Jeremiah 4:1-9 "If you will return, O Israel,
return to me,"
declares the Lord.
"If you put your detestable idols out of my sight
and no longer go astray,
[2] and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
you swear, 'As surely as the Lord lives,'
then the nations will be blessed by him
and in him they will glory."

[3] This is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem:

"Break up your unploughed ground
and do not sow among thorns.
[4] Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
circumcise your hearts,
you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no-one to quench it.

[5] "Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say:
'Sound the trumpet throughout the land!'
Cry aloud and say:
'Gather together!
Let us flee to the fortified cities!'
[6] Raise the signal to go to Zion!
Flee for safety without delay!
For I am bringing disaster from the north,
even terrible destruction."

[7] A lion has come out of his lair;
a destroyer of nations has set out.
He has left his place
to lay waste your land.
Your towns will lie in ruins
without inhabitant.
[8] So put on sackcloth,
lament and wail,
for the fierce anger of the Lord
has not turned away from us.

[9] "In that day," declares the Lord,
"the king and the officials will lose heart,
the priests will be horrified,
and the prophets will be appalled."

It’s bad news that Jeremiah has to bring. It is not repent to avoid judgement, rather it is prepare for that judgement that is coming – there is no escape, you have gone too far….

But even in the bad times God speaks. And his message here is for the people not to lose heart, but to regain their faith. What is coming to pass is ordained by God. He has not been defeated as the enemies of Judah will claim, but he is allowing this to happen to discipline his people. Knowing this, perhaps when they are under occupation, they will remember God, and return to him, by circumcising their hearts – a metaphor, not a surgical procedure!

I wonder when our own rebellions happen and we find God disciplining us, do we see him at work? Do we accept our correction, or does it embitter us more towards him?

Relief....

Jeremiah 3:19-25 "I myself said,

" 'How gladly would I treat you like sons
and give you a desirable land,
the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.'
I thought you would call me 'Father'
and not turn away from following me.
[20] But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel,"
declares the Lord.

[21] A cry is heard on the barren heights,
the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel,
because they have perverted their ways
and have forgotten the Lord their God.

[22] "Return, faithless people;
I will cure you of backsliding."

"Yes, we will come to you,
for you are the Lord our God.
[23] Surely the {idolatrous} commotion on the hills
and mountains is a deception;
surely in the Lord our God
is the salvation of Israel.
[24] From our youth shameful gods have consumed
the fruits of our fathers' labour—
their flocks and herds,
their sons and daughters.
[25] Let us lie down in our shame,
and let our disgrace cover us.
We have sinned against the Lord our God,
both we and our fathers;
from our youth till this day
we have not obeyed the Lord our God."

When you think about confession, you may think about feelings of shame, angst and contrition. But I wonder if you think about relief. For many of us what we try to hide from God and other people becomes a burden. It overwhelms us. The guilt that we have wrapped up in our souls lays heavily on our hearts and minds, lowering our mood and casting a shadow over all that we do. So here we find that confession may be more than just an acknowledgement of that which we have done wrong, but actually a relief. When we hide things, they are secret and in the dark, and in these areas Satan has influence. He convinces you that they have to say secret, and that you have to manage your guilt. But this consumes your energy, and saps your devotional time with God – if your prayer time is spent in managing your guilt then that is time not praying for the injustices of the world or for the salvation of the lost.

But when you confess, when you openly acknowledge wrong to God, especially if you are brave enough to do so in the company of some trusted friends, then it is no longer hidden, it is in the light. You no longer have to pour energy into keeping it secret, as if you were actually hiding it from God, you can now seek forgiveness. You can now move on.

When Jeremiah spoke to the people of Judah, his mission was for them to give up on the folly of their pride in their own intelligence and wisdom, to turn back to dependence on the Lord. He wanted them to experience the relief of being cared for. Confession and forgiveness for us can mean the same – we know that we are cared for.

Return....

Jeremiah 3:11-18 The Lord said to me, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. [12] Go, proclaim this message towards the north:

" 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the Lord,
'I will frown on you no longer,
for I am merciful,' declares the Lord,
'I will not be angry for ever.
[13] Only acknowledge your guilt—
you have rebelled against the Lord your God,
you have scattered your favours to foreign gods
under every spreading tree,
and have not obeyed me,' "
declares the Lord.

[14] "Return, faithless people," declares the Lord, "for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. [15] Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. [16] In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the Lord, "men will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the Lord.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. [17] At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honour the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. [18] In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance.

So although God is acting to judge the people of Judah, his anger is tempererd by compassion. He tells Jeremiah to speak to the North, the place where the Kingdom of Israel once stood, and give this oracle.

