EmmDev 2023-09-20 [Faithful Perseverance] Marathon

Marathon

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews12:1-3)

All of us know how to run.
But we don't know how to run far.
Long distance running isn't easy.
We have to consider cramps, shinsplints, blisters, lactic acid, fitness, endurance and a huge number of additional factors. If we've never run long distances before, we will need guidance or coaching on how to get fit, how to get the right nutrition, pacing, etc.

The writer of the Hebrews gives us some coaching for Faithful Perseverance:

1. Grounding: We're surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Think of all the Old Testament heroes and the Christians over the last 20 centuries. This race has a long tradition and a solid track record. They're in the heavenly grandstands, they're cheering because they know we can get to the end of our race just like they got to the end of theirs: with faith!
2. Losing distractions: Any long distance runner knows that you can't carry baggage with you and that you need a clear path. We need to lose the weight of past hurts and avoid the thorns and vines of temptation and sin that will snag us and hold us back.
3. Run with perseverance: There are no short-cuts to fitness. One starts small with a small distance and then you ramp it up daily and weekly. It's progressive overload. Going further, harder and faster each time. This is not easy and it takes courage.
4. Follow the route: It doesn't matter how far or fast we run if it's on the wrong road! There will be tempting detours and times that we will need to choose carefully to stay on the right route. The Holy Spirit will show us the way, but we must listen...
5. Focus: It can get lonely, exhausting and scary on this race. We will need motivation. Looking at Jesus and all He suffered and did for us will help.

So that's our marathon and how to run it!

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EmmDev 2023-09-19 [Faithful Perseverance] Incremental

Incremental

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2Peter1:3-8)

On the 8th of August I wrote a devotion about this passage talking about "Carts and Horses" emphasising that we can't do anything by ourselves. We need God's power working in us. (Go HERE to read that eDev...)

However, when God's power is at work in us, then we begin incremental growth. Interestingly, perseverance is in the list, but it also takes perseverance to grow from faith to goodness. It takes diligence to grow from goodness to knowledge and it takes courage to move to self-control. Then we need to develop our long-distance muscles for perseverance so that we can tackle the challenging road to godliness. It takes special self-awareness, grace and dedication to grow in brotherly kindness and then sheer determination when it comes to showing love to difficult people.

And I have learned that each time I think I've completed this cycle, I find myself on a new level and God has another growth staircase of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love for me to climb.

This is not so that I can be saved, but because I am saved, and the higher I climb, the more of God's love and goodness I can see.

Faithful Perseverance is Incremental. It's lots of little steps in a number of areas so that I can be more like Jesus!

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EmmDev 2023-09-15 [Faithful Perseverance] Not for Wimps

Not for Wimps

When Barnabas went to the new Greek speaking congregation in Antioch he urged them to "remain true to the Lord with all their hearts."
If I were a new convert, I would be nervous if I received an admonition like "Stay true with all your heart...."

Faith is not for wimps.

Paul has given the Corinthians quite a work-over. He's had to confront them about immorality, divisions, abuse of the Lord's Supper and a number of other things. One would expect a gentle and encouraging ending, something like: "Hang in there, I know it's been a bit rough, but we'll get there..."

Not Paul! Here's what he says:

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. (1Corinthians16:13-14)

Wow - there's a wake up call!
Be on your guard - there's danger out there!
Stand firm in the faith - there's temptations that will make you wobble!
Be Courageous - there's scary stuff out there
Be Strong - there's opposition out there that will defeat the weak.
Do everything in love - because sometimes people will drive you to want to do otherwise

Unfortunately "Mainstream" Christianity has become soft. Whether it's the prosperity gospel or the privilege of a modern consumer society, but we are not resilient anymore. We want the kind of Christianity offered by some of the preachers we see on TV: "Come to Jesus and all your problems are over. You'll be healthy and wealthy (but maybe not wise). You'll always get a parking place and always have money."

Christians who buy into this complain about uncomfortable seats in church and sermons that go five minutes overtime. They are easily discouraged and become disgruntled when things don't go their way. They'll easily skip church saying: "I don't like those new/old songs..." or "the preacher just isn't on my wavelength..." or "I just don't get on with so and so..."

The reality is that we are called to courageous Christianity. Christians don't always have perfect health. Their cars don't always start. In fact, they may be targeted and ridiculed by fellow students or business associates. They may become targets of bullies and thugs. They may become victims of crime and face temptations. They may face health and financial setbacks. They are marked as "enemy" by Satan and his kingdom of darkness. There is a battle and we're in it!

Being the church can be hard, we have to face our brokenness and courageously love one another standing firm against that which would derail us from our mission and purpose.

A modern day preacher might have "cut his losses" with the church in Corinth, but not Paul. He perseveres and calls them to do the same.

Christianity is not for Wimps!

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EmmDev 2023-09-14 [Faithful Perseverance] It's not just passive

It's not just passive

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians6:9)

Perseverance isn't just passive.

Sometimes the Church and Christians fall into the trap of bemoaning the changing world around us and we adopt a run-from-the-world holy-huddle mentality.

Paul reminds the Galatians that we need to do more than hide from the world.
We need to be doing good!

