Prov 25:21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And the LORD will reward you.
It starts in the heart
I’ve noticed there are some wicked men and women in positions of influence in the world. I came across this verse the other day which spoke to my attitude regarding those who might be removed from power either by the direct hand of God or by the processes of justice.
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.
Prov 24:17,18
Interesting that God so hates enmity in our hearts that He will even turn His anger away from the wicked because of the wrong attitudes of our heart. To me this speaks of God’s heart for the defenceless – He will, in a sense, rise to defend the wicked from the hatred in our hearts shown when we rejoice at their downfall.
We want God to judge the bad guy, but He will always favour mercy over judgment. (James 2:13)
It’s the same principle that the righteous Job knew: Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy, or exulted when evil befell him? No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life in a curse. Job 31:29,30
We can rejoice at God’s justice, the display of His character, and His deliverance of us (several examples in scripture) but we should never rejoice at the downfall of the wicked – slight difference. The first is rooted in worship because our focus is on God and what He has done, the second is rooted in arrogance and hatred as our focus is on what has befallen the wicked person. Our hearts are tempted to say of Pharaoh “He got what was coming to him”, but instead we should say “Praise you Lord for your justice and deliverance of Israel.” Beware lest a wrong attitude in your heart delays God’s hand of justice.
Matthew 5:43-45 You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
To paraphrase – God does good to all so you must be like Him and do what he does.
Note: this verse has often been taken out of context to define “rain” as negative life circumstances which seemingly happen equally to the believer and nonbeliever. In an agricultural society rain is a blessing and the majority of references in the bible to rain are as a blessing from God for their crops. Yes sometimes the rain causes damage (as any good thing can and does in a fallen world) but that’s not the meaning here. God is good, His blessings are for everyone and we are to have the same generous and loving heart of our Father.
The rain, it raineth on the just, and also on the unjust fella; But mostly on the just because the unjust steals the just’s umbrella!
-Ogden Nash
It captivated the world this week and we got emotionally involved – the young Thai boys and their coach in a seemingly impossible situation captured underground in a treacherous cave where the odds were heavily against them for getting out alive. Flooded waters filled the caves, for a long time they couldn’t be found, they couldn’t swim, and they were weak through lack of food. We all wanted them to be rescued and the thought of anything but a rescue didn’t want to enter our minds – it would’ve been too tragic, too devastating.
One of the spokespeople at the site said they were saved because of love. Love puts others first, love always protects, always hopes, always trusts and always perseveres. The world saw this demonstrated through the heroic efforts of the rescuers including the ultimate sacrifice of one man who gave his life in helping rescue the trapped boys.
It made me think of the fact that we too were all in a cave, in darkness. We lacked the Bread of Life and our strength was not enough to sustain us. We had unclear vision and although we may have thought we could see, we were blind without the Light, and although we thought we were making it in our own strength, we needed to rest in His strength to bring us through those muddy waters and darkness into His marvellous light. Someone did make the ultimate sacrifice for us all to come into freedom and His Name is Jesus and I don’t doubt for one moment that the Light of this world, Jesus, answered the prayers of thousands of people worldwide to express His love for mankind through guiding the rescuers to achieve this amazing victory.
March 2018. A team of five of us from Hope Centre Tauranga were on the Vanuatu island of Erromango where we were encouraging and supporting local leaders.
As the morning meeting was getting underway at Williams Bay, one of the Presbyterian elders summoned Ross and me to go and pray for someone. In a nearby building a lady was lying on a bed with others in the room and our instructions were “the baby needs to come”. Ok, so now I’m figuring this is a birthing table and the other lady in the room is the midwife and the man in the room is the husband.
While Ross is praying for the mother I’m listening to God with equal measures of desperation, inadequacy, and total focus borne out of a sense of being completely out of my depth. Isaiah 42:22 comes to mind which says “this is a people…..trapped in caves….hidden away in prisons….with none to deliver… and none to say ‘Give them back!’” So now I have my instructions to call the baby out of the womb and I speak to the child that it’s time to leave that place of comfort and safety and be welcomed to a new place of safety.
Mother begins to moan so we exit and make our way back to the meeting. Only 20 minutes later, Elder William summons us again to tell us “it’s a baby girl and all is well”. I am completely undone and dissolve in a wash of tears. Then William says “You need to give the child a name”. My first reaction is “you can’t expect us to name this child! We’re just visitors – the name is for a lifetime”. Fortunately Ross is more in control of himself than I am and he begins to pray. As I struggle through the range of emotions I strongly feel that the baby should be called Grace and Ross later confirms that he also felt this was the right name.
As we go back into the meeting I am overwhelmed with what has just happened. My tears keep leaking till around midday when I’m finally able to regain my composure. For me, this memory is a treasure beyond value and I’m so grateful to God for allowing me to be a part of what He was doing.
Message by Lynne at Hope Centre Tauranga 15th October 2017.
If you’re waiting for revival – you are the revival that God is waiting for. Rise up and get ready for the greatest move of God we have ever experienced.
