It has always struck me as amusing how people change when they come to church services. In church they are all solemn and grave. But take these same people to a social gathering or a rugby / soccer match and they suddenly become excited and enthusiastic.
We are emotional people and positive, motivating emotions are good.
In church, we should also be free to be enthusiastic in our praise to God. We certainly should be joyful and happy. There is much to be excited about.
What we as Christians need is a real revelation of the greatness of God and the great number of blessings that he grants his people. We simply are not aware enough of even a portion of the blessings we receive. If we could somehow catch a glimpse of some of the multitude of ways we have been blessed by God, it will blow us away.
And it’s true! We are the most blessed of all people.
We may call the awesome, creator God, our Father. We know Jesus as friend, protector, redeemer and saviour. And his Holy Spirit lives in and with us always! The holy God calls us his own, cares for us and loves us with divine passion.
Pray about it. Ask God to show you how he has blessed you. Ask him to reveal to you the things for which you should be grateful.
Ask him to give you a glimpse of his glory and a glimpse of his love for you. Such a revelation will change the way you worship. Such a revelation will change the way you live.
You will then certainly join the psalmist in singing this song:
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100).
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
You are the light of the world!
We know what happens in the darkness: you stumble around, you can't see where you are going and you are not sure of where you are. You need light.
This is the condition of people not following Jesus. They are in darkness. They stumble around without hope and without God. And sometimes it is dangerous to be in darkness. What our sin-darkened world urgently needs, is light.
One day Jesus pointed to a group of ordinary people. He said to his disciples – a collection of simple fishermen, tax collectors, and the like – "You are the light of the world."
Matt 5: 4 – 16: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Jesus says God's people, is the light of the "world." He says God's people are to give light to "everyone in the house." He says their light is to shine "before men." The people of Christ’s church must be used by the Lord to lead the world, other people, from darkness into light.
As we all know, even the smallest of lights chases the darkness away. For instance, in complete darkness the flicker of a match can be seen from 30 kilometres. If the light does not shine, it is not because of the darkness. Darkness cannot put out a light. Darkness gets darker only because the light fails. There can be no such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy.
I want to challenge everyone associated with this congregation. As a Christian and as a household I want you to find someone who is not a Christian. Maybe it is someone in your own family. Maybe it is someone you work with. Maybe it is a neighbour. Maybe it is someone you have daily contact with. Pick an unbeliever and as a follower of Jesus, or a Christian household, love them with the claims of Christ. Let the light of Christ’s love shine through you.
Jesus combines the light that must be shone with good works that must be done. Many of you have done that. When we go to someone who is hurting or sick or grief-stricken and we love them and support them and enfold them – it makes unbelievers think about what is missing in their lives. They see our love and want to be part of our circle and our Christian family.
Being the light of the world, is to bring people from darkness to light, because the light of Jesus shines through us!
“Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, anoint our lives, our testimony as Christians and the ministries of our congregation, in order to become light to those hurting themselves as they stumble in the darkness without Jesus. Amen.”
This is the condition of people not following Jesus. They are in darkness. They stumble around without hope and without God. And sometimes it is dangerous to be in darkness. What our sin-darkened world urgently needs, is light.
One day Jesus pointed to a group of ordinary people. He said to his disciples – a collection of simple fishermen, tax collectors, and the like – "You are the light of the world."
Matt 5: 4 – 16: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Jesus says God's people, is the light of the "world." He says God's people are to give light to "everyone in the house." He says their light is to shine "before men." The people of Christ’s church must be used by the Lord to lead the world, other people, from darkness into light.
As we all know, even the smallest of lights chases the darkness away. For instance, in complete darkness the flicker of a match can be seen from 30 kilometres. If the light does not shine, it is not because of the darkness. Darkness cannot put out a light. Darkness gets darker only because the light fails. There can be no such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy.
I want to challenge everyone associated with this congregation. As a Christian and as a household I want you to find someone who is not a Christian. Maybe it is someone in your own family. Maybe it is someone you work with. Maybe it is a neighbour. Maybe it is someone you have daily contact with. Pick an unbeliever and as a follower of Jesus, or a Christian household, love them with the claims of Christ. Let the light of Christ’s love shine through you.
Jesus combines the light that must be shone with good works that must be done. Many of you have done that. When we go to someone who is hurting or sick or grief-stricken and we love them and support them and enfold them – it makes unbelievers think about what is missing in their lives. They see our love and want to be part of our circle and our Christian family.
