(having had a few issues with getting this blog published, the links for the scripture on this blog are unactive, so you will need you bible- will try to fix this soon)
At our church over the past month, we have been looking at Christ and His Ministry, a subject that is so vast really that the decision has been made to continue into January.
What follows is the message that I was led to give to our fellowship at the beginning of December.
So if you are anything like me, when I mentioned Christ and His Ministry, your first thought was about the Gospels. The time Jesus walked upon the earth, His public ministry between getting baptised by John in Matthew 3:13, right through to the Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension - All before the book of Acts begins.
As I began to study, something hit me like a freight train. Jesus' ministry was and is far more than the 3 years He spent walking the earth.
Let us begin with something a little different: -
During biblical times, Jewish boys would attend the local synagogue on a daily basis. From the age of about 6 years old, they would learn the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Scripture - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy from the local Rabbi, who would teach them verbatim. By the age of just 10, the boys would have the Torah memorised.
At this stage, the best students would continue with their studies - and for the next four years, they would learn the rest of the Hebrew scripture, all 39 books from Genesis right up to Malachi. The result was that by the age of 14, these students would know the whole of the Hebrew scripture by heart.
They would also have learnt the art of questions. For the Jewish student, when a question was asked, they would be taught not to answer in the conventional way that you and I are taught in school. But rather the answer would come in the form of a question.
Although I simplify this system a great deal an example would be - what is 4+4? the answer would come something like what is 16 divided by 2?
Jesus grew up in this environment - and although the bible doesn't tell us a great deal about His childhood, we can use a little creative assumption based on what we do know.
Luke 2:46 ESV
From this scripture, its easy to piece together that Jesus was familiar with this aspect of Jewish life.
Now at the age of 14, the Jewish boys, now considered men, who were the best of the best would seek out a Rabbi, in order to become a disciple.
In the culture, Rabbi's were considered one of the highest honours in society, every boy wanted to be one, it was the equivalent of when I was a kid and wanted to become a fighter pilot of a fireman, or like kids today wanting to become football players.
Now a Rabbi knew the law, and taught the law, and each Rabbi would have their own interpretation on how a person would live by the law. This teaching was known as the Rabbi's yoke. And when looking for a disciple, the Rabbi would look for someone that he could teach his view on how to live, so that they could continue his teaching spreading the Rabbi's yoke.
So when the student approached a Rabbi, the teacher would question the prospective disciple, firstly to be sure that they were in fact the best of the best, and secondly to be sure that the student could in fact take on the Rabbi's yoke and continue his teaching. Only once he was satisfied would the tell the student - 'Come follow me'
The new disciple would leave everything behind to take up life as a disciple, to follow the Rabbi everywhere we went. Giving up their entire lives to become just like the Rabbi.
Maybe you can see where I am going with this, but first, what happens to the students that don't make the cut, the ones that do not measure up?
For these young men, the Rabbi would say 'My Son, you know the Torah and your know it well, but you are not able to be my disciple - my student. Go home to your village, make babies and pray that they become Rabbi's - Go home and learn the family business'
We are not told where in this set up Jesus fit in. The bible is quiet on the subject. But it is often assumed that Jesus learnt the family business.
Mark 6:3 ESV
This scripture seems to suggest that Jesus learnt from Joseph and so the people saw Jesus as the carpenter. It was after all the fathers duty to teach the son his trade.
In her fictional work - 'A Lineage of Grace' - Francine Rivers tells her imagined the story of Mary - during the story, Mary is frustrated with Jesus and the fact that he does not reveal himself. Jesus replies simply 'It is not my time'
Now although its just a made up story of what could have been the case, I quiet like that as a possible explanation as to where Jesus fit in with the culture of his day.
Since we know the Jesus was the best of the best.
So why have we looked at all this? what is the relevance of all this to the Ministry of Jesus?
Lets take a look at Matthew 4:18-22:-
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”[a] 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John - All Jewish men who were now fisherman - why?
At some point in their past, they had not made the cut - at some point a Rabbi had perhaps turned to them and told them to go home and learn the family business.
Jesus comes along and calls them ' Come follow me' and that's exactly what they do. They drop everything and go. Now you might have noticed, particularly with James and John, that they leave their father to it. Yet Zebedee doesn't complain that he is left alone to do all the work.
See Jesus used the Rabbi's words, words that these men had longed to hear, and so they respond.
Jesus chose the everyday man to follow Him, to be His disciples and take on His ministry.
But what is that Ministry?
Jesus began preaching 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand' in Matthew 4 immediately follow His return from the wilderness.
This should tell us something about the ministry of Christ.
His 3 years on earth are dominated with miracles and parables with the express purpose of teaching
To make the mystery of God open, in simple terms so that people could understand.
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
There is a second element to the purpose of Christ's time on earth. Everything Jesus did was to give glory to His father in Heaven.
This has not changed today Hebrews 13 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, Today and forever.
Giving Glory to God, and opening up the mystery of the gospel to the world is still the dominant purpose of our lives today.
For me this is why Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20
'All authority in Heaven and on the earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age'
That command is also recorded in Luke 24:44-49 and some versions of Mark 16
Jesus work on the cross and His resurrection have open the way for us.
2 Corinthians 5:14 1 Peter 3:18
Now like Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John as well as the other disciples - we can and do receive the call
'COME FOLLOW ME'
Are you ready to do just that?
And Jesus' ministry finished upon his Ascension into heaven? Or did it. I for one don't believe that it did.
Firstly because Romans 8 tells us a different story. Jesus now stands at the right hand of the father interceding on our behalf. That's a continuation for Jesus' personal ministry.
At the very same time, as we have already discussed, a Rabbi takes on a disciple to carry, continue and spread the yoke. To continue the Rabbi's teaching and demonstration of how to live.
There is just one reference to Jesus as being s carpenter, but there are 14 references in the bible that call Jesus Rabbi.
