Christian Contentment - A Study through Philippians (8)

 

Today's blog is written by Martin Davids

Imitate Those Who Serve Others

 

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honour such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. (Philippians 2:19-30)

The cult of celebrity

We live in a celebrity driven world.  Our TV’s are saturated with ‘celebrity’ shows from ‘Celebrity Bake Off’ to celebrity quiz shows.  Of course, what passes as a ‘celebrity’ is questionable – with most of us thinking “Who?...You’re famous for what?”.  However, it does illustrate the need we all have to look up to someone – which is not wrong in itself – if we are looking up to someone for the right reasons.  In the passage above Paul asks us to do just that, however he provides us with the qualifiers with which to do so.  

The qualities of those worthy of imitation.

First, those who serve others have a caring heart. Paul was under house arrest in Rome. He was awaiting the outcome of his appeal to Caesar. He could receive visitors, but he was not free to leave his house. He wrote in verse 19, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.” Timothy was a young pastor, and Paul was going to send him to Philippi so that he would receive news about how the Philippian Christians were doing. The reason Paul wanted to send Timothy to Philippi is because Timothy had a caring heart, (vs 20-21). Timothy really cared about the welfare of God’s people. The second person we read about is Epaphroditus.  We know very little about him, he was not a pastor or an elder or a deacon. He was a simply member of the Philippian Church. However, at the time Paul wrote this letter, Epaphroditus was ill, yet he was not distressed over his own illness. He was distressed because the Philippians had heard that he was ill. In other words, he was concerned about their concern for him! Let us be people who are concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of others.

And second, those who serve others have an excellent character. Over the course of time, Timothy had proven himself faithful in his service to Christ and the people of God. Paul viewed Timothy with great affection, as a father viewed his son, and commented that Timothy had served with Paul in the advancement of the gospel. He was hoping to send Timothy soon, and Paul himself was hoping to come to the Philippians as soon as his legal case was resolved. Timothy was a pastor with an excellent character. He had, in the words of Paul, “proven worth.” Likewise, Epaphroditus (vs 25) was a brother, a fellow worker, a fellow soldier, a messenger, and a minister to his need. In other words, Epaphroditus was engaged in advancing the gospel. Neither man was a “armchair general” they both ‘served in the field’ for the advancement of the Gospel.

Thirdly both men suffered hardship for the sake of the Gospel.  Paul’s missionary journeys were not easy and we read of his sufferings and persecution in Acts.  Paul calls upon Timothy to endure suffering in 2 Timothy but added to this there were physical illness to endure.  We know that Timothy had constant stomach illnesses and here we read of Epaphroditus (vs 27) being ill to the point of death.  Paul writes to the Philippian church (and us by extension) that those who suffer hardship for the sake of Christ have a proven track record. They serve Christ and his gospel in various ways. They show a real concern for the wellbeing of others. And they are willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel.   

Summing it up (and a word of warning)

Paul clearly hold up these two men as examples for us to imitate and it is right for us to hold them in high esteem.  There is nothing wrong with having role models in the Christian faith yet we are not to turn them into ‘celebrities’.  We are all sinners, but some forget that and if their ‘celebrity Christian’ should fall it causes them to doubt the faith.  Paul holds up these men because the Philippian church knew them and knew their character.    

Therefore, having analysed the concept of imitation in Philippians 2:19-30, let us keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example of Christ. We can find Christian contentment knowing that there are Christians within our own fellowship who are living a Christlike life even through difficult times.  Furthermore, we grow in contentment and Christlikeness when we imitate worthy Christians. Let us imitate those who serve others. Let us imitate those who have a caring heart and have an excellent character.

Prayer for the day.

Our Father,

We thank you that you have given us examples of Godly men and women throughout the Bible.  We bring before you the men that faithfully serve in our church, may your Holy Spirit constantly guide them and uphold them as they seek to serve you and the Gospel.  We pray that you will protect them and their witness.  Lord. Let us be encouraged by their character that we may imitate them as they imitate Christ. 

For we ask in Jesus’ name

Amen   

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God's Cure for a Nameless Fear

 

  

Today's Devotional is written by Pastor Roy Summers

 My Last Devotional (for a while)

Lockdown One began around one year ago. And since then, with the exception of a few months on Sabbatical I have endeavoured to write a regular devotional.

But this is my last one for a time (unless I get a sudden burst of inspiration!)  First, because I need a rest from writing. Unlike the inexhaustable creative stamina of God, our inventive energy is limited. God could write a devotional every day for all eternity and never tire! But not us. And secondly, at least for a while, as a church pastor, I must put my energies into opening up the church again. On Sunday 27th June Manor Park Church, Worcester, England, hope to meet all together as a church and there is work to be done getting us there. 

