The sermon for July 14th 2019 is now available on the New Life web-site.
In this sermon, which is based on Psalm 36, Susan Nash exhorts us to Get To Verse 5
Click here to listen in your browser, here to download the mp3
Reading Ephesians
Over a year ago now, I started reading the Book of Ephesians in depth. I believed at the time that there are new understandings to come out of this relatively short book of the Bible.
I thought at the time that it would take maybe a year to go through this. It took me a year just to get through the first chapter. Already I have found so much that I had previously overlooked or not seen, and I am excited about the revelations yet to come.
I intend to publish a section each week on this blog, but if you want to catch up with me you can do so at our web site
This week we go to my prologue.
Prologue
On the evening of Sunday March 11th, 2018 I was the preacher for our small night service. The passage I was preaching from was Ephesians 2:1-10. After I read the passage, I said, completely unexpectedly, “I believe there is a greater depth to the Book of Ephesians than anyone has yet seen, but the Lord is going to open this letter up over the next decade, and it will change the church.”
I believe that this was a prophetic word from the Holy Spirit for the whole world-wide church.
Over the next few days, these words kept coming to me over and over with the prompting, “Why don’t you start?” Feeling I had nothing to lose, I sat down with my trusty Greek-English New Testament. I prayed, asking God to reveal His insights to me, and started reading and writing the thoughts that came into my head.
Wow! The thoughts and insights just came flooding into my head as I read each word in verses 1 and 2- and that’s the “skip over to get to the meat” part! It was as if I received a “download” of revelation from the Lord, it came almost instantly and steadily.
I don’t pretend this is in any way God’s word for the church, but I believe it is God’s word for me. Perhaps it is God’s word for others also. Regardless, I pray that there will be a blessing in reading this.
This is meant to be read as a devotional piece not an academic or expository piece. That is, I am not trying to analyse the text from a literary-critical perspective. This is meant to be filtered through the heart as much as through the brain.
Prayer
Lord, I believe that you have new and deeper revelations to bring to us from this part of your word. This part, perhaps more than many parts of your word is a “Holy Spirit book”, It defies the plain understanding of the words, at least to my rational mind.
So Father, Son and Holy Spirit, precious Trinity, I ask you to bring the revelations that I seek. Speak to me, Spirit to spirit. Let me see you and hear your voice as never before. Amen.
Reflection on Luke 10:25-37
Scripture
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?”
Observation
An expert in the Jewish law asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus asks him what the law says, and he replies that it is to love God and to love our neighbour.
To justify himself, the man asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?” In response, Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan.
Application
We always want to justify ourselves. We always want to look good to others and to God.
The law is too hard to keep. God’s standard of righteousness is too hard to match. To cover our guilt we make excuses that seem to justify our actions.
We can never make ourselves right under the law.
Even if we could fulfil every letter of God’s law and live a perfect life, it would still not be enough.
A religious approach to life will always disappoint us and God. We can never be good enough for Him by our own efforts alone.
In Christ we do not have to live up to expectations that are too high.
In Christ we are already accepted by God. The sin is washed away in His blood. Better still, He gives us the grace to be “good.” And when we fail, He keeps on forgiving.
Acceptance comes first, and then the ability to live a life that is acceptable. God does not want performance form us. He wants love.
When I was saved, the love of God flooded into my heart. My response was, “God loves me so much; how can I love Him in return?”
I don’t worry about sin or about being good enough. No, I seek to serve my Father and to let Him correct my actions and attitudes. Much better to have a loving coach than to just read the rule book!
In Jesus there is no need to feel guilty abut our sins. There is no need to justify ourselves when we fall.
God’s love covers it all.
Prayer
Thank you Jesus for paying the price for my sin. Thank you for showing me what love looks like. Help me to walk in fellowship with you every day, letting your grace transform my heart. Amen.
Ann Voskamp: How To Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay
Great words of encouragement from Ann Voskamp for when things are not okay in your life. Read the whole article here
So you can look up at the calendar today and exhale: “It’s okay to feel bone tired — you have One who gives His bone and His body for you and beckoned: Come Rest.”“It’s okay to feel bone tired — you have One who gives His bone and His body for you and beckoned: Come Rest.”
It’s okay to feel bone tired — you have One who gives His bone and His body for you and beckoned: Come Rest.
It’s okay to feel disillusioned — you have One who destroys cheap illusions of perfection and offers you His.
It’s okay to feel done — you have One who listens to the last nail be driven in and proclaims all the hellish things finished.
It’s okay to feel battered and bruised — you have One who storms your battles, takes back everything that needs a comeback, and proves His side won.
It’s okay to feel a bit like a fool — you have One who proves that real love always makes anyone the wisest fool who gives more, lives more, forgives more, because love defies logic, because love is the self-giving, cruciform foolishness that is the ultimate wisdom of the universe.
