* Its a Theological issue - What goes on in my head and heart is largely the key to walking in emotional freedom or stress. I have found that there is a large difference between truth we have heard and truth that resides in the inner sanctum of our lives. As a deeper Theology of Assurance and Inheritance has grounded me in a more profound trust there has been MUCH less room for worry and anxiety, the ugly sisters of leaking emotional tanks.
* Its a success issue - our whole view of 'success' has needed to change. Deep in the heart we need to make the transition from 'God writing our story' to 'us writing His story' and the journey into this is inevitably through trials and delay. Its the best thing that could ever happen to us. When we find our 'success' in God Himself and trust at a deeper level, joy and peace replace Arminian drivenness - a relentless inner unrest that is an emotional slave driver.
* Its a people issue - ministry is about people and building lives, team, reaching the lost and so on. For me knowing how to 'switch off' and relax, and rest in the perpetual 'unfinished business' of lives and church 'in process' has taken time and is again related to a deeper trust. Handling criticism is another big one and living free of people's moods and 'issues' with us at times has meant that we sleep well, fret less and laugh more. Relational disharmony is highly draining and learning greater honesty, confrontation and listening skills has helped to reduce 'passive aggressive' and unsettling escalation of disharmony. We must learn aswell to live well in our own 'shoes' and not live under our own or other people's comparisons of ourselves.
* Its a lifestyle issue - I have found the following important: rest, protecting a day off, having good holidays, having a date night with Ali and building our marriage is VITAL to emotional well-being, good sex life in marriage is most helpful to our emotional state, taking exercise and keeping in shape helps how we feel about ourselves, getting enough sleep, eating well and general health well-being, Having a hobby and enjoying a glass of wine and fun with friends is necessary to avoid constant intensity and being drained. Laughter breaks fear.
* Its a Spirit issue - quite simply the anointing of the Holy Spirit breaks 'yokes of bondage' of our lives. Emotions get damaged in this trench warfare. I have had to work hard (and still do) to maintain a decent prayer life and enter the 'rest' of God. Entering the 'santuary' of God (Psalms 73) also brings proper perspective to us amidst unsettling emotions and helps ground us in the Sovereignty of God that brings peace even amidst temporary 'defeats' and choppy waters.
* Its a friendship issue - I have found this vital. Having friends that we can be real with and who don't judge us for opening our 'under-bellies' has been a key to remaining emotionally stable. Ladies in particular need this but so do men! Laughter and the joy of friendship is deeply therapeutic to one's emotional state, I believe.The opposite of this is just bottling things up inside and leads to harmful repression of emotions that will one day mount up to the point of breakdown unless dealt with.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
The tussle for transparency
"Peace, peace, when there is no peace" — Jeremiah 6:14
"MINISTERS ARE FEARFULLY GUILTY if they intentionally build up men in a false peace" Charles Spurgeon.
Read more in his 'Blast of the Trumpet against False Peace'
www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0301.htm
Cards on the table, none of us wants to be labelled as the insensitive fundamentalist screaming down a loudspeaker to some poor defenseless bystander!
When I first arrived in Dublin to establish a Gospel frontier post(and in the process a church) I made the point of telling everyone I was from Co.Derry (we never called it Londonderry!) and that I was not a 'Paisley type' bigot or narrow minded sort! All true, but the point was that we live in a country blighted by religious stereotypes the perceptions of which had left me back-footed trying to explain what I 'was not' rather than what I am and believe. It takes time to establish trust and I hope that has happened...and that I too have grown up to be less 'perceptions' conscious and more God conscious, less of a man pleaser and more of a God pleaser!
Spurgeon's trumpet blast here is an outcry against Christian people, especially leaders, who have believed the Gospel and received Christ as their Saviour but do nothing to challenge the religious stereotypes of people around them....and in doing so leave people with 'false peace'
Religious stereotypes are nothing new. Jesus had to face them from Jewish leaders who refused to listen to his truth claims and rejected Him for who He truly was ('the Saviour' sent by God to reconcile men to God) This is a great tragedy that continues to happen in our day. Rejecting Jesus' truth claims, hiding behind stereotypes and a 'form of godliness' but denying the need for a truly God saved and tranformed life leads to current and eternal separation from God (in a place that Jesus called Hell) - and dare I say it, a wasted life.
