One of the most difficult things in the world is to find people that you trust. People that have your best interests at heart, people that wont lie to you when you ask them for your opinion. I am sure we all have "friends" that will tell us what we want to hear but is that what we call a true friend?
I am someone that prefers straight talk but I also know there are ways of answering hard questions that friends ask. Although I am a straight talker I take care not to offend.
We need friends that will tell us when we are doing something that will not benefit us. We need friends that will not judge us. We need friends that will be just our friends and listen, sometimes without even saying anything at all.
Many of us have done things that we are ashamed of or at some point in the future we may do something that causes us pain or others pain. It is at that point we will need TRUE FRIENDS.
Think how hard it is to open up to someone with your inner most thoughts. Do you have someone that you could expose your whole life to and know that they will still love you in true friendship.
We can all reach out to God and open up to God about our thoughts. At the end of the day God already knows us and knows what we have done but yet God still loves us.
My thought for today is find someone that you can open up to. Someone that you can trust because not only do we all need this but we will all benefit from it.
Be Blessed
Monday 31 August 2009
Sunday 30 August 2009
One thing to remember is that Christian's are saved sinners and that they still sin. The change is in their relationship to sin and how they now view sin. No Christian is perfect and they will not be perfect until they are in Heaven.
A persons relationship with sin changes as they have a deeper relationship with God. They desire to become more like God or as some also say, more like Jesus Christ.
To understand what it means to be a Christian one should not look at man/woman but to the Bible. Yes we can look at others to see how they act but as I have said Christian's still sin and if we build our faith on them then we will be disappointed. That is why Christ says "follow me" Christ at no point says "yeah listen to me but after that go follow x y z".
As you grow in faith by following Christ's example, your own life will take on a new meaning and before when you were blind to the things of God your eyes will be opened to them.
We all sin but we desire not to sin. God will give you the grace you need to fight sin.
A persons relationship with sin changes as they have a deeper relationship with God. They desire to become more like God or as some also say, more like Jesus Christ.
To understand what it means to be a Christian one should not look at man/woman but to the Bible. Yes we can look at others to see how they act but as I have said Christian's still sin and if we build our faith on them then we will be disappointed. That is why Christ says "follow me" Christ at no point says "yeah listen to me but after that go follow x y z".
As you grow in faith by following Christ's example, your own life will take on a new meaning and before when you were blind to the things of God your eyes will be opened to them.
We all sin but we desire not to sin. God will give you the grace you need to fight sin.
Thursday 27 August 2009
DOES GOD REALLY EXIST?
Questions I would ask God - Prove you exist! John 10.22-39
In 2007 Richard Dawkins produced a best seller 'The God Delusion' in which he sought to prove that God did not exist and that those who believed in God were some how deluded. Many very scholarly Christians set out to disprove his book and yet Dawkins book became a best seller. One of the very best is a little book by Dr Alistair McGrath called 'The Dawkins Delusion.' You know, I suspect, as many Christians bought his book as non-Christians. Over the last number of years we have seen more and more books being published which seek to disprove the existence of God. Philip Pulmann, of The Golden Compass fame, has made no secret of the fact that his books are intended to 'kill God' and whilst at one level the film is harmless entertainment at a much deeper level it is the introduction to a series of books whose very purpose is to kill the every understanding of the existence of God. Rightly, or wrongly, I assume that all Christin's believe in the existence of God, though I have met people in church who do not. So I want you to imagine that tomorrow morning at coffee break one of your colleagues challenges the existence of God - how would you go about answering such a question? You may well believe in God but are you ready to give a reasonable answer to someone who does not?
A school teacher told the class that they could paint anything they wanted. As she walked round the class she came to this little boy and asked what he was painting? "God," came the instant reply. "No one has ever seen God," she said. "They have now," came the reply from the little boy. How many people, reading this blog, would paint different pictures of God?
The Bible itself just assumes God's existence. Genesis begins: 'In the beginning God…' The Bible never sets out to prove God's existence. In fact you cannot prove God exists. You can produce evidence for His existence but you cannot prove He exists. You can learn all about the Cosmological, the Teleological, the Ontological and Anthropological arguments for the existence of God. Of which Immanuel Kant said: "If you cannot disprove these arguments you must accept them and if you accept them you cannot disprove the existence of God and therefore you must accept Him." I don't propose to go through all these arguments , so you can rest easy on that score. Just as in the same way that you cannot prove love or courage or cowardice so you cannot prove God exists. You can produce evidence for the same but you cannot prove it. So as you read through this this blog I want you to think more of a courtroom than a laboratory when examining the evidence.
A number of years ago Joan Osborne sang "what if God became one of us?" Well that is exactly what Christianity claims - that God became one of us. We could have started at Genesis and worked through the whole of Scripture to prove the existence of God but I thought it best to come to the heart of the Christian message that in Christ Jesus God became flesh and dwelt among us. Grab your Bible and look at John 10.22-39.
Verses 22-23 The context of the passage is that Christ is at the Temple at the annual Feast of Dedication, a sort of renewal and rededication festival at which the grace of God was remembered and the end of the tyranny of one Antiochus. This feast was not given by God in Scripture but instituted by the Jews themselves to remember the driving out of the Syrian Antiochus. It is the forerunner of the modern day Hanukkah. John tells us that Christ was walking and preaching in Solomon's Porch, which was an annexe of the Temple. He points out that it was winter - which may explain the walking whilst He preached but also uses the description of the weather to paint a background as to the frosty reception that His teaching had and was now about to receive.
Verse 24 some people gather around Christ to listen to his teaching but the context would suggest that they had crowded round Him to hem Him in so that they might confront Him. Amongst them are a group of Jews whose intention is to entrap him. So they ask why He is keeping them in the dark about his true identity. They feign genuine interest in order to illicit a response that might lead either to Christ being stoned to death for blasphemy or at least arrested by the Romans for creating a disturbance. They accuse Jesus of being unclear and deliberately obscure in his teaching and they demand clarification - is He God? Remember it is not clarification so that they might worship Him but an unambiguous statement that they might attack Him that they seek from Him. You know in all of Scripture not once in a public discourse did Jesus explicitly answer such questions, in private discourses with His disciples and with others, the Samaritan woman for example, He did. He did not answer the public questions directly because He knew men's hearts and the reasons for the questions in the first place.
Verse 25 having demanded a plain answer from Christ they are taken aback at His reply - "I did tell you…" if you look at verses 1-18 the claims to be the Good Shepherd, prefixed with 'I AM…' the name of God was an explicit claim that had provoked these questions in the first place. In John 8.56-58 Jesus had applied the name of God (I AM) to Himself and on a further five occasions in John He prefixes 'I AM' to titles that He gives Himself. For example - I AM…the bread of life, …the light of the world, …the true vine, …the resurrection and the life and …the way, the truth and the life. These are not just stunning words but stunningly dangerous words for Jesus to have applied to Himself. Even when on trial He applied the 'I AM' to Himself - Mark 14.61-62.
He further points out in the passage before us, that even His works, the miracles, point to Him being God incarnate. His teaching, His way of life and the miracles taken together show them who He is - God made flesh. Healings, resurrection of the dead - what more did they want or need in order to believe?
Verses 26-29 - having in verses 1-18 spoken of His sheep who hear, know and obey His voice He contrasts the men standing before Him. His sheep are known by Him - which is the key as the men standing before Him He does not know in that sense. Their habitual attitude is one of unbelief. They are not His sheep and they do not hear or obey His voice. This does not excuse them but rather indicts them for their unbelief. To those who are His sheep He gives eternal life and keeps them secure in His hands - all according the will of the Father.
