Category Archives: Bible Study

Believers After 70 AD

Posted on 26/11/2020 | Leave a comment

Were there any ORIGINAL disciples who survived 70 AD?

Preterist Jack Pelham says there were no believers left on the earth after 70 AD—they had been raptured! First, he quotes Matthew 28:20 I will be with you till the end of the age (aion) saying this would leave survivors of 70 AD out of this promise. But Jesus was assuring His audience, that He would be with them till the end of the age. He is not addressing believers 40 years hence, but those around 33 AD who will be His witnesses. That passage does not say anything about disciples after 70. Most believers by then would be Gentiles living well clear of Judea.

Believing Jews having escaped to Pella heeded Jesus’ warnings. Why would Jesus warn them to flee Jerusalem if they were going to be raptured outside Judea? You would expect Jesus to have said something quite different.

Then there are the remarks in John 21:21-24 regarding the beloved disciple being alive “until I come”. Note the discernment here about what Jesus actually said! Note the expectancy of the disciples about an imminent coming!

Paul at 1 Cor 11:26 says “we proclaim the Lord’s death” in the Lord’s supper “till he comes again”. Again there is nothing to suggest that disciples would cease this practice after 70 AD, is there? Paul expected a soon coming.

John 17:20.  “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message.” Jesus prayer goes a lot further than for the 12 apostles but applies to all who will believe through them.

What changes did the disciples experience who lived after AD70?

In Mark 16:15 we read that He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation—to go to everyone not just to Jews or to the current generation, and that He would work with them with signs following.

Some argue that the miraculous signs and wonders and gifts of the Holy Spirit were withdrawn sometime between 68 AD and 70. There is no evidence for this. This would mean that the apostles and believers alive at that time suddenly lost their power and authority of the Holy Spirit. That is unproven and ridiculous. Mark 16:17. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages. . . . . . .  lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.

It is unreasonable to believe Jesus would give us so many teachings and commands that these would only apply to ‘original’ disciples! Then there are all the passages in the Gospel of John where Jesus uses the Greek word kosmos, world. His teachings words apply to the world not just to Judea: e.g., John 1:29, 3:16, 16:8.

See also Romans 1:20, 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:2; Revelation 11:15, 17:8.

How did the events of 68-70 AD affect his disciples who were still alive?

  • It embolden them to see they were the true Israel, the Israel of God e.g., 1 Peter 2:4-10.
  • The great cleavage follows with ‘the Way’ now separate from the apostate Jews
  • Jesus’ people suffered horrific persecutions from apostate Jews—see numerous Acts passages.
  • Jewish Talmudic writers wrote against the rapidly multiplying Christians, cursing them.
  • John saw Israel as ‘the synagogue of Satan’ (Revelation 2:9) with no temple or priesthood.

There were reports of great earthquakes in the lead up to 70 AD. Scholar, John Gill comments that “at Crete, and in divers cities in Asia in the times of Nero: particularly the three cities of Phrygia, Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae; which were near to each other, and are all said to perish this way, in his reign”[i]

There were wars, kingdoms against kingdoms during this time. See Josephus[ii] Jewish Wars, b. 6 chapter 9, section 3. Coffman[iii] concludes “Such things as famines, wars, and earthquakes seem to have been multiplied during that period”. Also see Albert Barnes Commentary[iv].

[i] Gill, John. The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/matthew-24.html. 1999.

[ii] Josephus, Jewish Wars, Chapter 9, section 3                                                                                                                                  

[iii] Coffman, James BCoffman Commentaries on Old and New Testament. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, USA. 1983-1999.

[iv] Barnes, Albert. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. 1870.

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THE GREAT TRIBULATION

Posted on 24/10/2020 | 2 comments

In Matthew 24:20-21 Jesus’ told his disciples that he would come immediately after “a great tribulation”: . .  pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.

Jesus told the disciples of His generation to flee Judea and escape the coming tribulation when they see the advancing Roman armies.

