barefoot surfing

LOVED- forever #3; Love yielding love February 21, 2012

  Love and respect I love to spoil my wife – to bring her flowers,    take her out for a meal, see her dressed in beautiful clothes, acknowledge her gifts and talents – but I’m not getting into the Valentine’s thing. Not even a card. Why? Cos I love her! What?! Well she passionately believes that Valentine’s Day is a commercial exercise, crammed full with guilt potential, that is less about the authentic expression of love and more about spending money we can ill afford on things we don’t need. Love is not measured by the extravagance of your gifts and outings (how much you spend) but the level of respect you’re showing. Have you listened? Do you hear and understand, not just words spoken, but the heart behind them [this is NOT a gender issue]? Are you prepared to shape or modify your actions to what you hear and understand?
Love is about respect, not about what you buy, nor is it about what you say! Love is thoughtful, respect-driven, active response to the object of our devotion.
How God loves us [1 John 2.1-2] Amazingly, we see God’s love at it’s height in His response to our universal tendency to choose contrary to His declared plan and purpose, to our rejection of Him as the deciding factor in our lives and instead choose sin. John says he is writing so that we won’t sin – and yet instead of saying it’s because you’ll otherwise burn in hell, he says that if you do there is a way out of judgement. That Jesus will take your side plead with the Father on your behalf (claiming that He’s already paid the price required). In fact what Jesus has done is so immense and liberating it’s enough to free the whole world from the burden of its sin. Any attempt to earn a similar freedom or to rid ourselves of the stain and stigma of sin is futile, worthless, a waste of time and energy. All that’s left is to humbly receive the loving gift and love God right back.
So how should we love God? [verses 3-7] Our declarations of love for God, our outpourings of worship and prayers are empty and pointless if they don’t lead us to obedient, trust-filled action – doing what we hear Him say, what we see Him do. Such is the height, the depth, the breadth of God’s love for us that we be hanging on His Son’s every word, and every prompting of the Spirit, willing to dare anything if only we hear that it’s what He wants of us. When we say we know God it’s necessary that we should back that up with activity that tells the truth of our commitment. It is also a fact that if we do what we believe to be His will we will in that obedience come to know Him better.
Which commandment? The old and the new commandment are the same. It’s earliest occurrence is in Leviticus 19.18: You shall love your neighbour as yourself and for John the later version would still be ringing in his ears from the teaching at the Last Supper in John 13.34: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you…”. This is the whole point of John’s letter which he lives out in almost every phrase; God loves us so we should love one another. For John what is true is what we demonstrate by the way we live our lives; we know Jesus’ love because of what He did for us, and in the same way people will discover love in us.
The dark of hatred. John denies that it is possible to claim to be in the light whilst hating a brother or sister in Christ, that in fact a hater lives in the dreadful shadow of the lie. He expands to say that whoever loves is able to see the way to behave more clearly because they are living in the light, whereas haters don’t really know, can’t know, what they‘re doing or even where they’re going because of the darkness that envelopes them in their hatred.
And…??? How does this work out for us? With what does your heart beat for those with whom you share this Worship Centre on any Sunday morning? How do you respond to friends and family who don’t or won’t share your passion for Jesus, or even your version faith? Is it love, or is it judgement ( a polite form of hate)? What actions would most reliably carry the message of God’s love, and your, for them? How can you and I be signs of good news for those among whom God has placed as His messengers?
If you hate who loses? If you love who wins? Think about it….

February 15, 2012

Loved!  – forever
exploring  John’s First Letter
Gospel ! as a prelude we  look at where John is coming from in his first work.
John 3. 16 – 21

I didn’t know is often the response we find most natural when assured of another’s respect, or admiration. Like when you’ve struggled to master a piece of music or perform a difficult and esoteric task in which you seemed to be forever correcting yourself and throwing away hours of great work – sounds like my mother at her pottery wheel; solitary, anxious, exacting, perfectionist – almost prayerful. And finally out of the kiln comes an object which quickly draws praise from admiring friends. To which my mother’s response often was, “I didn’t know whether you’d
like it. I was afraid you’d hate it.”

