Peace....

Philip. 4:2-9 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. [3] Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! [5] Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. [6] 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.
[8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. [9] Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

So many of our conflicts start because we obsess on the little things, like status and position, who gets the credit or the blame, whose idea is used, who gets seen to be the person in charge. I wonder if that is what Paul is referring to here when he mentions these ladies, Euodia and Syntyche, that their efforts to further the Gopsel are being undermined by the disagreement between them. How we are seen to handle conflict is important, and the truth is that through the ages we haven’t always been very good at it….

Paul’s hope that when there is disagreement then what is evident to anyone looking in, is not cleverness of speech and argument, but gentleness of spirit. Gentleness is a quality that Paul calls for five times in his writings and he places a high value on it. It is not to be confused with weakness, nor should it be seen as timidity. In fact to display gentleness requires strength of character and a real trust in God. To be gentle is to be kind and amicable. It is not to be rough, severe or violent. It is to have an absent of bad temper.

So how do we acquire gentleness in our lives? Paul’s answer is once more to look up to God, and to spend time in his presence. A mark of gentleness is peace. Those who know that the future is in safe hands will act with grace towards those around them. So when there is conflict gather those who are in disagreement and look up to God. Present the issue to him and wait on him for an answer, knowing that those who put his will into practice will be walking a path of peace, knowing they are following in the footsteps of God.

It is in looking up that Paul closes this section. Don’t focus on the petty and the mundane, but look up to heaven and see the goodness that is there and when you do, aim to imitate that goodness here on earth. In a sense it is ‘brainwashing’. I don’t mean mind control, but just training your thoughts to focus on the goodness of God rather than the corruptness of the world around us. And when we learn to put that goodness into action, in our own lives and in the lives of our communities then we will find that conflict has been replaced by the peace of God falling on us all.

Citizen....

Philip. 3:17-4:1 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. [18] For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. [19] Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. [20] But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. [4:1] Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

The way that Jesus asks us to live often stands out from the pattern that people who do not call Jesus follows. And here Paul calls us to follow his example, to live like him in living like Jesus. But as in most groups of believers it would seem that not everyone was living fully for God. As is often the case our attention and energy is often diverted elsewhere.

The concept of citizenship is one which would have resonated with the church in Philippi. In the ancient world citizenship was a ticket towards rights and privileges that many people were denied: the right to property, to special protection under the law, to representation. In fact most of the church at Philippi were probably people who were denied citizenship. You could maybe see why people’s earthly intentions were focussed on getting citizenship. But this required obedience to the Imperial laws and pledging of loyalty to the Emperor. It would lead to compromise, often exhibited in having to indulge in a lifestyle that while honouring Rome would deny Jesus.

So Paul again lifts the eyes of his readers towards heaven, and away from what is now towards what is to come. We are to look not at the earthly things that surround us, but towards the risen Jesus who will come again in power. We have to grasp our place as citizens of heaven, with all the protection, riches and privileges it brings with it, now and in the future.

Perpetual Motion....

Philip. 3:12-16 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. [13] Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, [14] I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.
[15] All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. [16] Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

There are few things that beat the taste of fresh water. I don’t mean the chemically enhanced stuff that comes from your taps, or even the over priced confidence trick that is bottled water, but a clear crisp mountain stream on a hot day when you’ve been toiling up a hill. But when the stream starts to dry up and the flow of fresh water is reduced and it turns into a stagnant pool then the taste of the water, and your appetite for it decreases….

I think Paul, in these images of striving, is telling us that here about our walk with God. We can never think we’ve made it, we can never stop seeking to become more like Jesus everyday, there is always room for us to get better. If we think we’ve made it then we stop striving to move forward, and we stop seeking ways to get refreshed by Jesus. We become like a stagnant pool.

A stagnant pool doesn’t actually stay the same. Over time it deteriorates. And for those of us who for whatever reason have stood still in our walk with Jesus have found, this walk starts to worsen too rather than stay constant. We are not called to stay constant though, we are called to grow. In fact Paul tells us that we have to live up to the level we are on – we cannot go backwards. Keep on running forwards….

