Tuesday, 28 November 2017
LIFTING MY VOICE: WHAT IS TRUTH?A simple definition of Truth is: tha...
LIFTING MY VOICE: WHAT IS TRUTH?A simple definition of Truth is: tha...: WHAT IS TRUTH? A simple definition of Truth is: that which conforms to reality, fact or actuality. It could be stated that there are a...
Monday, 16 October 2017
LIFTING MY VOICE: JESUS.........I AM!In the beginning, God created t...
LIFTING MY VOICE: JESUS.........I AM!In the beginning, God created t...: JESUS.........I AM! In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 Thus we have the beginning of the first book of ...
JESUS.........I AM!
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1Thus we have the beginning of the first book of the Bible, which is the book of Firsts, the book of beginnings, introducing us to the Creator of the universe, Almighty God.
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. John 1:1-5
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. vs 5 NLT
At the commencement of John's Gospel, we are again introduced to our Creator God. However, in this chapter, as we read on, it is apparent that the writer is speaking about the eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians believe that the Bible makes very clear that there is one God; however, this one God exists as, what is known as the Trinity - God in three persons, God the Father, God the Son - Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. They are all different aspects of the one true God.
Of the four gospels in the Bible - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, it is believed by most scholars that the Gospel of Mark was the first to be written, and the Gospel of John was the last. Matthew, Mark and Luke's gospels are referred to as synoptic gospels because they include many of the same stories and parables, often in a similar sequence and in similar wording. They stand in contrast to John's Gospel whose content is comparatively distinct.
One of the major tenets of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ is one with the Father, as He Himself said while on earth.
I have over the past couple of weeks been reading a wonderful book by Nabeel Qureshi, a young man who was brought up in a Muslim family by parents who loved him dearly, but who also were diligent to train him up in their Muslim traditions and to have a solid foundational knowledge of the Quran and the Hadith and other Islamic books. As a young man growing up, he and his sister were taught to memorize Islamic scripture, and to revere the prophet, Muhammed as the perfect example of a true Muslim.
Nabeel became good friends with David Wood, while they were studying together in college. David, a strong committed believer in Jesus Christ - a dynamic Christian, challenged Nabeel's Islamic beliefs, and through a time of serious questioning and honest searching, Nabeel eventually came to see the reality of Islam's serious flaws, and discovered that the picture perfect portrait of Muhammed crumbled also under careful and honest scrutiny. At the same time, his study and dialogue with scholarly Christians led him to embrace the God of the Bible, as he came to know the Jesus of the Bible - not just a prophet, a mere man like Muhammed, but in reality the second person of the triune God, the God-man who came to earth to live as a man, and die a cruel death on a Roman cross, a subsitutionary death for all sinners, that the wrath of God against sin might be appeased, and the way be made for sinful man to be reconciled to a loving Creator God, and Heavenly Father.
In his autobiographical book about his journey of faith, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus", Nabeel Qureshi, in chapter 30 (all chapters are quite short), headed "The Divine Son Of Man", quotes from Josh McDowell, a seasoned apologist for the Christian faith, who has authored many popular books, including "Evidence That Demands a Verdict", and "More Evidence That Demands A Verdict".
Actually Nabeel opened up a copy of "New Evidence That Demands a Verdict" and made some astonishing discoveries about Jesus in his quest to know if Jesus was and is deity and who Christians claim Him to be.
Quoting from Nabeel's book, page 182:
If Jesus truly claimed to be God, we would expect His claim to be found in the earliest gospel, not just the last one. I needed to see Jesus' claim to deity found in the gospel of Mark. Without hesitation, I opened straight to the chapter on Jesus' deity and got started.
As if McDowell had read my mind, the very first evidence that he offered was "Jesus' own legal testimony concerning Himself" in Mark's gospel. When the high priest asked if He was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus testified to the Sanhedrin: "I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
The priests of the Sanhedrin thought that He made a statement about His identity that they considered blasphemous, warranting execution. There was only one identity claim that deserved such a harsh penalty: claiming to be God.
McDowell quoted a New Testament scholar, Craig Blomberg, who explained, "This reply [by Jesus] combines allusions to Psalm 110:1 and Daniel 7:13.
In this context, 'Son of man' means far more than simply a human being.
Daniel 7:13,14 prophetically speaks of the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ - some six hundred years BC. "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence.
He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed." NIV
In chapter 8 of John's gospel, in disputing with some Jewish leaders His divine credentials, Jesus stated that because they sought to destroy Him, they were of their father, the devil, who was a murderer from the beginning and there was no truth in him. in contrast, Jesus stated that He honoured His father, and kept His word - the word of truth. The Jews told Jesus they were children of Abraham by descent, to which Jesus replied: "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham." Further on in the discussion, the Jewish leaders challenged Jesus authority again, saying: "Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.
Yet, you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word.
Your father rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, "before Abraham was, I AM." John 8:53-58.
Jesus again, as in the gospel of Mark, in stating of Himself: "I AM!" was clearly attesting to both His divinity and that He was eternal - His life had no beginning. The writer to Hebrews says of Him: Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
To bring this first part of this blog theme "JESUS.....I AM" to a close, let us look back to the third chapter of Exodus in the Old Testament. Moses was eighty years old, and he was tending his father-in-law Jethro's flock in Midian, when he came to mount Horeb. It says in Exodus 2:2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.
The Angel of the Lord said to Moses, in verse 5: "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."
Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look upon God. vs 6.
The Lord went on to tell Moses that He had seen the oppression the children of Israel had suffered the previous four hundred plus years as slaves in Egypt and had come down to deliver them into a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey. He was calling Moses as their deliverer.