God is love. This quality runs through all his actions towards us. And though we may not fathom the mysteries of exactly how God is able to act so compassionately towards people like us who rebel against him, it at least gives us an insight into why. Israel had been faithless. They had abandoned him and turned to worship idols. Even the ministries of Elijah and Elisha had not turned them back to God for long. But even now that they are far from him, in fact scattered amongst the nations, he yearns for them to come back. If they face up to those acts which have led them away from God, then he will welcome them back with open arms.

He is like that for us too, as individuals and not just nations. Sometimes we realise that we are far from the loving father, that our actions have separated us from him. We may, like Israel, have defiled his name and ‘prostituted’ ourselves to the world and its idols. But God’s compassion speaks here. There is no place we can get to that God will not come looking for us, no distance we can travel from God that he cannot call us back, no journey of destruction that we can embark on that he will not be constantly inviting us home. When we come before the loving Father, maybe to confess some of our wrong doings, remember that God’s compassion for those who seek forgiveness far, far outweighs any wrath he may have. There is always a way back….

Learn....

Jeremiah 3:6-10 During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. [7] I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. [8] I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. [9] Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. [10] In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretence," declares the Lord.

After king Solomon died the Jewish nation split into two, a northern kingdom called Israel, and one in the south named Judah. Neither nation was particularly faithful to God. He judged Israel, eventually allowing the Assyrians to conquer them.

You might think that Judah would have learned from this and turned back to God. Instead they continued in their sin and rebellion. Now it is there time to feel God’s judgement.

God is hurt by unrepentant sin, when we know that our actions hurt ourselves, others and him. The Bible speaks about his correction as love, as his attempt to bring us to our senses. The truth is that eventually he will allow our sin to find us out – we cannot cover it up forever – and then there will be consequences to deal with. When this happens God forgives us if we repent – he promises to do this, always. But maybe by that time there will be broken relationships, debts to pay, courses o action which the consequences of what you have done have disqualified you from…..

If there is a lesson here for us it is this. Turn back from your sin before it is too late. Examine yourself, ask the Lord to do the same. If there is something that needs to change then do it. Find those you trust to stand with you. But change!

Fault....

Jeremiah 3:1-5 "If a man divorces his wife
and she leaves him and marries another man,
should he return to her again?
Would not the land be completely defiled?
But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers—
would you now return to me?"
declares the Lord.
[2] "Look up to the barren heights and see.
Is there any place where you have not been ravished?
By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers,
sat like a nomad in the desert.
You have defiled the land
with your prostitution and wickedness.
[3] Therefore the showers have been withheld,
and no spring rains have fallen.
Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute;
you refuse to blush with shame.
[4] Have you not just called to me:
'My Father, my friend from my youth,
[5] will you always be angry?
Will your wrath continue for ever?'
This is how you talk,
but you do all the evil you can."

It isn’t so much what the Jews have done, as the attitude of their hearts that is angering the Lord. He forgives us our sins, the Bible makes that clear, if we repent of them and turn back to him. This has been the problem for the Jews – not just that they have continually sinned and rebelled against God, but that their attitude has been one of “so what?” They have refused to accept responsibility for what they have done, and by denying responsibility they are refusing to change.

At the heart of the Gospel is change. It is about our lives being transformed to mirror Jesus. It is a day to day process with most of us finding something in our lives that we need to change everyday. We cannot find something that is wrong and then go into denial about it. Think about the frustration you feel when you encounter a person who won’t admit fault, or change a destructive habit. That is the same frustration that God feels when we won’t change, won’t admit to fault, and won’t admit that we need to submit to him.

Allies....

Jeremiah 2:31-37 "You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:

"Have I been a desert to Israel
or a land of great darkness?
Why do my people say, 'We are free to roam;
we will come to you no more'?
[32] Does a maiden forget her jewellery,
a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number.
[33] How skilled you are at pursuing love!
Even the worst of women can learn from your ways.
[34] On your clothes men find
the lifeblood of the innocent poor,
though you did not catch them breaking in.
Yet in spite of all this
[35] you say, 'I am innocent;
he is not angry with me.'
But I will pass judgment on you
because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
[36] Why do you go about so much,
changing your ways?
You will be disappointed by Egypt
as you were by Assyria.
[37] You will also leave that place
with your hands on your head,
for the Lord has rejected those you trust;
you will not be helped by them.


Reading these words I can feel the sadness in God’s heart as he acts. The story of the Jews since they inherited the Promised Land was one of slow religious decline. There were periods of economic prosperity and religious revival, but more often than not the trend was downwards. God’s people had been called to be different from the other nations around them, to live under the protection and guidance of the Lord, and by doing so to point the nations towards the Father. But they had failed to do so, their dependence on him waned and they began to trust in politics – while their enemies, in Jeremiah’s time the Babylonians, came against them, instead of trusting in the Lord they made alliances with the nations around them, the once mighty Assyria and the declining Egypt. God’s word here is that these alliances would fail and that the Jews would be defeated and enslaved. And God, as a punishment for their disobedience would allow this to happen….

