By David; when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.
34:1 I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. 34:2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad. 34:3 Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt his name together. 34:4 I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 34:5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. 34:6 This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 34:7 The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 34:8 Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 34:9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him. 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing. 34:11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. 34:12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies. 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it. 34:15 Yahweh's eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry. 34:16 Yahweh's face is against those who do evil, to cut off their memory from the earth. 34:17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 34:18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. 34:20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken. 34:21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. 34:22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
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Introduction
So far in the book of Acts, we can see that the Church has come under attack by the
The world (persecution),
satan (deceit & moral compromise)
Now a new crisis appears. Unable to destroy the church by way of persecution and deceit, satan now tries to create a split in the church by getting believers to argue and fight with each other.
If satan had succeeded in creating an implosion within this church, the only church in existence at the time, then the effects could have been devastating. The media in our world loves to report about anything negative to do with Christianity and the church. So any form of dissension, pressure splits and arguments within the Church, is often reported with an almost earnest gleefulness by the media.
From this Bible passage, four questions quite naturally arise.
What was the problem?
How was it resolved?
What happened after it was resolved?
How can we apply it to church life, 2000 years after the event?
Summary
The Problem! (v1)
The Solution! (v2-6)
Three things about the solution
Transformation of the Apostles - James, Peter & John particularly (v2)
All together now! (v2-5)
Commissioning (v6)
The Result! (v7)
Growth and witness = conversion of former enemies... (v7)
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Matthew 25:31- 46 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’
“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’
“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Partake Module 6 - New Life - 4 Questions about Jesus
1. What's in a name?
I wonder what your name means. People generally name their children for the hopes and aspirations about what their child will grow to become. For example, the name John, means "the gift of God". I know somebody called Grace, and her nature is that of somebody full of grace. Nigel means "the champion". My wife's name means "Forever Beautiful" and she is! Some remote tribes in New Guinea, who knew no English, called their children after some English words they had heard, and liked the sound of, without knowing the meaning. One name was "Tinned Fish". Somebody else was called "Second Gear",
My name of David means "beloved" and when my parents named me, it was meant to symbolize the love they had for me. Although when I put the cricket ball through the kitchen window or the time I crushed the vegetable patch whilst running after a football, I did not feel very beloved afterwards!
When Jesus was born, his name imbued the very reason he was born. His conception and birth, were extraordinary at every level. So important is our understanding of the birth of Jesus, that no fewer than 4 angels come to give us a full picture of the event. Do you think that his parents, Joseph & Mary, or God, ever gazed upon him wistfully, and thought "How misnamed He is!" They did not, because they knew the very purpose for which He was born. His name means "one who saves" or a rescuer. His entire birth, life and death were centered around this very role. His role was to save all those who would follow Him.
He is the most talked about person in history. Almost everyone has an opinion about Him. He was born to confirm God's promises and to reveal God as a Father, and to be our representative before Him. In doing this, He gave us an example of how to live a holy life to the full. He was not merely a man who received some special power, as some think. He was not some strange creation that was half man and half God, with his human nature somehow absorbed into the divine.
2. Good moral teacher?
The ancient Grecian philosopher Socrates offered "how we ought to live", as a working definition of ‘moral‘. Did Jesus teaching reflect a good way to live, and if he did, what did he teach? Jesus' moral code, revolving as it would have done around the part of the Bible we call the Old Testament, can be seen in "do to others, what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Some people refer to this as the "Golden Rule". However, Jesus, as ever goes further than anybody else and says that it is not only the outward actions of a person that makes them morally good, it is also the internal attitude behind it.
In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, people such as Gandhi hold it as a paragon of virtuous teaching and regard Jesus as a great teacher. Although, this is the best-known teaching of Jesus, it is also the least understood, and certainly the least obeyed. Whilst Gandhi and his ilk see The Sermon on the Mount as a call to peaceful demonstration against provocation, this was never Jesus intention regarding this teaching. It is as somebody once said "a picture of God's alternative society... containing the standards, the values and priorities of God's Kingdom". It was this that Jesus spoke in the Sermon, not as a general guideline for a pagan twentieth century pacifist to wallow in comfort and boundless joy. Jesus was a good moral teacher, certainly at least to his followers, but was he more than this?
