Re-published Sunday 26th November 2017

CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR ROUND

I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand
The Jesus that they celebrate is much more than a man
'Cause the way the world is I don't see how people can deny
The only way to save us was for Jesus Christ to die

And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led Him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven when they nailed Him to a tree.

But most of all the children they're the ones I hope will learn
That Jesus is our Saviour and He's going to return
And Christmas isn't just a day and all days aren't the same
Perhaps they'll think about the word and see it spells His name

And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led Him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven, mankind was forgiven
We were all forgiven when they nailed Him to the tree

So Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.
Hoo-hoo. Ooo-ooh.
I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand?
("Christmas Song For All year Round" written by Randy Stonehill, released as a single, and featured on his 1976 album "Welcome To Paradise".)

With Christmas Day just four weeks away, it is timely to remember that, as the song says: The Jesus that they [we] celebrate is much more than a man.

It seems to the natural mind to be a paradox that the baby Jesus, the one who was prophesied to be the King of the Jews, should be faced with the indignity of being born in a dirty stable and laid in an animal feeding trough atop a pile of hay. But that is exactly the way the Lord of the universe chose to enter the world of humanity. The fact that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, yet His earthly body was formed in the womb of a normal teenage girl, Mary, and who entered this world through the usual avenue of childbirth as a helpless baby - helps us to understand, at least in some measure, how Jesus could be fully God, as well as fully man, or hu-man.
That the God who created all things by speaking them into existence - the God who is all-knowing, everywhere present, and all-powerful should divest Himself of these divine attributes in order to limit Himself to a human body, is nothing short of amazing.The divine Kenosis, the self-emptying described by the apostle Paul in Philippians 2 further attests to the reality that God, in Jesus, confined himself to a body like ours, in identifying with us:
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal's death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father. Phil.2:5-11.NLT

The ongoing message of Christmas celebrated by Christians down through the past 2,000 years is that
"God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish [in their sins] but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Jesus Christ, said of Himself: I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. John 8:12
From the time of the early church to the present day, millions upon millions of people have been able to testify of the power of God to deliver them from darkness and despair, and spiritual bondage to a place of light, and hope and unspeakable joy, having been forgiven of their sinful pasts, washed clean through the blood of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, and made alive spiritually by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the eternal God, who, with the Father and the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, inhabit eternity.
This Christmas, you can know with absolute certainty, the love of your Creator God, who sent His Son to earth to be born a baby in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. He is coming back to earth someday. He will not come back, however, as the gentle Jesus meek and mild, but as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 5; 19:11-16)
If you are would like to know how to become a Christian, and to be reconciled to the God who created you for fellowship with Himself, a couple of sites which will lead you in the right direction are:
vision.org.au Click on the Growing you faith tab, then "Looking for God?", or
billygraham.org Click on Growing your faith, then "How to know Jesus."

Make Jesus your Saviour and Lord. This could be your best Christmas ever!

SALT AND LIGHT IN A TASTELESS AND DARK WORLD

Part 2

"You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

These words were spoken by Jesus to His disciples in what is known as the Sermon On The Mount, the longest single discourse of Jesus in all of the Gospels, as recorded in Matthew 5-7.
Jesus used the two metaphors of salt and light to attribute qualities by which His disciples - those who would follow and live by His teachings, empowered by the Holy Spirit - would be distinguishable from all others.
Jesus said of Himself, in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

The apostle John in the fourth Gospel, bearing his name, introduces us to Jesus, the Light of the world in the first chapter of his book. 
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [John the Baptist]
This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 
John 1:1-13 NKJV