Verse 30 Jesus once again declares His oneness with the Father. What He does the Father does and what the Father does He does. There is oneness in action. Essential unity is asserted in the words of Christ. He and the Father are one, these two belong together. Once again His words identify Him with God rather than as a man. Hence the Jews consider these words blasphemy. They had asked Jesus for a plain assertion as to His Messiahship and they had gotten more than they had bargained for.
Verses 31-39 such statements raised the anger of the orthodox Jews amongst those listening and they now pick up stones to stone Christ to death for blasphemy. Christ does not run away when the stones are gathered to throw at Him. Instead He continues the discussion - "Which of the good works has so riled you that you want to stone me?" Christ stays their hands with an argument from Ps.82 verse 6 - in that if the term 'gods' can be applied to men than much more may Jesus assert His unity with His Father. In this argument in verses 34-36 Jesus is placing Himself above other men (who according to the Law could be called 'gods') by stating that He was set aside by the Father and therefore was the Son of God in compete unity (oneness) with the Father. They are left in no doubt that He is claiming a special relationship with the Father, one which they themselves do not have. He was not making Himself God - He was what He was, sent by the Father into the world to do His perfect will. When Christ claimed that He and the Father are one He was not claiming to be 'in tune' with the Father, they would never have gathered stones to put Him to death for such a claim. His hearers fully understood that He was claiming to be God. He concludes in verses 37-38 by asking them to open their eyes and see if the works (miracles) themselves do not testify to the truth of what He has spoken. This brings the argument to an end and now instead of stoning Him they seek to arrest Him, to no avail as He escapes their grasp, once more.
John in this passage, and throughout his gospel, seeks to bring before us evidence that Christ is God incarnate. At the end of the gospel He writes these words - Read 20.31. Yet is it not startling that despite all the evidence these men (in John 10) still choose not to believe that Christ is who He says He is. No matter what Christ says, no matter about the miracles, not even the resurrection itself will convince them that He is God, the Messiah, and the Saviour of the world. Without the Spirit opening their eyes to the truth these men, and others, will remain in darkness. Some, like these men, will not believe even when the evidence is before their very eyes. They will always want one more piece of proof - come down off the cross and we will believe you. Just give us one more sign. How many reading this are still asking for more proof that God exists? How many reading this are still asking for one more piece of evidence that God loves you? How many reading this are still seeking some more proof that they need a Saviour?
You cannot prove God exists but there is enough evidence to believe He does
In 2007 Richard Dawkins produced a best seller 'The God Delusion' in which he sought to prove that God did not exist and that those who believed in God were some how deluded. Many very scholarly Christians set out to disprove his book and yet Dawkins book became a best seller. One of the very best is a little book by Dr Alistair McGrath called 'The Dawkins Delusion.' You know, I suspect, as many Christians bought his book as non-Christians. Over the last number of years we have seen more and more books being published which seek to disprove the existence of God. Philip Pulmann, of The Golden Compass fame, has made no secret of the fact that his books are intended to 'kill God' and whilst at one level the film is harmless entertainment at a much deeper level it is the introduction to a series of books whose very purpose is to kill the every understanding of the existence of God. Rightly, or wrongly, I assume that all Christin's believe in the existence of God, though I have met people in church who do not. So I want you to imagine that tomorrow morning at coffee break one of your colleagues challenges the existence of God - how would you go about answering such a question? You may well believe in God but are you ready to give a reasonable answer to someone who does not?
A school teacher told the class that they could paint anything they wanted. As she walked round the class she came to this little boy and asked what he was painting? "God," came the instant reply. "No one has ever seen God," she said. "They have now," came the reply from the little boy. How many people, reading this blog, would paint different pictures of God?
The Bible itself just assumes God's existence. Genesis begins: 'In the beginning God…' The Bible never sets out to prove God's existence. In fact you cannot prove God exists. You can produce evidence for His existence but you cannot prove He exists. You can learn all about the Cosmological, the Teleological, the Ontological and Anthropological arguments for the existence of God. Of which Immanuel Kant said: "If you cannot disprove these arguments you must accept them and if you accept them you cannot disprove the existence of God and therefore you must accept Him." I don't propose to go through all these arguments , so you can rest easy on that score. Just as in the same way that you cannot prove love or courage or cowardice so you cannot prove God exists. You can produce evidence for the same but you cannot prove it. So as you read through this this blog I want you to think more of a courtroom than a laboratory when examining the evidence.
A number of years ago Joan Osborne sang "what if God became one of us?" Well that is exactly what Christianity claims - that God became one of us. We could have started at Genesis and worked through the whole of Scripture to prove the existence of God but I thought it best to come to the heart of the Christian message that in Christ Jesus God became flesh and dwelt among us. Grab your Bible and look at John 10.22-39.
Verses 22-23 The context of the passage is that Christ is at the Temple at the annual Feast of Dedication, a sort of renewal and rededication festival at which the grace of God was remembered and the end of the tyranny of one Antiochus. This feast was not given by God in Scripture but instituted by the Jews themselves to remember the driving out of the Syrian Antiochus. It is the forerunner of the modern day Hanukkah. John tells us that Christ was walking and preaching in Solomon's Porch, which was an annexe of the Temple. He points out that it was winter - which may explain the walking whilst He preached but also uses the description of the weather to paint a background as to the frosty reception that His teaching had and was now about to receive.
Verse 24 some people gather around Christ to listen to his teaching but the context would suggest that they had crowded round Him to hem Him in so that they might confront Him. Amongst them are a group of Jews whose intention is to entrap him. So they ask why He is keeping them in the dark about his true identity. They feign genuine interest in order to illicit a response that might lead either to Christ being stoned to death for blasphemy or at least arrested by the Romans for creating a disturbance. They accuse Jesus of being unclear and deliberately obscure in his teaching and they demand clarification - is He God? Remember it is not clarification so that they might worship Him but an unambiguous statement that they might attack Him that they seek from Him. You know in all of Scripture not once in a public discourse did Jesus explicitly answer such questions, in private discourses with His disciples and with others, the Samaritan woman for example, He did. He did not answer the public questions directly because He knew men's hearts and the reasons for the questions in the first place.
Verse 25 having demanded a plain answer from Christ they are taken aback at His reply - "I did tell you…" if you look at verses 1-18 the claims to be the Good Shepherd, prefixed with 'I AM…' the name of God was an explicit claim that had provoked these questions in the first place. In John 8.56-58 Jesus had applied the name of God (I AM) to Himself and on a further five occasions in John He prefixes 'I AM' to titles that He gives Himself. For example - I AM…the bread of life, …the light of the world, …the true vine, …the resurrection and the life and …the way, the truth and the life. These are not just stunning words but stunningly dangerous words for Jesus to have applied to Himself. Even when on trial He applied the 'I AM' to Himself - Mark 14.61-62.
He further points out in the passage before us, that even His works, the miracles, point to Him being God incarnate. His teaching, His way of life and the miracles taken together show them who He is - God made flesh. Healings, resurrection of the dead - what more did they want or need in order to believe?
Verses 26-29 - having in verses 1-18 spoken of His sheep who hear, know and obey His voice He contrasts the men standing before Him. His sheep are known by Him - which is the key as the men standing before Him He does not know in that sense. Their habitual attitude is one of unbelief. They are not His sheep and they do not hear or obey His voice. This does not excuse them but rather indicts them for their unbelief. To those who are His sheep He gives eternal life and keeps them secure in His hands - all according the will of the Father.
Verse 30 Jesus once again declares His oneness with the Father. What He does the Father does and what the Father does He does. There is oneness in action. Essential unity is asserted in the words of Christ. He and the Father are one, these two belong together. Once again His words identify Him with God rather than as a man. Hence the Jews consider these words blasphemy. They had asked Jesus for a plain assertion as to His Messiahship and they had gotten more than they had bargained for.