To claim he was merely a good moral teacher is a foolish thing to say. Nobody could do or say the things that Jesus did, and not be God. He would in fact have to be who he said he was, or he is either a liar and/or a lunatic.
3. Jesus - fully human?
That Jesus was a man is not really disputed. The primary documents about Him, found in the Bible, says that he was born of a woman which in itself tells us that at least in a prenatal state he was nurtured and formed as any other male baby was and is. His genealogical line is given and He grew into maturity as any young Jewish boy did. With his humanity, he exhibited normal human emotions such as love, weeping, sadness, anger and anguish. Jesus ate and drank. He had a body and a soul. Jesus grew tired, he slept & perspired. Jesus died just as all mortal people do. Religiously, he worshipped as a Jew. Not only these facts, but the 4 ‘biographies' or gospels written about him acknowledge his humanity. He was human in every way that we are - physically, mentally and emotionally.
The only exception to this, is that he was sinless, and yet we must ask could Jesus have sinned? Yes he was tempted just as we are, but could Jesus really have succumbed to temptation? We must conclude that while he could have sinned, it was certain he would not and did not.
But why did Jesus need to fully human? Firstly, so Jesus death could appease God's anger with us. Secondly so that Jesus can empathize and pray for us. Thirdly, Jesus exhibited true and perfect humanity. Fourthly, due to his perfect humanity, Jesus is to be our example to follow. Fifthly, true human nature is good. Lastly, while God is both above and beyond, He is not so far removed from us, that He cannot interact with his creation.
4. Jesus - fully God?
This is what we celebrate at Christmas. One of the church father's, Anselm, wrote that God's salvation plan for humans involved triumphant victory over sin, death and the grave. However no person could be found that was eligible or capable to do this. Because of this, God stepped into the human history, so that this victory could be achieved. This God-man would be fully human, so as to live every feature of humanity, including suffering and death. This God-man would also need to remain fully God, so as to defeat sin, death and the grave. Jesus, being sinless, was this God-man, consisting as he did of two complete natures, the God nature and the human nature.
How is it possible, you may well ask. If you take a pint of milk, and you pour the milk into a milk jug, the milk remains milk, although it is now in another container. In the same way, God inhabited a human body, thereby still being God, but also being human.
Throughout the Bible, Jesus is acknowledged as God. The apostle John expressly calls Jesus, the Word or God. Later on in his life, John expressly stated that Jesus was "the true God and eternal life". Jesus himself claimed equality with God and when He stated "your sins are forgiven", some of the Jewish rulers attributed this as a God alone thing and thereby accused Him, at least in their minds, of blasphemy against God! During the questioning when He was on trial for blasphemy, again Jesus equated himself with being God.
That Jesus is both human and divine, is what makes Christianity unique amongst the world's religions. It is why Jesus' claims to be the only way to God are true and make sense, and it is why millions of people today worship Him and acknowledge Him as their Lord and their God.
Jeremiah in Lamentations 5v20-22 writes “Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.”
Living the Christian Life
When you became a Christian, you started an exciting journey in the Christian life. Success in the Christian life is not an accident, but rather it is a direct result of living in harmony with the basic principles of life set forth in the Bible. The Christian life is not a matter of expecting spiritual maturity to occur overnight. The Bible lays down standards and principles of living which we need to follow with God’s strength, if we are to continue living at peace with God, our fellow men, and ourselves. We need to know what God expects of us and what guidelines He has given us to achieve this quality of life. As we apply the principles and guidelines of Bible to our lives, we are transformed into the likeness of Christ – which is the journey we are on (Romans 8:28-29; 2 Corinthians 3v18).
Jesus said ‘I have come to bring them life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10). This is achieved as we allow Jesus Christ to live this life through us so that we start to think and respond like He does, to the people and circumstances around us. We need to learn how to see circumstances and people from God’s perspective, rather than reacting on the basis of feelings. When we respond to circumstances on the basis of our feelings that is when conflict, stress, tension and depression enter. When we respond to circumstances by looking from God’s perspective, it builds and shows a transformed character as we become more like Jesus.
When Doubt Sets In
However, it is a very rare person indeed who has not suffered some form of doubt, and asking questions similar to that of Jeremiah in the passage of Lamentations I read earlier. By doubt, I do not mean as in doubting God’s very existence, but rather doubting some aspect of the Christian life such as assurance of salvation, any of the other of God’s promises or doubting an attribute of God such as His innate sovereignty or His infinite goodness.
