8 Weeks of Seeking First God's Kingdom

The End

2009-12-29T08:32:00.002+08:00

Well here we are at the end of our 7 week journey.

Thanks to everyone who read through John with a seeking heart. Thanks to those who posted on the blog and also for those who left comments. Until next time...

2 John

2009-12-24T20:39:00.002+08:00

If there was any possible doubt about John's emphasis on LOVE as being the key to following Jesus after studying his gospel and then first letter it is quickly dispelled after reading his brief second letter.

"Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning." (v6)

Interestingly, he squeezes his thoughts on love between sections on TRUTH and anti-truth, ie false teachers. By doing so, it is as if John is stressing that, if our focus remains on love, our faith, and our expression of it, will remain a practical one. When the practical focus is lost we slip back into an intellectual mindset, which is far more prone to being swayed by false teachings and not consistent with having "the faith of a child".

This is what I believe John means when he writes "For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ........." (v9) When we start to intellectualise Scripture, doubts creep in, verses start being taken out of context, we start to listen to the misguided opinions of others.

Living in truth and love go hand in hand and will ensure we keep focussed on the goal.

1 John 5

2009-12-24T10:10:00.002+08:00

It's all about Jesus!! It's all about love!!

Jesus Christ has been revealed as THE Son of God. LIFE is in Jesus and only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God can win this battle against the world.

Today is Christmas eve. What are you doing today? How is your belief in Jesus as the Son of God impacting the way you are living your life this week?

I watched a DVD last night called The End of The Spear. The missionaries in this movie believed that Jesus is the Son of God. This truth impacted their life so much that they were willing to die to take this message of love and truth to a tribe in Equador. It makes me think...

1 John 4

2009-12-23T22:59:00.002+08:00

So is everyone having a busy week?? :)

REAL LOVE!! What is it?? We were introduced to this in chapter 3 v 16 where it says we know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. And we also should give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Then in chapter 4 verse 10 this message is repeated. Real love is not that we loved God but that he loved us and demonstrated this by sending his son as a sacrifice. At the end of the day it really is all about love... but not a schmalzy type of love that makes us feel good - this is a love that really sacrifices for the benefit of others.

In verse 16 God is equated again with love, and we are encouraged to trust in his love.

In verse 17 we are given the solution to how we grow more perfect in our love each day.

Then in verse 18 we are told the cure for fear: perfect love!

May this chapter encourage us not only to discuss the meaning of "love" but to radically live it!!!

1 John 3

2009-12-22T09:41:00.001+08:00

Some scriptures I find comforting. Some I find confronting.

I have to admit I have found John’s Gospel this time round to be very confronting.

I am confronted by Jesus goodness in the midst of opposition.

He is meek, but not mild.

He is loving and firm.

He is strong and yet so gentle.

In many ways John’s thinking is summed up in verse 1.

Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.

In the modern vernacular this is stated as, “Who’s your daddy?”

In our culture this is viewed as demeaning.

Who owns you?

Who governs you?

Who calls you to account?

In the John's world, this is stated as, “Do you live as your older brother lived?” Totally submitted to your Father? Warring against sin and evil? Hated by the world? Loved by the Father!

There is nothing sadder to me then children who dishonour their parents. Kid’s have good and bad days. They have hassles. They struggle to submit. But, at the heart of it, I always look to whether they honour their parents. Is their respect? Is their love? Is their gratitude?

To paraphrase John, if someone looked at our lives, could they answer with certainty, “Who’s your daddy?”

1 John 2: "Liar,liar!"

2009-12-20T21:46:00.002+08:00

This whole chapter put me in mind of the Jim Carey movie, "Liar, Liar!". In it you may recall how Carey's character continually lies to his son about how much he loves him, pretending to care while pursuing the material things of this world. It is only at the point of loosing his son forever that the father has a "Hollywood epiphany", and realises that there are things that transcend the promises of the world.

Now "Liar, Liar!" is hardly a spiritual movie yet in its own dim way it echoes what John is talking about here; what are our own lies putting at risk in our walk with Jesus? For the word 'liar' is repeated again and again in this chapter, and indeed the whole letter.

1Jn1: 6 - "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in the

darkness, we lie, and do not have the truth."

1Jn1:10 - "If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His

word is not in us."

1Jn2: 4 - " He who says, 'I know Him', and does not keep His commandments

i s a liar and the truth is not in him."

1Jn2: 9 - "He that says that he is in the light and yet hates his brother is

a liar and in darkness even now."

1Jn2: 22a - "Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ..."

Well, you get the picture. John also points out the character of those that are not living a lie. They are those, "...who abide in Him and walk even as He walked..." (1Jn2:6), and those that, "Do the will of the Father..." (1Jn2:17). The measure of our love of God is measured by how much we love others (by actions), and how much we resist the temptations of this world.

Now, we all sin and when we do, we deny Christ (at least that is the way I see it) and we become liars. We cannot continue to surrender to sin; and God's forgiveness (as promised in 1Jn1:9) should spur us on to stay true to Him.

Mother Theresa once said that "Faith is love in action." May we be more faithful by being more active, not trusting in our works, but knowing that they please Him who is our Lord and master.

Shalom,

1 John 1

2009-12-19T23:15:00.003+08:00

We are now on to our final week of our 56 day journey and we will spend this week reading through the 3 letters from John: 1 chapter per day until we conclude our journey by reading 3 John on Saturday 26th December.

If you have struggled with any of the 4 components of this journey then I encourage you to go out with a bang this week! Pray your way slowly through these letters until the message find its way into your spirit and really messes with your life - in a good way!! Let us show Jesus how much we love him this week - may we seek him above everything else in our life. And this is your final chance to share some of your insights and experiences on this blog. I want to thank everyone who has shared over the 7 weeks so far and encourage those who have been a bit shy to let us know how the journey has been for you :)

And now to the first chapter of 1 John. I feel like I am back at the beginning of John's gospel again with the Word and the light. Anyway, the key for me here is that we need to "live in the light", every day, all the time, not trying to hide our sin, not following the ways of the world, not trying to walk with one foot in the light and one foot in darkness. If we say with our mouths that we are walking with God but our lives tell a different story then according to this chapter we are lying.

Let us encourage each other to be brutally honest with God and each other and invite his light to shine on all parts of our lives. Let us encourage each other to embrace this light which not only exposes us for who we are but also lights the way. May we find "real life" and great joy from walking in the light!!

John - complete

2009-12-19T06:05:00.002+08:00

Today is the last day of our focus on the gospel of John. In the beginning was the Word...he is the light that shines in darkness, and Jesus has called all people to FOLLOW this light, to follow him!

In this book we have received revelation of who Jesus is and how he interacts with our life. Right at the end of the book (as in the beginning) Jesus calls Peter to "Follow me!" v 19. Peter then starts talking about John but Jesus says, don't worry about him, don't compare yourselves to others or worry about what I am doing with them... You just focus on following me. v21

It is so much easier for me to read, discuss and think about what Jesus said than to actually follow him. My question for you today, is after reading through John's account of Jesus, what does it mean for you to follow him today?

John 21 - Patience

2009-12-17T21:08:00.002+08:00

As I read through John 21, the most powerful image I get is of the disciples still not really grasping the significance of Jesus' death, followed by his resurrection. As Garry mentioned a few posts ago, despite witnessing the extraordinary events involving Jesus, they were still content to revert back to their former way of life. Several visits by the resurrected Christ still found them hiding behind locked doors, and even after receiving the Holy Spirit in v22 of Chapt 20 and the command to be "sent out" in v21, Peter declares in v3 of Ch 21, "I'm going fishing". His companions respond with "We'll come too".

What I find equally as powerful though is the incredible patience and gentleness that Jesus displays here. He doesn't berate the disciples over their disobedience and sheer lack of faith, but seeks them out and provides them with an object lesson of his power and authority using elements they can readily identify with. Apparently throwing one's net out over the right side of the boat was culturally not the done thing and might have indicated the unconventional methods Jesus was going to have them employ in the future, and the 153 large fish that they caught represented the number of known countries at that time.

That same tenderness and patience Jesus uses again when questioning Peter about his level of love and commitment for Christ.

I'm really encouraged by the reminder of this deepest of deep levels of love and patience that Jesus expresses towards me when I consistently miss the mark and fall short of what is needed to serve him effectively. I pray that, like Peter and the rest of the disciples, my trust becomes such, that the shackles of fear, ego, earthly distractions, etc are removed, enabling me to serve him unequivocally.

"UNLESS"

2009-12-17T02:08:00.001+08:00

JOHN 20
Mary Magdalene’s act of going to the tomb when it was still dark, shows how much she loved and respected Jesus. She further goes ahead to remain at the tomb crying since Jesus’ body was not in the tomb. Jesus appeared to her to calm her down and re-assure her that He was returning to our Father, our God.
This shows me how focused she was, she was seeking Jesus without giving up in such a difficult time when thousands thought that was the end of Jesus.

24Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
These are interesting verses and they mean a lot. Very many of us are still doubting Thomas. Instead of seeking Him and fully relying on Him, we continue putting there conditions. A friend told me of her daughter who visited Africa and she swore not to return. She said she will never go back Unless God comes and writes it on the wall that she has to go to Africa.
All in all, we need to continue seeking Him and relying on for everything.

John 20 - My Lord and My God

2009-12-16T05:43:00.002+08:00

Thomas had few contributions to the bible but when he did, it really stuck out to me. He was a funny fella, very practical, heart on the sleeve, and seemed to vocalise whatever was on his mind - and perhaps spoke of the things that many around him were thinking but had more sense to actually speak out. A good example is in John 11 when Jesus was heading back into dangerous territory to raise Lazarus and Thomas said "Let's also go that we may die with him".

Here in John 20 doubting Thomas heard the report of Jesus being "alive" yet wouldn't get excited until he saw some proof for himself and tangibly felt the wounds. Jesus never seemed to get cranky with doubting Thomas; perhaps it was his heart and his honesty.

I think Thomas' response was far more powerful than words descibe when he touched Jesus and proclaimed "my Lord and my God". And herein lies the challenge that Jesus lays out: "blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believed".

My quest for closeness, intimacy, relationship, purpose and knowledge of God has me reaching out and needing something tangible that says to me that something has changed and my life has been touched more deeply by his almighty power. It's not that I need to touch the wounds to believe but I want something more and I feel like I am seeking after a mark or sign of his further transformation in my life. I think the truth is that Thomas needed to experience the physical touch of the wounds. I want the same experience in my spirit man. Is this lack of faith?

It's funny that Thomas, Peter and Nathaniel had these wonderful experiences, including post resurrection contact with Jesus, yet still went back to their fruitless, safe old life in the coming chapter.

Our search shouldn't have Thomas like conditions, and our contact or intimacy with God needs to have life transforming evidence through the living out of a different and more purposeful life. This is my journey and I am more than a little challenged this morning as I seek, knock, pray, search and learn to listen. I'm not close enough, I'm still hungry and I just need more............

John 19B - Fear

2009-12-15T14:06:00.004+08:00

It is amazing the controlling power of fear.

Pilate fears the Jewish Leaders, the population and Caesar.

The Jewish leaders fear the Jewish population’s reaction to Jesus and Jesus himself.

The Jewish population fears the Jewish Leaders and the Romans.

So much fear. So much manipulation.

Jesus response is amazing.

Complete trust in His Father.

Not partial trust.

Not a scaric of fear.

The very one who has the most to fear, does not fear. He is on trial for His life, yet trust in His Father is His answer to fear.

He does not meet control with control.

Fear with fear.

Power with power.

He loves. He forgives.

He does not fear.

Oh, to have this trust in my Father.

John 19: The Death of Baby Jesus

2009-12-13T22:28:00.005+08:00

Like Mike said, reading about Jesus' death at the time when we are entering into the celebration of His birth is a bit disorientating, but oddly, I think appropriate. It seems to me that as a church at Christmastime, we are happy to leave Jesus - meek and mild - in the manger. He is harmless there, a mere babe; I cannot think of an image less confronting to the world.

(Maybe if the manger scenes in our shopping malls and churches - hah, spot the difference - were laced with a dolop of goat's urine, essence of fresh cow-pat, and a Mary looking pale and drawn from post-partum bleeding, we would be a bit less blase about giving birth in a stable. But I digress.)

Our failure to draw together the babe (recently cleaned of blood from the after-birth) and the Man in John 19 (now covered again in blood), to my mind renders the whole Christmas message into an innocuous fairy-tale. The only time that I have seen the Church as an organisation draw Christ's birth and death together, is in the Che Guevaraesque poster above. And that was at Easter time!

So in Chapter 19 we have the baby Jesus being put to death; having missed being killed after His birth along with the other innocents, thirty-odd years on this Innocent is executed. I have seen so many "Bible Epics" of this chapter, that it is hard for me to clear them from my media-addled mind. (Even now I hear John Wayne saying, "Surely this man is the Son of Gaaaad!").

