Over summer, across the three Sunday meetings, I'm preaching on four verses in Jude. They will be self contained and yet form a series (preachers will understand). I am really looking forward to it.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 20-23)
I'm speaking on four of the commands...
1. Build yourselves in your most holy faith (Growing in 2008)
2. Pray in the Holy Spirit (Prayer in 2008)
3. Keep yourselves in God's love (Assurance for 2008)
4. Be merciful to those who doubt (Ministry in 2008)
Saturday, 22 December 2007
Questions From Matthew 4
I answered nine written questions this week from last week's talk. I got back to a few of you on Monday - but rest were a bit late. Sorry. Here is one of the questions with my first thoughts.
Why did the devil bother tempting Jesus even though he knew God would protect and guide him?
My first thoughts:
1. The devil is a liar and sometimes believes his own lies.
2. The devil is not an idiot and yet he doesn't know everything in God's plans.
3. The exact plans for the sending of God the Son into the word were actually kept secret from the angels. Angels longed to look into these things (1 Peter 1:10-12)
4. The devil had a 100% success rate with every other human being - particularly one called 'the son of God' - Adam, Israel, David
5. The devil knew that God would protect and guide the one who trusted in God (Psalm 91). Therefore the devil's only weapon was to get Jesus at this point - his trust in God. Therefore .... food, testing, worship.
Why did the devil bother tempting Jesus even though he knew God would protect and guide him?
My first thoughts:
1. The devil is a liar and sometimes believes his own lies.
2. The devil is not an idiot and yet he doesn't know everything in God's plans.
3. The exact plans for the sending of God the Son into the word were actually kept secret from the angels. Angels longed to look into these things (1 Peter 1:10-12)
4. The devil had a 100% success rate with every other human being - particularly one called 'the son of God' - Adam, Israel, David
5. The devil knew that God would protect and guide the one who trusted in God (Psalm 91). Therefore the devil's only weapon was to get Jesus at this point - his trust in God. Therefore .... food, testing, worship.
The fourth dimension of singing
I think the three-fold understanding of singing is fantastic. Have you heard it? It is based on Colossians 3:16.
1. Let word of Christ dwells in us richly as we sing (downward)
2. We sing to each other to encourage each other (sideways)
3. We make music in our hearts to God (upwards)
Every time we sing in church - all are involved. This has been represented in a triangle. (I'd love to find an electronic copy).
As I was kayaking (at 7am this morning), I thought of a fourth dimension that I should keep in the front of my mind.
4. We also sing in the presence of God's enemies. This is one of God's ordained ways to silence the the evil one and the world who will not accept Christ. For me this is a huge motivation to praise God. We shut the devil's mouth.
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger. (Psalm 8:2)
1. Let word of Christ dwells in us richly as we sing (downward)
2. We sing to each other to encourage each other (sideways)
3. We make music in our hearts to God (upwards)
Every time we sing in church - all are involved. This has been represented in a triangle. (I'd love to find an electronic copy).
As I was kayaking (at 7am this morning), I thought of a fourth dimension that I should keep in the front of my mind.
4. We also sing in the presence of God's enemies. This is one of God's ordained ways to silence the the evil one and the world who will not accept Christ. For me this is a huge motivation to praise God. We shut the devil's mouth.From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger. (Psalm 8:2)
Matthew 4: The Devil's Psalm
Psalm 91 seems to be a favourite of Satan. He quotes verses 11 and 12 at Jesus during the wilderness temptation.For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (91:11-12)
The next verse seems to predict Satan's own downfall. He does not quote verse 13 to Jesus. ;)
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent. (91:13)
God's enemies quote scripture - they just do it selectively.
Matthew 4: Affirmation before Temptation
Last week someone very helpfully reminded me that before Christ was tempted, God affirmed his love for his Son at his baptism. This got me thinking. Knowing God and knowing his love seems to be part of the arsenal of anyone who will do battle with the Satan .... and yet .... it is not enough ...
The three prototypical sons of God--Adam, Israel and David--in real ways were all assured of God's love. But the devil had seen them all fall before not long after they knew God's love.
