Daytime Dreaming

Two Worlds in Conflict

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, the kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,(of rules, rituals and good morals) nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’  because the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21)

What does it mean: The kingdom of God is within you?

The Pharisees were very religious people. They tried hard to live in ways that in their opinion should be acceptable to God. They observed ceremonies and rituals. They applied strong moral discipline. They believed they were just the sort of people to be well received in the kingdom of God, or so they thought!

Sadly, everything the Pharisees did to appeal to God was external––Of the physical world, not of the kingdom of God. So Jesus says to them: The kingdom of God is within you.

The Pharisees were just like people these days who believe the kingdom of God can be found through observing religious ceremonies or conducting certain rituals and/or through living a morally good life. (as they see it)  Jesus taught that anyone who chooses to live that way will never find the kingdom of God or qualify to enter it. The Pharisees were seeking their reality in the wrong world. They were citizens of the physical world when they should have learned how to become citizens of the spiritual world––The kingdom of God where Jesus rules.

Being a citizen of the kingdom of God

 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

According to the Bible there is a difference between the followers of Jesus and other people. this isn’t always noticeable at first look. Followers of Jesus have an extra dimension to life. They have access to a hidden resource––An invisible reality, which other people don’t have. The apostle Paul mentioned this earlier in this letter, Christ in you, the hope of glory.  This extra something is an invisible dimension within us. It’s the wonder of the Christian life.  It’s also the source of our motivation, strength and joy. If you haven’t discovered this yet  you haven’t  begun to live as you can and should. We truly have access to a new world: If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come ˆ(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Summing up: Followers of Jesus are to continually remember who they are, who we will he when Jesus returns. That’s the true basis for living an authentic Christian life.

How then should we live?  It’s simple really.

Set your hearts and minds on things above...where Christ is..not on earthly things. Jesus has freed us  from everything that keeps us away from God. We are now free to experience the enjoyment of God’s presence. That’s the world we are made for. Hear the apostle: Your life is now hidden with Christ in God  (3b) The new creation has already begun for the authentic Christian.  We can begin right now to enjoy the life of the age to come. Then when the new age comes we will be with Jesus and his people to fully enjoy the new world forever.

How do you respond to that?

Balance of Love

Two people sat

 One on each side of the balances of life.

 One was filled with love.

 One was filled with hate

The hater scowled

 The lover smiled.

One reached out to touch the other

 The other reached out to touch the one.

Four eyes met in juxtaposed action

 Hatred was disclosed as fear

 Love was disclosed as compassion

 Hatred drained away

 Loved filled the cavity

The balance was

 Complete.

‘Love is why. .’

Of Ordinary Sheep and the Great Shepherd

We live in a time that is overloaded with information and advice. Many people strive to convince us to trust their product, service or treatment. There are books, DVDs and conferences aimed at telling us how to find wealth, health, peace, and happiness. And then there are the people who say:  “Trust me, I will take care of you, give me your vote or your money and your life will be wonderfully improved.

The best that people can offer isn’t much when life really ‘dumps on us’

I invite you to consider the one person who is thoroughly reliable. Our thoughts centre on the premise that trust in him brings us everything we need for a good life, now and for the future.  This study from the 23^rd psalm encourages us to move in our thinking from the physical world to outcomes of the spiritual world and the nation lead by Jesus. 

Shepherd is a term that was used for Kings in the middle east. David, the shepherd who became a King begins this wonderful psalm with thoughts from his own reality: Because the Lord is my shepherd I have everything I need. One of the benefits of our sheep to shepherd relationship with God is contentment: The Lord provides everything we need to have a life of the highest quality.––Needs are met.

Verse 2: He makes me lie down in green pastures––Great imagery for David the shepherd. It’s a wonderful feeling to eat well then rest contented and safe.

There are so many people who would love to have a good nights sleep knowing their needs have been met and will be met when they awake. 

David speaks from personal experience.  His life wasn’t easy particularly when the mad King Saul was chasing him to kill him.  Yet, he isn’t primarily talking about his physical needs being met. David has found something better: The needs of the inner person are met in relationship with God. Contentment comes from inside.

He leads me beside quiet water and restores my soul. There’s rest and there’s movement in our relationship with the Lord. It’s not easy to be refreshed in running water.  The picture of ‘quiet waters’ suggest places of rest and refreshment. The Lord leads us through all kinds of experiences but as we place our trust in him he provides soul refreshment.

There are times when we need more than refreshment to provide strength to carry on with life. At times things enter our lives that wound, weaken and frighten us. Our shepherd is expert at spiritual and emotional resuscitation––He revives our souls.

