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Published on Leave a comment on A story about guidance

True story:

I sat opposite my, then, girlfriend in the restaurant.  I wanted to make her more than my girlfriend.  So I sought God's guidance in the way that seemed most obvious to me.

I fired up a silent prayer in the restaurant.  "Father, if it's right that we marry, please put into her head the thought of our wedding day."

Instantly she smiles.

I ask, "Why are you smiling?"

She says, "Oh, nothing."

"Were you just thinking about our wedding day??"

"How did you know??!"

"Because I just prayed that if we should get married, you'd think about our wedding!!"

...Awed silence...

Now let me come clean.  This woman was not Emma, who is my wife.  Had I married the woman from the restaurant, lovely woman though she was and is, it would have been an unmitigated disaster.  Nonetheless - I had sought guidance from on high.  And it seemed pretty clear she was the one.

So what do we learn?

For one, we learn that much seeking of guidance is in fact seeking God's rubber stamp for our own desires.  I was not looking for guidance, I was looking for a "Yes."

When we seek after signs we prove very adept at creating them.  I don't know what exactly was going on in that restaurant, but I do know that Derren Brown can create far more impressive tricks.  In a restaurant, in a serious relationship, after serious discussion, it doesn't take a genius to predict thoughts of a future wedding.  And it doesn't take much to turn my wish into a prayer and then take it for a sign.  If you're looking for one, you'll take anything as a sign.

We're not promised guidance through signs, we are promised it through the word of God and the people of God.

I was reminded of all this by reading Proverbs this morning:

Proverbs 18:1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

Later on I read this:

Proverbs 20:5 The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

I don't know myself very well.  In fact I have deep desires hidden from my own sight.  Yet they drive me in all the wrong directions.  It's madness, but if these desires really get hold of me I want to avoid anyone with Wisdom.

I can maintain the facade of godliness, because - Hey, I'm still seeking God's guidance!

But I'm seeking it in signs and not where God has put His Wisdom.  He's put Wisdom into His book and into His people.  We must seek guidance there.

Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Anyway, here's an old sermon on guidance...

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Published on 8 Comments on An Easter Sermon – Job 19

To listen click here

What words of comfort do you commonly use?

Imagine you tell of some bad news:

My credit cards have been stolen, they’ve cleared out my bank account...

How do you finish that sentence?

...still, worse things happen at sea

... serves me right for being so careless

... I suppose I’m just cursed

... I guess I should count my blessings

... at least I’m not being boiled alive in sulphuric acid

... at least I have my health

... such is life

Whatever we tack onto the end of our stories of suffering gives a little window onto our theology of suffering.

Me and a friend have stock lines we use and we make fun of each other for them.  He calls me a cautious optimist.  I call him a stark realist.  When I get to the end of my news I say: “So we’ll see.”  When he gets to the end of his news he says “So there we are!”

What’s your response to suffering?  In church we often have some more spiritual sounding consolations.  Things like “Just got to keep trusting I guess.”  “God’s got a plan.”

But none of these are a patch on one line I heard recently.  It was from a woman suffering with cancer.  And after she’d told people the seriousness of her condition she’d say “Still, nothing a resurrection won’t fix.”  Now that’s consolation.

Nothing a resurrection won’t fix.

That’s what Easter is about.  The darkest day on planet earth was Good Friday when the LORD of Glory was barbarically executed - slaughtered as a lamb.  When you kill your father it’s called patricide.  When you kill a king, it’s called regicide.  This was deicide – killing God.  The Word of creation comes and we silence the Word.  The Light of the cosmos shines, and we extinguish the light.  The Life-force of the world comes and we kill the Author of Life.

The sun stopped shining and the earth quaked when the LORD our Maker was lifted up on the cross.  Abandoned by earth, forsaken by heaven – He’s thrust into the air, hanging between heaven and earth, He dies the death of the rejected.  Spat upon, mocked, derided, a spear thrust into His heart.  Taken down, His cold, lifeless corpse was laid in the tomb and the entrance was sealed.  God was dead and buried.  It was the worst thing that has ever happened.