We are therefore His disciples. We as Christians have received His call to follow.
Colossians 1:27
Because of the cross, we have the hope of Heaven, the sure hope of Salvation and the hope of all the promises of God.
What is the Hope of Glory?
Its the hope of displaying the nature and character of God - if glory being bestowed on God and who He is - revealed to the nations.
That responsibility rests on each of us.
You maybe the only bible a person ever gets to read. The only way someone might encounter the nature and character of Christ - God.
2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV tells us that we are Ambassadors for Christ.
You are an official envoy - you carry the full authority and power of the one who sends you. You are seen not as yourselves, but as the one your represent.
This is why when people know that you are a Christian, they watch you closely for the moment you slip up, so that they can say 'you call yourself a christian'
Are you ready and prepared for that responsibility?
The Hope of Christ receiving Glory is in you.
Christ’s trust, His confidence is that YOU will bring Glory to Him and therefore the father. Not the person next to you in church, not the neighbours that go to chapel every week without fail.
But YOU.
Friday 21 December 2012
Thursday 20 December 2012
Superhero
Sitting at home ill today, with a broken boiler, just waiting for a plumber to ring me back about trying to get it fixed, and thinking about how I am going to afford that cost just before Christmas, I got to thinking I should update one of the messages on my blog, before I get cracking on the next one.
When I originally began preparing this message, I started to watch a Bruce Willis film on DVD at home. Before the film started, there were the usual trailers, and on this set was one for Superman Returns.
During the trailer, there is a voice over, a quote from Superman's real father - Jor-El
'They can be a great people...they wish to be. They only lack the light to show them the way. For this reason, above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you...my only son.
That caught my attention. I started thinking about how significant that was and is to our faith.
A Great People...A Capacity For Good
Our original design by God is not what we are today, Genesis tells us the story of Adam and Eve, and how they were created in the image of God.
Genesis 1:26
Adam was created perfect, he could have lived forever in the garden for all eternity. Immortal. Made for relationship with God the Father. Our original design.
There were no errors, no flaws, no sin and no reason or need for anything to be settled or paid for.
Genesis 2 shows that Adam and Eve lived in paradise, Eden was it, everything they could want or need. But that's not how it was going to stay for us humans.
Genesis 3:1-3
Adam disobeyed God, as a result sin entered earth, Adam's authority as the holder of dominion over earth allowed sin to enter the world.
The original design corrupted, warped and destroyed to the point that nothing we can do, can ever bring us back to that place.
Beyond self-repair. We became evil in God's' sight.
Genesis 6:5 -
So where does this leave us?
God is perfect - He's Holy - And Holy is something we've lost grasp upon in our everyday understanding.
For Jesus, its signifies 'Seperateness' or to be set apart.
It means whole or complete.
Because of this - Anything that is not Holy/Complete/Whole/Set apart - can not survive in God's presence.
Because evil entered the world in our sins, we became cut off from God, we can't have the original relationship because a punishment is required, needed.
Proverbs 10:16 ESV Romans 6:23 ESV
Something has to die in order to pay the debt that is owed as a result of Sin.
In the Old Testament, sacrifices were used. The spilling of blood, the only way to cover the debt.
Although it would not fully satisfy the debt, it was a temporary measure.
God's people would select a new born from their flock, it had to be perfect, no blemish, no spot. no fault, marks or other wise deviations - Only a perfect lamb would fit the requirements for the sacrifice.
THEY ONLY LACK THE LIGHT TO SHOW THE WAY
The situation is the same today.- The debt still exists, and nothing we can do could or would ever satisfy the payment that is due.
We are incapable of paying it ourselves.
'The heart is deceitful above all things''
We need something outside of ourselves - Something or someone to step into the gap
Thankfully, there is some good new - we do not need to fix the problem ourselves. In fact as I already said we cant. There is no way through the barrier of Sin alone.
That's where God's plan comes into play.
It began with a Baby. - A crazy plan by the worlds standards - sending a helpless child into the world of evil - evil such as the world witnessed this passed week in the Newtown CT USA.(please spare a moment in prayer for the family of that tragedy)
God could have wiped out Sin in the blink of an eye or send a legion of angels to overthrow earth from the grasp of the enemy.
However I believe that these actions would not have solved the issue.
We all desire sin - Sin although ultimately kills us, is something that we enjoy, it has an appeal, otherwise we wouldn't fall into it. So God stepping in in such a way would not solve the issue that our inherent nature leans towards sin and sinful living.
Instead we needed someone to show the way. To show us how we could live. - Show us the Light.
we need someone to stand in our place, like the sacrificial lamb,
to come perfect, blameless without spot or blemish. Someone capable to living on earth and keep God's law.
I HAVE SENT THEM TO YOU...MY ONLY SON
John 3:16 ESV
Jesus lived as one of us. God in the flesh. He faced every temptation that we could ever face, and showed us the way to live out God's law on the earth.
For His teachings and His actions the religious people of the day crucified Him. And Jesus became the sacrificial lamb for us.
Human sacrifice, paid the price, covered the debt owed by mankind - but not just any human - He was perfect, and as a result of His overcoming death on a cross, Jesus broke the curse of sin in our lives. And satisfied the Holy nature of God.
Jesus alone, rebuilt the bridge between mankind and God, allowing a way back to the father and back to the original design for our lives: -
Direct Relationship with God the father.
A Saviour was required. A Saviour provided and all we need to do is to accept that gift, given freely.
The bible tells us in acts 16:31 ESV '..Believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved'
John 6:40 Romans 10:9
During the film 'Superman Returns', there is a scene in which Superman is talking to Lois Lane on top of the Daily Planet building. The background is that Lois had won a Pulitzer Price for an article she wrote called ' Why the World Doesn't Need Superman'
Superman says to Lois ' You wrote that the world doesn't need a saviour, but everyday I hear them crying out for one'
That's true in my town today, its true in your town today. With people turning to psychics/mediums/occult/worldly religions.
