The sermon for October 7th 2018 is now available on the New Life web-site.
In this sermon, which is based on Job chapters 1 and 2, I talk about our experience of testing.
Click here to listen in your browser, here to download the mp3
bible
Reflection on Mark 10:1-16
Scripture
When Jesus saw what was happening, he became indignant with his disciples and said to them, “Let all the little children come to me and never hinder them! Don’t you know that God’s kingdom realm exists for such as these?”
Observation
While Jesus is teaching the crowds, some Pharisees come to trap Him with a question. They ask if it is permissible for a man to divorce his wife.
Jesus replies that Moses permitted them to divorce, but this was an exception for their hard hearts. In fact it was God’s purpose from the beginning of creation for a man and woman to be joined together as one flesh. Nobody can separate what God has joined together.
Some parents want Jesus to bless their children, but the disciples keep sending them away. Jesus rebukes them, telling them that everyone who wants to enter the Kingdom must come to Him as a little child.
Application
The Pharisees come to Jesus wanting to show that they are better than Him at interpreting God’s will. Jesus says that this is not the way to God’s Kingdom. We must come as little children, ready to receive Him as God’s Word.
For many people, we start our walk with Jesus like a little child, ready to soak up everything Jesus will say to us. Then gradually we become like the Pharisees, the experts, the know-it-alls,
Religion is a very hard attitude to kill in our hearts. We desperately need to tame God, and so we become the experts on what He is like and what He wants.
Child- like humility and acceptance that we don’t have all the answers are the attitudes that bring us closer to God and His Kingdom.
Prayer
Lord, help me to repent of all my expert knowledge about you. Help me to be the little child in love with you. Amen.
Reflection on Hebrews 2:1-12
Scripture
God, for whom and through whom, everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader to bring them into their salvation.
Observation
We must hold on carefully to the truth of salvation, otherwise we will drift away from the truth. God confirms the gospel through signs and wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We have been made a little lower than the angels, but we will have authority over all things. We see this already in the example of Jesus.
Everything was made for God, and He chose to bring many sons and daughters to glory. Jesus, as the first fruits of salvation, is the one who leads us into eternal life.
Application
God made all things by Himself and for Himself, and He chose to brings many creatures into His glory.
I was made by God and for God.
We live in an age of total individualism. Nobody feels any duty to have allegiance to any authority or institution. We obey the law out of fear of consequences, rather than because it is right to be obedient.
We are made for God’s good pleasure. Therefore we have a duty to try to please Him.
Our allegiance or loyalty is to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ.
God’s plan from before creation was to raise many people to glory. He wants to share His glory with me.
The Creator, powerful and holy, shares His glory with me, a creature of spiritual weakness and a built-in tendency to sin. How great is God’s love that He should do this for me?
Prayer
Awesome, mighty God, I bow down and worship you. Your love for me is beyond my imagining. Thank you. Amen.
Reflection on Mark 9:38-50
Scripture
“Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me.”
Observation
Some disciples tell Jesus that they saw a man casting out in His name and and they told him to stop doing it because he wasn’t a part of their group. Jesus tells them not to do this as anyone who is not opposed to them is for them.
It is better to rigorously remove sin from our lives, even removing parts of the body if necessary, than to maintain an intact body but go to hell.
Application
Tribalism is strong amongst christians. We love to criticise those whom we think are less pure in doctrine than we are. Google any famous preacher’s name, and there will be a host of hate pages criticising their ministry.
I don’t like Benny Hinn’s style. There are many things that he does that make me cringe. But he has led many people to the Lord, and God has used him to heal countless people. When I am walking in that level of power and authority I might have the qualification to correct him.
Too many people spend too much time pulling other christians apart. Jesus urges us to be more tolerant.
Does this mean that we cannot ever judge ministers? Is everyone who claims to speak for Jesus above correction?
Not at all. Every pastor, preacher, and indeed every christian, needs to be accountable to the Body in some way.
