A New Decade

Welcome to a new month, a new year and a new decade. What an exciting prospect that we are now entering into a new decade. This is significant because history is often defined in decades. The decade exactly a hundred years ago was known as the roaring twenties, then the turbulent thirties, flying forties, fabulous fifties, swinging sixties, etc.

The last ten years has seen many social upheavals, with terrorism dominating the headlines but also some major challenges to the very fabric of society. There has been a redefinition, by society and government, as to what constitutes a marriage, the removal of personal responsibility for offences and emotional triggers as well as the false notion that personal preference, and not biology, determines sex and gender. All of this is underpinned by the prevailing world view that truth is not objective but relative. 

What may we be expecting in the next decade? I have a feeling it will be more of the same but potentially worsening. Whilst this may intimidate some, the Church of the living God must not retreat in fear or shame but rather it is an opportunity for us to stand in the power of God’s Word and be emboldened by the Spirit of God to declare the truth of God’s Word and the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am reminded of the request Elisha made to Elijah in 2 Kings 2:9, prior to the latter’s departure from his apprentice, that he would receive a double portion of his master’s spirit. Whilst Elijah was a powerful prophet that served God’s call in Israel, what Elisha would face as a prophet in his own right would need twice of Elijah’s spirit to meet the challenge of his day. It is of profound interest to note that Elisha did not ask for a double portion of power, miracles or revelation but rather the spirit of Elijah.

Whatever challenges we face in the new decade, let’s not necessarily pursue a double portion of power or ability but let’s get more of the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us. Let 2020 be a double portion year and decade of getting so close to God and being so filled with his burden, love and compassion for the lost, that courage and power will be sure to follow.

Simply Jesus

As the year hurries to a close, for many it signals relief and a break from what may have been a tough and tiring year. It is the festive season that so many of us enjoy since it’s a time of food, gifts and in this part of the world, summer holidays. People love Christmas for these reasons because they bring happiness. Who doesn’t love honey leg ham, prawns and trifle? And who doesn’t love gifts and reconnecting with family and friends?

We know that this season is more than just these physical and material enjoyments that bring us happiness, it is the knowledge of God coming into this world to bring us into his saving grace. It is about the Christ in Christmas! As I say that however, we can be easily misunderstood as being ‘Over-saved’ or super spiritual. Others may say that we are being spiritual ‘Scrooges’.

On the contrary. I think that God wants us to be happy. The pursuit of happiness is at the heart of our existence and it is the motivating factor to what we do, even responding to the Gospel, is driven by a desire to discover enduring happiness. Blaise Pascal said, "All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves.”

Thus it is perfectly acceptable to pursue happiness in your life but the most profound of differences is in the object of happiness. If you look for joy only in food, fun and festivities, it may give you some temporary semblance of enjoyment but it doesn’t last. It is fleeting. I am convinced, lasting and true happiness is not found in the ‘what’ but in the ‘who’. We were created first and foremost to have a relationship with God. To know Him and to have Him is to have joy. That regardless of our material situation if we have Jesus and He has us, then happiness will persist because our joy is not based on fleeting pleasures of this world but on our eternal connection with a loving Saviour. It is SIMPLY JESUS! Praise God and Joy to the World!

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10

All Nations

This month as we celebrate the diversity and multicultural make up of the Church, we are reminded that despite some of these nuances and differences between different cultures, beneath it all we are all the same race - The human race.

Act 17:26 tells that God “hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.”

Regardless of skin colour, language, facial or bodily features, scripture declares that we are of one blood, one man and one Creator. That places us in one family with all men. Unfortunately, we live in a world that is dominated by racial divides and tribalism that segregates one from another based on some of those surface differences. Violence and wars have covered the history of mankind mainly because man has used the distinctions as a point of conflict.

However, this was never God’s intention. At the heart of man’s conflict towards his fellow man is really the sin of hatred towards his brother. This was evident in the first family with Cain murdering his own brother Abel. Ever since, man has been tainted with the same nature and the cultural and racial differences seem to be the obvious choice by which they base their hatred. It is very easy to see the difference in someone’s language, cultural traits, habits and looks, and use that to ostracise and look down on someone.

