In Christ

Tomorrow, we start our new series in ID:AM entitled 'In Christ'. For the swots out there, we're starting with 'Chosen in Christ', Ephesians 1:4.

Be prepared for some hardcore theology, as this gets complicated - predestination, Calvinism...you'll have guessed by now that Jessica will be doing most of the talking.

In introduction to this topic, there's a few important things to think about:

1) Chosen & Christ come together. We wouldn't all be 'Chosen' if it weren't for 'Christ'. Before him, God didn't really choose many people - there's specifics such as the house of David, Jospeh, Moses, Abraham. Then there's the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6). But in terms of the global population...a drop in the ocean. Heaven would've been a very empty place before Jesus came along.

2) This isn't just some wacky idea - Peter picks it up in 1 Peter 1 (well worth a read) in his letter to the scattered church, and it follows on from God choosing Israel in the Old Testament.

3) Stuart Townend's 'In Christ Alone' will no doubt make an appearance in this series. Have a listen to it again, and meditate on the words. You stand in the love of Christ, you live in the death of Christ, you are bought with the precious blood of Christ, and you stand in the power of Christ.

Can I get an Amen?

On seeing God

So we're all back from Spring Harvest now, and mostly recovered from the ordeal.

Congratulations to those who abused traffic cones on letting most everyone know it was you who did it...I heard Butlins have barred you from the site for next year.

Mind you, that ain't nothing compared to the carnage they were expecting at the weekend with an 80s weekend - apparently the worst weekend in the year for damage and drunken-ness. Just don't tell your parents, or they might want to stay on next time.

Continuing on the theme of Esther, I would like to share some thoughts on hearing from God - a word not used at all in the book.

So first things first - why is there a book in the Bible that doesn't mention God? If we believe all scripture is God-breathed...isn't that like writing an autobiography, but not telling the reader who you are?

I would like to suggest not - and also that this should act as a reminder to us to remember that God is there, and working, even when we can't see him.

1) The Jews are saved. It doesn't look good, but something happens. Mordecai is confident in Esther 4:12-16 that even if Esther won't do her bit "relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place". Esther 6:1 is the 'literary centre' of the book - Esther, along with several other Old Testament books, is a mirror book. Take a look - it starts and ends with a feast. Move one step in, and there's an execution. And at the middle there's a seemingly insignificant thing: "That night the king could not sleep". Just imagine the fun God was having at that point, knowing what was to come.

2) In our own lives...even when we don't believe it can happen...God works miracles.

Did anyone see God at Spring Harvest? There was a funny-looking chap with a beard wearing dungarees lurking at the back, but I don't think that was God.

However, he really was there. I hope you all noticed - and have since told at least 12 other people (no? Go and do it now!) about the healing that happened.

For those who didn't notice - after prayer for all the girls, God gave one of the youth team a word that someone had a problem with their right hip that he wanted to heal. A girl went forward, received prayer, and was healed. Her name...Esther of course. How many other people named Esther were in that room of 400+ people? Zero of course.

Sometimes God really is as subtle as a slap around the face with a wet fish.

3) He's behind you... At the end of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20, Jesus says "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." This is very cool...Jesus is with us all, he's always there. And even better is what happens just a few verses earlier in Matthew 28:17 "but some doubted".

At the time of their doubt, Jesus reassures the disciples; do you sometimes worry that you don't trust God enough? Or doubt that you really believe? Jesus' presence is with you, even in these times. Just because you might struggle to believe in Him, He certainly believes in you!

Immanuel - God with us - is right there whenever you turn to him.

So what one thing have I taken from Spring Harvest? God is everywhere! His sovereign rule is over every situation I face, every person in authority, EVERYTHING!

I'm still working on living in the reality of that, and denying God is probably something we all do on a daily basis...but one step at a time, let's allow God to be glorified in our lives, hey?

On perseverance

Man, it's been a while.

I blame moving house, clearing the garden of jungleness, and general life-busyness.

How are things with God? Pretty good on this side of the fence - Easter is a good time to reflect on stuff...both the power and the humility of Christ.

In Hebrews, the writer (because no-one alive today knows who wrote it...it probably wasn't Paul. Ask Jessica for more) talks about Jesus being foreordained to 'bring many sons [and daughters] to glory'. This means it was always in the offing - when Jesus prays to God in the garden {see any of the Gospels. Or all four!}, asking God to take the cup from him, Jesus got silence. Ouch.

So here's my thoughts on perseverance coming from this passage, found in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 18.

The long and the short of it is that God doesn't always answer prayer straight away. Or at all. Sometimes, it can seem like he's not there.

Point 1) God is omnipresent - He IS there, He IS listening.

One thing to think about here is is what I am asking in line with the will of God and his revealed nature (found in the Bible). So if you're praying to win the lottery, and that you'll give some money to the church or the poor...don't expect an answer. Did you know that if you buy your ticket at 7.30pm on the night of the draw, statistically you're more likely to die before the draw than win the jackpot.

So why did Jesus ask God to take this punishment away from him? Well mostly because it would involve separation from God, and a LOT of pain. But God had His plan...and the outplaying of that mean a lot for you and for me...if we put our faith in that plan.

Point 2) Works without faith is dead.

So yes, that's the wrong way around. But it's also true. Try all you might to get into heaven - if the Muslims are right and it's a straightforward case of good outweighing bad and BINGO! You're in...how many bad things have you done? Have you read the Old Testament?

Did you know that a woman is unclean for a week after giving birth to a boy? And she can't be purified for another 33 days - no church, no touching sacred things...And if it's a girl, you can double those numbers! As part of the purification ritual, she has to make a sin offering - that's the inevitability of sin, that even in bringing forth new life it happens. [Check out Leviticus 14 if you fancy a laugh]

Rant over - but you just can't win. Faith in God is the only way. Do you believe in what Jesus did? Jesus was separated from God, didn't hear from Him, was painfully aware of this absence...for you and me.

Put your faith in this, and earnestly seek after God.

Point 3) Don't give up.

A great Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush song, but also the conclusion of this message.

Back in the garden and in Matthew 26:36-46. Jesus prays once. Goes back and the lazy gets are asleep! To Peter: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Prays again - no answer from God, but he knows God's heart. goes back and the lazy gets are asleep again! Probably stayed up all night playing Fifa 32AD or something. He doesn't even bother waking them this time, and goes off and prays the same prayer again.

Then he comes back and takes them off to meet Judas.

Conclusion 1) Why is Jesus awake and the disciples asleep? Jesus is probably bricking it. He knows what's coming, so uses the time to pray and commune with God. Here's an idea - use dead time to talk to God. I do it on the drive to work, and I've not crashed yet... Can't sleep? God's still up.

Conclusion 2) Jesus doesn't get an answer from God, but he knows the answer. Prayers 2 & 3 are more resigned. How does Jesus know this? Other than omnipotence, he knows God's will for his life. So let's learn God's will for our lives - the Bible is the only written guarantee of this, so get it out, and read it daily. But listening to wise people talking, and reading wise books is a good companion too.

Conclusion 3) Jesus seeks solace in the company of others. He takes the disciples out, and then takes a little clique of three out further. If you need encouragement, talk to a friend (or me...or Jessica, or Aileen, or whoever), if you need prayer, do the same. If you need someone to hang out with, there's plenty of people around who don't even need the excuse of talking about Jesus to lure them into a coffee shop...

So there we go. Hope that was coherent and useful. And my Easter resolution (can you make those) is to be blogging more (and possibly shorter) from now on!