Monday 30 April 2012

Do you GoogleDrive?


I transfer files on a daily basis from home to work and then within various locations at work.  This in the past involved moving either a USB HDD from place to place or memory sticks (which I hate!).  

Cloud based services can be a really good way of getting around these problems and I have been particularly keen to use DropBox and iCloud.

GoogleDrive is now a new player on the scene and my initial first impressions feel very favourable to it.

What is your favourite cloud based service? Leave a comment below.

Check out this installation video.



For more great reviews and videos from me check out home.uktechreviews.com

Worship in time of defeat?


Worship in defeat

Listened to a really great talk at church tonight

Lamentations 3:10-33,52-59 (NIV)
Like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding, [11] he dragged me from the path and mangled me and left me without help. [12] He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrows. [13] He pierced my heart with arrows from his quiver. [14] I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long. [15] He has filled me with bitter herbs and sated me with gall. [16] He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust. [17] I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. [18] So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord." [19] I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. [20] I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. [21] Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: [22] Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. [23] They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. [24] I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." [25] The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; [26] it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. [27] It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. [28] Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. [29] Let him bury his face in the dust---there may yet be hope. [30] Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him, and let him be filled with disgrace. [31] For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. [32] Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. [33] For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. [52] Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird. [53] They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; [54] the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to be cut off. [55] I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. [56] You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." [57] You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." [58] O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life. [59] You have seen, O Lord, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!

Authentic worship is an act of the will and is not an emotion and is focused on God and who He is.

The book of Lamentations is a book of grief stricken poems and was written in the early days of exile.

The book comes between the big prophetic books of the Bible and was written by Jeremiah.

Jeremiah had one of the toughest life-long stories in the Bible.

Most of the time the people were pretty indifferent to God and fell into flame worship. The kingdom of Judea survived but still didn't learn their lesson.

The calling of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 1:1-10 (NIV)
The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. [2] The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, [3] and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. [4] The word of the Lord came to me, saying, [5] "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. " [6] "Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." [7] But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, `I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. [8] Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. [9] Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. [10] See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."

As well as destruction there was hope. There is always an ultimate positive purpose for the works of God even when we can't see them along the way.

Jeremiah 1:17 (NIV)
"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.

For 40 years he was a lone voice in the final years of the kingdom of Judea.

The message: judgement on the wayward people of Judea.

He had a hard time and often felt suicidal.

Jeremiah 1:19 (NIV)
They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. 

He knew his God and trusted in his God.

This is the basis of the authentic worship we read in Lamintations.

He knew aged and trusted in His word.

Jeremiah 20:7-10 (NIV)
O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived ; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. [8] Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. [9] But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. [10] I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him."

Jeremiah has had enough ...

Jeremiah's complaint

Jeremiah 20:8 (NIV)
Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long.

He looks to the God he knows ..

Jeremiah 20:11-13 (NIV)
But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. [12] O Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. [13] Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.

He worships, he connects and engages with God and sees a better future.

He sees hope in the future but his present is still the same but he can still give authentic worship.

Lamentations 3:52-60 (NIV)
Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird. [53] They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me; [54] the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to be cut off. [55] I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit. [56] You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." [57] You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." [58] O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life. [59] You have seen, O Lord, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause! [60] You have seen the depth of their vengeance, all their plots against me.

God had kept the promises he had given Jeremiah when he was called.

He felt he was in a pit.

Lamentations 3:53 (NIV)
They tried to end my life in a pit and threw stones at me;

Wherever we end up on the way down there is always away backup if we look back to God.  This might take someone else pointing us back in the right direction.

If we feel that we have got into a downward spiral and are ending up in a pit we should talk to someone in church - to help talk it through and re-engage with God.

Jeremiah had one pit after and other and his feelings of depression didn't go away but he focused on the God he knew and worshipped in an authentic way.

Jeremiah also brought a message of hope.  He had three prophesies which although he never saw in his lifetime they did happen.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (NIV)
"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. [6] In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.