I am hoping our good friend Martin will continue his Friday devotionals to the end of  Philippians, though!

So to my last devotional...

The Nameless Fear

I said to my wife, just yesterday, that on occasion, but fortunately not very often, an intense anxiety and fear comes over me. Nine of ten times, it has no known source. There is nothing in my life at that moment to account for it, no rational  trigger.

This dark cloud, which I do not call depression because it does not last very long,  comes in and instant and likewise disappears in a puff of smoke. It may come in the day, but more often in the night-time.

My guess is that my experience is not unique, for we find in the Scriptures, many examples of fearfulness among the Lord's people. Normally, it is true, there is a known immediate cause.

Whatever the cause or duration of an attack of fear, the cure is always the same. Here it is:

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you." (Pslam 56:3)

In David's case the cause of his fear was tangible - he had been arrested by the Philistines in a place called Gath. As you know, the goldy, but human David, had many enemies. Some were jealous of him. Other attacks from the evil one were on account of his role as future king of Israel - and ancestor of the coming King of kings. 

What did David do when he was afraid? Immediately, without delay, consistently, perpetually, regularly and instinctively, he turned to God in prayer. That is what it means to trust in God. Psalm 56 is his prayer in which verse 3 is embeded.

The Creator and Redeemer

We are turning, let us remember, to the God who made the heavens and the earth, the God who made us and the one who loves us more than we will ever fathom. Like a fearful child who knows that their loving and strong mother or father will respond to their anxiety and is able to dispel their fear, so we too can be assured that the Lord will hear and respond to our prayers.

So confident is David that he will escape the problem which has caused this fear that he says "What can mortal man do to me?" Yes, they may have arrested me, but if God wants me to escape he will liberate me and keep me safe until.

Summing it Up

I wish I could say that I always turn to God in prayer when seized with an unnamed anxiety. I do on many occasions and know his protection and comfort. 

Let us learn, in the instant of fear, to trust in the Lord. Which means - which always means - to get on our knees, metaphorically or literally, and pray to the God who loves his children, hears them, and will comfort them with his Holy Spirit through the Word.

Someone has said that we are growing in godliness when the time between sin and confession shortens: every time we sin we confess and repent straight away. And we are growing in trust when the time between fear and prayer is no more.

A Lullaby for the Day

The Getty duo have been writing a few lulabies during this past lockdown year. And this one is designed to calm a child's fearful heart. But since when it comes to trust we should always be like little children here it is for all of us.

Consider the stars in the sky
Look up and wonder, can you count their number?
Consider the stars in the sky
Umbrella to hide in, a dance floor of heaven

Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid

Consider the stars in the sky
When it is darkest they shine out the brightest
Consider the stars in the sky
In every anguish, oh child take courage

Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
He who made all of this
And who holds all of this
Holds you in His hands

Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
Mmm

Consider the star in the sky
Diamond in a ring, over thе Child King
Consider the stars in the sky
Grace He had promised, coming to find us

Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid
He who made all of this
Says, "You're worth more than this"
Holds you in His hands

Do not be afraid

You can listen to it HERE.

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our dear loving Fatehr in heaven,

We worship your great and hallowed name. There is no-one like you. We acknowledge your power, your majesty and your great love for us.

Forgive us when we worry and fret. 

Teach us to trust you. Like the pslamist may we always turn to you and teach us to do this every time we are afraid.

We ask these things, not only for our good, but for your great glory.

Amen

 Photo by Erick Zajac on Unsplash

Christian Contentment - A Study through Philippians (7)

 

This blog was created by Martin Davids

A light in the darkness

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:12- 18)

Well known Christian, John Stott said “I know what Great Britain is like. I know something about the growing dishonesty, corruption, immorality, violence, pornography, the diminishing respect for human life, and the increase in abortion. Whose fault is it? Let me put it like this: if the house is dark at night, there is no sense in blaming the house. That’s what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is, “Where is the light?” … If society becomes corrupt like a dark night, there’s no sense in blaming society. That’s what happens when fallen human society is left to itself and human evil is unrestrained and unchecked. The question to ask is, “Where is the church?”

Indeed! The Philippian Church existed in a fallen human society where human evil was unrestrained and unchecked. And, truth be told, things have not changed much in the millennia since then, and will not change much until the return of Jesus Christ. So, also Manor Park Church exists in a fallen human society where human evil is unrestrained and unchecked. 