I want....

Philip. 3:7-11 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. [8] What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. [10] I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

These are powerful words, and they echo Paul’s sentiment in chapter 1 – to live is Christ, and to die is gain. It is more powerful for where it comes in the letter, just after Paul’s description of his attempts to make himself right with God through obedience to the law. But now, after having experienced Grace, Paul says that his former life just does not compare to the one he has now, serving Jesus and experiencing his presence in his life day by day.

It’s Paul’s plea, that day by day he experiences Jesus in his life.

He wants to experience this by sharing in Christ’s sufferings – that is by taking part in God’s mission, his plan for the redemption of mankind. Because this is the big story, and for anyone who has met Jesus it is the only story worth getting involved in! The truth is that Paul acknowledges that this is not easy – there will be opposition and hardship when we take up the cause of the Gospel in our situations every day. People will laugh at us, ignore us and turn against us. Yet by doing this we share in Christ’s work. And when we do it we discover this – that we become dependent on Jesus. We realise that we cannot do the work by ourselves, but can only accomplish it by experiencing the outworking of the Holy Spirit in our lives and situations. By depending on Jesus and letting him work, following his lead, not our own, we experience God’s power working in our lives, and through that we grow closer to him.

Wouldn’t it be incredible if every person in every church spoke as Paul did, and asked to experience the every day presence of Jesus in our lives….

insurance....

Sorry guys.... spilled coffee on my laptop this morning so it's off to the repair shop and my morning just went....

see you on Monday

By the numbers....

Philip. 3:1-6 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
[2] Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. [3] For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— [4] though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; [6] as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Circumcision was used by the Jews to show who was part of the Covenant people with God. The story of the Old Testament is of God’s faithfulness to the Jews, even when they were not faithful to Him. But the New Testament story is of a new covenant, a new relationship of care and trust, not with one group of people, but open to the whole of mankind. Regardless of race, colour, gender or nationality we can all join God’s chosen people.

In Paul’s time, there were people who wanted to force all believers to embrace the lifestyle of the Old Covenant, including physical circumcision and obedience to the whole of the Jewish Law and all its regulations. Paul’s deep feeling was that this created a system you could follow and it didn’t promote living faith in Jesus Christ. You could do religion by the numbers….

I wonder if the contemporary Church can be like that too. I wonder if we look at people coming to Jesus for the first time and we try and put burdens of tradition and assumed behaviour on them which are not necessary. I wonder if we try to draw lines between who is in and out of the circle of believers by accepting that a certain type of dress code, lifestyle and social beliefs matter, when actually the Gospel would say they are not essential. And if we do I’m sure it cannot be laid at the door of the established churches alone – the new and emerging churches have their own codes too. And we adopt them quickly – watch how a new believer quickly picks up on the ‘internal code’ of the faith community they join…. I wonder how much emphasis we place on acceptance of the code rather than life transformation.

So here Paul restates his opposition to people who want to live that way. He points to his old life of religion by the numbers, saying ‘I tried it – it doesn’t work, and I should know because nobody gave a better shot at it than me!’

Instead Paul points to a new mark of circumcision, not a physical one, but a spiritual one. Those who are in the new covenant are those who have put worshipping Jesus as Lord as the central part of their life and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. In effect Paul is saying that the real mark of belonging to God is a life transformed to be like Jesus.

Honour....

Philip. 2:19-30 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. [20] I have no-one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. [21] For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. [22] But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. [23] I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. [24] And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
[25] But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. [26] For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. [27] Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. [28] Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. [29] Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him, [30] because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.


Paul writes about to of his co-workers, and pays them great tribute. In one sense it seems incongruous that he has spent all his time talking about submitting our egos to worship and serve Jesus, yet now he seems to be picking out two men for special mention.

