King's View

Dealing with the Demonic

2012-02-14T20:19:00.000-08:00

A reel to reel tape recording of a disembodieddemonic scream convinced me once and for all as a young believer that thedemonic is real. Numerous other encounters followed, some were quitedramatic.

Interestingly, as I continued on in faith,encounters with the demonic have became quite rare. This is because I havebecome aware of my authority in Jesus Christ and such creatures tend to avoidmy notice. At least they stay at a distance or are much more subtle in theirmachinations

Every believer needs to form a theology of howthe demonic realm works around their life. It is evidenced in what seems likeminor events. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaringlion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.1 Peter5:7-9 He is not sure who but he will try everything in a cyclic fashion. (Rides a “try-cycle!”)Key is consistent and increasing frequencyof re-occurrence.

I have found that we can sometimes be oppressed by the evil one but rarely doesa person become possessed. Oppression is depression, bad dreams, and a constantstruggle with sin or bad habits. Possessionis madness in a sometimes concealed or repressed way: There is no ability tostop evil behaviour and things are ramping up toward either self destruction ormurder. ‘Voices’ come soon to such unfortunates. Deliverance is needed but willonly work if there is repentance.

The answer for a Christian who is under attack isvery simply: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6-8. You may need to address the devil in your word-basedauthority and command him to leave but this is no big deal if you do know yourauthority. There is no formula, there is simply faith. Faith is standing in Jesus by knowing we are completely secure in Him.

Once you becomeestablished in Christ, the devil is in the details: We read in Ephesians 6about the “Armour of God” but in context of the preceding 3 chapters, Paul isdescribing the sort of things we need armour for and they seem like moreinnocuous everyday things. They are the things that can bring a believer down.

Ephesians 4:17 to 6:18:

Putoff your old self. Speak the truth. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devila foothold. Don’t steal, work! Don’t tear down with your mouth. Don’t grievethe Holy Spirit. Get rid of bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, slander andmalice. If something immoral is going on, be the first to go privately andaddress it, this will expose things to the light of God for healing. Don’t be adrunken fool. Wives, submit to your husband, this will make him love you.Children, obey. Father’s, don’t be harsh. Serve in your job wholeheartedly.Bosses, be gracious.

Itis not easy to see the devils in these events but they are making believersineffective in their faith and bound-up with issues that keep them from livingand sharing the gospel.

Find your place in Christ and STAND!

Possessing our Promised Land

2012-02-02T21:01:00.000-08:00

For many people good times seem to be a temporary state ofaffairs; the ideal situation comes along and before long our ownership of that happystate is challenged by competitors or circumstances.

The perfect job or home or even relationship requires us todefend our ownership mostly against our own doubts, rationalising orcarelessness.

There is always someone else waiting in the wings to plunderour success and take over our prized possession. Then they tend to make a muchgreater success of it just to spite us. There are laws at work here.

Our own beautiful country New Zealand is also vulnerable ifwe do not make careful use of the precious resources. You don’t need to beparanoid to see the threats; stronger nations plunder nations that fail to begood stewards of their inheritance.

One of the reasons we know Adam was a real person is thatall of the commands given to him are still working in front of our eyes. “Befruitful, have dominion, subdue and rule responsibly over the land.” Genesis1:28. When we let these basic requirements slip personally or as a nation, weexpose ourselves to greedy eyes. God can be counted on to defend New Zealandwhen New Zealand honours God! It starts with you and me.

Three Dimensional Believers

2012-02-02T20:58:00.000-08:00

Joshua 11:22 "There was none of the Anakims (giants) left in the land of the childrenof Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, some remained. Gaza Gath and Ashdod were locations of defeat,defiance and defilement. Undefeated giants that exist inour homes: We cruise into marriage thinking we know how everything will work.We do bring ‘giant’ baggage with us like unfulfilled expectations of romance oradventure; worse still, the “aisle, altar, hymn syndrome.” The reality of lifekicks in and we wake up to find the person we married was the person wemarried.

Single people too are grooming giants that are modelled forthem by parents. It is not a matter of saying “my parents are dysfunctional (orworse)” this will bind you to the problem and doom you to repeat theirmistakes. It is a matter of forgiveness of parents first then repentance of thepropensity.

Judges 16:20 “And she said, The Philistines areupon you, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as atother times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD wasdeparted from him.”

All this happened in Gaza: “Iwill go out as at other times...” “he wist not...” Some believers are always talkinglike Samson about the things that will ultimately defeat them. They are beingdrained by negative stuff like TV or bad music all day. When trouble strikes theyfind they have no spiritual resources. They become defeated Christians living a ‘half life’ they are still around butthey are “neither use nor ornament.” They are blind and bound but there is hopeif they go on grinding out corn, (the Word).

1 Samuel 17:10 “And the Philistine said,I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fighttogether.”

Selfdeclared defiance; brought to youwith the compliments of Gath; when defiance rules, the giants go to full size.Now we have a fully blown issue to deal with and everybody can see it. The sortof language used is: “I’mall right; don’t tell me how to live!” Trying to make it with our own resourceshas not worked, now there is denial and rage. The cure is drastic: A smallthing will bring you down; (road rage?)You will be brought to nothing becauseyou are exalting “King Self” above the Lord.

1 Samuel 4:21 “She named the boy Ichabod saying, “The Glory hasdeparted from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deathsof her father-in-law and her husband. 1 Samuel 5:1 “Afterthe Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer toAshdod.”

After a long period of grace for flagrant sinful living, thebeautiful things of God have become defiledby presumption and using the presence of the Lord as a good luck charm; suchpeople will find everything has slipped away from them and death is the onlyescape. This is the sin of nominal belief.

How did they get here? First they simply assumed that theycould handle all of the issues of life without looking in the Owners Handbookto find how to kill of some giants. Then they became defeated; being worn down by their own choices of what they fed on.Next they became defiant, notwilling to receive correction they put themselves in danger of their ownunplanned reactions. Finally they relegated their belief to the occasionalspasm of guilt, presuming that they will be OK they had become defiled without knowing or caring.

Where are we on this “3 strikes you’re out” scale?

An Epidemic of Abuse

2012-02-02T20:51:00.001-08:00

The right to smack children has been lost largely becausethis too often turned to abuse. Poorly educated and financially stressedparents many with abused backgrounds, have been at the centre of this new surgein abuse. Is there a cure?

Home is supposed to be a haven where love and tolerancereign. It seems appearances can be deceiving. Much of the unconscious behaviourwe manifest throughout life is learned in the home. Modelling plays a vitalrole and our children replicate our often hidden behaviour in embarrassingways. It really is “monkey see, monkey do!”

Healthy open lifestyles are becoming rare as people areturning their homes into a fortress of privacy and insecurity. In better day’skids and friends rampaged through our homes freely as we had basic possessionsand nothing to hide. Now privacy has become a religion and a lot of weird andunhappy stuff goes on behind the closed doors. Inside you will find a bunch of life-consumingtechnology and of course the ubiquitous TV. All these things keep us frominteracting with real people. Problems fester and hospitality dies.

It may not be the whole cure but open-up your home and lifeto the world. Don’t be driven into your private kingdom. Let the gentle breezeof Jesus blow through all of your so-called privacy and you will find not muchworth hiding or protecting. Now you are ready to offer help to the hurting.

Good old Kiwi Tolerance

2012-01-16T16:45:00.000-08:00

New Zealand has a history of tolerating many imported thingsthat have not always worked out well. From possums and stoats to gorse andother noxious plants, we have been the recipients of many bad ideas. We do seemto absorb these assaults with a degree of stoic British reserve, an “oh well!”and a hot cuppa’.

We are now seeing the silent invasion from afar and thoughwe grumble about the obvious differences and the loss of jobs for our futuregenerations (who now find greater prospects overseas), we are encouraged when we hearimmigrants speak with a newly acquired Kiwi accent and think “well they are oneof us now, that’s alright, even if they do wear funny things on their headsetc.”

Most of these events have been the result of successive stupidgovernment decisions based on greed or a quick fix. We take these things in ourstride and demonstrate an amazing tolerance for the bad or no leadership whichlies behind this dilution of “Pure New Zealand.”

This brings out a question to ponder: Is understanding, thebasis of our tolerance or is it just our culture of tolerance that brings agrudging understanding?

Tolerance has become a global catch-cry as governments seekto mollify their unhappy populations in the face of sociological challengesnever before imagined. In another parlance: “suck it up bro,’ live with it!”

When we travel overseas and get off the beaten tourist trackto spend time with the locals, understanding grows to become the basis of ourtolerance. We find ourselves assimilating some of their culture andappreciating it. Such an attitude also works well right here in Godzone!

We learn by doing that tolerance begins best withunderstanding and making the effort to get close to others. Our culturaltolerance will wear thin and expose the ignorance that lies beneath. There is alimit even for Kiwis!

Jesus pointed out in John 15:18 on, that theWorld loves its own and hates what and who that it cannot understand. Though wecannot stop hatred altogether, tolerance through understanding will make ourcommunity a happier place to be.

How to be "Not of this World".

2012-01-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

John15:18-27“If the world hates you, then become aware that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you asits own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you outof the world, for this reason the world hates you.Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If theypersecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they willobey yours too. But they will persecute you on accountof my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But theyno longer have any excuse for their sin. The one whohates me hates my Father too. If I had not performedmiraculous works among them that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin.But now they have seen the miracles and have hated both me and my Father. Nowthis happened to fulfil the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated mewithout reason.’ When the Helper comes, whom I will send you from the Father – theSpirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me, and you also will testify, because you have been with mefrom the beginning.

