God's Lavish Grace

Today I started reading Terry Virgo's book 'God's Lavish Grace'. I bought it after hearing Terry do a seminar at New Word Alive. So far I have read the first three chapters and have found it very refreshing. Here are some of the hightlights so far for me:

The only way in is through [Christ's] perfect righteousness and having gained entry we must learn to stand in grace. p.14

...through receiving the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness, you reign in life through the one Christ Jesus. p.15

...the law could not impart life! The law could describe the righteousness required but could not impart the life that would make it possible. p.19

Paul was heartbroken about his contemporary Jews, that they were still trying to establish a righteousness of their own derived from the law, instead of embracing the gift of righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.... “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4)

I shall never forget the first time God spoke to me through Zechariah chapter 3. Joshua the high priest was standing before God and tragically, though he was High Priest, he was clothed in filthy garments, which thoroughly disqualified him from fulfilling his priestly role of worship. Satan was at hand to point out his failure and bring it to God's attention, something I was constantly aware of in my own experience. One can imagine Joshua wondering what his excuses might be or how he could plead his cause, but before he could say anything, God speaks, rebuking Satan and providing fresh clothing and a new mitre for his appointed priest to stand head erect in his presence. Satan's accusing mouth is closed! p.32

If you are not thoroughly persuaded that God has given you a gift of righteousness that makes you thoroughly acceptable to God, you will constantly be battling with a general sense of disqualification and guilt. p.34

If you try to resist feelings of unworthiness on the basis of your sanctification, you will never overcome the accusing finger of condemnation. God has provided you with a complete and adequate answer, which is not sanctification but justification. p.35

The Old Testament prepared us for this concept with its instruction concerning the offering of unblemished lambs for sacrifice. The lamb to be offered has to be free from disease or blemish... When the worshipper brought his lamb for offering he did not fear that the priest might notice that he himself was badly dressed, that his clothes were torn or dirty... All eyes were on the lamb. Would the priest find fault with the lamb? If the lamb was perfect, he was accepted. Praise God, he has now provided a perfect lamb for us. p.35

Day by day you must arm yourself with this “breastplate of righteousness” (Eph 6:14), guarding your emotions from the fiery darts of the Devil. p.36

Although it should always be your desire to grow in grace and perfect your sanctification, you should never fight Satan's endeavours to condemn by arguing for your present sanctification. God's answer to condemnation is justification. You cannot be condemned and justified at the same time. p.36,37

On Compassionate witnessing and Hard times ahead

Today on the BBC News website I read this story: UK 'least wanted' list published
It details the list of names that the government has released of people who have been banned from entering the UK for fostering extremism or hatred.
Amongst the names on the list are members of Hamas, Jewish extremists, ex-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, a US talk show host and an American pastor and his daughter.

The American pastor is called Fred Waldron Phelps Snr and his daughter is Shirley Phelps-Roper. They have been barred for their anti-gay comments. "Both have picketed the funerals of Aids victims and celebrated the deaths of US soldiers as "punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality." Phelps Snr is pastor of Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas.

The Apologetics Index (which is a website I've only discovered today and don't know anything about) describes the 'church' as a 'hate group' and a cult. That article can be found here.

The behaviour and attitude of this group, its leaders and its members, is utterly appalling and abhorrent. Hopefully I do not need to say that this group's attitude towards homosexuals in particular but other groups of people also is so far removed from the Bible that it can not be described as Christian in the slightest.

Compassionate witnessing

The best counter-example to these people is Jesus Christ and his compassion towards all people. On one occasion: "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36)

I was thinking particularly of the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Furthermore Jewish men would not pass the time of day with Samaritan women. When the disciples returned (in verse 27) they were astonished that Jesus was doing this, but it did not concern Jesus. Jesus knew that this woman had been married 5 times and was now with a man who was not her husband but he was not righteously indignant with her, he lovingly, compassionately showed her that she was seeking fulfillment in the wrong places and could only find it in Him.

We must seek to go into the world sharing the gospel of truth in this caring, compassionate way. Jesus did not compromise the truth at all but he targeted the woman's felt needs. Her issue wasn't that she was an adulteress or that she had failed relationships, her issue was her thirst for 'living water'.

I pray that when I see the lost, be they atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Mormons, gay people, straight people, men, women, religious people, or people of any possible description, I would be as compassionate as Jesus in sharing the great news with them.

Jesus said ... "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Hard times ahead

From time to time in this country it appears that freedoms are being tightened, particularly freedom of speech. The government on many occasions has appeared to want to restrict those opinions/views that are allowable. One can see why they would want to do this. Incitement to hatred is a legitimate concern. However, I am always worried that the government will one day want to push this agenda so hard that it becomes illegal to be an Evangelical Christian. As long as there are people like Fred Waldron Phelps Snr and Shirley Phelps-Roper et al the people of this country that hate Biblical Christianity will feel they have good excuse for making the real views of Christianity illegal.