Have you ever wondered what God really thought of you?…when the preachers and song-writers have been silenced and you have a moment with your own thoughts, what do you really believe? Is it the Destroyer of Sodom and Gomorrah or the patient and passionate lover of the harlot wife [see Hosea for more about that story]. Is He the Cosmic Kill-joy just waiting to catch you out so He can out you on His “naughty list”; or the God who’s continually rescuing His people from their own mess?
I’m going to give you the Biblical answer right now, which is He’s the God who first and foremost loves us with a passion that makes the most doting of us grandparents look icily distant; I’m doing this because I want to spend time showing you God as loving by looking at the letter of John, the apostle of love (and light).

Cherish or Perish? In a midnight encounter with one of the brigade of baleful watchers (aka Pharisees), Nicodemus by name, Jesus reveals a profound aspect to God’s nature that’s bound to startle his visitor. But here’s the key to this whole series that will look into John’s first letter, for God so loved!!!! That’s John’s key theme throughout his gospel and his letters (that and light). In calling Nicodemus to a new birth by the Spirit, Jesus assures him that the motivation for God’s extraordinary involvement with us is love (and agape at that.) Jesus’ mission is both the consequence and the revelation of the love of God. It may seem obvious, but this is love that is to be reciprocated (given back enthusiastically), but it’s also meant to shared, explored in it’s transforming power and grace, embraced and given away extravagantly. The love of God thus given unlocks the love, locked up in the hearts of responsive humankind – towards God, and each other. This is a burning theme in John that no-one else develops as he does.
So what does Jesus say to Nicodemus? That because of God’s astonishing love he does not want us to perish (even though we probably deserve it on our own). God invites us to cherish rather than perish, and yet in making such an invitation that terrible side of love shows up. While some readily, and others slowly, almost reluctantly, will embrace God and His offer of love, others will say no emphatically, that they don’t want to be obligated, or bound even in ties of grace and mercy. And their destiny is to perish even though that is not the Father’s desire for them.

Trust the light It’s with this mission of loving embrace that Jesus is sent; sent to free us from destruction, but also to be the Light that either attracts or repels, and therein decides the destiny of each and every creature. Part of the decision is already determined in our propensity for either good or evil, some would say it is predestined.
The trouble with light is that it’s dispassionately revealing: just like the mirror by which an actor adjusts her make-up, it’s surrounded by lights so that any blemishes or faults are clearly revealed and the make-up is perfect from every aspect. Of course I love light and the clarity it brings, but there are those who find light intrusive and fear it’s penetrating exposure. I’ve noticed that when police stop someone who keeps stepping back out of the light they become quickly suspicious – usually for good reason. So those who have nothing to hide, or want nothing hidden from the Loving Presence, are glad to come into the light; but those who are ashamed or have a desire to keep things away from Divine exposure think dark will hide them: haven’t they heard: “even the darkness:
  is not dark to You
                                                             the night is as bright as the day,
                                                           for the darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139.12
What is happening here is the promised convicting work of the Holy Spirit, operating under the light of Jesus’ living presence. The difference is that whether one is doing good or evil, if one is living in the light, one is leaving room for the righteousness of God to influence and direct and empower, whereas those who choose to stay out of the light, are leaving no room for the righteousness of God…they are already demonstrating their separation from God and his grace in Christ. So even when I’ve strayed I am happy to be in the light so that even if my wrong is exposed a least there is an opportunity to be corrected and lovingly lead back to the right path, into the favourable regard of my loving Saviour, through His forgiving grace and mercy.
Welcome the light and choose to be cherished rather than to perish. Allow the One who has no limit to His astonishing mercy to put you right, to cleanse, to re-direct, to empower, to affirm. To walk in the light is to take a movable environment of hope, peace, love and of godly good health wherever we go. Isn’t that what we all want?