I wonder about the Church. It too has been called into obedience to, and dependence on God, all to point people around them to Jesus. But I think the message of Jeremiah to us would be this – be careful what plans and alliances you make. Watch out that you are not becoming proud, or entering into rebellion by following your own wisdom, not the Lord’s. Do not lust after acceptance from the communities you are part of, but long to live prophetically for Jesus. This is your calling.

Turn....

Jeremiah 2:26-30 "As a thief is disgraced when he is caught,
so the house of Israel is disgraced—
they, their kings and their officials,
their priests and their prophets.
[27] They say to wood, 'You are my father,'
and to stone, 'You gave me birth.'
They have turned their backs to me
and not their faces;
yet when they are in trouble, they say,
'Come and save us!'
[28] Where then are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them come if they can save you
when you are in trouble!
For you have as many gods
as you have towns, O Judah.

[29] "Why do you bring charges against me?
You have all rebelled against me,"
declares the Lord.
[30] "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Your sword has devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.


There is something incredible about looking into someone’s face, especially someone that you love: your mother, your child, your husband…. There is something about that intimate connection which is just wonderful, that fuels the soul and speaks about the depth and intimacy in that relationship.

So it can be hurtful when that face is turned around and all you see is the back of their head. It is as if a connection has been broken and all the communication, the said and unsaid has been reduced.

God found himself facing this sense of loss with the Jews. They had turned their backs on him, and tried to find succour from worthless idols. At times they did turn back to him, but always when they needed saving or when God himself had corrected them. It’s sad when we only go to the people we ‘love’ when we need help. Because a relationship which is built through all seasons and grows in love is one which is far stronger.

Turn round and face the Lord. Let him see your face, let him see the wrinkles, the hurts, the joys and pains as you reveal them to him – he knows them anyway, but he is pleased when you share them with him. And perhaps when you do, you’ll learn to see his, and see and feel how he thinks about all the problems, difficulties and challenges that face people. Perhaps by looking on what is eternal you will see hope.

Pure....

Jeremiah 2:20-25 "Long ago you broke off your yoke
and tore off your bonds;
you said, 'I will not serve you!'
Indeed, on every high hill
and under every spreading tree
you lay down as a prostitute.
[21] I had planted you like a choice vine
of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
into a corrupt, wild vine?
[22] Although you wash yourself with soda
and use an abundance of soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,"
declares the Sovereign Lord.
[23] "How can you say, 'I am not defiled;
I have not run after the Baals'?
See how you behaved in the valley;
consider what you have done.
You are a swift she-camel
running here and there,
[24] a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,
sniffing the wind in her craving—
in her heat who can restrain her?
Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves;
at mating time they will find her.
[25] Do not run until your feet are bare
and your throat is dry.
But you said, 'It's no use!
I love foreign gods,
and I must go after them.'


There are few things in creation which should be as intimate as sexual intimacy, few things which we should hold as sacred as the trust that develops between a husband and wife as they come closer and closer to each other. It was this bond of closeness, trust, intimacy and security that God had offered his people. Therefore it is with some sympathy that we can appreciate his sense of betrayal at how the Jews have responded to this offer. The image is graphic, of a wanton people seeking gratification at any price.

So we need to maintain our fidelity in worship of God. We cannot trust in idols or seek gratification from other ‘gods’. We have the chance to get this close to the creator of the universe, to sense some of his deepest thoughts and feel some of his yearnings for all mankind – but it requires purity, devotion and faithfulness from us. We must be as committed to him as we hope to be to the spouses we hope to have now or in the future….

Parched....

Jeremiah 2:9-19 "Therefore I bring charges against you again,"
declares the Lord.
"And I will bring charges against your children's children.
[10] Cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look,
send to Kedar and observe closely;
see if there has ever been anything like this:
[11] Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their Glory
for worthless idols.
[12] Be appalled at this, O heavens,
and shudder with great horror,"
declares the Lord.
[13] "My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
[14] Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth?
Why then has he become plunder?
[15] Lions have roared;
they have growled at him.
They have laid waste his land;
his towns are burned and deserted.
[16] Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head.
[17] Have you not brought this on yourselves
by forsaking the Lord your God
when he led you in the way?
[18] Now why go to Egypt
to drink water from the Shihor?
And why go to Assyria
to drink water from the River?
[19] Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you.
Consider then and realise
how evil and bitter it is for you
when you forsake the Lord your God
and have no awe of me,"
declares the Lord,
the Lord Almighty.