His was fulfilled in Jesus.

Jeremiah 31:23 (NIV)
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: `The Lord bless you, O righteous dwelling, O sacred mountain.'

Again this was fulfilled in Jesus and continues through us.

We have far greater revelation of God's purpose than Jeremiah ever did.

When things are not great sometimes we can only see the sides of the pit.  We should look to God.


Sunday 29 April 2012

Should Christians pay taxes?

Listened to a really good talk at church this morning



Sunday 28th April - should we pay taxes?

Mark 12:13-17 (NIV)
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. [14] They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? [15] Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." [16] They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. [17] Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.

What are the marks of a spiritually transformed life.

Mark 12:13 (NIV)
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.

They are trying to catch Jesus out.

They come with some description about Jesus.

Mark 12:14 (NIV)
They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth....

Would we agree with what they say about Jesus and the place we out Him in how we shape our thinking and our life?

They have come to Jesus with their question to hear the answer. The question is put very carefully.

....... Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

This is  currently a live question and we think of tax avoidance or the rate of taxation or how much tax we pay.

Roman taxation on wealth was1% with local taxations.

This question would have got people's interest.

Jesus had a great answer which He gives.

Mark 12:15-17 (NIV)
Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." [16] They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. [17] Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.

Pay your Tax in the Roman empire and give to God what His is. Was Jesus also saying pay the temple tax.

Mark 12:17 (NIV)
........ and they were amazed at him.

This is more than just about Tax but about a new future for the people of God with the living God.

Mark 12:13 (NIV)
Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.

They have understood that Jesus is about a whole new revival which may may not include them.

They are trying to undermine Jesus' place with the Romans and the crowd.

If He says as  a Jew don't pay the tax he will upset the Romand and if He says pay he will be out of favour with the crowd.

We may also ask question of God which hopefully might diminish God's place in our lives so we can live our own way.

The world I live in doesn't work like that anymore.

Everyone is doing it.

Jesus says don't do that, don't displace God from our lives.

Mark 12:17 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.

How different should we be from others?

Should the Jews be separate from the Roman empire and us separate from the world around us?

Mark 12:16-17 (NIV) ......"Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. [17] Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." .......

God created man in his own image and although the coin bears the image of Caesar who's image do we bear?


Sunday 22 April 2012

Can rich people go to heaven?


Listened to a really good talk today about the Kingdom of Heaven.



Mark 10:17,19-31 (NIV)As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [19] You know the commandments: `Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.' " [20] "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." [21] Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." [22] At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. [23] Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" [24] The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." [26] The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" [27] Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." [28] Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" [29] "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel [30] will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields---and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. [31] But many who are first will be last, and the last first." 

Spiritual transformation to inherit eternal life

Spiritual transformation is more than just a quick fix in our life.

What happens when the ropes tying us down in our lives are released?

Mark 10:17 (NIV)
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

What more profound question can anyone ask?

Jesus doesn't answer the question but asks one.

Mark 10:18 (NIV)
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good---except God alone.

The man has always lived a good life.

Mark 10:20 (NIV)
"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

What must he do?

Mark 10:21 (NIV)
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Jesus looked at him, gave him a hug and then says the next bit from a place of love.

Mark 10:21 (NIV)
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

If they have truly kept the commandments they would have shown generosity to the poor.

He had probably never lacked things so it was easy to obey the commandments outwardly. He had a great unseen need met in his riches which he would need to put aside.

Wealth is own temporary and will pass away but treasure in heaven will last for ever.

What if Jesus said that exactly to us today?

What would we think, say or do?

Mark 10:22 (NIV)
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Mark 10:25 (NIV)
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

The biggest animal at the time going though the smallest thing people could understand. This is a blunt message.

The central message is not if you are rich you can't get into heaven.

Do we all have to gives away everything to live in eternity with God?

We live more in His Kingdom when we see our things being from God.

Does our money, possessions tie us down and stop us growing?

Do you have enough stuff?
Do we hoard things that we don't need?

