Advent 2010 - Joseph was righteous and merciful

Matt. 1: 19 tells us that Joseph was "a righteous man." This means he was God-fearing and law-abiding. He was a simple and honest man. The Christmas story gives us a glimpse into Joseph's righteousness.

We are told that "Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph." This means Joseph and Mary had already gone through the first step of making marriage vows and were for that reason considered husband and wife. We are also told that Mary was found with child "before they came together." This means Joseph had yet to take Mary into his home.

At this point Joseph knew only one thing about the child Mary expected: that he was not the father. He thought this could only mean that another man had slept with his wife. As a law abiding man he could not and would not take Mary into his home. As a righteous man, Joseph could not take a wife who was an adulteress. As a righteous man, Joseph could not take a wife home who was not a virgin.

Joseph was righteous, but he was also a merciful, caring, and compassionate man. He did not want to humiliate Mary. He did not want to shame her in front of all the world. He did not want to publicly accuse her of a serious sin. He did not want to subject her to a community trial. He did not want her to be stoned to death. So he decided to divorce Mary quietly. As a truly righteous man, Joseph showed love. As a righteous man, Joseph showed love not only for God, but also for his fellow-man.

Righteous Joseph was and is an example for Christians everywhere to follow and imitate.
As we wait to meet the Messiah, not as a helpless Babe, but as the holy Judge who will come on the clouds, we want to be found to be righteous and merciful.
This can only happen if we are are saved from our sin, ourselves and from God’s enemies by Jesus, because he was born to save us from our sins and to give us his righteousness and mercy.

Advent 2010 - looking forward to the coming of His Kingdom

Jesus warned the church, and individual Christians, to expect to be persecuted and mocked, because the unbelieving world hates believers in the same way that it hates Christ (Jn 15:19; 16:1-4). Paul says "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim 3:12). To share in Christ’s tribulation is something that his followers should be prepared for and expect.

But Christians also share in Christ’s kingdom. Christ "has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father" (Rev 1:6). We even now are subjects of Jesus' Kingdom and under his authority (Col 1:13). And someday we will reign with Christ (Rev 5:10) and will be seated with Him at God's right hand (Eph 2:6).
Right now the churches' participation in Jesus' royal power is hard to see, veiled behind affliction, poverty, and little power (Rev 2:9; 3:8).

And yet, during the Advent Season, the 4 weeks before Christmas, we in faith are looking forward to the day when the kingdom of Jesus will bring all distress to an end. And Jesus who promised to return to us says: “Yes, I am coming soon." (Rev 22:20)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Advent 2010

Season of Advent – the four Sundays before Christmas, starts on 28 November.

The word “Advent” essentially means “coming” and “expecting”. It is a time to be filled with joy, because God became a man and was born as a baby on that first Christmas, to become our Redeemer and King!
During this season we also remember that Jesus wants to come to us, here and now through his Spirit’s work in us, and through us come to a lost world in dire need of him.
Finally we also remember during this season that Jesus Christ promised to physically come to us again, to create a new heaven and earth in which we will live for all eternity!

God sent his Son
During the next four weeks, until Christmas day, we will remember that Christ took on our weak, human nature and became one of us.
As the Apostle Paul puts it in 2 Cor 5: 21: God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us so that in him, we might become the righteousness of God.

This is what Christ did for us during that first Christmas day. In taking on ”weak human flesh”, he associated himself with our dilemma which is the result of our mistakes, disobedience and sin. He came to live the life that God requires and we cannot accomplish, and lived it perfectly, holy and without sin, in our place! The Son of God became our brother and will never leave nor forsake us.

During this season of Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, we want to celebrate that when God gave the gift of salvation, he did not send new laws and rules through which to figure our how we can be saved. No, he sent his Son to save us.
The Advent message always remains that (John 3:16) God so much loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Lets trust in the Son. Lets rejoice because he did everything we could not do, to save us! Lets pray that he will come again soon to dry all our tears.

