25/12/10 - God sends the Shepherds

Luke 2:1-20

Intro…An Adventure with God…recent weeks school prize lists in Ensign. I only ever won one school prize – in st.4. It was the book, “The adventures of Marco Polo”. How I loved reading that book over and over again. When reading a great adventure story, we often wonder how we would have coped if we had been there or were the main character. Eg Scott of the Antarctic, Hillary on Everest, Buzz Aldran on the moon. Those who have read James Thurber’s “The secret life of Walter Mitty” will know what I mean for they are “fantastic daydreams of personal triumph”. This is not escapism, it is adventure!

I believe much of the detail given of this true record of Jesus birth is for us to get such a feel for this amazing event, that we can project ourselves into it and be swept up into the heart of God’s love for his creation and his ultimate last effort to redeem us lost people. So let’s join with the shepherds this morning, become one of them and for the next few minutes get caught up in their experience, their great adventure.

1. Good News has come to us - v10….don’t be frightened, but count it for what it is; the greatest privilege and act of loving grace ever experienced by mankind, and by lowly shepherds at that ! Why us? Why not shepherds in China or Africa, why us? Why not to princes or religious leaders? – Anyone but us! (Shepherds love chatting, talking late into the night, mulling over the facts, the event and any underlying meaning. On the other hand, Wikileaks reveals that princes and leaders distort and hide the truth!)

“That will be for all people” v10, because you and I are chosen by God to chat and send this Good News on throughout the world – to those shepherds in China and Africa and all places in between. Later on this baby Jesus was to grow and teach us that, “To those that much has been given, much will be required of them”.

2. So you want a sign? – v11-12. OK check this out you shepherds who for years have been to Sunday school and church, had 20 years of Peter Cheyne’s excellent teaching, so know your Bibles well. Two facts.

1. Town of David (Bethlehem) and 2. Messiah, Christ, the Anointed One coming to save God’s people. That checks out in OT – great. We know our Bibles, our theology. – thanks Pastor Peter!

BUT what’s this baby idea? Is that in the OT? Is 40 says, “the sovereign Lord comes with power and his arm rules for him”. That doesn’t sound like a baby. Try Is 7 “the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel” That’s more like it! That sure seems to fit what these angels are singing about.

Another point, us shepherds know about babies. Why, during lambing we often need to use our midwifery skills to help a ewe give birth, so that shouldn’t scare us. And strips of cloth and a manger, bales of hay etc., well all rather basic stuff just like we are used to and find ourselves sitting on!

3. A message from heaven – v14 ..Wow, as if one angel isn’t enough, this massive choir of angels, of heavenly host is amazing – perhaps even overkill. But listen, it seems there are 2 verses to their song, one exalting God in the heavens for what is happening and second, a message of hope, salvation and peace for us people who know him. Wow again, that makes me wonder if I really do know Him, this amazing God who keeps intervening in our lives, who keeps sending us messages almost every day trying to get our attention.

4. Let’s see for ourselves – v15 nothing like a first hand encounter with this Jesus, this Messiah, even if he is just a baby in a manger. And that’s exactly what God has been trying to get us to do, have a first hand encounter with those things, “which the Lord has told us about”. The Bible is full of the Lord “telling” us. And come to think of it He has been telling our parents, grandparents, right back down through history – ever since Adam and Eve mucked up and sinned in the garden, God has been sending this same message down through the centuries. And He will continue to do so until the day he returns again, so that we and all those people out there we are responsible for to tell this Good News have heard it. Heard it clearly as we have been privileged to do; until they say, “Yes”, He is the Christ. But first! – Have you ever said “Yes” to Jesus?
5. Spread the word – v17-18 tell others this Good News. Don’t let it stop with us shepherds. John 3:16, For God so loved the world, the rich, the poor, the Kiwi and the new immigrant. Thank God for His love, His grace, his revelation, his angels, his intervening in our lives today,, leading us here to Bethlehem, to this particular baby in this particular manger. This is the only place where the God’s glory can be seen, can be experienced, where true lasting peace can be found and where we must acknowledge our responsibility to keep on sending this Good News out into a needy decaying, dying world of sin and shame.

Conclusion… Two times the Bible record here tries to catch our attention this Christmas with the words, “just as they had been told” v 17,20.

I believe God has been telling us shepherds here this morning the same thing. A saviour has come, proof has been given, our hearts have been warmed, we have been amazed at the grand scale of events, events that have again challenged our finite minds and natural understanding of this world. But remember this world is just the beginning of a next world, entered by God’s grace alone. That grace is found here this morning in the baby we found in the manger in God’s chosen town of Bethlehem.

We have seen, heard, tasted that the Lord is good. - Heb.

As we return home from this place this morning, may we go as shepherds who have been dazzled, amazed, drawn towards and transformed by our encounter with Christ. We too will spread the word so that others can be amazed, we will go glorifying and praising God for all that we have been told, all that we have seen, all that we have experienced with Jesus.

And one final word, as good shepherds, don’t put the lid on your experience with Jesus on Boxing Day. Don’t wrap Him up and put Him away until next December. Make your new year resolution here today by taking up Mary’s testimony of all that happened by your visit to the manger – treasure your knowledge and experience with Jesus that day, ponder it in your heart and starting tomorrow with the traditional meaning of Boxing Day which is not the getting of more sales bargains, but rather the giving of our abundance, have the Holy Spirit grow all that knowledge and experience into a dynamic faith to pass on as a gift to those without Christ through 2011.

12.12.10 - And The Whole World Changed

Ken Williams

Introduction
 Life is constantly in a state of change – nothing ever stays the same. Go to the supermarket this week and the one thing you know, is it will be more expensive next week.
• But there are times in our lives of significant change, when everything gets turned upside down – when your whole world changes.
• When you first get married, when your first child is born, a death of someone close – I recall when each of my parents died – for a period of time I was just in a void – the rest of the world carried on as normal – but I was oblivious, my whole personal world had changed.
• Nothing stays the same.

READ Luke 1:26-38
 • In these verses we have an amazing story – it’s mysterious and glorious! For here it is described how God sent an angel to the earth with the news of the coming of his Son, Jesus, the Saviour of the world.• Now this was an event that changed the world. Jesus birth and all that followed, changed the whole world – it ushered in a whole new era from which there is no going back.• But what did this do to Mary’s world? She was a young woman betrothed or engaged to be married – she would have had visions of what lay ahead, dreams, hopes, aspirations – then BANG – an angel appears and in a short space of time – her whole world changed.
• This is a story told on two levels:

1. It is the story of Mary and what is communicated to her through the angel Gabriel – so it is a simple delicate narrative.

2. But it is also an account which is packed with deep, deep theological meaning woven into the text.
 • What do we find out in this passage
o That Jesus is the Son of God and that he is God himself (v.32-35)
o That as Messiah he will bring in a new kingdom which will never end. (vv.32-33)
o Through vv.32&35 we see implications of the Trinity (v.32, 35)
o In those same verse we see evidence of the power of God most high (v.32; 35)
o In numerous verses the favour and grace of God is mentioned (vv.29-30, 34-35, 38) – These are issues of major significance in helping with our understanding of the Christian faith

• We see in this story that God has power over all things.
• He has power over human reproduction – which is quite staggering if you stop to think about it.
• God is in control – which is actually incredibly comforting – there are issues which come up in everyone of our lives which are totally beyond our control – beyond our comprehension and understanding – but -
• God is in control – it is God who changes things.

v.27
 • Since betrothal often took place soon after puberty, Mary may have just entered her teens.
• It was a state much more binding among the Jews of that day than is an engagement with us. It was a solemn undertaking to marry.
• Only divorce or death could sever betrothal.
• The relationship was legally binding, but intercourse was not permitted until marriage.
• So there’s the problem – Mary is going to be with child – but she is not married – imagine her trying to explain that one to Joseph – well, you see – its like this – there was this angel...

v.28
• We see in v.12 that, Zechariah had been gripped with fear at the appearance of the angel, but it was the angel’s words that ‘greatly troubled Mary’. Now the angel had said “Greetings you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” I think Mary’s fear, surprise, awe is pretty understandable.
• She is agitated by the words of the angel because she feels that such a greeting is not suited to her. Evidently in her modesty she did not understand why a heavenly visitor should greet her in such exalted terms.