Work out your salvation

This is one of the most misunderstood verses in all of Scripture. Many people believe that God saves us when we do our part. After all, doesn’t Paul say, “…work out your own salvation”? This is where context is so important. Verse 13 will tell us that the gospel saves us because of what God has first done in us. But, even the words themselves in verse 12 should help us if we examine them carefully. You will notice that the verse does not sat to work FOR your salvation.  Bible believing Christians have understood this clause is to say that we are to live out our salvation. So, because we have believed the gospel, we are to live out our lives in light of the gospel. We are to work out (live out) our salvation in our daily lives because of God’s prior work in us.

Paul’s general exhortation in verses 12-13 teach us about man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty. We expend tons of energy pitting the two against each other when in fact the Bible insists that they belong together. We are responsible for how we live and God is completely sovereign in all things. I like the way D. A. Carson puts it: “God’s continuous, gracious, sovereign work in our lives becomes for us an incentive to press on with fear and trembling.”

Lights in the world.

So, if God has worked salvation in us, and we are to work out (that is, live out) that salvation in our lives, what does that look like? What does gospel conduct look like practically?

First, gospel conduct does all things without grumbling or disputing. Prior to Covid, when we could plan a holiday, I would often go on ‘Trip Advisor’ to see a review of the hotel or location.  No matter how good a resort or how many 5 star reviews it gets you will always find at least one from a person we would call a ‘professional complainer’.  This is the person who doesn’t miss an opportunity to complain (often to those in authority) when they feel that something isn’t right or what they expect.  I’m sure that you have met people like that – you know the first thing out of their mouth is going to be a moan or a complaint.  How do other people react to such a person?  Do you want to be around them or would you rather avoid them? 

This should not be said of Christians.  Paul wrote in verse 14, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing….” Why? He continued in verses 15-16, “…that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.” In other words, Christian contentment (the overarching theme of this series) stands out in a selfish, whining, self-pitying world. Gospel conduct causes believers to live in such a way that they do all things without grumbling or disputing.

Paul wanted the Philippian Church to do all things without grumbling or disputing…“so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labour in vain”. Paul wanted to see the maturing faith of the Philippian believers. He wanted to be delighted by their gospel conduct.

This kind of gospel conduct produces joy in leaders and believers. Paul wrote in verse 17, “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” Paul then said that the Philippian believers should join his double-dose of joy with their own.

Summing it up.

Have you ever wondered what made Christianity spread so quickly in such a short period of time whilst suffering periods of immense persecution? Though they had much to find fault with, the Early Church didn’t gripe about what was going on in their culture. Rather they worked out their salvation in practical way and were lights TO their culture. They just did things that baffled and astonished the Romans. They rescued and raise babies left out to die of exposure. They cared for sick and wounded. In their meeting slaves and free called each other brother. They went willingly to their deaths for what they believed. These actions so softened the hearts of the Romans that they wanted to know more about who these Christians were and who was the God they represented. The godly contentment we can find is knowing that gospel changes lives, and gospel conduct produces joy in leaders and believers.

Prayer for the day.

Lord God,

We live in a fallen world and the darkness appears to keep getting darker but you have placed us here to be lights in the darkness.  We confess that we can only do so because you have opened our eyes to the truth of the Gospel and caused us to follow you.  Help us work out our salvation by being a light to others pointing them to Christ, the true light of the world.  Let is not be people who are known as complainers but rather by our conduct, as examples of Christian living.

We ask in Jesus’ name. 

Amen.     

Callum Shaw on Unsplash

Reflections on the last year, Meditation (2) The impact on Christians

 

 It will take Time...

No-one knows how the last year has affected people, churches, families and nations. It is likely that the true impact will never be known, and what can be known will only really emerge over a longer period of time. 

 

This is how all crises work, from divorce to war. Only after long periods of time does the true harvest of the crisis reveal itself. 

 

And we must remember that we all react very differently to the same crisis! Some people I have spoken to have actually enjoyed the peace and quiet that has been given to them. During the first lock-down a furloughed neighbour said that life was like a long holiday! For others, and especially those on the frontline, the last year has been extremely difficult, and especially those on the frontline who have had to homeschool children. And then in the middle of this easy-to-difficult spectrum are those who have experienced no change, whose life and work load continued as per normal, such as those who could continue working as normal or those whose lives were already confined to home by illness or circumstance.

 

Here are six warnings that every believer needs to bear in mind and six encouragements to rejoice in. 

Six dangers to be Aware of

 

1) The danger of unsound doctrine. Some Christians have had much more time on their hands, and have used that time to scour the internet, and perhaps especially YouTube for preachers who agree with them. Paul warned that the time would come when people "would not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Timothy 4:3) Never in the history of the world has it been so possible to gather such "a great number of teachers." 

