Spiritual Wisdom

There’s been rather a lot of prayer in today’s liturgy. Our worship would be incomplete without it. Now we come across Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians. Or better still, Paul’s contemporary prayer for those who worship here at TWURC. His prayer is for spiritual wisdom. He states his concern that to know God is of utmost importance.

Prophets like Jeremiah thousands of years earlier had conveyed the same message. This is what the LORD says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things.” (Jer.9:23-24).

In Christ alone my hope is found! Failure to understand this will lead, not to everlasting life, but everlasting destruction. Every day roughly 150,000 around the world die. Death has a way of raising our spiritual temperature and quickening us to re-evaluate life – especially to ask, “Am I doing all that I can do to know God? And if I do know Him am I doing all that I can be doing for the sake of the Gospel?” Because when this life is finally past, and our deeds are all recorded in the “Books”, only what was done with and for the Lord, will last forever.

A minister was approached by a man who wanted to join the church. “But”, the man said, “I’m very busy. I can’t be on any committees, or sing in the choir. I won’t be available to help with setting up chairs or mundane things like that. And I’m afraid I’ll never be able to visit anyone, as my evenings are all tied up. And Bible studies are out of the question.” The minister thought for a moment, then replied, “I believe you’re at the wrong church. The church you’re looking for is ½ a mile down the road, on the right.” The man followed the directions and soon came to an abandoned, boarded up, closed church building. It was a dead church, gone out of business!

Christ is our model, and the more we know of Him, the more we will be like Him. Later in Ephesians, Paul talks about being imitators of Christ so that we reflect God’s goodness to others. For personal knowledge of Jesus Christ changes lives. Don’t be afraid of death. The God of the universe raised Jesus from the dead. His power is beyond compare and is available to help us. His love has no limit. His grace has no measure. There is nothing too difficult for Him. The Holy Spirit is given to those who belong to God and this same Spirit aids us in discovering who God is and working for His glory. It is an ongoing process though to “understand the confident hope he has given to those he called.”

There are lots of different ways to use the word “call”. You call your friend hoping they will answer their phone. We call our kids to come down for dinner. In the Bible “called” means passing from death to life. Called means God sees who we are. Called means He has a purpose for us. Called means we need to examine our own lives. That’s the very specific meaning intended with this word in Ephesians: “Called to be his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”

However, the anxieties of daily troubles, stress, worry and personal tragedies can make us deaf to hear the hope of God’s calling, the riches of His inheritance and the power that He has to provide for us. I’m not in anyway trying to minimize those concerns and issues, but remember God has a different perspective. It’s always existed; it’s eternal. God sees our pain and struggles in light of eternal glory.

Worry is putting question marks where God has put full stops. When we cannot understand why He isn’t helping, Scripture encourages us to trust – as hope in anything except God makes our hope depend on circumstances. But basing our hope in God means we can find joy in situations where it seems joy should not exist.

“I have a mountain of credit card debt”, one man told another. “I’ve lost my job, I can’t pay the mortgage, my car is being repossessed, but I’m not worried about it.”
“Not worried about it!” exclaimed his friend.
“No. I’ve hired a professional worrier. He does all my worrying for me, that way I don’t have to think about it.”
“That’s fantastic. How much does your professional worrier charge for his services?”
“Fifty thousand pounds a year”, replied the first man.
“Fifty thousand pounds a year! Where are you going to get that kind of money?”
“I don’t know”, came the reply. “That’s his worry!”

In a sense, those whom the Lord has called do have a professional worrier to do all their worrying for them. As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon God, for you are his personal concern.”

The career of missionary E. Stanley Jones was nearly cut short by chronic worry. When he first arrived in India, he wore himself out worrying: “I was suffering so severely from brain fatigue”, he later wrote, “that I collapsed, not once but several times.” His colleagues warned him that any attempt to continue ministering in such a state would be fatal. While praying one night Jones seemed to hear a voice ask him, “Are you prepared for this work to which I have called you?”
“No Lord”, replied Jones. “I am done in. I can’t go on. I’m a bundle of nerves.”
“If you will turn that over to me and not worry about it”, the voice seemed to say, “I will take care of you.”

A great sense of peace closed in over Stanley Jones. His energy returned, his enthusiasm bubbled over, and he plunged back into his work with a vitality he had never known before. He went on to spend a lifetime of ministry in India, preaching to multitudes and writing numerous books the most well know being Victorious Living. In it he says, “This one I know: my life was completely transformed and uplifted that night…when at the depth of my weakness and worry, a voice said the Scripture to me: Give all your worries and cares to me, for I care about you.”

God’s calling is not a longing; it is a firm basis on which we can rest. Don’t exchange the great benefits of Christ for the riches this world has to offer. None of them last! Christians who have hope in Christ do not live in fear. They pray with hope and live in joy because, as Paul says, in the reality of their struggles the Risen Lord is exalted in heaven and he prays that we might understand “how vast the resources of God’s power open to us – who trust in him.”

Even when we’re dry and empty, the wellspring of life is buried deep within and it is more abundant than the waters in the sea: And as He stands in victory sin’s curse has lost its grip on me. For I am His and He is mine bought with the precious blood of Christ.

Remember the Son’s redemption, the Spirit’s adoption and ask God to continue His work of grace in your lives.

The Owner’s Son

Cliff Richard owns one. As does Prince Charles, Brad Pitt, Nick Faldo, and David Beckham. Some are solely for personal use and an investment. Others can offer tax benefits and become lucrative businesses. Yet, the trend of celebrities owing vineyards is not a recent development. In ancient Greek and Roman times, the leading philosophers, playwrights, politicians and generals often owned a vineyard. Although not a celebrity, even Noah planted a vineyard and Naboth was killed for his.

