Power.

It's a stormy end to the year in the East Neuk of Fife, where my wife and I are spending a couple of days with dear friends. Indeed, during a song at the worship service, this morning, all of the lights were suddenly extinguished; the projector cut out; the sound system died; and there was no accompaniment from the keyboard! Yes, the whole village had suffered a power-cut. Even when we returned to our friends' home, there was no electricity - we were glad that they have a wood-burning stove, and a gas cooker!

Power! when it comes to the electrical form thereof we are, it must be admitted, pretty well lost without it. I couldn't have even published this post as, while the battery would have provided adequate power for me to type it up, there was no internet access to enabe me to do anything else.

The written Word of God has a lot to say about power - although not the kind provided by electricity. In a conversation, just a couple of days ago, I was informed that we are all God's children. I had to point out that that is not what the Bible says! In words that were being read in many gatherings of disciples of Jesus just a week ago: "... to all who received Him [Jesus], who believed in His Name, He gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13; emphasis added). In other words, I am not a child of God by nature, but need to experience His power in my life in order that I may be adopted into His family!

In one of the recorded prayers of the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, he utters these words: "Ah Lord God! It is Thou Who hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thy outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for Thee, ... " (Jer 32:17; emphasis added). The God of the Bible is the Creator of all that exists. He is the omnipotent One Who can do anything! (Well, as I pointed out in a post on Feb.3rd, 2008, there are some things that even Almighty God is unable to do! It might be worth your while, as we reach the end of another year, to check out what I posted then!).

Just one more reference. Writing to his son in the faith, the young pastor Timothy, the agèd apostle, Paul, gave these words of advice: "... understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people." (II Tim.3-1-5; emphasis added). Such words are but one of many indications that we are currently living in the end-times. As I look about me I see so much that masquerades as Christianity - but that is totally lacking in any evidence that it is operating in the power of God the Holy Spirit, and bringing glory to the Son.

Power! how important it is. If you want a good Word Study, you could do a lot worse than check out many more of the references to it in God's Word. However, the BIG question is: "Do I know that power of God in my own life?" 

We got by this morning - even if we had to revert to the "low-tech" of hymn books for the final song! I can only speak for myself, but I would not wish to enter 2018 without experiencing something of His power in my life. I trust that all who read this post will be able to say, with Paul, "... I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, ..." (Phil.3:8-10; emphasis added).

My favourite Christmas text - part 3

In the previous two posts I have shared with you on John 3:16, we have noted:

The Fact – God loved the world so very much; and 

The Act – that He gave Himself, in the Person of the eternal Son. 

Finally, that well-known verse speaks of the Pact.

“God loved the world so very much that He gave Himself, in the Person of the eternal Son, that every individual who has placed their trust in Him for salvation shall not die, but have, here and now, God’s life within them.”

You see, God’s love; God’s gift; are not mere handouts. Free they may be – but only to those who are willing to enter into a living relationship with that same God, through the Son; only to those who have faith in Him, and place their trust in Him. And that eternal life, given to those who believe, is not merely life that never ends, but a different quality of life. It is the life of the age to come of which believers already have a foretaste as they come under the influence of God the Holy Spirit – although its full consummation and enjoyment are only in His nearer presence. But it is only for those who are truly disciples of Jesus. God’s love, and God’s Gift are offered to all. His salvation and the eternal life that comes with it, are only for those who accept the Son as Saviour and Lord of their lives, in repentance and faith, receiving the Gift with humble and thankful hearts.

I suppose that it takes a wee bit of effort to lift our eyes from the sweet, sentimental picture of the Babe in the manger, to the stark reality of the Christ on the cross. In the midst of the fun and festivities that most of us will enjoy, it isn’t easy to remember Gethsemane where the Baby, grown to manhood, sweated great drops of blood. It isn’t easy to remember how Judas betrayed Him; how Peter denied Him; how “they all forsook Him and fled.” (Mk.14:50). Do we really want to remember the scourging; the crown of thorns; how they spat upon His naked body; how they slapped Him on the head with a reed? When we sing “Child in the manger” do we spare a thought for His pierced hands and feet; His agony; His thirst; His cry of anguish and desolation: “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (Mt.27:46).