Notice that these teachers say what "their itching ears want to hear." Sound doctrine to these Christians is boring, what they are after is novelty. So they find teachers who agree with them and before long they find themselves waking down an ever-narrowing echo chamber.

 

2) The danger of no teaching. Other Christians may have got out of the habit of listening to any sermons, because they have got out of the habit of tuning into their local church Sunday by Sunday. Without the natural social pressure of other brothers and sisters knowing they are present, it is easy to slip in this way.

Although there is no doubt sound teaching to be found on the web, the first place every Christian should go for their teaching is their local congregation and their local church pastors and elders.

 

3) Losing touch with our local church.  With so many churches streaming live or  pre-recorded services it would be quite easy  for a believer to drift away from their own local church and begin permanently listening to another - perhaps with better music or a shorter sermon! And to drift from their local fellowship.

 

4) The danger of no fellowship. It would be easy to take the path of least resistance and give up meeting with other brothers and sisters altogether. It would be easy to neglect the many ways that are still open for fellowship today. We can call someone on the phone, we can text them or email them. We can join a zoom group, we can meet up one to one. 

 

5) The danger of a listless spiritual life. One of the great blessings we all hope will emerge from the last year is a fresh understanding of how much fellowship affects and builds us up spiritually. Without mutual encouragement and exhortation we do not really grow much as believers (except in forced solitary prison confinement where the Lord may overrule the normal means of grace). we hear of even mature Christians feeling spiritually 'flat'. This should not surprise us because we get a spiritual spur when we meet one another.

 

6) The danger of sinful habits.  Without other believrs to challenge us and admonish us it could be easy to get into sinful habits of both omission or commision.

 

In spite of these potential dangers, it has been exciting to see the following blessings of the last year.

 

 Six Blessings to thank God for

 

1) Sounder doctrine. Preachers have had to reduce the time they preach to 25 minutes or so. This may sound strange, but preaching a shorter means more attention to the words we use and sharper doctrine.

 

2) More fellowship. In my own church, more people are in "fellowship" via zoom than in real life. This is because couples are able to both come, and because you don't have to hop in a car!

 

3) Many acts of kindess. It has been humbling to hear of the many acts of kindess taking place between members of the flock. People cooking meals on a regular basis. People phoning and whatsapping and zooming one another.

 

4) A longing for 'real fellowship.' How often this has come up! Christians longing to meet up again. May we never take real-life fellowship for granted again!

5) A renewed love for one another. We may not be able to see and talk with one another, but we can pray for one another. And so we have found that prayer for one another has grown, and that is a sign of greater love. Who we love we pray for.

6) Increased Perseverance. Perhaps one of the greatest blessings of a prolonged trial is the development of an invisible quality - perseverance. We have just had to keep on going and be patient. And so the beautiful grace of perseverance has grown.

These are just a few pastoral observations of mine. May the Lord use them to both warn his people and encouarge them. 

We know for sure that this pandemic was known by the Lord and will ultimately serve to build his glorious kingdom.

A SONG FOR THE DAY

The first songs I want to sing on the first Sunday back is this one:

Come, people of the Risen King
Who delight to bring Him praise
Come all and tune your hearts to sing
To the Morning Star of grace
From the shifting shadows of the earth
We will lift our eyes to Him
Where steady arms of mercy reach
To gather children in

Rejoice, rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!

Come, those whose joy is morning sun
And those weeping through the night
Come, those who tell of battles won
And those struggling in the fight
For His perfect love will never change
And His mercies never cease
But follow us through all our days
With the certain hope of peace

Rejoice, rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!

Come, young and old from every land
Men and women of the faith
Come, those with full or empty hands
Find the riches of His grace
Over all the world, His people sing
Shore to shore we hear them call
The Truth that cries through every age:
"Our God is all in all"!

Rejoice, rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!

Rejoice, rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!

Townend / Getty 

 

You can Listen HERE

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our gracious and loving Father in heaven,

We thank you for your precious Word. May we remain faithful to your Word in these days. May we remain in fellowship with your people. May we be aware of the dangers around us and rejoice in the blessings.

We thank you for the church, both worldwide and local. May we love both as we love the Lord Jesus who is their Head.

We ask these things in Jesus' Name

Amen

Reflections on the last year: Meditation (1) God, Science and Thankfulness

  

Crowds at Cheltenham

One year ago the Cheltenham Festival attracted over 250,000 visitors. No spectators were social distancing and no-one was wearing a mask. 

One year ago, just before the Festival, the World Health Organisation pronounced a global pandemic.

One year ago people said that masks were not essential. 

