embracing a vision of courageous faith ...... part 2 .....embrace a deep love for the poor!

We firstly need to embrace a deep love for the poor: Not a superficial love! Not a love that is mere words! A love of action, of movement and of continuance! We need to demonstrate a love that echoes and follows the example of Jesus.

Biblical history, and especially the gospel accounts, shows God is on the side of the poor! The underdog! The oppressed! Jesus spoke, lived and displayed immense compassion for the downtrodden, those suffering, the possessed, for sinners and the sick! In fact, his kingdom elevates them above the rich and the righteous! His kingdom reverses social trends, it opposes the kingdom of this world and embraces people, families and nations that “have not”! Again, I need to remind us of the words of Isaiah, which Jesus related to being the essence of His kingdom:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

The kingdom of heaven will be occupied by the poor, people filled with sorrow, the meek and the persecuted; by the alienated, the possessed and the sick; by tax gatherers, prostitutes and sinners!
Meditate on these revolutionary comments: “the first shall be last, and the last shall be first”; “blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”; “unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”; “as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me!”; “I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people”; “many who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in the future. And many who have the lowest place now will have the highest place in the future!”

The question instilled throughout history remains to this day: Who are regarded as poor?
Let’s face it, tax gatherers were financially richer than most Pharisees, they exploited people and took more than they should, yet, they were categorized as poor. Another scenario and it is a remarkable story; because a poor captured Jewish servant girl made a suggestion, the powerful and mighty Aramaic army captain Naaman went to see the prophet Elisha, but, he had to become “poor in spirit” to be healed from his leprosy. Naaman had to submit to Elisha’s wishes and was inflamed that Elisha sent a mere messenger to meet him – he thought he deserved better treatment. Ironically it was through listening to his servants and obeying the prophet’s instructions that Naaman’s “flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean!” Read the story in 2 Kings 5 and we’ll find that God used poor people and unusual circumstances to make this powerful man and enemy of Israel realize he was just another poor creature!

The poor, therefore, does not just refer to those living without money, and ironically enough, sometimes a poor person can display terrible pharisaical arrogance; thinking they are superior, they strut their stuff and snob those experiencing similar poverty. Unfortunately I have seen this at Cornerstone with words like “I am not like these people!” “I don’t drink or do drugs like them!” “I’m not lazy like those people; I’m all about finding a job!” Sadly time and experience reveals their true colors, their false pretenses and what is done in the darkness is revealed in the light. It is hard for a financially poor person to keep their mask on, and usually, they are quickly humbled by their circumstances!

Biblical evidence regards the poor as individuals, families and nations who are normally financially poverty stricken; are social outcasts, like tax collectors, prostitutes and lepers; have physical, mental or spiritual disabilities; sinners knowing they need forgiveness; and people who humbly realize that God is God and we are dust and in prayer will cry out to the Lord like the publican, “have mercy on me, a sinner!”

We need to ask ourselves questions:
Who are the poor in Chicago?
Who are the poor in Auckland?
Who are the poor in the world today?

Look around and observe. Ask the Lord to reveal this to you!

We can quickly ascertain some obvious conclusions: Third world countries, nations torn apart from war, homeless people, nursing home residents, beggars, incarcerated men and women, street kids and prostitutes are poor. But, what about our gang bangers, our depressed and unstable youth of middle class parents, drug dealers and addicts, alcoholic parents, single parent families, a confused teenage mother going to an abortion clinic, a bored grandmother addicted to gambling, a man who seems to have it all but has isolated himself due to his narcissistic personality disorder, or how about your next door neighbor?

I could give so many more examples, but I feel the Lord calls us to assess each person at each moment and seize the day. “The poor will always be with us!” While some answers are obvious, many are not, and it is our responsibility to be sensitive to the Spirit and wrap our loving arms around the poor!

