The Good Soldier

Endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ
2 Timothy 2:3 (mix of KJV and ESV)

How do we react to the tough times that life sometimes throws at us? Do we respond with indignation that such a thing should happen to us? Surprise, disappointment, frustration? Do we become downcast and discouraged?

I was thinking, in the light of some challenges in my own life, of the reaction of the "good soldier." He has been trained for combat. He knows the hardship he is to face on the battle field and has prepared for them. He is not surprised or taken off guard when he faces tiredness, hunger, or the pain of injury. He is focused on the mission. He knows that he must endure these things for a while in order to achieve a greater objective.

Paul encourages us to respond to the hardships of life like this good soldier. Take it on the chin and keep pressing on towards our Master's mission. This is what we have been trained for. He himself gone before us and suffered on our behalf that we might stand. He has given us his life and his Spirit, not so we can give up at the first sign of blood, or throw in the towel after the first skirmish and the first casualty. He wants us to block out the pain and focus on the mission. He has strengthened us to be overcomers.

Whatever life throws at us let us respond as good soldiers not as victimised civilians.

Letting go to take hold

But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.
2Ki 5:11 ESV

Sometimes things in life don't work out like we planned or imagined. It can leave us feeling let down, angry and disappointed.

It's important to realise at these times that God still has a good plan for us. It's just not along the path we imagined.

To take hold of what God still has for us we have to be willing to let go of the anger and disappointment of the past and humble ourselves to continue on the path that God reveals.

Taking hold often first involves a letting go. 

The King's Concern

As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
Daniel 6:20 ESV

It's comforting to know that whatever we face and whatever or whomever comes against us for our harm, no matter who or what has sought to write us off, disregard us or silence us, the king himself is deeply concerned for us. He who watches over us neither slumbers nor sleeps. Although he may not save us from the trials. He is not unconcerned or unmoved by the trials we go through. He will always be there to save us through the trials. To bring us through to a greater place of blessing and peace on the other side.

He will always save us from the lions. The accusers who think the worst of us and the situations that seek to do us harm.

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17 ESV

Faithful calling

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV

We can doubt our calling. But we can never doubt the one who calls us. It is his faithfulness not our qualifications and abilities that are the assurance of the fulfilment. 

Not Forgotten

I say to God, my rock: "Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"
Psalm 42:9 ESV

For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psalm 43:2 ESV

These two psalms seem to go together. What is troubling the psalmist in both is the pain of feeling forgotten and rejected and the unjust hostility that has been directed towards them.

It's interesting to note how often these themes reoccur in the psalms. Indeed how often they occur in the scriptures.

Think of Daniel and Joseph. Joseph endured hostility and accusations he did not deserve. Both of them went through times where it looked like they were forgotten and rejected.

Is it any surprise when this is how Christ himself suffered? Rejected by those he came to save. Enduring hostility he did not deserve. Ultimately feeling forgotten even by God himself.

It seems that many servants of Christ - perhaps all - are tested in the same way as their master.

The examples of Joseph, Daniel and ultimately Christ are great examples to us. We are not forgotten. We are not rejected. We are not abandoned to those who have hostility in their hearts towards us. God is outworking his plan to form Christ in us.

Like the psalmist let not our hearts be downcast but let us put our hope in God.

An Open Ear

But you have given me an open ear.
Psalm 40:6 ESV

It's not clear (to me) whether the psalmist is saying that God's ear is open to hear him or that his ear is open to hear God. But I do know this. Both are true. And both are a great gift and blessings from the Lord.

We do not pray as men speaking empty words into the air. But our words have power and effect as they have an audience and a hearing in the very courts of heaven and before the Judge of all men and the king and ruler above all kings and rulers.

Nor do we wait in vain for the Lord to act or to respond. He has opened our ears to hear his voice and to know his will. He calls us friends because he chooses to share his heart with us. He reveals to us by his Spirit the mystery of his plan for this world. The great transformation through a people renewed in the image of God through the Spirit of Christ at work in their hearts.

What a privilege to hear and be heard by the great God of heaven!

Silent killer

I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse.

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.

