Mark Conner's Space

God's Love - Even in the Shadows

God calls us to be a prophetic people who hear his voice, who feel what he is passionate about, and who see what he is doing in our world. Seeing sometimes occurs through a supernatural vision (like Elisha's servant having his eyes open to see into the spiritual realm) or simply through a mental picture in our mind. It can also occur by receiving "insight" (literally to "see into") into what we see with our natural eyes. Jesus often brought out amazing truths about God from the everyday aspects of life. His parables are a great example of this.

The other day I was looking over a valley near our house and this is what I saw. In fact, I took a quick picture of it on my phone.

As I stopped and reflected on what I was seeing, this is what I sensed God was saying to me ...

Across the landscape, there are some areas bathed in sunshine, while others are in the shadows. Some are experiencing light while others are in darkness. Some are feeling warmth while others feel the cold. Their experience is very real and even intense, yet they are right next to areas that are having a totally difference experience, just as real and possibly intense. 

What causes the shadows? The sun is still there and shining fully but clouds block that light and create the shadows. In many ways, clouds are like the circumstances of our lives (in all shapes and sizes) which come and go but, in doing so, they can make us feel like God's love or nearness constantly changes. It doesn't, but that is our experience. Feelings are so strong and powerful that they can drive our lives. 

Over time, we can grow by learning to base our lives on truth. The sun is always shining, as is God's love which is always being directed towards us. Even without external change to our circumstances, we can alter the internal landscape of our heart by our responses to what is happening externally. It's difficult, but we can choose to believe God's Word, whether it matches our circumstances or not. God is real and he is with us and he does love us.  

In a moment (an instant) things can change. The clouds can clear and the sun can shine brightly on us again. Suddenly, we feel God's love. For others, this change may occur gradually over a period of time, a bit like waking up very slowly from a long deep sleep. In this case, the transition from dark to light, from shadows to sunshine, and from cold to warmth is gradual and even subtle. A person one day realizes that things have changed, although they weren't aware of the change occurring at the time. 

Sometimes, extended seasons of cloudy skies can fill our lives. Everything is overcast and we feel dull and even down. Life is cold and somewhat drab. We can start to doubt that there even is a sun up there. However, we can learn things about God and ourselves during these times that we don't during other sunnier times. We learn to experience the full range of human emotion, which is a mirror of the full range of emotions God himself feels. 

The weather patterns of life are beyond our control. Our choice is to trust and to place our faith in God, leaning fully in to the season we are in, so that it enriches our lives in a deep way. 

My prayer for you today is that whether your life is sunshine or shadow that you will live in the truth that God does exist and that he does love you.  

Thinking about Spirituality

God created us as spirit beings, with a soul (mind, will and emotions), living in a physical body. Life should be lived 'inside out' yet so often we get caught up in the physical and/or emotional aspects of our world. It's time to go a little deeper - into our heart and our spirit. Our spirit is the part of us that can connect with and experience God. The writer of the book of Proverbs describes it as the candle of the Lord (Prov.20:27).

In our time, religion seems to be out of favour, while spirituality is in - all sorts of it. This is a reflection of the longing we all have for transcendence and for connection with something outside of and beyond ourselves. It's the God-shaped vacuum inside each one of us. We can try to fill that void with all sorts of things, but ultimately, only God himself can fill that desire and thirst we have inside of us.  

On my BLOG, I have written a variety of article related to spirituality, covering topics such as: prayer, connecting with God, ancient spiritual practices, dealing with spiritual dryness, stages of faith, handling doubt, and the love of God.

Click here to being reading and as you do, may you know a deeper and more meaningful connection with the God of this universe who has revealed himself to us as both Creator and Redeemer.

WORD and SPIRIT

A few thoughts from my prayer journal this morning ...

WORD and SPIRIT, Mark. These are your two legs for walking on. EVERY DAY, soak in My WORD and My SPIRIT. Allow them BOTH to saturate your soul - your mind, will, and emotions. In doing so, you will become STRONG in Spirit. Your inner world will develop a strength and resistance that will be much greater than the pressures increasing in your outer world. 

One without the other will cause you to be ineffective and will lead to imbalance, immobilizing your forward progress and movement. EXCEL in both aspects of your daily practices. Increase your uptake and download in BOTH the WORD and the SPIRIT. Double it ... and you'll know a tangible breakthrough in every aspect of your life. 

Life is lived INSIDE OUT. Pour IN to your heart, your spirit, your mind, and your inner world ... MUCH MORE of the WORD and MUCH MORE of the SPIRIT. You CANNOT survive without doing so, especially in the days and years to come. You cannot GIVE what you do not first RECEIVE. HEAR then SPEAK. SEE then ACT. Breathe IN ... then breathe OUT my Spirit and my life. 

NOW IS THE TIME! TODAY is the DAY of your VISITATION. DON'T MISS IT! 

JESUS is passing by. Reach out and touch the hem of his garment. Allow His virtue to flow into your life. Touch Him and let Him touch you. 

SYNC with heaven's server. Download messages from God. Send him your requests (he will read them and respond in his time and way). Converse with him. Ask for attachments and links to strategic places. Ask for his Word to be automatically 'pushed' into your heart and mind. Stay 'connected' at all times throughout the day.

I pray this will be an encouragement to you as it as to me.

 

Reflections on Jesus' Model Prayer

Jesus taught his disciples to pray using this simple but powerful model prayer:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need

And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

[If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.] (Matt.6:9-15).

We are to avoid vain or empty repetitious prayers like the pagans use.

We begin with confirming our relationship with God as his children and he as our Father. What an amazing things to be a child of God and to know his love, acceptance, approval, care, security and discipline when needed. May he be set apart of holy or sacred in our lives and in our world.

Pray for God's kingdom (characterised by justice, righteousness, peace and mercy) to come. Then seek to be the answer to this prayer by being an instrument of God's kingdom throughout your day.

Pray for God's will to be done on earth as in heaven - starting with every area of your own life. Think about what God desires and pray for it to come into reality. What could you do today to work for his will to occur in your sphere of influence?

Pray for your own daily needs and those of your family and friends. God cares and will supply the resources you need.

As a reflection of our own experience of forgiveness, forgive those who may have hurt or offended you. Use their offence as a means of showing them Christ's love. This is so vital that Jesus amplifies its importance by an extra comment at the end of the prayer.

We have a very real enemy and there will be tests and temptations. Pray for strength, discernment and wisdom to overcome. 

