Concluding 'This I know...my assurance.

Following on from last week I share my final testimony to Christ’s faithfulness and my, indeed our great hope. I’ve taken Paul’s quote in 2 Timothy 1:12 to explain my experience and trust in His grace. Last week I finished the blog with ‘He is able’. That begs the question ‘to do what?’ 

To keep that which I’ve committed: Whilst this is true the passage actually speaks of what He has committed to Paul, and to us. That sacred trust, the gospel commission was given to men and women best described at pottery vessels. In their own strength they would be unable to endure what was to come upon them. Paul’s testimony at the end of a faithful and turbulent missionary life is here. God is able to keep, safeguard, fresh constantly and watch over what He has entrusted to His people.

What a relief. With all my heart I want to be found faithful. With all my strength I want to succeed. With an understanding of ‘me’ I know that I am not able to do that! Words from a favourite hymn says it all ‘without Him I can do nothing, without Him I’ll surely fail…’ When I bow before my Lord and Saviour the fact of my being in His presence is due simply, solely to Him and His faithfulness and power.

Unto Him against that day: What day? The most obvious choice would be His second coming. When that happens our being ‘in Him’ and with Him is our security. I wonder however, if ‘that day’ could also be applied to the day of our death? Paul was in hourly expectation of being martyred. When that time arrived Christ’s role as the Good Shepherd would come into play. He would walk with His servant through the valley of the shadow of death and into the presence of the Father.

That too is my comfort. I look forward to the return of Christ Jesus to rule, to judge, to bring on righteousness. I realise that it is more likely that there will be some form of funeral service for me. I do not look forward to my dying, although I have prepared for it. What I do look forward to is knowing the promise of Scripture, I shall see Him face to face.

So, in this my final blogspot, can I ask you, “Do you know Jesus the Christ as your

personal saviour and Lord? Do you have the knowledge of His grace and forgiveness? Are you assured, on the authority of His word, that you will see Him when your life is over?

 

'What does it (The Scriptures Jesus used) say? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart." (that is, the word  of faith that we proclaim.); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says,  "No one who believes in Him will be ashamed." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on Him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:8-13.

 

Don't delay. Give the Lord your call now. For today, right now is the day of salvation. Make it your day!

©Ray Hawkins February 18 and 25, 2018.

Shalom!

 

 

 

This I know...

It is time for me to finish my blog postings. I have appreciated the opportunity of sharing my heart, mind and faith with you these past few years. But with the unknown length of time I have ahead of me (I’m not sick, just ageing) I want to pursue some other things.

This, my final sharing with you will be done in two parts. I am using a verse from Paul’s letter to Timothy as the basis of the blog. What Paul wrote expresses my heartfelt gratitude to Jesus Christ and my confidence in Him. The verse is… I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. ( 2 Timothy 1:12.)

I know: There was a time when I didn’t know Jesus in a personal way. I knew about Him. I was impressed by the stories written but Jesus was a stranger, aloof and distant. That changed one day on the footpath outside the Rockdale church of Christ (New South Wales, Australia). It was after the Sunday church service and I knew in my inner being the Lord was dealing with me.

He wanted to know me. This meant I had to know Him! It was a relationship founded upon His invitation and my faith response.  That was sixty years ago.

In whom: Could I have been imagining what I heard within? That was possible but as they say ‘the proof is in the eating.’ The reality of that moment has been proven countless times, and tested more times than I care to remember. Jesus invited me to know Him, not merely to hear about Him or see Him as a noble stranger, but to know Him. This meant He must be my Saviour, Lord, Master, and friend. How was I to grow this relationship? Through knowing His word, being involved in worship of and fellowship with Him. That means sharing with His people. Something strange began to take shape. A new ‘me’ emerged. Hypocrisy slid away. Ignorance was replaced by His word. Faith grew as it confronted the doubts and insinuations which developed.

I have believed. Some will wonder how I, or anyone, can have a personal relationship with Christ. For He is unseen and dwells in the spiritual realm. That is similar to saying a blind person cannot enjoy the warmth of the sun or the freshness of the wind. At first it is hard to define but once experienced, built upon, tested and even neglected for a period (which has its own sense of sorrow), you know the relationship is real.

What do I believe about Jesus?
 Time and space are too limited for an adequate reply. Suffice to write that across sixty years and a church based ministry spanning over fifty years I have found Him faithful. Jesus is faithful to His Word. He is faithful to His name and titles. He is faithful to His personal promises to people such as you and I. Jesus promised never to leave or forsake those who trust in Him. But, what is His reaction to the times I have smeared my calling, broken His trust, played on the edge of the darkness, grieved His Spirit or doubted His

grace? Discipline falls, but not divorce. Pruning is applied, not removal from His presence. Silence falls, but not separation. His intentions are to bring me to repentance, to an awareness of my stupidity that generates a heartfelt cry for His mercy, forgiveness and cleansing. The unseen scars on my soul are evidences before the angels, the demons and my conscience, Jesus is my Lord, Saviour and healer! He is faithful and His power liberating.

And am persuaded: Certain memorials were erected by Israel as a testimony to some act of God on His people’s behalf. They expressed the nation or the individual’s intention of wanting to honour the Lord. What observers thought of those cairns is not the issue. I have certain unshakeable events in my life which makes me bow in adoration and gratitude before Him.

Without explanation I list: being accepted into Bible College; meeting my future wife,

Mary. Having the Lord confirm to us separately and indelibly His will to marry. Guiding and providing for us in our self-supporting church planting ventures. Mission trips to Africa. Purchase of a house. The gift of writing books.

