especially where unwise ministers aren’t protecting their people, particularly their young people!
Unwise wandering
Recently one minister shared this with me. He’d discovered that some of his young people had gone to ‘another church’ to hear a ‘great visiting overseas prophet who spoke seemingly accurate prophecies.’
To his horror he learned this ‘prophet’ was demanding money from Christians for prophetic words. Because his giftedness was a blessing he would demand finance and was obtaining email addresses. Then he emailed unsuspecting, gullible followers who yearned to hear his ‘gift from God’ and tell them to stand in the prayer line and give him $200 for a prophecy!
This is nothing new – abusing spiritual giftedness, wrong teachings and deceptions re-arise every so often. And some people never learn. So many Christians over many years have wandered around different churches and after ministries to hear prophetic words that will tickle their ears. They’ve been called ‘spiritual gypsies.’
We’re glad to write that even though they’re young in their faith, this minister’s youth knew instantly that something wasn’t right and refused to go back. They chose to be spiritual mini-shepherds and warned friends.
Warnings
Pastors are called to be guardians of their flocks. Paul’s 2 Timothy 4:2-4 end days warning to young Timothy regarding people who would run around needs to be noted by every churchgoer, not just ministers: ‘Proclaim the message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple. You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food – catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages.’
Jesus warned: ‘False prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect’ (Mat. 24:24).
Yes, we should expect the supernatural in our churches. In fact Jesus commanded his first disciples to ‘Heal those who are sick. Bring those who are dead back to life. Make those who have skin diseases “clean” again. Drive out demons’ (Matt. 10:8).
But he carefully warned (v9), ‘You have received freely, so give freely’ and then made it clear that such Spirit-filled ministries are to be carefree regarding finance: ‘Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.’ 
Biblical principles
• Church shepherds need to wisely guard their flock, especially their unsuspecting young people. Christians need to know what scripture teaches
• Even if prophecies appear accurate, the character of the ministry may be open to question.  In ministry, finance is not the name of the game
• Pleasing God must be foremost, followed by blessing his people
• Elisha was a prophet who refused to accept finance to move in the miraculous (2 Kings 5:16). God was not pleased with Elisha’s servant who sneaked away and lied to get such rewards (v27)
Elisha’s challenge to Gehazi is very relevant to everyone: ‘Tell me, is this a time to look after yourself, lining your pockets with gifts?’ This prophet – and God – considered finance-hunting an abuse.
One’s attitude should be like our friend’s awareness of his musical gift. We should want to ‘freely give’ as we’ve received and ensure that God alone is glorified. That we are so careful how we handle our God-given giftedness.  
 

Seasons

Solomon, regarded as the wisest of all people, put it so well when he wrote about seasons in Ecclesiastes 3:1 ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.’

 
Then, in following verses, he lists many things that have a season in God’s timing. The word season indicates ‘a fixed time or an appointment’ and the Message Bible puts verse one this way: ‘There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time…’

Opportune times?
Feeling that God has been endeavouring to speak to your heart regarding an opportune time – about moving into something new that you’re not quite clear on? You’re not alone!

As we’ve ministered in different churches this year we’ve casually mentioned that something was in the air, that the Lord was seeking to do something new with those with open hearts and were willing to move on. That it was difficult to put a finger on it all, but that things would become clearer toward year-end. That it is all a matter of trusting God and being open to whatever he had destined for us

Some listeners agreed, saying ‘I’ve been feeling that in my heart.’ Others, over cautious, remained content with the status quo. But we’ve heard of many moving willingly into positions of responsibility as God has provided opportunity to serve him more deeply.

And recently we’ve heard of those in ministry who’ve been aware that God is opening new doors for them and have willingly accepted the challenge to move on, even resigning from secure positions, yet not knowing exactly how everything is going to work out.

It speaks of steps of faith, trust and an awareness of God’s timing. 

Trusting God in everything
There are indeed times when the Lord calls us to move on into new areas…career, locale and ministry. 

But we need to know that we’ve really heard from him. I’ve had unsure Christians say, ‘Dr Robert, you move in the prophetic…I think I’m meant to move on to (somewhere). Tell me that I’m right.’ I immediately ask if they have really sought the mind of God and the usual answer is ‘No.’ So I challenge them to seek the Lord, not me! 

We can’t afford to stab in the dark if we claim to have committed ourselves to him. ‘Season’ refers to an appointed occasion – not a willy-nilly, shot-in-the-dark, hope-it-works-out possibility.

Solomon, in Proverbs 3:5-7 wisely advises: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.’ 

This means what it says… he will direct us in everything – if we commit all, everything, to him in faith and trust!  The Message Bible puts it this way: ‘Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.’
 
Verse 23 gives comforting assurance: ‘You’ll walk safely, and your foot will not stumble.’ That’s good news indeed! If we are willing to acknowledge God in absolutely everything, he will clearly lead us. 

At times we won’t get immediate step-by-step directions … the dedicated Christian life is lived on a daily step-by-step basis. But virtually every day will present some opportunity to commit to God something simple or something involved and discover his leading.

Examples
Over many years we’ve proven God in respect of his fatherly concern to lead us aright in every aspect of life…career, health, finance, schooling and careers for the kids, counselling troubled people, encouraging pressured ministers, homes and cars, little things, huge matters, new ministry and more.

A simple practical example: Recently we went to our favourite restaurant for lunch and found the background music was unusually extremely loud. I went to find the manager to have it turned down. But even as I approached him, he was already doing this.
Returning to Maureen, she said that she had claimed the scripture above: ‘God is concerned with everything to do with us and I simply committed the noise to him, requesting that he move the manager act. Robert, you didn’t even have to move, oh ye of little faith!’

A more serious example: Some years ago, it became obvious that the Holy Spirit was speaking to our hearts to move on into new areas of ministry. This meant, what seemed to others, to be taking a chance, a huge step with no guarantees, no financial or specific local church support, no new church or ministry to go to. But late one Monday night before each other and before the Lord, we agreed to do so, committing to a resolute decision to trust God completely and to dare to take a faith step into the unknown. 