wild goose chase.7 October 6, 2011

7.a new power
2 Timothy 1.6-8;  1 John 4.1-6
Snatching at the wind Who could possibly seize, grasp of control a spirit (or the wind for that matter)? The world of popular fiction (films, TV, books) overflows with stories, adventures, sagas about people commanding or trying to harness the power of the spirit world. In many of them it emerges as a wildness beyond all our technologies and skills.
The hint is perhaps in the Greek and Hebrew words for spirit: pneuma and ruach both also mean breath or wind – something you certainly can’t hold or contain.
And yet we know that there is great power in that which is spiritual -
and it puzzles us because so much of it is processed invisibly.
My aim is that God should show you about His power – from on high, by His Spirit.
This is the only means by which we can even hope to be agents of revelation & witness.
We can come with all the talent, tactics, equipment and theology -  but if it’s not fueled and powered by the work of God’s Spirit (in means and character) it will not have the missional result for which we should be looking and hoping.
Gaining some biblical sense In his second letter Paul tells Timothy (& us) (1.6-8) to take responsibility for igniting the work of God’s Spirit within him – the spark of God’s active presence alive within us -
which awaits our willingness to make something visible,
vibrant, testifying, impacting of and with that inner Presence.
We (as with Timothy) are to be neither fearful nor timid in this visible demonstration but rather confident of that which God is doing in each of us and to put it into action.
So if we’ve not been given a spirit of fear and timidity – what is this spirit within us?
This is that which only comes to us by God’s own Spirit -
a spirit of power, love and self-discipline (or self control).
Has it ever occurred to you that these three belong together as the work of God in our lives? That’s why Paul says to us don’t be ashamed or hesitant in telling, or demonstrating for people what the Lord has done and is doing.
For precisely this reason use every ounce of God-given strength in making Him known.
A single thought from John’s first letter (4.4b)
.
Ghosts, vampires, demons, wizards, witches, gurus & shamans, dictators, oppressors  & abusers -
not one of them has that which God has brought to life and stirred up within you,
nor can any of them take it away or diminish the powerful, miracle-working of the whispering voice of God -
His Spirit – who creates universes out of nothing -
life in the midst of death -
salvation from bondage -
hope out of despair -
purpose from confusion -
love out of fear.
this is the very Presence of God that Jesus planted in you when you first believed in Him.
He never took it away
He never watered it down
He’s simply wondering when you’re going to stir it up
burning embers into a roaring fire of faith, hope and love
especially transforming, provoking love, living witness

wild goose chase.6 October 6, 2011

6.a new purpose
Romans 12.1-11
On not getting it I sat there in the changing room, glowing but puzzled. We’d played a great game; the score had see-sawed between the two teams; we’d scored a couple of brilliant tries; trouble was everyone looked so darned glum. Sure we’d lost, but we’d played a magnificent game; so I said, “Well guys we played a great game against a tough team, surely that’s good; can’t we be happy with that?!” With that little sowing of the wind I reaped a whirlwind of fury and disappointment from senior players and coaches. They were more concerned about the championship and where we stood. Eastern Suburbs had been crawling up the ladder, heading for a sure thing finals spot, now it wasn’t so sure – we’d lost more than a game according to them. They’d had a purpose I hadn’t shared; this year was to be our turn – and I didn’t even know (or care) where we were on points – I just loved playing the game, rain, hail or shine.
Do you know your purpose, God’s purpose even?
A Divine Purpose We all have a Divinely ordained purpose in life, a general and a particular purpose, which Paul describes to some extent in Romans 12.1-11. It starts with sacrifice; His for us, and ours in worship for Him. He has given His all for us, which calls for a response in which our all becomes His. That’s how we come to service of any kind in His name – it takes and involves all that we have and are (if only because it came from Him in the very first place).
  Sacrifice -> worship -> transformation -> obedience -> humility -> interdependence
In our giving of ourselves we are enabled and empowered for ministry that is active-gifted-ministry, each to their own calling in God in Christ. This is the work of God’s own Wild Goose that we call the Holy Spirit. It is distinctive to each of us, worked out in the Spirit’s power and grace. Paul’s instruction is that we serve in this unique and distinctive way with all the faith we’ve been given, to serve with all the energy, effort and heart with which He has endowed us as human followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And as we heard a week or two ago, we are do this in the unique, godly, beguiling Spirit-given characteristic that is selfless, other-preferring LOVE!!! This being the core and the driver of our every purpose in God, the heart and the motivation of all we attempt and dare for the sake of Him who gave His all for us.
Find and fulfil your purpose It is out there in the world of the mission that is just beyond our church drive – and even right here among us. It may mean we have to run a few courses to help people identify their gifts; it may mean we have to have a talk about being the missionary in your neighbourhood; but whatever it takes we’re going to do it, because reaching and saving our neighbours is more important even than our survival as a church. Look at this list of gifts/roles – what looks like you: speaking out for God, serving others, encouraging people, giving generously, giving leadership, showing kindness. Can you see the people who are lost? Can you grieve for their ignorance of God’s amazing, beautiful, life-transforming plan for them? Would you dare their mocking, misunderstanding, ostracising over-reaction to your attempt to love them with the love that saves?