C.H. Spurgeon: ‘When the soul grows sorrowful he revives it; when it is sinful he sanctifies it; when it is weak he strengthens it. He has many ways to revive the soul: Prayer, His word, the Holy Spirit, hope, Christian community, experience. He does it!

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his names sake.

God has created us so that our lives should bring honour to him. He guides us along the paths of life that will glorify him and give us hope as we journey through life.

Paths of righteousness Is a picture of well worn trails that the shepherd knows and must walk along so the sheep will follow.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. David shows that even when the end of

our earthly life is near we can still move at a calm pace. Fear can be overcome by the knowledge that the Lord is with us to bring comfort and hope.  

The imagery of the shepherd’s rod is of a weapon to fight of wild animals. The staff is used to guide, correct and discipline the sheep.  

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

The picture here is of an inferior person sitting down to a great meal as the invited guest of a powerful person.  And all around them are enemies  who can’t do a thing.

It’s a picture of the peace God gives to his people within the hostilities of life.

We haven’t been hearing about the thoughts of a great poet. They are the words of David, once a shepherd then a King––He speaks about  his experience and hope in God.

Confidently he says:  Surely goodness and love will follow  me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

As he prepares to leave them Jesus comforts his followers with these words: In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be also where I am… ˆ(John 14:2)

From C. H. Spurgeon:  “While I am here I will be a child at home with my God; the whole world will be his house to me; and when I ascend into the upper room I shall not change my company, nor even change the house; I shall only go to live in the upper story of the house of the Lord forever.”

Pride: The Obstacle to Good Relationships

(C S Lewis) ‘Pride is a fault that everyone has. We hate it when we see it in someone else.  And we have great trouble seeing it in ourselves’.

Not all pride is wrong. The apostle Paul was proud of the Corinthians progress in the faith. (2 Corinthians 7) And to Christians generally: We can take pride in ourselves without comparing ourselves with others. (Galatians 6:4) We can also have pride in Jesus and in people and in personal achievements.

In this discussion I want to focus on the pride that damages relationships with God and people and how to manage it.

The Old testament words for pride suggest a self important pride. The kind of pride that leads to an arrogant insensitivity towards God and people. The New testament words for pride suggest a self willed, stubborn, self-centred and big-headed pride.

In the proverbs pride is: an evil to be hated. It leads to disgrace, breeds quarrels, and goes before destruction. (8:13, 11:2,13:10,16:18,)

Let’s take a look at pride in action:  Cain and Abel were Adam and Eve’s first children. One was a farmer the other a grazier. Abel kept flocks, & Cain worked the soil. (Gen. 4:2)

 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.  The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, (Genesis. 4:3-4)

Cain’s offering of fruits of the soil was as appropriate for a farmer as Abel’s firstborn of his flock was for a grazier. There was something more at play here: They are being tested.  ‘but on Cain and his offering God didn’t look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (5)  That’s where it went wrong for Cain. Cain didn’t ask God why his offering wasn’t acceptable. Pride took over and he became angry. Pride has a way of not listening, because it’s controlling, self-centred and self-protective.

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (6-7)  There’s more to this story. 

It seems Cain knew what was right. It also seems that he liked things to go his way.

Cain had, and we have the ability to overcome our pride: God didn’t give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love, and of self discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) …We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5b)

 Pride is active in the breakdown of relationships: between God and people. The thing Cain wouldn’t accept is that God chooses what is right and suitable. Cain didn’t agree with this: he wanted to decide what was best for himself. His pride is now in control of him and this leads to terrible consequences: Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. (8) Why?

The thing about people is that we actually think we can hide things from God. ‘Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”  - Pride has to lie to protect––“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?’ (9-10)

In his arrogance (pride) Cain lied to God. He knew where his brother was, and he knew he was his brother’s keeper (protector).

(C S Lewis): ‘Pride leads to all moral failure: it’s the complete anti-God state of mind’.

Ever since the creation of people pride has been the main cause of misery in human relationships. It brings hostility: between people and between people and God.’

(Roger Miller) ‘It is my contention that pride is the main cause in the decline in the number of husbands and wives’  How right is that!

Pride brings hostility. We see this clearly with Cain: He was hostile towards God for not accepting his offering. And he was hostile towards his brother because God was pleased with him. As a consequence of his pride Cain lies to protect himself. The apostle John says Cain was ‘of the evil one (and) Abel was righteous’ (I John. 3:12)

As with Cain, pride can also prevent us from seeing our real self.  It can even cause us to see our moral weaknesses and failures as good things.

Pride comes out in dummy spits––demanding to be heard, considered, tolerated, never to be disagreed with or criticized, etc.

(John Piper): ‘ Boasting and self pity are both signs of pride’.

Boasting is the wrong result of pride to success. “I deserve admiration because I’ve achieved so much.” Cain’s expectation and assessment of himself.

