Food for thought … again

 

I’ve just started reading the gospels for the umpteenth time. I am looking at the Lord’s actions from a particular angle. When I'm done, God willing, I will share my findings with you. Meanwhile, just consider the following with me and let the Spirit of God speak to your heart.

Mat 6:1, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them…” Are you always trying to justify yourself? Do you tend to do everything for people to have a good opinion of you? Does what people think (or may think) matter to you? Why? Be careful not to fall into the trap where the opinion of men eventually counts more than God’s.

Don’t do unto others what you don’t want them to do to you. We all know the saying, and many even think that it is from the gospels, whereas it is from Confucius. Jesus went further. He said (Mat 7:12): “Whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them.” And He added: “For this is the Law and the Prophets.” Indeed, He later explained that: "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments." (Mat 22:37-40) Where do you place yourself in relation to this? Do you act towards others as you would like them to act with you?

Mat 8:1-3, “When Jesus came down from the hillside, large crowds followed him. Suddenly a leper came up to him, fell down before him, and said, "Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean." So Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do want to. Be made clean!" And instantly his leprosy was made clean.” What I found fascinating here is that Jesus had just spent a very long time teaching the crowds. He had talked about the Beatitudes, prayer, worries, money, and many other things; but as He was getting out of there and coming down the mountain, it seems as though this leper is the only one who went beyond His words and saw the power residing in the Master. No one else asked to be healed, except for this leper; where there no other sick? Do we usually recognize the time of our visitation?

Mat 8:23-26, “And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Jesus obviously expected them to ignore the storm and let it pass or rebuke it themselves. He clearly did not expect them to disturb Him for such 'a little thing'. Are we also people of little faith who cry for help for any little thing? “Behold Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Lk 10:19) What are we doing with this power and authority? Why do we struggle to realise and believe that NOTHING can hurt or harm us?

I end with a verse which is not in the gospels, but which got me thinking a lot this weekend. According to Judges 1:19, “And the LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron.” Yes, you’ve read well. Despite the fact that the Lord of Hosts was with them, Judas could not overcome some people because they had chariots of iron… Strange, isn’t it? It is all the more curious because a few years earlier the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Hivites had equally come out against Israel with a great number of horses and chariots, and God had said to Joshua: "Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will give over all of them, slain, to Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire." And so it happened (Jos 11:1-9). Why was it then different this time around? What went wrong? I leave you to ponder over it… ;-)

Have a ‘wonderblessesd’ week!

Politics, you said politics?

 

A few weeks ago, in both of my postings 'Ambassadors of Christ', I reminded everyone that even though we are not of the world, we still lived in the world. We cannot ignore what is happening around us, as this has a direct effect on us and our loved ones. That is why the Bible urges us to seek the good of the city, the nation or the country where the Lord has led us and pray for it; because we’ll have our peace and welfare in its own peace and welfare (Jer 29:7). Therefore, it is better to take our responsibility and be proactive. There are several ways to do this: for example we can get involved in community projects, go into politics or embark on humanitarian causes etc. There are many such opportunities, if you are really sincere in your motivation or willingness to bless others.

We can also remember that we are the salt of the earth; and the primary use of salt is not to give a better taste to food, but to stop corruption. Before the advent of freezers - and this remains the practice in some parts of the world - salting was the best way to preserve food; that is to say, to prevent putrefaction –corruption. The best way to play this role as a Christian is by telling the truth and serving as as examples to the world. People no longer have landmarks; the border between right and wrong is increasingly blurred; but the Church of the Living God knows exactly where this is and can / should prevent its complete disappearance: she is the pillar and buttress of the truth (1Ti 3:15).

Isa 8:18-22, “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. And when they say to you, "Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter," should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish…”

When the Church is silent, the people wander, are hungry, sin and sit in darkness and distress. My pastor likes saying that “the Church is the problem of the World.” We have a huge responsibility and if I raise this subject today, it is because of some political conversations that I recently had with relatives.

