AUGUST 2010
Why not take a look at the article with the title, 'Do you trust God or only believe that you trust Him?' (Link: http://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/weekly/10-08-09/7080910.html)
It raises the question about the reality of what we believe as it is tested in the tough times of life. What he calls a worldview is the thinking that shapes our approach to the events of our lives – the thinking that governs how we react to the circumstances of life.
When the Bible says that we are to live by faith, it is saying that we are to with complete trust in God right in the circumstances of our present life. Life throws all sorts of things at us: For example:
...and the list of real pain could go on.
How do you react to physical pain, or emotional pain, to being hurt by someone whom you trust or rely on, or to the loss of what means so much to you? Is it right for you as a Christian to question God? Is it OK for you to express anger at how God has treated you? Is it sin to doubt that God really cares, or even sees what you are going through?
The psalmist often questioned God – he often accused God of turning away so that He did not see what was happening – he often pleaded with God to prove Himself as the God who is in control and the God who cares for His people. Job threw all sorts of verbal trash at God through the pain of his incredible suffering. Jesus accused God of abandoning Him – and cried out “WHY?” With a Christian worldview you might question how the circumstances of life fit into the promises of God. However, in the end when you are unable to fit your pain or loss or grief into God’s promises, you will end up grasping hold of God’s promises because you know that He is real and His promises are true regardless of how you feel.
It is important that you and I understand in our minds something of the great promises of our God – but the test is when that understanding is challenged by the times of trouble that God takes us through. As you go through those times hold on tight to God’s precious promises, and allow Him to show you that He can be trusted, even though outwardly there might seem to be no hope. Job found that He could trust God and he praised Him is complete humility.
Jesus learned through suffering to trust God and receive the crown of glory that awaited Him. In the same way you can experience the wonder of knowing that God is in charge of all things, including your pain or loss or grief, and that somehow in His mighty plan it is being worked out for your good because He truly cares for you. We have an incredible God whom we can trust completely and at all times.
Your fellow traveller as we walk with Christ Jesus by faith, William.
JUNE 2010
Recently the session met for a Saturday to plan for the next few years. One of the sessions that engaged our attention was prayer. We are excited at how many of you have indicated that you use the prayer calendar that is produced every month. Our thoughts turned to how we can help you pray and encourage you to grow in prayer. We plan to include in the prayer calendar (in addition to our current prayers for each other) an occasional focus on a group or ministry of the church – or an event that is happening – or a mission opportunity or need. But the question rose as we talked about prayer – “How do you pray for someone in the church whom you don’t really know?”
The answer is to approach that person and ask, “What can I prayer for concerning your life?” If another person asks you that question, you need to have an answer ready. You don’t have to give them all the gory details of your life, but you can answer as follows:
God cares for you, and so do we as a church family, and we want Him to give you what is best for you. So we want to pray for you. Here are some prayers that I have asked various members of our church to write – for you to use when you don’t know the needs and joys of another member. Please use them, and build on them.
Whatever you do – grow in prayerfulness for one another.
Prayerfully yours, William.
APRIL 2010
We are within 12 months of electing a state government and eight months of electing a federal government. These are responsibilities we have as citizens of this wonderful country.
As you prepare for those events, I encourage you not just to vote because you like a candidate or the party he or she represents, but because that person or the party is the best to lead our country or state. It is often a difficult decision.
It is no easier within the church when we come to select leaders. Session desires to add to its roll additional elders. Here is the official call for nominations from those of you who are communicant members: The session of this congregation has decided to add more men to the eldership. Communicant members are invited to hand to the acting Session Clerk, John Pickering, on or before Wednesday, 26th of April, 2010, the nomination of men suitable for election to the position of elder.
Elsewhere within this issue of Contact are relevant passage from the Bible outlining the type of men whom we are looking for, as well as parts of the CODE (the laws under which our church operates) that define the responsibilities of elders and the session. Please read these pages carefully and prayerfully, and submit the names of suitable men to John, who is standing in for our session clerk, Bob, while he is away. Session will review the names it receives as nominations, give training as appropriate, and submit suitable names to you as soon as we can for you to indicate if you have any objection to them becoming elders. Then they will be inducted at one or more services as advertised.
The Bible says a lot about leadership, but I would summarise its teaching as follows:
Your servant, William.
FEBRUARY 2010
The Session has chosen that our Theme this year will be – LORD, teach us to pray.
Three times during this year teaching on prayer will come from the pulpit. Following each time of preaching there will be a group of two studies on prayer and praying. These studies will be led by Bruce Logan using and following some principles laid out by Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle – a church in New York that has a huge prayer ministry. As Bruce shared videos from Brooklyn with me we were moved by God with a desire to share these things with you.
We don’t want to break into the existing Bible Studies that operate during the year – so we decided that this 6 week course will be run during the three school holiday times – so there will be 2 gatherings in April, 2 in July, and 2 in October. Please keep your eyes and ears open to learn the exact details of when and where these meetings will happen. One of the things we want you to pray about is our children, teenager and youth ministries.
Over the last 9 years our children’s ministries have grown from almost zero to having regular contact with over 50 children on Sundays and Fridays. These children are growing in numbers but also in age, and our desire is that we continue to provide good, applied Biblical teaching to them in a context where they are happy to attend and happy to invite their friends.
Therefore we ask you to commence praying:
My desire is that in years to come our children and grandchildren will look back in their old age and thank God that in 2010 He taught us to pray, and to rely on Him for everything we need, as He does His mighty work in people like you and me, and through our humble service in the people we reach out to.
May God teach us to pray, and ever lead us to serve Him as we share Jesus with others.
Your servant who also is learning how to pray,
William.
DECEMBER 2009
What a year! God’s grace has been abundant in all the highlights and joys as well as hard times and sadnesses we've faced this year. Our wonderful God has poured out his grace upon us as a church of his people.
While God's grace to us individually and as a church family has been immense this year, it seems only tiny when compared with God's grace in saving you and me from the eternal punishment we deserve for our sins.
At Christmas we celebrate God's provision of a rescuer. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the world's Saviour!
This is part of what the angel said to Joseph regarding Mary and the child she would give birth to: She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21.
I'm filled with wonder and amazement when I think about the angel's announcement to Joseph here. If the angel had merely said 'he will save his people' that would have been amazing enough. A military leader, a revolutionary – one who would lead a rebellion and smash the Roman oppressors. This would have been amazing. But what the angel announced was far more amazing than this. “...you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people … from their sins.” Imagine what Joseph would have been thinking!!!
Finally, a solution to humankind's most fundamental problem! A Saviour who would deal with humankind's sin problem and enable the broken relationship between man and God to be restored. This is the message of Christmas.
God intervened in this messed up world and provided us with a Saviour – one who can save us from our sins.
My prayer is that this Christmas and holiday time might bring for you a refreshed understanding of God’s grace, so clearly displayed in Jesus – God's appointed Saviour for all the world's people.
Steve.
May each of you be filled with wonder, joy and praise as you contemplate all that God has done for us in sending us a Saviour. Have a very happy and joy-filled Christmas.
With love and prayers from William and Leonie, Steve and Ingrid.
OCTOBER 2009
The story goes: One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. "One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. "The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
The problem that I find in life is that no matter how hard I try to feed the Good, it is Evil that grows within me.
And that’s where the Christian faith differs from every other faith or belief. All other faiths and beliefs claim to give you a fairly even chance of beating the odds and of living a life where Good triumphs eventually over Evil – “the more you turn your mind to it the better you become.” Christianity teaches the exact opposite – The Bible tells us that no matter how hard you try, you cannot win the battle over Evil in your own life.
Instead, the message of the Bible is that in giving up and handing your life over into the hand of Jesus you will have the victory over Evil, and Good will abound in your life. That’s what it means to live by faith. Day by day, even hour by hour, as we surrender our lives into the hand of our Saviour, who is able to do what is impossible for us to do, He will win a mighty victory in your life and in mine.
For me, the most difficult thing is that this is a daily habit of surrender to Him. Every day I must learn again the lesson of surrender of my life into His hands. But that is exactly what Jesus requires of me (and you) – for He said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). And then as we live in surrender to Jesus – as we walk by faith, trusting Him completely – the Holy Spirit who indwells you and me will bring forth in our lives every element of His character, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
And day by day as we live this way these Godly characteristics will grow in our lives May our great God and Father bring forth in you His fruit daily,
William.
AUGUST 2009
Recently I was reminded of this story: A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation… As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.
The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave.... He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.'
Too often we neglect our own welfare – and as we do, our usefulness to our Master slowly flickers out. It may not be the main reason, but going to church is like turning up to the dining table at home. If you don’t turn up you can’t expect to be fed. And you have no idea of the encouragement it is to each member of the family when everyone turns up regularly.
May God bless you in the company of His people, Your pastor/teacher, William
JUNE 2009
Have you ever thought what it is that identifies us as the people of God?
Six years ago we celebrated 150 years since the building of the first Presbyterian Church in Penrith in 1853. We know that there were Presbyterians meeting in Penrith before that time but no records are preserved. Then two years ago we held a day of thanksgiving for all the years that this church has proclaimed the glories of our great God and King.
