God's love for his people is beyond measure. Have you ever wondered what it is that has Him allow His Son to be tortured on the cross in our place? It certainly isn't anything we have done or value we stand for. If you can muster up a reason why God loves you based on your attributes, then you'd be way off mark. God loves us lavishly because we are his children. It's a belonging thing.
My children's imperfections doesn't in any way alter the way I love them. It's not performance based. The unconditional love I have is based on belonging. The Father loves you because you belong to Him. Romans 5 tells us that God wants to have us recalibrate ourselves (metanoia) towards God's plan (Jesus) and be Justified by the shed blood of Jesus. Then Ephesians tells us it is God's good pleasure to lavish his love upon us. It's like one of my children stood behind a closed door on the other side of my room full of provision, gifts and wonderful plans. God cannot lavish upon a person until they take responsibility for their sin in Christ. This means knowing you have broken God's law yet recognising that the shed blood of Jesus atoned for the crime. And because the shed blood appeases the wrath of God... we are not in for a beating, because of Jesus it means we are in for blessing!
This is grace! Now we have another problem... receiving God's lavish love. Because of the way we think we can systematise the whole gospel story. We make a formula that sneakily tells us God loves us because we are in this covenant or 'its just the way it works.' We can say that God loves us because he has to, ' I was just born and as a human I'm just included.' We can reduce God's love as a 'general overview,' simply 'that's the deal.' But the language that is used about God's love is personal and specific. It is his pleasure to lavish upon us (Eph 1). Behold what manner of love the father has given unto us... that we can be called the sons of God... it has intensity.
The greatest show of love for people is demonstrated in the cross. For me, God would do this. For me, He would give himself in my place. This is where my understanding jumps ship. I can acknowledge the cross as hear the old illustration say 'this much.' I'm not going to pretend that I can grasp the entirety of Jesus on the cross. I can only admit that I have no idea of my own value to the Father except that he would go to that length to rescue me. Somebody once said the cross shows that 'God would rather die than be without you.' I'm ready to accept that but I'm not sure I will fully understand it.
I think I'm going to allow God to love me today. If the lavishness comes as tribulation then so be it. If it comes as blessing and serenity in His presence... so be it. All of God's intent is to work in my best interests. The realisation of that is how 'perfect love drives out all fear.' Believe today that the Bible is true in its affirmation that God want s to be involved in your every breathing moment. Believe that His intent is to bless, even if you are in a hurricane of chaotic circumstance. It is this faith that pleases God.
Gary Ward
Wednesday 23 March 2016
Sunday 20 March 2016
Satan's war strategy
While Satan cannot stop people getting saved, he can frustrate the discipleship of the convert. Discipleship is the thing that is vital to a convert because discipleship is about becoming more like Jesus. When people are like Jesus they counter this world's image and shine God's restorative peace, love, mercy and grace. From this point lost people can detect the 'other-than' and become impacted by 'different.' What has the enemy done to frustrate the path towards being like Jesus - discipleship?
The answer is 'many things' but I want to underline one thing that is a real problem in the church. It is my observation and a growing awareness that this is a tactic of the enemy and we all see it every day. The strategy is to give believers the impression that they have latitude in how they serve the Lord. Allow me to explain:
I spent a short time in the British Army. During that time the sole intent of the officers was to break down any idea that I can act on my own will. They immediately begin to smash the willfulness out of the recruit for one reason. The reason is because on the battlefield all the soldiers need to have the chain of command seared into their beings. They need to hear and act only what their assigned senior says. They need to have an automatic response to the command or lives can be lost. Where the Christian is concerned the army illustration breaks down because we have no chain of command. We are supposed to be attuned to Jesus. Of course there are leaders in churches but we don't have a responsibility to do anything they ask. We are to 'be persuaded by' their leadership rather than jump to command. To find out more about this study the Greek word 'peitho.' It corrects the mis-translations in some Bibles.
Where is the enemy involved?
