The Pastor’s Pen

I wish to encourage you to evaluate who’s at the heart of your worship

The first 3 of the 10 commandments found in Exodus 20:3-6, relate to worship of the one true God. Sadly, this world has scored a triple failure. However, for those of us who profess belief in God through faith in Jesus Christ, there exists a staggering opportunity to get it right by God’s evaluation.

As lovers of the Lord, our part is to “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendour of holiness” (Psalms 29:2). While as Christians, our holiness varies, but the Lord is spectacularly consistent in every expression of His pure character.

A glimpse of heaven

From the pen of the apostle John, we get a glimpse into the throne room of heaven, where the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders are continuously in worship. They perpetually declare; “Holy, holy, holy”… “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:8-11).

The prophet Isaiah, having seen the same heavenly scene as John, concluded; “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5). You see, anyone who has accurately perceived the supernal beauty and uncompromising purity of the Lord, is confronted with the horrors of personal short-comings, personal sin!

The world’s response

While the world uses our Lord’s name as a blasphemous swear word, we “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Hebrews 13:15). We love Him, we serve Him, and we strive to obey Him more and more. We speak well of the Saviour whenever we can. Why, because through trust in Jesus Christ’s death in your place on the cross, “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

With that said; it’s ironic how easy it is to worship our experience of worship, more than worship the Lord. The church at Colossi had this very problem. So the apostle Paul cautioned them; “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism (Rigorous self-denial) and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind” (Colossians 2:18). Paul understood mankind’s selfish tendency of making worship about our experience of God and not about God Himself. It may be the size of the crowd, the impressiveness of the light show, the quality of the sound system, the various ways people freely express themselves, the use of technology, any one of many things, yet still not be worship of God.

The Christian’s response

In genuine worship, we focus on Jesus Christ; we surrender our allegiance to the Lord of heaven and earth, we praise (speak well of) the Saviour. We yield control of our lives to the filling of the Holy Spirit. We proclaim Christ’s glories, declaring the significance of God’s virtues. We testify to His accomplishments as Lord God Almighty. We happily do this at the exclusion of self, in order that the Lord receives pure, unmixed praise and exaltation. “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalms 34:1-3).

I wish to encourage you to seek wise, Christ centred counsel.

At some point, all of us seek counsel from others in relation to what’s happening in our own lives. We typically go to people who have trained in specific fields, who have proven history of greater understanding in the matters of concern. This is why we consult Doctors, Dentists, Accountants, Lawyers, Plumbers, Electricians, and Mechanics etc. Why, because they should know what we do not know! They should understand the design, the manufacturers intended purpose, the processes and rationale required to make right, the things that go wrong.

Spiritual Reality

The very same sensible thought process should be applied regarding spiritual matters in life, yet so often the spiritual realities of our lives are ignored, and at great cost.

When we visit a counsellor of any kind, amongst other things, we expect them to give us advice that we would not have thought of ourselves. So it is with the Lord; “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD” (Isaiah 55:8). In our worldly thinking, it is usually forgotten that “with God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding” (Job 12:13), “he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom” (Isaiah 28:29).

Now, you would think that sensible people would ask the designer, the maker, the one who knows with certainty how humans can function best. Yet history proves that mankind does not seek God, most turn aside, they choose to have no fear of God (Romans 3:10-18).

Worldly Thinking

King David, a man who knew what it was to foolishly do his own thing, understood the deceitfulness of the human heart. He explains how people attempting to live independent of God’s authority reason like this; “he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity (sin) cannot be found out and hated” (Psalms 36:2). In other words, we make ourselves out to be better than we really are in order to prevent ourselves from having to agree with God about the sin in our lives. This is why people often seek help from other sources while refusing God’s help.

The world, after two thousand years, still repeats the disastrous error of the religious leaders from the first century, who “took counsel against Jesus to put him to death” (Matthew 27:1). By nature, we wish Christ out of our lives, we ignore Him, we relegate Him into the category of being irrelevant and therefore, inconsequential. Even though, and contrary to popular opinion, the Lord says; “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalms 1:1-2).

The Best Way

Consultation with the Almighty is as easy as prayerfully opening His Word, the Bible. For those who have a soft heart, who genuinely want to understand God’s ways; the Lord speaks with remarkable simplicity and clarity, bringing peace with God.

First, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). Jesus’ invitation still stands; “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

I wish to encourage you to view your faith as God views it. 

At the heart of all false belief (fraud faith) are 3 terribly wrong perspectives; a small view of God, a wrong view of God’s Word (The Bible), and a deceitfully high view of self. All three of these errors lead to devastating consequences.

Worldly Belief

Now, the world views belief in God as having value only if it produces what we want, how we want it, and when we want it. Worldly faith thinks that God is only of value if He serves us for our pleasure and comfort. You see, worldly faith, wrong faith, assumes that a general acknowledgement of the existence of God equates to saving faith which results in eternal life. Any form of faith that is disconnected from behaviour is a fraud, and not from God. At best, this self-generated false belief serves no purpose other than to appease the human conscience, leading the sinner to greater independence from God.

However, authentic faith is germinated by the Holy Spirit. It’s a faith that is genuinely Jesus Christ focused.

Jesus Focused Belief

As John the Baptist said; “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). The bulls-eye of faith is Jesus Christ, not self. This faith rejoices in opportunities created through difficulties so that it can be proved real. Peter refers to this type of faith as “more precious than gold… and, may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). Christian faith exalts Christ, that’s its purpose. Any other faith is fake!