When your doubt arises concerning God’s assured promise of salvation of you; that usually occurs after engaging in wilful sin or having lost a spiritual battle. Doubting God’s sovereignty will usually occur after experiencing a great personal tragedy or of reading about an international disaster. When this occurs, it is important to have faith. Have faith in your knowledge of Scripture, and to trust in its authority as God’s Word. When we sin, not only do we forget who we are as His children, but we also doubt what God has said is true in the Bible. The Christian Disciple leans to believe and trust God regardless of circumstances however divergent the experience is or was.
Origins of Doubt
The originator of a lot of doubt in the life of a Christian Disciple is Satan, just as it was for Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3v1). Remember that Satan roams the earth like a devouring lion in order to stop Christian Disciples trusting in God and their testimony about God’s goodness (1 Peter 5v8).
Another source of doubt is the world we live in, with its own moral codes and perceived wisdom contrary to that of God expressed in the Bible. Whereas the Christian Disciple gains wisdom from God through having the indwelling Holy Spirit and reading the Bible, the world often has wisdom that is contrary. One only has to look at the perceived wisdom of atheistic scientific materialism countering the Christian arguments.
One final source of doubt, is the spiritual immaturity of the Christian Disciple. Doubting prayer works is often down to being double minded (James 1v8). Elsewhere Paul writes that doubt arises because of not knowing the basic doctrines of God (Ephesians 4v14). This source of doubt is only defeated through experience and having a maturing, disciplined life of obedience through prayer, studying the Bible and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform. In doing these things, the relationship between God and a Christian Disciple is nurtured and growing.
Overcoming Doubt
Confess – Confess your doubt as sin to God, and He will listen and cleanse you (1 John 1:9). If doubts persist, try talking to somebody whom you trust and confessed to them of your doubts, and they may well be able to help you (James 5v16).
Salvation – have assurance of salvation. Be assured and let your mind be controlled by the Holy Spirit, so that you are not led astray. Your salvation rests in nothing apart from God’s promises and Jesus’ righteousness! Test yourself as Paul exhorts in 2 Corinthians 13v5.
Righteousness - live a righteous life. Live the truth! When we started as a Christian Disciple, before God we were given the righteousness of Jesus! But that righteousness needs to be lived out in the lives of Christian Disciples. Living right helps overcome any doubts!
Faith – show total trust in God for your life. The faith we have is a defensive weapon against the mistruths the doubts that enter our minds. By maintaining our trust in God’s promises and God’s power, doubts are extinguished.
Bible - read and study God’s Word so as to know, understand and live truth. Our lives are to be controlled by truth as revealed in Bible. When we know truth so well, we can recognize the lies that we are told! The Word of God, the Bible, is there to be studied diligently so that by trusting in the Holy Spirit to lead and reveal it to us, we get to know God and His promises! We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus according to 2 Peter 3v18 and that is only achieved through studying the Bible! Then when we hear that nagging little voice that says “God didn’t say that”, we can say “Oh yes, He did!!”
Prayer – talk to God. This is how we are energized! Fighting doubt in our own power is useless! Ask Him to help you overcome your doubts, and He will help you! When we talk to God, we strengthen our relationship with Him! When we ask other Christian Disciples to pray for us, the Church unity is strengthened! When we see God answer prayer, our faith is matured and doubts are easily cast aside.
For more to think about please do ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.
Q1. Read Hebrews 6v1-9. What does this tell me of the link between maturity overcoming doubt?
Q2. Read 2 Corinthians 13v5. What comfort can I gain from knowing I have salvation as a means to overcome doubt?
Q3. Read 1 John 4v1-3. How can “testing the spirits” help me overcome any lingering doubts?
As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. Thank you.
Partake Module 6 - New Life - God’s Purposes & Will
"God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfil his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan." (Ephesians 1v9-11).
These verses tell us about the counsel of God's Will (Ephesians 1v11). God's Will is inextricably linked with the future and Things to Come. The future has us naturally wonder what are God God's Purposes and Will? What are His decrees and how is Jesus interacting with us now?