In the same way that God made all nations of one blood, by the blood of Jesus Christ we are brought into God’s family and the sin nature in us that gives rise to prejudices and racism can be removed and replaced with a heart of love and acceptance for all. When God gives us a new nature by virtue of his Holy Spirit, the nature of hatred and arrogance is removed and we exercise compassion and empathy. We can love like Jesus loved because his great commission is to make disciples of All Nations (Matt 28:19).

Contentment vs Drive

As we conclude our Tension Theology series, we can reflect on the sheer volume of issues and principles in life that seem to be contradictory ideas but can in actual fact be maintained in tension. Many opposing views are not mutually exclusive but with maturity through understanding God’s Word and by the help of the Holy Spirit, we can learn that they are tensions to manage and not problems to solve.

One such tension is the idea of having contentment in life, yet dissatisfied with the present or a drive to seeing more.

In 1 Timothy 6:6, Paul writes that ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain’. Too often people get it the wrong way around; they think that great gain brings contentment and so they give themselves headlong in the pursuit of wealth believing it will bring happiness. If that becomes your perspective, happiness, or contentment, will never be found because there’s never enough money. We have to find contentment today regardless of our material disposition. Joy is knowing that even though things are not ideal in our lives yet we have Jesus with us at all times and will help us through every situation. We can thank God for every good and perfect gift that comes from him!

Yet, there ought to be a desire within us to seek for more. Firstly, more of God. Regardless of how long we’ve been walking with God, there is more to God that we have yet to discover and know. Paul declares “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33.

Secondly, we should continue to pursue excellence in our service to God. Let’s not be satisfied with our level of achievement for His Kingdom but keep improving in our ministries, witness, teaching abilities and leadership. Once again the great Apostle declares in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Let us hold in tension a godly contentment and a holy dissatisfaction, so that we may find peace in our lives but also realise our God given purpose.

Photo by Matt Howard on Unsplash

Celebrating 10 years Leading the POS

The month of August this year marks ten years for my wife Sis Robyn and I in our role officially as the Senior Pastors of the Pentecostals of Sydney. It seems unbelievable to think that this much time has already passed but I can truly say that we have been so blessed to be able to serve God’s Kingdom with some of the most beautiful people we have ever known.

While I am excited about the road ahead and the learning that awaits me personally, the last ten years have taught me some very valuable lessons. Firstly, I’ve come to realise that it’s God’s Church and not anybody else’s, and certainly not even the Pastor’s. Jesus said; “I will build ‘MY’ Church….” Matt 16:18. Further to that, God’s word declares that we are not our own but we’ve been bought with a price, purchased by His own blood. This took a profound weight off my shoulders to realise that I can only do what I can and short of living other people’s lives for them, I had to learn to let go of the uncontrollable’s.

This included seeing people walk away from God and be able to continue loving others with a sense of optimism and confidence that what we are doing for God matters, even if others don’t agree. I had to learn to hold things in tension. On one end there is the sense of genuine compassion and care for others that’s borne out of a love for God but on the other, learning not to take ownership of their lives, which is not mine to live. Another is to work hard and do all I can but at the same time, knowing that it’s God that brings the increase. Living for God successfully is about learning to hold what seems to be competing ideas in tension, while trusting God with all your heart.

One of the other crucial lessons I’ve learned is the need for fellowship and partnership with God’s people. ‘No man is an island’ is a common phrase you will hear me reiterate. And for good reason. Not only has God called us into a community, or family, of like minded believers for our own growth and benefit, but if we want to fulfil the will of God in reaching the multitude of lost people, we would be more capable achieving this, working as a team. To say we are blessed is an understatement, in describing the amazing ministers, leaders and saints that we have had the privilege of working along side with. Our destinies as the People of God are inextricably connected to each other and it is incumbent upon us to love one another, that all may know we are the disciples of Christ. Jesus taught and demonstrated to us in the Gospels that discipleship is done in a group.

