It's Time to Grow Up!

There is a huge difference between being childlike and childish: one blesses a church, the other drains a church. One is spiritual, the other is carnal.

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Spiritual growth and maturity is an essential characteristic of a true Christian, yet infant behaviour seems rampant in so many churches. It was A. W. Tozer who said that the visible Church of Christ includes at least four classes of people: First, average people who come to church regularly but are never converted. They enjoy church, their friends are there, but they have never passed from death to life. Second, those who have trained to be Christians, but are not. They have learned the language, give the impression they are a Christian and others think of them as such. Third, there are those who are true Christians, but carnal and are still as they were when first saved. Finally, there are true Christians but ‘unfortunately these seem to be the minority in most churches’. Tozer’s comments make sad reading, but his challenge cannot be ignored. A similar picture is found in the New Testament where Paul refers to the Corinthians as ‘mere infants’ and ‘spiritual babes’; 

1 Corinthians 3:1-2 ‘Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready’. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of believers being ‘slow to learn’; Hebrews 5:11-12 ‘We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food’! There is a huge difference between being childlike and childish: one blesses a church, the other drains a church. One is spiritual, the other is carnal.

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There is something very tragic about an adult being childish. John Ortberg tells of a man called Denny who regularly attended church all his life, yet didn’t like the music and called in the local authority about the volume. Everyone guessed who had complained and laughed it off. However, Ortberg said it was no laughing matter as this guy was 60 years of age, his children couldn’t tolerate him, he stayed cranky and no one expected him to be any different. Those comments remind me of some words from Juan Carolos Ortiz, who said, ‘We have a phenomenon in the church today which I call the Eternal babyhood of the believer. We have members of our churches who, after years of hearing messages are just the same. They continually need a minister to keep after them, changing their diapers, putting talcum on them, and checking their milk isn’t too hot’. Perpetual infancy is not allowed in the Kingdom of God! Childish behaviour has to be addressed and confronted.

Immature, childish believers have these unhealthy traits:

• Self-centered – everything has to revolve around them.
• Influenced by their feelings – one minute they’re happy, the next           they’re screaming!
• Easily attracted by externals – a new sound or rattle quickly gets their   attention.
• Prefer play to work – unproductive apart from making work for others.
• Don’t take responsibility for their actions and behaviour.
• Live on a restricted diet, preferring to be spoon-fed and dependent.

Pastoring isn’t pampering! Growing as a Christian is a command not an option. Spiritual growth is a matter of attitude, not age. God has provided everything we need for growth, and maturity should be our burning ambition. If you’re wearing a small jacket, make sure you’re growing out of it!

Author: Alan Hewitt (re-issue)

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Alan Hewitt (re-issue)

Kiss the Son

Many people might offer a kiss and a cuddle to the cute baby in a manger, but may be less keen to give homage to the King Jesus when He returns.

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Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way,

for His wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. (Psalm 2:10-12)

A kiss is a demonstration of affection, but can also be an act of reverence and submission. In the ancient middle east a kiss could ratify a covenant or seal an agreement. It could also be a sign of subjection, respect and allegiance, as is a vassal/suzerain relationship, in which loyalty and service by the lesser partner was given in return for protection and security by the greater.

Many people might offer a kiss and a cuddle to the cute baby in a manger, but may be less keen to give homage to the King Jesus when He returns. He is the Faithful and True, whose eyes are flaming fire and who comes with righteousness and justice to make war on His enemies; the One who will strike down nations and rule with a rod of iron. (Revelation ch.19) This is the Son, whose anger will one day spill over into wrath against those whose hearts are not yielded to Him, yet whose blessing is granted to those who run to Him for protection. 

This is the Advent of Jesus, predicted by David the psalmist, king, and ancestor of the King of kings. His first advent began meekly. He taught, suffered, died, was raised and returned to heaven. In his second advent He will come with infinite power and authority to rescue the righteous and condemn the wicked. The Hebrew idiom for his anger is a 'burning nose' which in turn will burn all who refuse reverence and submission to the Son.

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So there are only two ways to go. We can pay respect and reverence, obeisance and obedience - 'kiss' - the Son of God, take refuge in Him, and know everlasting blessing. Or we can reject Jesus, provoke His wrath, and perish. 

Returning to the context of the Psalm, we find that though the message is for all people it is particularly directed at people in power. Rulers of the earth are warned to serve the Lord. Throughout history many arrogant and aggressive rulers have come and gone, and those who strut and dictate today will be no different. God is setting up a Kingdom that will never be destroyed, and will break in pieces all other kingdoms and bring them to an end, and this Kingdom will stand forever. (Daniel ch.2)

We should fear the Lord, not with fright that makes us flee but with reverence that seeks sanctuary in Him. All who take refuge in God's Kingdom are blessed forever.

Author: John Plumb

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We Need to Depend More on GOD.

Knowing that we have certain gifts and talents, we make the mistake of assuming we can use them to succeed in our own strength.

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The secret of being able to do what we need to do, is in realising that we cannot do it alone.  We can only do it through God’s empowering grace.  God said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. The word (God’s riches at Christ’s expense) includes all of God we will ever need, for whatever we face in life, what a promise.