Of course the extensive vineyards of Southern France and Italy today are beautiful, inspiring picture postcards and hundreds of paintings. A thistle makes us think of Scotland. The national flower of England is the rose. Shamrock’s make us think of Ireland. Can’t leave out the Welsh – theirs is the daffodil. In the same way, a kind of national symbol for Israel in the OT was the vineyard. Isaiah writes a song about one:“My friend had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug the soil and cleared it of stones; he planted the finest vines. He built a tower to guard them, dug a pit for treading the grapes. He waited for the grapes to ripen, but every grape was sour.” (Is.5:1-2).

The lesson of this song of the vineyard shows that God’s chosen people have to bear fruit – to carry out His work, to uphold justice. Sadly His chosen nation did bear fruit, but the fruit was bad. So God eventually had to lay it to waste. This brings us to today’s parable of the tenants as adopted by Christ as an allegory to make a similar point. Some of its words recall Isaiah. But the application is new and startling.

A man, says Jesus, planted a vineyard, and when he had got it functioning, let it out to some tenants before he moved away. Before he went, he made a bargain with his tenants on a crop-sharing basis. At harvest time they were to pay him as rent part of the produce. It’s totally reasonable. It’s his land, his vintage. So, when the season came, he sent one of his servants to collect it. But the tenants were devious. They seized the servant, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. A second man was sent but they treated him just as shamefully and a third servant they killed. And so on. The situation was desperate there was only one more person to send. That was his son: “They’ve treated my servants badly, but surely they must respect my son?” he thought. But the tenants were wickeder than he imagined. When the son appeared, they whispered to each other, “This is the heir. If we get rid of him, the vineyard will be ours.” So they killed him too, threw his body outside the vineyard, and seized the property.

It’s relatively easy to understand this parable. It’s a satire of Israel’s history. Like a precious vineyard, God (the landowner) had given His people the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. In favourable seasons much wine was produced and harvests were plentiful. He blessed the nation with His grace, His laws, priests and prophets – they are the servants who were sent on His behalf. But as a nation, Israel rejected many of her prophets Elijah, Jeremiah and John the Baptist. Her tenants – the chief priests, scribes, elders and rulers down the centuries were so wicked that eventually the landowner sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ Himself, as their Messiah.

In the previous chapter the religious leaders had questioned Jesus’ authority. It’s now no wonder they realized “He had spoken this parable against them” (12:12). The penny had dropped. It was satirical but definitely not fictitious! It was revealed before their very eyes. God sent His only Son to His people, making His last appeal, and soon they would nail Him to a cross, outside Jerusalem. The vintage, the gleaning of the grapes had failed as “No one who drinks the old wine wants the fresh and the new. ‘The old is better they say.’” (Lk.5:39).

They may have killed the owner’s son, but they did not end His life! That’s why we can’t dismiss this old story today for it concerns us. The worldwide Christian Church has inherited Israel’s place. As the new Israel we have received wonderful privileges from God. We are blessed to see and hear things that the prophets did. We are blessed to receive forgiveness of sins through Christ’s blood. We are blessed to continue Christ’s ministry through the work of the Holy Spirit. We are God’s tenants now and He looks for our fruits of faith, love and obedience by building on the stone that the original builders rejected. Dare we say that we are producing these fruits?

There are a lot of places in scripture where God’s people are called “His vineyard”, and He desires to enjoy its fruit. Often though we neglect the privileges of being tenants:-
• We complain and turn away from God time and again.
• We take grace for granted as we sin, and do not seek forgiveness.
• We come into conflict with each other.
• We make no time to read the Bible.
• We make little effort to spread the precious Gospel.

But only repentance bears true fruit and only faith produces good works in God’s sight. So Jesus asks a rhetorical question to emphasize that this parable speaks in judgment: “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do?” (12:9). God has every right to judge us because He created the world. He is the Owner. We are accountable. But even though His servants are treated harshly the parable shows His patience as “He is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet.3:9).

Consider this alongside these words of Jesus, read them with me: “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will bear more fruit…Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned.” (Jn.15:1-2,6). If you want life it must be in the vine! If we think we have some sort of right to live rent-free, taking our myriad of blessings for granted, then God will take away those blessings and give them to someone who appreciates them: “The righteous will flourish like palm trees”, says Ps.92, “They will bear fruit in old age and are always green and strong.” (vs.12,14). Dead branches though are another thing. They are thrown into the fire. So the question to ask is this: Are you alive in Christ, the Son who gave His life for you?

It’s totally absurd to our feeble minds. What owner of a vineyard would sacrifice His only son, to get the harvest? And why would the son go when he knew others had perished? It seems ridiculous to human understanding – yet it was fulfilling the plan and purpose of God. Jesus is the final word from a merciful compassionate Father, the last in the line of obedient servants and prophets. To reject the Lord Jesus, the foundation stone of the church, is to reject God and invite His judgment upon yourself.

If we have been given the vineyard, and God wants everyone to be there. Therefore, it’s simple: we can’t copy the behavior of those wicked tenants.

Where Are The Witnesses? (They’ve Gone Fishing!)

Imagine how Peter and the other disciples must have felt in the immediate aftermath of Easter. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ had changed human history, but they were fearful and doubtful. Maybe they were simply coming back down to earth after all that happened. Jesus had clearly told them to go to Galilee, back to where they had first met Him, and wait for Him. Maybe they were a bit apprehensive. Maybe there was a positive air of excitement.