The brutality and the lack of compassion from all the actors in this chapter needs no comment. We only need to recall images from "The Passion" to feel it's impact. So, here are some impressions of John 19.

As I read this chapter again and again, it seems more real to me than any movie. In my mind's eye I see Pontius Pilate squirming as he pays lip-service to "due legal process", all the while trying to protect his position in the face of the Jewish establishment...and with an eye to Tiberius who was unforgiving of any mistakes (and PP had already made a few!).

"We have no king but Caesar!"(v.15). What a proclamation (and a condemnation) from a group of religious leaders; God wasn't their King, but rather this world, with its delusion of temporal power and comfort. Standing facing the bloodied King, they choose another; how often do we do the same?

For some reason it is the soldiers that I have the greatest understanding for. Maybe because in their own lives they were often brutalised themselves. Maybe because they were powerless, unlike Pilate of Caiaphas. If they had failed to do their duty or if the condemned had survived crucifixion, then they would have been crucified themselves (hence the breaking of legs). And I recently read that the Roman soldier's water bottle carried a mixture of water and vinegar (the latter was thought to purify the water and stop disease); so in giving it to Jesus to drink, they were not being nasty but simply sharing their water rations.

But whoever, and whatever there station of life in this historical event, "They crucified Him..."(v.18). Which is a convenient verse, as we can point back in time to 'them' and say, "They did it." As if the the crucifixion isn't a timeless. time breaking event. We should of course wake up to the fact that verse 18 should read, "I crucified You."

And I should know; I handed them the nails.

Reflect and Share

2009-12-11T23:24:00.005+08:00

I've received a couple emails today expressing the feeling that some of the blog posts and comments are reflecting a "we need to try harder" approach rather than one of just "trusting the Father." Another is struggling with the "Am I doing it right? How can I do better?" discourse. I know not everyone will feel this way (and I have definitely appreciated the variety of input over the last few weeks), but given this feedback I thought now would be a great time just to spend a couple days focussing on God's goodness in our lives. Please share a story, example or experience from recent times that highlights the love and faithfulness of God for you. We will continue the discussions on John from Monday morning but over the weekend I thought it would be great if we could share some of our own experiences (as per point 4 on the right). Even just a couple sentences or a short paragraph would be fine :)

John 18

2009-12-11T05:46:00.001+08:00

There’s something powerful about reading the Easter story near Christmas time. Maybe it’s the reminder that the events of Christmas are made complete by the events of Easter. The record of Jesus’ earthly life, begun at Christmas, reaches its climax at Easter.

I write this, with the words of Andrew’s email, including the article, still fresh in my thoughts, and feeling very much convicted by it.

Interestingly, as I contemplate what it looks like to be an enemy of the world, one of the themes of John 18 is FEAR OF MAN. There’s Pilate, squirming his way through Jesus’ “trial”, well aware that Jesus is innocent, but eager to please the Jewish authorities in order to ensure his own political and physical safety.
And then there’s Peter, who not long earlier, had bravely lashed out with his sword. What a transformation, hero turned coward as he denies knowing Jesus three times. The somewhat sober part of this event is the knowledge that it could easily have been me or you in place of Peter.

However, 40 odd days later, Peter leaves his timidity and cowardly ways behind him permanently, and becomes a truly courageous man of God.
I believe the reason for this complete transformation is still as significant today as it was for Peter and the apostles back then. At Pentecost, he began to operate totally in communion with the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had stated that he only acted in accordance with what God told him to do.

Well then, I too have the Holy Spirit, so why aren’t I as bold as Peter and co?? After all, 2 Timothy 1 : 7 says “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power….”
One of the big differences I believe, is the degree to which I regularly fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Too seldom do I desperately seek that intimacy with God so that I truly believe and trust that I do indeed possess that spirit of power. When you really feel that close connection with the Holy Spirit and are clearing hearing his downloads, it is much easier to be confident about stepping out in obedience. When the connection is brittle, there is a tendency to seek to do things in your own strength, which is doomed for failure.

JOHN 17. GIVING ACCOUNTABILITY

2009-12-10T08:14:00.000+08:00

JOHN 17

Greetings to you all in the name of the Almighty. Am sorry am a little late today because I was out volunteering with Red Cross. A fire destroyed a house for a 16 year old mother of 1.I couldn’t believe it. John 17 is a very clear and simple chapter but with a heavy task for us.
We see Jesus giving an accountability of what he had been able to achieve here. It is all about telling God that “The Mission you sent me to accomplish has been done”.

He goes further in John 17:18 “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world”
To me this is the gist of the entire Chapter 17,He simply means that His part is finished and so the mantle of spreading The Word is passed on to us.
This “accountability” prayer reminds us that we also have to give an accountability of what we have been able to achieve for the glory of God’s Kingdom.
How many times have we shared with our workmates about Jesus? How many times have we sacrificed sufficiently for the good of God’s Kingdom? How many times have we said to Him “God, here I am send me”?

Well, He knows better, but it’s high time we woke up and prepared our ACCOUNTABILITY.

The Prayer - John 17

2009-12-09T05:16:00.003+08:00

It is a very quiet and still this morning - strangely peaceful. We buried my wifes mother yesterday. Funerals have a habit of making us reflect on the type of imprint that we make on this earth.

As I read this passage of scripture I thought about how wonderful it would be to know that you are close to finishing your race and reflecting on the things that matter - and that you would be able to pray this type of prayer in your conversation with the Father.

It is a wonderful example of prayer for Christians and a real insight into how Jesus communicated with the Father. It is personal and borne out of a reciprocal relationship and real knowledge and understanding. It is fluid and bold, from one who is really assured in his relational position.

It reminds us that as followers of Jesus that we have been deliberately selected and invited to join another world and way of life - one not easily understood by the old world and one that is eternally fruitful, with ramifications and ripples that go well beyond our grave.

I will close with verse 26 and the promise of Jesus love dwelling within us.

"I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Friends I pray that Gods peace goes with you today. I pray that you are protected by the power of his name so that we remain as one with him in his kingdom. I pray that you sense his perfect love and relax in the knowledge that he is in control.

John 16B - Faith in His Promises - Negative and Positive

2009-12-07T21:01:00.004+08:00

After reading JB’s post I wasn’t sure I wanted to write anything. I read the passage thinking about Garry’s, Andrews and Rosaleens comments on suffering, community etc. I thought about them over and over again. I really didn't feel there was anything worth adding.

Yet something kept striking me regarding the following verse.

John 16:2
“the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God”

Jesus never lied to us.

He never said it would be easy.

He never said everything would be fine.

He never said people would like us.

He never said we would never suffer.

He never said we would never be killed.

He never said there wouldn’t be trials.

If He was straight with me, why aren’t I straight with myself?

With others?

With Him?

He never, never, ever lied to me...

The more I read John’s Gospel the more I realize I don’t actually believe Jesus words at all.

He said people will try and kill me, even to do God a favour, and I think, “Oh, he was talking to first century Christians.”

He said I would suffer and I get annoyed when things don’t turn out the way I want them to...

JB, I am not talking to you or your questions. After reading your blog, “I said absolutely”. After reading Jesus words I am struck by how much I don’t believe Him even though He warned me.

My expectations of life are not Gospel based expectations.

They are formed based on 21st Century expectations in a Western World which knows unheard of peace and prosperity compared to the rest of history...

He warned me otherwise.

Why am I so surprised when His “negative” promises are fulfilled as often as His “positive” ones? I want His positive ones. I get snotty when I don't feel they are being fulfilled.

I also get snotty when His negative ones come to pass, even on a small level. I realize I have a lot more wrestling to do with faith in Him when both His negative and positive promises are fulfilled.

Thanks JB. Your post was really helpful.

It is for your good that I am going away..

2009-12-07T09:25:00.002+08:00

Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

Until recently I had not really fully understood these words. I often longed to experience the Power of the Spirit whilst ignoring His daily presence.. The person I was intended to have close fellowship with was generally left out in the cold - not that He withdrew... just that I acted as though He was not there in my day to day life! Perhaps I can best describe it that I to 'use' Him on special occasions! (Ouch!)

These words of Paul as interpreted in the Message were pertinent:

Eph 4:30
Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

John 16: "Practicing the Absence of God"

2009-12-06T21:26:00.003+08:00

"In a short time you will no longer see me..."[v.16a]

This is the verse that came out of this chapter and sat with me for a while. It may just have been the jaundiced eye I have developed after sitting for the last month by my wife's hospital bed, watching and weeping with her as she suffered through her various afflictions. I have prayed and fasted and asked and begged for Christ's mercy to be shown to my wife, for miraculous healing a la v. 24, but all I get is what I now call The Great Silence. I no longer see Him.

At present I have no sense of God's closeness, no warm feelings, no sense of peace or understanding. Like the disciples, I feel that God is speaking to me "in a veiled language" [v. 25] that I can't penetrate, and I worry that I too will be "scattered" [v. 32]. Like the old 'Muddy' Water's song says, "the feeling is gone"; I don't sense His presence, so what do I cling to? (When I was a wise and all-knowing youth group leader, whenever someone told me that they did not feel close to God I would answer, "Well guess who moved?" Oh, Sage of sages tell us more! )

An archeology lecturer once said to me that, "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence!" So I know in my heart of hearts that He is there by my side; its just that I don't get it. Why The Great Silence? How do I find the lesson I am being taught?

So what I cling to now are the memories of His mercy in my past, in the example of those who suffer in the Persecuted Church, but mostly I cling to His Word: "...and then a short time later you will see Me again." [v.16b].

And I practice the words of Job - though He slay me yet will I trust Him.

And now for something completely different... While I was in the hospital gift shop today, I saw a poster that had a stereotypical picture of Jesus (you know the one: blond hair, blue eyes, chiseled features, clean robes) with the legend, "Jesus is coming!...so look busy!"

My initial reaction was mild anger at this parody; but then I thought, is that what we are doing in the (First World) church? Is that why the Word hasn't gone out, 'cause we fill our Christian experience with busy-ness? "Lord, Lord, in your Name we held lots of meetings, and organised a stack of programs!" Just a thought.

Shalom,

More perspectives on LOVE

2009-12-06T07:01:00.002+08:00

Thankyou Gemma for your post yesterday on LOVE! This is such a key to everything to do with God and his kingdom!! This morning I wanted to add a few more perspectives on this overused but under practiced word.

Perspective # 1 – Love sacrifices: it is not convenient!

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he LAY DOWN HIS LIFE for his friends. John 15:12-13

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 1 John 3:16-17

Do I lay down my life for my brothers and sisters? Do I GIVE UP MY LIFE or do I love when I want to with my spare time and spare money??

Perspective # 2 – Who am I called to love??

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. Luke 6:27-28

In John 15:19 it says if we follow Jesus the world WILL hate us but if we belong to the world it will love us. So test number one is, are there people who hate me and persecute me because of Jesus? If not, maybe I am still a friend of the world (see also James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15). Test #2: do I practice love towards those who hate me?

Perspective #3 – Is my love expressed by giving out cups of tea to people on the titanic?

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM that captives will be released,
that the blind will see…” Luke 4:18

I am sending you to the Gentiles to OPEN THEIR EYES so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Acts 26:17-18

If I really love people I will declare the good news to them: that even though this ship is sinking there is a rescuer who wants to save them. If I am not telling people about Jesus, helping to bring freedom to those held captive by sin and helping to open their eyes, then am I really loving them?

So yes, Jesus command is to LOVE. And we are to love not as the world loves, but as Jesus loves. He is our example. His love is not convenient, selective or temporal. His love (through us) is sacrificial and costly, is for everyone (especially our enemies) and has an eternal perspective. And anything he asks us to do he gives us the power to do.

So let us not try harder to love today. I suggest we give up because surely it is too hard to love this way. I suggest instead that we take up our cross (die to ourselves and our own efforts) and let Jesus express this most awesome and perfect love through us!! (Galatians 2:20).

GOD is love.

2009-12-05T00:23:00.002+08:00

Now remain in my love.9
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. 10
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.12

So, to remain in him and obey him – is to LOVE.
To LOVE is to approach every situation, circumstance, challenge – from a perspective of LOVE - in the name of Jesus.

What is a perspective of LOVE? It is being:

Compassionate
Patient
Tolerant
Understanding
Kind
Non-judgemental
Honest (brutally if it will HELP the person)

Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit 4

When we show LOVE, intentionally and in the name of Jesus – we bear fruit. I am convinced of that.
In most cases we will not see the fruit our LOVE bears – but the lord knows - HE sees the harvest.

We have to TRUST that our expressions of LOVE (GOD and the command of Jesus) are not ‘fruit-less’.