When Moses asked the Lord what he should tell the people of Israel was the name of the God of their fathers who was commissioning him to lead them out of bondage and slavery in Egypt, the Lord told him: "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you." Exodus 3:14
Early in the chapter when the Bible says the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses from the midst of the burning bush, the fact that the word Angel is capitalized indicates that this was no ordinary angel. This was what is called a theophany or more particularly a Christophany, an appearance of the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ - long before the Incarnation, when He would be born as a baby in Bethlehem and grow into a man whom we know from the Bible as Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
That is why, in the gospel accounts when Jesus was asked about His divine credentials, He as able to rightly say: "I AM."
The Seven "I AMs" OF JESUS in the Gospel of John is the subject of my next blog post coming soon. God Bless!
For info on how to become a Christian, please go to www.vision.org.au Click on the 'Grow your faith' tab, then 'Looking for God' or livingwaters.com then the Resources tab, then 'Save yourself Some Pain'.
Friday, 12 May 2017
TIMES AND SEASONS
In the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament of the Bible, chapter 3 commences with eight verses which were set to music in the 1960's by American folk singer / songwriter, Pete Seeger, under the title "Turn, Turn, Turn" (to Everything There Is A Season). The song was recorded by a number of artists, including a huge hit version by The Byrds in 1965. The popular Australian group, The Seekers also recorded this song on their "Come The Day" album.The verses from the Bible read: To everything, there is a season
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
As King Solomon, who wrote these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote, each life is made up of different times and seasons. As we advance in years, we can reflect back over our lives, and, for many, identify distinct times and seasons - times of growth, times of stagnation; seasons of prosperity, seasons of lack; times of great joy, those of deep sorrow; seasons of good health, times of sickness, sometimes short-lived, for some over extended periods of time.There may be seasons of a focus on a particular job or career. Another season of life may see a paradigm shift in the direction of a career or job type.
Friendships and acquaintances may change dramatically, because of different seasons of geographical location. Family structures may, for some, change in unexpected ways because of marital breakdown or blending of families through, for example, the situation of divorce and remarriage.
At the beginning of creation, our Creator God established times and seasons for the earth on which we live. Genesis 1:14 Then God said: "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years."
In Genesis 8:22, as part of God's covenant with creation following the Great Flood which destroyed all living on the earth apart from Noah, his family and the animals safe in the ark - God makes this statement:
"While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease."
Although God dwells in eternity, His creation, of which we are a small, although in God's purposes for us, not an insignificant part, are always subject to time and the seasons which become blocks of time.
For the Christian, who has been reconciled to the Father God, through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross for his or her sins, there is a confidence in knowing that the times and seasons of life do not have to be random experiences. As King David, one of the most prolific writers of the Psalms in the Old Testament said, in Psalm 31:14,15 But, as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
And from those who persecute me. (emphasis mine)
It is interesting to note that, in the Christian church, surveys have shown that only a small percentage of respondents actually know what God has called them to do in life, and even less are fulfilling that calling. Christians, of all people, should have a sense of direction and purpose in living. The Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity, dwells within every born again believer in Jesus, as our Teacher and Guide, to lead us into all truth, but also to establish in our hearts and minds the raison d'etre, our reason to be. We are not meant to live random lives, with no vision or direction in life. As has been said: "If you aim for nothing, you are sure to hit it."
In both the secular world of men, and in the Church of Jesus Christ, those who are making a difference in their own lives, and in that of their families and society around them, have realized their need to harness the time they have been given and make every season count in the big picture of life. This has meant, for many, seasons of preparation, leading to those of fruitfulness in careers and ministry, times of consolidation, followed by further growth.
For the follower of Christ, the past seasons of life, although they may have been good, are not meant to define the present nor the future. As Proverbs 4:18 says: The path of the just is as the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
When we look in the Bible, there are many examples of individuals who were led through various times and seasons, through different circumstances of life in preparation for times of great fruitfulness in their own lives and in the lives of those they impacted with their ministries and other influence.
Study the lives of Moses, Joseph, King David, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for example in the Old Testament - and of Jesus Himself, some of His twelve apostles such as Peter, James and John, and the apostle Paul. The Bible does not gloss over the failures and shortcomings of its greatest heroes. However, those who failed miserably,at times in terms of their character, whom we remember as great pillars of the faith, were those who repented of their sins and failures, turning fully back to God and availing themselves of the grace He so willingly provides to us all - to rise to places of honour in the Kingdom of God.
Many of us can testify of having been through valleys of darkness and despair, through seasons of spiritual drought, and confusion when we have taken our eyes off of the Cross of Christ and the provision Jesus made for us to face every life challenge.
If you, reading this, currently feel your life is one of confusion, despair, and spiritual barrenness, may I encourage you to turn your eyes to Jesus, for times of refreshing, that He might fill you afresh with His Holy Spirit of grace, comfort, peace and joy, and lead you into the paths of righteousness in this next season of your life.
Jesus said in John 10:10 "The thief (Satan) comes to steal, kill and to destroy, but I have come that you might have life in abundance."
Paul said we are to "redeem the time, because the days are evil."
For the Christian, through every season of life, we can confidently say with the apostle Paul: We know that all things work together for good, to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
If you are reading this, and have not discovered new life in Christ, for further information, here are a couple of suggestions of websites for further consideration: www.livingwaters.com and www.vision.org.au Click on the
Grow you faith tab, then Looking for God.
God Bless.
Sunday, 18 December 2016
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!
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!
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
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."
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!
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 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!
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