Love does matter

Ephesus – privilege brings responsibility

We have briefly noticed in the last few articles, some important truth conveyed to the believers at Ephesus. Now I would like you to notice the situation many years later as the Lord in heaven monitors the condition of the believers.

Revelation 2:3,4 “....you have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.  Yet I hold this against you  :  You have forsaken your first love......”

The lesson of this account is quite obvious  - we may have much of good, godly things in place, but if we miss or lose first love, all else is vain. The believers had so much commendable, yet they were threatened with removal of the lamp stand. Let us catch the significance of love, devotion, adoration to our risen, living Lord Jesus Christ. Without this motive, this response of heart, all service becomes hollow.

Chapter 3.19 puts it another way   “ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline .” Here HIS motive is revealed – His actions toward us are motivated by love (so undeserved). How much more should we love Him who first loved us!

Rather than explore the detail of this little letter, let us first take time out to search our hearts, our motives, our agenda, our devotion  - is it love to the Lord?

I conclude my meditations on Ephesians with the last verse

“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus  Christ with an undying love.”

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Armour in times of conflict

In a world where Satan and his servants are busy at the high levels of society and also roaming as a lion attacking at the personal level, the believer is to stand firm. Ephesians 6 does not portray the soldier as aggressively conquering the enemy, but rather to stand firm with the armour of God. The progress of light overcoming darkness, is not dependent upon cunning or conflict, but rather as the  rising sun dispels the night, so truth conquers by its declaration (Ch6.9). God’s love, mercy and grace received by faith result in good works to replace the characteristics of this world.

As we by faith are built up into Christ, we become the objects of Satan’s hatred and his schemes to bring Christ down (in us ) are many. What do we have for protection? – the armour of God.

1      Truth – this is the revelation of God, in particular in Christ. This is the focus of the devil’s attack – to diminish the glory of Christ.

     Righteousness – I suggest this is referring to God’s righteousness imputed  to the believer in Christ. So much of this letter is about God’s actions on our behalf for our acceptance with Him. If our defence depended on our own righteousness, the we would be bound to fail under the cross-examination of the accuser of the brethren

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3     The Gospel of peace – in keeping with the teaching and characteristics of the Lord Jesus Himself, we who bear good tidings for all mankind, should be walking in peace.

4     Faith – reasoning and debating has a useful place and time, but in time of conflict, faith in God is the best shield. Like Job when under attack we can say “if He slay me , yet will I trust in Him”.

5     Salvation – What God has done and is doing in Christ on our behalf – yes , and as we understand what God has saved us from, and bringing us to, our minds can then hold true direction and clear our thinking.

6     The word of God. God’s revelation through Moses, the prophets, the Lord Jesus, the apostles remains a unique yet abundant enlightenment that neither time nor human ingenuity can  erase. God’s word is reliable and the Spirit of God still chooses to use this to bring people to God.

7     Prayer and perseverance.  We remain vulnerable unless we maintain connection with God in prayer. Prayer sharpens our alertness to the real dangers and letting God by His Spirit communicate to us , brings the strength and purpose to persevere.

          This presentation of God given armour is concluded with these words....."prayer...for all saints".  we do well to stand with those saved by God's grace. We are in the common cause  with all saints including the apostle Paul. Let us discern the real enemy and stand for HIM who was faithful unto the end.

            johnmckee@internode.on.net

Today in turmoil

Our world is presently in turmoil as not seen for some decades. In younger years we were encouraged to believe that education, the United Nations, democracy, the advances of science, the use of technology etc would have established an harmonious, peaceful, prosperous world. What has gone wrong? Some blame religion, some blame communism, others blame capitalism. And so the blame game goes on.

Our compass, the Bible, has a different answer. A casual reading of the letter to the Ephesians identifies the source of the problem:  Chapter 2 – the course of this world is following the prince whose characteristic is disobedience to God. (How often does anyone today refer to Satan? The Devil’s smartest ploy is to convince the world he does not exist! Neither the politician nor the preacher seem mention him anymore.) The evil one works through the fleshly passion, unbridled minds displayed in nonsensical anger. Chapter 4 portrays the evidence of dark thinking as lacking understanding, being sensuous, greedy , and impure. The falsehood, deceit, anger, theft, foul mouths etc are  natural to the fallen human nature spurred on by the devil .

The Christian is not only delivered from this snare, but is to confront it as described in chapter 6

Ephesians 6

Verse 11  - indicates our world is in turmoil because of the schemes of the devil. These evil forces are operating at every level, in particular, high end influences. I suggest this is means the area of politics, education, media, finances, religion, social standards. Many of us live as uninfluential members of society, but even in our small corner, we are to be a light in the midst of darkness, soldiers standing for truth..

God has called some to higher places of influence and for them we should pray that they will take their responsibility seriously in combat with the schemes of the devil. One small decision in high places can make such a difference for good or evil in the world in general.  One could quote the impact of decisions made the United Nations organizations, or the worldwide effect of decisions by the pope, or decision in parliaments that can damage  a whole nation. What then is the influence we are having in our small corner – in our family, our community, our city, our world??