Many believe that this terrible time still lies in our future. I have met people who live in fear of this. Others hope they will be raptured away instead of facing this dreadful experience.  But as I will show, this unprecedented event took place long ago:

  • Jesus words are addressed to Jews, Sabbath keepers, Judeans, to flee Judea and escape this imminent tribulation. Luke (21:21) warns them to keep out of Jerusalem. They must be alert and watch for the signs Jesus indicated in order to escape (15-16) this great distress. How could this possibly apply to us?
  • Jesus’ warning is to the generation he is addressing—it is ‘your flight’. How can this refer to our future?
  • This tribulation would be like nothing previous—terrible suffering at the end of the age but Jesus’ term ‘nor ever will’ means life goes on afterwards. How can this be the end of the world?
  • The Jewish eyewitness historian, Josephus, described the incomparable horror of 68-70 AD– 3½ chaotic, awful years, in his famous work ‘Wars of the Jews’—it’s history! How can this not be what Jesus foretold?
  • Jesus warned His disciples that they would face tribulation in their witnessing about Him (Mat 24:9). In Luke’s Acts and Paul’s letters don’t we read how much the unbelieving Jews persecuted them constantly?
  •  Jesus said they were to remain faithful to the ‘end’, an end which they could clearly foresee—either the end of the current age or of their earthly lives. How could this possibly be about the end of the world?
  • On His way to the cross, Jesus said to the weeping crowds, Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’Then they will begin to say to the mountains ‘fall on us and to the hills ‘cover us’. (Luke 23:27ff). These people will face terrible times in their own generation, coming upon the apostate Jews—as Jesus had said, because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled (Luke 21:22). This took place in 68-70 AD when the Jerusalem temple and city were destroyed. So how can this be the end of the world?

The word used in the Greek NT for ‘tribulation’ is thlipsis. Strongs’ Concordance lists these uses in the NT: oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress.  For example, note the following among the 45 occurances:

* Matthew 24:9 : They will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations . .

*Acts 14:22. We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.

*2 Corinthians 1:4. [God ] comforts us in all our affliction so . . .

*Revelation 7:14. These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation . .

Finally, looking at Rev 7:9-14, John’s question about a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and the Lamb, is then told: These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation.” This is a different ‘great tribulation’.

So what great tribulation is this?

This is that great tribulation: The world takes it out on Jesus’ people with a vengeance. In all periods of history the most horrific things have been done to believers right up to the present day. In the world you will have tribulation (John 16:23). The awful suffering experienced now by many in China, North Korea, Iran and Muslim dominated nations—is this not for them “the great tribulation” of their lives? Won’t they all appear before the throne?

The ‘Futurist’ view I am addressing here insults and discredits these suffering saints, who can surely identify with Paul when he talks about his sufferings filling up what’s lacking in the suffering of Christ (Colossians 1:24).

The NT affirms that suffering (thlipsis, distress) is part of the Christian life and cannot be avoided. Show me any NT writer who wrote about future believers facing some great tribulation ending the world far away into the distant future.

They expected this event to happen in their generation.                         

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Posted in Bible Study, Discipleship, Eschatology, Olivet Discourse

Seeing the Son of Man

Posted on 23/08/2020 | Leave a comment

When you read Matthew 24, Jesus’ prediction that the Son of Man will come, do you believe as many do, that He will be seen with human physical eyes? In this short note I show how this does not line up with the scriptures.

The most common Greek word used for ‘see’ is horao. Strongs’ lists these uses for horao:

To see with eyes,  but also to see with the mind, to perceive, to know, to become acquainted with by experience, to experience, to look to, to take heed, beware, to care for, pay heed to.

For example in any of the following cases*, the word horao can be translated by any of the above uses.

*Mat 16:28. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see [horaō] the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

*Mat 24:15. “So when you see [horaō] the abomination of desolation—spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand) “then those in Judea must flee . . . .

*Mat 24:30. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see [horaō] the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

*Mat 24:33. So also you, when you see [horaō] all these things, know that he is near, right at the door.

*Mat 26:64. Jesus said to [high priest], “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see [horaō] the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 

 Check out Mat 24:37 and you will note that Jesus said His coming won’t be seen! Just the reverse:

Just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be . . .and they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man.

The Lord will not be seen! In Noah’s days they knew nothing,’ so the coming of the Son of Man will be’!