But I think that Paul knew that serving the Lord could be hard and that the greater the task the bigger the sacrifice. Timothy had taken on the role of a travelling pastor, touring with Paul and serving in cities far away from home. Epaphroditus, having been sent by the church at Philippi, had almost died of an illness. At the same time Paul talks about Timothy’s humility and his genuine concern for others. He doesn’t seem to be the type of man who is in it for his glory.

I think that Paul’s thought here are about how we treat those who have made big sacrifices to serve the Lord. Our communities need to be loving places, who acknowledge that some of us will be called in devoting ourselves to serving him full time. These people still need to eat and live, and the body must take care of them, ensuring that they do not find themselves in relative poverty. Also we need to acknowledge that Church needs volunteers to function. We need to honour those who have given of their time freely to serve God. I must confess that I haven’t fully worked out what exactly honouring means – but at the very least it must include an appreciation, actively and continually expressed, to all who serve the Lord.

Shine....

Philip. 2:12-18 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
[14] Do everything without complaining or arguing, [15] so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe [16] as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing. [17] But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. [18] So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.


The world we see around us, and the communities we live in are not perfect. Ever since Adam and Eve we have lived in a world which is fallen, a world where people have turned their back on God and seem to be running away from him. Because of that they are destined to spend an eternity without God.

So for those of us who have met Jesus and encountered the life transforming truth of the Gospel it is important for us to stand out. The way of life that Paul has related to us, of living without selfish ambition and ego, of having a servant attitude like Jesus, is crucial in pointing other people towards the truth.

When I was a student a classmate came up to me and told me he heard I was a Christian. Excitedly I wondered what had given it away: my Jesus loves you ruler; my turn or burn t-shirt; my SU badge on the lapel of my jacket. But before I could find out he remarked that he would never have known if a mutual friend had not told him….

Our lives, as individuals and communities must be exemplary, mirroring Jesus in every situation, reflecting his love and glory to those around him. We need to learn to be his hands and feet, to shine like stars, so that around us, in the lives of those who are close to us, we can see God act out his good purposes….

Attitude....

Philip. 2:5-11 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

[6] Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
[7] but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
[8] And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
[9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
[10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
[11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.


Just prior to this passage, Paul has been exhorting us treat each other with humility and love. Now he turns to Jesus. It is as if he is saying if you want to know how to behave then copy someone who modelled it. And as well as illustrating his point about love and humility Paul also treats us to a wonderful statement about the relationship between the Father and the Son.

Jesus’ nature is that of God. The trinity of Father, Son and Spirit is one of the most incredible concepts in theology, and it is hard for us to get our heads around the three-as-one reality of the God-head. But we need to understand that all three are divine, all three are God, all three have incredible stature. Yet the nature of the Trinity is not of power and hierarchy, but of live. The trinity is a model for the community we try to form in the Church. They love and serve each other. Jesus shows this here. He is God, but does not seek the stature that comes with it. Instead he serves. There is no ego-fuelled competition going on.

The divine became man. When it was required the Son came down from heaven and suffered here on Earth for us. There is no task too small for him – his pride does not get in the way of serving. He is willing to go the whole way, sacrificial love, in order to love us.

The Son is exalted. Not by himself, but by an other, by someone who has recognised what he has done. In humbly serving the Father, he finds himself exalted by the Father.

In our communities we must learn to be people who do not compete with each other for power, be willing to live lives of sacrificial love and to honour others for what they have done in serving us. That way we will learn to act without selfish ambition, or vain conceit.

One....

Philip. 2:1-4 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, [2] then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. [3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. [4] Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

If you are united in Christ with your brothers and sisters then there should be no room for conflict with them of any sort.

Great and wonderful in theory, but in practice much harder….

Let’s be honest, anytime you get groups of people together there is always conflict, eventually. I watch what happens when my friends and family gather, even for social events, and there can be some pretty heated disagreements about what we should be doing…. Imagine the potential for real division when something important is up for discussion, imagine what could happen in the Church when it is making decisions about some of the most important tasks imaginable. When you feel right about an issue, when you are passionate about the cause and when you encounter someone who feels just as right and just as passionate, but has a different way of doing things then watch out! Sparks can fly!

