The Earth

Welcome to my sixth and final blog on Creation! Pics taken by me during lockdown, with suitable words from the Maker’s manual. Enjoy!

Following this blog, I will be returning to the A-Z of the Kingdom of God series, picking up at G.

I will also be starting a new blog series in the coming weeks – on apologetics (equipping you with answers to difficult questions about the Christian faith).

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1.1

He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved.

Psalm 104.5

All things were made through him [Jesus], and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1.3

The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

Psalm 93.1

It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in.

Isaiah 40.22

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 30.21

My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.

Isaiah 48.13

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Romans 1.20

The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Psalm 33.5

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Genesis 1.31

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.”

Job 38.4

You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.

Nehemiah 9.6

For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God.

2 Peter 3.5

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.”

Psalm 96.10

Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

Psalm 148.4

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty.

Psalm 104.1

Let the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth.

1 chronicles 16.33

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

Deuteronomy 10.14

And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Hebrews 1.10

Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Jeremiah 32.17

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Colossians 1.16

The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.

Psalm 89.11

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?

Isaiah 66.1

…the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11.9

Who builds his upper chambers in the heavens and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out upon the surface of the earth— the Lord is his name.

Amos 9.6

God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1.10

The Plants & Trees

Welcome to the fifth of my blogs on Creation. Pics taken by me mainly during lockdown, accompanied by words from the Maker’s manual. Enjoy! Sixth and final blog of this series following shortly…

 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth:

Psalm 104.14

The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1.12

…every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Matthew 7.17-20

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

1 Corinthians 3.6,7

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

2 Corinthians 9.6

Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Mark 10.28-31

…who delights in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1.2,3

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55.12

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Galatians 6.8

They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.

Isaiah 44.4

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Matthew 6.28-30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

Proverbs 11.30

Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.

Proverbs 3.18

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Genesis 1.29

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him…A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.

Matthew 12.18ff, quoting Isaiah 42 prophesy about Jesus

The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful

Mark 4.14,15,19

You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Matthew 7.16

Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Luke 12.27,28

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

Song of Songs 2.12

 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children

Psalm 103.15-17

For as the soil makes the young plant come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Isaiah 61.11

The Creatures

Welcome to my fourth blog on creation, a combination of images from my trusty phone camera and words from the Maker’s manual. Hope you enjoy it!

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.”

Genesis 1.20

(Jesus)…do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 

Matthew 6.25-27

Who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’

Job 35.11

The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

Proverbs 12.10

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle … and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so.

Genesis 1.24

And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

Matthew 8.20

Some trust in… horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 20.7

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: …creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so.

Genesis 1.24

Horses have bits and bridles in their mouths so that we can control and guide their large body. And so the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power.

James 3.3,5

What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

Psalm 8.4-8

All the nations will be gathered in [God’s] presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

Matthew 25.32ff

After (the younger son) had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he  he got up and went to his father… while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. …the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Luke 15

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53.6

For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills

Psalm 50.10

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15.3-7

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3.7,8

…it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Hebrews 10.4,10

Then [the King] will say to those on his left (goats), ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

Matthew 25.41-43

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Proverbs 12.10

So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals.

Genesis 2.19,20

The Waters

Welcome to the third of my blogs on Creation – with a focus on water this time. As before, I have taken my pics using a simple phone camera and again they are accompanied by quotes from the Creator’s handbook. Enjoy!

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

John 7.38

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 12.3

But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

John 4.14

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

Isaiah 44.3

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Psalm 23.2

He will dwell on the heights,
His refuge will be the impregnable rock;
His bread will be given him,
His water will be sure.

Isaiah 33.16

Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. And so the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power!

James 3.4-5

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2.14

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

James 3.10-11

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Isaiah 43.2

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Isaiah 55.1

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Proverbs 18.4

And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock

Matthew 7.25

Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm…

Isaiah 32.1-2

Let the sea roar and all it contains,
The world and those who dwell in it.

Psalm 98.7

The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95.5

More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.

Psalm 93.4

And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.

Genesis 1.6-7

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Amos 5.24

The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.

Psalm 93.3

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22.1-2

And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Acts 8.36-38

And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.

Ezekiel 47.9

He sends forth springs in the valleys;
They flow between the mountains;
They give drink to every beast of the field;
The wild donkeys quench their thirst.

Psalm 104.10-11

You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.

Psalm 65.9

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1.3

You find me quiet pools to drink from.

Psalm 23.2

The Skies

Welcome to the second in this series of blogs on Creation, with photos taken by me simply with a phone camera and (hopefully) an eye for a half decent picture! Again, I have added in quotes from the Creator’s handbook to increase your enjoyment!

He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.

Psalm 147.8

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Revelation 1.7

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Nahum 1.3

And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

Exodus 16.10

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;

Psalm 104.3

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalm 36.5

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Acts 1.9-11

For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Psalm 108.4

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Luke 21.27

Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven.

Psalm 78.23

Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

Proverbs 25.14

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

1 Thessalonians 4.16

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalm 57.10

He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them.

Job 26.8

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Revelation 14.14

I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.

Isaiah 44.22

Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain?
Or can the heavens grant showers?
Is it not You, O Lord our God?
Therefore we hope in You,
For You are the one who has done all these things.

Jeremiah 14.22

As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

Luke 9.34-35

He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water.

Psalm 18.11

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Psalm 19.1

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host… Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!

Psalm 33.5-8

Covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

Psalm 104.2

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Acts 1.9

And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord

Exodus 19.9

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Psalm 97.2

The Sun

I feel very fortunate to live in Gloucestershire, a beautiful part of England. On all of my walks, I see God’s handiwork unmistakably on display. In a new series of blogs (categorised as ‘Creation’), I will share images from my walks accompanied by suitable words from the Creator’s manual. I don’t profess to be a great photographer, and I simply use the camera on my phone. Easy reading and, hopefully, a visual pleasure!

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years…

Genesis 1.14

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!

Psalm 113.3

The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.

Ecclesiastes 1.5

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Psalm 84.11

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

Malachi 4.2

For from the rising of the sun to its setting, my Name will be great among the nations.

Malachi 1.11

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8.12

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 

Psalm 19.1-6

The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Psalm 50.1

He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.

Psalm 104.19

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1.3

Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night… the Lord of hosts is his name.

Jeremiah 31.35

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4.6

…from the rising of the sun and from the west, there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.

Isaiah 45.6

Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!