JESUS was good at cutting across worldly patterns of lifeand understanding. He was not consciously non-conformist, He was naturally sobecause he got all his motivation and ideas from his Father in Heaven.

There is a temptation to excuse ourselves from the idea ofbeing “not of this world” by telling ourselves “that worked better for Jesusbecause he was in close contact with His father.” We however are in closecontact with all the expectations and customs of this human society. Therecomes a time when you realize that nothing good comes from that line ofthinking because the world’s way of doing life does not work. Look around andtell me “it aint so!” and I will tell you that you are not seeing the damagedlives.

Yes we know that we will be hated and persecuted if wereally do begin to function as Jesus did but that is incidental because if wedo, life will really work and we will become effective in the kingdom. The big questionthen is how do we live and function in away that is not of this world?

Do we get more intensely involved with our beliefs andattend every meeting, make a practice of “sharing” our perspective of thegospel with everyone we meet and pray publically or privately at everyopportunity? You will be viewed as “not of this world” all right and everyonewill think of you as a sanctimonious bore! This NOT what Jesus was talkingabout but you cannot convince some.

In fact when we do stuff that seems good and right becausewe think we should, we are no different from the practitioners of any of thisworld’s religions. Jesus had a better idea: he said “when the Helper comes...”The Holy Spirit is the only means and method of living and functioning to betruly “not of this world.” Religion in and of itself is a complete waste ofyour life. All the human driven church movements down through the centuries ofthe NT age are complete flops. They all apostatise and liberalise. No system ofchurches or belief has endured except through its own tradition, history andmomentum.

Now down through history within all those various movementsand in pockets around the planet, there have been wonderful glowing lights ofthe Holy spirits power.

The terrible corruption that emerges when human institutionsreach “critical mass” (Like fukushima) has spurred on the growth of a HolySpirit motivated church. (Critical Mass(my definition, not nuclear!) is defined as that point when any institutionbecomes more of a problem than it was designed to serve.) E.g. Education,hospitals etc. Many large evangelicalchurches are at this point.

Does this mean we need to be anarchists and have nothing todo with human institutions? No! They are the way humanity functions and we canlightly hold and utilise them: We are “In the human society but not of them” John17 cp vs 16.

John 17:13-22 “I am coming to younow, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they mayhave the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your wordand the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I amof the world. My prayer is not thatyou take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. Theyare not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth;your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them intothe world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be trulysanctified. “My prayer is not for them alone. Ipray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you arein me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believethat you have sent me.

Our survival as believers is dependent upon drawing our lifeand power from the Holy Spirit. There is no tradition that correctly defineshow we live and operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. Forget thePentecostals or Charismatics, they were just passing human institutions andcustoms and will probably soon corrupt. The fact is we just do what live groupsof believers have been doing since the day of Pentecost! The timeless Word ofGod explains how we do it and we need to take it very seriously for oursurvival.

John14:15-17: “If you love me, keep my commands. AndI will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and bewith you forever— the Spirit oftruth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with youand will be^] inyou.

One of the great keys is the prophetic anointing whichallows the Holy Spirit to speak into our lives and fellowship. We can invitehim to break into our culture and minister to us in a way that keeps us ontrack.

The security of being in the Holy Spirit

2012-01-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

The Evangelical Church in Western nations is finding itselfdrawn into a new liberalism. Led by some well known leaders of Mega-churches,the over use of bottom-line business principles and psychology has fuelled adesire for so-called progress and relevance that is simply the same old liberalstuff under a new technological guise. Their pastors are expected to be Psychologistsin the pulpit and CEO’s in their office. Even the car park attendants run roundwith iPads keeping up with statistics.

Interestingly those churches most affected have studiouslyavoided any teachings that could be branded Charismatic or (God forbid), Pentecostal!They will happily discuss the ‘Eternal’ but not the ‘supernatural’ or the HolySpirit. Ironically they are one in the same thing.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to move and work among us, weare transported into an Eternal realm of timelessness. All the props of ourmodern age cannot replicate the moving of the Holy Spirit and when we boil downwhat our faith is all about, a few moments spent in the presence of the HolySpirit, far outweighs all the razzamatazz of so-called modern church.

The only principle that will keep the Eternal Gospel ‘relevant’is the power of the Holy Spirit. When He comes we could be in past, present orfuture, it does not matter because He is timeless and precious for the survivalof our faith.

The Point and purpose of Love from God

2012-01-05T03:16:00.000-08:00

John 15:9 “In the same way that the Father has loved me, I have also loved you;remain in my love. If you obey my commandments, you willremain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain inhis love. I have told you these things so that my joymay be in you, and your joy may be complete. Mycommandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this – that he lays down hislife for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatI command you. I no longer call you slaves, because theslave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called youfriends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you togo and bear fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my namehe will give you. 15:17 Thisis my command to you – love one another.”

Jesusis not saying “as you offer praise and worship, you will find it easier to loveone another.” “As you continue to attend church on Sunday you will find iteasier to love one another”. We need to get our plumbing straight: Ourhorizontal relationships determine the value of our vertical relationships.

Jesushas His plumbing straight: “as the Father has loved me I have loved you...”This is our model. It is not by “having Church and having it abundantly” thatwe have a meaningful relationship with the Lord.

Ihave attended meetings where we sang ourselves stupid but we were no morespiritual as a result. The real work of faith happens on the coalface.

Hislove flows through us to others and to us from others. The gifts andmanifestations of the Holy Spirit will occur naturally and so will praise andworship without being whipped up. 1Thessalonians 3:12 “Andmay the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and forall, just as we do for you, 3:13so that your hearts are strengthened inholiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of ourLord Jesus with all his saints”.

1 Peter 1:22“You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sinceremutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart” Worshipand praise do not of themselves accomplish this. They flow from this.

Someone will say “I love Jesus!” (With the unspokeninference that others don’t count.) They may say “by worshipping I am ‘drawingnear to God so He will draw near to me’ James 4:8. Where is God? Read thepassage in context. Same with the Idea of ‘seeking things “above”; where is “above?”Colossians 3:1 + see vs. 13.

When I love you, I am loving Jesus. 1 John 4:19 “We love because he loved us first. If anyone says“I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the onewho does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom hehas not seen. 4:21 and thecommandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should lovehis fellow Christian too.”START AT HOME!

The promise is that His joy will be in us! We will worshipfrom a spontaneous pure motivation not just because its ‘church again’. How oddthat we should try to return Gods love to Him without allowing that love toaccomplish its full purpose. Jesus never discussed the requirements of our verticalrelationship with God! He did not say “go to church and worship a lot then mylove will flow!” Get the plumbing straight, Let His love flow then everythingelse will be a joy. Make this a year of loving.

Will you be living in Fear or Living in Hope?

2011-12-29T17:22:00.000-08:00

Some people send me Fwd. Emails mostly of American origin. Iusually delete these before reading them. I have always regretted opening them, not fortheir often extreme political views but for their scaremongering attitudes toanything not sanitised as middle class religious right.

When we lived in America we had a family code term todescribe anything that was “over the top” patriotism. “flaggety-flag” we wouldsay to each other as a warning that here comes another stand up and put yourhand on your heart moment. Oh we are so cynical about patriotism us Kiwis!

Sadly our reserve about patriotism is well supported byhistory. Those who trumpet patriotism and freedom often do so from a fear-drivenmotivation or for political gain and cannot be trusted. Hitler has had manycopycats in our times.

The world is what we make it for ourselves. If we are gloomyabout the future or worried about the various forces seeking world domination,we will feel powerless and futile. On the other hand we can keep our eyes fixedon Jesus and be filled with hope and make ourselves a contribution to life.True believers have always been the inventors and innovators of positivedevelopments in the world. What will you be doing in this new year ofopportunity? Hiding under the covers of negativity or welcoming possibilities?

Why do we do Christmas again?

2011-12-23T21:19:00.000-08:00

Ihave been considering the reason for Christmas again. It seems I do it everyyear. Of course I discover something new and wonderful every time. This yearhas been kind to me and I am feeling grateful for what Jesus accomplished forus. You may wonder what this has to do with the birth of Jesus.

Theamazing confluence of events surrounding His birth is a picture of how Hetreats us. When we glibly quote “all things work together for good to them wholove God...” we are making a huge understatement. In order for things to workto our good, evil had to be put in his place.

Theangels announced the new covenant with the phrase “goodwill towards men..”Under the old covenant, it was mostly wrath towards men. The arrival of babyJesus signalled complete change and the fulfilment of a very old promise:

Genesis 3:14:the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are youabove all the wild beasts and all the living creatures of the field! On yourbelly you will crawl and dust you will eat all the days of your life. 15 And I will put hostility between you and the woman andbetween your descendants and her descendants; her descendant will crush yourhead, and you will bruise his heel.” Forthe evil one, the warning is on the label!

InMatthew chapter 1 Jesus is descended through 42 generations to Joseph givinghim claim to the throne of David as King. He was not actually born of Joseph’slineage and if so would have been subject to some very fallible ancestors notto mention a curse pronounced against the lineage in Jeremiah 22:30.

Jesuswas descended through the lineage of Mary. The actual royal seed line isdescribed in Luke 3:23 on: Note he was supposedly of the lineage of Joseph buthe came from a line not obvious to the eyes of Satan for 77 generations. Goddid give him the big clue in Genesis 3:15... The woman’s descendant... but hefocussed on the line of Kings to Joseph, polluting it as often as he could. Thedevil got it wrong.