Verses 31-39 such statements raised the anger of the orthodox Jews amongst those listening and they now pick up stones to stone Christ to death for blasphemy. Christ does not run away when the stones are gathered to throw at Him. Instead He continues the discussion - "Which of the good works has so riled you that you want to stone me?" Christ stays their hands with an argument from Ps.82 verse 6 - in that if the term 'gods' can be applied to men than much more may Jesus assert His unity with His Father. In this argument in verses 34-36 Jesus is placing Himself above other men (who according to the Law could be called 'gods') by stating that He was set aside by the Father and therefore was the Son of God in compete unity (oneness) with the Father. They are left in no doubt that He is claiming a special relationship with the Father, one which they themselves do not have. He was not making Himself God - He was what He was, sent by the Father into the world to do His perfect will. When Christ claimed that He and the Father are one He was not claiming to be 'in tune' with the Father, they would never have gathered stones to put Him to death for such a claim. His hearers fully understood that He was claiming to be God. He concludes in verses 37-38 by asking them to open their eyes and see if the works (miracles) themselves do not testify to the truth of what He has spoken. This brings the argument to an end and now instead of stoning Him they seek to arrest Him, to no avail as He escapes their grasp, once more.
John in this passage, and throughout his gospel, seeks to bring before us evidence that Christ is God incarnate. At the end of the gospel He writes these words - Read 20.31. Yet is it not startling that despite all the evidence these men (in John 10) still choose not to believe that Christ is who He says He is. No matter what Christ says, no matter about the miracles, not even the resurrection itself will convince them that He is God, the Messiah, and the Saviour of the world. Without the Spirit opening their eyes to the truth these men, and others, will remain in darkness. Some, like these men, will not believe even when the evidence is before their very eyes. They will always want one more piece of proof - come down off the cross and we will believe you. Just give us one more sign. How many reading this are still asking for more proof that God exists? How many reading this are still asking for one more piece of evidence that God loves you? How many reading this are still seeking some more proof that they need a Saviour?
You cannot prove God exists but there is enough evidence to believe He does
Wednesday 26 August 2009
Trust in God's word not mans
If you went along to a church and they told you what to wear, how to act, what humour was appropriate, what films you could watch, what books you could read and in fact tried to take control of your whole life, I am sure most people would decide not to come back to that church. Yet their are many churches and faiths that try to do this.
There is no doubt that as a Christian you would want to become more Christ like and that can mean not watching or reading certain things that will be of NO benefit to ones mind. In fact you don't have to be a Christian to understand that. But when a church decides what you must think for you, your alarm bells will be ringing.
Many cults will try and impose their belief system on individuals. Cults that wrap themselves under the Christian label. Cults that are all smiles on the outside but inside they desire to have you believe what they want you to believe.
Make NO mistake, there are some Christian churches that are so full of laws that you will need a PHD to understand them and a very strong personality to resist them.
1. Do you accept Christ as your saviour
2. Read and meditate on God's word
3. Find a good Bible believing Church
4. Obey God
5. Grow in faith with God's grace
6. Love
Some would have you follow 100 rules but then they themselves would not live up to the rules they would impose on you.
Man corrupts God's word they way he has corrupted everything else that he touches. Trust not in mans word but in God's
There is no doubt that as a Christian you would want to become more Christ like and that can mean not watching or reading certain things that will be of NO benefit to ones mind. In fact you don't have to be a Christian to understand that. But when a church decides what you must think for you, your alarm bells will be ringing.
Many cults will try and impose their belief system on individuals. Cults that wrap themselves under the Christian label. Cults that are all smiles on the outside but inside they desire to have you believe what they want you to believe.
Make NO mistake, there are some Christian churches that are so full of laws that you will need a PHD to understand them and a very strong personality to resist them.
1. Do you accept Christ as your saviour
2. Read and meditate on God's word
3. Find a good Bible believing Church
4. Obey God
5. Grow in faith with God's grace
6. Love
Some would have you follow 100 rules but then they themselves would not live up to the rules they would impose on you.
Man corrupts God's word they way he has corrupted everything else that he touches. Trust not in mans word but in God's
Sunday 23 August 2009
Forgiveness
FORGIVING OTHERS - COLOSSIANS 3.13
Read Colossians 3.13 - this is my text today.
In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, there is a lady called Miss Havisham. If you have read the book, or more likely seen it dramatised television, you will know that she spends her days in darkened rooms wearing a wedding dress that is old and faded. In the story we learn that many years before Miss Havisham was jilted by her fiancée on the morning of their wedding at exactly 8.40am. For Miss Havisham life stopped at that precise moment on that day. This is what she says about the deterioration of her wedding dress: "The mice gnawed at it, and sharper teeth than teeth of mice have gnawed at me." Miss Havisham is a sad lady. She is also a bitter lady holding on to a past hurt refusing to forgive. In fact, the darkness and drabness of the house and of her clothes, reflects the state of her soul. She is imprisoned by her past. The clock stopped at 8.40am for Miss Havisham. Now let me ask you: "Has the clock stopped at a certain point in your life? Are there past hurts and offences that you are holding on to and refusing to forgive? Are you a prisoner like Miss Havisham? Living in dark and drab surroundings which reflect the bitterness of your soul?" I want to look at Forgiving Others. Look at Colossians chapter 3 and in particular verse 13. Paul had written this letter to the Colossians in around AD60. It would appear the purpose of the letter was to refute some false teaching within the church concerning ceremonialism, asceticism, angel worship, secret knowledge and a reliance on human wisdom and traditions over and against the gospel of God's free grace. So that is the context in which this verse is written. If you look at verse 12 you will see that Paul first gives the believer a list of five virtues that they are to clothe themselves with before he instructs them about forgiving one another. These five virtues, not an exhaustive list, are to be seen in the lives of the Christian believers in Colossae. Without these virtues in their lives there have no means to follow the instruction of verse 13. Turn to verse 13 - read.
It appears a simple enough thing, almost an obvious thing, to tell the believers. Bear with one another, forgive one another and the reason you are to do this is because Christ has forgiven you. Simple, just follow the instructions. Yet the very fact that Paul had to write such a thing to the believers at Collossae means that it was not happening, or in evidence, amongst them. Paul is aware that some, maybe even the majority, of the believers were not bearing with one another and were not forgiving one another. Like Miss Havisham they were holding on to the pain of the past and it had become a bitter chain around their soul until even their very outward appearance was reflecting their inner disposition.
Bear with one another. There is a little saying, it goes like this: "Living with the saints above will be heavenly glory, living with the saints below, that is a different story." How very true. In some churches there are VDP's - very draining (demanding) people. People who demand attention, and do all sorts of things to get that attention, and who drain the energy out of you when you spend any length of time with them. No doubt such people existed in Colossae, but you know I don't think those are the people Paul has in mind when he says "bear with one another…" It is the everyday relationships within the congregation that he is speaking of. It is the making of allowances for people. It is following the example of Christ who humbly served others because it was His Father's will and because it brought His Father glory. We hear a lot today about 'my rights' - I think what Paul was saying, following Christ, set aside your rights, your opinion of yourself and bear with one another. You know as adults we teach our children to share, that they cannot always have their own way and to take into consideration other children's feelings. When did we grow out of those things? When did we stop seeking to always have our own way? When did we cease to share? When did we ignore the feelings of others when we made decisions or committed to an action? How hypocritical of us as adults to tell children to behave in a manner that often as adults we fail to do.