wild goose chase.5 October 6, 2011

    5.a new story
Acts 3.1-11; 4.5-22
What do your stories look like surely they’re not as lame as those supposed police candidates in the recruiting ads; but they are everyday stories about everyday things. About our families, our own lives, our work, our interests, our sport, our reading, our TV watching, our facebook friends. About love and about, well, hate; as well as about joy and sadness, celebration and grief; about the seriously important and about the trivial. What was your day like so far? What was the week that’s just passed like for you? How is your health (and don’t tell me no-one wants to know – I do!)? How are those you love and those you struggle to love?
You see you do have a story – everyone has a story; and every story is liberally laced with the transcendent, the divine, the astonishing Presence of God – if only we could see and hear it, or catch the hint of it.
The Making of a Great Story is what’s happening when Peter and John are confronted with the lame beggar in the Temple forecourts [Acts chapter 3]. Watch as Peter brings into confrontation the need of the beggar and the love and ministry that God has placed within in his heart – generated by the beautiful story he has with the Lord. The story in Peter’s heart, built up of his experiences with Jesus, fueled by God’s ever-present Spirit, gave him the confidence to speak words of healing and to bring the man to his feet, startled to find himself healed. I wouldn’t be surprised if we found that Peter was somewhat startled but the completeness of the healing. The beggar jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk!…walking, leaping and praising God… [8] And because it was in a well frequented public place, many saw and some were angered enough to report it to the Jewish Council (Sanhedrin).
When called to account to the Sanhedrin for the events of the lame man’s healing, Peter answers, but only under the empowering and enabling of the Holy Spirit. Peter answers their concern about authority by clearly stating that this was in the name, the powerful name of Jesus Christ – he adds what is central to his own experience of Jesus and that of the healed one, that Jesus was not only killed but also rose from that unjust death and now is the sole means of saving anyone.
Peter was so eloquent in his boldness that it made these powerful men pause in their passing of judgement. In the end they could but hope to keep the disciples quiet about the name and power of Jesus. Peter and John astonish in their reply by saying they would rather obey God than these rulers and leaders, to which the rulers can only respond with threats because the crowd is so impressed with what God has done.
Boldness and disregard for the consequences characterise the role of the apostles in this encounter because they have a story that cannot be silenced, one whose consequences are going to escape and grab attention no matter who forbids them to tell their story. Peter and John see the demonstration and proclaiming of the power of the risen Christ as obeying what God has commanded.
So what’s your story? Know that it is built out of what God has done in your life and what you’ve seen Him do in the lives of those you love. It comes from the Holy Spirit’s empowering and the boldness that He gives us to try out the life-saving, life-changing ministry in Jesus’ authoritative love. Is your friend sick? You know Jesus heals – pray for and with them. Is your family struggling with some difficulty or other? Bring the power of Jesus to bear on their need. Do you want to help your loved ones with words of wisdom, even of life, but don’t know what to say? Trust the Spirit of truth to give you just the right words.
Learn your own story with God. Learn His story (it starts in Genesis 1 and goes through to Revelation 22). Practise your story – keep a brief version up your sleeve. What can you say? What should you say? What is likely to help? What’s likely to repel?
You know what? This is why fellowship groups are such a great idea, cos you can practice with that story – and hear God in the voice of His people as they tell their stories.

wild goose chase.4 October 6, 2011

 4.a new character                                                      Matthew 5.20; 12.33-35; Galatians 5.16-26;

Trying to be nice..errr good is not as easy as it seems, because when it comes down to it, it nearly always comes out of what I want or feel comfortable with and therefore has to be done in my own energy and inner strength (such as it is) that’s because the most controlling part of your life lies below the surface of your consciousness. Keeping my life clean – even decent – can be a real challenge because all the dirt is out of sight. And then Jesus comes along and says something like; “Unless you’re able to better than pharisees and legal experts at being good, you’re never gonna see things run God’s way from the inside!” (Bristow Paraphrase of Mt 5.20)- and when it comes to looking and doing right he says; “sure you can look great, but you’re just putrid rotting rubbish on the inside” (BP Mt. 23.27) OUCH! How do you that? How can you come up with behaviour that is better than the greatest rule makers and keepers of all time?
Part of our trouble is the wily and persistent opposition to that way of life that comes from our greatest enemy – our inner life; not from any outside human, institutional or spiritual opposition…we’re our own worst enemy!