Today in the middle of the year 2009, as we come to another day of Thanksgiving on July 26th the question remains: what it is that identifies us as the people of God? I want to suggest that among all the other things – there are 4 things that stand out and declare to anyone who wants to look that we are the people of God in this place.
1. We are a people who love God’s word. I’m sure you are aware of the 9 Bible study groups meeting each week. If you are attending one of these groups – it’s not just a matter of learning from God, but you are learning from each other as well. If you are not attending, I invite you to join one of the groups. If none of the times suit you, please speak to me about the possibility of starting another group at some other time.
2. We are a people who care about children. You cannot be part of our church without noticing the children, and of course their parents who come as families each Sunday. Have you thought about dropping in on a Friday afternoon to see what happens at the Kids Club? One of the things that delight me when I am presenting the children’s talking church is the interest the children take in learning more of God’s word. Why don’t you learn how you can share in this enthusiasm by being involved as a helper in one of their activities?
3. We are a people who want to share Jesus with others. God has moved the hearts of so many of you to learn how in your own way you can share Jesus with others. This is maybe the greatest obedience we can give to our God, and the greatest honour we can pay to Him who gave everything for us. As you share Jesus with your neighbours, family and friends, you will be mightily blessed by God and greatly encouraged in your Christian life.
4. We are a people who have learned to welcome strangers. Once Presbyterian Churches were the place where Anglo-Saxon people met to bring their praise to God. We have learned that the Creator and Ruler of the whole world is indeed the God of the whole world. Think about how many nationalities are found among us – people from Australia, New Zealand, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Samoa, China, Taiwan, Italy, Malta, Hungary, Romania, Netherlands, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Cuba. I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone.
God has given us a foretaste of heaven in bringing people from all across the world to worship with us. We have so much for which we, as a church, can thank our God. He has done so much for us, to make us more and more like the church we ought to be. Over the next few weeks we’ll be focussing on these four areas as we prepare for our Thanksgiving Day on Sunday 26th July 2009.
As you prepare, give our God continual thanks for these and all His wonderful gifts to you as an individual or family, and to us as the people of God. With thanks to our God, William.
APRIL 2009
Easter has come and gone. What difference did that make in your life?
One week before Easter, Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem with great praise and rejoicing. It was a day of celebration – the King had come – the Saviour had arrived to receive His Kingdom. Yet within the next week the whole mood changed – and the celebrated Messiah became the crucified King of the Jews. The One who was proclaimed the Deliverer was delivered up to die on a cross. Yet what appeared to be complete defeat became the greatest victory this world has ever witnessed:
• Jesus who was slain in weakness – was raised in power.
• Jesus who died – was raised to life
• Jesus who submitted to death – rose to rule in life
What does that resurrection mean to you?
When God raised Jesus it was a declaration that Jesus is the King of kings to whom everyone must bow the knee. This will happen literally on the day of judgment. Have you bowed before Him in recognition that He is indeed the LORD of lords – your LORD and God? Without such submission – the cross and the Easter resurrection can have no meaning to you. If you have not yet turned around from running your own life – and given complete control of your life to Jesus – you are dead in your sins, and one day you will be compelled to bow before Him as your judge, and receive justice from His hand – the sentence of eternal suffering in the hell that was prepared for the devil and his followers.
Turn to Him today, and receive His complete forgiveness. If you have received that forgiveness that Jesus made possible when He bore your sins on the cross, His resurrection demands a daily recognition that His death bought your life. The outworking of that is a daily submission to Him ruling over your life. That is precisely what we mean when we pray, “Your kingdom come and Your will be done”. It’s a prayer for Jesus to rule in our lives and to direct our lives so that we will want to do His will in every situation and circumstance. Yet daily that will be a struggle. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.
If you are surrendered to the rule of Jesus – you are going to be seeking to follow Jesus and to live in thankfulness to Him for all He gives to you and does for you, yet as you do this the devil will be seeking to turn your heart to despair that things did not go the way you thought they would go, or complaint that God did not give you what you asked for. If you are seeking to follow Jesus you will be faced with the pain an hurt that others will bring on you not only when they desire to harm you, but also when they act from thoughtlessness and even ignorance – and the devil will seek to turn your mind to hostility against them, that you will be gripped with anger and thoughts of returning evil for evil.
If you are seeking to follow Jesus you will discover that among your fellow believers there are people who do things that you would never consider doing, and the devil will seek to turn your thoughts to criticising them to others and to actions of turning your back on them so that disharmony will reign among us. If you are seeking to follow Jesus you will be faced with the temptation to challenge those who rule over you because you will see in them the same sinful nature that you struggle with, and recognise that they do not always get things right and the devil will seek to use you to divide the church of Christ Jesus.
This will especially be the case at a time such as what we are going through right now. We are in a period of growth as God blesses our steps towards greater unity and harmony, and a desire that we have to seek to honour our Lord God. The devil is seeking to divide us, to bring disharmony among us, to make us unthankful, unjoyful and unforgiving. Pray therefore that you and I will daily and even hourly submit our lives to the rule of Jesus, and constantly plead for the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, that each one of us will be filled with His spirit of forgiveness of those who hurt us, and thankfulness to Him who leads us and provides for us, as well as with the peace of God that passes all understanding through which our God will bind us together in perfect unity.
We cannot defeat Satan without the constant help of our great God.
Remember however that the victory has been won on the cross and in Jesus’ resurrection. By faith in Jesus, live daily in the light and the power of that resurrection as you follow Jesus your LORD. Prayerfully yours, William.
FEBRUARY 2009
I was reading this morning of Abraham’s nephew, Lot.
According to the New Testament, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented by the immorality and the lawlessness of the city in which he lived. The problem was that in spite of his righteousness Lot did not make a difference in the city in which he lived. We’re not told why.
But if we examine our lives we can see that Lot must have faced similar temptations to those we face. He would have been afraid of standing out as different form those who lived around him. He would have wanted to fit into the society rather than be an outsider. And over time he probably adopted much of the way of thinking that prevailed around him. The sad thing about Lot’s life in Genesis 19, is threefold:
1. The violence of the city was mirrored in the suggestion he made concerning his daughters.
2. Even though he was a warned of the impending destruction of the city he was reluctant to leave it, even knowing that it had no future.
3. Lot’s righteousness was so internal that it had no impact even on those closest to him – his wife (who died because in reality she never left Sodom) – and his daughters (who returned to him the violence he offered them for).
I have included in this edition of Contact an article written by an atheist speaking of the difference Christianity has made in Africa. The question you and I must ask ourselves is: If what Matthew Parris says is true (and everything in the Bible teaches that it is) is your life and is my life demonstrating a belief system that is different from the society that we live in?
Do we live lives that demonstrate the liberation from everything our society stands for?
Do our words and lives really share Jesus with those around us? Jesus said: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." [Matthew 5:14-16]
Make a difference – live your faith – refuse to keep Jesus to yourself – worship God by demonstrating His love as you share Jesus with others.
I stand together with you to make a difference in our world, Your brother in Christ, William.
DECEMBER 2008
As Christians our desire is twofold. It is to do God?s will – indeed that is part of what we call the Lord?s Prayer – “Your will be done”. And it is to be the recipient of God?s mercy, love and truth (or faithfulness to His promises).
As I read Psalm 40 recently I saw all those things in verses 8-11 – the Psalmist desires to do God?s will – and his desire is to receive God?s mercy and love and faithfulness. Yet between those expressions of his desire – David makes a declaration that identifies something we so often neglect or overlook – the importance of speaking about all that our God has done for us and given to us. Here are David?s words:
v8. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.
v9. I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.
v10. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
v11. Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. [Psalm 40:8-11]
This year we have had the theme of “sharing Jesus with others”. How have you gone? Have you spoken to anyone about all that our God has done for you and given to you? Early in the year – and again in the middle of the year you received a blue prayer bookmark – on which you were encouraged to write the names of several friends who do not go to church – people who either do not follow Jesus, or who do not show that they follow Jesus by connecting with His family, then church. Are there any names on your bookmark? Are you praying for anyone? Are you praying for the opportunity and the words to share with one of those people you are praying for?
Whenever we share the gospel in one-on-one conversation, there is nothing we can say nor any way we can say it that will stir the other person?s heart to the extent that that person will confront and confess his or her sin and claim Jesus Christ as Saviour. There is nothing we can say that will convince a person that he or she needs a saviour – and that the only Saviour needed is Jesus. Again and again in moments immediately before we speak of Jesus either publicly or privately we must cry out in private prayer, “LORD, help me! Give me Your words to say. Clothe those words with the power of the Holy Spirit so that they make an eternal difference in the hearer for Your glory alone.”
You and I bear the responsibility to be faithful to deliver the message God has set on our hearts to share. And God tells us that He is equally responsible for the hearer?s response to that message. Do not worry about the person?s response to your words – that is God?s responsibility – your responsibility is to speak with gentleness and sensitivity to anyone about all that our God has done for you and given to you. And what better time of the year than now!