Psalm 39:2,12 ESV

One of the saddest things in any relationship is when the people involved stop talking. The only thing worse than bad communication is no communication! At least when there is a heated exchange there is an opportunity once the dust has settled and emotions have calmed to learn and reassess. But when people stop talking to each other there is no opportunity for progress. Bad attitudes fester. Bad feelings linger on beneath the surface unresolved.

Sometimes we stop talking because we don't know what to say or we are worried about saying the wrong thing.

Sometimes even our relationship with God can be affected this way. We know the things we think we should say, but because that's not what we want to say we choose instead to say nothing. We "hold our peace" with God and then wonder why God "holds his peace" with us.

For any relationship to work there needs to be open and honest communication. This includes our relationship with God. If we put on a front and only say what we think we should say, we are not opening up. Our relationship is superficial. Eventually we will not be able to keep up the pretence.

A peace that comes from "holding your peace" is an unsustainable solution. Like David you will find it only makes the distress worse. To properly move on the silence must be broken.

God doesn't want us to keep silent about what is troubling us. Nor does he wish to remain silent on these matters.

It's time to break the silence!

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Don't stop the flow

And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing."
Ezekiel 47:12 ESV

Apologies for a few days of silence. When I started this blog it was with the expectation that I would have something to say every day. I never wanted it to become an empty religious activity where I posted something regardless of whether I had something fresh to say. But I do have the expectation when I come to God's word that he will speak to me. And when he does there will be something good to pass on.

The honest reason is just the business of life. I have other draws on my time. For the past few days they have seemed more important than a blog where currently only a small number of people read what I write.

But this verse this morning provoked me and reminded me why I do it. It reminded me why it's important for me (for us) to keep sharing the life of God we receive in whatever way we can.

The trees by the water of life speak of the men and women of God who are nourished by the word of God. Read Psalm 1 and note the similarities.

But the water of life doesn't just flow directly from God himself. It flows through us his servants. This is what Jesus promises to all his followers in John 7:38. God desires the life of his word to be like a river. Not just flowing into our lives for our own benefit but flowing out too to bless others.

That's why it's important to keep sharing. Look at what it will produce. When Ezekiel first saw the river it seemed like an insignificant trickle but the more it did flow the more it did grow. Until it became a mighty torrent.

It's easy sometimes to dismiss our own contribution as small or irrelevant. But God wants to use the river of life that flows from us to bless others. Even if its just ones or twos. And who knows the significance of the fruit from the lives of those ones or twos might be? God could use it for the healing of nations! Who knows what mighty torrent may come when we continue to allow our little trickle to keep flowing?

That's why I will continue to share and continue to cast my bread upon the waters. When God gives us good things it's our responsibility to find a way to pass them on.

God bless you and may your river of life be a blessing to others today.

Angels watching over me

The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psalm 34:7 ESV

I love Psalm 34. It is a psalm about how God always watches over and preserves his people through all their adversities. There are so many verses I could have picked. But it was this one that stood out for me this morning.

It seems sometimes that so much of what we call spiritual discernment is focused on demons and the demonic. But from my studies in the scriptures, I think we should correct our focus onto the angelic instead. By my calculations there are at least twice as may angels as there are demons. So if we see into the heavenly realm it should be the angelic activity that strikes us first.

Isn't this how it was with Jacob? When God gave him a glimpse in a dream into the heavenly realm, what did he see? Did he see the demonic powers that were at work in the world? No, he saw heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending from the throne of God.

Again, when Jesus promised Nathaniel (and all his disciples past and present) that they (we) would see greater things. What was he referring to? Did he say that we would discern demonic strongholds and territorial spirits? No, again he said we would see the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.

When Elisha's servant went out one morning and saw the enemy armies encamped all around, he didn't need any spiritual discernment to know the forces that were amassed against him. But when Elisha prayed, "Open the young man's eyes," what did he see? He saw the heavenly host, the angelic armies. He discerned that more are those who are for us than are against us.

God wants to open our eyes to the spiritual realm. Not so we can see demons under every stone, but so we can see the angels ascending and descending from the throne. They are ministering spirits sent to those who are inheriting salvation. That's us!