V.30-31
 • But God’s grace, like his love, banishes fear of judgement.
• Gabriel reassures her, as he had done with Zechariah. He tells Mary not to be afraid, for she has found favour with God.
• As the reason why she need not fear, he declares that God regards and treats her as the special object of His favour.
• She need not, therefore, be afraid on account of her humble station in life and her own feelings of personal unworthiness. We shouldn’t measure things on our scale – If God chooses to change the world or change our world – he will be walking with us through the process – we can trust him.
• God has chosen Mary in his mercy to bring forth a Son who is to be called Jesus. Her simple task is to trust and obey.

V.32-33
 • Gabriel proceeds to say that Jesus will be great, a word he had applied to John, but now uses the word with a fuller meaning, for Jesus will be called the son of the most high. This sets him apart from all others and makes him a son of God in a special sense. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most high. His greatness will excel everything.
• He will be the recipient of the throne of his father David. A new kingdom will come into being. The world was about to change.
• It was God’s final kingdom that will have no end and it is this kingdom to which Jesus is now related. It is not a temporal kingdom, an earthly realm, but God’s kingly rule. In due time Jesus would make this clear.

v.34
 • The announcement of the angel is still too overwhelming and incomprehensible to Mary
• She does not ask for any sign of confirmation, but simply on how will God accomplish this wonder.

v.35
 • Gabriel makes it clear that his conception will be the result of a divine activity. Because of this the child to be born would be holy, the Son of God.

Vv.36-37
 • Mary will see that with God nothing is impossible.
• What the angel had communicated to Mary was something tremendous. She exercised the faith required on her part to accept the truth of it.
• Everything that has been announced is possible, for with God nothing is impossible – even the stupendous miracle of the incarnation of his son - and his word is self fulfilling.

v.38
 • In v.38 Mary says “I am the Lord’s servant.” Her servanthood is not a cringing slavery but a submission to God that in OT times characterized genuine believers and that should characterize believers today.
• We should be, it is are calling to say – I am the Lord‘s servant. I will do what is required – I will do whatever is required, whatever it takes.
• Mary expresses complete obedience. The servant girl could not but, do the will of her master. This is reinforced with; let it be according to your word.
• We are apt to take this as the most natural thing and accordingly we miss out on Mary’s quiet heroism. She was not yet married to Joseph. His reaction to her pregnancy might have been expected to be a strong one. But she recognized the will of God and accepted it.
• This was no trivial matter to her. On the one hand the highest honour ever given to a woman had been conferred on her by the Lord – to become the mother of the Son of God.
• But on the other hand Mary was placed in an extremely difficult position and especially her relation to Joseph, if she should become pregnant before marriage.
• Mary’s response is one of quiet submission. “I am the Lord’s servant.”

Conclusion
 • So what has really happened here?
• In the tidings brought from God by the angel to Mary we have an impressive testimony to the divine greatness of Jesus – greatness that is wholly different from that of any human being: in respect of his existence as Man He will be of unique origin.
• Unlike all other human beings, he will be wholly without sin.
• He will be the Holy One in an absolute sense.
• Therefore He will also be the divine king who will reign over his Spiritual kingdom through all eternity.
• His coming changed the world.

19.12.10 - Putting Christ Back Into Christian

It is not uncommon to hear Christians bemoaning the secularisation and the commercialisation of Christmas. We’ve probably ourselves agreed with people saying, “Put Christ back into Christmas” and reminded people that Jesus is the reason for the season.

At one level we have Christmases that are dominated by red-nosed reindeer, jolly Santas, snowy scenes and songs about mistletoe. We have often voiced our disapproval of the focus on presents and food and alcohol. We all know that those things have nothing to do with Christmas.

But there is another level. On that level we talk about goodwill, “the Christmas spirit”, peace on earth. Relationships are central. We make contact with people we don’t see the rest of the year. We wish strangers a merry Christmas. Going to church is traditional. We make an effort to express our love through gifts and cards. We are conscious of broken relationships and of those who have died. There is something about Christmas that makes us yearn for those relationships that have been disrupted. There is something about Christmas that brings out the best in people. Christmas seems to have associated with it a lot of values that we intuitively “feel” at Christmas time.

Some of the phrases that we link with Christmas come from the Bible. The angels who visited the shepherds proclaimed peace on earth and goodwill to all men. Relationships are certainly important in the Bible. There is much there about love and reconciliation and generosity. Those are all good, biblical concepts.

But I have a little disquiet. They are just concepts and we still haven’t mentioned Jesus.

At Christmas, we can preach love and talk about peace and encourage “the Christmas spirit” (whatever that is) and they are good things. But we can do that without mentioning Jesus.

I could encourage you to be more loving or to forgive others and be reconciled. I could say that Christmas is about love and reconciliation; go and be more loving. I could say that Christmas is about peace and goodwill. And I could do that without mentioning Jesus.

Would that matter? Because these concepts are Christian concepts, are they not? This is in line with Jesus’ teaching.

I think it would matter. I actually don’t think Christmas is about peace or goodwill. I think it is about Jesus. I think the peace and joy and reconciliation come as a result of experiencing Jesus. It is not simply about us trying harder. It is about us discovering Jesus in a deeper way and hence finding peace and joy and reconciliation.

In other words, I think we have to drill down through the layer that is all about presents and getting drunk, but we have to also drill down through the layer that is about peace and joy. We have to drill down far enough to find Jesus. Then we find the peace and joy as well and we discover the reason for giving gifts and celebrating with family together and worshipping with others.

A fortnight ago we read the prophecy from Isaiah 9 especially the section that began, “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.” Isaiah said, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” He talked about growth and joy and rejoicing, freedom from oppression and peace. He signalled a new beginning but he had a reason for proclaiming this new beginning. What was his reason?

“For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given.”

His message wasn’t an exhortation to peace as if we could create this peace by ourselves. It was an announcement of Jesus; the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, the One who would usher in this age of peace.

Isaiah spoke in terms of this child reigning forever on the throne of His father David; reigning with justice and righteousness. He talked in terms of a new King and a new kingdom. With the birth of this child, that Kingdom was begun. That would be when the light would pierce the darkness; when there would be rejoicing and so on. Without the new king, there would be no change; people would continue to walk in darkness. He foresaw the new dawn of joy and freedom because God gave this child.

Likewise, the angels who appeared to the shepherds when Jesus was born, talked about good news of great joy for all people. That sang of peace on earth. But, again, what was the basis for their confidence? Was it going to be a sudden improvement in human nature? Were people suddenly going to pull their socks up? What was the basis?

READ Luke 2:1-14

The basis: “Today, in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.”

As with Isaiah, the proclamation of joy and peace was possible only because of the baby. Their message was of a Messiah. The central message was Jesus. Peace and joy and reconciliation are secondary. They are the results of knowing Jesus.

The Christmas message is Jesus.

I actually find that a challenge. Let me put it in a very simplistic way. If I wish someone a merry Christmas, what good have I done? It is a nice thought. It expresses my good wishes for that person but it doesn’t actually help them have a merry Christmas.

If I say, “Have a good day” it is a nice thought but it might only make them more aware that they are not having a nice day. That is because a merry Christmas or a good day are the result we hope for but I have said nothing about the cause that might make Christmas merry or a day good. I am expecting the results without the means. I have dug down to the level of meaningful concepts (perhaps even biblical concepts) but not dug down as far as the One who can make it possible.

Some people would say that a lot of modern preaching exhorts people to do good things but focuses too little on proclaiming Jesus. We talk about the Christian lifestyle but not the Christ.

I imagine that many public statements will be made by Christian leaders this Christmas that will talk about issues of justice and peace but may not mention Jesus whose Kingdom will be established and upheld with justice and peace.

We are embarrassed about Jesus. We will talk about the Christian lifestyle but not about the need for the Saviour. It should be patently obvious that, despite the good intentions of many, many people the world has not achieved peace. Only Jesus can bring peace to the lives of nations and families of this world. It is useless for us to preach about moral reform and living better lives without preaching Jesus.

The apostle Paul said that he decided to preach nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If we look at the context of that statement, in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, notice how he talks about Jesus being the power. The power is not in ideas or challenges. The power is in the person Jesus.

READ 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 30-2:5

Paul rejected philosophical wisdom (even though that was what the Greeks loved). He rejected eloquence and high-sounding words, for the sake of a message that seemed like foolishness – a message of a crucified Messiah. But, actually, that message had power. The power of the message of Jesus had saved the Corinthians themselves.

There wouldn’t seem to be much power in a message about an obscure Jew who was executed on a cross but that is the only message that can change the world.

There is a lot of emphasis in churches today on meeting needs in the community, which is absolutely a good thing. It is a way of being relevant and of showing something of the love of God. It is a way of meeting people and serving them and hopefully breaking down some perceptions about the church. It is a way of helping people to feel more warmly disposed towards the church and its message. It hopefully leads to opportunities to share that message.

