When feelings fail

"In the current lazy-busy church age, we don't have the will or energy to search Jesus out: we much rather want Him to fall on us and squash our angst, ambush us with darts of good feeling, and cocoon us with a bubble of grace. The perennial problem of feelings is they are as fickle as our fragile personalities. In contrast, the Word of God is forever-and-always trustworthy. Feelings are nice when they come, but when they fail we can still seek God and do good." Quote by Nick Davis

Two rich men

Two rich men........ .....one young ruler turns away from Jesus sad, another short fraudster climbs out of a tree at his request and puts things right......both were rich, both met Jesus, the 'good' guy turned his back on Him, the 'bad' guy opened his heart to Him and love followed. We will be 'known by our fruits'...... Which part of the DIFFERENCE do YOU and I actually lie on today?

These tears

Just want to testify today to the healing and liberating power of our God. He came to set the captives free and to release those imprisoned in dark dungeons of despair. He is able people. The following is a poem that flowed today from a time of great love and emotion, "I have longed for these tears these uncontrived, true and timely tears. Welling love, dripping, drowning grief. Flowing freely, a great release. Expression of true liberty and a voice that speaks louder, Sorrow fleeing with each paradoxical sob, I knew this day would come. But could I make it come? No, love sometimes waits, crouching, but cannot be denied, Only His roaring call can awaken the dawn, With rivers deep, and temple curtain torn. I have longed for these tears" JS.

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7v13-14 On Sun 27th May, at South City Church's main meeting, we were part of a baton change in leadership where we were 'commissioned' for a new pioneering work in Mid-Ulster (from Sept 2012)for the Kingdom of God, and the new leadership of scc was affirmed and commissioned. As such I passed the 'baton of captaincy' on to David Williamson. It was a wonderful time of impartation and recognition of new things God is doing! As part of the morning I left a final charge in leadership of the church. I preached on the 'Narrow path' Christ taught on. More than that I believe Christ died and rose again to bring us onto this path! The other path is broad, seductive but in the end Christ taught - leads to destruction. I link you here to the website if you would like to either listen to or download this message: 'Walking the Narrow path' The principle characters in this story are....you and I, a guy who read tea leaves (or something similar), a donkey, an angel, an accuser, and God Himself! Enjoy and do contact me if you would like to get to know Jesus Christ personally, beyond 'religion' and to walk His narrow path.... JS

The Kingdom belongs to such as these

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly John 10v10 ESV Children have so much to teach us adults. Jesus taught us that we must learn from them every bit as much as they must learn from us. They have audacity and easily believe. They are joyful, playful and are not burdened down by worry. They are loving and spontaneous.

The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these (picture above is of my audacious and oh so fun 7 year old son Jayden) JS

A Kingdom not of this world

Jesus said that His Kingdom was not of this world...yet has shown us that we need to pray for and invite His Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven...

The following is a message I preached at South City Church, Dublin on Easter Sunday.

We had just witnessed a most moving and impactful audio visual prepared by Michael Keegan (scc) so I am a bit emotional as I stand to speak...

DO listen, the Good News will do you good, both today and for eternity

"a KINGDOM NOT OF THIS WORLD"

Control and manipulation - part 2

Control and manipulation is so much a part of certain cultures that it is seen as just part and parcel of everyday life. Ireland is no different.

While living in India we were often confronted with people in positions of authority who loved to use their position to garner reward through illicit and manipulative ways. It was a very obvious part of culture. Just because it may be less obvious in Ireland though does not mean that it is absent, just dressed up in different 'clothes'.

Manipulation comes in lots of shapes, packages and guises. From a parent who threatens to withdraw love or support if their will is not performed, to a wife that withholds sexual intimacy from her husband repeatedly to prove how displeased she is with him...to a friend in a school classroom who tries to make another feel bad or guilty in order to garner their undevoted attention...to a work-colleague who belittles another or sows seeds of disapproval and slander in a perverted attempt at self-agrandizement and ladder climbing....the list of possibilities is endless and so are the day to day realities.

Jesus Himself never manipulated anyone

. He spoke the truth in love and told us that the truth (that we know) will set us free! He came to bind up the needy and broken, and His Gospel is one that brings us into radical heart transformed but willing freedom not compulsion through guilt.

Some steps in getting free of the effects of relational control and manipulation,

1) Identify - What we are not aware of can continue to harm us. People who live near a railway line often become completely unaware of the noise as each train passes by. This is a process of time and becoming conditioned to the enviromental factors around oneself. The Spirit of God gives us discernment though and helps us to 'test the spirit' of a person and their words and attitudes.