Psalm 148.3

May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!

Psalm 72.17

That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him. The whole city lined up at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits.

Mark 1.32-34

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

John 1.9

To Him who made the great lights,
For His loving kindness is everlasting:
The sun to rule by day,
For His loving kindness is everlasting…

Psalm 136.7-8

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Isaiah 60.1

Yours is the day, Yours also is the night;
You have prepared the light and the sun.

Psalm 74.16

But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings…

Malachi 4.2

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you: that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1.5

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.

Isaiah 9.2

The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.

Acts 2.20

Kingdom of God – Forgiveness

11/12 mins to read

Having considered Faith last time out, now I want to consider Forgiveness. These are two pretty big topics and I felt unable to choose just one of them!

Whether or not we can forgive is one of the biggest challenges we will face in life. It is likely that the longer we live, the more people we have to forgive! It might be a parent or family friend who abused you; a spouse who cheated on you; a business partner who ‘shafted’ you; a colleague or friend who betrayed you; a boss who overlooked you for promotion; someone who never repaid their debt to you; adult children who rarely get in touch. The list is long! You feel the pain and the injustice of it acutely.

Forgiveness or derivative words (eg forgive) are mentioned around 140 times in the Bible. So, it’s pretty important to God.

Let’s be clear what we mean when we talk of ‘forgiveness’. It means “stopping being angry or resentful; excusing someone for a mistake; cancelling an obligation such as a debt.” Someone else defined forgiveness as ‘giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.’ 

“Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive”

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

I want to look here at three things – God’s forgiveness of you, your forgiveness of you and your forgiveness of others.

Has God forgiven you?

One of the central themes of Christianity is that God our Father forgives. What is a Christian? Someone who has been forgiven by God after putting their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, who was punished in your place for your wrongdoing.

We are all sinners (wrongdoers). ‘For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard’ (Romans 3.23, NLT). God leaves us in no doubt that we deserve to be punished: ‘the wages of sin is death (separation from Him)’ (Romans 6.23). BUT we do not get what we deserve! Instead of administering law and punishment, God administers grace and mercy. “…the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus’ (Romans 6.23). Life with Him; reconciliation, peace!

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As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison

Nelson Mandela

“…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God who brought us back to Himself through Christ. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them…For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, NLT).

The self-substitution of God – Jesus (God in human form) died in our place, paying the penalty for our sin! The divine exchange – Jesus died for our wrongdoing and we got His righteousness in return! Amazing!

This is the Christian good news: forgiveness and reconciliation instead of condemnation and separation. Your slate is wiped clean. All made possible by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Who doesn’t want that?! If you haven’t yet received God’s forgiveness and reconciliation, you can right now. It’s as simple as ABC. 

  • Admit…you’ve sinned, you’ve done wrong stuff, that separates you from God and be willing to say sorry for those things.
  • Believe…that Christ died on the cross for you, to pay the penalty for your sin/ wrongdoing, so that you can instead receive His mercy & forgiveness.
  • Commit…your life to God and welcome Him to come and live in you by His Spirit. His Spirit helps you live a Godly life, overcoming things where previously you struggled.

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(2015) AF felt like she cried for the whole Alpha weekend! But they were good tears. She said that she felt forgiven and free. She also felt overwhelmingly loved by God.

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If you have never welcomed God into your life and experienced His forgiveness, use the prayer below to do so…

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you died on the cross for me and rose again from the grave to everlasting life, conquering sin and death for once and for all. Thank you that you offer me forgiveness of all wrongdoing. I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life (take a few moments to ask his forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience). I now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Please forgive me and help me to know in my heart that you have truly forgiven me.

Thank you that you offer me the gift of your Spirit. I now receive that gift as a deposit, guaranteeing eternal life. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.

If God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.

C S Lewis
Have you forgiven you?

If God has forgiven you (which He has), it’s time for you to forgive you! 

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In 2015 during the Holy Spirit session on an Alpha weekend away, R asked the Holy Spirit to help him forgive himself for a crime he committed several years ago and for which he had served time in prison. He finally felt able to forgive himself. He was also able to forgive his abusive father and had a fresh resolve to find him again, not having seen him for many years. These are huge steps! He said he felt lighter, and happier than he has ever been. In the church family, he also said that he felt at home for the first time in his life (over 40 years).

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Have you forgiven you, or are you living under a cloud of guilt and shame? “I could never forgive myself”. With God’s help, you can. “But I don’t deserve forgiveness”. None of us do! But forgiveness is freely available to all who come to God through Jesus. You have hope and a future.

God really wants to help you forgive yourself. Really. Today. This is not merely theory. This is not an academic exercise. You may have started reading this blog feeling shame and condemnation; you could finish it feeling forgiven, and with your head held high.

Have you forgiven others?

In the Lord’s prayer, the prayer that Jesus taught His followers, it says “Forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” The forgiveness clause is the only part of the prayer that Jesus elaborates on at the end! He says, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6.12-15).

Jesus also put it this way: ‘When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins’ (Mark 11:25). The stark truth is that, if you refuse to forgive others, God won’t forgive you.

Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies

St. Augustine of Hippo

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” “No, not seven times” Jesus answered, “but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18.21,22). Was Jesus saying to forgive 490 times and, on the 491st time, give it to ‘em with both barrels?! No. He was saying ‘Always forgive’.

Jesus went on to say more about forgiveness, telling the story of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18.23-35. Do read it here if you have time…

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A21-35&version=NIV

A few questions for you:

  1. What got your attention in the story?
  2. If you are familiar with this Bible story, was there anything you hadn’t noticed before?
  3. What did the King withdraw?
  4. How would you describe the central message of the parable?

Here are some key principles about forgiveness…

  • The main victim of your unforgiveness is you! How so?
  • Unforgiveness embitters you and acts like poison; it robs you of peace. “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you…” (Hebrews 12:15). How does it trouble you? Anger, hurt, resentment, bitterness will trouble you. Forgiveness helps restore you.
  • ‘If I forgive them, I’m letting them off the hook.’ No, you’re letting yourself off the hook! You’re setting yourself free from pain and resentment, and positioning yourself to walk in God’s blessing. Leave the offence and the offender with God; He’s the only one who understands what they did and why they did it.
  • Unforgiveness can damage your health! A headline in a national newspaper read, “Harbouring feelings of bitterness ‘increases the likelihood of physical disease‘”. It went on to say, “Researchers who have examined the relationship between failure, bitterness and quality of life found that blaming others can lead to physical disease. ‘Persistent bitterness may result in global feelings of anger and hostility that, when strong enough, could affect a person’s physical health,’ says Carsten Wrosch, a professor in Montreal’s Concordia University Department of Psychology and a member of the Centre for Research in Human Development.”