I'd say thats a tragedy worth getting brave for, persevering with stereotypes for, and laying our lives down for.
WWW.SOUTHCITYCHURCH.ORG
"MINISTERS ARE FEARFULLY GUILTY if they intentionally build up men in a false peace" Charles Spurgeon.
Read more in his 'Blast of the Trumpet against False Peace'
www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0301.htm
Cards on the table, none of us wants to be labelled as the insensitive fundamentalist screaming down a loudspeaker to some poor defenseless bystander!
Spurgeon's trumpet blast here is an outcry against Christian people, especially leaders, who have believed the Gospel and received Christ as their Saviour but do nothing to challenge the religious stereotypes of people around them....and in doing so leave people with 'false peace'
Religious stereotypes are nothing new. Jesus had to face them from Jewish leaders who refused to listen to his truth claims and rejected Him for who He truly was ('the Saviour' sent by God to reconcile men to God) This is a great tragedy that continues to happen in our day. Rejecting Jesus' truth claims, hiding behind stereotypes and a 'form of godliness' but denying the need for a truly God saved and tranformed life leads to current and eternal separation from God (in a place that Jesus called Hell) - and dare I say it, a wasted life.
I'd say thats a tragedy worth getting brave for, persevering with stereotypes for, and laying our lives down for.
WWW.SOUTHCITYCHURCH.ORG
Monday, December 20, 2010
Mary in proper focus
Thank God for Mary, the mother to Jesus, who conceived Him by the Spirit and carried Him to birth, brought Him up, fed Him, clothed Him and no doubt performed so many normal motherly functions for Him...God chose to incarnate the Son of God as a man and to have Him born in the normal way, conceived in no ordinary way...So today, I want to honour Mary, to remember her and to thank God for her and for how she endured scorn, shame and the loss of a son on the cross...all for the Kingdom of God, quite a load to carry and from what we know she carried it well!
What a pity though that myths about Mary have been allowed to develop through church tradition that elevate her to a superhuman level and actually rob her and us of the true story of this humble servant - somehow in this there has been a sad loss of 'proper focus'. Mary is not God nor a deity of any form, nor can Mary answer prayers - according to Scripture. The Bible teaches that 'there is one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ' (1 Timothy 2v5) Mary should be respected but the Bible gives us NO indication that we should ever pray to her or put our trust in her to help us out through interventions while we are alive. Repetition of 'Hail Marys', according to the Bible, are a waste of time and would surely cause Mary great distress if she were not enjoying the perfection of Heaven too much at this time!
Another myth about Mary, apart from her supposed ability to 'answer prayer' is the proposition regarding her 'perpetual virginity', even as a married woman! This is surely a complete myth developed on the back of dogmas developed under Plato's influence centuries ago by 'theologians'. The notion of Mary ever having had sexual relations with her husband has been rejected by a sector of the church because of philosophical reasons. This is the same logic and dogma that has left priests unable to marry in one major denomination and see what effect that illogical and unnatural imposition of philosophical belief upon God's divine order has brought about! Enough said. Mary was a normal woman, a normal wife, who went on to have other children. She was created as a sexual being and was a normal married woman no doubt in this regard. There is NO need to believe otherwise! Just because Jesus was immaculately conceived should not in any way presuppose that Mary had a restraining order from above imposed upon her to make her chaste. Oh what unnecessary foolishness. The final part of the 'dirty lens' that needs wiping regarding Mary is the dogma regarding her own immaculate conception. No! The very point Jesus chose to belong to a family of no great social standing or means, and to a teenage unmarried virgin - was that He is a God of GRACE! He chooses the weak and ignoble things of this world and kisses us with His favour inspite of these traits! One of Jesus' ancestors was a harlot called Rahab, David was complicit in murder, Abraham had betrayed his wife on fear of his life...should I go on? It is WRONG to think that Jesus had to belong to a 'perfect' mother, who is some super-sanitised otherworldly demi-God. The whole point of God's redemptive plan was to visit a guilty world in love. To visit the poor with the riches of His glory, and Mary was an ordinary young lady who was chosen, in no small measure for her 'ordinariness' I believe. She was chosen because she was chosen not because she was 'worthy' of being chosen.