One year ago Donald Trump declared, "The virus will not have a chance against us," and "No nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States."

One year ago, in April, scientists in Oxford began human trials on a new vaccine and within one year had produced a safe one. Normally it takes 10-15 years, and even the fastest previous one (mumps 1967) had taken four years to produce.

One year ago many churches ceased to meet in person and began meeting online.

Here are a few musings about the last year, from a Christian point of view....

A Christian View of the Last Year

Human Prediction is Poor, so no-one could have known

A few years ago I read the final authoritative commision report on the 9/11 terror attack. Everyone was feeling bad - the CIA and FBI especially - for having not predicted it or prevented it. The report, however, largely exonerates them because this was a situation no-one had faced before, and fortunately no-one had imagined. Planes deliberately flown into buildings?

And so when intelligence heard that some guys were learning how to fly airplanes in flight simulators but showed no interest in how to land them, it seemed a little odd, yes, but no-one guessed or predicted the reason for their disinterest in landing, that is, they were not planning to land the airplanes. 

We cannot predict the future. We can make guesses, and educated ones are better than uneducated ones, but no-one could have predicted the nature of this global pandemic. 

So no-one can be blamed for sincere decisions that turned out to be sincerely wrong because they could not predict the future.

 

By contrast God knows all future things, because he controls all future things. God is never taken by surprise, but we are. 

Human Knowledge is so limited

 
On the day of 9/11 George Bush Junior grounded all US aircraft. That was understandable, because he did not know what was going on in the USA at that very moment. If he had known that there were only four planes with terrorists aboard, he would not have taken that drastic action. 'The fog of war' is an apt analogy. Without enough intelligence no-one can know what to do and our decisions are bound to be faulty. It can't be helped.

If our governements had known exactly what was going on around the world, in every single human body in the world, if they had been able to track the location  of every virus particle, they would, no doubt have acted much faster and much differently. But they didn't - and couldn't.

God, by contrast, knows not only all things future, he knows all things present. So none of his wise ways are faulty.

 

Human Ingenuity is great

 

Work on the Covid vaccine which took only ten months to complete began long before last year. The Jenner institute in Oxford, named after the scientist who performed the first vaccination in 1796 had been developing a strategy of how to defeat an unknown enemy, Disease X. They hadn't completed the strategy but had made good progress. So when Covid 19 arose, there was a pre-made plan as to how it could be defeated.

Lots of money was thrown at the project and well within a year a safe vaccine had been developed.

Because we've been made in God's creative image, mankind had the ability to work out how to preoduce a vaccine and vaccinate against the virus.

Thankfulness

 

I believe we should be very thankful for those in authority over us. They may not have made the right decisions all the time, but they did their human best.

We should thank God for the remarkable vaccines which we pray will make a difference in the days to come. 

But, unlike the world, we should put all our trust in the Lord. God does use means - clever scientists, wise politicians - but ultimately every good gift comes down from God. And so we should acknowledge him and be thankful to him.

We should learn to trust him who knows all things, not only about the world, but about us too. And not only does he know about us, he also cares for us. He cares about every sparrow that falls to the ground, and he cares about us too.

A SONG FOR THE DAY

 

Our song for the day reminds us that God made everything in his beautiful world and made us too. And that he made us to be worshippers. 

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
'Twas God that made them all.

 

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing color,
He made their tiny wings.

 

The purple headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.

 

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

 

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is the Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

 

 

You can sing along HERE.

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our all-knowing Father in heaven,

We thank you for the simple gifts of life. We thank you for houses and food and the very air we breathe. Teach us to be thankful people.

 

We thank you for your gifts of salvation, for justification, redemption, forgiveness and sanctification.

 

We thank you for those in authority over us and pray that you would guide them in these testing times.

 

We pray for all our brothers and sisters,

 

In Jesus' Name,

 

Amen

 

The A-Z of Salvation | Z stands for 'Alpha and Omega'

 

The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet

Well, we've arrived at the last letter in our A-Z of salvation, the letter Z. We could have chosen Z for Zion. Zion is a place name of Jerusalem, but also a name that represents all of God's people. One day all of 'Zion' will be gathered together in heaven, every Old Testament saint and New Testament saint, all saved in the same way and by the same Saviour.

But instead of Zion I have chosen Z to represent the last letter of the Greek alphabet, Omega, and tagged it with the first letter of the Greek alphabet which is Alpha.

And together to share the verse in Revelation 22:13

^"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, 

the Beginning and the End."

Jesus Christ is bringing encouragement to his people in hard places: that's the main purpose of the book of Revelation. Jesus calls himself the Alpha and Omega for two reasons.