Being the light of the world, is to bring people from darkness to light, because the light of Jesus shines through us!
“Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, anoint our lives, our testimony as Christians and the ministries of our congregation, in order to become light to those hurting themselves as they stumble in the darkness without Jesus. Amen.”
Monday, September 21, 2009
A devoted church.
The first church in Jerusalem was devoted to prayer as a way of life and God moved in their midst as a result. (Acts 2: 43).
At one point in his ministry the great preacher, Spurgeon, was distressed by the declining spiritual condition of churches in London. One of the things that was an indication of this decline, in Spurgeon’s mind, was the fact that many churches were meeting as little as twice a week for prayer!
Spurgeon recognized the vital importance of prayer for the success of the local church.
Our church may be suffering because we do not spend enough time doing battle for Christ’s cause, in prayer.
Rom 12: 10 – 12 and 21: 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Like it or not, we are engaged in a battle where we must be faithful in prayer, patient in affliction and joyful in hope, because we are devoted to one another. And we are devoted to one another, because we are devoted to Jesus and to the cause of Christ.
A church serving the Lord with spiritual fervour, is a church where people live out Biblical Christianity and not a place where we only speak of it. This can only we accomplished by a praying community of Christ.
May your devoted walk with the Lord be richly blessed.
At one point in his ministry the great preacher, Spurgeon, was distressed by the declining spiritual condition of churches in London. One of the things that was an indication of this decline, in Spurgeon’s mind, was the fact that many churches were meeting as little as twice a week for prayer!
Spurgeon recognized the vital importance of prayer for the success of the local church.
Our church may be suffering because we do not spend enough time doing battle for Christ’s cause, in prayer.
Rom 12: 10 – 12 and 21: 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Like it or not, we are engaged in a battle where we must be faithful in prayer, patient in affliction and joyful in hope, because we are devoted to one another. And we are devoted to one another, because we are devoted to Jesus and to the cause of Christ.
A church serving the Lord with spiritual fervour, is a church where people live out Biblical Christianity and not a place where we only speak of it. This can only we accomplished by a praying community of Christ.
May your devoted walk with the Lord be richly blessed.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Filled with awe... Awesome!
Acts 2: 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2:43)
God was at work in this group of believers. They had been saved by his grace and were now devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and to prayer. And their hearts were filled with awe.
Being filled with awe means that we have transcended our earthly view and have caught a glimpse of the eternal glory of the living God. It means that we have caught a vision of God’s greatness, holiness, power, and love. When we see the Lord high and lifted up, we fall at his feet in humble repentance and surrender.
This is the kind of atmosphere where God works in power. We hear of many miraculous signs and wonders going on where God’s people are sharing Jesus and many people are coming to Him. You are blessed when God fills you with the holy awe that comes from seeing him in his glory, and he reveals his miraculous power as you share Jesus with others!
God was at work in this group of believers. They had been saved by his grace and were now devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and to prayer. And their hearts were filled with awe.
Being filled with awe means that we have transcended our earthly view and have caught a glimpse of the eternal glory of the living God. It means that we have caught a vision of God’s greatness, holiness, power, and love. When we see the Lord high and lifted up, we fall at his feet in humble repentance and surrender.
This is the kind of atmosphere where God works in power. We hear of many miraculous signs and wonders going on where God’s people are sharing Jesus and many people are coming to Him. You are blessed when God fills you with the holy awe that comes from seeing him in his glory, and he reveals his miraculous power as you share Jesus with others!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
My responsibility in the Church
We need to understand that the Church is all about relationship. You know that the Church is not bricks and mortar, it is people. The New Testament word for Church means "the called out ones." The Church is not a physical building or space. The Church is made up of Christians. The Church is all of us. In the Church, we are related to one another in a vital union of the Spirit.
It is a relationship based on a reflection of who we are in relation to each other.
Rom 12: 3: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
There always is a danger to think of ourselves more highly than we ought. There also is the danger of not thinking of ourselves as highly as we ought to think. There is an ought to our thinking. Our opinion of ourselves ought not to be too high or too low. It ought to be an opinion based on what God has done in our lives and what God’s calling means in our lives. We need to desire for our lives what God’s idea is for us, in stead of the “good ideas” that we have for ourselves.
God’s idea is that we rejoice in his work in and through us. God’s idea is that it is through every believer in the body of Christ that his work gets accomplished.
But we are not the same!