What can you do? In accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross for you is nailing a whole way  of life to that Cross and condemning it to death. In that way you are making yourself available  for a whole new way of living that originated in and dominated by the Holy Spirit of God –
wild and free of all that limits and demeans human existence.

Being good from the inside out Jesus, puzzlingly, points the way when He says: “what you are inside will be ultimately revealed in how you behave, you can only produce actions that match your inner state” (BP Mt 12.33-35) Using the image of fruit trees was very suggestive to Paul when explaining the action of the Holy Spirit on those in whom He lives, so Paul calls that outward quality of life the fruit of the Holy Spirit. For Paul and for us a truly moral and ethically generous life las its source in the inner dwelling action of the Holy Spirit – arising in those welcoming the Spirit’s control ahead of all competing influences; they prefer surrender to the rule of God in their lives working at the very core of their being. We could say that the list that comprises the fruit of the Spirit, is like a measurable goal, except that you can’t make them happen to any lasting effect on your own – it’s about being nice. This list measures the depth of your relationship with and availability to the indwelling of God by His ever-present Spirit. How else could we possibly consistently demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and even self-control. We should be praying for these things to be the compelling evidence of the Holy Spirit’s life and power at work within us, as motivation for being more freely released in His working in our lives; then we’ll see the overwhelming of influences and behaviour patterns that embarrass and stress us defeated, overwhelmed. It also encourages us to be very generous in our attitude toward the lives and gifts of others.
SO??? How do you get there? It’s all in a terrible word for our place and time. Surrender! This beautiful and affecting life doesn’t happen by the power of your will or by your stern obedience to a set of clearly written directives, because it is not a life that originates in any one human or community of humans, it is a life that arises as you and I surrender ourselves to the life and work of the Holy Spirit (and therefore of Jesus and the Father) in our lives; achieved in quietness and prayer; in the giving of that kind of praise where our hearts are as open as our mouths; in service that is driven by a longing to do what we see our Saviour and Lord doing; in witness that cannot be silenced because the work of God in our lives is the best thing that has ever happened and could ever happen to us. It shows in a genuine, desperate hunger to be a part of what God is doing right here and now, in seeking Him and His righteousness we finds the most astonishingly complete life, and the transformation of not only what we do but how we do it.