I have LOVED 4 people today – through a couple of random acts of kindness, being compassionate, tolerant and patient.

Thank you LORD for those opportunities to bear fruit.

So where am I at in this journey? Re-discovering the simplicity of my faith and of Jesus's message. It is comforting to be reminded, through the reading of John, that despite all the Christian books, interpretations, bible study, discussions etc. the message is clear, simple, loud and clear - LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!

John 15

2009-12-04T18:11:00.002+08:00

Sorry everyone that this is being posted fairly late in the day. Just haven't had a chance to get to the computer before now.

This chapter speaks to me in so many ways and on so many levels that it's difficult to know exactly where to begin!
Several of you made comments around the promise, "But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like and it will be granted" v7
I too have struggled coming to terms with this in the area of unanswered prayer, and maybe it is about being patient.
However, I'm starting to feel it's more about believing v following. In the next few paragraphs Jesus talks at length about love and persecution (our response to this is often a useful indicator of our ability to truly express unconditional love).

I wonder sometimes whether I truly love others, like Jesus commands us to. "I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. v12 And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. v13 You are my friends if you obey me. v14"
The New Commandment about loving others is clearly one of the key areas of the Gospel and demands our obedience. Our response to it is a strong measuring stick of our overall obedience to Christ and a really pragmatic indicator of whether we merely believe in Christ or actually follow him.

To me, following and obedience go hand in hand.
It isn't hard to say you believe in Jesus, but following him has to do with lifestyle, attitudes, values, total surrender. In the area of love towards others, if I'm following Jesus, why do I have so many friends among the affluent and so few among the poor? Why do my cupboards bulge with clothes when so many are unclothed? Why am I tempted to overeat in a world in which so many beg for bread? Why do I have so much privacy in a world that is starved for love? Why am I getting on so well in a world that marked Jesus out for death?

Author and presenter, Wolfgang Simson, argues that God gives us his grace and love unconditionally but his blessing is dependent upon our individual and corporate obedience. God doesn't love us any less when we fail to obey him, but when obedience occurs, blessing is given and fruit is produced.

To me the fulfilment of Verse 7 could very well be about my readiness to fully commit to obeying Christ's commands, particularly in the area of LOVE, which is where it all starts.

THE WAY

2009-12-03T00:44:00.003+08:00

1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."

Had Jesus not said this,I would have been very much disappointed too if I was one of the disciples.But look,He assures them that He is going to PREPARE a place for them (me inclusive)but still they are not content and so He goes further to make them understand what He was talking about.I like the way Jesus answered then and you will agree with me that no one asked a second question since Jesus was very clear in his answers.

Many times we have troubled our hearts asking ourselves thousands of questions and in so doing we have ended up not trusting in God.We are afraid of who will take care of us when we get old? Who will provide for my family if I loose my job? Who will pay for my tuition? Where will I get money to buy a car? Who will take care of my family if I pass on today? Where will I get money to go on vacation? Where will I get money to donate to that charity is in great need? Jesus answers this in Verses 13 and 14.
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

In Verse 31 Jesus says "but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me."Come now; let us leave". As Christians we should walk the same path by doing exactly what Our Father commands us to do. We have a task of taking His Word to others,We need to share His love with others,We need to open our doors for others, We need to give that extra shirt to someone who needs it more, We need to turn sorrows into smiles,etc. So Come now;let us FOLLOW HIS COMMANDS.
Be blessed.

John 14

2009-12-02T13:31:00.002+08:00

I'm at work so I will have to quickly throw out a couple of the many pearls in this passage that spoke to me today.

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you

23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

The beauty of the trinity comes through powerfully in John 14. Relationship with the Holy Spirit comes through relationship with Jesus and the Father and maybe it is God through the Holy Spirit that makes his home with us. The Kingdom within.

John 13B: Foot Washing God

2009-12-01T05:56:00.003+08:00

"No", Peter protested, "You will never ever wash my feet!" Jesus replied, "Unless I wash you, you won't belong to me."

Peter's reaction is a really strong one. He is horrified. Don't wash my feet, wash everything. Maybe Peter feels it is easier to accept a ceremonial washing then a menial slaves act of washing feet. The religious act would be acceptable he thinks. This servile act is really uncomfortable.

Put yourself in Peter's shoes, er... his sandals. Here is the longed for Christ whose miracles he has witnessed. Whose teaching he has followed. Who leadership he has walked under.

He is God incarnate. He is the Christ. He makes universes with His word.

HE IS WASHING MY FEEEEETTTT!

He is touching my feet. He is putting water between them. He is rubbing them. He is drying them. He is God.

This is not a moral issue. A sermonette on the importance of service.

This is God breaking back into human life. A God who receives the washing of His feet with a prostitutes hair. A God who endures birth. A God who is whipped and beaten and crucified and humiliated... A God who washes my feet. He is a God who will allow no human barrier to get between Him and relationship. No barrier to get between Him and His love.

He pushes every boundary for love. Let us do likewise.

Confession time...

2009-11-30T08:58:00.002+08:00

Ok - I have not managed the requirements (see right Hand Panel) 1 & 4... and 2 have not been faithfully intentional! and like Gemma - there have been times when I have been in control - and not the Holy Spirit! However - Grace flows and is abundant! Thank you Father that you know every circumstance of our lives - intentions and actions - and there is nothing hidden from You! When we confess our sins you are faithful and just and forgive us!
Now - in my journey through John - I have continued to be surprised by the things I had NOT seen there before - some obvious - like the baptising thing - and Caiaphas prophesying in the year that Jesus died - about his death (John 11)! And a few other things that I wish I had been more disciplined in journalling! (more confession!)

But flowing through individual incidents has been a fresh understanding of Jesus daily life and priorities. I probably held a view that Jesus was intentionally confrontational with Jewish leadership - and I have had a whole overlay on that view - that Jesus just went about His Fathers work - reaching out in love, with healing, teaching, truth - every day!

Unconditional love in someone else is itself confrontational! It highlights our own lack of love, inadequacy, pettiness, and jealousy.
Truth is always confrontational. Jesus could not dissemble or avoid truth - because truthfulness was the essence of His being.

As we become more like Jesus we will become more loving and truthful - and be unable to avoid conflict - but we will, as He did, sometimes withdraw - and knowing when to withdraw or stand will be something we need to rely on the Holy Spirits control of our lives to determine.

My parallel journey (with this 8 week one) has been the teaching time in Junior Church - where I have been learning heaps about the Holy Spirit's roles in my life! And recognising when I take back control... I have loved what he is teaching me there too!

John 13: Betrayal of the Servant King.

2009-11-29T21:16:00.003+08:00

John presents the Last Supper in a different way to that of the other Gospel writers. In Ch. 13 there are no "words of the Institution"; indeed, in this version the meal is almost incidental to what John wants us to see.

The centrepoint here for me is the contrast between Jesus' perfect, humble love and the perfidious nature of Judas...and later, Peter (v.38). Assailed from without by the religious and power elite of the day, Jesus now has to deal with betrayal from within - when His darkest moment is upon Him! Our Lord's distress (v.21) shows how keenly He feels this hurt from those who new Him best and were His earthly friends.

In my conciet I find it hard to understand Judas. I mean, how could he sit so long at the Master's feet learning His words, seeing the miracles, knowing His constant love, yet be able to turn his heart away from Jesus for earthly gain? How could Judas be sharing in this, the disciples' third Pesach meal with Jesus, breaking bread in love and friendship with Him yet all the time sitting there with murder in mind? How could he bear to have his feet washed, a humiliating act of love performed by a devoted Friend, and later walk on those clean feet to his paymasters?

Of course, like Peter, I could never do anything like that! Yet,I must look at how much I compromise my walk, how often I come to the Meal with an unworthy heart, how many sermons I hear without acting, how often the word of God is laid before me and I say, "Here I am Lord, ...send him!" My only act it seems, is to walk to my paymasters of the moment.

I would like to say that "the devil makes me do it", that I am a helpless pawn in the spiritual battle, unable to resist the urges of the evil one. But James tells me that I am able to resist, but only if I choose.

How many time do I break my Saviour's heart? How ofen does He cry out over me the way He did over Judas (v.21)? How often does Jesus bend down with a broken heart, and wash away, yet again, the sin from my dirty feet?

Still listening......

2009-11-29T19:37:00.002+08:00

Still listening, still waiting, , still unbundling, still no planning, still no strategising, still being patient, still hungry, still not satisfied, still need to hear, still need to get closer, still need that personal touch, still need to work through preconceptions, still emptying of past stuff, still leaving old ways, still a work in progress, still taking time to be still, still not giving up, still need to press deeper, still on the operating table.......

2009-11-28T17:46:00.002+08:00

Hello all,

Am very late today. I have been procrastinating over what to write! I have been writing notes for today's posting since Thursday. Re-reading them this morning - I am no longer confident of their relevance.... other than to myself, thankfully! Oh - and our Lord, of course. After all, they were written whilst listening.

I don't know about you guys, but I have no problem listening to our Father in heaven during moments of intent - not as ritual but as essential to my very being. A time for re-fueling, as well as strengthening my relationship with HIM.

On Thursday, I asked our Father to show me why I have been judgmental at times this week. HE reminded me that THE spirit in me is responsible for all that is good in my life. Thank you I said, wondering how that answers my question! I concluded, that at times of negativity I have allowed my hearing to stray into the "wrong" frequency and that I am no longer "tuned" in to THE spirit.

Since focusing on 'listening' this past weeks - I have come to think of the battle of the powers as radio frequencies. The world's default hearing setting is sadly, "SatanFM". To hear the truth, we have to actively tune into THE SPIRIT and keep it there.

I asked forgiveness and prayed over those I had been judgmental of. The sense negativity lifted immediately.

On a different note, My favourite passage in John 12 is:

47"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.

This speaks to me of GOD listening to us. Of knowing our hearts and our intent.
In this passage I see GOD the Father, lovingly saying "There, there, I know you are trying. I won't punish you for not succeeding-only for not trying;)" I LOVE this about the nature of who GOD is. For me, this passage is an illustration of HIS acceptance and unconditional love.

Interested to hear your thoughts and how well you have managed to "stay tuned" this week:)

Put your trust in the light ... John 12:36

John 12

2009-11-26T18:47:00.002+08:00

"Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am." vv25,26

In the somewhat old, but certainly not outdated, 1970s book, "Disciple", the Argentinian author, Juan Carlos Ortiz, describes what he calls the Gospel of the Evangelicals. He argued that the majority of Christians had conveniently taken all the nice, comforting bits of the four Gospels and rolled them into one, but left out the more challenging passages that may require something from them, a stepping out of their comfort zone. Has much changed 30 something years later??

I don't think John 12:25,26 would be found in this fifth "gospel" Ortiz talks about. I find it confrontational, convicting and a massive challenge. I am still very much exploring what it means to truly despise this life and be prepared to unequivocally follow Jesus. How are the rest of you getting on??

JOHN 11 “LAZARUS”

2009-11-26T04:43:00.000+08:00

Lazarus’ miracle is one of those miracles that very many people would want to see happen to day. Lazarus had to die so that the glory of the living God would be glorified and for the purpose of showing that Jesus was a true Son of God.

In Uganda I have seen many Lazarus and they have so much touched many peoples’ lives thereby coming to Christ. A good friend of mine lost both parents to AIDS and so did his older and young siblings but him. All the siblings contracted AIDS through Mother- to-Child during birth and this is a common thing in many developing countries. Wilson suffered a lot and he ended up on the streets of Kampala begging for food and he would sleep in boxes on the streets. To cut the long story short, Wilson got to know God and he has no AIDS and he is the best Ugandan Gospel Artist and has a big Church. Most of his songs are about his testimony and they have touched very many people thereby coming to Christ to find happiness. If Wilson was not a Lazarus people, some people wouldn’t know Christ. So, Wilson had to go through all those hard times for the purpose of Glorifying God and for people to know that above the blue sky we have a King who never forgets His children and never goes to sleep.

In Verse 39,we see how hopeless Martha was after Lazarus was dead (4 days), at this point in time she knew Lazarus was dead and stinking. This reminds me of how we tend to limit God’s capability yet He promised us to take care of us at all times.

God bless you.

A Friend of Jesus

2009-11-25T05:29:00.002+08:00

John 11 is not about Jesus coming across a stranger and doing or saying something miraculous but rather responding out of love to good friends who have already heard, believed and responded to the Kingdom of God.

It was evident that there was still a bigger plan at play and the Father had many Jews in which to impact, hence the waiting for the couple of extra days before sending Jesus back there. Jesus could have cut short the grief process but Mary and Martha had to endure the extra pain and sorrow as a part of Gods bigger plan. He was ever obedient, even though in the natural he would have liked to have acted sooner. But he did go, even in the face of danger. To their credit, even the disciples faced their fears and went with him.