Evil is in our towns, our cities, you only have to open your eyes, to read a news paper to see that the world is crying out for a Saviour.
We have found Him. Or Rather He has found us. All we needed to do was accept Him.
The bible tells us that we are to go into the world and make disciples of all nations.
You have become the light for the world to see the Saviour.
I mentioned recently about a visiting speaker who really impacted a number of us that heard His testimony. One thing that he said really hit home for me.
'Have you ever had something happen to you that you just can not go a single day without telling someone?'
Jesus is that one thing that has happened to me, and I have been too worried about telling people in the past, but I realise now that you cant hid your light under a bushel. A city on a hill can not hide, and who am I to try to HIDE HIS LIGHT.
When I originally began preparing this message, I started to watch a Bruce Willis film on DVD at home. Before the film started, there were the usual trailers, and on this set was one for Superman Returns.
During the trailer, there is a voice over, a quote from Superman's real father - Jor-El
'They can be a great people...they wish to be. They only lack the light to show them the way. For this reason, above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you...my only son.
That caught my attention. I started thinking about how significant that was and is to our faith.
A Great People...A Capacity For Good
Our original design by God is not what we are today, Genesis tells us the story of Adam and Eve, and how they were created in the image of God.
Genesis 1:26
Adam was created perfect, he could have lived forever in the garden for all eternity. Immortal. Made for relationship with God the Father. Our original design.
There were no errors, no flaws, no sin and no reason or need for anything to be settled or paid for.
Genesis 2 shows that Adam and Eve lived in paradise, Eden was it, everything they could want or need. But that's not how it was going to stay for us humans.
Genesis 3:1-3
Adam disobeyed God, as a result sin entered earth, Adam's authority as the holder of dominion over earth allowed sin to enter the world.
The original design corrupted, warped and destroyed to the point that nothing we can do, can ever bring us back to that place.
Beyond self-repair. We became evil in God's' sight.
Genesis 6:5 -
So where does this leave us?
God is perfect - He's Holy - And Holy is something we've lost grasp upon in our everyday understanding.
For Jesus, its signifies 'Seperateness' or to be set apart.
It means whole or complete.
Because of this - Anything that is not Holy/Complete/Whole/Set apart - can not survive in God's presence.
Because evil entered the world in our sins, we became cut off from God, we can't have the original relationship because a punishment is required, needed.
Proverbs 10:16 ESV Romans 6:23 ESV
Something has to die in order to pay the debt that is owed as a result of Sin.
In the Old Testament, sacrifices were used. The spilling of blood, the only way to cover the debt.
Although it would not fully satisfy the debt, it was a temporary measure.
God's people would select a new born from their flock, it had to be perfect, no blemish, no spot. no fault, marks or other wise deviations - Only a perfect lamb would fit the requirements for the sacrifice.
THEY ONLY LACK THE LIGHT TO SHOW THE WAY
The situation is the same today.- The debt still exists, and nothing we can do could or would ever satisfy the payment that is due.We are incapable of paying it ourselves.
'The heart is deceitful above all things''
We need something outside of ourselves - Something or someone to step into the gap
Thankfully, there is some good new - we do not need to fix the problem ourselves. In fact as I already said we cant. There is no way through the barrier of Sin alone.
That's where God's plan comes into play.
It began with a Baby. - A crazy plan by the worlds standards - sending a helpless child into the world of evil - evil such as the world witnessed this passed week in the Newtown CT USA.(please spare a moment in prayer for the family of that tragedy)
God could have wiped out Sin in the blink of an eye or send a legion of angels to overthrow earth from the grasp of the enemy.
However I believe that these actions would not have solved the issue.
We all desire sin - Sin although ultimately kills us, is something that we enjoy, it has an appeal, otherwise we wouldn't fall into it. So God stepping in in such a way would not solve the issue that our inherent nature leans towards sin and sinful living.
Instead we needed someone to show the way. To show us how we could live. - Show us the Light.
we need someone to stand in our place, like the sacrificial lamb,
to come perfect, blameless without spot or blemish. Someone capable to living on earth and keep God's law.
I HAVE SENT THEM TO YOU...MY ONLY SON
John 3:16 ESV
Jesus lived as one of us. God in the flesh. He faced every temptation that we could ever face, and showed us the way to live out God's law on the earth.
For His teachings and His actions the religious people of the day crucified Him. And Jesus became the sacrificial lamb for us.
Human sacrifice, paid the price, covered the debt owed by mankind - but not just any human - He was perfect, and as a result of His overcoming death on a cross, Jesus broke the curse of sin in our lives. And satisfied the Holy nature of God.
Jesus alone, rebuilt the bridge between mankind and God, allowing a way back to the father and back to the original design for our lives: - Direct Relationship with God the father.
A Saviour was required. A Saviour provided and all we need to do is to accept that gift, given freely.
The bible tells us in acts 16:31 ESV '..Believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved'
John 6:40 Romans 10:9
During the film 'Superman Returns', there is a scene in which Superman is talking to Lois Lane on top of the Daily Planet building. The background is that Lois had won a Pulitzer Price for an article she wrote called ' Why the World Doesn't Need Superman'
Superman says to Lois ' You wrote that the world doesn't need a saviour, but everyday I hear them crying out for one'
Evil is in our towns, our cities, you only have to open your eyes, to read a news paper to see that the world is crying out for a Saviour.
We have found Him. Or Rather He has found us. All we needed to do was accept Him.
The bible tells us that we are to go into the world and make disciples of all nations.
You have become the light for the world to see the Saviour.
I mentioned recently about a visiting speaker who really impacted a number of us that heard His testimony. One thing that he said really hit home for me.
'Have you ever had something happen to you that you just can not go a single day without telling someone?'