Christ sets us the perfect example of bearing with one another. He is tired, His disciples are exhausted, and down the dusty path comes children, running, shouting, all excited they are going to meet this Jesus everyone is talking about. In steps Peter, John etc to block their path and for their 'protection' of Jesus they get a stinging rebuke. Christ set us the example of bearing with one another. He had time for people. He had time for those who asked questions, raised doubts and brought their problems. He also chastised those who wasted the opportunity with futile questions and sent away disappointed those who would not change to follow Him. in John 6 we know that many disciples and followers deserted Him when the teaching became too difficult to accept. So we have an example to follow.
Forgive one another - Let me begin by telling you what Forgiveness is not.
Forgiveness is not approving of what someone did. God forgives but He hates sin and He never, ever, approves of sin.
Forgiveness is not excusing what someone did. In Scripture from Genesis 3 onwards God always exposes sin. He never, ever, covers up or over sin. He brings sin out into the open. As the author to the Hebrews writes in that nothing is hidden from God and will not be revealed by God.
Forgiveness is not justifying what someone has done. Read the incident of the children of Israel and the golden calf. When Moses intercedes before God for them and asks forgiveness for them he never justifies their behaviour. Please remember that - it is sinful to justify sinful behaviour.
Forgiveness is not denying or forgetting what they did. We are not called to live in denial of the past. We are never called as the people of God to repress the past or anyone else's past. Hear me clearly at this point: God does not forget our sin when He forgives our sin. He chooses not to hold it against us or to relate to us on the basis of past sin. He tells us that He does not allow past sin to have power in the present - 2 Cor.5.19.
Forgiveness is not about refusing to take wrong seriously. God never buries His head in the sand when it comes to sin. Jesus did not turn a blind eye to the sin of those around Him. Do you remember the incident with Peter when Christ rebuked Him and told Him "get behind me Satan." Those words were spoken in response to Peter saying that he did not want Christ to go the way of the cross. A loving concern for the welfare of his Lord was at the heart of his concern, but it was wrong because at its heart was the denial of the will of God and the ways of God. If Christ took that 'wrong' seriously, then so should we.
Forgiveness is not pretending we are not hurt. In 1 Samuel 13.14 God lets David know that He, God, is hurt by David's sins of adultery and murder. If God is hurt by sin and reveals that hurt (and David was forgiven by God when he confessed his sins) then forgiveness cannot involve pretending we are not hurt.
So what is forgiveness then? How do we forgive others?
The very first thing I want to say to you, and I want you to listen carefully to this. of Christ There is no forgiveness without the cross . The heart, the crux, of the whole issue of forgiveness is the cross of Christ Jesus. There is no, and there can be no, forgiveness without the cross of Christ. The cross is the grounds of God's forgiveness of us and it is from that forgiveness that our own forgiveness of others must flow.
Forgiveness is an act of grace because there is nothing we do to earn forgiveness. Forgiveness is an act of grace on the part of God and of an individual who forgives. You see if you can earn forgiveness it isn't forgiveness - it is paying your debts. Let me say to you all, and I think this is particularly true within marriage relationships - forgiveness is not earned, it is an act of grace. If you are striving to earn someone's forgiveness this morning then stop it right now. You cannot earn forgiveness and if that is the basis on which they are offering you forgiveness then it isn't forgiveness at all. Forgiveness is an act of grace as we witness on the cross of Christ. Please remember grace is not cheap. Grace comes at a great cost. It cost Christ His life and it will come at a cost to us also. When we forgive someone it can, and often is, be a painful experience for us. It is an act of grace because it is on the basis of the grace of God that forgives us that we forgive others - "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."
Forgiveness is an act of the will. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do…" It was an act of Christ's will to forgive from the cross. It was not about feelings. Please do not believe the common assumption that mixes feeling good about someone and forgiveness. Forgiveness and good feelings do not always go hand in hand. Forgiveness cannot be proven by your feelings anymore than it can be motivated or empowered by them. Forgiveness is a choice. Feelings often are not a choice. God choose to forgive - it was an act of His will. Forgiveness must be an act of our will.
Forgiveness is a promise that we will no longer relate to someone on the basis of their past. But please hear me here - that is not the same as saying the past does not matter, that it did not hurt or that it does not have consequences in the present of the future. Let me give you a biblical example of that. David is forgiven by God after he has committed adultery and murder. God no longer holds David's past against him and yet the consequences in David's life of that past sin are all too obvious - the baby born to him and Bathsheba dies, Absalom rebels after he has killed his brother Amnon for raping his sister Tamar. David's kingdom is rent asunder and torn from him and he is never allowed to build the Temple of God because of this sin. He is forgiven. God does not hold his past against him but he must live with the consequences of sin and those consequences are far reaching for him and I have no doubt caused him great pain at times. Yet, when we forgive someone we are saying that I will not relate to you on the basis of your past. I will not hold the past over you like the sword of Damocles, with impending doom. Can I say, as humbly as I can, we all need to take that on board this morning. That is one of the hardest lessons to learn about forgiveness because we all want to hold on to the past and we all have to work hard at not bringing the past up. I want to say to you I work hard every day of my life in dealing with not holding on to peoples past and I know how difficult this can be. Can I say to married people especially - don't keep punishing your husband/wife for past sins. If you have forgiven let go of the rope of the bell or it will forever sound in your marriage and it will eventually destroy your marriage. So let go of the rope and let the bell go silent. In forgiving others we promise not to bring it up again and we promise not to hold it against them. We promise to relinquish the right to punish or seek revenge for the wrong.
We forgive because in so doing we are released from the bondage of the past. We are no longer held prisoner by it. We are no longer held in the fear of it and the past no longer dictates how we live in the present.
Yet, What do you do when you have forgiven someone but their behaviour shows that they have not changed or they have not repented? Please hear what I am about to say here. When God forgave David his sins of adultery and murder David still had to deal with the consequences of that past. Throughout his life as king he forgave people for their actions against him as king but he placed limits on their future behaviour. Shimei comes to mind. Forgiveness is not forgetting the past. It is not saying the past does not matter. It is not pretending you were not hurt, or denying the pain. It is not repressing the memories. It is not, hear God, it is not continuing on as if the past did not matter and nothing happened. Forgiving someone for their past sins against you is the Christ like thing to do. It is right and it is Christian, but it may be that for your own protection, or the protection of others, you cannot have an ongoing relationship with them. Please do not confuse forgiveness with healing and restoration. They can, and often do, follow forgiveness but that may take years to come to fruition.
Finally I want you to know that this is hard work and it is a daily ongoing thing. Forgiveness is not an easy undertaking but it is what we are called to do because we know how much we have been forgiven by God through Christ. Read again Colossians 3.13. are you, are we, going to bear with one another? Do you know the forgiveness of Christ? Knowing the forgiveness of Christ in your own life are you going to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us? Only you can answer those three questions for your life and for your life with others.
Amen.
Thanks to A McCann
Read Colossians 3.13 - this is my text today.