Paul is aware of this and he wants us to be united, by having the same mind, same love, being one in spirit and purpose. And he points barriers to this; selfish ambition and vain conceit….

Ambition can be good, it drives us to achieve. We should be ambitious for God, to see his kingdom advance forward and to be involved in his work. But when we start to think of our position, our ego, how we are viewed and respected by others, when we think of the kudos and the honour and even glory we can accrue then it is vanity and self-centred, the puffing up of pride, the competition to be seen as better than others intensifies.

But out of love we should glorify Jesus in what we do and love others. For it is only by consistently showing love to others, and being in a community where the needs of all and the worship of Jesus is central that we can be unified and of one Spirit.

When you serve the Lord be careful to check your ego and at the door, and don’t collect it on the way out.

Manner....

Philip. 1:27-30 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel [28] without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. [29] For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, [30] since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

It is one of Paul’s big themes throughout all his writings – how you live your life, as individuals and as communities of faith matters: people will judge Jesus by how you and the group of believers you are a member of behave. And a quick check of what happens in the media and in public debate today will confirm Paul’s thesis. People judge Jesus on what they see in us. So it is important, now as then, to live lives which truly reflect Jesus, not just some pale or corrupted copy.

So what does it mean to live a life worthy of the Gospel? Well here are some suggestions….

Your Life. Make sure that the choices you make in life are consistent with the message of the Gospel. Jesus said be forgiving, so do not bear grudges. Jesus said seek justice and mercy, so get involved in social action. Jesus said live lives which are not corrupted by sinfulness, so aim to be holy and transformed like him. Remember that wherever you go, you are the hands and feet of the Gospel. Your actions count.

Your Message. Remember that Jesus gave his life so that others could be saved, and rose from the dead to announce that victory. Remember that your life and actions should announce that message. Remember that Jesus came to bring reconciliation between man and God, so live lives which bring reconciliation. Remember that Jesus came to love others, so bring grace. Preach truth, live grace.

Our Communities. It’s not just individuals who are judged by others, but our Churches too. We need to be united, not divided; we need to be places where our lives and message are seen to work out, not to contradict. They need to be places where we love each other – because this is how others will see that we truly follow God. We need to be of one Spirit.

By our choices and actions we can live lives which honour the Gospel, or we can drag the Cross through the mud….

Life Statement....

Philip. 1:18-26 Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, [19] for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. [20] I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. [21] For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. [22] If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! [23] I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; [24] but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. [25] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, [26] so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Every so often you come across a phrase which stays in your mind and won’t go away. To live is Christ and to die is gain, is one of them. When Paul writes these words you sense it is the hear of a man who is writing in humility, in total submission to the will of God, with complete confidence in Jesus Christ.

It is humble, because there is no sense of personal ambition in this statement, no sense that what Paul wants to accomplish are his own desires. He has got to a place in his walk with God, a place where he is so much in touch with the heartbeat of his Lord, that he desires the same things to be accomplished. He is willing to spend himself wholeheartedly and unreservedly in that cause. Paul knows that God’s big mission, the redemption of mankind, is not just a worthy cause but the cause. He understands that there is nothing more important than worshipping God and seeing other people coming to know him.

It is about submission to God’s will because in everything he does it is not Paul who must shine through, but Jesus. Every thought, action, attitude of the heart, every word, every breath should be about bringing glory to the Lord. Paul believed that people would believe in Jesus if the message was carried in the hearts and lives of believers, if others could see that the love of God shinning from them. For Paul it was important that every believer lived a life of love and grace, mirroring Jesus Christ.

And it is about complete confidence in Jesus Christ, not just for now, but for eternity. Paul is deeply aware that his time in this world is short, but that all who believe in Jesus we will be with him for eternity. This incredible thought brought him comfort and strength to face the trials of today. He longed to be in eternity sitting at the feet of God. But even here his humility shines through, because he is not just thinking of his own joy, but for the needs of others and the will of God, for so long as he has something to offer others he knows that the Lord will keep him here.