 Jesus is God

First to remind his suffering people that he is God. For in Isaiah 44:6 God says of himself, “I am the first and the last”, and Psalm 90:2 reads, “from everlasting to everlasting you are God”.

Just before calling himself the alpha and omega Jesus said, "Behold I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." In other words, Jesus has just claimed to be the one who will bring both reward and punishment with him when he comes. Who can reward the righteous or judge the wicked except God himself?

I know it is an article of faith - Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, but how often do we take that knowledge to heart? The disciples believed it in their heads but panicked in a storm and fretted over the command to feed a crowd.

To know that Jesus Christ really is divine is not to fear trouble and not to fret over our needs. To believe that Jesus Christ is God is to turn to him in the moment of trial or temptation or need and immediately seek his help.

Jesus is always there

The other meaning behind this grand title of the Lord Jesus, "The Alpha and the Omega" is that there is Someone who is constant across all the changing scenes of life, and of time and of eternity.

Jesus Christ, the Word, was there at the beginning of time, Creator of the rolling spheres, and he will be there at the end of time as Judge and rewarder. 

Our lives are in constant flux. People come and people go. Places come and paces go. Cities change. Countries change. Governments change. Families change. People themselves change. A divorced Jewish woman once justified her divorce with the statement that people change, and the person you married may be very different in a decade's time. Churches change. But there is Someone who rises above all the changes in life and is the same yesterday, today and forever. Praise his name!

Summing it all Up

Christian friend do not get too settled in this world. For all you know your world may have turned upside down by the end of this year. And if you trusted in and relied upon transient things you are bound to be disappointed. 

But if your trust is wholly in Jesus Christ, the divine Alpha and Omega, who changes not and whose love never fails, well, he will never let you down and we shall never be disappointed.

OUR SONG FOR THE DAY

If my wife and I had a favourite joint hymn it would be this one, by William Gadsby. It exults in the divine ability of Jesus Christ to meet all the needs of our souls. 

Immortal honors rest on Jesus’ head;
My God, my portion, and my living bread;
In Him I live, upon Him cast my care;
He saves from death, destruction, and despair.

He is my refuge in each deep distress;
The Lord my strength and glorious righteousness;
Through floods and flames He leads me safely on,
And daily makes His sovereign goodness known.

My every need He richly will supply;
Nor will His mercy ever let me die;
In Him there dwells a treasure all divine,
And matchless grace has made that treasure mine.

O that my soul could love and praise Him more,
His beauties trace, His majesty adore;
Live near His heart, upon His bosom lean;
Obey His voice, and all His will esteem.

You can sing along HERE.

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our Father in heaven,

We thank you that in a world of rapid change, we have an anchor for the soul. We thank you that God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit never change. 

Forgive us when we forget that Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, is invested with all divine power and is able to supply our needs, protect us and comfort us. 

Teach us to turn from all our idols and to him every day.

We ask these things in Jesus' name

Amen

The A-Z of Salvation | Y stands for Yes!

 

 ^{Paul had Enemies!}

^{The apostle Paul, like his Master, had enemies!} 

^{With all the great supernatural spiritual success he enjoyed many were jealous of him - but envy produces a common kind of enemy experienced in all walks of life, by believer and unbeliever alike.}  

^{Paul had two kinds of spiritual enemy.}

^{First the 'Judaisers' who were fiercely loyal to the traditions of Jewish rabbis and hated Paul for turning his back on the man-made laws of Judaism when he converted to Jesus.}

^{This variety of enemy pursued him from city to city. As soon as he had planted a church they infiltrated it and tried to slur Paul's name in the hope that a slur on the messenger would smear the message.}

^{The second kind of enemy were the boasters. These loved big word, big name, big shot kind of religion. They were self-styled super-apostles who operated just like the TV evangelists and celebrities of our day. They loved education, fame, money and status. They hated Paul because he had given up that kind of human religion when he began following a crucifed Saviour. Paul had began boasting about his sufferings, imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks and betrayals. Just the sort of stuff the big shots loathed, despised and thought were signs of weakness!}

^{(There is a solemn lesson here: true Christians and true Christian leaders will have enemies. To avoid enemies, one has to be a spiritual chameleon changing colour with every environment or group of people you meet. Beware of truth-hiding chamelons!)}

^{Paul's Yes and God's Yeses}

^{Anyway, it was this kind of enemy that Paul has to deal with in 1st and 2nd Corinthians - those infected with the disease of bigshot-itis! They had found a reason to attack Paul. He had told the Corinthians that he was going to come to Corinth to visit them but he had failed to do so, "There you go, Paul is a liar, told you so. When Paul says 'yes' you can't trust him. He's insincere, dishonest and deceitful."}

^{Paul's response is that when he told them his intention and desire to come to Corinth he was sincere. It was not a glib comment but an earnest aim. However, since none of us know what lies ahead - Covid era or not - Paul was unable to fulfil his desire.} 

^{Paul uses this scenario to write our verse for the day:}

 ^"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ"

Paul turns the situation around. Paul may not always be able to fulfil his desires, but God always fulfills his promises, and he does so through his Son.

