AN EXCERPT FROM LYNNE’S MESSAGE “FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE” SPOKEN AT WAIUKU AGLOW SEPTEMBER 18TH 2014
Imagine if we viewed life from a heavenly perspective every day. How would that change our lives?
James Irwin when he landed on the moon was in awe as he saw the earth the size of a golf ball. He felt that if God could give his son to save our small earth he in turn would go back to earth and dedicate his life to the ministry. He took a golf ball with him always to remind him of this perspective. The enemy magnifies things out of proportion. We often see little problems magnified. Our prayer lives are guided by earth’s magnification and not by heaven’s viewpoint.
We need to see the world, people, situations and ourselves from God’s perspective. How can we do this? The bottom line is spending time daily in God’s presence reading the Word, listening to God and having regular times of praise and worship. We need to see ourselves seated with Christ in heavenly places as we believe what He says about us. Jesus defeated the enemy in the wilderness with the Word of God so too we must do the same. Then we go out into our day with expectation on how God will use us to touch this hurting world.
The more I go on in my walk with God I realize it’s all about being less of me and allowing God to have His way in my life. I’m not to make my plans and fit God around them. I’m to see what God’s plans are first and partner with God in His plans. I need to die to myself daily. God needs an empty vessel to fill with Himself.
At Easter we remember the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection three days later. But did Jesus Christ really rise from the dead? If He didn’t, Christianity has no meaning and would be just a religion following some good principles but with no life, no power, no forgiveness of sin, no relationship with God and no promise of eternal life.
The accuracy of the Scriptures gives us a sure foundation. By the end of the 19th century, archaeological discoveries had confirmed the accuracy of the New Testament manuscripts.
So let’s look at some of the evidence.
After His body was placed in a solid rock tomb, a huge stone was rolled against the entrance with Roman soldiers stationed to guard it. But three days later the tomb was empty with only Jesus’ grave clothes left behind.
The Roman guards fled fearing execution. The followers of Jesus said He had risen from the dead and reported that He appeared to them during a period of 40 days. The apostle Paul recounted that Jesus appeared to more than 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom would still have been alive then and could have refuted Paul’s statement if incorrect. Both Jewish and Roman sources admit that the tomb was empty on that first Easter morning. Historian Paul Maier observes that “if all the evidence is weighed carefully and fairly, there has been no shred of evidence discovered in literary sources or archaeology that would disprove this statement.”
Jesus also appeared to those who were hostile to Him. Saul of Tarsus for example despised Jesus and persecuted His followers. His life dramatically changed when Christ appeared to him, and he later became the apostle Paul, one of the greatest witnesses for the truth of the resurrection.
The disciples were all prepared to die for their conviction that Jesus was alive. All except one were martyred because of this belief. No one knowingly and willingly dies for a lie. Within weeks of His death thousands of Jews became convinced Jesus was the Son of God and began following Him. Even today, over 2,000 years later, devout believers are being martyred for their faith.
The evidence of explosive growth of Christianity in China, Africa, India Southeast Asia and South America cannot be ignored. Often hundreds of thousands gather at Christian meetings where many receive healing – the blind see, the deaf hear and the lame walk. In 2000 in Lagos, Nigeria 1.6 million people gathered in one meeting to hear of God’s love, with empty wheelchairs lining the stage at the end of the meeting because of the miracle working power of the living Jesus.
The empty tomb compels us to seek the One who still says to us today “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
When we look to Jesus and the word of God and don’t rely on what our eyes and ears are telling us, we realise that a closed door on earth hasn’t shut an open window in heaven.
This was a message I gave at Horsham Downs Community Church Sunday 19th January 2014.
The Pharisees observed that Jesus had “gone to be the guest of sinners” – He still does the same today.
Despite the bad in us Jesus says “I’m coming to dinner – if you want me.” And it’s because of his love and our potential that he also says “I’m coming to dinner – because I want you”.
Is it really true that no one wants to hear the gospel?
No it’s not true! In fact it is the complete opposite. Isn’t that typical of the deceiver to try and deceive and to stop us opening our mouths with truth? The Bible clearly says in John 4:35 “lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” People are keener to hear the gospel than we are to share it! So why don’t we share the gospel? It’s that ‘e’ word, evangelism. It is spelt FEAR to many and to others it is fobbed off to the evangelists to proclaim. Some have tried to share, out of obligation, feeling that as a Christian it’s kind of what you’re supposed to do, and failed. Can I encourage you, “you” being everyone, that you can share the gospel and be effective. It’s helpful to have appropriate tracts to get you started. Here’s what happened to me a couple weeks ago.
I went into a shop and spoke to the lady behind the counter “Here’s a website you might like to check out. It could change your life.” The card made reference to http://www.Biblein11.com. She said “This is amazing, I was just talking about religion this week. I’ve never really thought much about it before. Thanks so much I’ll look up the site tonight.” Two days later I was at the checkout counter of the supermarket and I said the same thing to the university student behind the checkout. “I’m not religious,” she said,” but I’m spiritual.” I said “Great.” (not really being sure of what she meant by that). She said she was taking religious studies at university. I said ”This will really help you with your religious studies,” and handed her a gospel tract “How to be sure of going to heaven when we die.” She showed definite interest and eagerly thanked me. Later that day in another shop I handed over a Biblein11 card to the university student behind the counter. She saw it was about Christianity and said “This is amazing, I actually prayed for the first time this week, I don’t know why and now you’re giving me this. It’s uncanny.” I felt to ask her if she’d like to meet up sometime to answer any questions she might have and she was keen. I’m meeting her this week. I will be following up the other two ladies as well as I know where they work.
Being equipped is a key to effective evangelism. As believers the Holy Spirit empowers us to share the gospel and it’s up to us to be diligent in seeking out, by reading appropriate books or having training, how each one of us can share on a regular basis around our everyday lives. If you need some tips please contact me.
The disciples get in the boat and the following discussion ensues:
“Have you got the bread James?”
“Nah – Philip said Peter was going to get it”
“Peter! Didja grab the loaf”
“Me? I thought you had it in your bag!”
…..small silence as eyes are sheepishly cast downward
“er……….Jesus……. we forgot the bread”.
Jesus: “Why even bother talking about it. Don’t you remember guys? It was only yesterday! How many loaves did we start with? And how many baskets of leftovers did we end up with?”
Even when we make mistakes, God’s grace covers. Jesus doesn’t berate them for their mistake (forgetting to grab the packed lunch) but for their unbelief now that they have experienced heaven’s supply (the multiplication of the loaves and fishes just a few hours before).
As one who has made mistakes with my “bread” and now finding the cupboard is a little less full than what I would like, I take great comfort in this. Although the principle of sowing and reaping is relevant and must be respected, Jesus reaped on the cross from all of the bad seed I’ve sown. Thus I can now reap from heaven’s supply as I am not bound to past mistakes.