Speak to those for whom you have been praying, about the birth of your Saviour, Jesus. Speak about the way God has forgiven you everything you have done wrong. Speak of the way God has welcomed you into His family. Speak of the goodness of your God in providing for you everything that you need for life. Speak of the peace and joy and contentment that He has given to you.
Take as your own the words of David in Psalm 40: “I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.” We wish you a holy and righteous Christmas.
Thank you for your goodness to us and your prayers and also your support in our weaknesses throughout the year.
May the eternal Love of God, The eternal Hope that comes through Jesus And the Joy and Peace that flow From the life of the Holy Spirit Be with you this Christmas and throughout the whole of 2009. Love from Leonie & William.
AUGUST 2008
Have you noticed within the weekly news sheet or bulletin that there is a prayer?
The prayer for this week is: God of our daily lives, we pray for the people of the cities of this world, especially for the people of Penrith; working and without work; homeless or well housed; fulfilled or frustrated confused and cluttered with material goods or scraping a living from others leavings; angrily scrawling on walls, or reading the writing on the wall; lonely or living in community; finding their own space and respecting the space of others.
We pray for our sisters and brothers, mourning and celebrating may we share in their sufferings and hope. Dear Lord, hear this our prayer AMEN. These prayers are included as means of helping us focus in our own minds and before God on the things that matter. On many occasions they will be used within one or both of our services of worship. Sometimes they will focus on our church community. At other times they will focus on the local community that surrounds us. On some occasions they will focus on the world at large.
Prayer is a pretty remarkable thing.
1. God wants us to pray. That’s remarkable because He is the sovereign God who controls everything – yet He invites us to pray – He encourages us to pray – in fact He commands us to pray and to bring all our requests to Him. “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24).
2. God wants to answer our prayers. That’s remarkable because it’s hard to imagine that He wants to bend His will to what we want. In fact He doesn’t – instead he enables us to ask according to His will. What is remarkable is that some of the things we request are so much according to His unrevealed will that He answers them immediately. “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). Recently I had two examples of that – where God answered prayers for healing for two people – removing severe pain and discomfort for one man – and enabling a second man to go home very soon after serious surgery. It was as though God was saying, “Yes I do answer prayer, and I delight to help people”.
3. God wants to talk to us. God wants to have a conversation with us and that is also remarkable! He is the creator and we are creatures He has made and over whom He rules. If it was just that He talked to us to issue orders and tell us what to do – that would be understandable. But He wants to speak with us as His friends. Jesus said, “Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 13:13-16)
4. God guarantees His presence in all we do for Him: He is ever present to answer our prayers. The prayer of 1 Kings 8:57: “May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us” is answered in Hebrews 13:5 “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Throughout the Bible there are many words from God – words to encourage you – words to warn you of danger – words to remind you of things so easily forgotten – words to rebuke you when you go astray – words to lift you up when you are downcast or lonely – words to comfort you – the words of a true friend – your Saviour and God. And as you pray for one another – your brothers and sister in Christ – you will grow closer to one another – and you will be an encouragement to each other.
As you pray for the community around you – you will care more for the people you live amongst. They will matter more to you – you will see their needs and as you are able you will meet those needs, both their physical and emotional needs and their need to meet Jesus and enter into the life He offers them. As you pray for our world – you will remember that Jesus was not an Aussie – He was of Middle Eastern extraction – and He taught His followers that He was concerned for the ends of the earth. It is remarkable that our Saviour thinks that we, in Australia, matter – and if we are going to be like Him we must see that people on the other side of the world – and those who are closer also matter – not just to Him – but to us, His followers.
So we pray for them – asking God to give them everything we want for ourselves. So keep praying – use the prayers included each week – use prayers you find within the Bible – there are many on the Psalms – a few prayed by Jesus and recorded in the Gospels, and more in the writings of Paul in the New Testament – and pray words that flow naturally from your mind and mouth – tell your God what matters to you – and ask Him to help you be concerned for what matters to Him,
Your fellow learner in prayer, William.
JUNE 2008
It's always good to examine ourselves as to where we are in our Christian life. See how well you're doing by answering the following questions from the Holy Club of Oxford in John Wesley's day. The name was given to John and Charles Wesley’s group by their fellow collegians in mockery of their emphasis on devotions. The Holy Club members asked themselves these 22 questions each day in their private devotions.
Questions from the Holy Club of Oxford in John Wesley's Day
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am a better man than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts or words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it (the Bible) time to speak to me everyday?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to somebody else with the object of trying to win that person for Christ?
11. Am I making contacts with other people and using them for the Master's glory?
12. Do I pray about the money I spend?
13. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
14. Do I disobey God in anything?
15. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
16. Am I defeated in any part of my life? Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anybody whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward, or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?
What would your life be like – and what would my life be like – if we asked ourselves these or similar questions daily as we met with our God? Prayerfully yours, William.
APRIL 2008
Recently as I have been preparing for preaching both from 1 John and from Mark’s gospel – I have been increasingly aware of my need to pray. The passages I have been preaching from are very familiar – and yet they have not been easy passages to come to grips with so that I can present them to you in a way that has been helpful. As I grow older I am increasingly finding that I must struggle first to come to terms with my own sinfulness – and my own weaknesses – and then to come to terms with the breadth and depth of the word of God.
Please forgive me when I am unclear – but do not remain silent about that failure. Gently tell me that you could not understand what I was saying about his verse or that section of God’s word.
And please pray for me. If anything has been helpful it is because God has answered your prayers and mine – because it is all of Him. Prayer is the basis from which we all must operate.
Over the past year and a quarter we have been praying that God would supply our financial needs – and He is doing that marvellously. Do not stop praying for His generosity towards us. But also pray for your self and the group in which you are involved within the church. Pray so that as individuals – and as groups – and as a whole church we will grow closer to God and honour and praise Him as we should – indeed that we will worship our God by demonstrating His love as we share Jesus with others.
I have given each group within the church the following questions – and I give them to you. I give them to you so that as an individual you might think about the ways you can assist your group to answer them. I give them also so that you can think about how you can develop as a Christian in these four areas of life that are so important to us as a church. I have altered the question slightly so that they are easier to apply to each of us as individuals:
Worship
1. What can I aim at and do as an individual to better worship our God with joyful praise within my group?
2. What can I aim at and do as an individual to help our whole church better worship our God with joyful praise?
Obedience
1. What can I aim at and do as an individual to better obey God’s word, the Bible our God within my group?
2. What can I aim at and do as an individual to help our whole church better obey God’s word, the Bible our God?
Reaching Out
1. What can I aim at and do as an individual to help welcome one person from outside the church into my group?
2. What can I aim at and do as an individual up to help welcome one person from outside the church into the church?
Demonstrating Love
1. What can I aim at and do as an individual to better express genuine caring love for each other within my group?
2. What can I aim at and do as an individual to help our whole church better express genuine caring love for each other?
Remember a theme of several years ago – Together Everyone Accomplishes More – TEAM up firstly with God in prayer – and them with one another in obedience to God.
A fellow member of the TEAM
Prayerfully yours,
William
FEBRUARY 2008
Someone was speaking to me recently about the word “witness”. A witness is someone who has personally experienced an event. A witness is someone who was there when it happened. It isn’t someone who heard of the event or happening from a friend.
Jesus said to His disciples just before He left them and went to heaven, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” They were witnesses because they had been with Jesus for three years. They had seen what He had done. They had heard Him speak to the crowds, to individuals and to them as a group. Some of them had been with Him when He was transfigured into the glory that was eternally His, and when He raised the daughter of Jairus, and when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
And now they were being sent out to speak from that personal knowledge to people all round the world. It was a huge task that was being given them – but they were also resourced to achieve the commission given them. The promise, “You will receive power”, precedes the task given them, “you will be my witnesses”.
And that’s how it always is. God always equips His people for the tasks He gives them.
We are about to embark on a new phase in the life of our church. God has been good to us in bringing quite a number of people into our assembly. Our children’s ministries have grown over the last couple of years – and families have joined our church because of those ministries. In faith we invited Steve to join our leadership team and within the first year God provided more money than we needed to pay for our increased leadership.
This year we have also adopted as our theme part of our purpose statement. This year we are emphasising: sharing Jesus with others. But you can’t share Jesus unless you know Him. You can’t introduce people to Jesus unless you know Him personally.
Start by making sure that you are truly a follower of Jesus. Turn from running your life as you want to run it and hand control over to Jesus.
Then allow Jesus to control your life – and change your life so that you please God your Father.
Then witness by demonstrating to other the change Jesus has made in your life. Explain to them as they ask why you are now different from what you used to be like – explain that it was Jesus who changed you – and Jesus desires for them to have that same change in their lives.
Remember what Peter wrote: ‘In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.’ [1 Peter 3:15-16]
Allow Jesus Christ to rule your heart and life.
Understand why you are different now that He rules you.
Courageously, gently and respectfully explain to others as they ask, that Jesus is the one who makes the difference.
Continue to live under Jesus’ lordship so that your conscience is clear before God.