 ^"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ"

In this series of devotionals, we've arrived at the letter Y, Y for Yes! All of God's promises are Yes, all of them will be fulfilled. And they are all fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

God promises forgiveness - that was fulfilled through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ

God promises never to leave us - that is fulfilled by the presence of the Lord Jesus

God promises to keep us to the end - that is fulfilled by the powerful indwelling Spirit of Jesus

God promises to take us to heaven - that promise is fulfilled by the Lord Jesus who went ahead to prepare a place in his Father's house for us

And so it goes on and on! Every single promise God has made to us has been fulfilled through Jesus Christ, God's Son.

Paul turns an enemy slur into a spiritual lesson! Every single spiritual blessing that comes to us comes through Jesus Christ.

A SONG FOR THE DAY

Our song for the day echoes this truth, all the promises of God are 'yes' through Christ Jesus.

 

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

 

Getty/ Townend

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our ever-merciful Father in heaven,

We thank you for all your suffering servants. We thank you that Jesus Christ sets the pattern for true servants and true shepherds. We thank you that since he was despised and rejected by men, so we too must seek the same characteristics in those who we regard as great in your kingdom.

Forgive us for thinking like the world and looking to the world of celebrities instead of to the Word of God.

We thank you for every spiritual blessing that has come to us through the gift of your beloved and precious Son. Thank you for giving him up for us so that we can live and know you and have eternal life.

We offer these prayers in His eternal Name,

Amen.

Christian Contentment - A Study through Philippians (6)

 

                                                                    

Today's blog is written by Martin Davids

Encouragements to Spiritual Unity

 

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:1-11)

I mentioned in a previous blog that there is a movement in our world today that is seeking to cause as much division along various lines as possible.  It goes by various names and has been growing for some time through the media and our educational establishments, coming to a head in 2020.  Up until recently it has been largely political, yet its tentacles have reached into Christendom with some very well-known leaders being influenced by it.  This movement is the very opposite of what Paul (and the whole of the New Testament) would promote.       

Paul’s concern for unity.

Depending upon which Bible version you have you will notice that the above verses are placed in a different style.  It is written out in a poetic form.  This is because many commentators and scholars believe that in these verses Paul is quoting a hymn of the early church.

In the opening verses Paul’s concern for the Philippian believers is that they live peaceably with one another.  This is not natural for us.  The natural way for us to live, because we are sinners and we rub each other the wrong is to look out for our rights - we look out for what's important to us and as a result there is division and there is strife and there is difficulty. However what Paul is telling us is the key to peaceful Christian community and harmony in the body is to be found in avoiding self-promotion and having the attitude of a servant humility of mind.  The ground is level at the foot of the cross that means there are there are not those who higher than others in the sense of being more Christian than others or more loved of God. Paul makes it very clear bond or free (status), male or female, Jew or Greek (ethnicity) we're all one in Christ Jesus. The means by which we've been redeemed is the same - no one can claim a higher status in that sense. So what would humility look like in that kind of a context? Well today is a day in which people talk much about the rights that we are supposed to have and will demand their ‘rights’ be respected and if they are not…well you’ll know about it. 

For Christians, since we are all one in Christ we have certain rights and we have equality before God but humility of mind is having these rights and laying them aside in the service of others and so if that were to be the attitude of everyone in the congregation what kind of peace and harmony would exist within the congregation?

Christ as our example

If we are to act in humility of mind toward one and other serve other people, Paul sets before us the perfect example.  “Have this attitude this mindset amongst yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” Verse 6 takes us back to the time before the Incarnation and tells us something about who Christ was –the second person of the trinity co equal with the Father and the Spirit.  On that basis we can understand what his rights were what his privileges were and what he did with them out of service to the glory of the Father. Yet Jesus, very God from very God, did not consider that equality he had with God something to be held on to at all costs. Rather took the form of a servant and he was made in the likeness of men. He truly entered into our experience - that's John's point in John 1:14 “the word became flesh”. Yet Christ’s humbling did not end there for as we all know for our salvation he was obedient to death on a cross.  Paul's point is if Jesus was prepared to voluntarily take upon himself such humiliation and servitude you likewise should have that attitude of heart.