De-cluttering is a first step to take. if we get rid of the things we don't value we can the think about the things we value.

Do we travel light in life?

Do we live with the little we actually need?

Would we need such a big house if we had less? Consumerism only works because we are dissatisfied with life? If we don't strive for more stuff we will have more to give away.

Mark 10:22 (NIV)
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Do we want to trade earthly wealth for heavenly wealth.

Mark 10:21 (NIV)
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

"Go, sell, give, then come, follow me."

How do we respond?

Link to song: I will offer up my life

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Psalm 100


Psalm 100A Hymn of Praise       

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
 2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100 has been one of my favorite Psalms for a long time as it expresses so much in just a few short verses.
We long for a day when all the world will sing to the Lord. We long for not only the unity of the church world wide but locally and for those who still do not and have never heard the name of Jesus.
When we worship our Lord do we do it with Joy - do we appreciate fully who we are worshipping and the joy with which we can do that?
Do we come before Jesus with happy songs? In the midst of both good and bad times do we focus on the good or the bad - Every blessing you pour out I will turn back to praise but when darkness comes still I will say “Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your name”
Do we let God be God in our lives, do we set ourselves up above the Kingship of God.  Do we say Lord but act as if we are in control and set the agenda?
Lord - you made us, we are yours.  What does that mean for us? To know that I belong to God is an awesome thing! This fills me with so much hope and encouragement.

 5 The Lord is good;       his love is eternal       and his faithfulness lasts forever.

Saturday 14 April 2012

Spring Harvest 2012 - We can not do church on our own


Spring Harvest Day 3 Evening Celebration

Listened to a really good talk at Spring Harvest last night

We can not do church on our own.

Ezekiel 37:1-14

We start with a very stark vision - a valley of dead bones.  Whoever they were they are long dead.  There is utter death and desolation.  This is a hideous and horrid scene.


Who would have a vision like this?


Where has it come from?


Why would a vision like this happen?


The vision is not the product of a disordered man but is from God.  The hand of God was upon him and set down in the valley full of bones.


This is a vision for Ezekiel from God.


This valley is the people of Israel.  Jerusalem including the temple has been destroyed and the people of God were in exile in a different land.  The people of God were saying this - we are like dry bones.


This is an invitation to face our worst fears.


Church attendance in now down to 5% with the average age increasing and men and families leaving.  Values are no longer recognized and we are now one faith amongst many.


What can we do?


We can go to the mountain top of denial - revival is just around the corner.


We can settle on the plateau of despondency where we look back to the past and think that things can only get worse resulting in dull apathy.


But God does not take the prophet to either of the places but into the valley of dry bones.


This is where we can face our worse fears for the church and shed our biggest fears and say our most earnest prayers.


What happens next?


In the valley of dry bones he hears this key question.  “Can these bones live?”  This is not our question but God’s question to Ezekiel.


“Can these bones live?”


We are a people in danger of losing hope, wallowing in despondency or nostalgia.


Behind this question lies other questions?
  • How strong is your faith
  • How deep is your understanding of scripture of the church
  • How committed are we to the body of Christ
  • Do we have a good grip on the hope to come
Ezekiel gets the answer to the question right - only you know God.  It is your concern, it is in your hands.  If it is to be filled with life it is God’s work.  It is God’s church and He alone has sovereign power.


So can we leave it all to God?


The vision and question are followed by an instruction.


What does he have to do?


“Prophesy to the dry bones ...”


It is time to speak God’s word to His people and His church.  We hear this from people and we are reminded that we are to be a missional community - existing for the very work of mission.  
There is an instruction and in these challenging days there are people out there speaking to the dry bones.  As different initiatives spread out we can hear the rattle of bones as we start to come back to life.


Is that enough?


To be resourced by the word of God gives the body the skin, tendons, muscles but doesn’t give life.  We need word and spirit to bring the vibrant liberty of Jesus.  We can be trapped into doing lots of stuff but lacking the love of Jesus.


