Be who He's made you!!

I used to believe that there was a massive divide between the sacred and the secular. I didn't think I was fulfilling God's call for my life or advancing the Kingdom if I wasn't doing something in the local church i.e. leading a Bible study, attending a prayer meeting or praying with someone at a service. I was so frustrated that I was working in the "world" and not able to do "full time" ministry. In my mind, my work from Monday to Friday was secular and my "here and there" involvement with church stuff was sacred. Boy, I could not wait to be "promoted" to full time ministry where I could serve the Lord, do Kingdom stuff, all the time. Until then, frustration. I want my life to count for something. If it means selling everything and starting an orphanage in India, then so be it! But surely not stuck here, in East London, doing what I'm doing. Surely!!??

The truth, I'm beginning to discover, is totally different. The Kingdom of God is not the local church and doing His will and fulfilling His call for my life isn't just restricted to the four walls of the church every now and then. In fact, if I'm being who God  has made me and using my 'talents' to benefit others, then I am indeed advancing His Kingdom and doing His will. Sacred and secular?? No such thing. 

What are the things that I love to do, the things that I'm good at, the things that make me shout "Eureka!" on the inside when I do them? The call of God, the will of God, his good deeds planned for me to do and fulfill while here on earth are not miserable, boring or heavy. On the contrary, they are satisfying, bring joy and they are there to enrich the lives of everyone around me. It's extremely fulfilling and satisfying. And they bring Him pleasure!

Holy Spirit is teaching me and showing me that his purposes for my life aren't coming in the future. They here. They now. I'm doing them. And if I'm not, why not? Go for it. Hit it for a 6. Go wild. Be who I am. Be who He created me to be; and be loud while doing it. Don't hold back. He wants me to blaze paths for others to follow. The most unexpected people will follow. The character, the personality he has given me; the market place environment that He has placed me in, is no accident. I will blaze my path. Just be. Stop trying to mold and change into what I think I need to be in order to be used, in order to be effective. Just be. Just be who I am. He likes me. He likes who He has made me to be. BE!! Just be.

Paul had the following to say to the Colossian Christians:

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

He spent the first few chapters telling them who they were. And from their identity, came their responsibility. It's out of our identity hat we get purpose. And then from there he said the most profound statement:

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

Do know what "whatever" means in Greek?? It means "whatever". 

HOW TO MAKE THAT TOUGH DECISION

A friend of mine recently asked me to give him some advice on how to know for sure what God's will was for a big decision he needed to make. He is seriously thinking of immigrating overseas but with the success stories, he's also heard the bad ones. And he wants to make sure that this decision isn't going to be a bad one. Wise man. And what makes him even wiser is that he wants to make sure this is what God wants for him and his family. Very wise man.

I think there are some very key points one should consider before making that big decision: immigrating overseas, buying the right house in the right neighborhood, marrying the right person, taking that job in another city, etc. Feel free to add to the list below, but from what I've experienced I would consider these some very key indicators in helping you make the right choice.

1. NEVER RUSH. No big decision needs to be made in haste. If someone is pressurizing you to make that decision in 24 hours or else you'll miss out...rather miss out; if you have to rush to make the decision, more often that not, it's not the right direction for you.

2. GOD OPENS THE DOOR. Most big things that happen in life just happen. They come to you. I've found that if I want that Joburg job so bad, that I've got to phone around, I've got to set up interviews, I've got to go against the grain to MAKE it happen, it's not God. Speak to people who've had big decisions to make; they testify that things just feel into place, things just flowed...If you are one having to force things to happen and convince people why they should, etc. it's not the right thing. When God opens the door, He keeps it open. 

3. HOLY SPIRIT LEADS WITH PEACE. Peace is the key to all big decisions. Holy Spirit leads with peace. If there isn't peace, it's not God. I'm not saying there won't be some anxiety or maybe even some fear; that's where courage will carry you...but peace within the storm, peace that surpasses understanding is what you looking for. 

4. NEVER MAKE YOUR DECISION BECAUSE OF MONEY. Just don't. Unwise.

5. SHARE WITH A CHRISTIAN FRIEND. And I'm not talking about a "yes" friend. I'm talking about a friend who'll ask you the hard questions, who will test your motives and come along side you in prayer. 