In a dry and hot country images of water and thirst are powerful. God declares that he is the spring of living water. This is an image of movement and of replenishment. Moving water is not stagnant, it doesn’t contain death of any sort, it is not foul or polluted, but fresh and reviving. In God we find our souls can be revived, and spending time with him we find that we learn and grow to be like him and that we start to act with goodness.

But sometimes we can abandon our pursuit of God. Sometimes we try to fid refreshment in other things. God likens this to us building our own water containers, cisterns, giant holes in the ground. But they are broken and leak. All that we are left with is emptiness and dryness.

In Jeremiah’s time the empty cisterns probably referred to the plans of Judah’s rulers who wanted to ensure a political survival of their nation apart from God’s will, a will that Jeremiah was revealing to them. But for us it can mean any plan that we have that stands apart from or in rebellion to God’s will. I’d rather drink from living water than find myself scrabbling around in parched ground….

Fade

Jeremiah 2:1-8 The word of the Lord came to me:
[2] "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

" 'I remember the devotion of your youth,
how as a bride you loved me
and followed me through the desert,
through a land not sown.
[3] Israel was holy to the Lord,
the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who devoured her were held guilty,
and disaster overtook them,' "
declares the Lord.

[4] Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob,
all you clans of the house of Israel.

[5] This is what the Lord says:

"What fault did your fathers find in me,
that they strayed so far from me?
They followed worthless idols
and became worthless themselves.
[6] They did not ask, 'Where is the Lord,
who brought us up out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness,
through a land of deserts and rifts,
a land of drought and darkness,
a land where no-one travels and no-one lives?'
[7] I brought you into a fertile land
to eat its fruit and rich produce.
But you came and defiled my land
and made my inheritance detestable.
[8] The priests did not ask,
'Where is the Lord?'
Those who deal with the law did not know me;
the leaders rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
following worthless idols.

There is a contrast in these two paragraphs. The first speaks of devotion and faithfulness – not just of God to his people, but his people in devotion to him also. The Hebrews of the Exodus lived day by day in the graciousness and love of God. They depended on him daily and he provided for them. So they worshipped him as a sign of their devotion.

But after the Exodus the history of God’s people changes. They were provided with a fertile land that met their needs. Their experience of the divine presence of God faded, and so too did their dependence on, and faithfulness to him, until in Jeremiah’s time there was a coldness.

This wasn’t just a national symptom – it was a personal one too, for what is a nations’s devotion if it is not the sum total of it’s people? So I wonder if we are in situations like this too – that day by day we find ourselves less reliant on the Lord for help, and as such our devotion fades…. I wonder how much we need a day by day experience of God to stop this slow dying of the light....

Build....

Jeremiah 1:9-19 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. [10] See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
[11] The word of the Lord came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?"
"I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied.
[12] The Lord said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching* to see that my word is fulfilled."
[13] The word of the Lord came to me again: "What do you see?"
"I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north," I answered.
[14] The Lord said to me, "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. [15] I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms," declares the Lord.

"Their kings will come and set up their thrones
in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem;
they will come against all her surrounding walls
and against all the towns of Judah.
[16] I will pronounce my judgments on my people
because of their wickedness in forsaking me,
in burning incense to other gods
and in worshipping what their hands have made.

[17] "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. [18] Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. [19] They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.

*the Hebrew word for watching sounds similar to the Hebrew for almond tree.

Even here we find that God is looking ahead. His people have turned their backs on him, and he is getting ready to withdraw his favour from them. But He is still looking ahead, looking to the time when he will restore the people from Exile. He may be sending Jeremiah to prepare the Jews for humiliation, but he is also planning their redemption. God doesn’t destroy because of malice – he reduces and then restores, and reminds Jeremiah that through him, He will build and plant.

It is the same with us. While we were still far away from God and heading for destruction he sent us Jesus, who died for us, creating the way for us to restore our relationship with God. And in other ways too we can see God working for us. We may face pain and hardship, but very often when we come out the other side our characters have been changed or we have made life altering discipleship changes. The Bible says that God disciplines those he loves. Sometimes we have to submit to his will – if there is something in our nature that hurt us or others, and hurts the Lord, then he may ‘destroy’ us, in order to wipe the slate clean and rebuild us whole.

And for my cell group....

1 Thes. 5:16-18 Be joyful always; [17] pray continually; [18] give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

If Joy is not the absence of the pain, but the presence of God, then that must be what it is like to pray contiunually, to be always in his presence. We know that God is always around us, but it must be the allowing his love to permeate into every decsion and thought, a constant knowledge that nothing is secret from him, so we try to hide nothing, and give thanks for every breath.

Call....