‘…my father said he knew his physical healing was directly dependent on his ability to forgive John Hinckley. By showing me that forgiveness is the key to everything, including physical health and healing, he gave me an example of Christ-like thinking.’

President Ronald Reagan’s daughter Patti Davis after John Hinckley’s assassination attempt
  • Your forgiveness of others is letting go of your hatred and resentment and releasing the debt, declaring that they owe you nothing (not an apology, an explanation, restoration of goods, nothing)!
  • Forgiveness is a choice you make and an act of your will. Pray that your feelings catch up with your calculated decision to forgive.
  • Forgiveness doesn’t make what happened to you right; it means you’ve made a decision not to let it control your life.
  • If the other person refuses to acknowledge what happened or that it was wrong, forgive them anyway. Forgiveness doesn’t depend on the other person; it depends on you. Remember Jesus on the cross said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing”.
  • When you forgive someone, it won’t necessarily bring reconciliation between you and them. Forgiveness only requires one person – you! Reconciliation requires two people – and reconciliation may not be appropriate for you anyway if you would simply be putting yourself back in harm’s way.
  • When you forgive someone, you have no power to pardon their wrongdoing. They might still be convicted of a crime and be punished for it. But you can still forgive.

“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart”

Corrie ten Boom

Choose to Forgive. You have a decision to make – get even or get over it! Turn to hate or let it heal. Resent it or release it. Resentment allows whatever’s eating you, to eat you up. It stokes the fire, fans the flames, and replays the pain. Let me ask you: if today you stood by the grave of the one who hurt you, would you be free? Probably not. Is it time to forgive them? Give them something they don’t deserve – someone did that for you at Calvary. 

Grace to Forgive. It is hard! Perhaps it is longstanding hurt. We need God’s help. He does not give us His Spirit to keep our anger and hatred to an acceptable level. He wants us to forgive and love even the most undeserving of people. He gives us grace through His Spirit to help free us of anger and hatred all together. 

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(2017) “There has been one area in my life that I have found so very hard to deal with. How can I forgive someone who has been the cause of the death of our precious son aged 22 years? RM was the dangerous car driver who drove on the wrong side of the road that fateful day in Winter 2014 crashing into my son while he was taking his early morning cycle ride for fitness and pleasure. I had not been able to forgive; I had numbness, indifference, coldness and all sorts of emotions about this man but certainly no forgiveness towards him for taking away our most precious, beautiful and much loved child. The loss and grief and pain has been with me every day and is something that I can never “get over”.

Last Saturday at the church’s Freedom day, I was able to forgive this man, with God’s help (I have tears in my eyes as I write this as it is the hardest forgiveness I have ever done and I didn’t think I would be able to do it). I know this is just the start; maybe sharing this is a confirmation of Gods graciousness; God can forgive even the greatest of sinners and can make us “White as snow”.

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Sowing/Reaping Principle

“A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). “Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6.37). We saw that last principle illustrated in the parable of the unmerciful servant!

Is forgiveness easy? No, it isn’t. Yet God says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander…Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31,32).

‘To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.’

C S Lewis

Someone once said, “Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate.  It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness”.

I recommend the episode from the Alpha film series ‘Why did Jesus die’. The whole episode is good, but the issue of forgiveness is specifically addressed from 23 mins…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIHqYqIjKVw&t=1502s

Prayer…

Father, thank you for your forgiveness. I was undeserving, but in your mercy you forgave me anyway. As you forgave me, now I choose to forgive [name]… I release them from the debt (from owing me anything). Please let my feelings catch up with my Will. Free me from bitterness and unforgiveness. Heal my hurt and my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Recommended book

Total Forgiveness – R T Kendall (published by Hodder & Stoughton). Paperback, £7-8

Kingdom of God – Faith

10/11 mins

For a blog

The topic of faith is a huge one and we will be learning about it for the remainder of our days. While I only scratch the surface in this blog, I hope you find these thoughts helpful.

Faith in Who?

People (at least in the first world) put their faith in all sorts of things. It might be their career, their social status, their possessions (eg home, car), their bank balance, other family members, their soccer team…the list is a long one! Our ‘god’ is the person or thing that is our major focus; that is where, in reality, we put our faith.

As Christians, we choose not to put our faith in any of those things as they are rather shallow or temporal. Instead, we put our faith in the God of the Bible. Why? Because we become convinced that He is most worthy of putting our faith in, particularly as we learn about who He is.

Our ‘god’ is the person or thing that is our major focus

Who is He? The Bible tells us that He is (among other things) the ‘ancient of days’, He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, He is the Lord God Almighty, He is the Creator, He is Father. He is also relational, He is love, He is good, He is truth, He is light, He is life, He is faithful, He is powerful, He is kind, He is generous, He is forgiving, He is merciful, He is gracious, He is long-suffering, He is dependable, He is all-knowing…the list goes on and on.

Can you trust Him? Only time and experience will tell. I would urge you to try out faith in Him, because He is wholly true. After all, He is the Truth (John 14.6). I think you will be glad you did.

Faith is Trust

Faith is trust. This is illustrated by the following video clip about the famous tight rope walker Blondin…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdlOiWH6g4Q

One of the best known Bible verses is this: “For this is how much God loved the world – He gave His one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life” (John 3.16, TPT).

The verb ‘believe’ used here is an active verb. Literally, it means to have faith in Jesus, to trust in Him (like Blondin’s mother), to rely upon Him, to depend upon Him.

Faith is unsighted. But it’s not blind!

It also means to cling to Him. You’re out at sea in a small boat and suddenly a storm blows up. You’re hit by a massive wave and the boat begins to capsize. You jump for it; you can hardly swim. You’re cold, frightened, tired. You think you’re going to die. Then suddenly, something lands in the water close to you. You look up and see a life ring.  You see the lifeboat 20 metres away and the crew ready to pull you aboard. You grab the ring. You cling to it like your life depends on it – because it does! When Jesus died on the cross, He threw you a lifeline. Grab it; cling to it. Otherwise, sin will pull you under.

Another well known Bible verse about the nature of faith is found in Hebrews 11.1: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see“(NIV). The Message paraphrase says it this way: “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.”