1 John 2:5 says .....God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

The Bible says of God, in 1 Timothy 6:15, 16 that He is God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen, or can see. To Him be honor and might forever. Amen. NIV
James 1:17 tells us: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change or shadow of turning. MEV.
Just like the dramatic portrayals in countless movies of the clashes of good and evil, darkness and light, or using the vernacular of the past, between the good guys and the bad guys, the overarching battle of the universe is between two opposing and diametrically opposed dominions, that of darkness, ruled by Satan, and the Kingdom of Light, ruled by the all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present Eternal God-in-three Persons, the One True and Living God, represented by the Trinity - Father, Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.
When we speak of God as Light, all that is pure, holy, righteous, of the Truth, and displaying the character of God in His love for mankind, in both His mercy and His just judgments, are contained in that brilliant metaphor. 
On the other hand, Satan, as the ruler of darkness, is totally evil. There is absolutely nothing about his character to be commended. He is, as the Bible says, a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44.
He is the thief, who comes to steal, kill and destroy, as Jesus says in John 10:10. He has been a murderer from the beginning, as Jesus also says in Jn. 8:44.
That the vast majority of mankind are dwelling in spiritual darkness, under Satan's dominion is borne out in John 3:19-21, where Jesus says "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 
"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
"But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." NKJV
Speaking prophetically to the kingdom of Judah at around 700BC, but also prophetically down through the ages to the Church in the present day, in Isaiah 59:19, 20 and 60:1-3 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
"The Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," says the Lord.
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.

From the above prophetic verses in Isaiah, it is evident that, just as Jesus spoke of Himself as the Light of the World in John 8:12, as mentioned earlier, and that He addressed His disciples saying: "You are the light of the world", He intended for His followers to shine the light of God's love, power and holiness to a world filled with darkness, by the authority bestowed on them by the Lord, to see people transformed by the power of God, in turning their lives from darkness and bondage to light and freedom only found in a relationship with Christ.
The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:20 says....we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you, on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
Paul further admonishes Christians in Ephesians, chapter 5 with these words: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the lord. Walk as children of light
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth),
finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
Therefore He says:
"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light." Ephesians 5:8-14 

The apostle John, in 1 John 4:18 says..............as He (Jesus) is, so are we in this world.
Even when Jesus walked this earth as a man, He commissioned His then disciples to go out and to do the works He was doing, as a foretaste of the life of witness and power that they could and would walk in, when He left them following His death on the cross, and subsequent triumphant resurrection. Filled with the Holy Spirit's power, they would shine the light of God's love and power to a lost and dying world - to people desperate for a way out of the darkness and emptiness of life without ultimate purpose and meaning.
The apostle Paul, in Philippians 2:14-16, says that Christians are to: Do everything without complaining or arguing,
So that you may become blameless and pure,
Children of God without fault
In a crooked and depraved generation
In which you shine like stars in the universe
As you hold out the Word of Life. NIV

More than ever before, Christians, the Light-bearers, need to be shining for Jesus, holding forth the Word of Life, filled with the Holy Spirit - living lives committed wholly to the Word of God, without compromise - even when it means going counter to the culture in aspects at odds with the Word of God. The world is watching and waiting for the Church to arise and shine with all the brilliance of the risen Christ (The Anointed One and His Anointing). The time to simply blend in with the cultural surroundings in order to seem to be relevant is over. Christ is calling forth a people who, as His ambassadors are living pure lives, who know the power of His love and forgiveness, who know the pit from which they have been lifted, and who are not ashamed to stand up and be counted as those who fully align with God's standards of love and Holiness.

If you have read this blog, and would like to know more about becoming a Christian, a useful resource I suggest is: vision.org.au. Click on the "Grow your faith" tab, then click on the "Looking for God?" link.
Come out of the darkness into the light of God's love and power to transform your life as no one or no thing can. God Bless!

An added anecdote from Tessa

When I was about eight years old, we moved near a church. Inside was a sign, hanging above the altar. It said: "The Light shines in the darkness."

That verse from John's gospel has meant a lot to me over the years.

Even in the darkest, deepest times, God's Light and Truth have never failed us ever.