Some manuscripts add "For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." This doxology was most likely added later (probably based on 1 Chron. 29:11-13). We can finish with praise and worship to God, acknowledging Him as the world's true Lord and giving him our adoration.

Ever Felt Dry Spiritually?

Have you ever felt dry spiritually? Sometimes our faith can get a little old and our love relationship with Jesus is not what it once was. We're not in "first love" anymore. Stuff has happened. Things have changed. 

Sometimes, we get stuck here ... like a rut that we just can't seem to get out of. What do you do? Stay where you are?

Could it be possible that God at times withdraws the sense of his presence from our lives (not that he ever actually leaves us) ... in order to create a hunger and a thirst for us to seek him ... like the lover in the Song of Songs who withdrew for a period?

Whatever, the case, downright honesty pleases God. He doesn't want us to fake it or keep going through the motions, playing a religious game. Like David, God loves it when we pour out hearts out to him - in transperancy and authenticity. After all, God is not surprised when we tell him how we really feel! He knows our hearts, even more than we do. 

I was reminded the other day of a simple but deadly honest song by Keith Green, a singer who had a big influence on me in my teenage years. Here are the lyrics. 

My eyes are dry
My faith is old
My heart is hard
My prayers are cold
And I know how I ought to be
Alive to You and dead to me

But what can be done
For an old heart like mine
Soften it up
With oil and wine
The oil is You, Your Spirit of love
Please wash me anew
With the wine of Your Blood

Click here to listen to the song.

May God's Spirit touch our hearts afresh today.

P.S. For some challenging reading, check out Keith Green's life story in the book No Compromise.

Knowing God More

Back in the 1980s, Steven Fry wrote a musical entitled We Are Called. It was an outstanding call to worship and our team presented it numerous times. It contains some inspiring songs. One of favourites is Oh, I Want to Know You More, which was written during a spiritually dry period in Steve's life. Here are the lyrics:

Just the time I feel that I've been caught in the mire of self
Just the time I feel my mind's been bought by worldly wealth
That's when the breeze begins to blow, I know the Spirit's call
And all my worldly wanderings just melt into His love

Oh I want to know You more
Deep within my soul I want to know You
Oh I want to know You
To feel Your heart and know Your mind
Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me
Cries that say I want to know You
Oh I want to know You more
Oh I want to know You more

When my daily deeds ordinarily lose life and song
My heart begins to bleed sensitivity to Him is gone
I've run the race but set my pace and face a shattered soul
But the gentle arms of Jesus warm my hunger to be whole

Oh I want to know You more
Deep within my soul I want to know You
Oh I want to know You
And I would give my final breath to know you in your death and resurrection
Oh I want to know You more
Oh I want to know You more

May our cry to know God more grow each day.

You can listen to the original of the song here.

Growing in the Dark

Jesus clearly explained to his followers that in this life there would be a good deal of challenges and difficulties (John 16:33). However, they were to not be overwhelmed by them knowing that they can overcome and continue to live with God's peace and joy, regardless of the circumstances. This perspective on trials of all kinds is emphasised by all of the New Testament writers (see Acts 14:22. James 1:2-4. 1 Peter 1:6-9). 

As we journey through this life of faith as disciples of Jesus Christ, some of our growing will be in the dark. We all face times and seasons when we aren't sure where God is or what he is up to. We can't see very clearly. We don't have God's full perspective so we have to trust that he is in control and working things together for our ultimate good - which is the formation of Christlikeness in us (Rom.8:28-29).

Click here to read an excellent article from Christianity Today on what some people refer to as the "dark night of the soul" and some lessons from those who have walked this path. For an even more indepth article by John Coe on this topic, click here.

Thankfully, even when we walk or sit in times of darkness, the Lord promises to be a light to us (Micah 7:8).  

Questions for Different Stages of Faith

We recently shared about "stages of faith" as a helpful model for understanding our journey as disciples of Jesus. All six stages are important in our journey as each one has a profound impact and role in our lives. Also, different activities are more helpful in one stage than they may be in another. For instance, during stage 4, times of solitude and silence, as well as time with a mentor or spiritually mature person can be extremely helpful.

Below are some helpful questions to ask yourself or a friend, relevant to each of the stages.

Stage 1

How do you experience God the most?

What need brings you to this place in your life?

Who do you need God to be for you right now? What do you need from God?

How has your image of God changed lately?

Stage 2

What new insights are you learning?

Who are your spiritual heroes that you seek to emulate?

Who is journeying with you?

Is your community supportive? Is it healthy or unhealthy?

GROW - Understanding Stages of Faith

This year as a church community we have sensed a need to go deeper and to focus more on our relationship with Jesus and our life as disciples. Our FOCUS for 2011 has been simply: Following Jesus. So far, we have looked at four aspects of following Jesus: SURRENDER, GO, LOVE and DISCOVER. This weekend we began our final teaching series and it is entitled GROW.

Kingdom Growth. God’s kingdom is often described in an organic way and is seen as growing larger and stronger (Mark 4:26-29. Lk.13:18-19). The church is also seen as growing and maturing (Eph.4:15-16). Individual followers of Christ are also called to grow in their relationship to God (Col.1:9-10; 2:6-7). Personal and spiritual growth occurs over a period of time and always involves a process that is very much like a journey. Many people find it helpful to have a roadmap or at least a loose guide for their journey of faith. In their insightful book, The Critical Journey, authors Robert Guelich and Janet Hagberg, propose the following six stages:

Stages in the Life of Faith

1. Recognition of God. This is where we all begin our journey of faith. The experience of faith at this stage is the discovery and recognition of God. It is accepting the fact of the reality of God in our lives. Someone bigger than us really exists and He truly loves us. This may occur in childhood or later in life as adults. For some people this is a very identifiable experience, like a moment in time where everything changes. For others, there is a gradual realisation, with no certainty as to just where or when the experience began. Either way, we simply ‘know’ that God is there. Factors contributing to this experience can be either a sense of awe or a sense of need in our lives.

2. Life of Discipleship. This stage is about learning and belonging. We begin to learn, explore, absorb and put into place our set of beliefs or faith principles. In this stage we learn the most about God by association with others we respect and trust. We are apprentices. We need others because we are relatively unsure and insecure at first in our growth and what we believe. The group also provides a sense of belonging, which helps to alleviate some of our feelings of fear and even inadequacy that accompany the excitement of new learning. The group begins to give us a sense of identity and security. We start to feel at home, with family. We are loved and accepted, despite our struggles. It’s not always easy but we are with our kind of people. We have a sense of security and comfort in our faith.