Whatever they were feeling, Peter, still the leader, decides to go fishing. Nothing else seemed to be happening and he might as well get on and do something constructive. His companions decided to do the same: “We will come with you,” they said.Now some people see the return of the disciples to the fishing boats as sign of denial, of giving up on all that they had learned and done over the past three years they were with the Lord (Nathaniel, doesn’t think anything good can come from Nazareth, and Thomas was the loyal pessimist) – so they return to “worldly ways”. Others, meanwhile, think they’re getting hungry and decided to get on and do something while they were waiting. They needed a breath of fresh air. They needed to take their minds off things. After all, they haven’t had any firm instructions yet and are not really confident enough or equipped enough to get on with the task of evangelism which will shortly be theirs.

The thing is it’s night time. We might think it’s a strange time to go fishing? However, Peter was experienced enough to know that it must be a good time so we trust his wisdom. However, it turned out to be unsuccessful, because “that night they caught nothing.” Imagine now how they must have felt! First they failed as disciples; now they couldn’t even catch one fish. Then at dawn a stranger on the shore arrives, Jesus in control as always, taking the initiative, bringing His light into their darkness. With a friendly shout, He calls them “friends” (in GNB it says “young men” which corresponds in English to “Hi lads!”), but He already expects a negative answer: for He says, “You’ve caught no fish, have you?” – and they sadly agree. “Put the nets down on the other side”, He replies. And a miracle! It works and the nets fill with many fish that makes it difficult to haul them in – without the nets ripping!

There are some amazingly inventive theories as to the significance, the sacred geometry, of the number 153. I’m not going to entertain them now, except to say that the specific number of fish, I think, is a clue that the author, John the Son of Zebedee, the beloved disciple, was an eyewitness. Actually, the vast number of fish is typical of Jesus and the super-abundance of His provision, like turning gallons of water into wine, or feeding the 5,000. It serves as a sign to wake the grumpy, tired disciples up. And their mood turns to joy, as one of them recognises: “It is the Lord!” That’s such a profound theological statement isn’t it? Jesus is the Risen Lord who soon will sit on a beach and share a meal with His group of disciples whom He has called to be His Church in the world. The life application for us from this text primarily is that the resurrection of Jesus is the meeting point for all who seriously seek God and the peace and certainty that He offers. When we reach that point, then like the disciples, we won’t need to ask who Jesus is, because we know it is the Lord.

Peter knew right away and he jumps out of the boat and makes for shore. He takes his shirt with him, because in Jewish law, it was unthinkable to greet anyone in a state of undress – let alone your Lord and Master. Don’t you love his passion and intensity? His heart is so captivated by Jesus that he plunges ahead, come what may, thinking nothing of a 100 metre swim back to shore. It’s about coming to Jesus, who energises us, putting Him first above all other concerns. Although Peter was convinced of the reality of the resurrection, he still at this stage regarded himself as a failure. We’ve all struggled with the feelings of failure too — particularly with regards to faith. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the phrase, “I’m not a good enough Christian.” But what’s really interesting in this passage is that even when the disciples are engaged in fishing, and not preaching and teaching or healing the sick – they are still disciples.This is where the encouragement lies for us, I believe. Sometimes we have a tendency to complicate things when it comes to serving the Lord. Everyday life isn’t about the spectacular. It’s a humdrum routine. Looking after family, washing, cooking, sitting at a desk, at the wheel of a car, talking with neighbours – all that kind of thing. But we can still witness by our lives to the fact that Jesus is alive. He makes a difference in all kinds of situations, and especially in the everyday ones. With discipleship even if you’re struggling with confusion, discouragement or anxiety – remember that God is not a God of such things. He created us, loves us unconditionally and wants to free us from all our entanglements that we may be able to love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. When things don’t go quite as expected and the fish seemed to have disappeared – we are still disciples.

Fishing was Peter’s idea but he jumped ship leaving the others lurched over the side dragging the nets in. When he gets to the shore, Jesus has breakfast prepared. He cooked and ate with them. He feeds His disciples with His risen life through loaves and fishes. He gives them strength to follow their true calling. Even though we might not always realise it, Jesus is there, getting involved in our lives. There may be other things that are taking up our time and our energy, things that are frustrating us, concerning us, annoying us, exciting us. We may have forgotten about Jesus for a while because of all these other things that are crowding in on us. But that doesn’t stop Jesus being there, watching us, trying to direct our efforts in the right direction.

This side of Easter is all about faith in resurrection; of being renewed, re-energised. Are we, like Peter, hurrying back to be restored? We have difficult times, where our response to adversity is to waver in our commitment to Christ. Church attendance can suffer. Bible study and prayer slacken. We might press on with our duties but without any Christian joy. If any of this describes you, hear the good news: Jesus hasn’t forgotten you. He still sees you as a disciple. He’s still there, even if you can’t make Him out terribly clearly at the moment. He’s not waiting with a rebuke, but with “breakfast” – spiritual nourishment, replenishment for your hungry soul. Be encouraged. The Risen Lord has chosen you and there are better things ahead if you’re prepared to be faithful, repent and re-commit yourself to Christ now.

Pentecost Musings

“From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD. From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the LORD.” (Leviticus 23:15-17).

In the Old Testament, the Lord commanded Israel to count the Barley Harvest beginning the day after the Sabbath during Passover, 50 days to the Biblical Festival of Pentecost.
A remarkable fact is that for nearly 2000 years the Jewish people had no homeland, and no harvest to count – yet they continued to count a harvest that did not exist. Then, about 130 years ago a historical miracle began as the Lord drew the Jewish people back to their ancient homeland, the land of Israel. The land was revived from dusty desert, and the barley harvest was restored.