Amazingly, when we start making a difference, even if it's as simple as just smiling at people more, we experience joy, purpose, fulfillment and empowerment. There is significant meaning to be found in service to God.

And Paul assures us that there will be a harvest when we do good.

Are you trying to persevere passively?
Are you gritting your teeth through tough times hoping it will pass soon?
Stop being passive - be active in doing good!

Currently the city we are in is experiencing load-shedding, water-shortages, service delivery trouble and a host of other difficulties. People are irritated and frustrated.
But what would it look like if we deliberately did a few things that did good?
- Change the subject when a conversation you are in gets too negative.
- Offer to help a neighbour with water or a gas bottle
- Lend a hand wherever you can

This can sound very simplistic, but it works!
When we do good, persevering becomes easier.

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EmmDev 2023-09-13 [Faithful Perseverance] Really Tough Times

Really Tough Times

Many people read John's book of Revelation incorrectly.
They think the book is about the End Time (without an "s") in the sense of a very specific period in history just before the Second Coming of Jesus and the Final Judgement. For them, this time is somewhere in the future and numerous attempts have been made to predict when this time will be. (You may remember how some incorrectly guessed 2000 or 2012.)

However, when Jesus spoke about the End Times (note the "s"), He described it like a woman in labour. Labour is a cycle of contractions and rest, contraction and rest, contraction and rest... In this view, the End Times (labour) began when Jesus ascended into heaven and will end when He returns. During this period we will see times of contraction and times of rest for the Church.

The problem with the first point of view is that the book of Revelation is technically irrelevant for now and for the John's first readers, because it will only be applicable in that very specific period of history! Imagine John saying: "Hey everyone, here's a book I wrote, but it's only going to be relevant in some 2000+ years!"

The incredible beauty of the second point of view is that Revelation is true and appropriate anytime the Church anywhere experiences a contraction. Revelation was a comfort to the Early Church where Christians where put in front of lions in Rome and run through with the sword in Asia Minor. It was also a comfort to the Protestants being persecuted in Europe in the 1600s and it was a comfort to the true church in Nazi Germany, the church behind the Iron Curtain and now the church in Muslim totalitarian states in Africa today.

Our reading comes from one of the seven "Letters to the Churches" in Revelation 2 & 3. These were actual churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and they were experiencing real persecution. Jesus comforts them and He still comforts those who face persecution today.

This lovely passage makes a few important points:

1. We should not be intimidated by hardship, it is part of the labour
2. The church's enemy is the devil and his goal is to break the church
3. Persecution and suffering will be limited (here symbolised by "ten days".) God is still in control
4. We need to be faithful - not successful - but faithful
5. Death should never bully us - God gives us eternal life
6. And Eternal Life doesn't start when we die, Eternal Life is knowing Christ, and this is our Victor's Crown!

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown. (Revelation2:10)

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EmmDev 2023-09-12 [Faithful Perseverance] Not in Vain

Not in Vain

For the next three weeks we'll be doing a series on "Faithful Perseverance."
As I look at our city, our country and our world, it is clear that we are facing challenging times. We are not going to "shrink back and be destroyed" but rather we will "believe and be saved" (Heb10:39)

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1Corinthians15:58)

This has been my year verse for 2023.
Here's why:

Firstly, the "Therefore" is based on the contents of the first part of the chapter, which is Paul's celebration of the Resurrection of Christ and the incredible hope that this brings us. Christ is Risen and so the grave has no hold over us. We have a solid foundation both in life and in death!

Then Paul addresses them as brothers and sisters. What a gift the community of faith is! We are not alone, we are part of the family of the Redeemed. We are sons and daughters of God and we find connection, support, care, backup and intercession in the community of faith.

So that's our foundation: The hope of Resurrection and the Comfort and Strength of the family of God.

Now comes the work:

• Stand Firm - Let Nothing move you: In a world of shifting values and shifting alliances, we need to be resolute in our faith in Christ (even when the world says that there are many ways that lead to God,) in our value systems (even when the world says we are old fashioned) and in our holy habits of Scripture Reading, Prayer, Fellowship, Obedience to the Promptings of the Spirit and Sharing our Faith even when the world tells us that we shouldn't "get too carried away with our religion".
• And we need to give ourselves fully to God's work. We should figure out what God wants us to do, even if it seems something little, and then get it done. Then look for the next thing - if we are willing to serve even if it is not in the limelight and even if there's very little recognition, then God will be at work in us and in what we do for Him.

And then comes the reassurance:
"Our Labour is not in Vain!"
When a little boy headed out with his little lunch packet one morning, he never dreamed that he'd be helping to feed the five thousand. God will use what we do, even if we can't see it immediately.

So we have a foundation: Resurrection Hope and our God Family.
We have a reassurance: God will use whatever we give and do to make a difference
We have a calling: We must Stand Firm and Throw ourselves into Service.

It's never in vain!

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EmmDev 2023-09-08 [God says you are...] Forgiven

Forgiven

(Apologies for the missed EmmDev yesterday)

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbour His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms103:8-12)

I've been preaching through the Apostle's Creed on Sunday Mornings...
This Sunday I will be preaching on.... (you guessed it!) ... the Forgiveness of sins.
And this is the last title in this mini-series on what God says about us...