Rom 12: 4 – 5: Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Do you want to know how the Church should function? Take a look at your own body. Every part of your body has a specific function. You have hands that can pick up objects and you have feet that can carry your body as you walk. But your hands or your feet could not do their jobs without being connected to your arms and your legs. You have eyes that see, ears that hear, a mouth that can eat and taste and speak. You have a nose that can smell, ears that can hear. There are many organs in the human body, and they must all work together, guided by the head of the body, the brain.
Paul tells us that the mystical body of Christ, the Church, is like our human body. Each member has a role, a function, a ministry. Each member is necessary and important. Each member is inter-related to each other member. And when we all cooperate together under the leadership of the Head, Jesus Christ, the ministry of the local church is powerful and effective.
Because our various gifts are all necessary and important, there is a certain responsibility we have toward one another. With the responsibility comes accountability. We need one another. When one of us is lazy in our job at church, the ministry of another suffers. We therefore have a responsibility to exercise the gifts and ministries God has given us. That is God’s idea to make the congregation strong and effective!
We are accountable to God about what we have done with the talents he gave us to serve him and each other. We should also hold each other accountable for enhancing our combined work for the Lord and encourage each other. The leg can disable the foot and the arm disable the hand. And my brother or sister can disable me!
Let’s build each other up in faith, sacrificial love and enthusiasm. Let’s serve the Lord joyfully in his church community!
It is a relationship based on a reflection of who we are in relation to each other.
Rom 12: 3: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
There always is a danger to think of ourselves more highly than we ought. There also is the danger of not thinking of ourselves as highly as we ought to think. There is an ought to our thinking. Our opinion of ourselves ought not to be too high or too low. It ought to be an opinion based on what God has done in our lives and what God’s calling means in our lives. We need to desire for our lives what God’s idea is for us, in stead of the “good ideas” that we have for ourselves.
God’s idea is that we rejoice in his work in and through us. God’s idea is that it is through every believer in the body of Christ that his work gets accomplished.
But we are not the same!
Rom 12: 4 – 5: Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Do you want to know how the Church should function? Take a look at your own body. Every part of your body has a specific function. You have hands that can pick up objects and you have feet that can carry your body as you walk. But your hands or your feet could not do their jobs without being connected to your arms and your legs. You have eyes that see, ears that hear, a mouth that can eat and taste and speak. You have a nose that can smell, ears that can hear. There are many organs in the human body, and they must all work together, guided by the head of the body, the brain.
Paul tells us that the mystical body of Christ, the Church, is like our human body. Each member has a role, a function, a ministry. Each member is necessary and important. Each member is inter-related to each other member. And when we all cooperate together under the leadership of the Head, Jesus Christ, the ministry of the local church is powerful and effective.
Because our various gifts are all necessary and important, there is a certain responsibility we have toward one another. With the responsibility comes accountability. We need one another. When one of us is lazy in our job at church, the ministry of another suffers. We therefore have a responsibility to exercise the gifts and ministries God has given us. That is God’s idea to make the congregation strong and effective!
We are accountable to God about what we have done with the talents he gave us to serve him and each other. We should also hold each other accountable for enhancing our combined work for the Lord and encourage each other. The leg can disable the foot and the arm disable the hand. And my brother or sister can disable me!
Let’s build each other up in faith, sacrificial love and enthusiasm. Let’s serve the Lord joyfully in his church community!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Calm down! Be silent!
There is a precondition to listening to God - or to anyone for that matter. Think about it. You cannot hear if you are busy talking. There is little space for God’s ideas in our minds and thoughts, as long as we are too full of our own good ideas!
For you to hear the Lord, you have to be silent before Him.
The psalmist and prophet Habakkuk speak to this:
(Ps 46:10) "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." and
(Hab 2:20) "But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."
CALM DOWN! BE SILENT BEFORE GOD!
When it comes to listening to God we can say that "silence is golden”. Many people are not comfortable with silence. More people wake up when a sound stops than when a sound starts. Yet, in order to live and serve according to God's idea, we need to be able to listen within the boundaries of silent expectation of personal time with the Lord.
Do you listen and expect to hear the Word of God? Are there enough silent time in your life in which you are listening to him and are you willing to apply his ideas?
Lets create time this week to sincerely pray the prayer in 1 Sam 3: 10:
"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
For you to hear the Lord, you have to be silent before Him.
The psalmist and prophet Habakkuk speak to this:
(Ps 46:10) "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." and
(Hab 2:20) "But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."
CALM DOWN! BE SILENT BEFORE GOD!