The Advent Wreath
The symbolism of the Advent Wreath is beautiful. On Sunday our wreath will be displayed.
The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. It signifies victory over persecution and suffering. The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns. Any pine cones or other seeds symbolize life and resurrection.
The circle of the wreath, that has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ who entered our world a true man and who was victorious over sin and death through his own passion, death, and resurrection.

The four candles on the wreath represent the four weeks of Advent. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead.
The lighting of candles signifies Christ, the Light of the world.

In family practice, the Advent candles on the wreath is usually lit at home on Sundays at lunch or dinner time, after the blessing of the food.

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Feast of Christ the King

On Sunday 21 November 2010 the Church again celebrate the the Feast of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of this Christian calendar, as Sunday, 30 November 2010, marks the first Sunday of the new Christian year as we observe the First Advent Sunday, when amongst other things, the count down to Christmastide begins.

The Christian year ends celebrating Christ the King, in victory. We gladly bring honour to Jesus who has not only saved us from our sins by his cross and resurrection, but also ascended to the right hand of God. Our celebration of the glorious work of Jesus culminates in the great finale of the celebration of Christ the King. We rejoice that his Kingdom has come on earth, just as it is in heaven.

We bring honour to our Redeemer, Christ the King, who victoriously reigns now, and reigns forever. He dealt with our every need, delivered us from every enemy, healed us from all sin, harm and injury and he is worshipped when everyone bows before him as Lord of all.

Yes, we know everything God has promised has not happened on our earth yet! Yes, his Kingdom has come and, yes, he is the King and Head of the Church and , yes, he reigns in glory. And yet, his dominion is also still coming to us and to the world. We still live in hope, and in faith that we truly heard the Word of God, that testifies that he will also come again in glory to effect in the smallest detail, his glorious reign. But until he comes again, we celebrate his heavenly rule, and the coming of his dominion over everything and everyone with great expectation, in faith and in the certain knowledge that even now he is the King of our hearts, of his Church and of every aspect of our lives.

On Sunday we celebrate that Jesus of Nazareth, the eternal Son of God, takes his place as King of kings and Lord of lords in our lives, our faith and our knowledge in faith that he will bring justice and righteousness to us, to his people and to the whole world.

We celebrate that our King not only brings salvation to us, but through his ministry through the Church, also to the end of the earth. His people accept the grace that he brings, and commit their lives to the power of the Holy Spirit who empowers his children and his Church to fulfil the commission of Christ the King to preach the gospel to everyone, bring justice wherever we serve him and bring hope and light where darkness still hides his glorious reign and redemption.

We have to and want to live only for his honour, glory and reign. We seek to be obedient by the power of his resurrection and his Spirit. We are convinced that nobody and nothing will separate us from the love of God that we received in Christ the King, our Lord and our Saviour!
Hosanna to the King of kings!

Sick and Tired (4) – Final

Renewable Energy

When we grow weary, we often fall into depression. It’s so easy to be negative and critical when you are tired, and at the same time feel defenceless and loose reasonable perspective. When you are exhausted, its so easy to feel sorry for yourself. You become like the man who had both an identity crisis and energy crisis. He didn’t know who he was, but was too tired to find out.

But what can we do about it? We need a renewable source of energy. We need to grow strong again.
Isaiah says: (Isa 40: 31) "Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength: They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

"Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength." The contrast here is between the vulnerability of a weary person and the vigour of a waiting believer. We wait for the Lord because we trust him and walk by faith. Literally, the word for “wait” has the connotation of "to bind" or "to braid." The idea is to braid ourselves together with the Lord. To wait upon the Lord may be the Old Testament equivalent of faith in the New Testament. To wait on the Lord means that we seek his presence earnestly, while waiting patiently and expectantly for his answers.

The promise to those who wait upon the Lord, is that they shall renew their strength. The original word for “renew” means that the Lord shall "exchange" their weakness for his strength. As we draw nearer to God, waiting upon him expectantly in faith and trusting in him as our resource, he will impart his strength to us.

Paul expresses this same idea in 2 Corinthians 4:16 where he says, "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." In Jesus Christ, our inner man can be renewed everyday as we effect our faith in him. And spiritual renewal makes it easier to truly rest emotionally and physically as well.

