John 6v63 ^“The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”

Jesus had been expounding his declaration, “I am the Bread of Life” to explain that as we depend on bread (or other staple foods) for physical life, so Jesus is the staple food for spiritual and eternal life (6v54).

John then records, “Many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Jesus retorts with the above, “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” A few verses later, Peter replies, “You have the words of eternal life.”

This Sunday is our “New Testament Day”. Starting at 6am, we as a church are going to read the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. We expect to finish at 12 midnight. “That’s crazy” some might say, or “I don’t have time for that”. But, Jesus said his words are spirit and life, and this is a time for feasting on those words. The Word of God is powerful (Hebrews 4v12 ), and it is the piece of armour we fight with (Ephesians 6v17 ): as we speak out God’s Word it has effect in our lives and in the spiritual realms. We are planning to declare the truth of God.

We have faith that as we do so, God will change things in our lives, in the life of the church and in our community.

With much blessing,

Roland

Psalm 19v14 ^“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer”

Last Sunday we looked at the passage in James 3 concerning both the power and inconsistency of our tongues. (If you were not there, you can listen  tongue-talk-here  ). Our inconsistency is expressed: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness … my brothers, this should not be.” This is a challenge: How do we speak of our fellow human-beings?

When we come to Psalm 19v14 (above), we can be very religious in our application and think of our “times with God”, but I think a wider context is merited. Immediately before this verse, the Psalmist is concerned about his sin, “Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant from wilful sins; may they not rule over me.” (v12/13). The application is not so much in our “religious times”, but in the whole of life. I think we can therefore interpret the prayer of Psalm 19 in the light of James: “May the words of my mouth with regards to my fellow human-beings, and the meditations of my heart with regards to my fellow human-beings, be pleasing to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Now that is a challenge! But this is a desire and a prayer – an Anglican response would be “with God’s help we will.” And indeed, He will help as we will!

With much blessing,

Roland

Romans 4v18-21 ^“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed … being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

Chris Shaw shared these words during our time with God on Monday night. They resonated with me strongly. Do you ever feel that hope is lost? That things cannot pull round? That it is all worthless?

What has God promised to do in you and for you? (Check through the Bible and recall prophetic words given to you too). Are we fully persuaded that God has the power to do it? God calls us to be strong and courageous, but this is not a fool-hardiness. No! This is a courage based on the faithfulness, goodness and power of God. How can I disbelieve God’s power – he created all things! How can I disbelieve his goodness – Jesus died for me! How can I disbelieve his faithfulness – he has placed His Spirit in me as a deposit!

And so,  when things are at their darkest or stormiest or lowest ebb, when there is nothing more we can do, “May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.”

We are a Hope Community!

With much blessing,

Roland

2 Timothy 3v16 ^“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful to teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”

It makes sense that if Scripture is God-breathed, then it is true. Of course, it needs to read and understood in context according to the manner of writing (narrative, poetry … etc).

In the 19^th century, scepticism mounted with regards to the truth of the Bible – did these narrative stories really happen? The scepticism was based on a lack of evidence and a lack of belief in a God who reveals truth.

In the 20^th century, advances in archaeology, the finding of ancient manuscripts, the science of analysing texts have all tended to confirm the validity of the Bible and evidence continues to mount.

While I have believed the truth of the Bible stories, the actual validity of these stories has been brought home to me in a very real way in the last few weeks. Firstly by links to some widely available youtube videos (thank you Al Carr) which analyse evidence for:

–           the escape of the people of Israel from Egypt into the desert  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjrxHqNy5CQ , and

–           the raining of fiery brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLEJ1sZxjA4&t=531s .

Yesterday, at a Christ Central prayer day, we were shown a video (not publically available) in which one of the church leaders present interviewed a church leader in Uganda. The Ugandan told us that a local tribe made sacrifices to a snake, and when they did so the snake would speak out in their language and foretell the future. The church leader fasted and prayed for 3 days for the death of the snake: it died. The tribal leaders found out that he had prayed for its death and arrested him with threat of death. The Holy Spirit prompted him to say, “I only prayed. If your god is powerful you can do the same, you do not need to harm me”. They let him go. Personally, this testimony has given me a new grounding for the snake talking in Genesis 3. It also reminds us of the reality of the enemy and the spiritual battle.

We can trust God’s Word!

With much blessing,

Roland

James 3v8 ^“ … but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison”

We are not looking at this passage until a few weeks time on a Sunday, but it seems to be very appropriate in terms of the what is being highlighted in politics on both sides of the Atlantic.

James does not mince his words. In the surrounding section he likens the tongue to a small rudder directing a huge ship or a small spark igniting a vast forest. He highlights 4 things about the tongue:

–          It is the most difficult part of a person to control – only the perfect can! (v2)

–          It can corrupt the whole person and can direct their life into difficulty (v6)

–          No person can tame it (v8)

–          It can produce both wholesome talk/praise and evil/cursing (v10)

So what to do about it? James identifies two types of wisdom which influence the tongue:

–          Worldly wisdom (v14-16) which is “earthly, unspiritual, of the devil”. This consists of bitter envy and selfish ambition, and leads to “disorder and every evil practice”, or

–          Heavenly wisdom (v13,17-18) which is “humble, from heaven”. This is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere, and it leads to a “harvest of righteousness”.

Whatever your political views, this is a time to stand out as the children of God with heavenly wisdom!

May we and our leaders have tongues filled with heavenly wisdom!