Sometimes we use the term Jeremiah to refer to a gloomy person, someone who has a darkness around them, who is always predicting disaster. Jeremiah’s story is about disaster. It’s about God’s people who had rebelled so much that the only way to bring them back into line was to send them into exile – in some ways the cosmic equivalent of sitting on the naughty step.

But Jeremiah’s story is also one of hope. It’s about redemption – because while God is about to send the Jews into Exile, he promises to bring them back, and shows Jeremiah that he is laying the groundwork to do that, even before calamity happens….

Jeremiah 1:1-7 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. [2] The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, [3] and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

[4] The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

[5] "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

[6] "Ah, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
[7] But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. [8] Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.

So God calls Jeremiah. And as usual he finds his chosen servant to be reluctant. How many excuses can we find to try and avoid God’s call on our lives? To be fair, when God called one of his prophets he is asking them to do a task which is out of the ordinary. In Jeremiah’s case he will face ridicule, accusations of treason, and danger. So maybe that’s why God showed up and spoke to him in person, to strengthen him for the task ahead. And there’s that promise, a promise that we all have, that if we are at the centre of his will for our lives he will protect us. It doesn’t mean that we will never face poverty or hardship or even danger. But by following God’s lead we will be kept eternally safe.

Maybe as God’s people we have to learn to lift our gaze heavenwards, to see things not as they are, but as they eternally will be. The problem is that too often we see security and permanence in the things of this world, and we forget that they are transitory. The tragedy of this is that when we live as if the things of this world count most then we fail to live as though the eternal truths of the Kingdom matter. Those looking at us will judge our faith as an optional extra when in fact it is 23 a non-negotiable essential for all of us. If people looking at us cannot see a people who are living in a manner which prophetically points others to the Kingdom then we are failing in our calling as citizens of the Kingdom….

And for my cell group....

Proverbs 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

I need to be righteous. I need to heed God's call on my life, to stand out from the crowd and honour him. Because when I do that I am saying no to myself and starting to live out his calling and principles in my life. And he will answer my prayers,because the more rigtheous in his sight I become, the more my will and desires are being shaped to conform to his, and the more I am asking him for help in areas that he desires to help us in. I find myself become less selfish and i see the kingdom coming more. That is why everday I need to become more and more like Jesus.

Name....

Psalm 9:1-20 (ANIV)
[For the director of music. To {the tune of} "The Death of the Son". A psalm of David.]

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
[2] I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

[3] My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.
[4] For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.
[5] You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
[6] Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.

[7] The Lord reigns for ever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
[8] He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.
[9] The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
[10] Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

[11] Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
[12] For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

[13] O Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
[14] that I may declare your praises
in the gates of the Daughter of Zion
and there rejoice in your salvation.
[15] The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
[16] The Lord is known by his justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Higgaion. Selah

[17] The wicked return to the grave,
all the nations that forget God.
[18] But the needy will not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

[19] Arise, O Lord, let not man triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
[20] Strike them with terror, O Lord;
let the nations know they are but men.
Selah


Names used to be more important than they are now. Now we use them mostly as labels, so we can tell each other apart and identify us from the crowd. But names in the ancient world were powerful because they summed up who you were, identified the outstanding parts of your character. If you had a good name, it meant that over time people had come to rely on you and depend on you. So you would treasure than name, jealously guarding its reputation.

Those of us who have come to know God believe that we can trust him. We have done so because we have trusted in him over time, and he has proved to be faithful. But that’s the trick – we have got to know him ovr time. God is faithful – that is part of his character. But this is something that it takes some of us time to realise. We need to invest timein getting to know God.

And for my cell group....

Philip. 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I so want to be that person, the one who doesn't have a care in the world. Not because they are lazy or shirk responsibility, but because they walk so closely to God, that they sense his heartbeat for their lives, follow his lead, and know that whatever happens they are in his will - what a place to be. Lord, I so want to be that person - help me to sense your Spirit more and more in my life....

Vast....

Psalm 8:1-9 (ANIV)
[For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David.]

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
above the heavens.
[2] From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

[3] When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
[4] what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
[5] You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honour.

[6] You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
[7] all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
[8] the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

[9] O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!


Here is one of the most amazing miracles in creation – the God who made everything, whose words cause stars and galaxies and planets to be born, who is majestic in all creation, and sustains it by an act of his will, this almighty, all powerful, all knowing, ever present being, chooses to know us….

Sometimes we feel so small. Sometimes we look at creation and are overwhelmed by it’s vastness. Sometimes we look at the march of history and time and events, and the progress of it all makes us feel powerless. There is a sense of insignificance that sometimes leads us to despair. So we try to dull this sense of pain with mindless pleasure….