Paul's Prayers

This morning, I was reading Paul's letter to the Ephesians. In chapter one we read of his prayers for these faithful followers fo Christ.

"Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom* and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called — his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms (Eph.1:15-20. NLT)." 

Paul had three prayers for them and I pray this for you today:

1. For spiritual wisdom and revelation (Greek apokalupsis) so that you can grow in your knowledge of God (1:17). God is hard to understand at times and we need HIM to show us himself and what he is up to. Unless He does, we remain confused.

2. For your heart to be flooded with light so you may understand the confident hope God has given to those He has called (1:18). So often life can seem dark and confusing and we need HIS light to open our eyes and fill us with HOPE that there is a better future. 

3. That you would understand the incredibly great power (resurrection power) given to us who believe in Christ (1:19-20). I love the resurrection. Of course, Jesus went through pain, death and the tomb in the process. Sometimes we do too, yet his power is at work and promises to bring us through … not leave us in the grave.

I hope this is an encouragement to you.

Oh Love of God

I believe that this lyric contains the most profound statement about the love of God outside the Scriptures:

    Could we with ink the ocean fill,
    And were the skies of parchment made,
    Were every stalk on earth a quill,
    And every man a scribe by trade,
    To write the love of God above,
    Would drain the ocean dry.
    Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
    Though stretched from sky to sky.

These words were found pencilled on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum after he had been carried away to his grave, the general opinion was that this inmate had written the epic in moments of sanity.

They now form the third verse of a well-known hymn called “The Love of God.” The words are by Frederick M. Lehman in 1917 (music by his daughter Claudia L. Mays). The lyrics are based on a Jewish poem written in Aramaic back in 1050.

Here are the rest of the lyrics of this hymn.

A Prayer of David

Despite his imperfections and failures, King David will always be remembered as the man after God's own heart. What was it about him that God so loved? Here is a prayer that David prayed after collecting a generous offering for the Temple which his son, Solomon would build:

David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.” [1 Chron. 29:10-19. NLT]

What do you notice about David? What character qualities emerge in his prayer? What do you learn about his inner world - his heart?

I observe: loving devotion to God, gratitude, humility, sincerity and an eternal perspective on life. 

May we too be people after God's own heart today. 

The Apologist's Evening Prayer (C.S. Lewis)

From all my lame defeats and oh! much more
From all the victories that I seemed to score;
From cleverness shot forth on Thy behalf
At which, while angels weep, the audience laugh;
From all my proofs of Thy divinity,
Thou, who wouldst give no sign, deliver me.

Thoughts are but coins. Let me not trust, instead
of Thee, their thin-worn image of Thy head.
From all my thoughts, even from my thoughts of Thee,
O thou fair Silence, fall, and set me free.
Lord of the narrow gate and needle's eye,
Take from me all my trumpery lest I die.

C.S. Lewis [1898-1963]

 

Are Our Human Longings Echoes of a Voice?

Take a close look at people anywhere today and you'll see evidence of a variety of inner longings. Here are a few that stand out:

1.  The Longing for Justice.

Most humans long for a united world, for healthy societies, for people, for hope and for prosperity for all. Even children understand the difference between fairness and unfairness. We all want justice ... yet it seems so elusive. Sometimes it wins - tyrannies are toppled, slavery is abolished, criminals and convicted and the poor are helped. Sometimes it doesn't - bullies get away, victims aren't compensated, and the rich rule over the poor.  

Is this longing for justice merely a naïve childish fantasy or an escapist world that never will exist or it is evidence of someone speaking to us, calling us to put the world right, to make it as it was intended to be?

2.  The Quest for Spirituality.

Despite the rampant materialism and religious scepticism of age, people hunger for something beyond themselves. Somehow we feel we were made for more than this. Like the band U2 sings, many people would say, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for." Spirituality is in. You see it in new age mysticism (tarot cards, crystals and horoscopes) and eastern religion (meditation and reincarnation). Walk into any bookshop and you'll see a growing Mind, Body, Spirit section with books on dreams, angels, Celtic spirituality and Kabbalah. 

Is this inner quest just an imaginary dream or a wish fulfillment OR is there someone or something out there, seeking to make contact with us, letting us know that we are not alone in the world? 

3.  The Hunger for Relationships.

We know that were made for each other. We belong in relationships. Even shy and introverted don’t want complete or long-term aloneness. Our sense of meaning and purpose is often found in connection with others - our family, a work group, a sports team, a church, a service team, a club or a small group. 

Yet relationships can be difficult at times. Marriages made in heaven can sometimes end not far from hell. Our greatest joys and memories often occur in the context of relationships but so do some of our greatest pains and regrets. Sexuality and gender are important aspects of the human condition but sometimes they are complex and complicated. Then there is death itself, which calls into question the notion that we exist for relationships. Impermanence can be tragic as anyone who has grieved the loss of a loved one can tell you. We all experience the pain of brokenness in our human relationships.

Where does this desire for connection come from? Is it the echo of a Creator who designed us for partnership not just for ourselves? Is He offering us something of himself and some kind of rescue in our brokenness? Could it be that the laughter and tears that are woven deep into the human experience are also part of God’s heart?

4.  The Delight in Beauty.

We live in a world of beauty ... and yet it can fade so quickly. We buy the recording of the music, we travel to that exotic place or we climb to the top of that mountain. We revel in the pleasure of the experience ... but then it's gone and we are left longing for more. It's over too soon. It is an itch that never goes away. 

Is this delight in beauty a signpost to a larger beauty, a deeper truth, or higher more complete world?  

Conclusion

Each of these longings seems to be an echo that points beyond itself – to a voice nearby but out of sight.

C.S. Lewis once said, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." The very existence of hunger proves that food exists that will satisfy that hunger. The very existence of thirst indicates that there is drink to satisfy that thirst.

Are these longings pointing to another world that is closer than we think? I believe that the voice is God's, most fully expressed in Jesus. The good news of the Gospel is that there is an answer to these longings. The kingdom of God is available for us now ... but even more fully at the return of Christ as King of this world. We can enter the kingdom now - a kingdom of justice, loving relationships, spiritual life and beauty. Then we join in God's work, praying "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." 

[These thoughts were gleaned from Tom Wright's book Simply Christian]

God's Longing ...

Here are some interesting thoughts from Psalm 81:10-16 (NLT).

"Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”

Lessons:

1. God wants to fill us with good things (described as 'the finest wheat' and 'wild honey') BUT we have to open our mouth wide. We have to prepare and expect good from Him.

