Meditation = Imagination

In 1816, Sir David Brewster invented the very first kaleidoscope. What is one? Well a kaleidoscope consists of little fragments of colored glass that reflect light in an endless variety of colors and patterns. Isn't that really exactly what the Bible does? It reflects light in an endless variety of colors and patterns....If I had to describe Scripture in a word I might choose kaleidoscopic. I never cease to be amazed at the way verses can inspire me in different ways at different times in my life...and how even the same verse can inspire me and speak to me in so many different ways over the course of time.

Meditation is taking the time to turn the kaleidscope so we can appreciate different nuances of a scripture. I will guarantee you this: the more time you take to look at a verse from a variety of different angles the more God will reveal to you. It will also help you to internalize and personalize the truth. It will get the word into your spirit. Somebody once said....'Don't be in such a hurry to get through the word that the word doesn't get through you.'

The phrase "look intently" in James 1 means to bend over or stoop down. We've got to humble ourselves and take a posture of submission when we approach and read the Word of God. Meditation is bending over to take a closer look.
 

Preach Deep?

Preaching is an interesting animal! At what level do you aim the things that you are trying to communicate? Should you water down the things you say depending on the congregation?

I would like to think that I am regularly able to say things from the pulpit at Elim that may well get some Pastors fired! Not that I am ever out to offend or shock, please don't misunderstand me....simply that true preachers should never mince their words, back away from tough issues, or hesitate to say exactly what Scripture says.

I try to give myself entirely to preaching the whole counsel of God, even when it hurts. But at the same time I also want people to understand it so they can do something about it, and not have to go away scratching their heads saying “Oooh that was deep!”. My goal is never to be clever, but simply to be clear, so that people are impressed with God and His Word, not by me.

I am sure you will have heard of Martin Luther. Brilliant mind and awesome theologian. He is someone who a lot of “deep” preachers quote from all the time to try to explain why their preaching is so “deep” that no one can understand it! Well listen to what he said on this particular subject:

“A preacher should have the skill to teach the unlearned simply, roundly and plainly; for teaching is of more importance than exhorting… .When I preach I regard neither doctors nor magistrates, of whom I have above forty in the congregation. I have all my eyes on the servant maids and the children. And if the learned men are not well pleased with what they hear, well, the door is open.”

Jesus said in John 4v34 that 'meat' is doing the will of God, not debating predestination and freewill. Jesus also said in Matthew 22v36-40 that the true test of spirituality was love for God and love for people, not the vast wisdom of your eschatological position and your amazing ability to defend it. The writer of Hebrews pointed out that maturity is about constantly using the Word of God by applying it, not sitting around and pontificating about it.

So let’s keep preaching the pure Gospel of Jesus, alive and active, with an emphasis on application. And let's do it as creatively, compellingly, and as often as possible! At the end of the day what could be deeper than the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Call on me

In Matthew 10:1 it says that Jesus "called to him" his twelve disciples. 

I look at it like this.....I'm called to ministry, but really that isn't my primary calling. You're not called to be a nurse or a teacher or a builder or a writer or a Pastor. Yes, you may be called to do those things. But that isn't your primary calling. Nothing has changed in over two thousand years. Jesus is still calling people. And He still does it now the way He did it then. We are "called to him." It's a relational calling way before it's an occupational calling.

For what it's worth, I honestly believe that if you boil it all down, the solution to every problem is simply spending more time with Jesus. And the ultimate solution for every human being is spending eternity with him. Why? Because He is the solution to every problem, the answer to every question, the fulfillment of every hope, and the source of every good thing! All things were created by Him and for Him and He holds all things together!

Can you hear Him calling you today?

Risk it!

What is your philosophy of life as a christian? I think that God would like it to be based on Matthew 10:16: "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

It's our commission, and it almost has an element of 'this tape will self destruct...'  read the verse again, and sense the danger. We just read right over it, but imagine throwing a few sheep into the wolf enclosure! that's really what Jesus is saying.

See, I think that the christian life and christian ministry becomes truly mundane when we lose the element of danger. All too easily we become comfortable, then we stop taking risks and we start playing it safe and then we wonder why we so often get bored!

I think that the term "innocent as doves" is speaking to our motivation for christian service and ministry too. If we are not careful then ministry can easily become a form of idolatry if we start to do it for the wrong reasons. But I think it's much more than simply a loss of moral innocence. It's the lost innocence of children, the kind that allows them to dream big dreams, filled with wonder. Nothing is impossible to a child. And it's that innocence that maybe we need to recapture as well....as we live lives where we step out in faith....pursue our dreams...and risk it!

The Numbers Game 

If you think sometimes that maybe church is all about the numbers, then let me help you out......of course we're all about the numbers! What else would we be about?! Exactly how many lives do we want to see changed?

