Will Power must prevail over Emotion.

The Judeo-Christian Faith gives us reasons to sing. More than that, the songs sung have their origin in and direction in the Grace of the Almighty, Lord of lords and King of kings. The Psalms cover experiences from praise to pain, laughter to lament, from thanksgiving and testimony to tribulation’s testing times. There are Psalms expressing individual experiences to corporate worship. For this article I want to takes us through Psalm 116 using the Amplified Bible’s translation.

As we take a short stroll through it I have chosen to highlight an act of the will in our relationship with our Lord and Saviour. The psalmist uses ‘will’ 6 times. In itself that is of interest as six(6) is the number of ‘Man.’ Could we therefore assume that for Humanity as a whole, and a person as an individual it is the exercise of the ‘will’ rather than the emotions God seeks from us?

The psalm opens with an expression of love to the Lord Yahweh. Then comes the reason for why he, and perhaps we initially began to love the Lord. Why would we call upon the Lord? Because, His love frightened the life out of us, or at least me! For in love the Lord He made known the holiness of His character then I realised my degraded being. How could I or anyone else stand unscathed in His presence? Only by His love. For He heard my cry of despair and pointed my heart to the cross. There I found love’s grace and forgiveness.

Verse two is the motivation for why I continue to call upon Him? This goes way beyond sentimentality. It is rooted and grounded in the act of the will, the choice of commitment! There have been slip up along the way and only the Lord knows how many are yet to happen. However, His love paid the way back for me. It is paved with my tears of gratitude! Verses 3-8 are some of the psalmist’s reasons for being grateful. How close do they come to echoing yours and my reasons?

Verse nine tells how the psalmist would live out his discovery of love. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. As with any baby, walking requires growth and encouragement, perseverance and even role models. The love of God moves us to walk and live in a manner pleasing to Him. How do we know what pleases Him? That is one of the roles of the Bible. It points out the way as well as warning of detours and dangerous ‘potholes.’ Failure to read it and hear it explained has led many to moral and spiritual injuries and a damaged witness.

Verse thirteen shares with us the writer’s delight in the love of Yahweh! The cup of salvation may be likened to one of the four Passover cups. Within that celebration of national redemption is an individual’s discovery of grace. At the cross the fulfilment of the Passover Lamb became inextricably linked to Jesus. He is the Saviour. When a person share in the Lord’s Supper it is with the celebration of Christ’s Name and achievement. Have you or I recently listed the benefits we have entered into because of responding to the Love of Christ?

Verse fourteen takes us ever deeper into the motivation which stems from taking the cup of Salvation. It moves the will to refresh its vows. What a privilege the Communion offers. Though unseen, the Lord is there inviting you to take the bread and the wine (or juice) and to remember Him. As a person does this with sincerity it is similar to exchanging vows of love and trust. Verse eighteen repeats this desire to renew the vows. It is personal but it is also done in the presence of the congregation.

Verse seventeen actually concludes the emphasis of the psalm on his will. It is also a fitting climax to our own commitment. ‘I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving. From Leviticus 7 and elsewhere this offering was personal. It also had a cost which was voluntarily made. It harkens back to verse twelve where the writer acknowledges God’s benefits personally experienced. The sacrifice had to be made without yeast. That is always a symbol of sin. So before offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving ensure any residual sin is confessed, dealt with and cleansed though the blood of Christ. Then notice the verse concludes with how the psalm began. “I …will call upon the name of the Lord!”

As another psalm puts it “let us come before His presence with thanksgiving in our hearts!”

©Ray Hawkins April 3oth 2017.

Frustration - over-ruled.

Rick Pullen, Ray and Mary, Brian Jennings

North cioast of Ghana

The following devotional was taken from my book (now out of print) called ‘The Neurotic Rooster.’ I contained 31 devotionals arising from our three short term study and mission trips to Africa.

            "Things don’t always run smoothly do they Lord!"