SALT AND LIGHT IN A TASTELESS

AND DARK WORLD

Part One

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and to be trampled underfoot by men.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:13-16

These words of Jesus were spoken by Him in what is known as the Sermon On The Mount, as recorded in Matthew 5-7, to His disciples. It is believed that the disciples hearing the words of Jesus at this time were a larger group than the twelve. The Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew, is the longest discourse of Jesus recorded in any of the four Gospels. It includes some of the most quoted teachings of Jesus, including the Beatitudes in chapter 5, and what is known as "The Lord's Prayer" in chapter 6, really a model prayer for his followers. To most believers in Jesus, it contains the central tenets of Christian discipleship.
In this particular blog, I am looking briefly at the above verses from Matthew 5:13-16, where Jesus speaks of his disciples as being both salt and light.

In verse 13, Jesus says: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." 
Salt is a necessity for life and was a mineral that was used since ancient times in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings and as a unit of exchange. The Bible contains numerous references to salt in both the Old and New Testaments. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value and purification.
In Biblical Israel, the main source of salt was the Dead Sea. The Hebrew people would harvest salt by pouring sea water into pits and letting the water evaporate until only salt was left. It was used as a seasoning, a preservative and to disinfect wounds. In 2 Chronicles 13:5, King Abijah referred to God's covenant promise to David that he will not lack a man to sit on David's throne as a Salt covenant - that is, a covenant that can never be broken.

Salt used for food seasoning only accounts for around 6% of salt production, apparently. There are in the order of 14,000 different ways in which salt is used as varied as in the manufacture of plastic, paper, glass, polyester, rubber and fertilisers to household bleach, soaps, detergents and dyes. 
In relation to its use as a food additive, it adds flavor to many of the processed food products we eat.
It is necessary for the maintenance of life and healthy bodies, not only for humans, but for animals as well.
Christians, using the analogy of salt, in society, act as a seasoning and as a preservative. If the salt is tainted by impurities, it will not be very effective as a flavoring condiment. In order to be "the salt of the earth", followers of Christ need to display Christlikeness in character, and to stand up for righteousness according to Biblical standards for life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:2-9
The Bible says in Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. In times of revivals, and other visitations of the Lord to nations, society has been greatly impacted with thousands coming to faith in Christ, broken relationships restored, deliverance from drug and alcohol addictions, droughts broken, and other positive impacts resulting from the blessing and favor of God on nations and localized places of Holy Spirit outpourings.
Most Christians will be familiar with the verses in 2 Chronicles 7:12-14, or at least verse 14. Following Solomon's prayer of dedication of the temple he had built for the Lord's presence, God spoke to him at night:Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself for a place of sacrifice.
"When I shut up heaven, and there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." When the Church of Jesus Christ truly humble themselves before the Lord to seek His face, and to walk in holiness, the people of God have a seasoning and preserving effect on wider society, as the favor of God touches cities, towns and literally, the land. No politician, be it Prime Minister, President, Premier or Chancellor, or their governments can be a nation's Saviour. Only God Almighty, through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ can truly be the Saviour for individuals and for nations, as they recognize Him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Christians, as His ambassadors on earth, filled with and led by the Holy Spirit, are salt to society, seasoning every area of influence with Godly wisdom and insight, and an integrity of life that values people from every culture, ethnicity, socio-economic background, race or creed, knowing that Christ died for all, and His desire is that all should come to a place of repentance and be saved. 
In Mark 9:49, 50 Jesus says to His disciples "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."
Salt was used in various sacrifices and offerings by fire in the Old Testament, as a symbol of purification.
We do not offer to God physical sacrifices today under the New Covenant of grace initiated by the Lord Jesus Christ, but the people of God today, Christians and Messianic Jews, are to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Romans 12:1,2 says: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you.Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable.This is the way to truly worship Him.
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good, and pleasing and perfect. New Living Translation.

In a world that is increasingly hostile to Christians, as the antichrist spirit pervades every area of society influence, it is more imperative than ever that true followers of Christ retain their "salty flavor" as they live Godly lives grounded in the Truth of God's Word, filled with the Holy Spirit, and living uncompromising lives of integrity motivated in everything by love for God and people.