In other words, faith makes us confident about things we have not received, yet are confident we will receive in due course. Our hope about these future things is certain, not vague. Faith is foundational to living with hope.

The rest of Hebrews 11 sets out numerous examples of faith demonstrated by many well known characters of the Old Testament story. Some surprising people make the cut, like Rahab the prostitute (Joshua 2.1 and 6.17ff), Jephthah who made a very foolish vow (Judges 11-12) and Samson who had a problem with women (Judges 13-16)! They were far from perfect, but they exercised significant faith in God when it really mattered.

“Many thanks for the guy who healed my knee after an accident…I was in a wheelchair. Tell him I’m restored.“

Church visitor

We also learn from Hebrews 11.1 that faith also gives us assurance about or ‘a handle on’ what we can’t see. As the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthians Christians, “We live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5.7). Faith is unsighted. But it’s not blind! We might not have something yet, we might not ‘see’ it yet, but we are sure of it because of God’s promises. We can read of these promises in His divinely inspired Word (the Bible). God has given us more than 5,000 promises in His book!

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In July 2019, D came into the church in a wheelchair with his wife and grandson, on a trip from the Midlands. He said that he came from a really rough background, one where church going would have been ridiculed. He was a believer but did not go to church regularly. He would often say a prayer, especially when he came into church buildings (although he didn’t today as his wife and grandson were with him).

He was in a wheelchair because he damaged ligaments/tendons in his left knee while crossing a road nine months ago. Now the ligaments/tendons in the other knee were also injured due to his weight distribution in trying to protect his bad left knee! We laid hands on and prayed for his knees. He said they got warm. He got out of his chair and walked up and down the church. He said it was at least 50% better. As he left, he said “I don’t know how to thank you.” Our time together was truncated because, while D seemed in no hurry at all and very responsive, his wife and grandson had already left the church and were agitating to move on. He took a postcard and said he would keep in touch with how it goes.

Later the same month, D wrote on the church’s social media page: “Many thanks for the guy who healed my knee after an accident…I was in a wheelchair. Tell him I’m restored.” I replied: “Thanks D. That’s great. Jesus is the healer. We are just the messengers.” He replied: “Can’t thank you enough. How do you say thank you for such a lovely divine healing” I replied: “If you can, go along to a lively church where you are made to feel welcome.” I then sent him the link to a church with good reviews, near where he lived.

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Faith for Salvation

First and foremost, we trust God for salvation. Another word for salvation is ‘freedom’. As we saw in John 3.16 above, all who put their faith and trust in Jesus ‘will not perish but will receive everlasting life‘. Nothing and no one else we could put our faith in gives this promise, let alone has the ability to deliver on it! God alone can save you from the separating, isolating effects of sin. Simply ask Him to forgive and cleanse you from all sin and rebellion, and ask to be reconciled to Him. Our life here on earth – which on its own can seem so short and meaningless – is part of a bigger narrative. Don’t miss out on life after life!

“…whoever believes in [Jesus] will not die but have everlasting life.”

John 3.16

You might like to look at this Alpha course session on faith…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLMyOr2fAoE

You might also like to look at a simple way of remembering the essential message of faith in God using symbols…

https://faithin5.com/

Faith for Life Now!

What else might we trust God for? Essentially, everything! Here are some examples:

  1. Forgiveness. God forgives you as you forgive those who sin against you (Psalm 103.1; Matthew 6.14,15).
  2. Identity. You are His child, not a stranger or servant (Romans 8.15-17; John 1.12).
  3. Help. God never leaves or forsakes you (Matthew 28.20).
  4. Hope & a future. God has plans to prosper you, to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29.11).
  5. Provision. God can meet all your needs (Philippians 4.19).
  6. Answered prayer. God hears and answers your prayers (John 14.13,14).
  7. Strength. He strengthens you for what He calls you to (Philippians 4.13).
  8. Healing. He heals through you (John 14.12).
  9. Endurance. You will not have to endure anything beyond your ability to withstand it (1 Corinthians 10.13).
A Couple of other Things about Faith

You may have heard the phrase ‘stepping out in faith’. Faith is active, not passive. Like a muscle, it grows by exercising it. You increase your faith by doing things God asks you to do. For example, will you trust God by giving back to Him the ‘firstfruits’ of your money? I’ll say more about this under ‘G’ and ‘Giving’ but the good news story below may inspire you.

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In 2017 K says, “My wife and I recently sat down to review our finances after a busy (and expensive!) 12 months, including purchasing and renovating our first home, and getting married. Part of this included reviewing the amount we give to the church and to charity – we continued to give during this particularly expensive period, but we scaled back as the budget got squeezed. Having grown up without a Christian faith, the concept of tithing has required quite a significant mindset change for myself in particular. I constantly find myself needing a reminder that everything I have is thanks to God’s blessing, and when we give we are merely giving back to God what is His.

Reading Malachi 3:10 one morning was the prod for us to review our giving: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

At the end of June we increased the amount of our standing order to our church, and also added a few more charities to our regular giving schedule. Being a newly married couple in a house which still requires some renovation, increasing our commitment to give required some faith that God would help us make ends meet. Less than one week later and completely out of the blue, we received £1,350 as a payment for expenses I incurred last year for work I did for my parents’ company, and which I had forgotten about. Incredible! God is good!”

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You may have heard it said that faith is spelt R I S K. Because we live by faith and not by sight, faith involves taking risks – the risk of praying for healing, knowing that you have no power in yourself to heal; the risk of giving to God, knowing that the sums don’t all seem to add up; the risk of forgiving someone, knowing how they have betrayed you, ruined your reputation or taken from you.

Faith is spelt R I S K

Do bear in mind that faith is NOT spelt F O L L Y! It is wise to pray about and discuss with your trusted others big faith steps you are considering.

Live by faith. Move beyond your comfort zone. Trust God because He is wholly true.

  • Reflect on the nature of the God in whom you trust.
  • What do you think of the Good news stories in this blog?
  • Are you trusting God for all the circumstances of your life?
  • In what area of life has your risky faith been justified?
  • What do you need to trust Him for right now – health, job, finances, a relationship?
  • What is preventing you from trusting Him, relying on Him or clinging to Him?