“We may not know, we cannot tell

What pains He had to bear.

But we believe it was for us

He hung, and suffered, there.”

The Baby?! Yes. For without Bethlehem, there would have been no Calvary. And it is only as we look at both that we can even begin to see the whole picture of the saving grace of Father God – God coming, and God doing. And then we must look beyond to the empty tomb; symbol of the risen and exalted Christ - yes, and beyond even that to His Second Advent, when He returns in power and glory!

“God loved the world so very much that He gave Himself, in the Person of the eternal Son, that every individual who has placed their trust in Him for salvation shall not die, but have, here and now, God’s life within them”

Perhaps you have never thought of Jn.3:16 as a Christmas text before! But may it be that, in the midst of all of the traditional celebrations; the carol-singing; the special meals; the tinsel and the presents, we do not forget

The Fact – “God loved the world (you and me) so much

The Act – that He gave His only, unique, Son

The Pact – that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but here and now, have eternal life.”

A very happy CHRISTmas to one and all.

My favourite Christmas text - part 2

Last night, I shared that my favourite Christmas text makes no mention of shepherds, angels, magi, or even a manger. It is those equally well-known words found in John 3:16 - "... God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

Last time I shared about the most amazing fact - that God loves you and me! But the love, even of Almighty God, if it were merely passive and uncommunicated, would be insufficient. And so, after the Fact, this well-known verse goes on to speak of the Act.

“… God so loved the world - that He gave His only Son,” And here is the love of the God Who is love, being put into action. God loved you and me so much that He gave. And He gave sacrificially – even the only-begotten; God the Son.

Christmas is, traditionally, a time for giving. And isn’t it wonderful to remember that at what we think of as the very first Christmas, the greatest and best Gift that could ever be, was given? Almighty God gave Himself in the Persona (not a typo - read the chapter on "The Trinity" in my first book - details above!) of the Son; putting His love into action; giving the very best that He had; giving all that He was and is. The most wonderful Gift the world has ever known. A Gift so incredible that even Paul could not find words that were adequate to describe it, and so spoke of God’s “inestimable Gift”; His “inexpressible Gift”; His “indescribable generosity”; His “Gift beyond words”! (II Cor.9:15).

What a lesson to us, whose giving is often weak and selfish – even at this Christmas season. And I don’t refer to our giving of presents to one another, but in our giving to the work and witness of that same Jesus Whose birth we celebrate at this time. And even those who do serve faithfully and to the fullest extent of their abilities, can only say, according to Jesus: “… we are servants and deserve no credit; we have only done our duty.” (Lk.17:10). If folk like that are still, as it were, “in debt” to Father God; if even their selfless, and sometimes sacrificial, giving does not even begin to match His; where does that leave the rest of us?!

My favourite Christmas text!

It was on Sunday that I was privileged to bring the message at the Christmas worship service of the French fellowship in which my wife and I are in membership. I want to share a slightly edited version, here on my blog, over three posts. This is the first part!

My favourite Christmas text doesn't have anything to do with shepherds, angels, or magi. However, it does have the true reason for the season! Let's unpick this well-known verse: "… God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

The first thing that we may notice is

1   the Fact

“… God so loved the world …” This is the fact that is behind the whole plan of salvation – God loves the world. And that means that He loves me, and He loves you! He doesn’t just love the good people, but the world – the unlovable, and the unlovely; those who are loved by no-one else; those who never even give Him a single thought. I don’t care! I don’t care if your skin colour is black or white; brown or yellow; green with purple polka-dots. I don’t care!  I don’t care if you are tall or short; fat or thin; healthy or unhealthy. I don’t care! I don’t care if you speak French, English, Dutch, Malagasy, Romanian, Belgian, Portuguese, or The Doric. I don’t care! I don’t care if you are rich or poor; a public figure, or completely unknown; highly intelligent, or intellectually challenged. I don’t care! I don’t care if you live in a large mansion surrounded by servants, or sleep in a shop doorway because you are homeless. I don’t care! I don’t care if you are the most sincere disciple of Jesus since the apostle Paul, or if you are a blaspheming atheist. I don’t care! I don’t care who, or what, you are. God loves you! Let that wonderful fact sink into your heart this morning.