An added anecdote from Tessa

SALT -As a teen, I saw the immensity, the beauty, the dazzling purity and intensity of the salt drainage ponds near Adelaide in South Australia. It was literally awesome. Salt is essential for life - physical and spiritual. Let us be salt that is not flavourless or trampled!

FEAR OR FAITH

Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:6,7

These words were written by the apostle Paul to a young minister of Jesus Christ, Timothy, who was serving the Lord in a leadership capacity as an apostolic delegate of the apostle Paul at Ephesus - to encourage him to endure as a "good soldier of Jesus Christ", to fulfill the call of God on his life. Paul is encouraged himself by the faith of Timothy, whom he refers to as "a beloved son" in terms of Paul being a spiritual father to him. The apostle is also blessed to recall the strong faith in Christ which also dwelt in Timothy's grandmother, Lois and his mother, Eunice.
The two Epistles or Letters of Paul to Timothy, together with the Epistle of Paul to Titus, make up what are referred to as the Pastoral epistles of the apostle Paul, as they were written to Timothy and Titus, both ministry associates of Paul, in whom he had confidence to carry out their respective ministries - but who also needed some further instruction in how to conduct themselves as leaders in ministry, and instructions in leading their respective churches.

Although Timothy was a relatively young man, Paul encouraged him to "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

The apostle Paul was mindful of the responsibility he had entrusted to "his son in the faith", Timothy, so reassured him that, because of the anointing presence and power of the Holy Spirit on and in his life, he need not, and must not give into a spirit of fear or timidity. Fear, if allowed to take hold in his heart and mind, would cripple his ministry, and render him ineffective in advancing the Kingdom of God in Ephesus. Fear is always a faith-robber, like a cancer sapping the very spiritual life and vision from the believer in Jesus Christ - leader or follower.

The apostle John, together with Peter and James, were closest to Jesus of the twelve original disciples. John in his first of three epistles - concerning fear, wrote these words, inspired by the Spirit of God: Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:17,18
In Strong's Concordance, fear (Greek:phobos). In classical Greek, the word signified flight. Later it became known as that which causes flight; hence, fear, terror, dread. In the New Testament, phobos denotes both the fear of terror and the fear of reverence for God. The English word "phobia" transliterates the Greek word.

There is a Godly fear, that which is the attitude in which we approach the Living God in  reverential awe, for Who He is. Our God is truly an Awesome God. But for the Christian, who has been reconciled to the Father God through the blood of Jesus, and who acknowledges Him as Saviour and Lord, the fear we have for God is not one of terror and foreboding, but of Godly respect and honor. There are a multitude of verses in the Bible which speak of the benefits of the fear of the Lord. Several examples are as follows:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalm 19:9
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever. Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Proverbs 8:13a
For the person who has rejected the salvation provided by the sacrificial death on the Cross by Jesus Christ as the only means to reconciliation to the Father God, there awaits a judgment for sin which will be a cause for great and well-founded fear.

In the Old Testament, The Lord God many times admonished the children of Israel to not be afraid in the face of opposition from those who wanted to destroy them. While they obeyed His commands and followed the God-appointed leaders, they would know the divine protection of the Living God.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong, and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Josh.1:9
I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid. Psalm 27:1
In the book of 2 Chronicles, chapter 20, the people led by king Jehoshaphat, are told that they are facing a three-pronged attack by a multitude. In the natural, for the people of Judah to win such a battle seemed daunting, to say the least. After calling the people to fast and pray, and crying out to God for deliverance, God heard their cries, and in verse 14: Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah..........
And he said, "Listen all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you."
You can read the rest of the story in 2 Chronicles 20 to see how the Lord gave His people a mighty victory over their enemies, as they trusted in Him.