What a joy it was last week to have 28 ladies in our home. They came from far and wide, were sitting in almost every available space on couches, chairs and cushions on the floor. Why did they come? They were all eager to hear three ladies share the story of their lives and how God’s love and faithfulness has brought them to where they are today – vibrant young ladies, in love with their Heavenly Father and pursuing His purposes for their lives.
It reminded me of what it must have been like when the crowds gathered around Jesus. They even climbed trees to see Him.
The bottom line is people have a hunger for what is real and what is the truth. There is a hunger in all of us for more than what we have experienced. No one can refute the reality of someone’s life story. Testimonies are powerful. They bring life and hope, can create curiosity, they are inspiring and can challenge us and stir us up to believe God for more in our lives. If God has brought someone else through a hard time or worked a miracle in a life He can surely do the same for us.
Don’t underestimate the impact your story can have on those around you. You may have had friends for a while and you haven’t yet shared the gospel with them. The trap of “friendship evangelism” is often you find it hard to bring up the gospel, sometimes for fear of losing the relationship. My challenge to you is to say something like “hey, we’ve known each other for a while now, you know I have a faith in God but I have never shared my story and I’d like to, so how about we meet for a coffee and I’ll fill you in”. Then make an opening in the conversation to share something of your testimony with them, including the gospel. Being friends with prebelievers is great and the time will be right for you to share the gospel with them and I recommend you don’t leave it too long. As long as you are willing the Holy Spirit will lead you in the timing and who knows maybe your friend has been longing to know the Lord for a long time and you are the one to have the joy of bringing them to salvation.
It’s time to be bold and speak up and draw people into the kingdom of God.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
I love to imagine what the church would be like if we heard from God daily, we had no fears, and did what He said. And imagine if we all really believed what God says about us.
Let’s start with this promise (my version of Colossians 2:9,10) – For in Him (Jesus) the whole fullness of Deity continues to dwell in bodily form – giving complete expression of the divine nature and you are in Him, made full and have come to fullness of life – in Christ you too are ‘ filled full’ with the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy spirit, that is, you are perfect in Him.
Did that say I am filled full with God and I am perfect in Christ? Yes!! I could probably stop there as that promise sounds enough to do all that God has called us to do but I’ll add a few other verses.
Let’s look at Luke 10:19 which was when Jesus was talking to the disciples.
Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and physical and mental strength and ability over all the power that the enemy possesses and nothing shall in any way harm you.
BEHOLD means to see or observe something that is remarkable or impressive. In other words TAKE NOTE! We have authority, power, physical and mental strength and ability over all the power of the enemy and NOTHING will harm us – and this was written before the Holy Spirit was given!
1 Cor. 2:16 We have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts, feelings and purposes of His heart
Prov.28:1 the uncompromisingly righteous are bold as a lion.
You won’t need these promises if you stay as you are in your comfort zone. You actually only need them if you are uncompromising, desiring God’s will over your own. Don’t leave these promises on the pages of your Bible. Step out into that adventure with God. Partner with God, claim His promises, be all you’re called to be and see what He will do through your life to bring His kingdom to earth.
I wrote an earlier blog on this subject “God has a bach” about how God lives in His Heaven but He also lives in us. Since then I’ve preached this message at Hope Centre, Tauranga 23rd October 2016. So here’s the audio.
In New Zealand it is accepted that many people have two houses – one where they live and work and the other is a bach (pronounced “batch”), or if you live in the south of the South Island it’s a crib. Anyway it’s a holiday house, usually at a beach or lakeside. We love to get away to the bach to relax and be refreshed. I grew up in Hamilton but most of my summer holidays were at the family bach by the sea at Raglan. That little two bedroom cottage that Mum and Dad bought in 1966 is now four bedrooms and still in the family.
It seems to me that God has a bach and that bach is us. Isaiah 57:15 says that God lives in two places: “I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit”. His high and holy place is His heaven and we see a good description of that in Revelation Chapter 4. But He also lives with the humble of heart.
Isaiah 66:1,2 says the same thing:
Thus says the LORD, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?
For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
God is looking for a place to rest. He doesn’t find that in anything He created but in something He didn’t create – the outcome of our will. Our surrendered will is the one place in the universe where God finds rest outside of Himself. God doesn’t look for rest because He’s tired or needs a break, it’s just that He enjoys being with family.
When Noah sent out a dove from the ark the dove looked for a place to rest. In the New Testament we see that the dove is a picture of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit today is still looking for a place to rest.
Will you be a holiday home for God? Allow the Holy Spirit to chill at your place.
I’d like to, so how about we meet for a coffee and I’ll fill you in”. Then make an opening in the conversation to share something of your testimony with them, including the gospel. Being friends with prebelievers is great and the time will be right for you to share the gospel with them and I recommend you don’t leave it too long. As long as you are willing the Holy Spirit will lead you in the timing and who knows maybe your friend has been longing to know the Lord for a long time and you are the one to have the joy of bringing them to salvation.
I love to imagine what the church would be like if we heard from God daily, we had no fears, and did what He said. And imagine if we all really believed what God says about us.