To live is Christ, to die is gain. What an incredible personal statement! Imagine a world where every believer had truly grasped and enacted this in their lives…

Credit....

Philip. 1:12-18 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. [13] As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. [14] Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
[15] It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. [16] The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. [17] The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. [18] But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice….

I think that Paul must have been an optimist – one of those really annoying people to be around. You know when the house falls down, and the dog is run over by a bulldozer, he’ll turn round and say ‘well at least we’ve got our health’! But as we’ll discover as we go through this letter that whatever optimism he as comes from his complete confidence in God to work wonders in whatever situation Paul is in. Here, while writing from Prison all his guards, and we believe they may have been the Elite Praetorian Guard, know that he is a prisoner for his faith. Without a doubt, Paul would have started to share his faith with them.

This is Paul’s great joy, and it should be ours too, to fulfil the Great Commission and make Christ’s name known in whatever situation we find ourselves. Sometimes it may cost us to acknowledge Jesus before people, but remember that when we do so God will pour the riches of his grace out on us.

And again Paul goes on to see the good in every situation. Perhaps Paul’s friends on the outside were annoyed that ‘rivals’ were taking advantage of Paul’s imprisonment to make names for themselves among the Church. I love Paul’s answer, because it is full of genuine humility – it’s not about me or my position or about stroking my hair and massaging my ego; it’s about Jesus, that’s what matters, and if his name is advanced then it doesn’t matter who gets the credit, because more people have come into the kingdom. It makes me happy because that is all that matters….

Completion

Philip. 1:1-11 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

[2] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[3] I thank my God every time I remember you. [4] In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy [5] because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, [6] being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
[7] It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. [8] God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
[9] And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, [10] so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

One thing that the Bible does not hide from us is that there is pain in the world, and that we will often go through it. And though we will often see that pain as a bad thing, because at the time it hurts, we have to learn to see that God is at work in all of these situations. This is what Paul is driving at when he talks about God’s good work in us being completed.

God is interested in our character, how we are right now, and how we can change to become more like Jesus. The truth is that it is easy to be like Jesus when things are going well – it is harder when our backs are against the wall and pressure is mounting up on us. But this is when character is revealed and refined. It is when we are facing struggles that we find out who we really are. It is also when we learn to depend not on ourselves, but on God. It is when we find that we are too weak to overcome a challenging situation that we need our Father to give us grace, for him to lavish the riches of heaven onto us, and for us to see that He overcame the situation and that He deserves the glory. Each time we rediscover this truth we grow. God’s good work in us moves further towards completion.

We find this too – if we allow God to change our character when we struggle with him through our adversities then we build up a knowledge base that we can refer to in the future. Paul prays this for the people at Philippi, that their love would grow in knowledge and insight, so they could see what was pure ang good in each and every situation, so that when the day of Christ came, God’s work in them would be completed. We need to pray the same for ourselves and the people we know: that as we go through pain and struggle we learn to lean on God, to be changed by him, so that he brings his good work to completion.

In the end....

Sorry we missed you yesterday – we had to take a trip to the Doctors’, but everything is fine….

Jeremiah 5:26-31 "Among my people are wicked men
who lie in wait like men who snare birds
and like those who set traps to catch men.
[27] Like cages full of birds,
their houses are full of deceit;
they have become rich and powerful
[28] and have grown fat and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it,
they do not defend the rights of the poor.
[29] Should I not punish them for this?"
declares the Lord.
"Should I not avenge myself
on such a nation as this?

[30] "A horrible and shocking thing
has happened in the land:
[31] The prophets prophesy lies,
the priests rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
But what will you do in the end?

As we draw our time together in Jeremiah to an end for the moment we find a great question. What will you do in the end? It’s a tough question. Jeremiah’s world seems to be much like ours. There is injustice and oppression of the poor and powerless by those who are better off. The rich are growing fatter at the expense of the poor and it seems that no one is standing up for them. God cries out for those who are faithful to take their side, but who will stand with them? It seems that those who should know better, the religious leaders of the day have in fact become compromised. It’s funny how this repeats itself down through the ages.