I typed up a resignation letter regarding our then current ministry. Admittedly for a few moments we wondered about our future. But we had sensed deep in our hearts that God had spoken to us and as we know his voice and leadings from decades of experience, we knew it was the right thing to do. We also knew that often we have to make a move to allow God to make his. So we relaxed and enjoyed a good nights’ sleep.

The very next morning the phone rang, not at the business hour of nine but much earlier, and a voice enquired: ’Dr Robert? Where have you been all these years? We’ve been searching for you…can you come next Sunday and minister for us?’ It was the beginning of our new season!

Move and see God confirm
An out-of-the-blue God-confirmation from  his fatherly heart! His way of letting us know we were on track as we committed our future to him and trusted him completely to direct our path. 

For us, it was the commencement of a broad itinerant ministry of moving around many churches of different denominations and blessing many with inspiring clear teaching from God’s word as well as moving encouragingly in the Holy Spirit’s supernatural.

Still sensing that something is stirring within? Search your heart in case it’s just some inner dissatisfaction that needs to be dealt with. If you really know that the Holy Spirit is leading, keep searching God, read his word, be open when visiting ministries speak at your church, talk with your pastor, if married talk with your spouse (a priority!) and – without seeking out ‘some prophet’ – be open to prophetic words that are spoken over you in your local church. 

Don’t miss whatever it is that God wants of you as we move toward and into a new year. Jesus warned in Luke 12:56-57 (Mge), ‘You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don’t tell me you can’t tell a change in the season of God, the God-season we’re in right now. You don’t have to be a genius to understand these things. Just use your common sense…’                  

                           

Stretching Forward – And Not Giving It Away!

One of the first Oz expressions we heard on originally coming to the great country of Australia was ‘He (or ‘She’) has given it away.’ We soon learned that the ‘somebody’ had given up on something, usually something important.
Sadly it’s still a common happening, even among Christians and also worldwide.
Conversely, another saying that has been going up recently is Winston Churchill’s famous short speech to a graduation class. Coming to the podium, the great old man solemnly looked over the student body. A long speech, full of wisdom and challenge was expected but instead Churchill simply said, ‘Never give in, never give in.’ And then, with emphasis, in his unique attention-grabbing tone, added: ‘Never, never, never, never, never… in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in. ’
And what profound wisdom and challenge there still is in those words after 70 years!
Giving up too soon
Once, an errand of mercy late one evening found us searching for a particular destination on a very dark and stormy night. After driving up a dusty, unlit country road for some time, we were convinced we were in an old Hammer-type 60s movie and on the wrong road and so turned back.
After wasting precious time trying other roads, we returned to that first road, kept going on it and …guess what!…the place we were looking for proved to be just round the next corner from where we had first turned back!
The question arises…How many times do most of us miss out in life because we give up all too soon?
How often do we miss a great opportunity to achieve, to do something new, to strike a bargain, to exercise our talents and giftedness, to help someone in need, to honour our faith, to accomplish a desire or goal, to fulfil a promise, to further our destiny, to…whatever. Probably more than we care to admit.
Pushing forward
The Olympics are ended but still news items are circulating worldwide, particularly about successful Christian athletes and of course the recent paraplegic Olympics.
Personally we delight to learn of Christians who have pushed themselves to reach their goal, their destiny of winning through. I’m particularly impressed when we read of those who haven’t given up, haven’t given it away but have overcome adversity and crossed whatever finishing line they were inspired to reach.
We particularly delight to use the achievements of runner Eric Liddell as a challenge when preaching. We’ve always admired that great missionary to China, who was known as ‘the Flying Scotsman’ after the record breaking locomotive, and was highlighted in Chariots of Fire.
When still a young boy, he became very ill one time. Only his mother’s nursing devotion brought him through and he recovered, only to be extremely stiff in his legs. A well-meaning lady commented that he’d never run again. Little did she know of what Eric Liddell would later in life refer to as ‘the power within.’

One scene in Chariots of Fire shows Liddell competing in a certain race but being knocked aside. In reality it was ‘A Triangular Contest’ between Scotland, England and Ireland in July 1923. The depiction of him falling to the ground several strides into the race is accurate though. After merely hesitating, he got up and pursued his opponents, already 20 yards ahead. Incredibly he caught the leaders shortly before the finish line, collapsing after crossing the tape.
To onlookers it had seemed absolutely impossible Eric could catch up, never mind win. But he did, against all odds. One of his teammates rushed to his side, suggesting brandy to refresh the semiconscious Liddell. With his wry humour, Eric murmured, ‘No thanks, Jimmy, just a strong cup of tea.’
Eric Liddell believed strongly in one important thing in following Christ. He termed this never-give-it- away principle ‘the complete surrender of his will to God.’ It was a pathway he refused to deviate from all his life, no matter what. Closing on finishing lines, he would stretch forward in his determination never to lose, only ever to win.
Jesus’ declaration
In Luke 11:9-10, Jesus spoke strongly about not giving up: ‘Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open.’ The verb tense indicates to go on asking, seeking and knocking. Someone, years ago, blocked people from fulfilling this direction and achieving in life through wrongly teaching that it’s enough to ask God only once.
Sounds spiritual – after all, God isn’t deaf. But we‘re human and need to persevere, go on asking, seeking and knocking to see our prayers answered otherwise we can easily give up and miss out. Does a child only ask once for something, especially coming up to a birthday or Christmas? Not likely! Even the most patient child subtly drops reminders.
God has an incredible father-heart, loving us to climb up on his knee (as it were) in our prayer time and knock on his heart’s door and ask away. In his wisdom he may not always grant or immediately grant every request. We learn to ask according to his will. He loves to bless us. After all, we’re his kids, spiritually born into his family though Christ.
Jesus’ own example
Despite every hindrance thrown at him by Satan, jealous religious leaders, misunderstanding listeners and doubtful disciples, Jesus persevered and ran his race to fulfil his destiny. He overcame every obstacle including death to become our Saviour.
We continue to live in a very uncertain world…and there’s talk about things getting blacker. But security, peace and a purpose in life can be found in Jesus Christ!
Christianity is about not giving up. God didn’t (and doesn’t) give up on us. If we’re already into something that we shouldn’t give up – then let’s neither give it away nor give up! Let’s be like Paul and press – stretching forward – on (Phi.3: 12-14).