At the first the valley of dry bones becomes the valley of dead bodies but what else is needed to bring true life.


Prophesy to the breath - breathe into the body.  Breath, Wind, Spirit - the very life of God in church.


This is a time to rediscover and claim the great truth of pentecost - the Spirit of Jesus is God’s gift to the church and He alone empowers us.  The Spirit of God can raise the deadest of church to new life.


We need to be rooted in our faith, resourced by the word of God and raised by the Spirit of God.


Do we need to rediscover the joy of being baptized into the body of Christ by the Spirit of God.
We need to love the church.  Do we need a baptism of love for the church especially if we have been bruised by the church.  Jesus loves the church with all its faults and blemishes and we need to do also.


Joining the church is more than just joining a family but joining a mighty army who most be concerned with social justice and the love of Jesus.  We will never give up, never be defeated and will carry on until hate is vanquished by love when heaven and earth are a new creation.  


We can bring hope to the world. 


We follow Jesus fighting for God.

Spring Harvest 2012 - Powerful talk by Steve Chalke on rebuilding the walls in our community


Spring Harvest Evening Talk

Listened to a really powerful talk from Steve Chalke tonight at Spring Harvest (2012)

Nehemiah 1

When we sleep walk through life we end up in a place where we never expected to be.  This is similar to many churches. We all live out some sort of vision where we write the story through what we do every day. we are authors of our own script and are often surprised where we end up.

Nehemiah 1 is a prequel to the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 1:1-2 (NIV)
The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:
In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, [2] Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

Nehemiah as working as the cup bearer asks about what is happening in Jerusalem. Nehemiah did know what had happened. This is not new news.

This story begins 100 years after the first captives get back to Jerusalem.

The walls were restored 150 years previously.

Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Although this is not new news it doesn't make it irreverent for Nehemiah.

Why did it matter that the walls of Jerusalem still had not been rebuilt? The walls built community through hope and security. Nehemiah is concerned with something really valuable and important.

Nehemiah hears the story (which he already knows) and weeps.

Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Ezra 4 - the walls had been started to be rebuilt 75 years ago but they have up.

Prayer is not just about words and liturgy but a true prayer is a longing and aching that burns inside your soul.

The prayers get from his head into his hands and into his feet.

Nehemiah is gripped by this prayer and called into action of a long journey.

Nehemiah 2:1-10 (NIV)
In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; [2] so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart."
I was very much afraid, [3] but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire? " [4] The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, [5] and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." [6] Then the king , with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time. [7] I also said to him, "If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? [8] And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king's forest, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?" And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. [9] So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king's letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. [10] When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.

He went to rebuild the walls. This is about action. He goes back to do this civic plan.  This is a real mixture of the church and secular joining together.

What becomes our vision?

Nehemiah has a vision of imagination, of belief of what he can do.

Which walls need rebuilding?
What vision are we investing in?
Time goes fast!
There is a need for courage.

The vision will always outstrip the resources.

At the end of chapter 1 he doesn't know wether he will succeed or fail.

What was the strategy?

In 52 days the walls were built. We have visions but we have to work together. Individuality is a killer - we have to work together as 'us'.

What about our broken communities?

We get involved NOW.
We begin NOW.

We can easily sleepwalk into a future we have not thought about.

Without a vision we soon perish.

Vision = Frustration

Spring Harvest 2012 - Jesus washes the Disciples feet


Spring Harvest - day 4

A really great Bible study on feet washing!

John's recounts Jesus private meeting and teaching with the disciples. Jesus is preparing for life without him.

John 13:1 (NIV)
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

The Passover had arrived. The commendation of setting of the Israelites free. Passover theme being about blood shed.

John 13:1 (NIV)
It was just before the Passover Feast....

Was this the same day as the Last Supper? Was it the same or a different night?

John 13:2 (NIV)
The evening meal was being served .....

Is is the beginning of the feast on Thursday night. One last meal together.

