The Big Gap

As we approach the end of Deuteronomy hopefully you are excited about what happens next in the Bible narrative.  But there is a big gap between the death of Moses and the life of Jesus.  And because the collection of books in between is so big, it is very tempting to leave it for the “good Christians”.  Yet, like every OT Israelite, every Christian must:

• Listen to God and make Him their all in all; and
• Listen to God’s word and make His word part of all of their lives.

⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{[b] 5} You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶ And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ⁸  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.               (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

If you have read my past posts, I know, I have used this passage before.  But it’s still good =)  Still, this necessity is easier said than done isn’t it?  This is where a few tips come in so that you can eventually and happily say, “It is done!”

The habit tips

• Ask God for a desire to read the Bible.
  • Sinners (including me and you) don’t start with this desire.  Redeemed sinners ask for it.
• Pick a daily time when you will be able to read the Bible.
  • For morning people, 15 minutes earlier is not hard.  For night people, 15 minutes later is not hard.  For public transport users, you will not get crucified for reading the Bible on the train/bus/tram.
• Listen to sermons and/or read books that help you understand the Bible.
  • While personal stories or oodles of Scripture references in sermons or books have their value, there is a risk.  Namely, that you will still be bamboozled whenever you read your Bible.
  • Resources that I have found helpful.  “The God who is there” (book and audio), “For the love of God” (book), “A book that you’ll actually read- OT and NT”, Dick Lucas (link) and Andrew Reid (link).

The reading tips

• Pray before and after you read.
  • Ask for understanding before and tell God what you do and do not understand after.
• Go for 2 chapters every day.
  • When you’re unfamiliar with part of or the entire Bible, this works better than going Rambo on the whole book.
  • Some options (link).  I recommend this (link) or this (link).
• Do it with friends or family.
  • Some people learn best doing things together.  If you do this with Bible, try to lock in time for at least a couple of days a week.

Register before it’s too late~

Twist Untwist

So as one goes surfing the internet, you do come across some interesting quotes and finds, that in this day and age, can become viral – Shared, liked, revisited on the world wide web.

One such quote that caught my attention this week is the below:

This was shared online by a friend with the statement – “well played”

I admit that I did let out a laugh at first, at the cunningness of the post, as context has seriously gone amiss here.
But more seriously (nano second later), such statements have serious implications. And the comment that followed is even more troubling/disturbing (to me).

Many things are brought up here and assumed. So lets crack open the  Bible, our source of reference for either parties for or against God, regarding the above, as the event strictly evolves around the account of Genesis – Adam and Eve being consulted (to put it lightly tempted), by Satan. Genesis 3: 1-7, spells out the story

Firstly some context – “In the beginning God created..” We are introduced to a Creator God that brought the universe into existence and when it came round to humans (v.26) God said “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth“. God’s creation had order and purpose – it was well thought out. If we humans were created in the likeness of God (who is wise, with purpose and direction) surely elements of being discerning (to critically think) would be embedded into us, in order that we are mentally and physically capable of ruling over the animals of the earth.

But moving on,Genesis 2: 15-20, spells out a Biblical response, to the above image post.

Yes there was “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” to which God placed in the garden, with clear instructions not to touch eat of it, as the result is death. To eat of the fruit would be to grasp equality with God, instead of being in the likeness of God, it is to be God, (as he is the ultimate judge of good and evil). To say that we were thought-slaves prior to eating of the fruit is a grave misinterpretation. If clearly instructed not to eat of it… if were thought slaves, then why would we eat it? Satan just highlighted that the choice was there, to obey or disobey God, via creating doubt in Eve’s mind to question God’s instruction. Ultimately, it was man’s choice to take of the fruit. To which that choice, tainting our relationship with God, consequence – death.

Gladly the story doesn’t end there. God knows our sinful, rebellious nature toward us, yet STILL offers us a way to return to a right relationship with him. To which the entire Old Testament points towards the Savior – Jesus Christ. To which the New Testament, constantly refers back to the life, death and resurrection of Christ, who sets us free from he bondage of sin. So that we are no longer “ashamed” like how Adam and Eve were when they ate of the fruit, neither are we condemned. Christ’s love for us was unconditional, while we were still sinners he died for our sins; he died in our place, so that we (if we choose to accept) escape are free from that consequence “death”. Once, again it is a choice that we all have to place our trust in Christ, who demonstrated his love on the cross for us. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” – Romans 8:1

Satan is not our protector, neither is he silent. As demonstrated by the account of Genesis, where he knew the consequences yet still tempted Eve. Satan is rarely silent. Creating a ruckus, planting doubt seeds all over the place, in his goal of pulling us away from God.

In sum, dear brothers and sisters, Stand firm in what you believe. Know, what it is that you believe. And live it out.

Praise God for his Word  – so clear, constant and alive – and unmistakably so through the person of Jesus =]

Mirrors and soup

A few weeks ago, I went to a Student Life camp where the speaker spoke about God’s BIG Picture, giving an overview of the bible in 3 days. (Yep it was quite a feat and pretty awesome).

Aside from learning and being reinforced in a lot of bible knowledge, the point that really struck out to me was being an image-bearer – working in God’s created world as his image bearers. I learnt more about what being an image-bearer meant – the hugeness – that reflecting God is an any time, anywhere to anyone thing. Reflecting like a mirror does. A mirror doesn’t just turn on its reflect when I step in front of it, a mirror reflects all the time. And God showed me that when it comes to being an image-bearer at home… I suck.

I’ve found that me for me it’s hardest to be Christ-like and easiest to be selfish at home. When it’s too early to be up or after a long day (or even a short day) it’s easier to be grumpy, complain, rude and get annoyed at home. I find that I don’t try or care to represent God at home because my family is already Christian – they already know Jesus who I’m supposed to be an ambassador for, because  they know me best, because they’ve already tolerated me for 21 years.