            We commit our way to you, make our plans with good intentions and imagine that we are in for an easy ride. That’s not life. It’s not ministry. There are forces out in the wide world, sometimes close at hand, intent on frustrating our efforts to honour you and encourage others. Plane departure delays making for uncomfortable nights, buses which break down and run to no timetable, promises made without any possibility of being honoured, police road-blocks causing justifiable but time eroding delays have nerve wracking tendencies.

            In the face of such barriers and seemingly unbridgeable time chasms how glad am I that your word has made a wonderful promise to your people. Short term mission trips become learning centres for understanding Romans 8:28: ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes.’

            ‘We know...’ Here experience is talking. These often unpleasant experiences had drawn from Paul’s faith and hope the over ruling ministry of the Holy Spirit and the consolation of God’s comforts. It was not a theory. This was a truth we were to learn so that we too can say "we know, from personal experiences, not pious theories."

            ‘that in all things God works...’ therefore don’t be fatalistic, negative or defeatist. Unseen, unfelt, God is in the scene working on behalf of His people and purposes. It is more often than not only realised with hindsight. Each team member could recount difficulties and embarrassing situations unpleasant and unwelcomed and yet on reviewing them realising God was in there with them and producing good. Faith can only gain muscle through being aware of God's workings in our situation even if it is realised afterwards. It prepares you to be more settled when the next circumstance arises.

            ‘for the good of those who love Him...’how reassuring. The unbelieving, indifferent World has great delight in doing Disciples of Christ mischief. There is great glee in placing snares across the believers’ path to trap them. The awesome creative power of God, when permitted by His people, takes such hostility and brings ‘good’ out of it. What ‘good?’ For the disciple it fashions him or her into the likeness of Jesus Christ. For God, it vindicates His purposes, blesses His people, converts opponents, and verifies His word.

            ‘who have been called...’ and responded. It is interesting as we work through this promise that ‘love’ isn’t enough. There needs to be two other faith factors. This one is being ‘called.’ This is not referring to salvation but to ministry. It is stating that God actively safeguards what He initiates, not what we might believe is a good idea to pursue. Here is uncovered why many worthwhile ventures fail. Before going we needed the unshakeable conviction this was pleasing to God. That conviction can be severely tested in coming days.

            ‘according to His purpose.’ This is the next factor in harmony with the other two ensuring the over-ruling of frustration. Assured of God’s purposes is the essential requirement for emotional and spiritual well-being in the face of opposition and doubts. The bold assertion of our faith in the sovereign grace of Jesus is that nothing can separate us from His love, nothing experienced by obedience to his Word can prevent His purposes from being fulfilled. What ever assessment others may make of our time and miistry we have peace in our hearts. Why? Because, our Lord would have achieved His purposes in us, through us, inspite of our strengths or weaknesses, because He called and we went.

Final Word.

            There can be no unwanted experience, no frustrating delay, over which God cannot fashion honour and glory for His Name.

Help! I need Patience.

The older I'm getting, the more intolerant and impatient I realise I'm becoming. I can make excuses such as lack of sleep, various aches and pains or other people get on my nerves, deliberately.

 How then can I handle Paul's love chapter in 1 Corinthian 13? It opens with 'Love is patient.' That's enough to irritate me. Other aspects are fine, well mostly. We may wonder why he begins with this aspect rather than another. To appreciate his reason we must read the preceding chapters. There we discover a congregation infected with inferior and superior   attitudes mixed with unbelief, ungraciousness or ignorance.

To be fair, these believers had been saved from out of a most immoral, religiously defiled society. The grace of God had transformed their destiny. Now it had to be allowed to penetrate their attitudes, worldview, personality and temperament. This would require an understanding of God's call upon their lives, honesty about themselves and mercy towards others. Such an outlook requires spiritual maturity, nurtured by God's word. The patient facet of Love must flow from knowing God's character. He is holiness and He is love. What we are unable to be and offer, our Lord longs to supply. 