And together we will be an encouragement to each other as we live and speak for Jesus our Lord.
William
DECEMBER 2007
At long last the year is about to end. The problem for most of us is that it was only a little while ago that the year began. It has all happened too quickly.
For John Howard the same is true – his political end has come before he contemplated it. One day he held and exercised the power and glory of the second highest position in our land. The next day he was unemployed. And in not so many years we will farewell Kevin Rudd also. Their rule, their power, their glory are so finite.
How different for the One we worship – our heavenly Father – to Him belong the kingdom, the power and the glory both now and for ever.
Over the year we have looked at the phrases within the Lord’s Prayer. This month we come to the end. And we’re brought right back to the beginning. Notice how close the beginning and ending of the prayer are:
Hallowed by your name The glory is yours
Your kingdom come The kingdom is yours
Your will be done The power is yours
We are declaring that what we are praying for is already a fact. Our God is God. Our God is ruling in glory and power over the whole of His kingdom. We just can’t see His glory displayed in many of the situations we find ourselves in. We just can’t see how His power is active when there is so much evil happening around us. We are distracted from seeing His rule over the earth by those who seem to get away with challenging that rule daily. So we want our God to demonstrate his rule and power and glory more clearly on this earth where we currently live.
Sometimes we rush through then words of the Lord’s Prayer, but we cannot rush through the rule of our God. He refuses to be rushed – in fact there is no hurry – He will rule for ever. He has His timetable that is on another plane to ours. He is patient with those who want to challenge His rule. His patience is a patience that longs to see those rebels repent, and fall in worship and obedience before Him.
Sometimes we wish that our God would step into our world again and make a difference as He did when Jesus came into this world. Yet what Jesus said was that God has placed you and me here to be that difference that we pray for – to live in such a way that others will know of the rule and the power and the glory of our God.
As we approach another Christmas may your life demonstrate that the kingdom, the power, and the glory belong to our father in heaven both now and for ever.
Prayerfully yours, William.
OCTOBER 2007
Western society doesn’t believe in the devil. Yes, we see caricatures of a fellow dressed in red with a pitchfork in his hand and a pointed or barbed tail. If that is all he was, we wouldn’t have much to worry about. But the devil is far worse than that image – because he disguises himself as an angel of light. More than that – he is a liar and a deceiver – and what he promotes to our thinking appears attractive and even good. That’s why Eve so quickly accepted what the devil offered her. That’s why Adam so readily joined Eve in disobeying God. What the devil offered them was attractive – and they bought the devil’s line that God was withholding some good from them.
We’re not very much different from our first parents. The writer to the Proverbs says: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding. Yet we don’t trust wholeheartedly in the LORD. We rely on government handouts. We rely on the strength we have to do whatever it takes to survive. We rely on our family and our friends to make up for our own shortfalls.
We do this because we are afraid to completely trust in the LORD. Our minds are filled with questions:
Jesus knew our dilemma. He knew what it was like to pray and not to receive a clear answer when he needed it. He knew the temptations to do things in his own strength.
So He said, “When you pray say, Our Father in heaven, deliver us from the evil one.”
He wasn’t suggesting we should ask for a supernatural escape from the evil that affects everyone in this world. He was saying we need to pray for protection from the attacks of Satan – protection from spiritual oppression. He was saying – cry out to your God to guard you with His angels against the spiritual forces of evil (described in Ephesians 6:12) whom Jesus triumphed over when He rose from the dead and was seated on His heavenly throne (described in Ephesians 2:20-21).
We do not need to feel overwhelmed by Satan. Yes, Satan is more powerful than we are. He is more evil than we imagine. He is the supreme liar and deceiver. But as followers of Jesus, you and I are indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit, as God, is far more powerful than Satan.
“When you pray say, Our Father in heaven, deliver us from the evil one.” Pray in this way because The Holy Spirit who is in you is greater than the devil who is opposed to you.
May God encourage and strengthen you in your walk with Him.
Prayerfully yours, William
AUGUST 2007
We are partners in the gospel - but what does that mean?
One of the things it means is that we will pray for one another. It means I will pray for you and you will pray for me, and we will pray for each other person who is part of our church. And one of the prayers we will pray for each other is, Our Father in heaven, lead us not into temptation.
You see - you know what it is like to be led into temptation. You are tempted in all sorts of ways. There is the temptation to covet what God has not supplied for you - possessions, comfort, strength, money, clothes, honour, recognition, specific pleasures, and 1000 other things. There is the temptation to say things against another person to drag them down in the eyes of others. There is the temptation to acquire something that does not belong to you without paying for it. There is the temptation to allow the lust of the flesh to fill your mind. There is the temptation to hold a grudge and allow bitterness and hate to dwell within you. There is the temptation not to give your parents the honour they deserve. There is the temptation to misuse the Lord's Day for private pleasure rather than for honouring God. There is the temptation to misuse the Lord's name in a moment of pressure. There is the temptation to so devote your attention and priorities to someone or something that you are worshipping that person or thing. There is the temptation not to obey the Lord your God.
I know that you know all those temptations simply because like me, you are human - a descendant of Adam and Eve who failed the first test. So pray for each other. Eve sinned because Adam did not pray for her and did not encourage her to obey God rather than the desires of her own heart. Adam sinned because Eve did not pray for him and did not encourage him to obey God rather than the desires of his own heart.
And remember the promise that is contained in the scripture in 1 Corinthians 10:11.
These things (the sins that Israel committed in the Old Testament) happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Pray for each other that:
• he/she will recognise their own weakness in the face of temptation, and not try to overcome evil in their own strength.
• he/she will rely on God for daily strength to obey God and not to walk in the paths of wickedness.
• he/she will when tempted cry out to God for help.
• he/she will look for the way God has provided in order to escape form the temptation and to stand firm in the faith, obedient to our Lord and Saviour.
This is my prayer for you, Father in heaven, lead us not into temptation,
Prayerfully yours, William
JUNE 2007
This month we come to the toughest part of prayer - praying for forgiveness. It's tough to ask for forgiveness because it presumes that you and I are going to admit that we've sinned - that we've hurt another person - that we've disobeyed God. And that's a hard thing to admit.
So often I prefer to think that I am right and everyone else is wrong. So often I think that I'm not nearly as bad as the other person. So often I think that even when I go wrong it's totally excusable in the circumstances. And I'm sure you think similarly about yourself at times. But let's face the facts. If we could see ourselves as others see us in our weaker moments, we would be utterly embarrassed. And that's how God sees us every moment of every day. Father in heaven, forgive us our sins.
Yet if it's hard to admit our sin and our need for forgiveness by God - it's even harder to pray the second half of this part of the Lord's Prayer: Father in heaven, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Often the greatest sin that we hold onto, before we become Christians, and even after we trust in Jesus is the sin of unforgiveness. We treasure that memory of the time someone hurt us. We cultivate an unforgiving heart. We polish the stone of resentment. We close the door to that other person locking it with a grudge that we refuse to give up.
Jesus said, "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)
That's how important forgiveness is - if I harbour unforgiveness in my heart, the God will treat me just as I treat the person I refuse to forgive. I will miss out on God's forgiveness.
In the end what Jesus is saying is that the way I behave shows who my father is. If I forgive others it is a sign that I am like my Father God. If I refuse to forgive others when they sin against me it is a sign I am like my father the Devil.
Compared to what God has forgiven me in Jesus, the sins that others do to me are so small. Compared to the price Jesus paid to forgive me, the cost I need to pay to forgive others is so small.
Father in heaven, teach each of us to not only receive your costly forgiveness for all our sins, but help us to desire to forgive the sins others do against us, and to actually do it in your strength, so that we can truly pray, Father in heaven, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Prayerfully yours, William
APRIL 2007
Sometimes we so spiritualise our faith that we forget that the God we worship and follow made the world we live in. It is His world, and he put us in charge of it to look after it and to enjoy it. And the enjoyment of this world is to both observe it and to benefit from its produce.
God did not mean us to think only of heaven - He does not want us to forget the earth we live on. Recently we enjoyed the celebration of a Harvest Festival Service where we brought some of the produce of the earth and some of our artistic members made a display out of it. It was a celebration of the goodness of our God in providing food for us to eat.
The drought is a reminder that God gives the sunshine and the rain to make crops grow. Not that we need a reminder - every time we pray Our Father in heaven, give us this day our daily bread we are reminded that God gives us food and drink on a daily basis.
But the drought is also a reminder that God withholds our daily bread when we turn from Him and worship other gods. That's certainly what our nation has done. I was a little disappointed that our Prime Minister, a professing Christian, found it necessary to use Easter Sunday to make a political announcement. But that is a symptom of the way our nation has gone. Very few people in Australia really put the Creator God who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ first in their lives. And so God sends drought to remind us that He really is in charge even of Australia.
We cannot honestly pray Jesus' words asking our God for daily bread when we do not put Him first in our lives.
And we cannot place the blame on others. We are part of the problem. We are not truly following our God as He demands - and so His judgment is also on us. We therefore need to repent of our sin and plead for our God to have mercy on us.