Embracing a deep love for the poor means following the example Jesus set. His incarnation exalted the poor and humbled the proud. It means engaging in a life of opposition, of persecution and of ridicule! It means embracing who Jesus embraced. It means viewing the poor as Jesus viewed the poor, and on the other side, it means viewing the rich as Jesus viewed the rich. This is what loving the poor truly means!

Jesus said the rich had already received their reward, this should cause us with assets to analyze ourselves, maybe even shudder. We, as kingdom dwellers, should be careful not to exalt the rich and famous. We should be careful not to create our own idol worship through the media, politics, sports, TV, movies, music and the like. Jesus did not exalt Herod, Caesar or the heroes of His day; in fact, He even seemed to ignore them. He did comment favorably about the centurion because he displayed remarkable faith and humility, yet the rich young ruler went away sad because he was unwilling to depart from his stuff. The Pharisees pursued Jesus and with verbal eloquence He hushed these hypocrites! The harsh words of Matthew 23 are a brutal verbal assault of first century scribes, Pharisees and religious hypocrites! Yet, we must remember, these confrontations were an act of love, for Jesus knew that the rich must become poor to enter the gates of Life!

Jesus embraced a deep love for the poor by seeing them as lost sheep, as sheep without a shepherd.
Look in people’s eyes and what do you see? Do you see the vacant stares? An alienated people searching for freedom! Today, people are unsure of their future, their purpose and destinations, I see a people drifting through life searching for an ounce of meaning; they are lost sheep!

Jesus also loved to love suffering people! He put His reputation in danger; it took Him to the cross, by mercifully healing masses on the Sabbath. He embraced setting these captives free over any ritualistic uncompassionate obedience. As more blind eyes were being opened and lame people began to walk, hatred for Jesus rose, but His compassion did not die. He embraced the suffering and did not let go.

Jesus also embraced those controlled by demonic powers; he set them free and released them from terrible bondage! Sadly today, western culture has created an addictive personality: People are addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography, movies, sports, gambling, food, the internet, dieting, video games, church, shopping and a host of other things. Because of the Cross, the Spirit is powerful enough to free us from all bondage. We must understand that Jesus wants to set us free, and it makes Him weep to see millions of people today controlled by demonic forces or some controlling addiction.
This is a prayerful decision; a decision we all need to embrace. It is a decision that is determined to deeply love the poor; the millions of lost sheep, the millions of suffering people and the addicted millions. But, in turn, we must decide to also pressure the rich to realize they also need to be poor in spirit to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of God! The numbers are staggering, but, we are responsible for the individual standing in our presence, in the moment and the unfolding crisis before us. We need to decide to seize the day by deeply loving the poor!

embracing a vision of courageous faith

My hope and endeavour here is to spur myself on toward "love and good deeds": to rekindle the vision and calling God has given me.

I am writing this as I would a sermon - keeping in mind the two places I know best: West Auckland and Chicago.

I write this hopefully and prayerfully as an encouragement to those who read these words: they are just my prayers, ramblings, opinions and thoughts about straining to to become and live in a way worthy of my calling.

It will probably be put onto the blog in 6 sections; as I have time and as it flows! We'll see what happens:

Embracing A Vision of Courageous Faith:

What embraces us when we think about the problems in Chicago, in Auckland and the world?
We just need to observe and look and we will see the devastating effects of poverty:
Gang warfare and initiation, domestic violence, bug eyed crack and meth(P)-heads, junkies, alcoholism, street kids, homelessness, evictions, precariously housed people, imprisonment, hospitalizations, prostitution, street corner faa’fafines, psychotic disorders and gut wrenching hunger are just a sample of the realities that devastate poverty stricken families and neighborhoods.