So, when Paul begins with the fact that love is patient it is a reminder of how Yahweh dealt with them.  Now He calls them to express their gratitude to God in extending a similar grace and love to others. Such a love bears the foibles, inconsistencies and annoyances of others. So easy to write and read, so exhausting to do, continually. How can we keep it up? Only through a growing relationship with Christ Jesus and walking in step with His word. Included will be drawing upon His word's wisdom about healthy habits. It is sometimes knowing your limitations and maintaining a type of distant relationship.  Call it spiritual respite care.

Patience feeds upon the hope that God is involved in the relational area through over-ruling, transforming, providing. In the Old Testament especially we can read of people and situations in which God did all that and more. The life of David is a great example on the way to becoming king. His trust in the promise of God kept him from yielding to revenge or succumbing to depression. Time and waiting and enduring situations or people seem to be the arch enemies of  patience. David wasn't perfect, he was however, keen to trust and wait. Yahweh was able, for David, and is able for us, to turn such enemies into forming a faithful patience within.

Being in impatient situations, and failing, allows God to draws us to Himself in Love. When we admit our failure, apologise for it, we find a new beginning. In return, God wants us to do the same for those who fail us, annoy us, don't understand us or reject us. Humanly speaking we may wish them harm. Belonging, as we do to our Lord we are required to express love, His love towards them. Love, however, is a call to express the humanly impossible, by treating others in the way God has treated us. In this aspect that means being patient.

           

Well, I guess I cannot use old age as an excuse anymore before our Lord. Time for me to practise what I'm writing. But please, be patient with me also.

 Ray Hawkins. Sept 2015.

What compells us to meet together?

Attending church services in general, and worship in particular is not for the fainthearted. For in those meetings are the spiritually desperate, the morally wounded, the mentally burdened and the haunted. Such a gathering of ‘misfits’ and strangers can only be held together by one force. The compelling attraction of Jesus Christ! Such a motley crew can only be nourished by well-presented and appetising servings of Scripture.

Within such meetings it is easy to hurt and be hurt. Why then would anyone bother in turning up the next week? Because of the compelling attraction of Jesus! As people are offered opportunities to reflect upon, pray to and sing about Jesus and His glory something happens. His mercy flows. His forgiving grace reaches out. His humbling is felt. It is from such meeting together a tangible evidence of His love is realised. How? By the manner and readiness of the person hurt to forgive and the person who caused the hurt to be heartbroken over the action.

‘Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’ (Hebrews 10:24-25) Such a get-together is more than ritual, more than fellowship, more than giving a ‘nod to God.’ It is an opportunity to be refreshed in and by the attractiveness of Christ Jesus. This motivates you, me, to reach out and encourage those battered and bruised by life’s unfairness. It becomes a discovery of Proverbs 27:17: ‘Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the face of another.’ (NRSV margin)

Remember iron upon iron causes friction. It is that ‘combustion’ which is the medium for sharpening or smoothing. A similar spiritual impact takes place when God’s people meet together. Do you think the following is valid in your life?

When I am within the church scene my meeting with others and their interaction with me is a sharpening experience:

*sharpened is my appreciation of personal inadequacies.

*sharpened is my poverty of expressing grace.

*sharpened is my awareness of mercy.

*sharpened is my understanding of another’s worth.

*sharpened is my commitment to prayer.

*sharpened is my calling to sacrifice.

*sharpened is my spirit to hear and obey.

*sharpened is my devotion to Christ Jesus.

*sharpened is my vision concerning ministry.

*sharpened is my hunger to know God’s word.

A Church from Eyre's Peninsula, South Australia

How can I handle such sharpening? How can others cope with the friction I cause and endure their sharpening? Only by the ‘oil of grace’ Christ Jesus supplies. Only by that ‘oil’ being supplied and applied will any of us be fit to serve, fit to live with, fit to worship. So we come back to the reality of why we meet together. It is the compelling attraction of Jesus. Then, and only then will we see purpose in how He uses others to sharpen, or smooth us. The ultimate reason of course is this, He makes us fit to enjoy the Kingdom of God with those who have sharpened us and whom we have been used to sharpen them.