And yet this song reminds us that God chooses to partner with us. Yes our stories can seem pitiful compared to the vastness of the universe, but God never intended for us to pursue our own stories, instead he invites us to play a significant part in his. This song reminds us of God’s greatness, but also of our part in his story, a part he ordained, planned and invites us to join. It shows us just who we were meant to be, and who we will be when Jesus comes again and redeems us from the misdirection that our present world is going down.
But notice how the song ends, just as it begins. It is God’s name that is celebrated. Not ours. We are invited to worship him, and join his story….

And for my cell group....

John 16:23-24 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. [24] Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

Jesus offers us unlimited access to the riches of heaven. If we ask, our loving Father will provide, and our joy will be complete. But if we think of joy not as the absence of pain, but the presence of God, what we are really hoping for in our walk with God is to continually experience the presence of God in our lives. I wonder if this means that we should not be selfish in what we ask for - after all asking in Jesus' name isn't like using a magic word to access a bank account, it symbolises conformity to the will of Jesus Christ, and acting in accordance with his desires. maybe we should be asking for more awareness of God in our everyday experience, so that we can become more and more like Jesus each and every day...

Examination....

Psalm 7:1-17

[A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush, a Benjamite.]

O Lord my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
[2] or they will tear me like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no-one to rescue me.

[3] O Lord my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands—
[4] if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me
or without cause have robbed my foe—
[5] then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
Selah

[6] Arise, O Lord, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
[7] Let the assembled peoples gather round you.
Rule over them from on high;
[8] let the Lord judge the peoples.
Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
[9] O righteous God,
who searches minds and hearts,
bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure.

[10] My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
[11] God is a righteous judge,
a God who expresses his wrath every day.
[12] If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
[13] He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.

[14] He who is pregnant with evil
and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.
[15] He who digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit he has made.
[16] The trouble he causes recoils on himself;
his violence comes down on his own head.

[17] I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.


I must admit that I frequently finish reading a Psalm like this with a little bit of trepidation. Like much of the Old Testament writings there is a strong sense of justice running through this poem. God stands up for those who are oppressed, those who are downtrodden, those who are in trouble. His thoughts are turned against those who are wicked, those who scheme, those who are violent.

David seems to take comfort from his own righteousness before God. If he isn’t then he deserves to be thrown to the dogs (3-5). It is an extraordinary piece of self examination. I wonder if we would be able to subject ourselves to the same.

And that’s my worry. I want to be able to say that I side with the poor, the hungry, the persecuted and the weak. I want to be able to identify with them and stand befre the Lord and say I was on their side. But I’m scared that maybe I’ll find that I actually stand with the wicked. Maybe it’s time for us to examine ourselves, to let God look deep in our hearts and minds, to find out what is really there.

Knees....

Ephes. 6:19-24 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

[21] Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. [22] I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
[23] Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [24] Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

We get the church that we pray for. There’s no getting away from that fact. Much of the Christian walk, both personally and as a community is one of intercession, of lifting our prayers to God and requesting that he is gracious to us and answers our prayers. And we should be interceding for our Churches and our Church Leaders. We get the churches we pray for.

So Paul’s request that the Ephesians pray for him is heartfelt. He knows the responsibility that has been placed on his shoulders as a Church leader. He knows that one day he will be responsible to God for the way that he led the Church here on Earth. And faced with that awesome task he realises that he alone is not up to it. He needs the strengthening of the Spirit and support of his peers. Paul knows, and he is reminding the community here that they get the church they pray for.

Very often the church we are in is not as we’d like it to be, and within us there is a sense of discontentment. What we do with that sense of unease is crucial. We may be inclined to leave, to find a church closer to the one we want, after all there are hundreds of churches, surely you can find one to match your taste. But what happens the next time you feel uneasy? Will you move on again? Will you become a consumer of religion rather than a worshipper? Leaving a Church should be a wrench, a real calling, not something done on a whim or a preference. If there is something causing you to be discontented in your church maybe it is because the Spirit is trying to drive you to your knees, trying to bring others around you to their knees, to intercede with God, to beg him to pour the riches of Heaven out on your faith community. If we’re not happy with our church experience is it because we have not upheld our leaders in prayer?

We want, we need our leaders to fearlessly proclaim the Gospel, to lead our churches into being genuinely God fearing, God honouring, people loving, transforming communities. We need them to show us the way. But they are not superhuman. They are people like us. They need our help, support and prayers.

We get the churches we pray for.

Alert....

Ephes. 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [18] And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Be alert.