Now, if the Jews in the dispersion could count the days of a non-existent harvest, in expectation of a divine blessing that they earnestly hoped for, then they set an excellent example for us who trust in the Messiah they gave to the world. Since faith is the conviction of things NOT seen, we, also, can begin to give thanks for blessings we’re praying for, but have yet to receive. Our unsaved loved-ones, chronic illness, broken relationships, financial disaster, loss of vision – all these are trials which are testing and maturing our faith.
We can rejoice in them, even as we give thanks in the expectation of victory, restoration, and a harvest of righteousness which is on the way. And may these come to many of us by Pentecost, this year on May 27th.

Everyone, thank the Lord for the blessings you’re about to receive — they’re on the way!

In the Lord with much agape love.

Unexpected & Challenging

To me, Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem is like the curtain rising for the penultimate act of all that He came to do. We don’t know how many thousands crowded the city’s narrow streets that Passover. Cloaks were thrown on the road; palm branches were waved and shouts of “Hosanna” rang in the air. Jesus knew what He was doing. In advance, He had sent two disciples ahead to get the donkey. The right choice for the start of Holy Week as He fulfilled the prophecy spoken centuries before in Zechariah and Isaiah: “See you king come to you gentle and humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” What sort of king is this then?

It’s a big year for monarchy in our country. We will watch the diamond jubilee celebrations, even host our own street party here in the car park. You don’t have to be ardently Royalist to appreciate “pomp and circumstance!” It’s what makes us British. There’s the aura that surrounds the Monarch. To be in the Queen’s presence is something special. Later this year people will come out to cheer and greet her on her tour of the nation. She may not wield political or military power – nonetheless she has royal power and the “divine right of kings” behind her. Queen Elizabeth II, though, will not be riding on a donkey. I’m quite sure that won’t happen! However, in the Lord’s day this was exactly what had to happen. A king riding on a horse stands for war. That’s what people wanted. They yearned for a Messiah to set them free from the tyranny of Rome. But here the curtain’s rising on a donkey, a symbol of meekness and of peace. No twenty-one gun salute, but swishing of palm branches and cries of “Hosanna in the highest” – for there is recognition that they needed divine help – which was now here in the Son of David, God’s Saviour – Jesus Christ.

However this is a king, not entering Jerusalem as a hero and preparing for a hero’s death in some great battle, but, instead, preparing for the cross. Jesus knew precisely who He was. He was different from the average king. Prior to Palm Sunday, He avoided large crowds, but not this time – because now was the time of the appointed hour and the coming to pass of OT prophecies. But Jesus didn’t want the adulation of the crowd, which He knew was fickle, He rode into the heart of God’s holy city, to force the issue of His whole reason for being here on earth. He knew His time was up. He needed to stir the anger, hostility and jealousy of the religious leaders – so that the stage would be set for the final act, the greatest event in all human history. He was despised and rejected, crushed for our sins and led like a lamb to the slaughter – to Golgotha – the place of crucifixion. By His wounds we are healed and now heaven cheers for Jesus who came to save. That’s the kind of King He is.

Today we sing our hosannas, which literally mean “Save us now!” Do we mean this? Are we serious? Have we come because it’s the nice thing to do? Or are we here because we truly acknowledge Jesus as King? The world has had its say – but the Son of David has come – God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to His right hand on high. So we should be cheering – not standing bewildered beside an empty grave. Salvation belongs to our God and to the Son! Hosanna in the highest! All this week we will reflect on the cross and its meaning for our lives. Please come and gather here over the next few mornings for devotions culminating on Good Friday at our Tenebrae service, where we’ll continue to ask why things happened this way. I hope we’ll better understand the overwhelming faith and love from the cries, agony and passion of Jesus Christ.

Palm Sunday is one of those precious Gospel moments. The good news is that Easter is coming! But if we’re not careful, we’ll miss the King of glory. Are we sufficiently impressed – or is Jesus going to be King just for today? It’s easy to be like the crowd; to wave palm branches today, but then get weary and walk away, especially if our demands are not met in the coming days, weeks and months ahead. Which kind of king and which kingdom will you serve? This week hold your palm cross and remember what Jesus faced as He prepared to die. Also, remember that on the cross the greatest act of forgiveness in all history extends to you and me. We are forgiven by the love of God in His Son who shows us that true power lies only in humility and sacrifice. The final curtain that comes down is a real one. It’s the one in the Temple – supernaturally torn from top to bottom as there are no longer any barriers to separate us from the King’s presence.

That’s the unexpectedness and the challenge of the Easter story.

History and Hope

In America the standard railway guage (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That’s an exceedingly odd number. But that specification was used as that’s the way they built them in Scotland and Scottish engineers designed the US railways. Why did the Scottish build them like that? Because the first railways were built by the same people who built the tramways, and that’s the guage they used. And the people who built the tramways used the same tools that had been used for building wagons that used the wheel spacing of 4 feet, 8.5 inches. Why did the wagons have that particular odd wheel spacing? If they tried to use any other spacing, the wheels would break on some of the old, long distance roads in Scotland, because that’s the spacing of the wheel ruts. So who built those old rutted roads? Imperial Rome built the first long distance roads in Scotland for their legions. (And why did the Romans build straight roads? So their soldiers didn’t go around the bend!) Those roads have been used ever since. Roman chariots formed the initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wheels. Therefore the standard railway guage of 4 feet, 8.5 inches is derived from the original specifications for a Roman chariot!

History can teach us why things are the way they are now. You can read clues to the past in the present landscape. It’s incredible that one of our modern transportation systems was determined over 2,000 years ago. History also shows us why the monarch is the Head of the Church of England. It’s all to do with Henry VIII. (Why did he have so many wives? He liked to chop and change!). But let’s move from Henry to James I. Last year marked the 400^th anniversary of the printing of the King James Bible, the bestselling book in all of history. In a sense the Bible is a history book. You can browse through timelines and genealogies, read biographies and chronicles and discover what God has done, and is doing, in history. From the rise of civilization to basic laws being written for the first time. From how Middle Eastern people had organized themselves into tribes with different gods and kings. We see on a vast scale the rise and fall of ancient empires: Egypt, Babylon, Assyria and Rome. The Bible records it all, as well as prophecies of the coming of Jesus Christ.