2. Do we take time to listen to God? If not, we give the message to Him that we don’t want Him around.

3. God responds to our disinterest by leaving us to our own desires and ideas. He never forces himself on us.

4. IF only we would listen to God and follow His paths, we would feel His support and favor tangibly on all we do. Progress would be made much more quickly. He will jump to our assistance.

God longs for us to walk each day in close relationship with Him, sharing our life journey with Him as a partnership. What a offer!

The Call to Obey (Pt.3)

The Importance of Motivation

In our relationship with Jesus, it is important to realize that he does not begin with the call to obey. He calls us to come, to follow, to believe, to abide and over time he calls us to also obey. The order is important. It is similar in any relationship. God delivered the nation of Israel out of Egypt to be his special people. Only later did he give them the Ten Commandments, as a sort of covenant with his people. In a similar way, when going out with someone, you don’t begin with the marriage vows! You first establish the relationship. Then, as trust and commitment develop, marriage may occur in which there is a sharing of vows with each other.

We do not obey God’s commands “in order to” be loved, accepted and forgiven. That would be works righteousness, and none of our good deeds can ever measure up to God’s standards (Rom.3:23. Eph.2:8-10). However, in Christ, and all because of grace, we “already are” loved, accepted and forgiven – as a free gift! Once this truth touches your heart, you choose to obey “because of” what God has already done for you out of his great love. Obedience should be a natural response to the love God has for us. It is the ultimate act of worship.

WHY do we obey? Because we love Jesus and believe that his ways are best. He is the wisest person who ever lived and following him, though not necessarily easy, represents what is ultimately the best thing for our lives.

Obedience involves an act of our will, the enablement of the Spirit and the renewing of our mind. As we more consistently obey Jesus’ commands, we start to grow and change. We develop the character of Christ. Faith, hope and love emerge. The fruit of the Spirit starts to grow. Our lives start to reflect Christ more and more, offering an attractive alternative to the spirit of the age.

Some Reflection Questions

1. Why is it easier to accept Jesus as Saviour than it is to accept him as Lord of our lives?
2. What part does surrender and “taking up our cross daily” play in our call to obey?
3. How do we avoid the two extremes of (a) being a Christian who is not a good example of Jesus to others and (b) of becoming Pharisees who focus so much on keeping rules and regulations that they miss a genuine relationship with God and the fact that love is the summary of the entire law? 
4. A disciple of Jesus is called to become like Jesus – in character and mission. How does this happen? What is God’s part and what is our part?
5. In order to obey the commands of Jesus, we need to know what he actually asked us to do. Reflect on the role that Bible reading, especially that of the Gospels which contain the teaching of Jesus, plays in the development of our lives as disciples.
6. How can we better bridge the “knowing-doing gap?” Read and reflect on James 1:22-25.

The Call to Obey (Pt.2)

Jesus is both Saviour and Lord

As we take the journey of following Jesus, along the way we start to see who Jesus really is. When Jesus was on earth, there were many opinions as to his identity. Some thought he was Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets back from the dead (Matt.16:13-15). Peter received a revelation that Jesus was “the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of the living God (Matt.16:16-19).”

The disciple’s belief in the divinity of Christ (the understanding that he was not only fully human but also fully God) emerged over a period of time, culminating in the time of the resurrection (note Thomas’ proclamation, “My Lord and my God!”) and then Jesus’ ascension back to heaven to the right hand of the Father. Through all of these experiences, Jesus’ followers came to see Jesus as the Saviour of the world (the one who gave his life a ransom for all, providing forgiveness for sins) and also the Lord of the world.

Notice the culmination of Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).” This understanding in the identity of Jesus calls forth our faith (placing our trust in Jesus as forgiver and Saviour) AND our obedience (submitting our lives to him as our Leader and Lord).  

Two Problems

When it comes to this area of obedience, there are two potential problems. The first is that of “non-following believers” - people who name the name of Christ but whose lives do not reflect him. Some people see Jesus as a person who forgives them of their sin and guarantees them access to heaven when they die but nothing more. They live their own lives, maybe even trying to do the right thing, but they don’t take their ongoing following of Jesus and obedience to his commands seriously.

The second problem is that of “following non-believers” – people who think that keeping a whole list of rules and regulations equates to a relationship with God. This ends up in religion without relationship. In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (better called ‘the parable of the two lost sons’), the older brother never disobeyed the father, but he really did not know the heart of the Father. His obedience was one of joyless duty. This results in the religiosity and legalism that characterized the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. 

More tomorrow ...

The Call to Obey (Pt.1)

This year our focus at CityLife Church is simply on following Jesus. We have been reflecting on Jesus’ call to come to him (Matt.11:28-30), to follow him (Luke 5:27-32), to believe him (John 20:19-31) and to abide in him (John 15). As we respond to his call, we begin to know Jesus better and we begin to love him. After all, he laid down his life for us. Over time, we also begin to hear Jesus’ call to obey.

The Call to Obedience

As people began to follow Jesus, he taught them about what life in his kingdom should look like. Jesus is the King and as his subjects and citizens in his kingdom, we are to take on his character and nature, which is that of love. Jesus taught and gave instructions that clearly showed what that life looks like in practical terms. A classic example of his teaching is the “sermon on the mount” as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt.5-7). At the end of that teaching, Jesus made it clear that he wanted his followers to not only hear his teaching but also to put it into practice - to obey. Only then would they building their lives upon the rock (Matt.7:21-27).

In the Great Commission Jesus instructed his followers to make disciples but this included “teaching them to OBEY everything I have commanded you (Matt.28:18-20).” Jesus considers those who hear his instructions and put them into practice as his true family (Luke 8:19-21).

The apostle John, often called the “apostle of love” and the disciple who was closest to Jesus, emphasized Jesus’ call to obedience more than any other New Testament writer. He quotes Jesus as saying, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15) and again, “He who does not love me will not obey my teaching” (John 14:24). Jesus lived a life of hearing and doing the will of his Father. He told his disciples to do the same (see also John 13:15-17; 14:21-23; 15:9-11). John further emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s commands in his letter to Christians (1 John 2:3-6; 3:21-24; 5:1-4). 

This connection of love and obedience is a common theme throughout the Bible (Ex.20:6). In fact, the greatest evidence of our love for God is doing what pleases him. These two important things, love and obedience, cannot be separated. Jesus is someone to be loved and obeyed. 

More tomorrow ...

Random Thought #7: Love over All!