Whatever we are facing, the resources of heaven discharged in response are never overstretched. His angels are watching over us. Greater are those who are for us than those who are against us!

I like it heavy!

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
Psalm 33:3 ESV

I remember back in the '80s there seemed to be a paranoia amongst Christian circles about rock music. Anyone would have thought that Satan had given up his day job as accuser of the brethren and taken up a career composing heavy-metal!

I'm glad that attitudes have moved on. But there still seems to be a bias towards soft contemplative acoustic playing. Often this gets labelled as "worship music" as if it was the officially sanctioned genre of choice of heaven itself.

Personally, whilst I appreciate the quiet contemplative times in the presence of God and the appropriate music that assists it, it's not the type of music I would choose to listen to for my own enjoyment.

I like my music with a bit more life and energy. I like it loud. I like to hear the skillful playing of the strings of virtuosos. Men like Gary Moore, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, and Slash.

What I find interesting in the scriptures is that God enjoys loud music and skillful fretwork too! I think many believers will get a shock when they get to heaven to find it's not all quiet acoustic sessions.

"Worship music" is not just one specific genre, but encompasses every creative expression of musical excellence that comes from the creative heart of God himself and was given to man as a heavenly gift to offer back to God as a vehicle for praise.

If you are looking for me in glory I'll be over in the loud corner!

Vitamin P

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3 ESV

Before we came to Christ we were the centre of our own world. Everything revolved around us and our desires, aspirations and needs. When we came to Christ we abdicated the throne of our life and allowed him to sit in it instead. We found a better way; putting Jesus first, and then others before ourselves.

However as may of us have discovered. It is not a one-off decision that settled the matter in our hearts forever. There is a need to keep coming back to the cross on a daily basis and surrendering our life over again. Choosing day by day not to live as if it was all about me but living for Christ and putting others first.

I like to think of it like a vitamin. Vitamins are nutrients that are required by the body for healthy life but that cannot be synthesised internally. They have to be taken in regularly. This attitude of Christ is like a vitamin. I cannot synthesise it from within myself, I have to choose to take it from him and make it a part of me. I need it regularly, even daily. Because this attitude is best described in this passage in Philippians (Philippians 2:1-11). I call it "Vitamin P."

I have found for my own spiritual life and health I need to keep coming back to this passage and this attitude. Regularly examining and adjusting my attitudes to make them more like Christ's. I need my regular dose of vitamin P!

Restriction and Release

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
Philippians 1:12 ESV

Imprisonment must have been a frustrating time for Paul. He was the most effective evangelist of his generation. Traveling from city to city and country to country, establishing churches and seeing the great outpouring of the grace of God. Then it must have seemed as if that was all cut short. He is restricted, unable to continue with his ministry in the same way.

It must have been tempting for him to feel resentment towards those who had put him there. I wonder also if he didn't ask God why, like with Peter, he didn't just send an angel and allow him to walk free.

But if Paul did feel this way he must have taken those thoughts captive, for no hint of resentment comes through in his letters. Only grace and deep concern for the churches under his care. Indeed, he seems to have received insight that rather than being a limitation, his imprisonment was actually part of God's plan to increase the effectiveness of his ministry!

It reminds me of Joseph. He was tested in the same way. A great dream and calling on his life. Yet he found himself restricted in a prison cell. How did he feel towards his brothers who had put him there? How did he feel when the cup-bearer walked free and forgot about him as he remained in prison? What was his attitude towards the restriction on his ministry? It is quite remarkable to see the depth of his maturity and insight:

And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Genesis 45:7-8,50:20 ESV

These examples are a good challenge whenever we feel a restriction in our own ministry. Don't allow yourself to become bitter towards those who seem to be the source or the instigators of your restriction. Don't allow room in your heart for jealousy towards those who seem to enjoy favour and have no such restriction. Rather discern that it is God not man who is in control of your destiny and your ministry. Even if men intended it for harm, God will work it for good.

In every restriction there is a greater opportunity. Embrace it and be fruitful!

Fight the right battles

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV

This verse gave me pause for thought. It seems to me in Jesus' own ministry that he had very little trouble from spiritual powers. He commanded the demons and they instantly obeyed. He had much more trouble from flesh and blood. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law. Occasionally even his own disciples were the agents of Satan against him!

