Simple as A. B. C. and Peh

In the rich tapestry of the Eastern Orthodox Church tradition, it is believed that King David, in his wisdom, utilised Psalm 119 to impart not only the knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet to his son Solomon but also to guide him in understanding the profound "alphabet of the spiritual life."

Within the section marked by the Hebrew letter 'Pe' or 'Peh', which symbolises the mouth, we find a truly captivating message that David sought to instil in his young son. The verses in question, Psalm 119:130-131, beautifully convey the essence of David's teaching:

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant because I long for your commandments."

These words resonate with profound truth and carry a timeless message that reaches deep into the depths of our souls. They remind us of the transformative power held within the sacred scriptures and the profound impact they can have on our lives.

David recognised that the unfolding of God's words spoken from the divine mouth, as we delve into the scriptures with open hearts and minds, brings illumination and clarity. Through the divine wisdom contained within these words, understanding blossoms, enlightening even the simplest of minds.

The psalmist's declaration, "I open my mouth and pant," beautifully captures the essence of a soul thirsty for the commandments of the Lord. It symbolises an intense longing, a burning desire to drink deeply from the wellspring of divine guidance and instruction. It signifies an insatiable hunger for the wisdom and truth found within God's word.

In these verses, we find an invitation to immerse ourselves in the teachings of Scripture, to seek understanding, and to thirst after the commandments of the Lord. They encourage us to open our hearts and minds, ready to receive the light that emanates from God's word, illuminating our path and guiding us in the ways of righteousness.

As we reflect upon these profound words, taking time to quiet our mouths and hearts, let us recognise the immense value of God's Word in our lives. Let us approach the unfolding of God's words with anticipation and longing, knowing that through them, we can gain wisdom, understanding, and the transformative power to live according to God's divine purpose.

May the spirit of King David's teaching resonate within us, igniting a hunger for God's commandments and a thirst for the life-giving truths found within His word. As we open our mouths in awe and anticipation, may our souls be nourished, our minds enlightened, and our lives transformed by the radiant light of God's unfailing love.

Each day my mouth shapes at least 7000 words with so many wasted, and forgotten as soon as they are uttered. But we are reminded by the prophet Isaiah that God never wastes a word and each one accomplishes its purpose.

'For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.' - Isaiah 55:10-11

The Holy Spirit at work in Acts 4

Dr Luke's history of the birth and growth of the early church is named "The Acts of the Apostles" may well be better titled the Acts of the Holy Spirit. As like us those early followers of Jesus were totally reliant on the Holy Spirit in everything they did.

The Holy Spirit at work in Acts 4

• When we proclaim Jesus the Holy Spirit does the rest v4
• The Holy Spirit arranges incredible opportunities for us to tell others about Jesus. v5-6
• When telling others about Jesus it's a good thing to be "filled with the Holy Spirit". v8
• The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say when telling others about Jesus. v8-12
• The Holy Spirit gives us boldness. v13
• The Holy Spirit specialises in using unlikely people. v13
• The Holy Spirit silences even the most sceptical. v14
• The Holy Spirit at work is a powerful sign to unbelievers. v16
• The Holy Spirit compels us to tell others about Jesus. v20
• The Holy Spirit can work a miracle in an instant even if we have been waiting 40 years. v22
• It was the Holy Spirit speaking through David that wrote the Psalms. v25
• Empowered by the Holy Spirit David, prophecied about the victory of Jesus. v25-26
• The Holy Spirit heals and performs "signs & wonders".
• The work of the Holy Spirit can literally share the ground under your feet. v31
• An outcome of being filled with the Holy Spirit is boldly telling others about Jesus. v31
• The Holy Spirit gives the power to share your own "Jesus" story. v33
• The Holy Spirit gives us the favour of God. v33
• The Holy Spirit at work in us destroys selfishness and inspires incredible generosity. v34-37

The Holy Spirit at Work - Acts 3

Dr Luke's history of the birth and growth of the early church is named "The Acts of the Apostles" may well be better titled the Acts of the Holy Spirit. As like us those early followers of Jesus were totally reliant on the Holy Spirit in everything they did.