It’s okay to feel behind — you have One who is the Head and the Author and the Maker and the Finisher and the Carrier and the Warrior and nothing is over until He carries you over the finish line.
PM Scott Morrison at Hillsong Conference
Reflection on Colossians 1:1-14
Scripture
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.
Observation
Paul writes to the holy people of Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. He has heard of their faith and love which come from their confident hope in their eternal destiny.
This same Good News is bearing fruit all over the earth as people turn to Christ. Paul prays for the Colossians that they will be strengthened ad filled with joy.
Application
The Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, has been spreading constantly through the world since the day of Pentecost. In just about every nation of the world there are faithful followers of Christ.
As people turn to the Lord, their lives are transformed, and ultimately whole nations are changed.
In the West we often find this hard to believe. It seems that the society in which we live is turning against the Gospel, sometimes with hostility.
In this situation, we just need to let Jesus continue to work in us, changing our lives one day at a time. As we are able to give testimony about what He has done for us, our actions will demonstrate the truth of our words.
People are hungry for truth and authenticity. They are tired of slick advertising messages, political spin and hollow promises. When they see someone whose life shows the truth of their beliefs, then they will take notice.
The Good News is bearing fruit all over the world. We need to believe that it will bear fruit in the lives of our friends and neighbours.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for the transformation that comes when people believe your Good News. Help me to live a life that testifies to your goodness, and to speak words that point people to you. Amen.
Reflection on Amos 7:7-17
Scripture
Amos replies, “I am not a professional prophet, and I never trained to be one. I am just a shepherd and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. Bu the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people Israel.’”
Observation
The Lord shows Amos a vision of a wall being measured with a plumb line to determine if it is straight. The Lord tells Amos that He will test His people with a plumb line and bring judgement against the house of Jeroboam.
Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, sends a message to Jeroboam accusing Amos of plotting against him. Amaziah also tells Amos to go back to Judah and prophesy there.
Amos responds that he has never been a professional prophet; he is just obeying the Lord’s commandment.
Application
Pastors and other trained ministers of the gospel play an important role in the church. They are indispensable in providing oversight and direction.
But God will use anyone who is ready to obey Him. You don’t need a degree to serve the Lord.
Amos was a shepherd and a tender of sycamore-fig trees. The Hebrew suggests that he was a land owner and not just an employee, but regardless of this he was not a professional prophet schooled in the Law and the prophetic traditions.
God used Amos to get a message to the people of Israel. His training and experience meant little to the Lord.
The Lord is looking for people who are willing to take His word to people who will not necessarily welcome it.
When God calls, He gives the training, the knowledge and the skills we need. We just have to answer His call and trust Him to supply what we need.
Prayer
Lord God, I thank you that you do not require people to be college trained or to have decades of experience before they can serve you. Please use me for your purposes today. Amen.
Rugby Australia Has A Problem With The Bible
Apparently Raelene Castle has ditched all pretence that the sacking of Israel Folau was anything other than religious discrimination.
According to Miranda Devine in yesterday’s Sunday Telegraph, even if he had simply photocopied the relevant pages from the Bible in his social media posts that would have been a problem.
Here is part of the transcript from the code of conduct meeting in May:
Apparently quoting from the Islamic texts would not have been a problem:
‘Will you persist in these lewd acts which no other nation has committed before you? You lust after men instead of women. Truly, you are a degenerate people.’ Quran 7:81-82
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Whoever you find doing the action of the people of Loot, execute the one who does it and the one to whom it is done.” Abu Dawud 4462 (This is a sahih hadith)
As Devine concludes:
Castle made a mountain out of a molehill, and has thrown Australian rugby into disrepute as a result, trashing morale and sabotaging the Wallabies’ chances in a World Cup year.
Having unilaterally condemned the foundational document of Judaeo-Christian civilisation as akin to hate speech, she [Castle] boasted in a press conference that her decision was a “landmark” which “will change the landscape for rugby and sport”.
There’s one person who should have been sacked, and it wasn’t Folau.
HT to Caldron Pool
Today’s Sermon
The sermon for July 7th 2019 is now available on the New Life web-site.
In this sermon, which is based on 2 Corinthians 10:1-11, I talk about the war that we are in.
Click here to listen in your browser, here to download the mp3
Babylon, the United Nations and End Time Speculation
UK news site theweek.co.uk
Babylon finally declared a Unesco World Heritage Site
The ancient Mesopotamian city of Babylon has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site following a long campaign. Iraq had been lobbying since the 1980s for the 4,000-year-old site to be added to the UN list. Although the site has suffered from being used as a base for US troops, it was made famous for its Hanging Gardens, which were among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
In the Bible Babylon is often used as a symbol of worldly powers opposed to God and His people.
If you were minded to get excited about end time prophecies you might find this interesting. Just don’t get any chips inserted into your hand.