Hebrews 2:5-18:Now we are treated to an Exposition ofPsalm 8: Jesus and the Destiny of Humanity: For he did not put the world to come, aboutwhich we are speaking, under the control of angels. Insteadsomeone testified somewhere:

“What is man that you think of him or the son of manthat you care for him? You made him lower than the angelsfor a little while. You crowned him with glory and honour; you put all things under his control. Forwhen he putall things under his control, he left nothing outside of his control.”

Atpresent we do not yet see all things under his control, but we see Jesus, who was made lower than theangels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because hesuffered death, so that by God’s grace he would experience death on behalf ofeveryone. It was fitting for God, (for whom and throughwhom all things exist), in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer oftheir salvation perfect through sufferings. For indeedhe who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin, and so heis not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,“I willproclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praiseyou.” Again he says, “I will be confident inhim,” and again, “Here I am, with the children Godhas given me.”

Therefore, since the children share in flesh andblood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power ofdeath (that is, the devil), and set free those whowere held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. Surelyhis concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham’s descendants. Therefore he had tobe made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become amerciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonementfor the sins of the people. For since He himselfsuffered when he was tormented he is able to help those who are tormented bylife.

Jesus was not born to die!! He came to live as aman and He chose to die as an act of his human will. He became man AND died forour sins, not TO die for our sins. Hecame to fulfil the promise to destroy the Devil. To make Goodwill toward menpossible.

2011-12-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

The Smells of Christmas

I often go online to look at stuff at a huge site run by OrthodoxJews in New York. It seems that every second time I pull up their site theyhave a large notice saying they are closed for business today due to this orthat Jewish feast day or holiday. Do those guys ever work? I’m jealous maybe.They seem to be having too much fun.

We Christians have let the World hijack Christmas. Our timefor feasting and fun is over-run by commercial greed and is under pressure byatheists and secular religious interests who want to impose their sin-filled viewsover the top of what was a simple Christian tradition. Maybe we should tellthem “OK, have your Xmas, we will move off to celebrate the birth of Jesus in otherways! It is hardly seems worth fighting for what has become a mere tradition inthe eyes of the World, especially when many Christians thoughtlessly followalong in their shallow expectations of the day.

What is worth fighting for is the joy of sharing gifts andcelebrating our faith in the company of family and friends. Oh, and did Imention all of those other nice touches? The smells of Christmas Trees, roastdinner and the sound of wrapping paper being torn along with squeals ofhappiness. We still need our Christmas. We sing all those antiquated Carols anddress everything up to look nice and we love it.

Maybe if we simply keep on doing this as a truly Christiancelebration, the World will go away and do their Pagan thing in whatever formthat takes. The distinction will become clear, Jesus will be exalted andChristmas will be ours again. We need to keep it ours for the joy and smell ofit.

How far from the truth have we gone?

2011-12-09T15:31:00.001-08:00

The Church in NZ is in a state of famine unprecedented inour time but maybe not unusual in history. People are starving for the love andreality only Jesus can provide though they are surrounded by Christian stuffeverywhere.

By our “Christian” traditions we have walled in the truth.We have stylised our beliefs to accommodate and be relevant to our society andculture. We have made it so hard to see Jesus by interposing a distorted image.We have offered Jesus in various flavours and the menu is confusing. Unless wemove these obstacles from the believers first, we will seem as though we do notknow who we are talking about. Indeed it is hard to talk about Jesus when weare seen as presenting a narrow view from our own religious experience.

In 2 kings 6 and 7, we have a picture of famine anddeliverance. 4 unlikely vagrants are the heroes: The country is under siege andpeople are starving. These 4 no-hopers opt for going into the enemy’s camp asthey will be treated just as good or bad in the status quo. They had nothing tolose and everything to gain...

Shock horror! The move worked. There was no resistance and onlyblessing. They wanted to stay and soakit up but eventually they had to go and tell others. The others sent out acommittee who found it was all true. The starving people rushed out of theirplace of famine to feast on the blessings.

The sanctimonious logic people got pushed aside. The oneswho said: “it’s not for today!” The messengers were uncouth but the message wasgenuine.

That is how a move of God gets started! Some freaks thathave nothing to lose just go there where others won’t because it might not workand they might not look good.

2 Peter is about stemming the tidal flow of false teachingdriven by individuals who” wanted their cake and eat it too”! Driven by themoral landslide of their times, false teachers began to distort the gospel tofit their immoral worldly lifestyles. Peter starts out in chap 1 by remindingbelievers just what a wonderful salvation they have and where it all comesfrom. By Chapter 2 he is in full-blown rant mode, making you think “tell uswhat you really think Pete!”

He rounds-off in chapter 3 by saying, it will all come outin the wash, and Jesus is coming back real soon so just hang in there. WhatPeter missed was the principle that God always has a few “lepers” waiting inthe wings who will precipitate another wave of blessing. We need those lepersright now in NZ.

NZ is a little 1950s England, trying to maintain the “bestof British” but not really aware that we have become a Pacific Island Pavlovaparadise held together by # 8 wire.

The spinoff of this is that we have inherited British viewsof religion but with a colonial flavour. We love the formal religious ceremonythat puts Gods stamp of approval on things and we love our personalindependence which was the driving motivation of our founders the Gold-diggersand other escapees from the dreadful conditions of the English factories.Stated another way, you could come out to the colonies, have a life and no-onewould try to impose their requirements on you. Life would be one big long fishingweekend without any annoying structure or rules. We still think that way. Don’tget too serious about anything... Commitment, what’s that?

The styles of Christianity we have imported from England andAmerica do not fit our culture well unless they are a short formal perfunctoryevents performed by a traditional “God- Botherer”. Our attempt at overcomingthis shallow nominal formalism is to offer contemporary style churches. Theseare an attempt at relevance that offers a mostly low budget quality competitionto other forms of diversion, entertainment and social gatherings.

In short, we have failed to penetrate our market with eitherformat and have become marginalized and seen as an intrusion on Kiwi freedom.It is time for a re-think.

Where are the lepers? We are crouched waiting behind ourdefensive walls eating each other and wearing sackcloth. There is a spiritualfamine and we feel threatened by an angry seeming populace. We fill up our time by resorting tore-inventing ideas and truths over and over in various mediums. Asses’ heads:(new ideas from popular pundits and preachers) that really just re-invent thewheel. Also Doves dung; something long since left behind by the Holy Spirit, constitutesour diet.

Adding to our misery, we have been imposed on by a falsereligious clergy. These “slick vicars” teach about social-Justice and equityand other fine words as they sneer at faith, Gospel preaching “saved” believersand true worship to prop up their insincerity. For too long our nation has beenlied-to by religious formalists who are perverting truth to satisfy their ownlogic and sinful lives to win favour with a jaded populace. The only thingsthat will silence them are when people of the truth come out from their fearsand speak loudly and often.

InKing David’s time after the revolt of Absolom, the people of Judah wereplanning a big revival where they would set up the Kingdom under David onceagain. Israel was offended. They had been subjected to Saul and had become apicture of the non-spiritual kingdom of logic: Formal religion. 2 Samuel 19:40 theysaid: “Why did our brothers, the men ofJudah, sneak the king away and help the king and his household cross the Jordan– and not only him but all of David’s men as well?” Allthe men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “Because the king is our closerelative! Why are you so upset about this? Have we eaten at the king’s expense?Or have we misappropriated anything for our own use?” Themen of Israel replied to the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, andwe have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you want to curse us?Weren’t we the first to suggest bringing back our king?” But the comments ofthe men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.”

Itwould seem that the majority of Christians in our nation actually “witnessing”or “soul-winning” are the non-charismatic Evangelicals. These are representedby OAC or EE etc. This is not an accusation of disinterest in the Gospel but aquestion. I think that the Pentecostal-Charismatic’s have learned to rely onthe contemporary buzz and excitement of their meetings to somehow attract anddraw. Add the gregarious factor of big meetings and music-based productions,and the old methods of reaching our communities seem redundant. The problem iswe have become an invisible rabbit warren no better than big social or night-clubsin the eyes of the community. We fail to penetrate their consciousness.

Weneed a style of Christian living and gathering that will transcend both methods, by being so visibly “out-there” it willattract true commitment and obviously hot persecution. We have been playing ittoo safe. Such gatherings will become lightning rods to the media and attract alot of weirdo’s also. But until we become dangerous in the perceptions of oursociety we continue in famine. When will they hear the sound of great army’sand flee from before us? We need some lepers to step out first.

Are You Sitting on the Fence?

2011-12-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been reading a history ofChina’s so-called “Great Wall,” which incidentally is not visible to the humaneye from the moon; as claimed in a popular urban myth in the 1960’s.

The Great Wall really is a collection ofwalls built from time to time when all else failed in dealing with barbariansor wanting to display arrogance or domination over various regions. There wasno singular noble purpose but rather a variety of motivations and mostly ameans of brutal subjugation and military pride.

Man's history has failed to demonstrateanything from a pure motivation apart from Jesus Christ.

So when we find the issues that life throwsat us a bit too tough, we throw up a wall and sit on it. Actually the term“sitting on the fence” comes from the Chinese proverb “riding on the Wall”;which had the sense of parading on the Great Wall with pompous bravado whileactually doing nothing.

Many people go to church but have not yetdestroyed their barbarian self by getting off the wall and laying down theirlife. We are so good at acting the “I’m OK” role that we are simply a parade ofpride.

Get off your fence! Engage with the enemy“Self” and build no more walls of futility.

2011-12-06T18:49:00.001-08:00

Who is Interpreting Your Faith?

I have upgraded my computer so of course my 15 year old Biblesoftware won’t work anymore. “No problem” I thought and went online to find somenew, more versatile and comprehensive software. I was wrong.