A few days before the French elections, I was chatting with someone who wished the defeat of Nicolas Sarkozy and the victory of Francois Hollande. I told her that if I were to vote, I would put a void ballot in the French and American elections. She was a bit puzzled; so, I went on to explain that a Christian could not even consider (let alone vote for) the victory of someone who is in favour of gay marriage and adoption etc. It was therefore dangerous to want Sarkozy to be beaten by anyone, be it the devil.

Thus, in 2008, I knew Obama would win; but I was far from seeing in him the messiah, and I did not want a black in the White House at all costs. I was disappointed when McCain took Sarah Palin as running mate; I wished he had chosen a black Republican lady of the stature of Condoleezza Rice for instance. The majority of blacks, including Christians, didn’t mind or didn’t pay attention to the fact that he had been a longtime member of a liberal church (>20 years) and had only officially cut ties with them because his pastor and mentor set off a terrible controversy over the sensitive issue of the 09/11/11 terrorist attacks. It is good to know that this church, which had deeply influenced his thinking (the United Church of Christ), was the first 'Protestant' denomination in the United States to ordain a gay pastor in 1973; and they also invite their members to mobilize themselves in favour of same-sex couples’ marriage. People refused to care; they just needed a black guy at the White House. Just as some people in France, blacks and Arabs in particular, only wanted Sarkozy (associated with anti-immigration policies) to give way to Hollande.

Now, the chicken has come home to roost. In the US, France and around the world, Christians, who insisted on having a black as President of the US and who did not ask what God thought of that election, are flabbergasted: also speaking on behalf of his wife, Obama has announced they are personally in favour of gay marriage! So what? What’s strange? This is what they have learned and believed for more than 20 years! It is not a mere evolution of their opinion: he simply chose the right moment to put his church's teachings into practice. Besides, in the same vein, the brand new French Prime Minister has also announced that his government will work towards the legalization of homosexual marriage and child adoption by gay couples, according to the roadmap and promises made by his boss, President Francois Hollande.

Tomorrow, our children or grandchildren will grow up in countries where the notions of marriage, family and gender would have been totally redefined. In case you were not aware, Argentina has just passed a law where no expert advice is now needed in order to choose a gender, contrary to the practice of the past. In simple terms it means that Mr John just needs to go to the council and explain that he has always felt he is a woman and wants to be addressed as Miss or Mrs. Joan henceforth, and it will be done immediately in order to avoid any further psychological damage. He doesn’t even need to start his physical transformation for that; this can now be done later: he simply needs to explain that he believes he is a woman trapped in a man’s body… More than two years ago, discussions had already started in France to teach in schools that genders are not limited to two, male and female; but transsexuals are also included. If it is not yet done in some schools, it will definitely be from next September.

God does not ask us not to ride the same wave as everybody (pure anti-sarkozism), or ride the wave of emotions (let’s have a black brother in the White House); He wants us to surf on His Wave. When they say to you, "Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter," should not a people inquire of their God?

God will judge the nations (Matthew 24); and in so doing, He will also judge those who have helped them, by their votes, go astray instead of making disciples out of them as Christ asked (Mat 28:19).

When we directly or indirectly support such a person, we give them a ‘blank check’ and lose the spiritual authority to pray against their bad decisions. That is why it is better to do your civic duty and vote ‘void’. It's a way of taking heaven as a witness that we have no part in what is going to happen; and this gives us the right to request that the pestilence that flies by day or night should not approach our tent. The Church needs to know who she is; know her authority and fulfill her role. Let’s take a stand for truth and for God: let’s be militant!

If you’ve liked the article, make it widely available: the U.S. elections have not yet taken place...

God bless you!

A matter of discernment and authority

 

This morning (Sunday), my daughter got up much earlier than usual because of violent pains in her lower abdomen and went down herself to take some painkillers. It was the first time she was in such a pain. I made a few comments about the medicine she had taken (which was not the most effective), and immersed myself in my Bible without getting sentimental or emotional at all about her ordeal.