Atheists may laugh, philosophers may scratch their heads and readers may put it down to luck. But ‘I know!’

That He is able: After walking with Him hand in hand with Mary we have emerged with a confidence in our Lord’s strength. That word ‘able’ is the word for power, ‘dunamis’. This power is evident in the Gospel for it lifts a person out of eternal death into eternal life. The cross displays Christ’s power to anyone who believes in the crucified and risen Lord. It is His power (1 Peter1:5) which alone can keep us safe and secure. We are unable to save ourselves, nor keep ourselves saved. Christ alone has that ‘dunamis’. He alone is our boast. 

To be concluded next week

©Ray Hawkins February 18^th 2018.

 

God's biggest problem.

The greatest problem God has is me! And you! Even the Devil has to work overtime to get us to play ‘ball’ with him. Why is this? Because of what he, as the serpent, offered to Adam through Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Humanity has believed the lie and imagines itself as ‘god.’

There have been numerous rulers claiming this title, Pharaoh being top of the list and the Roman Caesars next. But there is a little of this lie running loose in us all, even when we become disciples of Christ. Such twisted thinking is infused into our nature. We want our own way! We debate with God about matters recorded in His word. Most of our relationship battles can be viewed from the perspective of ‘a battle between the gods.’

When Paul wrote the Galatian letter this underlying problem is the cause of so much personal conflict and interpersonal battles. Why? Because the ‘Sarx’ (human nature) wants its own way despite what God, wisdom or anybody else says. This relates to morality, spirituality, personal and godly integrity. So much sadness and destructive behaviour flows from out of our addiction to obeying our ‘Sarx.’

It has taken all the resources of God, supplied to those who claim Jesus as Lord and Saviour, to deal with our notion of self-rule. As Jesus said ‘Why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say’ (Luke 6:46). We cannot pick and choose what we will or will not do when Jesus has ruled on a matter. There isn’t any way we can have fellowship with our Lord if we walk contrary to His expressed will. That is the basis for most of a Christian’s poor witness, sense of estrangement and loss of joy in their worship and faith.

How we treat other people, whether believers or not, impacts upon the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. His grieves and is prevented from fulfilling His ministry within us and through us (Ephesians 4:30). We release Him from this grief when we put things right, humble ourselves and begin walking in agreement with God and His word.

There is a tendency to imagine we can do something for God and earn some bonus points. Trouble is, whatever stems from our Sarx, our self-will, is anathema to God (Romans 8:8). What comes from our Ego and not God’s initiative, stated will or command will not stand in His presence (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). A good example of this is found in Luke 21:1-4. There the difference between a widow’s 2 mites and the rich person’s abundance as a gift to God is highlighted. They did it for show. She did it as unto the Lord.

In Galatians Paul makes a distinction between what flows from our Human Nature and our born again spirit. One is a works program. The other is the fruit of a faith relationship. Our Ego is infected with the ‘Georgie Porgy’ syndrome, ‘what a good boy am I.’ When you consider the fruit of the spirit it is evident that we are unable to make ‘fruit.’ Also, you will notice that fruit isn’t for the ‘tree’s’ benefit. It is for those in need of being fed by such life enriching food. We can fall into the misguided notion that the fruit is for our consumption. No! It is God’s desire that you are His ‘tree’ to feed those in need of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith meekness, and self-control.

How then are we to be saved from our ‘god syndrome?’ By identifying with Christ and the cross. To deliberately say ‘not my will but yours, Lord’ and choose to obey His word is our safeguard and deliverance. That allows us to walk in step with Christ Jesus and know His joy and companionship. By the grace of God we can be called ‘sons and daughters of the Most high.’ That, however, crushes our independent assessment of our ‘god-ness’ because there can ever only be one God.

Forgive me for those times when I have grieved you, my Lord and my God. Rivet my heart and mind to the cross of Calvary so that I do not forget I’m a sinner saved by grace. Weigh my heart down with this awesome truth so that my walk with you will be with the vibrancy of your joy. Lord, look on me and smile I pray. Amen!

Next week will be a two-part finale. The time has come to exit cyberspace and engage in some other enterprise. My finale is 'This I know...!' and as indicated above will be in two sections.
Hope you will look into it. Thanks.

©Ray Hawkins 11 Feb. 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look beyond appearances.

What do you see,

When you look at me

Confined though I be

Through age and frailty?

            Look beyond my decrepit form.

            Despise not my senility.

            Peer beneath my wrinkled brow,

                                                                    Discover my true identity.

 A passer-by sees but ‘the outer’

Unaware of the real ‘inner’.

Hidden within are many stories

Of love, loss, faith and glory,

Friendships, family, history,

All which moulded me

Though they, you will not see,

Made me, me!

            To see only my frailty

            Cheapens my humanity.

            If un-mendable,

            I’m expendable,

Come, ask me about my history.

Listen as I share my journey

Of difficult turbulent years,

Upheaval too, but triumph’s tears

And joys shared with my peers.

We had community, we belonged!

Life was tough, friendships strong,

Things for which I do so long.

            Now our importunity

            Is your opportunity

            To give us dignity

            In compassion’s sincerity

 You, like I, must walk from youth to age

Each step you’ll write upon life’s page,

Face it with faith in the God who cares.

Through His word, in times of despair,

Find wisdom and hope so as to endure,

And by His grace stand ‘true blue’ and pure

So when your life’s race and battles end

You’ll be received by the Lord as His friend.

For Christ‘s promise to you, me,

Because of the cross of Calvary

And His resurrection victory,

We can share in His eternity.  

 ©Ray Hawkins Feb.1 2018