When it comes to listening to God we can say that "silence is golden”. Many people are not comfortable with silence. More people wake up when a sound stops than when a sound starts. Yet, in order to live and serve according to God's idea, we need to be able to listen within the boundaries of silent expectation of personal time with the Lord.
Do you listen and expect to hear the Word of God? Are there enough silent time in your life in which you are listening to him and are you willing to apply his ideas?
Lets create time this week to sincerely pray the prayer in 1 Sam 3: 10:
"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Open letter to all Christian men
OPEN LETTER TO ALL CHRISTIAN MEN:
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE A REAL MAN or
Serving Christ in a masculine way…
Let me start by saying that I do not write this open letter against women or their role and privileges in the church. There must be no doubt in your mind that I fully and completely support women’s role in the contemporary church and their right to serve in every ministry and that I respect, honour and appreciate their irreplaceable feminine contribution towards serving God’s people.
But although God made men and women equal in value and honour, the Bible is clear that God made us different. Men should serve God in a masculine way, because this is God’s way for the guys.
Almost a 150 years ago in speaking on the challenges of being a Christian man, C.H. Spurgeon said, ‘there has got abroad a notion, some how, that if you become a Christian you must sink your manliness and turn milksop’. (Milksop is bread soaked in milk but it also means someone who is a weak and easily frightened man .)
One of the problems among Christian men is a lack of understanding of what it means to be ‘more like Jesus’, as men. We know that we are to grow to be more like Jesus (Col.1:28), and to lead like Jesus (Eph.5:25) in our relationships and responsibilities. The problem is that most Christian men see Jesus more as a feminine type than a masculine one, or as I read in a book this week (No More Christian Nice Guy by Paul Coughlin), the vast majority of Christian men see Jesus as a bearded woman!
Paul Coughlin shows how he learned to say no to the "nice guy" syndrome. After all, Christian nice guys aren't always so nice. In the name of appearing Christian by being agreeable, they can lie, keep secrets, manipulate, duck responsibility, and much more. Using the biblical model of Christ as his example of a real man, Coughlin shows men how to become both gentle and bold. This is a powerful challenge and a hopeful message that elevates the true biblical model of manhood above prevailing views in contemporary culture.
If I ask you to describe the ultimate man, what image comes to mind? For most Christian men, Jesus is not the image that comes to mind. In his book The Heart Of A Tender Warrior, Stu Weber writes, “Why is it when someone says, picture the archetypal male, the image that comes to mind is not one of Jesus? For years, the picture in my mind would not have been Jesus. Every portrait of Jesus makes him look more like a pouting model for shampoo than a man”.
This is sad, but it is true. Our image of Jesus is one of a nice guy, a “milksop”, a sissy, who was always gentle, meek, mild, did not defend what he knew was right, was not a highly motivated provider and would do anything not to offend anyone. This is not a biblical picture of Jesus!
When you turn to the gospels you discover a man who we’re told was born to bring division, and who would be the cause of the destruction and salvation of many people (Luke 2:34; 12:51; Matt.10:34).
You discover a man who spoke the truth and spoke up publicly against hypocrisy calling the religious leaders of his day snakes fit for hell, and decomposing corpses that stunk and polluted others (Matt.3:7; 23:27, 33).
You discover a man who thought his disciples were too slow and let them know about it (Matt.17:17).
You discover a man who threatened judgment to those who were spiritually unfruitful (Luke 13:6-9).
You discover a man who got physical when he saw God’s name dishonoured (Mark.11:15-17).
The Bible’s picture of Jesus is one of a man who openly confronted lies and deception, who spoke the truth boldly, who spoke up against hypocrisy, who spoke judgment, who wasn’t afraid to embarrass those who deserved it, who jealously acted to guard God’s honour, and who wasn’t trying to please everyone. Jesus was no milksop, he wasn’t a sensitive new age guy, and he wasn’t a bearded woman. In fact, in the last book of the Bible, Jesus is portrayed as a divine warrior who initiates God’s final salvation and judgment (Rev.19:11-21)
Yes, we certainly also discover that Jesus was tender and gentle. His strength was matched by tenderness.
His power was matched by gentleness. His masculinity was matched by compassion.
Jesus is portrayed as a powerful and strong warrior who came to save his people (John 3:17; Luke 19:10).
He was a man who invited those tired and worn out to come and find rest in him (Matt.11:28).
He was a man who expressed a desire to gather those who were his, under his wings (Matt.23:37).
He was a man who was truly moved when he saw those who were lost (Matt.9:36).