But the question remains: What will you do in the end?

Stand up for the poor. Speak out for the marginalised. Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Feed the widows and clothe the fatherless. Become your brother’s keeper. Do not walk by on the other side.

What will you do in the end?

Fear....

Jeremiah 5:20-25 "Announce this to the house of Jacob
and proclaim it in Judah:
[21] Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear:
[22] Should you not fear me?" declares the Lord.
"Should you not tremble in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,
an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
[23] But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts;
they have turned aside and gone away.
[24] They do not say to themselves,
'Let us fear the Lord our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains in season,
who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'
[25] Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
your sins have deprived you of good.

I don’t think that fear of the Lord is abject terror alone. It’s true that when the Bible records people encountering God their reaction is one of fear, but the Lord’s reply is always do not be afraid…. It’s awe inspiring that he has to state this because I points to the power and impact that encountering the glory of the Lord causes.

Fear of the Lord is about acknowledging God in his rightful place, as the centre of everything. It is about having respect for his name, reverence for his word and obedience to his will. It is about conforming our hearts and minds to mirror his. Scripture tells us that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, for by acknowledging God in his rightful place we then start to let the other pieces of our lives fall into their proper order.

The Jews should have done this. The story of the Old Testament is of their inability to consistently do so. But again let’s ask ourselves the same question: where do we acknowledge the Lord in our lives? Check your thoughts, actions and attitudes. Is he at the centre? If he is then the pieces of your life probably fall into their proper place. Or have you consigned him to the periphery of your heart?

Mock....

Jeremiah 5:7-19 "Why should I forgive you?
Your children have forsaken me
and sworn by gods that are not gods.
I supplied all their needs,
yet they committed adultery
and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.
[8] They are well-fed, lusty stallions,
each neighing for another man's wife.
[9] Should I not punish them for this?"
declares the Lord.
"Should I not avenge myself
on such a nation as this?

[10] "Go through her vineyards and ravage them,
but do not destroy them completely.
Strip off her branches,
for these people do not belong to the Lord.
[11] The house of Israel and the house of Judah
have been utterly unfaithful to me,"
declares the Lord.

[12] They have lied about the Lord;
they said, "He will do nothing!
No harm will come to us;
we will never see sword or famine.
[13] The prophets are but wind
and the word is not in them;
so let what they say be done to them."

[14] Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says:

"Because the people have spoken these words,
I will make my words in your mouth a fire
and these people the wood it consumes.
[15] O house of Israel," declares the Lord,
"I am bringing a distant nation against you—
an ancient and enduring nation,
a people whose language you do not know,
whose speech you do not understand.
[16] Their quivers are like an open grave;
all of them are mighty warriors.
[17] They will devour your harvests and food,
devour your sons and daughters;
they will devour your flocks and herds,
devour your vines and fig-trees.
With the sword they will destroy
the fortified cities in which you trust.

[18] "Yet even in those days," declares the Lord, "I will not destroy you completely. [19] And when the people ask, 'Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?' you will tell them, 'As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.'

We cannot mock God. We cannot hear his words to us and laugh them off dismissively, especially when they are words of correction. The people are telling Jeremiah that to them the words of the prophets are wind – like air they carry no weight and have no force. In effect they are meaningless. Yet God tell his prophet that the words he gives him will be like a consuming fire. It is almost as if he is encouraging Jeremiah by saying that he will see with his own eyes the judgement that is about to come.

And that judgement will be terrible and shocking – partly because the people of God have taken his goodness for granted. They are relying on their special place in God’s heart to protect them, no matter how they behave. They have taken no effort to conform their lives to his will. But God is not to be mocked. His judgement is coming. I wonder if there are areas of my life, and the life of the church I am part of, which takes God’s goodness for granted, and doesn’t follow the correction he brings?

