Offence ! Exasperation ! Purpose !

Mark 6:1-6

New International Version (NIV)

A Prophet Without Honor

6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. ² When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,^[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.

it might help you, or be a  pain in the neck to you, but you can listen to a message I recently preached on this.. you can listen in at this site...   www.ringwoodsalvos.podbean.com

I wonder why it is we are so worried ( as Christian Leaders) about offending people, offending society, offending the movement ?  It really worries me and challenges me that we should be more concerned about offending God. 

Like Billy Graham's quote above... in an effort to keep the peace with everyone,. most often at times, all we really do is offend God.

the question therefore  should be or could be, 

who is it we would prefer to offend ?  Humanity ? Our churches ? Our community ?  or God ?

obviously , I think, most of us, would like to offend no-one, 
not humans or God, 

but in some cases by trying to please one, we by default, offend the other.

We dont try to, but it seems that no matter what you do, you will eventually offend someone, the real question is, who will it end up being ?

As a Christian Leader, I have found, you most often walk on this very thin tightrope of being politically correct, and, an even thinner tightrope is, of being theologically correct for the Bible scholars and critics.

You could easily throw your hands up in exasperation, and say its all too hard, and I think I will go back to what I used to do,  and thats exactly what the devil would have us do.

So instead of offending people, we become exasperated, we choose to not live out our purpose.

Have you ever wondered, what actually does offend God ?  Do you even care ? 

I think when we call something ok, what God says isnt,  when we water down biblical truth, when we doubt the wonder working power, when we say stuff, like, God doesnt do that anymore.... when we discredit the Holy Spirit, when we behave in a fashion that limits the Spirits power around and within us...

everytime we say or think or behave like that, we Offend Him.

May I remind you ( and myself)  that nothing is impossible for Him . !!!!   

Let me help you think through what that might look like...

when we say or think God cant heal, forgive, redeem, release, empower, equip... anyone ?
when we say or think that something isnt important and we are too busy for it ?
when we say or think God doesnt do things like that anymore ...


Seriously, nothing is too hard for Him, we need to get back to a few basics and start believing and living in faith again.

every person on the planet has choice...

we can choose to believe

we can choose to not believe.

we can choose to ignore the call of God on our lives.

we can choose to walk away from that call.

we can choose to live offended.

we can choose to live exasperated.

we can choose to live out purpose.

we can choose how much we will love God.

we can even choose to not love Him at all. 

we can choose to go to church and get involved. 

we can choose to live on the fringe and play games with church (and God).

we can choose which church to attend.

we can choose to not go to church at all.

we can choose to go to heaven.

we can choose to not go to heaven.

we can choose who we will spend our lives with on earth.

we can choose to be a friend or an enemy of others.

So... like the people of Jesus' day, as recorded in Mark 6..... offended by Him,  they were amazed at Him, but He was amazed by their lack of faith. 
 These people chose a certain response to Jesus... we can as well.

who are you ? 

what are you choosing for your life these days ?

I encourage you to choose Jesus WHOLEHEARTEDLY.... 
Be completely sold out on Him, not half baked, or compromised, or weak and have insipid spirituality without any depth or meaning or substance.

I encourage you to raise the bar in your life.
I encourage you to get back to the basics of faith. 
Live out your life in the purposes of God.

there is nothing better you could do with your life for eternity than that.

& if you are already pumped and pumping for Jesus Christ ?  

then go harder still, there is much to do and not that many who want to be involved in doing it.

May He bless you today !!!

 




 

Standing Firm in amongst opposition.

In Ephesians 6 we read something of what it means to be involved in the battle, which is...being a Christian Church leader. This blog entry is my take on it, based on where things currently lie for me, as one such leader.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:10-20 NIV)

(pic of the ancient city of Ephesus)

For Paul to ask the believers of Ephesus to "pray for him, that he may be fearless" implies that he faced struggle and difficulty every time he spoke about Christ and did what he thought was right to do for Christ.

 

There are times, also... when I (we as church leaders) feel weak and insipid and keep quiet about what we hold as true....and am not fearless as we should and could be for Christ.