Why doesn't John mention the Last Supper?

John 13:1 (NIV)
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.........

Jesus is saying that His hour has now come. We are coming to the end of the story. Jesus keeps His eyes on his Father. 

John 13:1 (NIV)
.........Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

John 13:2 (NIV)
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.

It was already there in his mind to betray Jesus. The seed had already been sown and his heart was already hard.

Jesus was never deceived about who His followers were. Jesus was not defeated by Judas.

The disciples didn't expect to wash their own feet but didn't want to go first as they would be above the rest.

John 13:3 (NIV)
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

Jesus doesn't serve because it is a good idea but because He came to serve.

John 13:4-5 (NIV)
so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

When Jesus took off his outer clothing He would have looked like a slave.

Nobody says anything until they get to Peter.

John 13:6-7 (NIV)
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" [7] Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

Peter did understand the foot washing foretelling the cross and the servant-ness of Peter at the start of the church.

John 13:8 (NIV)
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." ......

This lacks all humility and is full or pride and this must be broken for him to be useful in the church.

John 13:8 (NIV)
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

We can do nothing to deserve God's love.

Peter still doesn't get it.

John 13:9 (NIV)
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

People with unChristian character masking as a Christian. This will always be a strain on the church.

John 13:10 (NIV)
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."

After the cross we only need ongoing repentance.

John 13:11 (NIV)
For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

John 13:12 (NIV)
When he had finished washing their John 13:13-15 (NIV)
"You call me `Teacher' and `Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. [14] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. [15] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.

This Is the opposite to the feeling of the disciples, Jesus is saying you can't wash my feet and now you have to wash others.

We allow Jesus to serve us and then we serve others. We become slaves to others.

John 13:15-16 (NIV)
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. [16] I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

We don't just think about it but need to do it.

John 13:17 (NIV)
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Thursday 12 April 2012

How can we discern the gifts God has given us?


Spring Harvest - day 3
How can we discern the gifts God has given us and how we can use them for mission?
“Vocation links us with the purposes of God and is the fulfilment of the identity process.”
Six key questions to ask to think about what gifts God has given you already and what you might need to do to activate them?
Question 1: What have you learnt from God about yourself and has God ever said anything specific?
For most of us the call of God on our lives is not very clear.  The first gift we receive is the gift that God has called us to be ourselves.  To be a part of His church in a way that only we can be.
We each have the gift of the call of God on our lives. We all have a vital part to play.  the gifts we have are not just for religious activities.  There does not need to be divide between the secular and the sacred. 
What has God called us to be?
Question 2: What do you think you are naturally good at?
What is ‘just part’ of the person we are?
It may not be something really extreme but there are things that we are gifted with.
I am good at ....
I am naturally good at ...
Question 3: What have you learned to do well?
The first person in the Bible to be described as filled with the Holy Spirit is a craftsman in order to make the artifacts for the place of worship.  This is the first sign of someone being gifted by the Spirit.
We need to learn the gift of creativity
Question 4: How has God used you in an unusual way?
There has been some debate if the only true gifts of the Spirit are the ones listed in the New Testament.  We can think beyond this - God will give us something that we can’t normally do.
When we think about the gifts of the Holy Spirit we often hear about the amazing things that happen but we must remember that God is here right now and ANYTHING can happen.  The future is open.  God can work though me, you and do amazing things.
Question 5: What do you really enjoy doing?
What gives you pleasure? God gives us the ability to feel pleasure. Part of our call must be to listen to those things that we enjoy. Vocation is where our deepest passion and our deepest need combine.
When we think about what God has given us we should reflect and think about times which we really have enjoyed.  This can teach us about our passions.
We are made for something.
Do we have an imagination or a vision for what is God calling us to do?
Do we narrow our vision of what God will do through us?
Question 6: What do you need to do to be the person you want to be and do the things you want to do without one day falling over?
Do we know what we are about?
Do we know what our purpose is?
Have we found it and know what disciplines we need to put into our lives?