Not even Noah was said to have seen God.

And at Mat 24:43, Jesus says He comes like a thief—unexpectedly. The thief in the night conceals himself. 

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Is the thief seen? Does the thief tell you when he is coming? Does he make a noise and wake you up?

Can you show me from the scriptures where we read of the Lord coming in judgment and visibly? We can note the many visions of Daniel and John where they are unable to stand up in his presence, who ‘dwells in unapproachable light’.[1] The appearances of the Lord in the several theophanies[2] in the Old Testament are disguised or hidden from normal sight. Moses only ‘saw’ Him after He had passed (Exod 33:20-23)[3].

When Saul of Tarsus fell down at the sound of the voice of Jesus (Acts 9:7), he and his companions heard the voice but did not see Jesus—Saul saw the tremendous, glory light only.

Then Peter heard the voice only in that vision at Joppa (Acts 10:9ff). 

In Revelation, Jesus warned some gatherings of believers that he would come to them[4] but do you imagine that the Son of Man seated at the right hand of God in clouds of glory was then going to be visibly seen?

Finally, looking at Revelation 1:7b we have the same Greek word [horaō]: Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see [horaō] him . . . 

Now, can you see it? (I mean, do you get it?)

FOOTNOTES

[1] E.g., Daniel 8:18, 10:8-9; Revelation 1:17, 22:8.

[2] These are appearances of the Lord or Christ in the OT to various people—e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Joshua.

[3] Deuteronomy 33:20 The Lord said to Moses You cannot see my face, for no man can see me and live.

[4] Revelation 2:5,16,25; 3:3,11,21

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The “End of the Age”?

Posted on 25/05/2020 | 2 comments

Fact: In Matthew 24, after Jesus declared ‘not one stone of this temple will remain on another’ he answers His disciples’ two questions: when will this happen? what is the sign of your coming and the end of the age?

Fact: Jesus was using in the typically dramatic language of OT prophets prophesying God’s coming judgment. He spoke to Jews whom He had taught and not to modern thinkers or English speakers.

Fact: In Matthew 24 the phrase ‘the end of the age’ occurs many times. The Greek word for ‘age’ is aion and not  kosmos (‘world’). Hebrews 9:26 says ‘Jesus appeared at the end of the age, to put away sin.’ 

Here are six passages in Matthew’s Olivet Discourse chapter 24, which raise relevant questions about this phrase.

v15 “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee  

  1. ‘Those in Judea must flee’ (not ‘in the world’). Jesus told his followers to flee Judea when the Romans occupy the Holy place. Can this be the end of the world if they can escape Judea and survive?

 v17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out that are in his house.  Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak . . .  pray that your flight will not be in winter, or on a Sabbath.

  1. We have already seen it’s Judea/Jerusalem that is in focus. Jesus talks about people working in the field (rural Judea) and Sabbath keepers (Jews)—right? So how can this be the end of the world?

 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.  Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. 

  1. Jesus spoke about a great time of suffering (not the Great . . ) coming unprecedented in the world which would again never be as awful. So doesn’t that mean there is life after this? Further, can you see Jesus talks about the time being cut short so the elect would survive? This is the end of the Mosaic age—what apostate Israel will suffer under the wrath of God. How can this be the end of the world?

 v23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.  For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. . . . if they say to you ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.

  1. Jesus tells them His coming is not seen with physical eyes. As in the O.T., His coming in judgment won’t be optically seen. So they are not to take any notice of people exclaiming He is ‘here’ or ‘there’.

 v27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.  

  1. Lightning is limited geographically. Could a flash of lightning cover much beyond Judea? Its coming is unpredictable, instantaneous, swift. It is mostly seen at night. Jesus ‘comes like a thief in the night’, swift, hidden. Do you imagine the form of the glorious, unapproachable, terrifying Son of Man would be seen? He remains at the right hand of the Ancient of Days—right? Do you really think his enemies would see him and still live? Come on!

The insignia of the Roman might was the eagle and the army carried standards of eagles, idolatrous to Jews.