I love how Jesus was moved to tears seeing his friends in such sorrow and grief, especially with the knowledge that their newfound belief was such that they knew that he could have healed Lazarus and prevented the death.

Lately I've really got a sense of the pain and sorrow that the God feels when he sees his children and friends in pain and turmoil. How often he must weep for us, despising the pain, suffering and trouble that the broken world dishes out to his own.

God feels our pain and knows our circumstance. It doesn't mean that immediate relief is at hand as sometimes there are bigger plans at stake. Jesus has indeed felt our pain and shame and I believe their is a Father and brother-like empathy that longs to release us all.

We are not strangers but we are friends. We have dined, talked, listened and hung out with Jesus and will continue to flow in this relationship. When times are tough our faith might be tested in some way but we should always know that our troubles are not hidden and there is someone who has taken on the burdens and pain and wants to share the yolk with us. Not that we are released from it, but at least being yoked with Jesus we know that the yolk will be easier and the burden will be lighter.

"What a friend we have in Jesus...."

John 10B - Poaching

2009-11-23T23:06:00.003+08:00

So many players, so much going on. We have shepherds, doorkeepers, sheep, wolves, thieves, hired hands and robbers. Shifting from the allegorical to the historical we have Father, Son and the Jewish people with the Jewish Leaders behind the scenes.

When I started reading this passage I kept thinking of the idea behind poaching.

As an idea, poaching has always caught my attention. In the modern context it refers to the illegal hunting or trapping of protected wildlife. Mostly punishable by the Modern State with fines or jail terms. In the Feudal European context it meant stealing from the King. The King, as the ultimate landowner, owned everything. If I tool control of a sheep, even as one of the Kings shepherds, I was guilty of poaching and would probably be executed.

Bottom line. You treat the King's property with disrespect and your life was on the line.

A useful backdrop for John's sheep / shepherd discussion is Ezekiel 34. If you haven't read it may I suggest you stop reading now, read it and come back! Well hopefully! ;-)

In the context of the Feudal idea behind poaching and Ezekiel 34 this passage starts to make sense. It also explains the strong language; theieves, robbers, wolves. This is all predatory language. Language of self-centredness and self-interest. Treating people like objects to be mis-used and used. Jesus comment on self-sacrifice is not merely a comment on the pending cross, it is a declaration of the implicit nature of the Father God Shepherd over the natural order of men appointed by men.

Jesus problem is simple. He is dealing with poachers who are masqerading as shepherds. The sheep are trapped and preyed upon by the very ones who should be caring for them. He is preaching in the midst of an environment where these poachers have the sway of the people. That is why He runs the comparison over shepherds. The sheep are His. If you are an authorized carer of His sheep then you had better acknowledge His ownership of the sheep. The implicit warning is to tread warily when handling His sheep. Treat the Kings sheep carelessly and watch out! He has no problem moving them on when His appointed shepherds start poaching. He has no problem judging those who mis-treat the sheep.

The treatment of sheep, in the feudal context, is fear based. Hurt the sheep, cop the Kings wrath. In the context of Ezekiel 34 it is all about the voice. If the Shepherds who are meant to take care,don't, Father will step in and take over. That is why John keeps mentioning more and more people believing in Jesus. There are echoes of Ezekiel 34. The Chief Shepherd is calling His sheep. He is taking back control. Redemption is coming...

Either way, the sheep are always the King's. How much damage has the church done through the ages by not treating the sheep with the same tenderness He shows His own sheep? Let us treat His sheep with increadible carefulness.

Father preserve us from the crime of poaching...

John 10 - Feeling Sheepish?

2009-11-23T12:25:00.002+08:00

Hi folks, sorry this post is late but I had computer problems....

So anyway, Russell phones me up and says can I come up to his farm at Pingelyfor the weekend and give him a hand as he has a few small jobs on? Not being too smart, I say no worries, pack the wife and dog in the car (not necessaryily in that order), and up we go.

Of course the first job is to move some sheep from the top paddock, across a road, and into some pens for crutching. A stinking hot day(due to a dead fox hanging on the fence), me on a quad bike, Russ in his ute, and Russ' indefatigable kelpie-cross called Donny, all trying to move 70 head in one group. When do the small jobs start?!

Don't know if any of you have herded sheep, but it is a frustrating job; one wrong move and they scatter hell, west, and crooked. One will break away and a whole group will mindlessly follow, and if it hadn't have been for Donny (who had more smarts than Russ and I put together), I doubt we would have got the job done.

All-in-all sheep are pretty silly, helpless creatures, and as toey as a groom at the alter.

Which of course hits home when Jesus - a country lad Himself who probably new more about sheep than we do - refers to us as sheep!

So after the job is done and we are having a break on the back porch I noticed Russell's wife, Claire, being followed around by three juvenille sheep as she did some chores. Russ explained that his missus had nurtured them when they had been orphaned during the lambing season. Hand-fed and well mothered when they were young, they now followed Claire everywhere when she was outside, and would come to her when she called to them...evem the one called "Mint Sauce".

When I look at John 10, I see the Pharisees like our mob of 70, driven and skittish as they try to obey the Law. Instead of bringing them closer to the Shepherd they get scattered and confused. It is only when we learn to trust a Person, when we draw near to the Loving Hand, that we can feel safe.

We should rejoice for our Lord knows us and love us, and wants us to draw near so that we may fearlessly obey Him; we should rejoice in that He holds us close and will never let us go.

Shalom,

Trust & Obey

2009-11-22T05:27:00.002+08:00

I'm a bit hesitant in posting this morning as I have had little response over the past few weeks. If you have joined us in this journey I can only presume that you have committed to listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling you and then doing what he says. It would be really encouraging if you could share this with us....

2009-11-21T09:07:00.000+08:00

I was blind and now I see. As I read and pondered John 9, I gave thanks to Our Lord for opening MY eyes and for HIS spirit, residing in me, for keeping them open!

Lord - help me to HEAR better too ;)

John 9

2009-11-19T17:44:00.002+08:00

This would have to be one of my favourite chapters from John (tough choice I admit, there are so many memorable ones).

Love and admire the simple, but gutsy, testimonial approach of the recently healed blind man, standing toe to toe with the Pharisees, and simply, but effectively, sticking to his story in the face of cynicism and open animosity and unbelief. Really inspirational. Reminds me of 1 Peter 3:15 "And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it"

But the verse that always gets me every time I read John 9 is verse 4.....
"All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end."
This really emphasises the importance of seeking God's voice in our lives and being prepared to obey him without question. Time is short. Every day is valuable. We can't afford to waste one moment, one opportunity.

Related to this, while reading some of the entries on this blog this past week was reminded of Wolfgang Simson's discussion of the Hebrew word nagat (might have incorrect spelling!) in relation to Ezekiel 43:10. "Son of man, nagat to the people of Israel the temple I have shown you........"
The word nagat loosely means a royal declaration of our heavenly king but is difficult to translate because it has such authority attached to it that there simply isn't a modern word that comes close to its full and complete meaning.

When considering what it means to obey God in our daily walk, I find it useful to think of this word nagat to emphasize just how much authority is attached to the directives given to us and what is at stake.
I pray that this will spur me on to a stronger resolve to be listening for His voice and greater and more automatic obedience.

Not seeking glory for ourselves but for Him.

2009-11-19T10:31:00.002+08:00

^{Praise the Lord brethren,I hope you are all doing fine since He is in control, day in day out. As I read John 8, I started flashing back and asking myself what I would do If I were there with Jesus when the Pharisees and scribes stormed him.Unfortunately I didn't zero down on what I would do.
Currently,we are discussing a book by Randy Alcorn "HEAVEN" and it has motivated me further in serving our Lord.If you haven't got your copy then get one.Now, I can not wait for that day when I will go home and sit besides Jesus}^{over a cup of Uganda coffee (hope its his favorite) and ask him how he felt during this particular time when these people under-looked him.
Verses 48 and 49 touched me in a way:

48}The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"

⁴⁹"I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."

In the two Verses I see Jesus being branded as demon possessed and he keeps his cool and goes further to explain to the Jews his mission . Many times I have come across people who I share the Word with and they say the exact thing "You are mad",Because I know who I serve and why I serve Him,I keep going. Today many people look at Christians as demon possessed people just because our love for God keeps developing everyday and we can not hide it and we should never hide whatever the case maybe.

These two verses do motivate me and give me the morale to go on with the mission of taking His Word further and further.They clearly show that Jesus went through the same hardships and he over came.

So,let us keep His Word and we will never see death.

John 8

2009-11-18T05:48:00.002+08:00

The gap between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the world is glaringly obvious in this chapter as Jesus continues to grapple with the religious folk of the day. There are two fathers; God and Satan, both giving direction but only one leading to truth and salvation.

Rather than expound further on what is an incredibly rich chapter of scripture, I would just like to quote some key verses that spoke deeply and clearly to me this morning.

"Let him who is without sin throw the first stone".

"I am the light of the world and whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life".

"I speak to the world those things that I heard from him [the father]".

"And he who sent me is with me and he has not left me alone, for I always do those things that please him".

"If you abide in my word, then you are my disciples, and you shall know the truth and it will set you free".

"If the Son sets you free then you will be free indeed".

"He who is of God hears Gods words".

"Before Abraham was, I AM" [I love the everlasting authority, power and presence that comes with the I AM declarations].

Father, we belong to you, we are yours, we read your word, we let it touch and infiltrate our thinking and living and we listen for your voice that you direct us in truth, freedom and the light of life. Amen.

John 7 Part B by richfo

2009-11-17T08:01:00.004+08:00

It is amazing to me how quickly the person of Jesus divides. We are only 7 chapters in and lynch mobs are already being formed and in operation. Brothers don't believe in Him. Jewish leaders want to kill Him. The Jewish population is generally divided.

How often do we covet “good press". He's a good bloke. She's really nice. They are of excellent character.

Poor Jesus has done some miracles, cared for people and done some preaching. Let's kill Him they all cry.

What the???

If a servant suffers what a master suffers let us embrace what that will mean for us. If I am truly like my master I might well suffer from more then bad press.

I am reminded of what Simeon said to Mary in Luke 2: 27 to 35

Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed--and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

We worship one who divides. We follow one who divides.

It is the confronting nature of His love that divides; not arrogance or pride like us fallen ones.

But, this love still demands a response and that response is not always kind; as Jesus experienced even from His own brothers.

John 7 Part a by JB

2009-11-15T22:50:00.001+08:00

Who are you really?

I had some Jewish friends who every year, would invite me around to share Sukkoth with them. They would build a shelter in their backyard and invite all their friends and neighbours over to feast and praise God. It was great fun, but it was also a time of remembering how God shelters and provides for His people.

During Sukkoth there would always be a recitation of the Mosaic covenant (see Jesus refer to it in verse 19) to remind us of the benefits and responsibilities of being in a relationships with God. At one of these celebrations I recall my Messianic friend, Tsipi, told me that Zachariah talks about how all the nations will one day gather in Jerusalem in booths to worship God. (Zach. 14, 16-19.)

I don't want to read into the text my own ideas, but I wonder if John is alluding to Jesus as the ultimate ‘spiritual booth’ - providing shelter and sustenance- for people of every nation for all time?

One of the things that stands out for me in this passage is how people react to Jesus and His proclamations - much the same as they do today! There IS nothing new under the sun. The brothers of Jesus start it off with their sarcastic comment in verse 4 where they jeer at Jesus, and what they obviously see as His pretensions. At least they didn't throw Him down a well like Joseph's brothers!

It is our ability to treat the familiar with contempt that so often blinds us to the miraculous, to the nearness of God's presence in our life. What daily miracles do we overlook in looking for what we think God would show us?

Others demonstrate all the arguments against Jesus that we get today. The fist is that He is just a “good man” along the lines of Buddha or Gandhi, or (would you believe) Al Gore (I've read of him being a ‘visionary prophet of our times’). And then there are those who see Jesus as a deceiver who distorts reality; the malignant atheists such as Richard Dawkins who castigates Jesus for duping people into believing in an afterlife.

Whether family, friend, or outsider it is hard for us humans to see and to recognize the divine within our reality. And this theme continues throughout the chapter -"we know where he comes from "(v. 27); "where can he go that we cannot find him?" (v.35). There is this constant contrast between Jesus proclaiming Himself as the incarnate life-giving Word, and the people just not getting it. Was it all just too scary to believe that God was in their midst?

But Jesus continues to proclaim Himself, for some are listening and want to drink in the living water, take in the bread of life. And the wonderful thing is that He will always accept those who believe (verse 37, 39), and be there for them.
To finish off, a prayer thought:

“Have we come to the fountain of life? Are we drinking of its fullness? Are we living in His love? This is the life of our spirit; the health of our bodies; the secret of our joy! May we seek this overflowing life, and become channels only with all His wondrous power flowing through us so that He can use us every day and every hour. “(Evan Henry Hopkins 1837-1918).