· Do we ignore this fact?
· Do we pray in the privacy of our houses, requesting the Lord’s mercy?
· Do we cower in fear, lacking courage, as we contemplate it’s very real, present and scary dangers?
· Do we grasp for a revolution, yet it turns into a fleeting dream as we realize that such a movement means effort, pain and hardship?
· Do we, like Moses, express our weakness; and as a result, instead of embracing God’s power, we shrink away from rugged responsibility wanting others to lead and to do the work?
· Do we feel guilty for our lack of action, yet fail to do what we know we should do?
· Do we give, volunteer and seek to do what we can, when we can and how we can?
· Do we blame the government, the pastors, the elders and other people for not embracing the mission of liberating and helping the poor, and thus, ignoring our own responsibility?
· Maybe we just blame the poor for being poor, and thus think, let them live to their own demise.
· Do we seek to follow the Lord’s example, but struggle to find like-minded believers to embrace the narrow path together – thus having the same vision, quest and passion?
I know I have grasped at and lived most of these ways.

YET, sadly: The reality remains, poverty exists and it exists with devastating and fatal results, and we, as followers of Jesus, are called to set life’s captives free and proclaim the good news. This message is NOT meant to be a rebuke, but an encouragement, a spur on, a gentle nudge to embrace the poor: The poor in our neighborhoods, our cities, in our lives; the poor who Jesus embraced with the words He quoted from Isaiah;
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

My quest in this message is to discover how a weak fragile individual, like me, can live a life embracing a vision of courageous faith. In this endeavor, I am going to encourage us all to embrace 4 things. The reason I love and use the word embrace is that it suggests a lot more than just grasping; to me it suggests seeking, finding, waiting, grabbing and a long hug – like the loving Father of the prodigal son. Taking something and making it my own! Not letting go! Persevering!

REST, SILENCE and SABBATH

I am discovering how difficult it can be to truly REST. The nature of this society, combined with the busyness of my work, the constant needs of the folk I work with and the endless sea of suffering that floods my cell phone and my wanderings. (i received two phone calls last night: 10.30pm and 4.39am). REST is a sacred commodity! Establishing the Sabbath for our family is a MUST!



This a ramble to Discover, as I seek the Lord's purpose and as I pray over this NEED! This is a Prayer! This is me seeking an Island of relief, renewal, reflection and relaxation amongst the waves of the endless sea! 24 hours of living in the grace, hope and love of the LORD.

The quest is to be FREE in this pursuit. As I have already mentioned, I cannot be governed by the laws of legalism.

The Lord has gifted me, throughout the years, with three significant reminders that keep me focused on HIM amongst life's turmoil, self-imposed demands and busy schedules: 14 years ago at BCNZ the explanation of the verse: "Be Still and Know that I am God" and I recently read a little book by NT Wright about the Lord's Prayer and some recent studying of the Book of Revelation.

It's all about letting God be God, and me being me. About knowing, I cannot change people, and sometimes my best efforts are another person's grief, and my mistakes and weaknesses can result in another person's growth and sanctification! Pride is an ugly monster. "The Politics of God and The Politics of Man" by Jacques Ellul explains this mystery.

My first Sabbath quest is to pursue the Gift of Silence. A healthy rhythm of life involves the art of resting and ceasing. We need times of being Still! To Pray! To Reflect! But why? So that we can be renewed.

God must be with us in the Silence - otherwise it is a pointless exercise. It is a time to be embraced by the God who welcomes us. It is a time to shut off the human voices (first and foremost my own) and being able hear from the God who comforts.

The protestant work ethic captures and alienates many of us, yet values all work as sacred, but the Bible also vigorously promotes rest and celebration with work, to define the rhythm of life. Ellul points out that "the sabbath is a gift of God to remind us that we are not constantly under the burden of ....... toil."

As I endeavour to fight the powers of self promotion and self worth through my own doing, the Power of Lord is seen through His REST and His SABBATH and thus realizing that He is in control and I dwell in His Kingdom.