Summing it up.

So much could and should be said about these verses but again for the sake of brevity let us apply what we have learned. Paul has just urged Christians to take up their cross by dying to self-interest for the sake of others. He then transitions from exhortation to illustration. The perfect illustration of this is of course Christ Jesus. Christ gave himself for the sake of others. He lived so that others might be united to him, and also united to one another.

How does that lead us to Christian contentment? We cannot be content if all we focus on is ourselves and our rights.  Rather contentment is found when we look to the needs of others.  It is this others-centred focus that produces spiritual unity and contentment. When Christians model Christ’s others-centred focus they will discover a unity in the bonds of fellowship with the Lord and also with one another leading to a godly contentment. 

Prayer for the day.

Heavenly Father,

Let us this week be mindful of all the times we have put ourselves and our needs before the needs of others.  Lord, we repent of those sins and ask that you would always give us the mind of Christ who laid aside His majesty and humbled himself to death on a cross.  We ask that you will show us the needs of others that we may serve in humility.  Let us always seek the bonds of Christian unity and fight against all that would see to divide us.

We plead this through the blood of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.    

Photo by cmophoto.net on Unsplash 

The A-Z of Salvation | X stands for Exceeding, or Don't Limit God

 

 Today's Devotional is written by Pastor Roy Summers

 "Exceeding Abundantly"

How easy it is is to limit the power and ability of God! We say - or perhaps think - things like this:

"She will never be converted."

"That person will never get over their grief."

"That stubborn sin will never wash away."

"That  church plant won't survive.

"He will never change."

"We'll never be able to afford that new Gospel worker."

And so on! We have all limited God's power, have we not?

Well in today's A-Z of Salvation, we come to X, but instead of X, we've chosen a word in the KJV of the Bible, the word "Exceeding" found in Ephesians 3:21-22.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more (in the KJV "exceeding abundantly") than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:21-22)

The NIV translation has used the two words "immeasurably more," to get over the magnitude of what God is able to do, while the KJV has used "Exceeding abundantly."

With either translation we get the point - that God is able to do far more than we can either ask or imagine! How? By his mighty power that is at work within us, which back in chapter 1 Paul says is "like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him form the dead..." (1:19-20)

Let's try to take all this in!

Resurrection Power is at work in Us

Don't listen the lies of Satan who would have us believe that we are weak, that the Gospel is impotent and that the church is powerless. Paul says that the power that is working in us is the same kind of power that was working in Jesus' dead body to raise him from the dead. That is very great power is it not? 

The Christian life is lived out day by day with the mighty power of God to help and assist. The Christian life is supernatural from first to last. Power to bear fruit. Power to love. Power to be holy. Power to serve.

More Power than we can imagine or ask

But we limit divine power at work in and through us in two ways, says Paul. First, by how much (or how little!) we can imagine, conceptualize, dream or envisage. This is a mental limitation. We work out how great a thing God can do and cap his power there. God can do this, but not do that. And that immediately sets a self-imposed limit to how much power we actually do experience.

This imagined limitation of divine power then naturally feeds into our prayer lives. We will never ask more than we think or imagine God can do!

We limit God by how much we can imagine, which is followed by how little we ask.

Exceeding more!

But Paul says that God is able to do so much more than we imagine and therefore ask for! Exceeding Abundantly, Immeasurably More! 

That implies a willingness on God's part to bless more, give more, provide more, convert more, sanctify more, and so on. The Lord is willing as well as able. The bottleneck lies with us.

Summing it All Up!

 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more (in the KJV "exceeding abundantly") than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:21-22)

Let us stop limiting the power of God in our lives and through us to others. Let's quit those words and thoughts which deny God the glory to reveal his almighty power.

A SONG FOR THE DAY

Our song for the day reminds us that it is Christ in us who gives us the power to live a triumphant and victorious life for his great glory.

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer

There is no more for heaven now to give

He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom

My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to his
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

 
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed

 
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

 
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave

 
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing: I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

 
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne

 
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!

 
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!

Sing along HERE. 

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our loving Father in heaven,

We thank you for your Word. How it brightens our day and scatters fear and gloom! 

Forgive us when we impose a small vision onto you and ask for little things. 

Remind us that resurrection power is at work in your people.

Teach us that you are glorified when we imagine and ask for great things, for those greater things bring you glory.

We ask for great fruitfulness, we ask for deeper holiness and we ask for many more conversions. 

We ask these things in Jesus' Name, and for his glory alone

Amen

Photo by Maria Lin Kim on Unsplash