Jesus is that one thing that has happened to me, and I have been too worried about telling people in the past, but I realise now that you cant hid your light under a bushel. A city on a hill can not hide, and who am I to try to HIDE HIS LIGHT.
Wednesday 12 December 2012
My Redeemer Lives
Its been some times since I posted anything in this blog, and I plan to return to regular posting, so I wanted to begin with something that has impacted me this week.
On Saturday evening, our church put on an evangelistic event where we invited Tony Anthony along to share his story, Tony is an International Evangelist, who has an amazing story, you can find that in his book Taming the Tiger.
During the event He showed this video. Its one I have seen before and it really impacted me on both occasions. I dont mind sharing that I cried like a baby the first time, and was much the same saturday night.
Jesus said in John 15:13 - Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
I have often used the example of a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save his squad as seen in the Film 'Act of Valor'
But this video shows a great example of what it means to lay down your life daily
On Saturday evening, our church put on an evangelistic event where we invited Tony Anthony along to share his story, Tony is an International Evangelist, who has an amazing story, you can find that in his book Taming the Tiger.
During the event He showed this video. Its one I have seen before and it really impacted me on both occasions. I dont mind sharing that I cried like a baby the first time, and was much the same saturday night.
Jesus said in John 15:13 - Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
I have often used the example of a soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save his squad as seen in the Film 'Act of Valor'
But this video shows a great example of what it means to lay down your life daily
Saturday 13 October 2012
Hope4Faith
I would usually keep this blog for my thoughts and musings on things God has been telling me, and I guess this is not really any different, what follows is the website of the daughter of a friend of mine.
This is Faith, and her story is heart wrenching, and I wanted to put it out there for people to read her story and grab hold of this cause.
Please check out the website, and if you feel drawn to help, please do - I would be very interested to hear about your fund raising ideas.
We have several things in planning right now, including a sponsored walk over Pen Y Fan in Brecon Beacons Wales,
selling of handmade items such as paracord bracelets/wristbands
and other things will follow when we can arrange them.
http://www.hope4faith.co.uk/hope4faith/
This is Faith, and her story is heart wrenching, and I wanted to put it out there for people to read her story and grab hold of this cause.
Please check out the website, and if you feel drawn to help, please do - I would be very interested to hear about your fund raising ideas.
We have several things in planning right now, including a sponsored walk over Pen Y Fan in Brecon Beacons Wales,
selling of handmade items such as paracord bracelets/wristbands
and other things will follow when we can arrange them.
http://www.hope4faith.co.uk/hope4faith/
Friday 3 August 2012
Jericho
I have been revisiting some of the messages I have given over the past few years, and have been meaning to up them up in the blog. Some of these messages have been delivered some are still waiting for the time God says go.
So over the next few weeks I will be putting these messages on this blog, there are a few reasons for this, primarily my prayer is that someone reading the blog needs to hear the message of God in them.
I want to start by looking at the Old Testament, I love it personally, I know some struggle with the content, and how its relevant to us under the new covenant, but I love it. God uses it to teach me a lot.
Recently I have been looking at the Old Testament Heroes, spending some time reading through their stories and looking at the lessons that God has for us through them.
The story of Moses, is very well known. He had led God's people out of Egypt, across the Red Sea and away from slavery. During this time the Israelites had partaken in many miracles of God. Crossing of Red Sea, the 10 Commandments, 40 years in the desert to name but a few.
When Moses was about 120 years old, He chose a successor to lead the Israelite people when Moses died. Joshua was to be that man.
Joshua came from the tribe of Ephraim, part of the House of Joseph, which had commanded the most authority at the time. Joshua had been born in Egypt, and had experienced life as a slave. He had also took part in the Exodus and therefore the miracles that God had displayed.
As a younger man Joshua had been Moses personal assistant, an apprentice of sorts, sharing in the wanderings of the desert. He would have learnt a great deal from his master in that role. Some experts believe that He would have been with Moses at least some of the way up Mount Sinai when God gave the tablets containing the commandments (Exodus 19). Joshua would also have guarded the meeting tent of the Lord Exodus 33:11.
Most importantly, God had called Joshua to lead His people. When Joshua was 80 years old, Moses died and the leadership of God's chosen people was passed on by Moses Deuteronomy 34.
Joshua was tasked with leading the Israelites into the promised land, into God's promise for the people. This begins with the crossing of the Jordan. What a lot of people don't realise, is that what happened at the Red Sea also happened here at the this time at the Jordan. The waters were parted and the Israelites crossed over on dry land.
Joshua 1:1-6
God had already told Joshua that the land was given to the Israelites. But it did not come to them without battles that they had to face.
The campaign of the Israelites entering into the promised land was lead by Joshua and opened with the siege of Jericho.
The city of Jericho itself, had been built to guard the Eastern approach to the hills, A city that trusted so much in the strength of its walls, as a defence.
Like Moses 40 years before him, Joshua sent spies into Jericho, before going to look at the fortifications for himself.
The King of Jericho and the people of the city had heard that the Israelites were coming, they had been warned if Joshua's spies, and they were afraid.
So over the next few weeks I will be putting these messages on this blog, there are a few reasons for this, primarily my prayer is that someone reading the blog needs to hear the message of God in them.
Recently I have been looking at the Old Testament Heroes, spending some time reading through their stories and looking at the lessons that God has for us through them.
The story of Moses, is very well known. He had led God's people out of Egypt, across the Red Sea and away from slavery. During this time the Israelites had partaken in many miracles of God. Crossing of Red Sea, the 10 Commandments, 40 years in the desert to name but a few.
When Moses was about 120 years old, He chose a successor to lead the Israelite people when Moses died. Joshua was to be that man.
Joshua came from the tribe of Ephraim, part of the House of Joseph, which had commanded the most authority at the time. Joshua had been born in Egypt, and had experienced life as a slave. He had also took part in the Exodus and therefore the miracles that God had displayed.