Today a third of the globe (that’s 2.2 billion people) call themselves Christians and thousands of new Bibles are sold, or given away across the world every day. Like it or hate it, you can’t ignore its impact upon our lives. Even though many people don’t read it, much of its wisdom and sayings are richly embedded in our culture and in everyday conversation. Do you recognize any of these phrases:-“His feet are made of clay”, “Many are called but few are chosen”, “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”, “Fight the good fight”, “Forbidden fruit” – these are all biblical expressions – but like the railways they’re used by people who don’t know their origin. That’s “A sign of the times” I guess!

Through many centuries evil people and oppressive regimes have attempted to destroy and discredit the Bible. But it has survived and even flourished, not because it is a vast text, but because of God’s promise: “As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth making it bud and flourish…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty…it will achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Is.55:10-11). Isaiah speaks today for this is a passage about hope. That’s fundamentally what the Bible is: it’s a BIG book of hope, not just a history book. When God says that His Word will not return to Him empty, He’s talking about the power of the Bible to transform this world, to transform people, to bring new life out of old, to bring life out of death and to bring joy out of despair. So let’s praise the love God has revealed.

People put their hope into all sorts of things. If you’re afraid of being sick you put your hope in your GP; if you fear your football team being relegated from the Premiership you sack one manager and put your hope in another!; if you fear the wrong government getting into power you put your hope (and your vote!) in a rival political party. Many place their hope in the wrong things and have even been embarrassed. The Bible tells us not to trust in our wealth or in ourselves – for only a proud fool does that. The facts are: we fail each other, governments fail us, medicine fails us, and technology fails us: it’s not just “plug-and-play” – but “plug-and-PRAY!”

So where do you place your hope? What are you hoping for today? Isaiah’s words are too important to ignore. With God there can be no shame. In fact he says we have everything to gain – for we have written assurance:S“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” (Is.55:3). At one time I never believed it. But now, first and foremost, I place my hope in the Lord. I know He’s going to be there for me forever. So I can look forward with confidence to the future. None of us are going to be without trouble in our lives, but hope and faith in God gets you through it!! God will, according to His promise, sustain us and our hopes will not be dashed. (Ps.119:116).

The first person to invent the wheel, about 4000BC, only discovered what God had already designed, for the Lord created things in circles. Think about it – a circle is eternal just like God’s nature. There was never a time when God was not. He always “WAS” and always “IS”. So, the hope that God “makes all things new” is there in the very design of our universe. The planets are round, they move in orbital circuits, and life, as a result, moves in cycles. Every one hundred years we have a new century; every 365 days, we have a new year; every 24 hours we have a new day; every 60 minutes we have a new hour. “My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” (Is.55:9) says God – whose Bible shows God’s great power for good reason – because each one of us needs refreshing and renewing:S“Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them…for he will forgive generously.” (Is.55:7).

So the Word was written with the intention of being preserved and passed down from generation to generation so that we today can respond in faith and just as the ground soaks up the rain – we should be storing up in our hearts as much of God’s precious Word as possible. It gives us the opportunity to get a new perspective on life, to reorder our lives, and to focus upon that which is worthwhile. Someone once said, “If you carry a Bible when you are young, it will carry you when you are old.” That’s because it’s a collection of thousands of years of wisdom; it’s honest in telling us about God and ourselves and eternal salvation. Nobody ever outgrows Scripture.

Psalm 17:8: “Keep me as the apple of your eye” – how amazing when you look into someone’s eyes you can see a tiny reflection of yourself in their pupils. The Apple of God’s Eye is us, people of promise who are precious and cherished so much so that God entered into our story, and His story (history), as Jesus Christ – healing the sick and teaching us to love our enemies. Our parents, our teachers and our friends can teach us many things. But the only one who knows us well enough to truly teach us is the One who made us and who has given us a book in which we learn more about who we are and how to live our lives. More importantly we discover something more of our relationship with the Creator: “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 Jn.4:19).

“Is anyone thirsty, then come and drink…” (Is.55:1). The Bible is calling out its invitation to us over the clamour and false hopes of this world. There are billions of people who have taken it to heart and their lives have been changed. Why not discover what the Bible actually says, rather than just dismissing it. You just might find out even more about yourself and why the world is the way it is.

Fairtrade Reflections

A couple of years ago, Burger King ran an advertising campaign with the slogan:“You like your friends, but you love the whopper”, and invited people to sacrifice ten friends and get a free burger. The friends it referred to were those on the social networking site Facebook. What they wanted users to do was erase 10 people from their contacts list – defriending them – so as to claim a free flame-grilled Whopper. Losing a so-called friend that we have never seen and hardly know, does not seem, to me, to be much of a sacrifice. During Lent we often sacrifice something – well actually we give something up for 40 days. It’s not really a sacrifice. It’s not like using our wealth to bring about positive change to help millions of our neighbours around the globe who toil in conditions we can’t even imagine, for wages that fail to provide any measure of stability or security.

If we can tithe or part with any of our resources, without a grudge, then perhaps we’ve embraced something of the spirit of sacrifice. One small step is to identify with the poor and shop for goods that have been fairly traded. Ok so Fairtrade is not in the same league as the abolition of slavery – but it is transforming the lives of those who can’t stand up for justice against the power of consumerism and exploitation. And it some ways it is about trusting in a bigger vision, bringing about the transformation we read in the psalm: “The poor will eat and be satisfied…all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord…all the rich will feast and worship…future generations will proclaim His righteousness.” (Ps.22:26-31). In a world where poverty kills 30,000 children every day, many simply long for their children to have a future, and when we buy Fairtrade products we are campaigning for justice.