1. God's Purposes
What is the reason for creation? (Ephesians 1v3-11; Revelation 4v11). The glory of God - that God will be praised.
a) God's purposes and plans are in eternity (Psalm 33v11)
b) God's purposes originate in God's wisdom and holiness.
c) God is free to do anything in accordance with His character. He cannot do anything contrary to His character.
2. God's Will
Directive Will - Things God determines to come to pass. (Isaiah 14v24)
Permissive Will - Things God allows or permits to occur.
Sin and rebellion (not directive will). God is big enough to grant and cope with the free will He as given humanity.
Sin - God permits sin, but is not the author of sin. God made man with a free will, allowing for the possibility of sin. Although sin and corruption entered the world with great human loss, and the resulting death on the Cross: God thought freedom of will was worth giving to us. It is to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1)
Salvation - Election - God chooses individuals to fulfil His purposes (Romans 9). God chooses those who are/will be saved (John 15v16). These are the chosen ones or the elect. However, it is not His will that any should perish (2 Peter 3v9), it is His will all men should be saved (1 Timothy2v3-4).
We need to accept both these statements as equally and absolutely true. When we use words about God with a time element such as 'chose', 'elect', we need to use these in God's infinite time framework (timelessness), not in our human finite time framework.
Preservation - Doctrine of Continuance
God maintains the existence of all He has made. God has created but not left the universe while He watches from a distance. This thinking is erroneous because it stipulates that God rules only by natural laws and simply observes its progress. However, the Bible tells us that God is actively involved in sustaining creation. For without His involvement, the universe would cease to exist. He does this in two ways.
Continuous Creation - God maintains the universe by continual creation.
Concurrence - God co-operates with all subordinate powers. Men retain their natural powers and exercise them but without God's concurrence, no force or person can continue to exist or act. (Colossians 1v17; Acts 17v28; Hebrews 1v2-3)
Particular Names Of God reflect His Purposes and Will
Jehovah Jireh - (Genesis 22v14) - The Lord will provide
Jehovah Tsidkenu - (Jeremiah 33v16) - The Lord our righteousness
Jehovah Nissi - (Exodus 17) - The Lord is our banner / leader
Jehovah Shalom - (Judges 6v24) - The Lord is our peace
Jehovah Rapha - (Exodus 15) - The Lord is our healer
Jehovah Rohi (Psalm 23) - The Lord is our Shepherd
Sovereignty of God or His decrees.
The sovereignty of God dictates that God is in control at all times and nothing can occur outside of His control and will. God is not impersonal and He is involved with all creation. God loves His creation and cares for it. He has created all humans with the power to make decisions by them self. God wont deny our humanity when He deals with us. He speaks to our minds though the Bible and seeks us to respond to him with love and affection.
Sovereign decree: When God says "Eternal life is available for all. You may choose to accept or reject it. Those that accept it, I will call my children." Our reaction as Christian Disciples should be to trust and obey.
Conditional decree: When God says "I am willing to give you my opinion and help when you ask." Our reaction as Christian Disciples should be read the Bible, to pray and talk with God.
Natural decree: When God has created a lemon tree, that lemon tree won't produce potatoes." Our reaction as Christian Disciples should be to plan ahead knowing the way the natural laws work..
How does Jesus interact with Christian Disciples?
Jesus interacts with us by faith in four ways: caring, praying, coming and helping.
Jesus cares and is concerned for us We all go through storms and troubles. When we find ourselves in these situations, we have four assurances about Jesus as Christian Disciples.
By faith - He is praying for us Jesus Christ is making intercessions for Christian Disciples (Romans 8:34). He knew the disciples troubles (Mark 6:48), just as He knows our troubles now. He feels our cares and knows what we are going through (Hebrews 4:14-16).
By faith - He will come to us Ever felt like God is far away? Well you aren't alone! King David often felt God was far away and unconcerned. However he also knew God would ultimately rescue him. Paul, the great Apostle, also felt "burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life" 2 Cor 1:8 Jesus always comes to us through difficult times, although He may not come in the time we think He should come, because He knows when we need Him most.