The Importance of Connecting

Taking a break recently, we were wandering along a nearby beach when unexpectedly we met an old friend. In the ensuing chitchat she expressed how difficult it was to connect with people in her church, that she had done her best in reaching out to various ones but, despite promising, they hadn’t got back to her.

The result is that no meaningful contact has been established and this friendly lady is thinking about finding a more amicable church.
Then, last week, when I was in our local library a lady from another church recognised me and shared something similar: ‘There are so many lonely women in church that can’t seem to make a close relationship. It is so hard.’
We’ve also come across men who haven’t been able to connect in church life and be able to share their feelings. Then there are ministers of busy churches who do not have real friends to confide with. Some wrongly feel they can’t even share with their denominational leaders in case the ‘upper echelon’ thinks they aren’t spiritual enough.
The biggest shock is when a precious child confides with you that he or she feels they cannot share their heart secrets with anyone, not even their dad or mum.
Uniting closely
The reality is that everyone needs a friend! We all need to connect meaningfully with someone or our lives, even as Christians, will indeed be very lonely.

Lonely…that’s a word meaning ‘sad because alone.’ Connect…that’s a word meaning ‘join together, unite.’

The words connect, connecting and connection are very scriptural. In particular the Message Bible uses connecting in the sense of closely uniting, especially in relation to Ezekiel’s vision of the temple (Eze. 40). 


For Christians, today’s temple is church with the understanding that we are the temple of Christ (1 Cor. 3:16). Therefore in church circles it’s so important that Christians relate by connecting with one another and building mutual and meaningful relationships.

Love is all-embracive
Jesus gave a clear direction on this important matter: ‘Let me give you a new (meaning fresh) command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another.’ He went on to explain why this is so important: ‘This is how everyone (the world, unsaved people) will recognise that you are my disciples – when they see the love you have for each other’ (John 13:34-35 [brackets mine])

He was talking about love that is open to everyone no matter what culture, nationality, colour, education, irritating habits, personal problems or faults! There are no excuses for not reaching out to Christian brethren even if we don’t fully understand them or even their language! We simply appreciate them as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Recently we had the delight of ministering in a church where the brethren are from the Middle East and speak Arabic. What a joy to find them so open to the word of God, the moving of the Holy Spirit and so desirous of receiving our messages and the touch of the Spirit through our ministry.
We have connected with them, even by my (Robert) willingness to be embraced in their custom of hugging and ‘sacred triple kissing males on the cheeks.’ And what an unexpected blessing as a young Iranian, who so desires to be a prophet of God as well as seeing people come to Jesus, boldly gave me an encouraging word.
Yes, even we need encouragements from those who will make it a point to be our friends!
Involves responsibility
Connect is a great word. Dictionaries will explain that as well as uniting and joining it also means binding, fastening together, linking, establishing communication between, associating with, attaching.
To achieve a meaningful linking such as Jesus inferred means going out of our way to befriend people. Yes, it’s true that some people are hard to get on with and as God directs us to make friendships there’ll be times when we really have to make the effort and go the second mile. We may even find we are led to people we normally wouldn’t mix with but a beautiful relationship develops. And as we care for such people, we discover just how much they care for us.
Today a lot of churches use the word ‘connect’ to name their weekly home groups, such as Connect Group South. Funnily enough when we first church planted 30 years ago (way before church planting was a regular tag and few were really into such ventures), we called our five home groups connect groups.
Those were great days when we ensured that everyone in our growing church was connected, that no one would ever feel unwanted or lonely, even on Christmas Day if they lived on their own. We were strong on relationships as connecting means accepting responsibility and, like real love, it’s an action word!
Meaningful connecting
Normally Pentecostal churches have a spot when the leader encourages everyone to greet one another. But, sadly, it’s so often a shameful case of the briefest of greeting, with flimsy handshakes and eyes staring around elsewhere. No real connecting and reaching out and, abruptly shortened by the leader, it’s almost a case of ‘Let’s get on with the service – quick.’
Recently while ministering in Baptist churches we were delighted to observe how the Baptos really took time to greet one another, and with strangers such as ourselves as well, during what they obviously considered an important time of their gathering together.
It was more than merely a rushed few moments – we thought they’d go on and on! But we saw real love demonstrated, caring and sharing together. And after the service and ministry time they were so anxious to fellowship further around the traditional cuppa.
These were more than catch-up times – people were meaningfully caring for one another and asking warm-hearted, concerned questions. Paul’s directions of greeting [ie. embracing in the arms]with a holy kiss fulfilled scripture (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 The. 5:26). 
God’s heart
Back in the very beginning God’s heart was expressed as he recognised that his creation was lonely: ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper’ (Gen. 2:18).
That’s a principle of caring that blesses each gender, both male and female, children, teenagers, adults and seniors. And what God intends for us, we must extend in connecting with one another. It’s so easy to go beyond church services and ‘do coffee or lunch’ with people, including the unsaved.
In 1 Peter 2:5, the apostle urges us ‘Don’t lose a minute in building on…’ and lists characteristics including ‘warm friendliness and generous love’ (v 7). He confirms in verse 8 that these qualities bring their own daily reward as well as maturity in Christ and desires us to have them ‘down in black and white’ (v15).

Whether emails, visits, phone calls and whatever our differences may be… let’s all connect!

The God Particle!