Most importantly, God had called Joshua to lead His people. When Joshua was 80 years old, Moses died and the leadership of God's chosen people was passed on by Moses Deuteronomy 34.
Joshua was tasked with leading the Israelites into the promised land, into God's promise for the people. This begins with the crossing of the Jordan. What a lot of people don't realise, is that what happened at the Red Sea also happened here at the this time at the Jordan. The waters were parted and the Israelites crossed over on dry land.
Joshua 1:1-6
God had already told Joshua that the land was given to the Israelites. But it did not come to them without battles that they had to face.
The campaign of the Israelites entering into the promised land was lead by Joshua and opened with the siege of Jericho.
The city of Jericho itself, had been built to guard the Eastern approach to the hills, A city that trusted so much in the strength of its walls, as a defence.
Like Moses 40 years before him, Joshua sent spies into Jericho, before going to look at the fortifications for himself.
The King of Jericho and the people of the city had heard that the Israelites were coming, they had been warned if Joshua's spies, and they were afraid.
Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.Joshua 2:8-11
For this reason Jericho had been locked down. Its was prepared for the invasion. And it was quite some fortification. Archaeologists suggest that its walls were some 30 feet high, with an inner and an outer wall separated by 12-15 feet. The outer wall would have been a minimum of 6 feet thick.
The defences were so sturdy it had not been possible to move the walls to expand the city, instead houses were built between the walls.
It was for this reason that Joshua had wanted to see the defences for himself. He was a veteran commander and had already defeated Sihon and Og in battle. Yet at this time Joshua is met by an armed man
I had read this passage several times before I reached for the commentary to understand what was going on here.
Joshua had come face to face with the commander of the Lord's Army. Some claim it was an angel, in which case it was likely Michael, Others believe that this armed man was the Son of God Himself. Jesus standing before Joshua, either way it was a distinct message to Joshua. A reminder that He was not the highest ranking officer in God's Army. That he was not the true commander of Israel, but the servant of God.
We see shades of Jesus teaching in this - the first shall be last and the greatest among you must become a servant. It also highlights the New Testament teaching of Philippians 2:5-8
And only then does God give Joshua the battle plans.
March around the city walls with all the armed men - Repeat for the six days.
Take 7 priests to carry trumpets of rams horns. On the 7th day - march round the walls 7 times with the priest blaring trumpets. When you hear the long blast raise a shout and the walls will fall.
Notice the significance of the numbers here. 7 Priests. 7 Trumpets. 7 Days. 7 times round the wall.
7 is the number of completion, of perfection.
The Israelites also carried the Ark at this time. The Ark symbolised the presence of God among the people. And would serve as a reminder that it was God that sacked the city of Jericho, and not the people themselves.
The interesting fact to note is that the walls of the city fell outward. A physical impossibility. Only by having the walls attacked from the inside would the walls have fallen outward, But the walls of Jericho fell towards the Israelite people.
Yet another reminder for us and for the Israelite's that the city was delivered by God alone.
It also important to know that God had called for Jericho to be His. Unlike the future cities that the Israelites would sack, Jericho was not to be looted and plundered. In essences it was to be Israel's tithe to God, the first fruits of the Harvest. And the results of not keeping this 'first fruits' are clearly shown in Joshua 7 and make a whole different teaching that I will get to another time.
The church today is in much the same plight as the Israelites. We have experienced strong moves of God and moved into the wilderness. God has appointed His people and laid out His plans, just as He did with Joshua, and it is so vital that we follow those plans to the letter.
Only through Obedience and Unity, doing exactly what God tells us to do, can we overcome. There is nothing that God's people can not defeat, if and hen we stand together doing just what God tells us to do.
And its not just unity within the walls of our building, it must to be a unity with the people of God.
Our towns in the UK have become strongholds. My town is. It has become a fortress of sorts. And we WILL never see breakthrough without us all coming together under our leaders, supporting them as one. Keeping to the letter of God's plan.
As a church we need to understand that God calls our leaders, and He anoints them to lead just as Moses did with Joshua.Hebrews 13-17. We need to be praying for our leaders.
Our leaders in turn, need to understand that they are servants of God and of the people. Understanding like Joshua that they are not the ranking officer in the army of God. Knowing who the true commander of the Army is.
We need to be coming together as one.
Jericho would never have fallen had the priest's decided they wanted to play harps instead of horns. Or if they warriors had attempted to scare the Canaanites inside Jericho with their War Cries during the first 6 days.
Jericho fell because each person had a part to play, each person knew the importance of their part and followed the plan exactly. Each knew that Hod was present among them. And each worked together as one.
To labour the point I am making here, I will finish with Jesus prayer in john 17:20-23
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
This MUST be our prayer also. That we might be One.
Together, working as one, with God in our Midst, we can defeat anything and we don't even have to fight sometimes
This MUST be our prayer also. That we might be One.
Together, working as one, with God in our Midst, we can defeat anything and we don't even have to fight sometimes
Sunday 1 July 2012
Monday 28 May 2012
Fixed point of Reference
It's amazing to me that, as Christians, we serve a current God. One who is present in our lives day to day.
As this blog has shown, God speaks to me in the everyday things, highlighting truth through my activities and through my past-times. There have been movies, nature, things my wife has said to me, sermons that have struck me and books. All have contributed to the privilege that I have experience in learning who god is and what He is about. It;s called relationship and I highly recommend it.
So, we have had a slight departure from what God has been showing me though Chuck Holton's book, but I hope that I have been able to communicate something of how the still small voice is something we need to sit up and pay attention to in our lives.