He knows all about you – your failures and successes; your doubts and fears; your hopes and aspirations. He knows you better than you know yourself. And still, He loves you! Does that not warm your heart as you read? It certainly warms mine – and I trust that it does warm yours as well.

Love is the very mainspring of the Being of God. So John assures us in his first letter: “God is love” (I Jn.4:8, 16).

And even the tense used shows that God’s love, reaching back in eternity, and coming to fruition in Bethlehem and at Calvary, is viewed as one great central fact. It is His infinite and unique love that is the motivating force behind the Incarnation; and it is that same love that is the motivating force behind the Passion of the Lord Jesus, His crucifixion, and His resurrection.

“… God so loved the world …” – the greatest fact in all of history, and the one with the most far-reaching results. And part of the wonder of it is that it is a fact. It’s not a scientific theory; it’s not a legal speculation; it’s not merely some popular idea. It’s a fact! God loved the world – you and me – so very much. And it's the basic message behind Christmas.

More tomorrow!

Meet the Nativity - ep.4

The final instalment of "Meet the Nativity" - and the extra material. Do, please, watch the extra material. It's the "thinking" part!





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Meet the Nativity - Ep.3

Not too many sleeps to go! Here is the third episode of Meet the Nativity,plus the "behind the scenes" clip.




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Enjoy - and think!

Meet the Nativity (2)

Second instalment of this little video series. Enjoy - and think!



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And here, the story behind this episode (to help you think!):

Meet the Nativity (1a)

My apology! I hadn't noticed that this little "extra" was available. Only 2'35" in total. May help to explain some of the previous video. For the remaining video-clips, I shall add the "extra" on the same post.

Heading for Scotland tomorrow, after the worship service in l'Eglise (at which I am preaching!) and the communal meal, so will publish as and when!!



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Meet the Nativity.

Thank you to David Robertson who introduced me to a series of videos produced by "Speak Life" - an organisation that I have known for many years. The videos are available on YouTube, but I plan to publish them here, on my blog, over the next few days. I just know that you will enjoy watching them - I trust that they will speak to every heart. Ignore the date mentioned at the end!!



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So, when was Jesus really born?!

Less than a fortnight to go - and it will be Christmas Day. That, of course, as everyone knows, is the day on which the Baby Jesus was born. Well, actually, there are two mistakes in that statement! First of all, there are very many who do not know that this day celebrates the incarnation of the unique Son of God - coming into the world that He had created, in the human flesh that He had created. Many, sadly, seem to think that it was when "Santa Claus"(aka "Father Christmas") was born; or that it is just another excuse for a break from work, parties, special food, loads of alcohol, and presents.

The second error in the statement is that Jesus was born on Dec. 25th. Many will claim that we simply do not know the date of that momentous event, but accept that Dec. 25th. is one of the least likely contenders. However, it is possible to deduce, if not the precise day, certainly a very limited period in which the Christ-child was laid in an animals' feeding-trough.

As I have been discovering over the past few years, one of the problems we face as disciples of that same Jesus is that, too early in its life, the church lost sight of its Hebraic roots. It may be said to have started with a Hellenistic ("Greekised") Jew named Philo of Alexandria who lived from about 20 BC until 50 AD - covering the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus. It was he who, through those who followed his teaching, introduced Greek philosophical ideas into the the church from its earliest days. This led to a departure from the Hebrew mindset, which was totally different from that of the Greeks.