The first week in July was a celebratory one. America’s popular Fourth of July  celebrations with the associated Star Wars golden oldie pun: ‘May the Fourth be with you!’, our 51st wedding anniversary (No puns here, please!) and the announcement that UK physicist Peter Higgs’ 1964 predicted but elusive boson – ‘The God Particle’ – had been found at last.

A Boson is one of two elementary particles. Higgs’  God Particle is about a binding field, a mass that binds as it were – without which particles would zip though the cosmos at the speed of light, unable to bind together to form the subatomic particles that make up everything in the universe, from planets to people. He predicted the existence of a three-dimensional ‘field’ that permeates space and drags on everything that treks through it. A ‘field’ is about subatomic particles gaining mass and becoming heavier. ‘Bosons’ refer to mass-imparting carriers.

Intricate stuff for most of us, so let’s have a break for a moment with a couple of puns that started immediately ‘amassing.’ Such as the Jedi knights’ one: ‘The field is everywhere.’ Or a boson walking into a church only to be barred by a priest who exclaims, ‘We don’t allow bosons in here!’ to which the particle responds: ‘But you need me, Father. Without me, how can you have mass?’

The origin of all matter
It was 48 years ago that Peter Higgs wrote his landmark paper hypothesising why elementary particles have mass. Then on July 4 just past it was announced that physicists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest atom smasher in Geneva, Switzerland, announced they had discovered a Higgs-like particle.

Newscasts and other media carried news along the lines of ‘Finding the Higgs boson will validate the Standard Model, a theory explaining how the universe is built, and could be a gateway to…’

All of this is over the top for most people until we do a Google search – and even then most of us will only understand a meagre portion of it all.

But I’m certain of one thing: Most Christians will be like me and just want to say, ’Gee, why don’t you whiz kids read the Bible? It has always, in the simplest terms, told us all about matter, where the universe came from, who created it, how it holds together, as well as revealing the greatest force of attraction ever – the Lord Jesus Christ.’

Scriptures amass (pun!) such as Gen. 1:1,31; Neh. 9:6; Job 12:10, 26:7-9,11-14, Psa. 104:10-14, 24-25; 65:9-11; Joh. 1:3; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:3, 12 and other relative passages.

But of course one has to be willing to accept the Bible as a creator God’s revelation in the simplest of terms to we humans
who, although we can discover and create many things, will never have his mind or creative ability!

It’s interesting that Peter Higgs is not a believer and has never liked the God Particle tag as he considered it offensive to people. Evidently others in his field feel the same. The label came about because Leon Lederman, who wrote about this particle, thought it elusive and wanted to name his book The God D— Particle. His editor refused and the title The God Particle has become a catchphrase. Christianity Today Gleanings has an interesting article on this –http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2012/07/why-scientists-dont-like-the-term-god-particle-for-the-higgs-boson.html

Humans complicate things
Why do we, as Christians, so often complicate the things and mysteries of God? We like one article about this discovery that had a play on a famous Sherlockian observation to Watson: ‘Elementary, my dear God.’

What a great truth! God has always made what he wants us to know very simple. All the intricacies of the universe that we don’t need to know at this time, he’ll keep for our eternity with him. It’s enough to know who he is and that he loves us so much, even when we’ve offended him.

We’re in a time when God wants us to focus on his mission for us, for our churches, whatever it may be. Achievement is helped when we allow God’s love to flow from him to us and on to others. That’s the real amazing binding force that we just can’t get past as we seek to reach out to one another each day.

One other thought here: The noun particle means ‘a minute portion of matter, the least possible amount.’ But our God isn’t a tiny atom! He’s big! Christians believe in a big God who fills the universe, whom nothing can block, who seeks to bind his people together and make ‘his bosons’ – his carriers of the good news of the gospel and the powerful Holy Spirit.

An encouraging reminder: Psa. 138:3-6 (Mge), ‘The moment I
called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.
When they hear what you have to say, God, all earth’s kings will
say “Thank you.” They’ll sing of what you’ve done: “How great
the glory of God!” And here’s why: God, high above, sees far
below; no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.’

God knows everything about everyone! That’s enough for us.

Sing o heavens                                                                                                                                                                                      
But we also feel to draw attention to the comments of the eminent Professor Michio Kaku (who once said, ‘We physicists are the only scientists who can say the word “God” and not blush’) about this God Particle matter.

He infers it is something that eluded the great Einstein and he
wrote about for the last 30 years of his life – Einstein’s theory of
the laws of harmony, that the universe is a symphony, that the
mind of God would be cosmic music resonating through
dimensional space. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl1ugxrgQ

Interesting how these learned ones are acknowledging that things in the universe wouldn’t hold together without some sort of force binding everything. And how Isaiah 44:23 and other
scriptures talk about the heavens being commanded to sing to
the glory of God who has done so much on the earth below!

Aren’t we glad that, to quote the old song, ‘He’s got the whole
world in his hands.’ And the cosmos!

Crossing Jordan!

The River Jordan features prominently in the early chapters of Joshua.

Jordan is symbolic of leaving the past behind …death to the old, farewell to disappointments, imprisonments, meaninglessness, hurts and such. It’s also symbolic of entering into new things and claiming the promises of God. Of crossing over.

The direction of God came to Joshua and, as Israel’s leader, through him to God’s people to leave the wilderness – the dry years, the times of non-accomplishment, aimless wandering, and unfilled lives – and enter into the Promised Land and an exciting new period of their existence. Joshua chapters one to three tell that time had arrived and God’s support was assured – if everyone would be courageous to cross Jordan!

Today’s Jordan?
A number of church leaders and everyday Christians have been aware for some months now that something – that mysterious ‘something’ that we just can’t put a finger on – has been happening or is about to happen in the church today.

The word ‘transition’ – ‘change from one state to another’ – comes to mind as it’s easier to grasp. For Christians with minds and hearts open to being true disciples and thereby willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads, we can understand the meaning of this simple word.