I think that God's affirmation of Christ was important - but it was not enough to make Christ stand firm.
The three prototypical sons of God--Adam, Israel and David--in real ways were all assured of God's love. But the devil had seen them all fall before not long after they knew God's love.
I think that God's affirmation of Christ was important - but it was not enough to make Christ stand firm.
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
Matthew 4: Men are weak
I'm getting a bit type cast for using 'nerdy' illustrations for my talks - Starwars, Spiderman etc... Maybe I should leave this Lord of the Rings quote on the cutting floor? It fits in really well with Matthew 4:1-11. So I'll avoid the nerdiness and just put it on my blog! ;) ;)
It reminds me so much of the history of humanity's failure when it comes to Satan. (Christ stands out so clearly from the rest of us).
Gandalf: It is in Men that we must place our hope.
Elrond: Men? Men are weak. The Blood of Numenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of Men the Ring survives. I was there, Gandalf. I was there three thousand years ago. I was there the day the strength of Men failed.
It reminds me so much of the history of humanity's failure when it comes to Satan. (Christ stands out so clearly from the rest of us).
Gandalf: It is in Men that we must place our hope.
Elrond: Men? Men are weak. The Blood of Numenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of Men the Ring survives. I was there, Gandalf. I was there three thousand years ago. I was there the day the strength of Men failed.
Sunday, 9 December 2007
Matthew 3: High and Low in Isaiah
Isaiah 40:4 says that every valley will be lifted high and every mountain laid low. When I was at college I did a search on high and low in Isaiah and here is what I found:
In general there are two that are raised high in Isaiah.
1. God himself. Lots of times. Clearest: 'I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.' (6:1)
2. Human sinners are said to exalt themselves. This is one of the chief sins in Isaiah. 'The Lord Almighty has a day in store for the proud and lofty, for all the exalted and they will be humbled ... for all the towering hills and lofty mountains ... the arrogance of man will be brought low.' (2:12-18)
Perhaps this is what is meant by the highway of God. The arrogant will be brought low. This was certainly part of John's ministry. The humble are also a theme in Isaiah ... they will be lifted up.
I'd prefer to be a valley made high rather than a mountain laid low.
PS. There is one other who is said to be rightly lifted up - and he is the suffering servant. Three times it is said: 'See my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.' (52:13)
Matthew 3: What is the message of John the Baptist?
Isaiah says that the voice (ie John) should call out
'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are as grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.' (Isaiah 40:6-8)
Two thoughts:
* Maybe this is why John lives out in the desert and doesn't care about what he eats and drinks. He is a living statement that we don't need the 'things' around us ... they will fade. Jesus certainly went into the desert and told the devil that we don't live on bread alone.
* If this is the undercurrent of John's teaching then this may explain why the prostitutes and tax collectors repsonded to him ... why we must live for the kingdom, for the promise.
'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are as grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.' (Isaiah 40:6-8)
Two thoughts:
* Maybe this is why John lives out in the desert and doesn't care about what he eats and drinks. He is a living statement that we don't need the 'things' around us ... they will fade. Jesus certainly went into the desert and told the devil that we don't live on bread alone.
* If this is the undercurrent of John's teaching then this may explain why the prostitutes and tax collectors repsonded to him ... why we must live for the kingdom, for the promise.
Matthew 3: Know Your King: Know His Protocol
I preached on Matthew 3 tonight and had some great questions from the church. I also recieved some written questions that I have never thought about before. I've written some first thoughts to those who wrote them. I might post some thoughts on them after a couple of days of reflection and discussion.
Matthew 3: Why did Jesus himself get baptised?
I'm not going major on this at church tonight - but I have a few thoughts on this one. Has anyone done some thinking on this one?
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Mattthew 2: Who ruled before Herod?
It's worth finding out more. It explains:
* who Herod was and why he was insecure.
* his relationship with Rome.
* why many of his family wanted to prove themselves Jewish.
* a bit about the relationship between the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians.