But there is a temptation to serve without mentioning Jesus. There is a hope that the serving in and of itself is sufficient. I have heard church leaders asking, “We have got involved in all of these ministries in the community but we are now not sure we are doing anything more than social work. What makes it distinctively Christian?”

Around the country, churches have found Mainly Music to be very effective. Groups are bursting at the seams and have waiting lists, but it is common for churches to say, “But we haven’t seen any come to faith. We haven’t seen any come into the church.”

There has to be a step beyond providing the programme and I think our Mainly Music team is very good at being intentional about building relationships that might then provide opportunities for sharing Jesus.

A couple of weeks ago I heard a speaker talking about churches being “missional” – being involved in mission in our communities. He asked the question, “How do we get beyond social work?” He said that in some quarters serving people is seen as the goal but it is not. Our goal, as Christians, is glorifying God. That puts a completely different spin on it. How can we glorify God through serving.

A "Christian" social agency might have so-called Christian values but if they cannot introduce someone to Jesus or they don’t provide Christian counselling as such or they wouldn’t explicitly provide biblical advice and help, they might do a tremendous amount of good work but can an they be called “Christian”?

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.” (Mark 9:41)

“In Jesus’ name” must at least mean that Jesus is acknowledged. It might mean that I do it as an ambassador of Jesus. Maybe it goes further and means that the cup of cold water is seen as coming from Christ and I am only the delivery boy. Whatever it means, it means that Jesus is explicitly part of it.

We talk about putting Christ back into Christmas but we need to ensure that we keep Christ in Christian. It is not “Christian” unless it includes Christ. It is not Christian if it just deals with concepts or principles. It must include the person.

What would make this a Christian Christmas for us?
1. Spending time with Jesus
2. Obeying Jesus
3. Telling others about Jesus

Let’s consider how we personally can put Christ back into Christmas.

05.12.10 - Christmas Means Freedom

Probably just about every year, churches read the prophecy from Isaiah that includes the words “For unto us a child is born; to us a son is given...”

We like it because it is clearly a prophecy of the Messiah and it was spoken about 800 years before Jesus was born. We like it because it tells us that God had a plan centuries earlier. We like it because the accuracy of the prophecy confirms for us the majesty of God who could foretell these things and centuries later they come to pass. We like it because it gives magnificent titles to Jesus. He will be called Wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We like it because it says that God is in control and a new day is coming when Jesus will rule with justice and righteousness.

But, I think there is another reason why we should like it. To see that more clearly, we have to go back and read the section leading up to this passage. READ Isaiah 8:19-22

It is about consulting mediums and spiritists. Consulting mediums and spiritists is an insult to God. It is a turning away from God. As Isaiah says, “Should not a people enquire of their God?” Why go and listen to people who whisper and mutter? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Why consult the dead when you can consult the living God?

Isaiah says, “Consult God’s instruction” but people don’t want to. People would rather turn to some other oracle than listen to God. Often people don’t want to hear what God has to say but they will listen to all sorts of other nonsense.

We are free to do that. We are free to not listen to God but the result is confusion and darkness. Isaiah says that if a person doesn’t speak in accordance with God’s instruction, they have no light of dawn. People who speak but not in accordance with God’s word, spread only more and more confusion. People who listen to them live in deception. They don’t know the truth and so they stumble around in darkness and move further and further away from God. Listen to the description Isaiah gives: these people are distressed and hungry; they roam through the land, famished; they are enraged and they look up and curse both their king and their God. These are poor tormented souls. They look towards the earth and they see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom.

It is a terrible picture of lostness and darkness and anger and distress and it finishes with “they will be thrust into outer darkness” which is a reference to eternal punishment.

In our advanced western culture people still consult mediums and spiritists for personal guidance or to supposedly solve crimes. We make TV programmes about it and people are enthralled. People read their horoscopes and some go to séances or tarot readings or palm readers.

You can go any bookshop and buy books written by all sorts of gurus offering spiritual wisdom. These are the modern-day priests and prophets and oracles of spiritual truth – which is not truth.

Should not a people enquire of their God?

The result is as Isaiah described it: darkness and spiritual confusion. This so-called wisdom only increases the darkness. We are a nation that doesn’t consult God, and look at the results: the drunkenness, violence, crime, abuse, distress; spiritual darkness and confusion. People are going into a dark eternity every day because of refusing to consult God’s instruction.

It is no surprise. The apostle Paul talked about a coming time when people would listen to myths rather than listen to God.

2 Timothy 4:2-5
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

As Isaiah described, the result is “darkness and distress and fearful gloom”.

Nevertheless. Isaiah 9 starts with “Nevertheless there will be no more gloom for those who were in darkness.” God prophesies a complete change. There was terrible darkness but... Let’s see how the passage moves on. Listen to the transformation and the rejoicing. READ Isaiah 9:1-7.

Those in darkness have seen a great light. They rejoice like people rejoice at the harvest, like soldiers after a victory. The yoke that had burdened them was shattered. The rod of the oppressor, shattered. The things of warfare will be burned in the fire. Darkness becomes light. Oppression and captivity become freedom. Torment becomes peace. What started as a really, really gloomy passage becomes a passage of freedom and joy.

How? What makes the difference?

For unto us a child is born. Darkness becomes light. Oppression and captivity become freedom, for unto us a child is born. Not just any child. This child will rule the earth. He is the wise guide, God Himself, eternal Father, one who brings peace. He will reign on David’s throne, with justice and righteousness, forever.

There is no doubt this is Jesus. There is no doubt that the world is a different place because of Jesus.

Two of the most important words in this passage are the “Nevertheless” in 9:1 and the “For” in 9:6. Look at the structure of this passage. There is as section talking about the lostness of people who turn away from God. Then it says “Nevertheless” and it describes how God brings light and joy that dispel the darkness. So we have two very contrasting descriptions: one of lostness and darkness; one of light and joy. Then it gives the reason for the change: “for unto us a child is born.”

That is like a testimony, isn’t it? “My life was like this. Now it is like this, because of Jesus.” We have the bad news; the good news and the reason.

That is why we celebrate Christmas. A child has been born who has changed everything. The lost world has a Saviour.

Do you have a testimony, a personal story, like that? “I was lost but now I’m found because of Jesus. I was far from God but my life has been changed by Jesus.” Is that your story? If so, you will have no problem celebrating Christmas. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.

And you will be eager to celebrate Communion, knowing that it was through His self-sacrifice that the world was changed and your personal destiny was turned around. Isaiah will in later chapters talk about the suffering of the Messiah: He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Or, would you like a story like that? Does there need to be light in your darkness? Have you been following the ways of other people but not consulting God? Are you walking in darkness? God has a different option: the people walking in darkness have seen a great light, because a child was born. Jesus is the Saviour who can turn our worlds around.

Let us all readily receive God’s gift: the Messiah who will rule the world with justice and righteousness. Let us all turn again, in humility, to Jesus. Even if we’ve done it before, let us say, “Jesus, I need You.”

21.11.10 - I stand at the door and knock - Please let me in. Joshua 5

Introduction… News of that powerful hand of the Lord miracle of crossing Jordan has reached right across the land to the far coast. None came out to confront Israel, so for a while the people of God had a time of peace. So it was time to tidy up a few loose ends!

Circumcision… Ancient practice done at puberty or before marriage, possibly done for health reasons. (survey done revealed Jewish women have very low levels of cervical cancer). For Israel it became a follow-up to the contractual relationship (Gen 15) between God and Abraham re: having a son and heir and the promised land. Then in Gen 17 it was renewed as a covenant and promise, a ceremony celebrated on the 8th day after birth. Performed by the head of the house. (exception Ex. 4 24-26 woman in difficult passage)

Why did God choose Circumcision?... especially in the light of it being a heathen practice and what we squeamish modern humans feel is barbaric. This latter point may not be so true here in Southland where we are used to tailing and castration in the farming world. The underlying theme of this morning’s message title of “relationship building” is the key. Let me explain. Every approach God has ever made towards his creation and created is for a closer relationship. Think about that for a moment. And in particular regarding the pinnacle of His creation, toward us humankind, made in the image and after the likeness of God himself. From walking with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening to the glorious promise of His return to take us to be with Him, he has always been reaching out to us. And what about at Bethlehem? Taking it a step further, at the heart of any human relationship is a desire for “intimacy”, most closely found and expressed in marriage. Now, please don’t be embarrassed or throw me out for what I am about to say! But I believe circumcision demonstrates the depth of intimacy God wants to have with His people Israel and His people, us Christians, who bare His Son’s name. For Israel he put a physical mark on the most private, personal and intimate part of a body. The removal of the foreskin of a man goes further than if he is just naked, it touches him in his most sensitive and intimate part of his body – the strongest of feelings in shared intimacy with the one who he loves forever. In the NT Christian marriage is explicitly an earthly picture of the relationship of Christ and his church (Mt 25, Eph 5, Rev 19) Here then is the high standard of commitment and intimacy that God is looking for, that is represented to us in circumcision, for us Christians though it is in the heart; the total uninhibited abandonment of modesty and privacy between bridegroom and bride, between God and His people.