When Jesus challenged his first disciples, ‘Follow me…’ he didn’t explain everything or the ‘where to’ of it all. In fact, many times, Jesus left things hanging in the air as it were and those who were really prepared to follow him into unknown territory had to trust as they did so.

Every Christian, and particularly church leaders, should be aware of the times and what we should be doing, be involved in – as were David’s ‘men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do’ (1 Chr. 12:32).

An exciting, rewarding time
‘Issachar’ has the meaning of producing a reward. As Christians, and church leaders, hear from and obey the Lord, we will encounter amazing Promised Land rewards of various kinds not only for ourselves, but for others and for our local churches.

This is an exciting time to be alive – being aware that even though the world is in massive trouble all round, our God has incredible plans for every one of his children (Jer.29:11).

Why are we particularly emphasising leaders when we’re challenging all Christians in this month’s encouragement? Simple…churchgoers look to their ministers for Bible instruction and God’s direction, especially in times of personal challenge – times when they need to cross some kind of personal Jordan, to reach security, tranquillity and new life on the other side.

Full flood not a problem
Joshua 3 relates how Israel’s ministers – its priests – were instrumental in leading the whole nation across the Jordan when it was in full flood. Boldly they showed the way! We like how the Message Bible describes this crucial transition time when Israel crossed the Jordan en route to the other side, to the Promised Land – not one foot got wet!

‘When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap–a long way off – at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho. And there they stood; those priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant stood firmly planted on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground. Finally the whole nation was across the Jordan, and not one wet foot’ (Jos. 3:15/17).

May crossing Jordan be symbolic to all of us. Let’s now be afraid of getting our feet wet as we transition. Let’s take courage as we leave the first of 2012 behind and dare to embrace all that the next six months holds for all Christians with open hearts and a willingness to move ahead.

But… a question arises. Is there anything, any ‘wrong, distracting Jordan’ that we have to first cross…say goodbye to? Any hindrance that needs to be dealt with, anything that would hold us back from being an active part of all Promised Land involvements that God wants us into, as well as moving into living life to the full?

Maybe in our worship (not able to enter straight into it or stand in the anointing of Jesus’ presence), impotent prayer and Bible mediation life, marriage, relationship, witnessing, job satisfaction, dreaming in God…whatever?

If so, let’s deal with it! We all need to be aware of the times and ready to embrace this transition period, see the bigger picture and cross over!

The Mystery of Pentecostal ‘Tongues’

No mystery really to those baptised in – filled with – the Holy Spirit as described Acts 2!
This Acts 2 infilling, followed immediately by worshipping God in ‘tongues’ (unlearned languages), is regarded by Pentecostals as the initial evidence of having been baptised by the Spirit.
Such an infilling results in believers being fired up and supernaturally enabled to follow and serve Jesus. We also discover being aware of the ability and opportunity to move in the supernatural power of the Spirit… just as Jesus did (Acts 10:38).
Praising God and serving God
But even many Pentecostals still don’t understand that the initial worship tongues of Acts 2 do not require any interpretation as do the operational tongues gifts of 1 Corinthians 12.
Gods amazing gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit himself is granted every time someone accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16). He enters into us, lives within, and is our friend.
(Incidentally… a good reason why Christians shouldn’t contaminate their bodies with drugs, excessive drinking and food, moral rubbish, cigarettes and such! See 1 Cor. 6:19 and 2 Cor. 6:16. Best to obey these scriptures else we offend God who gave us this blessings!)
Discrete from salvation is Jesus’ filling us full with his Spirit and our becoming enabled with the operational power of the manifestation gifts described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12.
When we receive gifts from friends and family, it’s a delight to say, ‘Thank you!’ in appreciating the gift. How foolish it would be to ignore and neglect God’s free gift of the Holy Spirit. Especially when Jesus asked Father God odo ensure that this free gift was given to us.
Our role is to accept it, to welcome the Holy Spirit in all his fulness. Unfortunately due to a lack of church teaching and denominational believing, many Christians have been robbed of this incredible deeper experience of living each day as Jesus did…with the knowledge and assurance of spiritual power within to do God’s will and work (Acts 10:38).
This powerful infilling is evidenced by the Acts 2 gift of speaking in tongues. It’s an enabling to worship God and often it leads to singing in a tongue melody. It is a time of personally honouring and glorifying God – as was observed by the visitors from 15 nations who overheard what was going on the now noisy upper room of Acts 2!
As worship our singing rises up to God and doesn’t need to be interpreted. Otherwise some churches wouldn’t finish until 5pm because so much interpretation would be needed!
What is needed is more Spirit-filled Christians – especially leaders – exercising their gift of worshipping tongues. Otherwise Pauls’ urging of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 aren’t being heeded. Such opportunities in church worship times can result in a spiritual, therapeutical strengthening within!
Gateway to demonstrating God’s supernatural
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul lists nine spiritual gifts available to every Christian. These have been called the ‘manifestation gifts’ as ‘manifest’ relates to ‘demonstration’ or ‘showing forth’ or ‘revelation.’ These are all operational gifts and communication gifts…God communicating his love, power and direction to us.
The tongues mentioned in this list – spoken, sometimes sung – naturally need interpretation to challenge us to move on in God. Hence these tongues and the accompanying gift of interpretation are often called ‘twin gifts’ and, as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 14, are equal to prophecy.
Some people try to get out of accepting the worship gift of tongues (and therefore don’t enter through the gateway to minister in power – the manifestation gifts – to those in need) by foolishly saying, ‘Oh, I’ll worship God when he causes me to speak in tongues.’
No, he won’t! God won’t force or make us do anything! But he does want us to hunger and thirst for this infilling just like the early church did.
And we know too the other big excuse for not moving in Holy Spirit ways: ‘Why would God operate this way?’
Hey…God is God, he’s the boss, he has his strange ways as Moses, Noah and many others discovered! Can you image Moses querying ‘Why did you turn my rod into a snake, Lord, and my hand to leprosy?’ or Noah querying God with a mocking laugh as he choked and spluttered on, ‘An ark, God? Rain, a flood? What’s an ark? What a flood, what’s rain?’
Rather it’s incredible that God is willing to use any of us humans with all our wrong attitudes, personal agendas and faults, even if it’s to worship in a way where our normally uncontrollable tongue is under his control!
‘Why?’ is not the question! Rather the question should be ‘Can I receive right now, Lord?’ Or ‘Can I be used right now, Lord?’ Or ‘You want to speak (in tongues, even interpret right now, Lord? Okay!’
As for worshipping in tongues…it should happen automatically – we should want to worship God in a deeper more personal way! Moving in any of the operational gifts of the Spirit happens similarly. We sense an opportunity and we take it, boldly believing that because we have the Spirit within, we have something to share that will bless.
Recent example
Here’s an up-to-date example. Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, that special day when worldwide churches of different denominations celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in their own denominational way.
We happen to be ministering at a growing Baptist church where they really love the Lord and are moving ahead in touching their community. As usual when we finish preaching we delight to pray with people. I (Robert) led by the Holy Spirit, sensed that he wanted to bless by healing someone that had pain and trouble in a particular part of their hip.
Believing that I had clearly heard from him and had something to offer (that is: my prayer as I laid hands on the afflicted person would bring a response from heaven), I boldly indicated the exact area of the hip.
Several people responded and Maureen and I simply did what Jesus would – we ministered caringly and in love, and also in the prophetic and words of knowledge. People were so blessed as release came, as did a few tears and thanks.
Pentecost? It’s about more than speaking in tongues – it’s about being changed, charged and commissioned: Gods’s 3C plan!