In the larger scheme of things we may feel our efforts count for nothing. How can we possibly make a difference?

A boy is on a beach throwing starfish back into the sea as they will die in the roasting sun before the tide comes back in. A cynic sees him doing this and criticises him for wasting his time as there are too many starfish for him to possibly make a difference. The boy picks up a starfish and as he throws it back into the sea says, “I can make a difference to this one.”

Sometimes it’s easier to “pick up starfish”, rather than look for larger causes. Fairtrade restores dignity and respect. It’s not about charity. With every packet of biscuits, or bunch of bananas purchased, it’s providing opportunity and hope for the future in making a better world. It’s something at the heart of our faith as well. Let’s say these verses together:“What good is it if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (Js.2:14-17).

We manifest our faith in our conduct. True faith transforms our conduct as well as the way we think about things. It’s not being self-righteous, which Jesus spoke against, it’s about serving God and serving our neighbours – locally and globally. This text is saying that our faith won’t do anyone any good if we don’t live it out. Encouraging others gives them strength.

On average we consume 10-12lb of chocolate every year. Do you ever stop to think about where all this chocolate comes from? Ghana is one of the world’s largest cocoa producers. But there is a dark secret. Thousands of children are illegally trafficked to harvest cocoa beans. Taken from their homes they become slaves forced to work on the farms. They are given dangerous tools and they live under a constant threat of violence. Most of them have never even tasted chocolate made from the same cocoa beans they are made to harvest. They are growing up without a childhood. But there are ways to help.

Shopping is a complex matter as we have so much choice! Nonetheless, despite its complexity we can all do something — and it can start with something as simple as bar of chocolate (but only on a Sunday if you’ve given it up for Lent!!). We may have to pay a bit more, but the cost is minimal compared to the benefits to farmers and workers and children at the other end. It can put a smile on the faces of many making their lives bearable.

Many cotton farms in Mali, West Africa belong to co-operatives that are Fairtrade certified. One farmer writes:- 

Cotton prices were going down and down until they were below the cost of production. People were demotivated and it was very depressing. But now, because of Fairtrade, we can make a sustainable living. My family can eat and we have better health. In the past, my children had to walk 10km to go to school, so really it was impossible. We have now been able to build a school. At first it had two classrooms. When we had more money and wanted to expand, we challenged the government to match our investment. Now there are five classrooms in total, and every child in the village can go to school. Pregnant women had no access to healthcare. Many died in childbirth and there were high rates of infant mortality. Now we have built a maternity centre. We have also built a food storage facility so that we can have a year-round food supply, and we have installed a pump for drinking water. We have built a new road, enabling us to travel further than 5km outside of the village without difficulty. Fairtrade standards called for better agricultural practices. Before, empty pesticide containers would be used as water carriers. In some cases this led to death and disease. Now, we dispose of waste properly. We don’t burn bushes any more, we prevent soil erosion and we have effective irrigation. I thank God as Fairtrade has really changed the life of my community. I feel as though I have a future, which I didn’t before. My wife is pregnant with our first child – this is how optimistic we are! I encourage everyone to buy more Fairtrade products if they want to make an impact on millions of lives.

The world is filled with hurting people who are just trying to make it day to day. Many of these people are our brothers and sisters in Christ. If God values them, we have to think about what that means for us. We cannot just tell them “It’ll be ok” – without doing what we can to help them. So let’s ask Jesus to show us how to be brave enough to stand up for what is right and fair. To give us the courage to change the things we know are wrong – so to make the world a fairer place for each and everyone. Let’s petition Him now sharing these verses from Ps.82:“Lord God, defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy, deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Amen.” (vs.3-4).

Humble Prayer – Amen To That!

As I got up this morning, God hoped I would talk to Him: just a few words of adoration and thanksgiving. But I was too busy trying to work out what to wear. I ran round the house getting ready and although I sat down for a few minutes with nothing to do, I was too busy to pray. But who knows perhaps later today I might stop and give God some time! Do you ever have AMs like this? I do. I know my prayer life is the one aspect in my walk with God that I can always improve. We should desire to grow spiritually. Yet we can’t do that unless we know the significance of a healthy prayer life. But prayer is a real challenge. Especially when, as our Gospel passage shows, the stress is on simplicity, confession and humility.

Jesus was brilliant at taking everyday characters and occasions and using them to make a point. The emphasis, in this case, is humble prayer and honesty before the Lord: “Have pity on me a sinner” (v.13) – words which remind us how far we have fallen short of the glory and character of God. The tax collector hits the nail on the head. He “goes up to the Temple to pray” (v.10) – steps out of his busy day – not even knowing where to start – not even able to look up to heaven (v.13), and simply says sorry to God. There’s the lesson. And long before Christ, Jeremiah makes the same point that covenant people are great at saying sorry without really meaning it – and often don’t even pray. At the time of the prophet there was severe drought, not caused by natural disaster, but by divine judgement upon wayward people – and the Lord instructs His spokesman not even to pray for them. They were not sincere in confession and dishonourned the Holy One.