Listen & Obey # 3

2009-11-15T08:47:00.001+08:00

So what has God spoken to you about this week? What has he asked you to do? Please share some of your journey with us in the comments section below so that we may be encouraged. These 8 weeks are not just about reading the book of John and growing in knowledge but about listening and doing. May today be a day of rest and rejuvenation for you all!

Nov 14th - John 6

2009-11-15T00:40:00.002+08:00

This is what what was shown to me whilst prayerfully reading John 6:

"The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

He didn't say "...to believe in the one who can prove who he is by performing miracles."

Putting faith in a person because of what he/she can DO is 'conditional' faith.

GOD, the ultimate parent, wants us to believe "Because he said so!" and that should be good enough for us.

Have an awesome spirit filled week everyone :)

John 6

2009-11-12T19:31:00.002+08:00

Found words of Peter in vv68,69 really reassuring, given the tense situation. It acknowleges that there are, and will continue to be, details about Jesus and how everything fits together, that we don't understand. We need to have that childlike faith that doesn't require a complex set of answers.

The other angle to these verses is to take care when engaging in some intellectual religious debate about complex issues, not easily answered. While God can bring about a conversion in any situation, the example of Jesus' ministry would suggest that it mostly occurred via signs and wonders, testimonies and displays of love and compassion.

My experience has shown me that the pursuit of knowledge and development of an "arsenal" of convincing arguments, can be detrimental to overall effectiveness, by negating or overlooking the importance of these other methods. Furthermore, it has been said, that anyone who can be argued into something, can just as easily be argued out of it.

JOHN 5 "WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY"

2009-11-12T03:03:00.002+08:00

The book of John is another good book.If I was asked to rate the books in the Bible i think I would be in trouble as many of friends would be.
As I was reading John 5, I came to V.19 and it touched me a lot. When we accepted Jesus to be our saviour we got the honour to be God's sons.He loves so much and He has done great things for us and we have seen Him do super things that leave us marvelling. 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

How many times do we brethren get to do things without a single doubt?I know and understand that we are humans BUT we should trust in Him at all times. We have been given authority to do things that He has done. We are capable of doing miracles,we are capable of changing lives,we are capable of accomplishing more than Jesus accomplished. His overwhelming accomplishment was to die for you and me so that we can be alive and die for many others.
There are many ways of dying for others but we are not doing that today. How many people have we REFUSED to help yet we have had the capacity to help? How many times have we said "I can not do that because its hard"? How many times have we said "I don't think that's my calling? How many times have we revenged?
Those are the many ways we have failed to die for others and doubted His providence for us.

If your Dad was a mechanic and took you with him every other day to show you how he does repairs and explains the different tools to you,what would you think?
To me I would think he is preparing me for the future ahead and so that I could also be able to repair just like him.By doing so he is providing me authority to take on that trade.

In Africa,I have seen many people taing the bull by its horns,I have seen many people who have been called to serve and they never have what ifs? Whys? Maybes.They have come forward to do what He did and He has seen them through.
Pastors in Uganda satrted (and still are) churches with only 3 people just under trees but God has supplied them and they have now built permanent churches that seat hundreds and hundreds of people.
Personally I have seen Him taking our ministry from our one level to another and He is still taking us up.
Miracles are still happening and more people are coming to Christ everyday. Back in the days we didn't know that we had the authority and we limited ourselves but now we know that we have the authority and we are using the authority for His glory. There is no sin in dreaming big for His Glory.
Brethren,You can start that Foundation to help the poor,You can share the Gospel with your tough boss,You can feed be happy without money,You can love that person you thought you would never love say hello to again.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life

Truly,we have the authority to do whatever our Father wants us to do, let's wake up and do something.
Praise God.

John 5 part a

2009-11-10T22:22:00.002+08:00

Here are my questions/comments:

1) v 3-9: Crowds of sick people lay on the porches and yet Jesus only healed one (as far as I know). What about all the others?

2) v14: Jesus caught up with the same guy a little later in the Temple and said, "Stop sinning or something even worse may happen to you." Seems a little harsh. Did the declaration of these words also contain in them the power to enable the man to obey, even if the sin was a lifelong addiction?

3) v19, 30: "The Son can do NOTHING by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing." Wow! What does this mean for us?

4) v41,44: This cuts back to Rosaleen's comment from yesterday. The approval of people meant nothing to Jesus and yet often means so much to us. Jesus says, "No wonder you can't believe! For you gladly honour each other but you don't care about the honour that comes from God." Why do we care about what other people may think of us so much?

I look forward to hearing your comments. Short or long, it doesn't matter, just click on the comment button below and add your voice to the discussion. I love hearing the variety of perspectives.

John 4 Part B

2009-11-10T05:50:00.004+08:00

In many ways this is an echo of JB. But, I can't get past the basic issue - Barriers.

He's Jewish, She's a Samaritan.

He's a man. She's a woman.

He is living a righteous life, by Jewish law. She's ... Well she's no where relationally.

It amazes me, how often Jesus just blows through human barriers. She's fixating on physical issues, water, mountains etc. He is trying to cut deeper. Spiritual drink. Worshipping a spiritual Father who is not bound by location or race. Her own relationships...

Most of the barriers in life are human creations. How often do we hear; "YOU CAN'T DO THAT!". As if that was a clincher to an argument! Where Jesus is concerned, if it is a human barrier, He goes straight through it. He doesn't let anything get in the way of relationship.
It is fascinating when you read history to realize how many leaders have to do the same...

President Obama - Race
Martin Luther - Control of Rome
Jesus - A Samaritan Woman

How many barriers do we let control us I wonder? How many should we be walking straight through...

John 4 Part a - by JB

2009-11-08T20:42:00.003+08:00

HOW DEEP IS YOUR WELL?

The above title was taken from a short devotional I found last night while doing a bit of reading on Jn4. Suddenly a song from the “Bee Gees” popped into my head (don’t know why as I am a ‘Death Before Disco’ sorta guy) and they were asking me, ‘How deep is your love?’ Good question: how deep is my/our love for Jesus? Am I deepening my well of faith? Do I thirst for a deeper relationship with Jesus? Which brings us to the first tale in Jn. 4.

The story of the Samaritan woman at the well seems to me to have a lot of sub-text the first of which is, what is she doing there at noon? Water is collected at the start of the day, when it is cool and undisturbed (not muddy); all that is required for the household for the day is gathered then.

[My father-in-law grew-up in a small one-well village in Cyprus and he told me all about the goings on that happen around the well. Apparently, all the young men used to get up early and go to the well so that they could make goo-goo eyes at the young women drawing water there for the day. By way of explanation, but I digress.]

Jesus gives us the reason; she is a ‘scarlet woman’ and probably went to the well at a time when no-one else would be there. The fact that Jesus knows all about her (echoes of Nathaniel – Jn1:43-51) and is still willing to meet with her, is very non-PC for circa 30AD (check-out the reaction of the disciples in v.27). Imagine what the village gossips would have said had they clocked the ‘hussy’ talking to yet another man!

So here He is, a single man talking to an unmarried woman who is not a relative (In Saudi two of my friends got thrown in the slammer for 24hrs for doing that); here he is a single Jewish man talking to a single Samaritan woman, and finally; here he is a single Jewish man talking to a single Samaritan woman, who by the standards of either faith has been rather naughty...as they both know full well.

But isn’t it typical of Jesus? He is not bound by the customs or stereotypes of the times when it comes to spreading the Gospel. It begs the question: what PC rules of our day and age are we willing to break to speak the Gospel? ‘How deep is our love?’ (for Jesus).

I’ve gone on a bit, so I’ll just mention some other things that occurred to me:

• They just don’t get it – Nic (3:4) and “being born again”; the woman and “living water” (4:15); the disciples and “who brought Him food?”(4:33). They are still seeing Jesus as a man, a prophet, a human messiah, someone to teach them more (and supposedly better) laws and rules. But Jesus is saying I am more than that.

• Despite her outcast status, the woman has the courage to go into town and face her neighbours to talk about Jesus; what about our neighbours? We don’t have the “Bad Samaritan’s” reason to stay away...unless we are ashamed of the Gospel?

• (v.34): obey and do – words to live by!

• (vs. 39-42): this reflects what Ricardo said in a comment a few days back, that “Miracles get my attention, but it is not what holds my heart.” Here, the miracles get the attention, but then:”We have heard Him ourselves, and we are certain that he is the Saviour of the world!” (NIV). Then there is the other-side of the coin...

• (v.48): we have to be careful that we are not just after the miracles. Milo told me today that St. Francis of Assisi once healed a man, and then ran away as he feared (as had happened before) that people would praise him and not the Lord.

• (v.50): the man believed...and then demonstrated that belief by heading for home. How would we have travelled on that road; second thoughts, maybe not wanting to get our hopes too high just in case...? How deep is our love?

Shalom, JB

Reading Schedule for this week

2009-11-08T15:57:00.001+08:00

For those not quite sure where we are up to we are reading 3 chapters each week so this week on Monday and Tuesday it is John 4, Wed & Thurs - John 5 and then Fri & Sat - John 6.

Listen and Obey 2

2009-11-07T20:24:00.002+08:00

So what has God been speaking to you about this week? How have you obeyed him? Please share. Just click on the comment section below and type away.

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hear the word of God AND obey it". Luke 11:28

Always something new jumps out... John 3

2009-11-07T19:54:00.002+08:00

You probably will believe this - but I never had 'read' that JESUS was baptizing people! I have read John a number of times. I think of the discussions I have followed or been involved in about baptism - and this never came up either! I love it that I keep learning...

2009-11-06T20:21:00.003+08:00

John 4

Hi all – How nice for an opportunity to fellowship with some old acquaintances and some new. It is always good to hear different perspectives and be open to be challenged by them - whilst LISTENING out for the whispers of THE Spirit, of course.

Going through the requirements of the Blog, here is how I’ve done this week.

1. Have I sought GOD every day? Yes .... nothing new there! Have I done it in a radical way? I have prayed in THE Spirit every day (not usual for me) and yesterday, in an attempt to keep me focussed on listening out for HIM, I uttered a ‘mantra’ out loud for approx 3 minutes. “Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is my Lord. Jesus is my Lord”

2. Am I reading, thinking and praying through John? Well, I AM reading it, I am also listening to it on my ipod (Samuel L Jackson and others), I AM praying before I read and listen – for guidance and to ask The Father to highlight any bits he wants me to ‘Get’!. Am I thinking????? Hmmmm ... intentionally? About John? ... Nah!

3. Am I listening to The Holy Spirit – I believe so.

4. And yes, I am contributing ;)

With regards to no 3. I said I believe so, because the cross-over line between self-justification and our Father in heaven speaking to us can be easily blurred! Wouldn’t you agree?

So, John 4 .... hmmmm ... The Woman at the Well.

39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony,

This jumped out at me when I re-read John 4 again earlier. Yesterday, Andrew and I had a conversation in which we discussed the power of relevant testimony. So, what John 4 highlighted to me (this time!) is the importance of getting in ‘amongst’ it and encouraging those who have been saved to do likewise and share their stories. Jesus has prepared the way for us:

37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true.

God’s blessings upon us as we get out there and reap for GOD what his son sowed for us!

Friday, Nov 6

2009-11-06T07:31:00.003+08:00

Wow! So much to absorb and reflect upon from Chapt 3. Feel led to place focus on arguably most widely known verse in Bible, 3:16, use this as starting point.

Have to admit over the years that this verse (or more correctly, my application of this verse) has often led to complacency on my part. To "believe" in something is fairly passive, straighforward, doesn't require any great effort on my part, can be achieved from the intellect, without the heart's involvement or any outward actions.

But what about v 18?? Clearlt there is a close link between BELIEF and TRUST. To trust in something requires a response, it means actions supporting words, it requires obedience.

This is confirmed by v36, which makes it abundantly clear just how important obedience to Jesus really is. Our lifelong journey should be about seeking God's will in all situations, both secular and sacred (interesting that at some point we made a distinction between these) and then obediently carrying it out.

While I find this a massive challenge, I'm both comforted and inspired by the words of v27 ..."God in Heaven appoints each person's work". There is a divine blueprint for each one of us. Nothing happens accidentally or coincidentally. We each have a distinct role to play.

John 2 Part b - by Seggy

2009-11-05T05:39:00.002+08:00

The Book of John is an interesting one, am speaking about John 2 in general and I will begin with the wedding at Cana.This being Jesus' first miracle it shows how much God wanted (and still wants) His Word to reach as many people as possible. In present day weddings, we have totally forgotten about Jesus' first wedding and how it showed that Yes,Jesus is a true son of God.
Many people in Africa have concentrated so much on this particular verse and violated it to a great extent. Thousands of people have turned into drunkards saying that "If Jesus turned water into wine then why shouldn't we drink and keep drinking". As a result many a brother have gotten addicted to the bottle thus destroying their lives. The church in Africa outrightly discourages drinking among Christians and whoever enjoys a drink is much looked at as a sinner unlike in the western world.