Since the start of the church we find Paul identifying this issue in the Corinthian church. People gather into factions following men. That can be addressed but what is a bigger problem is people thinking their own ideas, initiative and genius is, by the fact that they are Christians, God's will. But what God does to the convert is have him discipled. Meaning, taking part in a program that, like the army officer, makes us into people who hear His voice and act. The process involves setting off on our own initiative and seeing failure. The Lord gently but firmly has us become attuned to His voice only. If you think any idea that seems like a good work is, by default, God's will... this is where the deception has worked.
Simply: We are converted to be disciples to be 'Jesus' to a lost world. However many bypass discipleship and start 'doing things for God.' The latter brings a feeling of fulfillment and bypasses the hard bit of being a Christian 'discipleship.' This results in people who have a message but no mandate from God. "That's a bit harsh, people want to do good from a good heart!" If we think we can do anything to truly make an impact on this dark world by 'good deeds' we obviously haven't progressed in discipleship.
Its ALL about my demise and his prominence through this vessel.
Gary Ward
The answer is 'many things' but I want to underline one thing that is a real problem in the church. It is my observation and a growing awareness that this is a tactic of the enemy and we all see it every day. The strategy is to give believers the impression that they have latitude in how they serve the Lord. Allow me to explain:
I spent a short time in the British Army. During that time the sole intent of the officers was to break down any idea that I can act on my own will. They immediately begin to smash the willfulness out of the recruit for one reason. The reason is because on the battlefield all the soldiers need to have the chain of command seared into their beings. They need to hear and act only what their assigned senior says. They need to have an automatic response to the command or lives can be lost. Where the Christian is concerned the army illustration breaks down because we have no chain of command. We are supposed to be attuned to Jesus. Of course there are leaders in churches but we don't have a responsibility to do anything they ask. We are to 'be persuaded by' their leadership rather than jump to command. To find out more about this study the Greek word 'peitho.' It corrects the mis-translations in some Bibles.
Where is the enemy involved?
Since the start of the church we find Paul identifying this issue in the Corinthian church. People gather into factions following men. That can be addressed but what is a bigger problem is people thinking their own ideas, initiative and genius is, by the fact that they are Christians, God's will. But what God does to the convert is have him discipled. Meaning, taking part in a program that, like the army officer, makes us into people who hear His voice and act. The process involves setting off on our own initiative and seeing failure. The Lord gently but firmly has us become attuned to His voice only. If you think any idea that seems like a good work is, by default, God's will... this is where the deception has worked.
Simply: We are converted to be disciples to be 'Jesus' to a lost world. However many bypass discipleship and start 'doing things for God.' The latter brings a feeling of fulfillment and bypasses the hard bit of being a Christian 'discipleship.' This results in people who have a message but no mandate from God. "That's a bit harsh, people want to do good from a good heart!" If we think we can do anything to truly make an impact on this dark world by 'good deeds' we obviously haven't progressed in discipleship.
Its ALL about my demise and his prominence through this vessel.
Gary Ward
Saturday 5 March 2016
#2 leadership warning signs
This is a warning for leaders because they have been entrusted with a gift from God. Balaam is a character involved in Numbers 22-24. He was a well known character who was known to bless or curse people with 'God's word.' The first thing we need to identify is that God does actually communicate with Balaam thus underlining that God may have had a purpose for him. What becomes clear however is that Balaam has motives that we can all learn from today. This is a fairly hefty study. Cup of tea?
Such is the legacy of Balaam that he is mentioned in Micha 6:5 Joshua 13:22 and we will find Moses warning over his legacy in no uncertain terms. The most attention grabbing for me is the letter to the church at Pergamos in Revelation 2. Here the Lord specifically warns the churches that Balaams actions and what he did is extremely problematic. We will unpack what these actions are now.