I could quote many passages in both Old and New Testaments of the Bible where the Lord tells His people to not be afraid, but to have faith in His Word to them (us). We must hold fast to the integrity of God's Word that He is faithful to protect and preserve us in every situation of life we face. 

In recent weeks, in fact for the past four or five weeks, in particular, I have faced an onslaught of the enemy's attacks, physically manifesting in symptoms of illness, but also in respect to a barrage of fear and anxiety, which, I am somewhat ashamed to admit, I have given into at times, adding almost certainly to the severity of the physical symptoms experienced. It was in that state of heightened fear and anxiety, that the Lord led me to find online some prophetic words by Lana Vawser, a Brisbane-based prophetic woman of God, who last week published on her own website and also on the US-based Elijah List, a word speaking into my situation. She posted the word last Tuesday, 16th August under the following heading: FEAR IS SCREAMING, BUT THE LORD IS DECLARING YOU HAVE MET THE DIVINE FRONTIER! THE NEXT 21 DAYS WILL SEE MANY OF GOD'S PEOPLE BEGINNING TO SEE HEAVENLY GLIMPSES INTO THIS NEW LAND!
I truly believe this, and following words published on her website last week have spoken into our present circumstances in a way that have enabled us to see what has been happening in perspective. God is in control. By trusting the Lord, and through worshipping Him, we will see total victory over fear, and come into a new place of fulfillment in God's purposes for us. That is His desire for you too. If you, as a Christian, have also been under unusual spiritual attack lately, and are in a state of confusion, let me encourage you to read and consider the prophetic words from Lana Vawser over the past week. May you be encouraged to contend for all that the Lord has purposed to accomplish in and through you, as you fully trust Him! Lana Vawser's website is: lanavawser.com
When Jesus walked on the water, he called to Peter to step out of the boat on a word: "Come!" Peter, by faith, stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and began to sink. He cried out to Jesus to save him. Jesus reached out his hand and lifted him up with the words, "You of little faith. Why did you doubt?"
Christians are in a raging battle, with Satan, the enemy of our souls, looking for any opportunity to take us out - to make us ineffective in our pursuit of holiness, and to hinder us from taking ground for the Kingdom of God. We are to put on the full armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6, which includes taking the shield of faith, by which we can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. We are to come into agreement with the Word of God for our lives, and not ever to come into agreement with the enemy's lies. We can be free from tormenting fear, as we fully commit to trusting Jesus, and allowing His Word to renew our minds and to set us free!

An Added Anecdote from Tessa

UK 1955. The Slippery Dip

Children ranged the length of steps reaching to the towering slide.

Many looking from the top turned back from the edge - fear of the slide greater than the risk of derision.

At only seven years, I did not even feel the need to even try.

Fear is real. It helps prevent recklessness.

Courage can overcome needless fear.

But perfect love conquers all.

LIFTING MY VOICE: WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?Who is on the Lord's s...

LIFTING MY VOICE:
WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?
Who is on the Lord's s...: WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE? W ho is on the Lord's side? Who will serve the King? Who will be His helpers? Other lives to...

WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?

Who is on the Lord's side?

Who will serve the King?

Who will be His helpers?

Other lives to bring?

Who will leave the world's side?

Who will face the foe?

Who is on the Lord's side?

Who for Him will go?

By Thy grand redemption, 
By Thy grace divine, 
We are on the Lord's side;
Saviour, we are thine.

Fierce may be the conflict,
Strong may be the foe, 
But the King's own army,
None can overthrow.
Round His standard ranging
Victory is secure,
For His truth unchanging
Makes the triumph sure.

Chosen to be soldiers
In an alien land:
Chosen, called, and faithful,
For our Captain's band;
In the service royal,
Let us not grow cold,
Let us be right loyal,
noble, true and bold.

The above represents verses 1, 4 and 5, together with the chorus from the rousing old hymn, "Who Is On The Lord's Side", written by English Christian poet and hymn writer, Frances R. Havergal. She wrote this hymn somewhere around 1877.

