Without God’s power flowing within us, we will only be left with empty religion. Steve Wallace
Quote for the Day
Never too late
Ephesians 5:12-13
Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:12-13. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au
Ephesians 5:12-13
“It is shameful to mention what such people do secretly, but everything exposed by the Light becomes visible.”
We live in an age where it is no longer shameful to mention what those who are controlled by Satan do in secret.
Shame is a feeling of being less than normal, of being unworthy of society, because of what we have done, or sometimes because of what has been done to us.
Western society has broadly lost all sense of shame or guilt when it comes to sexuality. Quite the reverse, in gact, when every form of potential sexual deviancy is celebrated. In a new form of tyranny, those who refuse to celebrate deviancy are shamed.
In 2020 one of the most popular songs in the USA was WAP. It would be shameful to mention what WAP stands for. I viewed the video of the song and I was overwhelmed by a feeling of being violated by some lurking evil that goes beyond the perverted sexuality of the song.
Paul says that shameful deeds are done in secret, in the dark, but the light of Christ will shine into the dark places and show up the deeds of darkness.
This is different to the current situation in which we live. There are many shameful deeds that are exposed, but rather than being transformed by the process of exposure, they are celebrated and become even more brazen. It is as if a beam of dark energy is at work rather than the light. This energy motivates and excites people to ever more wicked ways.
As Paul states earlier, we are children of the light, that is the true light of Christ. We are the light of the world.
When the true light shines on the deeds of wickedness, they are shown up for what they really are. The practitioners of such darkness then have an opportunity to repent of their actions.
The light then serves two purposes.
1. The light reveals the truth of what is really there. The false light tolerates and celebrates “diversity”, but it only reaches the most shallow levels. The true light penetrates to the heart of sin and exposes its true nature.
2. The light reveals the hearts of people so that God’s judgement is seen to be fair. Those who embrace the light repent of their sinful ways and turn to the Lord. Those who reject the light continue to pursue the ways of sin.
In John 3:19-26 we read: “ This is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For all who love evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. Those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” (New Revised Standard Version)
Some will be saved. Some of those who are in the darkness welcome the light, and they recognise the truth of sin and of salvation.
Key points in these verses:
- The deeds of darkness are shameful
- Our culture celebrates the deeds of darkness
- Followers of Jesus carry the light that reveals the reality of sin
- The light reveals both the truth about sin, and the truth about those who are in the darkness.
Dealing With Stress
I have been talking to people about stress and anxiety a lot lately. The lock down restrictions and the constant fear generated by governments and the media leave people fearful of their own health and those of loved ones they are not allowed to visit.
We are created to cope with life threatening emergencies. When confronted with a tiger in the wild, our bodies are flooded with chemicals that enable us to either run at exceptional speed or to wrestle that tiger and win. This is the so-called “fight or flight” response.
Right now the threat is always with us, even if we can’t see it, and people around us are constantly telling us the tiger is there. We experience long term stress and anxiety that our bodies and souls are not created to endure. That means we can become physically ill and emotionally unbalanced.
We need to deal with physical stress by exercising more. Your body is generating lots of energy so you need to use it. Be careful with what you eat. Your body may crave sugar and caffeine to fuel the fight or flight response, but you won’t be running from any tiger. I deal with stress by compulsive eating. I love comfort foods like chocolate, and I have to constantly tell myself to stay out of the fridge. It’s hard!
Try to avoid foods that contain sugar. Cut back your caffeine intake. I have been finding linden tea is great to reduce stress. It reportedly calms the brain and the body. Magnesium supplements and natural stress reducing products can also help.
We can deal with emotional stress by reaching out to people. Go for a walk with a friend. Phone that person you can’t visit. I notice that I laugh a lot more when I ring people than when I am just at home, so that has to be good.
Don’t overlook the spiritual part. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told us not to stress about what to eat or drink or wear. “You can’t add a day to your life by worrying. Your heavenly Father knows what you need. Seek God’s Kingdom and He will supply everything else.” (Matthew 6:25-34)
One favourite scripture reading lately has been Pslam 91:
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
Stress is always with us, but we can take small steps to be happy in the midst of it all.
A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
BREAKING: Religious Leaders File Huge Lawsuit Against State Governments to Restore Freedoms · Caldron Pool
This is interesting. It looks like some churches are taking a stand for in-person worship to be classed as “essential.”
From caldronpool.com
BREAKING: Religious Leaders File Huge Lawsuit Against State Governments to Restore Freedoms · Caldron Pool
Internationally renowned COVID-19 expert, Jayanta Bhattacharya, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University in California has provided an independent expert report in support of the action brought forward by the plaintiffs.
Three evangelical pastors, along with several Jewish congregations, have filed a joint lawsuit with the Australian Federal Government, seeking an injunction against the New South Wales and Victorian Government’s current COVID-19 lockdown measures.