So if you faced to make a decision that has presented itself to you, my advice would be to let it sit on the shelf for some time. Don't rush. Don't be in a hurry. Pray. And wait. Ask yourself "Is God opening the doors? Is He presenting this before me or have I tried to manufacture this result?" Speak to your friend, ask them to pray with you and allow them to ask the hard questions; and accept their advice. Let peace in your soul be the voice of the Holy Spirit. 

Make a wise decision.

Love. Everyone

I'm 100% convinced that if everyone met Jesus, everyone would follow Him. Who wouldn't want a King like Jesus? The reason why people don't follow is because they've never met Him. People should never have to say to a Christian "Show us God." The Christian should reply "If you've seen me, you've seen God."

It's God's goodness thats supposed to lead people to repentance. When people see what God is doing in you and through you, it will cause them to turn to Him also. That's New Covenant 101. The Church is Jesus' body. We are his hands, feet and mouth. And heart. The Church needs to stop trying to be God to the world with all her judgements and picketing. The Church just needs to rest in who she is and freely give the love she has received. 

For instance, When will the day come when the Church isn't "evangelizing" to hookers on the street because they fulfilling their duty of "evangelizing"? The truth is that Jesus accepts hookers as they are, he loves them as they are, his heart breaks as they are and continues to love them as they are even if they don't change their profession. Even if they accept Him and follow Him. In their profession. He will save them and they might even be your next door neighbor in Heaven one day. THAT intimidates you doesn't it, and that's probably why you haven't reached out to any hookers lately. 

Jesus has died for all people. He is passionate and in love with all people, right now. The Muslim across the road whose stingy and rude and never greets you. Jesus is passionate about Him. The guy at work that's cheating on his wife with the secretary and treats you like an ass. Jesus is in love with Him. God has dealt with their sins. He wants to display His kindness in their lives in extraordinary ways. He is not angry with them or disappointed in them. He wants to lavish the riches of Heaven all over them. No strings attached. Without the premis that if He does, then they must obey Him. Jesus ain't into blackmail. It's a "no strings attached" love He has.

So how exactly is God wanting to show His kindness to these people who haven't the foggiest idea about Him or even care He's around? Simple. You.

God is crazy about you; whether you believe in Him or not!

There is a common misconception amongst many believers and its that God loves Christians and hates sinners. Or maybe....er....they may not say hate, but may be angry, disappointed or disapproving. They quote a scripture, which was mouthed by John the Baptist:

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." - John 3:36

And theological belief is that God's wrath and anger is against them until they repent and follow Jesus. Until they come into grace, God holds them at a distance and withholds good from them. His anger burns against them until the time of regeneration. 

The problem with this belief system is that we don't see this in Jesus. And we HAVE to look at Jesus; not only is Jesus perfect theology, but He is the exact representation of Father and Father's heart towards the earth. To those whom religion would classify the objects of God's wrath and anger; Jesus ate with them, drank with them, attended their weddings, was invited to their homes and had his feet and hair washed by them. Those who were supposedly hated by God loved to hang around Him, they followed Him and listened to Him. He lived amongst them, He was good to them. He fed them when they were hungry, He healed their diseases, He had compassion on them and He raised their dead. He was extravagantly merciful, displaying His love at every opportunity. I wonder why? Maybe it was because of what Paul said:

"Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" - Romans 2:4

Its God's kindness that is meant to lead people to repentance. The kindness of God is displayed in the person of Jesus and His finished work. This is the age of grace. Not the age of wrath. There will be a time of wrath that is coming. It is stored up, but it's on the back burner. Yes, it is a warning for those who die and aren't Christ's. But for goodness sake, the wrath isn't for now. Now is the time God has set aside for Him to display His kindness, His goodness and His love. To everyone. 

So while it's true that God's wrath is coming, it has not yet. The truth is that God is over the top, abundantly and extravagantly, in love with you - sinner or saint. He is crazy about you! He longs to bless your business, heal your body and protect you family - whether you acknowledge Him or not, whether you believe in Him or not - and His goal, His supreme purpose for being so good to the world is so that his kindness would be displayed and would lead you to repentance. 

Remember, Jesus didn't just heal Christians. He didn't just feed the church folk. Jesus loved everyone. He came to show the world that God is happy, God is not angry at them, God is willing to die than to spend eternity without them; and that He did. He died, as the greatest display of His love for His enemies, that He indeed loves them. He wishes not that the stored up wrath, that will eventually have to be released one day, would have to come on them, you or I. 