Rather than being critical of people we disagree with or are not part of our group, we must focus on our own ministry, sharing the Good News with the people God has called us to. Then we can leave the judging to Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, help me to be more open to brothers and sisters outside my “tribe” and to accept even those I choose to disagree with. Amen.
Reflection on James 5:13-20
Scripture
Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
Observation
Regardless of our situation we should pray. In hardship, pray. In happiness praise God. In sickness, get the elders to pray for you.
Confession and healing go together. Some sickness is caused by, or related to, sin. We should seek God’s forgiveness and then prayer for healing.
Righteous people pray powerful prayers. Elijah was just a man, but his prayers controlled the rain.
Application
One of the keys to receiving healing is to make sure that we are right with God. Nobody is perfectly righteousness and so, in that sense, we can be prone to attacks from the enemy at our weak places. Confessing our sins enables the Holy Spirit to work more effectively in our lives.
When we are right with God and walking in humble obedience our prayers release the grace of God in powerful ways.
Elijah listened to the voice of the Lord, and so he was able to command drought and rain. He didn’t do things presumptuously, but always in the context of a close relationship with God.
We must turn away from sin and pursue the Lord more passionately and more intentionally, so that we are able to be channels of His grace.
This is not a religious thing where we have to live in a certain way, constantly following rules laid down by somebody else. This is about loving our Father and wanting to be about His business.
Prayer
Lord, I confess my sins to you now. I ask for your forgiveness and for the ability to live in righteousness so that I can be an instrument of your grace. Amen.
Reflection on Proverbs 31:10-31
Scripture
Charm is deceptive and beauty does not last,
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Observation
The book of Proverbs ends with a poem celebrating the ideal wife. A virtuous and capable wife is more precious than rubies.
The ideal wife is hard working, successful in business and able to order her household. She spins thread, makes clothes and always speaks wisely. She is truly a person of talent and integrity.
Application
While many women aspire to the title of “Proverbs 31 Woman,” and many men aspire to catch one, this is clearly an idealised version of an upper class woman in a very different setting to our own.
There are several qualities that women and men should still aim for in God’s grace.
1. To be virtuous. This is about doing what is good and godly as a reflex action. We no longer need to ask “What would Jesus do?” because following the way of Jesus has become automatic. In most situations we don’t need to pray because God’s way is evident to the one who has spent years seeking His will.
2. Work hard. Like being virtuous, this is not a popular ethic in our culture. We waste so much time being entertained, preferring to watch TV rather than study God’s word, for example.
3. Sacrificial love for our family. Because we are brought up to exalt selfishness, it can be difficult to walk in the way of sacrificial self-giving.
4. Wisdom in all things. Wisdom is knowing how to make life work effectively for ourselves and the people who look up to us.
These qualities do not come easily to any of us. They are grown in us as we seek to follow the Lord each day.
Prayer
Lord, may I become like the Proverbs 31 woman. Develop these qualities in me, I pray. Amen.
Reflection on Mark 8:27-38
Scripture
“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
Observation
Jesus asks His disciples who people say He is. They offer various suggestions, and then Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replies, “You are the Christ.”
Jesus then begins to teach them that He must be crucified. Peter begins to rebuke Him. Jesus tells Him, “Get behind me Satan!”
Jesus then tells the crowd that whoever wants to follow Him must take up their cross and deny themselves. If anyone is ashamed of Him now, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in His glory.
Application
There is a stark choice that confronts every disciple of Jesus. Will I seek the comforts of the world or will I be faithful to Christ?
Jesus says that it is pointless to gain the whole world but to lose your soul.
The world offers many temptations and attractions. We might pursue a career that offers us a comfortable lifestyle. If this involves compromising the gospel or denying a call that God has on our lives, then it is the wrong choice and a futile reward.
What is the benefit of a million dollar lifestyle if we end up in hell? Surely the goal of this life is to prepare for eternity lived with God. To exchange eternal joy for a few years of fame and fortune is the height of foolishness.
My calling is to follow Jesus regardless of where He leads me. He promises that if I seek first Him and His Kingdom in all I do, then He will make sure my daily needs are met.