With much blessing,

Roland

James 1v13 ^“ Mercy triumphs over judgment!”

Let’s meditate on this phrase by considering the three Greek words:

“Judgment” – the Greek word is “krisis” from which we get “crisis”! It is based on the idea of separating or distinguishing right from wrong on a just basis. My problem is that I have done wrong and so I am in for a crisis indeed.

“Mercy” – the Greek carries the meanings of compassion and pity as well as mercy. It is the recognition of someone’s plight and giving what they do not deserve to rescue them. This is what God shows to us.

“Triumphs over” – In this Greek word, there is a sense of rejoicing over a total victory. When we stand before God, his mercy totally overcomes any judgment. Judgment no longer has any rule. It is done away with. It is not a compromise.

Let’s revel in the mercy of God and be grateful for his kindness and compassion towards us.

In the context, James applies this truth to how we treat others. Do I treat them with judgment or with mercy?

May our thankfulness for God’s mercy overflow in mercy towards those around us!

With much blessing,

Roland

James 1v17 & 22 ^“17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows…. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”

Thankful people are great people to be with. There is a contentment, no need to get an upper hand, no chip on the shoulder, rather a deep sense of peace overflowing into generosity. The heart of Christianity is the amazing gift given to us in Jesus Christ as he went to the cross to set us free from sin and condemnation and released us into love and grace. Eg listen to: solid ground (Lou Fellingham) True appreciation and experience of this can only overflow in thankfulness (surely?)!

As “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” so, it seems to me, the proof of the thankfulness is in the giving. This overflow of thankfulness leads to both: a compassion for those who are in distress in life (“orphans and widows” is Bible language for all who on their own or unable to provide for themselves); and also to such a detachment from what we “possess” (whether it be time, money, possessions or talents) – that we are ready to pass it on. After all, your God is able to provide all you need – isn’t he? Can God’s economy be seen more like a flowing river than a lake?

May God give us the wisdom of thankfulness!

With much blessing,

Roland

James 1v22 ^“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

How wise am I? Jesus told a parable of a wise and foolish man: the wise man built his house on the rock, the foolish man on the sand. When the storms came, the house on the sand fell flat while the one on the rock stood the test. Jesus likens the two men to two people who listen to what Jesus says: the wise one actually does it, the foolish does not. The danger is that we kid ourselves into thinking we are wise because we know what Jesus says.

It seems to me that our world today severely lacks God’s wisdom. In Isaiah 55v8-9, God says,“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”, declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” If this is true, then it is vital we listen to God’s thoughts and ways!

We live in a time of political uncertainty. What is God doing with our country?  Isaiah also lived through a mix of times under different rulers:

–          Uzziah – Isaiah begins his ministry when Uzziah dies. Uzziah’s reign had been a golden age of military prowess and economic growth, but in his later years he became proud and sinned and was inflicted with leprosy.

–          Jotham – he was a godly man and led a largely quiet reign

–          Ahaz – he was a wicked king who did not follow God’s ways

–          Hezekiah – he was a largely good king who had to deal with major political threats and relied on God.

–          Manasseh – he was a wicked king who did not follow God’s ways.

Isaiah prophesied both short term disaster for Judah and long term blessing. We see his prophecies worked out in the exile of the Jews about a century later and then in their return (another 70 years) and the coming of Jesus (another 500 years).

We as the people of God belong to the Kingdom of God. Our ultimate identity is not British or any other nationality, but Christ-ish. None-the-less, we seek the good of the place where we live (Jeremiah 29v7 & 1 Timothy 2v1-2). What does that good look like? I am convinced that while there are many ways in which we can seek that, our ultimate way is through introducing people to Jesus – the God-man who brings physical, mental, spiritual, and social healing in all its forms. It is interesting that in 1 Timothy2v1-4, prayer for the political situation quickly moves into a desire of God for people to be saved. As Paul says elsewhere, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation”. This is our hope. Do we believe it? Do we act on it?

May God make us wise.

With much blessing,

Roland

James 1v5 ^“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

How wise am I? How important is wisdom in the situations you are facing? James has a simple promise for you – ask God for wisdom and he will give it to you! There is an Old Testament proverb “The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom” (Proverbs 15v33). The first step to true wisdom is to appreciate God’s character and power, and see our situation in this perspective. The second step to true wisdom is to think and act according to this perspective.

God is where my life begins, God is where my life resides, God is where my life ends. With my life in that place, neither riches nor poverty, neither sickness nor health, neither good or bad can harm me. “No, in all these things we are more that conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8v37) Then we shall be truly wise.

May God give you and I wisdom in every situation.

With much blessing,

Roland

James 1v26-27 ²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

This is the only place in the New Testament where the Greek word for “religion” is used at all positively. And even here, James is highlighting the very real danger of hypocrisy. The Greek word included the idea of worship, ceremony and ritual. For James, it is possible that we gather as Christians to worship God in our chosen ritual (songs, prayers, Bible readings, preaching etc), but this means nothing to God if we are not careful about our speech, caring for those in need and avoiding participation in the world’s evil. In this, James is totally in line with the prophets of the Old Testament who decried the Israelites for worshipping God in festivals, but not living justly (eg Amos 5v12-15,21-24).

It is a challenge we should reflect on – our true spiritual worship is to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12v2). And offering our bodies as living sacrifices means to live lives which are obedient to God and reflect his character.

May God give us hearts which overflow in wholesome speech, compassion for the needy and moral uprightness.

With much blessing,

Roland