Dare I say more often than not, we think we have to do it all, we forget that the power of Christ works through us, so we’re defeated before we even begin. We are labourers together with God. (1Corinthians 3:9).  We can’t do God’s part and God won’t do our part.  God wants us to follow His leading and He insists that we depend on Him every step of the way.  This is hard on our part, on our ego which says, we can do it ourselves.  Sometimes we have to be beaten into the ground before we let go of this kind of thinking.

Knowing that we have certain gifts and talents, we make the mistake of assuming we can use them to succeed in our own strength.  No, unless God’s grace is operating through our gifts we won’t be adequate to the challenge. The bible says in Romans 12:6 “We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us, let us use them in proportion to our faith”.  Grace is like electricity; in order for it to function effectively we must stay plugged in (a certain tv advert comes to mind).

Recently my wife and I had to travel abroad to the Caribbean to sort out and realign a couple of our business interests, which a good trusted friend was looking after for us, but sadly passed away. We thought it would take a few days to complete, but it was difficult (nothing is too difficult for God, because He does all things well), as we found out, and realized the only way is by/through God’s intervention, and as we meditated the Holy Spirit reminded us of His promise/word in Philippians 4:6-7

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"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made to God;  7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This amongst many others became our daily prayers, when things didn’t go as we expected, the Holy Spirit kept on reminding us of His promise do not be anxious.

The other scripture that kept us going was Psalm 46:10-11. Be still and know that I am God. We can truly say that God’s promises are yes and amen, seeing us through, though we couldn’t see the way, but God made a way which we are grateful for, and for the prayers of our brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said “no branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless we remain in him, apart from me you can do nothing.”

So depend more on God and His promises.

Author: Herbert Jean

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Faith?

It made me see more clearly that the things that I wonder about in my life caused through people and circumstances, situations and happenings, seeing, hearing and thinking – they all have an answer in faith. 

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We have been looking at the book of James in our study group and fellowship and it has changed my view of the book completely in a very challenging way. Without being too complicated about it, I used to see James as a “balancing book” – one in which the author is trying to rebalance the emphasis on “Faith” that we find in the New Testament and point out that “works” – actions and good deeds are the currency which we should prioritize more. 

After all, Jesus says in Matthew 25:31-46 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34 “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. 35 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. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Jesus makes no bones about it either here is a clear statement that it is action that is recognized.

Someone in our group said something in the discussion like: “Sometimes there are people that tell other people’s stories because they don’t have any of their own. If we don’t have our own stories about how we needed to rely on God – how we never risked anything for Him and always played it safe – how we never had to depend on Him for anything – what kind of faith is that? What kind of testimony is that – and what will we say to Jesus when we meet Him?”

Well, it got me thinking… 1 Peter 1:6-7 says: So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

In chapter 2:17 James sums it up – “17 So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead”!

So, my approach to James changed. Suddenly I saw the book as a massive challenge to have radical faith rather than trying to get a “good balance” of faith and works. Suddenly the book was full of illustrations of circumstances where we should not live by natural rules, cultural norms or worldly values and expectations. It was rather a radical agenda for followers of Jesus to live by faith – which could only be done by letting faith drive our actions and behaviour. Here are some things that James points out for this radical “faith agenda” in the first couple of chapters of the book:

* When our faith is tested it produces patience

* We don’t receive anything unless we ask in faith

* Our own desires are not from faith

* Good gifts from above are from faith

* The anger of man is not from faith

* The righteousness of God is by faith

* Obeying the word of God is by faith

* Favouritism is not by faith

* The poor – having nothing to depend on other than faith - tend to be rich in faith

* Dependence on keeping the law for justification is not of faith

* Freedom and liberty are by faith

* Showing mercy comes from faith 

* IF THERE IS NO ACTION THERE IS NO FAITH (Can faith be present without showing itself in some kind of action?)

It made me see more clearly that the things that I wonder about in my life caused through people and circumstances, situations and happenings, seeing, hearing and thinking – they all have an answer in faith. Big and small things, earth shattering catastrophes or simply annoying irritations – faith.

It also struck me that James develops his theme from Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew 5 – 7 where He talks about earthly behaviours, which characterize those who belong to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus talks about a number of areas of life where the Father’s expectations are way above the world’s. All that He talks about derives from faith. Faith that is willing to risk being meek when the world would say attack! Faith that says “no” to what the flesh wants. Faith that carries on helping when everything else says stop. Faith that seeks righteousness and Godly “perfection”. Faith that is anchored in Jesus and endures dark and threatening storms. Faith that overcomes. Faith that believes enough to hear Jesus’ sayings and do them. Faith whose engine is compassion and love.

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Paul sums it up in Galatians 5:6.  Speaking about those who are requiring gentiles to be circumcised to be saved he says: 6 For when we are in union with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor the lack of it makes any difference at all; what matters is faith that works through love.

These thought and others have, as I say, come as a real challenge to me. In every / any situation what does faith say? As the song(s) say “Whose report will you believe”(and what action makes that “real”) …?

Author: Chris Pearson

May God bless and enrich your life

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