Because God will correct us, he will take action to put an end to our destructive behaviour, as he is about to do to the Jews. But even in his discipline his goodness shines through. He is not vengeful and his wrath is tempered. He does not intend to wipe out the Jews, but to send them into exile. He wants them to learn that he cannot be mocked.

Reflect

Jeremiah 5:3-6 O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth?
You struck them, but they felt no pain;
you crushed them but they refused correction.
They made their faces harder than stone
and refused to repent.
[4] I thought, "These are only the poor;
they are foolish,
for they do not know the way of the Lord,
the requirements of their God.
[5] So I will go to the leaders
and speak to them;
surely they know the way of the Lord,
the requirements of their God."
But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke
and torn off the bonds.
[6] Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them,
a wolf from the desert will ravage them,
a leopard will lie in wait near their towns
to tear to pieces any who venture out,
for their rebellion is great
and their backslidings many.

Jeremiah had found that the covenant between God and his people had completely broken down. Just about everyone had turned away from God, from the lowliest to the mightiest. It seems that Jeremiah found that ordinary people had abandoned God, but took hope in the belief that the rulers of the nation would know better. After all our leaders should be people who point the way towards God. But not here – it seems that the nation’s leaders are just as involved in the backsliding as the ordinary people. Maybe, even, because they are leaders they have in fact set the tone….

Attitude reflects leadership. If a group is motivated, loving and hardworking for each other, then it is probably because the leaders are. If they are grumpy, self-centred and lazy then look at what the leaders of that group are doing.

Therefore we have to look at leadership as a great responsibility, and pray for our leaders – after all, the Bible tells us that one ay they will have to give an account for how they led us. And we should also be people who look to making their task a joy, by serving those who are called out to lead us. Leaders, through their words and deeds should point people towards God. They need to be living in a constant relationship with him. Pray today that your leaders become people that you will follow….

Look....

Jeremiah 5:1-2 "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem,
look around and consider,
search through her squares.
If you can find but one person
who deals honestly and seeks the truth,
I will forgive this city.
[2] Although they say, 'As surely as the Lord lives,'
still they are swearing falsely."

A friend of mine, who wasn’t a Christian, once gave the most painful critique of Church I have ever heard.

She knew lots of Christians, came to Alpha courses several times, came to church a nearly every week, but she didn’t seem about to commit her life to serving Jesus. I asked her why one night.

“It’s the people. They all seem so smug and self-satisfied with what they’ve got – the feeling that they are going to heaven, are going to be alright. Yet they don’t seem overly concerned with those who aren’t. If what Christians believed was true, then they would scream it from the rooftops and grab everybody they came across on the streets and tell them….” It was an answer that left me numb.

What if there was just one person out there who would hear and respond to the truth? Would we invest all the time and energy that was required into reaching them? Maybe that is what God is driving at here in his dialogue with Jeremiah. God’s forgiveness is open to all. We cannot ever risk withholding it from anyone because we were lazy, or smug, or indifferent. Because as Jeremiah ahs already explained to us, God’s judgement on those who rebel and sin and stay apart from God will be terrible. Maybe all of us who are Christians need to come before the Father again and ask him for a glimpse not just of Heaven, but for the sense of the pain we would feel if we were to risk eternity outside of his presence. Because then, maybe just then, we would discover a sense of urgency about pleading with our family and friends to discover a relationship with our loving Father God.

Hell....

Jeremiah 4:22-31 "My people are fools;
they do not know me.
They are senseless children;
they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil;
they know not how to do good."

[23] I looked at the earth,
and it was formless and empty;
and at the heavens,
and their light was gone.
[24] I looked at the mountains,
and they were quaking;
all the hills were swaying.
[25] I looked, and there were no people;
every bird in the sky had flown away.
[26] I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;
all its towns lay in ruins
before the Lord, before his fierce anger.