©Ray Hawkins 16:2:2015.

Islam's Greatest Fear

Islam in its many shades of black dominates World headlines today. In lands they control they impose a ruthless regime. In countries where they are not yet in large numbers they wear the demeanour of being victims. From whatever perspective and in whatever country their intent is the same. Islam must rule.

What can stand in its way for it seems unstoppable. Those who oppose it can expect the ISIS treatment (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria – the terrorist group) of subjugation or beheading. Strange as it may seem ISIS, and Islam in general, have a fear which they suppress through violence upon ‘infidels.’ Such a fear isn’t about conflict or death, it is about engaging in a confrontation with Truth.

This is readily seen by its treatment of those from its ranks who commit their lives to the Truth which out-shines anything Islam has to offer. Consider honour killings inflicted upon individuals who leave Islam for the Truth. Without realising it, this action is in fact a tacit statement of its fear. If this wasn’t the case then Islam would have no cause to murder anyone with a different faith, ideology or lifestyle. Fear is irrational in its frenzy to silence that which it cannot answer or control. We have witnessed it in the murder of women and girls who seek an education. We read about it in mobs who kill, without any shred of evidence, those accused of violating the Koran.

Sharia law has no capability to handle Democracy, the Christian view of Human dignity, female equality or the foundation for marriage. There is an implacable hatred to Israel and the Christian Faith which no appeasement will subdue. Islam denies Israel its history for historical Truth undermines and reduces Islam’s claim to the land. The followers of the Koran pervert the Christian Scriptures concerning the person of Christ Jesus and His death on the cross. No death means the Scriptures lie. No crucifixion means no fulfilment of the prophecies of the Old Testament. No entombment means no resurrection and therefore no forgiveness by faith. It also denies the statements of Jesus and His apostles concerning His return to rule. You must understand also the Koran was compiled 500 years after Jesus walked upon this earth. It isn’t eye–witness accounts as we have in the Judeo–Christian scriptures.

When Muslims chant “There is no god but Allah” it is more a confrontation to the Bible’s affirmation “Jesus is Lord!” They are adamant that God has no Son. This is a direct challenge to the Gospels and the celebration of the virgin birth held at Christmas. Rather than accepting the right of someone to believe what they understand as Truth, Islam cannot abide such mental and spiritual liberty. So when ISIS paints the Arabic letter ‘N’ on a house it signifies a believer in the Nazarene, Jesus. That letter becomes a death notice. Why? Because of the fear the Truth about Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God arouses within their darkened minds.

Why would anyone or any ideology fight against the concept of God being Love is hard to

explain. They might not agree with it but that is different to wanting to obliterate those who believe it. The same goes for the wonderful privilege Christians have in calling God “Our Father!” Our relationship with the Triune God isn’t due to our ability to perform things pleasing to Him. Rather it flows from our conviction about the Truth. What is this Truth? To sum it up means we believe Jesus is ‘The Way, The Truth and The Life. It means no one comes to the Father except through a relationship of a living faith in Jesus. Such Truth is what Islam fears. If it didn’t its leaders would allow those within their community the privilege to choose what they understand as Truth. At the moment to believe is to face death for apostasy. Yet around the world many, many people are taking that risk and making Jesus their own personal Lord and Saviour. That’s what Islam fears!

 © Ray Hawkins

The Most Excellent Way

Spirituality is defined by a number of action words. Love is one of these. It’s a response to a command more than an emotion. Another defining word is Paul’s imperative, ‘follow.’  He concludes his teaching about Love’s primacy in 1 Corinthians 13 by urging them to follow the way of Love! (1 Corinthians 14:1)

In the Gospels this word ‘follow’ comes through loud and clear. A disciple of Christ is one who has responded to the call of Jesus to “come, follow.” This is a journey through the experience of accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour. This takes a person into a new lifestyle. The implication of ‘follow’ is that the Lord is always ahead and bids us to catch up.