Why pick a fight on this you may be asking? Well, this folks is important on a few levels. Twisting Scripture is never clever, creating your own dogmas and church tradition as authoritative on a par with Scripture is toxic and warned against by Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament. My main point here though is simply this. Mary was chosen by God to carry the Lord of Glory in her womb because she was chosen, and because she was a normal 'imperfect' sinner. Yes, Mary too was a sinner. This only elevates my admiration of her. Imperfection rather than perfection seemed to qualify her to carry the Lord of Glory!
Lets see Mary through the lens of what is historically accurate and theologically sound. Lets admire her for her ordinariness and yet outstanding qualities of character. Lets resist the faulty premise that Mary needs to be 'elevated' to some other-worldly status and assigned the qualities of a deity type figure. She does not. Grace means we get what we DON'T DESERVE not what we do deserve, Mary must be longing for this to be revealed in relation to her own story.
The same is true for you and I. Resist the false teaching that claims you have to 'clean up your own life' in order to be saved by God. Resist the lie that you have to 'prove yourself' in order for God to accept you. No, the cross of Christ is the proving ground! Even our righteous acts are like 'filty rags' before God, in light of His holiness and glory. No. Accept your ordinariness. Accept your ignoble lineage. Accept your sinfulness and need of a Saviour. When you have done this, you are ready to believe upon Jesus in a new way, in a way that makes you desperate for His Grace, His blood for your sin, His life for your death, His eternity for your lostness.
Thank God for Mary, today I celebrate and honour her - mother to Jesus, and am so grateful for her life and example and thank God that He uses and accepts the weak and ordinary people of this world for His extraordinary and powerful purposes!
JS
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Myth of those who ‘believe’ and those who ‘don’t’
There is a myth that 'believers' are only the ‘religious types’! We are of course all 'believers', it’s just that we may believe contrastingly from one another. Every one of us has a worldview, a grid through which we view the world and its affairs, matters of faith or the absence of it and so on...
However, lets hold it a minute because we all put our ‘faith’ (trust) in something don’t we? Oh, I know you are now feeling like I am trying to corner you and most certainly are considering switching to read something less in your face, I understand if you do as there are moments for everything. If however, my deliberate play on words causes even a modicum of intrigue, then I invite you to read on.
None of us live in a vacuum. We have all had our ‘lens’ misted’ by something. The relativist tells us that ‘all roads lead equally to Rome’, the moralist that life’s deeper meaning is too mysterious and that all that really matters is being a good citizen and decent human being.
The Biblical expression of how to interpret God's place in the affairs of His will can be summarised in the word Sovereignty. God being a Providential God who has ultimate control and power over His creation but has refused to harness the creation in a tight fisted grip of robotic dictatorship. No, the ultimate accolade we can give God is simply to recognise and respond to Him as He truly is, not because we have to but because we want to. That was the ‘risk’ of a Sovereign God granting human freedom.
Common worldviews or faiths that many hold in differing measures, even sub-consciously, in our day:
1. Atheism – the belief that eminates from evolutionary theory, that there is no God or higher power. Remember Atheism is surely also a ‘faith’ in something, even if it leads to a ‘faith in nothing’!
2. Polytheism – the belief in many gods or higher powers. Hindus’ pay homage to a host of gods and idols and may at times offer worship to one in order to appease another. Some Christians have suggested that idolatry is no less prevalent, albeit in a more sophisticated form, in 21st Century western society, a problem God lambasted Israel for in the Old Testament writings!
3. Deism – a belief in God that is based on reason based on nature and science. Sees the universe like a machine, believes in God but as a distant and remote being who is not involved in earthly affairs. The Bible and Christianity in general are based upon God having revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, to witnesses, in His Scriptures (inspiration) and so on. Deism refer to any ‘revealed religions’ as they call them, as ‘superstition’, including Christianity.