Given a choice between the call of Jesus and the pleasures of this world, Jesus always comes first.
Prayer
Lord, there are so many temptations and distractions in this world. Please help me to remain faithful to you always. Amen.
Reflection on Proverbs 1:20-33
Scripture
“But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”
Observation
Wisdom calls to all who will stop to listen. She calls to the crowds on the streets, appealing to fools and mockers to change their ways.
Wisdom has called out so often to no avail, so now she will give up and leave the fools to their fate. But all who listen to her will live in peace.
Application
In this passage, wisdom is personified as a woman calling out to people. The description here is in some ways similar to that of a prostitute in other places in Proverbs. Whereas engaging in illicit sex leads to ruin, engaging with Wisdom brings prosperity and peace.
Wisdom is a metaphor for devotion to the Lord. We are told in several Scriptures that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
To gain wisdom we must start by seeking the Lord.
When we do that we walk in peace- peace of mind and soul.
We live in a culture that is distinguished by fear. Political leaders and commercial interests promote fear for their own interests.
The person who trusts the Lord is not troubled by fear. We know that we are safe in His hands and our eternal destination is assured.
Jesus tells us not to be anxious for our heavenly Father knows what we need. We simply need to trust in Him.
Prayer
Thank you Father for the peace that comes from following you. Please help me to trust you in every circumstance. Amen.
Reflection on Mark 7:24-37
Scripture
The people were absolutely beside themselves and astonished beyond measure. They began to declare, “Everything he does is wonderful! He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Observation
Here we have descriptions of the healing of two Gentile people.
In the first, a Syrian Phoenician woman comes and pleads with Jesus to heal her daughter who is demonised. Jesus banters with her at first, seemingly to test her faith. He then declares that the daughter is healed.
In the second incident, a def and mute man is brought to Jesus and receives healing. The people are amazed at the power that Jesus has, and they declare that everything Jesus does is wonderful.
Application
Everything Jesus does is wonderful. That should be our testimony.
We can find sometimes that the pressures and disappointments of life can take our attention away from Jesus. Perhaps prayers go unanswered and we start to suspect that Jesus is less than wonderful.
Faith clings to Jesus and says hat everything He does is wonderful.
We must regain that sense of astonishment at a God who heals even deaf and mute people.
He healed the Gentile woman’s daughter; will He not heal my daughter? He healed a deaf man; will He not heal me of my affliction?
Everything Jesus does is wonderful. He still raises the dead, removes demons, gives life to sinners, and heals the sick.
All of these wonderful deeds are signs that the Kingdom of God is already here in our midst.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, everything you do is wonderful. I thank you for dying for my sins. I thank you for healings received in the past and healings to come in the future. You are awesome in grace and power. Hallelujah! Amen.
Reflection on Song of Songs 2:8-13
Scripture
My lover said to me,
“Rise up my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!”
Observation
The young woman’s lover is coming over the mountains. He calls out to her, “Come away with me! It is spring and the flowers are springing up. Come away with me!”
Application
We have so many hang-ups with the Song of Songs today. Partly it is because the church generally does not do poetry well, tending to be literalistic when it comes to the Bible. Also our culture is entirely obsessed with sex and cannot make a distinction between romantic love and sex.
So here we have an entire book of the Bible that is one long poem about romantic love, and our brains freeze!
If we see the man in the poem as representing Jesus and the woman as His church, and use our imagination, then we can see something beautiful in this passage.
The man- the lover- comes from a long way to pursue his love and invites her to come away with him.
Jesus has done just that. He came “across the mountains” into the place of our captivity to sin. He showered us with His blessings and invited us to come away with Him.
God’s love always comes first, and we respond. He loved you before you were born, before the world began. He set about wooing you, inviting you to respond to His love,
The call, whether you knew it or not, was to a journey. The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing, and His invitation to you is “Come away with me!”
He promises to never abandon you. Just walk with Him on this journey and He will be with you always.
Prayer
Thank you Lord Jesus for your never-failing love, for the grace that empowers us for the journey of faith. Please help me to trust you and to receive your love. Amen.