It’s almost Paul’s last thought to us in this passage, the idea that we have to stay ready, to be prepared for action at a moments notice, because the devil is such a wily opponent. He’s constantly scheming, always looking for little openings within our churches and faith communities that he can look to exploit to drive wedges between us, to cause dissension and anger and malice. It’s quite simple. When these attitudes are present the devil wins, because all the energy of the people of God is focussed on getting one over each other rather than seeing the kingdom advance. So we need to be alert, notice the cracks that appear in our communities as soon as they do, and then fill them – not with conflict, but with submission, love and humility. So praying for the people in your church or your cell group, or ministry team is important. It opens your heart to them when you lift them to heaven.

Sometimes when reading this passage we can get carried away with the imagery of the soldier going into battle. It may seem like Paul is encouraging us to saddle up and storm the gates of hell. But the imagery may be more subtle than that. Yes it is of a soldier, but only one weapon is mentioned, the sword of the Spirit and we do not wield the Spirit, but we follow his lead. Most of the imagery is of armour, of protection, and we must see this as an image of God telling us that we must protect our relationship with him and with others.

But we should note this – none of the bits of armour protect our backs – they all face forward. And this is a crucial part of Paul’s image – we must never turn our back on the devil, never leave him an unprotected opening for him to exploit. When we get lazy, when we drop our defences, by not worshipping, by not praying in our devotions or with others, by not serving, then we turn our backs on him – and he’ll pounce. Have you noticed that times of spiritual ‘down-ness’ often are preceded by spiritual laziness?

Stand your post. Be alert.

Order....

Ephes. 6:1-9 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2] "Honour your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— [3] "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
[4] Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

[5] Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. [6] Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. [7] Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, [8] because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
[9] And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favouritism with him.


What happens when one of the values you hold dear, one that you would run after with all your heart, one which you believe should never, ever compromise because it lies at the heart of everything you believe, comes into conflict with a value or belief that is held by the prevailing surrounding culture? Perhaps you can think of some now – extra marital sex, war, truth telling and honesty…. How do you live out your values, especially when those who are ‘tolerant’ label you prudish and narrow minded at best, and bigoted at worse?

Paul faced such problems when dealing with the growing family of believers. The society of the Roman Empire was highly stratified and rigid. Everyone knew their place in the pecking order. Rich on top, poor at the bottom, men with privileges, women with duties. But the Church and the Christian family brought a new social order of equality and brotherhood. In Christ’s family we are all equal with Jesus as the head. Masters and Slaves in this world held the same status in the eternal kingdom, and Paul believed we should treat each other with love in this.

Remember that this follows on from the passage about submitting to each other. We may have expected Paul to call for Christian masters to free their slaves, but maybe Paul knew that this would lead to conflict with society. Rome liked stability. A small community of radicals causing social tension in the far corners of the Empire would have been crushed. Besides, Paul knew a better way.

Treat each other with love, no matter the conflict, no matter your social situation. Husbands and wives, children and parents, bosses and employees, treat each other with love. Respect, honour and cherish the relationships you have, because that will have more impact than any grand gesture you can make. Paul probably abhorred slavery, but he would have hated violence even more. He wanted revolution, but revolution through transformed hearts not vanquished foes. Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, its values planted small in the hearts of men, but the seed grows to become a massive size. Imagine for a minute the people that you are in community with. The values of the Kingdom, the values of love, are planted in each of their hearts. Imagine if those seeds have grown into big trees. It wouldn’t matter what values society held, if people were living loving lives. That’s a revolution that wipes out conflict.

Okay folks, off for the weekend - see you on Monday!

Reverence....

Ephes. 5:21-33 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

[22] Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. [24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
[25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [26] to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, [27] and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. [28] In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] After all, no-one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— [30] for we are members of his body. [31] "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." [32] This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. [33] However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.


Submit to one another. By now you’ve probably realised how hard this can be. I think this is especially so when someone else shows no sign of submitting. It is relatively easy in a community where mutual submission is the accepted norm, when everyone has agreed to work out his value, and in practice it works more or less all the time. It can be much harder when someone else doesn’t practice this. Then you can feel that submission is more likely to become surrender. Nobody likes to surrender. Nobody likes to feel powerless. Nobody wants to be taken advantage of again and again…. Maybe that is why conflict so frequently happens….

But we submit to one another for a reason - reverence for Christ. For the family of believers he is Lord and head of our family. He will guide us and show us the way to act and behave, the things that we must do. And so by submitting to each other, we are in fact submitting to him. We are laying our ambitions, hopes and desires at his feet and asking him to use and guide us, following his path and wisdom.

So the two examples that Paul gives here, of wives and husbands in mutual submission to each other, are not examples of power but of service. Husbands and wives have to submit to each other in love, and the example that we are to follow is that of Jesus himself. Jesus who loved the sick and despised. Jesus who included those who society marginalised. Jesus who performed menial tasks that others were too proud to carry out. Jesus who loved us so much that he bore pain for our us.