2) Contextualize - Please remember that, for the Christian, we 'wrestle not against flesh and blood' (Ephesians 6) Manipulation is never acceptable in my opinion but it is important to remember that people who manipulate or try to control others may have never learned another way of operating from their own upbringing. This does not excuse their behaviour but it can help to give us patience. The other thing is that when we realise that demon powers are often at work, through oft' unsuspecting personalities, even Christians (I am not infering here 'possession' of Christians but rather that they are 'aligned' incorrectly) it gives us perspective that many of these battles (spiritual in nature) need to be won by regaining our 'legitimate authority' in Christ, being surrendered to the subtle but dark and 'spiritually illegitimate' methods of coersion. This authority we have as sons of the Lord is our inheritance but we have to learn how to live in this.

3) Submit - Aha says you, this is where Shiels has got it wrong. No not to manipulation! Read on. James 4v7 'Submit to GOD, resist the devil, and he will flee from you'
We must submit to God before we can effectively resist the devil and his devices. Let me give you an example of how this operates.

If someone is hosting an attitude laden with manipulation, then tied into this is often a spirit of intimidation. This aims to bring fear

. The Bible tells us that fear 'has to do with punishment' - or 'consequences' As such, intimidation works at its most destructive when 'fear of consequences' dominate and control the intended 'victim'. This was Jezebel's aura and continues to operate through unsuspecting or sometimes co-operative hosts who have sold out to the perceived rewards beyond any sense of propriety. Our God, however, is not a God who intimidates in order to control...

The Bible's and therefore God's remedy to intimidation, and the control this brings, is quite simple - PERFECT LOVE. 'Perfect love casts out fear' we are taught! How does this work though? Is it a warm fuzzy feeling or something like that? Well, I don't think thats the context. Jesus is always our greatest example - perfect theology if you like! Jesus never surrendered to the will of satan, even when He was nailed to the cross!

No! In his sacrificial death Jesus was surrendering to the will of His Father whom He was One with through the Holy Spirit! As we submit to the Father, and His faithfulness and Lordship, we learn to lay down our rights for the will of the Father! Remember the Garden of psychological torment for Jesus...'Not my will but yours be done' was the outcome of One who had learned perfect obedience through what He suffered, and exemplified in the most vivid and loving way what perfect love looks like!

Perfect love is surrendering our will to God's will. Its about dying to self, more than a warm fuzzy feeling, so that God can live through us more and more! Its not an easy track but its a track where fear has less and less of a 'landing strip' to alight on us and tie us down through control, manipualtion and intimidation.

When we are in a given situation or relationship where manipulation is prevalent we need to have the following posture: 'I am going to go God's way, will not be forced to do something against my will, will operate in God's peace in this situation no matter what the other person thinks or says and no matter what the consequence is' At this point the 'hook' the enemy uses to put fear (with control) on us has nowhere to attach itself...and freedom reigns!

Perfect love dear friends, casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. Indeed, in suffering for Jesus, there is a difference between this and punishment. God does not punish His children (Jesus took this) but He will discipline us as sons and allow our faith to grow towards perfection through suffering and learning to walk in perfect agape love.

A love that is bigger than consequences or fear of outcomes. A love founded on a greater love, bestowed by the One who first loved us.

JS

The God who gives life to the dead

I have just finished reading one of my favourite passages of the entire Bible - Romans chapter 4. This is a piece of theology that helps us to believe. This is not any type of belief though. It is not 'Seeing is believing' faith, rather it is the faith of 'Believing is seeing'! Christian faith is not a faith solely in oneself, of pumped up self-esteem, and positivity alone. Christian faith is a belief in Christ, and in His power alone to raise the dead...let me explain.

Romans 4v3 Paul states,
" What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to Him as righteousness" "

Abraham did not work or earn the 'credits' of God's righteousness to his 'bankrupt' spiritual state. It was by faith that he received God's justice and blessing, apart from his own efforts.

The Bible makes it abundantly clear regarding the fact that man without Christ's salvation is 'dead in trespasses and sins' Ephesians 2:1. It is only Christ who can 'raise' us spiritually and that through the finished work of the cross. Believing is nothing by itself. No amount of believing there IS a God will save us! Even the demons believe, the Bible tells us...We need rather to believe in such a way that understands we are truly in the morgue spiritually without Christ and His resurrection power! We then 'receive' (not earn) His gift of righteousness, quite apart from our own merits or achievements, so that the Holy Spirit can makes us 'alive' to God (Romans 6:11)

Here's another tasty morsel though, for the hungry of heart...for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and desire to bear fruit for God's glory.

Our inheritance, that is the deeds (including reward) that should eminate from our right-standing in Christ, are also something we are powerless to achieve outside of His grace!

Even though 'His children' (those born into HIS Kingdom) are spiritually alive to God by the Holy Spirit, we have to learn to trust in Him and work with Him in order to be a fruit-bearer in us and through us ('Apart from me you can do nothing' Jesus said in John 15) Back to Romans 4..