I hope you enjoy this recent song by Matt Redman about faith rising…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDSoMLnUwJA

Prayer

Gracious and loving Father. Thank you that you are trustworthy. Help me to trust you in all the circumstances of my life, good and bad. I bring before you today the issue of… [tell God where you want to trust Him but perhaps are struggling to do so]. Father, show me the way forward; help me to be sure of the thing I hope for. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Kingdom of God – Emmanuel

15/16 mins read

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One of the Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament declares: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7.14, Douay-Rheims Bible).

As Joseph was considering what to do about his betrothed who (shockingly) had just announced that she was pregnant, an angel appeared to him and told Joseph that Mary had conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, that he was to marry her and that they were to call the baby Jesus (meaning ‘saviour’) as He would save His people from their sins. How well do you think he slept that week?! The gospel writer goes on to say, “This happened so that what the Lord spoke through his prophet would come true: Listen! A virgin will be pregnant, she will give birth to a Son, and he will be known as “Emmanuel,” which means in Hebrew, “God with us” (Matthew 1.23, TPT).

Now before you pick me up on my spelling, ‘God with us’ can either be spelt Immanuel or Emmanuel! Immanuel is a transliteration of the Hebrew, which most of the Old Testament is written in; Emmanuel is a transliteration of the Greek, which the New Testament is written in. As you can see above, the prophecy is in the Old Testament and it is fulfilled in the birth of Jesus recorded in the New Testament. It suits my purposes to cover this theme under the letter ‘E’. I have other plans for the letter ‘I’ in a future blog!

Listen! A virgin will be pregnant, she will give birth to a Son, and he will be known as “Emmanuel,” which means in Hebrew, “God with us”

Matthew 1.23, TPT

In this blog, I want to take you on a journey through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation looking at the history of ‘God with us’ – where it all started and where it will all conclude. Fasten your seatbelts!

Eden

Let’s begin at the beginning. God did not create humanity because He was lonely. Remember, God is love and He was perfectly fulfilled in loving relationships within the Godhead – Father to Son, Son to Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit to Father. But His perfect love was too good to keep to Himself; He wanted to share it with creatures that could choose a relationship with Him based in love (or not).

The culmination of God’s creation was humanity, in the form of Adam and Eve. They had a unique place in all of creation because they were made in the image and likeness of God. That was true of nothing else in all of creation. They were also well acquainted with Him. God came to the garden of Eden in the evening to walk and talk with them. They enjoyed His presence. Other indications of the unique relationship between God and humanity can be seen in God giving Adam and Eve the responsibility of naming the animals (names have meaning and significance in Hebrew culture; Genesis 2.19) and filling the earth and subduing it (Genesis 1.28). Their rule on earth was to be the overflow of their relationship – a close relationship with God (see Genesis 3.8-10). This is the first manifestation of ‘God with us’ we see in the Bible. In fact, it was meant to be the only manifestation. This was how it was meant to be forever.

Sin separates; rebellion devastates our relationship with the One who invites us to love Him back

Expulsion

But then catastrophe! They rebelled against God (induced by satan) by eating from the only forbidden tree in the garden. How hard could it be?! They were then expelled from the garden of Eden and from God’s presence. So began an existence that was characterised by disobedience to God, dysfunctionality and distance from God. This can be seen in Genesis 3 onwards. Sin separates; rebellion devastates our relationship with the One who invites us to love Him back.

The story of Noah in the early chapters of Genesis tells us that God had not given up on humanity. It can also be seen in God calling Abram (meaning ‘exalted Father’). His name was changed by God to Abraham (meaning ‘father of many’) when He was told that he would be a father of many nations (Genesis 17). Abram was 99 years old at the time of being given this promise! Captain Tom Moore – raising over £32 million for the NHS, getting to No 1 in the music charts with Michael Ball, opening a Nightingale hospital (remotely) and becoming an honorary Colonel in his old regiment – was therefore not the first person to have his life take off aged 99 years!

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The calling of Noah was the start of a long season in human history where God called certain individuals to fulfil particular tasks at certain times. God filled these chosen individuals with the presence of His Spirit. We see it with Abraham and his descendants, namely Isaac, Jacob and Joseph (Genesis 12-50). It continued with Moses, called by God to lead the people of Israel (Abraham’s descendants) out of Egypt where they had been subjected to 400 years of slavery. But all this was a far cry from ‘God with us’ in the garden of Eden.

The tabernacle contained the Holy of Holies in which the ark of the covenant…was placed. This was to be God’s dwelling place on earth

Tabernacle

At Mount Sinai after the Israelites’ escape from Egypt, as well as collecting the ten commandments Moses was given detailed instructions for the building of a tabernacle (in Hebrew meaning ‘residence’ or ‘dwelling place’), also known as the tent of meeting. The tabernacle contained the Holy of Holies in which the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat between the wings of the cherubim (angelic creatures) was placed. This was to be God’s dwelling place on earth. It was the first glimpse of ‘God with us’ in several centuries!

But while present among His people, God kept distance between Himself (‘the Holy’) and the people of Israel (sinners who frequently failed God). God rarely spoke with anyone else but Moses and only the high priest could enter the Tabernacle’s Holy of Holies, and that was only once a year on the day of atonement.

The tabernacle was God’s dwelling among His people for around 480 years – during the 40 year journey of the Israelites in the wilderness; during the 30-40 year period of the conquest of Canaan led by Joshua (the Promised Land); during the 300 year period of the judges; finally, for 100 years during the reigns of the first three kings of Israel – Saul, David and Solomon. Throughout this period, God continued to raise up and anoint with His presence individuals like Joshua, Gideon, Deborah and Samson for specific tasks. But His presence was remote for most Israelites and almost non-existent to Gentiles (non-Jews).

whereas the tabernacle was portable, the temple was intended to be God’s permanent home among His people

Temple

20 years into his reign, king Solomon completed the construction of the temple in Jerusalem that his father David had planned but was not permitted to build (1 Kings 5-9). The design of the temple was similar to the tabernacle. But whereas the tabernacle was portable, the temple was intended to be God’s permanent home among His people. Just as with the tabernacle, at the heart of the temple was the Holy of Holies where God’s presence was. For the next 500-550 years, the temple was the centre of worship for the people of Israel. After the division of Israel into two kingdoms, it was the centre of worship for the people of Judah in the southern kingdom.