In Numbers 22 we find the King of Moab, Balak needing help. The Israelites had journeyed and 'settled next to him.' Balak had seen the Israeites destroy other nations and he was concerned by their power (22:3-4). Balak wants to summon Balaam a renown speaker of blessings and curses. (v5-6) A party leaves in order to meet Balaam and request he helps Balaam curse the Israelites so they wont attack Moab. The key thing here is that they knew Balaam would require payment for his communication with God. They took 'a fee' for Balaams divination to give him (v7). Balaam was charging.
They report to Balaam about Balaks request and Balaam tells them to stay over. In verse 9 God asks Balaam 'who are these men with you?' Of course God knows them but the Lord wanted Balaam to be thinking about what he is doing. Balaam had little concern about the fact that they wanted Israel to be cursed, so what was Balaam's motivation here? It seems he didn't care.
Balaam omits some detail from recounting Balak's contract (v5-6 cf v10-11). God is very clear and succinct to stop Balaam in his tracks (v12) and in verse 13 Balaam misreports by omission the reasons why God didn't want him to go with them. Balaam said God wouldnt let him go but the omission 'they shall not be cursed because the Israelites are blessed' was left out on purpose. Balaam had probably been paid for the divination... he had told them what his enquiry of God led to. To the Moabites this was divination and Balaam was probably happy to take the fee for that. Next Balak sends another party to meet Balaam but this time with the promise of money, status and wealth (v15-17). Imagine Balaam's self esteem to see the dignitaries coming to see him!
Balaam appears to make a bold and Godly declaration... a stand to only say and do what God says to him. The problem was that Balaam already knew what the Lord had said, yet told the special party who had come the second time that he would further enquire upon the Lord. This was another payday for Balaam and the Lord was watching (v18-19). Was Balaam also marketing his reputation? God then did something on the surface quite confusing. He allows Balaam to go with them to see Balak with the warning to only do what God tells him. (Num 22:20) What is going on here? It is a vital lesson in how God works. Balaam should have told the second party to go because the message was the same as the first. But Ballam, heart fixed on personal gain, told them he was seeking the Lord again thus extracting a fee. Not good. God tells him to go because a wonderful lesson is to be learned in the rest of Numbers Chapter 22:21-35.
Ballam gets on an ass and a bizzare event took place that was solely to humiliate Balaam. Read the verses and conclude with me God was saying to Balaam and every subsequent reader:
Balak meets Balaam and through chapters 23 and 24 of Numbers a pattern develops. Balak takes Balaam to a place where he can see the tribes. Alters are built, sacrifices made. Balak reports through lovely poetry that God won't curse Israel. After the first time this ocurred Balaam could have been on his way home but he allowed himself to be taken to more and more places to 'see if God has further information.' It is not clear that he was paid for the enquiries but it was the thing Balaam did so we can assume he was. In Balaams fourth Oracle about this he appears to prophesy David's kingdom which always has the overtones of Messiah (Num 24:18). Some say this is where the star comes from that the Magi knew led to Messiah. This is speculated because Balaam could be a predecessor of the Magi, the 'wise men' which Daniel was trained up to be (yet got into trouble for shunning the occultic overtones that were required). Daniel gained such favour he would have led the officials to the Torah and they may have resonated with Balaams gift (not his character) and recognised the star reference by reading Numbers 24:17. Spectulation? Maybe.
The problem was that this occured a few times. I counted 4 further possible paydays for Balaam as Balak led him to find other vantage points and see if God would curse Israel. It all ends with a furious Balak who is taken in once again by Balaam's Oracle giving (24:10-14). Balaam clearly tells Balak that he told him God would not curse Israel but he kept trying to get Balaam to further pursue God for more information. Balaam was unconcerned for Israel and kept pursuing God for the curse.
The 'divination for profit angle' is the one I've presented here. Another angle where Balaam may have pursued was simply that he thought God would change His mind. Ive tried to spare Balaam the ridicule of actually thinking this, but whether he was manipulating to gain from the seeking-out-for fees game or going for the big prizes by constantly asking God, hoping he will change his mind, the outcome is the same. Balaam has wickedness in his heart, even as someone who was gifted by God.