It is the Mosaic law that introduced this new concept of circumcision, “of the heart.” Deut 10:16, Jer. 4:4 Not just a physical mark of belonging – but spiritual qualities of commitment and obedience to God’s will. Lev 11:44, 19:18, Deut 6:5 all speak of the need for holiness, loving a neighbour, and loving God. Does that sound familiar?! Sure it does. Jesus said, “Hear O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is One” “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” That comes first. From that platform comes the second, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Mk.12 Here at Calvin we are going to have an opportunity to do this very thing this Christmas.

The Passover… Still a very fresh memory as these were the children of those who had lived through the amazing “passing over” of the Holy Spirit of those houses covered by the blood of the lambs slain on that dreadful night when God’s anger burned against Pharaoh and all Egypt and the firstborn of all not under the blood died. Passover is both a solemn time of serious reflection and grateful celebration of a God who keeps His promises and who deals justly with all mankind.

Manna stops… Now here is a nasty sudden turn of events. No sooner had they tasted of the yummy fresh fruit and veg of New World Canaan than the heavenly supply of the past 40 years stopped. Well, the manna got a bit boring anyway, though they must admit it kept them strong and healthy. Now surprise, surprise, there is no record of food allergies setting in with this abrupt change of diet, and no more moaning either! But did this mean they were on their own now. Had God left them alone, had He just dumped them into the Promised Land and left? I’m sure some may have thought that – perhaps Joshua himself was suddenly hit with doubts and fears – after all God had had to prop him up with lots of encouraging, “fear nots” as he took up leadership from Moses. Now here he was looking over Jericho v13, and wondering how on earth he and his 40,000 troops were to tackle those massive walls all alone - by themselves.

The Commander.. Suddenly a high ranking soldier appears out of nowhere with a drawn sword. Not recognizing the uniform perhaps, Joshua challenges, “Are you for us or against us”? to which no straight answer is given, just a title. That title alone is enough to send Joshua into immediate horizontal worship. What’s going on here? Joshua is in charge is he not? Has he lost the plot? Is he scared yet again to show gutsy leadership and just when it is needed most? No, Joshua recognizes in this man and his title someone greater than he. Here is the Lord of Hosts in Person. I like to think that here is another amazing act of grace, grace upon grace. This is no angel; we don’t worship angels or saints for they are man’s servants. God comes down to meet Joshua on the edge of the Promised Land to remind all Israel that God is still with them, no longer as a sugar daddy supplying food for hungry tummies, clouds and fires for guidance, but now in a new role, as the one who will be out front fighting for them in the heavens, for they are now not in the worldly wilderness but have entered all that God has prepared for them as His very own. It will still be a battle, many battles for them as it is for us Christians today. Whoever said the Christian life was easy? Calvin, what do you say? Well I say it is! …but when and only when it starts with our shoes off in humility, in servant-hood, in submission to the leadership, the lordship of Jesus Christ our great Commander in Chief. He has His sword drawn ready. Leave the battles with him in trusting prayer and praise. Joshua was about to face a major test of his faith. Immediately after the rejoicing in victory over Jericho came the devastating sin of Ai which cost the lives of the sinner and his entire innocent family. God hates sin with a capital H. But by His mercy we can have an encounter with the great Commander who Joshua met. We meet Him at the foot of His cross where it is level holy ground. He accepts each one of us because of that scarlet thread, not hung out of a doomed window to save a few, but poured out over a cross from His body to save the world. Turn to Him today just as Joshua did, take off your dirty shoes, and ask Him the same question, “What message does my Lord have for his/her servant?” Will you do this? God bless you.

14.11.10 - What Do These Stones Mean?

Alan Bennett

Read Joshua 4
We have left the priests and the Ark of the Covenant standing in the river bed for a week now. We don’t know how long it took for perhaps up to 700,000 people to cross over the Jordan river. Possibly it was just one day if the crossing front was wide. I for one would not have been happy on Ark night duty, knowing the river wasn’t far away, waiting to return at any moment. So it is now time for them too to come up into the promised land.

At first reading Ch 4 may not seem to contain much for us. But there is always something for us in scripture – if we dig for it.

Good Preparation and Planning… We have already seen in Ch.3 the hard work Joshua put into getting the people ready for this epic event in Israel’s development, some 40 years after Israel’s deliverance out of Egypt. Now those 12 men, first chosen in 3:12 are to step forward. They come, one each from the 12 tribes – for unity, for equal sharing and participation in the Lord’s work. This speaks to me of the importance of involving a wide cross section of a congregation in church affairs and ministries. Note they were CHOSEN, they were not volunteers. A church leader must have the freedom and the courage to divinely tap people on the shoulder for ministry according to the spiritual gifting and potential he may see in them. This is what happened in Acts 6 when the church CHOSE 7 men to take food to the widows. That event, of getting the right well educated young men into a low profile “meals on wheels” work soon led to v7 “The word of God spread, the number of disciples increased rapidly and a large number of priests became obedient to the truth.” Acts 6:7. Please Lord do it again and again, do it here in Calvin –AMEN.!

God and doing His will…In v3-4 we see an important principle and lesson for us. God did not give Joshua the whole picture as to “how” and “what” he was doing with Israel or even with Joshua himself. We see God “drip feeding” guidance and direction into Joshua as he and the people moved along. Here the life of faith and obedience is illustrated so clearly. We try to make ourselves God, by wanting to know the end from the beginning. When the last person had crossed I reckon those priests were busting to get out of there. But their role, their job was to stand, to stand in the middle holding back the flood with the word of God until every person had crossed including the slow 12 stone carriers. They were there to mark the path with the truth and power of the Word until God said otherwise. And when He did, they came out and the flood returned. In today’s world we are so obsessed with defining “outcomes” and “results”, God is obsessed with faith and obedience. When will we learn!

I love the detail found in scripture. Did you notice in v6 that the men were to take up stones and carry them on their shoulders. At one stone each that tells me they were not stones, they were boulders. Shoulders are for boulders.! Don’t let us forget that Jesus talked of putting our backs to the plough, taking up our cross. Our cross is not a tiny silver emblem on a chain around our neck, though nothing wrong with that, but it is what Simon of Cyrene carried the day Jesus was crucified. Isn’t this what is meant when Paul testifies in Col.1:24 “I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, the church.” It is Jesus invitation to come on board with Him. The Christian life is a partnership with Jesus and His people, the church of God on earth.

God and Miracles… Perhaps a word here about miracles. This second crossing of a deep waterway by Israel was no mere “convergence of nature” or “circumstance of timing”. This miracle started by faith and obedience when the toes of the priests met the water. It was maintained for a God determined period by the steadfast obedience of those priests and the faith of all Israel as they crossed on dry land, and it ended when God saw it was no longer necessary.. From start to finish it was God initiated. V18 tells us that the conclusion was, “the water ran as before.” This tells me it wasn’t just dammed up by a timely earthquake or rock-fall or anything else that just happened to come along. If it had been dammed up and then come free it would have rampaged back down at a level far greater than flood level and swept all Israel away, as they were still sorting themselves out on or near the riverbank. We do not have to explain how God does miraculous.

V23 tells us, “He did to the Jordan just what he did to the Red Sea.” Hallelujah, my God is not a “one off” God. – AMEN.! He fed 5000 and then he went on to feed 4,000. He healed the lepers, He healed the blind, and above all else He saved me, and He saved you and you and you, and now, today, He wants to save you and you and you. This is our God, a great God of love, mercy, forgiveness, of justice and salvation.. And why does he do it? Joshua gives us the answer-v24 “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and that you might always fear the Lord your God.” Put another way I believe miracles are for evangelizing the lost and for purifying His church

God and Memory …

Southland loves it’s stones. The Baptists, St Andrew, Calvin etc. Lumsden has it’s Millenium stone – “marking the work of the HS in the area”. Myanmar or Burma is in the news….