But Easter Sunday – He burst out of the ground, NEW.  The same Jesus – but now He’s been perfected.  He has passed through the fires of judgement and come out refined, glorified.  He hasn’t just dipped His toe into death and come back.  He has passed all the way through death and come out the other side into immortal, resurrection life.

And on Easter Sunday we remember the stories of how He appeared to His disciples, still bearing the wounds of His crucifixion.  He keeps the marks of His death, because we will praise His death into all eternity.  But they are glorified wounds.  Jesus redeems death – He redeems even His death, even deicide is redeemed through the resurrection.  There’s nothing His resurrection won’t fix.

And what I want us to understand this evening is that Christ’s death and resurrection isn’t just an example of how, sometimes, good can come out of suffering.  This isn’t an example – it’s the engine of God’s cosmic redemption.  What God did through Jesus that weekend – He will do to the whole universe.  There’s nothing His resurrection won’t fix.

Just before Jesus died He said this in John 12

24 I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Jesus is the Seed who falls dead into the ground, but rises up new to produce MANY seeds.  His death and resurrection is the pattern and prototype and power for MANY resurrections.

Put it another way – Jesus is the Head of a new creation.  And as He takes the old humanity down into the grave He rises as Head of a new humanity.  And all who are united to Him by faith are raised with Him.

Put it another way – Jesus is like the needle going through the thick black cloth of suffering, judgement and death.  And Jesus bursts through the other side – taking with Him, the thread.  Us – anyone who trusts in Jesus is united to Him and takes the same path.

Easter Sunday is not just an example of new life.  It is the pattern, the prototype, the power for cosmic resurrection.  And it’s what God is doing in your life.  He is moving you from Good Friday through to Easter Sunday, and there’s nothing His resurrection won’t fix.

...continue reading "An Easter Sermon – Job 19"

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Published on 37 Comments on You Must Be Born Again

A Sermon on John 3:3 - Audio Here

Mum and Dad bring their newborn baby girl to church to show her off.  Everyone gathers around and sighs and makes faces and says things like “What a beautiful baby!  What a gorgeous little nose!  How soft her skin is!  She’s just adorable!  She’s just perfect!”  One woman calls her husband over and says “Jim, what do you think of the newborn baby, isn’t she just perfect.”  Jim looks her up and down, frowns and asks the mother - “When was she born?”  The mother says “10 days ago.”  Jim says, “I think she needs to be born again.”

Isn’t that the most offensive thing to say?  You need to be born again.  Her mother would be likely to say – “What was wrong with her first birth??!  How dare you say she must be born again!”  It’s very offensive isn’t it?

And it’s no better if you say it to a grown-up.

I was once speaking to a woman at a bus stop.  And we started talking about Christian things – she was a Roman Catholic and told me that she loved the teaching of Jesus.  I said, “Me too, I was reading just last week John chapter 3 – do you know the story of Nicodemus.  She said, ‘Of course.’  I said, well it’s interesting that Jesus says to this very religious man: ‘You must be born again’.”  I asked her – “Have you been born again?”  Instantly she frosted over.  She turned her shoulders 15 degrees to the left and raised her chin 15 degrees in the air, and that was the end of the conversation.  It made for an awkward few minutes before the bus came.

But that’s what happens when you start talking about being “born again.” It is dynamite.  It is offensive.  But Jesus is unrelenting.  He says it again and again.  Verse 3:

3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Verse 5:

5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Verse 7:

7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.'

You must, you must, you must be born again.

[SLIDE – You must be born again]

Jesus says “Don’t be surprised at this”.  We are surprised though.  Perhaps we’re like Nicodemus, coughing and spluttering in amazement, v4:

4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

Is that what you’re suggesting Jesus?  Going back into my mother’s womb?  I don’t think I’d like that, and I’m pretty sure she would object.

No says Jesus – not that.  But nonetheless, you MUST be born again.

Are you born again?  I look out on a room and there’s one thing I can safely assume about you.  I assume that you have been born once.  That’s a fair assumption – everyone in this room has been born once.   But I don’t assume that everyone here has been born again.  I imagine there might be quite a few here who have been born once, but not born again.