Depression!

Despite the strengths and victories Christians receive from Jesus Christ, many times – as we minister to people at a prayer line –  some tell us quietly (wrongly feeling ashamed and not wanting anyone else to know) that they are suffering from depression.

Depression is an interesting word, meaning to be lowered in spirit, dejected, weakened, pressed down, despondent, lowered activity, having feelings of low value, sadness and pessimism, carrying delusions of inadequacy and hopelessness. It comes from Latin words meaning ‘pressed down.’

Anyone could be so afflicted
Yes, as mentioned above, we Christians have great strength and resources in Christ. But we must all be aware that even we could get hit by depression at some point, especially if overworked, tired, going through difficulty, disappointment or illness.

But if it happens, it’s not something to be ashamed of and feel we must be quiet about. That someone will accuse us of having lost our faith. If they do, that’s their problem, not ours! What we must learn to do is to recognise symptoms and how to deal with this problem.
Depression – this ‘pressing down’ – is a ‘following on from’ word. Depression can follow on from some upset or stress that happened to the person being affected.

Depending on which translation you use, you’ll find depression used quite a few times in scripture. For example Prov. 12:25, ‘Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression.’ Anxiety – that’s means anything that causes heaviness of heart.

It’s interesting how the Bible knew all about many illnesses and God had answers before prescription tablets!  Actually there are a number of examples in scripture that indicate people were struck by depression. For example, depression can hit…

Following exhausting hard work, including ministry
Samson – that incredibly mighty man of God was exhausted after killing 1000 of Israel’s enemies single-handedly (even though he moved in the amazing power of God’s Spirit and strength) – and cried out to God: ‘Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of these pagan people?’ (Judges 15:14-19).

The strongest man in the world was obviously depressed but God had an answer…he ‘caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground … and Samson drank and was revived as he drank.’ Revived indicates that he was refreshed anew…’came alive.’ The Good News Bible puts it this way: ‘began to feel much better.’
God always has an answer to every problem, including sickness weariness and heaviness of heart (depression).
Following success
Elijah, that amazing prophet, who held back rain for almost four years and called fire down from heaven destroying false prophets, became crushed in spirit – depressed – after his incredible victory over satanic forces.  
1 Kgs 19:3-4 (Mge) tells us that ‘When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life’ from the evil Queen Jezebel who now threatened him for having caused this victory over her evil rule.
Again, God had an answer. Just a gentle whisper of his comforting voice and a good heaven supplied meal fixed him up (1 Kgs 19:12ff)! Elijah found himself strengthened, recommissioned by God and sent out immediately on a new assignment.
Even a little R&R in God’s presence is enough to get us refreshed and going again! Spending time with the Lord, reading the Bible (our heavenly food!) and talking to God will help refresh us and we’ll be able to move ahead into whatever the Holy Spirit has for us next.
Following dark times and all kinds of attacks
David, the ‘man after God’s own heart,’ was no exception. Dark times fall on all of us every now and then, no matter who we are or how close to God we may be! In fact, when you carefully read David’s writings in Psalms and elsewhere, you get the impression that he suffered quite a bit from depression.
But David always ‘picked himself up, shook himself down and started all over again’ as he turned to God and drew strength and refreshing from him. For example, 2 Sam. 22: 29-30,’O Lord, you are my light: yes, Lord, you light up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army.’
It’ll be the same for us if times of depression come. We can echo David’s strategy by truthfully admitting we have problems but then exclaiming, ‘But ah God.’ See Psalm 10:14 for example; ‘But you, O God, do see trouble and grief…’ 