Acts 3

• The Holy Spirit gives us gifts to give away v6
• The Holy Spirit can instantly make limbs that have never been used strong enough to jump v7
• The Holy Spirit can take a lifetime of hurt into pure joy v8
• The Holy Spirit in action fills even those who are not followers of Jesus with "wonder and amazement". v9
• The Holy Spirit at work often draws a crowd v11
• When seeing the Holy Spirit work through your life often people can reach the wrong conclusion and think you have superpowers. v12
• The Holy Spirit gives us the words to say to the crowd that points back to Jesus. v13 - 16
• The Holy Spirit empowered the Old Testament prophets to talk about the coming of Jesus. v21

The Holy Spirit at Work - Acts 2

Dr Luke's history of the birth and growth of the early church is named "The Acts of the Apostles" may well be better titled the Acts of the Holy Spirit. As like us those early followers of Jesus were totally reliant on the Holy Spirit in everything they did.

Acts 2

• The presence of the Holy Spirit can sound like "mighty rushing wind" v2
• The presence of the Holy Spirit may be seen on occasions. This time as fire. v3
• Experiencing the Holy Spirit is often likened to being "filled". The greek word for filled can also be translated "to be under full influence". v4
• The Holy Spirit can give someone the ability to speak a language they have never learned. v4
• The Holy Spirit draws people to God v6
• One of the reasons the Holy Spirit gives the supernatural ability to speak in another language is that people who speak that language can here the Gospel. v6
• The Holy Spirit tells people about "the mighty works of God". v11
• Being filled with the Holy Spirit can be so overwhelming it can look like a person is drunk! v13
• The Holy Spirit was promised in the Old Testament. On this occasion, the prophet Joel is quoted by Peter. v16
• The Holy Spirit is for every believer not a select few. v17
• A sign of the Holy Spirit is prophesy v17
• A sign of the Holy Spirit is visions v17
• A sign of the Holy Spirit is dreams v17
• The Holy Spirit fills both male and female v18
• The Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin. v37
• Receiving the Holy Spirit is an integral part of salvation. v38
• The Holy Spirit is for every believer from the day of Pentecost onwards. v39
• The work of the Holy Spirit brings "awe" v43
• Signs of the Holy Spirit are "many wonders and signs" v43

Can you add any more?

Acts 3 tomorrow

Wait for the gentle whisper

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was NOT in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was NOT in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was NOT in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13

Wait for the gentle whisper.....that’s when you know God has arrived.

Sweeter than honey

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭19:7-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

Our relationship with the Holy Spirit breathed Word of God for the follower of Christ is not a routine exchange of information but a supernatural ecstatic experience that touches our whole being.

• It revives the soul
• It enlightens the eyes
• It emparts wisdom
• It enlivens the heart
• It captures our desires
• It enriches our lives

John Piper sums it up like this:

“God is wiser than any wise writer. God is more caring than any counselor. God is more creative than any artist. It simply stands to reason that what God says will be more useful to us than what anyone else in the universe has to say. Not to sit at his feet and soak our minds with his wisdom is sheer craziness.”

Let’s stop being crazy and let God’s, perfect, sure, wise, right, pure, true, righteous, fine, sweet & rewarding Word do it’s supernatural work in our lives.

Steadfast Hope

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. - ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 

The Amplified version adds, that...we might have hope...and overflow with confidence in His promises!

Or to put it another way through the encouragement of scripture we discover the steadfast love of our God towards us, placing hope in our hearts to endure any and every situation.

We have a confidence that, “ALL the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies”. - Psalm 25:10

To us, who are all too familiar with wavering love and disloyalty, in ourselves and others, our cynicism shouts it can not be so. However in reading scripture God takes on our cynicism head on and defeats it time and time again, drawing us closer and whispering to us “steadfast love”.

In 150 songs recorded in the Psalms, many of which were songs of lament by individuals walking a difficult path, God’s steadfast love is mentioned 132 times. 

As we we walk through 2018 we do not know where the path will take us, but we do know that as we are encouraged by scripture, that it will be characterised by steadfast love, faithfulness & hope.

Draw me nearer!

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, 

By the pow’r of grace divine; 

Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, 

And my will be lost in Thine.

- Frances J Crosby

Day long Meditation

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:97‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Struggling with the concept of meditation I once asked a friend to help me understand what it was and how I could make it part of my life.

Do you worry, my friend asked. Yes, I realise I’m not supposed to but I do. Probing a little further he asked, what do you do when you worry, give me an example.

It usually is worst at night when I’m not as busy and start to relax, then my mind starts to wonder. I think, my boss called me today, he wants to see me tomorrow. I wonder what that’s about? I’ve been struggling a little at work lately maybe he’s not happy with my performance & he wants to talk to ma about it. But, I wonder, what will happen if I can’t improve? I guess he will let me go. At my age I’m going to struggle to get another job. If I can’t get another job I won’t be able to pay the mortgage, if I can’t pay the mortgage I will be homeless. My wife and family will think I’m a failure and will leave me. So now I find myself penniless, alone and on the street. All that from a phone call from my boss to set up a meeting.