By faith - He will help us to grow Take the example of when the disciples were in the storm and Jesus came to them walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33). The purpose of this incident was that Jesus would be leaving them soon, so they had to learn to trust in Him when He wasn't physically present. Perhaps this is what he was thinking of when he later wrote in his letter "for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers" (1 Peter 3v12). This all helped Peter to grow in the knowledge of the Lord
By faith, He will see us through
Jesus said "Come" and Peter went with Him and walked to the ship. The other disciples must have encouraged by this. Seeing Jesus' power they worshipped him. Whatever troubles we are undergoing are temporary, and Jesus, for His praise and glory, will see us through.
For more to think about please do ask your self the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.
Q1. Read Colossians 1v15-20. How can I deepen my relationship with Jesus knowing these things about Him?
Q2. Read Acts 17v24-28. How is God reaching the nations through me?
Q3. How does knowing about God's Purposes and Will affect my life as a Christian Disciple?
As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. Thank you.
Solomon writing in Proverbs 3v5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
The Prophet Isaiah speaking in Isaiah 6v8: “Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
Perhaps the most common question all Christian disciples ask at some point is: “How can I know God’s will for my life and His guidance?” There are at least three main parts about being guided, as a Christian disciple, into what is God’s will for them. These involve being controlled by the Holy Spirit, through counsel and circumstances and through making wise decisions. Of course being active in prayer and studying the Bible also play major roles, but we have already discussed those previously.
1. The Christian disciple is guided by being controlled by the Holy Spirit
So firstly, the Christian disciple is guided by being controlled by the Holy Spirit. Another way to say this is by submitting to the Spirit’s leading. Fundamental to being guided by the Spirit, is for the Christian disciple to be filled with the Spirit, or controlled by the Spirit. When the Spirit is quenched (1 Thessalonians 5v19) or grieved (Ephesians 4v30), then the Spirit no long has control of the Christian disciple. In order to allow the Spirit control, the Christian disciple needs to resubmit them self to God and do the following daily:
The Christian disciple confesses all known sin (1 John 1v9) and accepts the assurance of being forgiven for quenching or grieving the Holy Spirit.
The Christian disciple devotes themself to being a living sacrifice (Romans 12v1-2)
The Christian disciple enable the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin (Psalm 139v23-24)
The Christian disciple seeks the Holy Spirit’s divine power in order to serve Jesus Christ (Galatians 5v16; Ephesians 3v16)
Part of being controlled by the Holy Spirit, the Christian disciple is to yield to Him. Romans 6v13 and James 4v7 command this. In yielding to the Holy Spirit, the body (1 Corinthians 6v20) and mind (Romans 12v1-2) are given to Him sacrificially for the glory of Jesus Christ. Both the body and the mind are yielded, because the body activates what is conceived in the mind. It is a total dedication of all thoughts, plans and actions into God’s hands and the seeking of His divine wisdom.
2. The Christian disciple is guided through Counsel and Circumstances
Additionally to submitting to the Holy Spirit, other people and circumstances are also great helps in regards to guidance. Proverbs 24 reminds us that: “The wise are mightier than the strong,and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger. So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers. Wisdom is too lofty for fools. Among leaders at the city gate, they have nothing to say.”
We may not go to war, but seeking the advice of others in trying to understand God’s guidance, plays an important role in deciding God’s will in the life of the Christian disciple. When seeking the advice of others bear in mind that the person should be a reliable, godly and faithful servant of God. As Proverbs 25v19 says “Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot”. However, the Christian disciple must also be aware that even the godliest of people make mistakes, such as Nathan the prophet when he exhorted David to construct the temple (2 Samuel 7). In the end, each Christian disciple is responsible for his or her own actions and for knowing God’s guidance for themselves.
Then we have circumstances, which are a great learning tool. Circumstances surround us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, Christian disciples are to live above all circumstances, yet be aware of them. Through circumstances, God often discloses his perfect will. As Paul writes in Romans 8v28: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Some examples of where God’s will was discovered through circumstances include:
· Abraham being asked to substitute a ram caught in a thicket for his son, Isaac (Genesis 22).
· God arranging for Pharaoh’s daughter to be bathing in the River Nile as the baby Moses floated by (Exodus 2).
· Paul’s nephew over hearing a plot to murder Paul, and then reporting it to the authorities and therefore saving Paul’s life (Acts 23).
Now some may sceptically claim that these are purely coincidental, but if they are, and all others like these are, its an awful lot of coincidence!