Then we need to also repent of the abuse of our world that we have participated in as we have allowed other to burn so much fossil fuel and destroy the ozone layer. We need to repent that we are addicted to cars that consume petrol - we are addicted to beautiful gardens that consume water - we are addicted to all sorts of electrical equipment that ultimately produce carbon dioxide - and the list goes on.
We cannot honestly pray Jesus' words asking our God for daily bread when we abuse the good gifts He has already given us.
And although we brought a few items of produce and then gave them to the people who run Penrith Kitchen to feed the needy of our community - most of us cry poor ourselves and do so little to care for the needy. We cannot honestly pray Jesus' words asking our God for daily bread when we refuse to share the good gifts He has given us with those who have far less than us.
But don't stop praying this prayer. Instead plead with your God with thankfulness to Him who has given you all you need - for forgiveness that you have not put Him first in your life - for forgiveness that you have entered into the abuse of the resources of our world - and that you have not shared the goodness of God with those who are less well off. And then you will be able with a clear conscience not only to pray these words, Our Father in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, but you will be able to rejoice in your God's never ceasing goodness to you in giving your all you need for life and godliness - more than enough - enough for you to share with your brothers and sisters who are needy - to share with great joy and praise to your God.
Prayerfully yours, William
...your brother in Christ who also is struggling to put into practice the words of God that are so familiar to the ear - but so unfamiliar to the heart.
FEBRUARY 2007
As I have said the other Sunday, thank you to all of you who have carried our family during the last couple of weeks. I have experienced some of the most common emotions that all of us experience during our lives - grief - fear - worry - regret - and great joy.
It's fairly easy when we think of God to recognise that His good hand is upon us when things are going well. We are thanking God that Annelise has come into Alan's life - and we are looking forward to celebrating with them in their marriage later this year. God has been good to our son - and to us.
Yet there are times when we forget God in the good times - when we think that we are the ones who have done whatever it is that lies behind our pleasure. But God is the One who gives us strength to work. He is the One who gives us our work and investments that provide the money on which we live. He is the One who brings people into our lives and who fills our hearts with love for them. In the good times we need to say in prayer:
Our Father in heaven, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Our Father in heaven, help me to respond to Your goodness according to Your will - responding with thankfulness to You, and holy joy over my good fortune in receiving Your goodness.
And then there are the other times. I could accept without complaint the steady decline in my father's health and his death. Really it was a release for him. As a family (along with many other who had benefited from my father's ministry over many years) we knew that for dad, to die was gain. The Lord God to whom he had introduced so many people to in the Sudan as well as across Australia, has welcomed him into the eternal rest of heaven. And our response has been:
Our Father in heaven, Your will has been done on earth as it is in heaven.
Yet while we were driving north to attend dad's funeral we received news that shook me - news that made me struggle with God's will. It was that Alicia who had celebrated her first birthday a week before, had stopped breathing. To accept God's will for someone who is 91 is relatively easy - but it is a different story to accept that God knows what He is doing when something "bad" happens to a one year old. Yet that is exactly where we must put our faith in God into practice. That is exactly where we must say that our God is in control of all things and that His will is always good and perfect. That is when we discover that our God does stand the big test - and that His goodness and loving control of all things is right. That is when these words are real beyond the shadow of a doubt:
Our Father in heaven, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Alicia is doing really well after the scare she gave us. However her continued physical life is a gift from God to us - and one day some other disaster may befall us. Right now is the time for you and me to practise the reality of trusting God so that in future tough times we will be able to continue saying with conviction to our wonderful God,
Our Father in heaven, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Prayfully yours, William
DECEMBER 2006
Dear friends,
More than any other time of the year, as Christmas approaches we long for peace on earth. The Bible tells us that physical peace will only come into this world as we and those around us allow God to rule our lives and to rule the world in which we live. And that's what we pray for when we say:
Our Father in heaven, may Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.
That means, Lord God, may I be like You - totally selfless in my life on earth.
Now church is part of your life on earth. And if you are to be selfless about church that means that church is not for you. Now this only applies to believers - because the prayer is addressed to your Father in heaven. And God is not your Father unless you have turned from sin and self and been forgiven through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But let's assume that you are a son or daughter of God. Church is not for you - because you are like Jesus - utterly selfless. Church is for others. If you or I come to church for what we can get for ourselves - then God is not our King - we are not submitting to His kingdom or His rule.
Now that is a big problem if you are a young person who has been brought up in the ME generation to think that the world owes it all to you.
It is also a problem for the middle generation of 30s to 50s who are working hard for everything you can get.
And it is a problem for those of us who are over 50 because we long to be comfortable - to have our needs met - we deserve to be treated well.
Can you see - that whatever age you are - you face the same temptation, even when it comes in a different disguise - the temptation to think first of yourself.
But Jesus encourages us to pray - Father, make you rule over me so secure that I will never think of myself - even when I come to church. Help me to realise that you bring me to church for two reasons:
• I come to church to praise and worship you - my Lord and my God, and
• I come to church so that other Christians will be built up in their faith, and that unbelievers will come to faith in Jesus.
If every one of us came to church every Sunday with that attitude, and came to the other activities of our church on other days of the week with that attitude, we would be assured that everyone's needs (including our own) would be met - indeed our lives would overflow with the love, the joy and the peace of our God.
Will you say - about your involvement in church - and then about every area of your life, Father in heaven, May you kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. As we do, we will find our peace with God - and that peace will flow out of our lives to others. God's peace will come to this world through His rule of you as that flows on to all whom you meet.
Have a peace-full Christmas as you live under the rule of Christ the King,
- William
OCTOBER 2006
Dear Friends,
Jesus not only prayed but He also helped His disciples to know how to pray. In fact He told them that instead of mindlessly repeating set formulas for prayer such as the Pharisees seemed to do - they should model their prayers on what we now call The Lord's Prayer. Jesus said that the sin of the Pharisees was that they thought it was the words that mattered - so that if you get the words right - God hears them - and the more often you pray those words - the better God hears them.
Instead what God hears are the attitudes of our hearts. It's like hearing someone declare their love for you. The words are lovely - but if they are a cover for deceit - or if they disguise a selfish intent - they are the most unloving words anyone can ever use. What matters in all relationships is our heart attitude towards the other person. For without a good heart attitude there is no relationship - and especially with God.
We pray, Our Father in heaven, because He has made us His children through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We have trusted in His promise to adopt us into His family. And we have pleaded with Him to help us turn away from selfishness and self-interest and to enable us to follow Him.
And the result is that we want always to praise His name. That's what it means to ask, Hallowed be Your name. May Your name Father, be held as holy by every living creature in heaven and on earth.
And as you pray that prayer, do you live it out? Is your desire always to see other people treat our God with the reverence that His holiness deserves? I was reading recently of a young minister (John) who discovered that an openly practising homosexual couple had moved into the place next door. After actively avoiding them for over a year - including rejecting an invitation to a party at their place - John and his wife decided to hold a party to introduce their neighbours to Jesus. The gay couple turned up - and successfully destroyed all opportunity to talk about Jesus. Yet they, along with every other guest took home a copy of the Jesus video. For several months John fought with God over his refusal to show God's love to these men. Then one of those young men approached John and asked for prayer, and then accepted an invitation to study the Bible to investigate God.
A simple invitation to a party and a welcome into his home made all the difference. No - the homosexual man did not become a Christian - but He learned to respect John's God because John and his wife were willing to open their door.
Hallowed be Your name means I will honour God and seek to be like Him - pure and holy - gracious and loving - kind and forgiving to others so that they will want to praise and respect the holy God who has made me different from what they expected me to be like - the God who has made me just a little bit like Himself.
If God is your heavenly Father - as you trust Him to mould you into His image - to become like Jesus - other people will also begin to respect and honour Him.
We pray this prayer because only God can change us - and only God can change the hearts of others as they see the change He has made in us.
Let us allow God to keep changing us, so that we become more like Jesus,
William
==========================================
AUGUST 2006
Dear Friends,
Recently I preached on the need for our church to be serious about any sin in our midst. This sermon arose from 1 Corinthians 5. Since then I have come across the following article that writes in the name of King David after he had been declared guilty of sin in committing adultery with Bathsheba and of the murder of her husband Uriah. It is written as a transcript of a radio or TV broadcast by David, as though he was a leader in the 21st Century. Compare it with what David wrote in psalm 51 quoted following:
.............................
My fellow countrymen, I have requested this air time to speak to you about questions regarding my relationship to a woman you've heard a lot about in recent months. I mean, of course, my newest wife Bathsheba. You may have wondered about our marriage so soon after the death of one of our national heroes, her late husband Uriah. Many rumours have been spread concerning the tragic death of our son shortly after his birth.
As you can well imagine, this has been a painful time for me and my family. I acknowledge that there was something inappropriate about my relationship with this woman before our marriage. I realize that my silence coupled with my previous statements may concern you. My assertion that I did not have sexual relations with my wife before our marriage was technically correct (for she was not my wife before our marriage). I was also correct when I affirmed that when Uriah was killed in battle I had nothing to do with it, because the battle orders were issued by General Joab. I, however, did not volunteer to reveal any information. You may feel you have been misled.