He was a man who openly wept with others in their loss (John 11:33-35).
He was a man who got down on his knees and washed the feet of his disciples to teach them how to serve (John 13:1-15).
He was a man who forgave the sins of others (John 8:1-11; Luke 23:34).
He was a shepherd who bravely laid down his life to save his flock, his people.
Jesus was not “in touch with his feminine side”, no, he shows us that a real, strong warrior, protector and provider, a real man, also is a gentle, tender man with compassion. That it is truly masculine, to care.
To all Christian men, I want to say that God needs both real men and real women to do his work properly.
Women most of the time do not need any encouragement to be strong, nurturing mothers and daughters of the church.
But I am afraid that we guys seem to need encouragement to be strong and brave warriors, protectors and providers in God’s work.
In order to do that, we need to have a biblically balanced view of Jesus.
Unless you as a Christian man have the right picture of Jesus, your masculinity and your understanding of what it means to be a Christian man will be lacking.
Jesus was no a new age mr. Nice Guy. He certainly was no milksop or sissy.
The Bible’s picture of Jesus is that of a strong warrior whose strength was matched by tenderness, whose power was matched by gentleness, and whose masculinity was matched by compassion.
Another secret I want to share with you – your lady will find the real biblical man much more attractive than any milksop!
And in the church – a man according to the image of Jesus will be respected, loved and looked up to by everyone!
A real man loves, protects and provides for his wife as if she is his own body!
And a real man will love, protect and provide for the Bride of Christ, the church, as Jesus loves, protects and provides for us!
When it comes to taking on the challenges in the church – let’s stop being milksops!
And in the face of any evil, slackness, need or threat - be brave!! Fix it!!!
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE A REAL MAN or
Serving Christ in a masculine way…
Let me start by saying that I do not write this open letter against women or their role and privileges in the church. There must be no doubt in your mind that I fully and completely support women’s role in the contemporary church and their right to serve in every ministry and that I respect, honour and appreciate their irreplaceable feminine contribution towards serving God’s people.
But although God made men and women equal in value and honour, the Bible is clear that God made us different. Men should serve God in a masculine way, because this is God’s way for the guys.
Almost a 150 years ago in speaking on the challenges of being a Christian man, C.H. Spurgeon said, ‘there has got abroad a notion, some how, that if you become a Christian you must sink your manliness and turn milksop’. (Milksop is bread soaked in milk but it also means someone who is a weak and easily frightened man .)
One of the problems among Christian men is a lack of understanding of what it means to be ‘more like Jesus’, as men. We know that we are to grow to be more like Jesus (Col.1:28), and to lead like Jesus (Eph.5:25) in our relationships and responsibilities. The problem is that most Christian men see Jesus more as a feminine type than a masculine one, or as I read in a book this week (No More Christian Nice Guy by Paul Coughlin), the vast majority of Christian men see Jesus as a bearded woman!
Paul Coughlin shows how he learned to say no to the "nice guy" syndrome. After all, Christian nice guys aren't always so nice. In the name of appearing Christian by being agreeable, they can lie, keep secrets, manipulate, duck responsibility, and much more. Using the biblical model of Christ as his example of a real man, Coughlin shows men how to become both gentle and bold. This is a powerful challenge and a hopeful message that elevates the true biblical model of manhood above prevailing views in contemporary culture.
If I ask you to describe the ultimate man, what image comes to mind? For most Christian men, Jesus is not the image that comes to mind. In his book The Heart Of A Tender Warrior, Stu Weber writes, “Why is it when someone says, picture the archetypal male, the image that comes to mind is not one of Jesus? For years, the picture in my mind would not have been Jesus. Every portrait of Jesus makes him look more like a pouting model for shampoo than a man”.
This is sad, but it is true. Our image of Jesus is one of a nice guy, a “milksop”, a sissy, who was always gentle, meek, mild, did not defend what he knew was right, was not a highly motivated provider and would do anything not to offend anyone. This is not a biblical picture of Jesus!
When you turn to the gospels you discover a man who we’re told was born to bring division, and who would be the cause of the destruction and salvation of many people (Luke 2:34; 12:51; Matt.10:34).
You discover a man who spoke the truth and spoke up publicly against hypocrisy calling the religious leaders of his day snakes fit for hell, and decomposing corpses that stunk and polluted others (Matt.3:7; 23:27, 33).
You discover a man who thought his disciples were too slow and let them know about it (Matt.17:17).