The words of the hymn remind us of the fact that all Christians are enlisted in an army, soldiers of the Cross, and as such, should be giving full allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Bible says is "the Captain of our salvation." Hebrews 2:10; Joshua 5:13-15
Rick Joyner, the Founder and Executive Director of MorningStar Ministries, a multi-faceted mission organization based in Fort Mill, South Carolina, has stated in several of his more than fifty books that "the end time body of Christ would become an army. God uses the title "Lord of Hosts" or "Lord of Armies" more than ten times more than all his other titles combined. He is a martial God. We must understand this aspect of His nature and how His people are going to conform to it. To do this, we must understand the many ways in which human martial demeanor is not the same as God's martial demeanor. As we read in Isaiah 55:8,9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts," says the Lord. (NKJV)

In the Old Testament times, the people of Israel, God's chosen people, fought many physical wars. The Book of Joshua is a book outlining their conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land, although at the close of the book, the land had not been completely conquered. There were great victories, when the people were obedient to the Lord and took direction from their Commander, Joshua - as in the defeat of Jericho through a strategy which had to be from God. Who would have thought marching round the city once every day for six days in silence, then marching round seven times the seventh day, after which the priests would blow their trumpets (shofars) and the people would raise a shout - would result in the wall of the city being levelled, enabling it to be conquered? That is exactly what happened, though! Amazing! God's ways are indeed higher than our ways.
The Lord God had indeed promised His servant, Joshua, in Joshua 1:3 "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses."
Sadly, Israel suffered defeats though, just as spectacular as the victories, when they walked in disobedience to the Lord, or sought direction from sources which were not Godly.
The title of this blog post "Who Is On The Lord's Side", is originally a question posited by Moses, who preceded Joshua as the God-appointed leader of the children of Israel.
Moses had been on mount Sinai in the presence of the Lord, where he received the Ten Commandments, supernaturally engraved on two stone tablets - as well as instructions on building of the Tabernacle, a movable structure, where the priests would offer sacrifices, and also where the ark of the Lord would dwell in the Most Holy Place, a compartment in the tabernacle where only the high priest could enter - and that only once a year "not without blood, which he offered for himself and  for the people's sins committed in ignorance;
the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.
It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience - 
But Christ came as  High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:7-14 NKJV
Moses came down from the mountain, with the Ten Commandments to find the children of Israel paying homage to a golden calf fashioned from items of gold provided by the people - under the direction of Aaron, the brother of Moses, worshipping and making sacrifices to this molded image - therein breaking the first and second of the ten commandments Exodus 20:1-6.
Moses, jealous for the honour of the Lord God, burned the golden calf in the fire, ground it into powder and scattered it over the water. After rebuking his brother Aaron for allowing this idol worship to occur, Moses lifted his voice in the camp and asked loudly: "Who is on the Lord's side - come to me! And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him." Exodus 34:26 NKJV

Just as Moses was looking for a committed response from the children of Israel to that pivotal question: "Who is on the Lord's side? " - God's people today, those who name themselves as Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, are being challenged in the days in which we live to rise up and boldly proclaim that Jesus is Lord, that He is "the Captain of their salvation". 