There are reasons for my silence and my previous statements. For one thing, I did not see any reason I should suffer public embarrassment by revelations about one of my personal relationships. I have also been concerned about the impact of this information on my other wives and children. And I did not feel it proper for anyone to cast a shadow over my latest marriage or the sorrow of a recently widowed woman I have tried to comfort.
But there is another reason, and it is the cause of the anger you discern in my voice and demeanour tonight. I have had enough of that meddling investigative and judgmental prophet Nathan. What happened between Bathsheba and me should have remained a matter to be handled within the royal family--and it would have if Nathan had not burst uninvited into my palace and tricked me, by taking advantage of my compassionate nature, into saying things better left unsaid. You need to know that this prophet Nathan is mean-spirited. In addition to exposing my private life, he has heartlessly announced "judgments," short-term and long-term, for my mistake. You won't believe this, but he says the death of our son was the result of what he calls "my sin." Can you imagine the anguish this has caused grieving parents? He also has the audacity to predict that, while I may be forgiven, I must live with the consequences of my actions the rest of my life. He says my family will always experience conflict and that I will be humiliated "in broad daylight" for what I did "in secret." All this after I replaced a failed king, united the country, defeated its enemies, and moved the ark to Jerusalem. What kind of man is this?
Enough is enough! This matter is between me and my family and our God. It is not the business of the prophet or anyone else. It will be settled within our family and in the privacy of our personal consciences. I'm sure you agree. Which of the elders of Israel or which of you could stand up under the scrutiny of a prying prophet like Nathan? Citizens, and yes, even kings, have a right to privacy. It is time to move on. My family and I need time to heal from the tragedies we've experienced and from the unmerciful probing of this prophet. As a nation we need to deal with the current threats of the Philistines and Ammonites, to deepen our national unity, and to build on the prosperity I've brought you during my reign.
I am confident of your understanding and support. You and I are flawed people. What we need is not confrontation and condemnation by priggish prophets. Let us forgive each other, feel each other's pain, and sympathetically help each other deal with the many arbitrary and unwelcome providences that disturb our personal peace.
Good night. And God bless us, as we so richly deserve.
Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
..........
I'm sure you would rather follow the example of David, the man after God's own heart, rather than David the 21st century politician.
When our God disciplines you - accept it as a loving gift - that you might find true cleansing - and rise to serve Him renewed by His Holy Spirit.
William
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JUNE 2006
Dear Friends,
Some people are saying that we should boycott the Da Vinci Code book and film because it is blasphemous. Other people are saying it is a great opportunity for Christians to use the interest in the film to speak to unbelievers about the real Jesus of the Bible. Still others are saying that it is just a story and nothing more.
What are we to believe about this book and film?
In a recent Western Weekender, Father Kevin Lee wrote a very good response to that question. Let me quote his concluding words:
So why are we Catholics upset if "it's just a story"? Because it ridicules the one we love. If someone wrote a fictional book depicting your family in a ridiculing way, surely you have every right to be upset.
He is right - if a total untruth about someone in my family was published, and that untruth denied everything that person and our family stood for, I would be upset - and so would you if it happened to someone in your family. How much more upset should we be about Jesus whom we love dearly?
Brown's writing claims to be writing fiction - but he writes as though it is the truth, and that claim of truth is used in the advertising for the film - whereas Brown claims that the Bible is merely a story and nothing more, when we know that it really is the truth.
Elsewhere in this Contact there is an article on the Gospel of Judas - an ancient perversion of the truth.
But do not be surprised at these attacks on our faith and our LORD Jesus. He predicted that everything He stood for would be attacked, just as He was attacked.
We are right to feel upset but do not become angry. Instead, respond as Jesus responded, with love for those who attack your LORD and who attack you for trusting in Him. Use every opportunity you have to speak to them about your love for Him - and demonstrate to them your love for them. Let the difference that Jesus makes in you show visibly by the way you act. I have included another brief article on some people for whom the difference Jesus made in their lives was visible to unbelievers.
Another of the differences Jesus makes is in the area of our love for one another. Within this Contact we have included a listing of all the elders, pastoral carers and who is caring for you. If you haven't had contact with your pastoral carer - then simply make contact yourself with them, and encourage them by telling them that you are praying for them in their leadership and caring role.
Your pastor,
William
APRIL 2006
Dear friends,
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. [1 Peter 2:21-25]
Mostly when we think of Easter, we focus on the suffering of Christ. It was horrific. It was unjust. It was the height of love. It was for you. Jesus bore the just punishment you and I deserve for dishonouring God the Father. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
There is no other way that I (put your name here) can find God apart from accepting that what Jesus did was for me. I deserved to die, but He died in my place. And that means that sin no longer has a place in my life. I am now free to live to please my God in righteous living - in living in happy obedience to everything He commands.
But there is another aspect of His suffering for you who have trusted in the death of Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing. His suffering was also an example to you. God has received you into His family - and Jesus leaves you the example of an older brother - an example that is described here in Peter's writing as how to react when you suffer unjustly.
• It is the example of non-retaliation when insulted and falsely accused.
• It is the example of internal and external quietness when suffering.
• It is the example of selfless self-sacrifice for others.
• It is the example of entrusting Himself to God.
Jesus left to God the things that were too big for Jesus to handle. That's what it means to live by faith - it is to trust God to handle my life, whether I am facing big things or small things.
If you began the Christian life by faith (and there is no other way to begin), God expects that you will continue to live by faith throughout your whole life. In fact - that is how He designed you to live as His child.
• Faith is seeing that whatever I am facing is what God planned for me.
• Faith is asking God how I fit into His plan in this situation.
• Faith is obeying whatever God tells me to do to fit into His plan.
• Faith is trusting God to work His plan out even if I do not understand either His plan or how it will work out.
• Faith is entrusting myself to God when His plan doesn't make sense to my understanding of things.
Let me explain from the example of our budget for 2006, and the proposed budget increases in expenditure for 2007, 2008 and 2009. With the congregational numbers we presently have that have remained fairly constant for years, how can we expect to receive an extra 25% in giving each year for 2006 and the next three years as well?
• Living by faith means accepting that God wants us to work towards engaging a second minister, and raising the money to pay for that second minister.
• Living by faith means asking God how much He wants me to contribute to this His plan for our church.
• Living by faith means obeying and giving whatever God places on my heart to give.
• Living by faith means trusting God to provide what seems impossible to me.
• Living by faith means entrusting my life and finances to God especially if He tells me to increase my giving beyond what I consider reasonable.
Living by faith does not mean doing nothing. Jesus paid the price of living by faith when He obeyed His Father completely - even to the expense of giving His life for you.
Are you willing to follow His example - not just in terms of finances - but in every area of your life? That is what it means to be a son or daughter of your Father God.
I am one of His sons, your servant and brother,
William
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FEBRUARY 2006
Dear Friends,
The theme we have chosen for 2006 is Team-work. The origins of this theme are easy to locate. This is a concept that arose during the week of the Kid's Holiday Club last September - TEAMwork = T ogether E veryone A ccomplishes M ore.
But, more importantly, it is a theme of scripture. The Church cannot operate without teamwork - or unity of purpose and action. From Christ the Head, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. [Ephesians 4:16]
When we are united to Jesus Christ - we are also united to each other. That's why the Bible speaks about us as brothers - we are children of the same Father God. But our teamwork is far more than the teamwork of a number of independent individuals. We are a body and each of us is intimately connected to each other.
None of us needs to be reminded of what happens when our physical bodies are hurt. A pin-prick in the finger - or a slight scald on the arm - or a toe that connects too strongly with the leg of a chair. All of them shout loudly to every other part of our bodies that something is wrong.
The opposite is equally true even if it is not quite so visible. Sometimes you see a person who is deliriously happy and their laughing shakes the whole body. But even when that does not happen - the medicos tell us that a cheerful heart lifts the health of the whole body.
Those things are also true within the church. As we share the joys and sorrows of each other we are just acting in the way God designed us. Your concerns and delights are mine as well for they affect me. They affect our head, Jesus Christ, and they affect every other member of His body.
That is why working together is so vital - it is the calling we have been given as a church - to work together to worship God by living as examples of His love as we share His word with those around us.
Last year I would guess that at least 80% of you were involved in the Kids Holiday Club - 30 on the team each day - many other providing materials and physical support - and many more praying for the team, the children and their families. The result was that 49 children participated and one family came into the church, and are involved in Kids Church, Youth Group, Bible study and Sunday worship.
If each one of you and me do that in every area of our church life, who knows how much God will be able to do through and with and among us? It's worth looking forward to what He is going to do this year as we serve Him together.
As each of us works together and to the best of our ability, the whole body of Christ is built up. We will encourage each other as well as see the church built up in number and is maturity in Christ. T ogether E veryone A ccomplishes M ore.
Your fellow worker within the body of Christ,
William.