7.  Love over all!

For all of the many things and activities we will be involved in this year, let’s remember that LOVE (for God and people) is to be primary!

Remember the Ephesus story. This was a church that experienced an unprecedented revival (see Acts 19). It was a church 'on fire.' Yet as the decades went by, they left that first love. Here is Jesus' message to them through his servant John ...

Rev. 2:1-7. Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands: “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

There are a lot of good reasons for the work we choose to do and the ministries we may be involved in – for a sense of belonging, for a sense of contribution, for a job to do and maybe some pay for the effort, or for a sense of eternal reward. They are good and noble things BUT the greatest motivating force in our lives is to be LOVE. LOVE made me do it!

Conclusion

I hope you have received something from these 7 random thoughts. Hear the voice of the Spirit. Catch the wind of His movement. Respond accordingly … 

Random Thought #6: Exiles over Kings

6. Exiles over Kings.

A theological reflection ... We are now living and ministering in a different environment and we need to think differently in response to this change.

Here are some thoughts from Walter Brueggemann's insightful book, Cadences of Home: Preaching Among Exiles where he encourages us to rethink various church models through Scripture:

1. The Israelite Monarchy (approximately 400 years long) – the center of the Old Testament is the Jerusalem establishment of monarchy and dynasty (from David in 1000 BC to 587 BC). Israel is both state and church and it is a model that dominates many people’s thinking even to this day. There was the temple and the priesthood, the civil leadership of the kings, the wisdom of the sages (Proverbs), and the witness of the prophets. This view serves well the interest of an established, culturally legitimized church (a temple community). It is characterized by security, formality and stability – yet it is a model never to be repeated for Israel.

2. Israel before the Monarchy (approximately 250 years) – from Moses to David (1250-1000 BC). Life was shaped by the Exodus liturgy, the meeting at Sinai, the reinterpretation of Torah, no stable institutions, nor unified community. They lived on the margins in the “wilderness.” it was a time of informality, instability and uncertainty. This view serves well the concept of a new church plant or startup. 

3. Post-exilic Israel (approximately 600 years) – at the other end of the Old Testament we have another model for the community of faith. The temple had come to an abrupt end, as had the role of the king and the prophet. Israel had little influence over public policy, experienced temptations to cultural syncretism and the disappearance of a distinct identity, was focused on survival strategies (recovery of memory and rootage and connectedness, as well as intense practice of hope and becoming a textual community). So emerged the synagogue and the rabbis. It was a textual community. Ezra is an example of a new church start leader, reformulating faith in radical ways with strategies of survival as an alternative community.

Which period is most like the environment of the early church in the first few centuries after Christ? Which period is most like the environment after Constantine (the Christendom era)? Which period is most like the current environment we find ourselves in?

How does understanding our context affect the way we carry out our faith and live in our world? Notice the different approach of Elijah the prophet confronting King Ahab for example in period #1 above compared to how Daniel the prophet functioned in speaking for God in Babylon in period #3. 

Random Thought #5 - Stories over Numbers

5.  Stories over Numbers

Like most churches, we have a lot of important numbers that we count and look at (attendance, salvations, baptisms, partners, volunteers, leaders and giving). However, we must continually remind ourselves that it’s all about the PEOPLE!

The Bible is a story about God and people and their journey together. It contains numbers (un-apologetically) but the focus is the people.

One day Jesus fed 5,000 people (someone counted!) BUT the focus of the story is on the little boy who offered up his lunch, the training of the 12 disciples in growing their faith, and the miraculous provision.

On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), there were 120 people praying in the upper room and after Peter preached, 3000 responded (again, someone counted!) BUT the focus of the story is on the power of prayer, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the formation of the new church community.

This year, take more time to listen to the stories (of struggles and triumphs) of other people - engage in them and then pass them on. This requires us to become better at asking questions.

In Reggie McNeal's excellent book Missional Renaissance, he suggests some good questions to ask of other people: 

1. “What do you enjoy doing?” People love to talk about what they love. There is always a link between what people enjoy and how God desires to use them. 

2. “Where do you see God at work right now?” One of the goals of spiritual formation is to help people see God at work in their lives. This question is designed to help people look for God is the everyday aspects of their life – not just at church or while doing some spiritual activity.

3. “What would you like to see God do in your life over the next 6-12 months?” “How can we help?” This question gets people talking about what is most on their mind and ultimately leads to personal development questions. We can them point them towards people, resources or experiences that can help them grow.

Informally, you become a coach and a mentor. [Notice that this is very different than frantically trying to get people to support our programs]

4. “How would you like to serve other people?” “How can we help?” Most people grow through service. That service may be within the church or outside of it.

5. “How can we pray for you?” Prayer is a powerful way to communicate love and care for a person. Prayer always helps!

This approach is much more personal than positional and can have a powerful affect. Focus on the stories ... not just the numbers ...

Random Thought #4 - Practices over Beliefs

4.  Practices over Beliefs

We BELIEVE at lot of good things! Most churches have an orthodox "Statement of Faith" and many have articulated an admirable list of "Core Values." However, we must go beyond this. Beliefs are very important but we must move to ensuring that practices flow out of those beliefs. We must bridge the gap between preferred values and actual values. 

The Great Commission was not about knowledge but rather about action. We were told by Jesus to, “... teach them to DO … everything I have commanded you (Matt.28:18-20).” Notice Jesus did not say "... to know" or even "... to believe." Although knowledge and beliefs are important, they don't change the world - only action does.  

Behaviours are actually a greater indicator of our true values than are beliefs. How we live our lives in the evidence of God’s Spirit at work within us and our co-operation with Him.

Do we think ourselves into a new way of behaving or do we behave ourselves into a new way of thinking?

This year, our church is focusing more on the qualitative aspects of our lives as DISCIPLES of Jesus Christ, and specially, how that works itself out in our daily lives. After all, the person who built their house on the rock, was the person who heard the teachings of Jesus AND put them into practice (Matt.7:24-27).

Random Thought #2 - Relationship over Task

2.  Relationship over Task

All of us will have a LOT of tasks and projects to DO this year. I love tasks. I even have a task list when I am on holidays. I love ticking off checkboxes next to completed tasks. I thrive on achievement. But I also realise that DOING must flow out of BEING.

We all know the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42) and the constant tension between ministry for God and relationship with God. It is not an either/or proposition but an establishment of what is primary. Spirituality is the key to intimacy and greater productivity and fruitfulness.