The Army of God that Jesus instigated does not fight with man-made weapons, as the apostle Paul states in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. NKJV
In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul emphasizes again the reality that true followers of Christ are engaged in daily combat with a real, though not physically visible enemy, the devil or Satan. 
We are to
- "be strong in the Lord, and the power of His Might." vs.10
- "Put on the full armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" vs.11
- "...take up the whole armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day,and having done all, to stand." vs.13
The passage in Ephesians then lists a number of items related to the armour of a soldier in Biblical times, necessary for protection and equipping for service. Each of these has spiritual applications in the life of the Christian believer. Paul then exhorts his readers, in verses 17, 18 "to take.........the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God;
praying always with all prayer and supplication [praying in earnest] in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints -"
In the last chapter of the book of Joshua in the Old Testament, Joshua recaps to the children of Israel, God's faithfulness in leading His people from the time He called Abraham to follow Him, the deliverance from Egypt under the leadership of Moses, and God's faithfulness as they crossed the Jordan River into the land of Caanan, where they now dwelt, having in large part, subdued their enemies - under Joshua's leadership - Joshua presents a clear challenge and a choice: "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth,and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Bible-believing Christians who take their stand firmly on the Word of God increasingly are finding themselves being marginalised and ridiculed by a society hell-bent on destroying any remaining vestiges of the Judaeo-Christian foundations on which Western nations were founded. In the Middle East, persecution against Christians is at an all time high, with many thousands being martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
Just as Moses shouted out that question to the children of Israel: "Who is on the Lord's side - come to me!" and only those of the tribe of Levi gathered themselves to him, God is calling today to you and to me, who call ourselves Christians - to answer the call to follow Him, whatever the cost.
Let us fulfill the words of Paul the apostle in Philippians 2: ....continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Verses 12b-16a NIV.

ORANGES AND SUNSHINE

At that time the disciples came to Jesus,saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,

and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Woe to the world because of offences! For offences must come, but woe to that man by whom the offence comes." Matthew 18:1-7

Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but His disciples rebuked them.

But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:13-15

My wife, Tessa and I have just recently borrowed and viewed from the local public library a DVD of the 2011 film, "Oranges and Sunshine".

In 1987, a British social worker and author named Margaret Humphreys, from Nottingham, investigated and brought to public attention the British government programme of Home Children.This involved forcibly relocating poor British children to various British Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the former Rhodesia in southern Africa. This was often done without the parents' knowledge - children were often told their parents had died (which in the majority of instances was not so) and parents were told their children had been placed for adoption in other parts of the UK.
According to Margaret Humphreys, up to 150,000 children are believed to have been resettled under the scheme, some as young as three. Somewhere around 7,000 were sent to Australia.
Money saving was one of the motives behind this policy. It was allegedly cheaper to care for these children overseas than in Britain. Whereas it cost around five pounds per day to keep a child on welfare in a British institution, it cost only 10% of that, ten shillings, in an Australian one. 

The Child Migrants Trust was formed, initially financed by the Nottinghamshire County Council, Margaret Humphreys' employer, and later by the British and Australian governments. The main aims of the Trust are to enable former British child migrants to regain their identity, and where possible, to reunite them with their parents and relatives.
Margaret Humphreys published a book in 1994, "Empty Cradles". The book was dramatized in the 2011 film "Oranges and Sunshine", the title alluding to the promise given to the children going to Australia from Britain, that there would be oranges and sunshine awaiting them.
In reality, many of the children were to face terrible conditions of physical, emotional and sexual abuse by those who were supposed to have been providing a safe and nurturing environment for them in their formative years.

