Saturday, April 14, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Just add faith.
At Church we regularly sing that there is power in the blood of Jesus. It is true, but words even from great hymns and Holy Spirit inspired songs are only words – until they are empowered by faith. Those who grasp hold of the Words from God and choose to believe them find they are living at a different level. Faith releases the power of the words of God into our situation.
Paul wrote that at the cross of Jesus all dividing walls between people crumble. By faith he believed those words and brought together in love a Church composed of Jewish people and those who once despised Jewish people. These two groups were out to destroy each other. Paul brought each group to faith in Christ Jesus. Then he brought both groups together.
He wrote in Ephesians 2:13-16 “But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.”
We too live in a community separated by dividing walls of hostility. These range from broken marriages and strained friendships to gangs physically fighting with each other. The only viable solution is Paul’s. That is to bring each group to faith in and relationship with Christ Jesus. Then at the cross of Jesus, the hostility will melt away.
By faith, there is a solution to your predicaments of life. It has been there waiting for you for over 2000 years. God is good. The cross is not a piece of religious jewellery or a religious icon. It is the answer you’ve been longing for.
Soak in this song on youtube by Godfrey Birtill. I’ve printed the words below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFFwJVBqq8E
Two thousand years ago we bled into one.
©Godfrey Birtill
Two thousand years ago, we bled into one
And when I think of it, I’m drunk on Your love
So great is the love
That You’ve lavished on us
We are your children, O God.
Now every distance
Has been cancelled in Christ
And separation’s an illusion, a lie,
So great is the love
That You’ve lavished on us
We are your children, O God,
That is what we are, That is what we are;
We are your children, O God,
That is what we are, That is what we are.
Playing in the fields of grace
Knowing this joy of our Pa Pa’s embrace
Hear Him say, ‘I love you’
Hear Him say ‘I’ve always loved you’.
Wonderfully saved, secure
Beautifully raised for heaven, made pure;
Hear Him say, ‘I love you’
Hear Him say ‘I’ve always loved you’.
Godfrey Birtill Thankyou Music UK 2012 ©
Paul wrote that at the cross of Jesus all dividing walls between people crumble. By faith he believed those words and brought together in love a Church composed of Jewish people and those who once despised Jewish people. These two groups were out to destroy each other. Paul brought each group to faith in Christ Jesus. Then he brought both groups together.
He wrote in Ephesians 2:13-16 “But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.”
We too live in a community separated by dividing walls of hostility. These range from broken marriages and strained friendships to gangs physically fighting with each other. The only viable solution is Paul’s. That is to bring each group to faith in and relationship with Christ Jesus. Then at the cross of Jesus, the hostility will melt away.
By faith, there is a solution to your predicaments of life. It has been there waiting for you for over 2000 years. God is good. The cross is not a piece of religious jewellery or a religious icon. It is the answer you’ve been longing for.
Soak in this song on youtube by Godfrey Birtill. I’ve printed the words below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFFwJVBqq8E
Two thousand years ago we bled into one.
©Godfrey Birtill
Two thousand years ago, we bled into one
And when I think of it, I’m drunk on Your love
So great is the love
That You’ve lavished on us
We are your children, O God.
Now every distance
Has been cancelled in Christ
And separation’s an illusion, a lie,
So great is the love
That You’ve lavished on us
We are your children, O God,
That is what we are, That is what we are;
We are your children, O God,
That is what we are, That is what we are.
Playing in the fields of grace
Knowing this joy of our Pa Pa’s embrace
Hear Him say, ‘I love you’
Hear Him say ‘I’ve always loved you’.
Wonderfully saved, secure
Beautifully raised for heaven, made pure;
Hear Him say, ‘I love you’
Hear Him say ‘I’ve always loved you’.
Godfrey Birtill Thankyou Music UK 2012 ©
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
A psalm to bless you
Psalm 112:1-10 (NLT)
1 Praise the LORD!
How joyful are those who fear the LORD
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.
1 Praise the LORD!
How joyful are those who fear the LORD
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Next time I'm having a Coke
I came across this mission statement from Coca-Cola
“The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches.”
Isn’t that a fantastic mission?
Jesus has a mission for the Church (All True Believers) which could be written in the same terms, but with different meaning. We Christians exist to benefit and refresh spiritually everyone we touch. Jesus did.
John 4:9-14 (NLT)
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.
John 7:37-39 (NLT)
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
Next time I’m enjoying a Coke Zero I’m going to be refreshed and think of someone I can refresh and benefit spiritually.
Bob Lipsys, Australia
“The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches.”
Isn’t that a fantastic mission?
Jesus has a mission for the Church (All True Believers) which could be written in the same terms, but with different meaning. We Christians exist to benefit and refresh spiritually everyone we touch. Jesus did.
John 4:9-14 (NLT)
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.
John 7:37-39 (NLT)
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
Next time I’m enjoying a Coke Zero I’m going to be refreshed and think of someone I can refresh and benefit spiritually.
Bob Lipsys, Australia
Thursday, March 1, 2012
I've been washing my nets for too long
This week a verse from a Godfrey Birtill song has been calling me forward into God’s destiny. It is like a wakeup call, a call from Jesus saying “take your boat off the shore into the deep”. Ah the deep, where Jesus is.
Washing your nets – getting all those work demands under control - gets rather tedious and keeps one too busy to launch out with Jesus. In this state I end up on the shore basically living in unbelief. I find myself at these times living by my own resources rather than by faith. How dull! The excitement level is so low.
But wow. When I’m out of my depth with Jesus facing the impossible challenges He brings, with the wind of the Holy Spirit in my face, faith wells up into ecstasy.
It is time to do what I see.
Bob Lipsys, Australia
Breakout (I've Been Washing My Nets) Verse 1
By Godfrey Birtill © Thankyou Music
I've been washing my nets for too long
On the shores of unbelief
Listening through hours of meetings
Now it's time to do what I see
To put out into deeper water
Sail away on the winds of faith
I see there's a massive harvest
The nets will almost break.
Washing your nets – getting all those work demands under control - gets rather tedious and keeps one too busy to launch out with Jesus. In this state I end up on the shore basically living in unbelief. I find myself at these times living by my own resources rather than by faith. How dull! The excitement level is so low.
But wow. When I’m out of my depth with Jesus facing the impossible challenges He brings, with the wind of the Holy Spirit in my face, faith wells up into ecstasy.
It is time to do what I see.
Bob Lipsys, Australia
Breakout (I've Been Washing My Nets) Verse 1
By Godfrey Birtill © Thankyou Music
I've been washing my nets for too long
On the shores of unbelief
Listening through hours of meetings
Now it's time to do what I see
To put out into deeper water
Sail away on the winds of faith
I see there's a massive harvest
The nets will almost break.
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