We must give top priority to our daily relationship of quietly being with the Lord, listening to him and submitting to his will and way with our lives. We cannot allow anything to rob us of this renewable spiritual energy. It is in these daily times of drawing upon God’s resources that we are given the strength to live for him. If we want to face our circumstances victoriously, we must spend time patiently waiting upon the Lord. This is how we receive his renewable strength.

Are you, here at the end of the year, in desperate need to renew your strength? Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Prayerfully ponder. Focus. Braid yourself with him.
And Christ will give you strength.

Beware of the judgmental spirit of legalism

Just as we value and defend our personal freedoms, we should guard against anyone who wants to steal our spiritual freedoms in Christ. The good news of the message of Christ is that we have been set free to live in the power of Christ, to choose to live for God and drink from the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
We have been set free from the punishment of a law we were unable to keep. We live by grace through faith.
Sadly many Christians are unaware of the extent of this freedom in Christ. Many allow others to judge them or they judge themselves by legalistic standards in stead of enjoying the abundant life that Jesus has given us in his mercy.

Beware of the judgmental spirit of legalism
Col 2: 16 – 17 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Have you noticed that within Christianity there is sometimes a judgmental spirit? Far too often we encounter a Christian, even a whole “church of Christians”, who is that way. You feel like they are always looking over your shoulder comparing you to some personal preference that they have for you, to live up to. Sometimes you hear Christians talking about other people in the most negative way possible, putting them down for something they did or failed to do.

As followers of Christ, we desire to be obedient to him. That is what following Christ is all about –– seeking to hear his voice and to follow where he leads. We should be concerned about righteousness and justice and live pure and simple lives. We want our children to learn Christian values. We do not condone sin. If Christians do not stand for what is right and holy, who will?

But when we move from a broken-hearted attitude of love and compassion for a lost world to a hardhearted attitude of self-righteous judgment, because other Christians have different views about negligible causes and ideas about right living, we have become unrighteous ourselves.

We’ve been set free to live for Christ. We are free to do anything and everything that we can do in Christ. So, do not let anyone judge you by so-called righteousness that keeps itself busy with the shadows of reality in stead of being focussed on living for Jesus.
We have been set free from the judgmental spirit of legalism. We are free to live for the Lord and to enjoy the bounty of his grace.

Sick and tired. (3)

Losing perspective when we are weary.

We all run out of energy sometimes and have to face the problem of being weary. Last week we saw that when we become weary, we are defenceless against the enemy. We are like a vulnerable sheep to the wolf.

But we also lose our proper perspective when we are weary. The best. known Bible story to illustrate this is found in Genesis 25:29-34. Its the story of Esau selling his birthright. Notice why he sold it: Because he was famished! He was starved, he was wanting, yes, he was in physical need!
"And when Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, ‘Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.’... But Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ And Esau said, ‘Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?’ And Jacob said, ‘first swear to me;’ so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright."

It was because Esau was physically exhausted, weary and hungry, that he sold his birthright and lost his proper perspective, and so can we.
Take Note that weariness makes you to pay more attention to your physical and emotional needs, than to your spiritual needs. If you are sick and tired, you usually are more inclined to “looking through physical eyes.”
Because Esau was famished, he could not see what was really important any more, and missed out on the blessing of God.

Even in the Lord’s prayer Jesus allows us to pray for bread, before we ask for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus knows that a famished person can hardly think of sins, temptations and forgiving his neighbour. We need bread, our most basic physical needs met, in order to gain proper perspective on our spiritual health.

What we really need is spiritual vision. Jesus also quoted Moses in saying that “man cannot live form bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord!” We desperately need bread, rest, health and to be physically relaxed. Then we will have the energy and the perspective to repent, to forgive and to seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, knowing that we will receive everything else from the Lord we serve. We need to learn how to rest by to trust and obey.

When we grow weary, we tend to lose our proper perspective on God’s reality. But even when I am sick and tired, I must remember that God is still on the throne. We need to see that. We need to know and believe that!
If you are weary, you are more inclined to “looking through physical eyes.”
Yet it remains the best time to learn how to rest by to trust and obey.