Graphic descriptions in the writings of the ancient historian Josephus talk about piles of dead bodies and blood flowing in the streets of Jerusalem in AD70. Have you read Josephus’ ‘Wars’?

 v 30 then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven, and then all the tribes of the land will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

  1. Jesus said ‘tribes of the land’ (not peoples but tribes). Isn’t this all about the apostate Jews who rejected Jesus Messiah realising their fate and mourn ‘seeing’ their doom? Can you see this is a Judean context, the land of Israel? Isn’t this about the end of the long Mosaic age? Facts and logic. Plain thinking?

This very short article raises many implications and many questions will be raised which we cannot deal with here.

What do you really think?

‘Let God be true though all men are liars.’

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Discovering Matthew 7

Posted on 02/05/2019 | Leave a comment

Once again we were enriched by the insights of one another which our gracious Lord had opened up for us. We were imagining we were part of the audience among the circle of Jesus’ disciples in his discourse given for us in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 7. Yes. The Word of God came to us as we travelled back 2000 years to listen to words that would never be out of date, would never pass away.

We met together eager to learn more of how the Lord expects us to order our behaviour today living in his kingdom, his gracious Good News rule, which totally and finally replaced the old Mosaic age system. Here are just a few of the gracious and helpful instructions we noticed.

First. Another serious warning against hypocrisy which can easily overtake us:  Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged . .  Over and again, for Jesus, hypocrisy is the pits. And let’s face it: we are totally incompetent in judging others.

Much more important to judge ourselves—yes?

So, avoid being judged by not judging others. Just stop the plague! Close your mouth before that negative attitude in your heart towards the other gets a chance to spill. You are not the Judge! The real Judge who judges righteously and without fear of favour is the same One who judges you! Leave it to the real Judge.

It’s so easy to see the speck that is in someone else’s eye, while there’s still that beam in your own eye. You simply cannot help anyone if there’s a beam is in your own eye.  What a hilarious comparison—we laughed with the crowd.

Don’t forget: with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. Reminded us of that bit where we pray . . . forgive us in the same way we forgive others. Self-assessment is called for.

Only God can see that person’s heart, what motivates behaviour. Jesus is attacking the insane idea that we know better. We can easily see the faults in others because we are so familiar with them in ourselves.

But then Jesus warns us that we must also be discerning as we move among people: Don’t give that which is holy to the ‘dogs’, neither throw your pearls before the ‘pigs’, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.  What! Isn’t this judging others?

Well, ah, no. it’s being discerning. Take care—not everyone will appreciate what you say. Many will not be ready. We need discernment and wisdom—two promised spiritual gifts actually—see Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12.

When in doubt stop talking and pronouncing your solution—or worse, condemnation.

Instead, do more talking to the One who listens! To the One who commands: Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. He only wants blessing for us. Why do we hesitate to adopt this lifestyle? Yes, lifestyle—keep on, don’t stop, be a God-botherer. Daily. This is what he wants. He is much more willing to give to us than we are to our kids: how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him!

Now there’s more about discernment (not judging).Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits you will know them.  The test is in the fruit—what does their prophetic work produce in the hearers?

There are many who seem to want the title of ‘prophet’. Surely that is unnecessary and titles are even hateful to the Lord. It will be obvious, Jesus says by looking at the results. We are warned—they look harmless but are dangerous. The internet/YouTube is full of them. Be satisfied with earnestly seeking the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Many today are prophets of doom and gloom. That simply produces fear, giving up and the nurturing of an escape mentality. All that nonsense about being ‘raptured’ to escape the tribulation—let’s believe that happened as Jesus predicted at the end of the Jewish age? Now we live under the awesome rule of the Son of God, seated at the right hand of ultimate power and authority—reigning until all his enemies are under his feet, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom! Confident that the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea!   To be continued

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DO IT MY WAY

Posted on 29/04/2019 | 2 comments

We read in 2-Samuel 6:9-15 (WEB) in the story of the Ark of the Covenant’s return to Israel from the Philistines . . . .  

David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, “How could Yahweh’s ark come to me?” So David would not move Yahweh’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. Yahweh’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom and all his house. King David was told, “Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.”