Oh yes there were a variety of sites offering fantasticpackages with literally thousands of books in them. Prices ranged from $200 to$6000! I could not actually find out what was in these packages and began toget the impression that there was not much Bible, just a big bunch of commentariesand other books that claimed to expound the Bible more clearly.

All I really wanted was a few Bible translations, Strong’sConcordance, Vines and other useful reference volumes. I was not seeking thefount of all knowledge and every obscure nuance as explained by so many experts?

I have found the Holy Spirit is a great Bible teacher andexpounder of truth. My needs are simple andI am not really interested in displaying a vast knowledge or quoting scholarswho are mostly obscure “legends in their own lunchtime.”

When you dig into the background and motivation of so manyBible interpreters you find a lot of cold logic, liberalism, traditional viewsand general faithlessness. You almost never find revelation from the Holy Spirit;it is despised by these experts as too subjective. It is the only thing thatwill change your life however...

Oh, by the way, I found some free stuff online that willwork just fine.

Dealing with the Dark Kingdom

2011-12-01T15:28:00.001-08:00

I John 3:8b“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.”

It seems plain in scripture that the Lordintends to utilize us in His ultimate defeat of Satan and his false Kingdom.Victory has been progressive since Jesus wilderness refuting of Satan’s deviousplans. We are in a fight whether we like it or not. Read Ephesians 3:10 and Romans 16:20

Jesus has delegated his authority to us bothcorporately and individually: Acts 26:18: “Toopen their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from thedominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sinsand an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”

Now as they say in Texas, “let’s look at thehardware..” that is, the equipment we use to both defend against or attack theKingdom of Darkness.

Starting with the understanding that “God has not given us a spirit of timiditybut of power, love and a sound mind,” 2 Timothy 1:7. We are furtherequipped by the advantage of not being ignorantof Satan’s devices or strategies. (2 Corinthians 2:11.)

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 advises us that we havesome heavy artillery: “for the weapons ofour warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction offortresses. We are destroyingspeculations and every lofty thing raised-up by the enemy against the knowledgeof God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

The Long Range Missiles and Howitzers areprovided by “our position in Jesus”: Ephesians 2:1-8 (Read) describes this position“in Christ”. In Christ, we are unassailable by the enemies long rangestrategies and able to send off prayers that will damage the enemy’s plans.

To maintain our position we can livevictoriously above the sins of our own backgrounds Ephesians 4:27 “sin nomore”. 1 John 5:18 reminds us “no-oneborn of God sin, the Evil One does not touch him.” Consequently we simplydo as James advises us to “submit to Godand resist the Devil so that he flees from you.” James 4:7.

The Battle ground is the same old thing: TheWorld the flesh and the Devil. Satan is playing on them because that is all heknows and always uses the same old tactic to great effect. As with Jesus in theTemptation, He takes his attack first to the body: “turn these stones to bread”then to the logical soul: “Angels will bear you up” then finally to the spirit:“worship me”. (Matthew 4)

If we understand these battlegrounds, we canprepare to be victorious. Deuteronomy 1: 8 encouraged the people to go in andpossess the land. We need to see that as an invitation to us also. To thatpurpose we need to explore the Devils tactics in the 3 areas of Spirit, Souland Body.

Our human spirit is our Holy of Holiessanctuary for God to dwell in by His Spirit. If He dwells in us there is noroom for a devil to be there also. Satan wants to inhabit our Spirit and own itfor eternity. He will approach through the territory of the Body and Soul.

Our Soul is our “Holy Place” This is the majorbattleground: our intellectual mind, will and emotions are the furniture inthis place: (Candlestick, Table of Showbread and altar of Incense.) The enemyfires his fiery darts into our Holy Place that can be extinguished by our faith(Ephesians 6:16). We must hold our thoughts captive in that Holy environment inorder to keep Satan out of this arena. 2 Corinthians 10:5. When you consideryour mind a holy place you begin to take care what thoughts you entertain inyour brain.

Our Body is our “Outer Court” where all thesacrificing and washing is going on. 1Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the HolySpirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Let’s go into the Armory of our spiritualwarfare where we find 7 divinely powerful weapons for personal use against theSatan and his zombies as referred to in 2Corinthians 3-5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according tothe flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinelypowerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations andevery lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are takingevery thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Weapon #1 is the Word of God which is the “sword of the Spirit” Ephesians 6:17.“it is written!” said Jesus. So must we because Satan’s power is enhanced byour ignorance. Hosea 4:6a: “My people aredestroyed for lack of knowledge.”

Weapon #2 is The Name of Jesus. Jesus gave usthe right to use His name. It represents His power and authority and He standsbehind His name. “In my name they willcast out demons!” Mark 16:17. At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow.(Philippians 2:9-11)

Weapon #3 is Christ in you. By new birth, Jesusdwells in us and “you are from God,little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in youthan he who is in the world.” I John 4:4. We are in Him and “He has put allthings in subjection under His feet”. Ephesians 1:22.

Weapon #4 is The Blood of Jesus. I John 1:7-9 “the blood of Jesus, his Son,purifies us from all sin.” So he hasno handle within us or cause against us! We overcome Satan “by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony” Revelations12:11.

Weapon #5 is the power of the Holy Spirit. TheHoly Spirit is basic equipment for every real believer. “You shall receive the gift..” Acts 2:38. It is by this power we shall do “greater works” John 14:12. The enemy is careful not to exposehimself to a Spirit filled believer.

Weapon #6 is the gift of the discerning ofspirits 1Corinthians 12:10. The word discern in Greek means to know thoroughlyand without a doubt. It is not the gift of imagination. 1 John 4:1-6 encouragesus to “test the spirits” behind thosewho would seek to introduce new teachings.

Weapon # 7 the Whole Armor of God as describedin Ephesians 6:10-18 against the (gates), counsels or strategies of Hell.(Matthew 16:18-19) Romans 13:12 “put onthe armor of light 2 Corinthians 6:7 the weapons of righteousness for the righthand and the left.”

2011-12-01T13:45:00.001-08:00

Digging for God’s Provision

A positive expectationof good is an attitude that makes faith work. I am not talking about simplybeing optimistic or a “glass is half full” style of person but rather one whohas learned that God is more ready to bless than condemn.

Many people are almostcowering in anticipation of a rebuke or maybe a whack on the head from the Lord.This may be a result of bad parenting or negative experience with authority. Inany case this is not reflective of whom our Lord really is. He is all aboutlove, grace and kindness.

In 2 Kings 3 we readof a foolish enterprise by the kings of Judah and Israel to attack Moab. Likemany things we decide to do, it was ill advised and poorly planned. Thingsstarted to go sideways and they could see disaster looming. It was about nowthey decided to consult the Lord.

As it happened, (theGod-incidence factor), Elisha the Prophet was along for the jaunt. He was notimpressed by the unequal yoke (partnerships never work) but because there was justone righteous person, he was able to speak for the Lord.

God’s solution wasinclusive: Dig trenches! Make room for blessing. Despite our presumptions and beingfar out on a limb, God is not going to cut you off to drown in your ownproblems. Expect Him to bless you but remember to ask.

Ps David

Am I hearing you correctly?

2011-11-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

I think all of us want to know why people say and do whatthey do. We like to have an opinion about what’s going on and don't want tomerely shrug our shoulders and say, “it's a mystery to me.” We don't want to look as dumb as we feel! Wehave answers for the complex issues related to our employment but can’t tellyou why our kids won’t behave.

Sometimes we understand the implications ofpronouncements made by heads of government, yet at the same time we can't givean answer as to why we always feel tired and lethargic after being with somepeople that just have that draining effect on us.

Even though we understand that there really isn’t a widediversity of human behavior, why is it that we don't spend much energy inlearning to understand what makes others say and do things?

I believe that if we are truly honest with ourselves, we are not very interested in understandingothers; however, we are very interested in being understood!

This is a major problem forhuman communication, or the lack of it: We simply are not hearing othersbecause we want to be heard. Paul’s advice in Ephesians 2:3-5 is to “countothers as more significant than ourselves.” This requires us to put on adifferent kind of mind: The mind of Christ.

A trite Solution for our Problems

2011-11-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

Way backwhen I became a believer, I would ask what I thought were deep spiritualquestions of fellow believers only to be rewarded with what I thought was themost banal, boring answer: “Read your bible and pray!” Over the years Idiscovered they were right! Now I am apt to handle difficult concerns with thesame response; though I do try to make it sound more interesting. If youdistill a lot of Christian advice it comes down to the same thing; “read yourbible and pray!”

“Gosh!” Youmay be thinking, “is that the sum total of intellectual consideration that isgiven to life’s perplexing conundrums?” When you boil it all down to theessentials… yes! I cannot think of any better solution to any of the issues weface.

Probablythe main problem attaching to the statement is that many Christians are yet todiscover the awesome power that lies within the simple concept expressed by therather bald statement: “Read your bible and pray.” We want it dressed up inmuch more satisfying terms, try this for size: “Apply yourself assiduously to adialectic analysis of the covenants whilst exercising glossolalia in anattitude of reverent submission.” There, does that feel better?

Here liesthe reason we are subjected to fruit and vegetables as young children: It isgood for us. No, not that your bible is green.. it can be a bit bitter at timesbut such sweetness in the aftertaste as to make you actually want more. Prayercan seem fruity in this worldly age but the long term benefits will put you wayahead of whoever is second. We could say that “read your bible and pray” is thehealthy diet of those who grow up strong.