In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, there is a lady called Miss Havisham. If you have read the book, or more likely seen it dramatised television, you will know that she spends her days in darkened rooms wearing a wedding dress that is old and faded. In the story we learn that many years before Miss Havisham was jilted by her fiancée on the morning of their wedding at exactly 8.40am. For Miss Havisham life stopped at that precise moment on that day. This is what she says about the deterioration of her wedding dress: "The mice gnawed at it, and sharper teeth than teeth of mice have gnawed at me." Miss Havisham is a sad lady. She is also a bitter lady holding on to a past hurt refusing to forgive. In fact, the darkness and drabness of the house and of her clothes, reflects the state of her soul. She is imprisoned by her past. The clock stopped at 8.40am for Miss Havisham. Now let me ask you: "Has the clock stopped at a certain point in your life? Are there past hurts and offences that you are holding on to and refusing to forgive? Are you a prisoner like Miss Havisham? Living in dark and drab surroundings which reflect the bitterness of your soul?" I want to look at Forgiving Others. Look at Colossians chapter 3 and in particular verse 13. Paul had written this letter to the Colossians in around AD60. It would appear the purpose of the letter was to refute some false teaching within the church concerning ceremonialism, asceticism, angel worship, secret knowledge and a reliance on human wisdom and traditions over and against the gospel of God's free grace. So that is the context in which this verse is written. If you look at verse 12 you will see that Paul first gives the believer a list of five virtues that they are to clothe themselves with before he instructs them about forgiving one another. These five virtues, not an exhaustive list, are to be seen in the lives of the Christian believers in Colossae. Without these virtues in their lives there have no means to follow the instruction of verse 13. Turn to verse 13 - read.
It appears a simple enough thing, almost an obvious thing, to tell the believers. Bear with one another, forgive one another and the reason you are to do this is because Christ has forgiven you. Simple, just follow the instructions. Yet the very fact that Paul had to write such a thing to the believers at Collossae means that it was not happening, or in evidence, amongst them. Paul is aware that some, maybe even the majority, of the believers were not bearing with one another and were not forgiving one another. Like Miss Havisham they were holding on to the pain of the past and it had become a bitter chain around their soul until even their very outward appearance was reflecting their inner disposition.
Bear with one another. There is a little saying, it goes like this: "Living with the saints above will be heavenly glory, living with the saints below, that is a different story." How very true. In some churches there are VDP's - very draining (demanding) people. People who demand attention, and do all sorts of things to get that attention, and who drain the energy out of you when you spend any length of time with them. No doubt such people existed in Colossae, but you know I don't think those are the people Paul has in mind when he says "bear with one another…" It is the everyday relationships within the congregation that he is speaking of. It is the making of allowances for people. It is following the example of Christ who humbly served others because it was His Father's will and because it brought His Father glory. We hear a lot today about 'my rights' - I think what Paul was saying, following Christ, set aside your rights, your opinion of yourself and bear with one another. You know as adults we teach our children to share, that they cannot always have their own way and to take into consideration other children's feelings. When did we grow out of those things? When did we stop seeking to always have our own way? When did we cease to share? When did we ignore the feelings of others when we made decisions or committed to an action? How hypocritical of us as adults to tell children to behave in a manner that often as adults we fail to do.
Christ sets us the perfect example of bearing with one another. He is tired, His disciples are exhausted, and down the dusty path comes children, running, shouting, all excited they are going to meet this Jesus everyone is talking about. In steps Peter, John etc to block their path and for their 'protection' of Jesus they get a stinging rebuke. Christ set us the example of bearing with one another. He had time for people. He had time for those who asked questions, raised doubts and brought their problems. He also chastised those who wasted the opportunity with futile questions and sent away disappointed those who would not change to follow Him. in John 6 we know that many disciples and followers deserted Him when the teaching became too difficult to accept. So we have an example to follow.
Forgive one another - Let me begin by telling you what Forgiveness is not.
Forgiveness is not approving of what someone did. God forgives but He hates sin and He never, ever, approves of sin.
Forgiveness is not excusing what someone did. In Scripture from Genesis 3 onwards God always exposes sin. He never, ever, covers up or over sin. He brings sin out into the open. As the author to the Hebrews writes in that nothing is hidden from God and will not be revealed by God.
Forgiveness is not justifying what someone has done. Read the incident of the children of Israel and the golden calf. When Moses intercedes before God for them and asks forgiveness for them he never justifies their behaviour. Please remember that - it is sinful to justify sinful behaviour.
Forgiveness is not denying or forgetting what they did. We are not called to live in denial of the past. We are never called as the people of God to repress the past or anyone else's past. Hear me clearly at this point: God does not forget our sin when He forgives our sin. He chooses not to hold it against us or to relate to us on the basis of past sin. He tells us that He does not allow past sin to have power in the present - 2 Cor.5.19.
Forgiveness is not about refusing to take wrong seriously. God never buries His head in the sand when it comes to sin. Jesus did not turn a blind eye to the sin of those around Him. Do you remember the incident with Peter when Christ rebuked Him and told Him "get behind me Satan." Those words were spoken in response to Peter saying that he did not want Christ to go the way of the cross. A loving concern for the welfare of his Lord was at the heart of his concern, but it was wrong because at its heart was the denial of the will of God and the ways of God. If Christ took that 'wrong' seriously, then so should we.
Forgiveness is not pretending we are not hurt. In 1 Samuel 13.14 God lets David know that He, God, is hurt by David's sins of adultery and murder. If God is hurt by sin and reveals that hurt (and David was forgiven by God when he confessed his sins) then forgiveness cannot involve pretending we are not hurt.
So what is forgiveness then? How do we forgive others?
The very first thing I want to say to you, and I want you to listen carefully to this. of Christ There is no forgiveness without the cross . The heart, the crux, of the whole issue of forgiveness is the cross of Christ Jesus. There is no, and there can be no, forgiveness without the cross of Christ. The cross is the grounds of God's forgiveness of us and it is from that forgiveness that our own forgiveness of others must flow.
Forgiveness is an act of grace because there is nothing we do to earn forgiveness. Forgiveness is an act of grace on the part of God and of an individual who forgives. You see if you can earn forgiveness it isn't forgiveness - it is paying your debts. Let me say to you all, and I think this is particularly true within marriage relationships - forgiveness is not earned, it is an act of grace. If you are striving to earn someone's forgiveness this morning then stop it right now. You cannot earn forgiveness and if that is the basis on which they are offering you forgiveness then it isn't forgiveness at all. Forgiveness is an act of grace as we witness on the cross of Christ. Please remember grace is not cheap. Grace comes at a great cost. It cost Christ His life and it will come at a cost to us also. When we forgive someone it can, and often is, be a painful experience for us. It is an act of grace because it is on the basis of the grace of God that forgives us that we forgive others - "forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."
Forgiveness is an act of the will. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do…" It was an act of Christ's will to forgive from the cross. It was not about feelings. Please do not believe the common assumption that mixes feeling good about someone and forgiveness. Forgiveness and good feelings do not always go hand in hand. Forgiveness cannot be proven by your feelings anymore than it can be motivated or empowered by them. Forgiveness is a choice. Feelings often are not a choice. God choose to forgive - it was an act of His will. Forgiveness must be an act of our will.
Forgiveness is a promise that we will no longer relate to someone on the basis of their past. But please hear me here - that is not the same as saying the past does not matter, that it did not hurt or that it does not have consequences in the present of the future. Let me give you a biblical example of that. David is forgiven by God after he has committed adultery and murder. God no longer holds David's past against him and yet the consequences in David's life of that past sin are all too obvious - the baby born to him and Bathsheba dies, Absalom rebels after he has killed his brother Amnon for raping his sister Tamar. David's kingdom is rent asunder and torn from him and he is never allowed to build the Temple of God because of this sin. He is forgiven. God does not hold his past against him but he must live with the consequences of sin and those consequences are far reaching for him and I have no doubt caused him great pain at times. Yet, when we forgive someone we are saying that I will not relate to you on the basis of your past. I will not hold the past over you like the sword of Damocles, with impending doom. Can I say, as humbly as I can, we all need to take that on board this morning. That is one of the hardest lessons to learn about forgiveness because we all want to hold on to the past and we all have to work hard at not bringing the past up. I want to say to you I work hard every day of my life in dealing with not holding on to peoples past and I know how difficult this can be. Can I say to married people especially - don't keep punishing your husband/wife for past sins. If you have forgiven let go of the rope of the bell or it will forever sound in your marriage and it will eventually destroy your marriage. So let go of the rope and let the bell go silent. In forgiving others we promise not to bring it up again and we promise not to hold it against them. We promise to relinquish the right to punish or seek revenge for the wrong.