A criticism comes, a nasty comment, an untruth... a misunderstanding, an ill conceived perception and the enemy tries to quieten my mouth and resolve. Maybe yours also.

 

I have learned heaps already in my life, witnessed much in the ministry and I am not a stupid leader, I am not perfect, neither do I know all there is to know, but one thing I do know, I am on a journey, led by Christ, attempting to be obedient to His will and call and do what He asks of me to do, even in the midst of the struggle and criticism.

Sometimes people treat church leaders unfairly, say unkind things about them, and let misunderstandings rule the day. Church leaders,(myself included) must remain true to the commitment they have, remain committed to the calling in amongst the storm....and when the opposition comes, STAND FIRM, based on the direction Gods Holy Spirit has led them in.

Paul in his words to the chuch at Ephesus, reminded them and also us, that we must be "pray-ers".... praying in the Spirit. Led by The Spirit, fueled by Him, His servant, standing firm is just part of that.

 

Its hard though isnt it ?

 

We are reminded that the battle isnt against flesh and blood, but its tough when the opposition is or does come in flesh and blood.

 

When I think of this standing firm, thing....I get this image of a lighthouse being battered by the strong winds of a storm, and yet not being moved. and still in the middle of the storm, it still just stands firm letting the light being seen ...bright, true, reliable.

its easy to speak of objects, ........its harder dealing with the human soul and spirit and emotions that are dealt swift and concise blows by the devil, when he is trying to defeat the resolve of a committed church leader.

My thoughts are.... well, my thoughts, they may help you with yours...

 

when the opposition comes, and Paul tells us, its not if they come, but when they come... that we must stand firm, stay true to our calling, stay true to our purpose, even if the struggle is deep within the circumstance... stay true, stand firm, when the devil uses those you least expect he will use... stand firm when your soul quivers, stand true when the lies are spoken, stand firm when it feels like everything is going to come crashing down.

 

and finally let your light shine in such a way, that in the middle of the struggle, in the middle of the battle, in the centre of the oppossition, remain true to what you set out to do for Christ. Whatever that looks like for you as a church leader, let the light shine in such a way as to help others find their way through the storm.

The critics will always be around, they always have been....

They killed Jesus on a cross. They even thought they were doing the world of that day a huge favour by doing so.

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

On my journey as a church leader, 19 years now...(and 8 years before that in youth ministry) I have learned much from many. I have had experiences with God that have shaped me, and formed in me, beliefs and faith that could not have been formed any other way. I have some heroes of the faith that have shaped me already, some from within the Army and some from outside of the Army, I have had and still do have, mentors and coaches who have gone before me and proven what it is to grow a church beyond anything TSA has ever seen in Australia,and I listen to these guys, they know what they are talking about, very wise men of God, used by Him for His glory in many ways and over many years. I am who I am today, because of the way in which I have been taught and trained. I have not arrived. God isnt finished with me yet. There is still much to learn. But one thing I do know, you never ever get to jump higher in high jump, by lowering the bar.... if you want to jump higher, you need to raise the bar.

For me and my ministry thats how it is to be. I want to jump higher in my ministry, do more, be more effective, more productive, be more useful to my Master.....

I hope for you and your ministry as a church leader, you may choose today to also raise the bar, and jump higher in your ministry, even if it is a tough as nails to do so.

May The Lord God bless your socks off these days. as I pray He blesses my ministry also.

 

(Iam ever so grateful to the following people for investing in my life over many years...hope I don't miss any)

Not in any specific order...

Rodney Barnard, Ian Hamilton, Shane Baxter, John Bond, Danny G, Frank Daniels, Brian Pratt, Rod Denton, Stuart Robinson, Wayne Pittaway, Lyndon Spiller, Baden Jeffrey, Ken and Barb Wilson, Ross Coverdale, Ross Hailes, Gordon and Lynne Jones, Len and Marney Turner, Brian Morgan, Winton Knopp, Cameron & Sue Wallace, John Jeffrey...

( Brian Houston, Bill Hybels, John Maxwell, Rick Warren, by default of their books and teachings)

and of course... Murray and Gladys Grant, Brian& Ev Golding.

and Julie Grant.

thankyou !!!

 

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