wild goose chase.3 October 6, 2011

3.a new community
Acts 2.41-47; 1 Corinthians 12.12-31, 13.4-7

What we find around us is an astonishing variety of differing communities; variously we call them clubs, schools, universities, choirs, teams, orchestras, families; even churches. Some make it hard to belong, creating barriers of knowledge, achievement, wealth, belief, even of blood relatedness. The thing is we want to belong, to be accepted on some ground or other – we’ll even go through silly rituals and agree to abusive regulations or initiations in order to find a secure place in this community or that – and then there are the fees, the demands for perfect attendance or the requirement for us to conform to this standard or that tradition. The tragedy is that in the past the church has copied, even instituted some of these prerequisites, conditions for entry, these membership standards. But in the hands of the Wild Goose we are made free, affirmed and loved just as we are – what kind of community does that create?
Community Created by God -liberated by His Son – breathing the Spirit of the Living God.
In the forming of the first church ever [Acts 2] we see the Spirit alighting upon each individually, in the context of the gathered and worshipping community of Jesus-followers – unleashing a God-filled and motivated corporate expression of His living Presence. They are on show before the whole community: learning, sharing, worshipping, praying, serving, witnessing, loving, transforming and being transformed. They drew attention to themselves for all the right reasons.   Recently this description of the church has become the model for newer churches.
Some years later, Paul gives a creative theological explanation for the unique shape of the community we call church: in his letter to the Corinthians [1 Corinthians 12] he calls it a body, the Body of Christ, emphasising connectedness, interdependence, mutual acceptance and respect – especially for a diversity of callings and giftings. There is a humbling sense that we need each other and are somehow incomplete as a believer if some parts of the body are missing or disenabled. We are each unbreakably linked to and involved with each other – each according to their own peculiar cluster of Spirit-imbued gifts and God-given personalities, passions and backgrounds.
Paul then goes on [13.4-7] to describe the character of that connectedness and interdependence; it is the astonishing self-giving love of God-alive, Spirit-given, in each of us. What we see in this passage are characteristics we see in Jesus and that enable us to find and live out our place in this organic institution, this body of Christ. The Holy Spirit was and is poured out to renew people and form them into a community of God’s extravagant love. Receiving the Holy Spirit’s life, receiving all others as valued, established and loved sacrificially by Jesus, the Lord of the church.
whatcha need to do In welcoming the work of the Spirit in your life, encourage, trust and even depend upon His visible and invisible presence in those to whom your are organically linked by the love and grace of God. We need to commit to being part of the Spirit-designed and Spirit-filled organism of God’s people; to rely on Him for life, direction and energy – to give all we have and are to that life and to invite and welcome many more into it.  The more who come the greater the variety, the more compelling the beauty and charm of what God is making in us and through us.
We also need to learn to trust our fellow-travellers to support, encourage and instruct, even challenge us in the pursuit of the life to which God has called us in Jesus.

wild goose chase.2 October 6, 2011

A new song

Hometown advantage When and where the crowd knows and believes in a   team, and raucously cheers them on, they have an advantage over the  opposition…worth a few points in close competitions…it’s as though an attitude, a spirit of confidence gets into the team.
Spontaneous (?) Outburst [Acts 2.1-12] Waiting, expectant, faith-filled, prayerful is how the Lord found those gathered in the Upper Room; and this led to the promised release of the Holy Spirit in and among them. The release was signified by signs which included a Spirit-driven, multi-lingual outburst of praise (all about the wonderful things God has done!) This both amazed and transformed their hearers, adding many to those who followed Jesus and ever after cheerfully sang His praises.
This has become an observed and predictable effect of the release of the Spirit in revivals, awakenings and renewals throughout history; new songs are written in new styles to be sung in new contexts. (new wineskins?) A new enthusiasm for giving praise and singing, a profound sense of worship and of love for God and His people is characteristic of these times.
True Worship [John 4.19-26] Place, time and form (tradition) of worship are all transcended by the Spirit of worship that comes from an intimate relationship with God as the Father of our Lord, Jesus; the form must always be in a state of renewal and reformation according to what God is doing in the relationship. True worship, God-pleasing worship, is that which comes from knowing the truth (about God and about self) and more especially from the indwelling Spirit of God at work in and among us as both individuals and as a body, a community.
Presence and Power in Symphony When we take the promise the promise of God’s positive, powerful response to us in Matthew 18.19-20 and that of His transforming presence among those who lift up heartfelt praise. In Psalm 22.3 we can see the importance of presenting God with the unified praise of His gathered people. In Matthew the word “agree” comes from the Greek “sumphoneo” from which we get the word symphony which also carries, in Greek, a sense of music or sound offered in both unison and harmony with a sense of unity and agreement. This setting also brings an encouragement and enlightenment that unites and empowers the people of God in Christ in a way nothing else can. [Colossians 3.16]
So let’s unleash the new song that’s already in us and make a powerful and transforming symphony of our gatherings to bring light and salvation to all who gather with us; igniting passions, generating hope for healing and restoration, witnessing to the astonishing salvation that is ours in Christ.

Beginning the Wild Goose Chase July 25, 2011

The Wild Goose is the Celtic symbol for the Holy Spirit…chasing the wild goose is about being committed to a life filled with and reflective of the inner workings of God by His Spirit. This is the first of a new series.