When we look at life as a series of encounters that we need to emerge victorious from then submission is hard. But if we look at life as events where the name of Jesus needs to be raised and glorified then submission to each other will become easier.

Copy....

Ephes. 5:1-20 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children [2] and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
[3] But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. [4] Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. [5] For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [6] Let no-one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. [7] Therefore do not be partners with them.
[8] For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light [9] (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) [10] and find out what pleases the Lord. [11] Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. [12] For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. [13] But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, [14] for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

[15] Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. [18] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. [19] Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, [20] always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One thing is just jumping out at me as I read this passage. It starts in the first sentence – “be imitators of God”, it goes on when Paul writes “find out what pleases God” and continues when he asks us to “understand what the Lord’s will is.”

So much of what we do isn’t right. So much of it must cause God to wince, the way a parent does when they see a child misbehave. So many of our words are harsh, our jokes lack taste and are crude, our thoughts unkind and our actions uncaring. An Anglican prayer reminds us that we sin through negligence, weakness and our own deliberate fault. Much of it we do because it is in secret and we think we can hide it. But from whom? From other people maybe? But from God?

Paul reminds us that as children of God we are children of the light. There should be no darkness around us. For the way we act this means that we cannot try and hide our bad stuff. We need to expose it to the light. We need to learn the discipline of confession, to God, but also to trusted friends. Our darkness needs exposed to the light, so it can fill every corner of our lives, so there is not even a spot which is in shadow.

To imitate God is to allow his light in all areas of our life. It may be a fearful prospect. But look at it this way. How much of our time is spent managing our guilt? How much time do we spend in prayer wrestling with God over our weaknesses? How much time do we waste praying for ourselves when we could be praying for others? A little bit of pain and embarrassment in exchange for so much freedom – it’s no choice really is it?

Strong words softly spoken....

Ephes. 4:17-32 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. [18] They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. [19] Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
[20] You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. [21] Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. [22] You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
[25] Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body. [26] "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold. [28] He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
[29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

What is Paul talking about when he mentions that those who steal should steal no longer? Was the Ephesian church harbouring a Christian Pick-pocketing Collective, who would lift people’s wallets, leaving an evangelistic tract in their place?

What he is alluding to is the great sense of ‘common good’ that the early church had for each other. It is clear that very frequently believers would pull their resources to ensure that no one went without. Acts is full of examples of believers selling possessions to ensure that no one went hungry or was not fed. The Churches of Asia Minor and Greece sent big collections to their brethren in Jerusalem. But we also know that the early Church had its problems. Dishonesty and perhaps laziness would have been present. It is very conceivable that there were those who were not pulling their weight, or even deliberately taking advantage of the generosity of others. Paul doesn’t mess around. He tells these people that they are thieves and need to stop their stealing, work as hard as everybody else and contribute. That way any low level grumbling could be avoided and any divisions or bitterness erased…. They are strong words, spoken in love.

I wonder how we steal from our brothers and sisters today. We are less likely to use hardship to try to con others into giving to us. Most of us have too much ‘face’ for that. But we probably do ‘steal’. Think about the gifts that God has given to you to build up the body. Are you using them too little? That’s stealing. Imagine the friendship you can give to those who are lonely, yet you are withholding it. That’s ‘stealing’. Imagine….. every time you withhold from the body that which Jesus would have you give (but remember that giving more than he asks will lead to you exhausting yourself and cheating on your family!) that is stealing. Being in a community is being part of a team. And a team where people are grumbling and moaning about each other is one which is not focussed on winning the prize for Jesus. When the prize is the lives and souls of those close to us, these are important words to heed.

What are you stealing from the body? Does this make you feel guilty, or encouraged to take action? How could this 'guilt' debilitate us from acting properly?

Growth....

Ephes. 4:7-16 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. [8] This is why it says:

"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men."

[9] (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? [10] He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) [11] It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.
[14] Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.


Growth. It is the object of all of us who believe in Jesus, to grow to be like him, to become mature.

It’s funny, but when you observe a group of believers who are united and have eliminated just about all the divisions that are amongst them, you notice that a large number of them would seem to be mature believers. Paul probably noticed this too, so after talking about unity he now talks about maturity, and about how our job as believers, is to work not for our own glory but to see the body grow to be more mature.

Paul rebukes those of us whose behaviour is still infantile. Those of us who haven’t grown in Christ will still carry with us many of our old attitudes and behaviours – selfishness, impetuousness, lack of concern, insensitivity, pride – and this will effect how we interact with our fellow brothers and sisters. I wonder how it feels to be labelled infantile? Is it something which embarrasses us? Or does it anger us? Maybe what it should do is cause us to examine ourselves, to see how we need to change. Because maybe infant Christians are changeable, blowing this way and that, and being unpredictable. Maybe people like this need to learn to grow up!