A person whose faith is centered in Jesus Christ, is one whose heart beats with love for Jesus. As the apostle Peter writes; “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). Holy Spirit inspired faith loves Christ so much that joy is unavoidably experienced. This is faith’s ultimate purpose; to glorify Christ and to experience the salvation of the soul, which is eternal life.

Brotherly Wisdom

James, Jesus’ half-brother, speaks of faith 12 times in his short letter. He didn’t care much for the lip service of superficial belief which is typical of a religious person. “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14). Obviously, the answer is NO. Faith recognised by God, is a whole-hearted belief, a consuming dependence upon Christ as master which high-jacks the entire life and is visible for all to see through behaviour and speech. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).

James’ point is this; good works, even religiously motivated works, cannot save a sinner from the penalty for their sin. However, faith in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross in place of the sinner will not only attract God’s forgiveness for sin, but will unavoidably express God pleasing behaviour. Why, because this faith is compelled by love for Christ as Lord! All else in life comes second.

Invariably, behaviour and speech betray the true heart of a person. Jesus is not an add-on to life, He is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). If you find yourself struggling to grasp the significance of this Jesus focused faith, ask the Lord as the apostles did; “Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 17:5).

 

I wish to encourage you to joyfully acknowledge your creator

As I shared time at this spectacular beach of Matarangi with my wife earlier this week, I was reminded of the privilege it is to live within the handwork of the Creator.

The beauty and complexity of creation is an awe inspiring testimony to the majestic glory of the Lord, who we know through His Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2).

As we grow older, we better understand the wisdom of Solomon’s words; “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Typically, with age, the non-christian heart grows increasingly callused toward God; happy to use anything as a reason not to surrender to Him – this disbelief is the most degrading and insulting.

The World’s View

While the world, in its pursuit of pleasure, has “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25), the Christian is happy to sacrifice lusting after pleasures in order to exalt their creator. Believers are to live with a realistic realisation of the universe we exist within. As Christians, we acknowledge that we were born as non-christian, born into this world under the dictatorship of sin and unbelief, blind to our own sinfulness.

Now, since trusting Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sin debt against God, we “have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10). We now live to grow increasingly more like Jesus Christ, little by little, persevering in spite of our stumblings and imperfections (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The Bible’s View

Now, the Bible explains that mankind is knitted together in their mother’s wombs by God. That mankind is the only creature created in the image of God, and is therefore “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:13-14). No chance in that equation. “For by him (Jesus Christ) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). For the Christian, we understand that we were given birth (created) specifically for the purpose of Jesus Christ! Life is not about us, but about the Lord! Our very existence is for the single purpose of giving expression to His character, therefore glorifying the Lord.

For some, life has inflicted severe pain, heart aches, regrets, even hope shattering nightmares that you never imagined possible. These painful struggles can become an excuse for turning away from God, even isolation from the body of Christ, the Church. The heart, being the deceiver that it is, is capable of growing feelings of disillusionment into resentment, and then resentment against God matures into belligerent disbelief with devastating consequences.

The Believer’s View

As believers, we know where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. We embrace the highs and the lows of life. And while we may not enjoy the lows, we realise their necessity and purpose. So, “let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Peter 4:19). We don’t allow our pains to deter us from pursuing a life of service for the Lord; “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Today, joyfully acknowledge your creator, acknowledge God! Surrender to Him! Depend upon Him! Make Him your joy, your hope, your trust, your sanctuary, and your hiding place. Speak well of Him – and enjoy Him!

I wish to encourage you to look toward your greatest reward, Heaven!

As the children of God, we enjoy many of His graces in this life, having had the love of God lavished upon us (1 John 3:1). However, this earthly life is only the first steps in what Jehovah intends for His redeemed. After all, “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).

In a believer’s spiritual DNA, is the inclination to “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). The anticipation of having our mortal bodies upgraded to be with and like Christ, develops an ever increasing and compelling hope that enables us to “wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:25).

The Wonder of Heaven

However, the most wonderful thing about Heaven is not the relief; it’s not escaping from the pains of this life. It’s not the absence of heart aches, or sickness, or relentless tiredness. No, Heaven’s allurement is the presence of Christ, who, is seated at the Father’s right hand in absolute authority (1 Peter 3:22).

Being in Heaven shall fulfil God’s will, which has always been “according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:9-10). The certainty of this heavenly hope is not self-generated, nor is it wishful thinking. Rather, our hope is entirely because “those whom he (God) predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). This hope is rooted in the certainty of God fulfilling His Word, for “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it?” (Numbers 23:19).

Heaven is About God

Therefore, we look forward to that time when “this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). A time when the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying ministry shall bring to completion this stage of work within the redeemed. When eons of sovereign foreknowledge will have been worked out completely, bringing to consummation God’s redemptive mission as the full number of Saints join the heavenly hosts for worship without end. For now however, we Saints long for our final Christ-likeness to be accomplished (2 Corinthians 3:18). We yearn for the time when the years of personal spiritual discipline and training shall culminate in our ultimate elevation. This is the final promotion of redeemed sinners to their eternal place of spiritual citizenship, Heaven.

Looking Forward to Heaven

As we look forward to our eternal home, I encourage you to give “thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12). Our future as Christians is a foregone conclusion, secure in the immutable character of Yahweh.

Today, as I celebrate my 54th year in this world, I’m compelled more than ever to declare the wonders of the certain hope we have in Jesus Christ the Lord. I encourage you to rejoice that Heaven is the believer’s home! Nothing can change the sovereign will of God in this matter. Today, rejoice! Speak well of the Saviour! “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Come Lord Jesus!