The BIG Idea of the Christian Life is:

a. Intimacy with God (through hearing/conversation and seeing/experience) … which leads to …

b. Wisdom for Life (having God’s perspective) … which we then …

c. Speak out (communication – the prophetic dimension)

d. Act out (leadership – the apostolic dimension)

The order and the process are vital. If we don’t establish and maintain #1, then everything else becomes dry, stale and ultimately ineffective.

In Exodus 16 we read about God sending Israel the quail and manna daily (evening and morning). If they kept it longer it rotted. He sent it but they had to collect it themselves. In the same way, may we take time and give priority each day to connect with God so that our relationship with Him becomes the foundation for all we do. 

Random Thoughts #1 - Presence over Programs

At our first church staff meeting in early February this year, I shared 7 Random Thoughts relevant to our ministry this year. I think that we are in a significant season of change. Transition and shifts are taking place at every level of our world, our church and our personal lives. There is a growing degree of uncertainty emerging and we have to be change-ready. Here is my first thought ...

1.  Presence over Programs

There is nothing wrong with programs, ministries, meetings and activities (every church will have lots of them this year) ... BUT they only serve as a ‘means’ to an ‘end.’ We must be careful that they don’t get in the way of what God wants to do OR that we focus on the mechanics of ministry and miss the Spirit.  

Moses once said to God, “If you don't personally go with us, don't make us leave this place (Ex.33:14-15).” Without God’s presence we end up with Icabod – the glory has departed and we are left with only the shell of a religious system.

Here are a few other important related Scriptures:

Psa. 127:1. Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. NLT

Zech. 4:6. Then (the angel) said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies." 

John 15:4-5. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

This adjustment requires us to pause, to pray, to wait and to be sensitive to what the Spirit is doing. It involves a shift from ‘rowing’ to ‘sailing.’ It is about getting out of ‘auto pilot’ and ‘cruise control’ and into an ‘alert mode’ as to what the Father is doing. Jesus only did and said what He saw the Father doing and saying. This involves a shift from independence (“God, bless what I am doing”) to inter-dependence (“Father, what are you doing?”). 

This year - let's focus on PRESENCE over PROGRAMS.

Dealing with DOUBT (Pt.1)

Have you ever had doubts? Here's a thoughtful quote ...

“I think the trouble with me is lack of faith. I have no rational ground for going back on the arguments that convinced me of God’s existence: but the irrational deadweight of my old skeptical habits, and the spirit of this age, and the cares of the day, steal away all my lively feeling of the truth, and often when I pray I wonder if I am not posting letters to a non-existent address. Mind you I don’t think so – the whole of my reasonable mind is convinced: but I often feel so.”

Who said that? ... an honest man ... C.S. Lewis.

"'Lord, I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)!' 

 We don’t know the name of the man who said those words to Jesus. Whoever he was, his words capture perfectly the anxieties of many Christians. They have discovered in Jesus Christ something far more wonderful than they had ever dared to hope. God often seems very close in the first days of faith. Yet nagging doubts sometimes remain. Can I really trust the Gospel? Does God really love me? Can I be of any use to God? Deep down, many Christians worry about questions like these, often feeling ashamed for doing so. And so they suppress them. They hope that they will go away. Sometimes they do – but often they don’t. 

We often call Thomas 'doubting Thomas' but all of the disciples believed only after they saw Jesus, and even then, some of them still doubted (see Matt.28:17). Doubt is normal! We are frail, sinful, finite and limited creatures. We can’t see the full picture. We are so small ...  and God is so much bigger than we think. The apostle Paul put it this way: “We see through a glass darkly.”  

WAKING UP: a Helpful Metaphor for Understanding Christian Conversion

What happens when you wake up in the morning?

For some people, it's a rude and shocking experience. Off goes the alarm and they jump up in fright, dragged out of sleep to face the cold, cruel light of day.

For others, it is a quiet, slow process. They can be half asleep and half awake, and not even sure which is which, until gradually, eventually, without any shock or resentment, they are happy to know that another day has begun. 

Most of us know something of both, and a lot in between. 

Waking up offers one of the most basic pictures of what can happen when God takes a hand in someone's life. 

There are classic alarm-clock stories. Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, blinded by a sudden light, stunned and speechless, discovered that the God he had worshipped had revealed himself in the crucified and risen Jesus of Nazareth. John Wesley found his heart becoming strangely warm, and never looked back. They and a few others are the famous ones, but there are millions more.

And there are many stories, though they don't hit the headlines in the same way, of the half-awake and half-asleep variety. Some people take months, years, maybe even decades, during which they aren't sure whether they're on the outside of Christian faith looking in, or on the inside looking about this to see if it's real. 

As with ordinary waking up, there are many people who are somewhere in between. But the point is that there is such a thing as being asleep, and there is such a thing as being awake. And it's important to tell the difference, and to be sure you're awake by the time you have to be up and ready for action, whatever that action may be. 

Sleeping and waking is, in fact, one of the regular early Christian images for what happens when the gospel of Jesus, the good news that the creator God has acted decisively to put the world to rights impinges on someone's consciousness. There's a good reason for this. 'Sleep' was a regular way of talking about death in the ancient Jewish world. With the resurrection of Jesus, the world was being invited to wake up. 'Wake up, sleeper!' writes the apostle Paul. "Rise from the dead! Christ will give you light!"

[Quoted from Simply Christian by Tom Wright, p.175-176]

Jesus said "Come ..."

As we read through the story of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew we see that: Jesus shares his Messianic message about the kingdom of God (Mt.5-7), he engages in a ministry of miracles and signs (Mt.8-9), and he commissions his disciples to participate in his mission (Mt.10). The crowds still follow but a tinge of dissatisfaction emerges as questions are being raised about Jesus’ identity and mission (Mt.11). Soon outright opposition and hostility will emerge, especially from the religious leaders (Mt.12). Jesus shows how privileged a generation these people are and with it comes great responsibility. They have witnessed the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah and also experienced the ministry of John the Baptist, the first prophet to speak for God in 100s of years. They have heard the messages from God but how will they respond? Unfortunately, many ignored what God was doing and Jesus pronounced words of judgment for their lack of repentance (11:20-24). He then turns to the crowds and says: 

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” [Mt.11:28-30. NLT]

This passage shows us an incredible invitation. As with any invitation, we need to consider three things: (1) who is making the invitation, (2) to whom is the invitation being made, and (3) what is being offered? Let’s look at these one by one. 