Self-pity is the wrong result of pride to suffering. “I deserve admiration because I’ve suffered or sacrificed so much”  Self pity is often not seen as pride in action. The reason self-pity isn’t usually seen as pride is because it appears to be needy and we don’t know how to respond when we see it. So we usually say nothing.

 (C S Lewis) ‘Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense. It even deceives us into believing we have a good relationship with God.  The truth is that while ever pride rules our mind we can never know God’.

Because the proud person is always demanding God does things their way. They, like  Cain, are, often disappointed with God when they don’t get what they want.

 

What is God’s solution to the problem of pride? One word covers it: Humility. God wants us to have a healthy pride.  He wants us to find pride in what he is doing in our lives and in the world. Only humility that keeps us responsive to the Lord and his Word will enable us to maintain that state of mind.

The way to managing pride is:  Turn from demanding that things work for us, learn to accept God’s ways and learn to depend on Jesus as the one complete human to follow through life.

‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves then, to God’  (James 4:6) If we practiced this more we would experience more of God’s grace and grow in closeness with God.

Reality: We will never be completely free of pride this side of heaven. Yet, with determination, it can be controlled. God said to Cain: ‘ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7)

The Genesis story tells us Cain didn’t change (4:12) His pride lead him to live with unrepentant guilt for killing his brother. His work was continually frustrating and he became a fugitive and wanderer for the rest of his life.  That’s what pride can do to a life.

We finish with two mindsets: Two negative and one positive, both essential if we are to live the rich life Jesus offers us and grow as a citizen of his world––The Kingdom of God.

Negative mindset: ’Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

Positive mindset: in humility consider others better than yourself. (Philippians. 2:3-4)  

As followers of Jesus we are to value and serve other people above ourselves. As we to put this into practical actions we place our pride as it should be––covered by humility.

There's Something about Easter

The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

The Bible tells us Jesus Christ died on a wooden cross. It was on a Friday.

Two groups of people watched him die. One group was glad to see the end of him because he had disrupted their corrupted belief system. The other group was overcome with grief, disappointment and despair. Jesus was the one man they believed could lead them to freedom and a better life, now was dead. They were lost and afraid and leaderless.

But that was Friday, Sunday was still to come, then everything would change. On Sunday, those who were disappointed on Friday were filled with joy. And those who were joyful on Friday were confused and disappointed on Sunday.

What’s the meaning of the crucifixion of Jesus? 

It’s answered in the resurrection and assent ion of Jesus: Through Jesus, God will reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col  1:20)

We must have been enemies of God for him to make peace with us.

Four things to consider

1. The crucifixion of Jesus  wasn’t an accident––God was involved. According to Scripture it was:  determined by God's set knowledge and purpose.  (Acts 2:23)  (Isa 53:4, 6).…We consider him stricken by God, and afflicted……..the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.        

2. Peace with God can only be secured through trust in the crucified and risen Jesus. Peter said: Salvation is found in no one else. (Acts 4:12)

3. The Cross is God's way to reconcile people to himself. (Col 1:20)

To be reconciled to God means everything that keeps us away from relating to God has been removed. In the mystery of Jesus’ death on the cross all our past and future failures (sins) are forgiven.

The reconciling death of Jesus means people can become friends with God.

The tricky thing about this is that many people don’t see themselves as God’s enemies. However, when we take a look at how we live compared to God’s standards (Ten commandments) we see how far we are from God. Incidentally, we must have been enemies if we needed to be reconciled.

And because reconciliation brings peace with God we have also have peace within ourselves. God’s offer of reconciliation through Jesus is for everyone.

The cross is central to Christianity, without it there is no true Christianity

4.  How do people respond to the Cross?   Some people think the story of Jesus dying on a cross for them is just a strange myth.  Others see it as the message with the stamp of the authority of God. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)

For many people the Easter Bunny story makes more sense than the Easter Saviour story––it’s foolishness to them.  Then, there are those who say “I believe the Easter Saviour story”––it’s life changing power from God to them.

How should we respond to the message of the cross?  

1. We should respond intellectually and emotionally. The New Testament talks about being crucified with Jesus. Our relationship to him means we, in some way experience his death. We also experience his life now and forever.

2.  Our response to Jesus affects us physically––We begin to change.

We begin to deal properly with problems like futility, ignorance, loneliness, selfishness, sickness and death. And we  become involved in helping people who are affected by those problems.

The Easter story tells us that through the events of the cross Jesus did everything that’s needed for people to become friends with God. The death of Jesus is heaven’s invitation to every person to join God’s everlasting family.

The message of the cross is God  is simple: Our creator loves us and invites his straying children to come home,

The heavenly Father says “All's forgiven, come home, the kettles on the boil"