Find out who ruled before Herod. It was not a glorious time. Before Herod there was a short lived rule of a family who also claimed the priesthood. They were corrupt and their kingdom was prone to civil unrest. Sinful human beings cannot establish a theocracy. In my opinion, their reign highlights again why Jesus needed to come.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean
(If you can't read the whole article start at Hasmonean expansion and civil war.)
* who Herod was and why he was insecure.
* his relationship with Rome.
* why many of his family wanted to prove themselves Jewish.
* a bit about the relationship between the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians.
Find out who ruled before Herod. It was not a glorious time. Before Herod there was a short lived rule of a family who also claimed the priesthood. They were corrupt and their kingdom was prone to civil unrest. Sinful human beings cannot establish a theocracy. In my opinion, their reign highlights again why Jesus needed to come.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmonean
(If you can't read the whole article start at Hasmonean expansion and civil war.)
Monday, 3 December 2007
Matthew 2: Balaam and the Magi
Read Numbers 24
* Both Balaam and Magi are magicians.
* Both are a bit mysterious.
* Balaam prophecies that a 'star will rise out of Jacob; a scepter out of Israel'.
* The Magi follow a star that leads to the king.
* Both Balaam and Magi are magicians.
* Both are a bit mysterious.
* Balaam prophecies that a 'star will rise out of Jacob; a scepter out of Israel'.
* The Magi follow a star that leads to the king.
One of the best training resources online
It's all free but you must register.
http://www.biblicaltraining.org/index.php
If you use it - let me know what you think. I really enjoyed the Church History and Other Religions classes.
http://www.biblicaltraining.org/index.php
If you use it - let me know what you think. I really enjoyed the Church History and Other Religions classes.
Matthew 2: A New Motivation For Worship
One thing that really hit home to me was that there is a new motivation for worship in the story of the Magi. Herod tried to kill him and the people of Israel were disturbed, but not interested in him. The magi were the only ones who understood the value of this child.
It is similar today - most of our world does not care about Christ; if he came to earth he would probably be killed; and his name is an 'acceptable' swear word in this nation.
If we who know Christ as King don't rejoice in him, worship him and open our treasures before him - no one else will.
It is similar today - most of our world does not care about Christ; if he came to earth he would probably be killed; and his name is an 'acceptable' swear word in this nation.
If we who know Christ as King don't rejoice in him, worship him and open our treasures before him - no one else will.
Matthew 2: Your Comments and Questions
Maybe things you also noticed about Matthew 2. Post them here.
Matthew 2: Rachel's Tears
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18)
This passage from Jeremiah is one of the turning points of the whole Bible. Not long after these verses in Jeremiah 31 a new covenant is announced. God says that it will be a new deal with the people of God. God will be their God, they will be his people. He will forgive their sins.
It seems as though before this covenant is announced there will be sadness: Rachel will weep for her children. Read Jeremiah 31 - and yet God will comfort her. Rachel is one of the Matriarch's of Israel. Married to Jacob, she bears him children. Rachel's tomb was thought to be be near Bethlehem. (Ramah however is thought to be North of Jerusalem)
I think ultimately this sadness that precedes the new covenant is the horror of the death of Christ. At his death the mothers of Israel mourn (which actually happens in the gospels). However the slaughter of the chidren of Bethlehem is like a pre-tremor ... there will be sadness, but very soon there will be comfort.
Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18)
This passage from Jeremiah is one of the turning points of the whole Bible. Not long after these verses in Jeremiah 31 a new covenant is announced. God says that it will be a new deal with the people of God. God will be their God, they will be his people. He will forgive their sins.
It seems as though before this covenant is announced there will be sadness: Rachel will weep for her children. Read Jeremiah 31 - and yet God will comfort her. Rachel is one of the Matriarch's of Israel. Married to Jacob, she bears him children. Rachel's tomb was thought to be be near Bethlehem. (Ramah however is thought to be North of Jerusalem)
I think ultimately this sadness that precedes the new covenant is the horror of the death of Christ. At his death the mothers of Israel mourn (which actually happens in the gospels). However the slaughter of the chidren of Bethlehem is like a pre-tremor ... there will be sadness, but very soon there will be comfort.
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