And Jesus says, v3, unless you are born again you can’t SEE the kingdom of God.  Or again, v5, unless you are born of water and the Spirit which is another way of saying unless you are born again – you can’t ENTER the kingdom of God.  You MUST be born again.

Are you born again?  Jesus says “You must be born again.”  What about your family members.  Bring to mind family members – they must be born again.  Bring to mind friends – they must be born again.  Bring to mind neighbours – they must be born again.  Bring to mind work-mates – they must be born again.  Everyone you pass in the street today – they must be born again.  As we approach the mission next week, may that shape our prayers and our inviting.

...continue reading "You Must Be Born Again"

Published on Leave a comment on Sermon – John 2:1-11

Audio here

Imagine the conversation between a father and his son, Dutiful Derek.  The father says “One day son, you’re going to meet a girl who’ll steal your heart and you’ll fall in love.”  Dutiful Derek says, “Do I have to fall in love?”  The father says, “What an odd question.  It’s not so much a case of ‘have to’, but when you meet the right person you will fall in love.”  Dutiful Derek sighs and says, “Alright, I’ll try my best to fall in love.”

Later his father says to Dutiful Derek, “We’re going on holiday to Switzerland.  And we’re going to watch the sun rise over the snow-capped Alps.  And we will be awe-struck.”  Dutiful Derek says “Do I have to be awe-struck?”  The father says, “What an odd question.  It’s not so much a case of ‘have to’, but when you see the view you will be awe-struck.”  Derek sighs deeply and says, “Alright, I’ll try my best to be awe-struck.”

Again the father comes to his son, “We’re going to read the bible together, and we’re going to see the glory of Jesus, and we will put our faith in Him.”  Dutiful Derek says “Do I have to put my faith in Him?”  The father says “What an odd question.  I guess in one sense: Yes.  But it’s not so much a case of ‘have to’, but when you see His glory you will trust in Him.”  Dutiful Derek sighs once more, “Alright,” he says, “I’ll try my best to trust in Jesus.”

Well Dutiful Derek grows up.  And when he sees sunrise over the Swiss Alps he just IS awe-struck.  And when he meets the right girl he just DOES fall in love.  But as he sits in church Sunday by Sunday he feels like he has to trust Christ.  And he tries his best to be a dutiful believer in Jesus.

Derek still hasn’t learnt that the beautiful woman, the beautiful view and the beautiful Saviour are all alike.  They are beautiful and if our response is simply dutiful we’ve lost the plot.  When they are beautiful and we are dutiful we must be blind.

The beautiful woman doesn’t want her husband to dutifully admire her.

“You look lovely” – he said

“Thank you” – she said – “what made you say that?”

“Oh, I thought I ought to compliment you.”

Slap

Or

“Flowers, why did you buy me flowers?”

“I felt it was my duty,” he replies.

Slap

Or

“Kiss me” – she says

“Do I have to?” he asks.

Not now he doesn’t.  He won’t be getting a kiss for a very long time!

When she is simply beautiful and her husband is simply dutiful he has lost the plot.  He must be blind.

And likewise, when someone says “You MUST see sunrise over the Alps” they don’t mean for you to dutifully traipse across Europe and stare at the view as a demonstration of will-power.  No when the Alps are simply beautiful and you are simply dutiful you have lost the plot.  You must be blind.

But here’s the thing.  Churches are full of people like Derek – people who are simply dutiful when Jesus is simply beautiful.  In fact it’s a big temptation for all of us.  It’s a trap I fall into, and I wonder if you do too.  It’s so easy to think of Christianity as my duty – trusting Jesus as something I’ve got to summon up by my will-power.  But John’s Gospel was written to tell us – if we are simply dutiful when Jesus is simply beautiful, we’ve lost the plot.  We must be blind.

And this miraculous sign before us has been written down to open our eyes to the wondrous glory of Jesus.

...continue reading "Sermon – John 2:1-11"

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Published on 6 Comments on Exodus 13:1-16 – Dev Menon

From the marvellous Dev Menon.  If you're not reading his blog - go and subscribe now.