Illus.. 8 mile church in Yangon has a huge stone with an open Bible on it beside the open baptistery on a busy intersection and bus interchange. – for all to see. (sound system as well)

Averil and I have learnt much from browsing among the tombstones of the new places we visit. Most memorable was in St Paul’s Church, Malacca, Malaysia just before we were designated to work in Central Thailand. and expecting our first-born. There is a temporary burial crypt of Francis Xavier, the pioneer RC missionary to China and parts of Asia. And in the surrounding graveyard of the 18th – 19th century. One family, “To God be the Glory” 2 children, father, 1 child, mother, then 2 more children all died and buried in space of one month – Cholera. Sorry to be ending on a seemingly sad note. But for the Christian, death is not the end There is joy for us in heaven. And there is joy for us now in crossing our rivers daily taking God’s word seriously and doing His will that he has planned and purposed for us.

In closing, the question arises, “How do you and I wish to be remembered? What do you and I want written on our tombstone? Have our lives brought glory to God? Do you know this God of miracles who above all else miraculously crossed from heaven to earth, to take your sin, your shame, your fears and by nailing them to His cross has opened the door for your forgiveness and new life in His promised land prepared for you here and in the hereafter. As we leave this place this morning take another look at the rock and the cross at the front of the church. Reflect on them as memorials to your great salvation. Then ask yourself these two questions.. Am I standing on the rock Christ Jesus?

Am I taking up my cross daily and following Him?

07.11.10 - Going Where You've Never Been Before

READ Joshua 3

This is a hugely significant event. Israel entered the Promised Land. The Promised Land is called the Promised Land because it was the land that God had promised. back to the time of Abraham, centuries earlier, God had promised the Israelites this land.

Imagine, after centuries and centuries, being the generation who actually stood in the land.

Forty years earlier they had approached its southern border at Kadesh Barnea but they had got cold feet and hadn’t believed that God would give them the land. Forty more years they wandered in the desert until that whole generation died. Now the next generation again stands at the border – this time at the eastern border, just north of the Dead Sea. They had already conquered some land on the eastern side of the Jordan River but they still had to cross the river to enter the land that had so long been their dream. They camped at Shittim, opposite Jericho.

As we read last week, Joshua, who had taken over the leadership from Moses, sent two spies into the land. They returned saying, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” (2:24)

They then moved from Shittim to camp by the Jordan. Three days passed. Then the people were told that the priests would take up the Ark of the Covenant and move forward. They would lead the way so that the people would know where to go since they had never been this way before.

The Ark of the Covenant was the gold-covered box that had two gold cherubim on top and contained the tablets Moses had received on Mt Sinai with the Ten Commandments written on them. Also in the Ark of the Covenant was Aaron’s rod and a jar of the manna that God had provided to feed the people in the desert. The Ark represented the presence of God, which is why the people were told to follow the Ark but to stay almost a kilometre behind it. It was holy. The people – other than the priests who carried the Ark on poles – could not get too close to God.

The phrase “since you have never been this way before” caught my attention. Something new is often frightening. We fear the unknown. We often don’t like going into places that we don’t know. It was like that for the Israelites. Despite the excitement of finally entering the Promised Land, there would have also been trepidation. There were enemies in the land. The cities were occupied and fortified. Last time they had heard reports that there were giants in the land. And last time they had failed.

For Joshua it was all new too. This was his first big assignment as leader. And it was a big assignment: leading the people into the Promised Land. Going where you have never been before is an metaphor of faith, I think. Can I do this new thing? Actually, the question is not “can I?”. The question is “can God? Do I trust God” Would God keep His promise to give the people this land? Would God defeat the people already living there? For Joshua, would God be with him as leader? Would the people respect him and follow him as leader?

So the first thing was that, when they saw the ark moving, the the people were to follow.

Before they did that, they were to consecrate themselves. They were to re-affirm their dedication to God which included ensuring they were right with God and were ritually clean; that things had been sorted out; that they were in a right relationship with God.

God had promised them the land but that didn’t mean they could disobey and still receive that promise. They had to be right with God. Last time God had promised them the land they had missed out because of their disobedience. Prior to entering the land, they were to sort those things out.

We too need to be right with God. God has made lots of promises but they are dependent on how we live. Maybe, if we long for God to fulfil some promises, a good first step would be to take time and make some specific steps to be right with Him.

Then God said to Joshua, “Today I will exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.” Moses had been such a colossus. In all world history there have been few leaders to compare with Moses. How was Joshua to step into those shoes? How could he ever compare? If he couldn’t compare, would the people respect him? Could he be leader?

But God said, “I am going to exalt you in their eyes. They will know that I am with you just as I was with Moses.” The way God would show that He was with Joshua just as He had been with Moses would be to repeat perhaps the most famous miracle that He had done for Moses. When Moses led the people out of Egypt, God parted the Red Sea and they passed through on dry ground. When Joshua would lead the people into the Promised Land, God would split the Jordan River and they would pass through on dry ground. By repeating the miracle, God would show that He was with Joshua in just the same way.

This was not only about entering the land. This was about establishing Joshua as leader. Not only that, this miracle would also be a sign to the people that further miracles would follow; that God did intend to drive out the seven nations living in the land already. V.10 said, “This is how you will know that the living God is with you and will drive out the enemy.”

The miracle would be even greater because it was the worst possible time. The river was in flood. Apparently the Jordan is normally about 40 or 50 metres across. When it is in flood, swollen by the melting snows of Mt Hermon, it becomes a raging torrent.

The Israelites broke camp, ready to move on. The priests, carrying the ark, went ahead of them. But the Jordan River was still flowing. They had to step into the flowing river. Only then would it stop flowing.

God was willing to give them lots of confirmation through signs. He was willing to perform a miracle as a confirmation that He would conquer the people of the land. But He also required them to trust Him and step out. He had already said that as soon as they set foot in the Jordan, the water would stop flowing. They had the promise. They had to be willing to trust that He would do as He had said He would do. They must have felt the temptation of unbelief: What if nothing happens?

That is often the case for us too – but it is a test of our faith. God may say, “Do A and I will be with you. Ring So-and-so and I will be with you. Give away this amount of money. I’ll look after you. Go and pray with someone. Just trust me.” We have to make the phone call or give away the money or pray with that person before we actually see the miracle. Often we chicken out and then we don’t see what God wants to do. “Step into the water while it is still flowing” is the challenge. “Trust me. I’ve said I’ll stop it.”

If the river stopped flowing before we even reached it, no faith would be required. If all the doors opened and the path ahead was crystal clear, no faith would be required. Faith is acting in response to God speaking. If God has told you to do something or to trust Him in a particular situation, then the next step is ours. It is as we take that step that God then acts and fulfils what He has said.

Faith is acting in response to God speaking. God must speak first. It is not an invitation to do something reckless challenging God to respond. It is not an invitation to throw ourselves off the Temple so that God has to catch us. God takes an initiative and you respond. It is not you taking an initiative so that God has to respond.

The priests did step into the river and an amazing thing happened. It stopped flowing. A great distance up-stream it stopped and the passage says that it piled up in a heap. The water down-stream flowed away leaving dry land . Maybe there was landslide upstream that blocked the river. Maybe. Maybe it was a purely supernatural act. Actually, however, it happened, it was supernatural, not natural. God acted at exactly the right time and right place, for the whole nation – millions of people – to cross the river on dry land. It happened by design, not by chance. It was a miracle.

Joshua stood on the brink of his leadership of the nation. This was the first big test. The people stood on the brink of the Promised Land. After years of longing, they could now see it, but there was a raging river – a river impossible to cross – between them and the promise. Even if they crossed it, there would be more challenges ahead because there were enemy peoples in the land.

Soon afterwards they stood in that land. The impossible-to-cross river had been crossed. They were somewhere they had never been before.

You too might be able to see a better future – a future that God has seemed to place in your heart – but it seems impossible to get there. It is just a dream.

If it is from God, He doesn’t want it to remain just a dream. Why would He torment you with a longing that He doesn’t plan to fulfil – if it is from Him?

Perhaps the first thing we need to do is clarify, as much as we can, that it is from God. Go back to God and enquire, “Lord is this if you.” If it is not of God, then we are only tormenting ourselves by clinging to a dream that can never be fulfilled. But, if it is of God, then the Bible says that He will give us the desires of our hearts. If it is of God, He will bring it to pass.

Then, let us consecrate ourselves. If there are sins to be confessed, or things to be put right, then let’s do those things.