Essential Sabbath time

Living in a world full of chaotic mayhem, where rest is virtually impossible to find, I am being challenged to re-think, pursue and embrace a weekly Sabbath ritual. A ritual based on the freeing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, while trying to dispose of any Pharisaical legalism that can easily penetrate such a vital habit. This is based off the understanding that God's Sabbath Command was established in Creation, was mercifully commanded for the sake of His created beings - that my family and I would not be overwhelmed by the pressures of this world and, essentially, live my life knowing God is in control - NOT ME! I am basing my reading off Marva dawn's book: Keeping the Sabbath Wholly; Resting, Ceasing, Embracing and Feasting! My plan is to continue to study it and live it .....

Living the Impossible Dream

I got this devotional book from Beth for Christmas - I love it.
It is called "Resist the Powers with Jacques Ellul" by Charles Ringma

Here's the last 2 days thoughts: they challange me and make me think and pray and strive to live for His Kingdom and no other kingdom .......

To view and analyze my thoughts, dreams and ways continually in the light of His kingdom .......

February 9:
Living the Impossible Dream:
There is nothing finally achievable about living the Christian life. It is always beyond us, yet it is our present possession.
Jacques Ellul is adamant that "what the New Testament really means by being a Christian is the very opposite of what is natural to us." He could not be more correct. The Christian life is the attempt to live the impossible dream. This is not to suggest that we don't have a firm relationship with Christ through faith. Nor does it suggest that we cannot be sure about the life to come as we continue to live in Christ by the Spirit.
What it does mean is that living the lifestyle of the kingdom of God will cut across all our normal values. For in God's kingdom, the least are favoured; the great are to become servants; those who have all are impoverished; those who are the social outcasts are welcomed home; the blind are made to see; and those in bondage experience release. This is a new order of which we naturally know little. But Christ invites us to enter this new world, promising to train us and to remain with us as our encourager and supporter.
Action:
Love and practice servanthood. In that action , many of the ethical dilemmas as to how we should live and respond to others are disolved.

February 10:
Empty Hands:
Prayer is not the art of exchange where I give to God what I think He wants in order to get what I think I need.
Prayer is not the art of exchange. Nor is prayer the art of bargaining. Rather, prayer is art of vulnerability. It is the recognition of our creatureliness and the acknowledgment of God's greatness, love, and mercy. It is the confession of our powerlessness and our need of God's intervention and potection. It is the acknowledgment of our waywardness and wrongdoing, and seeks God's grace, forgiveness, and empowerment.
These are never exchanges. We don't hand to God our sin and He automatically hands to us forgiveness. For God's grace is out of proportion to what we give to Him. God's forgiveness is always a miracle. It is a free and undeserved gift. Prayer as the art of vulnerability, therefore, recognizes that we come to God empty-handed.
Ellul emphasizes this and adds a timely warning. He writes: "We seek to fill our hands with things which we bring in order to hide the fact that we are not bringing our lives and ourselves."
Reflection:
Our nature is always to prefer bargaining to vulnerability. God's grace, however, seeks to make us more vulnerable!

The Power "gods" of Politics and Mammon!

I have read a bit, lately, about Mammon, Technology and Politics in relation to God's Kingdom and how these powers set themselves in opposition to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I pray and hope through these studies, I can live my life free from the slavery and bondage these powers impose upon the children of God.

Holy Spiirt, guide my readings, my studies, my thoughts and my meditations........

Authority - a developing thought part 2

Upon reflection of my previous thought - I would add that authority / power etc., in God's kingdom is so substantially different from any human establishment of power or authority.



It is a Christian's responsibility to denounce power and render them void - except God's power. That power can come from so many avenues, whether human, technological or systematic. By operating this way, we can feel perfectly fine in submitting to these authorities, as they have no power over us. We can exist in whatever situation in freedom, as Christ is our only authority. It is difficult to verbalize, as there seems to be contradictions - but living the life Christ wants us to live - means contradictions and challenging the ways, institutions, systems and people that oppose the Kingdom of God.

THUS: we may submit to them, BUT they have no power over us!!!!!!