Like the story in the Old testament when Elijah looks for God in all the wrong places, a story you can find in 1 Kings 19:11-13
This is the same story that influenced the Third Day song 'Still Listening'
' I looked for you in, The fire and the wind, But you weren't there as far as I could see, I thought I'd hear you shout
But then I figured it out ,That all along you're whispering to me
And I'm still listening'
OK so I'd like to take you back to the lessons I have been learning in my reading - Remembering as we do
This is your Army, This is your Unit, Christ is your Cause
I have been reading through 'A More Elite Soldier' by Chuck Holton, seeking God for what He wants me to understand next and something once again jumped off the page at me.
Chuck Holton, in Chapter 7 of the book, tells a story of a training mission, in which He talks long and in depth about the patrols, that his unit had to undertake and how a simple piece of kit is of the utmost importance to a infantry soldier.
That piece of Kit???
His M4 rifle? The million dollar Black Hawk helicopter that Rangers rely on for transportation???
No actually - though these things and many others that I have not named here are vital in the lives of soldiers, the piece of kit I am talking about here is a compass.
A compass, for those of you that are not aware, is an instrument that measures direction in a frame of reference that is stationary, a magnetic devise used for navigation. For an infantry soldier, it is a vital aid when moving from place to place, when on patrol '...you couldn't win an argument with a compass' Chuck Holton says. its something for soldiers to rely on.
However, it is not just the infantry soldier that relies on this fixed point of reference.
'Just recently I had leaned that the need for a fixed point of reference wasn't exclusive to infantrymen. About a week earlier, we'd undertaken a mission at Fort Benning's Urban Training Site...we rode MH-6 "Little Bord" helicopters, flown by highly trained Night Stalker Pilots...when it came time for the mission, the opposing forces set burning tyres at various points around the building...The helicopters were stirring up large amounts thick of black smoke as we stepped off the Little Bird, and I was confused to see one of the Black Hawks break procedure by turning suddenly and flying away...seconds later, my confusion tuned to horror as I noticed one of our guys still hanging from the rope!' A More Elite Soldier page 101
This is a scary scenario for the Ranger involved, but the background that brought this circumstance is far more serious
'it was during the debrief that I also found out why the pilot had left prematurely. The billowing smoke had obscured his vision momentarily, and without a point of reference by which to gauge his position relative to the nearby buildings, he had no choice but to pull out. Attempting to maintain a hover, without a fixed point of reference was a quick way to lose a helicopter and its crew' A More Elite Soldier page 102
How dangerous is it to continue onwards when you have no clue as to where you are? Pushing blindly on regardless???
Yet sadly, this is what most of us are doing day to day. And although this is true of people who do not know Christ as their Lord and Saviour, it's predominantly Christians I am talking about here. And then we are surprised when the lives of Christians fall by the wayside!!!
What is our fixed point of reference?
It should be, without hesitation for us, the Bible. It our compass, our fixed point of reference.
Ask yourself, honestly - when was the last time you opened your bible? Sunday in church right? During the sermon, when the preacher said something along the lines of - 'turn with me in your bibles to (insert scripture reference here)'. Yep me too, I had my bible on Sunday, both services.
But lets get a little more specific here shall we - When did you past open your bible outside of a church service to read it? Be honest now!
I'm not pointing any fingers of condemnation here, I have been personally convicted of this very thing just recently, we had a men's breakfast with a guest speaker, whose very first words were that he was concerned for us Christians that had not read their bibles yet that very morning, and that was at 8:30am. I had barely gotten out of bed. And if I am honest, though I was convicted at the time, my response has been an overwhelming fail.I've not been very good at opening my bible for personal reading, so please do not think I am throwing condemnation out at anyone.
However, the combination of that men's breakfast and Chuck Holton's book, I am understanding that God is clearly speaking and we need to get listening.
Over the years I have heard the bible referred to as our instruction manual, our how to guide,as the acronym Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Its all true. It is what it is. And as soldiers in the Army of the Lord, it must be our field manual, our compass and our fixed point of reference.
Between the covers of the bible there are 66 books containing the message that God wants us to know.Yes it is full of rules and regulations, commandments and Law, though out Deuteronomy and Leviticus - is that a bad thing? Not when their is purpose to those rules. Its shows us our need for a Saviour. our inability to reach God in our own strength. its designed to be a humbling experience for each of us. So we can accept that its something we can not do for ourselves.
An the Old Testament is followed by the Good News. There is another way to live. The example of Jesus as the way to live, His instructions and teachings our guide (and the promise of the Holy Spirit who continues that instruction today)
Paul says in Philippians 3:4-10 - 'Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith'
Faith is the basis for righteousness - the bible needs to be our point of reference.
Like the helicopter, you are unable to maintain a life fulfilled in Christ alone, without a fixed point of reference.
Like a soldier walking a patrol follows a compass azimuth, and relies on the compass to ensure he keeps to the correct direction. We too need to have something to refer back to in order to ensure our path.
Whats the danger of not checking back???
A plane leaving Toronto, Canada on its way to London England, misjudges its course by just 15 degrees, instead of reaching London, will find itself on the coast of Spain, some 600 plus miles off course.
'An intentioned person will check in with their trajectory along the way to ensure they are on the right path' unknown author
The way forward for us has got to be an everyday check in with our fixed point of reference, checking our trajectory to ensure our path is in line with the teachings of Jesus, and the will of God as laid out in the Bible, our field manual.
It means we need to open it, well first get it off the bookshelf, dust it off, and then open it. Read it, and not just on a Sunday. Read it regularly - I am not saying get religious about it, see how that worked out for Saul of Tarsus in Acts.
The bible says in Ephesians 6:17 that the Bible is the sword of the spirit - I once heard it asked: -
This is your Army, This is your unit, Christ is your Cause.
As this blog has shown, God speaks to me in the everyday things, highlighting truth through my activities and through my past-times. There have been movies, nature, things my wife has said to me, sermons that have struck me and books. All have contributed to the privilege that I have experience in learning who god is and what He is about. It;s called relationship and I highly recommend it.