My friend that’s right. You use a God given attribute to analyse a situation but you use it in a negative way. You think what’s the worst thing that can happen in this situation and you start the downward spiral of worry and despair. He said meditation is using the exact same ability but using it for good.

So meditating on God’s Word is taking time to muse over it and examine it from many different angles and asking it what does this mean for me in my life. Starting an upward spiral of assurance in our lives and circumstances.

If God’s Word says ___________ then it means __________ for me.

Joel Beeke lists at least 20 benefits of meditation on scripture in his essay, The Puritan Practice of Meditation :

• Meditation helps us focus on the Triune God, to love and to enjoy Him in all His persons (1 John 4:8)—intellectually, spiritually, aesthetically. 
• Meditation helps increase knowledge of sacred truth. It “takes the veil from the face of truth” (Prov. 4:2). 
• Meditation is the “nurse of wisdom,” for it promotes the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:8). 
• Meditation enlarges our faith by helping us to trust the God of promises in all our spiritual troubles and the God of providence in all our outward troubles. 
• Meditation augments one’s affections. Watson called meditation “the bellows of the affections.” He said, “Meditation hatcheth good affections, as the hen her young ones by sitting on them; we light affection at this fire of meditation” (Ps. 39:3). 
• Meditation fosters repentance and reformation of life (Ps. 119:59; Ez. 36:31). 
• Meditation is a great friend to memory. 
• Meditation helps us view worship as a discipline to be cultivated. It makes us prefer God’s house to our own. 
• Meditation transfuses Scripture through the texture of the soul. 
• Meditation is a great aid to prayer (Ps. 5:1). It tunes the instrument of prayer before prayer. 
• Meditation helps us to hear and read the Word with real benefit. It makes the Word “full of life and energy to our souls.” William Bates wrote, “Hearing the word is like ingestion, and when we meditate upon the word that is digestion; and this digestion of the word by meditation produceth warm affections, zealous resolutions, and holy actions.” 
• Meditation on the sacraments helps our “graces to be better and stronger.” It helps faith, hope, love, humility, and numerous spiritual comforts thrive in the soul. 
• Meditation stresses the heinousness of sin. It “musters up all weapons, and gathers all forces of arguments for to presse our sins, and lay them heavy upon the heart,” wrote Fenner. Thomas Hooker said, It is a “strong antidote against sin” and “a cure of covetousness.” 
• Meditation enables us to “discharge religious duties, because it conveys to the soul the lively sense and feeling of God’s goodness; so the soul is encouraged to duty.” 
• Meditation helps prevent vain and sinful thoughts (Jer. 4:14; Matt. 12:35). It helps wean us from this present evil age. 
• Meditation provides inner resources on which to draw (Ps. 77:10-12), including direction for daily life (Prov. 6:21-22). 
• Meditation helps us persevere in faith; it keeps our hearts “savoury and spiritual in the midst of all our outward and worldly employments,” wrote William Bridge. Meditation is a mighty weapon to ward off Satan and temptation (Ps. 119:11,15; 1 John 2:14). 
• Meditation provides relief in afflictions (Is. 49:15-17; Heb. 12:5). 
• Meditation helps us benefit others with our spiritual fellowship and counsel (Ps. 66:16; 77:12; 145:7). 
• Meditation promotes gratitude for all the blessings showered upon us by God through His Son. Meditation glorifies God (Ps. 49:3).

In a day when our senses are bombarded by messages from the moment we get up till we retreat to our beds, when many of us are uncomfortable with silence, there is a continual need for us to adopt a ritual of pause, dwell and ruminate on scripture. By doing this we allow the scripture to quiet our hearts and minds and grow us in strength and faith. 

The result of this meditation for the Psalmist was a deep genuine love for God’s Word which seeps out of the pores of each verse in his 119th song.

Gaining Wisdom

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them. If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” - ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

King David placed enormous value in knowing God’s wisdom over his own knowledge. We are living in an age where we are on information overload. A study in 2011 said:

“When you think that 100 years ago people were lucky to read the equivalent of 50 books in a lifetime but now most children have watched a couple of hundred movies.”