4. Astrology – star signs etc given a platform of inspiration and guidance from ‘other-worldly’ cosmic sources. Witchcraft and Satanism are also faith based practises active today.
5. Chance and fate – many believe in ‘Murphy’s law’, some in a haphazard ‘happy-go-lucky’ way, others have a deeper sense of ‘Fatalism’ which can have a more sinister effect on people’s lives. Even religions such as Islam and Christianity can be steeped in fatalism eg. The will of Allah as a carte blanche statement following events, Hyper-Calvinism which has twisted the Bible’s teaching on pre-destination and given it a fatalistic bent.
6. Relativism - a common post-modernism, that there is no such thing as absolute truth, that it is a subjective matter. In this case there is no one way to salvation for example, no one God to believe in, we can all chose our path, take whatever medecine 'suits us'. According to the Christian worldview this makes a mockery of the work of Christ on the cross as the only means of salvation.
7. Moralism - this puts faith in man's own 'goodness' and worth. It involves measurement against some subjective perception of right and wrong and often comparison against others, as the means of 'righteousness'. Many from nominal Christian backgrounds base their lives upon such assumptions. Again, the work of the cross is side-lined under such a view.
These are just a few of the worldviews that shape what people believe today. Even if a person wouldn't label themselves as belonging to any one of these ideologies (or others) it is most likely that there are at least trace elements or in some cases dollops of some of these influencing worldviews. Everyone believes in something, no one exist in a vacuum, my question is:
Do you believe that what you believe to be real is really real at all?
Jesus Christ spoke plainly of Himself. He said, ‘I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. No man may some unto the Father but through me’
This was an exclusive claim. He came to bring salvation to a world of all kinds of worldviews. Many rejected Him and continue to. Is what you believe to be true still really true to you, or true at all?
Any comments?
However, lets hold it a minute because we all put our ‘faith’ (trust) in something don’t we? Oh, I know you are now feeling like I am trying to corner you and most certainly are considering switching to read something less in your face, I understand if you do as there are moments for everything. If however, my deliberate play on words causes even a modicum of intrigue, then I invite you to read on.
None of us live in a vacuum. We have all had our ‘lens’ misted’ by something. The relativist tells us that ‘all roads lead equally to Rome’, the moralist that life’s deeper meaning is too mysterious and that all that really matters is being a good citizen and decent human being.
None of these thoughts developed in a vacuum.Even Kevin Myers, the gnarly social commentator (Irish Independent) recently admitted in his column (September, 2010) that the opponents and detractors of protagonists of ‘Creationist’ views of the world’s origins (‘Intelligent Design’) are way less credible than the views of their ‘fodder’! It takes someone as ‘worldly’ as Myers at times to get people to sit up and ask some serious questions of what we believe and why we believe it.
The Biblical expression of how to interpret God's place in the affairs of His will can be summarised in the word Sovereignty. God being a Providential God who has ultimate control and power over His creation but has refused to harness the creation in a tight fisted grip of robotic dictatorship. No, the ultimate accolade we can give God is simply to recognise and respond to Him as He truly is, not because we have to but because we want to. That was the ‘risk’ of a Sovereign God granting human freedom.
Common worldviews or faiths that many hold in differing measures, even sub-consciously, in our day:
1. Atheism – the belief that eminates from evolutionary theory, that there is no God or higher power. Remember Atheism is surely also a ‘faith’ in something, even if it leads to a ‘faith in nothing’!
2. Polytheism – the belief in many gods or higher powers. Hindus’ pay homage to a host of gods and idols and may at times offer worship to one in order to appease another. Some Christians have suggested that idolatry is no less prevalent, albeit in a more sophisticated form, in 21st Century western society, a problem God lambasted Israel for in the Old Testament writings!
3. Deism – a belief in God that is based on reason based on nature and science. Sees the universe like a machine, believes in God but as a distant and remote being who is not involved in earthly affairs. The Bible and Christianity in general are based upon God having revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, to witnesses, in His Scriptures (inspiration) and so on. Deism refer to any ‘revealed religions’ as they call them, as ‘superstition’, including Christianity.