[27] This is what the Lord says:

"The whole land will be ruined,
though I will not destroy it completely.
[28] Therefore the earth will mourn
and the heavens above grow dark,
because I have spoken and will not relent,
I have decided and will not turn back."

[29] At the sound of horsemen and archers
every town takes to flight.
Some go into the thickets;
some climb up among the rocks.
All the towns are deserted;
no-one lives in them.

[30] What are you doing, O devastated one?
Why dress yourself in scarlet
and put on jewels of gold?
Why shade your eyes with paint?
You adorn yourself in vain.
Your lovers despise you;
they seek your life.

[31] I hear a cry as of a woman in labour,
a groan as of one bearing her first child—
the cry of the Daughter of Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands and saying,
"Alas! I am fainting;
my life is given over to murderers."

A pastor once said you have to be friends with people who are going to hell. I don’t think he meant that you could then adopt an air of smug, self-satisfied complacency, secure in your salvation and in your eternal destiny of being with the Lord. Rather so you would grow to love them. Too many of us Christians face a problem – we do not know people who are going to hell. We study and work and play alongside them, but our closest friends are those in our churches who are saved as well. We don’t put enough emotional investment into people who aren’t saved – maybe because we think that we have to do all we can to remain pure and uncorrupted by the world.

But by doing this are we insulating ourselves from the pain of knowing that those near to us are doomed to spending an eternity without God? Maybe we shouldn’t. Jeremiah paints a horrible picture of what will happen to those who are under God’s judgement – something similar awaits all those who do not respond to the call of the Gospel. This means lost people. Unless the church reaches out to them and takes Jesus’ message to them, this is the fate of these people. You may be able to shrug your shoulders about the classmate in the far corner, though you would be wrong to do so, but can you about the close relative or family member who you love dearly?

And this is the point: these people are lost. Unless we draw close to them, we will never feel the pain of knowing that these people are doomed to an eternity far from God’s presence. But maybe we should feel that pain, because maybe it would add urgency to our witnessing and our prayers. Every lost soul matters to God.

You have to be friends with people who are going to hell.

Anguish....

Jeremiah 4:10-21 Then I said, "Ah, Sovereign Lord, how completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, 'You will have peace,' when the sword is at our throats."
[11] At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, "A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert blows towards my people, but not to winnow or cleanse; [12] a wind too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgments against them."

[13] Look! He advances like the clouds,
his chariots come like a whirlwind,
his horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us! We are ruined!
[14] O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved.
How long will you harbour wicked thoughts?
[15] A voice is announcing from Dan,
proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.
[16] "Tell this to the nations,
proclaim it to Jerusalem:
'A besieging army is coming from a distant land,
raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.
[17] They surround her like men guarding a field,
because she has rebelled against me,' "
declares the Lord.
[18] "Your own conduct and actions
have brought this upon you.
This is your punishment.
How bitter it is!
How it pierces to the heart!"

[19] Oh, my anguish, my anguish!
I writhe in pain.
Oh, the agony of my heart!
My heart pounds within me,
I cannot keep silent.
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;
I have heard the battle cry.
[20] Disaster follows disaster;
the whole land lies in ruins.
In an instant my tents are destroyed,
my shelter in a moment.
[21] How long must I see the battle standard
and hear the sound of the trumpet?


We have a habit of distancing ourselves from blame. When something goes wrong then we try to find ways in which it wasn’t our fault. We try not to be identified with failure. Yet the Bible writers took a different line. For Ezekiel, who sttod in the gap, for Nehemiah, who confessed the sins of his people, to Moses, who counted on the reputation of the Lord, and here to Jeremiah who feels anguish. When we try to avoid blame it is often because we are actually indifferent to what has taken place. But here Jeremiah is showing a real emotional connection with the events that are about to take place. For him it is not a case of ‘I told you so’ and of sitting back with a sense of self-righteous smugness, but rather real pain that a great disaster is about to engulf his people. I wonder if our reaction and prayers would mirror his for our communities and nations, and the people who form them, if we truly sensed God’s judgement coming upon us…..