1. Who is making the invitation?

Jesus is the one making the invitation. He claims to be the revelation of who God really is. He claims that he and the Father are one and that only by coming to Him can a person see and know God. Jesus has an exclusive and unique relationship with the Father. No one knew the Father like Jesus did. Part of His mission on earth was to reveal the Father to humanity (see Mt.11:27). Jesus describes himself as “gentle and humble in heart (11:29),” a very different picture of God than the religious leaders had portrayed.

Jesus and Prayer

Here are a few insightful comments from Jesus about prayer ...

When you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. 

The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. 

Set the world right; Do what’s best — as above, so below. 

Keep us alive with three square meals. 

Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. 

Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.

You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty!

Yes. Yes. Yes. 

In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part. [Matthew 6:5-15. Message Bible]

That about says it all!

Ancient Practices (#7) - Listening

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called into a relationship with Him. Christianity is not just a religion OR even a certain set of beliefs OR even a certain set of practices, as important as they are. It is about a relationship with the living God. God doesn’t want just religious activity or even only our service. He wants US – his people, in close relationship with Him. Jesus referred to his disciples as his friends not merely servants (Jn.15:15). The church at Ephesus was working hard and enduring times of pressure BUT Jesus was not pleased. Why? Because they had drifted from the love they had for him at the beginning (Rev.2:1-7). Jesus desires a relationship with us … not only our service, activity or even faithfulness.

Every relationship is built, developed and maintained on communication. Without some form of communication there can be no quality relationship at all. When communication breaks down, so do relationships. When communication is open, frequent and positive, relationships thrive. Communication is the two-way exchange of thoughts, feelings and ideas. If it is only one-way, then no relationship can develop. It is the same with our relationship with God. We talk a lot about prayer, and prayer is important but sometimes prayer can degenerate into a one-way conversation of us talking at or with God rather than us also learning to listen to His voice speaking to us. Unfortunately, we are not naturally good at listening. Jesus clearly wants to speak to us and have us know and recognize his voice when he does (Jn.10:14-16).

Hearing God’s Voice

God spoke to the young prophet Samuel but initially he did not recognize God’s voice (1 Sam.3:1-10). Eventually he learned to discern the voice of God and he developed a close relationship with God. This story teaches us the fact the God does desire to speak to us, yet it can take time for us to recognize his voice. Listening to God requires that we tune in to his voice and that we understand the different ways that he speaks to us. Jesus’ last message to the church was, “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the church (Rev.2:7).”

How do we hear from God? God communicates to us in many ways, but all through the Spirit. Here are a few of the major ways that God speaks to us today:

1. The Bible. As we know, God is a person who invites us to relate to him personally. Persons have stories and you need to know these in order to know the person. That’s why much of the Bible is narrative. It tells us God’s story especially in relation to mankind. If you want to know God, you need to listen to his story. Stories reveal a person’s heart, desires, personality and purpose. The Bible also contains God’s will for us along with principles and keys to success and fulfilment in life. They have been outlined and illustrated for our instruction (2 Tim.3:16). Read, study and meditate on the Scriptures (Joshua 1:8). God’s Word is living and alive. It has been written and recorded accurately in order to give us an objective lasting record of God’s thoughts.

2. Teaching (and preaching). God speaks through other people, especially when God’s Word is taught. Peter tells those who minister to speak as one speaking the very words of God the  (1 Pt. 4:11). Paul tells us that the church at Thessonalica received his messages as the very “word of God” (1 Thess.2:13). Remember, God can speak through anyone, IF our ears and hearts are open to hear. He even spoke through a donkey once to the prophet Balaam. Don’t allow your personal opinion about the messenger hinder you from hearing what God wants to say to you.

3. Supernatural or Special Revelation. Occasionally, God may speak to us through a form of special revelation such as an audible voice, a dream or a vision (Acts 2:28) or through a prophecy. Prophecy is a sharing of what a person believes is the heart and mind of God. We are not to take prophecies lightly but we are to test (or examine) them, holding on to the good and letting the rest go (1 Thess.5:20-22). The clear purpose of prophecy in the church age (see 1 Cor.14:3) is for: (1) strengthening (to build up), (2) encouragement (to fire up), and (3) comfort (to hold up).

4. The Inner Voice of the Holy Spirit. God wants to speak to us during our personal prayer time through the Holy Spirit within us. As we spend time with God, waiting on him, He will speak. Take time to listen to him. Tune in (e.g. radio). Jesus said, “My sheep hear (listen to) my voice.” Paul tells us that “those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God (Rom.8:14).” The Holy Spirit is our Helper. Our thoughts can come from 3 different sources: our self (Mt.17:3-6), the devil (Mt.16:21-23) or from God (Mt.16:15-17). As time goes by, we can train our spiritual senses to more easily and frequently recognize God’s voice.

The Controversy of the Sacred Meal

Partaking in the Sacred Meal links us with brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world today and in an unbroken line right back to the very first disciples of Jesus over 2000 years ago.

Yet, sadly this meal has become a major source of division and disunity within the church of Jesus Christ throughout the centuries. There has been great controversy and even bitterness and division around the very practice that should be source of love and unity. Both sides have burnt people at the stake for believing the wrong things.

NT Wright, in his excellent booklet The Meal Jesus Gave Us, tells the following story ... (p.59-60)

“Two men are sitting in a castle in southern Germany. They are aware of being on the leading edge of something new, something bigger than both of them. They want to get it right. They argue. They disagree. Eventually one of them dips his finger in his beer-froth and writes some words on the table. The other cannot agree. They go their separate ways, disappointed. 

The men are Luther and Zwingli; the year is 1529; the place is Marburg. The dispute is about the presence of Jesus Christ in the Communion, the Eucharist, the Mass.

Both agreed that the Roman Catholic Church had got it wrong with its doctrine of ‘transubstantiation.’ People often misunderstood this. Within the prevailing philosophy of the Middle Ages, physical objects had outward manifestations and an inward ‘substance,’ a reality deeper than that which you could touch and see. So, while the bread still looked, tasted, smelt and felt like bread, its ‘substance,’ this mysterious inner reality, had changed so that it was actually Christ’s body.

Luther disagreed, but not by much. He held on to the idea of an inner substance, and said that the substance of Christ’s body and the substance of the bread were both present. Zwingli went much further. The bread remained bread and that’s all there was to it. At best it could ‘signify’ Christ’s body; it could be a signpost pointing to it, but it wouldn’t in any sense ‘be’ the thing itself. Luther’s strong point was what Jesus said at the Last Supper: “This is my body.” He wrote in Latin in beer-froth on the table: Hoc est corpus meus. He underlined est: this doesn’t mere ‘signify,’ it is Christ’s body. The Lutheran (predominantly German) and the Reformed (predominantly Swiss) Churches have disagreed on the matter ever since.