So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy. When those who bore Yahweh’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.  David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.  So David and all the house of Israel brought up Yahweh’s ark with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

God designed the Ark of the Covenant to have two staves for bearing it on the shoulders of four priests. There were 4 positions for 4 priests to bear it. They knew fearful consequences would follow if they did not do exactly as Yahweh commanded. This was the way the Ark must be carried every time it was moved from one place to another. Do as he says!

The house of Obed-Edom had been greatly blessed by the presence of the Ark—the presence of the Living God. The presence of God always brings joy and peace and spiritual prosperity. For us under the New Covenant, we have the assurance of the wonderful presence of the Lord and the remarkable indwelling of the Holy Spirit—if we do it God’s way.

The understanding of his awesome presence must have been an encouragement to those priests entrusted with bringing the holy box into David’s city—if they did it God’s way.

Imagine how carefully and fearfully the new bearers would have acted now since the death of Uzzah when the Philistine oxen stumbled and Uzzah tried to steady it. No doubt they took up the Ark of God in fear and trembling, upon their shoulders. We notice they took only six steps. Would they survive?  They surely trusted in God’s orders and no one would die.

And then they rested, no doubt in great relief. How they praised and thanked God, and offered sacrifices with great joy. Maybe they proceeded in this manner, six steps at a time, for the entire journey. Maybe not.

So do we think we can help God out, extend his kingdom and plans by doing what seems more up-to-date or what tradition demands? We do so at great cost when we ignore God’s plans for his people.

Apparently we do. We do it our way so often. We ignore the model—Jesus.

 We think we can worship God and minister and meet together a better or quicker way than the example passed by Jesus to the apostles and recorded in the scriptures.  

How foolish this is. Dumb. Clueless. Ignorant. If we are to think we know better than Jesus.  

God is a lot wiser than we. God always knows best and by obeying him we are shielded us from disaster, disunity, powerlessness, authority-challenged, peddling misinformed doctrines and witnessing waek, miserable outcomes.

We must God’s commands and his example in his Son, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge reside. We must follow his word. Do it his way.

The order we find laid out in God’s word for us seems so . . .  yesteryear, impractical.

They did not dare think ‘why carry ‘the Ark’ on our shoulders when we can put it on wheels?’ That is what the pagans did and it was OK. So efficient! Much quicker!

Many trusted, respected teachers are teaching not what our heavenly Father has taught them in the scriptures, but useless, empty, corrupt tradition. Well-meaning ‘I’m in charge here’ pastors and fake priests simply chant out the age-long mantras for the faithful to hear and remain dormant and subject to misinformation, keeping them from rising up with faith and joy in their redemption and enjoyment of what God has done in Christ.

Why is it that no one hears sermons on 1 Corinthians 12—14. For example, (12:11) But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one in the (local ekklesia) separately as he desires. To each one! And (12:19-20) For the body is not one member, but many. (12:14)  If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now they are many members, but one body’.

So where is THIS BODY to be found?

I cannot find even one—what I see is one-man ministry, clergy-laity divide, numerous programs instead of equipping the people, money and business models.

Why is there is only infrequent teaching on healing the sick—there’s plenty on ‘praying for the sick’. Who is training young men to go out into the marketplace with spiritual weaponry downloaded by the Lord and learning how to heal the sick?

This is rank disobedience or abject unbelief—or both.

We must all change our way of doing God’s will. Surely his patience with us is amazing.

Do it his way.

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A bit more on being perfect

Posted on 16/04/2019 | 2 comments

The Word of the Lord came to us again as we met together a few days ago—once again we were kind-a joining the circle of Jesus’ disciples in his discourse given for us in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 6.

The Lord told us so many ways how he expected us to order our behaviour living in his kingdom, his gracious Good News rule,  which since 66-70AD replaced the old Mosaic age system. He calls us to come and live in his new age of the Messiah, the New Covenant! Yes, we were discovering dynamic, motivating stuff.

He warned us severely to take care how we present ourselves to the world.

In chapter 5 we were given an extraordinary vision:  you’re the light of the world—you’re a city on a hill that cannot be hidden away! You’re a lamp that’s not put under something—wasted energy! No, you put it where everyone can see it! Our faith is a public affair. It isn’t to be hidden away in a religious ghetto.