When we read the parable we find ourselves thanking God that we’re not like the Pharisee. But actually I want to suggest – that we may not be all that different! He goes to the Temple: “God I thank you” (v.11) – his prayer starts out well enough, however it’s not genuine. In fact it’s not really a prayer at all! He’s congratulating himself on being so faithful, considering everyone else to be wretched. Regularly too our prayers are self-centred – focusing on our own goodness rather than on human need, grace and mercy. Sometimes, I think it’s easy for us, like the Pharisee, to fall into this trap of trying to make ourselves holy – looking at things that are wrong with others whilst ignoring the things that are wrong with us! I could have started my sermon this way:-

Friends, I got up this AM and didn’t run round the house. I stopped and talked to God. I thanked Him that I’m a nice and ordinary person who reads the Bible. I mentioned with gratitude that I’m not like some people I know. I praised the Lord that I have no secrets to be ashamed of. God I thank you that you did not make me self-righteous! But where’s my honesty? Where’s yours? We can all be smug at times. Coming to church shows wonderful commitment, but it doesn’t remove the iniquities that testify against us. Jeremiah’s people though that Yahweh would rescue them because they came to the Temple sacrificing burnt offerings. He warns them that unless they stop sinning – it’s just empty hollow worship. It’s a tricky message – but it’s certainly consistent for hypocrites like us today.

NT tax collectors weren’t by any means perfect. They bled their own people dry by greed and collaboration with the Romans. They were hated in society. But in the parable he prays: “God be merciful to me a sinner” – and it’s so genuine, so heartfelt that Jesus says, “he went home made right with God.” (v.13-14). Humilty and repentance shows what we’re really like. The Lord is far more concerned with our hearts than our outward appearance and behaviour. We all have secrets. Nobody is perfect and self-acknowledgement is a vital aspect of our prayer life. Instead of praising ourselves we need to praise our awesome God for His goodness, grace, holiness, mercy, love, might, power and dominion. Even when we don’t have the words, be assured that the genuine prayer of our heart is underwritten by the Holy Spirit.

What’s the last word in the Bible? Revelation 22:21: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all God’s people. AMEN.” As insurance companies have underwriters – heartfelt prayer is underwritten with this Hebrew word, which is more than just a religious full stop! When we say “AMEN” it’s not the Bugs Bunny equivalent of saying – “That’s all Folks!” It’s actually confirming, “So be it. Let it be. Your will be done”. It’s admitting that we know that we can change from one degree of glory to another with the help of the Holy Spirit. And all the people said: “AMEN!”

There’s the story of a man who once bought a donkey from a preacher. He told the man that this donkey had been trained in a very unique way. The only way to make the donkey go, is to say, “Hallelujah!” The only way to make the donkey stop is to say, “Amen!” The man was pleased with his purchase and immediately got on the animal to try out the preacher’s instructions.  “Hallelujah” – the donkey trotted off. “Amen” – the donkey stopped. “This is great!” said the man. And with a “Hallelujah”, he rode off very proud of his new purchase. He travelled for a long time through some mountains. Soon he was heading towards a cliff. He couldn’t remember the word to make the donkey stop. ”Stop,” said the man. “Halt!” he cried. The donkey just kept going. ”Oh, no ’Bible Church! …Please Stop!!,” shouted the man. The donkey just began to trot faster. He was getting closer and closer to the cliff edge…Finally, in desperation, the man said a prayer…”Please, dear Lord. Please make this donkey stop before I go off the end of this mountain. AMEN.” The donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the cliff. “Phew”, sweated the man, “HALLELUJAH!”

Seriously though saying “AMEN” expresses our dependence on God and stops us in our tracks. Long have we sinned and cried for repentance. “I know my sins they haunt me day and night. Create in me a clean heart” – says David in Psalm 51.The story of the Pharisee and the tax collector points out that it is God’s compassion which flows for those who humble themselves and recognise the need for forgiveness. “Pride ends in destruction; humility ends in honour”, says Proverbs chapter 18, verse 12.

So in humble prayer hearts of stone are transformed into hearts of flesh. The “Amen” is felt within and new life in Jesus Christ is able to keep us from falling, is able to do more than we can even begin to think or imagine. Approaching the throne of grace, in humility, will satisfy the righteousness demanded by the Holy Eternal God.

So be it. Amen.

Where’s faith when you need it?

Romans 10:17 – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” I could tell you about countless difficult and drawn out circumstances over which I have tried to stand firmly in faith until they finally came to pass. Sometimes I made it and sometimes I was weak and began to doubt. But God mercifully came through for me on most of these things, despite my lack of strength to stay faithful.

There are some things in our lives that take a lot of prayer and a lot of faith to overcome. But why is it so hard sometimes to stand in faith for those things?
The American evangelist and preacher D.L. Moody spent many hours praying for faith. He once said, “If all the time I have spent praying for faith was put together, it would be months. I thought that someday faith was going to come down and strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. Then one day I read in the 10th chapter of Romans, ‘So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.’ I now opened my Bible and began to read God’s Word and faith has been growing ever since.”



Much of what we believers describe as ‘faith’ has nothing to do with Biblical faith. Our faith must not be based on emotion, or want, and not on the latest exciting ideas or revival. But it must be centered on God’s Word, on Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection, His salvation. The Living Word is the everlasting love of God that has been poured out upon our lives. Let’s read, hear, apply and live the Word today, and we will grow strong in faith!

“Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9).

East of Eden – Envy Leads Us Away From God

The question  “What does love mean?” was asked to some 8 year-olds. The answers they gave were quite profound:-

• When my nan got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails. So grandad did it for her, even though he’s got arthritis in his hands too. That’s love.
• Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mum and dad are like that. They look gross when they kiss though!

The most fundamental answer was this:“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with someone you hate.”