3. The Christian disciple is guided by making wise Decisions:
A great way to make wise decisions is by endeavouring to maintain a right attitude, and asking yourself the following questions:
Have I prayed and meditating on God's Word regarding the decision?
Have I given every area of my life to Christ?
Am I prepared to be obedient to God? (Proverbs 3v5-7)
Am I willing to sacrifice my desires for God's Will?
Am I loving towards the other person?
It should not control me habitually (1 Corinthians 6v12)
Will it cause another person to sin/stumble? (1 Corinthians 8v9-13)
Does it build Christian character? (1 Corinthians 10v23)
Does it bring glory to God? (1 Corinthians 10v31)
Can I thank God for this activity - could Jesus accompany me?
If in doubt, throw it out! (Romans 14v22-23)·
Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5v22)
For more to think about please do read Isaiah 6. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.
Q1. Am I willing to do whatever God commands me to do?
Q2. Am I willing to be humble enough to ask other people’s advice?
Q3. Am I willing to sacrifice my desires so that God’s Will is achieved and His glory acclaimed?
As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake(at)hotmail.co.uk. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.
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Paul to the church in Rome, and in Chapter 4 he talks about Abraham’s journey into faith and of his faith. Now in Romans 4v22-25, Paul writes: “This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”
Today I want to take us briefly through Romans 5vv1-11 and show that as Christian disciples, we are blessed in seven ways because of Jesus Christ and the work He did on the cross.
1. (v1). “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”,
We have peace with God. God in His great mercy, has declared peace to all those who accept salvation through Jesus' death on the Cross. 'Mercy & truth are joined, righteousness and peace have kissed each other" Psalm 85:10
2. (v2a) “through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
We have access to God. When Jesus died, He tore the veil (Luke 23:45) and broke down the wall (Ephesians 2:14). As Christians, we have immediate access to God, through our faith in Jesus Christ. No other religion or faith can say that!
3. (v2b). “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”
We have a glorious hope. Peace with God takes care of the past - He no longer holds our sins against us. Access to God takes care of the present - we can come to Him whenever we desire. A glorious hope takes care of our future - all Christians will one day share in His glory.
4. (v3-4). “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
We develop Christian character. Being justified is no escape from the sufferings and trials in this world, but for the believer, suffering and trials are for our own good (Romans 8:28). We bring them on ourselves by our own foolishness and sin. We endure for the sake of the Gospel. Suffering develops our patience and perseverance; patience and perseverance grows our character, and through character we have a glorious hope.
5. (v5-8). “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
We have God's love within us. The love of God is poured into our hearts. We experience love, peace and joy. This inner experience of this love is through the Holy Spirit who sustains us as we go through sufferings. Faith, hope and love all combine to give those who love God, the patience to endure the trials of life.
6. (v9-10). “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
We have salvation from future wrath. He will keep on saving us, now that we love Him. We need strength to endure suffering and persecution, remembering that he who stands firm in faith, will in the end be saved.
7. (v11). We have reconciliation with God. We have fellowship with God, because we are reconciled with Him because of Jesus’ death on the cross. God in His mercy, sent Jesus as a peacemaker, that men may return to fellowship with Him. We are to rejoice in our present enjoyment of reconciliation with God (Romans 5:1b,10), and rejoice that all this comes through Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
The only way to be with God is through Jesus – that is the Gospel message of good news. Fellowship with God is only because of the cross of Jesus. There is no other way to having life in God but through the cross of Jesus Christ! Jesus’ death on the cross signifies that God was willing to suffer so that we may have life in him, if we choose it. That is why it is so important we believe that Jesus was both fully human and fully God! I could never in a million lifetimes be a Buddhist worshipping in a temple with an impassive statue of the Buddha, which is aloof from all suffering. The God we serve as Christian disciples knows suffering intimately. The cross is where God suffered and died. As Christian disciples we are blessed through the cross of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, we have these seven blessings: peace; access; hope; transformation; indwelling love; salvation and reconciliation!
What are we to do with these blessings? We are to tell others and a good way to do that is to live a life worthy of these blessings so that people who are not Christian, can ask the reason you have such hope! If you give them no reason to ask, they probably wont! These 7 blessings show how certain salvation is in and through Jesus Christ, for those who choose it. As Christian disciples we are blessed, and we are blessed to be a blessing to others!