You discover a man who threatened judgment to those who were spiritually unfruitful (Luke 13:6-9).
You discover a man who got physical when he saw God’s name dishonoured (Mark.11:15-17).
The Bible’s picture of Jesus is one of a man who openly confronted lies and deception, who spoke the truth boldly, who spoke up against hypocrisy, who spoke judgment, who wasn’t afraid to embarrass those who deserved it, who jealously acted to guard God’s honour, and who wasn’t trying to please everyone. Jesus was no milksop, he wasn’t a sensitive new age guy, and he wasn’t a bearded woman. In fact, in the last book of the Bible, Jesus is portrayed as a divine warrior who initiates God’s final salvation and judgment (Rev.19:11-21)
Yes, we certainly also discover that Jesus was tender and gentle. His strength was matched by tenderness.
His power was matched by gentleness. His masculinity was matched by compassion.
Jesus is portrayed as a powerful and strong warrior who came to save his people (John 3:17; Luke 19:10).
He was a man who invited those tired and worn out to come and find rest in him (Matt.11:28).
He was a man who expressed a desire to gather those who were his, under his wings (Matt.23:37).
He was a man who was truly moved when he saw those who were lost (Matt.9:36).
He was a man who openly wept with others in their loss (John 11:33-35).
He was a man who got down on his knees and washed the feet of his disciples to teach them how to serve (John 13:1-15).
He was a man who forgave the sins of others (John 8:1-11; Luke 23:34).
He was a shepherd who bravely laid down his life to save his flock, his people.
Jesus was not “in touch with his feminine side”, no, he shows us that a real, strong warrior, protector and provider, a real man, also is a gentle, tender man with compassion. That it is truly masculine, to care.
To all Christian men, I want to say that God needs both real men and real women to do his work properly.
Women most of the time do not need any encouragement to be strong, nurturing mothers and daughters of the church.
But I am afraid that we guys seem to need encouragement to be strong and brave warriors, protectors and providers in God’s work.
In order to do that, we need to have a biblically balanced view of Jesus.
Unless you as a Christian man have the right picture of Jesus, your masculinity and your understanding of what it means to be a Christian man will be lacking.
Jesus was no a new age mr. Nice Guy. He certainly was no milksop or sissy.
The Bible’s picture of Jesus is that of a strong warrior whose strength was matched by tenderness, whose power was matched by gentleness, and whose masculinity was matched by compassion.
Another secret I want to share with you – your lady will find the real biblical man much more attractive than any milksop!
And in the church – a man according to the image of Jesus will be respected, loved and looked up to by everyone!
A real man loves, protects and provides for his wife as if she is his own body!
And a real man will love, protect and provide for the Bride of Christ, the church, as Jesus loves, protects and provides for us!
When it comes to taking on the challenges in the church – let’s stop being milksops!
And in the face of any evil, slackness, need or threat - be brave!! Fix it!!!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Let’s pray together as one during these demanding times.
I look to the Scriptures for comfort and strength.
I remember the words of Isaiah 50:10: “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” During every challenging time and when we look for answers and direction, Isaiah tells us to entrust it all to the Lord.
The reason we can trust him with our lives, our circumstances and trust him to overcome the weaknesses and threats that our congregations has to deal with, is because of his ‘Name’. The Lord’s ‘Name’ speaks of his never ending goodness and of his commitment to us. The Lord took an oath by his Name to be our God. The Lord we trust continues to be good and committed to all of us. We know this, because he didn’t spare Jesus to make us his own.
Uphold your congregation and her leadership in prayer, intercede for the leaders, fast for them, and let them know you are walking with them. Let me share a few Scriptures to guide our prayers for each other and for our church leaders during these trying times:
• Pray that the Lord might strengthen our leaders and their faith that God answers prayer. James 5: 16 – 20.
• Pray that the Lord might be their shepherd giving them comfort, and always leading them. Ps 23.
• Pray that as the Lord knows us and our circumstances, they might know that he holds them and continues to guide them. Ps 139: 1 – 3 9,10.
• Pray that the Lord will give them comfort as they come to him for wisdom and answers. Ps 55: 22 and 2 Cor 1: 3 and 4.
As a church community we want to uphold the church and her leaders before the Lord. Not just on Sundays, but in all the days and weeks ahead. As a church community I am asking you personally to pray, and to pray in your small groups, and during your family devotions.
I look to the Scriptures for comfort and strength.
Only through his Word and his Spirit will he guide, protect and keep us. Because Jesus is our help and our salvation.
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