So, we have had a slight departure from what God has been showing me though Chuck Holton's book, but I hope that I have been able to communicate something of how the still small voice is something we need to sit up and pay attention to in our lives.
Like the story in the Old testament when Elijah looks for God in all the wrong places, a story you can find in 1 Kings 19:11-13
This is the same story that influenced the Third Day song 'Still Listening'
But then I figured it out ,That all along you're whispering to me
And I'm still listening'
OK so I'd like to take you back to the lessons I have been learning in my reading - Remembering as we do
This is your Army, This is your Unit, Christ is your Cause
I have been reading through 'A More Elite Soldier' by Chuck Holton, seeking God for what He wants me to understand next and something once again jumped off the page at me.
Chuck Holton, in Chapter 7 of the book, tells a story of a training mission, in which He talks long and in depth about the patrols, that his unit had to undertake and how a simple piece of kit is of the utmost importance to a infantry soldier.
That piece of Kit???
His M4 rifle? The million dollar Black Hawk helicopter that Rangers rely on for transportation???
No actually - though these things and many others that I have not named here are vital in the lives of soldiers, the piece of kit I am talking about here is a compass.
However, it is not just the infantry soldier that relies on this fixed point of reference.
'Just recently I had leaned that the need for a fixed point of reference wasn't exclusive to infantrymen. About a week earlier, we'd undertaken a mission at Fort Benning's Urban Training Site...we rode MH-6 "Little Bord" helicopters, flown by highly trained Night Stalker Pilots...when it came time for the mission, the opposing forces set burning tyres at various points around the building...The helicopters were stirring up large amounts thick of black smoke as we stepped off the Little Bird, and I was confused to see one of the Black Hawks break procedure by turning suddenly and flying away...seconds later, my confusion tuned to horror as I noticed one of our guys still hanging from the rope!' A More Elite Soldier page 101
This is a scary scenario for the Ranger involved, but the background that brought this circumstance is far more serious
'it was during the debrief that I also found out why the pilot had left prematurely. The billowing smoke had obscured his vision momentarily, and without a point of reference by which to gauge his position relative to the nearby buildings, he had no choice but to pull out. Attempting to maintain a hover, without a fixed point of reference was a quick way to lose a helicopter and its crew' A More Elite Soldier page 102
How dangerous is it to continue onwards when you have no clue as to where you are? Pushing blindly on regardless???
Yet sadly, this is what most of us are doing day to day. And although this is true of people who do not know Christ as their Lord and Saviour, it's predominantly Christians I am talking about here. And then we are surprised when the lives of Christians fall by the wayside!!!
What is our fixed point of reference?
It should be, without hesitation for us, the Bible. It our compass, our fixed point of reference.
Ask yourself, honestly - when was the last time you opened your bible? Sunday in church right? During the sermon, when the preacher said something along the lines of - 'turn with me in your bibles to (insert scripture reference here)'. Yep me too, I had my bible on Sunday, both services.
But lets get a little more specific here shall we - When did you past open your bible outside of a church service to read it? Be honest now!
However, the combination of that men's breakfast and Chuck Holton's book, I am understanding that God is clearly speaking and we need to get listening.
Over the years I have heard the bible referred to as our instruction manual, our how to guide,as the acronym Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Its all true. It is what it is. And as soldiers in the Army of the Lord, it must be our field manual, our compass and our fixed point of reference.
Between the covers of the bible there are 66 books containing the message that God wants us to know.Yes it is full of rules and regulations, commandments and Law, though out Deuteronomy and Leviticus - is that a bad thing? Not when their is purpose to those rules. Its shows us our need for a Saviour. our inability to reach God in our own strength. its designed to be a humbling experience for each of us. So we can accept that its something we can not do for ourselves.
An the Old Testament is followed by the Good News. There is another way to live. The example of Jesus as the way to live, His instructions and teachings our guide (and the promise of the Holy Spirit who continues that instruction today)
Paul says in Philippians 3:4-10 - 'Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith'
Faith is the basis for righteousness - the bible needs to be our point of reference.
Like the helicopter, you are unable to maintain a life fulfilled in Christ alone, without a fixed point of reference.
Like a soldier walking a patrol follows a compass azimuth, and relies on the compass to ensure he keeps to the correct direction. We too need to have something to refer back to in order to ensure our path.
Whats the danger of not checking back???
'An intentioned person will check in with their trajectory along the way to ensure they are on the right path' unknown author
The way forward for us has got to be an everyday check in with our fixed point of reference, checking our trajectory to ensure our path is in line with the teachings of Jesus, and the will of God as laid out in the Bible, our field manual.
It means we need to open it, well first get it off the bookshelf, dust it off, and then open it. Read it, and not just on a Sunday. Read it regularly - I am not saying get religious about it, see how that worked out for Saul of Tarsus in Acts.
The bible says in Ephesians 6:17 that the Bible is the sword of the spirit - I once heard it asked: -
'What kind of warrior can you be without your sword?'
Sunday 27 May 2012
ATM God
Just a quick blog tonight before I get back to what God is talking to me about through Chuck Holton's book.
I heard something today in church that really struck me.
Right now churches treat God like the hole in the wall. We go up, put our card in, Key in our pin number. Punch in what we want and then we walk away.
How many of us can relate to this? I know in the past I have been just as guilty as anyone else in doing this. Walking into church on a Sunday, responding to the worship when the songs suited me, hearing a stirring sermon and having a response to that and walking out the door and forgetting the message almost as I get out of the door.
This is the point behind the famous quote from Brennan Manning - more commonly associated with the DC Talk song - 'What if I stumble' from the Jesus Freak album
Its time for a change, its time that we get beyond our instantaneous society, the attitude of fast cars, fast food, instant messages etc etc.
We need to stop the view point of what can I get out of church and change that into what can I give God, and not just on that Sunday, our relationship with Christ has to be based on open and honest dealings - Integrity was the way it was described during this evenings sermon.