Most of humanity is hoodwinked by the media to believe what they are told. Those who dig deeper find some rather sinister schemes at work in our world and many of these schemes are against Christ Jesus our Lord. ( I do not refer to foolish conspiracy theories) The evil one has one supreme agenda -  to attack and crush anything that exalts the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of his most successful ways is by corrupting religion.

So what are we to do – do what Paul did – be faithful to , and proclaim the true mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6.19)

“for which I am an ambassador in chains”

Next article may be on the armour of God

John McKee

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Let God speak for Himself

Let’s learn from The Bible. The letter to the Ephesians.

What is God like?  This good question continues to be asked by the children at the local schools. We often think of Him like the wind – invisible yet powerful. Sometimes blowing gently as the still small voice, sometimes blowing fiercely to show us His mighty power. In nature we can learn very much of God, but better is to learn from His communications  through His Prophets and Apostles.

Ephesians chapter 1 the character of God  is described rather clearly.

He is our Father

He is blessed and blessing

He chooses

He loves

He redeems

He forgives

He is gracious

He reveals

He is the Father of glory

Chapter 2:

He is rich in mercy

He is great in love

He makes alive

He operates in revealing grace

I have deliberately left out the Bible references, so that you might reread these two chapters and discover the character of God for yourself.

If you do not have a bible, I may be able to help supply one.

If you would like a different language or translation Bible – try www.biblegateway.com

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Interuptions

The Interruptions of God

I would like to highlight an important observation from our compass – the Bible. People like to think and some say ‘all things are continuing as they were from the beginning’. History and geology tell a different story.  Biblical history records the interruptions of God.

Genesis chapter one, describes God interrupting with His voice  “and God said”.   His voice of power, His communication of intelligent information (eg DNA), His impartation of function and purpose (Logos), all this is repeated as God brings order into the heavens and the earth. As we scientifically discover the wonders of God’s intervening genius, we are caused to wonder, and worship Him.

Genesis chapter 7 records another interruption of God – judging lawlessness with a universal flood.

Genesis  chapter 12 records another change to world history – God calls Abram to leave Ur and promises to him ‘the promised land’ ( and even today many are fighting over that precious piece of ‘promised land’!)

Exodus  chapter 3 and 12 reveal a very powerful God judging the gods of Eygpt and in Exodus 20 the same holy God changing the course of humanity through the nation of Israel. The impact of Moses receiving the law, is still impacting our society today.

Has God interrupted again??

He sure has – in the birth of a King – Jesus the Son of God. Over and again God speaks from heaven saying  of Jesus “This is my beloved Son,.....”

That one solitary life has changed the face of the earth (morally and spiritually) more than any other.

The book of Acts, is replete with God interrupting yet again.  Acts 2 records something significant on God’s calendar  - the sending into the world the holy Spirit to indwell all believers.

Acts 9, God interrupts the wild ambitions of Saul of Tarsus

Acts 10 God pulls down the prejudices’ of Peter to include the Gentiles in the wide embrace of grace abundant.

Will God interrupt again?  -Peter the apostle puts it this way  “by the same WORD the heavens and the earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly” 2 Peter 3.7  God does have plans and a calendar and we do well to be alert and watching .

May the Lord help you to see that God has been active, still is and will yet interrupt in a very  public way.

J. McKee

The Gospel

The Gospel

Good news is always welcome – well it should be.

The coming of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God was the best news. The Lord from heaven came to reveal  God the Father and bring eternal salvation to the estranged human race.

When the Lord Jesus began to preach, H e announced “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the good news”.       And so he preached, and so He healed, and many believed and were saved.     Yet many refused to believe and were condemned..

As the Lord commanded, the gospel has been preached throughout the world and millions have believed. Strange as it may seem, many suffer and many die for the sake of the gospel. The significant value of believing the gospel is it’s eternal blessing. The Lord Himself taught ‘man may destroy the body, after that we are in God’s hands for eternity’

The question then revolves upon this Bible verse:

“Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son does not have life”  1 John 5.12

Let us all be sure we saved by faith in God’s Son, lest unbelief leave us condemned under God’s wrath for all eternity.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Claims of Christ

The claims of the Lord Jesus Christ

“I am the bread which came down from heaven”   (John 6.51) to believe in Him is to have eternal life

“I am the light of the world”  ( John 8.12)  to follow Him is to walk in true wisdom

“ I am the door” (John 10.9) to trust Him is to be safe in His care

“I am the good Shepherd” (John 10.4) we can live because He died.

“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11.25)  To live now and forever because He lives.

“I am the way the truth and the life”   (John 14.6) to know God by knowing Jesus.

“I am the true vine” (John 15.1)  to be fruitful for God by abiding in Him

“I am the first and the last.. the living one” (Revelation 1.18) to worship the eternal Son of God – the joy of eternity.