A Crumbling Image of our Faith

2011-11-22T17:43:00.001-08:00

Some old Orthodox branches of Christianity are into Icons:They are pictures that depict Jesus or past saints. Some of these are ancientworks of art and very precious to them.

The trouble with Icons is that they are a painting of apainting of a painting etc. Like a rumour or piece of gossip they change or“morph” over time and various interpretations emerge. No-one gets the originalidea.

Our own faith can be like this as we continually re-inventour Christian life to fit the environment or circumstances we find ourselvesin. We lose the pure and simple sense of an “original.” The Image we portray isnot “minted” but is “munted”. Our life can become a distorted image of JesusChrist.

Image in scripture can be translated as Icon (Eikon inGreek) which is an interpreted image or picture. Another word is Character(Charagma in Greek.) The sense of Charagma is that of an exact image such as acoin made from the same stamped impression. It is hard to turn what has beentruly minted to munted unless you put “U” in the picture.

Will the real "born again" please stand?

2011-08-17T22:51:00.000-07:00

For many Christian believers being “Born Again” is like receiving a special “Gold-Card” that provides immunity from some rather unpleasant consequences and becomes the ticket to attend (when the mood strikes) various functions as a card-carrying member of “The Christian Church.” At least that is how they function in the sight of those who have had a different experience.

When I read the Bible description of “Born Again” I notice that the experience begins with a death; a death to our own life and our own choices. Those who have truly died need to be born again. When they are born again it is to take up a whole new life that is not their own. All choices and self-determinism are gone. The old nature does still surge to the surface to seize control but only briefly because such people ultimately have no desire or even ability to follow those urges.

Actually we are born into a new family of like-minded people and our whole devotion, passion and commitment becomes centered on them. Every church has a minority of such people who are often viewed by the majority as being “over the top” and need to “get a life.” They are really “the usual suspects” who actually do all the stuff.

People either find themselves gently and gradually drawn into that family of dedicated believers for whom church and the things of God have become their life’s passion or they drift away to other things; their own things. They still have “their life”.

The close-knit family of any church exhibits a love for the things of God because they are born again into it. Happily this addiction is available to everyone and because it comes from the Lord to open hungry hearts.

Raw Preaching

2011-08-17T22:39:00.000-07:00

At best, people can remember a maximum of 20% of any message preached for a maximum of 10 days; unless they find a way to integrate the message into their daily life. The Church of the Western World has adopted the methods of the Scribes of Jesus time: They taught with illustrations, quotes, ear-tickling detail and often passionate eloquence.

Jesus taught in a different way “the crowds were astonished at His teaching because He was teaching them as one who had authority and not as the Scribes..” Matthew 7:28-29. He used brief powerful stories and parables because he knew the limitations of the people; that they could not retain things unless they were expressed in the simplest everyday concepts that they could relate to. He always included a command to action.

I once heard Juan Carlos Ortiz say: “Don’t preach a new sermon till the last one has been done!” Very few have tried this approach (and survived), it was not popular. People’s expectations are for nice meetings and new teaching. Somehow we must re-direct this expectation toward a new task or command of Jesus that we must all embrace in order to move on. This would involve a radical re-think of the way we do church.

The enemy of our souls comes to church also… to prey. He wants to snatch the word away from us in case we actually do it! In Matthew 7:21 Jesus warns us that we will fail to enter His Kingdom unless we DO the will of God. He goes on to give the illustration of the house built on sand or rock.

We resent anything that breaks into the pattern of our independence and traditions but the commands of Jesus always do. Are we building a system of church life that neatly sidesteps our responsibility to act upon those commands? Please think about this before things change.

How to have a Better Marriage Part 8

2011-08-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 3:7: “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect and with quality time as the weaker partner and as co-heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will frustrate your prayers.”

We all want others to think and act as we do. We have an unrealistic “aisle altar Hymn” thing going on when we marry. The fact is we do not behave the same and because opposites attract, we are due for a few surprises when we begin to settle into the everyday.

We all exhibit a basic behavioural style that is called a “social style.” When we are at work and engaged or focussed on something our behavioural style shifts gear and we seem like another person. During courtship we are often exhibiting this work style because we see the process of attracting a mate as a job to be completed. Once the whole process of weddings etc. is complete, our more relaxed social style come to the fore and the change can seem dramatic. This can take some major adjustments and some really don’t take it well. They want to lock their partner into the style they exhibited during courtship. This results in terrible tension so the locked-in partner begins to mask their true self. This can become habitual and go on for a long time rather like acting in a perpetual play. Disaster is looming and a crisis of relationship will occur.

Some effort should be made to explore each other’s communicating style during courtship but mostly that will never happen. The real key is to let each other be who they are without trying to change them into something. We are not what we think we are; nor what others think we are; we are what we think others think we are. It takes a long time to be fully at ease with ourselves.

Some common issues I have dealt with in discussions are issues of difference in style of communicating ourselves. To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little. - To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and try not to understand her at all! Very analytical style people who think things through and make lists in their mind, struggle to feel things at an external level; they tend to analyse events and shut off emotions in favour of the logical. They need to see this tendency mirrored and lighten up. Assertive people who are often seen as a threat by less assertive people, tend to feel unwelcome in Church circles. Naturally promoting styles are seen as flirts because they use eye contact eloquently. Warm friendly styles can seem stubborn and non-committal.

I am just cracking open the door to understanding people’s behaviour so that we might be aware that people do not always fit our expectations. We need to see differences as strengths not problems.

Assertive and decisive people want to know “here or in the bedroom?” Warm friendly folk want reassurance: “Oh go on its OK, you can trust me...” Promoting people respond to incentives: “OK go ahead!” Analytical people need details: “It’s been 3 weeks 21 hours and 22 minutes...”

Life bashes us up as married couples and we need repair. The first rule is to play together: Dine fancy, do sports together, do stuff you both enjoy but get off the couch and do it! Worship and pray together, be big supporters of your church together. Make friends that you both enjoy. A good mix of friends will keep you both young. Not just your peers or workmates spread the net wide! Enjoy your kids but don’t worship them, wean them. So many parents cannot let go without trying to make their kids fit some concept and career. This is a stress for all. Love each other seems like a redundant phrase since that is why you married. Sadly we get caught up with the business of life and forget love is something you do. It is not a feeling or something you just take for granted. Dream together then do stuff together. Be considerate.

How to have a Better Marriage Part 7

2011-08-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

Marriage Killers exist everywhere… There is no end to this subject since the devil who is not inventive will exploit every chink in our armor, running at us with the wind and the hill behind him. 2 Corinthians 2:11: “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

Some common issues I have had occasion to minister to in the Holy Spirit are necessarily exposed and dealt with at a spiritual level because they are issues that seem to attack the very spirit of a person. Repentance and forgiveness are the primary to the need for effective deliverance to be ministered.

Molestation in the background is sometimes overstated due to media attention or the effect of an oversaturated imagination. Nevertheless it is common and extremely damaging to relationships. The best natural advice I have found is: if you have no memory of it; don’t go digging because you set yourself up for demonic deception. Remember Satan is the accuser of the brethren. There is an issue of timing that will allow the Holy Spirit to deal with the matter like a surgeon. Don’t shake the fruit off the tree before it is ripe. If you do have a good reason for suspecting molestation, see an expert professional first.

Peter Pan Syndrome: The boy who never grew up; this problem can affect both sexes, but it appears more often among men. Some characteristics of the disorder are the inability of individuals to take on responsibilities, to commit themselves or to keep promises; excessive care about the way they look and personal well-being and their lack of self-confidence; even though they don’t seem to

show it. They actually come across as exactly the opposite. Wendy “makes every decision and takes on the responsibilities of her partner, thus justifying his unreliability. We can find Wendy people even within the immediate family: the overprotecting mothers.” Peter Pan rages at frustrations and seeks escapes. They are good at self preservation and will gloss over any attempt to mirror the issue back at them. We all reflect aspects of this.

Pornography takes on many forms and is a reflection of our jaded appetites in society. I once managed with a company selling general interest books and one called “Death by Chocolate” which you would assume would be a best seller with women. Not so, men were the main purchasers of this collection of photographs of mouth-watering chocolate creations. Did they take it home to their wives? No, they hid it in the desk at the office etc. Chocography! There is a natural inclination in many to be collectors of things we secretly like. This tendency makes us vulnerable to developing secret hidden fascinations for forbidden things. This can go on to be a demonic bondage in lives and requires confession and renouncing before it turns into regrettable actions. Sow a thought, reap an act!

Demonic Possession is mostly a rare thing but oppression is common. Possession is frequently suspected but whichever is the case, there is always a devil involved. We all have personal attention from devils assigned to destroy us who need a base sin to attach to. Possession produces often bizarre irrational behaviour and you will surely notice it. Total repentance and occasionally deliverance through faith is required.

Spiritual Adultery is common in cults or groups where the leader becomes the standard by which husbands are measured. This is very wrong and can be the reason for the husband not becoming or continuing as a Christian. The pastor of a church should be exemplary of spiritual life not some success symbol.

How to have a Better Marriage Part 6

2011-08-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

The humdrum of life, meeting obligations and fulfilling the mostly imagined expectations of others can build up a sense of lack of fulfillment in areas of our life. We seek unconsciously to fill up those areas that we feel are overlooked in our marriage. We are sailing toward hidden reefs and these unspoken hidden agendas in our life can literally explode with power given the ideal situation. Always these strangely coincidental circumstances parade themselves as some form of love and love justifies many wrongs. We find ourselves drawn into a web of deception and devastating cycle of events.