Read Exodus 13:1-16 - The Consecration of the Firstborn

The death of the spotless lamb of God allows us entrance into the promised land...

In chapter 13, just after the institution of the passover, we learn about the opening of wombs, the entering into the land of milk and honey and a reminder of the unleavened bread.

Egypt is the watery grave of darkness and turmoil, where everything is meaningless and heading nowhere, a prison of no hope. Christ, through His Lamb's blood, has torn an opening out of slavery - into the promised land. In this land there is no uncleanness, the old yeast of malice and wickedness is thrown away.

Exodus 13:9   And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.

This truth needs to be made a memorial on our hand and burned between our eyes - the deliverance of the saints; the redemption of the church of the firstborn (Heb 12:23) - for we are all 'firstborn' in Christ. The animals are given as sacrifice - but the children of God are redeemed.

The King leads us in triumphal procession into Canaan, the city of His choosing. He comes, to raise the bones of Joseph to life eternal in this new land.

As we follow our Champion through the wilderness, He leads us by fire and cloud - we also need to take His path - so also we redeem the beasts of burden, the donkeys, that we may walk similarly through the earthly Jerusalem, till we reach that place outside the city wall, and pass through the cross-shaped doorway, and enter the Heavenly Zion.

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And here are a couple of my (Glen's) recent sermons on Exodus 12-15

Passover and remembrance (Ex 12)

Redemption of the Firstborn, Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Red Sea (Ex 13-15)

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Published on Leave a comment on You are sleep-walking through a war-zone in your pyjamas

Sunday morning's sermon on Ephesians 6:10-13.   Audio here

Ephesians 6:10-13

You walk out of church, across the carpark and into the Arndale centre.  Before you even arrive, easy listening music wafts out of the loud speakers.  You know… the kind of music that sounds like Kylie Minogue played at half speed by a string ensemble on valium.  The kind of music that sounds how nausea feels.  You enter the heated shopping mall, bright lights, shiny floor, everyone ambling, dead-eyed.  All lost in wonder at the brightly coloured offers.  70% off.  2 for 1.  Exclusive deals.  A safer, fitter, happier, healthier you.  Be more fashionable, more in control, more up to date, more, more, more.  Oh it’s exhausting so you sit down and have a cup of tea, surrounded by shopping bags, sipping your tea, staring into the middle distance, listening to the valium music.

And the bible says: Wake up! Wake up! O Zion – O people of God.  Clothe yourselves with strength.  Isaiah 52:1.  We sing the song don’t we?  Awake, awake O Zion and clothe yourselves with strength.  It’s a nice song isn’t it – but what’s the emotion behind it?  It’s about being roused from your coma of comfort to realize you’re in a battle.  When the world around us is soporific and sedating and stupefying – the bible says WAKE UP.

So… we get home from our comfort shopping.  Indulge in some comfort eating.  Then we open up the glossy Sunday supplements and read about who is more intelligent: dog owners or cat owners.  It’s official – it’s cat owners.  A fact so important it was front page news in several newspapers last week.  And we read all about our holiday destinations and cosy cottages in the country and yet another in-depth profile of the complicated mystery that is Simon Cowell.

And the bible says: Wake up!  “Wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.  Put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.  (Rom 13:11-12)

Wake up.  (Clothe yourself with strength).  Put your armour on.  Don’t you realize we’re in a battle?  You are sleep-walking through a war zone in your dressing gown.  Wake up.

So… you put down the paper, turn on the tv to watch the latest ‘I’m a celebrity give me a make-over so I can dance with the stars and look good naked on a desert island filled with tv chefs.’  Or whatever other light entertainment fills our vision.  We turn it off, check our Facebook page to discover that a “Friend” we’ve never even met has advanced to level 683 of Dungeon Quest and needs your help to slay the monkey trolls of Quandong 5.

And the bible says: "Wake up!”  “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead” (Ephesians 5:14).  Or 1 Thessalonians 5: You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep… Let us be alert… since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

Wake up!  You are sleep-walking through a battle-field in your pyjamas.  Wake up!

...continue reading "You are sleep-walking through a war-zone in your pyjamas"

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