Only Jesus can!

Col 2: 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.

The main threat to Christianity is not the direct, head on attacks. Its the subtle changes in God’s truth that can ambush us much more easily. Its adding to or subtracting from the Gospel truth while still presenting an illusive image of being Biblical that are the most dangerous threats.

The Christians to whom Paul was writing in Colosse were faced with false teachers that would distort Christianity by adding to it. In order to be a true Christian, in their view, one must not only believe in Christ but ALSO be circumcised. They taught Christ plus adding circumcision, a Jewish ritual, to the Gospel.

Their tactic is still being employed today. People still are adding to essential Christianity. Faith in Christ is not enough for some. They want to add some sort of good work, religious rituals or fashionable faith of the day as being as essential as Christ.

As Christians, we must be clear about the basics. We contend that salvation is
BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, IN CHRIST ALONE.

We believe that everything has been provided for us in the person and the all sufficient, once and for all, complete work of Jesus Christ. Through Christ we have been given all that we need for life and godly living. We are alive in Christ. Our sins are forgiven.
We will not add to it and not subtract from it!
Jesus is all we need!

Only Jesus can:
I cannot save myself o God,
- no one can, my Lord!
There is no one, to take away
all my guilt, unrighteousness!
Just Jesus can,
can achieve God’s gospel plan.
Yes, Jesus can,
o holy God,
only Jesus can!

A Saviour pure, I need, o God,
- sinless man and God,
to carry all my punishment,
satisfy your will, your wrath!
Pure Jesus can,
sinless Christ, the Son of man.
Lord Jesus can,
the Son of God,
only Jesus can!

Being sick and tired of being sick and tired. (2)

Defenseless when attacked
One of our challenges is that our strength is exhaustible. We all run out of energy sometimes and have to face the problem of being weary.
Last week we saw that Isaiah 40:30-31 deals with the fact that we all become tired, even the youth and even vigorous young men! It says:
"Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength: They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

When we become weary, we are defenseless against the enemy. We are like a vulnerable sheep to the wolf. Satan, the enemy who steals our lives and prevents us from being significant in God’s service. Like the wolf, he waits for the weary idler who falls behind the flock. And then he ambushes and devours that easy prey.

The Scripture is filled with examples which illustrates this point. In Deuteronomy 25:17-18 we read, "Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God."
Amalek’s attack on Israel is an example of what happens when Christians grow tired and fall behind the flock in serving God, becoming victims of those who do not fear God.
That is why we are urged in Hebrews 12:3 to consider Jesus "who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart." It is when we grow weary and lose heart that we are in the most dangerous position a Christian can be. We become easy prey for the enemy. Our defenses are down, and sometimes we aren’t even aware of it.

Say no to exhausting schedules! Pursue Christ! Find rest in quiet time with the Lord. Earnestly keep praying for protection when you are tired. Rest. Eat well and healthy. Sleep enough. Take leave if you can. More importantly, take good care of your personal relationship with Jesus, and make time to spend with the source of rest, love, trust and hope, Jesus Christ, who died, that we may live triumphantly. Fear God!
Do not fall for the devils snares and ambushes because you are tired.
Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of spiritual dangers and temptations!

Disciplined

Col 2:5 “For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.”

Orderly here means disciplined. If you’re going to really know Christ, you must discipline yourself to study, to pray, and to serve. You must have a plan and then follow the plan. It will not happen by accident. And it will not happen unless you make it a priority. Our faith can grow to be a firm foundation of a life that makes an impact through loving effort and focuses on the mystery of God, even Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

Here is the lesson. A life worth living requires discipline, so we must be intentional. We must order our lives in such a way that we plan to get to know God better. We must order our time in such a way that we make opportunities to serve God, to worship God, to listen to God and to respond to his leading.

Jesus Christ has already made the first move. He reached out to us in love. He gave his life for us on the cross. He died there to pay for our sins. He was not passive. And just as he was proactive, so must we be. If we want to grow in our knowledge of God, we must pursue Christ actively.