Prophecies of a brighter future

About 800 years before Christ, the prophets began to speak of a different experience of ‘God with us’. Joel prophesied to the southern nation of Judah: ‘I [God] will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days’ (Joel 2.28,29). Joel tells of a time when God’s presence will no longer be for certain people for specific tasks, but it will be for everyone. God will be present with people regardless of gender, age, background, ethnicity or status (‘even on my servants’). There will be a new ability to hear God (‘prophesy…dream…see visions…’).

I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws

Ezekiel 36.27

Following the invasion of the Babylonians, Solomon’s temple was destroyed and many of the people of Judah were carried into exile (2 Kings 25). In exile, and about 570 years before Christ, Ezekiel (a priest) prophesied: ‘…I [God] will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws’ (Ezekiel 36.27).

Ezekiel also had an extraordinary vision in which he saw water flowing from the temple (Ezekiel 47). The further it went from the temple, the deeper it got. Wherever the waters flowed, it brought life and abundance and healing. It even brought life to the very salty Dead sea. Water in the Bible often symbolizes the presence of God the Holy Spirit. This amazing vision signified the presence of God moving beyond the temple to bring life and healing not just to the people of Israel but to people everywhere! “Fish of every kind…” referred to people of all tribes and nations.

After 70 years in exile, King Cyrus of Persia (conquerors of the Babylonians) allowed some of the people of Israel to return to Jerusalem and, under the leadership of Zerubbabel, they rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem (see the book of Ezra). The second temple stood for over 500 years.

But before Jesus was born, there was 400 years of silence when God no longer spoke to His people through the prophets. The prophesies of people like Joel and Ezekiel that promised a new era of ‘God with us’ seemed like a distant memory, and God seemed as remote as ever.

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood

John 1.14, MSG
Emmanuel

Then God broke into human history in the most unexpected way: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7.14, Douay-Rheims Bible). God Himself took on human form and was born in Bethlehem – to a most unexpected couple (an unmarried teenage girl rather than a princess), in a most unexpected venue (a cattle stable rather than a palace) and announced it to a most unexpected audience (ignorant, smelly Jewish shepherds and foreign wise men rather than the religious elite of Israel)!

The Apostle John puts it this way: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God…the Word became human and made his home among us” (John 1.1,14, NLT).

Thirty years later, Jesus made it clear that He no longer saw the temple in Jerusalem as being the place where God would dwell among His people. As He cleared the temple of the money changers and traders “...the Jews were upset. They asked, “What credentials can you present to justify this?” Jesus answered, “Tear down this Temple and in three days I’ll put it back together.” They were indignant: “It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you’re going to rebuild it in three days?” But Jesus was talking about his body as the Temple“ (John 2.18-21). The presence of God could be found in His body and no longer in a building!

At the Feast of Tabernacles, the Israelites anticipated that the great river signifying God’s presence (prophesied by Ezekiel) would flow out from Jerusalem. Ezekiel 47 was read and enacted at the Feast. “On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!” (John 7.37). Jesus invites everyone! It applies to all who are spiritually thirsty and who have never experienced God’s presence. Jesus tells the crowd that this prophecy from over 500 years earlier had been fulfilled, not in a place but in a Person (Jesus)!

Jesus then goes on to say, ‘Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flowing from within’ (John 7.38). The Amplified Bible puts it this way: “He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” The Apostle John goes on to explain: ‘By this [Jesus] meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified’ (John 7.39). Jesus anticipates what would happen on the day of Pentecost.

On many other occasions, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, the presence of God Himself. See for example John 14.16-18 and John 16.7,13-15.

They were all filled and equipped with the Holy Spirit and were inspired to speak in tongues – empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages they had never learned!

Acts 2.4 (TPT)
Pentecost

Then at the feast of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus had risen from the dead and ten days after He had ascended back to heaven, God came by His Spirit and filled His followers with His powerful presence (Acts 2). The Apostle Peter told the assembled crowd that this event was the fulfilment of the words of the prophet Joel 800 years earlier. For us, that would be like something foretold during the reign of king Henry III in the 1200s coming true! He was the last king of England crowned outside London – in my current home town of Gloucester! In fulfilment of Old Testament prophesy, for the first time we see gentiles (non-Jews) in the person of Cornelius and his family receiving the Holy Spirit too, much to the amazement of the Jews present (Acts 10.44-48).

The Apostle Paul wrote to Jesus’ followers in Corinth: “Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don’t belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary” (1 Corinthians 6.19, TPT). Earlier in the same letter Paul addressed the church in Corinth collectively: “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3.16). Again, the temple (the location of ‘God with us’) is no longer a place but people. You are God’s temple. We are God’s temple!

God with us; God behind us; God before us; God beside us; God on us; God within us; God among us; God for us and not against us. He has promised to be with us always

God is no longer distant and remote. He is no longer located in a building to which almost no one had access. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, by which He overcame the separating effect of sin and rebellion, we have access to God 24/7! What a privilege! ‘God with us’ was something that those living in the Old Testament era could only dream of.

Just think of this for a moment. God with us (see Matthew 18.20); God behind us; God before us; God beside us; God on us; God within us; God among us; God for us and not against us. He has promised to be with us always (Matthew 28.20) – in the good times and the bad; in the exciting and the mundane; in the highs and the lows; in times of plenty and of want; in the laughter and in the tears; in the ‘easy to understand’ and in the mystery; when you sense Him and when you don’t. He is the one who says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13.5).

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In December 2011, I gave a message on “Emmanuel, God with us” to the inmates of Gloucester prison. 12 out of 28 men stood to welcome ‘God with us’ into their lives. 12 entered God’s Kingdom that day, making over 200 in 20 visits. Of course, not all will stay the course. But some will – and it will be the turning point so desperately needed to get their lives back on track

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God’s Home Among His People

It is true, though, that He is still largely invisible and often intangible. But there will come a day when that changes. When Jesus comes again to conclude human history, there will be a new reality: “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21.1-4). There will be a new city of Jerusalem and “a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb...they [His servants] will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads” (Revelation 22.1-4).

It will take the whole span of human history to get us there, but one day we will know the reality of ‘God with us’ as fully as Adam and Eve experienced it in the garden of Eden (paradise itself). That reality was how it was always meant to be – and will one day be so again as God’s redemption plan fully unfolds.

You might enjoy this on a similar theme…

https://www.facebook.com/jointhebibleproject/videos/1287757348094323/

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JB was driving down to Cornwall in June 2014 with her adult daughter. They were on a busy main road, being an arterial road into Cornwall for holidaymakers. The light was fading at the end of the day when, suddenly, JB could not engage the clutch. It had seized up. As she and her daughter got out and pushed the car to the side of the road, they felt in great danger due to the heavy traffic and the fading light. She was worried that other car drivers would not see them. She sent up a prayer, “God, please help us!”