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DECEMBER 2005
Dear friends,
In Jesus' day, leprosy and other skin diseases were cause for terrible fear and shame. Lepers were ostracised and could return to their community only if a priest declared them fit. Old Testament law held that a person "with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp" ( Lev. 13:45-46 ).
Unclean! Unclean!
One day about two thousand years ago, Jesus is on the road when ten tattered lepers call to him from afar. They dare not draw nearer.
"Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
Jesus' heart moves for them. He tells them to go show themselves to the local priest.
Off they go. Faltering but hopeful.
And as they are going, the Scriptures say, they are healed.
The ten stumble along the road, ragged robes flapping. Bystanders scurry away as they see the lepers coming.
As the men hurry, the dirty rags fall from their faces. I can imagine what happened next.
"Hiram!" shouts one. "Your nose!"
"What do mean, my nose?" says Hiram, bustling along.
"You've got one!"
"Aaugghghh!"
Piling to a stop, slamming into one another like clowns at the circus, they stare at each other's faces, mouths wide open. They unwind the rags from their hands, shouting because they have fingers again. They leap into the air; they land, sure-footed. They strip off their bonds and clap their arms around each other's shoulders, laughing with joy. They can't wait to find their families. They sprint toward town.
But one whirls and turns in the other direction, back toward Jesus. He runs fast with his new feet. Weeping, he falls and kisses Jesus' perfect ones.
"Thank you!" he sobs.
Thank you. Thank you.
Ten were rescued, cleansed, given a brand-new beginning. Yet nine ran the wrong way. Only one ran for home base, where Jesus was.
I heard of a family who have a mantra. "Be the one!" they tell their kids and each other. "Be the one who thanks Jesus. Let others go where they may. You be the one who is grateful."
Jesus came to give you new life - to cleanse you. The disease of sin that riddles your life is far worse than any leprous disease. Sin kills. It kills any hope of friendship with God or of pleasing Him. It kills your relationships with others through fights and selfishness that dog our lives. It is killing our world through the pollution and exploitation that we allow. And it will kill us - giving us the condemnation of eternal hell - cut off from God and from everything that is good for ever.
Be the one!
Be the one who cries out to God, "Have mercy on me!"
Be the one who cries out to God, "Forgive my sin because Jesus came to the earth to die for me."
Be the one who cries out to God, "Thank you my Father God for making me Your own child".
Be the one!
Your thankful pastor,
William
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OCTOBER 2005
Dear Friends,
Within a couple of weeks - Session will have to make a decision about calling a congregational meeting to ask for your approval of a budget to enable us to engage the services of a part-time assistant minister in 2006. At the moment we are speaking with several possible candidates.
In order that you might prepare for such a meeting I want to bring a couple of Bible passages to your attention.
• Preparation and planning is essential. Back at the beginning of March we agreed to "approve the appointment of a part-time assistant to the minister in 2006, and request the Committee of Management to prepare the necessary financial statements and budgets that will enable such an appointment."
This is exactly what Jesus was talking about in Luke 14:28 - 30. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.
Jesus was talking primarily about counting the cost of becoming a Christian - but he was drawing on a broader principle of planning. I believe this planning has been done by the Session and the Committee of Management.
• Commitment to the task is essential. If we decide to go ahead with such an appointment there is no place for saying in 6 or 12 months time - "this is too tough financially". If we make a commitment we are responsible to keep that commitment no matter what it may cost either personally or as a whole church.
Again Jesus was talking about commitment to Him when He said in Luke 9:62: "No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." But again the principle holds in the broader area of commitment to what we decide. If we make a decision to go ahead, then we meet from our own pockets the cost of that commitment.
But there is a third principle from scripture that is equally vital for us to realise.
• Trust in our totally trustworthy God is essential. Paul knew what it was to be rich - with more than enough to meet his needs - and what it was like to be poor - with scarcely enough and sometimes not enough to feed himself.
And through all of those situations he said in Philippians 4:19: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Paul knew as I and many of you have found out - when we walk with our God in whatever challenge He places before us - if we walk by faith in Him - if we trust Him completely because we believe that what we are doing is what He wants us to do - then He will provide everything that we need for the challenge.
He does not always tell us ahead of time how he will supply our need - He just promises to supply. He does not give us everything up front - He just gives us what we need as we need it.
Are you and I willing to trust Him completely? Our lives will tell.
William
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AUGUST 2005
Dear friends,
As most of you know, I have recently spent a little time with my father, who turned 90 a couple of months ago. Part of the time has also been spent in editing his memoirs. For years he has told us stories - and now at last a lot of them have been written down. These stories will be treasured not only by his children, but by his grandchildren and their children. They tell not only of his adventures across Australia and the Sudan, but also of his walk with our God.
I have also heard many stories from other people to whom my father has ministered over the years. Long after he has gone to heaven he will be remembered as someone who pointed many people to Jesus, and challenged Christians to support missions in prayer and giving - as well as in going to the uttermost parts of the earth.
What story will you leave behind after you have gone? What memory will you leave - not just in the minds of your family - but also in all the other people whom you have dealings with day by day?
There are three stories in the Bible about people who will be remembered.
• There is the rich young ruler who will be remembered because he considered his wealth more valuable than following Jesus. (Luke 18:18-31)
• There is the woman who entered Simon the leper's house in Bethany to give Jesus the best that she had to give. (Matthew 26:6-13)
• And there is the woman who gave away everything she had to live on. (Luke 21:1-4)
The memory of each of them is tied up with their attitude to money and possessions. And there is a reason for that - Jesus said, Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Jesus is telling us that it is not until our wallets, our purses, our bank accounts and our clothes, furniture and other possessions are converted that we are truly converted.
Has Jesus relieved you of the weight of your cash and possessions? It doesn't matter if what you own is the weight of 2 dollar coins, or if it is the weight of a truckload of gold - does it belong to Jesus - or to you?
And will you be remembered for the cash and possessions that you will leave to you children or to the church or to charity? Or will you be remembered because your life was sold out to Jesus?
Take my silver and my gold - not a mite would I withhold.
Take myself and I will be Yours for all eternity.
Pray for me as I pray for you that together we will be sold out for Jesus.
William
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JUNE 2005
Dear friends,
Last month we asked you to sign a petition to the NSW Upper House of Parliament. This petition arose from a concern that a private members bill is proposed to be introduced into the NSW Parliament in the near future using the same wording as the Victorian Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.
Let me explain why that petition was brought before you.
On 17 December 2004 two Victorian pastors, Danny Nalliah and Daniel Scot, were found guilty of vilification by the Tribunal in the case brought by the Islamic Council of Victoria against Catch The Fire Ministries.
This is not the only case brought under the Victorian Racial & Religious Tolerance (vilification) Act. There have already been a number of others including a 'witch' who took a Christian, (Rob Wilson, formerly the mayor of Casey) to the Victorian Tribunal for speaking against witchcraft. The witch won an out of court settlement!
According to New Life Christian Newspaper, "The latest complaint of religious vilification in Victoria should send shock waves throughout the entire Christian community. The complaint has been made against Alpha Courses. Robin Fletcher, a prison inmate, who is a self confessed witch, has complained of religious vilification and called for the Alpha courses to be closed down in Victoria under Victoria's Racial and Religious Tolerance Act.
Fletcher voluntarily attended an Alpha course in Ararat prison. He contends that comments about witchcraft made in the Alpha course videos and student manuals vilify witches, Wiccans and pagans. The Equal Opportunities Commission "declined to entertain the complaint" but Fletcher has taken the complaint to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal."
There are very real reasons why the introduction of such legislation in New South Wales will affect us.
The very nature of Christianity is that it is a religion that is exclusive.
Christians believe that the Bible is true... and the Bible teaches that:
There is only one God - the Creator and Ruler of the Universe.
There is only one revelation of God - the Bible.
There is only one mediator between God and man - the God-man, Jesus Christ.
There is only one way to God - faith in Jesus Christ.
There is only one life in which each person can come to God through Jesus Christ - and after this life there is judgment.
This means that Christianity is contrary to every other religion that rejects these exclusive claims on any of these points that matter to us.
• Jesus commanded his followers to tell everyone that salvation is found in Him alone.
Because Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, Islam and Judaism reject the divinity of Jesus, we must tell them that He is God come in the flesh.
Because Hinduism rejects the uniqueness and oneness of God. we must tell them that all other so-called gods are not gods, and introduce them to the Creator God who rules the universe.
Because Buddhism and Hinduism reject the teaching that there is only one life in which each person can come to God, we must introduce them to our unique God.
Because Satanists, witches, Wiccans, and pagans reject the uniqueness of Jesus and of our God, we must tell them the right way to find peace and direction in life.
Because agnostics claim that you cannot know God, and atheists claim there is no God, we must introduce them to the God who revealed Himself in the person of Jesus.
If we fail to speak to other people about our God who revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, then we are being false and disobedient to our God.
Legislation like this proposed Act will deny us the right to practise our faith - and in following the teaching of the Bible we will be forced to obey God rather than man - even if this results in imprisonment and other forms of punishment.
• What can we do?