These are good ‘Buts’ And no matter how dark the hour, our God will never let us down.
Following heavy decisions and responsibilities
Jesus too had his moments!
Think about the awful agony he went through in the garden struggling with the knowledge of the torture he would soon be suffering. (Mark 14:33-34): ‘He began to be filled with horror and deep distress. He told (his disciples), “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.”‘
The Message Bible puts it like this: ‘He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony.’ The wording means a deep distress of mind. But Jesus knew how to draw answers and supernatural overcoming strength from his God! ‘Abba, Father, everything is possible for you…I want your will, not mine’ (v36).
Strengthened within Jesus moved afresh in ministry, miraculously restoring the severed ear of one of his opponents (Luke 22:51).
Following disappointments and troubles
Hey, being disappointed, especially being heartbroken, over what someone did or said can hurt big time!
But, again, God has an answer: ‘The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit’ (Psa. 34: 17-18).
Depression is a real nasty!
Like Satan it endeavours to sneak up on us, catch us unawares and rob us of joy. If we hang on to feelings of depression, they’ll flatten us – ‘de press’ – for days, weeks, months or longer.
They can lead to emotional and mental illness and cloud our thinking for a long time! We’ll go round the clock dwelling on even trivial matters. It’s really a rotten thing.
Yet God always has answers…we ought to turn to him right away and get his help. See Pro. 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all our heart for everything. Verse 8 promises renewed health, nourishment and vitality. GNB says: ‘If you do, it will be like good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains.’
The good news
Revelation 21: 4 is comforting! ‘God will remove all your sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.’
That’s not just a promise to be outworked in eternity…it can be ours here and now! But remember…it all depends on us calling out to God, just like Jesus and other biblical examples did!

And, by the way, if we need some professional medical care, there’s nothing wrong with that providing we look to the Lord first and trust him fully!  And as we grow in Christ we can learn to trust him to free us from everything that goes wrong and tries to destroy us. 


Calling out to him is simply a matter of intelligent prayer. 

Legacy!
This week we learned that an amazing servant of God had died. A man who had strongly influenced us and countless others. His passing was lovingly described in a good old-fashioned way – ‘Reverend Sam has passed into glory.’ The added words spoke so meaningfully of this totally dedicated minister who was a legend in his own time – ‘The Reverend has left behind an incredible legacy!  His reward will be outstanding.’

For decades Sam Workman (83) was best known in his homeland of Northern Ireland for his sterling evangelist ministry and caring for people. He also touched the lives of many in England, Australia and elsewhere. Thousands were led to Christ through his commitment to seeing people saved and lives changed.

His story is this, after graduating from a ‘tough’ live-in Bible college – he would often remind us that fifty years ago students were sent out at weekends with only a quid (British slang for a £1) in their pockets for food and to fend for themselves while taking opportunities to minister the gospel – Sam Workman only knew one thing: That he just had to share the life-changing gospel of Jesus.

This would lead to taking on a daunting challenge – accepting the call to a Congregational church of only 20 people and a great but empty building with a huge debt of £16,000 (a lot of money back in the sixties) and threatening bank foreclosure.

Gospel only!
Those were scary days for that church on the verge of closure. Taking on a new minister was really a last ditch stand. But for visionary Sam Workman, with an unbreakable trust in God’s word and faithfulness, it was an opportunity to go forward and build for the future. 

Any minister today daring to take on such a challenge would  follow what most churches would do … frantically start repeated programs of coffee and cake mornings, jumble sales,  target-sign financial goal drives and other fund raisers.

But Sam Workman didn’t promote such things 60 years ago – they were secular and left no room for the Holy Spirit to work and demonstrate God’s power.  Instead he flatly refused to go down that track! He simply believed in the power of the gospel to change not only lives but situations as well.


‘The Reverend’ was small in stature, hence the fond colloquialism of ‘The Wee Man’ but he was big in his faith and in believing the word of God. Church planting, church growth seminars, leadership training was unheard of back then. But Sam Workman knew and believed this: If  church people were right with God and living holy lives; if there was no discontent, bickering, backbiting or fighting – God’s resources would come through and meet the need! He was a living example to all. (Photo: Sam Workman, 2008)

Sam knew only one way of changing the situation – preach the gospel. And that‘s what he did…no fundraising activities. And instead of foreclosure, the church grew at an incredible rate. With solid Bible teaching and clear gospel invitations – not to come to the altar but individually into his vestry behind the pulpit immediately after the service – people started getting saved. In turn they brought others along to find salvation. 

And then, through the Wednesday ministry of a low-key, dedicated electrician – not a credentialed minister, but someone released into his God appointed ministry – believing in God’s word on divine healing and the power of prayer, incredible healings and miracles took place in that same vestry. People would even drive from 50 miles away to be prayed over.

Later the church’s secretary told a local paper: ‘The Reverend did nothing but preach the gospel – no fundraising activities. People flocked in. He had a weekly Bible study of over 300. In every sense of the word, the church has become one of the strongest in Northern Ireland. We’re now getting 600-700 in each Sunday morning and evening service.’

New halls were built for the growing Sunday school, youth, Tuesday evening Bible study and kids’ junior prayer and Bible study night. Additional balcony seating had to be added and a manse was built – and the church was not in debt!

(Photo: The church sign depicts the heart of Sam Workman’s ministry)
Even after several years the church didn’t have a pastoral or visitation team or offices like today’s churches. Sam Workman lived up to his surname – he worked hard and long hours for the kingdom, as he’d been taught in his Bible college days. Yes, there was an non-salaried secretary, deaconate, youth leader, Sunday school superintendent and such but his dedicated servant of God virtually did it all. Many times some sick or troubled person that had been visited was heard to say, ’The Wee Man called today, prayed and blessed me. I’m feeling so much better.’


Sam’s reputation spread and he received many invitations to take evangelistic crusades in his own country and elsewhere. Countless received Christ, broken marriages were restored, Christians were encouraged to read and understand the Bible and follow Jesus more closely.

Young people, youthful parents – such as we were back then – were inspired to step out in faith and believe that we too could serve God in meaningful ministry ways. Personally we will never forget the dark days when Maureen was dying. We felt so alone with no one to share with and uncertain about the future. Sam visited us one evening and prayed quietly but strongly against the illness.

Then he looked into Maureen’s eyes and spoke prophetically over her regarding a teaching and prophetic ministry, then did the same for both of us. Although we didn’t understand it all at the time Sam’s prophetic words came about …Maureen was miraculously healed and as we trusted the Holy Spirit he has taken us around the world and given us many opportunities to teach the word, move in the anointing and bless many.