The researchers went on to say that there was now “295 exabytes of data floating around the world – that's 29,500,000,000,000,000,000,000 pieces of information. While this is enormous – 315 times the number of grains of sand on Earth – Dr Hilbert points out it is still less than one per cent of the information that is stored in the DNA of a single human being.”

So all the information in the world equates to an infinitesimally small amount compared with that of the creator! So it’s pretty clear where we should be going for our understanding of life and the universe. God the Holy Spirit has given us access to some of his wisdom through the Bible. Here is how John Piper talks about scripture.

“The Holy Spirit is the divine author of all Scripture. If this doctrine is true — and it is — then the implications are so profound and far-reaching that every part of our lives should be affected. Because Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture: 

It is true (Psalm 119:142) 

It is altogether reliable (Hebrews 6:18)

It is powerful, working its purpose in our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

It is not returning empty to the One who sent it (Isaiah 55:10–11)

It is pure, like silver refined in a furnace seven times (Psalm 12:6)

It is sanctifying (John 17:17)

It gives life (Psalm 119:37, 50, 93, 107; John 6:63; Matthew 4:4)

It makes wise (Psalm 19:7; 119:99–100)

It gives joy (Psalm 19:8; 119:16, 92, 111, 143, 174)

It promises great reward (Psalm 19:11)

It gives strength to the weak (Psalm 119:28)

It comfort to the distraught (Psalm 119:76)

It gives guidance to the perplexed (Psalm 119:105)

It reveals salvation to the lost (Psalm 119:155; 2 Timothy 3:15)

The wisdom of God in Scripture is inexhaustible.”

Don’t just flirt with God’s Word, marry it!

On this day of resolutions and firsts, there can be no better decision to develop our relationship with the Word of God. I love the phrase that John Piper uses in a sermon back in 1982.

Satan devotes himself 168 hours a week trying to deceive you and fill your mind with junk. 

He has seen to it that you are surrounded almost entirely by a Christless culture whose mood, and entertainment, and advertising, and recreation, and politics are shot through with lies about what you should feel and think and do. Do you think that in this atmosphere you can maintain a vigorous, powerful, free, renewed mind with a ten-minute glance at God’s book once a day? 

The reason there are church people who are basically secular like everyone else except with a religious veneer is that they devote 99% of their time to absorbing the trajectories of the world and 1% of their time to absorbing the trajectories of God’s word. 

 If you want to bring forth the will of God in your life like a mother brings forth a child, you must marry the Bible. For some of you, it is a stranger that you greet on the way to work but never have over for a relaxed evening of conversation, and seldom invite along to spend significant time with you on vacation. Do not, then, be surprised if you are ill-equipped to read the trajectories of God’s will for your own life.

John Piper (“He Will Send His Angel Before You”)

If nothing else this year determine to immerse yourselves in The Bible this year. It will solve an identity crisis far more effectively and finally that any diet or workout programme. Here are 5 things you can do to develop your relationship with God's Word.

Read it, Listen to it, Memorise it, Study it and most of all Apply it!

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God says Come & See

In his book written in 1883 titled Holiness, J C Ryle, marvels in amazement at the promises of God contained in His Word.

God is continually holding out inducements to man to listen to Him, obey Him & serve Him… He has shown his perfect knowledge of human nature, by spreading over the Book a perfect wealth of promises, suitable to every kind of experience and every condition in life…. Their name is legion. The subject is almost inexhaustible. There is hardly a step in a man’s life, from childhood to old age, hardly any position a man can be placed, for which the Bible has not held out encouragement to everyone who desires to do right in the sight of God. There are “shalls” and “wills” in God’s treasury for every condition. About God’s infinite mercy and compassion, - about His readiness to receive all who repent and believe, - about His willingness to forgive, pardon and absolve the chief of sinners, - about the encouragements to pray, and hear the gospel, and draw near to the throne of grace, - about strength for duty, comfort in trouble, guidance in perplexity, help in sickness, consolation in death, support under bereavement, happiness beyond the grave, reward in glory, - about all these things there is an abundant supply of promises in the Word. No one can form an idea of its abundance unless he carefully searches the scriptures, keeping the subject steadily in view. If any one doubts it, I can only say, “Come and see.”

My passion for you and me is that we will discover first hand the great promises God has in the treasury of His Word just for you. Pastor John Piper said in his book Future Grace:

Raking is easy, but all you get is leaves; digging is hard, but you might find diamonds.

Plan to dig into God’s Word this next year. Prepare today and start tomorrow!