Meanwhile, less well known than either, a learned man was agonizing in the background. Jesus spoke Aramaic, not Latin. Johannes Oecolampadius knew more Hebrew and Aramaic than either Luther or Zwingli. He knew that in Jesus’ sentence there wasn’t a word for “is.” Translated literally from Aramaic, Jesus’ words were: “This – my body.” The space represented by that dash between the words is too pregnant for logical analysis. Clearly some deep connection is intended, but you can’t put it into a mathematical formula, still less into a test-tube (as some rationalists used to suggest).

… what mattered was that those who came to the Lord’s Supper … in true faith really did 'feed on Christ.' They really were nourished by the person, the presence and the love of Jesus. How that happened, the theological chemistry or it if you like, wasn’t important and probably wasn’t knowable either.”

How funny and yet how sad that these two men argued over the word "is," a word that, after all, wasn't even in the sentence Jesus used! How easy we too can argue and disagree over matters and issues that really aren't worth losing our love for each other over. May this sacred meal once again become a tradition that unites all followers of Christ around our planet, regardless of our differences. In Christ alone. 

Ancient Practices (#6) - The Sacred Meal

A very important ancient practice for disciples is regular participation in the Lord’s Supper. This sacred meal is known by a number of terms including breaking bread, the table of the Lord, communion, and the Eucharist (which means thanksgiving).  Jesus instituted this practice when eating with his disciples just before his death (see Matt.26:26-29. Mark 14:22-25. Luke 22:15-20). Luke shows how the first disciples carried out the instructions of Jesus as they broke bread together regularly (Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7, 11. Luke 24:19, 30). This practice was originally associated with a meal (Luke 22:20. 1 Cor.11:25) but later became a separate celebration. Paul also commented on the Lord’s Supper when writing to the church at Corinth (1 Cor.11:23-26).

Six Dimensions of the Sacred Meal

Partaking in communion is not merely a religious exercise or tradition. It is intended to be a meaningful experience of God and His will for our lives, both personally and as a community of Christ-followers. We must not allow the routine of partaking of communion regularly turn it into a ritual rather than the significant celebration that Jesus intended for it to be. One helpful way to ensure that we retain the meaning of this sacred meal is to explore the breadth of its meaning. As we partake, we should look in at least six directions.

1. Look Backward. In the Lord’s Supper we look backwards to the redemptive work that Jesus accomplished through his death on the cross. His death was not an accident or that of a martyr. His death was a substitutionary one in that he took our place and paid the price for our sins once and for all so that we could be forgiven. This was a complete act of grace and not because of any goodness or merit on our behalf. We can now rest in the finished work of Jesus on the cross knowing that he has done everything that needs to be done for us to be right with God. He suffered for us. His body was broken and His blood was split for our salvation. Communion is a powerful reminder of this foundation of our faith, which is in the finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross is central to the Christian faith (Gal.6:14. Col.1:20). It may seem foolishness to those who do not believe but may it never be foolishness to the contemporary church (1 Cor.1:18). May we never forget the sacrificial gift of Christ’s life for us!

2. Look Forward. Communion is much more than a morbid recalling of the passion.  Believers “proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes (1 Cor.11:26).” In the Lord’s Supper we look forward to the time when the kingdom will come in full and we will enjoy personal fellowship with Jesus in a celebration meal together. We look forward with confidence each day knowing that our future is secure, whether we live or die. We look forward with joy at his return to earth to right all wrongs and to deliver us from sin and death. We also understand that there will be a day of account where we will be rewarded for the works we have done in this life. Finally, we look forward to a new heavens and a new earth – whether there will be no more sorrow, crying, pain or death (Rev.21:1-4). This accounts for the joy and gladness of heart in which the communion was celebrated (Acts 2:46).

3. Look Inward. Paul reminds us that the celebration of communion is also an important time of self-examination. Those who live in blatant sin when approaching the table are guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord (1 Cor.11:27-28). Communion times can be important occasions of looking inward at one’s heart and holding oneself personally accountable before God. The original Lord’s Supper was partaken of in the context of betrayal and denial. This should serve as a warning to us and a sober reminder to take heed lest we fall. Paul says that some become weak, sick and even die because of not handling this dimension of communion properly (1 Cor.11: 29-30). No doubt, Jesus’ teaching about reconciliation applies here (Matt.5:23-24).

4. Look Upward. The Lord’s Supper also looks upward as we remember that Jesus’ death on the cross and burial in the tomb was not the end of the story. His resurrection seals the fact that Jesus is the Son of God and that his death accomplished our full salvation. We now look up with conviction and joy knowing that the Savior lives and that He is seated at the right hand with the Father interceding for us (Heb.7:25). Jesus is alive! His resurrection is the foundation of our faith and the assurance that we too have been raised from the dead with him to walk in the power of a new life. We are citizens of a new kingdom. We seek for his will to be done and for his kingdom to come in all its fullness.

5. Look Around. Communion is also a time to reinforce the communal nature of this sacred meal. In John’s description of this time in Jesus’ life he includes the well-known story of Jesus taking on the role of a servant by washing the disciples feet (John 13:3-16). It was a powerful reminder of the calling we have to serve one another (Matt.20:20-28). That same evening Peter boastfully declared that he would never deny Jesus, even if the others did. This self-deceptive pride set him up for certain failure. Without others we can so easily fall away. We need each other’s friendship, encouragement, and accountability to stay faithful as we follow Jesus together. Communion is a time to look around and remind ourselves that we need each other. We are one body in Christ, regardless of differences.

6. Look Outward. Finally, there is an outward dimension to the Lord’s Supper. As Paul reflects on the communion, he reminds us that as we partake we “proclaim the Lord’s death” until he comes (1 Cor.11:26). We live in a world where people need to know the good news that Jesus has provided salvation from our sins through his death on the cross. Communion is a time to remind ourselves of those who haven’t heard or responded to this message. As we go from the table, we go with renewed commitment to pray, to love, and to share the good news of Jesus with others as we have opportunity.

As we can see, there is rich and deep meaning to this ancient practice. At communion we are to look backward (to Christ’s death), look forward (to Christ’s return), look inward (in self-examination), look upward (fellowship with God), look around (fellowship with each other), and look outward (to proclaim God’s word to others). May we all experience more and more of God’s amazing love for us as we celebrate communion together.