We forgive because in so doing we are released from the bondage of the past. We are no longer held prisoner by it. We are no longer held in the fear of it and the past no longer dictates how we live in the present.
Yet, What do you do when you have forgiven someone but their behaviour shows that they have not changed or they have not repented? Please hear what I am about to say here. When God forgave David his sins of adultery and murder David still had to deal with the consequences of that past. Throughout his life as king he forgave people for their actions against him as king but he placed limits on their future behaviour. Shimei comes to mind. Forgiveness is not forgetting the past. It is not saying the past does not matter. It is not pretending you were not hurt, or denying the pain. It is not repressing the memories. It is not, hear God, it is not continuing on as if the past did not matter and nothing happened. Forgiving someone for their past sins against you is the Christ like thing to do. It is right and it is Christian, but it may be that for your own protection, or the protection of others, you cannot have an ongoing relationship with them. Please do not confuse forgiveness with healing and restoration. They can, and often do, follow forgiveness but that may take years to come to fruition.
Finally I want you to know that this is hard work and it is a daily ongoing thing. Forgiveness is not an easy undertaking but it is what we are called to do because we know how much we have been forgiven by God through Christ. Read again Colossians 3.13. are you, are we, going to bear with one another? Do you know the forgiveness of Christ? Knowing the forgiveness of Christ in your own life are you going to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us? Only you can answer those three questions for your life and for your life with others.
Amen.
Thanks to A McCann
Thursday 20 August 2009
Face the fear and do it anyway
They say that a child is not born with fear and it is something that they learn as they grow. We all know that there are things that we should be afraid of because they will do us harm.
I worked in mental health for over 6 years and met people that had irrational fears but the fears where real to them. Irrational fears are fears that have no concrete basis and fall under the category of "what if".
What if I am in my car and have a car crash
What if the lift breaks and falls to the ground
What if the plane crashes
What if I faint when I am out
What if I fail my exams
This list can go on and on and on... Most people can rationalise fears and the fears have no real impact on their life but again many cant and subsequently their life becomes a self-made prison from which there is no escape until they can overcome their fear.
I myself have a fear of wasps and will run from a room even if I hear a buzzing noise. I once slammed the breaks on my car when I heard a buzzing noise jumped out the car.
Fear is the one thing that stops us from doing things. But we can overcome all fears by facing the fear and doing it anyway. I am not saying this will be easy but it can be done.
The Bible is full of people that fear but when they put their trust in God, God gives them the courage to face the fear. How do they face the fear? They begin by trusting in God's word. They take God at His word adn hold on to what He has said.
One of the great sayings in the Bible is "I will never leave you or forsake you".
If we all took God at His word our life would be blessed
Try taking God at His word
I worked in mental health for over 6 years and met people that had irrational fears but the fears where real to them. Irrational fears are fears that have no concrete basis and fall under the category of "what if".
What if I am in my car and have a car crash
What if the lift breaks and falls to the ground
What if the plane crashes
What if I faint when I am out
What if I fail my exams
This list can go on and on and on... Most people can rationalise fears and the fears have no real impact on their life but again many cant and subsequently their life becomes a self-made prison from which there is no escape until they can overcome their fear.
I myself have a fear of wasps and will run from a room even if I hear a buzzing noise. I once slammed the breaks on my car when I heard a buzzing noise jumped out the car.
Fear is the one thing that stops us from doing things. But we can overcome all fears by facing the fear and doing it anyway. I am not saying this will be easy but it can be done.
The Bible is full of people that fear but when they put their trust in God, God gives them the courage to face the fear. How do they face the fear? They begin by trusting in God's word. They take God at His word adn hold on to what He has said.
One of the great sayings in the Bible is "I will never leave you or forsake you".
If we all took God at His word our life would be blessed
Try taking God at His word
Tuesday 18 August 2009
Renew your mind
Let me give you some very practical advice about renewing your mind and transforming your life. I once had a t-shirt which read ‘No pain – No gain.’ There are no shortcuts to spiritual growth or maturity. There is no easy route to renewing a mind and transforming a life – in fact it is a painful path and it is a lifelong path. So here is my advice, gained from Scripture and from my own walk with God.First – you must consciously surrender your life to Christ, each day. Consciously commit your life to Him each morning. Even say it out loud ‘Today, I am going to live for you Lord Jesus Christ.’Secondly – daily prayer and Bible reading is essential if you want to renew your mind, to know the will of God and be transformed. That requires discipline of time and it requires determination because all sorts of things will demand your time. Make it a priority each day to spend time in God’s Word and in God’s presence in prayer. Get Bible reading notes. Thirdly – be in a relationship with at least one other person for spiritual growth. Find someone you can trust, someone you can relate to and invite them to hold you to daily bible reading and prayer. Jesus never sent His disciples out on their own – it was always two by two. When Thomas went off on his own he had to wait another week to see the risen Christ, and he was rebuked for his unbelief. Finally – feed your mind with the things that are wholesome. That means discipline over what you watch, what you read, what you listen to in the media and also what you say. Let us be honest here – many of you as parents are more protective of what your children view than you are of your own minds and hearts – and yet you are then making decisions, eternal decisions, for yourself and your families. Waken up here. If you fill your mind with the things of this world you will conform to this world and fit into it without a whimper. Let me finish with a promise from God’s Word – read Isaiah 26.3 – that is God’s promise to you concerning the renewing of your mind and the transformation of your life.
Sunday 16 August 2009
ENCOURAGE
I want to start my very first post as an ENCOURAGEMENT and I hope this sets the standard for the rest of my posts
ACTS 11.19-26
The Duke of Wellington, a famous military leader who defeated Napoleon was asked at the end of his life if he had any regrets. He said that if he had a regret it was that he did not give more praise. Someone once said "flatter me and I may not believe you, criticise me and I may not like you, ignore me and I may not forgive you, praise me and I will not forget you." There is something about praise and encouragement that, although we may find hard to believe or accept, never leaves our hearts or minds. This morning I want to encourage you to become an encourager. To be one of those people who encourage others on to greater things in the kingdom of God. To help us understand this I am going to look at Barnabas in the book of Acts.
Turn with me firstly to Acts 4.36-37 - this is where we first encounter Barnabas in the book of Acts. He is mentioned 34 times in the NT and all but 5 of those are in the book of Acts. I want you to note first of all that his name was 'Joseph.' His parents had called him Joseph but he was given the nickname 'Barnabas' -which meant 'son of encouragement.' Bar = 'son of.' 'Nabas' was Hebrew referring to a prophetic exhortation which encouraged or built people up. We know also from this text that he was a Levite. That is, he was from the priestly tribe of Israel. We learn that he was from Cyprus and this enabled him to be an important bridge between the Hebrew and Hellenistic worlds in the church, which would become significant later.
Turn now with me to Acts 9 verses 26-27. Saul (Paul) has been converted to Christ on the road to Damascus and has come to Jerusalem to meet the Apostles. They are justifiably afraid of him and it is Barnabas who takes Paul to the Apostles. In fact we read in verse 27 that it is Barnabas who retells the story of Paul's conversion to them and not Paul himself.
Turn to Acts 15.36ff. Paul and Barnabas have a disagreement over John Mark. John Mark had let Paul down on a previous journey but Barnabas wants to give John Mark another opportunity to serve. Paul and Barnabas disagree and separate at this point. Later Paul calls for John Mark and he describes him as one of his closest companions and servants in the gospel. Barnabas takes this opportunity of encouraging a young man who has failed in the past by offering him another chance to serve. He saw in John Mark the grace of God even if at this point Paul does not.