4. Astrology – star signs etc given a platform of inspiration and guidance from ‘other-worldly’ cosmic sources. Witchcraft and Satanism are also faith based practises active today.
5. Chance and fate – many believe in ‘Murphy’s law’, some in a haphazard ‘happy-go-lucky’ way, others have a deeper sense of ‘Fatalism’ which can have a more sinister effect on people’s lives. Even religions such as Islam and Christianity can be steeped in fatalism eg. The will of Allah as a carte blanche statement following events, Hyper-Calvinism which has twisted the Bible’s teaching on pre-destination and given it a fatalistic bent.
6. Relativism - a common post-modernism, that there is no such thing as absolute truth, that it is a subjective matter. In this case there is no one way to salvation for example, no one God to believe in, we can all chose our path, take whatever medecine 'suits us'. According to the Christian worldview this makes a mockery of the work of Christ on the cross as the only means of salvation.
7. Moralism - this puts faith in man's own 'goodness' and worth. It involves measurement against some subjective perception of right and wrong and often comparison against others, as the means of 'righteousness'. Many from nominal Christian backgrounds base their lives upon such assumptions. Again, the work of the cross is side-lined under such a view.
These are just a few of the worldviews that shape what people believe today. Even if a person wouldn't label themselves as belonging to any one of these ideologies (or others) it is most likely that there are at least trace elements or in some cases dollops of some of these influencing worldviews. Everyone believes in something, no one exist in a vacuum, my question is:
Do you believe that what you believe to be real is really real at all?
Jesus Christ spoke plainly of Himself. He said, ‘I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. No man may some unto the Father but through me’
This was an exclusive claim. He came to bring salvation to a world of all kinds of worldviews. Many rejected Him and continue to. Is what you believe to be true still really true to you, or true at all?
Any comments?
Friday, November 12, 2010
Compassion in your gut
Brendan Manning tells a story about going to down to pray for a dying man in hospital. The man's 35 year old daughter had come to his house in tears because she had three times asked her Pastor if he could go down to do the same, three times he agreed, but three times got side-tracked in busyness and administrative duties and forgot or overlooked this most urgent and vital of pastoral duties. What a tragedy!
God is a God of compassion. He is surely longing to release His compassion upon a hurting and broken world, through us his 'compassion bearers'. Are we too busy or distracted or discouraged to notice what is happening around us? The flicker of sadness in an eye, the depth of despair or loneliness in a look....do we have eyes to see and ears to hear what is happening around us, or are we too self-involved to notice? May it not be so Lord...
The Gospels record that Jesus was 'moved' with compassion. Not only was he 'moved' with compassion but he allowed the compassion to 'move him' to take action, and bring healing and comfort and dignity to the broken and shamed. The original word for 'moved' is rooted in a language that is literally - a pain or wrenching deep within the bowels and gut! Now that is graphic and descriptive alright!
Brendan Manning offers this stunning but most provocative challenge to all believers of the goal of our faith being to be expressed in love and compassion. I leave you with the quote and may God meet you today in your need and out of the comfort you receive cause you to be a blessing to the hurting and broken. God is love.
Quote by Brendan Manning,
"You are never more Christ-like than when you are choked with compassion upon the brokenness of others"
Any comments?
Monday, November 8, 2010
A prophetic word given by Ali Shiels March 2010
Prophetic Word – Arise Dublin March 2010
Ancient Wells Prophetic word:
The following word was given at an 'Arise Dublin' meeting and was sent around the Arise Dublin network at the request of the Arise Dublin team:
While worshipping, the Lord showed me a picture of Ireland, and dotted all over our nation were WELLS. The Lord showed me that these are Ancient wells…. Wells that have been dug by saints of old.
But as I looked closer, the Lord showed me that the wells were stopped up. They were filled with grit and sand and mud…… where once pure fresh water flowed, now the water was stagnant, and dirty and not flowing.