I like the story that is told of Smith Wigglesworth. One night he awoke after a bad dream and had a sense that there was a presence in the room with him. As he turned over he saw the devil himself stood at the foot of his bed. "Oh," he said, "it's only you!" And he rolled over and went back to sleep.

It seems that king David had a similar estimation over who would give him the most trouble. After he took a census of the people he was given an option over what his punishment should be. Three years of famine, three months of fleeing from his enemies, or three days of pestilence. His answer is telling:

"Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man."
2 Samuel 24:14 ESV

A while ago I was lent a collection of films by the director Guillermo del Toro. Pan's Labyrinth, The Devil's Backbone and Chronos. Slightly disturbing films, it has to be said; not ones for those of a squeamish sensibility. But all very well made and thought provoking. A theme that ran through them all was that the evil in the corrupted human heart is far more scary than anything in the supernatural realm. I have to say, I think he has a point! Certainly in my own life I've been hurt far more and wounded far deeper by things that have been said and done by flesh and blood people than any rare and fleeting encounter I may have had with the demonic.

So why do the scriptures remind us that our battle is not against flesh and blood (those who seem to trouble us the most) but against the spiritual forces of evil?

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV

We need to remember where the real battle is. Even though our greatest opposition may come from men, we are not in a physical battle with men. It is not for us to engage in wars of words or actions with our fellow men no matter what hurt they may have caused us.

Our battle is not even primarily outward. I've heard a lot about discerning and rebuking the spiritual powers that are at work out in the world and I have to say I think most of it is complete nonsense! Jesus didn't have any such issue with the demonic. One word - job done! That's the same authority he has given us. Demons, I think, have more sense than to mess with the children of God. They'd rather go for the easy targets.

No. The real issue with me, is me. The battle is for the mind and the heart. It is weakness in these areas that gives the enemy a foothold in my life. They give room for his lies, his doubts, his insecurities. The battle is to take these thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ, rather than allow them to make me another unwitting agent of Satan.

Even when a brother or sister does something to hurt me, the real issue is not what has been said or done, but how I respond to it! If I am in control of my thoughts and my heart I can continue to walk in freedom and not be snared by the devil's schemes.

Let us fight the right battles. They are not against our brothers and sisters. Nor against demonic agents. The real battle that we must win is over the unrighteous thoughts and attitudes in our own hearts.

A noble desire

But the Lord said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless, you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.’
1 Kings 8:18-19 ESV

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
1 Timothy 3:1 ESV

I know from first hand experience how hard it is when you have a desire in your heart to serve in ministry to build the house of the Lord, and that desire is unfulfilled.

When that door is closed it can be a testing time that lays bare many other emotions and desires, not all of them good. There can even be a temptation to respond like Cain when his offering was rejected. Rising up in anger that we have been spurned.

I have seen more than one man do great harm not just to their own life but to the work of God by the way they responded when their ministry desires were declined.

But it's important we hear what the word says over the clamour of our own experience. The saying is trustworthy! It was a good desire to have. Even if it wasn't fulfilled. We are in the same company as David. He had it in his heart to build the house of God, but it wasn't to be. Not because there was anything wrong with his desire. Not because there was anything wrong with him. Just because God had other plans for his life.

Don't allow a good desire to become a root of bitterness. David still had an important part to play in the building of God's house even if it wasn't in the way he first imagined.

Pillars in the house

He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple. He set up the pillar on the south and called its name Jachin, and he set up the pillar on the north and called its name Boaz.
1 Kings 7:21 ESV

I wish I had some deep spiritual insight and revelation to share on the significance of the two names Solomon chose. Jachin was a son of Simeon. Boaz was the husband of Ruth and Solomon's great-great grandfather. Jachin's name comes from a root word meaning to establish. Boaz's name is not so clear. Something to do with either fleetness or strength. That's about as much as I've got.

However it is significant that there were two pillars. For forty years in the wilderness Israel has been led by two pillars. A pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. (Of course this could have been the same pillar, with a different appearance by night than by day, but in the scriptures it is always described as if they were two.) So for forty years the people of God has been led out and led in by these two pillars. Now whenever they went in or came out of God's house it would be between two pillars.