Now turn to the passage we read this morning from Acts 11.19-26.
Verses 19-21. Stephen has been martyred and once again the Christians have been scattered by the persecution. Luke tells us that they continued to preach the gospel and that many people had come to faith in Christ. Luke records for us that there was a significant number of people who came to faith and that this was because the hand of the Lord was upon the believers. We have here the geographical and cultural expansion of the gospel. Geographically it has spread from Jerusalem to Judea and then on into Samaria and now out to the Gentile nations. Culturally it has moved out from the Jews in Jerusalem to the Jews in the Diaspora and now on to the Gentiles.
Verse 22 - is a significant verse in this account. News of the gospel reaching Antioch has filtered back to Jerusalem and the apostles send Barnabas to Antioch to investigate. I find it significant that it was not an Apostle who was sent but Barnabas. No doubt part of the reason for sending him is that he is from Cyprus and therefore understands the culture etc.
Verses 23-24 read. Barnabas arrives and witnesses what? Luke tells us that he witnesses the 'grace of God' at work amongst the people of Antioch. He is gladdened by what he sees in Antioch. His generous spirit is moved to joy at the sight of people coming to faith in Christ Jesus. Luke tells us that having witnessed the work of God's grace in their lives Barnabas encourages them to persevere in the faith in 'remaining true to the Lord Jesus with all their hearts.' There is a deliberate play on his name - he (Barnabas - son of encouragement) encouraged them. Please note this is no general encouragement but a specific encouragement to wholehearted devotion and commitment to the Lord Jesus. Barnabas did not come and utter nice platitudes but encouraged them to persevere in the gospel. This was a critical moment in the life of this young church and of these new born babes in Christ. So often people come into such situations and all they do is find fault and raise their own self-esteem by criticising others. Not Barnabas. he arrives and he firstly seeks to see the grace of God at work. How did he know it was the grace of God at work? People turning from sin in repentance and faith to Christ Jesus. People confessing Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Barnabas did not burden them with rules and regulations - instead he encouraged them to persevere in their wholehearted commitment to Christ. Did you note the word 'wholehearted?' Not apathy. Not here this week and not next week. Not read my bible today but not tomorrow but wholehearted commitment. He encouraged them to be 'true to the Lord.' We would say 'faithful to the Lord.' Loving the Lord above all else. Having the Lord as the one whose word you obeyed, heeded, listened to and sought counsel from. He encouraged them to be true to the Truth - Christ Jesus. Barnabas knows that their hearts will determine the direction of their lives. If the gospel is to take root and firmly establish their lives then their hearts must be devoted first and foremost to Christ. You see the gospel can only put down deep and firm roots by faith when it is grounded in the heart of a believer. Otherwise when the sun rises and the heat of the day comes the plant withers and dies - according to the parable of the Sower.
Luke goes on to give us a description of Barnabas' character - read verses 24. It is because of his character that his words are accepted by these young believers and that his recommendation concerning the church at Antioch will be accepted by the Apostles back in Jerusalem. His character of goodness, of integrity and uprightness marked him out as the right man for this task. You know Luke describes no one else in the book of Acts as 'a good man.' Luke further tells us that he was a man 'full of the Spirit and of faith.' It is this that is the source of his character, the source of the goodness in his life. Note too what Luke says of Barnabas' time in Antioch - a multitude were added to the church. More people came to saving faith because of Barnabas.
Verses 25-26 - you know it would be easy to finish at verse 24 and miss out on a significant point of being an encouragement to others. Luke tells us that Barnabas goes and seeks out Paul and brings him to Antioch. Paul and Barnabas stay there for a considerable period of time teaching and instructing the believers. Barnabas was not concerned about his own reputation when he went to Tarsus and brought Paul to Antioch. His concern is the glory of Christ, the building of the kingdom of God, the furtherance of the gospel and Antioch and the building up of these new born Christians. His reputation did not matter. He knew these young Christians needed the teaching of Paul. He saw their need and he knew the answer and it mattered not that it wouldn't be Barnabas who got the praise and that Paul would be given preference over him.
Lessons to learn about being an encourager: Wholehearted devotion to Christ - you cannot encourage others to be or follow what is not in your own life. It really is a case of 'follow my example.' So what is your example like this morning?
Look for the grace of God working in people's lives. Barnabas saw the grace of God at work and he delighted in it and encouraged the young believers to persevere in the truth. What about you? Do you see the grace of God in the lives of others and encourage them to persevere in the truth? Or do you only see the faults and failings in others?
Be prepared to bring others in to the task of encouragement. It is not about self but about others. Barnabas was not concerned about his own reputation but about the spiritual welfare of these young Christians. He was not building his own kingdom but Christ's kingdom.
Barnabas was not threatened by new things happening in the kingdom of God. He took Paul to meet the Apostles when they all had grave doubts about his conversion. He took John Mark on another missionary journey after he had messed up the first time round. He went to Antioch and praised God for the work of grace in the lives of the Hellenists there. Barnabas took risks in order to encourage people in the faith. You and I must do the same. Will we get it wrong sometimes? Yes - but it is worth the risk for a John Mark who has messed up to be given another chance. It is worth the risk for a Paul who has messed up to become a great evangelist and church planter. It is worth the risk to encourage the grace of God working in others.
Barnabas saw potential in others when those around him saw only danger, problems and past failings. What about you? It really is a mindset how you see others. The bible does not tell us to turn a blind eye to people's sins or to past failures and yet the gospel tells us that none of us have made the mark - all have fallen short - and all in Christ can be forgiven and restored. Barnabas looked for the potential in others and not the failures. I have no doubt there were disappointments for him, as there will be for us but I am certain there were more times of joy as he experienced at Antioch.
You know when you stop to think about Barnabas he had a significant impact on the spread of the gospel. I wonder what would have happened without Barnabas' encouragement of Paul in bringing him to the apostles in Jerusalem and recognising the call of God for him to bring the gospel to the Gentiles by bringing him to the fledgling church at Antioch. Where would John Mark have ended up if Barnabas had not taken him on that missionary journey and given him another chance? Where would the little church at Antioch have gone if he had not brought a positive report back to the apostles and if he had not encouraged them by bringing Paul to teach them the faith? His ministry of encouragement had eternal significance for the gospel and so can yours.
So can I encourage you to be an encourager of other believers. Look for the work of God's grace in the lives of others. When you see it encourage them to keep going. Be humble enough to bring others on board to teach what you cannot because you know it will encourage others in the faith. Be an encouragement by giving someone a second chance after they have messed up the first time. Ultimately when you do God will bless you and your work as he did Barnabas and his work.
ACTS 11.19-26
The Duke of Wellington, a famous military leader who defeated Napoleon was asked at the end of his life if he had any regrets. He said that if he had a regret it was that he did not give more praise. Someone once said "flatter me and I may not believe you, criticise me and I may not like you, ignore me and I may not forgive you, praise me and I will not forget you." There is something about praise and encouragement that, although we may find hard to believe or accept, never leaves our hearts or minds. This morning I want to encourage you to become an encourager. To be one of those people who encourage others on to greater things in the kingdom of God. To help us understand this I am going to look at Barnabas in the book of Acts.
Turn with me firstly to Acts 4.36-37 - this is where we first encounter Barnabas in the book of Acts. He is mentioned 34 times in the NT and all but 5 of those are in the book of Acts. I want you to note first of all that his name was 'Joseph.' His parents had called him Joseph but he was given the nickname 'Barnabas' -which meant 'son of encouragement.' Bar = 'son of.' 'Nabas' was Hebrew referring to a prophetic exhortation which encouraged or built people up. We know also from this text that he was a Levite. That is, he was from the priestly tribe of Israel. We learn that he was from Cyprus and this enabled him to be an important bridge between the Hebrew and Hellenistic worlds in the church, which would become significant later.