See, think about it, the truth is that every number is pointing to a story, a transformed life. Next Sunday I will be preaching on Pentecost Sunday, where in Acts 2:41, Luke records that the Holy Spirit baptized about 3000 people on the day of Pentecost….

I guess the Holy Spirit is all about the numbers too.

Highest Office

Would I rather be PM or be a Pastor?.....for me that's an easy choice....why would I want to ask permission of the Queen to lead the country? when each day I get to live for THE King and play a part in bringing His Kingdom.

I feel blessed and humbled to be able to hold what I would consider to be the highest office on planet earth. Now I know that it must sound pretty funny to refer to Pastoral ministry that way, but that’s honestly how I feel.....that the office of Pastor is the most powerful office in the world.

After staying up to watch the seemingly endless speculation of Election night, it made me realise.....no matter who is in office by the end of today.....and no matter what kind of changes they bring to our nation.....I get to affect eternal change every single Sunday as I speak for God… and that’s a fact.

Now please understand, I certainly DO NOT believe for one minute that being a Pastor makes me in some way better or more special to God than anyone else on the planet. But I know this....from my vantage point, it is the greatest responsibility that could ever capture and consume a human being.

Of course the challenge is this......'to whom much is given, much is required'.......so God help me today to live up to my calling, by His strength and wisdom alone.

Praying in circles

"You shall march around the city seven times." Joshua 6:4

I truly believe in doing Jericho marches. No I'm not talking about some kinf of magic trick that if you walk around something seven times God will give it to you, but I often do pray around things seven times. You could call it circling things in prayer. And if there is a "promise land" that you believe God wants to give to you, then it can't hurt to follow the example in Joshua 6.

I believe that sometimes the way to lay claim to promises is by circling them in prayer. Seven isn't a magic number, but it just simply helps me to prayer through. I think there is a big difference between praying for and praying through. And to me praying through something means circling it in prayer. Try it! 

Destroying the evidence

In Luke 22 Jesus is praying on the Mount of Olives when suddenly a mob appears that have come to arrest him....it says in verse 49 “When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, ‘Lord, should we strike with our swords?’ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.” We know from John’s account in his gospel that the disciple in question is Peter and the servant’s name is Malchus.

Let me state the obvious here. Peter is in big trouble. You don’t cut off someone’s ear and get away with it! especially when that someone's ear happens to be the servant of the high priest! Worse case scenario: Peter is going to get charged with attempted murder....perhaps the best case scenario: He will be charged with assault and battery. But at that moment Jesus intervenes......in verse 51. “Jesus answered, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” Jesus reattaches an amputated ear. But think about it, He does more than that, Jesus destroys the evidence!

Imagine Malchus filing a law suit against Peter....see as He takes the witness stand and says, “Thia man, Peter, cut off my ear.” The Judge says, “Which ear?” Malchus says, “My right ear.” The Judge examines it and says, “It looks ok to me!” and proceeds to throw out the case because of lack of evidence.

Do you see it? Jesus doesn’t just reverse an amputation....He destroys the evidence. And that is where we come into the picture....for this isn’t just a story about Peter and Malchus. It’s about you and me and the way God forgives us. When Jesus went to the cross He destroyed the evidence against us. In 1 John 1:9 it says, “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we put our faith in Christ, we are justified--"just as if I’d never sinned.” God forgives and forgets our sin.

Our Jesus destroys the evidence!

How do you pray?

Have you ever noticed how much we prequalifiy our prayers? Let me give you an example.....

'Father God, I pray that you would just, if it is Your will, bless 'so and so' today. he is really having a hard time, and I know God that I have no right to be in your presence today asking you to help her, because I know I have messed up so much recently, and I don’t deserve for you to hear my prayers, but I need you to hear my prayer today and come through for them...'

Even now God will...

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” (John 11:21-22)

Most of us give up on God far too quickly and far too easily. It's clear that Martha was very frustrated with Jesus.  Her situation was definately hopeless.  Her brother, Lazarus, had been dead for four days.  Really when you think about it, it doesn’t get much worse than that.

But there was something about Martha that didn’t allow her confusion and despair to overwhelm her faith. Even now God will…she insisted, I believe in your power to resurrect the dead.

It’s one thing to trust in God when your situation is on life support.  It’s another thing to trust God when your dream is dead and buried in the ground.

Maybe a relationship in your life has fallen apart. Maybe you have lost your job recently. Maybe you have simply made some terrible mistakes that have cost you so much, maybe time, opportunity, friends or finances.

But let me remind you......that it’s not over as long as Jesus is on the scene.

Even now He can restore your relationships. Even now He can supply all your needs. Even now He can forgive you and make you whole again.

Trust Him, believe Him, hope in Him…Even now God will!....

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