Even then, let us not rush in and try to force God’s hand. The Israelites camped for three days before anything happened. They had to wait until they saw the priests start moving. Wait for God’s timing.

When that happens, we must be ready to act in obedience. If God tells us to do something, then we must do it – even with no guarantee of success (except that he has told us to do it.)

The rest is up to God, but we can have every confidence. This story, and so many stories like it, give us confidence that God is powerful and He does act and He does answer prayers.

For the Israelites, the crossing of the river was a sign that God would also drive out the nations living in the land. Every time were see God doing something miraculous, it enables us to believe for the next thing as well.

This chapter is about trusting God. It is about faith. But it is also about God being trustworthy. Trusting God is often a challenge. Can I bring myself to give away that money? Can I step out into some area I have never been before? May what we see of God in the Bible persuade us that we can. This God is trustworthy.

05.10.10 - What Is Our Hope, Joy and Glory?

A couple of weeks ago, Tau Ben-Unu and I were talking as we drove back from Dunedin and Tau told me about learning survival skills from his grandfather.

At about 9 years old, he and his grandfather went bush together, and all they had was a machete. For several days in the bush Tau’s grandfather showed him how to use the knife, to open coconuts, cut down branches and coconut leaves to build shelter, gather food, even to dig a shallow hole for an umu (hangi).

It was precious grandfather to grandson time, time in which one generation passed on life skills to another generation. And Tau remembers it to this day.

Translate that into a Christian context. What value do we place on one person taking another under his/her wing and teaching that person how to live as a follower of Jesus Christ?

When I preached at John Coutts’ induction, I used 1 Thessalonians. We are going to read again from 1 Thessalonians. You didn’t know this was going to be a series, did you? Nor did I.

Paul had been in Thessalonica. There had been a move of the Holy Spirit. People were powerfully converted and Paul had then taught and trained them. But then he had been separated from them and that separation hurt. He was desperate to be back with them. As George reads, listen for why Paul wanted to be re-united.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-4:2

1 Thess 2:19-20 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

Paul’s hope, joy and crown of glory is the Thessalonians. Actually, it is not just the Thessalonians; it is seeing the Thessalonians grow in their faith.

In this letter there is huge rejoicing in their conversion – how that had received the gospel and turned to God from idols and how their witness was known through the whole region. There is also huge rejoicing in their living out of their faith. Paul was worried that, with persecution, they might have fallen away, but Timothy had reported that they were going on in faith and love. And Paul was over the moon. But he still wanted to be with them.

What for? What drives Paul? Does he just enjoy their company? Well, yes he does but it is far more than that.

He sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage them in their faith (3:2). Day and night he prays earnestly to be able to see them again “to supply what is lacking in their faith” (3:10). He prays that God may strengthen their hearts so that they might be blameless and holy in the presence of God when the Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones (3:13).

It is all about being with them to grow them; to help them be strong in their faith.

Paul said his hope was the Thessalonians. His goal, his desire, his dream was on-fire mature Christians. Can I remind you of Colossians 1:28-19?

Col 1:28-29 28 [Jesus] is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Paul’s personal goal, and the focus of all his energy, was to present everyone fully mature in Christ, through admonishing and teaching with all wisdom.

His joy was seeing the Thessalonians growing in their faith and living as followers of Jesus. We see that joy in his relief when Timothy returned and reported that the Thessalonians were going on for Jesus and were people of faith and love. Paul said, “Now we really live since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?” (3:8-9) When his disciples are going from strength to strength, Paul feels alive.

His crown in which he would glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes was the Thessalonians. What else will there be to glory in in the presence of Jesus? Jesus won’t be terribly impressed by our accumulated possessions. He might not care about the qualifications on our walls. The one thing worth rejoicing in will be the people whose lives have been changed because of us – in other words, disciples (although I was going to see if I could get away without using that word!)

Paul asks, “What is our hope, our joy and our crown? Is it not you?” It is about people – people growing in their relationship with Jesus. For Christians the Maori proverb is true: He aha te mea nui? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing? It is people, it is people, it is people. For us, it is people. It is about people coming to know Jesus and being on fire for Jesus.

This is a significant moment. The Mataura Presbytery has existed for 119 years. It is right and proper that we should mark the end of such a long-standing institution – and all the more so when we remember that over that time there have been thousands of men and women who have been committed to Jesus and passionate about the mission of the church. We stand at the end of a long line of faithful followers of Jesus.

And at the beginning of another line. We are part of something new – the bigger Southern Presbytery and the new Mataura Resource Group. The foundation we lay might shape the effectiveness of those groups for a long time. We have both the opportunity and the responsibility to do this well.

A large part of the motivation of the presbytery reforms has been for the church to be more mission-focused. The Mataura Presbytery had a mission statement that was printed on the front of the agenda every month. I thought it was a great statement: Presbytery has a passion to fulfil its leadership role in encouraging parishes to work together supporting and resourcing one another in order to grow the Kingdom of God in this region.

It was a great statement. It is debatable how much we have worked together and supported and resourced one another in order to grow the Kingdom. However, now it is about the future. The point of the reforming of presbyteries is that we be more effective in mission.

We celebrate a change in the structures. Structures are important. They can either help or hinder the mission. They are important but it is never about the structure. It is about people. It is about bring people into a relationship with Jesus and nurturing their growth to on-fire maturity in Jesus.

As we make this transition, is our hope – our dream – the conversion and growth of the people of this region? Is our joy seeing people come to know Jesus and grow in their relationship with Jesus?

When we stand before Jesus, what will we glory in? Will there be people there whom we have helped become fully devoted followers of Jesus? What else will there be to glory in besides changed lives? It is people. Many of us lead organisations called churches. The organisation might be going fine but are lives being changed?

What exactly does Paul want to see in their lives? What can we learn from him? He very clearly wants to see people converted. He rejoices in the Thessalonians’ conversion, but this letter is written to people already converted. What does he want to see in the lives of those who are Christians?

In 4:1 Paul refers back to the time he had with them just after they were converted and says, “we instructed you how to live in order to please God.” It is interesting that straight after their conversion they received instruction about how to live God-pleasing lives. Do we train new converts like that? And now Paul can say, “as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.”

This is his passion. They are doing well but he wants to spend time with them to help them do fantastically well. This is about not being satisfied with luke-warm Christians, half-pie Christians or even half-grown Christians but striving for more.

In chapters 4 and 5 Paul gives some specific instructions about sexual morality, love for one another, living lives that win the respect of outsiders, understanding about Jesus’ return and living accordingly, working hard, prayer, not quenching the Spirit’s fire and so on. But remember that this instruction is just adding to, and filling in some of the gaps in, the instruction that he had already given them.

The general description of his goal is that they live lives that please God.

1 Thess 2:10-12 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

There Paul talks about living lives worthy of God. I am not sure there is much difference between lives that are worthy of God and lives that please God, but we could take either one of those phrases and identified what it means. What sort of life pleases God? Describe it. What does that life look like? What sort of life is worthy of God? Then that is the life that we should be encouraging and training our people to live.

We tend to just leave people to live their own lives. We think it is impertinent to tell people how to live but I suggest God wants us to train up people who will live lives that are worthy of Him.

Paul’s example here is that first he modelled it. They had witnessed his life. He had been holy, righteous and blameless as he lived among them. But then he says that he dealt with them as a father deals with his children, encouraging, comforting and urging them to live lives worthy of God.

Let us also model lives that are worthy of God. Let us also treat people lovingly and tenderly like a father deals with his children. Good fathers don’t stand back and let their children live as they like. Good fathers encourage, comfort and urge. Good fathers want to see their children do their very best. Good fathers encourage their children to aim a little higher and strive to be all that they can be. It is not passive. Good fathers are actively involved encouraging, comforting and urging.

That is what Tau’s grandfather did. He took the initiative to spend significant time with his grandson to show him things; to challenge him; to teach him skills; to show that he cared, to stretch him, to prepare him for life.

What else is important? What is our hope, our joy, our crown in which we will glory in the presence of Jesus, if it is not people who have grown to know Jesus and to live lives that please God? What else is important? What else are you going to point proudly to in the presence of Jesus? Is the anything else worthwhile? It is about people following Jesus because we influenced them.

May the mission of the Southern Presbytery and the mission of the Mataura Resource Group be focused on people – people becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.