Let me tease out the scenario for you: You work and interact with someone of the opposite sex, there is no doubt that we all work through the possibilities and the dangers in our minds. We flirt with the possibilities in our minds first and that is where this idea should be put to death. If we don’t the next stage is to “test” the waters; jokes, the knowing looks the casual touch, sharing little confidences. Now the private fantasies are growing in intensity; oddly coincidental meetings and some touching – you just like to be with that person and talk a lot – it is all happening, the current is drawing you now… over Niagara falls…

I have observed that in these situations we are often drawn to someone like ourselves which would mean this is about a kind of self (indulgent) love; strangely introverted. The warning signs were on the package: work a lot and work late - keep funny irregular hours - habits begin to change – change your hair/clothing style – more secretive now – worry about your health etc. Now the emotional roller coaster has momentum and guilt, self justification (I’ve earned this) begin to rampage through your soul. Highs and lows will make you wonder if you are becoming manic at times. Paradoxically people at this stage begin to fuss over their spouse and kids then at other times seem completely distant, blaming their spouse, alternating between anger and buying favor. This whole process can destroy health and happiness. It is called sin. To know how it happens is to avoid it.

The cure is quite violent and painful. There is a narrow path away from the inevitable destruction that will follow the life of such a person. It may be a long time but like Bob Dylans song “Slow train comin’” such a person is tied to the tracks. Meanwhile if there is no awareness of the deception, they may go on into a lifetime of multiple affairs and enjoy the devils reward of serving their own desires.

Step one is to break the power of the deception by seeing it then prayer for deliverance. Step two is to remove all possibility for further temptation by cutting forever all communication with the other party. Now is a good time to confess to someone. After praying about who that might be I would urge such a person to re-think about confessing to their spouse. Most often the spouse reacts by divorcing them and this is not always the right response. When Jesus spoke of divorce in Matthew, he referred to divorce as “porneia” which really means a continued devotion to a false idol or someone who make adultery their lifestyle. A “fall” if repented of, is not really grounds for divorce.

Confessing to someone like a friend, counselor or pastor means that they can agree to check up on the person for a season till they are out of the woods. Then they can simply forget the matter for their own safety. The person, who is confessed to, needs to spend time with the Lord to unload the guilt that may have been transferred. This is a scriptural principle of priesthood.

Now the marriage needs some time to return to a natural equilibrium. This should not be forced nor should an unconscious shifting of blame or expectations be projected onto a partner.

People who have fallen are vulnerable to other falls since there is a weak point or propensity the evil one will want to exploit. A change of habits may expose areas of temptation to the light of truth. The memories set up by the fall will take considerable time to fade away and have ongoing emotional consequences. This will be either destructive or character-building in the long run. The whole key is to realize that repentance is also a continuing process in our lives.

How to have a Better Marriage Part 5

2011-08-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

Most of us struggle with cultural and social understandings of relationships that are not founded in biblical truth. As Kiwis we have developed a particular style of weddings and married life that now reflects our culture. I have performed wedding services in Australia and USA and NZ. I have observed clear differences, the most notable being Kiwi tendency to leave many things unspoken. This is typical of our independent self reliant culture that would do the late John Wayne and most Masonic lodge members proud.

Further complicating marriage is a lack of understanding or training in interpersonal skills that enable us to grasp the significance of behavioral differences and make sense of one another. All in all, being married is not a simple business that naturally occurs; we have so many agendas and social hurdles to jump in order to meet the unspoken criteria of others expectations.

Why do we marry? Most of today’s young people would like an answer to this question. They see little purpose served. Is it just a legal arrangement providing security for wives and children? It once had much to do with this deep need, but in our uncertain economic times this is definitely not true anymore. Is it just a religious legitimization of hormonal drives, invented by priests with control of the masses in mind? Looking at medieval marriages which were so controlled by churches we are definitely not inspired to follow this course and the deep cynicism of Kiwis ensures we don’t.

I am going to give you another reason: Marriage is God-designed to serve as a basis for relationships that will cause us to discover our true selves; our completion and fulfillment in and through another person who becomes our true mirror.

Life is a perfecting (maturing) and purifying process and marriage is a vital aspect of this. Changing partners does not always contribute to this process; we spend so long learning about ourselves through the understanding of another, to start again with someone else could mean a process of unlearning before we can start again and we might find it hard to achieve that hidden quality of relationship. I know some would feel aggrieved at this notion so I say it gently.

Many different approaches to the idea of “living together” on some agreed or even unspoken basis tend to create an environment that avoids the real issues. Sex can be an agreed basis or even common interests just so long as you keep “busy” long enough that you don’t feel the need to talk, think or relate at a deeper level. Once that happens, things may be over!

One item guaranteed to make you relate for good or bad is money. In every relationship there is a miser and a spendthrift. One will buy budget brand (no frills) and the other will buy the best. Both have their rationale. One would give everything away, the other hoard it just in case. Marriage must become the basis of establishing a balance in all matters but that will depend on the basis for marriage.

Marriage is a covenant. We glibly say yes to that idea but we may have lost the true sense of the word. We make vows before God of “for better or for worse” etc. If we do agree with the vows we made there is a basis for making things work. We can blend cultures, overcome race, status, even religious differences and value systems. We even have a basis for handling our In-laws.

We all need and serve value systems that require us to fit our lives around them in definable ways: What part of town you live in, North Shore or “Westy”, country hick or city slicker, renter or owner and where do you work etc.? We must choose to let our values determine relationships or start afresh together building new values perhaps somewhere else. All these micro issues produce challenges for how we relate to God and each other and require many decisions; out of which will emerge your future, so communicating about all these matters becomes critical. Many times I have heard from others that the years went by so fast and many dreams were unrealized, mostly because there was no agreed plan to actually do those things. Marriage is about achieving in life together and requires consistent mutual trust. This does not necessarily mean financial success but a life of fulfilled dreams.

How to have a Better Marriage Part 4

2011-08-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

There is a primeval motivation in our mating/courting behavior. This exists despite all our attempts to bury it beneath a veneer of respectability. We do joke about it but it can be uncomfortably true and therefore not a good subject for joking. We need to remember that we are not animals driven by instinct. Modern pundits extol the animal aspects of sex because they love to strip away any goodness and true virtue as if they were a Victorian curse; bringing us down to the lowest common level of understanding. When the covers are ripped away from the world’s view of sex it is ugly under there. There is much straining for imagined “highs” leading to deviation, experimentation; producing demoralization jaded appetites and finally moral corruption.

True Christianity does not seek to put the covers back on! Neither does it seek to encourage falseness and pseudo-Victorianism but to bring relational quality and a dimension of fulfillment back into real marriages. Those relationship differences that lead to deviations and marital problems can be repaired by developing better communication between both partners. One of these issues is that of privacy. Nakedness and shame are associated values. Adam and Eve were naked but unashamed until they felt exposed by the truth of their sin. All flesh recoils from truth e.g. you can’t mix sex and funerals can you? All people who are trying to avoid the reality of their lives are shamelessly

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…uncovering in a desperate attempt to pretend there is no truth but they are not nude as they tell us, they are naked!

Nudity is normal in private. Nakedness is a public thing. Women do not fear nudity; they fear nakedness and their husbands motivation will determine which it is by maintaining righteousness. Old Victorian standards (the age of hypocrisy) still prevail but in fact it is either prudish behavior or religious behavior or worse, both. What women need are respect and above all a sense of security.

The so-called marble slab routine wives are sometimes accused of because of unresponsive reaction to male “overtures” are mostly because of the issues we have just discussed. The husband holds the key to this chastity belt, it is called trust. Now it is true that what was once known as the “wowser” attitude (puritanical) does invade our bedrooms with low expectations and correspondently low response; this not helped by methods or Porn Movies or introducing weird sex into the relationship. It is only helped by understanding and trust.

There has been an appalling lack of loving consideration shown toward women in the religious world. We are blessed our wives don’t wear Burka’s but in Old Catholic Church times they pretty much did. Women were and still are not culturally conditioned to enjoying sex in marriage. They have not expected much and now the pendulum is swinging the other way. Instead of elevating good relationships, the world has gone for deviation and twisted expectations driven by a sexual performance fear. People have become jaded and faded and feel they must go to extremes to find pleasure. This has led to the market driven need for pills and all sorts of paraphernalia to enhance sexual prowess. This is spawning a whole new set of false expectations for men and women and as result we are now bombarded with issues of impotence etc.

The everyday dysfunctions of our physical relationships such as premature ejaculation or difficulty in achieving orgasm are normal. With good open communication and reading some decent book, you can overcome these issues because mutual respect and trust is in place. The over emphasis of female response and male size/prowess in our over-sexualized society has created nothing but frustration and disappointment. Pulp fiction and TV writers have a lot to answer for.

It is interesting to note that these writers almost never discuss the very ordinary aspects of sex such as kids, contraception and Kleenex. These are the realities of life along with the matter of pregnancy. As Christians we have a sense of timing for conception. We want to raise godly families in due season. The same applies to contraception which ultimately should be a man’s decision. When the “madness” that strikes us to want more kids, is finally over, the husband could discuss and agree with his wife, pray, then go and have a vasectomy. This is acting responsibly towards our wife by taking the initiative.

As to the practical aspects of “making love” there are excellent books out there which you should both choose to read. In Old Testament times they had the Song of Solomon as a source of good hints. They were not into having heads full of knowledge like modern generations and knew very little of other people’s opinions, consequently they were not filled with wrong expectations. They did live in tents and were much more natural about such matters so would not have many problems.

How to have a Better Marriage Part 3

2011-08-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

WO-man! In Hebrew means “out of man” and so, complementary to man; not different to man but refined dust; the differences are sex based.