The word used by Paul to follow the way of love is more aggressive than a simple following. This is no meandering or casual stroll. It means to Pursue. He wanted the Corinthians to be determined, committed and zealous so as to catch up with Love which they had allowed to move on without them.

To pursue something requires a focus and a priority that allows incidentals to the main feature to be put aside. Pursuing Love is unending as it’s always ahead of us. As we follow the most excellent way, we’re shown opportunities to demonstrate, and test, our sincerity. Those occasions will highlight aspects of the sixteen facets of Love Paul had already mentioned in the love poem! Revisit them. An inability to remember the way the Lord wants us to respond, or the resources available to us, is a guarantee of misunderstanding the power and wonder of love.

What was outlined at the beginning of the love poem Paul sums up at the end of the passage! The Christian life is not a mental exercise nor a theory to debate. Christianity isn’t a passive faith. Christ calls men and women to a journey, to follow, to be and to act. In concluding the most excellent way’s impossible demands, the apostle called them to get out of their self-opinionated rut and pursue Christ and His Love.

Paul doesn’t knock the Corinthians desire for God to bestow various gifts of the Spirit. He had written earlier to remind them that such gifts are always and only at God’s prerogative. In the end result it doesn’t matter. When you’re in hot pursuit of the most excellent way, side issues are lost in ‘the dust.’ Let God do what He wants to do is the unconscious attitude of those focused on Christ. Disciples are under instruction to follow their Teacher. In turn, they must love, Love!

As the letter draws to its conclusion Paul wants to encourage his readers. He knows they are in for a hard time in the anti-Christ community and in their endeavours at reconciliation. ‘Be on your guard’, he wrote, ‘stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in Love.’ (1 Cor.16:14)

   By the time the letter had been read many of the readers or hearers could well feel like failures. And they were. They may have felt like Peter who had betrayed Jesus and then went and wept. Twice Jesus asked him, “Peter, do you Love (agape) me?” The third time Jesus asked him, “Peter, do you love me (as a friend, phileo)?”  Peter who wasn’t prepared to use the word (agape) for what is termed the most excellent way, replied “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love (Phileo) you.” (John 21:15-17). Jesus responded to that and in a sense recommissioned him.

Peter went on from that to live out the highest quality of Love (agape) by the grace of God within relationships and ministry.

Such a ‘Peter’ experience may well have gripped many within the Corinthian fellowship. The acceptance by Jesus of Peter’s reply and subsequent events in his life should have encourage them. It may well be a similar lifeline for us. We know we have failed to live out the high calling of Love. When called to get up and get going again we may fear further failure. The first steps towards pursuing the way of Love (agape) for us may well be our own personal yet timid reply, “Lord You know all things, you know I love (Phileo) you as my Saviour, Lord and friend.

The concluding words in the Corinthian letter tells them that despite of all their immaturity and difficulties, Paul knows them to be in the embrace of Christ. To them he sends his Love. ‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love (agape) be with you all in Christ Jesus.’ 1 Corinthians 16:23-24. K.J.V.

Christ would have us do that for each other too!

The power to do that is to have our love and affection settled upon Christ Jesus. Most, if not all powerlessness to love from a Christian perspective comes from failure to love Jesus as Lord. We will run out of the power of love if we slacken our faith and gratitude to Him. 1 John 4:19 holds the key: We love, because he first loved us.’

That’s the most excellent way! (1 Corinthians 12:31)

 

 

It's just between you and me, Lord

What’s a man doing reviewing a book written mainly for women?
Guess it’s because I’m part of a team who review books. I don’t do novels but I do review devotionals. So, I gave this a go.

As you read further down, Marion Stroud is a prolific author of this genre as well as Children’s books. My wife Mary has some of these devotional/meditation books and has been blest by them.