And we need to start spending time in His presence, without the pretext of getting something from Him, our prayer times need to be about more than just our list of needs and demands.
We need to learn again the meaning of Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God;
Tuesday 15 May 2012
Invasion
Jim wanted to convey an idea of the bigger picture of what we are as followers of Christ. - What follows is what I have pieced together from my notes ask Jim spoke this evening.
Matthew 3:1-2 - Here we have John the baptist - A fore runner of sorts to Jesus, announcing that the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand, telling the people that were listening to him that something new was beginning and was right there.
The way in which the translation puts it - 'is at Hand' simply meant it was right there within reach.
Just one chapter later in Matthew 4:17 tell us From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Jesus preaching the exact same message that John the baptist was teaching the people.
Now for the Jews, the message was clear, they had been taught their whole lives that a Messiah was to come, and with Him would come the new Kingdom that He would bring with him.
The peace, joy, restoration of the relationship with God. Everything that the Jews had been looking for, both John and Jesus were teaching that it was now available to take hold of.
This is the 'Good News' that we hear about, the good news that the Jews had been waiting for (and still are in their eyes). And its this message that John and Jesus were announcing was here now ready to be grasped and taken hold of.Now if we move on to almost the other end of the bible we have an interesting scripture that may confuse somewhat to begin with until we explore the message further.
1 John 5:19 tells us that the world is under the control of the evil one - The bible in other places refers to the enemy as the God of this world. Earth is controlled and lies under the control of the Enemy - Satan.
Its not all that difficult to see really when you look at the world we live in today - the suffering, killing, etc, just turn on the news, pick up a news paper and its not difficult to see that the world is controlled by Satan.
But wait a second isn't the world owned by God???
Lets look at an interesting scripture in Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[a]” Notice that Satan offers Jesus the kingdoms of the world, and yet we don't see Jesus correct Satan, doesn't challenge the statement, Jesus doesn't tell the enemy that they are not his to give.
1 john 3:8 - The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work
When Jesus came to earth, He began to invade the territory of the enemy.
Picture it this way, the invasion Jesus began is similar in many ways to the Allied forces landings in Normandy - The aim of the Allies was not just to occupy the beaches at Normandy. But to drive all the way to Berlin and remove Hitler from Europe.
Similarly Jesus began an invasion in Israel, the aim to drive Satan from the earth.
Its started with Jesus in Jerusalem, it spread to Judea, Samaria, Paul took the message and the invasion in to Europe, it moved into North Africa, and Thomas (remember doubting Thomas) even took it into India.
The invasion spreads, and today we are part of that Army.
Every single person is called by God in some way to participate in this invasion - this Kingdom
Ephesians 4:1 - I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called
You have been called by God. You have been called to be a part of this invasion force, the army of God. And your job is to use the gifts and talents and abilities to take back from the enemy the things that are rightfully God's.
Every ones job is important, whatever your role its important. The bible tells us we are a body, that one may be an eye, the other a foot.you might view yourself as simply the big toe of the body of Christ, or something small like the thumb however:-
In Old Testament times, the victorious commander would cut the thumbs and big toes off of the defeated leader, this would leave that commander practically crippled.
You see without the thumb your hand has no strength to it at all. So stability. And without the big toe your balance is gone. You have to re learn how to walk.
So even the small things play a big role in the bigger picture.
As you see then every persons job is important, whatever role yo play - its important, even if you done see it right now. There is something that you can do in the army of God.
(Jim's role is to travel conducting conferences that train pastors and leaders to bring about he great commission, and impart the skills to help these new converts into an impacting life for Christ - Jim's Bio from his website Mission Catalyst International
Part of the teaching that Jim gives is that He feels every Christian should have what he calls and evangelical prayer list. Basically a list of 10 unsaved friends, people that you know locally that do not know Christ and that every time you pick up your bible, you pray for those 10 people until they receive Christ. A simple prayer for two things, that 1) they receive a revelation of who Jesus is and 2)that the Holy Spirit draw them - the basic idea is that everyone can do this, its not expensive, and statistically something like 70% of people that receive Christ do so because someone was praying for them, its the most effect form of evangelism, pray for people and invite them to an event where they can hear the gospel - simple stuff)With this in mind then, something as simple as praying for you evangelical prayer list is part of working in the army
Armies need more than just soldiers, if you look at the structure of any military, its more than just the soldiers in the infantry, armies need logistics people, supplies, leaders, planners, intelligence people, cooks, you name it.
And in praying for your list you are working for the army, and aiding the invasion. you see every time someone on your prayer list receives Christ, that is furthering the invasion, because God invades that life, that family and that persons sphere of influence.
As your pray - and God answers your prayers and invades the life of a person. It brings them out of bondage, out of control of the enemy.
A side benefit of our salvation is that you find peace, joy, righteousness, and the forgiveness of sins never to be remembered by God. All the things that the Jews were and are looking for that both John and Jesus were teaching was at hand.
We pray for others because we want them to to experience these things from God also.
When we pray, we need to remember 3 major things
1) Be Specific - Ask God for certain things, don't generalise, you ask for general things you will get general answers, ask and you will receive the bible tells us, in another place it teaches you have not because you ask not. Be specific with your prayer
2)Be Passionate - We have to be serious with our prayers. The bible tells us the Jesus prayed with crying out and through tears at times, should we not be the same
3)Be Persistent - DO NOT stop praying - every parable that Jesus told that was about prayer was significantly about never giving up, about persistence.
A lot of times, the reason that we don't see answers to our prayers is because we give up asking
1 kings 18:41-45 - the Old Testament story of Elijah praying fro rain, and sending his servant up to look for the rain clouds. And we see he gets on his knees to pray and it takes seven times before a cloud is seen.
Persistence is a key, we are taught to never stop praying.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - pray without ceasing
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