The first command given to man is “be fruitful!” (Genesis 1:28.) Using the theological “law of first reference,” it means “no limitations.” God introduced woman to the man with a command to multiply. This is a holy and righteous thing; no laws and no shame. Eden was a place of beauty and glory and we see that Adam “knew” his wife. This profound Hebrew word ‘Yada’ means to know completely and intimately. They were one flesh. Yes, Proverbs 5:21 “..a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.” God approved.

The bible acknowledges the ‘pressures’ 1 Corinthians 7:9: “But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” 1 Corinthians 7:2-5: “But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

The last 65 years have been a major test for marriages: We live longer; men don’t go off for long periods of time to war or such adventures; we live in a pressure-cooker environment; there is no “confinement” for pregnancy; contraception and abortion are major issues and so forth. All this is mostly unprecedented in history so we have had no examples as a reference point.

Since we are more able to address these subjects, we can make observations that affect our understanding at a much deeper level. We realize that a healthy relationship is based on much more than an act of perfect physical satisfaction. The Russians experimented in a range of metaphysical subjects during the Cold War thinking they could gain supremacy: Thought transference was a favorite topic for them and during this process, they discovered some facts about intimate relationships: In the act of mutual sexual engagement some kind of transference of a person’s self took place. It actually registered on their equipment! This came to be known as “soul transference.” Once you give this part of yourself, it is gone forever. So if you do not share your life with that person, it would seem there is something missing..an emptiness. Adultery empties your soul.

There is a natural sanctity associated with sex that is not dependant on a person’s relationship to God. The inference being that sex is spiritual and creates a heightened awareness of things spiritual. From a man’s point of view there is recognition of the spirituality of sex but women have a difficult time believing that men actually think like that. Men have a constant drive: Every 2-3 days the prostate is fully charged and ready to go! In younger days there are between 12 and 22 erections per night! A side effect is aggression and leadership which is ego-based so can be easily broken or crushed by an insensitive wife. A smart wife will channel this drive to greater things.

Men give love to get sex. This is normal but the mistaken idea many hold due to religious and traditional superstitions is that’s all men want. In reality they want to love and be loved and not viewed as a “one way street!” Further to this, to maintain a healthy self esteem there must be no system of “reward”. Author Tim La Haye said: “if you have a Cadillac in the garage you don’t feel tempted to steal a Volkswagen off the street.” Sexual satisfaction for a man brings contentment and a better work attitude leading to greater success. Less time is spent utilizing peripheral vision!

Women on the other hand give sex to get love but need much more time to warm up. The old concept of demanding “rights” which is a redneck attitude needs be exposed along with calling your wife “mum!” Attitudes like these contribute to frigidity. The antidote is clear: Ephesians 5:28: “In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” Conversely a man, who does not demonstrate considerate love, has self image problems and does not love himself.

A holistic approach to lovemaking is needed from men: Set the scene! (A steak meal with candles is not always best!) Mood, Tenderness, care, privacy, respect, patience and above all use words. Men also need to affirm their wives as good lovers but take care to be consistent. If you say “darling you are good in bed but lousy in the kitchen..” get ready to live in a monastery!

Women “glow” when things are good at home. They advertise their successful marriage. Things are in order: Companionship, compassion, affection, romance (chocolate) and passion.

Sex is central to good relationships between husband and wife. It has intrinsically selfish aspects that can only satisfactorily be achieved by being unselfish. Obviously if there is selfishness, God is the missing dimension. When you are “right with God” your love relationship is greatly enhanced.

How to have a Better Marriage Part 2

2011-08-07T20:37:00.000-07:00

There is a bunch of good material written about marriage and it must generate a lot of money for some. People seem to collect books about it and I have noticed some excellent books on the shelves of people who are less than successful at the game and needing help. Always the story seems familiar: “my situation is unique” they seem to be saying. I have heard the same from people who have severe illnesses in words like, “the doctor tells me my condition is very rare” etc. We all believe we are unique and largely this is true but marriages fail for a very ordinary even ancient reason: Broken commitment.

The good news is there is such a thing as “restored commitment” but more about that later. Right now we have an urgent question to address in this age of NO commitment: Why do people marry when all around are examples of quiet failure? We have ‘partners’, common law, de facto, significant others and “the person I live with…For the sake of the kids” etc. Society is pretty good at hiding the ugly truth rather like the subject of death. All these less-than-married status titles mean that people have no anchor and are drifting on a sea of ultimate disaster.

We come up with an amazing array of excuses for failure in relationships: Too young, non-Christian spouse, in-laws interference, he/she wouldn’t change, sexual dysfunction, unfaithfulness and the favorite nowadays: Incompatibility, (a word that cloaks many other things). Every excuse sounds so legitimate when rehearsed over and over and of course both parties are absolutely right! Pity they couldn’t give the same effort justifying their relationship while it was alive. While I admit there are circumstances that do qualify for a break of a relationship, these should be a rare exception among believers since we have access to divine help

The biggest myth that many seem to give much credence to is that marriage is a 50/50 relationship. They need to re-do the math. It’s 100/100! The 50/50 folks say “I’ll give as much as you do”. The hundred percent folk say “I’ll give anyway.”

Divorce is a bible concept. Matthew 5:31-32 "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce' but I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulterer, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. It seems they had a problem of casual commitment going-on back then. The word Jesus chose for divorce was derived from the Greek word “apostasy!” (a very scary word). He put the concept of divorce on a whole new footing, away from the secular and legal sense into a spiritual dimension.

He referred to adultery (marital unfaithfulness) in spiritual terms by using the word porneia, a Greek word meaning continued devotion to an Idol (fantasy.) This was a really big spiritual issue for the Jews. So effectively Jesus brought a paradigm shift to the issue of marriage and divorce by elevating matters into the relevant ‘now’ away from the traditional view. He changed the way people thought about marriage: Matthew 19:6: “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." Jesus did not mean the legal conclusion but the state of the heart. He exposed the selfish sin that precipitates the legal conclusion. Some Christians live in a state of divorce for years, maybe it is time the Church did not condone such sinful behavior.

How to have a Better Marriage Part 1

2011-08-07T20:35:00.000-07:00

Marriage is a biblical concept and while other beliefs and cultures value similar arrangements, as Christians we have a powerful advantage in order to make our marriages happy, enduring and a testimony to the power of the Lord. Why then do Christians share the same divorce rate as the rest of the world?

Many marriages are like the South Indian medi-pandu fruit; like a delicious strawberry outwardly but full of worms inside! During the so-called Cold War period we learned that the standoff between nations was called ‘détente’. Some marriages are in this state; both partners acknowledge there is a problem but don’t find the time or opportunity to fix it. In reality they don’t know how to fix it.

NAC, the old airline of NZ never ever had any ‘prangs’ simply because they stuck to ‘the book’ in everything they did. John 8:31-32: “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples; then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." We Christians also have a book, so why so many prangs?

An example is seen in worry over finances that ignore the fact that money comes from the Lord, not just our work. We must put Him first as Psalm 127:1-2 advise: “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builder’s labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for He grants sleep to those he loves.”

When you have nothing to give of your own resources, things just work fine. CP. The fate of 250 remaining prisoners in Tasmania (then a regular Hell-hole!): Two shiploads of common working girls were sent from England by the government of the day. The prisoners were lined up as were the girls, hosed down, dressed then told to run and grab a girl (no time for decisions!). A mass wedding ceremony was read and each couple given a cottage, some money and a job. These marriages were better than 98% successful. Rather like the success of arranged marriages among the poor of India. Contrast that with the difficulty of finding Mr. and Mrs. “Right” nowadays.

How do we begin to restore the correct concept of marriage? Matthew 7:24 advises us to build our house on the Rock because problems will come; not ‘might’ come. Marriage is one such ‘foundation’ designed for the survival of relationships. Sadly because marriage has sunk to the status of mere tradition, it has become little bits of rock which is sand. Prone to liquefaction! We Christians have contributed to this sad state of affairs by expecting the ungodly to take on our beliefs; we have watered down the meaning of marriage to accommodate unbelievers.

We need to re-train believers in what marriage is: It is a concept intended to express lasting values not just traditional values. These values are reflected by Jesus Christ in his attitude toward us: Quality relationships, mutual respect, tolerance, loyalty, true romance that endures etc. These are not Victorian values from a bygone so-called romantic era! They are current values that work in the 21^st Century.

Perhaps we could start by not trying to please the non-christian public by conducting so-called Christian ceremonies to make them feel good. We could tell them the truth that Christian marriage only works, if you are a Christian. Likewise Christian funerals are no use for non-Christians.

Taking Ownership

2011-07-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

Most of us have experienced bad service at a major store. Lack of service happens frequently at big stores. This is because the owner of a smaller local store cares for his customers - there is an understanding of where his money comes from. Imagine if a local cafe owner slapped the occasional customer who didn't order correctly?

Employees often seem careless and don't know their products. They make fun of customers and brag to each other when making customers pay more than they should. Some are paid by commission and their hunger is obvious. You feel they only care about the getting the sale and have little interest in you.

Such employees are too far removed from the boardroom to have a sense of ownership. They're wage slaves who do only the minimum of what is required of them. Some companies try to rectify this with pep rallies or training programs. Sadly the results often reflect more bad service and indifference; employees mostly assume their pay comes from the boss - but it really comes from the customers.

Do you have a sense of ownership about the Kingdom of God? Or are you a “wage slave”? Is your attitude "I'm a Christian so I have to (grudgingly) fulfill a few requirements to look or sound like one?”