There are six main headings ranging through ‘A Woman within’ ‘A woman and her children’ and ‘A woman growing older.’ Under each heading are a number of prayer conversations with the Heavenly Father. I admit I appreciate that style. As you read you can sense the honesty of the heart being expressed. From a man’s standpoint we would phrase things differently but hopefully as honestly as Marion has penned the words.

There are some appropriate snippets and quotes from such people as ‘Mother Teresa and Brother Lawrence, Charles R. Swindol and others. I always find them interesting.

I have to admit I haven’t read it all (I’m a slow reader). What I have read I’ve sensed a woman’s heart laughing, crying, waiting and seeking after God in various situations. Any guys reading this should buy it for your wife but read it before you give it to her. Could be a good conversation starter.

Reviewer Ray N. Hawkins

I did receive this book to review from ACBRA.

19th - 23rd May 2014

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

'It's Just You and Me Lord'

(Monarch Oct 13)



By


Marion Stroud

About the Book

Women are most likely to express their deepest thoughts to a trusted friend. At its best, prayer is simply that; a conversation with a friend who is never too tired, too busy or too pre-occupied to listen and respond.



From personal prayers to prayers about family,friends and the wider world, interweaved with Scripture and thought provoking quotes, this inspirational resource helps women of all ages to genuinely connect with God,and build and maintain a strong prayer life.


About the Author

Marion Stroud has written 3 children's books, and 23 non-fiction titles. She lives in Bedford UK the town in which John Bunyan wrote his famous Pilgrim's Progress. She is a cross cultural trainer for Media Associates International [www.littworld.org] which works to help Christian writers, editors and publishers write and publish culturally appropriate material in the 'spiritually hard places' of the world. You can contact marion at www.marionstroud.com

The Importance of the Bible - to me

Why I tremble

                          When I read the Bible there are times it causes me to tremble.

Why should this be so?

I tremble because I meet the Lord God Almighty in its pages. They tell me He is Holy and Just. Written within its pages are His expectations and straight out commands. I have trembled as His ten Commandments strike home to my heart. I realise I’ve fallen short of God’s standard. I’ve not measured up to Heaven’s quality assurance for entry.

I tremble when I read of the Eternal God’s love for you and me. His holiness condemns but His mercy seeks our forgiveness and cleansing. How could this be resolved? Only by someone without blemish standing in my place, your place, and taking the righteous judgement!

I fall down in gratitude to read of the One and the only One who could do it. His name is Jesus! I read of all the preparation He undertook to ensure when it happened we would recognise it. Jesus Christ overwhelms me with His grace not simply for me but for the whole world.  The cross was no accident. It was the historical, tangible, physical experience of Jesus who applied it to the spiritual realm to deal with my sin, unbelief and rebellion. He took my judgement, your judgement. His life flowed out when His blood was shed and it became our cleansing and covering. (Read Romans 5-6)

I now tremble with delight in accepting Christ Jesus as my Saviour and Lord.  There are times when I realise I’ve not been as faithful as I should have been to His calling on my life. But as I read God’s word I don’t find banishment but the opportunity for repentance and restoration.

What is the power within the pages of God’s word, the bible that causes a reader to tremble? It is the Holy Spirit making the print speak to the heart. He works a work of grace so as to bring us to and keep us true to Jesus Christ the Lord and Saviour.  In Isaiah 66:2b is this promise, God speaking, “this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word.”

Ray (the trembling) Hawkins

When I Hear Your Word

When I hear your word

I tremble

O Father, how I tremble!

When I read your word

And know your plans

My heart trembles

Trembles!

When I enjoy your word

I rejoice

O Jesus, how I rejoice!

When I study your word

And know your mind

My heart trembles

Trembles!

When I obey your word

I’m humbled

O Spirit, how I’m humbled!

When I love your word

And know your will

My heart trembles

Trembles!

©Ray Hawkins 21/4/2013.