Download the Bible App to your device and choose one of the many reading plans they have available.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.  – 2 Timothy 2:15

7 months of silence

This morning on my walk I listened to my friend Roger Blackmore preach a message called Jesus does all things well. The phrase comes from Mark 7:37

“And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

One observation Roger made really stood out to me. Earlier in the chapter we read of Jesus delivering a young girl of a demon. Then it says he traveled through some places and healed a deaf man. The way it flows in Marks gospel it sounds like he performed a miracle, walked down the road and performed a miracle. Life with Jesus was just one spiritual high followed by another.

Roger made the point that the journey described in v 31 could have taken up to 7 months on foot. Seven months between one spiritual high and another. But in that time Jesus was with his chosen companions preparing them for the mission.

Seven months of silence does not mean God is not working.

Taste driven effort

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. - 2 Peter 1:3-6

The Psalmist said: "Taste and see that the Lord is Good". Peter makes it clear that it is God that make it possible for us to taste God.

• It is His divine power, not our power that opened the door to this experience.
• It is Him that called us when we were not listening or looking for Him.
• Allowing us to become partakers of the divine, to taste and see that God is great.

Effort and works are very much part of this grace laden life that we have been called into. But our effort flows out of us being partakers of the divine, they don't lead to a place where we are worthy of the divine.

For this very reason, make every effort 

Because we have experience His divine power, because we have been called, because we have tasted the divine and it was glorious, our taste buds are alive and we want more...

The Chosen Ones

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. - 1 Peter 2:9-10 (The Message)

Peter makes it quite clear to the early believers, facing huge trials and tests, that they hadn't just stumbled into this new life in some accident. But that they had been divinely chosen. They were:

Chosen to Worship

When Luther taught of the priesthood of all believers, he was maintained that the "plowboy" and the "milkmaid" did priestly work. Moreover their plowing and milking was priestly work. Access to enter the presence of God was not restricted to a select few specialists in a sacred place. Worship was now an everyday, anywhere experience where the division between secular and sacred had disappeared.

Chosen to be holy 

The rituals that the priests of the Old Testament had to go through to be accepted before God on the day of atonement were immense. Even then they entered God's presence with fear and a rope tied round there ankle in case they had to be pulled out dead.

Now all this is replaced. The atoning altar is replaced by Jesus Christ and his shed blood. Fear has been replaced by gratitude as we now stand holy in God's presence, not because of our rituals or righteous acts, but because Jesus is Holy then I am holy.

Chosen to witness

Now we have the opportunity to tell others about the transformational difference God has brought about in our lives through the perfect work of Jesus. From a "nothing to a something" from "nobody to a somebody and from "rejected to accepted".

Just another brick in the wall

Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. - 1 Peter 2:5 (message)

Before we meet Christ we are focused on building a life. After we meet Christ, our life is consumed with building a Christ centred sanctuary for those searching for life.

The transformation that has taken place, the hope that has been birthed, the gratitude the overflows, compels us to abandon our carefully crafted plans and find overwhelming fulfilment and purpose in a new plan. God's plan!

That plan is to show up, bowed in worship, adoration and thankfulness before our deliverer and say "not my will but yours."

I'm ready to take my place, build me into your glorious kingdom, I am ready to be a simple brick in your glorious creation, it doesn't matter where just include me. Let me be an other brick in the wall.

Satisfied with a Taste?

You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God. - 1 Peter 2:2-3 (Message)

The dictionary defines taste as:

the sensation of flavour perceived in the mouth and throat on contact with a substance.

No nothing can compare with the taste of God in our lives. The Psalmist wrote a song with the great line "Taste and see that the Lord is Good." We were not sure what to expect. We had heard other people tell us how incredible it was but as we had never tasted for ourselves before we really didn't know. So nervously we took the plunge not sure if the sensation of the taste would make us gag or smile. Only to find out it was the most delicate, sweetest taste that we had ever found.

But so many of us then revert to the taster menu of the essence of God. Happy every now and then to taste bite size samplers served to us as we dip into the presence of God rather than sit down for a feast at his banqueting table.

A taste was never meant to be the end of the journey but the prelude to show us how more we need. We cannot grow as healthy followers of Christ with a mere taste.

Its time to tuck into the feast - God's Word.

The key to growth as a Christian is savouring the supremacy of God in every moment and every situation in our lives not just the odd ecstatic spiritual moment.

Obedience

God the Father has his eye on each of you, and has determined by the work of the Spirit to keep you obedient through the sacrifice of Jesus. May everything good from God be yours! - 1 Peter 1:2 (Message)

For so long I lived like my continued salvation was determined by the extent of my efforts to be obedient to God's commands.