To God be the glory for all the things that he has done through his people and we are excited about the lives that God will continue to impact through POS, and all the lessons we will learn along the way, for the next decade and beyond…..should the Lord tarry!

Moral Values

In an age of moral relativism and confusion about so many issues from abortion to gender identity, the debate is raging particularly in light of the Israel Folau case. Inevitably, the issue has to be reduced to who determines what is morally right and wrong and where is that source to be obtained from.

Most people would acknowledge that objective moral values exist, and this must give rise to a moral law giver. The Bible makes a very strong claim that God is that moral law giver and that the scriptures are themselves God’s word and law. Most unbelievers would dispute that fact and would argue that for the Bible to make claims of its own veracity is circular reasoning and therefore illegitimate. So, can we trust the Bible and is it really the final authority, particularly on the issues of morality?

The truth is there is insurmountable evidence for the reliability of the Bible, including physical evidence of thousands of manuscript copies of the original writings of the New Testament for example, that are astoundingly accurate. There is archeological and extra Biblical, historical artefacts and documents that proves that the Bible corresponds with historical reality. There is the internal consistency and coherence of the cannon of scripture though written over a millennium and by many different writers.

Although there are other lines of reasoning to support the claim that the Bible is true, one of the most powerful is found in Jesus. If it can be shown that the four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, present an accurate record of the life and ministry of Jesus, then Jesus Himself becomes an argument in support of the truth of the Bible. He claimed that the holy scriptures cannot be broken. Furthermore, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is one of the most verifiable facts in history. In this sense, making a case for the truth of the resurrection also makes a case for the truth claims of Jesus and, in turn, the reliability and truth of the Bible.

Whilst the Bible is still used in our judicial courts for people to put their hand on it, swearing to speak the truth. Yet, today people only pick and choose what they want to believe from it. We have no right to do that, but we must take the Word of God as it is and ensure that we adhere to its commands and teaching. God’s Word is the final authority and when we line up our lives to it, we can also expect to be recipients of the promises and blessings that God has proclaimed in this Holy Book.

Mind of Christ

As we continue to reiterate and meditate upon our Church theme for the year, on walking ‘In His Steps’, I am reminded of the command in scripture to adopt the same ‘mind’ or thinking as our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5, to ‘Let this mind be in you as it was also in Christ Jesus’. We are to think in the same way that Jesus thought. This is of utmost importance because the discipline of our thoughts and attitudes not only determine the quality of our lives but can ultimately lead to either the fulfilment of God’s purpose in us or at worst to moving away from God.

As it has often been said the ‘mind’ is the battleground for our souls and not only is defeat and victory usually established there but Proverbs 23:7 states that, ‘As he thinks in his heart, so is he’. Our very identity is influenced by our own self-concept.

With so much bombarding our minds from what we see and hear from mainstream media as well as social media, the messages and philosophies that our culture and society conveys to us, it is very easy to succumb to ungodly thoughts and sinful pursuits that lead to destruction. In fact, I believe that this is one of the greatest struggles for the Child of God today, the unending distractions of devices, entertainment, media and recreational pursuits that can diminish our singular focus of faith and relationship with God, and the preaching of the Gospel.

We must learn to have our minds influenced and shape by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. We must know His Word, meditating on Scripture and living it out in our daily experience. 1 Corinthians 2:16 reveals to us that ‘We have been given the mind of Christ’. When we walk in that mindset, it has the power to change our lives and to see us through every circumstance. Let our prayer be; “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14

He is Risen!

He is risen! This is the proclamation of the disciples and the early Church. Whilst this may seem like a peripheral issue to some, where they may argue that even if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead he still taught many good lessons when he was alive. Thus his life still held value even if he wasn’t resurrected. Yet the great Apostle emphatically claims that; “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Cor 15:17-19

Our faith is futile, according to Paul, if Jesus did not rise from the dead simply because if he did not rise, then his words and teachings could not be trusted as truth, since he prophesied and proclaimed his own resurrection. And if his words are not true, then we have no hope of life with Christ after death, thereby making life futile and meaningless.