Who are we? You and I are Forgiven!

This is so profound:
If you think of the list we have worked through so far, it's quite touching:
God says we are:
- Unique: knitted together by Him
- Special: with a life of good works to do
- Lovely: in the sense that our lives shine with His salvation
- Precious: because He bought us with His life-blood
- Strong: with His power working in us
- Chosen: He came to us before we came to Him.

BUT, having read this beautiful list, we can knock it aside with one thought:
"But I'm a sinful mess! This can't be me! I'm broken, dirty and messed up. I'm a failure.
This might be true for someone else, but not for me!"

And God says: "It's OK - I've got you - you're forgiven"
"You can be Unique, Special, Lovely, Precious, Strong and Chosen BECAUSE I have forgiven you!"

"Your sin was a problem. I'm a Holy and Righteous God.
And your sin made me angry - not in a tantrum way - but because I could see the harm it did.
But my love is greater than your sin.
And so I removed your sin - I paid a great price, and your sin is gone!"
(East and West never meet - they're not even "poles apart!")

Who are you?
You are Unique, Special, Lovely, Precious, Strong and Chosen because He has Forgiven you!

So have an awesome weekend and join us on Sunday at church or online to explore this beautiful truth even further!
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(That brings us to the end of the series, I hope you found it meaningful!)

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EmmDev 2023-09-06 [God says you are...] Chosen

Chosen

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. (John15:13-16)

I remember listening to a Messianic Jew who asked: "Why did God chooooose to uuuuse the Jeeews?"
He went on to say that there was no other reason than Grace.

Why are we chosen by Jesus?
Is it because of our talents, our good looks, our bright intellects?
None of the above I'm afraid.
We didn't earn His love and He doesn't owe us His love.

That's why the word "friends" is so important in this passage.
Someone once said: "Friends are the family we choose for ourselves."
The Bible uses a number of ways to describe our relationship with God.
We are His Children, His Friends, His People, His Beloved, His Flock and so many, many, many more.

But to be "Chosen" tops the list!

In His first letter John puts it even more beautifully:
This is how God showed His love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
This is love:
not that we loved God, but that He loved us
and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1John4:9-10)

Wow! We are chosen!
Out of love - not on merit - but out of pure, incredible, amazing LOVE.

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EmmDev 2023-09-05 [God says you are...] Strong

Strong

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. (Psalms18:32-36)

David wrote this song during his desert escapades where God repeatedly rescued him from a murderous Saul. Think of it: King Saul with all his authority and his mighty army on the one hand, David and a rag tag group of ruffians on the other. Saul must have been putting out rewards and bounties on David's life, sending spies everywhere and David was on the run - on the back foot - never getting time to find his feet. It should have simply been a matter of time before he cornered David.

But God was watching over David, giving him courage, strength and protection. At times God even delivered Saul over to David so that David could demonstrate to him that he meant him no harm.

One of the loveliest examples is that at one point, when David and his men get back to the settlement they had established, they discover that their wives have been carried off by marauders and everyone is devastated - They weep until they have no strength left to weep. Then it says: "David found strength in the Lord his God" (1Sam30:6) and they are able to pursue their enemy and with God's help and intervention rescue their loved ones.

I think this hymn of praise reflects poetically the gift strength that God gives in the midst of chaos.

This is not Popeye's spinach or Asterix's magic potion or Sinbad's belt of strength. This is much deeper. It's the strength to endure. It is strength of character. It is the strength of conviction and it is the strength to overcome and persevere.

With God's help, you and I can be Strong.

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EmmDev 2023-09-01 [God says you are...] Precious

Precious

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1Corinthians6:19-20)

It was a common complaint in the 70s and 80s that whenever people went to church, they were told that they were sinners.

To some extent, we need to understand that the main reason for this focus on human sinfulness was the renewed emphasis on evangelism that happened in that time. Preachers were reminding people of their need for God: "You have a problem, it's sin, and Jesus has a solution."

Unfortunately, bad news sells more newspapers than good news does, and so many many people heard and remembered "You're a sinner" instead of remembering, "God loved you so much that His Son died in your place." Even the tracts of the time mostly started with the idea of "You're in trouble... you're a sinner." In contrast, my favourite gospel tract starts with a picture showing that God lovingly created us so that we could have a relationship with Him...

The reality of our brokenness is true. We are broken by our own sin, the sin of others and the broken-by-sin world around us and theologians talk about total depravity and our total inability to save ourselves.

But this is not God's perspective...
When God looks at us He sees us as Precious:
- Worth saving.
- Worth rescuing.
- Worth dying for.

The context of this verse is that in Corinth it was common practice to engage with temple prostitutes and the drunkenness and orgies that took place in the surrounding pagan culture. Paul starts the chapter saying "...that's what some of you were..."
But He wants them to embrace a better identity.
Not broken, but bought.
Not sin-guilty, but forgiven.
PRECIOUS!

Go into the rest of this week knowing:
1. You were precious enough to die for
2. Because you were died for, you are too precious to get sucked back into brokenness.

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