Many of you have signed a petition. You can also speak to our local State member for Penrith, Karyn Paluzzano, (or whoever is your local member if you live outside of Penrith) and ask her what the NSW Government is going to do about this proposed legislation. Inform her of your opposition to such an act, and the grounds for your opposition.
Do not forget that those who are elected want to know how you feel about legislation. They need to know because they need to keep in touch with their electorate - and that includes those of us who have not abandoned the truths of the Bible.
Remember that our representatives cannot personally keep in touch with every piece of legislation - and you have a role to play to warn them of the dangers of some laws.
And do not forget to pray for them as they rule over us.
Your fellow proclaimer of the truths of the Bible,
William
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FEBRUARY 2005
Dear Friends,
The attached review of services during 2004 which follows this message tells us almost nothing about what really happened during the year. Some of them are extremely important to those who were involved - days of celebration of life - days of joy and sorrow. Continue to pray for these people - that the new life given will please God - that united life will show the love of God - that the life ended will be remembered with joy as well as sorrow.
Then there is the list of preachers and sermons. Preaching is important - but unless we allow God to impact our hearts with His message, we will never grow to be like Him. Then it is in stirring each other up to live as His children that we will grow in Christ-like-ness.
Again this year we have held small communion services each six months for 9 individuals or couples within their homes or at their nursing homes. Remember our senior members who cannot join us on Sundays. They matter to us and to God.
Pastoral Care is growing. But as we inducted 4 new elders, this created a gap in the team of Pastoral Carers. Several new Pastoral Carers will be commissioned early in 2005, however some of them are already at work caring for you. One of the outcomes of a Pastoral Carers meeting is that we will be appointing someone to be an interim Pastoral Carer when another carer is away for an extended period.
Pray for Craig and Bruce as they lead the developing children's ministries of Kids' Church and Kids' Holiday Club. Thank you to all those of you who gave your time and energy in these vital ministries during 2004. We look forward to expansions of these ministries in 2005. Are you able to be involved - as a helper or baby sitter or with vision to suggest something we haven't thought of yet to help the message of God's love to be effectively told.
Please pray for the work with our youth. It is often an invisible work because many of these young people do not come to church. Yet they are happy to sit under God's word on Friday nights. We are still looking for adult male help in leadership. Pray for Leonie, Kelly, Sasha and myself as we lead these young people.
Also remember Dave and Sarah leading the Young Adults each Thursday evening - along with the other regular Bible study groups - Monday nights, 2 groups on Tuesday mornings, 2 groups of Thursday nights, Friday mornings, and another on Friday nights. Each of these groups are for people who know little or much of the Bible. They are for building up weak faith and encouraging a living faith - not for intellectual research. The aim is to make the deep things of the Bible simple. They are also places where friendships have been formed - and questions asked and answered.
Look through all the various reports that are included within this edition of Contact. Seek out those whose names appear at the foot of each report and ask questions so that you will be more informed. Involve yourself in these various groups. There is something for everyone. And if there isn't, please approach the Session with a suggestion as to how you can add to what is happening within our fellowship.
And remember that all we do is done for a purpose - it is done so that we who are believers are built up into Jesus Christ growing stronger in our faith - and so that those who do not yet trust in Jesus may come to faith in Him though our lives and words. May God our Saviour strengthen you in His service.
William
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DECEMBER 2004
Dear friends,
"Preach the Gospel where ever you go. If necessary use words."
Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) is reputed to have said these words. Francis got the Bible message about our duty as Christians absolutely right. You and I must live the Christian life - demonstrating the love of God our Saviour where ever we go. The problem is that many Christians finish there. Many of us work hard on living a Christian life in the hope that by doing so we will be preaching the Gospel - and we forget to use the necessary words to preach the Gospel.
Let me share two stories that appeared recently in Our Daily Bread:
A businessman gave his heart to Jesus as a result of a Billy Graham evangelistic event. When he told his co-workers, his Christian business partner was elated. But the new believer hadn't known about his faith, and said, "You know, you are one of the reasons I resisted becoming a Christian for several years. I figured out that if someone like you could live a good life and not be a Christian, there was no need for me to become one."
Haddon Robinson writes, A friend of mine and I were doing business in a local bank. He needed to change a $100 bill. By mistake the teller counted out six $20 bills. When my friend discovered the error, he walked back into the bank and quietly told her what had happened. The teller said, "I can't thank you enough. I would have had to make up the difference. Obviously, you are an honest man." He replied, "The reason I am honest is that I'm a committed follower of Jesus. Giving you back the money is something he would want me to do."
As Christians we should live godly lives - we should be scrupulously honest and reliable in everything we do and say. But it is just as important to reveal to those before whom our lives are lived out, who is the Source of our lives.
Jesus said, "You are the light of the world.... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." [Matthew 5:14, 16] How will people know whom to praise if you do not tell them that you are a follower of Jesus who enables you to live a life of truth and love?
The glorious light of the angels told the shepherds nothing. But when they spoke the message of a Saviour being born in Bethlehem, the shepherds knew how to respond. They went and worshipped Jesus. So too, the light of your life will attract people to hear the simple message that Jesus alone gives life.
Will you share that message by your life - AND your words?
Your fellow messenger,
William
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OCTOBER 2004
Dear friends,
Have you ever been in a situation where you were sick and no one contacted you - no one called to ask how you were - no one seemed to care about you?
As a church we admit that we bear some responsibility for you. And we apologise that we did not show loving care towards you.
But we also declare that you bear some responsibility for yourself. Can I remind you of what God says in His Word: Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. [James 5:13-16]
Your first responsibility is to pray when you are in trouble. Pray to your God because He cares for you. That is - tell God your troubles. Sure - He already knows them - but somehow it seems that God withholds His answers to your troubles if you do nothing. As a general rule, He will not rescue you or give you strength if you do not ask for it. If you read through the gospels, Jesus did not go around zapping the sick and making them well - He waited for them to ask Him, and even then He sometimes said, "Well, what do you want me to do for you?" before He acted. When you are in trouble, pray to our God for help.
Similarly, when you are happy - go to your God with praise and thanks for the wonderful way in which He is looking after you. Sing songs of praise to God.
Your second responsibility is to tell your pastoral carer or elder when you are sick. Your minister, your elder, your pastoral carer do not have God's ability to know what is happening to you at all times. So tell us that you are sick, and request a visit, or request prayer - even request the elders to come and pray over you. We really do believe that our God heals the sick - but you must tell us what you desire.
You see, sometimes there is nothing that a sick person desires less than to be visited. Sometimes even a phone call when you are sick is a nuisance. It might be British to show a stiff upper lip and to hide your emotions and feelings - but it is not Christian. No one expects you to pour your feelings out on everyone who passes - but in the disjointed world in which we live, please tell us that you would like a visit because you are feeling low. We would love to share ourselves with you and help carry some of the burdens you bear.
Remember that we are as frail as you, and so we can understand some of your troubles. May God strengthen you and me as we care for each other,
William
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AUGUST 2004
Dear friends,
What is the right thing to do?
That’s a question that we must be constantly asking ourselves as Christians. There are many issues that confront us every day. And so many of them raise the question of what is right and what is wrong? Is there a moral or ethical question that I have to answer before I can decide on this issue?
What responsibility do I have towards my parents? I was reading a collection of short missionary stories recently and it quoted from Michael Griffiths’ book Give up your Small Ambitions. “Christ speaks severely to those who neglect the clear command of God about responsibility to support one’s parents on the alleged grounds that they have higher spiritual responsibilities … When parents are old and weak and needing care which no one else can give, the missionary is normally bound to return home to fulfil his or her responsibilities, and to do it joyfully and cheerfully without any sense of frustration or conflict of loyalties.”
What duty do I have towards the unborn child? In this edition of Contact there is an article from the Church and Nation Committee regarding Cloning. Although it contains technical language that is beyond my understanding, I found it helpful in separating some of the issues involved. It also shows that the sorts of issues that we face are not all clear-cut. However, what is clear is its conclusion – that human life is sacred. Our responsibility is to protect all human life from attack, wherever that attack may come from, and at whatever stage of life it may come.
Do I have a responsibility to care for another church? Another article in the edition is a letter from Western Blacktown Presbyterian Church. It was our privilege to have Peter and Caroline Williamson and their children Isobel and Amy with us during July. Glenwood is a new church near Parklea where Peter hopes to be appointed in the next couple of months to be the minister. I encourage you to support this work in your prayers, and also in your giving. If you would like to be involved financially then please put your gift in a marked envelope in the offering and it will be forwarded by the treasurer.
Whom should I vote for in the coming election? I am glad that within our church we have people of various political persuasions. I am glad because the message of God’s love is for all people however we think on issues like politics. But whatever way you vote please pray about it. Pray that God would guide you into asking the questions that matter – about righteousness and peace. In the vote for the Senate I will be voting for Fred Nile – not because I agree with everything he says – but because he is a Christian of proven track record, who for all his faults will stand for the truth and for God.
Whatever the question, ask God for His wisdom. As Paul wrote, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” [1 Timothy 2:1-2]
Our GOD will guide you if you follow Him.
William
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