Here’s an example: when (which is constantly in my household) my mum lovingly prepares soup (of the Asian watery broth variety) and tells me to go drink some I get annoyed, absent-mindedly make some noise indicating I’ve heard her and then promptly forget. I get annoyed because I feel like she is interrupting my schedule, butting into my life, because when I home I’m want to be selfish and do my own thing, because at home its easy to feel like only I matter and whatever I want takes precedence.

And then when mum – being the caring mother she is, a big fan of nutritious soup/broth and wanting the best for her daughters sees that I’ve ignored her – pours a bowl and brings it to me I get annoyed at her for babying me and again not letting me run my own life. And so the selfish person/ ungrateful daughter/ terrible Christian witness train rolls on.

We’re called to be image bearers not just to those who don’t know God. We should be wanting to reflect God to others all the time, to whoever whether Christian or non-Christian, and whenever, not just when it suits us. Because to not do so would make us hypocrites. This image-bearing doesn’t just happen when we are aware of it. We are constantly reflecting. It’s not a case of ‘non-Christian person I want to witness to alert! Reflecting God shield up!’.

God is Lord of our lives. He is meant to, and want to be paramount and involved in every aspect of our lives. I want God to be involved in all my interactions with people. I love God and I love my parents. I want to honour them and show that love for them through my words and actions, through obedience. I want to demonstrate the kind of love that God demonstrates. And I know that this can’t be done through my own strength (the constant soup times remind me so).

This all remind me a bit about the Israelites which we have been looking at in our Deuteronomy studies. God chose Israel not just so they could be blessed but so that God would use them to bless the world. The Israelites were giving a whole long list of rules and called to obey those rules; they were called to be living God’s way. God’s way is not just to be lived when we walk outside our front door.

Prayer Night Recap =]

 

This Friday at youth group instead of Bible studies on a specific passage and discussions off that, we had corporate prayer.

Praise God He has given us this gift of prayer and the ability to reach him no matter what our circumstances!!

For those who were away, on the night we explored John 17, where Jesus prays to God the Father.  Context – his discipline were nearby and this occurred before Jesus was arrested, to be then later crucified.

Four key points you could draw out were in verses:

3. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

11. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

17. Sanctify (set-part, process of making holy) them by the truth; your word is truth. (and we can follow Christ example of being set apart v.19)

22. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one

Notice the order and how it applies! First we must KNOW God, before we can love him. How do you love someone without having first taking the time out to know them personally? This kind of love isn’t “i love cake, I love Ryan Gosling, I love holidays” *cough*, but it’s the love that is rooted in action – you love, therefore you are committed to that person, and out from that flows your desire to demonstrated it through action – trust and obedience.

As a result of following Christ it’s becomes obvious that our world views differ greatly from the world’s egocentricity in regards to relationships, money, status, career … pretty much all aspects of life. Although we are living in this earthly world, it seems so strange to us through God’s lens, for we are indeed not of the world, but the Kingdom of God. Called to be very different for a reason and it’s not surprising persecution will follow. Though we aren’t alone in our Christian walk, so far from perfect, God sanctifies us, a continual gradual process as we cling to him and what is good, so that in the end, we give him glory as the united body of Christ!!

No matter what denomination, what cultural background, what period in history, let that not stop us from doing God’s will, of loving him and loving others. What a gigantic task!

 

Why pray to a sovereign God?

1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4  And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden[a] calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” 6 And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.  

7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”  

11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12  Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. 

Exodus 32 : 1-14

What’s the point of praying to a sovereign God?

If everything will happen according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will (Eph 1:11), then why should we pray for things?

Can we change God’s mind?

In the passage above, God states to Moses, that He wants to destroy the Israelites, His people, who He’d just rescued from oppressive slavery in Egypt. It seems totally reasonable since, despite God going to amazing lengths to rescue His people from the iron grip of the Egyptian king to freedom to worship Him, they turned away from their worship of God to their man-made golden calf statue. So we see that God rightly wants to judge these forgetful and insolent people. However, Moses prays to God; implores even, for God not to go through with His stated wish of judgment. And amazingly, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe relents!

The Almighty God listens to Moses and relented from meting out the punishment well deserved by the Israelites!

The obvious question is : has Moses changed God’s mind?

Look at Moses’ prayer. He prays about God’s prior display of power in rescuing His people, and prays about the promises God has previously made to the Israelite forefathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). Moses is praying through God’s already-revealed power and already-revealed promises. Moses is praying through what God has already revealed and promised to do; to bring His people to safety in a new land with innumerable descendants and bountiful blessings to them and the nations (partially fulfilled in Israelite history; ultimately fulfilled through Jesus). 

Moses’ prayer does not change God’s mind; it fulfils God’s plan. Moses’ prayer is part of God’s massive plan to do what He has said He would.

Therefore, the staggering truth about prayer is that God uses it as part of His plan. When we pray according to what God has promised and what He wants for us, He will use these prayers to carry out these plans. As the pastor at my church puts it; prayer is God’s appointed means to bring about His sovereign plan.

However, we must ensure that we are praying for things that are aligned with what God thinks are important.

For example, I won’t pray for God to give me lots of money to spend on myself as that is not what He says is important. But I can certainly pray for God to give me lots of opportunities to share the Gospel with my colleague who sits next to me.

I won’t pray for God to give me a comfortable and cruisy life as that is not what He says is important. But I can certainly pray for God to give me strength to fight temptation to sin.

So, let’s pray; it’s in His plan, to fulfil His plan.

SCGH Church Outing – ANZAC Day

Hi all,

Due to wet weather forecast for tomorrow the church outing will be at church 10am – 910 Toorak Rd, South Camberwell.

See you there!