31.10.10 - Choose Which Side You're On

A couple of weeks ago we started looking at the book of Joshua. This book is in the Old Testament! It is part of the story of the escape of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and into the land that God had promised them – a land of milk and honey. When they came to the border of the land the first time, the Israelites chickened out. They didn’t trust God to help them and so they were destined to wander for another forty years in the desert. All this time, they were led by Moses but at the end of that forty years, Moses died and God appointed Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land. The book of Joshua is about the conquest of the Promised Land with Joshua leading the people.

In the first chapter God repeatedly told Joshua to be bold; he would take the land. He was to live by God’s word and God would be with him.

I want to get into chapter 2 but I do want to make a couple of comments about the remainder of chapter 1.

V.10 says, “Joshua then commanded the officers of Israel....” Joshua had been told to lead and he did. God had repeatedly told him to be bold, which probably indicates that he was not naturally bold. Leadership is not easy. Leadership should be approached with some trepidation. There are responsibilities that go with it and there are difficulties. The person who is too eager to lead is probably the wrong person to lead. Leadership requires boldness and obedience just as much as any other ministry.

Joshua began leading – despite his diffidence. Joshua took up the reigns. Joshua stepped into Moses’ big shoes. Joshua trusted that God would be with him.

Finally, in that chapter, there is like an oath of allegiance from the people. Followership is also not easy. Followership is a matter of obedience as much as leadership is. These people swore to obey Joshua just as they had obeyed Moses and to deal with anyone who rebelled against him.

READ Joshua 2

1. Why did Joshua send spies into the land when that had failed so miserably last time?
Forty years earlier the spies had said, “We can’t conquer it. There are giants in the land.” This time the question was not whether the land could be conquered. Joshua had explicitly said, “God is giving us this land.” The spies were sent in to see, not if they could conquer it, but how they could conquer it.

2. What were these good Jewish men doing going to the house of a prostitute?
Maybe they went there because that would be one of the last places you would expect to find God-fearing Jews. Or, tradition says that Rahab was also an innkeeper and history shows that women innkeepers were often also prostitutes. If she was an innkeeper, then staying in an inn would arouse no suspicion. It doesn’t necessarily suggest immorality on their part.

3. Rahab was a prostitute who told lies and betrayed her own people. Why did God save her?
Rahab is listed in the Hebrews 11 catalogue of the great heroes of faith. Really? Perhaps even more surprisingly, she is listed in Jesus’ family tree. If you look at Matthew 1, this Canaanite prostitute was Jesus’ great, great, great... 29 greats... grandmother.

Rahab said the spies had left the city. They hadn’t. They were on her roof. Is lying OK?

No, it is not. Honesty is one of the key characteristics of Christian character. Jesus said, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’.” Our speech is to be straightforward, honest and clear.

The fact that Rahab lied doesn’t make lying right. But she was a Canaanite. The Canaanites were a thoroughly wicked and perverse people who worshipped pagan gods. Rahab had no knowledge of the ethical standards that God had given to the Israelites, such as the commandment to not bear false witness against your neighbour.

Alan Bennett said the other day that people in Thailand will lie because they will say what they think you want to hear and what will avoid shame. In countries where there is no Christian heritage there is also no Christian ethic. Increasingly, in our society, people do not have a basic understanding of right and wrong. At the point of coming to faith in Jesus, they may still reflect their old values, or lack of values. But God accepts them and then starts the process of refining.

God doesn’t expect us to be Christlike before we come to faith, but He does expect us to become Christlike afterwards.

So the king’s men went off to search the road – which, obviously was going to be a fruitless exercise because the spies were under the flax on the roof. At night, Rahab went up to talk to them. What was it that she said that meant that God saved her? Why is she considered a woman of faith? Wasn’t she just afraid? Did she not simply betray her own people out of self-interest, so as to save her own skin?

Look at v.11: The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

That is a declaration of faith! Rahab almost certainly had worshipped the Canaanite gods Baal and Asherah – a highly sexualised fertility cult. But she had had a revelation. The God of the Israelites was the God of heaven and earth. It might look as if she had turned against her own people but the bigger truth is that she has turned away from their gods to worship the one true God.

It doesn’t matter that she was a prostitute. It doesn’t matter that she was dishonest. God still loved her. She put her faith in Him and He delivered her and her family.

This is story of God’s grace to a person who didn’t deserve it but who, in her desperation, turned to Him.

God’s judgement was about to come on Jericho.

Deut 7:1-6 1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you- 2when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. 3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, 4 for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you. 5 This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire. 6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

These seven nations worshipped pagan gods with worship that involved all sorts of immorality. God said they were to be destroyed completely lest they lure the Israelites into worshipping false gods and into immorality. God was going to destroy them because the Israelites were to be a holy people.

But there was one person who had faith. God would rescue her and her family. Rahab’s faith wasn’t strong. She probably didn’t even understand much about God, but she recognised that the God of the Israelites was God in heaven above and on earth below. And she acted on it. That is crucially important.

Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Rahab had come to her conclusion about God some time earlier. She showed the reality of that belief by welcoming the spies. She demonstrated which side she had chosen to be on. She was saved not by her belief. All of the people of Jericho shared that belief. Rahab said that their hearts had all melted and no one was courageous enough to fight against Israel. They had all heard that this God had delivered Israel through the Red Sea on dry land and had defeat the two kings on the east side of the Jordan. They all shared that belief that this was an awesome and powerful God. The belief didn’t save them. Rahab was saved because she welcomed the spies. She believed enough to act on it.

James 2:25-26 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

The difference between Rahab and all the other “Jerichoites” was that she chose to entrust herself to this new God. It was a risk. She might still have been killed by the Israelites. She might have been killed by her own people for having betrayed them. She still chose to align herself with Israel’s God and to trust Him. She demonstrated that faith by welcoming the spies. It is our actions that show the reality of our faith. Faith without works is dead.

We might tell people that we trust Jesus. We do. We really do. But if someone said, “Show me that you trust Jesus” what would you show that person? Faith without works is dead.

It was the evidence of God’s supernatural power that persuaded her. Today it is so often the supernatural that convinces people. It might be through the use of spiritual gifts – a miracle or a prayer answered or a healing. But people also have to hear the gospel. The word and the works are meant to go together. The last verse in Mark’s gospel reads:
Mark 16:20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.

The signs confirm the words.

But sometimes it is another type of miracle. It is the miracle of a changed character. It is the witness of a person who is being changed by Jesus. It is the fact that people see love, compassion, trustworthiness, integrity, a person who will do what is right, courage. It is the miracle of a person who has died to himself/herself – who is selfless. Jesus said people would believe because of our love for one another.

Is the supernatural apparent in our lives? Can people see God in us; in our ministry; in our character?

Rahab recognised God and entrusted her life to Him. Her neighbours recognised God and feared but chose to die as pagans.

Most people in our society are living lives far from God – some as blatantly immoral and godless as the people of Jericho. Some live apparently respectable lives – but actually still worship other gods. Good people but they haven’t come to the point that this prostitute came to of knowing that they are in danger of God’s judgement and therefore putting their lives into God’s hands.

God delayed the Israelite conquest of the land so that He could rescue one person. In fact, God’s grace extends to families. Rahab had a baby faith but her faith was sufficient for her family to also be saved. Of course, they had to show some faith too. They had to be in her house believing that this might be the means of escape. Because of Rahab’s faith, God’s grace was extended to her family.

They had to be in her house and hang a scarlet cord from the window. Many people see that scarlet cord as a symbol of blood. Forty years earlier the Israelites had been instructed to paint the blood of the Passover lamb on their door posts. Where there was no blood, the firstborn in each house perished but where there was blood the angel of death passed by.

Centuries later, the blood of Jesus would be shed to save the whole world. Those who trust in the blood are saved. Those who don’t aren’t. God required Rahab to hang the scarlet cord from her window.

This whole story is a story of God’s grace to a helpless sinner who believed and trusted. What was the outcome? Was Rahab saved? We won’t find out for another four chapters! But, as you probably already know, when the city fell, Rahab and her family were saved.

Is it time for you to choose which side you are going to be on? There is judgement ahead. Now is the time to choose to be on God’s side and to demonstrate that choice by your action. It doesn’t matter what your past has been. It doesn’t matter that your faith might be only new. If you choose to trust God, He will be merciful and you will be saved. Understand that Jesus’ blood was shed for you. Trust in that. Hang that scarlet cord outside your window. My only hope is in the blood of Jesus shed for me.

Is it time for you to tell someone else about this salvation that is freely available? Rahab, as a brand new baby believer, invited her family. Who should you be inviting?

17.10.10 - Words To A New Leader

READ Joshua 1:1-9

God’s words to Joshua include the clause “then you will be prosperous and successful.” Do those words interest you? Do you want to accomplish something for God? Do you want to be effective for Him?