Why is this a warning to believers and especially gifted leaders? The answer lies in what Balaam went on to do. In Numbers 25 we find that the Israelites were seduced by the women of the surrounding area and they were enticed to eat food sacrificed to idols and worship foreign Gods. It seems strange to report on this unless the events before are linked. We then find as a result of the seduction and God's Judgement (you have to read the chapters up to Numbers 31) on Israel, a task force is raised by Moses (Ch 31) and they avenge the Midionites. During the battle Ballam is killed (31:8) 'with the sword' it explicitly says. We then find that Balaam instructed Balak to have the beautiful women of their nations to infiltrate the Israelites camp and lead them to be lawbreakers. this led to Judgement on Israel. Moses was mad because the task force spared the women, and so the story goes on.
Balaam, unable to call a curse on Israel leads the partial downfall of Israel by teaching Balak how to violate their Law and bring Judgement from God onto Israel. Was this how he finally brokered the promised riches from Balak? Again we don't get the information HOW Balaam made his gains but we know he did. Ballam is killed by Israel but his legacy lives on as a stern warning to believers and especially leaders.
Such is the legacy of Balaam that he is mentioned in Micha 6:5 Joshua 13:22 and we will find Moses warning over his legacy in no uncertain terms. The most attention grabbing for me is the letter to the church at Pergamos in Revelation 2. Here the Lord specifically warns the churches that Balaams actions and what he did is extremely problematic. We will unpack what these actions are now.
In Numbers 22 we find the King of Moab, Balak needing help. The Israelites had journeyed and 'settled next to him.' Balak had seen the Israeites destroy other nations and he was concerned by their power (22:3-4). Balak wants to summon Balaam a renown speaker of blessings and curses. (v5-6) A party leaves in order to meet Balaam and request he helps Balaam curse the Israelites so they wont attack Moab. The key thing here is that they knew Balaam would require payment for his communication with God. They took 'a fee' for Balaams divination to give him (v7). Balaam was charging.
They report to Balaam about Balaks request and Balaam tells them to stay over. In verse 9 God asks Balaam 'who are these men with you?' Of course God knows them but the Lord wanted Balaam to be thinking about what he is doing. Balaam had little concern about the fact that they wanted Israel to be cursed, so what was Balaam's motivation here? It seems he didn't care.
Balaam omits some detail from recounting Balak's contract (v5-6 cf v10-11). God is very clear and succinct to stop Balaam in his tracks (v12) and in verse 13 Balaam misreports by omission the reasons why God didn't want him to go with them. Balaam said God wouldnt let him go but the omission 'they shall not be cursed because the Israelites are blessed' was left out on purpose. Balaam had probably been paid for the divination... he had told them what his enquiry of God led to. To the Moabites this was divination and Balaam was probably happy to take the fee for that. Next Balak sends another party to meet Balaam but this time with the promise of money, status and wealth (v15-17). Imagine Balaam's self esteem to see the dignitaries coming to see him!
Balaam appears to make a bold and Godly declaration... a stand to only say and do what God says to him. The problem was that Balaam already knew what the Lord had said, yet told the special party who had come the second time that he would further enquire upon the Lord. This was another payday for Balaam and the Lord was watching (v18-19). Was Balaam also marketing his reputation? God then did something on the surface quite confusing. He allows Balaam to go with them to see Balak with the warning to only do what God tells him. (Num 22:20) What is going on here? It is a vital lesson in how God works. Balaam should have told the second party to go because the message was the same as the first. But Ballam, heart fixed on personal gain, told them he was seeking the Lord again thus extracting a fee. Not good. God tells him to go because a wonderful lesson is to be learned in the rest of Numbers Chapter 22:21-35.
Ballam gets on an ass and a bizzare event took place that was solely to humiliate Balaam. Read the verses and conclude with me God was saying to Balaam and every subsequent reader:
- Balaam 'the see-er' has a ass that can see more than you as I enable.