A few minutes after pushing the car to the side of the road, a car came past them, then slowed to a stop and reversed back to where they were. A man jumped out of the car and said, “I have come to help you”. He then said he would take them to the safety of a layby further along the road. He asked JB to drive his car to the layby, while he drove her car for her. JB had a real sense of God’s presence and was not at all afraid by the approach of this stranger. They drove to the layby. In the meantime, JB’s daughter phoned the vehicle recovery company, who said they could get to them within 5-10 mins. When they got to the layby, JB asked the driver who he was. He smiled and said, “I’m a bus driver. I’ve come to help you”. He asked whether they wanted him to wait with them until the recovery vehicle arrived, but they said they were fine. JB noticed that he was wearing a shirt which bore a logo ‘Saved’. He then got into his car but neither of them could recall seeing him drive away. It seemed he just disappeared. JB had a strong sense that she had encountered an angel sent by God to help them in their hour of need.

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  • Think of some contexts in which you regularly encounter God. In worship? In the bath? In your prayer chair? On a country walk? Discussion/prayer times with a particular friend?
  • How will you be intentional about regularly drawing aside to encounter Him?
  • Do you struggle to sense ‘God with you’? Can you think of someone you can talk to about this, who might be able to guide/advise you?

Gracious Father. Thank you that you promise never to leave me nor forsake me. You are completely faithful and dependable. Fill me afresh today with your Holy Spirit, your presence within me. Please equip and enable me to be all that you intend, fulfilling your plans and purposes for my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Kingdom of God – Discipleship

12-13 mins read

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If you’ve been a Christian for six months or more, you know what discipleship is, right? So, you might think you don’t want to read a blog about it. But read on a bit and see if I can hook you. I think I might have a few things to say that will stretch you in your discipleship journey…

What is Discipleship?

The term “disciple” represents the Greek word mathētḗs (μαθητής) which means “one who engages in learning through instruction from another; pupil, apprentice“ or in religious contexts such as the Bible “one who is associated with someone who has a particular set of views; disciple, adherent.” The word “disciple” comes from the Latin discipulus meaning a learner or follower. One of the earliest places the word ‘disciple’ appears is in the Bible, where it means “a follower of Jesus.”

As disciples of Jesus, we read our Bibles to see what He did and what He said, and we follow His example. We want to do what Jesus did, to live like Jesus lived. So far, so good.

“disciple” comes from the Latin discipulus meaning a learner or follower

What did Jesus come to do?

Jesus came to do three main things:

  1. Reveal the true nature of God the Father and His Kingdom. He did this often through stories (parables) like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15.11ff) and the Mustard Seed (Mark 4.30-32).
  2. Model life in the Father’s Kingdom. It was in stark contrast to the lives of the religious elite of His day (ie the teachers of the law, pharisees and saducees).
  3. Enable us to gain entry into Father’s Kingdom. Jesus did this by defeating sin and death through His own death and resurrection. We share in the spoils of Jesus’ victory when we put our faith and trust in Him. Jesus in turn brings us to new birth and guarantees us everlasting life through sending His Spirit to reside in us (John 3.3,16).

…make disciples (followers) of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you

Jesus (Matthew 28.19,20)
Didn’t He do all those things as God?

The second of the three reasons for Jesus coming to earth is my focus in this blog – modelling life in the Father’s Kingdom. Now when it comes to certain discipleship issues, it is fairly uncontroversial. We look at what Jesus did and taught on prayer, giving or forgiving, His attitude to the scriptures (the list goes on) and we try to follow His example.

After His resurrection and before He returned to heaven, in what is commonly known as the Great Commission, Jesus said to His followers: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (won back from satan; see Luke 4.6). Go now therefore and make disciples (followers) of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28.18-20). Jesus is passing on the baton and authorizing His followers in the first and successive generations to do what He did. But what does ‘everything’ include?

When Jesus sends the twelve disciples out on mission, He says: “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near [or here, or at hand].’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10.8). When Jesus later sends the 72 out on mission, He tells them: “Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you’” (Luke 10:9). I think that ‘teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you’ includes the activities mentioned here, ie healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing those with skin diseases and casting out demons. This is where we can begin to feel uncomfortable!

Mark’s version of the Great Commission is more explicit: “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation… And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; …they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”” (Mark 16:15-18).

Aaah! This is where many of us are less sure of our ground because we tend to think: ‘Jesus was God, right? So, of course He could do all those things. I’m impressed, but not really inspired. I’m not God and therefore I can’t do the things He did.’ Right? Mmmm… I think this is worth looking at a bit more. What we really need to know is this: did Jesus do what He did as God? Was His life just to be admired, or are we to be inspired (to live like Him)?

[Jesus] existed in the form of God, yet…He emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human!

Phlippians 2.6-7, TPT

A key passage is Philippians 2:6,7 (NLT) where it says: “Jesus…though he was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” The Message paraphrase puts it like this: ”He set aside the privileges of deity and… became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges”.

Let’s be clear. Jesus was both fully God and fully man here on earth. But as the Apostle Paul explains in his letter to the Philippians, Jesus chose to limit His divine power (He ’emptied Himself’) in order to live with the limitations of a human being. He was tempted in every way as we are (Hebrews 4.15). He experienced the whole range of human emotions: He wept, He was hungry and thirsty, He was troubled, angry, indignant, amazed, weary – the list goes on. Being fully human, He provided an example to us of how to live life in God’s Kingdom.

Jesus Himself said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself (John 5:19). “By myself, I can do nothing” (John 5:30).  “…I do nothing on my own” (John 8:28). In the Greek, ‘nothing’ means nothing!

So how did Jesus do all those amazing things, if not as God?
  • Intimacy with God. There are plenty of examples, but here are a couple: “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where He prayed” (Mark 1:35).
  • Filled with the Holy Spirit. At His baptism, John says “I saw the Holy Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him” (John 1:32). Luke also records this moment at the Jordan river (Luke 3.22) and then goes on to say: “Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River” (Luke 4.1).

Jesus did what He did out of a close relationship with His Father and from Holy Spirit power, not out of His own divine power. With the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus saw and heard what His Father was doing and saying and joined in with it.