We actually inherit the Company (Kingdom). God calls us Sons and Heirs. But it seems we are reluctant or embarrassed to share this good news with others. We get upset about new staff (people) sharing the work in church and rocking the boat. We ignore our training or make little effort to study our "product knowledge". But we love getting money out of people for our pet projects.

Imagine you own the store (because together we do) and examine how you could make the effort to make your service attractive to new customers. Remember we live to serve, but we need to take ownership to serve with excellence.

Born Again to what?

2011-07-17T21:07:00.000-07:00

Breaking the Mold

2011-07-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

Can you fit in Heaven?

2011-07-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

Revelations 21:15-16 reads as follows: "The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia [that is, about 1,400 miles or about 2,200 kilometres] in length, and as wide and high as it is long."

This represents a space of 496,793,080,000,000,000,000 cubic feet; allocating one half of this space for the Throne and the Courts of Heaven, and one half of the balance for streets; this would leave a remainder of 124,198,270,000,000,000,000 cubic feet.

Then divide the remainder by 4,096 [the number of cubic feet in a room 16 feet square] and this will produce 30,321,843,750,000,000 rooms of the size indicated.

Conservatively calculating that the world contains, and has always contained, and always will contain 1,000,000,000 inhabitants, and that there are three generations to each 100 years. This gives the total number of inhabitants each century as 3,000,000,000.

Now, let's assume that the world will last for 1,000 centuries before the return of the Lord [or 100,000 years]. This would give a total of 3,000,000,000,000 inhabitants for this period of time.

We then must make an unlikely assumption that if 100 other worlds of the same size and duration, and containing the same number of inhabitants as Earth were to also find their way to Heaven, there would be more than 100 rooms of the size indicated for each person. Do you think it will be roomy enough for you?

A National Conscience

2011-07-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

Restoring a National Conscience

It would appear that conscience has “gone out of style.” Most people exhibit no signs of ever having a conscience? They sin with ease, not even aware that they have transgressed. When confronted, they are surprised! Many who are conditioned by a good upbringing and who do the same stuff, go through a Hell of remorse, their conscience beating them like a club.

Adam was the father of con-science = with knowledge; (with the knowledge that I just blew it!) Prior to his acceptance of the devils word over God’s word, he was free as a bird. Suddenly he knew he could be master of his own destiny. (“You will be like God, free as a bird!”) It was all really just a notion of freedom; a fantasy sold to him by the Devils Ad’ Agency. So like so many of his descendants, he went ahead and bought the idea that he could do and be what he liked. He already could!

The Devils best trick is to sell you the simple lie that you are in control of your choices, like "Fast Food" He takes something good and turns it to rubbish and sells it back to us. He just wants you to be a regular customer.

Man was created innocent yet with a latent conscience not yet activated. Because of the law regarding the Tree of Knowledge, coveting arose in Adam, his response is described in Romans: Rom 7:8; “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. Rom 2:14‑15; “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.”

So our conscience condemns us. It knows The Law so when we are sideways with the Law our own conscience is the sometimes strident voice of condemnation we hear. This is the conscience at work! Some people try hard to stifle their conscience, Adam tried; “the woman you gave me made me do it.” People excuse themselves by quoting their inherited circumstances and other external situations. Like Saul who wanted to maintain appearances, (saving face,) guilt sets “works” in motion. Adam’s “works” were fig leaves to cover the sin. Many hide from their conscience by staying busy. The world says; “keep doing it until the guilty feeling goes.”

1 Tim 4:2 talks about the loss of sensitivity of conscience; “By means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron..” Titus 1:15; “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.”

The goal is not just to have a “clear conscience,” plenty of people claim that, but real clarity is when there is no condemnation affecting our attitude. “The human voice can never reach the distance that is covered by the still small voice of conscience.” Ghandi.

Most of the world’s religions have developed techniques for silencing your conscience. (You have to pay a lot though!)

When we repent, our conscience has ceased condemning us we are free of the matter. I don’t mean we have suppressed the issue but it is dealt with. We don’t feel the need to raise the matter again though we could. Our eyes are clear and we are not seeking to justify ourselves in any way. We can fellowship with our peers and not feel inferior. Like Solomon Islanders who look you straight in the eyes; their simple life is free of the guilt our complex sophisticated society puts on us

Our faith works when we have a good conscience; 1 Timothy 1:5; “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.Vs.19; keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.”

The two main causes of a violated conscience are;

1: Breaking the laws of God. (10 Commandments still stand!)

As a nation we do this when we permit Abortion, and offer our support to minorities who trash

Every good thing we stand for. It all starts with dishonor in the home.

2: Breaking the principles of God is a defilement of the Temple.

The sanctity of marriage and the need for moderation are principles we despise in our nation.

Personal indicators of a violated conscience that will stop the operation of faith;

1. Resisting Holy Spirit conviction (Passive refusal of the basic requirements of belief: won’t pray.)

2. Suppression/Repression of guilt feeling (resident darkness enters)

3. Lowering of pre-set personal standards. (Indulging self, “I deserve this”)

4. Rationalization (thoughts accusing and defending)

5. Depression. (Cynicism becomes a lifestyle.)

6. Fear and grief. (Burnout- Nervous Breakdown.)

7. Bad and destructive behavior. (Irrational or excessive.)

8. Rejection of authority. (Violent angry and defiant.)

9. Rejection of truth and absolutes (probably suicidal.)

10 Rejection of God (a seared conscience - deception).

At a National Level:

Silencing the Holy Spirit in Public Gatherings by offering pseudo-Christian lip service.
Psychologists promote the idea of guilt suppression in all areas of life.
Allowing Television to do and say what they please with the inference “you deserve this..”
Offering explanations for sin under the guise of “Science”.
Media opinion poisons the thinking of the nation as they trash everything good.
Offering pills and excuses for so-called psychiatric conditions that are mostly sin.
Allowing generational and cultural excuses for anti-social behavior.
Protesting, despising public figures, lashing out at police and school authorities etc.
High Suicide rate demonstrates a sense of hopelessness and lack of self respect.
Hard anti gospel attitude prevails across our nation and false religions multiply.

I think you will agree that NZ has a violated national conscience. We need help.

The personal cure and key to maintaining a good conscience:

A/ The Word of God pierces us like Jesus writing in the dust with his finger.

B/ The Blood of Jesus; Heb 9:14; “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” He covers us when we stand honestly before Him with no attempt at cover up.

C/ The Holy Spirit: Romans 9:1; “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit..” He works with us to develop a pure conscience.

D/ A Renewed Conscience: Hebrews 10:22; let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. When our conscience is activated by our relationship with God, we are alive and sensitive to the spiritual realm. We walk in sensitivity to God and man that enables us to minister His Grace.

You can exercise faith with a violated conscience. But you are merely proving that God is faithful to His Word. You are not fulfilling your God-given purpose and you are delaying correction while storing up consequences that will eventually catch up with you.

The National Cure:

Change lies with each and every believer taking up responsibility to minister in the Spirit of love and compassion in an outspoken and dedicated fashion. We need a move of the Holy Spirit to overwhelm the whole body of believers in our Nation; cleaning out the dusty corridors of stale religion and dead programs; forcing us into mass worship and supernatural ministry to unbelievers.

Is Your Halo Too Tight?

2011-07-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

A fellow visits his doctor with a raging headache. The Doctor asks a few questions to identify the cause: Drink? No! Smoker? Absolutely not! Watch late night television? Never, all those sleazy movies and stuff! Eat bad food? Wouldn't dream of it, my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit! The Doctor asked: is it a shooting kind of pain? Yes, that’s it exactly. The Doctor replied the cause is simple; you have your halo on too tight!

Many believers have very high ideals and that is fine. When we try to live by those ideals, we easily become a person who is impossible to relate to or even live with. It is better to wear your halo loosely and tilted with the ease and grace of someone who is in touch with their humanity.

So many seemingly great preachers are featured on the Web. Each has their detractor’s websites alongside. (God intended it that way) I watched a great YouTube message from a fiery fellow the other day and felt really convicted. Alongside was another short video of the same fellow launching a searing self-righteous broadside at another (higher profile) preacher. It ruined the whole illusion for me. Such an attitude reflects a deep self mistrust within.

Jesus did so much for us at Calvary: Yes He did it because of love; John 3:16. But more than that, He could have simply demonstrated that love some other way and died later in his sleep! But no, he was whipped and mutilated in a kind of unrestrained savage fury that we knows lies latent in humans hearts. When we think of that we cannot truly comprehend the furious love of Jesus. We can relate to the love demonstrated in the movies when someone will go through amazing things for a person they romantically love. But how do we relate to the blood drenched torn body of Jesus? Are we lost in wonder, praise and gratitude or in the theology of it because it is too hard to relate to.

Jesus reveals his Fathers love beyond a cold stone impassive remote God. I John 4:10: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. When we see that dimension of Love we are converted to TRUST in the Lord because there is no logical explanation.

To believe deeply as Jesus did, that I am his beloved child makes me free to trust. This profoundly affects the way I relate to myself and others. For them I wear my halo tilted on a rakish angle.

Legalistic people with tight halos are less sure of his grace and love and so mistrust themselves and others. They think of God in ways that reflect fear and so it leaks out of them: I John 4:18: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Legalists are afraid I will say something that is not doctrinally correct. They are waiting to pounce!

What would we do with Rahab the harlot? What about the woman who anointed and kissed Jesus feet? The pagan so-called “good” Samaritan? (non Jew) What about the “good” thief (terrorist) who was crucified alongside Jesus? His loved embraced them all and embraces us so we can trust…