Here's a few scriptures confirming the COMING wrath; not the PRESENT wrath:

"On account of these the wrath of God is coming." - Paul 

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him." - Paul 

"Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." - Paul 

"The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth." - John

So repent (change your mind) from this belief. God is so so good. And His heart is for ALL men. Be a love encounter, be a grace encounter to everyone you come across, remembering that it's His kindness that leads people to repentance. Let Jesus be kind through you.

Good advice or Good news?

A man walked into the bank, totally bankrupt and unable to pay off his bond. He strolled into the bank manager's office in his hopeless situation. The best and only thing the bank manager can do is offer good advice. The good advice is to get a second job, sell some of their assets and maybe his wife works a full day job in order to pay off their debt. Consolidate his debt and maybe take out a second loan to help catch up the payments. That could maybe be considered good advice. 

It would be a totally different story if that same guy in the same indebtedness, walked into the bank and entered into the entire staff compliment celebrating with corks being popped off champagne bottles and streamers being let off to celebrate!! The bank manager comes up to him, puts a party hat on his head and congratulates him with good news. The good news is that a total stranger came into the bank and paid off his entire bond and on top of that, deposited $100 million into his cheque account for his spending pleasure. And if that runs out he can ask for more and more will be made available for him. That wouldn't be good advice, that would be considered very good news.

The truth is that the Gospel isn't good advice. It's good news. The Gospel has been presented as good advice by ignorant ministers who haven't realized the scandal of God's goodness. When actually the Gospel is VERY good news of what Jesus has provided which anyone can receive by faith.

You fancy some good news??

What is "The Love of God"?

I was driving down a familiar road today and stopped at the same traffic light. And the same homeless young man begged for money, for food....for anything! A thought crossed my mind. What if I took him to McDonalds, bought him a Big Mac and a strawberry shake and told him "God loves you!" And then he quips back "Loves Me? I have no home. I have no clothes. I don't know where my next meal's coming from. Don't tell me about this loving God of yours!" And as this scene played out in my mind it dawned on me how fleshly and carnal we (society, the world, media, ME) have been when thinking and speaking about "The Love of God". 

You see, we look at a guy driving a fine car, living in a nice house, dressed in good clothes and we nod in the belief "Yeah, God must love Him." And then we look at the homeless guy and we're like...."Mmm....I know God loves him, buuuuuuuut...." And we're not sure how to explain God's love to the homeless guy because all we see is lack and poverty. And this thinking exposes our false wisdom of God's love. It's like when we praying for our rent money or for God to provide a job; we hinging those prayers on the fact that God loves us. And if the rent money doesn't come or the job becomes the next guy's, then we resign ourselves to questions like "We'll where exactly is God?" and "And I thought He loved me? Then why doesn't he give me what I need?" And sometimes, this sort of questioning and belief has caused people to walk away from their faith in Christ. It's because of a corrupted wisdom. It's a false understanding of what God's love is. If He doesn't give me what I pray for then He couldn't really love me as much as the other guy! Corrupted wisdom.

What we really should be seeing is that we were evil to the core, we detested Jesus from the bottom of our hearts, we hated Him and everything about Him, our lives centered around ourselves, our pleasures and our satisfactions. Nothing in us wanted God. We were vile sinners who loved the slop of our sin. And while we were in this state, oblivious to us...the God of the universe came and lived among us. He suffered the most agonizing death, He suffered in ways we will never ever experience, He was whipped beyond facial recognition, He died a death that crushed Him to pieces and He did it for us. THAT is love. THAT was "The love of God." 

When we recognize that God isn't some vending machine whereby we judge His love for us by the size  of the toy that pops out, but rather see His death on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate payment, His way of rescuing a dying and evil world, providing a salvation for all eternity to the least deserving; then we'll begin to have a glimpse of "The Love of God." 

The Love of God was demonstrated for me. And the rich guy. And the homeless guy. My message to both of them is the same: "My friend, you are a lost, evil, wicked to the core person. You deserve death. Your sins have buried you. Hell is your destination and there is nothing you can do about it. BUT!! God so loved you....." 

The Love of God is BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, BECAUSE OF CHRIST ALONE.

"...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

FREE BANANAS

I've realized that the greatest threat to Christians living in the freedom that Christ intended us to live in, isn't what most of you think. Most would say its the law. It's not. The law is easy to spot. Most Christians can detect it and most reject it. However, what most don't detect, and its the greatest threat to your joyful walk, is the MIXTURE of Law and Grace. It's harder to discern, it takes some time to detect...but once you've made the transition into grace, which only comes by revelation, you can hear it a mile away.