You Gotta Breathe [Genesis 1] We know new life has begun securely when the baby draws breath for herself – and keeps breathing. It’s a breath that is the gift of God to all creatures, to all of creation. The Word spoken, breathed over Creation.
You Gotta Move [Ezekiel 37] What looks dead and unpromising, hopelessly injured and lifeless is revived, energised, enfleshed, brought back to life. Note that there must be flesh and muscle, strength and movement. It may take time; like recovering from serious surgery or a disabling injury.
You Gotta Belong [Acts 2] In the wonder and mystery of that first Christian Pentecost, the Spirit gave life to a whole new community; emphasising that the Wild Goose Chase is a communal activity, not a solo enterprise – life in the Spirit is best demonstrated in a diverse, complex, fascinating community of God’s love and redeemed people. The advantages are both internal and external – encouragement and strength (think of migrating geese flying in formation); and the diversity is a testimony to an unearthly source and Presence.
You Gotta Work [Acts 2] This perpetual, never-ending wonder is energising; meant to engage us in the work of the Kingdom of God – each of us has a unique and essential role that involves in working with the Lord in growing and tending His vineyard. Any body, whether a human or an animal body, needs to work to stay flexible, strong, healthy – and the mind needs continual exercise for that body to mature and stay the distance. In our case the work is that for which we both directed and enabled by the life-giving, empowering Spirit of God.
God all the way there can be no talk or activity pointing to the Spirit without understanding that this is God, both Father and Son at work in, among and through us, revealing Himself. inviting people into relationship.
God starts all that takes place
God inspires and motivates every activity
God empowers all that we do under His direction
God is the unseen influence that makes it grow
God is the One for who monitors and moderates all He sets us doing

Learn to breathe again…with God. It involves trust and commitment; it will change your life for ever and for good. It will revive your life and fill it in ways you might never have anticipated. You begin with the first breath.

opposition and response July 2, 2011

Ephesians 6.10-17
I love spy stories whether books, movies or TV. The intrigue, the uncovering of evil intruding among the ranks of forces of justice, peace and liberation. The courage and resourcefulness of the key characters.
Courage, heroism, character, even sainthood need conflict for their true qualities to be revealed; in fact, conflict creates heroes and saints. The same is true of practising resurrection; it only becomes apparent in the arena of both need and opposition. Some of Jesus’ most telling teaching surfaces in confrontations with his critics.
In the face of the Enemy what resources do we have as the community of the resurrected, and what is our call. Paul unwraps that in the closing chapter of his letter to the Ephesians [6.10-20]. For Eugene Peterson [Practise Resurrection] four things should grab our attention:
stand -repeated four times (v. 11, 13, 14) this imperatives calls us to be steady, to stand our ground and to stay on our feet. Don’t let yourself be distracted by novelty or deflected by sin.
Stand in the place of blessing to which God has brought you at this time; stand firm in the community that He has given us, the Church; stand firm in the Spirit – God filling us and in communion with us.
wiles of the Devil – emphasising that there is opposition to our resurrection living and we encounter it all places and all times. It is orchestrated by the Opposer via a network of rulers, authorities, cosmic forces, spiritual forces. Some of their work is in things that are obviously wrong, but they seek to trap us by taking  good goals and persuading us to use sinful means to achieve those goals. Do we need any more pointed example than finances companies who in pursuit of good goals resorted to illegitimate means to bring a better return for their investors.
whole armour of God – this is less about the items of armour than what they represent:
Truth about Jesus, what he’s done, my eternal place in it. About God who loves and empowers me to live out that truth – and about that which dares oppose us.
Righteousness in Jesus we have right standing with God – we are loved. forgiven, favoured and called to reflect that in outwardly-focussed lives.
Peace the relationship we have in God; no issues outstanding; trust; love. Just exactly how he expects us top live with others
Faith the courage to be and do what God calls to be and do, built out of growing confidence that what God says he means.
Salvation in Christ, sin and death don’t have the final word about our destiny which is eternal, secure, grace-originated and grace-filled. All god’s good work without intervention or interference from us.
Word of God the powerful self-revelation of God, his purpose, plan and victory. Can destroy every weapon brought against us – pierces to the heart of everything we have to deal with in our lives, individually and collectively, however the ultimate weapon is you and me – unleashed, gifted and sent to be hands, feet and even the voice of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times – stay in communication; don’t log-off for any reason. Prayer happens all the time – in all circumstances. God is always logged-in with us.

you can hear the message as spoken by going to www.fhpc.church.org.nz (after 5 July)