This would not be the first time of course. Already in our world there are many, many Christian people who are persecuted or even murdered every day because of their beliefs and their unwillingness to recant them. Just have a look at the Open Doors website and you will find many current examples of this. However, throughout history there has been much persecution of Christians. See the story of John Bunyan's imprisonment or the whole of Foxe's Book of Martyrs for examples such as Ridley, Latimer, Cranmer, etc. Also have a look at the Christian Institute website for current examples in our own country.

I fear that as these restrictions are made tighter over the coming years, Evangelical Christians will find their freedom to think/believe, let alone preach, the gospel message will be lessened.

The majority of the population will be pleased with this. I recently read a wonderful article in The Times interviewing ex-footballer Gavin Peacock who is now in theological training. I found it the clearest witness to Christ in the media that I have ever read. I would encourage you to read it here. But reading some of the comments afterwards was greatly depressing (so I stopped after two!) One person commented "Just what we need, another God botherer". Another said something along the lines of "Believing the Bible is the last thing that the world needs now". Sadly many people have a view of the Bible that is a distortion/perversion of the reality.

What we need is for the church to know the truth of the Bible inside out, live out a real, daily, vibrant relationship with God and share the good news in the uncompromising, compassionate manner of Jesus. Then people will sit up and take notice because of the revolutionary lives they see rather than notice the grotesque counterfeit 'Christians' that grab the government's and the media's attention.

Jonah 3 - Liam Goligher

Jonah 3

One of the great, surprising works of God.
God's dealing with Jonah and with Nineveh

1. God chose Jonah

v1 - the words from the start of the book
Jonah gets a second chance.
We treat others to probation when they fail. God graciously comes to us whenever there is a new morning.
Lamentations 3 v 22 - "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end"
God is not obliged to but he renews his words to Jonah
See the words to the following song - In Evil Long I Took Delight - John Newton:

In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopped my wild career.

I saw One hanging on a tree,
In agony and blood,
Who fixed His languid eyes on me,
As near His cross I stood.

Sure, never to my latest breath,
Can I forget that look;
It seemed to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke.

My conscience felt and owned the guilt,
And plunged me in despair,
I saw my sins His blood had spilt,
And helped to nail Him there.

A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou mayst live.”

Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.

2. God used Jonah

3vs1-2
God used Abraham, Moses, David, Peter even after great sin.
Evan Roberts "Lord, bend me. Bend the church and save the world."
We see ourselves as more sinful now than when first saved.

3. God saved Nineveh

God cared for the city.
Nineveh was an immorality.
God sends his prophets in the midst.
The message comes in 3:4 - "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"
The people believed God.
Proclamation of the word produced faith.
Romans - unless someone is sent, how will they hear?
At creation God speaks and it happens. God's Word accomplishes that to which He sends it even when His people reject it.
The Word we speak not only sets forth truth, it brings forth life.
The speaking of the Word becomes the instrument of God.
We're going to repent even if God doesn't be merciful. (vs6-9)
v10 - God was merciful to them
God pardoned them freely. God did not destroy them.
Does this make God arbitrary and indecisive?
God is unchanging in His being and word (see Mal 3:6)
1 Samuel 15:11,29
Regret, relent, changes His mind.
Bible attributes humans thoughts and conditions to God.
The Bible is God's baby talk.
God doesn't have hands, feet but in the Bible He does.
God grieves over sinners, their rebellion.
Nineveh has changed, not God.
God planned in His purpose to reach those people.
God did this to us who were born objects of His wrath but are now adopted into His family.
See Jeremiah 18:7-10

Reaching the Urban Poor

Here are my notes from two of Tim Chester's seminars at New Word Alive 2009.

Evangelism to the urban poor

We need an approach that is practical, concrete, oral and relational.
When we start with presenting issues we lead to a window to the heart.
Lies about God lead to slavery. The truth of God leads to freedom.
Behind every presenting issue are lies and desires that enslave but also opportunities to proclaim truth.
What do you believe about God?
What do you want more than God?
What are the lies/desires that enslave at a functional level?
Evangelism may often send people to intellectual truth without engaging with heart issues.
The urban poor are not often interested in abstract arguments.
The poor don't often hide their idolatry.

Look at John 4:4-30
1. What does Jesus offer?
2. Where is the woman currently looking for it? Is she finding it?
3. What is the solution to her problem?
4. What is the outcome of her encounter with Jesus? - Freedom from shame

Intrepreting Life

4 types of statements that we all make as people:
Creation - What I'm meant to be
Fall - My problem
Redemption - My solution
Consummation - My ultimate hope

Proclaiming freedom - good news!

1. God is great (Sovereign) - so we don't have to be in control
2. God is glorious and smiles on you - so we don't have to fear others
3. God is good and satisfying - so we don't have to look elsewhere
4. God is gracious and Christ has done it all - so we don't have to prove ourselves

Why does that matter to you?

The Church and the Urban Poor

How would you define poverty?
Poverty = exclusion - isolated, unsupported, uneducation, unwanted

There is a circle of poverty:
Lack of resources leads to vulnerability leads to powerlessness leads to isolation leads to physical weakness leads to lack of resouces

The Bible uses words like orphans and widows.

Jesus = inclusion
Jesus is a friend of sinners

See the following two pages on Tim's blog:
Communities of Performance vs Communities of Grace
and
How Communities of Performance impede mission