- Balaam the 'speaker-forth' has an ass that can speak out God's will as I enable.
- Balaam who 'knows stuff' has to say he knows little in 22:34
- Balaam has ass that is wiser than him with my enablement.
- Balaam who is trying to punish Israel only punishes an ass
- Balaam loses this altercation to... an ass with God's approval
This story seems to be included to really teach humilty to us as God still allowed Balaam to go to meet Balak.
Selah?
The problem was that this occured a few times. I counted 4 further possible paydays for Balaam as Balak led him to find other vantage points and see if God would curse Israel. It all ends with a furious Balak who is taken in once again by Balaam's Oracle giving (24:10-14). Balaam clearly tells Balak that he told him God would not curse Israel but he kept trying to get Balaam to further pursue God for more information. Balaam was unconcerned for Israel and kept pursuing God for the curse.
The 'divination for profit angle' is the one I've presented here. Another angle where Balaam may have pursued was simply that he thought God would change His mind. Ive tried to spare Balaam the ridicule of actually thinking this, but whether he was manipulating to gain from the seeking-out-for fees game or going for the big prizes by constantly asking God, hoping he will change his mind, the outcome is the same. Balaam has wickedness in his heart, even as someone who was gifted by God.
Why is this a warning to believers and especially gifted leaders? The answer lies in what Balaam went on to do. In Numbers 25 we find that the Israelites were seduced by the women of the surrounding area and they were enticed to eat food sacrificed to idols and worship foreign Gods. It seems strange to report on this unless the events before are linked. We then find as a result of the seduction and God's Judgement (you have to read the chapters up to Numbers 31) on Israel, a task force is raised by Moses (Ch 31) and they avenge the Midionites. During the battle Ballam is killed (31:8) 'with the sword' it explicitly says. We then find that Balaam instructed Balak to have the beautiful women of their nations to infiltrate the Israelites camp and lead them to be lawbreakers. this led to Judgement on Israel. Moses was mad because the task force spared the women, and so the story goes on.
Balaam, unable to call a curse on Israel leads the partial downfall of Israel by teaching Balak how to violate their Law and bring Judgement from God onto Israel. Was this how he finally brokered the promised riches from Balak? Again we don't get the information HOW Balaam made his gains but we know he did. Ballam is killed by Israel but his legacy lives on as a stern warning to believers and especially leaders.
- Firstly, the grace-enablement from God is NOT a green light to extort gain (any sort)
- Secondly, to champion a false doctrine to the body of Christ for gain is Balaams sin
- Thirdly, Micha 6:5 tells us Israel is routinely warned of this being a threat to God's chosen
- Fourthly, 2 Peter 2 noting verse 15 is a direct prediction of this being OUR PRESENT issue
- Fifthly, Jude repeats the warnings, mentioning Balaam (11)
- Sixthly, if you are seeking the Lord for money it is divination (Josh 13:22)
- Seven - Jesus is clear in his letter to Pergamum: 'I will come and fight you.' Rev Ch 2
The story of the ass talking to Balaam loses the seriousness as we laugh at Balaams predicament. This is such a serious thing that happened that it is retold and repeated as a warning over the Old and New Testaments. I want to finally link two elements of the church at Purgamum. Jesus starts with his title as the one who has the 'two edged sword.' He ends the letter with a warning that he will come and fight you with the sword of His mouth. Balaam was slaughtered explicitly with 'the sword.'
We have a divine imperative to FALL on His sword. He wants us to allow the word of God that proceeds from His mouth to divide us asunder. BY CHOICE. There are those however who have opted to be like Balaam and use their gifts for personal gain. I'm not against being blessed but to use a gift of God for profit has red flashing lights all over it. If you have been using God's gift for anything but his glory today is the day to fall on the sword that is the word of God. Recalibrate towards walking well and cast off the desire to have the renown Balaam evidently had. Stop the fees for that you have been freely given. Don't sell out for a prize, only the one Jesus has for you in heaven.
Gary Ward
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