For more to think about, please do read for yourself Romans 6:1-14 and ask yourself the following two questions. Why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend or two, so that you can discuss and pray over any issues together.
Q1 – What areas of my life have been transformed since I became a Christian disciple?
Q2 – What has happened in my life that will get people to ask me for the reason I have hope?
Q3 – Who can I pray for, so that opportunity will arise?
As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partakes(at)googlemail.co.uk. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Next time I hope to be talking more about the Christian Disciple and the new identity. Thank you.
Colossians 3vv1-4: If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things that are above, where Jesus is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Jesus, in God. When Jesus, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
About four years ago, I slipped into a coma as a consequence of a brain bleed on a Saturday evening. After that I had terrible memory problems for a while. If left on my own, I would forget things like eating lunch. I would forget to brush my teeth unless reminded strongly! Normal everyday things, I would simply forget to do!! That is the same for all Christian disciples and their spiritual life. If we listen carefully, the Holy Spirit is constantly reminding us of our status before God. He reminds us of our new identity as God’s children! Those four verses from Colossians that I read at the start tell us that as Christian disciples, we have a new identity, and Paul here give us five facts about that new identity.
I must add here that these five things are not hypothesis, symbolism or theory. They are existent facts about all Christian disciples. We are not marked as Christian disciples because we go to Church regularly, though it’s a good idea if we do. We are not marked as Christian disciples because we were baptized, though I hope that we are. We are marked as Christian disciples, not because of any outwardly visible mark, but because of these 5 facts. So what are these 5 facts?
1. We died with Jesus (3a). Jesus not only died for us, but we died with Him. Jesus not only died for sin, but also died unto sin to break its power. As Christian disciples we died with Jesus. Ergo, we can conquer our old sinful nature if we choose to. Our new identity is Jesus and we have died with Him.
2. We are raised with Jesus (1a).Just as we died with Jesus, we are also raised with Him. We are raised with Him and we rule with him, seated at the right hand of the Father. Your new identity is Jesus and you have been raised with Him.
3. We live with Jesus (4a). As Christian disciples, Jesus is our life and our eternal life, is Jesus. We are dead to sin, yet alive to Jesus. Our new identity is Jesus and we live with Him.
4. We are hidden with Jesus (3b).For those of you who like a good mystery, here is one for you. We are hidden with Him!! We no longer belong to this world, but we belong to Jesus. We are hidden with Him in heaven. That is not to say we are to neglect our earthly duties and responsibilities, but rather that our motives and strengths are to come from Jesus. Our new identity is Jesus and we are hidden with Him.
5. We will be glorified with Jesus (4b).When Jesus comes again, we will see Him face to face, and He will take us home. So, we will not be hidden with Jesus perpetually because when Jesus is revealed in glory, we too shall be revealed in glory. We already have in part some of this glory, but one day the full extent of this glorification will be revealed.
These five events... These five facts cover all three tenses in time - past, present and future... In the past, we died and were raised with Jesus. In the present, we live with Jesus and we are hidden with Him. In the future, when He comes again, we will be glorified with Him. His death covered all sins – past, present and future sins.
Because we share in Jesus’ death, resurrection and future glorification, we are to stop sinning and to stop thinking about ways in which to sin. Our minds are to be with Jesus, focusing on ways in which to serve Him. Don’t sin is the message, and yet we continue to do so…
Every time we succumb to temptation and commit sin, we forget who we are in Christ. I forget my new identity as a child of the Living God. You forget that you have died and been raised with Jesus. You forget that you live in Him and that you are hidden in Him. I forget that one day He is coming again and that I, as his disciple will be glorified with Him. So when faced with temptation, tell your old nature that it is dead and that you have a new nature which you seek to serve and a new Master to obey! Talk to yourself – it’s a sign of maturity!!
For more to think about please do read for your self, Colossians 3vv1-16. Ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.
Q1 – What makes me forget who I am as a Christian disciple?
Q2 – What are the things Paul lists as things all Christian disciples should do in verses 12-16
Q3 – What practical steps can you take to put them into action?
As ever, if you have any comments to make on this, please do contact me at partake@hotmail.co.uk. I would love to hear from you and if these are making any difference at all to your continual Christian discipleship! Thank you.