As a side note: I know that these powers, authorities, principilities and even ourselves can control us. But the blood of Christ has given us freedom from the bondage that these things do to us - and we must live in that freedom!!!!!!

Authority - a developing thought

What does the Kingdom of God say, instruct and teach us about Authority?

Obviously: God is King.
Obviously: We must obey Jesus.
Obviously: The Holy Spirit was given to us to guide, teach and exhort us.
God reigns in us, through: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit!

All this is obvious! All authority and power belongs to Them!!!

Yet, we are all faced with some form of human authority. Unjust leaders, dictators, oppressors, teachers, the police, parents, bosses and so forth. There is no escaping it. Even good and Godly leaders make terrible mistakes and fall into iniquity. King David is the prime example!

The question then arises: how do we balance what Romans 13 (or 1 Peter 2 & 3) says with life and ministry of Jesus (and the apostles in Acts)?
I recently read the 1 Peter passage and have frequently pondered Romans 13. I have been angered by hearing many Christians quote these passages as a form of guilt tripping and manipulation. It angers me more when Christians use it to entice the young to military service. Yet, history proves, the early church did not readily participate in military service - in fact, they opposed it!
Jesus, on the other hand, challenged authority: He refused to answer the "powers that be". He overturned the tables in the temple. He scolded the religious leaders in Matthew 23. He rendered to Caesar what was Caesar's and God what was God's, and then paid his tax from the mouth of a fish! He refused to render any significance to such a worldly deed. The fish, in fact, served to glorify the Kingdom of God and challenged the importance of the kingdoms of this world. He paid His tax! He submitted! He went about His business and He, thus, made it extremely clear that the Father was His authority, and nothing was going to stop him from being obedient to that calling!

Through this brief and rather fragmented monologue, on a topic that would and could amount to numerous words, I will try to clarify and summarize my thoughts:
Jesus lived a life of obedience to God the Father. He had His eyes set on Him. When authorities came, he submitted, yet did not necessarily obey. He did not start a violent revolution, yet he had the power to do just that. He operated in weakness, meekness and in submission. His revolution operated by creating a humble, peaceful and loving Kingdom. A Kingdom which has the power to exist amongst other kingdoms and render them as nothing. Freedom and love, through faith and the Kingdom of God, can and will exist in the harshest of regimes, the worst prisons and the bondage of a technological society.
I believe Romans 13 and 1 Peter teach us this: Submit (but not necessarily obey) to your authorities as this is the Will of God, render void their power, as all power belongs to God and the authority's power comes only by and through God. May persecution or punishment be through obedience to God, not through the rowdy and disruptive disobedience to the "powers that be".

Jesus hung on the cross because he chose the way of the Kingdom of God and opposed the kingdoms of this world. He suffered and died, yet he did not sin! He was able to submit to the "powers" because He knows the Power of God's Kingdom! He now sits in Heaven! May I also render void the powers that be - and be obedient to the One true Power!

PURPOSE!

I feel the purpose of this blog is to be a personal reflection!

Through reading the Bible and books, thru discussion, the observation, thru study and thru(much needed yet often lacking) prayer:

I intend to use this blog to REFLECT!

What is Jesus saying to me, What am I reading and How do I put these Kingom principles into action and live as Jesus lived!

I intend to use this blog as PRAYER!

I struggle to "BE STILL", as silence does not always serve as my friend. I want to DO or I waste too much time, rather than comtemplate, listen and hear the words of the LORD.

Finally, I want Jesus to use this blog in my life:

to take me from Faith to Faith (Romans 1.17)

to draw me closer to Him

To love Him more

To love my neighbour

To love my enemies

To pray without ceasing

To denounce and reject all power that challanges Christ's Throne and His Kingdom (whether in me or in my surroundings), BY:

Living the ethics of Biblical Freedom

Accepting and rejoicing in my weaknesses

Doing Kingdom work in His power - Not mine!

.......................................................................................................................................