Joshua was called to take over the leadership of Israel. That was his particular ministry but what we read here could apply to anyone starting any ministry. You can be prosperous and successful in your ministry.

The story of Joshua doesn’t start in chapter 1 of this book. He wasn’t plucked out of nowhere to become the leader of Israel. God generally puts people through a long period of preparation before they can lead and we see a hint of that in the description of Joshua as “Moses’ aide”. Joshua had been Moses’ second-in-command. He had been a servant to Moses. He had been mentored by Moses.

In Exodus, Joshua is referred to as Moses’ young aide (e.g. Ex 33:11). This probably means that he was a young man when the Israelites had left Egypt.

When Moses went up Mt Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, it seems Joshua went part-way (Ex 24:13; 32:17).

When Moses went to the tent of meeting, into the presence of God, Joshua went with him and when Moses returned to the camp, Joshua stayed at the tent.

You might remember the battle against the Amalekites when Moses went up the mountain with Aaron and Hur. While Moses arms were lifted up, the Israelites were winning. When Moses’ arms drooped, the Amalekites had the ascendency – and so Aaron and Hur held up Moses arms. While Moses was up the mountain doing the spiritual warfare, it was Joshua who was leading the army down below. (Ex 17)

It is possible that Joshua had been an assistant to Moses even before they had left Egypt which would mean that for more than forty years, Joshua had been the servant.

Joshua was one of the twelve spies sent to spy out the Promised Land and only Joshua and Caleb had come back saying the people should trust God and take the land. The other ten brought back a report of the difficulties, and discouraged the people. It was because of that that God said that generation would never enter the Promised Land but was condemned to forty year of aimless wandering in the desert. Only Caleb and Joshua would enter the land.

Then when Moses was told that he would not enter the Promised Land, he asked God to appoint someone else to be the leader of the people. God told Moses to commission Joshua “a man in whom is the spirit of leadership” and to give him some of his authority “so that the whole Israelite community will obey him”. Presumably Moses gave Joshua more leadership opportunities that he exercised with the authority that Moses had delegated. And so Israel saw that Moses had approved Joshua and Israel obeyed Joshua.

Eventually Moses died and Joshua was to take over completely. That is what we read about in the first few verses from the book of Joshua but the thing to notice first is that Joshua had served his apprenticeship. For many, many years he had been the assistant but, in that role, had learnt from Moses and had developed skills as diverse as military leadership and meeting God.

It is true of many people in scripture that there were many years during which God prepared them. Jesus Himself had thirty years of preparation for three years of ministry. Moses was eighty before he began his role as leader of Israel.

If you desire to serve God effectively, be prepared to serve your apprenticeship. The better the preparation, the better will be your ministry. That preparation might include simply serving and being found faithful in the little things. It might include playing second fiddle and learning to take commands before you can be trusted to give commands. Good leaders have learnt what it means to be followers. Let God build into your character and hone your skills and extend your knowledge. People who aren’t willing to be apprentices show themselves not fit to be leaders.

Joshua had served his apprenticeship. He had been Moses’ aide. Then came the day when he would become leader. God said to him, “Moses, my servant, is dead. Now then, you...” The time came for Joshua to step up and take responsibility.

God then reiterated the call. Joshua was to lead the people into the Promised Land. That was no small task. The land was already inhabited and heavily fortified. The inhabitants were highly organised military forces. The Israelites were a wandering rabble. Joshua’s leadership task was immense. You might think that the ministry God is calling you to is also immense. However, look at what God says.

He reiterates the call: Go and take the land.

When it does get hard – and there would be battles – Joshua could look back and say, “I know God called me.” If it had been his own bright idea doubts would set in. But it wasn’t his idea. It was God’s call on his life and he could always come back to that thought.

We too need to know what ministry God has called us to. That sense of call will strengthen us when it gets hard. It is a serious mistake to seek to be effective for God in an area to which He has not called us. There is no guarantee of God’s presence and God’s help if we are simply following our own bright ideas.

On the other hand, there is a promise of God’s help if we are obedient to the call on our lives. Where God calls He also enables. Notice how God gives Joshua an assurance with many promises. “I will give you this land. I will give you every place where you set your foot. Your territory will extend from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean. No one will be able to stand against you...”

And then perhaps the greatest assurance of all: v.5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. In the same way that I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

That is a promise God has made to person after person and one that He makes to us. For example, in the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples and I will be with you to the very end of the age.” We can make disciples with the same assurance Joshua had: God has promised to be with us.

Then four times God says “Be strong and courageous.” (vv. 6, 7, twice in v.9) Presumably God had to keep saying it because Joshua didn’t feel particularly strong and courageous.

If you are not strong and courageous, does it do any good to be told to be strong and courageous? If you are worrying and don’t know how to stop, what good is it if someone tells you not to worry. You are worrying! That is the problem. It was not that Joshua had it in himself to be strong and courageous and he just had to pluck up the courage. He could be strong and courageous because of God – because of God’s call on his life; because of the promises God had given, but primarily because God had promised to be with him. The source of his strength and courage was not his own internal fortitude. The source was God.

We might be very afraid of what God is asking of us too. God doesn’t simply say, “Be brave.” He says, “I am with you. Therefore be brave.” It is about trusting God and because we trust Him, being strong and courageous. It is the bravery that comes from faith.

We see that very clearly in v.9. God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous, not afraid, not discouraged “for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” There is the reason. This is about trust; faith.

There is a condition, or a requirement. God isn’t making a blanket promise to always be with Joshua no matter what. No, there are times when God says “I won’t be with you.” When the Israelites listened to the negative reports of the ten spies and refused to enter the land, God pronounced a punishment on them: they would wander in the desert until no one of that generation remained alive (except Caleb and Joshua). Then the people said, “OK we will go in.” But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed! Do not go up because the Lord is not with you! You will be defeated by your enemies... Because you have turned away from the Lord, He will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”

We cannot assume that God is with us. God is not with us if we choose to sin – which leads to the next thing God said to Joshua: Be careful to obey all the Law my servant, Moses, gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (v.8-9)

If Joshua is going to lead these people successfully, he must obey all of the Law, doing everything in it. There isn’t room for a partially committed person in ministry. There isn’t room for the person who is going to pick and choose what he/she will obey; who will let Jesus be partially Lord. God is looking for dedicated people who have made Jesus Lord of their lives and desire to do what is right at all times.

To obey God’s word, one must know God’s word. And, again, not know just a little of it; not know just the stories taught in Sunday school, but know God’s word and to have heard God speak through it.

God says to Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips.” On your lips? Joshua was to speak God’s word. As a leader, he was to take His leading from God and from God alone. Even as a leader, Joshua was to be a follower. He wasn’t to teach his own ideas and philosophy. It was the word of God that was to be constantly on his lips.

To be giving out the word of God, he had to be taking in the word of God and he had to understand it. Understanding comes from meditation. Meditation is simply focused thinking. Day and night, Joshua was to be thinking about God word. As we meditate, the Holy Spirit reveals understanding. The aim of meditating is obedience. God says here, “Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

If you do aspire to have an impact for God and especially if you aspire to lead others, meditate on God’s word day and night. We live in an age when Christians spend far more time sitting in front of their TVs and computer screens and reading all sorts of other literature than they spend reading the word of God. Be a student of the word and you will end up head and shoulders ahead of your contemporaries. You will be the sort of person God chooses to use.

Joshua proved to be a great leader. He wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes, but he was, nevertheless, a great leader. Much of that greatness can be traced back to these verses. It was because he had been willing to serve his apprenticeship. It was because he had learnt from Moses. It was because the call of God was on his life and he determined to fulfil what God had called him to. It was because He had God’s promises. It was because He was a man of faith and a man of the word of God. He sought to know and do all that God had said, and he knew the presence of God.

At one stage God had said to the Israelites, “Go up and enter the Promised Land. I will send an angel but I will not go with you because you are a stiff-necked people.” (Ex 33:1-4)

Moses then said, “Lord, if you don’t go with us, don’t send us. What else would distinguish us from the other nations?” You see, the one thing that makes Christians different is the presence of God in our lives – the presence of the Holy Spirit. If you want to be effective: serve your apprenticeship; let God train you; know God’s call on your life and the promises that come with it; and let His word soak into you and come out again. And He has promised to be with you. If God is with us, there is nothing in the whole world that can prevent us being prosperous and successful in the things He is calling us to do. If God is for us, who can be against us?