The sibling rivalry of the Bible’ first family was severe: “Am I supposed to take care of my brother?” says Cain with his younger brother’s blood fresh on his hands (Gen.4:9). Jealousy led to murder and heavenly rejection as Cain was banished to live as a homeless wanderer, away from God’s presence, east of Eden. The title is well known as a James Dean film adapted from John Steinbeck’s classic novel of two brother’s rivalry for their father’s attention. It’s no coincidence that Steinbeck names his central characters – Cal and Arron. That there father is called Adam and one son has a dark side whilst the other shields himself from the corruption of the world. It’s a superb allegory of the Bible story where Cain is the farmer (the man of the earth) and Abel the shepherd (the spiritual man). There were no other career choices back then – you either grew and harvested crops or raised animals. Cain’s fruit and vegetables provided food. Abel’s sheep provided clothing.  Man was not allowed to eat animals until after the Flood, so our ancestors were all vegetarians.

On the God appointed day for worship – the Sabbath Day – both brothers brought an offering. Abel sacrificed the very finest from his flock: a firstborn lamb, while Cain provided some crops – fruits of the soil of average quality. However, a sacrifice that involved the shedding of blood was how one should approach God to make ‘atonement’ – to make reconciliation possible. After their parents’ rebellion an animal had been killed by God to make clothes for Adam and Eve. Blood, therefore, was the mandate for sacrifice. It continues to be like this until Jesus Christ became the ultimate sacrifice, the Lamb of God, who shed His blood on the cross to take away the sin of the world and to make that final atonement on behalf of us all (Jn.1:29).

But God’s grace always looks to the holiness of the heart. The Lord would have accepted Cain’s harvest if his motivation and attitude had been better. The giving is important not the gift. Cain’s heart was not right and he offered his gift carelessly and selfishly. This relates directly to us. We can’t just worship any old way we want to, and offer whatever sacrifice is pleasing to us. In order for our worship to be acceptable, it must be pleasing to God. Abel gave the best because he recognised that all provision comes from above and everything belongs to God. We read in Hebrews of his great faith: “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. God accepted Abel’s offering to show that he was a righteous man.” (11:4). Cain, though, kept the best for himself, and even what he did offer was done with a grudge. Paul writing to the Corinthians says: “If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” (2 Cor.8:12).

What matters is the willingness. What we read at the start of the Bible must influence our understanding of acceptable worship today. Beware of the way of Cain! In Jude it says: “What sorrow awaits them when they follow in the footsteps of Cain…” (v.11). It’s easy to play the part of religion without being religious. God’s rejection of Cain’s offering made him very jealous and furious. He lures his brother into a field and murders him. “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with someone you hate.” Cain has no reason to hate his brother. Neither has he reason to be angry with God who warns him, and I paraphrase, that “sin wants to rule you, but if you’re like Abel you’ll be smiling…you will overcome sin and your offering is acceptable.” (Gen.4:5-8). Can you see what the actual message is here? It’s the Gospel. God is actually saying to Cain: “Repent, turn away from sin, change your heart attitude and you will be accepted, your sin shall be pardoned.” However, the tragedy is well known. Abel’s murder is shocking as it was pre-mediated. Sin had turned man against man and Cain is now cocooned in its spidery web. In his sins he is punished, driven off the land – away from God’s presence – east of Eden.

Envy / jealousy is the silent sin. It is often overlooked. It’s fed by pride, the root of our fallen nature. Pride leads to boasting, usually about possessions or achievements. Envy, though, hides within our hearts like “sin crouching at the door.” (Gen.4:7). It’s saying, like Cain, that God has no right to bless someone else more than you.

According to an ancient Greek legend, a certain athlete ran well but came second in the race. The winner was showered with praise, and eventually a statue was erected in his honour. Envy ate away at the man who came second. He resented the winner, and he could think of little else. Eventually he decided to destroy the statue. Night after night, he went to the statue, chiseling away at the base to weaken the foundation. But one night as he chiseled in violent anger, he went too far. The heavy marble statue teetered on its base and crashed down on the disgruntled athlete. He died beneath the weight of the marble replica of the man he had grown to hate. His own envy had destroyed him.

Wonderful illustration isn’t it of the lethal nature of envy – a deadly sin – the jaundice of the soul. If we are envious of other people’s fortunes, health or their success then we’re heading “east of Eden” in rebellion against God. We need His grace to help us desire to take away envy. Otherwise we’re like crabs in a basket. Fishermen know that one never needs to shut the top. If one of the crabs starts to climb up the side of the basket, the other crabs will reach up and pull it back down. Sometimes we’re just like that. We’re envious friends to those we should love. And we need to pray daily to God to conquer our feelings.

What we learn from Cain is that the forgiveness of God is stronger than the evils of man. We also learn that every one of us can choose our own moral destiny. Remember Cain was given a choice: “If you respond in the right way you will be accepted. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” (Gen.4:7).

Knowing and being confident in God’s Word is imperative for righteousness. When my children and I play a board game – if it’s one we’ve not played regularly  – we often disagree about the rules. After arguing for a bit we get out the rules that came with game and follow them. It’s the only chance of having a fair and successful time. Similarly without God’s Word nourishing and sustaining us we simply do what’s right in our own eyes. Without His written Word to follow and no one to guide us, we wander from God’s way and follow our own rules and remain “east of Eden” in the wider world of wandering and emptiness with our own blood on our hands.

We deal with envy everyday. No, it probably won’t drive us to murder, but it will start eating away at us like a silent cancer: “Oh look the neighbour’s got a new car!”; “So-in-so’s having another holiday!” It’s far more destructive than we might think. SEnvy even has a colour. We say someone is “green with envy” because that comes from the colour of sickness and nausea. But God has never forsaken the sick human race and He does not abandon us either. As we read Scripture and open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, He guides us back to the “way that leads to life everlasting.” (Mt.7:14).

So let’s meet God in His Word and do what’s right in His eyes. Sin is overcome by confession and submitting to the grace of God in Christ. So let’s be faithful so to please Him in our sacrifice of praise.