John 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
We see Jesus loosing his temper at this point for His Father's house was being misused. To me this is what is really happening today in God's temple. We are His temple but we are "selling doves,oxen,sheep and changing money in His temple" in many ways forgetting what happened. As brethren, we have the mandate to change all this. As people who are on the 8 weeks of seeking first God's Kindgom, let us begin by checking our innerman and fully refurbish our innerman.What a great joy we will have at the end of the journey as a changed and new people.
God bless you all and feel free to comment or discuss further.
Seggy

Journalling

2009-11-04T17:24:00.005+08:00

Have you ever tried journalling before? If not, maybe you could give it a trial over the next 8 weeks. Grab an exercise book and a pen and as you read through John write down what you feel God is saying to you, record your prayers, insights etc. Maybe you could share some of these thoughts in the comments section of this blog...

John 2 Part a

2009-11-04T00:11:00.004+08:00

I can see I am going to struggle to know which aspect of each chapter to speak about.... the wedding at Cana where Jesus turned the water into wine and revealed his glory...or the time when Jesus was no longer "gentle Jesus meek and mild" but was consumed with Passion for God's house... or the last 3 profound verses of this chapter where many people began to trust in Jesus because of the miracle but Jesus didn't trust them!!

Alright...I'm going to throw out a comment about miraculous signs. At the end of chapter one Nathanael had a revelation of who Jesus was because of a miraculous sign. In verse 11 it links the miraculous sign of turning water into wine with the disciples believing in him. Then in verse 23 it says that many began to trust in Jesus "because of the miraculous signs" Jesus did in Jerusalem. But it seems whenever people demanded a miraculous sign from Jesus he never gave them what they were looking for. In verse 18 the Jewish leaders demanded a sign from Jesus to prove his authority. I love Jesus' response!!! I also love the statement in verse 22.

In an article I read recently about the phenomenal growth of the house churches in China, the author makes this comment: "I am convinced that the fundamental reason for the growth of the house church movement in China is that Chinese Christians expect the Holy Spirit to declare the Lordship of Jesus Christ through supernatural acts as a normal occurrence. Christ, the power of God, acknowledged in the preaching of the Word with accompanying signs and wonders is the way God demonstrates his supremacy over other false gods. Within the house church movement itself, most Christians still recognise signs, wonders and miracles as the number one factor resulting in church expansion."

What do you think???

John 1 Part B

2009-11-02T21:55:00.004+08:00

After reading John 1 I was struck by the following.

While Matthew is interested in Jewish issues and Luke in issues of historicity, John's Gospel reads almost like a play. All the key players and questions are set and answered in John 1.

All the key players are introduced. Father, Son and Spirit. John the Baptist. Disciples, Priests, Levites and Pharisees. All the key questions of the age are introduced, asked and answered in one hit. This is not a Dan Brown special where the plot slowly unravels. This is straight and direct.

To summarize.

Jesus is God. All things are made through Him. The spotlight then shifts from Jesus to John, back to Jesus, back to John. John is not the Christ, Elijah or the Prophet. John is merely a voice pointing to the Messiah. Jesus is already amongst them and massively outranks John. Thong tying, for John, is not even an option. ;-)

John baptizes Jesus. The person of the Spirit anoints the Son. Jesus is declared lamb of God. John's disciples and others start following Jesus. Done!

Why fit all this in the one chapter? Do we even need Chapter 2?

The thought that came to mind was that John was getting all the key issues out of way in one hit. Who is everybody? Where did they come from? What part do they play? What are the big questions of the age? He finishes with the most important issue; new disciples.

It is like a play. A play focussed on the Son.

John wants everything extraneous out of the way because he just wants to talk about Jesus. All the questions of origin, place, divinity and trinity are settled in one stroke. After that, all that is left to discuss, is Jesus.

I covet this boldness, clarity and surety. So much of what I discuss is extraneous. I like John's approach. I want my sharing of Jesus to be more like this Gospel. Big issues out of the way first. Dealt with. Finished.

Rest of my conversations…

Just Jesus!

John 1 Part a

2009-11-02T06:37:00.003+08:00

As I read through John 1 this morning I was struck by the declarations of who Jesus is:

Jesus is "the Word" (v1-4)
Jesus is "the light" (v4-9)
Jesus is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (v29,36)
Jesus is "the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit" (v33)
Jesus is "the Son of God - the King of Israel" (v49)

As I seek to know God more intimately over these next couple of months I pray that Jesus would give me a deeper revelation of who he really is. For example, I can say the words, "Jesus is the light" but I want to experience the reality of this truth more deeply in my life. As I walk into places where Jesus is not known and people are walking in darkness I want to experience the power of this true light shattering the darkness and bringing life and freedom to everyone (v9)... or at least one or two :)

Over to you...

Listen and Obey 1

2009-11-01T00:54:00.004+08:00

Ok, let's get this show on the road! It is nearly 1am on November 1st and I have just got back from an engagement party. I really enjoyed chatting with a variety of people, most of whom I had never met before. I made some good connections and felt like I was aware of God's presence throughout the night.

I am also in the middle of a "listening weekend" which is basically just an extended time (3 days) of listening to God with a small group of believers and letting him set the agenda as to what he wants to show us and where he wants to lead us. It has been a great two days so far and I am looking forward to the final day today...hopefully I won't be too tired.

Over this next 8 weeks we will be reading through the book of John but I want to focus each Sunday on simply sharing what we feel God is saying to us and how we are obeying this in our lives. The next 6 days of the week we will work through 3 chapters of John but to help us avoid this blog from simply becoming a bible study I want each Sunday to be a focus on "listen and obey."

One of the things I felt God saying to me as I was driving home from the party tonight is that he wants me to keep learning how to walk in the power and presence of Jesus in every sphere of my life and not to subconsciously split into "sacred and secular" which comes so easily. So tonight at the party I tried to be in an attitude of constant prayer. "Lord, who do you want me to talk with, what questions should I ask, how do I love and listen better even in this setting, please let your presence shine through me etc."

What is God saying to you in your life at the moment and what are you doing about it? Tomorrow 2nd November we will start with the first chapter of John. Don't forget to introduce yourself below if you haven't already done this.

Introduce Yourself

2009-10-27T20:51:00.005+08:00

If you have decided to join us on this journey then please leave a comment below with a brief overview of who you are and where you are from. Thanks for joining us...

Introduction

2009-10-27T20:36:00.009+08:00

For those of you who are new to this blog you will notice that we actually kicked it off in October 2007. At this time a small group decided to read through Luke and Acts in conjunction with a book called the Hungry Always Get Fed by Rolland and Heidi Baker. Feel free to dig back into the archives if you are interested in what we shared during this time.

In this last week I decided to re-launch this blog but with a wider audience and a specific focus on the book of John. Each day from 1st November to 26th December one of the contributors will be sharing a few thoughts on the chapter being read for that day and then anyone else can add there own thoughts and experiences through the comments section. I look forward to sharing this journey with you and seeing how God wants to grow us during these 8 weeks.

Andrew

Treasure Hunt 1 - 2nd August, 2008

2008-08-04T22:07:00.002+08:00

What an encouraging, worthwhile and, I beleive, valuable exercise Saturday's Treasure Hunt was.

Thank you so much Andrew, for motivating me and others to participate. A thank you to Kevin Dedmon and his simple, easy-to-follow guide is in order to!

Any form of evangelism is:

+ Stepping out in faith
+ Taking risks for GOD
+ Trusting the HOLY SPIRIT
+ Extending love without strings
+ Experiencing community

For me, the Treasure Hunt approach adds an extra dimension of TRUST - that the 'clues' you are getting truly ARE from Our Lord.

On Saturday, finding the person on my map was secondary to just being 'Church out there'. The map was both a welcome ice-breaker and a 'safety net'.

I was encouraged by the positive reception I got from the person to whom I declared GOD's love. I give thanks to Our Lord for 'giving me' someone so warm and approachable and to the Holy Spirit for whispering in my ear ;)

Treasure Hunt Anyone?

2008-07-14T22:14:00.003+08:00

"Imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it—that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God."

Is anyone else sick of all the "talk"? Do you want to go out and spend some time loving and blessing people as the Spirit of God leads the way? Do you really believe that the Kingdom of God is not just a matter of talk but of power (1 Cor 4:20)

Then come and join us as we have some fun looking for Gods treasures in our community. The "hunt" starts at Concordia Church (cnr Glengarry & Hepburn) from 1pm each Saturday afternoon starting 2nd August. For more information read the above book or check out "Session II" at http://www.ncccweb.org/message.htm

2008-07-10T13:18:00.004+08:00

Thanks for taking the initiative and 're-opening' the blog Andrew :)

GOD is awesome - as you say. The evidence of his response to prayer is daily in my professional as well as personal life and exciting to see positive movement in the lives of students, colleagues and family members.

I am so blessed to have ministry opportunities cross my path DAILY and that his grace has given me the eyes to notice them, the heart to stay with them, the ears to listen and the trust and faith to be guided by his spirit in speaking truth from a place of love ..... even if it means being 'disliked' for it!

One of the many miracles I am witnessing is the level of Inner Peace, Joy and Freedom I am experiencing in the midst of the ultimately 'meaningless' stuff brought about by pride, defensiveness and ego of others..... and at times myself!

The juggle, I find, is to maintain patience, compassion and a non-judgemental attitude towards those who choose to take the 'lower path' and splash around in the muddy waters of self-destructive behaviours.

Nothing is Impossible with God!

2008-07-07T16:16:00.004+08:00

Life is good! God is good, and NOTHING is impossible for him. I feel so blessed that the magnitude of his goodness being displayed in my life and in the lives of my friends and loved ones around me is increasing.

I came across this verse again recently: "And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations" Ezekiel 36:27

It is not by our own efforts but by yielding to God's Spirit in us that we can walk in his ways! God's grace is truly amazing!!

Birthdays! and other things...

2008-04-05T19:18:00.002+08:00

How lovely was that - Gemma! I had no idea it was your birthday - but He Did!! I pray that you have a wonderful year - lots of joyous, wonderful surprises - and that is in the fullest sense of those words - His fullness!

I am finally moving on to John! I am not doing Luke right now - John! This is the wonderful gospel that God used to draw me totally into relationship with him - and I love it! I was early 30s. Knew Jesus from childhood. But had long not had any intimacy with God. No reality of his presence. Felt unable to deny his reality at the same time as I could not claim to have relationship! Had he gone - was he really real? Was it all a childhood thing? Was I clinging to a myth?

Reveal yourself to me!

I read John! and Jesus absolutely met me in his Word! undeniably real and alive! So I am excited to get back into John.

I am also looking for healing! I realise that I am like lots of Christians - I find it easy to pray for others but hard to hang my own needs out there! So a back thing that started last March is now quite chronic and incapacitating! So silly! You would have prayed for me - so would others and I have probably removed opportunity for others faith to be increased by God showing his healing power in my life! But anyhow. I am learning! Silly self sufficiency. I see a neurosurgeon Monday. I asked people to pray the last 2 weeks. I have been so encouraged by the love that people have shown. The neurosurgeon appointment was also amazing - so quick - a cancellation! But then I say "Father - you can heal me - so why am I doing this?" Maybe the MRI needs to confirm the damage beforehand so that the Neuro can see a miracle?

Anyhow I was there at church today for me as well as others and I will be at Bill Johnson's meeting at Churchlands on Weds.

There is a lot coming up for me: My elderly cousin from Melbourne arriving to stay a week from the 17th April. My nephew and his wife and little girl arriving 23rd April. The whole tribe (20 of us) going across to Rottnest for a week from 27th April - 4 generations together - booked 12 months ago. My 97 year old Mum being with us through all of this - great excitement for her. So you can see that from a human point of view with how I am feeling - I am just saying: Impossible!

But - equally - I have not felt that I should cancel anything. God knows and I trust him. He can heal me in a moment!

I have given thanks for this back pain. I have learned so much about what it is like to have chronic pain, to be unable to live a normal life! I have a totally new view of others who I have been praying for who are in chronic pain. I give thanks also for the fact I am only learning this now - it is wonderful to live pain free for nearly 60 years! For those young women who I have been praying for, who have been restrained by pain as young Mums - I have a new heart and passion to persist in prayer for them!

Anyhow - I kept getting stuck in Matthew. There was a lot for me to need to pause over. Jesus is not easy to live with. He challenges lots. He is fearless and straightforward. There is no ducking of issues.

