Shiney.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Lesson learned from King Ahaz (2 Kings 16):
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all (Isaiah 7:9).

planted @ 5:29 PM

Monday, May 24, 2010

Thought I had better start journaling the things I've been learning in and out of church, so as not to forget them!

Today's sermon was on Acts 2 - the Holy Spirit's coming upon Jesus' disciples at Pentecost. What really struck me was the symbolic signifance of the believers praising God and telling of His works in the many varied languages represented by the cosmopolitan population of Israel at the time. The gift of tongues was not so much a gift for the sake of the individual disciples gathered there, but for the ears of their international audience! It was a spiritual BURST of praise unto God for His work to reconcile all peoples to Himself, a cacophony of joy heavy with symbolism, heralding the start of a new age of peace through Christ, and prophesying the end of ages where every knee would bow and every tongue confess the Lordship of Chirst.

The Holy Spirit decended in fire, and the mouths of the believers were opened. They could not stay silent. They had to proclaim the good news of great joy for all peoples in every language that was spoken in the city, so that everyone could hear. What a celebration it must have been! What a glorious filling and empowerment of the newborn Church to start her journey of obedience to her Commission and her Great Commissioner. In the words of the One who sent her:

'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.'

The Holy Spirit is a missionary spirit. His work is to make Christ known. The same Holy Spirit who descended in power upon the first band of Christian disciples, today dwells within every Christian believer, empowering us for our Christian witness to our generation. Best of all, the same Holy Spirit remains with us to the very end of the age. He will not abandon us, or give up on us, and will continue to empower us for the ministry of reconciliation. Just as Jesus promised.

So what are we, as the church and as Christian individuals, doing?

We need to be praying and desiring what God desires - no less than the reconciliation of the world to Himself. If there's one most important thing a Christian needs to be engaged in, it is the journey of obedience to God's call to join in His work of reconciliation. The work is beyond huge, but our God is God. He has promised. And He will do it.

The universe in all it's chaos, is still a tiny one in His hands. That's what makes the work He prepares for us incredibly exciting. We are borne the shoulders of the Almighty, priviledged witnesses of His glory and goodness, and of His marvellous works in this world that He loves.

planted @ 2:36 AM