I was reading a book that had aspects of the gospel in it. The author is a well respected Christian minister, a reformed Calvinist in his theological position, and he unpacked the story about The Prodigal Son in a way that I've never heard it before. It was so glorious that at times I re-read sentences just to make sure that I was grasping the full extent of the love, compassion and mercy that he was expounding out of the story. He captured the grace of God in ways that would make Hyper Grace preachers nervous. I cannot explain how he unbundled the truth of the magnificence of our Father's grace, love, mercy, kindness and patience. It was marvelous. Truly marvelous. He cracked open truths about how the God of Heaven has such mercy on sinners, welcomes the degenerate, cleanses the most evil of us and accepts the worst of the worst into His loving arms. I'd never heard The Prodigal Son story like this before. It's the sort of painting an evangelist would paint of God when sharing the good news with a sinner; on how he can lay himself bare before the God of Heaven and receive forgives and cleansing. It would have made the most hardened heart soften as the character of Jesus was shared. I will most certainly "steal" some of his truths when I share the Gospel in future. How could I not share such good news?!

But then I got to the next chapter. And it went down a corridor that I'd encountered years before and then I hit a few sentences that made my inner alarm bells ring "WARNING! WARNING!". I encountered the mixture. I encountered the rules. He went about describing, and let me paraphrase but still with words he used..."Now that you're a Christian, you are hemmed in on the straight and narrow, and you better watch how you live. If you wander off to the left - WHACK! - God will smack your spiritual knuckles. And the same if you wander to the right. This road is stern, strict and precise and if you wander off, the chastisement of God will bring you back in line." My jar dropped. My heart sank. How could you have seen the Father of love in such an amazing way in one story and then conclude that He would treat his sons this way once they came home? 

It reminded me of a story I heard that so summed up this subject of mixture. There was once a man walking through the amazon jungle shouting "Free bananas! Free bananas! Free bananas!" Monkeys came from everywhere to see these free bananas. The guy tossed them bananas, left and right, behind him and in front of him, and he carried on walking. The monkeys came from everywhere and grabbed the bananas and followed him as he carried on calling out "Free bananas! Free bananas! Free bananas!" He walked into a huge metal structure and tossed the whole bag of bananas down. The monkeys followed inside and went for the bag of bananas only to hear "SLAM!" The guy had shut the gate to a giant cage. From then on the monkeys had to now pay for the bananas. 

The message of salvation has been clear - "Come to Jesus! Believe in Jesus only and have your sins forgiven. Salvation is free. Jesus already paid the price. He has made the payment for your sins, nothing you can do will earn forgiveness. Jesus paid the price. Come and receive your salvation." However, after they accept Christ and receive their "free bananas", there is an invisible SLAM behind them as now they are 'taught' how to pay for their bananas from now on. Locked into a cage of bondage for the rest of their Christian life...unless revelation comes that infact, there was never meant to be a cage. It IS free. Jesus DID pay the price. It IS for freedom that Christ has set them free. No need to pay God back for anything He has done for them. Salvation IS actually what the Bible says it is: A GIFT. Have you ever had to work for a gift? Pay someone back for a gift? Made to feel guilty for a gift? 

People who are locked into the mixture of law and grace have missed a biblical truth: HOW MUCH MORE. If while we were sinners (hated God, evil to the core, didn't desire Christ, lost in sin and loved sin) God died for us - he reached out to us and loved us SO much; HOW MUCH MORE does he actually love and extend even MORE mercy and grace to those who are now actually His children. Think about that!? Paul described this in detail in Romans 5. But people caught in the bondage of mixture think that God extends more mercy to the sinner than He does the saint. They expound marvelous truths about the grace of God to the LOST PERSON and then distort the "truth" of God's ridgidness, harshness, severity and anger towards the SAVED PERSON. (And for those who think I'm speaking against discipline as Paul describes in Hebrews; please don't assume I'm saying something that I'm actually not saying.) 

Christian, please ask the Holy Spirit for discernment. Ask Him for revelation like never before. I was once a Christian who was swimming in the mixture of law and grace. And I didn't even know it. I was zealous. I was "on fire"! But I wasn't free. I was in fact still paying for my free bananas.