A few moments later, she came to complain that she was still in pain and I told her to wait for the medication to take effect and she left. However, 15-20 minutes later, I heard her gasp, whine, and then cry louder and louder. I do not remember when she last cried like that; but knowing her and aware of what was happening behind the scene, I closed my door and ignored her ‘shouting’. She was not pretending; but at the same time, as she hates being ‘ignored’, in the present situation, in addition to the pain, there were also cries of frustration. It was so unusual that her sister ran out of her room in a panic to see what was going on, and found her in the guest room. After talking to her, the sister came to inform me of the situation and I told her I was already aware of it. The sick one followed shortly after, now crying and rolling herself on the floor. I asked her to get up and stand next to her sister; then, told her three things:

1. Remember that you are Christian.

2. This can become the story of your life: henceforth, you can go through with this on a regular base, or it can be the first and last time that you have such a pain: the choice is yours: the ball is in your camp.

3. As for me, t;e devil will not and cannot determine how I spend my day.

I concluded saying: ‘When this will sink into your mind, you will know what to do. ‘

She wanted to go, but I realized that she was so focused on her pain and upset that I was doing nothing about it, that she had hardly listened to me. So I asked her sister to repeat what I had said to her; and as she was trying to understand the message, I made her notice that she had calmed down and stopped crying. In other words, the pain was not as sharp as she said and thought. Half an hour later, she was singing praises in the bathroom and getting ready for church. In the car, she told me that when she finally got my point, she decided to ignore the pain and follow her Sunday routine; she was still suffering; but instead of going on fixing her thoughts on the pain, she decided to focus on the Lord and the service. Remember that as long as Peter stared at the Lord, he walked on water. As soon as he began to worry about the raging sea around him, he began to drown. I then explained my attitude…

· I had deliberately not given her a medicine which was more effective; so she would not see it as the magic bullet. I had neither laid hands on her, nor prayed for her, for the same reasons: I would not always be there and did not want her to depend on 'my' prayer as another magic weapon. The Bible exhorts us not to be enslaved by anything (1Cor 6:12).

· The only one, who had an interest in inflicting such pain to her on a Sunday morning and could possibly make her miss the worship, was the devil. Therefore, she had to react appropriately by resisting him with a firm faith, and he would flee from her (1Pe 5:8-9; Ja 4:7). She needed to know her authority for such matters and tell the devil his plans had failed and she had every intention to praise the Lord as usual on this beautiful day that He had made. You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free (Jn 8.32): I wanted her to be free.

· It is absolutely out of question that I dance to the devil’s tune. As soon as I realized what he was up to, I continued reading my Bible as if there was nothing, refusing to be distracted by a distressed daughter. I did not throw myself into useless prayers or painkillers: I believe in the liberating power of the Word spoken with conviction in the surrounding atmosphere.

A few minutes after entering the church, the pain was gone and she was able to minister as usual … I have no doubt that this is the last time we’ve heard of that. The devil will have to find something else to scare her and to try to destabilize me.

Lk 10:19, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”

Take control of the events of your life.

Enjoy your week and God bless!

Ambassadors of Christ (II)

 

What is the role of an ambassador?

.  To negotiate with the local government (the receiving State); and negotiating does not mean compromising. It means observing what are the customs and practices that are not totally opposed to ours and respecting them. An example of such negotiation is when Jesus pays the tax and request to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. Yet, He didn’t consider himself as a subject of Caesar. Paul gives another example of this negotiation: “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel…” (Mat 22:17-21; 1Co 9:19-23)

.  To inform his Government by all lawful means, about the conditions and evolution of events in the receiving State. He must keep abreast of developments and the situation of the country where he is appointed to inform his own government. That is why Jesus asked us to observe the signs of the times. We need to know what is happening in the world and turn to the Heavens in prayer, to receive the appropriate answer: this is the very foundation of intercession for the nations. Indeed, when a Christian, an ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven, learns that they are preparing to legalize abortion or gay marriage, he/she must immediately inform the Heavens and call for assistance, so that he/she may not find themselves in a situation where they will constantly have to break the laws in force in their country of residence. When there has been a natural disaster and that the people of his country of residence are suffering, he/she must go to the One who has sent them on a mission there to ask for a ‘humanitarian assistance.' Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare (Jer 29:7).