Three lessons
Why are we recalling all this, apart from honouring an outstanding servant of God? Threefold…

1) Every Christian needs someone to look up to and imitate. Paul urges this in 1 Corinthians 4:16 and Hebrews 13:7 Mge instructs: ‘Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all.’

2) Leaders need to have personal confidence in God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit; knowing that no matter how insurmountable church and life problems seem, if we stick to great biblical truths and principles such as Matthew 6:33, ‘Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be yours as well’ the breakthroughs will come – to God’s glory.

3) We’ll soon be remembering the most important of all church celebrations: Easter. This is when we remember the greatest example of all, the one who with Spirit’s supernatural did it all himself, who knew the call of God on his life and against all odds followed without question. In doing so Jesus accomplished so much, reaching out to everyone he encountered, overcoming Satan, establishing God’s plan of salvation, birthing the church and anointing his followers with authority and Holy Spirit power to see people’s lives changed.

We’re not all meant to be a Sam Workman or a Billy Graham. But if we are willing to receive some ministry vision from God and dare to go for it with the Holy Spirit’s assistance, we too could become legends in our own time as we take examples from such dedicated ministers and obey and follow Jesus.

In law a legacy is a gift. To those we help receive salvation, achieve breakthroughs, and get a life, we’re leaving a legacy. What greater gift can you give people you encounter than that of discovering Jesus and the freedom to live life to the full?

Yes, there’s work involved, hard work at times. But remember … it’s only in the dictionary that we find Success before Work!                                                                                          

Smoke and Shadows
Feel like you’re surrounded by smoke and shadows?
Worldwide there is continuing trouble with wars and rumours of wars. Governments seek peace and financial stability. Promises are made and promises are broken.
Health issues, including mental balance, cancer, the destructiveness of smoking, excessive drinking by youths and obesity problems hit the news lines. General approval of same sex marriages is pushed and gambling problems are causing governments huge amounts of money. Sadly, what seemed happy marriages, even Christian ones, are suddenly broken and even some churches are having problems.
Solomon, who studied what was going on around, came to this conclusion: ‘No one can predict misfortune…men and women are caught by accidents evil and sudden’ (Ecclesiastes. 9:12). In fact he concluded that so much in life is like smoke and shadows.’ Regarding the future, he said, ‘It’s true that no one knows what’s going to happen, or when’ (8:7). 
But, in the midst of continuing world and national uncertainties today Christians who deeply trust their God can work through even the bleakest of situations and come out the end of every dark tunnel. No magic formula, just a simple trust in a great loving God and his word.
Winston Churchill, in the dark days of World War 2, delivered many strong positive comments to encourage a little island under threat of defeat on several military fronts and probable invasion. Such as the following abridged collection of insights: ‘It is a wicked thing to take away man’s hope. Doubt cramps energy. Belief is power. To believe is to be strong.’
Hope and power in Christ
Christians have hope, great power in Jesus Christ. But unfortunately many, who are supposed to positive in every situation, seem to foolishly delight in living in the past! Yet we are meant to be people of the present creating – with the Holy Spirit’s help – a great future. Grabbing hold of the biblical promise of Jeremiah 29:11 and living life to the full. Getting on with life.
But all too often we allow the mistakes and the bad-case scenarios of yesteryear to bind us today from enjoying life and ‘moving on.’ We must refuse to live there and move on!
The truth is that we’ve all made errors of judgment both in speech and action – including some things we’re ashamed of but  one of the precious things about being a Christian is that when we ask forgiveness we’re totally forgiven and can ‘get a life.’
Scripture has several examples of people who blew it but they rose up and moved on. One we’ve been looking at recently is the prodigal son. His life was in a mess but he came to his senses and in Luke 15:18 determined: ‘I will get up and go…’
He then rose up out of the pigsty and made for the only one who could help him re-establish and gain a better future – his father. And things worked out fantastically for him!
This story is wrongly referred to as simply a wonderful parable of God’s love and grace. But it’s more than that. Such parables also call for action on our part.
Yes, this one clearly speaks of the confidence we can have in the heavenly Father, the God who cares so much for everyone. But the mixed-up son had to do something… he had to make a move towards a better future and security, to come away from his confusing place and predicament of shadows and smoke.
And he did. He rose up and moved on!
Getting up and moving on!
For anyone to move out of the shadows and smoke and change their situation one needs to get up and out of whatever is binding, holding down. Otherwise there is a wrong holding on to the past and current circumstances. We can have great hope in God and move on into a future of confidence with him – as we trust him!
Not letting go of the past means that we can be our own worst enemy by holding onto it or burying ourselves in it. It continues to be our own prodigal son’s pigsty, our personal ‘downer floor’!
One of the greatest declarations of Jesus was his dramatic statement of John 8:36 that he’s made us free! He also said that ‘God is the God of the living not the dead’ (Mark 12: 27). Believe these words of God! If you’re living in the past then you bound to it and living among the dead!
Think of the various New Testament people with needs – Mark relates the miracle turnaround of many…such as the blind, lepers, demon-possessed and sick people. All were in a kind of pigsty or downer situation, all decided to rise up and go (or were brought by caring friends or a parent) to Jesus the one who changes circumstances.
Out of the shadows and smoke
William James (1842-1910) said, ‘The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.’
If your life seems nothing but smoke and shadows and without a future, maybe that’s what you need to do today – rise up and determine to meet Jesus in a life-changing encounter that will result in a new future for you. There’s always hope in Jesus! Just refuse to live in the past!

Countless years ago there was a comforting old song with the line: ‘Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus, he’s the only one who cares and understands.’

What great words! They are a perfect direction of hope and comfort for all who are feeling troubled by what is happening, even not happening, around them. Jesus encountered many shadows and much smoke in his short life but he trusted his Father God. We can do likewise!

Going through shadows and smoke? Remember and trust Paul’s Romans 15:13 prayer, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’

2012.02 (c) Robert & Maureen McQuillan, Life Focus Inc