It felt like God had opened the door to a relationship that I had been looking for all my life but I couldn't maintain the level of obedience that was required to maintain my presence. I became a miserable follower of Jesus. Continually failing at being who I thought I should be.

Then one day I read that I had a partner in this struggle and this partner had ALREADY DETERMINED my obedience. This partner was God himself through the Holy Spirit.

Being brought up in a Pentecostal church, I'd heard much about the Holy Spirit. He had gifts of miraculous power, which pointed people to God. I know that he could give me the ability to speak in an unknown language but I had missed the fundamental point, the Holy Spirit was now my partner in my salvation and sanctification. The door had be cracked open and instead of holding on to the lintels by my fingernails the Holy Spirit took a firm grasp of my had and sat with me at the table. Now I strive still, but not through fear of expulsion, but through a deep love of being accepted as I am & the continual presence of a God who always wants my best.

And he has already DETERMINED MY OBEDIENCE not because of my ability or will power but through the SACRIFICE OF JESUS. Who am I to argue with Him?

Determined obedience looks very different when your obedience has been determined!

My Food

This week at HTB Leadership Conference I heard Bobbie Cheema, Senior Treasury Counsel, talk about her faith with Nicky Gumbel.

Bobbie was introduced to the Gospel when she visited a tent mission which was being held in a park in Leeds where riots had broken out some years before.

It is so interesting to me the immense variety of ways that Jesus breaks into peoples lives. In this case he uses a holiday club in a tent mission, faithfully ran by people that probably none of have ever heard of to change the course of a young Sikh girls life.

On becoming a Christian, Bobbie, was not allowed to attend Church so as a brand new Christian, the Bible became her food.

It reminded me again that we often value God's Word in the way that we should. We read, listen & watch so much information but only his Word gives us a true revelation that will build our lives on a secure foundation.

Here are a few other things that I noted down from her talk.
If we are not ambitious as Christians (in the right way, in fear and trembling) then we are selling our God short.

Ambition & humility not mutually exclusive.

The three most important things in leadership: Clarity of Thought, Honouring Others and Courage & Fearlessness.

Always HONOUR those you lead, lift them up, mentor and lay down your life for them.

I go into court at the Old Bailey early each day & pray. I say "Here I am, come on, what are we going to do today"

Mission means radical risk

“You know that from day one of my arrival in Asia I was with you totally—laying my life on the line, serving the Master no matter what, putting up with no end of scheming by Jews who wanted to do me in.....there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I’m completely in the dark about what will happen when I get there. I do know that it won’t be any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead. But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God. - Acts 20:17-24

The message of radical risk and sacrifice seems to be some what missing in the UK church. We are obsessed with success rather than sacrifice, power over servanthood. If things are not going well for you then somehow you are doing something wrong, out of God’s will or a failure.

Paul had previously spent time in Ephesus and while there wrote to the church at Corinth describing his time:

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. -2 Cor 1:8-10

I'm 51 now. I left Bible College 30 years ago starry eyed and ready to take the world for Jesus. I set off to plant a church sent out from MKCC and failed miserably. In the 30 years since what I do know is that I've learned far more in the defeats and difficult times than I have in the easy and successful times.

Radical risk forces us to rely on God and that’s a good place to be. It's easy to serve god when everything is rosy, when the crowd is growing, people are being saved, baptisms are abounding & offerings are up, but its also easy to trust in yourself during that time.

Radical risk with radical sacrifice can often put us in a place where everything can be lost even life its self. At that point we have no other option but to rely on God but that is always the best option we have.

• The Miletus Farewell
• Mission means relational leadership

Enter the Silence

28-30 When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The “worst” is never the worst. 31-33 Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense. - Lam 3:28-30 (Message)

I don't do silence very well.
I walk in the the house and switch on the TV.
I sit in the car and switch on the radio.
I work at my computer and iTunes is open.
Even when its quiet it's not.
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Email & RSS feeds keep the unheard noise going.

So advice like.. Enter the silence....bow....don't talk....don't ask....wait, don't come easy. But God is saying that that is the pathway to hope in trouble. The light in the darkness.

Silence opens the way for me to  listen.
Bowing says God is in charge not me.
Not asking against every instinct in my body, means I am trusting.

Trusting the one that will never betray, never let down, never lie, never use you and never desert you no matter how bad it gets.

Silence is not weakness and not to be feared it is the doorway to... Stockpiles of His love!