Thought...

2008-03-29T18:19:00.003+09:00

This came to me while thinking [again] about Matthew 25 which often has been on my mind in the last couple of years...

People may not be able to see Jesus in me until I start seeing Jesus in them!

Encourage one another

2008-03-28T09:55:00.010+09:00

I have been encouraged by the stories told by Darren Wilson of people around the world encountering God in a variety of weird and wonderful ways. Finger of God is an amazing documentary and I am looking forward to being stretched again as I watch this film with friends and family at Concordia Church (cnr Glengarry & Hepburn) in Duncraig this Sunday night 30th March from 7pm. Feel free to join us :)

2008-03-14T19:51:00.003+09:00

After an absence of four weeks, I sat down this evening to re-familiarise myself with the blog. It was a case of, "What am I writing about again?"

I glance up and read "A Journey of responding to God's call on our lives day by day" ... ah! that was it.

So, I ponder upon how I have responded to God's call in the midst of a particularly busy nine weeks - just life stuff - major surgery, house packing, daughter moving out, shifting from large house to tiny unit, y'know how it goes ;)!

As I reflect back over approx 63 days, I visualise a checklist:

Spend time with GOD daily CHECK
Pray for others CHECK
Praise GOD CHECK
Put on spiritual armour CHECK
Read scripture CHECK (confession: not been daily of late though)
Demonstrate Love CHECK
Speak Boldly CHECK (well, usually)

It has been a period of upheaval for me but also one of enormous healing and growth. GOD has been there for me and has orchestrated some very special healing moments with significant others in my life.

My personal relationship with GOD is ever strong .... after 3 years as a follower of Jesus, I still marvel often, at how lucky I am to have been 'found' .... it is a relationship I value above all others and treasure with all my heart.

I love, accept and encourage others, especially the marginalised. (sometimes it might take a couple of 'goes' and lots of prayer .....but hey! I am human ;)

As committed followers of Jesus, all the above is "just what we do", I am sure. Yet, how many of us do them as they fit into our lives, our routines, when the mood takes us ........

Is it good enough? Hmmmmm, I wonder.

Matt hew 5 - new insights from Bait of Satan course

2008-03-08T10:01:00.002+09:00

43-47
"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that."

45 in NIV
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven

Greek word for 'sons' here means that people will recognise you as Gods son by your behaviour. You not only are genetically connected (thats a different word for 'son') but you take after your father in how you act.

Well - here I am having confessed that I avoid womens groups because I don't like being caught up in gossip and stuff - HELLO ! what a judgement!

My eyes are being opened on this course. Thank Heavens! even if I don't like what I see about me. I can see that when God gives me opportunities to exercise some spiritual muscle (so that I get stronger) I often avoid the exercise. So I am nearly 60 and still toddling! I LOVE this journey - because even if I know I am never arriving this side of heaven - I am glad that there is still so much to learn... he will never give up on me!

Mmm - I'm not tracking well

2008-03-03T21:53:00.003+09:00

Don't know about you but I am all over the place!

With reading - totally undisciplined!

With prayer - OK - if I can ever say OK! My night-times which were so focussed are all a bit wavy - but being away for the wedding - I found that my times of prayer were all over the place! Odd times at night. Few times in the day - and a couple where I prayed for Kerry and Clay(bride and bridegroom) aloud with Thalia(Kerry's mother) there... as I did their flowers - and I think that was very strange for lovely Thalia!

And me - my gaps over the weekend - I tucked into a novel!

So - there I am - but glad that you are out there - maybe facing similar 'non' struggles! because that is what they are! Not hard - but in a zone I DO NOT want to be comfortable in!

With witness - being Jesus - well I am more aware - but not as bold as I might be! Tomorrow is craft again. I have been amazed at how prayer (of several people) is creating results! People are open to be prayed for. Some women who know Jesus are getting BOLD! that has been a focussed prayer - that they would GROW in confidence. So - God is proving his faithfulness over again.

It was great to catch up with my cousin's husband in France for an hour or so just now! He is an atheist - who has been so miraculously healed!
He knows we (my sisters and Mum) pray for his healing - and are always thankful for his good news! Truly miraculous! Serious Melanoma in reatreat! Praise God! He never thought it could happen! I never thought it could happen quite frankly! God is TRULY good!

But on my Gospel exploration - I am happily still in Matthew - the middle - and growing in affection for the writer - and the story!!!

Gods timing and ours

2008-02-21T16:01:00.002+09:00

Over the last weeks doing the Bait of Satan - it has struck me (again!) how Gods promises do come about - but so often we can give up on them because nothing seems to happen - we have no sign that things are even moving in the direction of what we felt was a sure promise!

Joseph and his dreams and David being annointed King are two that took many years of great hardship to come about.

Look - even Mary was wondering when Jesus was going to get started? and that was after how many years of promises of HIS coming!

I think of Corrie ten Boom just STARTING her time hiding Jews at 53 I think? Look what a ministry that led to!

I say this as an encouragement for you (and me) if you have had any dreams and visions or other promises from God. Relax. Don't try to bring it all about by yourself. Just Stay Faithful. He is, and He will bring about everything in His time!

Week 7 A more effective prayer pattern

2008-02-20T19:06:00.003+09:00

It seems better to say Week 7! Kind of a reprieve that there is still so much ahead!

Its not that it has been a slow start. Far from it! There has been lots on - and perhaps it has been trying to get back into a rhythm of being still has been hard. I know each of you have had serious stuff on - and my life is MUCH less crowded in many ways - and I have still been struggling with time.

Lovely thing though has been my prayer life. I have been seriously frustrated over the last 12 months with a horrible sleeping pattern. I wake after between 4 and 5 hours (too early to go down to church for prayer) and then after a couple of hours tossing and turning - sleep til after 7! I would love to do the 'early to bed, early to rise' thing - I am a morning person - but the last 12 months have put paid to that. So now - I just use that awake time for prayer. I maintain a list of people to pray for and find that I am able to just lift them in prayer during my awake time. So tossing and turning is no more! I find I am wide awake and able to be focussed on intercessory prayer! That has left my other prayer times for more personal things. So it has let me ADD intercessory prayer without trying to cram my 'one on one time with God' with requests.

So I am learning that having different sorts of 'serious' prayer times might be good for me. I have always tended to have the 'immediate family' members as ad hoc prayers during the day. That was fine when I was ironing clothing and I could pray for each as I was doing their clothes - but now I think I have been a tad slack with my children since they have been away from home. So I might look at creating a further intercessory space in my day for family and being much more focussed in that too.

I HAVE to say that God has been amazing in answering prayer during the last week. A youngster - nephew of a woman I sat next to at craft - had been in a coma for 9 days (after falling from a balcony and cracking his head on a rock), had fluid building up in the lungs... it was not looking good when she told me about it. A number of people in the church started praying - Day 11 he awoke and seems to have suffered no damage. The lungs are OK although there is some infection picked up in ICU! A miracle! The woman saw me at craft and just hugged me - the family is so overjoyed - and she is convinced that it was a result of prayer! I think there was some church background in the family - but not necessarily of the kind that was given to spontaneous prayer and trusting God - so I am full of thanksgiving!

The small intercessors group at church is faithful and there is more happening there... so I am glad to be part of that.

Tough side... we had Lara and Dans engagement party here last Saturday night. I was full of confusion in all sorts of areas - part of which was the feast! Yes - it was necessary to be celebratory for her on one hand - and then on the other - the whole thing of who you throw feasts for was nagging me and it was not the only thing! I had so many mixed feelings about it all that I suddenly realised I have NOT been praying about it specifically! Better late than never - I think Friday night I was actually praying about the evening. We had a lovely night - and I was glad to meet so many of Lari's friends. Nice people. I am also giving thanks for that night. I was so fraught with concerns. He relieved me of many!

OT ties to today - The Ark!

2008-02-13T19:56:00.002+09:00

Well Gemma - I am NOT a theologian - so this will be from my understanding - which is not 'scholarly'!

In the NT we get a full understanding of Gods 'indwelling' in us. Lots of verses both from Jesus himself and in the letters etc. To some extent though we almost take that so for granted - that it loses its awesomeness. We treat this state of being indwelt casually.

In the OT the space between the Cherubim on top of the Ark of the Covenant was the dwelling place of God. Incredibly sacred. Many rules as to how it was to be treated. The High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies once a year - on the Day of Atonement when through a proscribed ceremony atonement for the sins of the people were sought.

In Samuel is the story of Eli (the high priest of the time) and his sons. Their treatment of the holy things was careless, disrepectful - and Eli - failed both as a father and High Priest in disciplining his sons. The outcome was that God determined the sons would not live, allowed the Ark to be taken by the enemy (Phillistines) - and Elis sons died.

God's GLORY - his dwelling place - was GONE! His people were still there. But He was no longer in their midst.

The teachings have been bringing that story - and applying it - to the church today. Some major church leaders teach that Jesus was not divine - he was just a good man, that scripture is an interesting collection of useful writings, that God is not a PERSON - but a marvellous idea. Many Western churches ignore scripture preferring the 'wisdom' of their own enlightenment!

So just like Frasier - God has left the building!

Then there is the individual like me. A Holy Temple for the Most High God! How carelessly I treasure, revere and guard His presence! It is not that I should be trying to 'behave holy' to look good to others, but I should do so to make His place with and in me fit for Him - out of love and obedience. We know this at some levels - but this OT teaching has been wonderful in opening my eyes to just how seriously He takes this, and how casual I am about it! His presence cannot be taken lightly or for granted.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-02-11T18:33:00.000+09:00

How are others going so far into this new year of seeking God for his direction/leading/guidance?

In reading over my final post for 2007 ... I can tell you:

For me, I will read less christian stuff next year, in favour of GOD's word through scripture.
I can tell you that so far I have already read more christian stuff than scripture. So as soon as I have completed the next one I will be saying 'no' to anything other than scripture (and the occassional light novel for balance ;)

I will set aside specific time to go out (with others!!!)
Not done yet .... but invite me ...!

and be Jesus in the community - intentionally!!
I continue to seize every opportunity I can to reflect HIM and to speak boldly.
eg. I recently told a 'windscreen washer' boy at the traffic lights that I had been praying for him and his twin brother and he responded with "Really?! My brother and I want to be baptised. Where can we go?" I directed them to the local church of christ on a Tuesday night when meals are provided and Celebrate Recovery is facilitated.

continue striving towards greater balance between work, fitness and spiritual growth
So far on track with this one ;)

Looking forward to sharing journeys, lessons and trials as we encourage one another.

God bless you all,

Gemma :)

2008 - a year of possibilities

2008-01-01T14:34:00.000+09:00

I was reading through Mark 9 this morning and Jesus reminded me that "EVERYTHING is possible for him who believes". My response is the same as the boy's father, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief".

In 2008 I want to live with greater faith, deeper humilty and more reckless love! I want to see Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly and follow him more nearly - day by day!

Please join me in this journey. I need your encouragement and support :)

Where to from here? (3)

2007-12-24T08:03:00.000+09:00

For those of you who like to read I can highly recommend three books which build on from "The Hungry Always Get Fed" and particularly with regard to how this may look in a Western context.

1) When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson. An inspiring, easy to read book which explores what it means for God's kingdom to come here on earth today - a practical guide to a life of miracles. Read more here

2) Miracle Workers, Reformers and The New Mystics by John Crowder. This book is a great overview of many of the historical Christian movements and gives biographies of people who have radically followed Jesus throughout history. This book will inspire you to become part of this current supernatural generation.

3) Turnings by Guy Chevreau. The basic premise of this book is "Why there and not here?" The Introduction to this book can be read here. Guy shares what he has learned through his association with Iris Ministries and Betel, both of which he admits have turned his life upside down.

All of these books should be available from Koorong but I also have a copy of each so if you would like to borrow one, please let me know.

Where to from here? (2)

2007-12-24T07:58:00.001+09:00

For those who have found this blog to be helpful, we thought we may continue to make it available to anyone who would like to share stories during their "52 weeks of action" in 2008. So if you would like to be able to make your own posts to this blog, send Gemma an email and she will set you up for this purpose.

Where to from here? (1)

2007-12-24T07:50:00.000+09:00

For those who have found it helpful to have the daily Bible readings and don't want it to stop here, feel free to join Gemma and I as we continue to assimilate the gospels. Please send either of us an email if you want to know more.

Day 52 - Acts 28

2007-12-22T11:54:00.000+09:00

Well - this is it folks - the final day of preparation for 2008!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, comments, encouragements, revelations, inspirations and wisdom ;)

As a result of your journey since November 1st ....

Will you do anything differently in 2008? and if so, what?

For me, I will read less christian stuff next year, in favour of GOD's word through scripture.