Turn now with me to Acts 9 verses 26-27. Saul (Paul) has been converted to Christ on the road to Damascus and has come to Jerusalem to meet the Apostles. They are justifiably afraid of him and it is Barnabas who takes Paul to the Apostles. In fact we read in verse 27 that it is Barnabas who retells the story of Paul's conversion to them and not Paul himself.
Turn to Acts 15.36ff. Paul and Barnabas have a disagreement over John Mark. John Mark had let Paul down on a previous journey but Barnabas wants to give John Mark another opportunity to serve. Paul and Barnabas disagree and separate at this point. Later Paul calls for John Mark and he describes him as one of his closest companions and servants in the gospel. Barnabas takes this opportunity of encouraging a young man who has failed in the past by offering him another chance to serve. He saw in John Mark the grace of God even if at this point Paul does not.
Now turn to the passage we read this morning from Acts 11.19-26.
Verses 19-21. Stephen has been martyred and once again the Christians have been scattered by the persecution. Luke tells us that they continued to preach the gospel and that many people had come to faith in Christ. Luke records for us that there was a significant number of people who came to faith and that this was because the hand of the Lord was upon the believers. We have here the geographical and cultural expansion of the gospel. Geographically it has spread from Jerusalem to Judea and then on into Samaria and now out to the Gentile nations. Culturally it has moved out from the Jews in Jerusalem to the Jews in the Diaspora and now on to the Gentiles.
Verse 22 - is a significant verse in this account. News of the gospel reaching Antioch has filtered back to Jerusalem and the apostles send Barnabas to Antioch to investigate. I find it significant that it was not an Apostle who was sent but Barnabas. No doubt part of the reason for sending him is that he is from Cyprus and therefore understands the culture etc.
Verses 23-24 read. Barnabas arrives and witnesses what? Luke tells us that he witnesses the 'grace of God' at work amongst the people of Antioch. He is gladdened by what he sees in Antioch. His generous spirit is moved to joy at the sight of people coming to faith in Christ Jesus. Luke tells us that having witnessed the work of God's grace in their lives Barnabas encourages them to persevere in the faith in 'remaining true to the Lord Jesus with all their hearts.' There is a deliberate play on his name - he (Barnabas - son of encouragement) encouraged them. Please note this is no general encouragement but a specific encouragement to wholehearted devotion and commitment to the Lord Jesus. Barnabas did not come and utter nice platitudes but encouraged them to persevere in the gospel. This was a critical moment in the life of this young church and of these new born babes in Christ. So often people come into such situations and all they do is find fault and raise their own self-esteem by criticising others. Not Barnabas. he arrives and he firstly seeks to see the grace of God at work. How did he know it was the grace of God at work? People turning from sin in repentance and faith to Christ Jesus. People confessing Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Barnabas did not burden them with rules and regulations - instead he encouraged them to persevere in their wholehearted commitment to Christ. Did you note the word 'wholehearted?' Not apathy. Not here this week and not next week. Not read my bible today but not tomorrow but wholehearted commitment. He encouraged them to be 'true to the Lord.' We would say 'faithful to the Lord.' Loving the Lord above all else. Having the Lord as the one whose word you obeyed, heeded, listened to and sought counsel from. He encouraged them to be true to the Truth - Christ Jesus. Barnabas knows that their hearts will determine the direction of their lives. If the gospel is to take root and firmly establish their lives then their hearts must be devoted first and foremost to Christ. You see the gospel can only put down deep and firm roots by faith when it is grounded in the heart of a believer. Otherwise when the sun rises and the heat of the day comes the plant withers and dies - according to the parable of the Sower.
Luke goes on to give us a description of Barnabas' character - read verses 24. It is because of his character that his words are accepted by these young believers and that his recommendation concerning the church at Antioch will be accepted by the Apostles back in Jerusalem. His character of goodness, of integrity and uprightness marked him out as the right man for this task. You know Luke describes no one else in the book of Acts as 'a good man.' Luke further tells us that he was a man 'full of the Spirit and of faith.' It is this that is the source of his character, the source of the goodness in his life. Note too what Luke says of Barnabas' time in Antioch - a multitude were added to the church. More people came to saving faith because of Barnabas.
Verses 25-26 - you know it would be easy to finish at verse 24 and miss out on a significant point of being an encouragement to others. Luke tells us that Barnabas goes and seeks out Paul and brings him to Antioch. Paul and Barnabas stay there for a considerable period of time teaching and instructing the believers. Barnabas was not concerned about his own reputation when he went to Tarsus and brought Paul to Antioch. His concern is the glory of Christ, the building of the kingdom of God, the furtherance of the gospel and Antioch and the building up of these new born Christians. His reputation did not matter. He knew these young Christians needed the teaching of Paul. He saw their need and he knew the answer and it mattered not that it wouldn't be Barnabas who got the praise and that Paul would be given preference over him.
Lessons to learn about being an encourager: Wholehearted devotion to Christ - you cannot encourage others to be or follow what is not in your own life. It really is a case of 'follow my example.' So what is your example like this morning?
Look for the grace of God working in people's lives. Barnabas saw the grace of God at work and he delighted in it and encouraged the young believers to persevere in the truth. What about you? Do you see the grace of God in the lives of others and encourage them to persevere in the truth? Or do you only see the faults and failings in others?
Be prepared to bring others in to the task of encouragement. It is not about self but about others. Barnabas was not concerned about his own reputation but about the spiritual welfare of these young Christians. He was not building his own kingdom but Christ's kingdom.
Barnabas was not threatened by new things happening in the kingdom of God. He took Paul to meet the Apostles when they all had grave doubts about his conversion. He took John Mark on another missionary journey after he had messed up the first time round. He went to Antioch and praised God for the work of grace in the lives of the Hellenists there. Barnabas took risks in order to encourage people in the faith. You and I must do the same. Will we get it wrong sometimes? Yes - but it is worth the risk for a John Mark who has messed up to be given another chance. It is worth the risk for a Paul who has messed up to become a great evangelist and church planter. It is worth the risk to encourage the grace of God working in others.
Barnabas saw potential in others when those around him saw only danger, problems and past failings. What about you? It really is a mindset how you see others. The bible does not tell us to turn a blind eye to people's sins or to past failures and yet the gospel tells us that none of us have made the mark - all have fallen short - and all in Christ can be forgiven and restored. Barnabas looked for the potential in others and not the failures. I have no doubt there were disappointments for him, as there will be for us but I am certain there were more times of joy as he experienced at Antioch.
You know when you stop to think about Barnabas he had a significant impact on the spread of the gospel. I wonder what would have happened without Barnabas' encouragement of Paul in bringing him to the apostles in Jerusalem and recognising the call of God for him to bring the gospel to the Gentiles by bringing him to the fledgling church at Antioch. Where would John Mark have ended up if Barnabas had not taken him on that missionary journey and given him another chance? Where would the little church at Antioch have gone if he had not brought a positive report back to the apostles and if he had not encouraged them by bringing Paul to teach them the faith? His ministry of encouragement had eternal significance for the gospel and so can yours.
So can I encourage you to be an encourager of other believers. Look for the work of God's grace in the lives of others. When you see it encourage them to keep going. Be humble enough to bring others on board to teach what you cannot because you know it will encourage others in the faith. Be an encouragement by giving someone a second chance after they have messed up the first time. Ultimately when you do God will bless you and your work as he did Barnabas and his work.
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