But now he warns us that we must us beware of showing off our righteousness, like hypocrites who want to be noticed and admired and put on a pedestal. Motives are everything, hey? Our role is to present to others only HIS righteousness, the only way by which anyone may be accounted righteous before him.

The unrighteous, who Jesus has in his sights here, are in the streets and religious boxes, displaying their emptiness, their hollow-men, role-playing insincerities. Three favourite Jewish practices and three warnings are given: Truly I say to you, they have their reward, in full. Here—earthbound, adulation, audiences, control of others, pride, position, elite. No, that’s all they will get.

We must aim to hide not our light—the word of God—but we hide our giving, our prayings, our self-discipline and self-denying, and do these in secret and the Father, who sees in secret will reward.  He sees us! He sees our inward hearts, our hidden motives! Beware!

We learned together and shared that the power of our prayers lies not in big words, religious words, or many words, but in the confidence that he knows what we need already! So we begin to realise that everything lies in him and his grace and like any loving earthly dad he desires our friendship, our oneness with him and his desire for our love and his plans—so for God’s sake only, ask, seek, get knocking.

He showed us all the seven prayer points most important for us to use—the basis of all asking, seeking and knocking which has become known as the Lord’s Prayer. Actually, it’s the disciples’ prayer.

We learned where true treasure lies—not in what we possess, but what we give up, place in his hands. That’s where will be our heart as well.

And then this bombshell: You cant serve two masters. You will end up hating one and loving the other. He is emphatic: You can’t serve God and mammon (riches, things, this world). Fence sitting’s uncomfortable.

You really have to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and all you really want will be yours. . . so there is no need to be anxious. If God so arrays the flowers and herbs of the field which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace as fast fuel, wont he do MUCH MORE for you, you little-faiths?

Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own! We often waste a lot of time and energy over issues that are yet to occur, or may never happen. 

Let’s accept it: he said stop hoping for trouble free days in this life. That is a stupid hope.

Do you know if you will be around tomorrow?

Trust me, He says.

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On Being Perfect—Yes!

Posted on 13/04/2019 | 4 comments


The Word of the Lord came to us as we met together recently—as we joined the circle of disciples in Jesus’ discourse in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 5.

The Lord told us so many ways he expected his people—us included—how to order our  lives in his kingdom, his good news rule,  which replaced the old Mosaic age system. Come and live in the new age of the Messiah, the New Covenant! Yes, we were discovering dynamic, head rockin stuff.

We staggered at the new standards of behaviour he expects from us–the highest of standards and expectations of Jesus for his disciples culminating in the amazing demand :  You must be perfect!

We then saw how different his new world order is compared to the old. Over and over he shows what the ancients had laid down and then surprised everyone who heard him with the repeated revolutionary phrase But I say unto you!

We saw how total are his commands for life under his government. Everything seemed counter intuitive, indeed impossible for his listeners and for us today –blessed the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the gentle, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those persecuted for righteousness’ sake . . .  

We were bowled over by commands like when opposed, to rejoice and be glad (literally jump up and down) for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What? Were we hearing correctly? Yep.

We reflected on our failures and those of Christendom in general. We began to feel despair and a growing sense of giving up following such demands. How is this all possible? He piles it on.

He’s come to fulfil the old law and the Prophets, though sounds like he’s abolishing them. He spells them out clearly, authoritatively. No question.

Pheew!

Some of us after hearing his majestic, firm but gentle, persuasive words, even began to feel condemnation and guilt. Every time I hear Jesus I feel condemned. Never expected this.  Pulls the rug from under my feet.

Then he reminded us of the immeasurable grace of God given us in this new age of Christ with us and the inbuilt power of the Holy Spirit to bear these good fruits within us. We began to catch a glimpse of the long range view Jesus was seeing for us all—we would have his Spirit here on earth and then be together with him in the kingdom of his Father! Forever. We don’t have to water down his words. We must not!