.  To promote friendly relations and develop economic, cultural, scientific and military relations between the two countries. We do so in the spirit of the above verse, because God has given us the word and the ministry of reconciliation; but without ever forgetting that we are not in an appeased situation: our Kingdom has an open conflict with the World and whose Prince is out for our destruction.

.  As a civil servant, he is responsible for ‘running’ the administration; that is: coordinating and facilitating the action of the civil services which compose the diplomatic mission of which he is the head. This is the role of local churches and various Christian organizations.

.  Finally, from time to time some highly respected individuals are appointed ambassadors at Large; with the mission to advise and assist governments on specific areas and on topics. But the Church is the pillar and the buttress of the truth (1Tim 3:15); when people are lost and have no solution, we must provide them with one: it is our mission; this is why we were sent for.

Three or four weeks ago, when I started the series on the book of Esther, I said that the Church must become militant and conquering again. She needs to reacquire the sense of mission. We have forgotten that we are ambassadors, with all that this implies as rights and duties. We have spoken about the duties; let’s say a few words on rights.

The host country typically allows the ambassador control of specific territory (an embassy) and this territory, along with the staff, and even the goods (vehicles etc.) are generally afforded diplomatic immunity in the host country. Any negative action directed at any of them is tantamount to a declaration of war. Similarly, if we were aware of our status of ambassadors, we would know that whatever belongs to us is a NO-GO ZONE to the Prince of this world. If he touches anything, our people and the heavenly hosts will intervene. But the guy has long noticed that we are not aware of what we are and are therefore not aware of our rights and duties; so he enters at will in our embassy and does what he wants. This must stop! Let us regain our place and bear in mind the sovereign interests of the Kingdom in our daily endeavours again. We are on a mission and the people of the world are looking at us to understand how things are done 'at home'. Let’s not give them a distorted image of our 'country' and our King: let us be worthy ambassadors of Christ.

May God richly bless you, Your Excellency; and see you next week!

Kingdom-minded: Ambassadors of Christ

 

2Co 5:17-20, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

An ambassador is a representative of a State to another, or to an international organization. At the time of his arrest, Jesus said to Pilate: "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." (Jn 18:36). Thus, as Christians, we live in the world, but we are not of the world (Jn 15:19; 17:14 and 16).

The ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation; so, as a diplomat, he is in charge of implementing the foreign policy of his country (the strategic and political choices of the highest authorities of his State - head of state, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs/ External Relations or Secretary of State). The ambassador is therefore subject to a government which gives him authority, and at the specific request of which and in whose name he exercises it (except for routine business that do not require a ministerial message). As for us Christians, our foreign policy and our mission statement in the world is defined by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We are subordinate to God's Kingdom, the source of our power and authority: “Go! Behold, I send you forth… Into whatever house you enter, first say, Peace to this house… And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are in it, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near you! …Behold, I give to you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the authority of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (See Luke 10:3-19); and we exercise this power and this authority in His Name.

Figuratively, the word ambassador includes any person who is in charge of a message or a mission. Paul said: “Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador…” (Eph 6:19-20). We are thus responsible for spreading the message of the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven where we belong, in the world.

 

What is the role of an ambassador?

.  To represent his country (the sending State) consistently. Some ambassadors are extraordinary and plenipotentiary; they are the personal representatives of the Sovereign or the Head of State, and are usually dispatched to another head of state rather than the government. So we must realize that just as Jesus represented the Father during his earthly stay, we are also the personal representatives of Christ and of God on earth. “No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father's side, he has made him known » (Jn 1:18): ‘No one has ever seen God; but his ambassadors, Christians, you and I, have made Him known.’ This is why we cannot paste "In Jesus' name" to anything; we can only relate it to the things that Jesus Himself would have done; things which are in harmony with the Kingdom of God.

.  To protect the interests of his country and its nationals, within the limits permitted by international law. The Lord’s interests, our brothers’ and sisters’ in Christ, and those of the Kingdom of God must come before all others. Indeed, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge.” And, “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” The brethren are citizens of the same Kingdom as we are (Ac 4:19, Gal 6:10). To be continued…

 

May God bless you with a fruitful week; a week full of understanding.