Some of the worst treatment of these children occurred in the Fairbridge Farm Schools in country New South Wales and in Western Australia, and perhaps the most notorious place for physical and sexual abuse of children in their care, was at the Bindoon Boys Town in Western Australia. Bindoon was run by the Catholic Church's "Christian Brothers", where, according to a former resident, John Hennessy, who arrived there from England as a boy, the children were subjected to hard labour, or slave labour as he called it - set to work building the series of grand buildings that Bindoon became.
Another of the victims was a man named Harold Haig, who started looking for his mother when he was 18. "She was the only woman I ever wanted to meet", he says. "She was the only one who could fill the void". Sadly, he started his search too late. Both his parents had died by the time he found details about them. But his father had still been alive when he went looking in England in 1974. Some of his story as an adult searching for his identity was portrayed in the film "Sunshine and Oranges" by Australian actor, Hugo Weaving, as Jack. David Wenham, also acclaimed Australian actor, played the part of Len, another former Bindoon boy, whose story was based on a real former victim of physical, sexual and emotional abuse by the "Christian Brothers". Emily Watson played the part of Margaret Humphreys in the film. According to Harold Haig, who met and talked with Emily Watson, she did an excellent job in her role. "I could have been watching Margaret", he said.
As an aside, it is a terrible indictment on the history of the church in Australia that members of Catholic clergy, or institution staff, such as the "Christian Brothers". were responsible for much physical and sexual abuse of children throughout the twentieth century. Over the last three years, the revelations   brought to light by the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse beg the question as to why the current Pope or, indeed, one of the previous popes in the 20th Century did not abolish the requirement for Catholic clergy and Brothers to remain celibate. I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians, chapter 7 in the New Testament of the Bible. "I wish that all men were as myself [unmarried]. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I am. But if they cannot exercise self control, let them marry. For it is better to marry, than to burn with passion". That is not to say, that physical, emotional and sexual abuse did not and does not occur within Protestant churches or affiliated organizations. Sadly, it has, and does, sometimes by married men, and occasionally women - but it would seem that the Catholic Church stands out as the one where much abuse has been perpetrated against young and vulnerable children, scarring their psyches, if not their bodies - for life! The Apostle Peter, from whom the Roman Catholic Church claims apostolic succession in choosing their popes - was married. See Matthew 8:14,15.
After watching "Sunshine and Oranges", Tessa said to me: "No wonder so many people have been put off church - and why, to many, the church has no credibility."
The good news is that the Church of Jesus Christ is meant to be a place of healing, of hope, of restoration to wholeness - and to that end, millions of Christians throughout the world can testify to the goodness of God in their lives as they have been delivered from the deepest pits of despair, of hopelessness, of life and soul destroying addictions, of bitterness, of emptiness within - as they have been "born again" by the Spirit of God, as they have committed their lives into the hands of the Living God, who sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die a cruel death on a Roman cross, 2000 years ago, in our place, the sinless Son of God taking our sin upon Himself, that we might be redeemed by the shed blood of Christ, and restored to fellowship with our Heavenly Father, the Creator God, and to live lives of fulfillment in serving Him.
Through the tireless work of people like Margaret and Mervyn Humphreys and the Child Migrants Trust, former child migrants from Britain, now as adults, have been reunited with parents and relatives. Sadly, this has not been possible in many cases. The story of one child who spent ten years in the "care" of one of the Fairbridge Farm Schools in New South Wales, Len Magee is retold in his book, first published in 1980, and called "Coming Home". After leaving Fairbridge at age 17, Len traversed a tortuous path in life for four years in Australia, in various jobs, succumbing to drugs and alcohol abuse. In the process, one night when he was stoned, he started to read a Bible. As he read through chapter after chapter of the first book, Genesis, the Holy Spirit got his attention, and after reading the acccount of brothers, Jacob and Esau - and the anguish expressed to God by Esau when he realized he had lost his birthright, Len Magee, also in his lostness cried out to God, asking Jesus to help him. He returned to Britain at the age of 21, where his mother initially rejected him again. After a short period of time, however, she too accepted Christ into her life and became a born again Christian. Len went on to attend Bible College, he recorded nine country/ folk gospel albums and became a church pastor. In 1977, he married his wife, Heather. They relocated to Australia in 1981, where they have been involved in full time pastoral ministry in several churches in New South Wales and on Queensland's Gold Coast. Their ministry has borne much fruit for the Kingdom of God, as they have seen shattered lives healed and restored by the power of the Living God. At the same time, they have had to face and overcome various trials and obstacles along the way. For Len and Heather Magee, their lives as Christians - as Len and the other boys and girls who were child migrants in the Fairbridge and Bundoon Schemes,found, - life is not always "Oranges and Sunshine".

If you have read this blog, and would like to know more about the Christian life, and how you personally can commit your life to Christ, may I suggest you log onto the vision.org.au website - Click on the "Grow your faith" tab, then "looking for God". God Bless!