The mud I believe symbolizes TRADITION, RELIGIOSITY, and SELF!!
The mud symbolizes where we have clouded and ‘dirtied’ the pure fresh water of God, by living lives that have been focused on SELF, on chasing after the things of this world, and not after Him…….
Then the Lord showed me that the time was now upon us, where He was going to unblock and unstop those Ancient wells. Where once again, the fresh pure water of God would flow through our land and wash over our land bringing new and fresh water to a thirsty and dry nation. As I looked, the wells did not just begin to flow, but the water EXPLODED up and out of the wells (much like when we strike oil, and the oil shoots up meters into the sky), and flowed out through the streets….. I saw clean, pure water flooding our streets and flowing through this city and this land……..
I believe that the Lord is encouraging us, that we have served him in a time of drought, and have proven faithful, but that now a time is upon us where we will experience an ABUNDANCE of His Spirit, where thirsty hearts and lives will ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’. It is a time of REFRESHING for the church in this nation. A time where we will begin to reap from the foundations of the wells that were dug hundreds of years ago…….
Ali Shiels (South City Church)
Monday, November 1, 2010
Beyond Hope Deferred
A Proverb of Scripture says
'Hope Deferred makes the heart sick'
Every one of us knows that horrid feeling of deflation where hope seems to have ebbed from our souls like a sagging party balloon. From being over-looked when teams are picked in the play-ground, the teen-age crush turned heart-break, a redundancy that comes out of left-field - 'restructuring' - a recessionary term that classically understates the trauma caused, to the greatest diappointments life can throw at us - marriage dreams shattered, tragic deaths...the list goes on and on. The potential for 'Hope deferred' seems endless.
Bill Johnson has described the HOPE God gives as 'the soil faith grows in'. It provides the necessary spiritual context for faith to take root and grow . Clearly despair is metaphorically soil that has gone toxic, the heart has grown sick as hope has been deferred.
Hope is the light that shines the way ahead for us. The Bible portrays many promises that seem utterly elusive amidst 'wilderness' experiences of utter despair and darkness.
Many are indeed experiencing those 'dark times' in our times where 'Hope deferred' has made their hearts sick. Its a horrible place to be in. The Gospel is Good News and is found in the Person, the Hope of the Nations, the Promised One, Jesus Christ. The Gospel by definition is hope for the hopeless and in this more than some 'comfort blanket', but more substantially - mercy to the undeserving, Grace to the lawless, all because of one PERFECT SACRIFICE for sin.
Any of us who regard ourselves as followers of Christ are supposed to be the mid-wives of this hope into the world, ambassadors of another kingdom. For this to happen, dear friends, let us throw off the chains that bind us, and drink the delights of our God, even in tough times, that will help make sick hearts rejoice! Look beyond the mists and drunken confusion of your own disappointment and hope once more...its Christ in us that is 'the hope of glory'
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Romans 4v18
'Hope Deferred makes the heart sick'
Every one of us knows that horrid feeling of deflation where hope seems to have ebbed from our souls like a sagging party balloon. From being over-looked when teams are picked in the play-ground, the teen-age crush turned heart-break, a redundancy that comes out of left-field - 'restructuring' - a recessionary term that classically understates the trauma caused, to the greatest diappointments life can throw at us - marriage dreams shattered, tragic deaths...the list goes on and on. The potential for 'Hope deferred' seems endless.
Bill Johnson has described the HOPE God gives as 'the soil faith grows in'. It provides the necessary spiritual context for faith to take root and grow . Clearly despair is metaphorically soil that has gone toxic, the heart has grown sick as hope has been deferred.
Hope is the light that shines the way ahead for us. The Bible portrays many promises that seem utterly elusive amidst 'wilderness' experiences of utter despair and darkness.
History tells us that God is not a God though of heartless and tantalising miragesbut rather a God of substance,faithfulness and justice who is true to His Sovereign plan even when life appears to take detours and descend into dark times.