Perhaps therefore you need to take the gospel accounts a whole lot more seriously! Contained in those accounts is a blueprint for living in God’s Kingdom, exemplified by Jesus Himself, our supreme example.

If you remain in me and I remain in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing

Jesus (John 15.5)
How do we do it?

The same way Jesus did it:

  • Intimacy with God. Jesus said: “If you remain in me and I remain in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15.5).
  • Filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Stay in [Jerusalem] until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Then 10 days later, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). Paul adds, “Don’t you know that you… are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”(1 Corinthians 3:16). Paul again: “Go on being filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
Passing on the baton

Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing”. Then, “He will do even greater things than these…” (John 14:12). It’s hard to top casting out demons and raising the dead! So what did Jesus mean? That you and I and millions of other Christians in successive generations can achieve more over our lifetimes than one man could achieve in three to four years. Jesus isn’t coming back again until the end – He’s passed on the baton. Now it’s down to us. But note it’s the Great Co-mission, not the Great Mission. We do it in partnership with the One who says, ‘surely I am with you always to the ends of the age’ (Matthew 28.20).

The apostles got things off to a good start. “Peter said to the crippled beggar near the temple, “I don’t have money, but I’ll give you this—by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!”” (Acts 3.6). Later it says, “The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people” (Acts 5:12). Paul said, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4,5).

And we can read of instances of healing and miracles throughout the history of the church. Now it’s our turn. We have the baton in this generation. How will we do?

Pray for healing like it depends on you; pray to God like it depends on Him!

It takes courage to step out in prayer for healing (see my last blog, ‘Courage’) but if we are truly disciples of Jesus, we should be doing it. Be encouraged by this: “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end” (Isaiah 9:6,7). His government and peace [presence of His Kingdom] are always increasing – there is no end to the increase! More is available to us today than yesterday.

You will undoubtedly have questions around perseverance in prayer (don’t expect instant results!) and disappointment when prayers for healing seem to go unanswered. There is the question of the ‘now and not yet’ of God’s Kingdom as we live between Jesus’ first and second coming. These are for future blogs. But for now remember, we are called to be obedient, not successful. Pray for healing like it depends on you; pray to God like it depends on Him!

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L reports: “On 7 March 2017, I suffered a blunt force trauma to my sternum (breastbone). At the time there was a loud crack, I collapsed to the floor and nearly passed out with the intense pain. I knew it was broken. I saw my GP the next day who also agreed I must have broken my sternum and he arranged an X-ray for two days later. I came to church just before my hospital appointment two days later and asked for prayer. S prayed for healing and, although I was still in pain, it was less intense and I did feel more peaceful about the whole situation. I then went on to the hospital and had an X-ray. They said everything was okay, there was no need to go to Accident & Emergency unless I needed pain killers and that I could go home. I was bewildered, but went home. The pain has been steadily easing ever since.

Two weeks later I was at a routine hospital appointment for something else. At the end of the session, I asked my consultant if she could put my X-ray from two weeks ago on screen. “Oh yes”, she said, “When did you break your sternum?” I replied, “Oh I thought they said it was okay. I assumed that meant it wasn’t broken?” The consultant then said, “According to the X-ray report, you have an old healed fracture of your sternum. You must have done this previously”. I said, “No, I’ve never broken it before. I thought I had two weeks ago”. I looked at the X-ray and saw a nicely healed fracture. (I’ve had Radiology training, so I know a healed fracture when I see one). “That’s strange”, we both said! Bewildered, I left. Then suddenly, I realised there was only one explanation. I obviously had broken my sternum two weeks ago and, two days later when I was prayed for, the Holy Spirit healed me. I have an X-ray taken two days after the incident which shows a perfectly healed fracture! It would normally take six weeks for a fracture to heal. Praise the Lord for He is such a good, good Father. Thank you Lord for healing me…”

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Majoring on the Majors

We don’t hear much about Jesus feeding the hungry (two accounts of him feeding crowds), and giving water to the thirsty and visiting those in prison. Please hear me right, we need to do those things – and through our social transformation programmes, we will – but we the church are in danger of ‘majoring on the minors’, instead of majoring on the majors. You can feed someone for a day, but if they experience a miracle of God in their lives, it often changes their perception of God forever.

Don’t allow your experience (of healing) to shape your theology. Rather, allow your theology to shape your experience

Can we risk a Powerless Gospel?

It’s important that you don’t allow your experience (of healing) to shape your theology. Rather, allow your theology to shape your experience. The danger is that if our experience shapes our theology (and we haven’t seen healing), we are tempted to ignore the difficult scriptures and proclaim a watered down, powerless gospel that does not have much evidence of ‘good news’! But if we allow good theology to shape our experience, we know there is more than we have experienced so far and we go after it (even if it is scary)! 

A few practical tips about going after the miraculous:

  • Read more about healing the sick, etc. See recommended reading below.
  • Read and listen to more accounts of God healing today from churches that pursue healing (eg HTB, London; Bethel church, Redding, CA).
  • Identify others who are pursuing prayer for healing and discuss with them.
  • Go out to pray with someone who already has experience of praying for the sick.
What does this mean for you?
  • In what area(s) of your discipleship journey do you feel you are doing well in following Jesus’ example?
  • How do you feel about praying for healing for the sick? You might like to read my earlier blog on ‘authority’, to see how to pray.
  • What will you now commit to do, to advance in this area of your discipleship?

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L came into the church with her husband. She completed the visitor survey. When asked whether she had any pain in her body that she would like God to take away, she said, “Yes. My knackered spine”. She explained that she had scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and that the symptoms of it had been acute for the past nine years. She said she always had background pain. We prayed for her healing. We got her to try it out by walking up and down the aisle of the church. She said it was about 50% better and the pain had reduced. We prayed twice. Both she and her husband said independently of one another that they sensed tremendous peace as we prayed. After trying it out the second time, Liz said that now all the pain had gone and that she was able to walk with her feet flat on the floor for the first time in over nine years! Normally, she walked on the outside of her feet. Her husband observed that her shoulders were more level than before and her gait was greatly improved. L agreed.” 

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Prayer. Father, give me the desire to go after EVERYTHING that you commanded your first followers to imitate in your life. Help me to be a ‘no compromise’ disciple. In particular, give me courage to pursue the miraculous and to demonstrate as well as proclaim the good news of Jesus. Amen.

Recommended reading:

Do What Jesus Did – Robby Dawkins (published by Chosen Books)