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in the Federal Court, argues the state governments have selectively discriminated against religious groups in denying citizens the ability to congregate in Houses of Worship by arbitrarily deeming them “non-essential,” while allowing the public to gather elsewhere, such as in supermarkets and liquor stores.
The lawsuit will argue that Houses of Worship provide significant spiritual, psychological, and emotional support for communities, especially those who are suffering financially and psychologically from the impacts of the state government’s lockdown policies.
Furthermore, it will be argued that the governments’ indiscriminate selection of “essential” and “non-essential” venues under the Public Health Order is not supported by robust scientific or medical evidence.
According to the complaint, neither the NSW nor Victorian Governments have the constitutional or common law power to deny citizens their religious freedom which includes their ability to fulfill particular religious obligations and practices in their designated House of Worship.
Internationally renowned COVID-19 expert, Jayanta Bhattacharya, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University in California has also provided an independent expert report in support of the action brought forward by the plaintiffs.
Lawyer Tony Nikolic said his clients were forced to appeal to the courts after the matter had been repeatedly ignored by the NSW state government, in particular.
“My clients have attempted to engage with the NSW and Victorian Premiers and their Ministers as well as various NSW, Victorian, and Federal Parliamentarians to have their grievances addressed in a diplomatic and respectful manner.
“Unfortunately, in the context of NSW, the NSW Government has been unwilling to engage with my clients in any meaningful dialogue. As a result, our only last venue for relief is the courts.”
Pastor Robert Ayoub, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said they have exhausted other options to no avail.
“Now we have. a legal option, where we take the matter to the courts and have it heard by a court,” Pastor Ayoub said in a recent interview. “We believe this is a respectful way to do things, and importantly, a legal way to do things.
“We’re not here to be vindictive, or dishonouring towards the government, we’re just seeking to be able to practice our religion freely, and we’re appealing to our government to allow. us to love our God and also love our neighbour, to love our community.”
The plaintiffs in the case have also backed The Moses Statement, an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the State Premiers, urging a reopening of churches across the nation.
The Moses Statement can be read and signed here.
The case will be heard in court later today.
Overcome evil
Ephesians 5:11
Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:11. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au
Ephesians 5:11
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Christians are the children of light, and so must have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness.
The deeds of darkness, that is sin, do not produce fruit. We might think that just as the Spirit produces fruit in the believer, then sin must also produce its own kind of fruit, even if it is a disgusting kind of fruit.
Paul is thinking of a plant left in a dark place. It not only produces no fruit, but will itself wither and die.
Sin does not produce anything that is worthy of eternity. Quite the opposite, in fact. The product of sin will be thrown into the fire to be burnt (see John 15:6, where Jesus talks of the fate of the branch that produces no fruit).
Sin produces results that might seem fruitful in the world, but will not last beyond this life. Since we are children of light not of darkness, we must have nothing to do with such things.
This is not “moderation in all things”, but ”have nothing to do with them.” While we are allowed to enjoy the fruits of creation which God has given us for our benefit, when it comes to sin we are to completely avoid it.
Christians have in the past, and continue into the present, to have disagreements about where the line between light and darkness should be drawn. Some avoid alcohol in faith while others drink alcohol in faith. Some have certain dress codes, while others do not have the same dress codes – all in order to please the Lord.
Where it is clear that certain practices are condemned in the Bible, we must have nothing to do with them. This is forbidden territory for christians. We must live lives of light not darkness.
While we are to avoid the fruitless deeds of darkness, we must not avoid the people who walk in the darkness. We are called to be salt and light in the world, even while we live by different rules and values. We must be friends of sinners, as Jesus was, while avoiding the sin.
To expose the deeds of darkness means we let the light of God shine on them. Paul is thinking here that, as we live in the ways of Jesus, the contrast between us and the people of the world will expose the ugly reality of sin.
We do not have to lecture the ungodly about their ways, although there is room for public proclamation of righteousness. In other words, the church must find ways of describing the kingdom lifestyle without pointing the finger at those who live differently.
Paul sees the role of Christians as shining the light of Christ so that people start to see that their own lives are dark and fruitless. This should raise the question of how people get the power to live exemplary lives, and then to them wanting to follow Jesus as the result.
This exposing the deeds of darkness is simply shining a spotlight that enables people to see clearly that their lives are indeed fruitless.
As John points out, there are people who love the darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19-21). There are people in the world who are so committed to their evil deeds that no amount of light will convince them to change. They see the light as a painful thing and flee from it. This in itself exposes the darkness.
Christians are called to be imitators of Christ. We find out what pleases the Lord and delight in it so that our lives become winsome and attractive to those who welcome the light.
Key points in this verse:
- We are to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness
- Sin produces no fruit for eternity
- As we live in the light of Christ, we will expose the deeds of darkness
- Not everyone welcomes the light
The Story of God’s People Chapter 7- The Pentecostal Movement
This is the final episode in my survey of church history.