Many are indeed experiencing those 'dark times' in our times where 'Hope deferred' has made their hearts sick. Its a horrible place to be in. The Gospel is Good News and is found in the Person, the Hope of the Nations, the Promised One, Jesus Christ. The Gospel by definition is hope for the hopeless and in this more than some 'comfort blanket', but more substantially - mercy to the undeserving, Grace to the lawless, all because of one PERFECT SACRIFICE for sin.
Any of us who regard ourselves as followers of Christ are supposed to be the mid-wives of this hope into the world, ambassadors of another kingdom. For this to happen, dear friends, let us throw off the chains that bind us, and drink the delights of our God, even in tough times, that will help make sick hearts rejoice! Look beyond the mists and drunken confusion of your own disappointment and hope once more...its Christ in us that is 'the hope of glory'
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Romans 4v18
Friday, October 29, 2010
The Name Above All Names
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115v1
Its incredible how many times the theme and reality of the NAME of the Lord is spoken of in the Bible. Bible names so often embodied a message, made a point in some way, were used to honour or sometimes the opposite (Jabez for example means 'pain' because of what his mother suffered in child birth!), (names) spoke of the prophetic sense of destiny over a child's future life, (a name) was changed at times to represent the change in favour or status of a person (Jacob became Israel after struggling with the Lord and overcoming) and of course (names) identified the character or mission of a person and much more. No greater example than the name of Jesus (from Joshua - means Saviour)
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" Matt. 1v21
"He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come" Luke 11v2
"All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 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. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled". John 17v10-12
30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20v20/21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 22v21
15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. Acts 3v15-17
6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Acts 4v6-7
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Acts 4v18
15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9v15-17
Do we live to 'make hallowed' the NAME of the Lord? Do we long to see the NAME of the Lord consecrated and set apart by people as the NAME above ALL NAMES - whom He actually is?
Do we understand the authority of the NAME of the Lord and the faith that comes through believing in and acting upon that NAME?
The 'NAME' and NAMES of the Lord represent WHO God is and who we are IN CHRIST, and what our mission is into the world.
Lord, make YOUR NAME greatJS
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115v1
Its incredible how many times the theme and reality of the NAME of the Lord is spoken of in the Bible. Bible names so often embodied a message, made a point in some way, were used to honour or sometimes the opposite (Jabez for example means 'pain' because of what his mother suffered in child birth!), (names) spoke of the prophetic sense of destiny over a child's future life, (a name) was changed at times to represent the change in favour or status of a person (Jacob became Israel after struggling with the Lord and overcoming) and of course (names) identified the character or mission of a person and much more. No greater example than the name of Jesus (from Joshua - means Saviour)
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" Matt. 1v21
"He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come" Luke 11v2
"All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 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. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled". John 17v10-12
30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20v20/21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 22v21
15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. Acts 3v15-17
6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Acts 4v6-7
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Acts 4v18
15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9v15-17
Do we live to 'make hallowed' the NAME of the Lord? Do we long to see the NAME of the Lord consecrated and set apart by people as the NAME above ALL NAMES - whom He actually is?
Do we understand the authority of the NAME of the Lord and the faith that comes through believing in and acting upon that NAME?
The 'NAME' and NAMES of the Lord represent WHO God is and who we are IN CHRIST, and what our mission is into the world.
Lord, make YOUR NAME greatJS
Thursday, October 14, 2010
God of Burning
God of Burning
Flood our lives with hunger burning
The nation waits for sons of yearning
God of fire, Grace and Awe
We give to you, our lives our all
Lamb of God the Lion roaring
Deep to deep your Spirit calling
Heirs with Christ, in Promise stand
Arising called to take the land
Burn in us your Kingdom bright
So Christ is seen not out of sight
Hope of nations, your Presence is here
So fill us now, as we draw near
JS
Flood our lives with hunger burning
The nation waits for sons of yearning
God of fire, Grace and Awe
We give to you, our lives our all
Lamb of God the Lion roaring
Deep to deep your Spirit calling
Heirs with Christ, in Promise stand
Arising called to take the land
Burn in us your Kingdom bright
So Christ is seen not out of sight
Hope of nations, your Presence is here
So fill us now, as we draw near
JS
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