I will set aside specific time to go out (with others!!!) and be Jesus in the community - intentionally!! (eg. sit in a public place - a park, a pub and talk openly and honestly to people about The Good News)

Generally, I plan to continue striving towards greater balance between work, fitness and spiritual growth - with GOD always my centre.

Were you challenged in any way over the past 52 days and if so, how?

My capacity for commitment was challenged - (reading prescribed material and posting a blog every alternate day) - but I was up for it! (By the grace of GOD)

I was challenged when I attended the prayer meeting at South Perth Church of Christ - I am uncomfortable around loud, overt, 'babbling type prayer.

What did you learn?

I learnt that one can go out and spread The Gospel without neccesarily building relationships with each and every person. (That is freeing for me, because the work that I do is based on building relationships with vulnerable, needy people and is not something I am willing to engage in outside my work life in 2008).

I learnt that 'loud, overt, babbling prayer' can be a demonstration to GOD of obedience and trust and to show GOD one is willing to 'risk making a fool of oneself' for HIM.

Have a merry christmas and may you continue to grow in faith, wisdom and discernment!

Day 51 - Acts 21

2007-12-21T10:10:00.000+09:00

With only two days to go in this particular journey I wanted to emphasize some words of Jesus from day 6 - Luke 6: "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

May we live what we have read; practice what we have heard and continue to encourage each other on our ongoing journey.

Doing What We Hear - Link

Day 50 - Acts 26

2007-12-20T08:08:00.000+09:00

"You are out of your mind..." (v 24)

What struck me about todays reading is how people will staunchly defend their beliefs (or lack thereof) by dismissing the beliefs of others as insanity!

What arrogance! What fear! What ignorance!

Ignorance that we, as followers of Jesus, are called to 'rectify' by enlightening those in darkness. (v 18)

Recently, someone who I love and value enormously in my life made a similar comment - "Goodness! I'm glad I am not one of your mob (christians), you are all crazy!"

Hmmmmm ..... it is all relaltive!

Have a blessed day all :)

Day 49 - ACTS 25

2007-12-19T07:53:00.000+09:00

It seems like these last few chapters are "dragging" in my opinion. In chapter 21 Paul is arrested, then he shares his conversion story with the crowd (which we have already heard). He then speaks before the Sanhedrin, is transferred to Caesarea, goes under trial before Felix and then before Festus and now before Agrippa.

The main point of all this (I think) is revealed in Acts 23:11 where it says "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

God is giving Paul opportunity to preach the gospel to key people in Rome. What does everyone else think??

I like what Rosaleen said in her comment yesterday and so I thought it was worth repeating: "Sometimes we will feel fettered and unable to move forwards. With no control over our circumstances. Having to wait and trust God. Dont fret - make the most of the opportunities under your nose - right where you are!"

DAY 48 - ACTS 24

2007-12-18T08:52:00.000+09:00

So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before GOD and man (v16)

Good morning all ..... if there is anyone out there reading this other than Andrew!

What a pity so many are unable to attend our pre-Christmas communion and fellowship this evening. Let us ensure that we make a concerted effort to make this happen sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, I pray we keep Our Lord close to our hearts and the Holy Spirit guiding us in every step as we are 'pulled' into the busyness of this season ;)

Day 47 - ACTS 23

2007-12-17T08:07:00.000+09:00

Here we are at the beginning of another day: another 24 hours to respond to God's grace in our lives and live in his love. Yesterday has gone and tomorrow will never come...life is all about what we do Today.

It's great to reflect on what we have learnt over the past 46 days and what we hope will happen in the future, but for me all of this hinges on how I live in the moment today.

I'm looking forward to Tuesday night and hope to see many of you there.

DAY 46 - ACTS 22

2007-12-16T11:41:00.000+09:00

My father in heaven - help me to live my life according to YOUR point of reference.

That's where I'm at this week ;)

Anyone else care to share a sentence ....or two?

Day 45 - ACTS 21

2007-12-15T02:52:00.000+09:00

Paul is undergoing more persecution in this chapter so I refer back to the post on day 41. Please read and leave a comment.

Just a random comment that in chapter 20 and 21 when Paul prayed with the people before he left, he "knelt". Sounds like a good posture for praying and one that is maybe underutilzed :)

DAY 44 - ACTS 20

2007-12-14T07:12:00.000+09:00

Whilst sitting outside, enjoying the breeze and thanking GOD for a couple of specific things that happened today in direct response to prayer ... PTL!
I got to thinking (or the Holy Spirit got me thinking):

Hungry people see food everywhere.

I suspect there are WAAAAY more signs and wonders going on around us a lot of the time – we just ain’t seein’ ‘em!

As is often said “GOD is not a performing bear!” so he’s not going to ‘step up the show’ just because us ‘earthlings’ are not listening or looking, let alone acknowledging the source.

We must LOOK for signs and wonders and EXPECT to see them in every situation.

We must give more credit to GOD and stop using words like ‘coincidence’ or ‘fluke’.

Perhaps then we will witness more signs and wonders in the form of miracle healings.

Are we not hungry enough if we do not ‘see’ the Holy Spirit at work everywhere?

2007-12-14T06:30:00.000+09:00

Hi all,

Just a reminder as Gemma encouraged yesterday to go back to "Day 41" and add your comment to this conversation. Gemma has raised some important issues and I think it would be great if we could all reflect on and respond to some of these.

Andrew

Day 43 - ACTS 19

2007-12-13T07:28:00.000+09:00

We now have less than 10 days left in our 52 day journey and Christmas is rapidly approaching. I want to encourage you not to grow weary in these last days but to keep surrendering to the Holy Spirit and seeking him for revelation and insight over these next nine days. For those who haven't yet finished the book, maybe you can set aside an hour this week with your favourite drink, your favourite CD and a quiet spot just to allow God to encourage you through the experience of his servants Rolland & Heidi Baker. Let Mary's example from Luke 10 be our inspiration this week.

After reading Acts 18 I was thinking to myself, it looks like the demonstration of the Spirit's power has ceased for a time as Paul seemed to spend his all his time "reasoning, persuading & debating". But then all of a sudden in chapter 19 Paul meets with some disciples in Ephesus, lays hands on them and they are baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues and prophesied. I find Paul's question in verse 2 intriguing: "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Obviously this was important to Paul.

And then in verses 11 and 12 it says that God did extraordinary miracles through Paul. Anyone want to comment further on these verses?

The kingdom of God is not about formulaes and words as some Jews learned when they tried to drive out evil spirits in the name of the Lord Jesus without the underlying authority that comes from knowing him.

There are a few other things from Acts 19 which hit me but for the sake of brevity I will leave it here. May the God of all grace and truth empower you to live for him in all you do today!

2007-12-13T07:10:00.000+09:00

Hello people,

I posted a comment last night on ACTS 17 that I thought I'd bring your attention to as I would be interested in comments/insights/opinions/thoughts ......

Have a spirit filled day!

Day 42 - ACTS 18

2007-12-12T17:46:00.000+09:00

Good evening all,

Sorry I'm late!;)

How timely, given recent posts/comments, that today, I let 'busyness' keep me from this blog. I am sure this is a challenge for many at this time of year.

How quickly I forget that I can't do it in my own strength!

This blog is a connection. It is fellowship.... and fellowship should always be high on my list of priorities if I am to continue to grow and learn in my Christian walk.

I better post this now.

Day 41 - ACTS 17

2007-12-11T08:58:00.000+09:00

I have been mulling over the responses that people had towards Jesus' message and the disciple's preaching. Not everyone loved them! Not everyone believed! Many of my paradigms are being shaken over this 52 day period and this is one of them: that I have to present the "gospel" in such a way that it is relevant, attractive and doesn't get anyone "offside".

If I am honest, my subconscious view has been that I must not offend anyone and if someone does not like what I am saying or doing then I must be doing it wrong. But this was not the experience of Jesus, Paul and others throughout Luke and Acts. Why should I expect my experience to be any different??

Some of the Jews were persuaded but others were jealous and started a riot. (v4-5)

Many of the Jews in Berea believed but when the Jews in Thessalonica learned about this they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. (v12-13)

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some sneered but other said we want to hear more (v32)

If people are offended by sin in our lives then we need to be willing to repent and walk in humility and love. But if people are offended by the message of Jesus' kingdom then we need to be bold and ask the Holy Spirit to give us strength.

"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me." John 15: 19-21

Day 40 - ACTS 16

2007-12-09T21:19:00.000+09:00

Blessings!

This week, I have found it almost impossible to quieten my mind to hear GOD.

Don't you hate that?!

For me, its been something like this:

Busy time
HIS voice is fading
Busy days
my mind won't be quiet!
Rising stress levels,
where are you GOD?
I KNOW you are there
am I hearing impaired?
I know you won't leave me but
wish I could hear you!
I take control
Make things happen
Stress increasing
What if I'm not living GOD's will?
HOW WILL I KNOW IF I CAN'T HEAR HIM?
Sssh!
I better be quiet and listen.
Ah!! There you are ....
Yes, it is all so simple really -

As simple as the beautifully SIMPLE response to the Jailers question (16:30) "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household."

Ahhh! Soothing words.

Day 39 - ACTS 15

2007-12-09T08:36:00.000+09:00

There is always the temptation to come back under law! It happened back in the early church with the issue of circumcision and it happens today in so many forms.

In his book, "Living in the grace of God", Rob Rufus says:

"Grace releases us from the oppression of people's opinions, it nullifies Satan's accusations and it evaporates guilt and regret.

Grace sets us free to be what God created us to be - an enthusiastic, joyful, spontaneous, unpredictable, risk-taking and secure people."

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free! May we live each day in the real experience of God's grace and freedom.

Day 38 - ACTS 14

2007-12-08T10:49:00.000+09:00

Some people have accused Christians of living boring lives. If we lose touch with the Jesus of the gospels and of the first church in Acts, then yes I think we can lapse into formal religion…but as I read through Acts 14 it was far from boring!

Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time in Iconium speaking boldly for the Lord and he confirmed their message of grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. (v3)

Even with the signs and wonders the people of the city were divided. Their was tension in the air! (v4)

A crippled man in Lystra had faith to be healed. Paul didn’t pray for healing, he simply looked at him and called out “Stand up on your feet!” (v9)

The crowd were so impressed that they wanted to sacrifice to Paul as a God. (v13, 18)

Suddenly the crowd turned on Paul and stoned him, thinking he was dead (v19)

But Paul “got up and went back into the city” (v20)

Following Jesus is not an easy road (“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God”– v 22) but once we fully surrender to this path it is anything but boring!

Day 37 - ACTS 13

2007-12-07T07:02:00.000+09:00

Once again, we are reminded that we cannot live in GOD's will without the Holy Spirit.

Only through the Holy Spirit can we be sure our words and actions are truly from GOD and not just what we think GOD would want us to be saying and/or doing.

Even then, how can we be sure it IS the voice of GOD? ..... Through prayer, trust, faith, belief and HUNGER!!!

I found verses 10-13 interesting. Through The Holy Spirit, Paul was given the authority to judge and condemn Elymas. To me, this not only represents the power we have available to us (not that I want that level of power, mind you!) but it also illustrates what is likely to happen on judgement day to those who deny and attempt to turn others away from faith in The Lord. Being left blind with no hand to reach out to = being alienated from GOD and having no access to the Holy Spirit ... left stumbling on our own in the dark.

In Jesus name I pray we all have eyes, ears and hearts that are OPEN to hearing the word of GOD through HIS Holy Spirit and that we encourage others in their faith, Amen!

Day 36 - ACTS 12

2007-12-06T06:50:00.001+09:00

After reading through this chapter I was reminded again of the words in Luke 1:37 - "For nothing is impossible with God" - even a miraculous escape from prison through the guidance and influence of an angel. I found it interesting that Peter initially thought he was seeing a vision?!?

There was also quite a lot of death in this chapter: first Herod had James killed (even though Peter was spared, James was not), then after the escape he ordered that all the guards be killed and then finally Herod himself died, struck down by an angel of the Lord.

In the midst of all this, "the word of God continued to increase and spread". (v 24) The picture presented in Acts so far is not one of safety and security, but one where the church is growing rapidly, people are praying, the kingdom of God is being preached with boldness, persecution is not far away...but neither is God.

What sort of life is God leading us into in 2008 as we continue to seek him???

Day 35 - ACTS 11

2007-12-04T21:06:00.000+09:00

What often strikes me when reading scripture is the 'nonchalant' style of recording momentous events!

"So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."(11:18)
The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.(11:26)

I almost expected to hear drum rolls and fanfare as I read those lines!

GOD gives his 'stamp of approval' on Gentiles, leading the way for an all in-clusive group .. and Christians were born!

Followers of Jesus risked their very lives when they set off to far away places and to spread the good news to a bunch of gentiles!

Pretty momentous!!