The prevailing atheistic perspective seems to be that when our life is over, we simply cease to exist. What a miserable prospect indeed. That all we have to look forward to is non-existence. What’s the point of living if that were the case? It is little wonder that people are stricken with depression and hopelessness to the point where they take their own lives because they perceive a bleak future of nothingness.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ does not only offer hope of a glorious future for his faithful followers but he affirmed, and verified, this promise of eternal life by rising from the tomb of death after three days. “Did the resurrection really happen?” is the cynical question voiced by unbelievers. I don’t have time to unpack all of the evidences but for further research, explore these basic tenets of the veracity of the resurrection of Jesus: living eye witness accounts such as the New Testament writers who were never refuted, the empty tomb where Jesus was buried and lastly, the most logical explanation for the willingness of Jesus’ disciples to lay down their own lives in martyrdom and the spread of Christianity in the face of extreme persecution.

There are many more but those three tenets are sufficiently compelling to speak to the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. We can find joy and hope knowing that what awaits us, when our life on earth is through, is the glory of his Holy presence forever! Hallelujah!

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Cor 15:20

March of Miracles

One of the first questions that a new Christian sometimes asks is; ‘Do miracles still happen today?’ This question is often borne out of a prevailing perspective in our world that anything that is not scientifically explainable, or part of the natural process of the material world, does not exist or can not happen, such as miracles.

That in itself is a misnomer because by very definition, miracles are occurrences that supersede the natural order of the physical world. That’s why they are called miracles. Let me add that there are many things that can not be explained by scientific means, including; morality, aesthetics, affection, the belief and evidence that humans have an immaterial component to them called the soul or spirit and other phenomena such as healings of the sick extraneous of medical treatment.

We are surrounded by miracles all the time. What about the miracle of a person becoming born again, having their sins washed away at baptism in Jesus name and the infilling of the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues? These things cannot be accounted for on a naturalist worldview and as such may be classified as a miracle.

The question then for the Believer is not whether miracles still happen today but rather ‘Why don’t more miracles happen today?’ The former question has already been addressed but the later question I believe can be answered by the Church. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father,” (John 14:12) and that miraculous signs shall follow the Believers (Mark 16:17-18). James tells us that we have not because we ask not... (James 4:3)

We can expect signs and wonders to take place more and more. This month as we continue to walk ‘In His Steps’, let us pursue after what God has promised us through Christ Jesus our Lord, to see more miracles by praying, believing, working and doing what God has called us to do for his glory and Kingdom!

In His Steps... 2019

1 Peter 2:21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

The theme of POS this year is ‘In His Steps’, with the emphasis on following closely in the steps, or example, of Christ Jesus our Lord. Whilst we are not moving away from the purpose of the Church in making disciples of all nations, this year we are focusing on connecting with the lost, emulating the way that Jesus did and in the principles, attitude and methods by which he made disciples.

It is imperative that we focus on our relationship with Jesus, particularly when we can become so distracted with the busy-ness of life and even in ministry we can become so preoccupied with our ‘doing’ that we forsake our ‘being’ in Christ. As we walk in His steps, we walk with him in a relationship of faith and it is that grounding by which our identity, our attitudes and behaviours flow out from.

Jesus was called a friend of sinners, yet he himself never sinned. In like manner, we shall pursue a life of sanctification and spiritual growth while at same time making friendships with those who don’t know him. Jesus spoke the truth in love at the same time showed mercy to the penitent. We too must demonstrate love to this world but not be afraid to speak the truth with all grace. Jesus made disciples as he opened up his life to involve others, similarly our goal should be to open up our lives in order to disciple others to the ways of God.

As we engage in daily disciplines of meditation of God’s Word, prayer and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, fellowship with his Church and reaching the lost, the more Jesus Christ is formed in us or as Paul puts it that we mature to “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:13).

Let’s make every effort and set up our lives so that we are walking In His Steps!