But, as we looked further into his words of love and grace and his open arms to follow him, obey him, we realised that there is NO condemnation as we find ourselves in him, in his embrace and his ‘easy yoke’ (Matthew 11:28-30). We saw that these words are given without any condemnation, but with grace abounding!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

This life so beautiful, the Way so precious, nothing is worth standing in the way of it! Not even if you are the best Aussie Rugby player and stand to forfeit your $4m contract with RU! You would rather sever this from your life than miss this grand Good News and the joy that awaits and a transformed existence!

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Posted in Bible Study, Discipleship

Receiving Jesus

Posted on 08/04/2019 | 4 comments

It’s all about a relationship. Not a religion.

Life is all about relationship with one another. Where does this come from? This is because we are created, designed in the likeness of our Creator, of the Lord God. “Let us make man in our own image!” We are designed for a relationship with God.

It is about relationship with the Father of Jesus of Nazareth who was killed because he dared to reveal his relationship with God—My Father. Killed by his own people, treated as rubbish, by whom the world and everything that exists was made. 

And he wants you and me to welcome him, to receive him. With open arms.

Friendship with God for us.

For Jesus has done what it took to bring us reconciliation with God by his sacrifice.

Done.

Some preachers are critical of those who speak of “receiving Jesus”. For example, they might say “no, you don’t receive Jesus because he is in heaven”.

They may say this as if it is a certainty, an absolute.

But they are only half right.

In their rush to be theology perfect—which is impossible— or to drive home some favourite doctrine, they almost forget that he is also “with us even until the end of the world” and that his Father and himself “will come and make our home in us”.

Did you get the force of that?

Now we must be very careful that in our efforts to maintain a certain dogmatic position that we do not reduce the gospel and its power to only one way of expression. The New Testament authors use a variety of expressions for what is an inexpressible and glorious salvation and eternal life in Jesus.

Let’s consider the following passages in the “gospels” where the Lord Jesus spoke of various people “receiving him”.

 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Gospel of Matthew (10:40)

“Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.” Gospel of Mark (9:37) and Gospel of Luke (9:48)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Gospel of John (13:20)

And what about this . . .

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Gospel of John (1:12-13)

So if you receive Jesus, just look at what wonderful new start you have in him, with him, in relationship with him, in friendship with him, in union with him and with the Father. Your chance to leave behind brokenness and embrace wholeness, belonging, forgiveness and peace.

God with us, actually.

Paul wrote “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him”. (Colossians 2:6)

Receive him, ask him. And he will receive you.

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Posted in Bible Study, Discipleship

HOW SHALL WE GATHER?

Posted on 31/03/2019 | 4 comments

I believe that most of these religious institutions, though appearing divided and competitive, taken together are one unbiblical system, and thus not what God wants–it is all a human construct and centred on control, power over people, money, competition and industry. The system is sick and reflects the systems of control and apostasy which Jesus identified in his first coming and recorded in the Gospels. He came began to bring in His whole new concept of the Kingdom of God in a new covenant ‘in his blood’. Every act he did, every word he taught was bristling with new life and the soon-coming end of the old system, the old wineskin. He told the religious elite that they were dead and needed life which only he could give (John  5:40).

God has clearly shown us the model for our behaviour as we relate to one another: in Jesus. HE is the way, truth, life. ‘It shall not be so among you . . . love one another as I HAVE LOVED YOU’. Jesus is the model–the image of the Father, for us to see and manifest in our lives.

Any other way, idea and mode of gathering is bound to be scattering, divisive, arrogant, exclusive, and not ‘abounding in the work of God’.

We are his bride, getting ready for the wedding and the bridegroom is with us. He is WITH US! He calls us to Himself. To gather around Him.

We are a family who eat together and share our lives with one another around Jesus. This is a spiritual kingdom only entered into as a little child and by invitation of the Master through a tumultuous experience of being born all over again.

Either we obey Him or we don’t.

Instead of top heavy, mono-ministry and a sleepy compliant laity He has given us gifts, manifestations of the Spirit to bless and upbuild the whole body wherever it may be gathered—whether together in the New Jerusalem above or in the humble get-together of His friends and brothers.  Together we are a ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: 10 who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

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Posted in Assembling, church, Bible Study, Discipleship