It is also significant, because actually Solomon was not the first to build a house for the Lord. Jacob had an encounter with God where he saw the angels of God ascending and descending and he named the place Bethel, meaning, house of God. To mark the spot he raised a stone as a pillar and anointed it. Years later when he returned from his time with his uncle Laban, he had another encounter with God in the same place. This time God changed his name to Israel. In response, Jacob raised and anointed another stone pillar and once gain called the place, Bethel, house of God. So the first house of God was marked by two anointed pillars.

What I think is more significant is that Solomon named them. Whilst I might not have revelation on the names themselves, just the fact that they were given names at all is meaningful. Pillars being described as people is not far removed from people being described as pillars. This reminds me of Revelation 3...

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Revelation 3:12 ESV

The named pillars that remain forever in God's house represent those who overcome. That's us!

The pillars were like doorkeepers who remain forever in God's presence.

For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalm 84:10 ESV

And the gatekeepers represent the leaders in the church and ultimately Christ himself.

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

John 10:9 ESV

Completing the circle, it is interesting then that Paul refers to the leaders in the church as pillars.

James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars... 

Galatians 2:9 NIV

The house of God needs pillars that are named. Anointed leaders. Those through whom the flock come in and go out and find safe pasture.

No clamour in the house

When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.
1 King 6:7 ESV

Solomon built the house of the Lord of prepared stones. We like living stones are being built into a spiritual house where God dwells by his Spirit. (1Pe 2:5, Eph 2:22)

Sometimes for stone to sit with stone there are some rough edges that need to be dealt with. For us to fit together into God's spiritual house we have to get along. This sometimes means dealing with issues and hurts with our brothers when they arise.

It's important though that we realise that there is a time and a place and a proper way.

Just as it was inappropriate for there to be the clamour of hammer and axe in God's house, so too it is not the place for raised voices of disagreement between brothers. 

Prince of Peace

For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon.
1Kings 24:24-25 ESV

One of the hallmarks of Solomon's reign was peace. His name 'Solomon' is derived from the Hebrew word for peace, "Shalom."

In Hebrew, the concept of shalom meant much more than the word peace does in English. It was more than just the absence of conflict. It meant wholeness, completeness, health and soundness of body. It represented every part in place and in harmony. It was, and still is, used as a greeting.

We see this in Solomon's reign. The shalom of his rule meant more than just an absence of war with the surrounding nations. It meant every individual was in the right place and functioning properly.

Solomon and his reign, however great, is just a type and a shadow of Christ, our prince of peace, and his kingdom. His shalom means the same to us. Not just an absence of conflict between brothers, but health and soundness in the body: both individually and corporately. 

The greatest manifestation of Christ's peace in the church is when every member finds their place and function.

God is big enough to take our questions

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.

Psalm 22:1-2 ESV

These are emotive words. Made all the more so by the fact that they were echoed by Jesus himself as he hung on the cross.

I wonder if there have not been times in our lives when we have thought like this but not dared to articulate it. As if there are some questions that are too big for God to deal with. Or as if there were some thoughts and attitudes of our heart that are too dark and shameful for us to bring before God. (As if he didn't already perceive them all from afar anyway!)

I love the honesty in the Psalms. The psalmists don't feel the need to put on a brave face, say the right things, take a faith stance, or make a positive confession. They come to God, as they are. Not trying to hide their doubts, their worries, their anxieties, their fears or their pain. They know God sees all anyway and is not fooled by masks or veneers - so why bother! They also seemed to know God well enough to understand that he is big enough to take all their questions, even the darkest and most doubting, and not condemn them for it.

We can only come to God from where we are. So why pretend to be somewhere else? He is big enough to take our questions. He is secure enough to handle our doubts. He is compassionate enough to hear our pain (he records all our tears on his scroll - Ps 56:8). He is loving enough to accept us where we are and not to leave us where we are. Let our positive confession come from this honest and transforming encounter with our loving heavenly Father rather than from an attempt to hide our true feelings and say the right thing.