So, we find that if we revert to Hebraic thinking, we can indeed, place the birth of the Lord Jesus to within a week or two! How may we do so? Well, let's start with the record of Luke where we find, in the first chapter, the account of the birth of John, who was to be known as the Baptiser. Zacharias, John's father, was a priest on duty in the Temple in Jerusalem (N.B. the cult of Islam had not yet even been dreamed of!). Luke records that "Zacharias was a member of the Abijah division of the Temple service corps." (1:5; Living Bible Translation). Scholars can show us that this division served in the month of Tamuz - the fourth month in the Hebrew calendar. Elizabeth, Zacharias' wife, conceived shortly after his encounter with the archangel Gabriel (v.24) and, in due course, gave birth to her son.

However, after six months of Elizabeth's pregnancy, a young girl named Mary - a close relative of Elizabeth - also conceived supernaturally. In her case, the conception was even more amazing, as no man was involved. Rather, she conceived through the activity of God the Holy Spirit (v.35). Her conception may be dated as during the month  of Shvat and, nine months later, the Child was born - in the month Tishrei. This is the time of year which, in our Gregorian calendar, is marked by the period of September/October. 

Tishrei is also the time of the year when the Jewish people celebrate Succoth - the Feast of Tabernacles. Is it merely a coincidence that John, in his account of the Gospel record, states that "... the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth;" (1:14), when we know that the word translated "dwelt" is the equivalent of "tabernacled"? We would also note that the original Tabernacle - the forerunner of the Temple - signified the presence of YHWH, the Covenant Name of God, with His chosen people.

I am learning, in these days, to try to see the Scriptures of both the Tanakh (the "Old Covenant") and the Brit Hadashah (the "New Covenant") with a more Hebraic mindset. It doesn't just help me to realise that Yeshua (Jesus) was born at a specific time in the Jewish calendar. It also helps me to understand more of what God would say to me, and us, in these end times. Glory to His Name.

The Advocate

The third volume in my "Getting to know you ..." series is almost ready for publication. Regretfully, it will now be into the new year before it is available - too late for a Christmas gift! It is a devotional commentary on the letters of the "beloved disciple", John. Early in his first letter, the apostle makes an amazing statement: "My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (2:1).

I am reminded of an incident concerning President Abraham Lincoln of the United States of America or, to be more precise, his son. Apparently, in those far-off days, it was pssible for anyone to come and seek a meeting with the President. One day, a soldier entered the large room, outside his office, and sat down among the many who were waiting to see Mr Lincoln. Shortly afterwards, the President's young son, Tad, came in and was immediately attracted by the soldier in his uniform. Approaching the veteran, he noticed that he had lost an arm in the war. 

The friendly soldier talked with the lad for some time, with no idea as to his identity. He eventually told Tad that he hoped he was not waiting in vain, as he needed to see the President about a very important matter. "That's no problem." the boy exclaimed. "He's my father. I can get you in!" He then ran off and gained admittance to the inner office using a private entrance.

Eventually, a secretary came into the room and notified those who were waiting that the Chief Executive had only a few minutes left, and that he could not consult with anyone else that day. Everyone left the room - except the soldier. The aide assured him that it was useless to wait. The man replied, "The President's son was here, and he has assured me that I could see his father." "You mean little Tad?" asked the aide. "Yes", came the reply. "Well then, you will indeed get in, for he loves that boy, and always yields to his wishes!"

As a disciple of "... Jesus Christ the righteous.", I have Him as my heavenly Advocate. He is the Father's "... beloved Son ..." with  Whom He is "... well pleased." (Matt.3:17; inter al). With Him constantly pleading my cause, I may be assured that each request will be heard - and answered in accordance with the Father's will and purposes. Has He not said that: "... whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." (John 16:23)? The greatest, most influential Advocate will see that my prayers "get in". 

Is He your Advocate? He can be. If you wish to know more, please feel free to contact me using the e-mail address at the head of the blog.