Paul reveals "It was not through law Abraham believed and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith"

This is like God reinforcing that 'as you began in Grace, so must you continue in Grace'

Too often as a believer I have tried stuff in my own efforts or strength.

Sometimes I have felt I 'had what it takes' to get a job done, or to see some 'Kingdom' progress. This is sometimes happening more unconsciously than consciously in us! Our prayerlessness may be a reflection of a deeper root of self-sufficiency that denotes a root of man-centeredness. It is often at the end of exhausting self-effort and 'trying' that I have been reminded that 'it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord'!

Abraham faced the fact that he and Sarah, hopeing and longing for their child of Promise and inheritance, were physically decrepid, barren and unable to bear children - that is apart from the Promise giver's power to make the impossible become possible.

They learned the obedience of faith

, having done all 'they stood' and believed in a God who gives life to that which is dead.

" As it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations" He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-the God who gives life to the dead amd calls things that are not as though they were" Romans 4v17

"Therefore the promise comes by faith, so that it may be guarenteed to all Abraham's offspring-not only to those who are of the law...." Romans 4v16

Do you know the promises of God are for you? Do you have them hidden in your heart? Will you also today remember that it doesn't matter how impossible or improbable it appears for God to fulfil His promises in your life or nation, because like Abraham and Sarah's 'dying' bodies,

He is the God 'WHO GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD' and fulfils His promises to those who trust in faith in Him as the Promise giver.

JS

Control and manipulation- Part 1

Control and manipulation are not God’s ways

1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 1Kings 1v1-5


I would like to focus here on examining and indeed exposing something that is multi-faceted and endemic in our time: spiritual and psychological control and manipulation.

Our world is full of brokenness, intimidation and self-centeredness, in addition to the wonderful love and selflessness that can also be admired. In many cases these destructive ‘mechanisms’ are so ingrained in our culture and human relationships that ‘it is hard to see the wood for the trees’. That is, unless we have a ‘plumb-line’ to measure against (the Word of God), and a certain degree of spiritual discernment (‘spiritual antennae’) that expose these very damaging and malevolent attitudes. Sometimes it is hardest to see them in ourselves though due to pride or deception. Having honest accountable friendships is something that WE must cultivate.

I call these attitudes of control ‘mechanisms’ because they are instrumental in nature – that is, techniques with a ‘personality’ behind them that are designed to illicit a certain response in relationships and to garner co-operation to please and submit to the underlying demands.

This happens through illegitimate means that are there to force and subjugate a person through fear, intimidation, guilt, threats, jealousy and so on

. I call them ‘illegitimate’ because I believe we are created to willingly submit our lives to the highest power and authority – to Father, Son and Holy Spirit and it is my emphatic belief that God is a God of love who invites us into responsible freedom, not the polar opposite of demonic control and manipulation. Satan seeks to control, and may use humans to try to achieve his goal, God frees us and gives us a new heart with His Spirit to indwell and compel through grace. Think of it.

God does not force you or I to love him, he invites, and has paid for all our freedom by the sacrifice of the Saviour Deliverer Jesus.

As a church leader I have come to realise that being a believer in Christ is also no guarantee that we live free and whole in this area – either as the dispenser of these traits, the unfortunate recipient, or both. That is, unless we take ‘authority’ over this area of both that which we ‘transmit’ or ‘receive’ spiritually and psychologically. As such there is no sense of superiority here. We must all be on our guard.

What I do know, without a shadow of doubt, is that control and manipulation is never Godly or helpful and must be resisted by a deeper submission to God and a rising in our spiritual authority as sons.

Control and manipulation can be seen in families, marriages, friendships and work-places alike, and yes even in church! Sometimes this is seen as being necessary or ‘benign’, like a parent who is overly strict and controlling of their child out of fear that something harmful may happen otherwise, or a friend who feels lonely and fearful of losing a friendship so engages in self-pity or critical attitudes to control the other person’s response and garner sympathy.

The Church in Ireland has been gripped by systems of control for generations. It took a tragedy to free our nation from this tyranny. There is often a sexual overtone associated with control and manipulation. The church of Thyatira in the Book of Revelation had a character (or is it symbolic of the spirit?) who was a false prophetess called Jezebel who was also associated with sexual immorality. However, manipulation and control can flow in many guises in church: from the businessman who with-holds giving any of his finances because he didn’t get ‘his way’, to the Pastor who puts ‘heavies’ on the sheep or has them ‘jumping through hoops’ in order to ‘earn favour’ with God (which we have anyway by Grace!) or ‘become leaders’.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.Galatians 5v1

Next blog I am going to look a little deeper into the attitudes associated with control and manipulation, how they can manifest, and how to stay free to be the unique you living in the freedom of Christ by the rhythmns of grace